Getting Started

  • At Upper Left, we go far beyond just managing investments. We take a holistic approach to financial planning, offering a variety of strategies in retirement income planning, tax planning, estate planning, and personalized decision-making support.

    Our focus is on creating a comprehensive financial plan that aligns with your life goals.

  • While managing your finances independently is possible, working with a financial planner provides professional guidance, saves you time, and helps you avoid costly mistakes.

    While most clients want us to help with everything, we also offer flat-fee financial planning without an obligation of moving assets under management.

  • We have advisors who match with different types of clients.

    Whether you're a young professional navigating stock options, a retiree exploring Roth conversions or estate planning, or a middle-class millionaire (a common profile in Seattle), we have the right fit for you. 

Working With Us

  • Our financial professionals offer a fee-based financial planning firm, meaning our compensation comes primarily from the fees our clients pay for our services.

    This structure aligns our interests with yours, ensuring our advice is always in your best interest. We also offer flat-fee financial planning and/or asset-based investment management.

  • When offering investment advisory services, our financial professionals act as fiduciaries. This means we are legally obligated to act in your best interest, putting your needs and goals above all else. Our fiduciary commitment is central to the trust and transparency we build with our clients.

  • Our process starts with an in-depth understanding of your financial situation, goals, and values. We then create a customized financial plan, implement the strategies, and regularly review and adjust the plan as your life evolves.

    This ongoing relationship ensures your financial plan adapts to inevitable changes in your life and the market. Read more about our approach.

    Financial plan recommendations can be implemented with the advisor of your choosing. Implementation of specific products or services may result in commissions or fees outside of the financial planning fee.

  • Typically, we will have 2-4 meetings each year, depending on your needs. At minimum, we conduct a full plan review and update annually. However, we're always available to address any questions or changes in your financial situation as they arise without any additional fees.

  • We believe in a disciplined, high conviction, evidence-based investment approach focused on long-term growth, managing risk, and minimizing costs. Some areas benefit from more tactical management, while others are best suited for a passive, set-it-and-forget-it approach. Your portfolio will be custom-made, not a one-size-fits-all solution based on a risk tolerance score.

Planning For Retirement

  • Tax planning is integral to our financial planning process. We work to minimize your tax burden throughout your lifetime, not just during tax season. We utilize strategies like tax-loss harvesting, tax-efficient asset location, backdoor Roth IRAs, Roth conversion analysis, and more. Our goal is to help you keep more of what you earn.

  • We specialize in creating retirement income strategies that ensure you have a reliable income stream throughout your retirement. We don’t view each account in isolation—holistic financial planning isn’t just a buzzword for us.

  • We work closely with you and your legal advisors to ensure your estate plan reflects your wishes. This includes helping with wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and strategies to minimize estate taxes, ensuring your legacy is preserved for your loved ones.

    We handle the planning, so estate attorneys can focus on what they do best.

  • For our first meeting, it’s helpful to bring any relevant financial documents, such as recent tax returns, investment statements, and an outline of your financial goals. This helps us gain a clear picture of your financial situation and start crafting a tailored plan for you.

*Any discussion of taxes is for general information purposes only, does not purport to be complete or cover every situation, and should not be construed as legal, tax or accounting advice. Clients should confer with their qualified legal, tax and accounting advisors as appropriate.

More Questions?

Schedule a call with one of our advisors.