# Motif Planning

Motif Planning is an Asset Manager based in Dallas.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Asset Manager
- **Headquarters:** Dallas
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** https://motifplanning.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/spenserliszt

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 327428
- **Registration status:** Registered
- **Reports private funds:** No
- **IAPD record:** https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/327428

## About

Motif Planning is an independent, flat fee, fiduciary, advice-only financial planning firm in Dallas, TX. It helps high-income dual-income families in their 30s and 40s with taxes, investing, equity compensation, benefits, insurance, estate planning, and family goals. Clients keep control of their accounts; the firm does not sell products or earn commissions.

## Sectors

- FinTech

## People

- Spenser Liszt — CFP®, founder

## Questions

### How does Motif Planning structure its fees, and how does this differ from traditional Indian wealth managers?

Motif charges a flat annual subscription or retainer fee for its financial planning and portfolio management services, rather than earning commissions from product manufacturers. In contrast, most traditional Indian wealth management desks and mutual fund distributors earn embedded commissions dictated by asset management companies. This fixed-fee structure eliminates the incentive to sell high-commission products and aligns the firm's revenue with the delivery of ongoing advisory quality.

### What is the investment methodology behind Motif Planning’s portfolios?

Portfolios are built using a rules-based, factor-tilted asset allocation model that emphasizes Indian equities, debt instruments, and international equity ETFs. The firm automates periodic rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting tailored to India's short-term and long-term capital-gains tax framework. This systematic approach replaces discretionary stock selection with a goal-centric optimization engine.

### Is Motif Planning a SEBI-registered entity, and what does that registration permit?

Yes, Motif Planning operates as a SEBI-registered investment adviser (RIA). This registration legally obligates the firm to a fiduciary standard, requiring it to act in the client's best interest and disclose all conflicts, including fee structures. It permits the firm to offer investment advice and financial planning services but does not permit commission-based distribution of financial products.

### How does Motif Planning handle portfolio rebalancing and tax implications in the Indian context?

The platform automates rebalancing by monitoring portfolio drift against a user’s target asset allocation and executing corrective trades when thresholds are breached. In parallel, it applies tax-loss harvesting algorithms that realize capital losses to offset taxable gains, a process that must navigate India's distinction between short-term (holding under 12 months for equities) and long-term capital gains tax rates, as well as applicable exemptions under Section 112A of the Income Tax Act.

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:26.757Z

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