Families

We’ve never known two families that were alike – which is what we love most about what we do! Families come in all sizes and shapes, and we know managing wealth for our families is not limited to just financial matters: the valuable assets of a family are not simply monetary. Perhaps more importantly, valuable assets include the members themselves, and the values and beliefs they share.

We want to know what’s important to you. Is it providing the best education for your children and/or grandchildren? Is it giving back to your community to help others less fortunate? How about that bigger house for your growing family? And maybe your dream is to travel the world, or to leave a lasting legacy for your heirs?

That’s the beauty of Sonder’s mission – it’s the diversity, love and values each of our client families have that drives our passion for creative solutions to care for and preserve all that they value.

Preparing for the road ahead means developing a plan that aims for your dreams and goals, but also addresses the potential for the unexpected. What if you lose your job or become unable to work? What happens if you divorce? How will you be able to care for your elderly parent(s)? What happens if you or your spouse needs skilled care? How will you and your family carry on after the loss of a spouse? What if your child suffers from addiction or has other special needs?

We understand these topics are ones that most of us do not want to think about, much less talk about or plan for. But from our experience, we know that planning ahead for the worst will ease the difficulty of handling such situations for families should the time come. The emotional impacts of such events are unavoidable, but planning ahead can provide welcome financial and logistical relief.

Beyond planning for the future, careful stewardship of the wealth that you’ve worked so hard for is paramount to achieving the financial future you need and want.

Sonder tailors investment portfolios to meet our clients’ needs and goals, using comprehensive financial planning as the foundation for establishing the optimal asset allocation. We are conservative investors who value quality, low-cost investment vehicles and that are as tax-efficient as possible. From a tax perspective, asset location is just as important as asset allocation.

We know that even the best financial plan will fail if the investment portfolio doesn’t perform as needed.

Services

• Estate Planning
• Education Planning
• Income Tax Planning
• Retirement Planning
• Risk Management

Business Owners

So many challenges face today’s business founders and owners. The cost of health care, increasing regulations, and economic conditions that are anything but predictable are just the tip of the iceberg for those who own businesses today. Maintaining and growing your business has never been more challenging. Sonder understands the complexity of business needs, and has the resources to build a team of outside experts in virtually any matter that can help. We’ve worked with companies in several industries, from lower tier manufacturers to OEMS, and from law to medical practices. Our experience and substantial network is here for you.

We’d like to know what that business really means to you and your family. We think there is a difference between a “family business” and a “business that is a family asset”. And that difference will drive how Sonder connects the personal financial plan for an entrepreneur and the future of her business.

What’s your exit strategy? Will you pass the enterprise on to the next generation? Is that next generation prepared to take it on? How will a transition impact your personal cash flow? What about your children and grandchildren? How will they be impacted by any business transition?

What about a sale? Is your business prepared? Are you prepared, and ready to turn over the keys? How will a sale impact your lifestyle and financial security? What are the income tax impacts? Can they be mitigated?

Is the sale price the right price?

We think the sales price is right if three conditions are met: 1) It’s a fair market price and the terms are good; 2) The after-tax proceeds are sufficient to capitalize the next chapter of your life; AND 3) Deep in your heart, you are ready to sell.

Sonder has sophisticated financial models that can measure the capital sufficiency of the after-tax proceeds, giving you the confidence to know which course of action is best for you.

After the sale of your business, going from cashflow to balance sheet living can be terrifying.

Sonder understands this, and your need for careful stewardship of the wealth that you’ve worked so hard for is paramount to achieving the financial future you need and want.

Sonder tailors investment portfolios to meet our clients’ needs and goals, using comprehensive financial planning as the foundation for establishing the optimal asset allocation. We are conservative investors who value quality, low-cost investment vehicles and that are as tax-efficient as possible. From a tax perspective, asset location is just as important as asset allocation.

We know that even the best financial plan will fail if the investment portfolio doesn’t perform as needed.

Sonder would also like to help your employees. Do you have a retirement plan in place? Is the plan optimal for both you and your employees? Are they taking advantage of it? We find that workers often fail to plan adequately for retirement, and work long after full retirement age. Our services can provide direct counselling to your crew, so they can retire with confidence. And we can work with you to ensure the plan you have is the best suited for you and your business.

Services

• Transition Planning
• Retirement Planning
• Estate Planning
• Income Tax Planning
• Investment Management
• Risk Management

Non-profit Organizations

Doing good in today’s world isn’t easy. Changes in tax code, regulations, poor economic conditions and increasing needs have strained charitable organizations both large and small. Thus, sustainability for many organizations is becoming increasingly challenging. Sonder understands it’s more important than ever for organizations to run efficiently and effectively.

Our approach to helping and strengthening our client organizations includes employing sophisticated financial models to determine the optimal asset allocation and sustainable spending policy for endowment or foundation assets. Based on our models, Sonder builds investment portfolios to meet the organization’s mission. We are conservative investors who value quality, low cost investment vehicles, and are aware of unique investment limitations to which non-profits must adhere.

However, we know that an organization’s sustainability does not begin and end with investment management.

Beyond investment matters, development is crucial to an organization’s lasting viability.

Because Sonder has experience with both non-profits and wealthy individuals, our unique perspective can lend value to development staff skill-building, donor and board education.

The most effective charitable giving strategies are often dictated by current economic conditions and income tax provisions. For example, when interest rates are rising, many philanthropic individuals may be incentivized to create charitable lead trusts, or to gift a remainder interest in their homes. Sonder can work with your development staff to help them discuss optimal giving structures with your most important donors, and craft more target development strategies in their annual development plans. Moreover, Sonder can help provide the expertise needed to accept valuable non-financial assets as gifts, when appropriate.

A strong board is a crown jewel for any non-profit organization. Sonder can help you develop and/or deliver onboarding and governance programs that will help new board members hit the ground running, focusing their efforts wherever they are needed.

We are ideally suited to provide advisory services for small to mid-sized foundations and endowments.

Services

• Gift Planning and Policy Development
• Spending Analysis and Policy Development
• Investment Allocation and Policy Development
• Investment Portfolio Management
• Board Development and Governance