Strategic Portfolio Review: Professional Analysis, Personal Control
Robert Stowe, AAMS® | Investment Advisor
A professional second opinion for self-directed Georgia investors. The Strategic Portfolio Review provides the quantitative analysis to make retirement decisions grounded in data, all for a flat $900 fee. Meeting times are flexible, including evenings and weekends.
- The Stress Test: 500 Monte Carlo simulations stress-testing your costs and income sources to project sustainable retirement spending.
- The Roadmap: A custom Investment Policy Statement defining your target asset allocation, tax-efficient asset location, and rebalancing rules.
- The Execution: You implement the plan using your existing accounts; we provide the analytical framework.
What You Receive
Investment Policy Statement (IPS)
Your portfolio's governing framework: target asset allocation with allowable drift ranges, rebalancing trigger protocols, volatility tolerance thresholds, and targeted exposures (such as factor investing tilts). Includes asset location algorithms optimized for tax efficiency (e.g., tax-inefficient bond funds in your IRA, tax-efficient broad market ETFs in taxable accounts) and guidelines for future investment decisions.
Step-by-Step Portfolio Transition Plan
A precise action plan specifying which holdings to sell, which to buy, and how to execute each trade to align your portfolio with the IPS. Includes a cost and risk review of every position: identifying compounding expense ratio drag, benchmarking holdings against lower-cost alternatives, and flagging redundancy across accounts.
Contribution Strategy
A prioritized "Order of Operations" for systematic capital deployment. This sequenced framework considers employer matches, tax advantages, and your specific goals (e.g., 401k Match → HSA → Mega-Backdoor Roth → Taxable), giving you a clear decision tree for where every dollar of new savings should go.
60 Minutes of Live Consultation
Virtual consultation time to discuss your situation, review the Investment Policy Statement, and answer your questions. This time is typically split across an introductory call and a strategy review session, ensuring you understand the reasoning behind each recommendation.
Retirement Spending Projections
Lifetime consumption-smoothing analysis powered by MaxiFi Planner, built on economics-based algorithms developed by Boston University economist Dr. Laurence Kotlikoff. Rather than using rigid withdrawal rules, this software runs 500 Monte Carlo simulations to test your specific fixed living costs against your discretionary lifestyle goals. The report maps a clear contribution path while accumulating, and projects withdrawal limits through retirement, answering the fundamental question: "How much can I actually afford to spend each year without outliving my money?"
Monte Carlo simulations model a range of possible outcomes based on historical data and assumptions. They do not predict the future, and actual results may differ from projections.
How the Process Works
Step 1: Secure Data Ingestion
After engagement, you upload your current account statements and any relevant financial documents through our secure client portal. This includes retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, equity compensation statements, and any other investment holdings you want reviewed. All data is handled with the same security rigor applied to institutional financial systems.
Step 2: Quantitative Analysis (2 Hours)
Your complete financial picture is analyzed: portfolio diagnostics are run across all holdings, expense ratios are calculated, overlap and redundancy are identified, risk exposure is assessed using frameworks like Value at Risk (VaR) and maximum drawdown analysis, and your personalized Investment Policy Statement is drafted.
Step 3: Live Consultation (60 Minutes Total)
We meet virtually to discuss your situation, review the Investment Policy Statement, and walk through the quantitative reasoning behind each recommendation. This consultation time is typically split across an introductory call and a strategy review session. You leave with a clear understanding of the methodology and specific next steps.
Step 4: Autonomous Execution (You)
You implement the recommendations at your own pace using your existing brokerage accounts. You retain total control of your assets throughout the process. The IPS serves as your ongoing reference document for investment decisions, rebalancing triggers, and contribution priorities.
Who This Service Is For
Good Fit
- Self-directed investors who want quantitative validation of their strategy
- Those approaching or in retirement who need a structured, data-driven plan
- DIY investors seeking a professional framework without ongoing AUM fees
- Investors managing complex portfolios across multiple accounts
- Holders of concentrated employer stock or equity compensation
Not Ideal For
- Those wanting someone else to manage their investments
- Investors uncomfortable making their own trades
- Those seeking ongoing daily portfolio monitoring
- Situations requiring immediate trade execution
What the Investment Policy Statement Contains
You receive a comprehensive, two-part document. Part 1 establishes your strategic Investment Policy Statement: the rules governing your portfolio's asset allocation, allowable drift ranges, volatility tolerance thresholds, and rebalancing trigger protocols. Part 2 is your immediate 2026 Action Plan: precise, systematic instructions to transition existing holdings into alignment with the target architecture, mitigating expense ratio drag and redundancy. Together, these give you both the enduring framework and the concrete next steps to act on it.
| Component | What It Defines |
|---|---|
| Investment Objectives | Your specific goals, time horizons, and return requirements |
| Risk Tolerance | Maximum acceptable loss thresholds, drawdown risk limits, and volatility comfort level |
| Asset Allocation Targets | Target percentages for global equity allocation, plus specific fixed-income mechanics (such as defined-maturity bond ladders where appropriate), with allowable drift ranges (e.g., US Equity 40%, range 35-45%) |
| Asset Location Strategy | Which investments belong in which account types for tax efficiency |
| Contribution Priority | Order of operations for new savings across account types |
For more details on Investment Policy Statements and why they matter, see our complete Investment Policy Statement guide.
What the Lifetime Spending Analysis Contains
The second pillar of the Strategic Portfolio Review is a lifetime spending analysis powered by MaxiFi Planner. Instead of relying on rudimentary linear return assumptions, this economics-based software uses consumption-smoothing algorithms (developed by Boston University economist Dr. Laurence Kotlikoff) to mathematically separate fixed, non-negotiable costs from discretionary lifestyle goals. The result is a fundamentally different kind of retirement projection: one that stress-tests market variability rather than assuming it away.
| Component | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Monte Carlo Simulations | 500 simulations testing a range of market scenarios, projecting year-by-year spending from floor through 95th percentile outcomes |
| Fixed vs. Discretionary Costs | Separates non-negotiable living expenses (housing, healthcare, insurance) from lifestyle spending (travel, dining, hobbies) to show which costs are covered under adverse scenarios |
| Contribution Path | For clients still accumulating, maps the annual savings trajectory needed to fund projected retirement spending |
| Withdrawal Projections | For clients in or near retirement, projects annual withdrawal limits across accounts, answering: "How much can I afford to spend each year?" |
| Income Sources | Integrates Social Security, pensions, rental income, and other fixed sources into the spending model |
Monte Carlo simulations model a range of possible outcomes based on historical data and assumptions. They do not predict the future, and actual results may differ from projections. The spending analysis is a planning tool, not a guarantee of any particular outcome.
Read a Complete Sample Report
Download a full sample Investment Policy Statement to see exactly how we document your strategy and action plan:
Scope and Pricing
Standard Engagement: $900
The review identifies high-fee funds and provides specific low-cost alternatives. Depending on your current holdings, expense ratio reductions identified during the review may offset the engagement fee, though results vary by portfolio.
Covers portfolios with up to 30 securities across 6 accounts. This accommodates most individual and household portfolios including:
- Multiple 401(k) and IRA accounts
- Taxable brokerage accounts
- HSA investment accounts
- 529 education savings accounts
Additional complexity (more securities, accounts, or concentrated positions requiring special analysis) is billed at $300/hour in 15-minute increments. For example, if you have 45 securities across 8 accounts, expect approximately 1 additional hour ($300) beyond the base engagement. We confirm any overage before proceeding during the document collection phase.
After the Review
The Strategic Portfolio Review is a one-time engagement, but the Investment Policy Statement you receive serves as an ongoing reference. Many clients use the document for years, updating it themselves as circumstances change.
If you want periodic professional check-ins, consider our Periodic Investment Consulting service. These quarterly, semi-annual, or annual reviews build on your Investment Policy Statement foundation and assess whether your portfolio remains aligned with your documented strategy.
Add-On: Roth Conversion Plan
A multi-year Roth conversion strategy can be added to any Strategic Portfolio Review or purchased as a standalone Hourly Consulting engagement. This analysis models optimal conversion amounts across tax brackets, IRMAA thresholds, and your projected retirement timeline.
Payment and Scheduling
- Fee: $900 due before engagement begins
- Payment: Via AdvicePay (ACH or credit card)
- Timeline: Typically completed within 2-3 weeks of document receipt
- Termination: You may terminate at any time; unused fees refunded based on work completed
Complimentary 15-minute introductory call to discuss your situation and determine fit. Send a message to schedule. Flexible meeting times available.
Related Services
Periodic Investment Consulting
Ongoing quarterly or annual reviews to assess your portfolio against your Investment Policy Statement.
Hourly Consulting
Project-based consulting for specific topics like retirement modeling, multi-year tax planning, or equity compensation.
Investment Policy Statement Guide
Learn more about what an Investment Policy Statement contains and why it matters for disciplined investing.
Disclaimer
Foxholm Financial, Inc. is a registered investment adviser with the State of Georgia. The Strategic Portfolio Review provides investment advice and recommendations; you retain full responsibility for implementation. Fee schedules are subject to change. See our Form ADV Part 2A & 2B for complete disclosures.