FAQ

Q: What is financial planning?

Financial planning is a process that helps you answer questions about your goals and dreams. Some of those questions may be:

  • Where you are financially today?
  • Where you want to go?
  • How are we going to get there?


Q: Why partner with a financial advisor?

According to a study by Vanguard, working with a financial advisor may increase your investment returns. They identified several factors that helped contribute to this conclusion, financial advisors can:

  • Provide effective planning and advice
  • Coach you through certain behaviors
  • Help rebalance your portfolio.

But more importantly, a good financial advisor can help you stick to your long-term financial plan during volatile markets to make sure you stay on track to pursue your goals.

Vanguard Research – Putting a value on your value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha – February 2019.
The returns cited by Vanguard do not represent the returns of any particular investment, do not represent returns over any given time period and are not guarantees of future results. The actual amount of value added may vary significantly depending on clients’ circumstances and market conditions..

Q: How are we different?

Our approach is strategy-driven, guided by our values and Christian faith to find products and services which best suit your unique needs, but more than that, it’s personal. It starts by discovering and setting your financial goals. Then, we will create a plan that is uniquely aligned with your goals and dreams. Finally, we will enact the plan by putting together a portfolio that fits those goals and dreams. This isn’t a one-time event either, it’s the beginning of an ongoing relationship with us, your personal CFO, that will continue as you go through each stage of life, from accumulation to retirement income and everything in between.

Q: What is a fiduciary?

A fiduciary financial advisor is held to a strict fiduciary standard for advisory clients. That commitment means that we must always act in the best interest of our advisory clients and disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

Q: What is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP® Professional)?

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification a the standard of excellence in financial planning. CFP® professionals meet rigorous education, training and ethical standards. They help their clients in a variety of areas of managing finances, such as retirement, investing, education, insurance and taxes.

Becoming a CFP® professional is a difficult and stringent processes in terms of financial advisors. It requires years of experience, successful completion of standardized exams, a demonstration of ethics and a formal education. The most important aspect, we believe, is that they have a fiduciary duty to their advisory clients.

Q: What is the difference between fees and commissions?

Simply put, fees are a pre-stated charge for services. These charges can be a flat retainer, an hourly rate or a percentage of assets being managed. In contrast, a commission is earned entirely on the products that are sold.

Based on what is in the best interest of our clients, we have the ability to charge a fee for services, to charge a commission based on products, or a combination of both.