Description of Advisory Firm
SwitchPoint Financial Planning LLC is registered as an Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We were founded in March 2016. James R. Sweeney is the principal owner of SwitchPoint.
As of December 31, 2023, SwitchPoint Financial Planning LLC reports $221,582,015 in Discretionary
Assets Under Management and $5,774,150 in Non-Discretionary Assets Under Management.
Types of Advisory Services
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 purchasing 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.
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:
Cash Flow and Debt Management: We will conduct a review of your income and expenses to
determine your current surplus or deficit along with advice on prioritizing how any surplus should
be used or how to reduce expenses if they exceed your income. Advice may also be provided on
which debts to pay off first based on factors such as the interest rate of the debt and any income
tax ramifications. We may also recommend what we believe to be an appropriate cash reserve that
should be considered for emergencies and other financial goals, along with a review of accounts
(such as money market funds) for such reserves, plus strategies to save desired amounts.
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).
Employee Benefits Optimization: We will provide review and analysis as to whether you, as an
employee, are taking the maximum advantage possible of your employee benefits. If you are a
business owner, we will consider and/or recommend the various benefit programs that can be
structured to meet both business and personal retirement goals.
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 may
participate in meetings or phone calls between you and your attorney with your approval or request.
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: Our investment approach is holistic in nature. We consider not only accounts
managed by SwitchPoint, but other assets owned by the client in developing an asset allocation
strategy to meet clients’ financial goals and risk tolerance. This includes, but is not limited to,
reviewing employee stock options, defined contribution plans (401k, 403b, etc), real estate assets,
and other private investments, as well as assisting you in establishing investment accounts 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. 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 (i.e., working longer, saving more, spending less, taking
more risk with investments). If you are near retirement or already retired, we will do a thorough
analysis of your social security and pension benefits, as well as retirement accounts and other
assets available for retirement needs. 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.
Insurance/Risk Management: A risk management review includes an analysis of your exposure to
major risks that could have a significant adverse impact 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”).
Tax Planning Strategies: Advice may include ways to minimize current and future income taxes as a
part of your overall financial planning picture. For example, we may make recommendations on
which type
of account(s) or specific investments should be owned based in part on their “tax
efficiency,” with consideration that there is always a possibility of future changes to federal, state or
local tax laws and rates that may impact your situation. We recommend that you consult with a qualified
tax professional before initiating any tax planning strategy, and we may provide you with contact information
for accountants or attorneys who specialize in this area if you wish to hire someone for such purposes. We
will participate in meetings or phone calls between you and your tax professional with your approval.
Investment Management Services
We are in the business of managing individually tailored investment portfolios on a discretionary and
non-discretionary basis. Our firm provides continuous advice to a client regarding the investment of
client funds based on the individual needs of the client. Through personal discussions in which goals and
objectives based on a client's particular circumstances are established, we develop a client's personal
investment plan with an asset allocation target and create and manage a portfolio based on that policy
and allocation target. During our data-gathering process, we determine the client’s individual objectives,
time horizons, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs. We may also review and discuss a client’s prior
investment history, as well as family composition and background.
Account supervision is guided by the stated objectives of the client (i.e., maximum capital appreciation,
growth, income, or growth and income), as well as tax considerations. Clients may impose reasonable
restrictions on investing in certain securities, types of securities, or industry sectors. Fees pertaining to
this service are outlined in Item 5 of this brochure.
If you participate in our discretionary portfolio management services, we require you to grant our firm
discretionary authority to manage your account. Discretionary authorization will allow us to determine
the specific securities and the amount of securities to be purchased or sold for your account without
your approval prior to each transaction. Discretionary authority is typically granted by the investment
advisory agreement you sign with our firm and the appropriate trading authorization forms. You may, in
our sole discretion, limit our discretionary authority (for example, limiting the types of securities that
can be purchased for your account) by providing our firm with your restrictions and guidelines in writing.
If you enter into non-discretionary arrangements with our firm, we must obtain your approval prior to
executing any transactions on behalf of your account.
Retirement Plan Consulting
Our firm provides retirement plan consulting services to employer plan sponsors on an ongoing basis.
Generally, such consulting services consist of assisting employer plan sponsors in establishing,
monitoring and reviewing their company's participant-directed retirement plan. As the needs of the plan
sponsor dictate, areas of advising could include: investment options, plan structure and participant
education. Retirement Plan Consulting services typically include:
Establishing an Investment Policy Statement – Our firm will assist in the development a statement
that summarizes the investment goals and objectives along with the broad strategies to be employed
to meet the objectives.
Investment Options – Our firm will work with the Plan Sponsor to evaluate existing investment
options and make recommendations for appropriate changes.
Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction – Our firm will develop strategic asset allocation models
to aid Participants in developing strategies to meet their investment objectives, time horizon,
financial situation and tolerance for risk.
Investment Monitoring – Our firm will monitor the performance of the investments and notify the
client in the event of over/underperformance and in times of market volatility.
In providing services for retirement plan consulting, our firm does not provide any advisory services with
respect to the following types of assets: employer securities, real estate (excluding real estate funds and
publicly traded REITS), participant loans, non-publicly traded securities or assets, other illiquid
investments, or brokerage window programs (collectively, “Excluded Assets”).
All retirement plan consulting services shall be in compliance with the applicable state laws regulating
retirement consulting services. This applies to client accounts that are retirement or other employee
benefit plans (“Plan”) governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). If
the client accounts are part of a Plan, and our firm accepts appointments to provide services to such
accounts, our firm acknowledges its fiduciary standard within the meaning of Section 3(21) or 3(38) of
ERISA as designated by the Retirement Plan Consulting Agreement with respect to the provision of
services described therein.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
We offer the same suite of services to all of our clients. However, specific client financial plans and their
implementation are dependent upon the client Investment Policy Statement which outlines each client’s
current situation (income, tax levels, and risk tolerance levels) and is used to construct a client specific
plan to aid in the selection of a portfolio that matches restrictions, needs, and targets.
Clients may impose restrictions in investing in certain securities or types of securities in accordance with
their values or beliefs. However, if the restrictions prevent SwitchPoint from properly servicing the client
account, or if the restrictions would require SwitchPoint to deviate from its standard suite of services,
SwitchPoint reserves the right to end the relationship.
Wrap Fee Programs
We do not participate in wrap fee programs.