Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to work in tech?

No, but we have deep experience of living in Silicon Valley and working in tech as a software engineer. Our services are structured to accommodate the realities of the tech industry, like equity compensation, IPOs, and volatile stock grants.

Do I have to move my investments?

No. Pricing is the same regardless. You can keep your investments at your current custodian while we provide holistic portfolio design and guidance.

Do you have any account minimums?

No minimums, since we don't charge based on assets under management. That said, our ongoing services are best suited for those with $300k+ household income, $1M+ in assets, and/or equity compensation.

Are you a fiduciary?

Yes, we are legally obligated to act in your best interest above our own. Andy Moran is also a Candidate for CFP® certification, which requires that they commit to acting as a fiduciary at all times when providing financial advice.

Why "fee-only"? What about "fee-based"?

Fee-only means our compensation comes exclusively from client fees - no commissions, no third-party payments. Fee-based advisors can also receive additional compensation through product commissions, which can create conflicts of interest.

Why flat fees instead of AUM?

As a flat-fee firm, we charge a fixed dollar-amount fee rather than charging a fee based on a percentage of assets managed or receiving commissions on products sold.

Flat fees mean our advice is always aligned with what's best for you, whether that's paying down a mortgage, exercising options, or investing more, rather than what benefits my bottom line.

We believe in providing an all-inclusive service that ensures you will never have to worry about getting billed for an extra hour or two of work when you want to ask us a question.

We believe that a flat-fee model is a particularly great fit for Bay Area tech professionals.

Are you a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)?

Andy Moran has completed the CFP coursework and exam and has submitted their Ethics Declaration. They are within weeks of completing the experience requirement to earn the full certification.

Do you work with clients outside SF and Boston?

Yes! While most of our clients are in the SF Bay Area and Boston, we work with folks nationwide. All meetings are virtual.

Do you do projects?

Yes - we still offer project-style engagements.

Rather than a "comprehensive plan" (which in our opinion requires a deeper, more ongoing understanding of your full situation), we focus on single-meeting sessions designed to address a specific, narrower set of questions efficiently.

For clients who want (or need) deeper, holistic work across their full financial picture, that level of ongoing context-building is part of our ongoing advisory relationships.

What is your investing philosophy?

We primarily use index funds for equity allocations, emphasizing tax-efficient asset location.

We also partner with providers like Quantinno, Cache, and Alpha Architect to offer more advanced tax-aware investing strategies.

Can you do my taxes?

Tax planning is integral to our financial planning services, but we don't currently offer tax preparation. We will coordinate with your tax preparer to make sure everything aligns with the plan.

How do you store and safeguard my data?

We take data privacy seriously. You can find details in my Privacy Policy, and we're happy to answer specific technology questions directly.

What's included in the free intro call?

A 20-minute conversation to understand your financial situation, discuss what you're looking for, and determine if we might be a good fit. No pressure, no sales pitch.