Plumb Welcomes George Logemann as New Chief of Technology Officer

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We are thrilled to share that Plumb has appointed George Logemann as our new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). George joins our team with extensive experience in financial technology and a fresh perspective that will drive our company to greater heights. As a member of our leadership team, George will play a central role in shaping and implementing our technology vision here at Plumb. George will lead software development, focusing on multiple phases of strategic enhancements and innovations, aimed at delivering exceptional value to our clients.

George has three decades of expertise in building financial technology for investment and wealth management enterprises. Notably, George dedicated over 13 years to Citadel, a leading hedge fund in the US. Within Citadel, George held various pivotal roles, including CTO and COO of Global Commodities, overseeing trading and risk technology as well as operational aspects for the firm’s commodities strategies. Prior to this, George spearheaded the creation of Citadel’s firm-wide back office platform, capable of capturing millions of daily transactions and supporting all portfolio management, operations and accounting processing. Beyond Citadel, George has dedicated several years to crafting cloud-based aggregation and operational workflow solutions for the financial advisory sector.

George’s background is broad and deep across financial technology and operations. We anticipate leveraging his leadership and experience at Plumb as we develop our comprehensive technology strategy and deliver top-tier solutions for our clients. “George brings such a cool edge and innovative creative process to our team. I am excited to see how he can expand the app and guide our technology team to new levels,” shared CEO Rob Scherer, expressing enthusiasm and optimism for the future. George has embarked on this mission by beginning to evolve our Plumb Bill Pay App into a comprehensive, interactive financial data platform. This expansion aims to offer clients not only convenience, but also valuable insights and interactive reporting features that empower them to take control of their financial health.

Unlike static reports that provide a fixed set of information, interactive reporting will allow clients to engage with their financial data dynamically. Plumb is using a scalable data warehouse, Snowflake, in tandem with the Plumb Bill Pay Application platform to obtain and pull from client data to offer more robust reporting and significant insights for our clients. Within the enhanced platform, Plumb will enable clients to gain more intuitive access to their information, customize dashboards, visualize trends, predict future cashflows, and receive real-time alerts and recommendations.

By transforming the app into a multifaceted data insights tool, we are not only enhancing its value proposition but also helping users gain a deeper understanding of their finances. This initiative will set a new standard in the fintech industry, demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to provide meaningful and interactive financial insights.

As we embark on this exciting journey, we are confident that George’s vision and expertise will enhance our technological capabilities, foster a culture of innovation, and propel us toward achieving our strategic goals. George shares, “Plumb’s leadership team cares about providing a high-quality client experience and they have outlined an innovative strategy. I am very excited to engage in this endeavor to help shape the future of the application suite and build solutions that will set us apart from other providers.” We look forward to the positive impact George will make and the advancements we will accomplish together. Join us in welcoming George to Team Plumb!

Plumb Placements for 2024 Citywealth Magic Circle Awards

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Plumb is proud to announce that we’ve placed in two categories for the 2024 Citywealth Magic Circle Awards:

  • Technology Innovators of the Year (Winner)
  • UNHW Private Client Services of the Year (Runner Up)

The Magic Circle Awards recognize the accomplishments of professionals and firms working with high-net-worth individuals and families. The awards are presented in London in front of an esteemed audience comprised of over 400 professionals representing over 140 diverse organizations.

Following a rigorous submission process, the submissions are assessed and judged by a panel of private wealth advisors. Online voting is also open to the public, and counts for 10% of the final award vote.

Our proprietary Plumb Bill Pay App is a big reason we have been included in these awards. To learn more about our services and our Plumb Bill Pay App, please watch this brief overview video and reach out to schedule a personal demo.

Plumb delivers financial peace of mind by assisting high-net-worth individuals and family offices know where their money is going, so their trusted advisors can effectively manage it. We work in partnership with their team — including wealth, CPA, and other advisors — to provide the highest quality of data and financial reporting to establish a holistic view of their assets and financial holdings. We’d love to help answer any questions you may have. Feel free to schedule time to speak with Anneke Stender, our EVP, at your convenience.

Expense Tracking for Wealthy Individuals: Tools and Strategies for Comprehensive Financial Oversight

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For high-net-worth individuals, managing finances extends beyond simply tracking income and expenses. It’s about gaining comprehensive oversight of a complex financial landscape that may include investments, trusts, real estate, and more. In this context, meticulous expense tracking becomes an essential tool for informed decision-making, optimizing wealth preservation, and achieving financial goals.

 

Let’s start with the basics. Why track expenses?

 

Expense tracking for wealthy individuals offers several unique advantages:

 

  • Identify spending patterns. Track where your money goes, from regular bills to occasional indulgences. This reveals areas for potential cost-cutting or strategic reallocation of funds.
  • Monitor asset performance. Track the specific expenses related to various assets like vacation homes, yachts, or art collections.
  • Inform investment decisions. Understanding spending habits can help to guide investment strategies. If you know how – and how much – is being spent, you can better determine the types of investments you should be making.
  • Catch mistakes before they happen. With exact and itemized expenses, it’s easy to spot something that doesn’t look right.
  • Ensure tax compliance. Accurate expense records are crucial for tax preparation and audits, especially for charitable giving. When expense tracking is set up properly it can help save both time and money with tax preparation.
  • Achieve financial goals. Tracking expenses against set goals, like saving for a second home or philanthropy, keeps you on track.

 

There are also a few effective expense tracking strategies that we suggest to all our high-net-worth clients.

 

  • Set clear goals. Define your financial objectives and tailor your expense tracking to monitor progress towards them.
  • Choose the right tools. Select a tool that aligns with your needs, preferences, and level of financial complexity. For example, the Plumb Bill Pay app is a great tool for providing clarity into finances.
  • Categorize meticulously. Create custom categories to accurately reflect your spending patterns and identify areas for improvement. At Plumb, we create the categories that best suit our clients’ needs so they can see their expenses exactly how they want to see them.
  • Review regularly. Schedule regular time to analyze your spending data and identify trends or areas for adjustments. Plumb provides customized reporting to our clients, as frequently as they need, with as much detail as they want.
  • Seek professional guidance. Consult a financial advisor or wealth manager for personalized recommendations and strategies, and seek outsourced bill payment and accounting support – like the experts at Plumb – to ensure effective management of your expenses.

 

Remember, expense tracking is about gaining valuable insights into your financial behavior, making informed decisions, and ultimately, achieving your long-term financial goals. By embracing effective tracking strategies and utilizing the right tools, wealthy individuals can transform expense management from a chore into a powerful tool for financial empowerment.

 

Take the Next Step Towards Financial Ease and Clarity: Experience the benefits of secure and streamlined expense management. Contact us at sales@thinkplumb.com to discuss how our outsourced bill payment services can enhance accuracy, save time, simplify record-keeping, and reduce stress, and fortify the security of your financial transactions. Your peace of mind is our priority.

Time is Money: The Power of Bill Payment Apps

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In the fast-paced world of wealth management, even a minor delay can cost high-net-worth individuals and their advisors dearly. Any time not spent on maximizing returns is a missed opportunity.

 

Between managing complex portfolios, navigating the markets, and tending to multiple properties, every minute counts. However, a persistent drain on valuable time often lurks in the shadows: bill payments.

 

Traditionally, bill payment involved manual processes, requiring individuals and advisors to gather bills, write checks, and track payments meticulously. For HNWIs with complex investment holdings, this means dedicating considerable time and resources to monotonous administrative tasks. Moreover, the risk of mistakes and missed payments are ever-present, potentially leading to errors, late fees, and penalties.

 

Enter bill payment apps, which have transformed the landscape by offering intuitive platforms that centralize and automate the entire payment process. These innovative platforms are revolutionizing the way HNWIs and their advisors handle financial obligations, introducing efficiency and automation into a previously cumbersome process. These apps allow users to aggregate bills from various sources, including utilities, credit cards, mortgages, and subscriptions, into a single dashboard. Through secure integrations with bank accounts and financial institutions, bills are automatically retrieved and presented for review, eliminating the need for manual data entry.

 

The Plumb Bill Pay app is the perfect example of a game-changing app, and was developed and built exclusively by Plumb to address the issues and challenges faced by our high-net-worth clients and their advisors.

 

Here’s how bill payment apps, and the Plumb Bill Pay app in particular, save HNWIs and advisors precious hours:

  • Streamlined Workflow: Bill pay apps automatically categorize, prioritize, and schedule bills for payment. This ensures timely settlements without the need for constant oversight, eliminating countless hours spent on paperwork and data reconciliation. Additionally, these apps offer customizable alert systems, notifying users of upcoming due dates, payment confirmations, and unusual activity, thereby enhancing transparency and security.
  • Enhanced Visibility: Gone are the days of scrambling for missing invoices or chasing down overdue payments. Bill payment apps provide real-time visibility into spending patterns and cash flow dynamics, offering personalized insights and recommendations, empowering users to make informed financial decisions. {Read about the Plumb Bill Pay app Commitments module and how it provides clarity and insights.}
  • Reduced Errors: Manual processing is prone to human error. Bill payment apps minimize the risk of mistakes with automated payments, ensuring accuracy and timely payments.
  • Improved Security: Traditional paper-based systems are vulnerable to fraud and theft. Bill payment apps offer robust security measures such as multi-factor authentication and encryption, to safeguard sensitive financial information. {Learn more about just some of the ways Plumb provides the most stringent digital security here.}
  • Advisor Efficiency: For financial advisors, managing bill payments for multiple clients can be a time-consuming burden. Bill payment apps allow advisors to delegate and automate tasks, freeing up their time to focus on strategic financial planning and client relationships.

 

Bill payment apps have emerged as indispensable tools for HNWIs and their advisors, offering unparalleled convenience, efficiency, and security in managing financial transactions. By streamlining the bill payment process, these platforms liberate valuable hours that can be redirected towards more productive endeavors, ultimately empowering individuals to achieve their financial goals with confidence and peace of mind.

 

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.



Family Office Services | FAQ | Plumb Family Office Accounting

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Family Office Services from Plumb Family Office Accounting

Frequently Asked Questions…

The family office services of Plumb Family Office Accounting were developed to help clients navigate through their complex financial life.  By providing personal financial management with consolidated reports and timely bill pay, it gives a clear picture of our client’s wealth and the analysis needed to implement financial, estate and tax planning strategies.

Q:  Is there a minimum net-worth to become a Plumb Family Office Accounting client?

Answer: No. We believe that comprehensive, timely and accurate information gives our clients true control of their wealth, regardless of net-worth.  By getting into the habit of tracking income and expenses, it helps our clients in their wealth creation stage by following a financial plan to accumulate long-term savings and retirement goals.

A typical Plumb client has a net-worth ranging from $10 million to $150 million and sees the value in our service if they have a complex financial life, complete with multifaceted undertakings, such as alternative investments, corporate entities, private equity, international exposure, and collective properties.

Success Stories: Plumb Family Office Accounting Clients

Q:  What is the difference between Plumb Family Office Accounting and a single-family office?

Answer: Plumb Family Office Accounting creates a virtual family office by providing family office services to include personal accounting, bookkeeping and reporting with controller-level insight on a part-time basis or as-needed.

Single-family offices are typically set-up with full-time accounting staff, including a CFO, staff accountants, CPA and a team of attorneys.

By having a virtual or remote family office with Plumb, clients receive the financial data and organizational structure they need without having to hire a full team of advisors on their payroll.  Plumb Family Office Accounting works in conjunction with the trusted advisors of each client and provides financial data to the team to make better estate, tax and financial planning decisions.

Read: Top Ways that Plumb Family Office Accounting works with Trusted Advisors

family office services

Q:  Does Plumb Family Office Accounting manage their client’s wealth or recommend financial strategies?

Answer:  No. We do not advise or manage wealth, do taxes, or financial planning. We prepare comprehensive reports for clients and their advisors to see a holistic view of assets, including the performance of all investments, statement of cash flow, and net-worth statement.

View samples of personal financial reports created by Plumb

Q: What is the pricing structure of family office services by Plumb Family Office Accounting?

Answer: The price varies depending on the complexity of the family’s wealth and reporting needs.  For most clients, we charge a fixed-fee engagement on transaction-based pricing. In order to come up with a pricing structure, we calculate how many bills to be paid, accounts reconciled and the frequency of their reporting needs (monthly, quarterly or annually).

Typically, our clients pay between $2,000 and $4,000 per month for family office services with the minimum engagement being $1,000 per month.  Every client undergoes an annual fee review to see if there have been any changes in the scope of work throughout the year.

Family Bill Pay – Request a Quote

Download: New Client Questionnaire

Q:  Do you provide any other family office services besides personal reporting, accounting and bill pay?

Answer:  Since the majority of our clients lead busy lives, we’ve added outsourced concierge and personal assistant services.  These are customizable based on the family’s need and can range from property management services to booking travel and restaurant reservations, household employee payroll and basic mail pick-up and distribution.  Another example of outsourced concierge is relocation assistance, a project-based engagement in order to help manage and organize a personal move.

See list of outsourced personal assistant services

Q:  Does a client need to be located in Southern California to work with Plumb?

Answer: No, all the financial reporting and bill pay engagements are handled electronically with cloud-based assistance.  Plumb Family Office Accounting uses technology to facilitate bill pay and A/P work flow with a client login system to access reports and status updates.

We offer complete account protection and robust security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access. All confidential information is stored in a data center with multiple levels of security and can only be accessed by Plumb and you or your designated representative. All sensitive information is encrypted and uploaded to your private portal. Two-factor authentication to login to portal further safeguards your accounts and information

Plumb has staff located on both the west coast and east coast time zones to accommodate nationwide and international clients.

Q:  Who is handling the relationship with Plumb Family Office Accounting clients?

Answer:  Plumb takes a team approach for each engagement.  Every client has a main point of contact, a Client Relationship Manager, who oversees a team of junior and senior staff accountants.  The team approach is more cost-effective for the client, as each transaction is mapped in our task management software, and is broken down on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.

There is a centralized client communication portal set up via email, so the team has access to client-specific information and requests.  This ensures dependability and consistency if an accountant is out of the office, needs approval or controller-level insight.

Q:  How can I be assured that my financial information is kept confidential and secure?

Answer: Plumb has been in business since 1996 and has a long history of continuity and confidentiality. We are fully bonded and all employees have to pass a background check before they are hired. With every engagement and task, it is handled with the utmost discretion and attention to detail.

We respect the privacy of our Plumb Family Office Accounting clients and take great measures to protect it.  We ensure compliance with best practices and internal control procedures, different levels of approval and password protection.  Our solid system of checks and balances gives our clients reassurance in the integrity and security of their private information and financial data.

Q:  I have a special project that requires assistance on a one-time basis.  Can Plumb Family Office Accounting help?

Answer:  Yes, we can accommodate short-term engagements and project work.  For example, Plumb Family Office Accounting works with divorce attorneys and their clients who are going through a divorce settlement and need help analyzing and tracking expenses to finalize child and alimony support.

Case Study: Divorce Client

Q:  How is the family bill pay set-up?

Answer: We have created a 4-step bill pay process with segregation of duties and different levels of approval.

  1. Client Associate pays bills
  2. Vice President reviews and signs checks
  3. Client Associate reconciles bank account
  4. Client Relationship Manager reviews bank statements

The family bill pay process is first established with the creation of a financial calendar of due dates and vendor information sheet.

View: Family Bill Pay Services: Organize your Financial Life.

Success Stories – Family Bill Pay 

How can you help with organizing for year-end and tax planning purposes?

Answer: We assist our clients to compile the annual tax organizer for their CPA.  Creating this comprehensive, audit-proof package allows to maximize standard deductions, as well as, allows for the CPA to be more cost effective.

Additionally, we provide the CPA with quarterly reports to adjust estimated tax payments as needed to avoid annual penalties and interest charges with the IRS or Franchise Tax Board.

Learn More: Plumb Family Office Accounting Annual Tax Organizer

Are you ready to simplify your financial life and take true control of your wealth?   



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Ultra-High-Net-Worth Investor Gains Clarity with Plumb Family CFO Services

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Providing an Entrepreneur with Up-to-Date & Consolidated Financial Data for a Clear Picture of Wealth

Case Study: Ultra-High-Net-Worth Investor & Business Owner

Client:

Ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneur with multiple business investments, rental properties and luxury yacht.

Net-Worth:

$150 Million +

Background:

An entrepreneur who recently sold one of his businesses needed help with his personal accounting, tracking of income, cash flow reporting and bill pay. As he started to invest in additional businesses, he was also looking for an accounting team who could provide him with accurate GAAP compliant financial statements for his new investments.

A snapshot of his financial life included multiple operating businesses, existing holdings, and real estate assets.

Referencing an article in the New York Times, “Inside the Minds of the Ultrawealthy” by Eilene Zimmerman, she asked psychologist Brad Klontz about what it’s like to work with billionaires.

What can the rest of us learn from how the ultra-high-net-worth work through their problems?

The ultra-high-net-worth are not afraid to ask for help. They are more likely to have an internal locus of control, where they are quick to take credit for their successes and admit their failures, at least to themselves. In managing their very complex lives, they have had to rely on a variety of experts to help them along the way. When they run into problems, they are less hesitant than most of us to seek help from someone who is an expert.

Solution & Deliverables:

Plumb Family CFO delivers a customized approach for every client, depending on their needs and complexity of their financial lives.

This Client’s concerns revolved around the accuracy of the data his property management company was providing. He was also seeking accounting assistance for a newly acquired construction business that needed cleaned-up financials and advice moving forward with company performance and strategy.

Personal Reporting & Outsourced Accounting:

  • Create a consolidated trust balance sheet every month
  • Track all transactions and properly allocate
  • Implement calendar of financial due dates for all rental properties to ensure mortgages, property taxes, insurance and utilities are paid on time
  • Work in conjunction with property management firm to receive accurate data
  • Set-up internal controls and accounting procedures to track new business entities, trusts and partnerships
  • Track and consolidate investment funds
  • Reconcile all balance sheet accounts, including Cash, AR, AP and credit card liabilities
  • Project work for establishing up-to-date and accurate financial statements for newly acquired business
  • Maintain yacht slips and make sure invoices are paid on time
  • Ongoing strategic advice on company performance

Outsourced Bill Pay:

  • Forwarding bill statements to client-specific PO Box
  • Sending the Client a comprehensive list of bills for approval of payment
  • Paying bills out of a POA designated bank account
  • Processing checks that Plumb signs as Power of Attorney
  • Performing monthly bank and credit card statement reconciliations
  • Electronically filing invoices to a secured client-specific cloud folder
  • Setting up bill pay schedule with financial calendar of due dates
  • Integrating bill pay schedule into Plumb’s proprietary task management software
  • Implementing vendor management reporting
  • Creating weekly cash flow reports
  • Properly tracking income & expenses

Results – How We Help:

The Client was able to offload many personal accounting and bill pay tasks to Plumb Family CFO. He gained financial clarity and peace of mind knowing that his day-to-day transactions were being handled With consolidated reporting every month, he was able to see a clear picture of his net-worth and had more time to optimize his investment strategies.  With ongoing corporate outsourced accounting and strategic advice on a CFO-level, the Client receives recommendations on industry-specific trends with the companies that he has ownership in.

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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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Keys to a Successful Onboarding of a High-Net-Worth Client

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The “White-Glove” Experience of a High-Net-Worth Client Starts at Onboarding for Plumb Family CFO

The onboarding of a high-net-worth client sets the tone of the entire relationship according to Plumb Family CFO, which provides family bill pay, consolidated personal reporting and cash flow management services exclusively to the high-net-worth.  As you can image, there is a lot of financial data and vendor information to collect upfront in order to provide these services, so Plumb Family CFO has developed a system to make the onboarding process easier.  It’s simple; it starts with a conversation and customized approach.  White-Glove: marked by special care of attention: meticulous | white-glove service.

“By taking the time to schedule a meeting and get on the phone with a new client or their designated assistant, it makes a huge difference,” said Robert Scherer, President of Plumb. “By walking them through the details and getting answers over the phone, it’s much more efficient than just sending over stacks of paperwork in hopes that it eventually gets filled out correctly,” he said.

Plumb Family CFO has been working with high-net-worth clients for many years, ranging from busy entrepreneurs and investors to even busier affluent families.  They decide to utilize the services of Plumb to make their financial life easier, so onboarding should be as painless as possible. The process for a client to be formally onboarded can happen quicker with the help of a personal assistant or their single family office team. To help answer questions upfront, here is a list of FAQ.

Before starting a new relationship with a prospective high-net-worth client, Plumb sets the expectations of the onboarding lifecycle upfront.  After the initial information is gathered, it is immediately entered into a task-specific software system, complete with a financial calendar of due dates. Within 30 – 60 days, the family bill pay service is fully automated and operates on an ongoing basis.

High-Net-Worth Client Onboarding Process for Plumb Bill Pay:

Plumb has a Client Relationship Manager that leads the efforts for a new client onboarding. With a sense of ownership over a new account, the tasks get taken care of by one dedicated team member. During the duration of the setup phase, Plumb provides weekly status updates with the client or family office team in regards of the progress and items needed to finalize the transition. By having a conversation with the prospective high-net-worth client, Plumb can identify their reporting and transactional needs.

Step 1: Request for information – Gather client details

Step 2: Determine invoice approval process

  • Setup for invoices to be received via email or Plumb-specific PO box
  • Frequency of bill pay
  • Set thresholds and parameters for recurring bills
  • Limits for signing authority

Step 3: Create reporting requirements

Step 4: Plumb to prepare new client schedules – Setup system map into internal task management software

  • Calendar of financial due dates
  • Client insurance schedule
  • List of assets (properties, funds, etc.) that require bill payment/capital calls
  • List of loans that require bill payment

Step 5: Plumb to prepare electronic filing procedure

  • Create remote access or read-only access to documents on accounting software
  • Ability to produce customized reports to download

Sample of Onboarding Reports for Bill Pay Services

High-net-worth client

high-net-worth client

 

Bill Pay Process

Once the onboarding phase is complete, Plumb will engage in the following tasks on a weekly/monthly basis:

  • Bill payment
  • Vendor management
  • Bank and credit card reconciliations
  • Track all bills / due dates in proprietary task management software
  • Monthly cash flow reporting
  • Ad hoc reporting (i.e. GL detail reports)
  • Customized reporting for trusted advisors  – Read: Top Ways that Plumb Works with Trusted Advisors
  • 1099/1096 filings
  • Year end reconciliations and general ledger review
  • Supply supporting documents for taxable deductions to the CPA

Confidently manage your monthly expenses with personal bill pay service from Plumb

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Family Bill Pay Services: Organize Your Financial Life

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Family Bill Pay Services | Personal Bill Pay by Plumb Family Office Accounting

Family bill pay services is a featured offering of Plumb Family CFO.  Depending on need and the complexity of your financial affairs, family or personal bill pay can be a stand alone service or used in conjunction with financial reporting, budgeting or expense tracking.  See full list of services. 

As a professional and reliable firm, in business for over 20 years, Plumb sets up processes and procedures to execute family bill pay.  It first starts with collecting bills and vendor information, resulting in a comprehensive list of vendor and account information.  In the client setup phase, a financial calendar of due dates and bill payment procedures are produced.  Not only are your bills paid on a timely basis, but monitored, reconciled, and reviewed.

Family bill pay pricing >> click here

“Thank you for all that you have done for my family.  Your team is proactive and trustworthy and has provided us with such great confidence now that our finances are in order.  What a relief!” – High-Net-Worth Family Bill Pay Client 

 Why Use Family Bill Pay Services?

  • Do you have too many bills to keep track of all the time?
  • Do you want to spend more time with your family and enjoy your wealth?
  • Are you a frequent traveler and need help paying your bills while out of town?
  • Are you disorganized or overwhelmed with paperwork and financial organization?
  • Is anyone in your family suffering from an age- or disability-related challenge?

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Bill Payment Procedure:

Plumb Family CFO created a 4-step bill payment process with segregation of duties and different levels of review. By following checks and balances, clients can enjoy peace of mind knowing that their assets and bills are being monitored by an independent firm with a long history of continuity and confidentiality.

 

Financial Calendar of Due Dates:

Vendor Information Sheet: In order for Plumb Family CFO to handle the bill pay services of clients, information is collected at the beginning of the engagement, including a comprehensive list of vendors and account information.

family bill paying services

 

Personal Vendor List: A detailed chart of all incoming bills, divided by property is set up.  This vendor list is used as a reference  for each bill, with due dates, payment methods and any special notes.

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Financial and Administrative Calendar of Due Dates: This report tracks bills that occur during a quarterly, yearly or semi-annual basis.

Could your family benefit from Plumb bill pay services?  Fill out this form for a customized pricing quote.

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