Financial Planning For Everyone

Frequently Asked Questions

What is financial planning?

It's like going to the doctor- except for your finances. You meet with a planner in person or virtually and describe what's going on in your finances and what you would like to improve. We then collect your financial information such as your tax returns, bank statements, investment account statements, 401(k) balances, and expenses to create a financial plan that is doable and achievable. If there are any major changes such as a the birth of a child, a death, or divorce, we can update your plan. Lastly, we'll meet periodically to make sure that you are on track with your with your goals.

Who can benefit most?

Everyone can benefit from financial planning, but families with more complex needs and/or situations can benefit significantly. For example, families with special needs children can easily become overwhelmed with the complexities and stress that comes with planning for the lifetime of their children. Coordinating local, state, and federal benefits along with providing financial independence for their child has to be done carefully so as to not disqualify their child for public assistance.

Why should I choose your firm?

We can handle situations other firms can't (or won't). We have in-house tax professionals that can not only prepare your taxes, but help you lower and/or minimize your tax obligations through individualized tax planning. Other financial planning firms typically refer tax matters to a preferred outside professional or they'll simply tell you to "talk to your CPA." This isn't necessarily a negative, but it means that you'll have to involve both a financial planner and a tax professional for your plan. We keep it simple. We do both.

Is there a minimum wealth requirement?

There are no minimums to work with us. We serve everyone regardless of net worth. Depending on the complexity of your situation, you may benefit from a single financial plan or comprehensive, ongoing wealth management. We will take the time to understand your unique needs and goals and present options that will best serve you.

Can I afford your services?

Yes. We provide affordable planning options for everyone. We offer flat, one-time fees for financial plans, and competitive rates for managing your investment assets. Put simply, if we manage your investments such as your IRAs, brokerage accounts, etc, we charge a small percentage of those assets as a fee-usually billed quarterly. If you'd like to see what those percentages are and how our billing works, check our firm brochure.

How do you ensure client understanding?

We believe in speaking plain English and aim to simplify financial concepts while educating clients during every step of the planning process. We know that our expertise and competence is important for your trust, but that doesn't mean that we talk over your head. The details of financial planning can be complicated, but explaining the big picture of what we're doing for you and why we're doing it should be simple and easy to understand. That is our core value.