Question 1

Why should I hire you instead of doing this myself?

Answer

Many people believe they are hiring a financial planner to help them invest. A good financial planner is at times a guide, a teammate, a confidant, and most importantly, someone who will listen and genuinely try to help. Financial planning should be personal and customized. It is built upon your values, goals, and life experiences. It is more than your investments, your insurance policies, and your monthly budget.

Question 2

Who is your typical client?

Answer

Our typical client is a young professional, or family, who is driven, ambitious, and ready to take control of their financial lives. Young professionals and their families are often underserved by many firms due to asset minimums or net worth thresholds. We enjoy playing an integral role in our clients' lives as they accumulate wealth and progress further into their careers.

Question 3

What is your investment philosophy?

Answer

We believe in a disciplined investment approach designed to capture, not beat, the market returns over a long period of time. Our philosophy emphasizes focusing on the items within our control; we have no control over the stock market’s direction or when the next recession will hit. However, we can build an investment strategy that is low-cost, tax efficient, and globally diverse. Our investment portfolios are constructed using low-cost funds from Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA)* and Vanguard - Learn more here. *DFA funds are only available through qualified and approved financial planners. They're designed to be cost-effective solutions that help investors pursue higher expected returns across the market through broad diversification, academic research, and applied financial science.

Question 4

What is the CFP® Designation?

Answer

The CFP® designation is the gold standard in financial planning. Most consumers believe that all financial planners are "certified," but this isn't true. Only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals are rigorously trained in 72 areas of financial expertise and must accrue thousands of hours of experience prior to earning their certification. With a CFP® professional, you get a financial planner partner committed to working in your best interest and the confidence that comes with building a comprehensive plan.– See more at the CFP Board's website.

Question 5

How do you get paid?

Answer

As a fee-only firm, our compensation comes solely from the services we provide for you. We’re not compensated with commissions, kickbacks, “trails” or any other fees that aren’t directly reflected on our website. We have signed a fiduciary oath and hold ourselves to the highest standard. Our focus remains on our clients and helping them to the best of our ability without being deterred by selling products.

Question 6

Are my investment assets secure?

Answer

Yes. Client investments are held at TD Ameritrade, a trusted and well-established custodian bank. TD Ameritrade is insured by the SIPC for up to $500,000 per account type and are protected against losses resulting from the failure of a broker-dealer. An explanatory brochure is available at the SIPC website.

Question 7

What are your other certifications - CSLP®, BFA™, and CTS™?

Answer

CSLP® = Certified Student Loan Professional The CSLP Program is the most comprehensive training tool for financial planners who focus on student loan advising. CSLP certificants are able to accurately advise clients about student loan repayment within the scope of their financial goals. BFA™ = Behavioral Financial Advisor This certification program teaches techniques in behavioral coaching and goal development. It provides a holistic approach to strengthen the advisor-client relationship by better understanding emotions and behavior around money. CTS™ = Certified Tax Specialist This graduate-level certification is conferred upon candidates who complete an educational program focusing on personal income taxes and methods to reduce tax liability. This program is designed for financial planners who have clients interested in maximizing their after-tax returns as well as reducing their overall tax liability.

Question 8

Do I need a large investment portfolio to work with you?

Answer

One of the biggest myths I hear is that you need a large investment portfolio to work with a financial planner. That was the old/traditional model of the industry.

Modern financial planning extends far beyond investments. It involves helping people leverage their financial resources in a way to achieve their best life.

Many of the conversations I have with my clients are not centered on investments. Rather our conversations revolve around goal development, employee benefits, cash flow, tax planning, home buying, and more.

Investments play an important role in achieving your goals, but they are one tool out of many in financial planning.

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