FAQs

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

Yes! 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.

How do we work together?

I offer two ways to work together, depending on how involved you want me to be in managing your investments.

The Flat Fee Limited Engagement is a three-month retainer focused on creating your comprehensive financial plan. You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance while keeping control of your own accounts.

The Full-Service Wealth Management model is an ongoing partnership where I manage your investments and continuously update your plan. The fee is based on assets under management (AUM) and includes comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and ongoing updates to your plan.

Both options provide the same level of fiduciary care and personalized advice — the difference is simply whether you’d like to implement the plan yourself or have me handle it for you.

You can read more on my pricing page.

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.
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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.