A Fulfilling Future Starts with the Right Plan
See how our personalized financial planning has helped individuals and families build wealth, retire confidently, and navigate life’s biggest financial decisions.
See the Difference a Right Financial Partner Can Make
Watch what our clients have to say about working with HAWA and their experience planning for the future with us.
To protect privacy, details such as names, genders, and locations are altered, and the stories are composites of real experiences.
Retiring Together Without Financial Worries
See how we helped Ana and Yoshi build a retirement plan that balanced financial security with their dream of traveling the world.
Turning an Unexpected Windfall Into Financial Confidence
Discover how we helped Miles navigate a sudden inheritance and create a secure, purpose-driven financial future.
From Real Estate Success to Financial Freedom
Learn how we helped Gabrielle unlock liquidity, reduce stress, and create a retirement strategy that works for her.
Client Story
How Yoshi and Ana Created the Retirement They Always Wanted
Ana and Yoshi spent years as close friends before finally tying the knot in their late 50s. Yoshi, a retired firefighter, had a solid financial foundation. He hit his retirement savings goal, inherited a house in Seattle, and had over $1 million in a family trust. Ana, on the other hand, had spent the last seven years caring for her father, putting her retirement savings on the back burner.
The Challenge
Could Yoshi’s Retirement Fund Support Them Both?
Ana had her own financial planner, and their advice was clear: keep working.
Yoshi, however, had a different vision. He wanted Ana to retire and join him in enjoying life, especially international travel. The problem?
- Ana was used to being financially independent and wasn’t sure about relying on Yoshi’s savings.
- She worried that retiring too soon might put them in financial jeopardy.
- Yoshi wanted clarity – could his nest egg truly support them both?
Unsure of how to approach the conversation, they came to us for guidance.
Our Approach
Creating a Retirement Plan That Works for Both Partners
Our job went beyond numbers. It was about aligning their financial security with the life they wanted together.
We started by listening. Yoshi was eager for Ana to retire, but Ana had real concerns about financial dependence and long-term security. She had spent her life being financially independent, and the idea of relying on Yoshi’s savings felt unfamiliar. We created a safe space for open discussions, making sure she felt heard and respected.
Once we understood their priorities, we mapped out a financial plan that showed exactly how Yoshi’s assets could support both of them, even with their travel goals. We worked directly with Ana’s financial planner to merge their portfolios into one unified strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Rather than rushing the decision, we took our time. Over multiple conversations, we walked them through different scenarios, answering their questions and refining the plan until they both felt confident.
The Result
A Retirement Built for Two
After a series of thoughtful discussions and detailed financial planning, Ana felt confident stepping away from work. As a result:
- They retired together, without financial stress.
- Their combined portfolios now work in harmony to support a comfortable retirement.
- They’ve been traveling the world, making up for lost time without worrying about money.
THE FUTURE
Living Their Dream, Together
Ana and Yoshi’s journey proves that retirement planning is more than just running the numbers. It’s about aligning finances with what truly matters. With the right strategy, they’ve turned what could have been a stressful transition into a rewarding new chapter of life.
Client Story
How We Helped Miles Turn an Unexpected Inheritance Into a Secure Future
Meet Miles. At 70, this Pasadena-based writer had spent decades focused on storytelling, not stock portfolios. But when life threw him an unexpected chapter, he suddenly found himself in uncharted financial territory.
The Challenge
A Sudden Windfall and the Weight of Responsibility
Within months, Miles lost both his wife of 39 years and his father, shifting from a caretaker role to navigating life on his own. While he knew he’d inherit from his father, he had no idea how much.
When the number landed on $19 million, it wasn’t just a relief – it was overwhelming. Having lived comfortably on less than $100,000 a year, he now faced the responsibility of managing a fortune.
The fears were real:
- “What if I mismanage this and lose everything?”
- “Do I suddenly have to become a full-time philanthropist?”
- “What does this mean for my future and my identity?”
On top of this, well-meaning relatives, particularly his sister-in-law, pressured him to start giving away large sums of money. Miles needed a plan that provided financial security, honored his values, and gave him confidence in his decisions.
Our Approach
A Plan Built on Clarity and Confidence
From our first conversation, we knew Miles needed clarity, reassurance, and a strategy tailored to his life. We worked with him to:
- Understand his fears and goals – Wealth should bring peace, not pressure. We helped him define what financial security meant to him.
- Build a sustainable financial plan – Instead of making sudden changes, we helped him come up with thoughtful, long-term decisions.
- Navigate philanthropy on his terms – We designed a giving strategy that aligned with his values while ensuring his financial security.
- Protect his privacy – By setting up a donor-advised fund and managing all charity correspondence through our office, he could give anonymously and on his own timeline.
The Result
Financial Security and Philanthropy on His Terms
Fast-forward four years, and Miles is living a secure, comfortable life. He continues to write, travel, and invest in making his home age-friendly.
He now donates nearly $500,000 annually to causes he cares about without the stress of outside expectations.
With no children to inherit his wealth, we structured an estate plan that ensures his assets will support the people and causes that matter to him.
A New Chapter
Wealth With Purpose and Peace of Mind
Miles’ story is proof that financial planning is about helping people find confidence, purpose, and stability in moments of change. With the right guidance, he’s transformed an overwhelming inheritance into a future that feels secure, fulfilling, and entirely his own.
Client Story
How Gabrielle Turned Real Estate Success Into Financial Freedom
Gabrielle spent 30 years building an impressive portfolio of apartment buildings across the country. Living in San Francisco with her partner, Jody, she was proud of what she had created.
But, as she neared her late 50s, she started asking herself an important question: What’s next?
She wasn’t ready to walk away from real estate completely, but she wanted to slow down, enjoy her success, and reduce the stress of hands-on property management.
The Challenge
Real Estate Rich, Cash Poor
Gabrielle’s challenge was a lack of liquidity. While her properties were worth millions, she had limited liquid income to fund the next phase of her life.
She came to us considering a major move: selling a highly appreciated property to generate income. But she wasn’t sure if it was the best strategy. She needed clarity on how to balance financial security, real estate holdings, and personal freedom.
Our Approach
Creating Financial Flexibility While Preserving Wealth
We needed a plan to give Gabrielle more freedom over her time and finances. We helped her explore the best way to access her wealth without sacrificing long-term stability or the business she built.
Instead of rushing into a sale, we looked at multiple options:
Selling vs. Refinancing: We assessed the tax implications of selling certain properties and explored refinancing as an alternative to unlock liquidity.
Opportunity Cost Analysis: We helped Gabrielle answer key questions: What’s the cost of doing nothing? What returns am I missing by keeping so much capital locked in real estate?
Diversification for More Stability: While she had experience in the stock market, she had never seen it as a serious wealth-building tool. We demonstrated how a strategic mix of investments could give her passive income while reducing the volatility of relying solely on real estate.
Creating a Sustainable Income Stream: By gradually rebalancing her portfolio, she could step away from active management while maintaining financial growth.
The Result
More Freedom, Less Stress
With a plan in place, Gabrielle was able to:
- Generate a steady income stream while maintaining ownership of key properties.
- Reduce work stress by offloading several income properties and simplifying management.
- Improve her lifestyle by finally investing in herself and upgrading her home with a long-overdue kitchen and bathroom remodel.
- Achieve peace of mind knowing her wealth wasn’t just tied up in properties but working for her in multiple ways.
THE FUTURE
Enjoying the Best of Both Worlds
Gabrielle didn’t have to give up real estate, but she also didn’t have to feel tied down by it. Now, she has the financial freedom to choose how involved she wants to be, travel when she wants, and enjoy her success without feeling constantly on call.
Her story proves that financial success isn’t about making extreme changes – it’s about having the right strategy to create a life you truly enjoy.
Let’s Talk About What Matters to You
Whether you’re planning your next chapter, rethinking your investment strategy, or just wondering if you’re on the right track – we’re here to help. Together, we’ll build a financial plan that fits your lifestyle.