Seattle Asset Management Firm that Stands Apart

Among Seattle asset management firms, Laird Norton Wealth Management (LNWM) stands out because of our fully integrated and customized approach. LNWM’s integrated services mean we can help add value — every time you make a major financial decision. Think of us as the GPS (global positioning system) for your wealth.

Asset management firms typically focus on investment management. LNWM is different. Unlike many other Seattle asset management firms, we provide a full set of integrated services to meet the complex financial needs of high-net-worth clients, from individuals and families to foundations and endowments.

Unlike many other investment management firms in Seattle and elsewhere, LNWM advises you based on a 360-degree view of finances. Not just your investments but all your assets: properties, any businesses, and even the “human capital” that is waiting to be developed within your family, as you and your loved ones transition from one phase of life to another.

We’ve seen first-hand that the most effective financial decisions are made in context. By that, we mean full consideration of things like the potential risk/return, taxes, and cash flow. If you make decisions that optimize all these factors for your specific situation — which is what we help you do — the benefits tend to compound over the years and through multiple generations.

We call this integrated asset management. And we believe it is the only way to effectively manage wealth so that it serves your goals and needs over time.

Asset Management that Maximizes All You Own

While we think integrated asset management does maximize returns, we don’t think the benefits can be boiled down to one number. Each client’s finances and priorities are different. Here at LNWM, the number we care about most is your risk-adjusted net return (after taxes and inflation), across your entire asset base. The services we provide — in addition to investment management — are not just nice add-ons. They are how we help you attain a higher net total return, more stable cash flow, and peace of mind.

Asset Management that Keeps You Invested
for the Long Run, Comfortably

This may sound easy, but it’s not. First and foremost, we carefully manage the overall price volatility of your portfolio so that it matches your tolerance for risk. While stock market volatility has been nearly 15% annualized the past 10 years, our moderate-risk portfolios tend to have a volatility of 8%. Keeping you within your risk comfort zone makes it much more likely that you will stay invested through market downturns so you can profit from the upturns. Over time, the benefits of staying invested can be dramatic.

Access to top-tier investment managers, negotiated discounts and preferred pricing. We provide access to top-tier asset managers and investments usually not available to individual investors or smaller investment firms. Because investment costs can gobble up a sizable chunk of total return over time, we negotiate manager-fee discounts and preferred pricing on your behalf. We also carefully consider which asset classes warrant active management, and when you’re better off in lower-cost index funds.

Asset Management that Manages Your Level of Risk from Day 1

We focus on managing your risk exposure early on and head-on, so you are well-positioned to grow your wealth. We strategize to reduce unexpected hits to your finances — through insurance (life, property, long-term care), tax strategies and cash flow modeling. In investments, our primary focus is putting you on the “efficient frontier.” That is, managing your investments with the goal of attaining the highest likely return given what you and your finances can handle in terms of price volatility and the probability of a loss. The result is that risk can be used to work for you, not against you.

Asset Management that Includes a Variety of Tax Strategies Tailored to Benefit You

Tax planning has become even more important in recent years. We focus on increasing your after-tax return across your entire asset base by: (1) offsetting, lowering or deferring your capital gains; (2) sourcing income from tax-advantaged accounts; (3) strategically locating assets in taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free accounts; (4) applying tools and strategies that allow you to transfer wealth tax-efficiently. Finally, investing your money with tax-efficient asset managers is a major objective here at LNWM, because this can have a big impact on your portfolio’s net total return.

Asset Management that Makes the Most of Your Cash Flow

How much income can your portfolio comfortably generate? What will be the impact of a large withdrawal to your lifestyle down the road? From which accounts should you draw down assets, and how often? The timing and source of your withdrawals can make a big difference in your portfolio’s overall return. LNWM’s ongoing cash flow sustainability analysis helps keep more of your money invested when your needs aren’t as great. And we help you plan for big expenses down the road, so you’re less likely to sell when the markets are down.

Asset Management that Includes Trust and Estate Planning

Our trust and estate planning experts can help safeguard your wealth for generations to come. As one of the oldest trust companies in Washington State, we can advise you on the most effective ways to transfer assets to those you love, reduce your estate taxes and support the causes you care about most. If you’re just beginning to consider your legacy, we can propose to your attorney the estate-planning tools that best serve your goals.

Not only does LNWM’s guidance save you billable attorney time, it’s more likely to result in an estate plan that fully reflects who you are — your goals and aspirations as well as your finances. Once your plan is in place, LNWM stays at your side; we continue to manage the assets in your trust(s), and we help preserve family harmony. When conflicts arise or tough decisions need to be made, our trust experts can provide a valuable third-party perspective. Year-in and year-out, we closely monitor tax laws and government regulations, so your estate plan can continue to function as intended.

The Bottom Line: Asset Management that Serves You

If you want to explore all the ways LNWM can help with your investments, finances and planning your estate, please let us know.