Business Details
11 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Financial Planning Solutions
Cogent Strategic Wealth was founded to provide tailored financial solutions for high-achieving individuals and families. Our team of experienced professionals specializes in evidence-driven investing, tax-efficient strategies, and comprehensive wealth management tailored to complex financial situations. With decades of combined Wall Street experience, we prioritize fiduciary responsibility while helping clients navigate investment management, estate planning, and retirement strategies.Our client-centric approach emphasizes transparency, personalized guidance, and long-term partnership, ensuring financial decisions align with individual values and life goals. We operate as both advisors and co-investors, maintaining skin-in-the-game through shared investment strategies. Our commitment extends beyond asset management to include education, ongoing support, and adaptive planning that evolves with changing market conditions and client needs.
Services
Tax Strategies
Investment Management
Estate Planning
Retirement Planning
Charitable Giving
Entrepreneurs
Details
- Year established: 2015
Highlights and features
- We operate as fiduciary advisors with skin-in-the-game through shared investment strategies
- Our evidence-driven approach leverages empirical research for consistent long-term growth
- We specialize in serving clients with $2M+ investable assets and complex financial needs
- Our Design | Build | Protect process ensures comprehensive, personalized wealth management
- We maintain transparency through clear communication and no hidden fees
Services
Tax Strategies
Our tax strategies focus on minimizing liabilities through evidence-based approaches including tax-loss harvesting and asset location optimization. We help clients maximize after-tax returns while maintaining compliance with evolving regulations. Our customized solutions leverage tax-advantaged accounts and donor-advised funds to enhance long-term wealth accumulation for high-net-worth individuals.
Investment Management
Evidence-driven investment management forms our core philosophy, utilizing empirical research to build diversified portfolios. We focus on capturing market returns through tax-efficient strategies while mitigating risk. Our approach emphasizes cost control and systematic portfolio management that remains resilient during economic uncertainty and market volatility.
Estate Planning
Comprehensive estate planning services integrate tax optimization and asset protection strategies to preserve wealth across generations. We develop customized legacy plans that address both immediate control of affairs and long-term distribution of assets. Our solutions incorporate philanthropic planning to align financial decisions with personal values and family traditions.
Retirement Planning
Strategic retirement planning addresses inflation protection and market stability through personalized investment strategies. Our Design | Build | Protect framework creates tailored solutions that maintain lifestyle continuity during economic changes. We focus on transforming financial independence into sustainable retirement security through systematic wealth management approaches.
Charitable Giving
Smart charitable giving strategies maximize both tax benefits and social impact. We help clients establish donor-advised funds and implement capital gains optimization techniques. Our approach transforms philanthropy into a family legacy activity while providing immediate tax deductions and long-term wealth transfer benefits.
People
Michael J. Evans
Founder, CEO
As founder and CEO, Michael Evans brings decades of Wall Street experience to personalized wealth management. He specializes in creating evidence-driven investment strategies for high-net-worth individuals, combining fiduciary responsibility with innovative financial planning solutions tailored to complex client needs.
Kelly Stanley
Partner, Fiduciary Wealth Advisor
Kelly Stanley, a CFP professional with MBA credentials, contributes ten years of dedicated service to Cogent Strategic Wealth. Her expertise in fiduciary advisory services focuses on helping successful individuals achieve financial clarity through comprehensive wealth management strategies grounded in empirical research and personalized planning.
Liz Winkle
Director of Client Services
Liz Winkle oversees client operations with a focus on exceptional service delivery. Her role ensures seamless implementation of wealth management strategies while maintaining clear communication between advisors and clients. She brings extensive experience in coordinating complex financial plans for high-net-worth families.
Questions
What services do you offer for high-net-worth individuals?
We provide comprehensive wealth management including tax strategies, investment management, estate planning, retirement solutions, and charitable giving strategies tailored to clients with $2M+ investable assets.
Do you have minimum asset requirements?
Yes, we typically work with clients who have at least $2 million in investable assets, including 401(k) plan assets, to ensure we can provide appropriate value for complex financial situations.
How does your investment approach differ from traditional advisors?
Our evidence-driven approach uses empirical research rather than market predictions, focusing on systematic portfolio management that remains effective during economic uncertainty and market volatility.
Are you a fiduciary advisor?
Yes, we operate as fiduciary advisors committed to acting in our clients' best interests at all times, maintaining transparency through clear communication and no hidden fees.
How do you handle estate and legacy planning?
We create customized estate plans integrating tax optimization, asset protection, and philanthropic planning to preserve wealth across generations while addressing both immediate and long-term distribution needs.
Can you help with charitable giving strategies?
Yes, we develop smart charitable giving strategies that maximize tax benefits while creating meaningful family philanthropy traditions through donor-advised funds and capital gains optimization techniques.
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