Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.
Henry David Thoreau
In essence, wealth management encapsulates the relationship between life and money. Fairfield Stern was established to help clients manage their financial life. Wealth management includes a comprehensive set of services that provide a holistic approach to managing money. These include financial planning, investment management, estate planning and more, tailored to an individual’s, family’s or institution’s needs and goals.
Delivering effective and highly customized financial strategies requires a sophisticated approach. The foundation of this approach is taking time with our clients. Effective wealth management requires a big picture understanding of each client’s life – personal, professional, and financial. Based on this foundation, we craft bespoke strategies to maximize outcomes. Sometimes we work solely with our client; other times we collaborate with other professional advisors, like legal and tax specialists, to make sure that we are always being proactive in integrating tax efficiencies, global income, estate planning, investment management, and philanthropic activities.
Investment Management
At Fairfield Stern, investment management encompasses more than simply asset selection and monitoring. An investment strategy must be both sensible and ambitious. Your Fairfield Stern investment management plan considers financial goals, risk tolerance, taxation, asset selection, and the current macroenvironment to get the best potential outcomes.
Financial Planning
A Fairfield Stern, a financial plan in a dynamic entity, not a static document. We adapt to you, and all the changes that happen throughout life. The first step is helping you understand your current potention. Together, we clarify and quantify your financial goals. Once we have established this foundation, we can examine the possibilities and develop a roadmap to move from ideas to action.
We specialize in helping globally mobile clients simplify the financial aspects of international life.
Estate Planning
Estate planning involves more than drafting a will. It’s an integral part of life-long wealth creation. It includes many asset protection strategies, in addition to arranging how your assets will be managed and distributed, and how decisions will be made on your behalf both during your life and after passing. Effective estate management minimizes taxes and prevents disputes. It ensures your loved ones are secure and your assets are handled according to your wishes.
Income Planning
Income planning is more than budgeting. At Fairfield Stern, we believe that those overseeing your financial assets should collaborate and engage with those managing your tax strategy. Together, we can seek ways to reduce your family’s tax burden. This involves strategies like income splitting, leveraging corporate structures and trusts, optimizing tax-efficient income withdrawals from your corporation, and seamlessly incorporating these approaches into the structure of your investment portfolio.
Succession Planning
‘Succession’ was a wonderful television show, but it’s a topic that can create a great deal of unwanted drama. An effective succession plan provides business owners with a road map to navigate issues that can affect the transfer of company management and ownership. By working with your accounting and legal advisors, we make sure that you have a structurally sound plan in place, ensuring a seamless transition whether to a partner or family member.
Philanthropic Planning
Philanthropic planning extends far beyond a mere list of charitable contributions. Numerous Fairfield Stern clients are deeply engaged in their local communities. Handling the influx of appeals from various worthy causes demands a forward-thinking strategy. A Fairfield Stern comprehensive philanthropic plan lowers the expenses associated with giving, aligns donation timing with your personal aspirations, and enhances the benefits for both you and your community.
Who We Serve
Professionals
We work with professionals, executives, and leaders throughout the world, providing tailored financial guidance. Right from the beginning, we take the time to understand your unique circumstances, identify potential opportunities, and clarify your objectives. By combining a holistic approach to wealth management with forward-thinking financial planning, we collaborate with you to build personalized strategies that support informed investment decisions and help you achieve your ideal financial outcomes.
Business Owners
We offer business owners specialized expertise to help navigate evolving market conditions, complex investment portfolios, and regulatory demands. As an independent, employee-owned firm, we relate to the challenges and responsibilities of running a business. That perspective shapes our approach—we work alongside you to manage risk, uncover tax-saving opportunities, and drive stronger financial results at every stage of your business journey.
Institutions
We support institutions and charitable organizations with strategic financial guidance tailored to their unique missions and long-term goals. Understanding the importance of stewardship and sustainability, we help navigate complex investment mandates, governance requirements, and regulatory frameworks. By aligning your financial strategy with your organizational values, we work collaboratively to preserve capital, optimize performance, and ensure your resources continue to make a lasting impact.