Wealth ManagementHolistic Wealth Management for Growing & Preserving Your Assets
SWE90 wealth management coordinates investment strategy, tax-aware planning, and risk-mitigation tools into one plan tailored to your situation. We focus on helping to grow your assets while helping to protect what you have built. Investing involves risk including loss of principal; no strategy guarantees against loss.
Last Updated: March 2026 | Written by Brett R. Henderson, CIMA®, CPFA®, CRPS®, CEPA®, AIF®, CLU®, BFA™
What is wealth management?
Wealth management is a comprehensive financial service that combines investment advice, tax planning, estate planning, and other financial services into one coordinated approach. It is typically used by high-net-worth individuals or families who want to coordinate strategies across these areas with help from qualified professionals.
"Many high-net-worth clients come to us paying significantly more in taxes than necessary. The combination of tax-loss harvesting, Roth conversion ladders, and strategic charitable giving is designed to help reduce client tax exposure over time. That can be a meaningful component of comprehensive wealth management (results vary by situation)."
Brett R. Henderson, CIMA, CPFA, CRPS
Fiduciary Financial Advisor, SWE90, On wealth management tax optimization
Wealth Management by the Numbers
3%+
Annual value added by qualified advisors
Vanguard Advisor Alpha
$50K-$200K
Typical decade tax savings for HNW clients
SWE90 Client Data
0.5-1.5%
Annual after-tax boost from tax-loss harvesting
Betterment Research
$13.6T
Great Wealth Transfer to next generation
Cerulli Associates
What You Get
- Personalized investment portfolio management
- Tax-loss harvesting and optimization
- Risk assessment and management
- Alternative investment analysis
- Cash flow and liquidity planning
- Charitable giving strategies
Our Process
Project Your Retirement Savings
See how your wealth will grow and if it's enough to maintain your lifestyle.
Wealth Management: Key Takeaways
- 1.Tax optimization; not investment returns; is the primary value driver of wealth management.
- 2.Concentration risk in a single stock (>15% of net worth) is the most common wealth destroyer.
- 3.Fee transparency is a hallmark of fiduciary for advisory services; Reg BI for brokerage ask for the total cost of advice.
- 4.The "great wealth transfer" makes estate and succession planning more important than ever.
fee-based vs. Commission-Based Registered Representatives
| Feature | fee-based (Fiduciary) | Commission-Based | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation | 0.5-1.25% AUM or flat fee | Commissions on products sold | Mix of AUM + commissions |
| Fiduciary Duty | Yes, fiduciary for advisory services | Suitability standard only | Varies by service |
| Conflicts of Interest | Minimal, no product incentives | Higher, incentivized to sell | Moderate |
| Best For | HNW individuals, complex planning | Simple product purchases | Bundled services |
Source: Vanguard Advisor Alpha Study, NAPFA, SEC Investor Bulletin. Data as of 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tax strategies do high-income earners use?
High-income earners utilize: maximizing tax-deferred accounts, backdoor and mega backdoor Roth conversions, tax-loss harvesting, charitable giving strategies (donor-advised funds), strategic timing of income, municipal bonds, and real estate investments with depreciation benefits.
How do executives manage stock options and RSUs?
Managing equity compensation requires understanding vesting schedules, diversifying to reduce concentration risk (when a single stock exceeds 10-15% of net worth), using tax-advantaged strategies like 83(b) elections, and timing exercises to optimize tax brackets.
What's the minimum to work with SWE90?
We typically work with clients who have $500K+ in investable assets or complex planning needs. The real question is whether the value of professional guidance exceeds its cost, for high-income professionals, the tax savings typically far outweigh advisory fees.
How are fees structured?
SWE90 generally uses a transparent fee schedule based on assets under management (AUM) or a flat-fee engagement, depending on the service. All fees are disclosed in advance in your advisory agreement and in our Form ADV Part 2 and Form CRS. Brett will review the fee schedule and any applicable conflicts of interest with you before engagement.
Are financial advisors worth the cost?
Published research (such as Vanguard's "Advisor's Alpha" 2024 white paper) has estimated that qualified advisors may add value annually through tax optimization, behavioral coaching, and avoiding costly mistakes. Results vary by individual circumstances, advisor service model, and time period; advisory fees and outcomes are not guaranteed.
Sources & References
Data from the following authoritative sources is referenced on this page. According to these research organizations and government agencies:
- 1.Source: Vanguard Advisor Alpha (2024); Published estimate of value qualified advisers may add annually through tax optimization and behavioral coaching; actual outcomes depend on individual circumstances
- 2.Source: Cerulli Associates (2024); $13.6 trillion Great Wealth Transfer to next generation
- 3.Source: Betterment Research (2024); Tax-loss harvesting adds 0.5-1.5% after-tax annually
- 4.Source: SWE90 Client Data (2024); Typical decade tax savings of $50K-$200K for HNW clients
Ready to Get Started with Wealth Management?
Schedule a consultation to discuss how we can help you achieve your goals.
Schedule ConsultationImportant Disclosure: All investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice. Not FDIC Insured. No Bank Guarantee. May Lose Value. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.