Financial Planning & Investment Management FAQ

Motif Planning works best with high-income families, executives, and professionals who have built a strong financial foundation and want ongoing financial planning and investment management.

Many clients are dual-income families in their 30s and 40s earning $350k to $500k+, often with kids, growing investments, demanding careers, equity compensation, complex benefits, and tax planning opportunities.

Yes. I work with clients across the country.

All meetings are held virtually over Zoom, and we use secure online tools to share documents, track your plan, and stay organized.

No. Motif Planning is based in Dallas, TX, but works with clients virtually across the country.

Many families find virtual planning easier because they can meet from home or work without adding another commute to an already full schedule.

Motif Planning is probably not the right fit if you only want a one-time answer, are mainly looking for product recommendations, or are not looking for an ongoing financial planning relationship.

The best fit is a family that has already built a solid financial foundation and wants help coordinating taxes, investments, benefits, equity compensation, insurance, estate planning, and major financial decisions over time.

The discovery call is a 15-minute Zoom meeting.

We talk through your family, income, career, taxes, investments, benefits, and what made you reach out. You do not need to prepare anything formal before the call.

If it feels like a fit, I’ll explain the next steps. If not, I’ll point you in a better direction when I can.

The first few months focus on understanding your financial picture, building your plan, and prioritizing implementation.

We review your financial documents, current investments, tax situation, benefits, goals, and values. Then we build your financial plan, prioritize the next steps, and begin implementing recommendations and investment management where appropriate.

We meet at least twice per year, typically in the Spring and Fall.

Outside of those meetings, you can reach out anytime with questions. We schedule additional meetings as needed when something changes or a major decision comes up.

I also reach out proactively when there are planning opportunities, deadlines, or updates that affect your situation. You are not left to figure things out on your own between meetings.

I charge one flat annual fee for ongoing financial planning and investment management.

The fee is $10,000 per year, billed quarterly. I do not earn commissions or charge a percentage of the investments I manage.

I do not receive compensation from investment or insurance companies.

Yes. Fee-only means clients pay Motif Planning directly for financial planning and investment management.

I do not earn commissions, sell financial products, or receive compensation from investment or insurance companies.

No. Motif Planning does not have an investment minimum.

The annual fee is based on the ongoing financial planning and investment management relationship rather than the size of your portfolio.

No. Investment management is available as part of your ongoing relationship, but you are not required to transfer every investment account.

For accounts we manage, we handle the ongoing portfolio management. For accounts that remain outside our management, such as employer retirement plans, we can still coordinate them with your broader investment strategy.

The fee is $10,000 per year, billed quarterly at $2,500.

Ongoing financial planning and investment management are included. There are no upfront fees, commissions, or additional advisory charges based on the amount of assets we manage.

You can cancel with 30 days’ notice.

You can read the full pricing details on the pricing page.

I provide ongoing, comprehensive financial planning and investment management.

This includes tax planning, investment management and portfolio design, equity compensation planning, cash flow and savings strategy, employee benefits review, insurance planning, retirement planning, college planning, estate planning coordination, and coordination with your CPA and other professionals.

Yes. Tax planning is a core part of the work.

I help you look ahead at tax decisions around 401(k) contributions, Roth versus pre-tax savings, HSAs, equity compensation, charitable giving, investment accounts, and multi-year planning.

I do not prepare tax returns, but I will coordinate with your CPA.

Yes. I help with RSUs, stock options, bonuses, deferred compensation, ESPPs, 401(k)s, HSAs, insurance benefits, and open enrollment decisions.

The goal is to help you understand how your compensation and benefits fit into taxes, investing, cash flow, and long-term planning.

Yes. I regularly coordinate with CPAs, estate attorneys, insurance professionals, and other members of your financial team.

This helps keep your tax plan, estate plan, insurance, investments, and financial planning decisions aligned.

Yes. These are all part of comprehensive planning.

We review insurance needs, college savings, retirement projections, beneficiary designations, estate documents, and the major family decisions that connect to your plan.

We build and manage a portfolio based on your goals, time horizon, risk tolerance, tax situation, cash needs, and account types.

The focus is on diversification, low costs, tax efficiency, and keeping your investments aligned with your broader financial plan. For accounts we manage, we handle portfolio implementation, monitoring, and rebalancing.

I take a long-term, evidence-based approach.

That means using broadly diversified portfolios, keeping costs low, and minimizing unnecessary trading. Taxes and fees matter, so we structure your portfolio to be as efficient as possible over time.

The goal is to build and manage a portfolio that supports your financial plan rather than chase short-term performance.

Yes. I am a fiduciary at all times, which means I am required to act in your best interest when providing financial advice.

I do not earn commissions or receive incentives to recommend specific financial products.

Recommendations and investment decisions are based on your goals, your family, and your long-term financial plan.

Motif Planning charges one annual fee for financial planning and investment management.

Your advisory fee does not automatically increase as your investment portfolio grows. A household with $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million managed pays the same annual fee.

No. Many clients are already saving, investing, using their employee benefits, and making thoughtful financial decisions.

They work with Motif Planning because their income, investments, taxes, compensation, and family decisions have become increasingly connected and they want someone helping coordinate and manage them.