FAQ

Our custodian of funds and clearing agent is Pershing LLC, the leader in global clearing and settlement solutions for nearly 85 years. Pershing LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon). You will access your account on Pershing’s client portal and Pershing will issue your monthly account statements and annual tax documents.

We usually request that you have at least $100,000 to open a relationship. This will enable us to be most efficient in providing services to you. Exceptions can be made on a case by case basis but there is a firm account minimum of $10,000.

A minimal lump sum will be required to open an account and subsequent monthly contributions are usually encouraged when applicable.

Absolutely. A second opinion is always helpful when dealing with significant life decisions. We are happy to either make suggestions, point out strengths and/or weaknesses with what you have in place, or simply confirm what you are doing for your increased confidence.

We have established partnerships with professional Third Party Money Managers (TPMM) to help you achieve your wealth management goals. Our money managers have been selected for their customized portfolio management capabilities. They have each developed their own proprietary strategies, based upon quantitative research and analysis, and are responsive to market fluctuations. They provide you with an array of investment strategies that are intended to take advantage of market gains and minimize the impact of market declines upon your investments. We make use of extensive independent research that evaluates hundreds of money managers on both qualitative and quantitative attributes. We recommend only managers who have the highest ratings in both categories. Some of the managers we are currently using include JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Russell Investments, BTS, Frontier, 3D, and others.

Our fee-only compensation is calculated as a fractional percentage of assets under management (AUM) on a quarterly schedule and deducted from your accounts. This is a very transparent and objective method of compensation which minimizes potential conflicts of interest and assures that your advisor meets their fiduciary duty to always act in your best interests. For those services that do not involve assets under management, like a second opinion or planning services only, an agreed upon hourly fee will be charged.

A registered investment adviser is a fiduciary which means they are bound by law to always act solely in your best interests. In contrast, other financial professionals are held to a lesser standard to provide solutions that are simply suitable for clients. These can include products that pay them commissions, bonuses, and prizes that become indirect hidden costs to you.

Not at all. Most of my clients are women who suddenly found themselves overwhelmed with financial uncertainty following the death of a loved one or divorce. I am happy to provide the extra help and education you need, on a continuing basis, with kindness, understanding, and respect.