FAQs

Can you meet virtually / work with people outside of Hawaii?

Yes! I currently work with approximately 30 households across 7 states.I offer in-person meetings in Hawaii and virtual meetings nationwide. This works very well for those living on the East or West Coast who prefer to meet in the late afternoon or evening.

Are you a Fiduciary 100% of the time?

Yes, I am a fiduciary 100% of the time. To learn why hiring a fiduciary is SO important, check out this Investopedia article.

Why should you hire Masuda Lehrman Wealth?

I will help you answer the following questions:

When can you actually retire?
How much can you afford to spend in retirement?
How do you invest in retirement?
Which accounts do you draw from first in retirement?
When should you (and your spouse) claim Social Security?
Should you consider Roth conversions?
Are you paying more than you should in fees and taxes?
What should you do with your inheritance?

Answering these questions will create a stable foundation upon which you can make informed financial decisions.You can learn more about my retirement expertise by subscribing to my YouTube channel.

How do you earn money?

Masuda Lehrman Wealth is a fee-only (commission-free) fiduciary financial planning firm. The only compensation I receive is directly from my clients.

I offer a flat-fee ongoing retainer between $4,000-$10,000 + a one-time $1,500 onboarding fee for clients who prefer to manage their own investments. The ongoing retainer fee varies based on complexity.

I also offer the traditional Assets Under Management model for clients who prefer to delegate the ongoing management of their investments.

Both fee models include comprehensive and holistic financial planning. The only difference is whether you choose to delegate the management of your investment accounts.

My goal is to ALWAYS provide you value far in excess of the fees you pay. By saving you time, helping you avoid costly mistakes, making tax smart decisions, and protecting your investable assets we enable you to retire without worry.
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You can read more on my pricing page.

What is your investment philosophy?

This question can be answered in a couple ways: First, I believe in goals-based strategic asset allocation, which in a nutshell means that your goals and risk tolerance dictate the ratio of aggressive versus conservative investments in your portfolio.

I believe that low-cost passive investing should be the default for most people. Studies have shown that active management, whether that’s individual stock pickers or hedge funds, not only charge higher fees but also consistently underperform their benchmarks long-term.

I work with clients who custody assets at Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and Betterment. I offer investment management exclusively through Betterment. Through Betterment, I can offer passive investment management, rebalancing, tax efficiency, and alternatives such as socially responsible investing, target income generation, and quantitative factor investing.