5 Things Our Clients Love About the Five Pine Wealth Difference

admin • April 3, 2023

Imagine this: You’re starting to get serious about saving for retirement. You want to make sure you’re prepared for this major life transition, so you decide it’s time to hire a financial advisor. On the recommendation of your brother-in-law, you begin a relationship with an advisor—let’s call him Bill—and start to map out your path to retirement.

During the first year, everything is going great. Bill puts together a portfolio of investments for you and supplies you with a bunch of fancy charts showing you your chances of success. You’re feeling good about the fact that you have a plan to follow! And so you start taking the actions that you and Bill outlined in your plan.

But after a while, you stop hearing from Bill. You’re not sure if you’re still on the right track to reach your goals. You’re wondering whether recent market events have any bearing on the performance of your portfolio. And when you call Bill to ask these questions, he doesn’t get back to you for an entire week.

If you’ve ever experienced this type of relationship with a financial advisor, you’re not alone. A shocking amount of our clients have come to our firm with stories about feeling ignored or overlooked by their financial advisors.

In our opinion, this is inexcusable. You deserve better, which is why we’ve committed to a higher level of customer service and communication in our firm. Below are five differences that set the Five Pine Wealth Management team apart:

We approach wealth management holistically
We are fee-only fiduciaries
We are proactive communicators
We believe in long-term, low-cost investment options
We are younger than most other advisors

1. We Approach Wealth Management Holistically

There are “investment guys” a-plenty out there who can help investors manage their money and make trades on their behalf. Holistic financial planners, however, are harder to come by. We differentiate ourselves from those other “investment guys” with our holistic approach and breadth of knowledge within the financial planning realm.

In our opinion, the “other guys” focus too heavily on return rates and forget that there are real dreams, goals, fears, and needs behind the numbers. By fixating on the numbers, they miss out on creative, more effective opportunities and approaches that will help their clients achieve the real results they’re looking for.

From our point of view, investments are just one component of a healthy financial plan.

Sure, they’re certainly important, and managing your portfolio is one of our core services. But things like insurance planning, estate planning, college planning, tax planning, and strategic asset allocation are equally important areas of financial planning. We help with all of these areas, and they’re automatically included in the annual fee our clients pay for our services.

2. We Are Fee-Only Fiduciaries

Lots of “financial advisors” are willing to sell annuities and permanent life insurance policies to anyone who will sign on the dotted line. But we feel strongly about identifying ourselves as fee-only fiduciaries .

Being a fiduciary means that we are legally and ethically obligated to place our client’s best interests ahead of our own, so our clients can rest assured that we don’t make recommendations that are a poor fit for their needs.

Additionally, we pride ourselves on having built a fee-only book of business from scratch. Fee-only means that we do not sell financial products such as life insurance policies or annuities to our clients. We also do not collect referral fees or earn commissions on any investments we recommend.

Beyond being fiduciaries, the fee-only model ensures that we are actually incentivized to work in your best interest. Because when you do well, we do well.

3. We Are Proactive in Our Communication

As holistic financial advisors, we know life happens. And when life happens, your plan might need to change.

Plus, one of the main reasons we got into this business is because we like people. Developing strong relationships with our clients is one of our core values. While we always welcome calls from our clients, we understand that the phone works both ways. So we promise to stay in touch with you on a yearly basis at a minimum .

Annual and semi-annual reviews provide us with more opportunities to identify possible challenges in your plan and make the most of any favorable circumstances that come your way. You can also expect to hear from us with intermittent updates throughout the year so that you’re never in the dark about what we’re doing and how we’re responding to changes in the markets.

4. We Believe in Long-Term, Low-Cost Investment Options

We advocate passive, long-term investing strategies, and are often opposed to using actively managed and potentially tax-inefficient mutual funds. To help our clients keep more of their money, we believe in using ETFs and indexing strategies to keep costs as low as possible without sacrificing performance. (Some of our favorites include Vanguard and BlackRock funds.)

We see value in diversification and utilizing nontraditional assets to help our clients reach their goals. The portfolios we design and manage consist of a mix of publicly traded equities (i.e., stocks), publicly traded fixed-income instruments (i.e., bonds), and private equity/credit investments (i.e., alternative assets). A Five Pine Wealth client’s portfolio may have up to 15% allocated to these non traditional assets, depending on their personal goals and risk tolerance.

It’s important to note that alternative assets are not always accessible to individual investors, as they typically have a $1 million minimum purchase price. Therefore, many investors can only purchase alternative assets by working with a financial advisor. We believe our commitment to including alternative assets in our portfolios is a huge value-add to our clients.

5. We Are Younger Than Most Other Advisors

In the financial planning world, most advisors are 50 or older . And while advisors certainly need to have experience on their side, there are some serious downsides to working with an older advisor.

For one, you risk that a financial advisor who is older than you will retire before you do! Then you’re left in the dust, scrambling to develop a new relationship right before you’re about to make one of the biggest transitions of your lifetime.

Secondly, many (not all!) of these older advisors are simply behind the times. They’re missing the mark on issues that are relevant to investors today—issues like income-replacement alternative assets, the role of Bitcoin in a diversified portfolio, student loan repayment strategies, and the frequent career changes so many people are choosing to make these days.

As younger advisors, we help our clients take advantage of modern, creative strategies and technology to help them plan for the challenges they’ll need to overcome and reach the goals they’re set on achieving.

We Choose Our Clients Carefully

At Five Pine Wealth , we don’t work with just anyone. We are not the right fit for day traders or for investors with a market-timer mentality. Our clients don’t engage in frequent buying and selling of shares, and they don’t try to predict what’s going to happen in the markets.

Instead, we’re best suited to work with long-term investors who understand that markets experience natural cycles of growth and decline. These investors are committed to holding onto their investments—even when prices drop—because they understand that history tells us the markets will eventually go back up.

We prefer to work with individuals and families who recognize they have cognitive and behavioral biases that can negatively impact their investment decisions. While they may naturally experience emotional reactions to market activity, our clients do not allow their financial decisions to be driven by alarming headlines. Instead, they reach out to us first.

The individuals and families we work with are willing to delay gratification because of the opportunity costs associated with not saving for retirement. Our clients understand that to retire well, they must live below their means today—and that their savings rate is more important than their rate of return.

Ultimately, our clients value holistic financial planning. They recognize that proper insurance protection, strategic tax planning, and detailed estate planning are just as important for a healthy financial life as investment management. And finally, our clients care about being good stewards of their wealth so they can leave a lasting legacy behind to their loved ones and charities of their choice.

How to Become a Five Pine Wealth Client

At Five Pine Wealth , we’re a little picky when it comes to choosing our clients. But that’s because we want to ensure that we’re the right fit—both for ourselves and for you! If the Five Pine Wealth difference resonates with you, we invite you to schedule a complimentary meeting with us today. Give us a call at 877.333.1015, email us at info@fivepinewealth.com , or visit our website to learn more about what it’s like to work with us.

The post 5 Things Our Clients Love About the Five Pine Wealth Difference appeared first on Five Pine Wealth Management.

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From $250K to $1 Million: The Retirement Growth Strategies Every Investor Should Know

April 11, 2025

You've been diligently saving for retirement, and your portfolio has hit the quarter-million mark—congrats! But now you're wondering: How do I take this to the next level? Hitting $250K in retirement savings is a major milestone, but getting from there to $1 million requires a shift in strategy. When you're just getting started, the focus is often on simply contributing as much as possible. But as your nest egg grows, things like asset allocation, tax efficiency, and long-term investing strategies become just as important as how much you save. The good news? With the right approach, reaching $1 million in retirement savings is not just a dream, but a realistic goal well within your reach. At Five Pine Wealth Management, we guide investors through this journey every day. As fiduciary financial advisors , we're legally obligated to put your interests first—you won't find product pitches or commission-driven recommendations here. Just straightforward strategies designed to help you reach your goals efficiently. So, let's talk about how to optimize your approach and make that million-dollar milestone a reality. Step 1: Investing for Retirement - Why Growth Matters More Than Ever When you had $50K or $100K saved, your main focus was likely getting more money into your accounts. However, once you cross the $250K mark, your portfolio's growth rate becomes a key factor in your future wealth. To illustrate this, let’s look at two different scenarios: If you have $250K saved and earn a 6% average annual return while contributing $15,000 per year, you’ll reach $1 million in about 15 years. If you have the same starting balance but earn an 8% return, you’ll hit $1 million in just under 12 years. That’s a three-year difference—just by optimizing your investment strategy. So, how do you make sure you’re maximizing growth? Max Out Your Tax-Advantaged Accounts Retirement accounts like 401(k)s, IRAs, and HSAs come with tax benefits that accelerate your savings. If you haven’t already, aim to max out contributions each year: 401(k): Up to $23,500 in 2025 (plus a $7,500 catch-up contribution if you’re over 50 or $11,250 for ages 60 to 63). IRA (Traditional or Roth): Up to $7,000 in 2025 (or $8,000 if you’re 50+). HSA (for those with a high-deductible health plan): $4,300 for individuals, $8,550 for families. HSAs are the only triple-tax-advantaged accounts. Max them out to use during retirement. Increase Your Savings Rate Over Time Even if you’re already contributing a healthy percentage of your income, small increases each year make a big difference. If you currently save 10% of your salary, try increasing that by 1% each year until you hit 20% or more. If you get a raise or bonus, direct at least half of it toward your retirement savings instead of lifestyle upgrades. These seemingly small changes can make a significant difference, potentially shaving years off your journey to $1 million. It’s all about the power of incremental progress. Step 2: Asset Allocation Strategies - The Right Mix of Investments Your asset allocation (the mix of stocks, bonds, and other assets in your portfolio) plays a huge role in whether or not you hit your financial goals. At $250K, you still have time before retirement, meaning your portfolio should be focused on growth. Here’s what that looks like: Stock-heavy allocation: Most mid-career investors should have at least 70-80% of their portfolio in stocks, with the remainder in bonds and alternative assets. Stocks historically provide higher long-term returns, which is key to reaching $1 million. Global diversification: Investing across U.S. and international stocks helps manage risk while still capturing growth. Low-cost index funds & ETFs: These offer broad market exposure with low fees—meaning more of your money stays invested. Remember that proper diversification isn't just about owning different stocks—it's about owning investments that behave differently under various economic conditions. Many portfolios we review are far less diversified than their owners realize, with multiple funds holding essentially the same underlying investments. Avoid These Common Mid-Career Investment Mistakes Being too conservative too early: Some investors start shifting too much into bonds and cash once they hit mid-career, but if you have 15+ years until retirement, you need growth-oriented investments. Chasing “hot” stocks or trends: Stick to a solid long-term strategy instead of jumping into whatever’s trending. Forgetting to rebalance: Market movements can throw your asset allocation off balance over time. Rebalancing once or twice a year keeps your portfolio aligned with your goals. Need help figuring out the best allocation for you? A retirement planning financial advisor (like us!) can help you fine-tune your strategy. Step 3: Using Tax-Smart Strategies to Boost Growth When you’re working your way toward $1 million, tax efficiency matters. The less you pay in taxes on your investments, the more your money can grow. Consider these tax-smart moves: Utilize Roth accounts: If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket later, Roth contributions or conversions can save you tens of thousands in future taxes. Use a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy: If you’re drawing from your portfolio, pull from taxable accounts first before tapping tax-advantaged ones. Harvest tax losses: If you have investments that lost value, selling them to offset capital gains can reduce your tax bill. Many mid-career investors start thinking about Roth conversions in their 40s and 50s. Doing small annual conversions allows you to pay taxes now at potentially lower rates and enjoy tax-free growth in retirement. Step 4: Leveraging Employer Benefits & Alternative Investments If you’re earning a healthy income, your employer might offer additional investment opportunities that can help speed up your progress toward $1 million. Employer Benefits to Take Advantage Of After-tax 401(k) contributions (if your employer allows) let you save beyond the normal contribution limits. Backdoor Roth conversions enable you to convert after-tax 401(k) dollars into a Roth IRA for tax-free growth. Stock purchase plans or equity compensation can be another valuable tool—just be sure to diversify. Alternative Investments for Higher Earners For investors with additional funds beyond traditional retirement accounts, other options might include: Real estate investing for rental income or appreciation. Private equity or venture capital for high-growth opportunities. Tax-efficient municipal bonds for those in high tax brackets. These strategies aren’t for everyone, but for higher-net-worth individuals, they can provide valuable diversification and growth potential. Step 5: The Psychological Game - Staying the Course Here's something we've noticed after working with hundreds of successful savers: the journey from $250k to $1 million is often more psychological than mathematical. Market volatility will test your resolve multiple times on this journey. When (not if) markets drop by 20% or more, your $250,000 could temporarily become $200,000 or less. This is precisely when many investors make costly mistakes. The clients who reach their goals fastest are those who: Have a clear plan they trust. Understand that volatility is the price you pay for growth. Can distinguish between temporary market noise and true financial risks. Take the market downturn of early 2020, for example. Clients who stayed invested or even added to their investments during that scary time saw their portfolios not only recover but significantly grow in the following years. In many cases, those who sold at the bottom are still trying to catch up. Building Your Million-Dollar+ Retirement Plan Turning $250,000 into $1 million+ is within reach for many mid-career professionals—particularly those who implement a strategic, disciplined approach. The difference between reaching your goals on schedule or falling short often comes down to having a customized plan that addresses your specific situation. At Five Pine Wealth Management , we've guided numerous clients through this critical growth phase of retirement planning. We believe financial advice should be straightforward, jargon-free, and focused on what works. Are you ready to accelerate your path to financial independence? Let's talk. Schedule a no-obligation consultation by calling 877.333.1015 or emailing info@fivepinewealth.com . Together, we can build a plan to help you pursue that million-dollar milestone—and potentially well beyond.

The Millennial Advantage: How to Use Your Generation’s Strengths to Build Wealth

March 28, 2025

Despite always hearing about the aging of America and the baby boomer generation, did you know the millennial generation is actually the largest age group in the country? Born between 1981 and 1996, millennials outnumber baby boomers post-WW2, with about 72.2 million millennials in the United States, as of 2023. The media often highlights millennials' financial challenges: mountainous student loan debt, a competitive job market, unaffordable housing, and credit card debt. There’s no doubt it’s been more challenging for millennials to save and gain a stable financial foothold compared to previous generations. Yet despite these hurdles, millennials have financial opportunities available to them that previous generations did not. Millennials came of age with the rise of the internet and advances in technology; they’re digital natives, incredibly tech-savvy, and well-positioned to master the digital era they live in. Millennials’ unique position in history gives them advantages when it comes to investing, starting a business, and increasing their financial literacy. Millennials and Investing Millennials are changing the game when it comes to investing—innovative financial platforms and investment products have helped to evolve the investment landscape, and have made investing more accessible than ever before. As a millennial, embracing this innovation can help move you closer to achieving your goals and building a financially secure future. Impact Investing Millennials are known for being socially conscious with their spending and supporting brands and companies that align with their values. This desire to make a difference often extends into their investments—intentionally choosing to invest in companies that reflect their values and promote the causes they support. Through impact investing, you can support positive global change while also working toward your financial goals. Impact investing can be done through investing in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment funds, or through pursuing a strategy of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI). ESG funds focus on businesses that have strong environmental policies, social impact initiatives, and good governance. These funds have become increasingly popular with investors, like millennials, who want to support companies that prioritize sustainability and ethical practices. SRI focuses on investing in companies that promote environmental sustainability, social justice, and corporate ethics. SRI can also exclude investing in companies that engage in activities that are considered negative or harmful—tobacco, alcohol, fossil fuels, firearms, or the defense industry. Cryptocurrencies and Decentralized Finance Cryptocurrencies are newer investment frontiers that techie millennials can be more comfortable exploring than older generations. Crypto such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are digital currencies that operate on blockchain technology , which provides increased transparency and security. Crypto investments can be risky, but can also offer high rewards. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) platforms also leverage the security and transparency of blockchain technology to offer decentralized financial services and transactions. DeFi platforms provide opportunities for lending and investing without traditional intermediaries like banks and other centralized institutions. For millennials, DeFi represents a cutting-edge way to engage with financial services and they can offer more control and potentially higher returns than traditional methods. The Power of Time One of the biggest advantages millennials have when it comes to investing is time. If you start investing early, you can benefit from compound interest and long-term investments, which can significantly boost your returns and help increase your wealth. Compound interest is the process where the interest you earn on an investment is reinvested, which generates more interest. The longer your money is invested, the more it can grow. Even small, consistent contributions to your investment portfolio can accumulate substantial wealth over time. Having a long-term investment horizon allows you to ride out market volatility, and capitalize on growth over time. By not reacting to short-term market fluctuations, you can achieve more stable returns. Long-term investing is a powerful tool that can help you build a secure financial future. Millennial Entrepreneurship This generation’s core characteristics set them apart as innovators and business creators. As digital natives, millennials have a strong grasp of technology which allows them to leverage digital tools such as social media marketing, e-commerce tools, and data analytic platforms to grow their businesses exponentially. You’ve likely seen peers thrive in their ventures through their use of social media, which has become a critical tool for marketing, brand building, and customer engagement. Community-building is also highly valued among this generation—the use of LinkedIn alone helps entrepreneurs connect with fellow collaborators, business owners, and mentors. Similar to aligning your investments with your values, you can easily integrate your ethical beliefs into your business ventures. Ethical business practices such as developing eco-friendly products, creating an inclusive workplace culture, and advocating for fair trade processes can make a positive impact and build loyal customer bases. Millennials and Financial Literacy The millennial generation has more resources than ever to increase their financial literacy. Free online finance courses are easy to access, readily available, and enable you to educate yourself so that you can make smart financial decisions to help you achieve your goals. Personal finance apps like Mint and YNAB (You Need a Budget) can also increase your financial literacy by helping you understand and manage your finances more effectively. They offer features like budget tracking, expense management, and financial goal setting to help you be in full control of your finances. Finance apps make it easier for you to stay on top of your financial health and make informed decisions in managing your money. Work with Us to Reach Your Goals Ever-evolving technology has transformed the financial landscape significantly over the last few decades and millennials are more prepared to take advantage of that transformation than any generation before them. While you can take charge of your finances on your own, working with a financial advisor can help you find your path and stay the course of your journey toward financial security. Financial advisors can provide advice that is tailored to your individual circumstances, to better meet your unique needs and objectives. At Five Pine Wealth Management , we’re committed to helping you create a customized financial plan and investment strategy to help you reach your current and future goals. As fiduciary financial advisors, we always act in your best interest in every step we take with you on your financial journey. We also offer virtual financial planning for millennials looking to fit financial planning into their own schedules. To see if we can help you, email us or give us a call at 877.333.1015 today to schedule a meeting.