Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

One of the most frequently asked questions is how much it costs to work with us. We think the better question is, “How much does it cost not to work with us?”

We were late understanding the true impact of “Lost Opportunity Cost”. In fact, I initially thought LOC was a phantom number, something that could not be avoided and was simply “the cost of doing business”. How wrong we were. Lost Opportunity Cost is real. If you can avoid LOC you are usually much farther ahead than taking more risk in the market to get a better rate of return (on paper). If you have to pay a fee, a tax or a penalty, that is money that cannot be working for you.

We are of the opinion that we should be able to find the money to pay us. In fact, we are so confident that our strategies will help you find dollars at risk, move them to safer environments and bring those dollars back to the table to enhance your future that we generally don’t need to charge you a fee. For example, if we can help you find those dollars and you choose to put the dollars to work in products we offer, that is the first way we are paid. The second way we are paid and also the way we have stayed in business for 19 years, is by clients like you referring us to 2-300 of your friends. A simple introduction is our greatest payment.

We choose not to charge an hourly fee for our comprehensive financial services, and we do not charge a flat rate for meetings or consultations. Should you need an a ‘la cart service, there could be costs for our time, but that would be on a case-by-case basis and the costs will be clear before entering a service relationship.

In our experience, most families are missing key financial tools that could help them accomplish their goals. If our services help you incorporate one or more of the strategies you may be missing into your model, we are paid a commission by the company who provides it. We believe it is counterintuitive to our mission to be compensated by both financial institutions and by you the client, whose expenses and fees we are trying to reduce. We believe it is in direct conflict with the work that we do.

It’s important to note that products are not the focus of what we do and we are not beholden to sell any specific company’s products, nor are we captive to any particular company. That being said, we do recognize different products are better for certain clients than others. If you don’t trust our judgement when we make a recommendation, you are clearly under no obligation to accept our recommendations.

Our true and unique value lies in our ability to teach you how to properly incorporate various financial products into your plan. It is the strategy and the design that will ultimately help you financially both now, and in the future.

Our absolute favorite way to get paid is by having you introduce us to other people who may need help. If, as a client, you are happy with the work we do for you, there is no greater compliment you can pay us than an introduction to your friends or family. Ultimately, this helps us build our business and spread our mission.

There is a perception that planing your financial life is only for the very wealthy. This is simply not true. We have a simple rule, if you are serious about your money, we are serious about your money, likewise, if it is not important to you, it’s not important to us.

Prior to the 1980’s employees relied heavily on pensions to provide for their golden years. The typical 40 years and a gold watch was replaced by the 401(k). Why was the 401(k) so popular? Because for employers they no longer had the market risk of providing for their employees in retirement. Consequently, the demise of the company pension shot through the board rooms of corporate America. With the adoption of the 401(k) employees saw the chance to dump their pension plans and employees were told they could now have more money at retirement, and they could take advantage of “stock market gains”. Since then, the task of retirement planning has been increasingly placed on employees rather than their employers.

Retirement planning can be overwhelming and there are many factors to consider when creating a sound financial plan. What rate of return do I need to earn in order to have enough money to retire? How do I protect against liability? Do I have an exit strategy for my qualified plans? How will my family replace my income if something happens to me? How will the future tax rate effect my retirement income? And on and on…
And with no shortage of people scrambling to tell you what to do and how to invest your money – we have seen the rise and proliferation of “sound bite” financial planning. It can be hard to know where to turn in order to get answers to the big and important questions about your money.

This is where a trusted financial advisor comes in. An advisor who knows you, your family, your financial position and what you hope to accomplish in the future, can be your most valuable asset when it comes to retirement planning. Our aim is to become your trusted financial professionals by not only answering your questions, but by educating and empowering you to take control of your finances.

Our suggestion would be to schedule a 30 -minute introductory call. This allows us to get some basic information about you, your family, and what your needs may be. This will also give you a chance to ask your questions, and gauge whether our services are the right fit for you.

Click below to schedule your 15-minute phone call and begin your journey to an empowered financial future.