Questions people ask before they book.

Thirty minutes over Zoom, or by phone if you prefer. It's a chance for us to get to know each other: we learn about your situation, and you ask whatever you want about how we work with clients. No sales pressure and no decision to make on the call. It's information gathering and finding out whether we're a mutual fit. If we're not, we'll happily help you find an advisor who is.

Not at all. Most of our work happens virtually, and we serve clients nationwide. If you're local to Southern California (Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Irvine, Laguna Beach, or anywhere from Los Angeles to San Diego), in-person meetings are an option too.

No. We believe everyone should have access to high-quality financial planning, no matter how much they have to invest. That's why we charge a flat planning fee, with investment management as an optional add-on.

By you, and nobody else. A flat planning fee, and an optional 0.50% a year if you'd like us to run the portfolio. No commissions, no product sales, no one else paying us, so the advice comes with as few conflicts of interest as possible. See our fees.

Because we believe everyone should have access to high-quality financial planning, no matter the size of your investment accounts. Most traditional wealth management firms are built around the assets they manage, and they're designed to give the best service to the clients with the most assets to manage. That leaves out people with complex finances but few traditional assets: business owners whose net worth is tied up in the business, or professionals whose net worth sits in restricted stock units or private company stock. They still need sophisticated planning. So we charge a flat fee for the planning, regardless of assets, with the option to add investment management if you'd like us to run the portfolio and coordinate it with your plan.

It depends on which of our two engagements fits you. A one-time plan is a four-month engagement: one written plan you can carry out yourself, with our help on implementation along the way. It typically costs between $3,000 and $10,000 based on complexity. Ongoing planning is for clients who want a long-term partner. The planning fee starts at $6,000 a year and typically lands between $6,000 and $15,000, with very complex situations above that, plus a one-time onboarding fee equal to one quarter's fee. Investment management is available to ongoing clients at 0.50% a year. We quote your fee before any work starts.

Yes. A fee-only financial planner is paid only by you. No commissions, no product sales, no compensation from anyone but the client. That aligns our interests with yours and keeps conflicts of interest to a minimum. Luhman Wealth Partners is a fee-only financial planning firm and a fiduciary, which means we're required to act in your best interest at all times.

Many advisors charge a percentage of the assets they manage, with the planning bundled in. The downside is that the planning only comes with the managed money, and many firms set a high minimum for it. That underserves business owners and employees with equity compensation, who often have a limited amount of assets to manage and a lot of planning to do. We price it differently: the planning fee stands on its own, as a flat fee, so you pay for the advice you need. If we also manage your investments, that's a separate 0.50% a year.

The one-time plan is billed in two installments: one at the start, and one when you receive the plan. Ongoing planning is billed quarterly, plus a one-time onboarding fee equal to one quarter's planning fee when you start. Investment management is billed quarterly in arrears, from the managed account.

A one-time plan is designed to give you a clear picture of where you stand and the next steps to get where you want to go. We build it so you can carry it out on your own, and we help with implementation during the limited planning engagement, typically four months. Ongoing planning is for people who want the relationship: a partner who meets with you several times a year, reviews your situation proactively, revisits your goals every year to keep you on track, and coordinates with your estate planning attorney, your CPA, and your other professionals.

It depends on how much is involved. We'll give you a sense of timing on the intro call.

Yes. Because we charge a flat planning fee, you can engage us for planning only, and we'll coordinate with the managers you already have. Some clients prefer to have us manage everything in-house, and we offer that too, for an additional 0.50% a year.

Yes, at all times, on every engagement. Fee-only and fiduciary get used interchangeably, but they aren't the same. We're both, and we'd encourage you to ask any advisor you talk to whether they are.

Your CPA's job is to report last year accurately. Ours is to plan this year and the next few. We work with your CPA on quarterly estimates and make sure you have the cash set aside. We line your investments up with your tax plan so the portfolio isn't quietly generating a bill. We plan around the big moments, an option exercise, a vest, a business sale, before they happen. And we use everything we know about your year to make the right moves before December 31, so April isn't a surprise.

No. We plan taxes with your CPA year-round, and your CPA prepares and signs the return. We coordinate with your attorney on trust and estate documents without drafting them or giving legal advice. Our job is to make sure you understand your options and make informed decisions, and to get you to the specialists in those areas when you need them. We don't sell insurance; if you need coverage, we'll say what kind and how much, then refer you to a fee-only broker.

For ongoing clients, we're available as needed between meetings. Send an email, give us a call, and we're here to support you.

We're based in Irvine, California, and work with clients across Orange County, including Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, and Laguna Beach, throughout Southern California from Los Angeles to San Diego, and nationwide virtually. We work mainly with business owners, employees with equity compensation, inheritors and trustees, and other high-net-worth households with complex financial lives.