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What Is the Wealth Builder Program?

The Wealth Builder is Dew Wealth's foundational wealth management program. It is designed for entrepreneurs who have reached significant income levels and recognized that business success alone does not create personal wealth. As described in Chapter 2 of Billionaire Wealth Strategies (Jim Dew, 2024), these entrepreneurs are ready to move beyond the Ostrich or Juggler quadrant of the Wealth Mastery Matrix but may not yet need the full complexity of advanced wealth management.

The program provides the foundational elements of coordinated wealth management: tax planning that targets the most impactful savings under current Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provisions, asset protection that covers the highest-priority exposures, investment management that follows the Two Bucket Approach, and an estate plan that establishes the legal foundation for wealth transfer.

Like all Dew Wealth programs, Wealth Builder operates on a fixed monthly fee under the Fee-Only Advisory Model. There are no AUM percentages, no commissions, and no product sales. The firm is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and operates as a fiduciary under Section 206 of the Advisers Act, consistent with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) fee-only standard. Results depend on individual circumstances, and no specific financial outcome can be assured.

Who Benefits from the Wealth Builder Program?

The Wealth Builder program serves entrepreneurs who meet one or more of these criteria:

  • Currently have no coordinated wealth management strategy across tax, legal, insurance, and investment dimensions
  • Work with multiple advisors (CPA, attorney, insurance agent, investment advisor) who do not communicate or coordinate strategies
  • Have experienced a $1 Million Wake-Up Call and are ready to take action on coordinated planning
  • Understand that the gap between earning income and retaining wealth is growing each year without a structured approach
  • Want professional coordination but are earlier in the wealth accumulation curve

Most Wealth Builder clients are business owners whose companies have reached a scale where the complexity of personal finances exceeds what can be managed without professional coordination. The business is generating strong income, but the personal financial architecture (tax strategy, entity structure, insurance coverage, and investment approach) has not kept pace with the business growth.

What Does the Wealth Builder Program Include?

Core Tax Planning: The foundational strategies within the DEAPR Tax Planning Framework are implemented. This includes entity structure optimization for tax efficiency under current IRC provisions, retirement plan design (including cash balance plans under IRC Section 401(a) and defined benefit structures where eligibility requirements are met), and proactive quarterly tax planning to reduce year-end surprises. Tax savings vary based on individual circumstances, current entity structures, and applicable federal and state tax law. Actual results depend on the complexity of the client's situation and the strategies available under current regulations.

Basic Asset Protection: The essential layers of the ILATE Asset Protection Framework are established. Insurance coverage is audited and gaps are identified. Entity structures are reviewed to evaluate legal isolation between business and personal assets. The goal is to address the most critical vulnerabilities first. Asset protection planning has inherent limitations: no legal structure provides absolute protection against all claims, and courts may examine structures for fraudulent transfer in certain circumstances.

Investment Management: A disciplined investment strategy is implemented following the Two Bucket Approach. Bucket 2 (the diversified portfolio) is constructed with proper asset allocation, tax-efficient placement, and fee optimization. The approach is evidence-based and designed to compound without requiring the entrepreneur's active attention. Investment returns are not predictable, and past performance does not indicate future results. All investment strategies carry risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Estate Plan Foundation: Basic estate planning documents are established or updated: revocable living trust, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary designation alignment. This creates the legal infrastructure that more advanced planning (available in other Dew Wealth programs) builds upon. Estate planning effectiveness depends on state law requirements, which vary by jurisdiction, and documents should be reviewed periodically as laws and family circumstances change.

Wealth Wheel Coordination: The central value of the program is coordination. A dedicated advisor functions as the Linchpin Partner, working to ensure that tax strategy, asset protection, investments, and estate planning all work together. When one area changes, the others are reviewed and adjusted. This addresses the Uncoordinated Advisors Problem that can cost entrepreneurs significant sums over time through missed coordination between independent professionals. Under the Department of Labor (DOL) Fiduciary Rule finalized in 2024, retirement investment advice must meet a fiduciary standard. Dew Wealth's fiduciary duty under Section 206 of the Advisers Act extends across all advice, not only retirement accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Wealth Builder different from having a financial advisor?
A traditional financial advisor typically manages investments. The Wealth Builder program coordinates across the client's entire financial life: taxes, legal structures, insurance, estate planning, and investments. The advisor at the center of the [Wealth Wheel](/wiki/wealth-wheel) functions as the [Linchpin Partner](/wiki/linchpin-partner) who works to ensure all professionals operate from the same strategy. Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Dew Wealth's fiduciary duty applies across all advisory services, not just investment management. Most financial advisors do not review tax returns, audit insurance coverage, or coordinate with the client's attorney.
What happens when my complexity grows beyond the Wealth Builder level?
As complexity increases, entrepreneurs can transition to the [Wealth Accelerator](/wiki/wealth-accelerator) program, which unlocks advanced tax strategies (full DEAPR, including cost segregation under IRC Section 168 and captive insurance under IRC Section 831(b)), comprehensive asset protection (complete ILATE with trust structures), and business value optimization through the EMPIRE framework. The transition is designed to be seamless because the foundational work done at the Wealth Builder level carries forward. The [Linchpin Partner](/wiki/linchpin-partner) monitors complexity and discusses the transition when additional strategies would provide meaningful value.
Why a fixed fee instead of an AUM percentage?
AUM-based fees create a structural conflict of interest: the advisor's revenue increases when more assets remain under management, even when paying down debt, investing in the business, or purchasing real estate might be the better decision. Under the NAPFA fee-only standard, a fee-only advisor earns compensation solely from client fees, with no commissions or third-party payments. Dew Wealth's [Fee-Only Advisory Model](/wiki/fee-only-advisory) charges a flat monthly fee so that recommendations are based on the client's financial picture, not what generates revenue for the advisor. The firm's fee structure and conflicts of interest are disclosed in its SEC Form ADV and Form CRS, both publicly available at adviserinfo.sec.gov. No compensation model eliminates every possible conflict, but the fee-only structure removes the most common financial incentives that can bias advice.
How do I verify Dew Wealth's credentials and fiduciary status?
The SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website at adviserinfo.sec.gov provides free access to Dew Wealth's Form ADV, which discloses the firm's services, fees, advisory personnel, and any disciplinary history. The Form CRS (required for all registered advisers since June 2020) provides a plain-language summary. NAPFA membership can be verified at napfa.org. Individual advisor credentials (CFP, CPA, JD) can be verified through the respective professional organization's public directory.

Disclosure

Certain portions of this publication may contain a discussion of potential benefits and results as of a specific prior date. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and regulations, such discussion may no longer be reflective of current potential benefits and/or results. Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments and strategies involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Dew Wealth or any of its advisory representatives), or any non-investment-related services, will be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful.

The potential savings and benefits discussed represent typical results based on the experience of existing clients. Individual results can and will vary based upon a variety of factors, such as the client’s investment and financial circumstances, tax bracket, current insurance policy terms and insurance needs, and overall objectives. Neither the scope nor nature of the firm’s services should be construed as guarantees of a particular outcome. Dew Wealth Management, LLC (“Dew Wealth”), an SEC-registered investment adviser located in Scottsdale, Arizona, provides the Fractional Family Office services described herein. Registration is not an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators, nor is it an indication that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability.

The content herein is intended to serve as informational material only and is intended exclusively for the use of the person named herein. If you are not the intended recipient, please refrain from further dissemination and return or destroy all copies of this material in your possession. This content is not representative of any particular client experience or outcome and is instead intended to provide general information regarding the potential time and money savings that could be experienced, based on various assumptions, inputs, and data sources. Among other things, the results of the calculators are derived from your inputs, and consequently, errors or omissions in entering your data into the calculator could result in materially inaccurate outputs. Dew Wealth does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party and included or relied upon herein and takes no responsibility for same. Client experiences and outcomes can and will vary from those reflected herein, and these informational outcomes should not be construed as a direct or indirect guarantee of similar future results.

Not all services will be necessary or appropriate for all clients, and the potential value and benefit of the adviser’s services will vary based upon a variety of factors, such as the client’s investment and financial circumstances, tax bracket, current insurance policy terms and insurance needs, and overall objectives. Clients are free to accept or reject any recommendations provided by the firm and may choose to implement accepted recommendations with the professional(s) of the client’s choosing. The effectiveness and potential success of the adviser’s services can depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the manner and timing of implementation, coordination with the client and the client’s other engaged professionals, and market conditions.
Dew Wealth Management, LLC (“Dew Wealth”) is neither a law firm nor an accounting firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Website visitors and clients should consult an attorney or tax professional regarding their specific legal or tax situation. Dew Wealth is not an insurance agency, but certain Dew Wealth representatives maintain insurance licenses in their individual capacities to allow for consultation on insurance needs and products. Neither Dew Wealth nor any individual insurance agent associated with Dew Wealth receives commission-based compensation for insurance sales. Past performance does not guarantee future results. All investing comes with risk, including the risk of loss.

By accessing, using, or receiving this Document, the Recipient acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions outlined at DewWealth.com/IP.