How Our Financial Consulting Process Works

The Discovery Conversation

Before we touch strategy, we figure out what’s actually happening. Not the sanitized version. The real version—with the fears, the complications, the things you’re embarrassed you don’t understand.

We ask uncomfortable questions. What are you worried about? What are you embarrassed about? If you’re selling a business—does this sale need to fund your entire retirement? If you inherited money—what family dynamics should we know about? If you’re planning your estate—what conflicts are you trying to prevent?

The question you don’t know to ask is usually the most important one.

For Tucson families, we dig into what matters locally. Snowbird managing multi-state residency? Just moved here and planning based on rules from your old state? We catch these disconnects early.

The Analysis & Specialist Coordination

We review every relevant document. Business financials if you’re selling. Estate documents if you’re planning. Tax returns. Account statements.

This takes time—sometimes weeks, sometimes months. We’re doing research specific to your situation, not pulling templates. Looking for what you’re missing. What could go wrong. What opportunities exist.

We coordinate with your existing team. If you have a CPA, we work with them. If you have an attorney, we align with their approach. We bring in specialists when needed.

We know which local CPAs and estate attorneys understand Tucson nuances. We can guide you to good advisors and help you avoid the ones who don’t serve your interests.

The Strategy Development & Education

Complex problems rarely have one “right answer.” Usually there are multiple viable paths with different trade-offs.

We present options using analogies and plain language. Think of it this way: you’ve won the game, you’re up by two, you’ve got the ball. Do you shoot a three or hold the ball? Everybody knows the answer. You hold the ball and win.

But when it’s your retirement security or your family’s inheritance, the right answer isn’t obvious unless you can see all the angles.

We explain what each approach accomplishes, what it costs, and what risks it carries. We run scenarios. Then we zoom out. Does this actually solve your problem?

You should be able to explain the strategy to your spouse in your own words. At the end of the day, what people want to know is that they’re getting the most efficient approach and it’s best for them.

The Recommendation Delivery & Implementation

We present formal recommendations in writing. Clear language you can reference later. If multiple options make sense, we show them side by side with honest pros and cons.

We explain how we got here—the logic, the research, the trade-offs. What needs immediate action versus what can wait.

This is your time to question everything. We’re also honest if your current setup already works. Not every consultation ends with major changes.

Here’s how we structure fees: We don’t charge for consulting. We sit down, go through your situation, provide advice and education, and give you what we would do. For that advice, there’s no cost. Think of it as testing the car before you buy.

It’s with implementation and making sure it stays on track that we charge fees. You only pay if you choose to move forward.

Ongoing Support (When You’re Ready)

Once you decide to proceed, we coordinate all necessary paperwork, account changes, legal documents, timeline-sensitive actions. We work with your CPA on tax filings, your attorney on estate documents.

We monitor critical deadlines and make sure each specialist knows what the others are doing.

We develop a strategy and tell you: go talk to your accountant and make sure they’re on board. Sometimes we identify approaches that save significant money—but only if your CPA and our planning perspective work together.

This is the natural bridge to ongoing financial planning if you choose it. Consulting is a great way to meet a financial planner. If we help you through a big challenge and do a solid job, chances are we can help with planning throughout the rest of your life. But that’s your choice.