Frequently Asked Questions

About Twin Arbor Wealth Management

  • Fee-only means Twin Arbor is compensated directly by clients for advisory services.

    We do not receive commissions for selling investment products, insurance, annuities, mutual funds, ETFs, or proprietary financial products. This structure is designed to reduce conflicts of interest and keep the focus on advice, not product sales.

    Put simply, our role is to help you make good financial decisions, not to sell you something.

  • Yes. As a registered investment adviser, Twin Arbor has a fiduciary duty when providing investment advisory services, which means we are required to act in our clients’ best interests.

    We are also fee-only, which means our advice is not driven by commissions, sales quotas, or proprietary products.

  • We work best with people who want a long-term, planning-first relationship rather than a one-time transaction.

    Twin Arbor is especially well-suited for people navigating decisions around retirement readiness, tax-efficient saving and withdrawals, Roth Conversions, concentrated investments, and building a durable investment strategy.

    We may be a good fit if you value evidence over hype, thoughtful planning over sales pressure, and a steady partner who understands your full financial picture.

  • Yes. Twin Arbor is based in St. Paul and serves clients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other states where the firm is properly registered, notice filed, or otherwise permitted to provide advisory services.

    You do not need to live nearby to work with us. Most relationships are handled remotely through secure video meetings, phone calls, email, digital account access, and secure document sharing. For clients in the Twin Cities area, in-person meetings may also be available when helpful.

Our Approach

  • Twin Arbor provides integrated, ongoing wealth management that combines financial planning and investment management in one relationship.

    Our work may include retirement planning, investment portfolio design and management, tax-aware withdrawal planning, Roth Conversion analysis, asset location, college planning, estate planning coordination, life insurance and risk review, debt and credit planning, and coordination with your CPA or estate attorney when appropriate.

    Planning and investing are not separate products here. They work together as one strategy.

  • We build low-cost, globally diversified portfolios grounded in long-term market evidence rather than forecasting, stock-picking, or market timing.

    Our approach emphasizes global diversification, disciplined rebalancing, tax efficiency, and keeping costs low. Where appropriate, portfolios may include modest tilts toward factors such as size, value, and profitability, which have historically been associated with higher expected returns over long periods.

    Just as important, we help clients stay disciplined through full market cycles. A good portfolio only works if you can stick with it.

  • Yes. Retirement planning is one of our core services.

    We help clients work through questions such as:

    • When can I retire?

    • How much can I safely spend?

    • Which accounts should I draw from first?

    • When should I claim Social Security?

    • Should I consider Roth conversions?

    • How will Medicare and IRMAA affect the plan?

    • How should my portfolio be invested before and after retirement?

    • What happens if markets are poor early in retirement?

    The goal is to turn retirement from a vague hope into a practical, flexible plan.

  • Yes. Roth conversion analysis is an important part of tax-aware retirement planning.

    A Roth conversion moves money from a pre-tax retirement account, such as a traditional IRA, into a Roth IRA. You generally pay tax on the converted amount now, with the goal of creating more tax-free flexibility later.

    Roth conversions may help reduce lifetime taxes, manage future required minimum distributions, improve tax flexibility, or support estate planning goals. But they are not right for everyone.

    We evaluate Roth conversion opportunities in the context of your full tax picture, including current income, future tax brackets, Medicare IRMAA exposure, cash flow, estate planning, and investment time horizon.

  • Twin Arbor provides tax-aware financial planning as part of the advisory relationship.

    This may include Roth conversion analysis, tax-loss harvesting, tax-aware withdrawal planning, asset location, capital gains planning, estimated tax coordination, and collaboration with your CPA or tax preparer.

    Our core service is financial planning and investment management, not standalone tax preparation. We do not replace your CPA or attorney, and tax or legal recommendations should be reviewed in light of your complete situation.

  • The main differences come down to structure, incentives, and relationship.

    Twin Arbor is a fee-only registered investment adviser. We are paid directly by clients for advisory services, not through commissions or product sales, and we have a fiduciary duty when providing investment advice.

    Different types of firms are organized and compensated in different ways, which can shape the nature of the advice they provide. At Twin Arbor, you work directly with the person managing your plan and portfolio in an ongoing relationship built around your goals.

Logistics & Fees

  • Twin Arbor charges an annual advisory fee based on the assets we manage for you.

    Our fee schedule is tiered:

    • First $1,000,000: 1.00%

    • $1,000,000 to $2,000,000: 0.85%

    • $2,000,000 to $5,000,000: 0.70%

    • Above $5,000,000: 0.50%

    The tiers are blended, so your effective rate steps down as assets grow rather than jumping all at once.

    The advisory fee covers both ongoing investment management and financial planning. Twin Arbor does not receive commissions or product-sales compensation. Clients may still pay underlying fund expenses, custodian fees, transaction fees, or other account-level costs where applicable.

    Fees are billed monthly, in arrears, based on the average daily balance of your accounts during the period, and are deducted directly from your account by the custodian with your written authorization. Billing in arrears means you pay for service you have already received rather than paying in advance. Full fee and billing details are described in our advisory agreement and Form ADV.

  • Twin Arbor does not require an account minimum.

    Whether the relationship is a good fit depends more on complexity, planning needs, and the scope of what you are looking for than on any single dollar figure.

    If you are earlier in your journey or have a less common situation, we are still glad to talk through whether the timing makes sense or point you toward a better-suited option.

  • Client assets are held in accounts in your name at Altruist, an independent third-party custodian, not by Twin Arbor directly.

    Twin Arbor’s authority is limited to the advisory and account-management permissions described in your advisory agreement, including authorized advisory fee billing. You retain ownership of your accounts, receive statements directly from the custodian, and can view your holdings at any time. This separation between advice and custody is an important safeguard.

    Because advisory fees are deducted directly from client accounts with written authorization, Twin Arbor is deemed to have limited custody of client assets. Clients should carefully review all account statements from the custodian.

    Altruist Financial LLC is a member of SIPC. SIPC provides limited protection if a brokerage firm fails and customer assets are missing. SIPC does not protect against investment losses or market declines.

  • Often, yes.

    If you become a client, we review your existing accounts, holdings, tax situation, unrealized gains or losses, account types, and transfer options. In many cases, accounts can be transferred in kind, which means investments move without necessarily being sold first.

    Before making any transfer or investment changes, we review tax considerations, trading costs, account features, and whether moving the account is in your best interest.

Working Together

  • Getting started begins with a no-obligation introductory conversation.

    We talk through your goals, current financial concerns, the major decisions you are facing, and what you are looking for in an advisor. We also answer any remaining questions about how Twin Arbor works, the cost of services, and what next steps would look like.

    If we mutually decide to move forward, we gather a clear picture of your finances, review and sign the advisory agreement, open or transfer accounts as needed, build your initial plan and portfolio, and walk you through the recommendations before anything is implemented.

    There is no pressure and no obligation. You will never be rushed, and you should always understand the “why” behind a recommendation before we act.

  • Financial planning is not a one-time document. It is an ongoing relationship.

    New client relationships often involve more frequent conversations early on as we organize the plan, review investments, transfer accounts, and address immediate planning questions.

    After that, many clients meet a few times per year, with additional conversations as needed when decisions or life events come up. Tax planning is revisited throughout the year as needed, especially around withdrawal strategy, Roth conversions, capital gains, and other time-sensitive decisions.

    With your permission, we can also coordinate with your CPA, estate attorney, insurance professional, or other advisers, which is often where good planning comes together.

    Life rarely follows an annual schedule, so we would rather hear from you when something changes than have you wait for the next formal review. Our goal is to be a steady, long-term partner who helps you clarify, optimize, and tend to your financial life.

  • Twin Arbor is led by Ed Anderson, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional with more than a decade of experience in financial planning and investment management.

    The CFP® certification includes education, examination, experience, ethics, and continuing education requirements.

    You can verify the firm’s registration and background through the public Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database.

  • The first step is a short, no-pressure introductory conversation.

    You can schedule a call or send a message through the contact page. Share a little about your situation, what prompted you to reach out, and what kind of help you are looking for, and we will follow up to set up an introductory conversation if it seems like there may be a fit.

Important Disclosures

The information on this page is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, financial planning, tax, legal, accounting, insurance, or other professional advice.

Twin Arbor Wealth Management LLC is a registered investment adviser based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training, endorsement, or approval by any securities regulator. Advisory services are offered only in jurisdictions where Twin Arbor is properly registered, notice filed, or otherwise exempt from registration requirements. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

For more information about our services, fees, conflicts of interest, and important limitations, please review our Form ADV and Important Disclosures.