Our Roots

“Eh-le-what?”

“How do you say that?”

“What does that mean?”

If you’ve asked any of those questions about our company name, you’re not alone. It’s different, by design. Instead of featuring a founder’s surname or a local geographical reference in the firm’s name, we chose to highlight our approach to the responsibilities and goals of wealth management. Ultimately, our name reflects our processes and our people.

Here’s the back story:

Our company founders lived in the Napa Valley of Northern California for more than 20 years. During that time, they developed wonderful friendships with wine industry professionals and had the opportunity to learn about the art and science of wine production. One of the most intriguing aspects is the process known as élevage [eh-le-vahg].

Élevage is a French term that loosely translates to the English word “raising.” Winemakers use the word to describe the time period that begins with the fermentation process and concludes when the once simple grape juice is raised to the desired level to be bottled as wine.

Throughout élevage, the juice is in the care of the skilled winemaker, while he or she nurtures the wine to achieve its full potential. The process is an intricate dance between art and science. Every detail matters. Any poorly thought out or rushed decision leaves the final product flawed, or not as good as it could have been. Patience and purpose are characteristics witnessed amongst the best in the business.

We quickly saw a correlation between the notably high levels of discipline, care, knowledge and vision required to make a great wine and that of our work as financial advisors. Sought-after results take time, relentless attention to detail and an unwavering dedication to the day-to-day work. And like the winemaker, we, too, are passionate about creating the best outcomes. We want to help clients realize their money’s full potential and experience how their wealth supports what matters most to them.

At Elevage Partners, we believe that financial planning is much like the process of élevage. A full financial plan takes everything into account – all of the variables, including your goals, aspirations, and personal values. We collaborate with you to look at the big picture, gather the facts about where you currently stand, and create a plan that builds a path to help you achieve your desired full potential. Once the plan is in place, we will then make investment recommendations to support it. We call this investing for your WHY. And then we monitor the plan, constantly, always checking to ensure we’re making progress toward the desired results.

Elevage Partners has team members across the United States serving clients in person and virtually. We’re a collaborative bunch, partnering with you, each other and other service providers (accountants, lawyers, bankers, insurance specialists) to coordinate all aspects of the financial life. As your personal CFO, coach, and/or quarterback of your entire team, our advisors seek to raise the bar on the service that supports your unique financial needs and personal WHY. Ultimately, as with the goal of élevage in winemaking, our quest is to guide you on the journey that leads to your definition of life’s full potential.

Eh-le-vahg. It’s actually fun to say, and for us it is why we go to work every day.

More information about the firm can be found in our Form ADV Part 2 as well as in our Form CRS.