Our mission is to help clients navigate and maximize the potential to meet their life goals
Financial Planner
Advice-Only
Hourly
Project based
As-needed
Services
Personalized Comprehensive Financial Planning may cover the following service categories:
Cash Flow & Debt Management
Establish a streamlined system to manage your income and expenses, and monitor your assets and liabilities. Formulate a structured debt repayment plan.
Employee Benefits
Comprehend the complete advantages of your employment beyond salary, including a comprehensive review of your employee benefits package, qualified retirement plans, deferred compensation, and group insurance options.
Investments
Intentionally align your investments and treat your accounts as components of a ‘total portfolio.’ Detailed consideration is given to asset allocation, risk and return measures, investment costs, risk capacity, risk tolerance, and the time horizon for your savings goals.
Risk Management
Adjust your emergency fund to the appropriate level and evaluate risk mitigation tools like life, disability, health, long-term care, property, and liability insurance to ensure they align with your personal financial risks.
Retirement Planning
Create a customized sequence for tax-efficient accumulation and income distribution strategies, including early financial independence before age 59 ½. Gain insight into the complexities of government programs like Social Security and Medicare (IRMAA).
Estate Planning
Develop a thoughtful plan to safeguard your family now and manage your assets in the future by reviewing account titling, beneficiary designations, wills, trusts, guardianship appointments, and powers of attorney. Establish a legacy plan that ensures support for your spouse during a family emergency, with access to a trusted contact.
Tax Planning
Identify proactive, tax-efficient opportunities within your financial strategy, such as Roth conversions, tax gain and loss harvesting, deductions and credits, managing taxable income, and optimizing asset location. While our financial planning process incorporates tax guidance, it should not be considered formal tax advice.
College Planning
Estimate and prepare for education expenses, explore college savings options including 529 plans, evaluate financial aid opportunities, and develop student loan repayment strategies.
Major Life Events
Anticipate and prepare for career changes, significant purchases, financing, gifting and inheritance, marriage, the arrival of new children, and the needs of aging parents. Being proactive is essential as life unfolds.
Fees
Hourly rate is $250/hour. An estimate of the total fee will be provided to the client as part of the client’s contract (Financial Planning Agreement letter). The total fee will be an estimated number of hours based on the nature and the complexity of each client’s circumstances. For a typical financial plan the average number of hours is around 10-12 hours. Some project engagements may require fewer hours while others require more.
Complexity
Basic
Basic plans can include any of the above service categories and one or two retirement and taxable accounts with few holdings
Intermediate
Intermediate plans can include any of the basic service categories and a few retirement and taxable accounts with few or some holdings.
Advanced
Advanced plans can include any of the intermediate service categories and include stock options or restricted stock strategies, self-employed individuals, real estate holdings outside of primary residence, some or many retirement and taxable accounts.
When requested by clients, NAV Financial will meet, or have conversations with, client’s outside professionals for consultations. Outside professionals include accountants or attorneys. NAV Financial does not offer referrals nor are they affiliated with any outside professionals. Client’s will be billed their hourly rate for these meetings.
Process
1.Discovery Meeting
Experience a complimentary 20-minute Discovery Meeting via video call. This session is designed for us to introduce ourselves, understand your objectives, outline our services, and together assess if advice-only financial planning with NAV Financial aligns with your needs.
2.Define Scope of Work
The next step is to help define the Scope of Work by filling out a Confidential Personal Profile Questionnaire. Using this questionnaire we provide a Financial Planning Agreement letter outlining the specific topics tailored to your planning requirements and complexity of your circumstances, our roles and responsibilities, and a clear compensation structure. This agreement is signed by both parties. A Scope of Work meeting will be scheduled to go over this.
3.Data Organization
Before plotting our course forward, it's crucial to assess our current position. We'll gather and organize your financial details through a secure online dashboard. Each aspect of your financial situation will be summarized to provide a clear picture. Once you've signed the financial planning agreement letter, we'll furnish a checklist outlining the financial information needed.
4.Review & Goals Meeting
In this meeting, we review your summarized financial information and reaffirm your personal financial goals. Together, we establish financial planning assumptions and develop customized scenarios to align with your expectations.
5.Analysis & Plan Development
We conduct a comprehensive analysis of your organized information to uncover opportunities and devise tailored strategies that align with your personal objectives. This detailed analysis is translated into into an actionable plan.
6.Plan Presentation Meeting
In this meeting, we present the financial analysis, summaries of key areas, planning recommendations, and the actionable plan. This session provides a comprehensive view of your current financial status and outlines strategies to enhance your plan in line with your personal goals. An invoice will be issued after delivering your financial plan document.
7.Implementation & Follow up
We conduct a comprehensive analysis of your organized information to uncover opportunities and devise tailored strategies that align with your personal objectives. This detailed analysis is translated into into an actionable plan.
FAQs
Why should I work with NAV Financial?
I am an advice-only, hourly financial planner who provides hourly financial planning as well as-needed, project based financial planning. My fee structure is transparent and based solely on services I provide to you. I don't sell products or take commissions. As a fiduciary, I have both a legal and ethical duty to offer unbiased and objective advice that is solely in your best interest and aligned with your personal values and goals.
Are you a Fiduciary?
Yes, I am committed to acting as a fiduciary for each of my clients. This means I adhere to the Fiduciary Oath set forth by the Committee for the Fiduciary Standard, which includes the following principles:
PUTTING YOUR INTERESTS FIRST
I believe in placing your best interests first. Therefore, I am proud to commit to the following five fiduciary principles:
I will always put your best interests first.
I will act with prudence; that is, with the skill, care, diligence, and good judgment of a professional.
I will not mislead you, and I will provide conspicuous, full and fair disclosure of all important facts.
I will avoid conflicts of interest.
I will fully disclose and fairly manage, in your favor, any unavoidable conflicts.
Are you Registered Investment Advisor?
Yes! I am registered as an Investment Adviser in California, and I am also able to work with clients from other states (except LA and TX), in accordance with each state's de minimis rules.
Are you Registered Broker Dealer?
No I am not a Registered Broker Dealer. I do not sell any financial products. My role is to provide information and education to my clients.
Are you a Licensed Insurance Agent?
No, I am not a Licensed Insurance Agent. However, I provide advice on insurance matters and offer recommendations for effective risk management to safeguard my clients.
Who is your typical client?
My typical client is an individual who manages their investments independently but seeks professional guidance for financial planning. A DIY individual who might be DIY investor but is not a DIY financial planner. Anyone looking for a second review/opinion of a plan, a sounding board or just objective, unbiased feedback.
Fees?
I operate as an advice-only financial planner, charging $250 per hour. The total fee is estimated based on the complexity of each client’s situation. Invoices are issued after the completion and delivery of the plan. Payment can be made by check or credit card. I do not accept any commissions, ensuring that my services are solely focused on the best interests of my clients.
We are NAV Financial. Straightforward, Transparent Financial Planner.
George Paul is the founder and principal of NAV Financial, LLC, an advice-only Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm located in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. George completed the UC Berkeley Extension program in Personal Financial Planning in March 2023 and passed the CFP® exam in July 2023, as well as the Series 65 exam in December 2023.
George decided to form an independent financial planning advisory firm to serve individuals and families across various backgrounds and financial situations who seek the benefits of professional personal financial planning.
With a robust 25-year background in Information Technology, George embarked on a transformative journey, taking a career break to delve into personal financial planning and work on obtaining his CFP certification. Previously, he had a 25-plus-year tenure in IT, with over 15 years of experience leading engineering and technical/IT operations teams. As an experienced, results-focused team member, he thrived at executing roadmaps in complex, challenging environments and is passionate about empowering others to succeed and solving problems using agile methodologies. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of consulting with and jumpstarting various startups and open-source projects. Wearing many hats over the years has proven extremely valuable to these entities and larger corporations alike.
Now, his passion lies in financial planning, where he is dedicated to guiding individuals towards realizing their life aspirations, whether it's retirement, education for their children, or owning a home. His aim is to establish a practice focused on providing tailored financial empowerment and personalized service. Beyond work, he finds solace in the outdoors, running, sailing, exploring new destinations, and cherishing moments with family and friends.
Let’s plot a course together.
Embark on your journey to financial success with us. Contact NAV Financial today to take the first step. Schedule a complimentary 20-minute Discovery Meeting to see if we're the right fit for you.