Top Ways that Plumb Bill Pay Works with Trusted Advisors

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Bringing Professional Insights to Personal Finances

At Plumb Bill Pay and Family Office Accounting, we streamline the efforts of our client’s trusted advisors to ensure that all aspects of their financial life are working together in a strategic and efficient manner.

A collaborative implementation with all our client’s professional advisors leverages their total expertise and gives everyone the backdrop to make better financial decisions and achieve goals.

Plumb Family Office Accounting works in partnership with trusted advisors to ensure the highest quality data and financial reporting is delivered to the personal financial management team.  This helps maintain a comprehensive view of family wealth and gives full visibility into the performance of their portfolio.

Plumb Family Office Accounting does not manage wealth, or do taxes, audits, tax planning or financial planning. 

“The month-end financial reports that Plumb Family Office Accounting provides to my clients give a clear, aggregated picture of their current financial status and helps establish wealth preservation,” –Client’s Estate Attorney.

 

How Plumb Bill Pay and Family Office Accounting Provides Value to Trusted Advisors

Wealth Manager:

  • Simplifying complex financial structures with one holistic report
  • Providing timely and accurate financial reports
  • Helping to identify red flags or financial gaps

CPA:

  • Providing a Controller-level point of contact between CPA and client
  • Ensuring reliable, timely and organized client data
  • Tracking 1099’s, K-1’s, charitable contributions, medical expenses, sales of stock and all other income
  • Handling preliminary year-end tax work with Annual Tax Organizer

Trust | Estate | Divorce | M & A | Attorney:

  • Being a resource for quick access to data and financial statements
  • Setting up quarterly and yearly reviews of estate status
  • Court accounting for estate planning
  • Providing Trust accounting
  • Assisting with financial analysis in a divorce – read divorce case study
  • Tracking alimony, income and separate expenses
  • Separating business and personal transactions before sale of business – read sale of business case study

Financial Planner:

  • Providing an accurate snapshot of monthly spending
  • Customizing financial reports and budgets for planning needs
  • Setting up cash flow management
  • Tracking income and expenses on a monthly basis

Insurance Broker:

  • Setting up financial calendar of due dates, so there are no gaps in payment
  • Annual reviews of insurance policies
  • Detecting any gaps in coverage
  • Providing an accurate overview of valuable inventory

Banker:

  • Producing accurate personal financial statements
  • Assisting with documentation for loans and renewals
  • Tracking loan covenants
  • Accelerating the refinance process

Are you a Trusted Advisor with high-net-worth clients who would benefit from Plumb Bill Pay and Family Office Accounting services? Please reach out for additional information or an introductory meeting.



How to Reconcile a Brokerage Statement in QuickBooks | Accounting Tips

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Reconcile a Brokerage Statement in QuickBooks: How-To Video Instructions

In this accounting tips video, you will get step-by-step instructions on how to read and reconcile a brokerage statement in QuickBooks.

Before you reconcile a brokerage statement in QuickBooks, it is important to understand the basics of what a brokerage account is.

Consider outsourcing your QuickBooks accounting needs – Plumb provides outsourced accounting services, specializing in QuickBooks software for companies and high-net-worth families who need help with bill pay, and personal reporting. 

Book a free consultation with a QuickBooks expert 

What is a brokerage account? A brokerage account is an arrangement between an investor and a licensed brokerage firm that allows the investor to deposit funds with the firm and place investment orders through the brokerage. The investor owns the assets contained in the brokerage account and must usually claim any capital gains as income as it incurs from the account.

Parts of a brokerage statement in QuickBooks

Account Information: basic information, such as the account owners, the time period covered, and the account number.

Statement Account/Summary: This section shows the investments performance as of the statement date by displaying unrealized and realized gains/losses. This also summarizes the total value of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, other investments, and any cash.

Portfolio Detail: This section identifies individual assets in the account and allows the investor to determine whether the holdings listed are accurate. This shows the value of the investments at the end of the statement period, cost basis of the investment, estimated income and yield, and other information, such as bond insurance ratings, stock symbols, and unrealized gains and losses.

Income Summary: This section displays the income and dividends earned by the investments for the statement period and the year-to-date.

Daily Activity: This section includes detailed information on all account activity during the statement period, including all security transactions (purchase and sales), management fees, detail of income received and miscellaneous deposits received and payments made.

Disclosures: This section includes legal and administrative e explanations, such as fee information, penalty warnings, and a description of some symbols used.

How to Set Up and Reconcile a Brokerage Statement in QuickBooks

Each Investment account should be setup as a separate “Other Asset” account on the Balance Sheet. A sub account will be setup for each Asset Class, and under each sub account or asset class, should include a sub account for the Cost, as well as the Market Value.

Account Example:

Charles Schwab XXXX
  • Cash
  • Mutual Funds
    –  Cost
    –  Market Value Adjustment
  • Exchange Traded Products
    –  Cost
    –  Market Value Adjustment
  • Stocks
    –  Cost
    –  Market Value Adjustment
  • Bonds
    –  Cost
    –  Market Value Adjustment

Each Investment Account should have its own Income account for Dividends, Interest, Realized Gains and Losses, Capital Gains Distributions, and Miscellaneous Income.

Account Example:

  • Interest Income
    –  Morgan Stanley XXXX
  • Dividend Income
    –  Morgan Stanley XXXX
  • Realized Gains and Losses
    –  Morgan Stanley XXXX
  • Capital Gains Distributions
    –  Morgan Stanley XXXX
  • Miscellaneous Income
    –  Morgan Stanley XXXX

Each Investment Account should have its own Management Fee account.

Account Example:

  • Management Fees
    –  Morgan Stanley XXXX

Unrealized Gains and Losses will be adjusted monthly to an Equity Account. Each Investment Account will have its own account.

Account Example:

  • Market Value Adjustment
    –  Morgan Stanley XXXX

Reconciling monthly or quarterly Brokerage Statements

A journal entry is typically used to record brokerage statement activity. The following transactions are standard for each entry:

  • Investment Income: this includes dividends, interest, realized gains and losses, and capital gains distributions
  • Sales and purchases of investments
  • Investment management fees
  • Transfers from one investment cash account to another investment cash account or bank account
  • Unrealized gains and losses (market value adjustments) for each Asset Class

Other Notes

  • Be sure to follow the Cash activity. Often time’s people will plug a number to reconcile Cash, which causes them to miss recording receipts, payments, or transfers.
  • Capital gains distributions are typically paid at the end of the year, usually in November and December.
  • Management Fees are typically paid in January, April, July, and October for the prior quarter.
  • If you have sales of investments, there will typically be realized gains and losses to record.
  • Reconcile the year-to-date income and expenses to ensure that all income and expenses have been entered. This will make 1099 reconciliation so much easier during tax season.
  • The Statement Account/Summary will typically provide you with a Market Value change. This typically includes Unrealized Gains and Losses, Realized Gains and Losses, and Reinvested Income.
    –  Make sure that your entry to Unrealized Gains and Losses ties to the Market Value change per the statement.
    –  Make sure that the Unrealized Gain/Loss is a reasonable amount. For example, you will never see a $1 million unrealized gain/loss in a portfolio with a $4 million value.

For more accounting tips from Plumb Family CFO, check out our YouTube channel

Gain financial peace of mind through Plumb Family CFO’s services:

  • Family Bill Pay Services
  • Personal Financial Reporting & Analysis
  • Bank & Credit Card Reconciliation
  • Household Employee Payroll
  • Cash Flow Management
  • Budgeting
  • Outsourced Personal Assistant & Concierge
  • Trust Accounting

Let Plumb handle your QuickBooks accounting.

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10 Reasons to Work at Plumb

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1. Location:

Plumb has multiple office locations in California, including downtown La Jolla and Newport Beach.  The main headquarters is in La Jolla, only steps away from the famous La Jolla Cove.  With the expansion of office space outside of La Jolla, Plumb is able to conveniently work with clients throughout Southern California.

2. Plumb Approach:

Since 1996, Plumb’s growth and reputation has flourished as a direct result of our team’s capacity to address client needs and execute creative and effective solutions to a number of complex organizations.  Throughout the years, Plumb’s operational efficiencies not only lent itself to Plumb’s growth, but they have allowed Plumb to create a staffing structure for optimal pricing.

Plumb employees enjoy working on a number of different clients, in different industries, at any given time. This gives them more exposure to various tasks in accounting and increases their skillset.

The Plumb Structure for an Outsourced Accounting Client:

  • CFO
  • Controller
  • Senior Staff Accountant
  • Junior Staff Accountant
  • HR/Recruiting

3. Team Building Events:

To make the Plumb approach work effectively, Plumb gathers all employees, from all office locations, every quarter for company-wide updates.  At these meetings, each division shares some highlights, including new clients, staffing news, marketing activities, software certifications and charity involvement.

Plumb consists of three distinct divisions: Corporate Outsourced Accounting; Plumb Family Office Accounting and Bill Pay; and Sage Construction Certified Partner.

The best part about these team building meetings is that they are centered around a fun and competitive event.  Accountants and software consultants do NOT like to lose! Plus, Rob Scherer always grills up his famous prime steak sliders.

4. Plumb Clients:

Plumb provides accounting services and software solutions to a variety of companies, industries and high-net-worth families in Southern California and across the United States. With various divisions, serving startups to small and mid-market companies, there is not a “typical” client for Plumb.  Here is a list of some clients and case studies within each division at Plumb.

Outsourced Accounting:

Plumb Family Office Accounting:

Sage Construction Software:

5. COIs – Center of Influence:

Plumb works closely with our client’s center of influence (COI) or trusted advisors.  We believe that a collaborative implementation with all of our client’s COIs leverages their total expertise and gives everyone the backdrop to make better financial decisions and achieve business goals.

6. The Food:

Plumb may consist of a bunch of accountants and software consultants, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t all foodies at heart.  We love to eat! Thankfully, the kitchen is always stocked with snacks, desserts and more snacks.

Every month, Plumb hosts a New Employee Luncheon to introduce new team members and enjoy pizza or a local La Jolla catered meal.

In addition to the monthly luncheons, Plumb also hosts Quarterly Potlucks. This is an all-time favorite event at Plumb. Every quarter we come up with a new ‘theme’ to be added to the sign-up list. Plumb has employees from diverse backgrounds and it’s fun to try different food from different parts of the world.

steak

7. Networking:

Since many Plumb clients are referred by COIs (see number 5), we believe in the power of networking. Plumb employees are members of organizations, such as ProVisors, BIA, ACG, CFMA, CalCPA and the list goes on.

In addition to attending networking events, Plumb also hosts “Lunch and Learns”, “Educational Workshops” and “Webinars”.

8. Parties:

The executive management team at Plumb likes to host parties!  Plumb hosts holiday parties, client appreciation parties, open house parties and parties to celebrate employees and divisions reaching goals.

cre-gold

9. Out-of-Town Conferences:

As a leading software partner for Sage Construction Software, Plumb sends software consultants to annual conferences to learn the updated features and latest requirements.

10. Employees:

Last, but not least, one of the top reasons to work at Plumb are the employees = Plumb!  We call ourselves Plumb, because, regardless of what division, or who our clients are, we work together as a team.  Our clients depend on our expertise, and appreciate the fact that we are an accounting team, consisting of CPAs, and Controllers who are knowledgeable in many industries.

Most importantly, we like to have fun!

team-tag

Want to learn more about Plumb?  We are hiring.  See our job listings here. 

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