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How to work with Belmont: five steps, one fee, and a first meeting with a founder.

Here is what happens between a first conversation and a working plan, and what it costs. 

What to expect

A process built for busy people

You run a business or a family, or both, and you don't have time for a slow onboarding. We ask for a few meetings and a stack of documents, and we do the work in between. Every meeting is with both founders, James and John. 


1

First conversation

A short meeting with James and John, in person in Chesterfield or by video. We listen to what's going on, explain how we work, and tell you plainly whether we're a fit. No pitch, no homework.

Belmont Private WealthStep 1 of 5

Meeting notes

  1. Date and who was in the room
  2. What’s going onin your words
  3. What you want to be true in five years
  4. Is Belmont a fit? Our plain answer
  5. If yes: what we need from you

Illustrative. Your version is written for you.

2

Discovery

We gather statements, tax returns, entity documents, estate documents, and insurance policies, and we ask a lot of questions about what you want. This is where the real work starts.

Belmont Private WealthStep 2 of 5

Document checklist

  1. Account statements, every account
  2. Last two years of tax returns
  3. Entity documents and buy-sell agreement
  4. Wills, trusts, beneficiary forms
  5. Insurance policies

Illustrative. Your version is written for you.

3

Your plan

A written plan in plain English, with specific recommendations and the numbers behind them. We walk through it together and change what doesn't fit.

Belmont Private WealthStep 3 of 5

Your written plan · contents

  1. Where you stand todayp. 1
  2. Cash flow and savingsp. 3
  3. Taxes: the next twelve monthsp. 5
  4. Investments: one allocationp. 7
  5. Insurance and estatep. 9
  6. The businessp. 11
  7. Recommendations, in orderp. 13

Illustrative. Your version is written for you.

4

Implementation

We open and transfer accounts at Charles Schwab, build the portfolio, and coordinate with your CPA and attorney on the pieces that are theirs.

Belmont Private WealthStep 4 of 5

Tracker

  1. Accounts opened and transferred to Schwab
  2. Portfolio built to the plan
  3. CPA briefed on entity and retirement plan
  4. Attorney: titling and beneficiaries
  5. Insurance adjusted

Illustrative. Your version is written for you.

5

Ongoing

Regular reviews, tax-season coordination, and a plan that updates when your business or family changes. Questions in between get answered by the people who built the plan.

Belmont Private WealthStep 5 of 5

Annual review · agenda

  1. What changed this year
  2. Tax moves before year-end
  3. Plan updates and the new numbers
  4. The business: value, pay, exit timing
  5. Next year’s calendar

Illustrative. Your version is written for you.

The gold line is where you decide whether to go further. Nothing before it costs anything. Each step shows the thing you get at the end of it.

What it costs

One advisory fee, published

We charge one fee based on the assets we manage. It covers all six services. We don't earn commissions, sell products, or bill by the hour.

Billed quarterly in advance. Negotiable. Fund expenses and any custodian transaction costs are separate and disclosed. The full schedule is in our Form ADV Part 2A.

Portion of your managed accountsAnnual rate on that portion
First $1 million1.00%
$1 million to $3 million0.90%
$3 million to $6 million0.70%
$6 million to $10 million0.60%
$10 million to $25 million0.50%
Above $25 million0.40%

Tiered: each rate applies only to the assets within that band. For example, $1 million under management costs $10,000 a year, about $2,500 a quarter. Fund expenses and any custodian transaction costs are separate. Schedule A of our advisory agreement governs.

Both directions

What we ask of you

Real numbers

The plan is only as good as the information in it. We'll ask for everything, including the parts that are messy.

A few hours up front

Two or three meetings and some document gathering in the first weeks. After that, it gets lighter.

Tell us when things change

A new entity, an offer for the business, a birth, a move. The sooner we know, the more options you have.

Patience with boring

Good plans are mostly uneventful. We won't trade your portfolio because the news is loud.

Common questions

What people in St. Louis ask about fees and process

How much does Belmont charge?
One advisory fee based on the assets we manage: 1.00% a year on the first $1 million, stepping down to 0.40% above $25 million. It’s billed quarterly in advance and covers all six services. For example, $1 million under management costs $10,000 a year, about $2,500 a quarter. Belmont earns no commissions and sells no products; fund expenses and any custodian transaction costs are separate.
Is the fee negotiable?
Yes. The schedule is our standard, and it's negotiable. Whatever we agree to is written into your advisory agreement before we start.
How long does it take to get started?
Typically a few weeks from the first conversation to a written plan, mostly depending on how quickly we can gather statements and documents. Accounts can be opened at Schwab along the way.
How is the fee paid?
Quarterly in advance, typically deducted from your Schwab account and shown on your Schwab statement, so you can see exactly what you paid.

Step one

Book the first conversation

Thirty minutes with James or John. Pick a time, or send a note and we’ll reply within a business day.

In person at 100 Chesterfield Business Pkwy, Suite 200, or by video.

Pick a time

Thirty minutes, no homework

Opens our calendar. You’ll get a confirmation by email.

Speak with a founder

Quarterly Recap

Get the Quarterly Recap

Our quarterly market update, in plain English. One email a quarter, no sales pitch.