We take financial planning
off your (very full) plate.
It is not unreasonable to want what you want.
To perform well at your job, support a growing family, have a few hours here and there for your health, and know that the financial decisions you’re making are the right ones.
But there are only 24 hours in a day.
We do one thing really well.
We serve millennial couples who have (or are expecting) kids, with household incomes above $300k and net worth above or quickly approaching $750k. We specialize in this demographic so we can do three things:
One.
Be experts on the common challenges and edge cases.
Two.
Foster and connect an amazing community of parents.
Three.
Confidently deliver value year after year.
The point of financial planning is to
help people live meaningful lives.
This is a glimpse into some of the ways we help our clients.
What we do:
Our first job is to understand you.
Cash flow analysis, investment selection and portfolio management, asset allocation and location, tax planning, education planning, estate, insurance… None of that matters if we don’t understand what really matters to you.
Over the course of a few meetings we’ll ask a lot of questions, gather a ton of documents, and essentially leave no stone unturned. It will be equal parts fun, educational, therapeutic, and administrative.
Then we build a plan around your life.
Once we know what’s important to you, we can identify goals and put them on a timeline. In order to make good decisions about how to invest, we need to know what we need money for and when. The fancy term is “asset-liability matching.”
The plan is ultimately a list of action items. You will be able to explain to your father-in-law why we’re doing what we’re doing, what is getting done, and how it impacts your family’s big picture.
We put the plan into motion.
From this point on we make sure the boxes get checked. There’s no point in doing all this work if the plan sits on a shelf collecting dust. We will hold you accountable for putting the plan into action.
For clients using our ongoing planning services, this includes managing your investments, as well as meeting throughout the year to check in on mini plans, discuss income strategy, tie up loose ends, and do tax planning.
We do it all again. Every year.
Our primary business is financial planning. We are happy to do one-time financial plans but the real benefit is the compounding effects of good decisions made year after year.
It won’t look the same every year; life has a funny way of introducing new information, and thus, creating new answers to previously asked questions.
What it costs
There are a few ways to work with us:
(Most popular)
Ongoing Financial Planning
…who want regular, proactive support and responsive service for life’s zigs and zags.
…and investment management. Includes initial onboarding and financial plan delivery (~4 meetings spanning 5-6 weeks), 3 scheduled meetings per year to address important themes, phone, text, and email support, plus access to our forthcoming Client Community.
…or 1% of assets under management annually (whichever is greater). The rate steps down for larger portfolios, per our fee schedule. Fees are billed quarterly from managed accounts or by ACH, and you can cancel anytime with 30 days notice.
One-Time Financial Plan
…like a major liquidity event, inheritance, job transition, or anyone who wants a clear financial picture without an ongoing retainer.
…covering your full financial picture. Includes a series of planning meetings, a written financial plan with clear action steps, and 90 days of follow-up support to help you implement.
…between $4,000 – $6,000, based on complexity. The fee is paid in two installments; a portion upfront, and the remainder at the midway point. Note: The one-time plan fee counts toward your first year if you decide to continue with ongoing planning.
Who you’re working with
Hi, I’m Will Steiner.
Family part first: My wife and I have three kids, including a set of twins. We’ve been together since college, where I studied math and philosophy. That combination felt random at the time, but turned out to be a great pairing for this line of work.
Given how stodgy this industry can be, “coming up” outside of it feels like a huge advantage. Before Stoneholt, I worked in Big Tech, then started a small company which was acquired by a rocket ship startup. I’ve also happily done the freelance/consulting thing.
Starting Stoneholt was a semi-selfish act; I’m at the point in my life where I really only want to work with people I could have a beer with—especially considering that, as your financial advisor, we may be talking regularly for 30+ years.
Most couples just want someone who can help map their money, time, talents, and energy to the version of their life that’s most aligned with their values. That’s “what we do here.”
What else?
I’m a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, which is very good for safely smushing children—sometimes all at once. And I write a humorous newsletter about the insanity of millennial parenthood called Parental Advisory.
I take my work seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously.
That’s about it!
Let’s have an extremely casual conversation.
If you think we’d work well together, let’s get on a call and confirm. Websites are great, but the only way to know whether a relationship as important as this one is going to work is to have a chat.
By setting up a call you are NOT:
- Committing to anything
- On the hook to pay anything
- Required to prepare anything
Some more (optional) suggestions:
- Bring your questions–nothing is off limits.
- Both people in the relationship should try to attend.
- Please show up at the agreed upon time. I’ll do the same.
Everything else you should know before we talk.
Frequently asked questions
Are you a ‘fiduciary’?
Yes. As a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), we are legally required to act in your best interest at all times. This is the fiduciary standard — it means our recommendations are based on what is right for you, not just what is “suitable.” But in our opinion, the fiduciary debate is a little overblown… plenty of fiduciaries are bad at their job, and plenty of advisors held only to the “suitability” standard are amazing.
How do you get paid?
For ongoing planning we charge a fee based on assets with a $7,500 minimum. It’s not cheap, but we’re firm believers of the idea that you get what you pay for. For one-time plans, the range is $4,000 – $6,000. Details are in our ADV (linked in the footer).
I’m not a millennial with young kids, can I work with you?
Maybe. What really matters is that we are a good fit for each other. We can suss that out on a Good Fit call. If we’re not a good fit, for whatever reason, we probably have a solid recommendation for you.
How do I know if I actually need a financial advisor?
If you have a feeling that you could be making smarter decisions with your money but don’t know where to start or have the time, that’s typically a sign. If big financial events are on the horizon (equity, inheritance, buying a home, having kids), even better.
Who is NOT a good fit for Stoneholt?
People who want someone to just pick stocks for them, people who are not interested in sharing openly and honestly about their financial or family situation, or people who are primarily looking for a discount advisor. We are not the right fit for everyone. That’s okay.
Do you work with clients in my state?
Yes. Unless you live in the Portland, OR metro area, everything is handled virtually, so location is not a barrier to working together.
Where are my investments held?
Client assets are held at a third-party custodian (currently Altruist). We never take custody of your money. You have direct access to your accounts at all times.
What is your investment strategy?
We predominantly use low-cost, broadly diversified ETFs, and bonds. Our perspective on investing for families is heavily influenced by Cullen Roche’s defined duration methodology.
I want to manage my own investments, can we make that work?
Yes. Investment management is just one piece of what we do. If you want to handle your own portfolio but need comprehensive financial planning support, we can absolutely structure things that way.
Can you help me with estate planning?
We work alongside estate planning attorneys to make sure your documents — wills, trusts, beneficiary designations — reflect your intentions. We don’t draft documents ourselves, but we will coordinate the process and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Can you help me with insurance?
Yes. We review your existing coverage and identify gaps. We work with independent insurance brokers who can shop the market and get you the right coverage at the right price.
Can you help me with tax preparation and filing?
We do not prepare or file tax returns ourselves, but we work closely with CPAs and can recommend ones we trust. We focus on year-round tax planning — making sure your strategy is in place before tax season, not after.