Typing...
Let’s schedule a day and time for our meeting.
We have another option available for you.
We have another option available for you.
Book a Fit Call to learn more about Root and see if we could be a good match.
We currently have a $1M minimum today.
Please know that we aim to increase the number of people we can serve as our team expands.
In the meantime, we currently offer the ability to run your own financial plan with what-if scenarios within our academies below (the same as you see on YouTube):
Here's a few options.
We currently offer the ability to run your own financial plan with what-if scenarios within our academies below (the same as you see on YouTube):
Retirement Planning Academy (James)
Early Retirement Academy (Ari)
If you have completed one of the academies above and/or still seek guidance on your financial strategy, you can book a call here with a firm that offers one-time plans regardless of how much money you have.
This is not with Root Financial, but a firm with a similar philosophy.
A calendar invitation has been sent to your email.
Derek Hagen (Form Page)
View BioLearn more about Derek Hagen (Form Page).
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Once you start working with Root, you’ll have a kickoff meeting where we dive deep into your goals, values, and current financial picture. From there, we begin building a personalized plan through a series of focused meetings—covering income, investments, taxes, estate planning, and more—designed to help you live the life you want, not just the one you can get by on. Planning continues with ongoing support and regular check-ins to keep your strategy aligned as life evolves.
Watch (04:05) -
Your money is typically held at Charles Schwab, an independent custodian—think of it like a secure grocery cart where you own everything inside. The accounts stay in your name, and we act as your advisor with limited authority to manage them on your behalf. We don’t work for Schwab or earn commissions, so every recommendation we make is in your best interest.
Watch (00:50) -
Transferring your investment accounts is simple and secure thanks to the ACAT system, which moves assets “in-kind”—meaning nothing is sold or changed during the transfer. Whether you’re moving an IRA or brokerage account, your investments stay exactly the same; the only difference is where you log in. We don’t make any changes to your portfolio until you approve a personalized plan built around your goals and tax strategy.
Transferring your investment accounts is simple and secure thanks to the ACAT system, which moves assets “in-kind”—meaning nothing is sold or changed during the transfer. Whether you’re moving an IRA or brokerage account, your investments stay exactly the same; the only difference is where you log in. We don’t make any changes to your portfolio until you approve a personalized plan built around your goals and tax strategy.
Watch (02:02) -
We charge a transparent, tiered percentage based on the assets we actively manage—starting at 1% for the first $1 million and decreasing as your assets grow. There are no commissions, hidden fees, or extra charges for tax or estate planning, and billing is done monthly for flexibility. If we’re not delivering value that exceeds the cost, you’re free to walk away—no long-term commitments.
Watch (02:55) -
Our fee reflects the value of having a trusted partner focused on your entire financial life—so you don’t have to become your own advisor. We provide both quantifiable benefits (like tax strategies and withdrawal planning) and priceless peace of mind, helping you make confident, intentional decisions about retirement, lifestyle, and legacy. Ultimately, you’re investing in your time, clarity, and confidence—not just spreadsheets and returns.
Watch (03:18) -
No—James and Ari don’t personally oversee every client, but every plan follows the same high standards they’ve set through our structured team approach. Each client is supported by a dedicated team including a lead advisor, senior advisor, associate advisor, and client service associate—all trained through Root’s internal program to deliver a consistent, personalized experience rooted in our philosophy.
Watch (02:24) -
At Root, we focus on proactive tax planning, not tax preparation. We help clients identify opportunities like Roth conversions, tax gain/loss harvesting, charitable strategies, and optimizing income to manage healthcare costs or subsidies—all in coordination with your broader financial goals. While we don’t file your taxes, we collaborate closely with your CPA to ensure everything is implemented smoothly and strategically.
Watch (03:05) -
We work with people from all walks of life. Most of the people we serve have built portfolios of at least $1 million (excluding current 401(k)s if under age 59.5, real estate, and 529 plans) and are ready to delegate. We ask to manage all assets that are available for direct management so we can deliver advice that’s fully integrated across your financial life.
All advisory relationships are subject to a $10,000 minimum annual fee. If your fees under our standard asset-based schedule fall below that amount, the minimum will be applied. This structure is designed for standard advisory relationships where assets are limited but planning needs fall within our typical scope.
If your situation involves more complexity, such as business ownership, multiple entities, or advanced planning needs, and asset-based billing isn’t available, we may instead recommend working together under a flat-fee planning arrangement that reflects the scope of work involved. In those cases, a separate agreement would outline the services and cost.
If we’re not the right fit, we’ll do our best to answer your questions and connect you with someone who might be.
Welcome to the Priority Path-I am excited to connect with you. Before booking, please watch the short video below. It covers key info for our call.
Watch the video, then click “Continue” to schedule.
What can you expect?
-
Fit Call
A 25-minute call with a member of our team. No pressure, just a chance for us to hear your story and be honest about whether we’re the right fit.
-
Proposal Meeting
Next, you’ll meet with a lead advisor, who’ll show you exactly how Root would address your situation. Decide to move forward, and you’ll sign the documents and get started.
-
Kickoff
Working together, you and your advisor spend this session diving into your purpose, expenses, and financial plan. From there, you’re enrolled in our Sequoia system, a series of meetings to work through every piece of your financial life, officially kicking off your time as a Root client.
Client testimonials and endorsements reflect individual experiences and may not be representative of all clients. No compensation was provided unless otherwise disclosed.
Typing...
Let’s schedule a day and time for our meeting.
We have another option available for you.
We have another option available for you.
Book a Fit Call to learn more about Root and see if we could be a good match.
We currently have a $1M minimum today.
Please know that we aim to increase the number of people we can serve as our team expands.
In the meantime, we currently offer the ability to run your own financial plan with what-if scenarios within our academies below (the same as you see on YouTube):
Here's a few options.
We currently offer the ability to run your own financial plan with what-if scenarios within our academies below (the same as you see on YouTube):
Retirement Planning Academy (James)
Early Retirement Academy (Ari)
If you have completed one of the academies above and/or still seek guidance on your financial strategy, you can book a call here with a firm that offers one-time plans regardless of how much money you have.
This is not with Root Financial, but a firm with a similar philosophy.
A calendar invitation has been sent to your email.
Derek Hagen (Form Page)
View BioLearn more about Derek Hagen (Form Page).
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Once you start working with Root, you’ll have a kickoff meeting where we dive deep into your goals, values, and current financial picture. From there, we begin building a personalized plan through a series of focused meetings—covering income, investments, taxes, estate planning, and more—designed to help you live the life you want, not just the one you can get by on. Planning continues with ongoing support and regular check-ins to keep your strategy aligned as life evolves.
Watch (04:05) -
Your money is typically held at Charles Schwab, an independent custodian—think of it like a secure grocery cart where you own everything inside. The accounts stay in your name, and we act as your advisor with limited authority to manage them on your behalf. We don’t work for Schwab or earn commissions, so every recommendation we make is in your best interest.
Watch (00:50) -
Transferring your investment accounts is simple and secure thanks to the ACAT system, which moves assets “in-kind”—meaning nothing is sold or changed during the transfer. Whether you’re moving an IRA or brokerage account, your investments stay exactly the same; the only difference is where you log in. We don’t make any changes to your portfolio until you approve a personalized plan built around your goals and tax strategy.
Transferring your investment accounts is simple and secure thanks to the ACAT system, which moves assets “in-kind”—meaning nothing is sold or changed during the transfer. Whether you’re moving an IRA or brokerage account, your investments stay exactly the same; the only difference is where you log in. We don’t make any changes to your portfolio until you approve a personalized plan built around your goals and tax strategy.
Watch (02:02) -
We charge a transparent, tiered percentage based on the assets we actively manage—starting at 1% for the first $1 million and decreasing as your assets grow. There are no commissions, hidden fees, or extra charges for tax or estate planning, and billing is done monthly for flexibility. If we’re not delivering value that exceeds the cost, you’re free to walk away—no long-term commitments.
Watch (02:55) -
Our fee reflects the value of having a trusted partner focused on your entire financial life—so you don’t have to become your own advisor. We provide both quantifiable benefits (like tax strategies and withdrawal planning) and priceless peace of mind, helping you make confident, intentional decisions about retirement, lifestyle, and legacy. Ultimately, you’re investing in your time, clarity, and confidence—not just spreadsheets and returns.
Watch (03:18) -
No—James and Ari don’t personally oversee every client, but every plan follows the same high standards they’ve set through our structured team approach. Each client is supported by a dedicated team including a lead advisor, senior advisor, associate advisor, and client service associate—all trained through Root’s internal program to deliver a consistent, personalized experience rooted in our philosophy.
Watch (02:24) -
At Root, we focus on proactive tax planning, not tax preparation. We help clients identify opportunities like Roth conversions, tax gain/loss harvesting, charitable strategies, and optimizing income to manage healthcare costs or subsidies—all in coordination with your broader financial goals. While we don’t file your taxes, we collaborate closely with your CPA to ensure everything is implemented smoothly and strategically.
Watch (03:05) -
We work with people from all walks of life. Most of the people we serve have built portfolios of at least $1 million (excluding current 401(k)s if under age 59.5, real estate, and 529 plans) and are ready to delegate. We ask to manage all assets that are available for direct management so we can deliver advice that’s fully integrated across your financial life.
All advisory relationships are subject to a $10,000 minimum annual fee. If your fees under our standard asset-based schedule fall below that amount, the minimum will be applied. This structure is designed for standard advisory relationships where assets are limited but planning needs fall within our typical scope.
If your situation involves more complexity, such as business ownership, multiple entities, or advanced planning needs, and asset-based billing isn’t available, we may instead recommend working together under a flat-fee planning arrangement that reflects the scope of work involved. In those cases, a separate agreement would outline the services and cost.
If we’re not the right fit, we’ll do our best to answer your questions and connect you with someone who might be.
Welcome to the Priority Path-I am excited to connect with you. Before booking, please watch the short video below. It covers key info for our call.
Watch the video, then click “Continue” to schedule.
Work With Me
I could talk about money all day. But most people don’t have a numbers problem. They have a purpose problem. Nobody ever asked what the money is actually for.
That’s where I start. Before we look at investments, taxes, or projections, I want to know what a good day looks like for you ten years from now. And what you’re afraid of getting wrong.
I came up through the CFA track and investment management, then kept going into financial psychology and financial therapy. The math has to be sound. It also has to point at something. At Root, we’re a fiduciary firm, so your best interest comes first. From there, we build one plan around the life you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
We call our process The Sequoia System because, unlike many firms, we don’t start with the numbers. To build a plan with a strong foundation, we begin with your roots to get a real picture of what you want most out of life.
It’s a method that helps us intimately understand your situation so our recommendations are thoughtful, researched, and always made with your best interest in mind. We’ll systematically formulate a financial plan so you can start to experience freedom with your money.
Like the great Sequoia tree, our goal is to help you develop a robust, specialized retirement plan that aims to weather any storm.
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We work with people from all walks of life. That said, we are a business, and to remain viable, we must receive compensation. Our best-fit clients are those who have found some success and built a portfolio of at least $1 million. They’ve done a great job saving, but don’t want to carry the full weight of managing their money and retirement planning alone.
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We charges a fee that’s a percentage of the value of the investments they manage, which is debited directly from the account:
—1% on the first $1,000,000 we manage
—0.75% between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000
—0.50% between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000
—0.40% between $10,000,000 and $25,000,000
—0.30% between $25,000,000 and $50,000,000
—0.25% between $50,000,000 and $100,000,000
—0.20% on amounts above $100,000,000We don’t get paid through any type of commission, kickback, or other undisclosed revenue sources.
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Our mission is to help you get the most out of life with your money. That means taking as much of the planning off your plate as possible. We helps clients with:
—Retirement planning
—Investment management
—Tax planning
—Estate planning
—Insurance review
—Cash flow planningAnd everything else it takes to help you feel calm (and excited) about your financial future.
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Yes. Your CPA is great at accounting for what happened last year, but often doesn’t focus on limiting your tax liability going forward. We look at the big picture and offers strategies to optimize your spending and saving for tax efficiency. You (or your CPA) are still responsible for filing your return.
-
Your money is typically held at Charles Schwab or Altruist, independent third-party custodians — think of it like a secure grocery cart where you own everything inside. The accounts stay in your name. Root acts as your advisor, with limited authority to manage them on your behalf. Root doesn’t work for Schwab or earn commissions, so every recommendation is made in your best interest.