Firm Description
The Monitor Group, Inc., founded in 1992, provides personalized confidential
financial planning and investment management services to individuals and
families. We advise clients through consultation which may include: determination
of financial objectives, identification of financial problems, cash flow management,
tax planning, insurance review, investment management, education funding,
retirement planning and estate planning.
The Monitor Group, Inc. is strictly a Fee-Only financial planning and investment
management firm. We do not sell annuities, insurance, stocks, bonds, mutual
funds, limited partnerships or other commissioned products. We are not affiliated
with entities that sell financial products or securities. We do not accept
commissions in any form, nor do we pay or receive finder’s fees.
Investment advice and recommendations are provided, with the client making the
final decision on investment strategy. The Monitor Group, Inc. does not act as a
custodian of client assets. The client always maintains asset control. We place
trades for clients under a limited power of attorney.
We provide a written evaluation of each client's initial situation in the form of a
financial plan document that includes analysis and recommendations. The
process includes periodic reviews as reminders of specifics steps to be taken.
More frequent internal reviews occur, but are not necessarily communicated to the
client unless immediate changes are recommended.
The client may engage other professionals (e.g. attorneys, accountants, insurance
agents, etc.) on an as-needed basis. Conflicts of interest will be disclosed to the
client in the unlikely event they should occur.
The initial meeting, which may be by telephone, is free of charge and is considered
an exploratory interview to determine the extent to which financial planning and
investment management may be beneficial to the client.
Principal Owners
Paul B. McNair owns The Monitor Group, Inc.
Types of Advisory Services
The Monitor Group, Inc. provides comprehensive financial planning services
addressing all aspects of client’s financial circumstances in addition to investment
advisory services.
The Monitor Group, Inc. also provides separate investment advisory services that
do not include comprehensive planning.
The Monitor Group, Inc. Page 2
Types of Advisory Services (continued)
In certain circumstances, we furnish advice to clients on issues of limited scope
such as retirement planning and/or estate planning.
As of December 31, 2023, The Monitor Group, Inc. managed $138,481,575 in
assets, $137,272,509 of which is managed on a discretionary basis, and
$1,209,066 on a non-discretionary basis.
Tailored Relationships
An important part of our work is assisting clients to define and prioritize their goals
and objectives, which we document in our client relationship management system.
We track and review progress with each client in achieving these goals and
objectives.
We also create Investment Policy Statements (IPS) for clients that reflect their
stated goals and objectives.
Types of Agreements
The Monitor Group, Inc. provides the services most appropriate to each client’s
needs under one of the following agreements.
Financial Planning and Investment Advisory Agreement
The Monitor Group, Inc. provides comprehensive financial planning services under
our Financial Planning and Investment Advisory Agreement. This includes
preparation, presentation and monitoring of a personal financial plan and
investment advisory and management services.
The financial plan may include, but is not limited to: a net worth
statement; a cash
flow statement; a review of investment accounts with recommendations for
reallocation and repositioning; strategic tax planning; a review of retirement
accounts and plans including, if necessary, one or more retirement scenarios; a
review of insurance policies and recommendations for changes, if appropriate;
estate planning review and recommendations; and education planning with funding
recommendations.
Investment Advisory services include developing an Investment Policy Statement
(IPS) detailing the client’s investment goals, implementing a strategy consistent
with those goals, and periodic review and repositioning of investments in order to
maintain the strategy.
The Monitor Group, Inc. Page 3
Financial Planning and Investment Advisory Agreement (continued)
At the client’s request, we work with their other professionals, such as attorneys,
accountants, and insurance agents to coordinate and implement their financial
planning decisions.
The fee for a Comprehensive Financial Plan is predicated upon the facts known at
the start of the engagement. The fee is negotiable based on client circumstances
and the complexity of issues. Financial planning is a discovery process. Our
clients commit to provide complete information and to be open and candid with us
regarding their financial circumstances and personal money attitudes. We set a
fixed annual fee which is payable in quarterly installments, in advance, at the
beginning of each quarter.
This Agreement may be cancelled without penalty within five (5) days of its
acceptance. Thereafter, it continues in effect until terminated by the client or The
Monitor Group, Inc. by giving thirty (30) days written notice. However, our
Agreement provides that the first year’s fee is earned in full when the plan is
presented, and subsequent fees are earned when paid.
Investment Management Agreement
Our Investment Management Agreement is executed when financial planning is
not provided as part of the relationship. The client engages The Monitor Group,
Inc. to manage their investment assets on an ongoing basis.
These particular services include developing an appropriate investment strategy
based on the client’s goals and objectives, time horizon, tax circumstances and
risk tolerance. This strategy is incorporated in a written Investment Policy
Statement (IPS). The strategy is implemented primarily using No-Load Mutual
Funds, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), Money Markets, Certificates of Deposit
and other cash equivalents. If a client’s circumstances dictate, we may
recommend no-load, no-surrender penalty variable annuities. We do not sell any
of the aforementioned products as a Fee-Only Firm, but can assist with
implementation of our recommendations if the Client asks us to do so.
The Agreement may be terminated by either party with thirty (30) days written
notice. If the fee is terminated in the first year, the client owes a termination fee
equal to the balance due on one year’s fee. Otherwise, any fees paid for a period
beyond the 30-day notice will be refunded.
Letter of Agreement
This Agreement is used for special circumstances and limited engagements.
The scope of work is described in Schedule A, “Services to be Provided”, attached
to the Letter of Agreement setting out the standard terms and conditions of the
engagement.
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This is a fixed fee engagement with payment terms specified in the Agreement. The
Agreement ends when the specified work is complete.
Termination of Agreement
The termination provisions for each of our three forms of Agreement are included
in the above descriptions.