For more than 50 years, music has formed the quiet counterpoint to Steve Perrmann’s professional life. Long before he became senior partner at e3 Wealth, he composed music, drawing coherence from silence, structure from abstraction. Composition, at its essence, is the disciplined arrangement of distinct elements into a unified whole. It is a study in balance, timing and proportion. As a wealth strategist, Steve says he approaches his business in much the same way.
Founded nearly three decades ago by John Moriarty, e3 Wealth is built upon three guiding principles: Education, Enlighten, Empower. Education equips clients to understand a financial ecosystem that's often opaque. Enlightenment reveals a broader universe of tools beyond conventional investment strategies. Empowerment is the execution: measured, strategic decisions designed not only to accumulate assets, but to help preserve and optimize them across a lifetime. Within this framework, Steve's work reflects both analytical rigor and creative fluency.
His first career unfolded in electrical engineering, where he spent 27 years and secured multiple oil-field-related patents. He also served as director of engineering for Gibson Guitar, an early convergence of technical precision and musical artistry. In 2010, he transitioned into financial services, passing FINRA Series 7 and 66 license exams, as well as life and health insurance licensure. He describes his practice as “financial engineering”—a comprehensive approach that views investments as instruments within a broader design to meet clients’ specific goals and objectives.
A defining distinction at e3 Wealth is its integrated tax practice. Steve is unequivocal: “long-term tax efficiency is foundational to wealth attainment and retention.” Over the course of a lifetime, taxes often represent one’s single largest expenditure, exceeding education or mortgage costs. From a wealth strategist perspective, comprehensive income planning, tax planning, Social Security, pension benefits planning, Medicare planning and Legacy planning further refines outcomes, ensuring capital works efficiently not merely in favorable markets, but across decades. In this context, growth without tax awareness is incomplete.
Risk mitigation is equally central. Steve challenges the conventional “buy, hold and hope” paradigm, emphasizing that preservation is indispensable to advancement alone. A 20% loss requires a 25% gain to recover, an asymmetry often overlooked. By engineering portfolios to reduce exposure to significant downturns, clients lessen the need for extraordinary recovery returns. Wealth is strengthened not only by what is earned, but by what is protected, he adds.
“Diversification,” Steve says, “extends beyond stock allocation. Correlation diversification pairs assets that don't move in tandem, reducing volatility.” Liquidity diversification helps to ensure access to capital without forced liquidation. e3Wealth’s Safety, Growth and Liquidity Model is calibrated with intention. Some exposure to private investments and alternative strategies often decrease correlation increase short-term and long-term tax efficiency and optimize income potential.
As an independent firm, e3 Wealth accesses a broad spectrum of tools and fee structures, allowing personalization at every wealth level. Steve maintains a singular commitment while working in a fiduciary capacity: “recommendations must serve the client’s best interest” incorporating a “One-Size-Fits-One” approach with clients.
In music, individual notes carry meaning, but it is their orchestration that creates resonance. So too in finance. Tax strategy, risk management, liquidity planning and growth vehicles are distinct components; together, they form something enduring. For Steve, wealth isn't merely accumulated; it is composed, refined and sustained with intention.
Disclosures
Securities offered through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC. (MAS), Member FINRA & SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Transce3nd, LLC, (Te3) an investment Adviser. MAS, Te3 and E3 Wealth, LLC are not affiliated entities.
Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to protection benefits, safety or security generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Our firm does not offer legal or tax advice. Consult your legal or tax advisor regarding your situation. Alternative investments products are typically illiquid, long-term in nature, and may involve higher risk than traditional investment vehicles. Alternative investments products are intended for accredited investors only and is not a solicitation to the general public. Investors are encouraged to read the Private Placement Memorandum before making a financial decision on these types of investments.
“In music, individual notes matter, but orchestration creates resonance. In finance, strategy, tax planning, risk management and liquidity together create enduring wealth.”
“A well-designed portfolio is not just about growth. It is about balance: protecting capital, managing volatility and ensuring access to liquidity when it matters.”