FAQ
A few of the questions we hear most often. If yours isn't here, we're happy to answer it on a call.
Yes. Azul Private Wealth is a fiduciary and is committed to acting in our clients' best interests. This means putting your interests first when providing financial advice and investment recommendations. As an independent, fee-only advisor, we do not receive commissions for recommending investment products. Our goal is to provide objective advice based on your individual financial situation, goals, and needs.
Client assets are held with an independent third-party custodian, such as Charles Schwab or Altruist. Your investments are not held directly by Azul Private Wealth. The custodian maintains your accounts, holds your securities and cash, provides account statements, and offers secure online access to your accounts.
Client investments are held with an independent third-party custodian. Both custodians are members of SIPC, which provides protection for securities and cash held at a member brokerage firm, subject to applicable limits and conditions. SIPC protection does not protect against normal investment losses or declines in market value. In addition, Azul Private Wealth maintains $1 million of aggregate professional liability insurance coverage, providing an additional layer of protection for the firm's advisory activities.
We work with individuals and families seeking long-term financial guidance and investment management, with a particular focus on tech professionals and small business owners, including healthcare and dental practice owners. Our clients often face complex decisions involving equity compensation, concentrated stock positions, business cash flow, retirement planning, or other important financial transitions. We are especially well suited for people who value personalized guidance, straightforward advice, and a disciplined approach to building and preserving wealth.
Simply reach out to schedule an introductory conversation. This initial meeting is an opportunity to discuss your financial situation, goals, and what you're looking for in an advisor—and to determine whether Azul may be a good fit. There is no obligation to become a client. If we decide to work together, we'll guide you through each step of the onboarding and account transition process.
Azul Private Wealth is a fee-only financial advisory firm. We receive an ongoing advisory fee based on the assets we manage, which helps align our interests with those of our clients. We do not receive commissions for selling financial products or investments. Our compensation comes directly from our clients, allowing us to focus our recommendations on what we believe is most appropriate for their individual needs and goals.
Not necessarily. We review your existing portfolio before making changes. When appropriate, we may retain existing investments and transition the portfolio over time, particularly when taxes or concentrated positions are a consideration.
We can help coordinate the transfer of eligible accounts from another brokerage firm or financial advisor. In many cases, investments can be transferred directly without first selling everything, although the appropriate approach depends on the securities held and your individual tax and investment circumstances.
Yes. Your accounts remain titled in your name, and you have direct access through your custodian's website or mobile app. You'll also receive statements directly from the custodian, providing an independent record of your holdings and activity.
We start by understanding your financial situation, goals, investments, taxes and priorities. From there, we develop recommendations and an investment strategy tailored to you. Planning is ongoing rather than a one-time event, allowing us to adjust as your life and financial circumstances change.
As an independent financial advisor, Azul is not owned by or affiliated with a bank, brokerage firm, or investment product provider. This allows us to focus on what we believe is best for each client without pressure to recommend proprietary investment products. We provide personalized advice and investment management, while client assets are held separately with an independent custodian, such as Charles Schwab or Altruist. This structure provides clients with direct access to their accounts and independent reporting of their assets and transactions.
Azul provides personalized investment management and ongoing financial planning designed around each client's goals and financial situation. We help clients build and manage diversified portfolios while considering taxes, retirement needs, risk, and long-term financial objectives. Our planning can include retirement and cash-flow planning, tax-aware investment strategies, portfolio rebalancing, concentrated investment positions, and guidance through important financial decisions and life transitions. As your circumstances evolve, we continue to review and adjust your financial plan and investment strategy along the way.