Marti Marache, Founder & CEOCombining financial expertise with the empathy of a trusted counselor, Harbor Asset’s clients get more than just a portfolio—they gain peace of mind, knowing their wealth is managed with care and precision.
Wealth management is a deeply personal and emotional endeavor, and Harbor Asset recognizes that this role requires professionalism and emotional intelligence. The team dedicates time to truly understand the client’s family dynamics, viewing wealth management as a responsibility that includes spouses, children, and grandchildren. This family-centered approach ensures that the solutions serve the individual client while benefiting future generations.
Estate planning, educational funds, and multigenerational wealth transfers are integral services at Harbor that support families in building legacies. Financial strategies are tailored to a client’s distinct needs, life stage, and risk profile. While some clients are more risk-averse, others seek a balance between risk and reward.
Unlike many advisors who rely on one-size-fits-all solutions, Harbor Asset embraces the complexities of crafting custom financial plans, understanding that the most direct, albeit more challenging, route often leads to better outcomes for clients.
“Managing someone’s financial life is about more than just numbers on a screen,” says Marti Marache, founder & CEO. “It’s about understanding their story, dreams, and making sure those dreams are protected and realized.”
With nearly four decades of experience, Marti is adept at navigating a wide range of financial challenges, from high inflation and real estate downturns to oil price fluctuations and political shifts. This extensive expertise allows Harbor Asset to deliver strategies that address immediate needs, as well as long-term objectives. Known as “Marti Appleseed” for her dedication to educating clients of all ages on securing their financial futures, she empowers clients to seize opportunities that resonate with their vision.
Marti’s guiding principle, “it’s not what you make, it’s what you keep,” embodies Harbor Asset’s commitment to maximizing wealth retention for clients. Instead of leaning toward high-cost alternative investments, the firm looks for opportunities that balance cost-effectiveness with strong return potential.
Building Wealth across Generations with a Family-Centered Approach
Harbor Asset showcases its dedication to multi-generational wealth management in its work with families managing large estates.
A prominent example is a client who owned a large estate on the water on the outskirts of New York City. The property had numerous houses, equestrian facilities, and docks to which they collected rental income from. Due to the high cost to maintain and operate over numerous decades, the client was looking to diversify their investments. Harbor Asset suggested that due to the heavy tax implications of selling such a highly appreciated asset, that they should look into a 1031 exchange to ensure that their wealth would support future generations.
The firm recognized that because of the rental income that this property had been earning in years prior, that it was eligible for a 1031 exchange. This IRS provision allows for deferral of capital gains taxes if the proceeds are reinvested in other qualifying assets. Through this strategy, the family was able to defer approximately $30 million in capital gains taxes, preserving a substantial portion of their wealth.
Harbor Asset’s focus on real estate as a powerful vehicle for wealth-building reflects its commitment to creating lasting financial impact. Recognizing the distinctive benefits of property investment, it incorporates tailored real estate strategies to help families achieve both liquidity and equity growth, supporting the sustainability of wealth across generations.
In another example, they helped a family take a fresh look at managing housing expenses for their children attending college in Texas. Rather than simply paying dorms fees or renting off-campus housing, it advised the family to consider purchasing a condo as a long-term investment. This strategy allowed the family to build equity while avoiding the costs typically associated with renting. To ensure this investment also provided financial benefits, the firm helped them establish a Family Mortgage Obligation (FMO), through which the children paid rent to their parents as they worked part-time jobs.
We Don’t Focus Solely On Individual Clients, We Take Into Account The Entire Family And Their Broader Financial Landscape
“We don’t focus solely on individual clients, we take into account the entire family and their broader financial landscape,” says Marache.
Tailored Financial Solutions for Lasting Impact
Harbor Asset’s hallmark is its ability to craft creative solutions for complex financial needs. Its strategic foresight and creativity come into play for clients facing significant tax implications, estate planning challenges, or distinct family circumstances.
One example involved a group of police officers who were awarded a civil settlement. The initial plan, advised by their lawyer, was to distribute the settlement as a lump sum. This approach would have pushed the officers into the highest tax bracket, resulting in substantial losses due to taxes and legal fees. Harbor Asset introduced them to the concept of a structured settlement, proposing staggered annuity payments that would defer taxes and minimize fees. Initially, the lawyer expressed skepticism about the efficacy of this approach, questioning whether it would truly benefit the clients. After engaging in detailed discussions and conducting a comprehensive analysis of the financial advantages, the lawyer became convinced of the merits of the structured settlement option. This strategy ultimately more than doubled the amount the officers received, turning a potentially disappointing outcome into a significant financial win. Impressed with the results, their lawyer may incorporate this approach for future cases, underscoring the firm’s reputation as a strategic and trusted advisor.
Maximizing Investments with Smart, Resilient Strategies
Harbor Asset’s approach to wealth management goes well beyond the typical reliance on mutual funds or index-based strategies. While stocks form a key part of most portfolios, the firm takes a highly customized, goals-based approach to maximize returns while minimizing unnecessary risks. Rather than simply following market trends, it conducts in-depth research to identify stocks with long-term growth potential, especially during periods of market correction.
Volatility in the market is seen as an opportunity rather than a risk. Harbor Asset helps clients reframe their mindset, teaching them to view market downturns as “sales” where strong companies can be acquired at discounted prices. This shift in perspective encourages clients to stay focused on their long-term financial strategies.
Harbor Asset directly manages client portfolios, carefully selecting individual stocks that offer growth potential and value. It avoids relying on outside fund managers or separately managed accounts, which often introduce fees and reduce overall portfolio performance. This ensures that investments are aligned with each client’s financial goals while minimizing costs.
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Managing someone’s financial life is about more than just numbers on a screen. It’s about understanding their story, dreams, and making sure those dreams are protected and realized
A key priority in this approach is avoiding excessive portfolio turnover, which can lead to higher transaction fees and potential tax consequences. The firm’s long-term view of the stock market enables clients to follow a disciplined investment strategy that maximizes returns over time. This philosophy reflects a deep conviction that investing in the market represents confidence in America’s economic future.
To enhance performance tracking, Harbor Asset customizes indexes tailored to each client’s asset allocation. This approach allows clients to accurately measure their portfolio’s progress against relevant benchmarks rather than comparing it to broad, equity-heavy indexes like the S&P 500 or Dow Jones. Clients get a clearer view of their financial progress, ensuring they stay on course toward their objectives.
Comprehensive Support and Team Collaboration for Long-Term Confidence
Central to Harbor Asset’s personalized planning approach is the LifeView binder, a meticulously organized resource consolidating essential documents, from retirement accounts to long-term care policies. The binder allows clients to easily manage day-to-day finances and access critical information during important life moments. To enhance accessibility and security, it also offers clients a digital vault for storing vital records.
Its proactive approach goes beyond managing documents, with a focus on building financial resilience. It encourages clients to establish a financial buffer—at least two years of expenses set aside in a rainy-day fund. This strategic reserve allows clients to take advantage of market opportunities during downturns without compromising their financial security.
A collaborative team approach ensures that clients benefit from a broad spectrum of expertise. Rather than operating in isolation, the team works in an open environment, fostering continuous communication and idea-sharing. This collaborative spirit ensures that each client benefits from the collective wisdom of the team, delivering more comprehensive solutions for their specific financial situation.
As Harbor Asset grows, it is committed to expanding its services, with plans to bring on a tax expert to help clients navigate complex tax issues more effectively. It is also exploring the potential of AI to streamline administrative tasks, allowing advisors to focus on value-driven, personalized conversations with clients.
Its commitment to building long-term relationships has paid off through organic growth. Last year alone, Harbor Asset raised over $110 million in new business through referrals. Clients often share their positive experiences with friends, family and colleagues, leading to a steady stream of new clients eager to work with a firm that genuinely cares about their financial success.
Through a blend of customized strategies, comprehensive client understanding and family-centered wealth management, Harbor Asset empowers families to build lasting legacies, giving them confidence that their financial goals are within reach.
