CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) vs. Financial Advisor
CFPs often call themselves financials advisors but it’s important to point out that not all financial advisors are CFPs. There isn’t a specific license or certification process required to become a financial advisor. Usually the financial adivsor would have passed a licensing exam to buy and sell you a securities or an insurance product. Regardless, […]
What’s different about a registered investment advisor?
Registered Investment Advisors are held to a “fiduciary standard” while brokerage firms are held to a “suitability standard”. Brokers are employed by and loyal to a company, while Investment Advisors are loyal to the client. Our duty is to be a steward of your funds and place your needs ahead of our own, not to […]
How much do you charge?
Most clients pay .20%-.30% per quarter, but this amount varies based on the total assets that are managed. Additionally, some of our clients choose to just utilize us for just financial planning and in this case, we don’t charge a cost on your investments but rather a flat fee for a financial plan. Contact us […]
Why should I pay you a fee?
If you have the time and can manage your investments better than us, then you shouldn’t. Successful people pay us to manage their money for a variety of reasons. Some would like to reduce their stress of emotional investing, free up their time for other activities, desire for someone to help with a spouse if […]
But I don’t pay fees at my broker, bank or investment firm?
It’s likely that you weren’t told what you paid, how you paid and probably don’t understand the investments you were sold. Nobody works for free, so if you bought a bond, mutual fund annuity or stock, YOU PAID. We would be happy to evaluate your account to determine how much it’s costing you each year.
What types of investments do you recommend?
We have access to over 25,000 securities, but with most of our accounts, portfolios consist mainly of stocks, exchange traded funds (ETF’s), CD’s, No-Load Mutual Funds, and Corporate/Municipal Bonds.
Where can we meet?
Wherever is convenient for you. We’d be happy to come to your home, meet you at the office or join you at the coffee shop. While our offices are located in the Chicagoland area, we have access to an office network nationwide.
Why would I choose a small independent firm over a larger well-established bank or wire-house?
Smaller firms like us, are able to focus on clients much more effectively than large banks or other firms. Since we have very little overhead to pay for, we can charge lower fees and provide a higher level of service. At a large firm, you really are just another account. With us, you will likely […]