Fee-only wealth management, answered

Two things. As a Registered Investment Advisor, the firm owes a continuing legal duty to put a client's financial interest ahead of its own on every account, retirement and taxable alike. Fee-only means it accepts no commissions, revenue sharing or referral fees from fund companies, insurers or brokers. Its only compensation is the fee a client agrees to in writing, shown in dollars before anything is signed.

Only for ongoing management. Most families in the ongoing wealth management service hold $500,000 or more in investable assets, which keeps the tiered asset-based schedule cost-effective. The standalone flat-fee comprehensive plan and the equity compensation engagement carry no asset minimum, so rising professionals and investors who run their own accounts can still reach CFP® fiduciary advice.

Yes. Many clients begin with a flat-fee comprehensive plan or a retirement income strategy and receive the full analysis and a written implementation checklist, with no obligation to move into ongoing management. If a client does choose ongoing management within six months, half of the planning fee is credited towards the first year.

Transparent, liquid holdings: low-cost institutional ETFs, index funds, and ladders of individual US Treasury or investment-grade municipal bonds. The firm never locks client capital into illiquid non-traded REITs, opaque private placements or annuities with heavy surrender charges. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal, and past performance does not guarantee future results.

Only the two or three financial questions most on your mind; no spreadsheets or statements are needed for the first 30 minutes. If both sides see a fit worth exploring, the firm provides a secure encrypted portal before the diagnostic meeting. Account numbers, statements and identity documents belong in that portal, never in an ordinary website message.

Ongoing clients usually meet twice a year, for a spring review of tax and cash flow and an autumn review of the portfolio and year-end planning, plus whenever a major decision comes up. With the client's permission, the firm shares annual tax projections and 1099 summaries directly with their CPA and coordinates trust titling with their estate attorney, who remains responsible for the legal drafting.

Never with the firm. Accounts stay titled in the client's own name, or their trust's, at an independent SIPC-member institutional custodian. Clients keep their own online access and receive monthly statements directly from the custodian. The firm's authority is limited to placing agreed trades, rebalancing and arranging transfers to the client's own linked bank accounts.

Not if it is handled carefully, and a taxable portfolio is never sold off blindly. Existing holdings usually transfer in kind to the new custodian without a taxable sale. The CFA® and CPA/PFS advisers then review unrealised gains lot by lot, keep tax-efficient positions where sensible, offset gains with harvested losses and move high-cost legacy funds out gradually across tax years.