Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a financial planner?

A Financial Planner can help you articulate your financial goals, your expectations and your concerns about the future, and prepare a concrete plan that addresses your entire financial picture. A Financial Planner can provide accountability, act as a sounding board, and make adjustments to the plan when major life events occur. Additionally, a Financial Planner can coordinate other professionals; such as CPAs, Estate Planners and Insurance Representatives to make sure the plan takes a unified approach, and an investment strategy that is properly executed.

What is a Certified Financial Planner - CFP®? How is this different from other Financial Planners?

The CFP® credential is recognized as the highest standard in the field of personal financial planning; less than 20% of practicing financial advisors in the industry can claim this distinction. The CFP® certification process, administered by CFP® Board, communicates to the public that those individuals who have been authorized to use the CFP® certification marks in the U.S. have met rigorous professional standards and have agreed to adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism and diligence when working with clients. The CFP® Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct require CFP® professionals to place their clients’ interests ahead of their own when delivering financial planning advice.

How do you charge for your services?

All fees will be transparent and agreed upon in advance.  Fees for ongoing portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services are billed quarterly at an agreed-upon flat-fee.   Financial planning services that are limited in scope, such as a one-time financial plan or addressing several specific planning issues will be billed at an agreed upon fixed fee. In addition, hourly planning services are also available.
Please see Form ADV Part 2A below for more information on these rates.

What does the financial planning process involve?
  1. Initial Meeting. We’ll discuss your finances at a high level, the services we can provide to help you meet your objectives, and determine a fee structure based on your needs.
  2. Gather information. We’ll define your financial situation, personal and financial goals, timeline, and attitude about risk. We’ll gather all relevant financial documents and information.
  3. Analyze and Evaluate. We’ll analyze your information to assess your financial situation and determine what’s needed to achieve your goals. This assessment could include analyzing your assets, liabilities and cash flow, current insurance coverage, investments, or tax strategies.
  4. Develop and Present. We’ll develop and review financial planning recommendations with you that address your goals and concerns and revise recommendations as needed. We’ll present you with a custom financial plan containing specific recommendations and a timeline.
  5. Implement your plan. Together we’ll agree on how the specifics of your plan will be carried out and provide necessary accountability. We may carry out the recommendations for you or coordinate the process with other professionals such as attorneys or insurance professionals.
  6. Monitor and Adjust. We will monitor your progress, keep you on track, and make any necessary adjustments should life take an unexpected turn.
Do I need a certain amount of money to work with you?

We do not require an asset minimum.  Our services are available to everyone regardless of net worth or investable assets. We believe everyone is entitled to trustworthy financial advice despite not having asset levels or net worth that traditional financial planning or investment firms require.

Can you advise me on my portfolio without managing it?

Yes, some clients prefer to manage their portfolio but need advice on asset allocation, risk management, etc. We can provide this advice as part of your financial planning fee or as a separate service.

Where are you located?

We’re located in Boston, Massachusetts but work with clients across the country. Even local clients can benefit from the convenience of working together virtually, using our streamlined, state of the art online systems.

Do you sell insurance?

In order to maintain “fee-only” status, we do not sell insurance or any other commission based products. We believe selling commission based products can lend itself to providing conflicted advice.