Frequently Asked Questions

Praetorian Guard takes an integrated approach to wealth management. Rather than viewing investments, taxes, retirement planning, estate considerations, and risk management as separate decisions, we evaluate how each area affects the others. As fiduciaries, we focus on objective advice that aligns with your goals, resources, and long-term priorities. Our work is relationship-driven and designed for individuals and families whose financial lives require thoughtful planning and coordination.

Praetorian Guard works with clients who want a comprehensive approach to financial planning from a full-service wealth management firm. They may be young entrepreneurs, established business owners, or retirees seeking confidence in the next phase of life. They value coordinated strategies across investments, taxes, retirement planning, estate planning, and charitable giving rather than viewing each decision in isolation.

Just as importantly, our clients value a long-term advisory relationship built on trust, communication, and objective guidance. Our purpose is to simplify the complexity of our clients' financial lives so they can spend more time focusing on what matters most to them.

Yes. Being a fiduciary means we are legally and ethically obligated to place our clients' interests ahead of our own when providing investment and planning advice. Fiduciary responsibility is a foundational part of how we serve clients and make recommendations.

A CFP® professional is trained across financial planning, investments, retirement, taxes, insurance, estate planning, and fiduciary responsibility. At Praetorian Guard, that technical foundation is strengthened by nearly 20 years of experience, and a firm culture shaped by military service, discipline, and clear communication.

Yes. Many important financial decisions involve multiple professionals. We regularly collaborate with clients' CPAs, attorneys, insurance professionals, and other trusted advisors to help ensure planning strategies are coordinated and implemented effectively. Our goal is to support a cohesive approach across all areas of your financial life.

Praetorian Guard is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). We are a fee-only firm and do not receive commissions or referral fees. This allows us to provide objective recommendations without the fear of outside influence.

Our clients are the only people who pay us. We are compensated through an annual advisory fee based on the value of the assets we manage on your behalf. This places us on the same side of the table as our clients by focusing on their long-term financial success.

Client assets are held with Pershing Advisor Solutions, an independent third-party custodian, not directly by Praetorian Guard. As of 2026, Pershing custodies over $3 trillion and its parent organization, Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon, oversees over $49 trillion worldwide. For many clients, this provides an additional layer of security and oversight, as their money is not physically held by the same company who invests it.

Although our headquarters are in Carmel, California, we work with clients and families across the United States. We use a combination of in-person meetings, virtual meetings, phone calls, secure digital communication, and electronic document sharing to provide a consistent, high level of service regardless of where you live.

Our advisors regularly travel to meet with clients throughout the country, and we have wealth managers based on both the East and West Coasts. Whether we meet in person or virtually, our planning process and ongoing service remain the same, allowing us to build long-term relationships with families wherever they call home.

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