Tax-Focused Wealth Planning for Business Owners

Reduce Taxes | Optimize Income | Invest Smarter

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Not All Financial Advisors Are Created Equal

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Fiduciary

We have a legal and ethical obligation to put your interests first and we take this responsibility very seriously.

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CFP^® Professional

Formal recognition of expertise. Only 25% of all financial advisors* in the industry can claim this distinction.

*Source: www.cfp.net, www.cerulli.com

Independent

We are independent advisors, not employee advisors who work for a big box firm.

We work for you.

Enrolled Agent

Enrolled agent status is the highest credential the IRS awards. Individuals who obtain this elite status must adhere to ethical standards and complete 72 hours of continuing education courses every three years.

About Me

Gary L. Watts, CFP®, EA, CTC

Wealth Advisor | Tax Planner

I have been in the financial services industry since 2009. I’m a retired police lieutenant and a former Army aviator. The most common question I’m asked is how I can make the transition to wealth planning. For me, it wasn’t that big of a change.

My motivation has always been the same: helping people and doing the right thing. The same thing that gave me satisfaction on the police force gives me satisfaction in financial services: knowing that I made a positive difference in someone’s life, protecting them and their business.

Seeing the importance and the need for quality, ethical advice for individuals and companies, I decided to bring my experience in problem-solving and innovation to financial planning and investment management. Challenging times? I was made for this.

I have the privilege of working at Frontier Wealth Strategies, LP. We are an independent registered investment advisory firm.

As a Certified Tax Coach with the American Institute of Certified Tax Planners, I'm part of a community of tax professionals dedicated to help their clients achieve success and security by overcoming their biggest financial obstacle.

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Selecting the correct entity can have a major impact on your taxes.

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There are many individual tax-planning opportunities you should consider before year-end to ensure you are getting the best deal.

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Have peace of mind knowing your money stays with established institutions you can trust:

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IT’S NOT HOW MUCH YOU MAKE, IT’S HOW MUCH YOU KEEP.

Improper tax planning can have a devastating impact on your wealth. Few investors are getting the in-depth tax planning advice that they need.

FIND OUT WHY

With recent changes in the tax code coupled with California's high tax environment, many investors and professionals are faced with a more challenging tax landscape.

The good news is that the tax code also offers opportunities to legally reduce taxes if you know where to find them and how to use them.

I work with my clients’ tax professionals to construct strategies to reduce their overall tax burden.

Our firm has access to a number of tax strategies that are designed to do exactly that. Frankly, most other firms don’t have the willingness or ability to learn about these strategies. Their priorities are elsewhere, I guess.

Download your free guide to the Key Changes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Small & Medium-Sized Businesses Are The Backbone Of Our Economy

As a business owner, you’re motivated, driven and always on-the-go. As a business ourselves, we understand the stress that comes with managing personal finances while simultaneously tending to business matters. Who's in your corner?

We build financial strategies intended to help grow your business while building your personal wealth and:

Reducing or deferring taxes
Managing insurance expenses
Building cash reserves (with pre-tax dollars!)
Creating Exit Plans
Planning for business transition
Managing Your Company’s Retirement Plan & Benefits

Small businesses are the backbone of this country and our economy but it's not easy for you with regulations, competition, cashflow, & taxes. Let me be your ally.

Our comprehensive financial solutions are designed to fit your needs and the needs of your growing business to set you up for continued success. Collaborating with our team, we’ll create a plan to fully optimize your assets and your overall well-being.

If you’d like to implement a plan that will benefit both you as the business owner and the professionals you employ, contact us today.

WEALTH MANAGEMENT REQUIRES A HOLISTIC APPROACH

We take a holistic approach to financial planning and wealth management.
We take the time to gather information and to listen, to develop a deeper understanding of the financial situation, goals, ambitions, risk tolerance, legacy objectives, philanthropic wishes, and other preferences of our clients.

Start with comprehensive financial planning before making recommendations.

Whether you are growing your wealth, preparing for retirement, or providing financial well-being for your family, we will integrate all aspects of your personal and professional objectives to help you work toward your goals.

With the support of a team of specialists from a variety of financial disciplines, we offer a broad range of financial services covering key wealth management areas for our clients.
As independent advisors, our mission is to take an objective, unbiased approach, tailoring each financial plan to enhance, protect, & ultimately transfer family wealth.

Key Areas Include:

Retirement planning and strategies, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs,
401(k), 403(b) & 457 plans, Social Security planning
Investment analysis and strategies, including Treasury bills, notes, & bonds; government securities; bonds & bond funds; stocks; mutual funds; index funds; exchange-traded funds (ETFs); fixed annuities; variable annuities
Risk management & insurance, including disability income insurance, long term care (LTC) insurance, life insurance
Tax planning and strategies
Education funding, including 529 plans, Coverdell ESAs
Business succession planning
Executor & successor trustee planning
Gifting to descendants and others during life
Distribution plan to spouse, descendants, and others at death
Charitable gifting during life and at death

TAKE GREATER CONTROL IN YOUR EMPLOYER’S RETIREMENT PLAN

Over the past few years, many employers have enhanced their retirement plans to include a brokerage window opportunity so that plan participants have more choice and greater flexibility with their retirement investments. This option, known as the Self-Directed Brokerage Account (SDBA), exists in 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans where participants will have access to professional management, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

How It Works

Employer Retirement Plans that offer the SDBA option provide the opportunity for employees to take full control of a portion of their current retirement account by linking it to the existing Core account. In doing so, participants expand the range of investment choices beyond the Core investments and will have access to the same management style as high net-worth investors, Institutions and Foundations.

The Core account refers to the retirement account through the employer that offers limited, pre-selected investment choices. The SDBA is very similar to traditional brokerage accounts which exists as an eligible option on retirement plans. Employers that offer the SDBA option allow the employees to transfer a portion of their investments from the Core account to SDBA. Through this account employees have access to investment choices such as mutual funds, stocks, bonds and access to professional investment advice through a Registered Investment Advisor.

SDBAs are currently the most underutilized investment options in 401(k), 403(b) and 457 accounts. However, this option should be used by investors who feel comfortable managing their own risk or are working with a professional Investment Advisor.

Additional costs incurred by participants, if any, can vary from one SDBA provider to another. For additional information on your plan options and costs, please contact your HR department or us.

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QUALIFIED PLAN SERVICES FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

Selecting and sponsoring a 401(k) plan can be complicated, require a great deal of time and expertise, and place legal responsibilities on the business owner as the plan’s fiduciary. In addition, plan participants are most likely seeking assistance in understanding how they may utilize the qualified plan services to help achieve their retirement planning goals. Our experienced financial advisors work closely with plan sponsors to effectively address plan sponsorship issues, goals, and objectives.

Our experienced financial advisors help

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Evaluate

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Select

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Monitor

And Support Company 401(k) Plans

We Assist Plan Sponsors By:

Establishing a defined process to screen and select plan investments
Evaluating and selecting service providers, fees, and investment choices
Providing well-documented investment reviews and processes
Assisting in establishing an investment policy statement
Communicating plan information, updates, and changes to employees

Providing employee education services
Offering employee retirement planning services
Providing employee investment advice
Helping establish and maintain an audit file
Educating plan sponsors on their fiduciary responsibilities
Retirement Plan Fiduciary

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was enacted to help protect participant retirement savings by governing the operation and investment of most private sector retirement plans. Individuals responsible for managing retirement plan operations and the investment of retirement funds are called fiduciaries. They are required to act in the best interest of the plan and its participants and are held to extremely high standards.

Under ERISA’s “prudent-person rule,” a plan fiduciary that is not qualified to make informed investment decisions must seek expert assistance. Most plan sponsors do not have the time or expertise to find the right provider or identify the right investments. Compliance to these rules doesn’t have to be stressful. Simply work with our financial professionals who understand the rules, as well as a quality service provider, and act in accordance with the basic principles of fiduciary duty.

We understand the factors involved in selecting and monitoring 401(k) plan providers and investments to help ensure an effective and successful plan. 401(k) plans require ongoing plan management to ensure plans remain current with new legislation and complex rules, monitoring of the plan provider, reviewing fees to ensure they are reasonable, and maintaining a well-documented process to demonstrate that legal obligations are fulfilled.

What Do You Do When A Family Member Dies?

Losing a family member can be a difficult and emotional experience. You and your family will need time to grieve.mIn addition to dealing with the loss of a loved one, a number of important tasks will need to be completed and financial decisions will need to be made.

Key Tasks & Decisions When Losing A Loved One

Many of these important tasks and financial decisions will need to be addressed in the near-term.

You may need to:

Make final arrangements
Notify various businesses and government agencies
Settle the individual’s estate
Provide for your own financial security

Consider Enlisting Professional Help

If you need assistance with these tasks and decisions, contact us. We have experience and we can provide help and guidance. Our team can help identify, prioritize and execute these tasks and provide guidance throughout the process. We can provide peace of mind that these important tasks and decisions will be addressed properly so you can focus on other important matters.

Please note that we do not provide legal advice. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state.

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While every conversation is different, you should expect to cover some general information and get a sense of what it’s like to collaborate with us.