Frequently Asked Questions

What does "fee-only" mean?

Fee-only financial planners are compensated directly by their clients for advice, plan implementation and for the ongoing management of assets. Fee-only planners do not receive any commissions from the sale or recommendation of financial products. This helps the planner be objective when making recommendations.

What is holistic financial planning?

Holistic financial planning means a planning process that addresses all important aspects of your financial life in a connected way. Being connected means that recommendations on one topic support the strategies recommended in others, rather than a siloed approach focused only on taxes, investments or insurance, for example.

We are a member of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners, a group of financial planning professionals who practice holistic financial planning. More information about holistic financial planning can be found on their website.

I have some questions about my financial situation but am not sure I need investment management. Can you help?

Yes. Financial planning services, with or without investment management, are a core service offering. We will explain to you the pros (and cons) of investment management during our first complementary discussion. If you decide to manage your own investments, we offer tax-smart investment recommendations and tutorials on implementing any trades you chose to make in your brokerage account.

For financial planning without investment management, we offer both an annual financial planning engagement, covering all important areas of your financial life, and a project-based engagement where we focus on specific questions and issues that you want to cover. The price of each type of service is a fixed amount we quote before you engage us.

I have a complicated cash value life insurance policy, private investment or annuity that I don't understand. Can you help?

Yes. We are detail-oriented and happy to analyze any of your existing policies or products to give you an objective opinion on how they should fit into your financial plan and your options for exiting them if appropriate.

What is "exit planning"?

Exit planning is our service of offering financial planning and transaction management services to business owners considering a transition from their role as owner and leader. With extensive experience in the purchase and sale of businesses, we can serve as a quarterback during any sales process. However, our services start well before any deal with planning focused on issues such as tax optimization, estate matters and post-sale life.

How will we meet?

We are happy to meet with you in person if you live in the greater Boise, Idaho area. For local and national clients, we offer video meetings via Zoom at times that are convenient for you.

Do you work with clients outside of Idaho?

Yes. We are based in Boise, Idaho but offer services to clients across the country, subject to the legal requirements of each state. We work with clients using virtual meetings, calls, e-mails, secure file transfer and cloud-based financial software.

How are you compensated?

As a fee-only financial planning firm, our compensation is what you pay us. Our fee schedule is described in detail here. We do not receive commissions or other incentives to recommend particular investment products to you.

What custodian holds my assets if you manage my investments?

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

I am ready to have a conversation. How do we start?

Call us at (208) 684-2242 or contact us using this form to schedule a complimentary introduction call to discuss whether we may be a right fit for you. We will send you a link to schedule a time that works for you.