Does Your Advisor Have Blinders On?

When most people think about judging their financial advisor, one thing usually takes center stage: performance. The number on your statement — your quarterly or annual return — becomes the scorecard. Did it go up? Did it beat the benchmark?

But here’s the thing: your financial life is far more complex than a line on a chart. If your advisor focuses only on performance, they may be missing what actually determines your success: the ripple effects of every financial decision on your taxes, estate, liquidity, and life goals.

A costly example

Picture this: an advisor recommends selling several holdings to invest in a fund that’s been outperforming the market. On paper, it’s a decision that might boost short-term performance and make a quarterly statement stand out.

But step back for a second.

That sale may trigger a significant capital gain tax, creating an unexpected tax bill and wiping out much of the new investment’s benefit. A “win” in one column can quietly erode value in another. Without coordination across investments, taxes, and planning, even smart-sounding strategies can backfire.

When an advisor gets too narrowly focused on returns, it’s easy to overlook how each move affects the bigger picture. Taxes, liquidity, and timing can sneakily undermine what appears to be progress on paper. The blind spot isn’t usually intention — it’s coordination. Real success comes from integrating every decision into your broader plan, ensuring that what you gain actually moves you closer to the life you’re working to build.

The ripple effect of every decision

Every financial decision you make sets off a chain reaction. Selling an investment, contributing to a retirement plan, or refinancing a mortgage — each move affects something else: your tax bracket, liquidity, or estate plan.

A thoughtful advisor doesn’t just react to those consequences; they anticipate them and plan around them.

Without that foresight, you risk “optimizing” one part of your financial life while accidentally creating problems in another. For example:

• A portfolio rebalance that racks up unnecessary taxable gains.
• An overstuffed retirement account that leaves you short on cash for near-term goals.
• A charitable gift strategy that misses out on tax deductions because it wasn’t coordinated with equity sales.

On their own, these might feel small. Together, they add up and they impact both your outcome and your peace of mind.

That’s why evaluating an advisor on performance alone misses the point. True value comes from the decisions that don’t show up on your statement—the ones that quietly help you save money, protect flexibility, and align your resources with your values.

The total balance sheet approach

At Brighton Jones, we take what we call a Total Balance Sheet approach. We don’t view your investments in isolation; we look at your entire financial ecosystem. Every decision — whether it’s asset allocation, a liquidity event, or estate planning — is made with the complete picture in mind.

We ask questions like:

• Taxes: How will this affect both today’s and tomorrow’s liabilities?
• Liquidity: Will you have access to cash when you need it most?
• Estate: Does this align with your long-term wishes for family or philanthropy?
• Goals: Does this support your life’s priorities—not just your balance sheet?

Sometimes the most brilliant move isn’t the one that makes your quarterly return look better. It’s the one that can help reduce your tax bill, safeguard your future flexibility, or set your family up for lasting success.

When you evaluate your advisor, ask yourself: Are they seeing my whole picture—or just one piece of it? 

Seeing the whole picture

The best advisors don’t promise to beat the market. They promise to see you clearly.

A great advisor views your financial life holistically. They help you avoid costly mistakes, such as surprise tax bills. They anticipate how today’s decisions will shape tomorrow’s opportunities. And they help you focus on what matters most by coordinating the details of your financial life.

At Brighton Jones, that’s the essence of what we do. Yes, we’re fiduciaries — which means we’re legally committed to acting in your best interest. But more than that, we’re collaborators, partners, and guides. Our mission isn’t just to grow your wealth — it’s to align your resources with your purpose.

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results.  Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Brighton Jones, LLC), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly on this website will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful.  Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, this content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained on this website serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Brighton Jones, LLC.  To the extent that you have any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to your individual situation, you are encouraged to consult with a professional advisor of your choosing.  Brighton Jones, LLC is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of this content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of our current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available upon request