Navigoe: A Wealth Management Firm

Above L to R: Heather Johnson, Jennifer Okamura-Albert, Scott Leonard, CFP®, Mandi Leonard, Eric Toya, CFP®, Courtney MacGregor

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Highlights
  • Intentionally Boutique
  • Strategically Local
  • Uniquely Personal
  • Always Independent

Navigoe is a fee-only, fiduciary wealth management firm specializing in comprehensive financial planning, investment management, estate planning and tax planning. Owner Scott Leonard and his team of Certified Financial Planner® professionals work closely with clients to design tailored investment strategies, estate planning and tax-efficient solutions with a focus on long-term prosperity and peace of mind. Navigoe is celebrating its 30th anniversary this fall.

Do you have a favorite quote or saying for navigating tricky financial situations?

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

How do you relate that saying to what you do in your business?

As a financial planner who has weathered numerous market cycles, I’ve found that saying perfectly encapsulates successful investing: Accept that you cannot predict or control market movements; have the courage to focus on what you can control (like your savings rate, asset allocation and investment costs); and develop the wisdom to know the difference between the two. When clients ask about market timing, I remind them that serenity comes from building a resilient, diversified portfolio aligned with their goals rather than attempting to outsmart unpredictable market forces that even the most sophisticated investors cannot consistently time correctly.

How are you helping clients during these volatile markets?

During times of heightened market uncertainty, we maintain a disciplined, long-term investment strategy tailored to clients’ unique goals and spending priorities, rather than reacting impulsively to short-term market swings. This includes regularly rebalancing stocks in their portfolio to keep it aligned with their objectives, considering opportunities such as tax-loss harvesting, and ensuring there is an adequate cash reserve to avoid selling stocks in a downturn. We also provide ongoing communication and reassurance, helping clients stay focused on their financial plan and make thoughtful, strategic decisions rather than knee-jerk ones.

What do you mean by “spending priorities?”

As a financial planner, I define “spending priorities” as a clear understanding of which expenses and life goals matter most to you and your family, both now and in the future. By focusing on these priorities to build portfolios—rather than relying upon a generic risk score and traditional portfolios, such as the ubiquitous 60/40 portfolio—you can make smarter investment decisions that are better aligned with your real needs, especially during volatile markets. This approach helps ensure your financial plan remains resilient and personally meaningful, no matter what the markets are doing.

Describe a customized solution you created.

We recently started working with a client who had just retired and was concerned about how to fund retirement. They did not want to risk investing in the stock market, yet bonds did not provide the growth they needed to fund their retirement. By spending time understanding their spending priorities, we clearly showed them how to allocate their investments to support those priorities. We broke down their spending priorities between essential and non-essential, then created a customized plan to bulletproof their essential spending using their pension, Social Security and a custom-built, inflation-hedge bond strategy. Helping them secure their minimum spending goal—essential spending—provided the confidence to continue investing in the stock market, which is forecast to provide growth to support over 35 years of retirement.

In addition to investment strategies, what are your areas of additional expertise?

We help clients minimize tax liabilities and maximize after-tax returns through proactive strategies, while ensuring their wealth is efficiently transferred to future generations in line with their wishes. By integrating these disciplines, we provide a comprehensive approach that protects and grows clients’ wealth over the long term.

Are you taking new clients?

Yes. We start with a complimentary meeting to get to know their financial situation, goals and concerns. This conversation allows us to provide a second opinion on their current investments and begin building a financial plan tailored to their needs. Through this collaborative process, prospective clients gain valuable insights and a clear road map, with no obligation to proceed until they feel confident our approach is the right fit for them.

Photographed by Shane O’Donnell