How Much Do You Pay Now?
Be sure to consider all potential costs: brokerage fees, advisor fees, internal investment expenses, commissions, and taxes. One of the most overlooked drags on long-term performance is poor tax planning—in some cases, tax mistakes can impact returns even more than bad investments. Another common pitfall is holding expensive investments without realizing it, often under the guidance of advisors who are incentivized by their employer’s bottom line—not yours. These costs can quietly add up to more than three percent annually.
The good news? We’re not loyal to any brokerage or fund company. Our goal is simple: to minimize your costs and optimize after-tax returns. Here’s what we strive for:
- Near zero internal expenses on investments in our asset allocation models
- Minimal trading fees by using low-cost ETFs and reducing unnecessary transactions
- No annual account maintenance fees at Charles Schwab
- Tax-efficient planning that helps reduce hidden costs over time