Keystone Global Partners

Forward-Thinking Wealth Management For Tech Founder

Calvin Lo

Accreditation, Career, and Education

  • CFA® charterholder
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
  • Royal Oak Capital Management, Principal and Portfolio Manager
  • Merrill Lynch Equity Research, Equity Analyst
  • Merrill Lynch Private Banking and Investment Group, Investment Analyst
  • B.S. Management Science, Highest Honors, University of California-San Diego
  • London School of Economics

FINRA Brokercheck

Calvin Lo, CFA, CFP®

Partner

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Why you are passionate about financial planning?

My grandfather was a top movie producer in Hong Kong in the 1970s & ’80s. He brought Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li to the movie industry. With a talent for making movies, he created great wealth for himself from his career. However, he did not manage his financial risks and protect his wealth, leaving him unable to pass down the legacy he wished for. Having a trusted advisor at my grandfather’s side could have helped him achieve the legacy he wanted to leave behind. It’s too late to change my grandfather’s story, but I am glad I now help other families avoid the same mistakes and achieve their goals. It’s not about the money you make, it’s about the money you keep and the impact you make with it.

What are your day-to-day duties?

I am responsible for portfolio management and operations. On the portfolio management side, this includes maintaining our outlook on the markets, continued diligence on existing client portfolio investments, and researching new investment opportunities and managers. On the operations side, I oversee our finance, compliance, and client planning and service operations.

What would you be doing if you weren’t working at Keystone Global Partners?

I would be interested in a law career or advancing global clean technology by working in a firm that focuses on something like solar power or clean water.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

Building a deep level of trust over time with our clients and becoming their trusted advisor. Every relationship takes an incredible amount of custom work, uncompromising level of integrity, willingness to be frank, and personal compassion.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, professionally or personally?

I’m lucky to have received so much good advice throughout my life, making it hard to choose one as “the best.” I definitely appreciate that early in my career, I was told to forget the money, go where I could learn the most, and be exposed to the best in the industry. I also found another concept interesting: the idea that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Surround yourself with people you respect.

What makes you qualified to do what you do?

A willingness to give the tough answers when clients need to hear it. I believe we always have to do what is best for the client, not just say yes to everything they want to do. My job is to remain focused on client goals, give candid advice, and identify any blind spots for clients.

Are you affiliated with any organizations, either professionally or personally?

I volunteer for and support PATH, an organization that helps people find permanent housing and provide case management services. Having grown up with a single mother, I specifically help single mothers find a roof they can put over their heads and create some stability for their families.

I also support Smiley Tails, an organization that rehomes dogs of all ages and breeds from high-kill shelters and high-risk situations. They rescue dogs from high-kill shelters and give them the proper medical attention and training then match them with a wonderful family.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love being outdoors; that is my meditation. You can find me skiing during the winters, hiking and backpacking on weekends, and running at the local high school track. I’ve hiked Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states, and done the Grand Canyon North Rim to South Rim hike. I feel that the Yosemite Half Dome hike is one that every able-bodied person should experience at least once in their life.

What types of clients do you specialize in?

Our Wealth Management clients consist of founders, entrepreneurs, and their families.

Will you help me solve any and all financial problems I may encounter?

We function as your personal Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and it's highly probable that we've assisted others in resolving comparable issues, many times over. Examples include business exit strategy, QSBS optimization, tax reduction, estate planning, exit planning for company founders, alternative investments, 401(k) plans, IRS audits, family transitions, disability, real estate, debt management, social security, Medicare, health insurance, family office structure, college funding, gifting, and a wide range of other financial concerns.

What services do you provide?

Our primary areas of focus include proactive and ongoing tax minimization, advanced financial planning, and sophisticated investment management.

How do you help clients implement their financial plans?

We firmly believe that even the best advanced financial plan is of little value until it’s implemented. To help you achieve your goals without feeling stressed or overwhelmed by the noise along the way, we will work together to make the necessary decisions; then, we will take care of the execution.

Are your recommendations truly in my best interest?

As an SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm, we are held to a fiduciary standard, which legally requires us to do what is in our clients’ best interests. This differs drastically from some of our competitors. Our commitment to an honest and ethical culture has allowed us to build deep, trusted relationships with our clients.

What are all the different ways you are compensated?

We are only compensated via one management fee. We believe this allows us to have an unbiased framework to select the best investments for you and to give you advice tailored to your needs, not ours. We believe compensation drives behavior, and the way someone is paid influences the work they do. Many financial firms have complex fee arrangements; we do not.

Why would I choose you as my financial advisor and not DIY?

There’s certainly a possibility that if you put enough focus and energy into it, you could do it all yourself. But like everyone else, your time is limited, and most people prefer to focus on family or business. We’re here to free up your time while leveraging our wealth of experience in addressing concerns, presenting solutions, and working toward your financial goals.

What are the benefits of working with an independent financial advisor compared to a bank or large advisory firm?

Our independent and conflict-free approach allows us to find the best solutions for our clients. This gives you the advantage since larger firms might be compelled to make specific recommendations, sell proprietary products, or may be restricted in the advice and services they offer. We offer guidance customized to your needs and goals which is a personalized level of service, care, and attention larger firms just can’t provide.

Do you use proprietary funds?

At Keystone, we do not use proprietary products. We do not receive commissions or backend fees from any third parties. We do not earn compensation for recommending one fund vs. another. We believe this allows us to have the most unbiased framework to select the best investments for you and to provide advice tailored to your needs, not ours.

Where do you keep my money and how can I see it?

For your convenience and safety, we use Charles Schwab as the custodian for the majority of our client assets. Schwab administers more than $7 trillion dollars and we selected them to care for yours as well based on a variety of criteria including safety of assets, financial strength, and ease of use. As custodian, Schwab holds your funds and provides direct reporting to you. Your funds will be held in accounts under your name and can be viewed anytime online at Schwab.