A Higher Level of financial planning

Planalto Financial was founded on a simple idea: financial advice should help people make better life decisions — not sell products or gather assets.

Good financial planning sits at the intersection of investing, taxes, risk management, and personal values. Every client arrives with a different history, different goals, and different concerns. My role is to provide thoughtful, evidence-based guidance that helps you make decisions with clarity and confidence.

I believe advice works best when incentives are aligned, costs are transparent, and the planning process focuses first on what matters most to you.

Financial decisions rarely happen in isolation. Investment choices affect taxes. Retirement timing affects risk. Estate decisions influence how portfolios are structured. Many clients come after realizing that fragmented advice, investment management in one place, tax guidance in another, planning somewhere else, makes confident decision-making difficult.

My role is to provide an integrated perspective. Rather than focusing solely on portfolio performance, I help clients evaluate tradeoffs, reduce complexity, and make decisions that remain sound across changing market conditions and life circumstances.

For this reason, our relationship is centered on advice and planning first, with investments serving as one part of a broader strategy.

Many clients come to Planalto during periods of transition, especially as work becomes optional or retirement approaches.

At this stage, financial decisions often feel different than they did earlier in life. Portfolio movements may represent amounts larger than a former annual salary. Questions shift from accumulation to sustainability: how much risk is appropriate, how spending decisions affect long-term security, and how to balance enjoying today with protecting the future.

My role is not simply to manage investments, but to help clients make thoughtful decisions during these moments of change. The focus moves from maximizing returns to building a plan designed to support confidence, flexibility, and peace of mind over decades.

Many clients have successfully managed their finances for years before seeking advice, and are looking for a collaborative partner rather than direction alone.

Planalto Financial works with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, but we have particular experience supporting Brazilian-Americans and families with financial lives connected to both the United States and Brazil.

Our connection to Brazil is personal — my wife is originally from Brazil, and we currently live in Brasília — but our focus is professional. Cross-border families often face unique planning considerations, including managing assets in multiple countries, coordinating international transfers, preparing for a potential relocation, or supporting family members abroad. These situations benefit from integrated planning that considers taxes, investments, and long-term goals together rather than in isolation.

Successful client relationships tend to be collaborative and long-term in nature. Clients who work best with me value thoughtful decision-making over frequent changes driven by market headlines, and view financial planning as an ongoing process rather than a series of short-term investment decisions. My objective is to provide guidance and perspective, helping clients make disciplined choices aligned with their goals and values.

I believe clients should clearly understand how they pay for advice.

Planalto Financial offers hourly planning, flat-fee financial planning, and flat-fee planning with investment management. I do not receive commissions or compensation for recommending specific products.

Different advisory firms use different fee structures. I chose a flat-fee approach because we believe it provides clarity and supports advice centered on planning and long-term decision-making.

For more details, see “Services”