At Topel & DiStasi Wealth Management, we believe that effective financial planning is an ongoing process. A process that is not a one-time, boiler-plate production of statistics, but one that evolves over time through a partnership between client and trusted financial advisor. We provide our clients with personalized, creative and actionable advice that reflects their specific circumstances and life goals.

Because we understand that, over time, the needs, goals and circumstances of each client will change, we continually update our plans to ensure the integrity and relevance of the underlying assumptions.

We work collaboratively with your other financial professionals, such as CPAs and Estate-Planning Attorneys to make certain that all of our advice and recommendations are informed by a holistic view of your specific financial profile.

A successful financial plan develops from a successful relationship between client and financial advisor. It will serve as a beacon in times of stress and volatility, but even more important is the ongoing partnership which truly drives the process and results. At Topel & DiStasi Wealth Management, we will be there with you every step of the way to see your plan through to its fruition.

Retirement Planning

When should I start saving for retirement? How much money will I need to retire? How long will my money last in retirement? These are just a few of the many important questions that clients have when thinking about retirement. And no matter what stage of planning for retirement you currently find yourself in, whether just starting out, already retired, or somewhere in between, we help you address the key factors that will affect your retirement lifestyle for years to come.

Because retirement means something different for each of us, no two retirement plans will ever be exactly the same. At Topel & DiStasi Wealth Management our goal is to help you to define just what retirement means for you, and design a plan to help you fulfil your vision.

Whether that vision means travelling the world, relocating to be closer to your children or grandchildren, starting a new venture or working with your favorite charitable organization, we work hand-in-hand with you to help envision the road ahead, and navigate the twists and turns that come along the way.

When it comes to retirement planning and saving, it’s never too early to get started, and having a customized plan in place is paramount as you progress along your path towards retirement. Key questions will need to be addressed along the way such as ‘Is a Roth IRA or Traditional IRA the best retirement savings vehicle for me?’ and ‘When should I start taking Social Security benefits?’ among others. Since the answers to these and many other questions are specific to your unique financial circumstances, and those circumstances will change and evolve over the years, having a plan that is flexible, and an experienced partner to provide the necessary guidance along the way is vital.

Long-term planning requires long-term collaboration and at Topel & DiStasi Wealth Management, we strive to marry your goals with our expertise in order to provide you with a true partner on your journey towards financial independence.

Divorce Financial Planning

For couples going through a divorce, the process can be extremely difficult, and assessing the various settlement options, without the requisite financial expertise can be daunting. Since many of the decisions made about the division of assets are difficult, if not impossible to change once the divorce is final, it is imperative to be fully informed of the short- and long-term consequences of potential settlement alternatives, so that the family has the best chance of protecting its financial stability going forward. This is why so many clients now understand that in addition to attorneys and mediators, the services of a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, are indispensable as part of the divorce process.

The role of a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® is designed to assist the client, his or her attorney, or the alternative dispute resolution team, in understanding how the financial decisions made today will impact the client(s) going forward.

At Topel & DiStasi Wealth Management, we work with Individuals, couples, mediators and attorneys to provide divorce financial planning services. With our vast experience in personal financial planning, we apply the same rigorous approach we use for our comprehensive planning process to your divorce case, in order to provide you and your family with the knowledge and confidence to move past this difficult and uncertain time, and get on with your lives.

Our lead divorce financial advisor, Gavin DiStasi, CESTM, CDFA®, is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, a Certified Estate and Trust Specialist^TM, a member of the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, and an associate member of Collaborative Practice East Bay.