In the wealth management industry, the term "VIP" has traditionally carried a very specific meaning. It refers to the top tier of clients, the individuals and families who bring the most assets, the highest potential lifetime revenue, or the most visibility to the firm. They receive priority access, faster response times, special treatment, and more experienced advisors. Everyone else is, in effect, tiered below them.
I watched this system play out from the inside. At every firm I worked with, client service wasn't just determined by need or complexity; it was determined by the number on a balance sheet.
And while the industry would never say it out loud, the reality was apparent:
Tier A ("S"): Largest accounts. Best service.
Tier B: Middle-of-the-pack households. Solid, but not exceptional service.
Tier C: Smallest accounts. Often handled by junior advisors or relegated to call centers.
It was, in many ways, a class-based service system, even though the profession insists that all clients matter.
I founded VIP Wealth Advisors to reject that idea entirely.
Not because wealthy clients are treated too well.
But because everyone else isn't treated well enough.
Why This Story Matters
- The industry rewards large accounts with better service and relegates others to lower tiers.
- Most clients never receive the proactive, precise, high-touch planning they actually need.
- VIP Wealth Advisors was built to eliminate this class-based system entirely.
The Name Is Our Promise
VIP in our name stands for Very Important Person, and that is not a slogan. It is the foundation of our entire business model.
At VIP Wealth Advisors:
Every client gets true white-glove treatment.
Not just those with eight-figure portfolios or public visibility.
Not just founders after a liquidity event.
Not just high-profile executives.
Every single client receives top-tier, deeply personalized, highly intentional planning and service.
There are no A, B, or C clients.
We do not segment households based on assets.
We do not assign junior or inexperienced advisors to lower-tier clients.
We do not operate a volume-based, "factory financial planning" model.
We do not push clients into service levels based on what they pay.
We refuse to run our firm that way.
The name VIP is a daily reminder to operate differently.
Why the Industry's Segmentation Model Is Broken
To understand why this matters, it helps to know how most firms design their service models.
In the typical wealth management firm:
Advisors may be responsible for 175–250+ clients.
Service levels are dictated by assets under management (AUM).
High-net-worth households receive priority access.
The "bottom-tier" clients interact with junior team members, call centers, or automated systems.
Financial planning is often standardized rather than truly personalized.
Even when firms claim to offer comprehensive planning, what happens behind the scenes is often very different. Advisors are overloaded. Senior talent is reserved for the "top tier." Service becomes reactive instead of proactive.
The unintended result is this:
Most clients never experience accurate VIP-level planning or service, even if they desperately need it.
This never felt right to me.
After decades in the industry, working with equity compensation, complex tax scenarios, business owners, and high-income families, it became clear that the clients who receive the least attention from traditional firms are often the ones who need the most nuanced guidance.
A tiered structure prevents that.
So I built VIP Wealth Advisors to deliver precisely the opposite.
VIP Also Means Something Deeper: Very Intentional Planning
There is another meaning behind the name, one that speaks to our philosophy of financial planning itself.
VIP: Very Intentional Planning.
We don't react.
We design.
We plan with precision, empathy, and purpose.
Very Intentional Planning means:
1. We build strategies around your actual life, not generic assumptions.
Your goals.
Your income structure.
Your tax situation.
Your equity compensation timeline.
Your business needs.
Your family.
There are no templated plans. No canned advice.
2. We go deeper than the average firm.
Most advisory firms touch taxes at the surface level.
We prepare them.
We build strategies that integrate them.
We optimize around them.
Very Intentional Planning means seeing the whole picture, not pieces of it.
3. We focus on human well-being, not just financial outcomes.
Wealth is not an end state; it's a tool.
Our planning is designed to enhance freedom, reduce stress, and support the life you want, not the life the financial industry expects you to chase.
4. We protect you from the silent risks most people overlook.
Concentrated stock exposure.
AMT mistakes through ISO exercises.
Poorly structured compensation packages.
Missed elections.
Tax inefficiencies.
Poor estate design.
Lack of asset protection strategies.
Very Intentional Planning means solving problems before they become problems.
This is the heart of the firm.
VIP is not just a name, it's a philosophy.
Most firms avoid true depth because it requires time, expertise, and proactive thinking. We built our entire business around going deeper, anticipating issues before they arise, and aligning your plan with the life you actually want to live.
The Name VIP Is a Commitment; Not a Label
Ultimately, the name VIP Wealth Advisors is a declaration of our values. But for me, it's also something far more personal; it's a commitment I hold myself to every single day.
The name serves as a daily reminder and a North Star for how I choose to show up for clients. It keeps me grounded in the principles that have guided my life and career:
Treat people the way I would want to be treated.
Lead with respect, kindness, and genuine care.
Serve others with passion and sincerity.
Always go above and beyond, especially when no one is watching.
I've spent decades witnessing the uneven treatment clients often receive in this industry. The name VIP is my way of ensuring that never happens here. It's not about status or hierarchy. It's about stewardship, responsibility, and the belief that people deserve to feel valued and cared for.
It reflects how I was raised.
It reflects the kind of advisor I strive to be.
And it reflects the promise I make to every client we serve:
Every person is a Very Important Person, and they will be treated that way.
The name VIP isn't branding. It's a behavioral standard I hold myself to. It shapes how I plan, how I communicate, and how I serve. My commitment is simple: every client gets my full attention, my best thinking, and my unwavering advocacy.
What Clients Can Expect When They Work With Us
Here is what it means to be a VIP client, not in the traditional sense, but in the human sense:
1. You are never a number.
We know your story, your why, your goals, and your concerns.
2. You receive personal, responsive, intentional service.
There is no call center.
No rotating team.
No junior advisor handoffs.
You work directly with your advisor every time.
3. Your planning is proactive, not reactive.
We anticipate issues and bring ideas to you before you ask.
4. Your tax strategy is integrated, not an afterthought.
We plan for it.
We optimize around it.
We file the returns to ensure strategies are executed correctly.
5. You get a partner, not a product.
No commissions.
No quotas.
No conflicts.
Just honest, expert advice.
6. You receive sophisticated support for complex situations.
Equity compensation
AMT
RSUs, ISOs, ESPPs
Deferred compensation
Business sale planning
Retirement plan design
Real estate tax strategy
Trusts & estate planning
Asset protection
We built the firm specifically for clients with complexity and to make that complexity feel simple.
7. You get a long-term relationship rooted in trust and care.
Your goals become our goals.
Your success becomes our mission.
Your well-being becomes our priority.
The Promise Embedded in Our Name
VIP isn't branding. It's a commitment to every client, every day.
Here's what that means in practice:
We show up with complete focus. Every conversation, every plan, every decision is about you.
We act with purpose. Your life, your goals, and your complexities shape everything we do.
We go beyond the obvious. We dig into the details others overlook, proactively solving problems before they arise.
We partner relentlessly. You have a vested partner that's thinking ahead, watching the horizon, and advocating for your best interests at every turn.
We deliver clarity. Complex financial, tax, and planning issues are translated into actionable guidance that actually makes sense for your life.
We bring consistency. No handoffs, no shortcuts, no tiers, just a single standard of service, every time.
We obsess over your success. Your goals, your freedom, your peace of mind, they're our North Star, and we're relentless in helping you reach them.
That's how we show up. That's the VIP standard.
Every client gets our best...always.
Ready to Experience Very Intentional Planning?
If you're looking for a financial partner who treats you like a Very Important Person, every day, with no tiers, no handoffs, and no factory planning, let's talk.
