Firm Description
Charles E. Scott Brewster Registered Investment Advisory Firm was founded
in 2001. In 2003 the firm changed its name to Brewster Financial Planning;
and in 2007 Brewster Financial Planning became an LLC to become Brewster
Financial Planning LLC.
Brewster Financial Planning LLC (“the Firm”) provides personalized
confidential financial planning and investment management to individuals,
pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and
small businesses. Advice is provided through consultation with the client and
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.
Brewster Financial Planning LLC is strictly a fee-only financial planning and
investment management firm. The firm does not sell annuities, insurance,
stocks, bonds, mutual funds, limited partnerships, or other commissioned
products. The firm is not affiliated with entities that sell financial products or
securities. No commissions in any form are accepted. No finder’s fees are
accepted.
A written evaluation of each client's initial situation is generally provided to the
client, often in the form of a net worth statement. Periodic reviews are
generally also communicated to provide reminders of the specific courses of
action that need to be taken. More frequent reviews may occur but are not
necessarily communicated to the client unless immediate changes are
recommended.
Other professionals (e.g., lawyers, accountants, insurance agents, etc.) are
engaged directly by the client 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
Charles E. Scott Brewster is 100% owner of the Firm.
Types of Advisory Services
Brewster Financial Planning LLC provides investment supervisory services,
also known as asset management services; manages investment advisory
accounts not involving investment supervisory services; issues periodicals;
issues special reports about securities; and charts, graphs, formulas, or other
devices which clients may use to evaluate securities.
On more than an occasional basis, Brewster Financial Planning LLC
furnishes advice to clients on matters not involving securities, such as
financial planning matters, taxation issues, and trust services that often
include estate planning.
As of 12/31/2022, Brewster Financial Planning LLC managed $151,275,712
in assets; $150,941,838 is managed on a discretionary basis and $333,874
on a non-discretionary basis.
Tailored Relationships
Investment policy statements are created that reflect the stated investment
allocation goals.
Agreements may not be assigned without client consent.
Types of Agreements
The following agreements define the typical client relationships.
Financial Planning Agreement
A financial plan is designed to help the client with aspects of financial
planning with ongoing investment management after the financial plan is
completed.
The financial plan may include, but is not limited to: a net worth statement; a
cash flow statement; a review of investment accounts, including reviewing
asset allocation and providing repositioning recommendations; strategic tax
planning; a review of retirement accounts and plans including
recommendations; a review of insurance policies and recommendations for
changes, if necessary; one or more retirement scenarios; estate planning
review and recommendations; and education planning with funding
recommendations.
Detailed investment advice and specific recommendations may be provided
as part of a financial plan. Implementation of the recommendations is at the
discretion of the client.
The fee for a financial plan is predicated upon the facts known at the start of
the engagement. The fee is based
on an hourly rate of $250 and is
negotiable. Since financial planning is a discovery process, situations occur
wherein the client is unaware of certain financial exposures or predicaments.
In the event that the client’s situation is substantially different than disclosed
at the initial meeting, a revised fee will be provided for mutual agreement.
The client must approve the change of scope in advance of the additional
work being performed when a fee increase is necessary.
After delivery of a financial plan, future face-to-face meetings may be
scheduled as necessary. Follow-up work when necessary is billed separately
at the rate of $250 per hour.
Investment Advisory Agreement
Many clients choose to have Brewster Financial Planning LLC manage their
assets in order to obtain ongoing in-depth advice. Many aspects of the
client’s financial affairs are reviewed. As goals and objectives change over
time, suggestions are made and implemented on an ongoing basis.
The scope of work and fee for an Investment Advisory Agreement is provided
to the client in writing prior to the start of the relationship.
The annual Advisory Service Agreement fee is based on a percentage of the
investable assets according to the following schedule:
0.85% on the first $1,000,000;
0.65% on the next $1,000,000; and
0.50% on the assets above $2,000,000.
The minimum annual fee is $4,500 and is negotiable. Current client
relationships may exist where the fees are higher or lower than the fee
schedule above.
Although the Investment Advisory Agreement is an ongoing agreement and
constant adjustments are required, the length of service to the client is at the
client’s discretion. The client or the investment manager may terminate an
Agreement by written notice to the other party. At termination, fees will be
billed on a pro rata basis for the portion of the quarter completed. The
portfolio value at the completion of the prior full billing quarter is used as the
basis for the fee computation, adjusted for the number of days during the
billing quarter prior to termination.
Retainer Agreement
In rare circumstances a Retainer Agreement may be executed in lieu of an
Investment Advisory Agreement when it is more appropriate to work on a
fixed-fee basis. The annual fee for a Retainer Agreement is negotiable.
Hourly Planning Engagements
Besides an initial financial plan or investment review, we generally do not
offer hourly financial engagements. However, we reserve the right to do so.
Our hourly rate when offered is $250 and is negotiable.
Asset Management
Assets are invested primarily in no-load or low-load mutual funds and
exchange-traded funds, usually through discount brokers or fund companies.
Fund companies charge each fund shareholder an investment management
fee that is disclosed in the fund prospectus. Discount brokerages may charge
a transaction fee for the purchase of some funds.
Stocks and bonds may be purchased or sold through a brokerage account
when appropriate. The brokerage firm charges a fee for stock and bond
trades. Brewster Financial Planning LLC does not receive any compensation,
in any form, from fund companies.
Investments may also include: equities (stocks), corporate debt securities,
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, municipal securities, investment
company securities (variable life insurance, variable annuities, and mutual
funds shares), U. S. government securities, options contracts, and interests in
partnerships.
Termination of Agreement
A client may terminate any of the aforementioned agreements at any time by
notifying Brewster Financial Planning LLC in writing and paying the rate for
the time spent on the investment advisory engagement prior to notification of
termination. If the client made an advance payment, Brewster Financial
Planning LLC will refund any unearned portion of the advance payment.
Brewster Financial Planning LLC may terminate any of the aforementioned
agreements at any time by notifying the client in writing. If the client made an
advance payment, Brewster Financial Planning LLC will refund any unearned
portion of the advance payment.