Paladin Research Report For:
Mark Stancato
VIP Wealth Advisors
About Mark Stancato
High-Income. High-Complexity. Your Strategy, Elevated.
You've built something meaningful - maybe a startup, a career in tech, a creative practice, or a business that finally found its footing. But with growth comes complexity, and suddenly your financial life doesn't feel like it's working for you. You're fielding K-1s, juggling RSUs, navigating AMT surprises, and trying to decode what to do with opportunities no one prepared you for.
That's where I come in.
I'm Mark Stancato, CFP®, EA, ECA, CRPS®, founder of VIP Wealth Advisors. I work with people whose lives don't follow a straight line - tech professionals, business owners, executives, creatives. People with vision and drive, but who don't want to waste time untangling spreadsheets or second-guessing every financial move. They want clarity, confidence, and a partner they can trust.
I didn't come from Wall Street. I came from the startup world, the stage, the grind of building something from nothing. I've bootstrapped businesses, advised founders through equity events, and helped creatives turn uncertain income into lasting wealth. Money isn't just about numbers - it's about freedom, leverage, and making it all mean something.
That's the lens I bring to planning. At VIP Wealth Advisors, we integrate tax prep, investment management, and strategic planning under one roof. I file your returns, manage your assets, and help you make smart moves with long-term impact. No product pushing. No jargon. Just modern, high-touch advice that simplifies the messiness and keeps you moving forward.
VIP stands for Very Intentional Planning - because that's what your life deserves. If you've outgrown generic advice and want a true partner who understands both the strategy and the story behind your success, let's talk.
This isn't just planning. It's designing a life on your terms, with clarity and confidence at every step.
General Information
Firm Start Year
- 2025
CRD#
- 2709160
Firm CRD#
- 335528
Name of Custodial Firm
- Schwab, Altruist
Years of Experience in Financial Services
- 25
Number of Years with Current Firm
- 1
Work Experience
My career spans more than two decades across national RIAs, boutique firms, and fintech startups - an arc that gives me rare perspective on how wealth management can best serve clients.
I began at Mercer Advisors, supporting the Director of Financial Planning in Santa Barbara. There, I helped build internal training systems and supported the firm's transition to a new planning platform. This early exposure gave me a foundation in technical precision and systems thinking.
Mark then advanced to roles with ING and the Strategic Planning Group, where I specialized in retirement, estate, and tax planning. I designed comprehensive financial plans, delivered seminars for educators and professionals, and developed advanced case solutions for affluent families, executives, and business owners. These years sharpened my technical toolkit and gave me experience teaching complex financial concepts with clarity.
At Loring Ward, I entered the highest tier of complexity: advising A-list celebrities, professional athletes, entertainment executives, and ultra-high-net-worth families nationwide. My work spanned tax optimization, estate planning, investment strategy, charitable giving, and even personal financial management like staff payroll and intergenerational education. Serving this clientele required both discretion and mastery of highly sophisticated planning structures. It was here that I developed the discretion, trust, and nuanced judgment that remain core to my practice.
I later spent more than a decade as a Wealth Advisor and Consultant, working with RIAs, military families (including Gold Star survivors), and TD Ameritrade on the development of digital planning tools. This period broadened my ability to innovate in service delivery and to apply planning to diverse populations and needs.
From there, I joined BrooklynFI, a boutique firm known for its focus on equity compensation. I worked directly with startup employees, founders, and executives navigating incentive stock options, RSUs, ESPPs, and concentrated stock positions. My tax expertise allowed me to guide clients through AMT, QSBS eligibility, and complex multi-state filings - areas where a wrong move can cost millions.
As Lead Financial Planner at Range, a fast-growing fintech startup, I combined client service with product innovation. I not only advised high-net-worth clients but also partnered with engineering teams to build tools that made financial advice delivery more efficient and scalable.
Today, as Founder and Lead Advisor of VIP Wealth Advisors, I integrate the best of these experiences: the discretion of Hollywood family offices, the technical sophistication of national RIAs, the equity comp expertise of BrooklynFI, and the innovation of fintech. My firm provides comprehensive planning, in-house tax filing, and investment management to tech professionals, real estate investors, and business owners who demand more than cookie-cutter advice.
Work with the following types of clients
- Individual Investors, Businesses
Advisory Services Provided
- Risk Management, Money Management, 401K Rollovers, Retirement Planning, Portfolio Management, Financial Planning, Estate Planning & Trusts, Investment Advice & Management, Financial Advice & Consulting, Education Funding and Planning, Financial Planning for Individuals, Financial Planning for Businesses, Tax Advice and Services, Wealth Management
Compliance
Registered Investment Advisor
- Yes
Registered Representative
- Yes
Investment Advisor Representative
- Yes
Acknowledged fiduciary
- Yes
Compliance Disclosures in Last 5 years
- I have a clean record
Criminal Disclosures in Last 5 years
- I have a clean record
Qualifications & Membership
Certifications, Accreditations & Designations
- CFP®, EA, CRPS®
Compensation and Fees
Fee Structure
- Fee-Only
Minimum Portfolio Size for New Managed Accounts
- 400,000
Compensation Methods
- Flat Fee
Fee % Based on Assets
- 0
Additional Details on Charges
Flat, Transparent Fees
Flat Rate: Starting at $649/month
AUM: 0%
Fees may be higher if you are a business owner, have a complex estate, private or illiquid investments, or multiple rentals.
Use our pricing calculator to get your estimate online.
Minimum Fee Charged for Managed Accounts
- $649/mo
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Financial Planning and Services
Purdue University
08/01/1991 -05/01/1995
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
Purdue University
08/01/1991 -05/01/1995
Disclosures
https://vipwealthadvisors.com/disclosure
Additional Detailed Disclosures
https://www.paladinregistry.com/disclosure/1893058/paladinregistry-VIP-Wealth-Advisors-detailed-disclosure.html
Paladin Advisors