At The Woods Lutz Wealth Management Group, we pride ourselves on the value we’ve delivered to clients for more than three decades. Taking many forms, that value stems from our ability and commitment to provide an extra measure of insight and informed guidance many clients have not experienced previously.
Who do we serve? Accomplished men and women who want to accomplish more. Spanning generations and the nation’s geography, our largely referred clientele includes physicians and other professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners, and individuals who’ve experienced divorce or the loss of a spouse.
Experience tells us many investors are confused – with 24/7 “financial noise” and conflicting points of view. While certainly financially astute, many of our clients come to us in search of a sensible, real-world strategy they can understand and follow.
As an established team that has managed clients’ money and emotions amid the greed of the 1990s, and downside volatility of 2000, 2008, 2020 and 2022, we feel good knowing virtually all of those clients remain with us today – and have referred many others. We believe that comes in large part from our determination to mitigate investment risk, insulate client wealth through various forms of insurance, and integrate retirement, estate and legacy planning strategies into a client’s overall strategy, when appropriate.
Encouraging you to see us as a “first call” for any financial matter, we enjoy digging for the right solution and offering advice in a timely fashion. Because thoughtful estate planning is critically important to you and your family, we look to coordinate with your CPAs and attorneys throughout the year, not just at tax time. We also provide access to specialists at Bank of America for residential, securities-based and business lending, as well as practice-based solutions for physicians.
What do we believe?
- The more you know, the better off you are.
- The more we know about you, the better we can meet and exceed your expectations. (That’s why we work closely with both spouses, explain things in simple terms, and educate at every opportunity.)
- While our titles are financial advisors, we feel privileged to serve as “life advisors” – standing with and behind you when you need us most.
- Our ability to serve and desire to help are what people richly deserve.
At The Woods Lutz Wealth Management Group, we provide a planning-based approach whose depth and breadth clearly distinguishes our practice and the enduring benefits our clients enjoy.
As you will find, we put a premium on listening and learning from you. Doing both enables us to appreciate your values, visions and greatest concerns.
Recognizing your life experiences and attitudes toward wealth are unique, we don't make assumptions. Instead, we make time to appreciate your mindset and motivations.
At the outset, we will decide together if we are a good fit for you. Given our highly personalized, multi-faceted approach, we want to be sure you benefit from the value we provide.
In early discussions with you and your spouse, we may ask:
"Who do you love and for whom are you responsible? Tell us about your children, parents and career. What is your greatest achievement? Your worst investment? After you die, what is your hope for the people you leave behind? Why have you come here now? What role would you like us to play?"
These are the goals we most often hear from clients. Perhaps yours are similar:
- Retire without compromising their lifestyle or worrying about outliving their income.
- Play a positive role in the financial lives of their children and grandchildren.
- Care for their parents when they need it.
- Leave a meaningful legacy to families, institutions or organizations.
In addition to your goals, we will look for opportunities to fine-tune your financial picture – areas which may have been ignored in a previous advisory relationship. We will ask about your trusts, wills or other important provisions. This often leads to better insurance planning and legacy planning or, at minimum, a simple reminder to update beneficiaries.
Only after these critical steps, will we ask about – and examine – your investments and other assets, stock options, and retirement plan investments. We will also scrutinize your personal and professional liabilities, how you manage debt, and opportunities for you to improve cash flow.
Your achievements, hard work, and values have led to financial and personal success. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to help manage your wealth responsibly.
Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life
The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.
