Christie Cox Group is a New York City private wealth management practice led by Ronan Cox, CIMA®, CPWA®. Below are direct answers to the questions high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, executives and family offices ask most often about investment management, tax planning, estate planning, wealth transfer and working with a credentialed wealth advisor.

Reviewed by Ronan Cox, CIMA®, CPWA®, Founder, Christie Cox Group · Last reviewed: October 2026

Who is Ronan Cox?

Ronan Cox, CIMA®, CPWA®, is the founder of Christie Cox Group, a private wealth management practice at 5 Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan. He has advised high-net-worth individuals and families for more than two decades, pairing investment management with tax, estate and retirement planning coordinated alongside each client's CPA and attorney.

What is a CPWA® (Certified Private Wealth Advisor®)?

The CPWA® is an advanced certification from the Investments & Wealth Institute designed for advisors who serve high-net-worth clients. Candidates need at least five years of experience and a clean regulatory record, complete executive education through a top business school such as Yale School of Management or Chicago Booth, pass a rigorous exam, and complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years.

What does the CPWA® curriculum cover?

The CPWA® body of knowledge covers four domains: human dynamics (ethics, behavioral finance and family dynamics), wealth management technical design (tax planning, portfolio management, risk management and asset protection), legacy issues (charitable giving, estate planning and wealth transfer) and specialty client services (planning for executives, closely held business owners and retirement).

What is a CIMA® (Certified Investment Management Analyst®)?

The CIMA® certification, also awarded by the Investments & Wealth Institute, focuses on how portfolios are built, managed and measured. It covers asset allocation, equities, fixed income, alternative investments, risk and return measurement, behavioral finance, investment manager due diligence and investment policy. The Institute reports that roughly 3% of advisory professionals hold the CIMA® certification.

Why should a high-net-worth family look for an advisor with both CIMA® and CPWA® certifications?

The two certifications cover the two halves of private wealth management. CIMA® addresses how your money is invested: portfolio construction, risk and manager selection. CPWA® addresses how wealth is taxed, protected, transferred and governed across generations. An advisor holding both can connect investment decisions to your tax, estate and family goals instead of treating them separately.

How is a CPWA® different from a CFP®?

Both are respected credentials. The CFP® covers comprehensive financial planning for a broad range of households. The CPWA® goes deeper on issues that typically come with significant wealth: advanced tax strategy, estate and wealth transfer, family governance, executive compensation and planning for owners of closely held businesses. It also requires five years of experience before enrollment.

Is Ronan Cox a fiduciary?

When Ronan provides investment advisory services through Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, he acts as a fiduciary and must put your interests first. Brokerage services are offered through Arete Wealth Management, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, under Regulation Best Interest. We explain which standard applies to each of your accounts before you open them.

How can I verify Ronan Cox's credentials and background?

You can review Ronan Cox's registration history on FINRA BrokerCheck (brokercheck.finra.org) and the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site using CRD #2693480. CIMA® and CPWA® certification status can be verified directly with the Investments & Wealth Institute. We encourage every prospective client to check the background of any financial professional.

Who Christie Cox Group Works With

Who does Christie Cox Group work with?

Christie Cox Group works with high-net-worth individuals and families, business owners preparing for a sale or succession, corporate executives with equity compensation, retirees managing income and legacy, and families coordinating wealth across generations. Most clients have complexity that spans investments, taxes, estate planning and family decisions and want one advisor to coordinate it all.

Does Christie Cox Group work with family offices?

Yes. We work alongside single-family offices, and with families formalizing family-office-style structures, providing investment consulting, investment policy statements, manager due diligence and consolidated reporting while coordinating with the family's attorneys, accountants and trustees. For families who are not ready for a dedicated family office, we can serve a similar central coordinating role.

Is there a minimum investment to work with Christie Cox Group?

Christie Cox Group typically works with high net worth individuals, though we consider each relationship individually as we value every client. The right fit depends on the complexity of your situation as much as account size. A first conversation is the easiest way to determine whether our approach suits your needs. We welcome the opportunity to meet you.

Do you only work with clients in New York?

No. Christie Cox Group is based at 5 Hanover Square in New York City and meets clients in person in Lower Manhattan or virtually. We work with clients in every state. 

How is an independent wealth advisor different from a large Wall Street firm?

Ronan Cox spent years at major firms, including Morgan Stanley, UBS and Wells Fargo, before building Christie Cox Group. Today clients work directly with him rather than a rotating team, and he can draw on a broad range of investment solutions rather than a single firm's products, coordinated around one integrated plan.

Investment Management and Portfolio Construction

How do you build an investment portfolio for a high-net-worth client?

We follow a disciplined consulting process: understand your goals, liquidity needs, taxes and risk tolerance; document them in an investment policy statement; set a strategic asset allocation; select investments and managers through due diligence; then monitor, rebalance and report. Every decision is tied back to your written plan, not to market headlines.

What is an investment policy statement (IPS), and do I need one?

An investment policy statement is a written agreement that sets out your objectives, time horizon, risk tolerance, target asset allocation, liquidity needs and how performance will be measured. For high-net-worth families, trusts and family offices, an IPS creates accountability, keeps decisions consistent through market swings and gives heirs and trustees a clear roadmap.

How do you choose investment managers and funds?

We evaluate managers on philosophy and process, the stability of the team, consistency of results across market cycles, risk-adjusted returns, fees and whether they stick to their stated style. Manager search, selection and ongoing monitoring are core parts of CIMA® training, and we document why each manager is in, or removed from, your portfolio.

Can high-net-worth investors access private equity and alternative investments?

Yes. Eligible investors, generally accredited investors or qualified purchasers, can access private equity, private credit, real assets and other alternatives. These can add diversification and return potential but often carry higher fees, limited liquidity and less transparency. We size alternatives to your liquidity needs and conduct due diligence before recommending any allocation.

How do you measure portfolio risk, not just returns?

We look at volatility, maximum drawdown, correlation between holdings and risk-adjusted measures such as the Sharpe ratio, then use performance attribution to show which decisions helped or hurt. The goal is to understand whether your results came from skill, from taking extra risk or from the market, so you can judge your portfolio accurately.

What role do bonds and municipal bonds play in a high-net-worth portfolio?

Bonds provide income, stability and liquidity that can fund spending without forcing stock sales in a downturn. For New York City residents in higher tax brackets, New York municipal bonds can be especially efficient because their interest is generally exempt from federal, New York State and New York City income tax.

How does behavioral finance affect investment decisions?

Behavioral finance studies how emotions and mental shortcuts, such as loss aversion, overconfidence and chasing recent performance, lead investors to costly decisions. Both the CIMA® and CPWA® curricula cover it. We counter these tendencies with a written plan, rules-based rebalancing and candid conversations before major moves, especially during market volatility.

How should I manage a concentrated stock position?

A large position in a single stock, often from an employer or a business sale, can create outsized risk. Options to reduce it include staged sales spread across tax years, gifting shares to charity or family, exchange funds, and hedging strategies such as collars. The right mix balances risk reduction with tax cost and any trading restrictions.

How often will my portfolio be reviewed and rebalanced?

Portfolios are monitored continuously and formally reviewed with you at least [quarterly/semi-annually], with a full review of your investment policy statement every year or whenever your life changes. Rebalancing happens when allocations drift beyond set ranges, with attention to taxes so that maintaining discipline does not create unnecessary capital gains.

Tax Planning for High-Net-Worth Investors

How can a wealth manager help reduce my taxes?

A wealth manager can lower the taxes your portfolio generates through asset location, tax-loss harvesting, careful timing of capital gains, municipal bonds, charitable strategies and Roth conversions. Christie Cox Group coordinates these strategies with your CPA so investment decisions and your tax return work together. We do not provide tax or legal advice directly.

What is tax-loss harvesting?

Tax-loss harvesting means selling an investment that has fallen in value to realize a loss, then reinvesting in a similar but not substantially identical holding to stay invested. The realized loss can offset capital gains and up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year, with unused losses carried forward indefinitely. Wash-sale rules apply.

What is asset location?

Asset location means deciding which investments to hold in taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free accounts. Generally, tax-inefficient holdings such as taxable bonds go in IRAs or 401(k)s, while tax-efficient holdings such as broad stock index funds and municipal bonds sit in taxable accounts. Done well, it can raise after-tax returns without changing your overall risk.

Do you work with my CPA and estate attorney?

Yes. Coordination is central to how Christie Cox Group works. We combine investment advice and financial planning with coordination across your trusted tax, estate and other outside professionals, so that your portfolio, tax return, trusts and insurance reflect one plan rather than several disconnected ones.

Estate Planning and Wealth Transfer

What is the federal estate tax exemption in 2026?

In 2026 the federal estate and gift tax exemption is $15 million per person, or $30 million for a married couple. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made this higher exemption permanent and indexed to inflation, though future legislation could change it. Estates above the exemption face a top federal rate of 40%.

How does the New York estate tax work?

New York has its own estate tax with a much lower exemption: $7.35 million in 2026. New York does not allow a surviving spouse to use a deceased spouse's unused exemption, and estates worth more than 105% of the exemption lose it entirely, a rule known as the New York estate tax cliff. Planning can reduce this exposure significantly.

How much can I give away tax-free each year?

In 2026 you can give up to $19,000 per recipient, or $38,000 per recipient as a married couple, without using any of your lifetime exemption. You can also pay tuition and medical expenses directly to the provider without limit, and front-load up to five years of annual gifts into a 529 college savings plan.

What trusts do high-net-worth families commonly use?

Common strategies include revocable living trusts to avoid probate; grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs) to pass asset growth to heirs; spousal lifetime access trusts (SLATs) to use exemption while keeping indirect access; irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs) to keep insurance out of your estate; and dynasty trusts for multi-generational wealth. Your attorney drafts; we help structure and fund them.

How do I prepare my children and heirs to inherit wealth?

Preparation works best gradually: age-appropriate conversations about money, involvement in family meetings, hands-on responsibility such as managing a small portfolio or a giving budget, and introductions to your advisors. The CPWA® curriculum examines how inherited wealth often shapes behavior differently from earned wealth, which is why education and shared values matter as much as legal documents.

What is family governance, and why does it matter?

Family governance is the set of agreements a family uses to make decisions about shared wealth: a mission statement, regular family meetings, a family council and clear rules for distributions, roles and resolving conflict. Strong governance helps families keep wealth, and relationships, intact across generations, and it is a core focus of the CPWA® family dynamics curriculum.

Can you help families with assets or heirs in more than one country?

Yes. Cross-border families face extra layers of planning, including different estate tax regimes, reporting requirements and special rules for non-citizen spouses. For example, in 2026 gifts to a non-U.S.-citizen spouse are limited to $194,000 a year, and qualified domestic trusts may be needed. We coordinate with international tax and estate counsel.

Charitable Giving and Philanthropy

Should I use a donor-advised fund or a private foundation?

A donor-advised fund is simpler and cheaper: you receive an immediate deduction, the sponsor handles administration and there is no public tax filing. A private foundation offers more control, can employ family members and supports a lasting family legacy, but involves annual 5% distribution requirements, excise taxes and public filings. Many families use both.

Why give appreciated stock instead of cash to charity?

Donating long-term appreciated stock directly to a charity or donor-advised fund lets you deduct its full fair market value, within IRS limits, while avoiding the capital gains tax you would owe if you sold it first. It is one of the simplest ways to give more at lower after-tax cost and to trim concentrated positions.

What is a charitable remainder trust?

A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is an irrevocable trust that pays you, or other beneficiaries, an income stream for life or a set term, then passes what remains to charity. You receive a partial tax deduction up front, and appreciated assets sold inside the trust avoid immediate capital gains tax, which makes CRTs useful before a business or stock sale.

What is a qualified charitable distribution (QCD)?

A qualified charitable distribution lets IRA owners age 70½ or older send money directly from an IRA to charity, up to $111,000 per person in 2026. The gift is excluded from taxable income and can count toward required minimum distributions, which can be more valuable than an itemized deduction for many retirees.

Planning for Business Owners and Executives

How do you help business owners plan for a sale or succession?

Exit planning should start years before a sale. We help owners understand what the business must fetch to fund their goals, coordinate valuation and pre-sale estate strategies such as gifting shares before value is locked in, review eligibility for qualified small business stock (QSBS) treatment, and build an investment plan for the proceeds alongside your attorney and CPA.

What should I do before and after a liquidity event?

Before a sale or IPO, review estate and gifting strategies, charitable vehicles and state residency, because many are only effective before the deal closes. Afterward, avoid rushed decisions: park proceeds in a short-term liquidity reserve, estimate your tax bill, then invest gradually according to a new investment policy statement built for your post-liquidity life.

How should executives manage stock options, RSUs and deferred compensation?

Each form of equity compensation is taxed differently: RSUs are taxed as income when they vest, nonqualified options when exercised, and incentive stock options can trigger alternative minimum tax. We help executives plan exercises and sales around taxes, blackout windows and 10b5-1 trading plans, and decide how deferred compensation elections fit their broader plan.

What retirement plans work best for business owners?

Depending on income and employees, business owners can use SEP IRAs, solo 401(k)s, profit-sharing plans, money purchase plans and cash balance plans. Combining a 401(k) and profit-sharing plan with a cash balance plan can allow high-earning owners to contribute and deduct far more each year than a standard 401(k) alone.

Risk Management and Asset Protection

What is asset protection, and do I need it?

Asset protection means structuring your wealth so that a lawsuit, creditor or divorce cannot easily reach it. Common tools include adequate umbrella liability coverage, proper account titling, LLCs for real estate or business interests and certain trusts. High-net-worth families, physicians, business owners and landlords are more likely to be targeted and benefit most.

What role does life insurance play in a high-net-worth estate plan?

For wealthy families, life insurance is often less about income replacement and more about liquidity: providing cash to pay estate taxes, equalize inheritances or fund a business buy-sell agreement without forcing the sale of a business, real estate or other illiquid assets. Owning the policy in an irrevocable life insurance trust can keep proceeds out of your taxable estate.

Should I consider long-term care insurance?

Extended care can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially in the New York area. Some wealthy families choose to self-insure, while others use traditional or hybrid life and long-term care policies to protect assets intended for heirs or charity. The decision depends on your assets, health, family situation and attitude toward risk.

Retirement Income Planning

How do high-net-worth retirees create reliable retirement income?

We build a withdrawal strategy that draws from taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free accounts in a tax-efficient order, keeps a cash and bond reserve to avoid selling stocks in a downturn, and coordinates Social Security timing, pensions and required distributions. The goal is dependable income today while protecting the portfolio that funds later decades and your legacy.

Should I do a Roth conversion?

A Roth conversion moves money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, paying income tax now so future growth and withdrawals are tax-free. Conversions can make sense in lower-income years, such as early retirement before required distributions begin, and Roth IRAs are efficient assets to leave to heirs. The math depends on current versus future tax rates.

When do required minimum distributions (RMDs) start?

Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, required minimum distributions from traditional IRAs and most employer plans begin at age 73 for people born between 1951 and 1959, and at age 75 for those born in 1960 or later. Missing an RMD can trigger a penalty, so planning withdrawals, QCDs and Roth conversions ahead of time matters.

Working With Christie Cox Group

What happens during a first consultation?

A first consultation is a conversation, not a sales pitch. Ronan learns about your goals, family, current advisors and what you want to change, and explains how Christie Cox Group works. If there is a fit, the next step is gathering documents so we can review your full financial picture and present recommendations. There is no obligation and the consultation is complimentary. 

How is Christie Cox Group paid?

Depending on the services you choose, compensation may be an advisory fee based on assets under management, commissions on brokerage transactions or insurance products, or a combination. We disclose all fees and potential conflicts of interest in writing before you begin. Full details appear on our Fees & Commissions page and in Form CRS.

Where are my assets held?

Your assets are held in your name at an independent, third-party custodian called Pershing LLC, a division of BNY Mellon, not by Christie Cox Group. Securities are offered through Arete Wealth Management, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. You receive statements directly from the custodian, so you can always verify your holdings independently.

How can I see my full financial picture in one place?

Christie Cox Group clients have access to an eMoney client portal that brings together investment accounts, including those held elsewhere, plus bank accounts, real estate, insurance and liabilities. It provides a consolidated net worth view, secure document storage and the planning projections we review together in meetings.

How do I transfer my accounts from another advisor?

Most brokerage and IRA accounts move through the automated ACATS system, usually within about a week. Investments can often transfer in kind, meaning they move without being sold, which avoids triggering taxes. We handle the paperwork and review each holding before deciding what to keep, sell or rebalance.

How do I schedule a consultation with Ronan Cox?

Call Ronan Cox at (347) 439-8504, email rcox@fincadia.com or use the contact form on this site. Meetings take place at our office at 5 Hanover Square, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10004, or by video call for clients outside New York City.

Disclosures

Securities offered through Arete Wealth Management, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. [CONFIRM Fincadia / Christie Cox Group relationship language.] This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal or investment advice. Tax figures reflect 2026 law and are subject to change. Consult your tax and legal professionals regarding your situation. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal; alternative investments carry additional risks, including illiquidity. CIMA® and CPWA® are registered certification marks of the Investments & Wealth Institute. Check the background of your financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck.