FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long has Ashton Group been in existence?
Ashton Group's origins go back to when the CEO Stephen Wolff first formed the company nearly 20 years ago.

What is the background of Ashton Group's key people?
Ashton Group's team members possess a broad range of professional experience in financial planning, insurance, investment consulting, and other related industries. For specific information about Ashton Group's Key People, read the bios posted on this site.

Do you have attorneys, accountants or money managers on staff?
By design, Ashton Group does not employ practicing attorneys or accountants because our goal is to partner with professional advisors, not compete with them. To that end, we do work closely with attorneys and CPAs from all over the country to develop and implement estate transfer and tax mitigation strategies. Furthermore, Ashton Group does not manage money.

Geographically speaking, where does Ashton Group work?
Our principals work with clients all over Northern America. However, because we are a highly specialized firm and serve an exclusive audience, we find that the majority of our clients come from California, Tennessee, New York and Florida.

What kind of clients match Ashton Group's profile?
The typical Ashton Group client possesses the following traits:

• Net worth of $50 million or more
• Age 65 or over
• Cares a great deal about their family
• Has a significant tax burden and does not want to lose family wealth to the IRS

Where do you get your clients?
Ashton Group's clients are referred by attorneys, CPA's and financial consultants from around the country. We receive many of our referrals from industry leaders, including some of the most highly respected professionals in Trusts & Estates practice. We also receive referrals from satisfied clients.

How does Ashton Group get paid?
At Ashton Group, we earn revenue through several methods. When a client hires us to develop and implement a comprehensive estate plan, we earn an engagement fee. If we are brought in to spearhead a specific strategy, we typically earn a flat fee. And when insurance is part of a client's plan, we earn commission on the policy. Ultimately, the client, and not the advisor-pays any and all fees.

Are Ashton Group's ideas practical?
Our strategies are extremely practical because they are not just intellectually stimulating theories, they are tested and proven to be highly effective. Plus, unlike other firms who "run" with a single idea and try to force-fit it to every client's situation, we perform exhaustive analysis to ensure that every strategy we recommend is a precise fit for each client's practical needs and goals.

Are your strategies legal and ethical?
Every strategy that Ashton Group represents is both ethical and legal. In fact, we use the same tools that are widely available to everyone else in the industry. The difference is that we synthesize them in a way that produces a more effective result. We liken the process to that of a world-class chef who starts with the same basic ingredients as an average cook, but uses his specialized training and expertise to produce a superior dish.

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If you would like to know more about Ashton Group's strategies, refer to the Products section of our Website or use the Contact Us section to submit specific questions.

How can I be assured that you won't embarrass me or "steal" my client?
Our goal is not only to protect advisor relationships with clients but to enhance them. To that end, we have developed specific systems that keep the advisor 100 percent in control of the client relationship. We're in the business of building long-term client and advisor relationships, so we do everything possible to ensure that our excellent reputation remains intact.

How is Ashton Group different or better than competing firms?
There are only a handful of firms in the country that legitimately serve the $50 million plus niche. But among those, we find that clients and advisors choose to work with us for several reasons. First, unlike firms that "run" with a single idea, we bring many different strategies to the table. Second, clients and advisors feel comfortable working with us because we take a more collaborative, "kinder and gentler" approach than other firms in the industry.

I am an attorney (or accountant) that specializes in Trusts and Estates. How can you bring me ideas I haven't seen before?
Even the most prominent attorneys and CPAs know that not one single person or firm has all the answers. In fact, the highly respected advisors we work with are too busy doing the work to be able to tap into every new and innovative idea that comes along. Because Ashton Group works exclusively in the "super wealthy" arena, we continually meet with high profile advisors and acquire the very latest and best ideas. We have become "idea merchants" of proprietary and semi-proprietary tax mitigation strategies that are highly effective for these kinds of clients. As a result, when we first enter into discussions with an advisor, we can almost always bring new ideas to the table that you haven't seen before.

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What do other advisors say about you?
Many of the highly respected advisors that we collaborate with have commented on their experiences with us, and allowed us to share their views here on our Website. Click here to read what these individuals have to say.

Ashton Group has presented at leading conferences (including Heckerling) as an advocate for value-based alternatives to the billable hour. Why?
We have been involved in many large estate-planning efforts and facilitated the preservation of tremendous amounts of wealth. In the process, we've often seen hourly billing situations where the value of the service far outweighs compensation based upon the amount of hours worked. Recently, we have seen highly ethical alternative billing models in use at many prominent firms. As advocates of these methods, we feel it is important to share our knowledge and insights by presenting at conferences around the country.

What kinds of solutions do you offer?
We describe some of our most effective strategies in the Products section of our Website. You may also request our comprehensive information packet by completing the online request form, or by e-mailing your request to info@ashtongroup.biz

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How can I learn more about your specific strategies and do due diligence on Ashton Group?
We'll invite you to test the merit of our ideas without risk or obligation. Simply provide us with an anonymous fact pattern about one of your clients. All we need is the client's net worth (must be over $50 million), age, objectives, family and marital status, approximate asset mix, your estimation of the client's health and any other relevant issues. We'll provide a detailed solution for your evaluation. If you would like to provide us with an anonymous fact pattern, please contact us using the online request form, or call (949) 253-0928 to discuss your case with one of our principals.

I am very interested in working with Ashton Group, and am at the stage where I'd like to speak with another advisor who has worked with you. How can I do that?
Many of the respected advisors that we work with have agreed to serve as references, and can make themselves available to speak with you. However, out of respect for their time, we ask that you refrain from calling any of these advisors until you are truly ready to work with us. We would also appreciate it if you would first let us know which advisors you plan to contact, so that we can tell them that you will be calling. We appreciate your consideration in this matter. To view a partial list of advisors, click here.

If I wish to work with Ashton Group, will I be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement?
We do not require any of the professional advisors we work with to sign a non-disclosure agreement. At Ashton Group, all of our collaborations and referral relationships are built on a strong foundation of mutual respect and trust.

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