Form ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure
Financial Planning
Financial planning is a comprehensive evaluation of a client’s current and future financial state
by using currently known variables to predict future cash flows, asset values and withdrawal
plans. The key defining aspect of financial planning is that through the financial planning
process, all questions, information and analysis will be considered as they impact and are
impacted by the entire financial and life situation of the client. Clients utilizing this service will
receive a written or an electronic report, providing the client with a detailed financial plan
designed to achieve his or her stated financial goals and objectives.
The client always has the right to decide whether to act upon our recommendations. If the client
elects to act on any of the recommendations, the client always has the right to affect the
transactions through anyone of their choosing.
In general, the financial plan will address any or all of the following areas of concern. The client
and advisor will work together to select the specific areas to cover. These areas may include,
but are not limited to, the following:
• College Savings: Includes projecting the amount that will be needed to achieve college
or other post‐secondary education funding goals, along with advice on ways for you to
save the desired amount. Recommendations as to savings strategies are included, and,
if needed, we will review your financial picture as it relates to eligibility for financial aid or
the best way to contribute to grandchildren (if appropriate)
• Estate Planning: This usually includes an analysis of your exposure to estate taxes
and your current estate plan, which may include whether you have a will, powers of
attorney, trusts and other related documents. Our advice also typically includes ways for
you to minimize or avoid future estate taxes by implementing appropriate estate
planning strategies such as the use of applicable trusts.
We always recommend that you consult with a qualified attorney when you initiate,
update, or complete estate planning activities. We may provide you with contact
information for attorneys who specialize in estate planning when you wish to hire an
attorney for such purposes. From time‐to‐time, we will participate in meetings or phone
calls between you and your attorney with your approval or request. For additional Estate
Planning resources, including potential assistance in implementing Estate Planning
recommendations, we may also recommend the use of Wealth.com, discussed further
below.
• Financial Goals: We will help clients identify financial goals and develop a plan to
reach them. We will identify what you plan to accomplish, what resources you will need
to make it happen, how much time you will need to reach the goal, and how much you
should budget for your goal.
• Investment Analysis: This may involve developing an investment plan to meet clients’
financial goals and time horizon, providing information on investment vehicles and
strategies, reviewing employee stock options, as well as assisting you in establishing
your own investment account at a selected broker/dealer or custodian. The strategies
and types of investments we may recommend are further discussed in Item 8 of this
brochure.
• Retirement Planning: Our retirement planning services typically include projections of
your likelihood of achieving your financial goals, typically focusing on financial
independence as the primary objective. For situations where projections show less than
the desired results, we may make recommendations, including those that may impact
the original
projections by adjusting certain variables (e.g., working longer, saving more,
spending less, taking more risk with investments).
If you are near retirement or already retired, advice may be given on appropriate
distribution strategies to minimize the likelihood of running out of money or having to
adversely alter spending during your retirement years.
• Risk Management: A risk management review includes a review of investment portfolio
risks in addition to an analysis of your exposure to other major risks that could have a
significantly adverse effect on your financial picture, such as premature death, disability,
property and casualty losses, or the need for long‐term care planning. Advice may be
provided on ways to minimize such risks and about weighing the costs of purchasing
insurance versus the benefits of doing so and, likewise, the potential cost of not
purchasing insurance (“self‐insuring”).
Wealth.com – Estate Planning
When appropriate, we can provide clients with access to the Wealth.com platform for various
estate planning needs. Wealth.com is an unaffiliated third-party technology platform that
provides a holistic estate planning solution allowing users to create, manage and administer
estate plans. Wealth.com also provides an optional hybrid model where clients can start the
process digitally, but still receive a bespoke human experience by consulting live with one of
Wealth.com’s local estate planning attorney partners, for a fee. We will remain reasonably
available to assist in your use and navigation of the platform, and we can receive read-only
visibility into your progress, but you will retain exclusive responsibility for determining the
specific data to be submitted and the specific estate planning services and documents sought.
We are not a law firm, our representatives are not lawyers, and no aspect of our services should
be construed as legal services.
Written Acknowledgement of Fiduciary Status
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual
retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, which are laws
governing retirement accounts. The way we make money creates some conflicts with your
interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and not
put our interest ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
• Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give
prudent advice);
• Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give
loyal advice);
• Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
• Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your
best interest;
• Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
We offer the same suite of services to each of our clients.
Wrap Fee Programs
We do not participate in wrap fee programs.
Please note, unless a client has received the firm’s disclosure brochure at least 48 hours prior
to signing the investment advisory contract, the investment advisory contract may be
terminated by the client within five (5) business days of signing the contract without incurring
any advisory fees and without penalty. How we are paid depends on the type of advisory
service we are performing. Please review the fee and compensation information below.