Fiat Lux Financial Planning Seeks To Illuminate The Path For Those Who Seek A Brighter Future, Wherever They Are On Their Financial Journey.
Get In TouchWhat We Do
Fiat Lux Financial Planning provides financial planning on a flat fee or hourly basis. We do not manage assets, sell products, or create legal documents. Clients implement recommendations on their own with our guidance and support. There is no minimum or maximum client net worth or investment account value. The firm currently serves clients located in California.
Asset accumulation strategy
Asset spend down strategy
Analysis of investment real estate: income, liquidity events, use of home equity
Downsizing or relocating analysis
Reverse mortgage analysis
Analysis and recommendations Restricted Stock Units (RSU)
Non-qualified Stock Options (NSO)
Incentive Stock Options (ISO)
Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP)
83b elections
Deferred compensation plans
Equity compensation planning
Benefit elections for life insurance, disability insurance, and other benefits
401k and qualified plans- savings, roll over analysis, asset allocation
Investment property cash flow and/or purchase or sale analysis
Second home purchase analysis
Relocation, downsizing or upsizing analysis
Asset allocation and asset location advice
Concentrated stock strategies
Portfolio and account reviews
Charitable giving strategies
Savings strategies for education
Roth v. Traditional savings strategies, 401k savings strategies, portfolio asset location
Charitable giving strategies
Analysis about the implications of income changes, major purchases, capital gains, etc
Review of current documents and beneficiaries
Referrals to estate planning attorneys
Special needs planning analysis
Charitable donations and strategy
Savings strategies and recommendations
Cash reserve analysis
Major purchases or income change analysis
Life insurance needs and recommendations
Review of current insurance policies
Disability and long-term care analysis and recommendations
Property and casualty insurance reviews
Founder and Mission
Kate Wilusz embarked on her financial planning career in 2004. Over the course of two decades, she established a highly regarded financial advisory firm and earned numerous accolades, including selections by Forbes and Barons as a top financial advisor both in state and nationally. Kate emerged as a prominent figure in the Bay Area financial planning community, serving in leadership positions for the Financial Planning Association, UC Berkeley Extension’s Financial Planning Program and various pro bono efforts.
In 2024, driven by the desire to extend financial planning services to a broader community of clients, Kate founded Fiat Lux. The company’s mission is to make high-quality financial planning available to clients in all stages of life without the requirement of asset management or account minimums.
Kate’s expertise includes retirement planning, insurance analysis, employee benefits, tax strategies, education and estate planning. She also has extensive experience in portfolio management, equity compensation, executive benefits, investment real estate and small business topics.
Outside of work, Kate enjoys exploring redwood forests and coastal trails, traveling the globe, and adventures in her 1972 VW bus. She is fortunate to call both Sonoma County and San Francisco home. Kate is a proud Ursuline high school graduate and California Golden Bear.
Process
After our initial discussion about your situation, Kate will assess compatibility and determine the most suitable level of service. She will then present the costs and outline the details of the proposed service engagement. Most engagements involve a series of meetings to collect and analyze data and then to present analysis and recommendations. Currently, all meetings are held virtually.
Prices
Topics covered in a comprehensive financial plan include cash flow analysis, education and major purchase planning, retirement planning, insurance analysis, and estate planning.
The flat fee is determined by case complexity and ranges from $5,000-$10,000.
Project-based planning involves data collection, financial planning analysis and advice presentation.
The current hourly rate is $400/hour, with a minimum of 4 hours for these engagements.