Wealth Planning

At First Foundation Advisors we believe planning is essential to building, preserving and transferring wealth to family and philanthropy. We offer three levels of planning, each designed specifically for our clients' needs.

Whether planning for retirement or college funding or to address more complex issues such as business succession and/or creating a legacy family, our team of experts provides unbiased comprehensive advice. Quite simply, we bring the comfort of trust and the strength of experience to help clients make smarter financial decisions. Our planning team works to anticipate personal, tax, and estate planning issues that, when combined with a client's goals, produces an understandable solution for their needs.

Since the scope of services differs from client to client, our fees are determined once services are identified. Our service is unbiased and our fees are transparent. Our agreement covers planning objectives, services, fees and anticipated timeline for our engagement.

Level 1

This level is initiated with a financial wealth summary, cash flow statement and retirement projection and answers:

- Are my current assets well positioned given my goals?
- What are my cash flow needs and most effective ways to meet those needs
- How can I maintain my standard of living in retirement?

Level 2

Level 2 provides a more in depth analysis of a client's financial situation and will address issues that range beyond Level 1 planning. Our team's capabilities include answering questions such as the following:

- What are most effective ways to maximize and maintain my cash flow and budget from my existing assets?
- What are the best strategies for building and preserving wealth?
- What is the most effective retirement plan for my small business?
- How can I fund the continually higher cost of college for my children and grandchildren?
- Is my insurance appropriate and cost effective?
- How can I best minimize taxes?
- What techniques are available to me to reduce personal, business, and investment risks?

Level 3

For clients with more complex planning needs, we offer a comprehensive suite of services addressing a wider range of issues and challenges.

Comprehensive Estate Planning Review

We conduct a comprehensive overview and analysis of the client's current estate planning tools and strategies, including wealth transfer vehicles, liquidity planning, pre- and post-retirement planning, health coverage and long-term care; consideration of alternative wealth transfer goals and strategies.

> Learn more about the Comprehensive Estate Planning Review

Wealth Transfer Opportunities and Strategies

We evaluate existing and alternative strategies, and help our clients think through their priorities and goals for their children and other beneficiaries. We develop innovative tools and unique trust structures to meet the needs of our clients and their families.

Family Wealth Transfer Plan

The creation of the Family Wealth Transfer Plan helps to serve as the family road map for values based planning objectives. A timeline is developed along with the necessary activities to implement the estate plan and we collaborate closely with the family attorneys and other advisors in its establishment.

> Learn more about the Family Wealth Transfer Plan

Insurance Review & Analysis

We analyze life insurance options as part of the Family Wealth Transfer Plan. The use of life insurance is often considered when wealth is concentrated in illiquid assets such as real estate, privately owned businesses and restricted concentrated stock positions. In addition, life insurance can be instrumental in providing liquidity for closely held business owners in buy-sell arrangements. We assist in analyzing options in structuring the proper way to own and purchase life insurance for the various risks insured.

Risk Analysis

We perform an analysis of the current family legal ownership structure, planning objectives, current insurance coverage and related costs.

Risk Management Strategy

We assist legal counsel in identifying appropriate asset protection strategies and restructuring legal ownership of "high-risk" assets (e.g., sole-proprietor business activities) to minimize any contingent risk exposure.

Implementation & Oversight

Once an asset protection strategy is identified, it will be integrated with the business strategy or estate plan in terms of its design. We provide assistance to legal counsel in implementing the plan and establishing the structure. We can also provide annual or quarterly monitoring of corporate governance requirements for compliance purposes.