Frequently asked questions

We work with clients from all walks of life, though most have portfolios of $1 million or more (excluding real estate and certain retirement accounts). If we aren’t the right fit, we’ll do our best to answer your questions and point you in the right direction.

We charge a transparent fee based on your investments, starting at 1.5% for the first $1 million and decreasing as your assets grow. There are no commissions, hidden fees or extra charges for tax or estate planning. We bill monthly for maximum flexibility: if at any point you feel the value doesn’t outweigh the cost, you’re free to walk away–there are no long-term commitments.

Our partnership buys back your time and peace of mind. While we drive tangible value through sophisticated tax, investment and retirement strategies, the true benefit is living confidently without second-guessing your decisions or needing to become the expert yourself. We allow you to step away from the spreadsheets and focus on your calling, confident your financial engine is being managed by professionals.

Accounts transition immediately after our engagement, and the full transition takes about 2-4 weeks. We coordinate with your current advisors and handle the heavy lifting for you.

Absolutely. Most CPAs excel at reporting the past, but we specialize in optimizing your future. We don’t just record history; we help you architect your future through proactive strategies that protect your wealth from unnecessary taxes—both this year and for decades to come.

It means aligning your finances with your faith and values. We help you manage your resources wisely so you can live generously, fulfill your calling, and leave a lasting legacy. Because we are founded on Christian values, we prioritize wise stewardship over building “bigger barns”. We view money as a tool for impact, not an end in itself. While the world fixates on accumulating earthly treasures, we prioritize eternal impact and helping you Seek First the Kingdom.

You maintain full ownership to your accounts at Charles Schwab, a leading independent custodian. We act as your professional navigator with limited authority to manage the trades and strategies on your behalf. Because we are independent and commission-free, our advice is never tied to a specific product—only to your goals.

Moving your accounts is a simple, secure process. We transfer your investments “in-kind,” meaning nothing is sold or changed during the transfer. Your IRAs or brokerage accounts stay exactly the same, the only difference is where you log in. We don’t make any changes to your portfolio until you approve a personalized plan built around your goals and tax strategy.

Not exclusively, but the vast majority of our client community are people of faith. But if you approach your finances from a values-driven perspective and share a heart for generosity, we may still be a great fit for you.

We strive to live up to our values of Seeking First the Kingdom by donating the 100% of our profits to charity each year.

Yes. We are legally and ethically bound to act as your fiduciary, meaning your interests must always come before our own. For us, this isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a commitment to transparency. You can rest assured that the strategy we build for your family is objective, honest, and focused solely on your success.

A Christian financial advisor is a financial professional who builds planning around biblical values as well as numbers. Faith can shape how they approach giving, debt, investing and legacy. The title is not a license. Ask how faith guides their advice, how they are paid and whether they act as a fiduciary.

Start with a short list, then check each firm. Look up the firm on the SEC adviser record at adviserinfo.sec.gov. Ask whether they act as a fiduciary. Ask how faith shapes their advice. Seek First has an office in Campbell, California. See the areas we serve to find the closest team.

Biblically responsible investing means choosing investments that fit biblical values. An investor may avoid companies tied to activities they believe conflict with their faith, or favor those they believe do good. Different investors apply different screens, so ask any manager exactly what they screen and how. All investing involves risk of loss.

Fiduciary describes a legal duty to put the client's interests first. Fee-only describes how an adviser is paid, with no commissions. The two are different ideas. An adviser can be a fiduciary without being fee-only. Ask any adviser both questions, and ask for how they are paid in writing.

Many people manage well on their own. Help tends to matter more when decisions overlap, such as company stock, retirement income, taxes, giving and an estate plan. If you cannot say how those pieces fit together, a second opinion may help. Check any adviser's record at adviserinfo.sec.gov before you decide.

A multi-family office serves several wealthy families with coordinated financial help under one relationship. The work often spans investments, taxes, estate planning, insurance and giving. It differs from a single investment manager because the team looks at the whole picture. Ask any firm which services it provides itself and which it coordinates.

Proposition 19 is a California law that changed property tax rules for homeowners. It limits the parent-child transfer exclusion to a family home that is the parent's principal residence and becomes the child's principal residence, or a family farm. It also adds a value limit. Check the Board of Equalization for current details.

Yes, Prop 19 applies to inherited homes. The Board of Equalization says the exclusion applies only if the home was the parent's principal residence and becomes the child's. At least one heir must live there and apply for the homeowners' exemption within one year. A value limit may also add tax. Ask an attorney.

No. The California State Controller says that for people who die on or after January 1, 2005, there is no longer a requirement to file a California estate tax return. The federal estate tax can still apply to large estates. A trust still matters for avoiding probate and naming who decides.

Not everyone does, but many California families use one. A revocable living trust can help assets pass outside probate and name who manages your affairs if you cannot. It does not reduce income tax on its own. An estate planning attorney can say whether your home and assets call for one.

Probate is the court process that proves a will is valid, pays debts and passes assets to heirs. It is public and can take time. Assets held in a trust, or with a named beneficiary, often pass outside probate. Ask a California estate attorney which of your assets would go through it.

A donor-advised fund is a giving account held at a public charity. You contribute, you may be able to claim a charitable deduction in that year, and you recommend grants to charities over time. The charity holds legal control of the funds. Ask your CPA how it fits your tax situation.

A donor-advised fund is simpler and cheaper to run because a sponsoring charity handles the paperwork. A private foundation gives your family more control, but it brings its own filings, rules and costs. The right fit depends on how much you plan to give and how involved you want to be.

A qualified charitable distribution, or QCD, is a gift sent directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. The IRS says you must be at least age 70½ when it is made. A QCD can count toward a required minimum distribution. Ask your CPA to confirm the rules for your accounts.

For 2026, the IRS raises the annual limit on qualified charitable distributions from $108,000 to $111,000 per person, in Notice 2025-67. The limit changes with inflation, so check the current figure on irs.gov before you give. Your CPA can confirm how a QCD fits your return.

Yes. You can give appreciated stock you have held to a qualified charity instead of selling it first. In general, you may avoid tax on the gain and may claim a deduction for the value, within IRS limits. Rules differ by charity type and holding period, so ask your CPA first.

Christians hold different views. Some tithe on gross income, the first fruits of all they earn. Others tithe on net income, after taxes. Some see the tithe as a starting point for giving, not a rule. Scripture such as Malachi 3:10 and 2 Corinthians 9:7 invites prayerful, cheerful giving. Talk with your pastor.

A Roth conversion moves money from a pre-tax retirement account, such as a traditional IRA, into a Roth IRA. You generally pay income tax on the amount converted in that year. People often study conversions in low-income years or before required distributions start. Talk with your CPA before you convert.

The IRS says you generally must start taking withdrawals from your IRA or retirement plan when you reach age 73. Your first required distribution is due by April 1 of the following year. Rules vary by birth year and account type, so check the current IRS table for your situation.

Restricted stock units are generally taxed when they vest, based on the value of the shares at that time. IRS Publication 525 treats the stock's fair market value at vesting, less any amount you paid, as the taxable amount. Your employer may withhold less than you owe, so ask your CPA to plan ahead.

When you exercise incentive stock options, you may owe alternative minimum tax, or AMT, in the year of the exercise even if you do not sell the shares. The IRS says plainly that you may be subject to AMT in the year you exercise an ISO. Model the tax with a CPA before you exercise.