Our Areas of Focus
Our Areas of Focus
Corporate Benefits
Corporations confer huge benefits – more than you may realize.
We’ll take the time to comb through yours, and what they do for you. These benefits form a part of your compensation. We can help you maximize them in light of your overall plan and objective.
Insurance
The Azura team can help you suit up with cutting-edge strategies to help you grow and protect your wealth, and to create structures to keep your endeavors as safe as possible. No matter what your level of ambition or experience, we keep your bold aspirations grounded in solid thinking. Get the support you need to help shield yourself from shocking setbacks and surprises…and to grab onto serendipities to make the most of them.
*Neither MML Investors Services nor any of its employees or agents are authorized to give legal or tax advice. Consult your own personal attorney legal or tax counsel for advice on specific legal and tax matters.
How do you want to build wealth and develop your career? The concept of "risk management" is cliché, but it’s still a valid concept. When you sock assets away in safe (dare we say “boring”) vehicles, you cover yourself. That cover in turn gives you the confidence to explore some wild ideas without fear. High risk/high reward stuff can be part of a balanced diet, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you eat.
Taxes
You'd like to reduce your tax burden. Believe it or not, you can draw from an assortment of tools to get the job done.
Whether it's planning your retirement, educating smart kids, or growing your business, it's important to keep your mind's eye on the tax implications all the while. Strategies like tax loss harvesting, tax efficient growth, and optimizing tax treatment in the distribution phase are not to be overlooked as they directly impact your bottom line.
These and other tax strategies can help. But they shouldn't be attempted in a vacuum. Ideally your bigger picture wealth management ideas will inform and direct them.
Investments
Real investing, done right, isn’t remotely like the movies.
You don’t need to be an obsessive crypto-numerologist to get in on the action. Investing well can have less to do with what "vehicles" you choose (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.) than it does with the strategic process you use.
Whether you’re doing it for the thrill, hoping to create a nest egg for your retirement, or just wanting to quit your day job, the investment strategy must always be subject to the investment purpose.
Stock picking is not the way forward. Warren Buffett recently praised the benefit of index fund investing, and we think he's on to something.1 The idea is to implement a systematic, low cost, diversified investment strategy consistent with your time frame and risk tolerance, and hang on to it.
*Asset allocation does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in declining markets. There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will outperform a non-diversified portfolio or that diversification among asset classes will reduce risk.
Retirement
In retirement, every day is Saturday.
Whether you're just starting to think about retirement planning, or it's right around the corner, this is probably your most important financial endeavor. It's never too late (or too early) to start planning for the retirement you envision. Maybe you have a picture in your mind of sipping piña coladas on a tropical beach, or maybe you just want the financial flexibility to slow down at work.
Wherever you are, relax. Breathe. With the right methodology, we can help make it work.
Together we'll gain clarity on three things: where you're at now, what you're hoping to get out retirement, and how you will navigate the journey to your ideal endpoint.
Saving and planning for retirement shouldn't be stressful. It isn’t rocket science. It's doable. We can help you forge a path and course correct, as needed, so you can feel not just comfortable, but downright excited about the future.
Estate Planning
Let’s not beat around the bush: Many people shy away from estate planning because, on some level, they want to avoid contemplating mortality.
So if you've been hesitating to write a will or set up a trust, don't beat yourself up. You're neither lazy, nor irresponsible. It’s just uncomfortable (at least for some people) to address estate planning issues head on.
Estate planning prevents bad events at or near the end of your life, such as arguments and confusion about your medical care and comfort; infighting among your children and other heirs; and nasty tax or probate consequences that can strip your estate of much of its value.
Simply put, it's a process to establish financial structures and arrangements that help you gain control of your future.
We support clients to make them feel comfortable while tackling uncomfortable, unfamiliar projects. You have worked hard to grow your wealth, raise a family, and give back to causes dear to your heart. We can help you insure your legacy with good planning that makes life more productive, creative and joyful.
*Estate Planning services are provided working in conjunction with your Estate Planning Attorney, Tax Attorney and/or CPA. Consult them for specific advice on legal and tax matters.
REFERENCES
1 https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/12/warren-buffett-says-index-funds-make-the-best-retirement-sense-practically-all-the-time.html