FAQ

Your Most Important Questions, Answered

Essential FAQs | Investing & portfolio strategy | Retirement planning & social security | Tax planning & charitable giving | Estate planning | Insurance & risk management | Employer & business retirement plans

Essential FAQs

At ProsperPlan, our private wealth managers begin by gaining a deep understanding of your financial life: your goals, family priorities, and long-term vision. We assess your full financial landscape, including complex assets, investment structures, and tax exposures, to uncover opportunities and risks. From there, we design a personalized strategy that aligns with your objectives and adapts over time as your needs and the markets evolve.

Yes, we partner with both individuals and business owners. As advisors to individuals, our partner advisory team provides personalized strategies tailored to the unique financial goals, challenges, and opportunities of each client, whether they’re managing personal wealth, navigating complex business finances, or integrating both. As business owners with a long history of advising entrepreneurs, we understand the needs and expectations of clients seeking guidance about succession planning, retirement plan hosting, money-saving corporate tax planning, and more.

Yes, we offer meetings with our partner-advisors either virtually or in person.

At ProsperPlan Wealth, our Sacramento-based, award-winning financial advisory firm, we start by gaining a deep understanding of your unique goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial situation. We then craft a personalized investment strategy that aligns with your objectives, whether they are growth, income, or preservation of capital. Our team continuously monitors and adjusts your portfolio to ensure it stays on track as your life and market conditions evolve.

Based in Sacramento and recognized for excellence, we focus on helping high-net-worth individuals and business owners navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence. As fiduciaries, we act solely in your best interest, delivering customized strategies and a highly engaged, relationship-first experience that distinguishes us in the local market.

A private wealth management firm offers comprehensive, tailored financial services to high-net-worth individuals, which typically includes investment management, estate planning, tax strategies, and family wealth planning. By contrast, a financial advisor may provide more general financial guidance and typically serves a broader range of clients. Private wealth management is more holistic and customized, with a focus on preserving and growing significant wealth across generations.

Yes, absolutely! Our personal financial planning services fully encompass both retirement and investment planning. We help you design a comprehensive roadmap that prepares you for a confident retirement while strategically managing and growing your investments. Our goal is to ensure every aspect of your financial future works together seamlessly.

Yes, we do! We collaborate with a range of respected local and regional organizations and nonprofits in Sacramento to help our clients realize their philanthropic goals. By building connections with trusted community partners, we ensure your charitable giving creates a lasting, meaningful impact.

Investing & portfolio strategy

Yes, at ProsperPlan Wealth, portfolio diversification and rebalancing are core components of our investment strategy. We carefully assess your current holdings, risk tolerance, and financial goals to ensure your portfolio is properly diversified across asset classes and sectors. Over time, we proactively rebalance to maintain alignment with your objectives and adapt to market changes, which helps to manage risk and optimize long-term performance.

Our partner advisors begin by using our 5-step process to identify your immediate financial priorities alongside your long-term objectives, integrating both into a cohesive, goals-based strategy. As fiduciaries, we are committed to acting in your best interest by maintaining the right balance between short-term flexibility and long-term growth. This ensures your near-term needs are met without sacrificing future potential. Ongoing reviews keep your plan aligned as circumstances and markets change.

We recommend reviewing your financial plan at least once a year, or sooner if you experience major life changes such as a career move, home purchase, or retirement. Regular reviews help ensure your plan stays aligned with your goals, market conditions, and evolving priorities, so you remain on track toward long-term financial success and prosperity.

Retirement planning & social security

At ProsperPlan, we believe the ideal time to start planning for retirement is as early as possible. The sooner you begin, the more time your investments have to grow through the power of compounding. However, it’s never too late to start, as our team helps clients at every stage of life create tailored strategies to build and protect their retirement wealth.

Yes, we do. Our partner-advisors provide comprehensive Social Security and pension guidance as part of your overall retirement strategy. We help you determine the optimal time to claim benefits and coordinate them with your other income sources to maximize your long-term financial security.

Yes, absolutely. Even if you’re already retired, we can help you explore strategies to maximize your Social Security benefits. This may include coordinating benefits with your spouse, optimizing tax efficiency, and integrating your Social Security income with your broader retirement plan.

The ideal age to claim Social Security benefits varies based on your financial circumstances, health, and retirement objectives. You can begin receiving benefits at age 62 but waiting until full retirement age, or even up to 70, can substantially boost your monthly payments. We’ll review your overall retirement strategy to help determine the timing that best supports your long-term financial goals.

We determine whether you’re saving enough for retirement by analyzing your current savings, income, lifestyle goals, and projected expenses once you retire. We use detailed financial modeling to estimate how long your savings will last and what adjustments may be needed. Our goal is to help you stay on track and feel confident that your retirement plan supports the life you envision.

Yes, absolutely. Our Sacramento-based retirement partner advisors specialize in helping clients plan for early retirement. We develop personalized strategies to ensure your savings, investments, and income sources align with your desired timeline and lifestyle goals. Our goal is to help you retire with confidence, and on your terms.

We recommend beginning a comprehensive review of your pension plan about 10 to 15 years before retirement to ensure your contributions and investments are strategically aligned with your goals. Around 5 to 10 years before retiring, we can fine-tune your plan to confirm your projected income supports your desired lifestyle. In the final 1 to 2 years, we’ll help you review payout options, beneficiaries, and paperwork to make sure everything is in perfect order for a smooth transition into retirement.

Yes, absolutely. It’s our specialty! We are experts in retirement planning and pension planning at Kaiser, PG&E, CalPERS, the University of California system, and many other public and private sector employers. Our goal is to help you understand your pension options, coordinate them with your other retirement income sources, and develop a strategy that maximizes your long-term benefits. Even if you’re already retired, we can help ensure your pension and Social Security work together efficiently to support your financial goals.

Yes, absolutely! ProsperPlan specializes in guiding couples who have different pension plans. We work closely with both partners to coordinate benefits, maximize retirement income, and align payout options with your joint financial goals. Our goal is to help you clearly understand how each plan contributes to your overall retirement strategy, so you can move forward with confidence and peace of mind.

Yes, absolutely! We carefully factor inflation and healthcare costs into every retirement and investment plan we create. Our goal is to ensure your income keeps pace with rising expenses and that you’re fully prepared for potential medical and long-term care needs. By building these considerations into your financial strategy, we help you maintain stability, comfort, and confidence throughout retirement.

As an award-winning financial advisory firm, our retirement income planning services provide a comprehensive approach to securing your financial future. We analyze your entire portfolio, and all your income sources, including pensions, Social Security, investments, and savings, to create a personalized income strategy that supports your lifestyle and goals. Our team also focuses on tax-efficient withdrawal planning, longevity protection, and estate coordination to help your money last throughout retirement.

Of course! We specialize in helping clients manage multiple income sources in retirement. Our team coordinates pensions, Social Security, investments, and other assets to create a reliable and tax-efficient income strategy.

Tax planning & charitable giving

Yes, we do. ProsperPlan offers specialized wealth management tax services tailored for high-net-worth clients. We focus on advanced tax strategies, investment optimization, and estate planning to help preserve and grow generational wealth while minimizing tax exposure.

As an integral part of your comprehensive financial plan, our forward-thinking tax planning services are designed to help you minimize tax liabilities and keep more of what you earn. More than merely filing a tax return, we review your income, investments, and deductions to identify tax-efficient strategies for distributions and then tailor them to your situation. Our advisors also coordinate with your CPA or tax preparer to ensure your overall financial plan aligns with current tax laws and opportunities.

At ProsperPlan, ongoing tax planning and advisory services provide year-round strategies to proactively reduce your tax burden, rather than simply reacting at filing time. This approach allows us to identify opportunities for savings, adjust to life or income changes, and align tax strategies with your broader financial goals. Seasonal filing alone can miss these valuable opportunities for long-term optimization.

Charitable giving can be a powerful way to reduce your tax burden while supporting the causes you care about. By strategically using tools such as donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, or by gifting appreciated assets, you can potentially lower your taxable income and avoid capital gains taxes. Our team helps you design a giving plan that aligns with your financial goals and maximizes your tax efficiency each year.

To qualify for a charitable giving tax deduction, your donation must be made to a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization. You’ll also need to itemize deductions on your tax return and keep proper documentation, such as receipts or acknowledgment letters. As your financial advisor, we can help you structure your gifts strategically, whether through cash, appreciated assets, or charitable funds, to maximize your deduction and overall tax efficiency.

Yes, absolutely. As your financial advisor, we can help you strategically plan and document charitable contributions to maximize your eligible tax deductions. We’ll guide you on the most tax-efficient giving methods available, such as donor-advised funds or appreciated assets, and we’ll also work closely with your accountant, so your generosity supports your overall financial goals.

Our charitable planning services help you make a meaningful impact on the world while optimizing your financial and tax strategy. We assist with identifying the right giving vehicles, such as donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, or direct gifts, and align them with your values and goals. Our advisors also coordinate your charitable giving with your broader estate and retirement plans to maximize benefits for both you and the causes you care about.

Estate planning

Yes, definitely. It’s important to review and update your estate plan whenever your life circumstances change, such as getting married, divorced, welcoming a new child, or experiencing significant financial changes such as an inheritance or other windfall. Keeping your plan current ensures it accurately represents your wishes and continues to safeguard your assets.

Yes, you do. While a will is an important part of your estate plan, it only covers certain aspects of asset distribution. A comprehensive estate plan also addresses trusts, taxes, healthcare directives, and powers of attorney to ensure your wishes are fully protected and efficiently executed.

Yes, absolutely! Charitable giving can be an important part of your estate plan. Our highly experienced partner-advisors can help you incorporate donations through tools like charitable trusts, bequests, or donor-advised funds to support the causes you care about. This approach can also provide potential tax benefits while leaving a lasting legacy aligned with your values.

Insurance & risk management

Yes, absolutely. While we don’t sell insurance, we can help you compare multiple providers by evaluating coverage options, pricing, and policy terms. Our goal is to guide you toward the best fit for your needs and ensure you’re fully protected without overpaying.

Yes, we do. While we don’t sell insurance, we provide insurance management consulting for both businesses and individuals. Our role is to help you assess your risks, evaluate coverage options, and ensure your policies align with your financial goals. We focus on providing objective guidance so you can make confident, well-informed decisions.

While we don’t sell insurance, and don’t work or quotas or receive commissions, our risk management services go beyond what traditional insurance agents offer. We take a holistic approach, reviewing your entire financial picture to ensure your coverage aligns with your long-term goals, risk tolerance, and estate planning needs. Traditional agents often focus on selling specific products to receive commissions, while we focus on integrating insurance and asset risk management, which are separate sectors of planning, as key parts of your overall financial strategy.

We suggest reviewing your insurance policies annually, or anytime you go through a significant life event, such as purchasing a home, getting married, having a child, or changing jobs. Regular reviews help ensure your coverage continues to match your evolving needs and financial objectives.

Employer & business retirement plans

Yes, absolutely! As business owners, we design customized retirement plans for both small businesses and corporations. Our team tailors each plan to meet the company’s goals, budget, and employee needs, whether it’s a 401(k), SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or profit-sharing plan. We handle everything from plan design and setup to ongoing management, ensuring compliance and long-term value for both employers and employees.

Yes, absolutely! Because we understand the importance of saving for retirement, we’re devoted to helping employers increase employee participation in their retirement plans. Through customized education programs, effective communication, and strategic enrollment initiatives, we help employees better understand the benefits of saving for the future.

Our employer-sponsored retirement plan services include plan design, implementation, and ongoing management. We help businesses choose and maintain the right plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b), or profit-sharing, and keep them aligned with their goals and workforce. Our team offers fiduciary support, investment monitoring, and employee education to ensure compliance, engagement, and long-term financial security.

Our team works closely with each organization to create a plan that aligns with their goals, budget, and workforce needs, whether it’s a 401(k), SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or profit-sharing plan. We provide ongoing support with plan administration, fiduciary oversight, and employee education to ensure compliance and engagement. Our goal is to help employers strengthen retention and help employees build lasting financial security.