We provide the professional expertise and trustworthy guidance you need to clear through financial information overload — most of which is designed to sell products — develop financial confidence and eliminate the stress and worry that can come from money issues.
The following explains our philosophy and directs us in the way we work:
Trust. As an independent fee-only financial planner, we are paid directly and exclusively by our clients. We are bound by a written fiduciary oath to our clients to always put their interests first. You may think all financial service providers offer this, but most do not. We strive to create collaborative relationships with our clients where the focus is on the client — not transactions — and our recommendations are based on your best interests. Unlike many other financial advisors, we do not receive commissions or referral fees nor do we have compensation arrangements with banks, brokerages, mutual fund or insurance companies that could influence our recommendations. While we make specific investment recommendations for our clients and can assist with implementation we never receive payments from third parties to promote or sell products.
Control. We believe you should be able to retain control whether you want a little advice or a lot. We offer services that are flexible to meet your requests. To work with us, we do not impose net worth or investment value minimums and we do not collect fees based on the size of your investment portfolio. Rather, we offer our services through engagements in which you pay for the time we work on your project and meet with you. These charges are based on our hourly rate and quoted in writing before we start any work.
Life Planning. Focusing only on investing and money management can leave people without a clear picture of what they are doing and why. By integrating life planning in our engagements, we can help you examine what is and is not working for you, why you make the financial choices you do, what is most meaningful to you, and outline a plan of action for your life goals. We hope you will think of us as your resource to relevant and objective financial advice for everyday life, not just for investing. This way, we’re here to help you make wise money decisions as they happen.
Clarity & Respect. Financial advice should not be judgmental, intimidating or condescending. The financial services industry has done a stellar job in making financial planning confusing and fear driven. Yes, some parts can be tricky and the terms used can get murky, but it can be learned. No one cares more about your finances than you do. That’s why it’s important to have someone on your side working as your advocate.
Honesty & Integrity. We can’t be an expert in every area. So, if we are not a good fit for you, we will tell you and, if possible, help you find the right resource.
Cost Conscious. Our overhead is low, so we’re able to charge less than many other financial planning firms. This savings doesn’t mean you will receive a “cookie cutter” plan or lower quality service. We still provide professional and competent financial planning that is customized for each client. It does mean, though, that our thriftiness carries over to our planning analysis. We pay close attention to costs versus benefits for recommendations we make to you.
Delivering Value. Obviously, we need to be profitable to stay in business, but how we achieve that profitability is very important to us. We believe our firm’s ongoing success is a natural result of remaining principled in our conduct and focused on our clients obtaining maximum value from our services.
You can learn how to get started at this link or schedule an introductory call with Mary by dialing 800-716-0674 or sending her a message online.