Waypoint Strategic Wealth

Yes, the firm operates as a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and explicitly holds itself to a fiduciary standard. This means it is legally obligated to put client interests ahead of its own on every recommendation. The RIA structure also means the firm charges fees directly to clients rather than earning brokerage commissions on product sales.

Nate Kaler earned a Master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University, a program with a strong track record of preparing advisors for the CFP Board exam. He also holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation from the College for Financial Planning, a credential focused on pre- and post-retirement distribution strategies, tax planning, and asset management in the decumulation phase.

The documented six-step process starts with a comprehensive client intake that gathers data across the full household balance sheet, prior tax returns, and employer benefit elections before any investment recommendation is produced. The subsequent steps involve scenario modeling, a written financial plan, portfolio implementation using ETFs and mutual funds, regular check-ins, and annual plan reviews.

Waypoint Strategic Wealth does not custody client assets itself. Accounts are held at an independent third-party custodian, a standard practice among RIAs that separates the firm’s advisory function from the physical custody of securities. This structure provides an extra layer of protection for client funds.

Yes, the firm integrates tax planning alongside its financial planning and investment management services under a single fee. The process involves analyzing a client’s tax return as part of the initial data-gathering phase and modeling the tax impact of portfolio decisions throughout the engagement.