FAQs

Financial Advisors are uniquely qualified to help their clients reach different financial goals. Depending on their backgrounds and areas of focus, they can assist with Retirement Planning, Investment Allocation, Tax Planning, Estate Planning, Inheritance, and Long-Term Care Planning. 

A financial advisor helps you with all types of financial planning. They create strategies for eliminating financial risk and building wealth over the long term. Financial advisors can give you a plan that puts you on track to achieve your financial goals. They can help with anything from saving for retirement to deciding how to handle an inheritance. 

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan. If you get a 401(k) account as part of your benefits package, you may choose to contribute a portion of your salary to the account, subject to annual limitations. Your employer may even match a portion of your contributions. The money you save is invested in the stock market and grows over the years, to provide you with income in retirement.

Retirement costs vary widely across Oregon, especially depending on whether you plan to stay in the Portland metro area or relocate. A strong baseline target is to have 10–12 times your annual income saved by retirement age, plus a clear plan for Social Security timing, investment withdrawals, and healthcare costs. Investors with $500k+ often benefit from a detailed retirement income projection that considers taxes, inflation, and longevity.

Taking Social Security early provides quicker income but locks in permanently reduced benefits. Delaying until 70 increases your benefit by roughly 8% per year after full retirement age. The optimal timing depends on longevity expectations, spousal benefits, cash flow needs, health, and whether you plan to work past full retirement age.

At Deschutes we run Social Security timing analyses for investors to help determine the best claiming strategy.

A rollover often simplifies your finances and gives you more investment options, but fees and employer stock must be considered.

You should have exposure to multiple asset classes, not concentrated in one sector or stock.
Diversification means mixing stocks, bonds, cash, and sometimes alternative assets to spread risk. High-net-worth investors often need deeper diversification: global exposure, tax-efficient assets, factor tilts, and rebalancing protocols. A portfolio review can identify gaps and overexposure.

Structuring your investments so you pay less in taxes over time.
Tax-efficient strategies include asset location (placing high-tax assets in IRAs, low-tax assets in brokerage accounts), tax-loss harvesting, municipal bonds, Roth conversions, and minimizing short-term capital gains. Tax coordination can add significant long-term value.

Maximize retirement contributions, reduce taxable income, use tax-efficient investments, and coordinate with a tax professional. Our team helps clients integrate investment and tax strategies for long-term savings.

Roth conversions shift assets from taxable withdrawals to tax-free withdrawals in retirement. They are especially beneficial during lower-income years, early retirement, or before RMDs start. We analyze whether a full or partial conversion fits your long-term plan.

Annual gifting, 529 plans, donor-advised funds, and advanced strategies like GRATs or irrevocable trusts can reduce future tax exposure. Coordinating estate and investment planning ensures efficient wealth transfer.

It can be enough for some households, but whether $1 million is enough to retire depends on your spending, taxes, healthcare costs, lifestyle, and how your money is invested. Many people can retire comfortably with $1 million if withdrawals are managed carefully and supplemented with Social Security. If you have $500k + saved for retirement, we can model your exact retirement income, evaluate how long your savings will last, and create a customized plan that aligns with your goals.

Second homes have unique costs and tax implications. We help evaluate affordability, financing options, rental income, and how the purchase fits into your long-term plan.

Most investors with $500k+ benefit from coordinated investment, tax, estate, and retirement planning. A fiduciary advisor helps create a long-term plan and avoid costly missteps—especially around taxes, inheritance, and retirement income.

Review benefits, update retirement contributions, evaluate your old 401(k), and adjust your financial plan.

The cost of a Financial Advisor can vary depending on how they charge their fees. At Deschutes Investment Consulting we are Fee-Only Advisors. Here are the three basic ways Advisors get paid:

Fee Based 
Fee Based Advisors combine commissions and fees as part of their payment structure. A client could pay an hourly fee for an investment plan, and then a commission on the funds recommended. 

Fee-Only 
Fee Only can mean a few things depending on the Advisor. They can charge a retainer fee based on the assets they manage (usually between 0.5-2%). A flat-fee based on the services provided, or an hourly rate based on time spent.

Commission Only 
Commission Only means that the Advisor charges an upfront commission percentage based off of the money invested.

What services and resources do you provide?
What is your investment philosophy?
How do you get paid?
How will you measure and evaluate my performance?

Fiduciaries are obligated by law to operate in their client's best interest and make recommendations that benefit the client.

Do your research on the different types of Financial Advisors in your area or online. Find out what their pay structure is and what you can expect from their services. Some advisors may have a financial minimum for working with them and others may not. If you would like to set up a consultation with one of our experienced Advisors at Deschutes Investment Consulting, please Click Here or email info@deschutesinvestment.com and we will answer all of your questions and concerns. 

Deschutes has developed a Retirement Analysis Program to help individuals determine their unique timeline when it comes to retirement. If you would like to go through this program or find out more information, please visit the RAP Section on our site or Contact Us.