A Portfolio Built Around Your Plan, Not a Model Allocation
Your investments should reflect your financial plan, your tax situation, and your timeline — not a generic template applied to everyone with a similar account balance. At Westhollow, every portfolio starts with your specific situation and is built to stay that way.
Why Most Investment Approaches Fall Short for Retirees and Pre-Retirees
Every recommendation we make is explained in plain English before we act on it. You should understand your portfolio, not just approve it. That's not a courtesy — it's the standard we hold ourselves to.
The Bucketing Strategy: How We Build Income Resilience Into Every Portfolio
The bucketing strategy is Westhollow's core investment framework. Rather than treating your portfolio as a single pool of assets, we divide it into three distinct buckets — each with a different purpose, time horizon, and risk profile. This structure keeps your near-term income needs out of the market's reach while allowing your long-term assets to compound without being interrupted by short-term withdrawals.
The three buckets work together as a coordinated system, not three separate accounts. Here's how each one functions:
Inside the Three-Bucket Framework
Understanding how the buckets are structured helps you see why the strategy holds up when markets don't.
Related Services
Helpful answers for people preparing for what’s next.
What makes the bucketing strategy different from a standard age-based allocation?
An age-based allocation adjusts your stock-to-bond ratio based on how old you are, but it doesn't account for when you need the money or protect against sequence-of-returns risk. The bucketing strategy segments your portfolio by time horizon and purpose, so your near-term income is never exposed to the same volatility as your long-term growth assets. The result is a more resilient income plan — not just a more conservative portfolio.Do you use model portfolios or build custom allocations?
Every portfolio at Westhollow is built from your specific financial plan, tax situation, and income timeline. We do not use model portfolios or apply a standard allocation template. If two clients have similar account balances but different tax situations, risk tolerances, or income needs, they will have meaningfully different portfolios.How do you handle tax loss harvesting?
We monitor for tax loss harvesting opportunities throughout the year, not just in December. When a position has declined in value, we evaluate whether capturing the loss and reinvesting in a comparable holding makes sense given your overall tax situation. We coordinate this with your broader tax strategy — including Roth conversion timing and contribution planning — so every decision works in the same direction.Where are my accounts held, and who has access to them?
Your accounts are held at an independent third-party custodian, separate from Westhollow. You have direct access to your account statements at all times. Westhollow has investment management authority over the accounts but never takes custody of client assets. This structure is a standard fiduciary safeguard.How often will we review my portfolio together?
We conduct formal portfolio reviews as part of your ongoing financial planning relationship, typically at least annually and more frequently when your situation changes — a job transition, a liquidity event, a shift in retirement timing, or significant market movement that warrants a conversation. You're never waiting for a scheduled review to reach out if something is on your mind.