Frequently Asked Questions

•  Retirement income planning (your paycheck plan). 
• Tax strategy coordination (Roth planning, RMD planning, optimal withdrawal strategies). 
• Investment management aligned to your goals and risk comfort.
• Social Security claiming strategy. 
• Legacy & beneficiary coordination (with your attorney).
• Risk management planning, including insurance solutions when appropriate (insurance products are typically.

Comprehensive planning means we coordinate all the moving parts of your financial life—income, taxes, investments, Social Security, and legacy decisions—so they work together. The goal is to avoid blind spots where a good decision in one area (like a Roth conversion or withdrawal) accidentally creates a problem in another (higher taxes, Medicare premiums, or cash-flow strain). 

Pre-retirees and retirees who want a coordinated plan—income, taxes, investments, and legacy decisions working together—so they avoid blind spots and feel confident about retirement. 

We may not be the best fit if you want stock picking/day trading, or are looking for lowest cost advice without ongoing coordination. 

Yes, as an Investment Advisor Representative, I have a fiduciary responsibility to act in my clients' best interest when offering or recommending investment advisory products and services. 

Dustin brings two decades of retirement income-focused experience, with deep knowledge in retirement income strategy, tax-efficient distribution planning, and legacy coordination. Before building Legacy Ascent Wealth, he spent years on the corporate side in Retirement Services working on advanced planning and technical roles, supporting complex client situations, and advising other professionals. 

While you’ll work directly with Legacy Ascent Wealth, we also collaborate through an extended network that includes tax professionals, estate planning attorneys, and advanced planning teams, so your income, tax, and legacy decisions stay coordinated and no key details get missed. 

IPW is our Registered Investment Advisory firm (RIA) and is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). An RIA is responsible for ensuring that financial advisors operate within the guidelines set by regulators and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct. Also, by partnering with IPW, we can ensure that the operational aspects of our business are handled by a professional team, allowing us to concentrate on helping you work toward your financial goals. 

You can expect a clear, organized experience built around our Summit Ascent Pathway—a step-by-step approach that turns complexity into clarity. We coordinate your income, taxes, investments, and legacy decisions into a written road map, then help you implement and adjust it over time. You’ll always know what we’re working on and why. 

 1. Discovery & Strategy Session: Clarify goals, concerns, collect statements, and financial information. 

2. Road Map: present the current state and a coordinated high-level strategy for income, taxes, investments, and legacy.

 3. Implementation: Execute recommendations and coordinate with your CPA/attorney as needed. 

4. Ongoing Guidance: scheduled reviews, proactive planning opportunities, and course corrections as life and markets change 

New clients typically meet with us 3–4 times in the first 60–90 days to build your Retirement Road Map and complete the key implementation steps. After that, we provide quarterly touchpoints and meet at least twice per year—plus anytime a major life event comes up—so you have ongoing clarity and confidence as things change. We can meet virtually or in person at one of our Twin Cities locations. And if you spend part of the year out of state, we’re able to work with clients in all 50 states. 

Our step-by-step process designed to turn complexity into clarity —so you know what to do next, and why. 

We don’t replace your CPA—we collaborate. We identify planning opportunities and coordinate assumptions and timing with your tax professional, so your strategy is consistent and avoids surprises. 

We don’t provide legal advice or draft documents. With your permission, we coordinate with your estate attorney so your plan functions as intended. 

Your investment accounts are held at Fidelity Investments (the independent custodian). Legacy Ascent Wealth does not physically hold your money, Fidelity provides custody, statements, and online access while we provide the advice and management. 

We’re typically paid through an advisory fee for ongoing planning and investment management, which is fully disclosed upfront. That fee is based on the assets we manage in your portfolio (assets under management, or AUM), and it typically decreases as portfolio balances increase. Fees are billed monthly, and there are no long-term contracts— If either of us decides the relationship isn’t the right fit, the agreement can be terminated immediately. If you prefer to manage your own investments, we also offer a financial planning–only option priced as a flat fee. 

Yes. When appropriate, we may recommend insurance-based solutions (life insurance, long-term care strategies, and/or annuity-based income tools). Insurance products are typically commission-paid by the insurance company.