LIFELAIDOUT

Roger Ma is the founder and the primary financial planner at LifeLaidOut. Before entering financial planning, Ma worked as an investment banker at institutions including Goldman Sachs, then earned his CFP designation to transition into direct wealth management. His career path informs the firm's focus on clients in finance, technology, and consulting who manage complex compensation packages. He regularly publishes personal finance articles in national outlets and authored 'Work Your Money, Not Your Life,' released by Wiley in 2020.

The practice focuses on high-earning professionals and dual-income households, typically in their 30s and 40s, who need guidance on equity compensation, tax planning, and investment management. Many clients work at large public companies in technology, finance, or consulting and hold significant restricted stock units (RSUs), stock options, or carried interest. The firm has not publicly disclosed a specific minimum asset threshold, but its service model tends to align with mass-affluent and emerging high-net-worth individuals rather than ultra-high-net-worth families.

LifeLaidOut operates as a fee-only registered investment advisory firm that typically manages client portfolios on a discretionary basis alongside comprehensive financial planning. The investment approach generally uses low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index funds, with customization around tax-loss harvesting and concentrated stock position management. Clients receive integrated advice across cash-flow planning, retirement projections, and taxable account optimization rather than standalone portfolio management.

The firm follows a fee-only compensation model, which means it does not accept commissions or referral fees from product providers. LifeLaidOut charges clients based on a percentage of assets under management, a financial planning retainer, or a hybrid of both, depending on the engagement. Specific fee schedules are not published publicly and are typically disclosed during the client onboarding process.

LifeLaidOut has historically operated as a boutique practice centered on its founder, Roger Ma, as the lead planner and portfolio manager. While the firm may engage operational or paraplanning support, its public profile, media presence, and client-serving model remain tied to Ma's personal brand. This structure differentiates it from larger ensemble RIAs where clients work with a team of dedicated relationship managers and specialist advisors.