The Planner’s Edge LLC is referred to in this document as “The Planner’s Edge®,” “the
Company,” “us,” “we,” or “our.” In this document we refer to current and prospective clients
of The Planner’s Edge® as “you,” “client,” or “your.” The Planner’s Edge® was created in
2017, and registered as an investment advisor in 2018. The Company continued the
advisory business previously conducted by Jeffrey Ross as a sole proprietor since 1990.
We offer customized advisory services, including financial planning and portfolio
management. Our services are described in more detail below. Specific services and fees
are detailed to clients in a written agreement prior to any services being provided.
The Serious Money Approach™
The Planner’s Edge® has created a set of customized advisory services we call The Serious
Money Approach™. The components of The Serious Money Approach™ include:
Serious Money Conversations—for helping you focus on your life (including your
clarity, your confidence, your progress, your dangers, and your opportunities).
Serious Money Thinking Systems—for helping you think about your dangers and
opportunities correctly (including Serious Money Career Lessons™, Serious Money
Career Principles™, Serious Money Career Strategies™, and The Serious Money
Vision Map™)
Serious Money Strategy Management—for helping you keep your strategies on track
continuously (including design of The Serious Money GamePlan™, implementation,
information, communication, documentation, and reporting)
Serious Money Portfolio Management—for helping you manage your serious money
seriously (including 3 Principles, 3 Practices, 8 Big Mistakes to Avoid, Lifestyle
Strategies, and Serious Money Managers)
Serious Money-in-Motion Management—for helping you know where all of your
money is all of the time (including posting investment transactions, deposits and
withdrawals; establishing and monitoring targets; and delivering personalized
reports)
Serious Money Paperwork Management—for helping you retain and secure relevant
documents (including preparation, processing, follow up, scanning, and retention)
Portfolio Management Services
The Planner’s Edge LLC® provides portfolio management services on a continuous and
ongoing basis guided by the individual needs of the client. Using the information provided
by you, we provide investment advice and recommendations tailored to your individual
situation. We implement recommendations on a discretionary basis upon your written
authorization. We regularly inquire about, and you are responsible for providing,
information about your investment goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
Clients who contract for portfolio management services pay a monthly management fee, in
arrears, that includes all of the customized advisory services, as appropriate to your
individual circumstances, that are part of the Serious Money Approach.
Clients who contract for portfolio management services receive:
• The Serious Money Portfolio Snapshot™, a one-page performance report (delivered
periodically);
• Serious Money Talks™, a monthly newsletter containing general investment
principles and opinions;
• Portfolio Average Daily Balance (ADB) Report, containing the balances of your
accounts
and the step-by-step calculation of your monthly fee.
Clients typically contract for portfolio management services but are able to contract for
individual components of The Serious Money Approach separate from portfolio
management services and will pay an hourly or flat rate fee.
Financial Planning
Some clients are provided a written plan, referred to as a Gameplan Overview or Serious
Money Vision Map, that may include a personal balance sheet and certain projections.
The financial plans we provide do not usually address all potential aspects of financial
planning. Typically, our plans address retirement planning, college funding, estate
planning, and investment strategies. Risk management issues such as life, health, disability,
and long-term care insurance are not typically addressed, and you are encouraged to seek
professional counsel in these areas.
Upon request and as agreed to in our written Letter of Engagement we will provide
portfolio monitoring and reporting services for assets held outside of The Planner’s Edge
LLC®. This includes performance reporting of aggregated holdings from different
custodians where a client’s assets are held. This service is dependent on our ability to
receive a feed of such assets and is customized for the specific client on a case-by-case
basis.
Types of Investments Used
We consider different types of securities when formulating the investment advice we give
to you, including publicly traded individual stocks and bonds, mutual funds, and exchange
traded funds. If you come to us with existing privately held investments, we evaluate them
with respect to your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon.
Tailored Services and Investment Restrictions
We attempt to tailor your investment portfolio to your situation as you have described it to
us. This is why it is so important that you let us know about changes to your financial
situation, goals, or investment time horizon. You may impose restrictions on investing in
certain securities or types of securities. You must clearly identify these restrictions in
writing to us.
Important Information for Retirement Investors
When we recommend that you rollover retirement assets or transfer existing retirement
assets (such as a 401(k) or an IRA) to our management, we have a conflict of interest. This
is because we will generally earn additional revenue when we manage more assets. In
making the recommendation, however, we do so only after determining that the
recommendation is in your best interest. Further, in making any recommendation to
transfer or rollover retirement assets, we do so as a “fiduciary,” as that term is defined in
ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code, or both. We also acknowledge we are a fiduciary
under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code with respect to our ongoing investment
advisory recommendations and discretionary asset management services, as described in
the advisory agreement we execute with you. To the extent we provide non-fiduciary
services to you, those will be described in the advisory agreement.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, The Planner’s Edge® had approximately $142,330,820 of client
assets under management, all on a discretionary basis.