We help you maximize
your return on life.
Financial advisors for those that want the
best life possible with the money they have.
$0M+
ASSETS UNDER OUR CARE
0
YEARS OF SERVICE
0%
CLIENT RETENTION RATE
Testimonials displayed on this site have been selected from a range of client feedback. They have been abbreviated for clarity and length, but the core messaging and sentiment have been preserved. No clients were compensated for their testimonials, and to our knowledge, no material conflicts of interest exist related to the feedback provided. You can view the full, unedited reviews on our Google Reviews page.
 | Traditional Investment Firm | DIY and Robo-Advisors | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personalized and Holistic Advice | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Proactive Strategy Meetings | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Comprehensive Tax Planning | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Tax-Smart Investment Planning | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Retirement Income Planning | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Social Security Optimization | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Estate Plan Analysis | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Tailored Investment Portfolios | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Evidence-Based Investing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Family Legacy Planning | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
Commonly asked
questions
Who We Work With
Who is One Degree designed for?
We work with thoughtful, disciplined individuals and families who are approaching or navigating retirement. Many built their wealth as business owners, executives, or high-earning professionals and now want clarity around what their wealth can support.
At this stage, the focus shifts from accumulation to activation, turning assets into sustainable income, minimizing taxes, coordinating estate decisions, and making confident choices during one of life’s most important financial transitions.
Most of the families we serve have accumulated $1 million or more in investable assets and are ready for a coordinated strategy that brings investments, tax planning, retirement income, and legacy goals into one cohesive plan.
They want their money working in service of their life, not the other way around. They are ready to delegate the complexity to a trusted partner so they can focus on family, impact, and making the most of the time and resources they have.
Who is not a good fit for One Degree?
We are built for long-term relationships, not transactions. If you prefer to manage your own investments, are seeking one-time advice, or want a do-it-yourself (DIY) experience, we are likely not the right fit. Our firm is designed around ongoing planning and coordinated decision making.
We also do our best work when we can see and manage the full picture. If you prefer to keep accounts scattered or work with multiple advisors handling different pieces, we won’t be able to deliver the coordinated value we’re built to provide.
If your primary objective is finding a stock picker or chasing short-term outperformance, our philosophy won’t align. We focus on disciplined, evidence-based investing and integrated planning built for decades, not quarters.
Alignment matters. When it is there, the relationship works exceptionally well.
Choosing the Right Advisor
How should I think about choosing the right financial advisor?
Choosing a financial advisor is less about finding the flashiest presentation and more about finding the right long-term partner.
Start with the basics: Is the advisor a fiduciary, legally required to act in your best interest? Do they hold respected credentials like the CFP(R) designation, which demands rigorous education and ongoing ethical standards?
Next, consider scope. Are they focused primarily on investment performance, or do they integrate taxes, retirement income, estate coordination, and life transitions into one cohesive plan? The right advisor should help you see how all the pieces fit together, not just manage a portfolio.
Finally, pay attention to philosophy and communication. Do they explain complex topics clearly? Do they proactively guide you through decisions, or just react to market movements? Over time, alignment in values and approach often matters more than short-term performance differences.
The best relationships are built on trust, clarity, and shared expectations about how decisions will be made.
What qualifications do your advisors have, and why do they matter?
Every advisor who meets with families at One Degree holds both the Certified Financial Planner (CFP(R)) and Certified Kingdom Advisor(R) (CKA(R)) designations. That is a firm standard.
The CFP(R) reflects rigorous education, experience, and a fiduciary obligation to act in your best interest. The CKA(R) adds specialized training in values-aligned financial planning and biblical stewardship principles. For clients who want their financial decisions to reflect their faith, the CKA(R) ensures your advisor has the framework to integrate those priorities thoughtfully. For others, it simply means you’re working with someone trained to help align resources with what matters most to you. Together, these credentials ensure your advisor is equipped to think holistically across investments, tax planning, retirement income, and estate strategy.
Beyond credentials, our firm has been serving families for over two decades. While you work with a dedicated lead advisor, that advisor operates within a collaborative team environment. Complex situations are discussed internally, so clients benefit from the collective experience of the firm while maintaining the continuity of a single, dedicated advisor.
Qualifications matter because they shape both the technical depth of advice and the principles that guide it.
Why do people choose to work with One Degree?
Many clients tell us the same thing after our first few meetings: “I’ve never had my finances explained this clearly before.”
They often approach us thinking they are hiring someone to manage investments. What they discover is a coordinated approach that integrates investments with tax strategy, retirement income, estate planning, and long-term decision-making—often for the first time bringing their entire financial life together in a way that truly makes sense.
Over time, that clarity turns into confidence. Decisions feel less reactive. Transitions feel less overwhelming. And eventually, clients often tell us they no longer feel the need to constantly check their accounts because they know everything is being proactively managed and thoughtfully monitored.
We are not just managing portfolios. We are helping people understand their plan, anticipate what is coming next, and move forward with confidence.
Do you work with clients across the United States?
Yes. While we are based in Southern California, we serve families across the country. As a registered investment advisory firm, we are able to serve clients nationwide.
We have built a structured planning process that allows us to work seamlessly with clients regardless of location. Meetings can be held virtually or in person, and our cadence of strategy sessions, proactive monitoring, and year-round coordination remains consistent regardless of where you live.
You work with a dedicated advisor who understands your goals, and you receive the same disciplined investment management, tax strategy coordination, and team support as every other client. Geography does not change the experience.
Our Process
What does your planning process look like?
Over the past two decades, we have refined a proprietary process called Compass System™. It was built to guide families from complexity to clarity, and from uncertainty to confidence.
We begin by understanding where you are today and where you want to go. That includes your priorities, concerns, values, and the full scope of your financial life. From there, we complete a comprehensive analysis across the areas that matter most: retirement income planning, tax strategy, investment alignment, estate coordination, risk management, and legacy objectives.
Next, we present a clear, personalized strategy, summarized in a One Page Plan, that aligns your resources with your priorities. Rather than delivering disconnected recommendations, we focus on creating a cohesive plan that shows how each decision supports the others.
Once the strategy is in place, we guide you through implementation and ongoing management. We meet at key times throughout the year, often aligned with tax planning windows, and we proactively monitor your plan to ensure it stays on track as your life, goals, markets and laws evolve.
Compass System™ provides structure and discipline, but the purpose is simple: to help you move forward with clarity, coordinated strategy, and the freedom to focus on what matters most.
What does it look like to work with One Degree?
There is structure to the relationship, but the real value is coordination. We meet strategically throughout the year. In the spring, we map the year ahead – reviewing upcoming income, tax considerations, retirement cash flow, charitable goals, and major decisions. In the fall, we revisit key strategies and ensure everything is aligned and completed before year-end.
Behind the scenes, your retirement income strategy is actively monitored against structured guardrails designed to help maintain long-term sustainability. Investments are managed using systematic, evidence-based rules rather than reacting to short-term headlines. Each year, we review your tax return and provide clear recommendations aimed at improving long-term tax efficiency. As your life and the markets evolve, adjustments are made deliberately and in context to keep your overall strategy aligned.
We coordinate directly with your CPA and estate planning professionals when needed, so you’re not caught translating between advisors or managing disconnected advice. Decisions are made with full context, and your financial life remains cohesive.
You have direct access to your advisor whenever needed, whether by phone, email, virtual meeting, or in person. While you work with a dedicated lead advisor, you benefit from the perspective of a collaborative team behind the scenes.
The goal is simple: you focus on living your life, confident that your financial strategy is aligned with your goals and managed with discipline.
How do you manage investments and transitions when someone becomes a client?
Transitions are handled carefully and intentionally.
Most accounts transfer in kind, meaning your investments move over without being sold. Once your assets arrive, we review them within the context of your overall financial strategy before making any adjustments.
Tax sensitivity is a priority. If you hold investments with significant gains, we evaluate positions thoughtfully and develop a transition plan that aligns with your long-term objectives while minimizing unnecessary tax consequences. In some cases, adjustments are implemented gradually rather than all at once.
Our goal is not to start from scratch, but to integrate what you already own into a cohesive, disciplined strategy aligned with your income needs and long-term plan.
The transition is measured, coordinated, and transparent, so you can move forward with confidence.
How are my assets held and protected?
Your assets are held in your name at an independent third-party custodian, primarily Charles Schwab. We do not take custody of your funds.
As your advisor, we operate under limited discretionary authority. This allows us to manage your investments according to the strategy we build together. We cannot move money to outside accounts or third parties without your explicit authorization.
Because your accounts are held at an independent custodian, you receive statements and online access directly from Schwab. You can view your accounts at any time.
This structure ensures your assets remain securely held in your name, while we focus on managing them thoughtfully and responsibly within the plan you approve.
Costs and Fees
What is your fee schedule?
We charge a transparent annual percentage based on the assets we actively manage for you.
Our current rates are:
- $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 — 1.00%
- $1,500,000 to $3,000,000 — 0.85%
- $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 — 0.75%
- $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 — 0.65%
- $10,000,000 to $20,000,000 — 0.50%
- $20,000,000 to $50,000,000 — 0.45%
- $50,000,000+ — 0.35%
This is not a tiered or blended structure. Your entire managed portfolio is billed at the rate that corresponds to your total investment amount. For example, a household with $1,700,000 under management would be billed at 0.85% on the full amount.
We only bill on assets we actively manage. If you have an employer retirement plan such as a 401(k) that we cannot directly manage, we still provide allocation guidance and integrate it into your broader plan, but we don’t bill on those assets. When that account becomes eligible to roll over, we can manage it directly, simplifying your financial life and improving coordination across investments, tax strategy, and retirement income planning.
Our fee covers ongoing investment management, retirement income planning, tax strategy, estate coordination, and proactive guidance throughout the year. There are no commissions or hidden fees paid to us.
It is our fundamental belief the value we deliver should materially outweigh the cost.
How does your cost compare to other advisors?
Advisory fees vary depending on portfolio size, planning complexity, and scope of service. Many full-service advisory firms charge around 1% of assets under management for portfolios in the $1-3M range, with fees declining as assets grow. Some advisors charge as much as 3%. Others charge much less but provide a narrower range of services.
The more important question is what you get for that fee.
Our fee covers ongoing investment management, sustainable retirement income planning, coordinated tax strategy, estate planning guidance, and proactive year-round support. We do not earn commissions or sell products. Our compensation is aligned with the long-term success of the families we serve.
When comparing advisors, look beyond the percentage. Evaluate the depth of coordination, clarity, and proactive guidance you receive.
Is hiring a financial advisor always worth it?
Not always!
Why hire a doctor to perform surgery if you don’t need surgery? Why overpay for a meal you can make at home?
An advisor becomes valuable when complexity increases or when you would rather focus your time and energy elsewhere.
A strong advisor does more than manage investments. They help coordinate tax strategy, structure retirement income sustainably, avoid costly mistakes during volatile markets, and guide you through major life transitions with confidence and discipline.
For many families, the value is both financial and emotional. It is not just about returns. It is about having a thoughtful partner who helps you make decisions with confidence and stay aligned with what matters most.
The question is never “do I need an advisor?” The question is “will hiring an advisor be worth the value compared to the fee?”
Is there a contract or long term commitment?
No. We do not require long-term contracts.
Our services are billed quarterly, and the relationship continues because it delivers value, not because you are obligated to stay.
We earn your trust through consistent guidance and proactive support. Many of our client relationships have spanned decades because the partnership works.
Getting Started
What happens on our first call?
The purpose of the first call is simple: to understand where you are today, where you want to go, and what matters most to you. From there, we decide together whether we’re the right fit to help you.
The call typically lasts about 20 minutes. We’ll ask a few questions about your goals, timeline, and what prompted you to reach out. We’ll also share a brief overview of how we work and what a relationship with One Degree looks like.
You do not need to prepare anything formal. If a spouse or partner is involved in financial decisions, it is helpful to have them join.
This is a conversation, not a high-pressure call. Everything you share is confidential, and there is no obligation to move forward.
For a detailed overview of what happens after the initial call, visit our Process page.
What if I already have an advisor?
Very common. Many families reach out while still working with another advisor.
You do not need to make any changes before an initial conversation. The first call is simply to understand your goals and determine if there’s a fit.
If you decide to move forward, we’ll handle the transition professionally and thoughtfully. We can also provide a template to help you communicate the change if that would be helpful.
For more on how we handle transitions, see “How do you manage investments and transitions when someone becomes a client?”
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