About US
Advisors You Can Trust
At Cote Financial Management our clients can rest easy knowing that our interests are aligned with theirs. As fee-only
registered investment advisors, Cote Financial Management's advisors act as fiduciaries on our clients' behalf. Our unbiased,
conflict-free advice, commitment to transparency, and our independent investment platform serve clients well,
and help us build strong relationships based on Integrity, Knowledge and Trust.
Stephen M. Cote, CFP President & Founder
Mr. Cote founded Cote Financial Management in 2010
after gaining valuable experience as a Vice President of Wealth Management
for UBS Financial Services and Citigroup SmithBarney.
After graduating from Merrimack College in 1993 with a BSBA and a concentration in Finance, Steve also became a
Certified Financial Planner from the College of Financial Planning.
Mr. Cote's financial knowledge and experience are the backbone to Cote Financial Management. Steve has extensive experience in investment planning, retirement planning, and estate planning.
Prior to working in the Investment Industry, Steve worked as an executive with Liz Claiborne for their Sigrid Olsen division.
Why Us
Certified Financial Planners
Fiduciary
Personal Service
Results Oriented
Unbiased Advice
Interesting Finance Quote
“I will tell you how to become rich. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.”
- Warren Buffett
OUR SERVICES
Investment Planning & Asset Management
We'll put your money to work for you
CFM's comprehensive wealth plan is created initially for each new client, prior to any portfolio construction. We and our clients mutually agree on a detailed financial plan with certain underlying assumptions, which give the basis and provide the guidelines for our clients’ investor profile. The comprehensive wealth plan is then constantly monitored and updated to reflect any changes in our clients’ lives or circumstances. As our clients’ lives and goals change, their wealth plan concurrently evolves to ensure that their future financial picture remains unambiguous and their peace of mind stays intact.
Asset Management: At Cote Financial Management, we are dedicated to providing our clients with an intelligent and comprehensive investment management service, which will add a substantial value to both our clients’ portfolios and their overall financial pictures.
IRA Distribution Planning
Plan for your retirement accordingly
At the heart of any retirement plan is the distribution of your accumulated wealth. CFM aims to provide the correct distribution plan that will help to ensure that your retirement savings last beyond your lifetime with minimum shrinkage due to taxes. From distributions prior to age 59 1/2 to federal required minimum distributions, we educate our clients and offer solutions that provide stable consistent monthly income during your retirement.
IRA Distribution Planning: At the heart of any retirement plan is the distribution of your accumulated wealth. Cote Financial aims to provide the correct distribution plan that will help to ensure that your retirement savings last beyond your lifetime with minimum shrinkage due to taxes. From distributions prior to age 59 1/2 to federal required minimum distributions, we educate our clients and offer solutions that provide stable consistent monthly income during your retirement.
Capital Needs Analysis & Retirement Income Projections: Capital needs analysis involves evaluating your current financial standing and creating an accumulation strategy that will help to ensure a desired retirement lifestyle. Cote Financial will develop this plan with clients. Because your retirement planning spans decades, we continuously monitor your progress and update your personal plan as your life changes. If we identify that there is not enough capital accumulated through retirement savings to satisfy your retirement lifestyle, we can help develop alternative planning strategies to help bridge a client's retirement income shortfall.
Business / Corporate Services
Take advantage of pre-tax financial benefits
CFM specializes in implementing all types of tax advantaged employee benefit packages. Whether you’re a large corporation in need of a qualified plan such as a 401k, profit sharing plans, or a small business looking into other alternatives such as a Simplified Employee Pension (S.E.P. IRA) or Simple IRA etc., Cote Financial will help you navigate through the rules and regulation standards to ensure ERISA compliance. We work hand and hand with our clients to find the best fit for our clients business to maximize their tax benefits.
Corporate Cash Management: Successfully managing cash is an essential skill for business owners. At CFM we work closely with business owners to select appropriate short-term investment vehicles, and increase days cash on hand all in order to improve the company's overall financial profitability.
Executive Stock Option Planning: Our Stock Option Planning strategies are designed to help clients who hold options in publicly traded companies or companies in the pre-IPO stage. Stock options come in two varieties: Non-Qualified and Qualified. Qualified stock options are more commonly referred to as Incentive Stock Options (ISO's). Cote Financial helps clients through the rules that apply for each type of option and facilitates strategies that are designed to maximize their value in your portfolio.
Risk Management
We'll help you every step of the way
At CFM we tailor financial risk solutions to each of our clients’ needs based on an individual’s risk tolerance and specific goals. And while there are many instruments used to hedge and manage financial risk at CFM we understand every situation requires a customized strategy. You have many responsibilities with family, work, and other activities, and your investments are important because they provide for you and your family now and in the future. However, solid investment research is a complex time consuming undertaking that takes you away from other priorities. Let CFM help you navigate the road to financial freedom and avoid the unnecessary risks that can derail your future.
Educational Savings Plan
Don’t let education costs become a financial strain...
Start planning now
One of the most common financial planning goals is to provide an education for your children. Educational costs will be one of the largest financial strains you will face. At CFM, we help you set realistic and feasible goals for your family. We evaluate all your options, assist with tricky financial aid forms, and help defray a significant amount of the financial burden of your child’s long term future. It is useful to note that education costs are growing at a faster rate than consumer inflation. In fact, from 1985 to 2011, higher education costs grew at a rate over four times more than overall inflation. In order to address these rising costs, we recommend various tax-sheltered education savings vehicles, such as 529 plans. We also manage custodial accounts for the benefit of minor children. With education goals clearly defined, custodial accounts can prove an effective savings vehicle. We have the ability to manage these accounts to ensure that the risk level decreases through time to meet the education spending needs of the beneficiary.
Financial / Tax Planning
Allow us to ease the stress of tax season
Proper financial planning and management should be monitored and reviewed all year-round. To think about finances only twice a year, on December 31st and April 15th is not enough. Financial and tax planning as with all personal financial planning should be an ongoing process and not a one-time event. Once we create a plan and implement it, you'll be much better off in dealing with and even taking advantage of any changes that might come your way. With a base plan established, we work with clients to develop a "what if" exercise when contemplating important transactions before the fact, such as a sale or purchase of a home, refinancing a mortgage, securities sales, exercising stock options, making charitable gifts and so on. Tax planning can help you increase your after-tax cash flows, help you make better financial and investment decisions, and it can mean less surprises and more savings come tax time.
Estate & Gift Tax Planning
We’ll ensure your estate is handled according to your expectations
A well thought out estate plan will fulfill your wishes to ensure your assets transfer properly to your heirs. Cote Financial will be an integral cog in your estate planning team, along with your attorney, accountant, and your trust officer. We strive to minimize your costs, minimize your tax liability, provide for much needed liquidity to cover any debts, and that your property is received by the appropriate relative, person(s), or entities that you desire.
Life Insurance Planning
Protect your loved ones
Life insurance is a fundamental element in a comprehensive financial plan for most individuals, particularly those with dependents. CFM helps you protect your family from financial losses incurred due to an untimely accident or unexpected illness. We take measures to ensure that you are not under-insured or over-insured, but have the proper coverage amount to safeguard your family from financial losses.