Why I Started Woolstone

After 12 collective years at two of the largest investment management firms in the world, I kept running into the same problem.

When you're managing 200+ households, you can't give people the attention they deserve during the most important years of their financial lives. I'd meet someone 3 years from retirement, terrified they were going to make a six-figure tax mistake, and I didn't have the bandwidth to dive deep into their situation.

The math was simple: 200 clients meant maybe 30 minutes per household per quarter. That's not enough time to truly know someone's full financial picture—their goals, their concerns, their family dynamics, their tax situation.

So I left to create something different.

I started Woolstone Wealth Management with one goal: serve each household that entrusts me with their financial future incredibly well.

That means:

  • High-touch service - Quarterly reviews, ad hoc calls, someone who actually knows your name and your situation

  • Tax-aware planning - As a CFP® I optimize every dollar you keep vs. hand to the IRS

  • Evidence-based investing - The Boglehead philosophy applied to personalized planning

I intentionally keep my client base small because I've learned that deep, meaningful client relationships require time, attention, and focus.

You'll never wonder if I have time for you. You'll know I do.

- Jake Landau, CFP®

A man with glasses and a beard carrying a young boy on his shoulders in an outdoor park during autumn; the boy is holding a red toy car and smiling.

A Name Rooted in Family Legacy

Storefront of Landau clothing retail store with clothing racks outside, including Princeton apparel and scarves, and a window display featuring mannequins in red clothing.
Two men standing in front of a display about Albert Einstein, with photos and memorabilia, one holding a booklet.

The name Woolstone is an homage to my family's business—Landau's, a wool store that served customers for 106 years, from 1914 to 2020.

Founded by my great-grandfather Henry Landau in Jersey City, the store moved to Brooklyn after the Holland Tunnel construction displaced it in 1919. In 1955, my grandparents brought Landau's to Princeton, New Jersey, where it became a beloved fixture on Nassau Street for over six decades.

Landau's was a family legacy built on quality, service, and genuine relationships with customers. They listened to what people needed and built a business around serving them well. In the 1970s, they became one of the premier American purveyors of Icelandic woolens. In 1982, the President of Iceland dubbed them "the wool family", a recognition of their dedication to their craft and their customers.

The store closed in 2020 after 106 years, but the values it represented: quality over quantity, relationships over transactions, and service over scale are what I wanted to carry forward.

Woolstone is my way of honoring that legacy. The "wool" represents my family's commitment to craftsmanship and care. The "stone" represents the solid, enduring foundation I want to build for the families I serve.

Just as Landau's served generations of customers who trusted them with their most important purchases, I want to serve families who are navigating the most important financial decade of their lives.

I Might Be a Perfect Fit If...

I work exclusively with people in what I call the retirement red zone—the 5 years before and 5 years after retirement.

This is the Most Critical Financial Window of Your Life

It's when every decision carries outsized consequences:

Sequence of returns risk can derail your entire retirement before it starts

One tax mistake can cost you six figures

Social Security timing makes a $100,000+ lifetime difference

Asset location determines how much wealth you keep vs. lose to taxes

Required Minimum Distributions can push you into higher tax brackets if not planned for

Medicare IRMAA surcharges can cost thousands annually with poor income planning

You're an Ideal Client If:

You're 5 years from retirement or recently retired within the last 5 years

You have $1 million or more in investable assets

You want high-touch, personal service

You value tax-aware planning and evidence-based investing

You're looking for a fiduciary advisor who puts your interests first

Sound Like You?

Let's have a conversation. I offer free 30-minute portfolio reviews to see if we're a good fit—no cost, no obligation, just an honest discussion about your retirement.

Schedule a Conversation

You'll get a real answer about whether working together makes sense.

My Credentials

Professional Background

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
  • 10 years at Vanguard
  • 2 years at Schwab
  • Founded Woolstone Wealth Management in 2026

Approach

  • Fee-only fiduciary (no commissions, no product sales)
  • Evidence-based investing (low-cost, diversified portfolios)
  • Integrated tax & investment planning
  • Intentionally small client base (ensuring every household gets real attention)

Location

  • Based in Malvern, Pennsylvania
  • Serving clients nationwide via video conference

What to Expect

When you work with me, here's what you get:

1

Quarterly Review Meetings

Not just a quick check-in. A real conversation about your goals, concerns, and any changes in your life.

2

Ad Hoc Access

If the market drops, if your situation changes, if you have a question—you call and I answer.

3

Integrated Tax Planning

Your tax situation and investment strategy are planned together—not in separate silos.

4

Proactive Communication

I reach out before problems become problems. You won't wonder what's happening with your money.

5

A Relationship, Not a Transaction

I'll know your spouse's name. Your kids' names. Your retirement vision. What keeps you up at night. What excites you about the future.

That's only possible when you're not client #157 on a spreadsheet.

Let's Talk About Your Retirement

I offer free 30-minute portfolio reviews—no cost, no obligation, just a conversation about where you are and whether working together makes sense.

Your current retirement readiness

Any obvious tax efficiency opportunities

Whether your withdrawal strategy is on track

If there are gaps in your current plan

Estate planning and beneficiary alignment

Building a comprehensive financial plan together

If we're a fit, great. If not, I'll tell you honestly and point you in the right direction.

Schedule a Conversation

Building Woolstone is personal for me. It's about honoring my family's legacy of service while applying everything I learned at Vanguard and Schwab to help people navigate the most important financial years of their lives.

If you're in the retirement red zone and looking for an advisor who will give you real attention, real expertise, and real partnership—I'd love to talk.

Jake Landau, CFP®

Founder, Woolstone Wealth Management
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™