The ultra-high net worth investors have had the benefit of coordinated financial planning for years. Unfortunately, the middle class and middle-class millionaires who need holistic planning the most, have not benefited from this same level of service. While many investment advisors claim to provide holistic planning, most advisors typically focus one or two aspects of financial planning and avoid or prohibit their advisors from providing planning in the areas taxes and healthcare/Medicare. Unfortunately, this leaves the clients that most need coordinated holistic advice with the risk of running out of money due to poor planning, particularly in retirement.
Watch below to better understand the value of a holistic advisor.
By creating a holistic plan, we will optimize all assets and strategies to work collectively towards your goals, while also reducing critical inefficiencies. To learn more about how our proven process enables us to create customized holistic plans for our clients click here.
Have you ever heard of The Money Cycle? The Money Cycle is something that we all go through during our lifetime, and there are three phases: accumulation, preservation, and distribution. Watch the video to learn more.
Studies have shown that on average retirees who have a level of financial security in retirement live longer and happier lives. We believe your retirement years should be a time for you to enjoy the fruits of your many years of labor. Whether retirement means traveling the world, spending time with your grandchildren, or starting a new venture, we believe having a secure plan in place will allow you to truly enjoy your retirement years.
Although we can’t forecast future stock market returns or predict what the future tax code will look like, we believe that through proper planning, you can achieve a more secure financial future by addressing your biggest retirement risks. These risks include poor returns in the early years of retirement, outliving your life expectancy, inflation eroding your purchasing power, and taxes eroding your wealth. As holistic planners, our responsibility is to assist you in managing and preparing for these risks, and to help you invest with confidence for the long term.
Taxes in general are complicated, but when you add in additional tax rules associated with Social Security and increased Medicare premiums associated with income levels, you get a whole new level of confusion. Because taxes are typically the largest expense in retirement, we believe that it is critical to have a knowledgeable team to ensure that you pay the least you are legally required to pay. While, accountants are a valuable part of our client’s financial team, we also recognize that accountants tend to be more focused on correctly filing tax returns than analyzing strategies to reduce your taxes both in the current and future years. We work with our clients to identify applicable strategies and plan strategically to ensure that they pay the least amount possible. To learn more about our proven tax management process click here.
The biggest misconception we see is people think that legacy planning is “just for the kids.” However, for many families, legacy planning is MOST important for the surviving spouse. After a spouse passes away, one of the biggest shocks that is not talked about enough is the significantly increased tax burden that is placed on the surviving spouse. This occurs because the surviving spouse goes from the married to the single tax brackets, and in the process the standard deduction is cut in half, marginal brackets shrink, and overall taxes go up dramatically. Added to which, losing one of the two Social Security payments and potential pensions, income is almost always reduced as well. So, taxes go up and income goes down for a surviving spouse. Without proper planning this is often detrimental to the standard of living that the surviving spouse can now afford.
Legacy planning for the kids and other important people in your life is also vital to ensure that taxes don’t significantly reduce your assets that you are able to pass on. We like to remind our clients that it isn’t the top line number that is most important, it’s the after-tax bottom line number that truly matters. The IRS would love for you not to plan and leave most of your assets to the government, but proper planning can help ensure that you leave the largest amount to your heirs.
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Investment advisory services offered through Epiqwest Culver Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance services offered through licensed professionals of Epiqwest Culver Wealth Advisors, LLC.
Noah graduated from Colorado State University in May 2023, holding a dual bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance. After completing his studies, he joined the Epiqwest Culver team as a Client Relationship Representative, the first step towards becoming an Advisor for the firm. Over the next few years Noah is looking forward to starting the Paraplanning role, where he aims to gain practical experience in financial planning and successfully pass the necessary licensing exams, with the long-term goal of progressing to the position of licensed advisor at Epiqwest Culver. He feels grateful for the opportunity and is thankful to learn by working side by side with the team of knowledgeable and experienced advisors at Epiqwest Culver.
Originally from California, Noah spent some of his early years in Santa Cruz before moving to Durango, Colorado, in 2007, where he resided until he started college in Fort Collins. Currently settled in Boulder, Colorado, he enjoys the wide range of hobbies the Front Range offers. During the winter, Noah can often be found skiing the different mountains nearby, while in the summer, he enjoys getting on the river and fly fishing. Additionally, he likes traveling to explore new destinations and experience his favorite pastimes across the country.
Sarah brings over 15 years of versatile administrative knowledge with comprehensive experience in the development and implementation of organizational practices. Throughout her career, she has used these skills in various fields to include tax advisory, business management, legal services, and healthcare. This vast experience has led her to constantly seek creative and innovative ways to achieve personal, team, and organizational results. Sarah thrives in situations where an answer is not readily available and excels when assigned unconventional projects.
Sarah was born and raised in the North Denver Metro area where she now resides with her husband and children. She enjoys art, design, music, travel and taking on home improvement projects. Sarah shares good humor and a big smile with everyone she meets.
Sarah has a passion for helping others and loves incorporating her talents into charitable deeds.
She has worked with abused and neglected children through her calling as a court appointed advocate. Since then, Sarah has enjoyed hosting painting classes for nursing home residents in her community and currently, she volunteers her time by designing promotional material for a local church.
Operations Manager
Niki earned her Bachelor of Science as well as her Master’s in Accounting. She has worked in the financial services industry since early 2010 and is well-versed in the pressures and rewards of our clients’ financial journeys.
Niki is delighted to manage all aspects of the client relationship and prides herself on efficient communication, attention to details, and delivering results. While striving to exceed expectations in service and client care, she continually prioritizes clients’ needs with professionalism and compassion.
Niki is extremely passionate about her family; she enjoys sharing beautiful and invigorating experiences with her husband and their two charismatic children, Maci and Jet. In her free time, Niki enjoys kickboxing, exercising, traveling, camping, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
Portfolio Manager
Ivan worked as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver, where he taught a graduate level course, Ethics in Finance. As the Advocacy Chair for CFA Society Colorado (CFACO), Ivan engaged U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter to be the first speaker in the District Dialog series and introduced Governor Hickenlooper to Investors First Month of May.
Ivan is the past president of CFACO, the largest financial society in Colorado with over 1,400 members, where he arranged the annual forecast dinner with 400 industry professionals. Also, he organized the CFA Institute Research Challenge for Colorado and Wyoming universities for four years. He has partnered with top executives to engage them as the subject companies of the research challenge: Ball Corp, Molson Coors, Charles Schwab, DaVita, and Arrow Electronics.
In recognition for his contribution to enhancing the standing of the CFACO and raising the stature of the CFA Charter, Ivan was awarded the annual Jonathan Holtzinger Award of Excellence by CFACO.
Ivan is the past Director of Global Association of Risk Professionals in Denver. Ivan organized chapter meetings, including lectures at the Fed.
Ivan earned M.A. in Economics degree from University of Denver, B.A. in Economics from Idaho State University, and B.S. in International Economics and Business from Kiev National Economics University in Ukraine. He holds three professional designations: Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA), Financial Risk Manager® (FRM), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
Ivan loves exploring the world and has visited 25 countries, and his favorite vacation was his honeymoon trip to Hawaii. He married the love of his life, Tanya, and has a son, Dennis. In his spare time, Ivan writes about economics, finance, risk management, behavioral finance, and retirement. This research is published on his personal website: ecnfin.com.
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Ron has been a financial advisor and investment analyst since 1998 and has been with Epiqwest since 2007. Ron’s unique skills for analyzing prospective investments reflect not only his experience as an investment advisor, but also his experience working for operating companies and input from his personal advisory board.
Prior to joining Epiqwest, Ron was the CFO of an environmental construction company that averaged 300% annual revenue growth during his tenure. He was also the assistant to the executives of several non-profits, and he worked for FedEx Corporation where he worked in the areas of strategy, forecasting, marketing, and product management.
Ron has a BS with a double major in Economics and Finance from St. Cloud State University (summa cum laude) and an MBA in finance from Vanderbilt University.
Ron was born and raised in rural Minnesota. After venturing out from MN and living all over the U.S., Ron eventually returned to MN and now lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Laurie, and son, John. Ron and Laurie love to travel internationally, visiting dozens of first-through-third world countries over the years. His most impactful destination was China, where he crisscrossed the country in the process of adopting his Chinese son. He had the opportunity to meet the wonderful Chinese people and immerse in the rich culture and history of the country.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
John started his retirement plan career in 1999. He is a 1996 graduate of the University of South Carolina at Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and a 2005 graduate of Webster University with an MBA. Over the years, he has earned several designations from the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries and the Internal Revenue Service.
John is originally from Mount Pleasant, SC, where much of his extended family still lives. He moved to Colorado in June of 2010. He enjoys traveling and spending quality time with his family and friends. John especially enjoys cruises and vacationing them.
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Gabriel joined the Epiqwest Culver Wealth Advisor’s team in April 2022. He received his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Central Florida School of Business in 2018. Gabriel began his career in financial services in June 2018 at Charles Schwab, where he worked as a Relationship Specialist. During his tenure at Charles Schwab, Gabriel obtained various industry licenses, including the Series 7, 9/10, 63, 66, and his Certified Financial Planners designation. He served as an Operations Specialist for a Schwab Branch in Plantation, Florida, and interacted with clients daily in a support-role, continuing to learn and absorb knowledge through shadowing and partnering with the Financial Consultants he worked with.
Gabriel was promoted to the role of Associate Financial Consultant after obtaining his CFP® designation in March 2021. In this role, he partnered with clients to help them achieve their desired goals and objectives while operating in their best interest. Currently, Gabriel works directly with Managing Partner Trent Culver in a mentor-mentee type role, where he is continuing to learn, grow, develop, and implement his craft. Gabriel is passionate about providing exceptional service and is dedicated to helping his clients achieve their financial goals. Gabriel grew up in South Florida and currently lives in Broomfield with his fiancée, Tara, and two dogs, Bronco and Cali. He is a life-long fan of the Denver Broncos and Nuggets, enjoys playing basketball, spending time with his family, reading, and music. He and his fiancée are currently saving for their first home and hope to be married by the end of 2024.
ASSOCIATE INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Emily has had a diverse career path that started in natural and organic food, then went to advertising agencies, big data marketing at Fortune 500 tech companies, local Denver unicorn startups, and then financial planning, where she was an advisor at Northwestern Mutual. She likes to think of herself as a “marketing and money nerd.”
Some of Emily’s favorite things are her husband Ryan, reading books, Sunday football, cooking and hosting dinner parties, good espresso, her daily skincare routine, Crumbl cookies, skiing the CO mountains, and riding her Peloton. Among many others on the Epiqwest Team, Emily is a Colorado native and CU Boulder Alum (go Buffs!). Her biggest dreams are to adventure around the world. The most exciting vacation she took was travelling to Israel with six of her closest friends in November 2019. It was the trip of a lifetime! What’s next on her bucket list? Greece!
Fun fact: Emily’s little brother is a professional dancer and stole the show with Lady Gaga during Super Bowl 2017. It was one of the most exciting moments of her life (even though the Patriots won!)
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Josh was born and raised in Colorado Springs, graduating from St. Mary’s High School in 1997. From there, collegiate baseball led his journey to Kansas and Missouri, where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Park University (Kansas City, MO) and was an Academic All-American. With a two-year stop in Orem, UT, where he coached high school baseball, Josh returned to Colorado in 2004 to begin his career in financial services; he has been serving clients’ financial interests since 2005.
He and his wife, Katie, also a Colorado native, now live in Westminster with their two sons and young daughter. When not helping his clients reach their financial milestones, Josh enjoys coaching his boys’ athletic teams, strength training, and closely following the Colorado Rockies.
