BY Design Financial Planning

By Design Financial Planning is a fee-only advisory firm that serves individual and high-net-worth clients with investment management and both ongoing subscription and project-based financial planning. The firm provides portfolio oversight across taxable and retirement accounts and can advise on held-away accounts such as workplace retirement plans and 529s.

The firm’s investment approach centers on strategic asset allocation grounded in modern portfolio theory and typically implements portfolios using mutual funds and ETFs, with the option to construct socially responsible (ESG) portfolios upon request. Clients can engage for ongoing planning plus asset management or one-time projects, and the firm uses third-party platforms to access held-away accounts (with client authorization) and may retain a third-party manager to implement a structured options strategy in taxable accounts when appropriate.

What is distinctive about this firm is its use of third-party technology to make allocation changes in accounts held elsewhere (access is granted by clients rather than the firm taking custody) and the availability of a structured box-spread options strategy intended to generate collateral to support securities-backed lending — both services are less common among small independent advisers. The firm’s principal holds the CFP® designation and maintains substantial outside business activities (software consulting and real estate), and clients should note that third-party platform or strategy fees may apply in addition to the firm’s advisory fees.