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Building, Protecting, and Perpetuating Family Wealth

A boutique family wealth management firm focused on creating client-centric financial strategies.
Click on one of the links below for specific information on who we serve



Since 1995, Lagos Wealth Advisors has worked to help clients strive to build, protect, and perpetuate family wealth for multiple generations. With access to a wide range of solutions and products, we are able to marshal the industry's leading professionals in relevant areas for the benefit of our clients.

Our boutique family-office approach allows us to engage our client's entire team. We work closely with accounting and law firms to provide financial advice in wealth and tax management. For business owners, we advise on the full lifecycle of a business wealth strategy.

The entire Lagos Wealth Advisors team is dedicated to professional excellence and we seek to build lifelong relationships based upon education, trust, communication, and service. 


"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity."
- Amelia Earhart

Our Leadership Team

Michael W. Lagos, CFP® Photo

Michael W. Lagos, CFP®

President & Chief Executive Officer
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Michael W. Lagos, CFP®

President & Chief Executive Officer

With over 30 years experience in the industry, Lagos has been a driving force behind the firm’s success. Lagos graduated with a degree in Business Administration from California Polytechnic University, Pomona and earned his Certified Financial Planner® designation. Mr. Lagos is a Registered Representative of Madison Avenue Securities, LLC.

Mr. Lagos enjoys sharing his enthusiasm about the outdoors with his family, friends, and clients. He has practiced martial arts since the age of 13 and still enjoys teaching his two children the discipline.


Samuel Escobar Photo

Samuel Escobar

Financial Advisor
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Samuel Escobar

Financial Advisor

As one of the firm’s financial advisors, Mr. Escobar assists our clients in financial planning. With a degree in economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mr. Escobar is truly competent in the many areas of a client’s financial situations.

Mr. Escobar is a registered representative of Madison Avenue Securities, LLC which gives his clients access to solutions and products to help achieve their financial goals and objectives. He is also a Investment Advisor Representative with Lagos Wealth Advisors.




Justin P. Boren, Ph.D., CPFA Photo

Justin P. Boren, Ph.D., CPFA

Director of Retirement Plan Consulting
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Justin P. Boren, Ph.D., CPFA

Director of Retirement Plan Consulting

Justin Boren has been with Lagos Wealth Advisors since 2001. With nearly 20 years experience in the insurance and securities business, he is knowledgeable in the areas of compliance, trading, and investment analysis.  Dr. Boren earned his doctorate from Arizona State University with specializations in organizational communication, strategy, and quantitative analysis.

Dr. Boren is a holder of the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA)R credential from the National Association of Plan Advisors. The CPFA credential – developed by some of the nation's leading advisors and retirement plan experts – demonstrates knowledge, expertise and commitment to working with retirement plans. Plan advisors who earn their CPFA demonstrate the expertise required to act as a plan fiduciary or help plan fiduciaries manage their roles and responsibilities. You can check a credential holder status by visiting the NAPA CPFA Credential Check site.

He is a published author and his research explores the impact of employee benefits and work/life balance programs on the communicative climate of organizations. His specialization with communication and analysis assists us in the development of communication systems for plan sponsors. He also helps manage client disclosures to keep LWA compliant with Local, State, and Federal rules and regulations. He serves as a principal consultant to Lagos Financial & Insurance Services, Inc. where is is also registered as an Investment Adviser Representative and he is a Registered Admin with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC.



Jane Marie Roberts  Photo

Jane Marie Roberts

Director of Client Services
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Jane Marie Roberts

Director of Client Services


Jane Roberts has been with Lagos Wealth Advisors since 2002. She received her Bachelor's degree in business from California State University, Long Beach. Mrs. Roberts coordinates LWA's life insurance and real estate services division. She holds a life, health and disability insurance license as well as her real estate agent's license.

Mrs. Roberts oversees our client relationships and is responsible for establishing and maintaining our client services procedures.




“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
- Nelson Henderson

Services 


Our comprehensive suite of services provides our clients with an opportunity to coordinate their wealth management needs through one organization.

By focusing on our client’s objectives Lagos Wealth Advisors works directly with our clients CPA and legal team to design, implement and manage the plan aimed for building, protecting and perpetuating their wealth. Our services for individual families include:


Risk Management

The creative use of insurance products is often the foundation for our client’s personal, business and wealth transfer planning.


Asset Protection

In today’s litigious society incorporating asset protection planning into ones financial plan is even more important to safeguard your wealth.



Estate Planning

High net worth families face similar challenges when it comes to protecting and perpetuating their legacy. 



Investment Management

Our Investment Strategies Group researches and analyzes hundreds of options to assemble a range of solutions.



Retirement Planning

Proper investment policy and product diversification is paramount to the foundation of your successful retirement years. 



For many of our clients their business is the foundation of their wealth. Businesses provide unique planning opportunities for their owners as well as challenges.  lagos wealth advisors works closely with our client’s advisory team to design, implement and manage:

  • Income Tax Mitigation Strategies through discriminatory tax planning for owners and select key employees
  • Family Business Succession Planning to keep the business in the family
  • Business Sale to the employees or outside party
  • Business Sale Tax Planning to mitigate capital gains tax
  • Wealth Accumulation Through Tax Deductible Strategies including
    • Qualified Retirement Plans for the business owner and their employees to save for retirement
    • Captive Insurance Company for risk protection and reduction in overall insurance costs
    • Buy/Sell Planning for business succession to partner(s) and living buyout funding
  • Selective Benefit Plans for only the business owner or to attract and retain key management
  • Employee Benefit Plans for the benefit of all employees
  • The Advantage 401(k) Program is our firm's open-architecture retirement program designed for businesses who need to outsource their fiduciary role. We offer both full-service 401k consulting as an ERISA fiduciary or a fully-bundled turn-key Pooled Employer Plan product. 




Serving as a resource to well-educated and experienced advisors, we continuously identify and evaluate various planning strategies and areas of interest.  We then provide direct support and education and/or access to industry professionals to enhance the value and services these advisors bring to their clients.


We provide solutions for your clients who……

  • Want to reduce their current income taxes 
  • Are planning for the retention of their family business for future generations
  • Are selling an appreciated asset or business interest and want to mitigate their capital gains tax 
  • Want to reduce estate taxes for family wealth retention and generational wealth transfer 
  • Are business owners who would like to establish a qualified retirement plan
    that benefits themselves as well as their employees 
  • Are business owners that wish to attract and retain specific employees through tax-efficient discriminatory benefit plans 
  • Wish to build their wealth by investing with the leading institutional investment managers 
  • Want to plan for a secure retirement income 
  • Have the desire to protect their assets from creditors and predators

  

Advanced Planning Strategies

Our advanced planning strategies are designed to be an executive summary overview of sophisticated techniques and structures that accomplish specific planning objectives. They are an easy way to become aware of how to help accomplish specific client objectives. We provide both legal and accounting experience and resources in support of each of the planning strategies to bring the highest level of experience into the planning team. 

Strategy Executive Summaries   Monthly Advisor's Bulletins

Webinars for CPAs and Attorneys

We offer informational webinars for CPAs and Attorneys to better understand the planning strategies we support.  Our personal online webinars and consultations cover in-depth tax and advanced planning strategies provided through an interactive discussion including specific case studies.

Tax Planning Strategies

We provide an overview of various strategies with a specific focus on mitigating Income, Capital Gains and Estate Taxes

Restricted Property Trust (RPT)

This is a unique discriminatory income tax mitigation strategy for the business owner

Capital Gains Tax Mitigation

We provide an overview of several structures that can mitigate and even eliminate capital gains tax on the sale of business interests and other low basis assets. 

Family Generational Wealth Transfer Tax Planning

We provide an overview of ways to reduce estate and gift transfer taxes for family wealth preservation and asset protection. 

Business Sale to an ESOP

Join us for an ESOP 101 seminar, which can help you better to understand the benefits of using an ESOP for business succession and capital gains tax deferral. 

Executive Benefits Planning 

We offer an overview of various structures to attract and retain key management, provide for buy/sell planning through partnerships structures, as well as unique deferred compensation plan designs. 

Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI)

We provide you with tax planning opportunities for generational wealth transfer, capital gains mitigation and income tax planning for foreign nationals as well as US citizens.



Special Services for CPAs and Attorneys

As a service to our advisor network, we offer professional services on a consultative basis and are often asked to provide a second opinion for CPAs, accountants, and attorneys.

  

Investment Portfolio Review

We work with the clients of CPAs, attorneys and other advisors to provide comprehensive reviews of existing investment portfolios using the industry’s most comprehensive technology.

Second Opinion Plan Reviews

Often times, CPAs and attorneys are asked by their clients for opinions on what other wealth management advisors recommend. When necessary, we can provide objective second opinions in a variety of circumstances.

Company Retirement Plan Fiduciary Review

Through our Advantage 401k Program, we complete a full review of a company's ERISA retirement plan, paying particular attention to the fiduciary responsibilities of the company sponsor.

Life Insurance Valuation & Settlement

We work with an external team of established valuation and secondary market professionals to assist individuals and other advisors in determining the value of life insurance policies if maintained by its owners, surrendered or sold in the secondary market.

Life Insurance Fiduciary Review

Within a comprehensive plan, life insurance can be an important asset and play a crucial role in accomplishing specific planning objectives. Furthermore, trust owned life insurance is also considered an “asset” under the Prudent Investors Act and subject to the same due diligence and oversight as an investment manager. Therefore, we have designed a fiduciary review process our affiliated advisors can offer their clients to enhance the value they provide.


“It's better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret."

-Jackie Joyner-Kersee


Monthly Advisor Bulletins


Please note: bulletins that were published prior to April 2022 were published under the supervision of our previous broker/dealer

Key 2024 Pension, Employee Benefit, and Tax Numbers

January 2024

View PDF

What Every Financial Professional Needs to Know About Substantially Equal Payments Under Section 72(t)

February 2024

View PDF

What Every Financial Professional Needs to Know About State Income Taxes and Withholding

March 2024

View PDF

What Every Financial Professional Needs to Know About Life Policy Accelerations

April 2023

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What Financial Professionals Need to Know About UTMA Accounts

May 2023

View PDF


Truthing the Stretch: An Updated Guide

June 2023

View PDF


The Enigmatic Tax Code: Things We Can't Answer Revisited

July 2023

View PDF

Two Very Different Updates

August 2023

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A Dozen Income Tax Gotchas In Life Insurance Planning

September 2023

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What Every Financial Professional  Needs to Know About Capital Gains Tax Management

October 2023

View PDF

Choosing the Right Buy-Sell Structure From a Tax Perspective

November 2022

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What Every Financial Professional Needs to Know About Fighting with the IRS

December 2023

View PDF



Advanced Planning Strategies


Please note: planning strategies that were published prior to April 2022 were published under the supervision of our previous broker/dealer



Enhancing Gift Exemption

View PDF

Foreign Nationals Income Tax

View PDF

Estate Collar Strategy

View PDF


Employer Owned Life Insurance

View PDF

Estate Tax & Business Succession Planning

View PDF

Nevada Incomplete Gift Non-Grantor Trust

View PDF

Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) Planning 

View PDF

Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT)

View PDF

The Standby Survivorship Trust

View PDF


Trust Owned Life Insurance

View PDF


Income and Estate Tax Savings (Oil & Gas)

View PDF

Restricted Property Trust

View PDF

The PASS Plus Tax Strategy 

View PDF

Corporate Tax Strategy

View PDF




“Diligence is the mother of good luck.”
- Benjamin Franklin

Contact Us

Have questions? Want to learn more? Drop us a note below and we'll be sure to get back to you by the end of the next business day.