Transcript: Success by Design – Inside the Portfolio Advisors Planning Process

Presenters: AJ Flores, CFP® and Tina Mistry, CFP®

Introduction:

Host Aaron opens the session by welcoming attendees, explaining the format, and introducing the lead presenters: AJ Flores and Tina Mistry. Participants are reminded to keep cameras and microphones off and submit questions through Zoom chat.

Welcome & Purpose:

Tina Mistry thanks attendees for joining during their lunch hour and sets the tone: this webinar is a behind-the-scenes look at the firm’s financial planning process, not personalized investment advice.

Setting the Tone: What Makes Portfolio Advisors Different:

• Not all financial advisors are the same.
• Many people receive advice from salespeople, not fiduciaries.
• Important factors when choosing an advisor:
  • Compensation model (fee-only vs. commission)
  • Licensing, credentials, and background
  • Transparency around fees and potential conflicts of interest
• The previous webinar “What You Need to Know About Seeking Financial Advice” on this topic is available on the firm’s website.

Firm Background:

• Portfolio Advisors celebrates its 35th anniversary.
• Founded in 1990 by Gary Leffler after transitioning from commission-based to fee-only advising.
• Influenced by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), focused on client-first, long-term investment strategies.
• The firm’s philosophy centers around building deep, lifelong client relationships.

Who We Serve:

Mission Statement: “Enriching lives through transformative action.”

• Advisors focus on understanding clients first—before spreadsheets or numbers
• Aim to simplify and bring clarity to clients’ financial lives
• Planning is collaborative, dynamic, and adapts with life’s changes

Sample Case: Mr. & Mrs. Sample:

Discovery Phase:

• Referred by a current client
• Pain points: tax planning and college savings
• Discovery meeting covers:
  • Client goals
  • Financial documents review
  • Prior experiences with other advisors
  • Proposal of next steps and fee transparency

Observations & Recommendations:

• Review of inputs using planning software (MoneyGuidePro)
• Monte Carlo simulations to assess retirement success probability
• Goals categorized into Needs, Wants, and Wishes
• College planning analyzed using custom projections for their daughter

Investment Philosophy:

Presented by AJ:

• Risk tolerance: emotional and financial capacity
• Investment strategy includes:
  • Global diversification across asset classes
  • Low-cost ETFs and mutual funds
  • Tax-efficient asset placement
  • Behavior coaching during market volatility

Clients receive clear investment reports showing allocations, performance, and progress over time.

Tax Planning:

• Practical Portfolio Example:
  • Presented by Tina:
    • 10 years of cash flow ($400,000) in low-risk investments like bonds.
    • The remaining $600,000 can be in stocks for growth.
  • Tax report includes:
    • Income, deductions, brackets, capital gains
    • Social Security taxability and Medicare premiums
  • Scenario modeling (e.g., Roth conversions, IRA distributions)
  • Planning strategies discussed with CPAs
  • Secure file upload and year-round support offered

Client Onboarding & Ongoing Relationship:

• Meeting 3: Post-Implementation Check-In
  • Confirm account transfers and portal access
  • Review investment setup and reports
  • Finalize any lingering administrative tasks
  • Set cadence for ongoing communication
• Ongoing Monitoring Includes:
  • Biannual or annual reviews
  • Retirement plan updates
  • Investment rebalancing
  • Annual tax reviews
  • Insurance and estate updates

Who’s a Good Fit?

• Portfolio Advisors works best with clients who:
• Value long-term partnership and proactive planning
• Are transparent about their goals and expectations
• Want a collaborative, not transactional, relationship
• If it’s not a mutual fit, referrals to other trusted advisors are happily provided.
  • “The Behavior Gap” by Carl Richards.
  • “The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel.

Next Steps & Closing Remarks

• Questions can be sent directly to AJ or Tina
• Webinar replay and materials will be emailed
• Next Webinar: “Year-End Tax Planning Strategies” – Tuesday, October 7 at 12 PM
• Follow on [LinkedIn], [Facebook], and [Instagram] for updates and education
• Suggested Reading:
  • The Behavior Gap by Carl Richards
  • The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
• Closing Message:
  • Tina and AJ thank attendees for their time and encourage follow-ups. They invite referrals and emphasize the value of continued education and collaboration.

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Portfolio Advisors, Inc. -“PAI”), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this presentation will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PAI. Please remember that if you are a PAI client, it remains your responsibility to advise PAI, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. PAI is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of PAI’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request. Please Note: PAI does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to PAI’s web site or blog or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility for any such content. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.