At the partner level, the financial complexity is significant and the cost of gaps compounds at the highest dollar amounts of your career. Joel Gardner, RICP® & CEPA®, leads this work.
Schedule Your 30-Min Intro Call with JoelCapital accounts are often paid out over years at below-market rates. The nominal figure and the real present value can be meaningfully different.
The portable value of a book of business is not its gross revenue. Client retention probability, transfer multiples, and concentration risk all discount the real number.
At your income level, a 401k alone is leaving significant tax shelter on the table. Cash balance plans can allow contributions of $150,000 or more per year.
*Source: Cash Balance Design / FuturePlan by Ascensus
PPP compression, origination fluctuations, and firm-level events can move your income significantly year to year.
Most buy-sell agreements have at least one of three structural defects: they are unfunded, the valuation formula is outdated, or the disability definition is inadequate.
Net worth that was adequately protected at the associate level may be significantly exposed now.
The decisions that increase firm value at exit can take five to seven years to implement properly.
The financial independence to practice on your terms, the ability to transition the firm on your timeline, the legacy for your family.
The financial complexity at the partner level is significant in every setting, but the specific issues vary. Our guidance is tailored to your actual situation.
PPP sensitivity, capital account management, origination concentration, and the economics of a firm where your income depends on decisions made around you.
Enterprise valuation, revenue quality, succession planning, and buy-sell structure. The firm is often the primary asset on the balance sheet.
Capital allocation policy, compensation architecture, key person dependency, and exit timing. At this level the financial decisions are enterprise decisions.
Equity compensation coordination, deferred comp strategy, and long-term wealth planning at the highest income levels of corporate legal practice.
Personal and financial goals including wealth targets, legacy intentions, and the financial picture you want to step into on your terms.
Every account linked, all documents securely stored. Your entire financial life including firm equity and personal balance sheet visible in one place.
A clear picture of exactly where you stand across Protection, Savings, Assets and Liquidity, and Debt.
Assets, liabilities, insurance coverage, K-1 income structure, capital account, and cash flow all reviewed together.
Income smoothing, distribution strategy, retirement plan optimization, and a Wealth Building Account tailored to partner-level compensation.
Every gap identified. Every optimization available at your career and income level. A prioritized list with nothing left unaddressed.
The planning fee starts the relationship. Ongoing advisory and any additional specialized services are entirely optional and discussed openly during and after the initial conversations. Gain clarity on whether this is the right fit for you.
Investment Management Fees
| Assets Under Management Fees 0.50% – 1.00% | |
|---|---|
| Up to $100,000 | 1.00% |
| $100,001 – $250,000 | 1.00% |
| $250,001 – $500,000 | 1.00% |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | 1.00% |
| $1,000,001 – $2,500,000 | 0.75% |
| $2,500,001 – $5,000,000 | 0.72% |
| $5,000,001 – $7,500,000 | 0.69% |
| $7,500,001 – $10,000,000 | 0.65% |
| $10,000,001 – $15,000,000 | 0.63% |
| $15,000,001 – $20,000,000 | 0.56% |
| $20,000,001 – $30,000,000 | 0.50% |
Risk Management
Protect what matters most with comprehensive business and personal insurance solutions tailored to your unique situation.
Life Insurance | Long-Term Disability Income Protection | Long-Term Care Insurance | Cost subject to underwriting
When business planning, firm succession, or monetization becomes a central part of your financial picture, Joel Gardner leads that conversation. As a CEPA®-designated advisor, Joel specializes in helping law firm owners and business owners protect, grow, and execute successful exits.
Many partners find that personal financial planning and business exit planning are deeply connected. We coordinate both so nothing falls through the gap.
Business & Exit Planning Advisory involves additional costs beyond the standard advisory relationship. Starting at $5,000 with ongoing advisory from $500/month.
These are suggested documents to have on hand during our first conversation. Having them available allows us to go deeper and makes our time together more productive. They are by no means mandatory — just suggestions for a more granular conversation.
At the partner level there is often more complexity to gather. Having what you can available makes our first conversations significantly more productive.
The intro call with Joel is 30 minutes. We will talk through your full situation, answer every question, and walk you through what working together looks like. Gain clarity on whether this is the right fit for you.