Who is your typical client?
Younger widows and widowers who typically still have children somewhere in the picture (We leave that up to you to define); Servicemembers and their families; We also work with clients which we have had relationships in the past.
I don’t fit any of those descriptions so can we still work together?
Quite possibly, yes, especially if our philosophy and story resonate with you! — We believe that there’s a financial planner for everyone. We spend our time and effort regularly learning how to better serve younger widows, widowers, and servicemembers. We do have other clients that don’t necessarily fit those demographics though because they connected with us and our vision. Schedule a free consultation to see if we would be a fit, and if not we probably know a planner who is! As a member of the XY Planning Network which is filled with financial planners that have the same fiduciary standards, fee-only practices, and like-minded philosophies, we would be happy to refer you on to a few planners, one of whom is likely to be the right planner for you. Send an email (daniel@wisestewardshipfp.com) explaining your situation and why you are seeking a financial planner so we can best help direct you.
Who would not be a good fit to work together?
We primarily use technology tools to meet virtually with all of my clients so if that is something you are not comfortable with, we may refer you to another financial planner who you could meet with in person. If you are someone who believes they can beat the market, simply wanting the latest hot stock tip or to talk about daily stock returns, then we would not be a good fit. Also, if you are not ready to work together in an active partnership towards your financial goals, this will likely not be a good fit for you. Still interested or not, sure? Just schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today to find out!
I don’t live near your office in Massachusetts. Can I still work with you?
Of course! Wise Stewardship is a location-independent firm, so we can easily work with any US citizen with an internet connection all across the US or on military bases around the world. In fact, my clients appreciate having that kind of flexible working relationship with me. Wise Stewardship Financial Planning services and systems have been designed so that all of the information you need to understand your finances can be found on your smartphone, tablet, or computer at any time. With this accessibility, we can easily have impactful conversations about your finances, by video chat or phone, wherever you are at without disrupting your routine.
What is a CFP® Professional?
The CFP® certification process, administered by CFP Board, identifies to the public that those individuals who have been authorized to use the CFP® certification marks in the U.S. have met rigorous professional standards and have agreed to adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism and diligence when dealing with clients. Find out more HERE.
What is the advantage of having a virtual planner?
With a virtual financial planner, you don’t have to trek to an office to get professional advice, so you can work with us in the comfort of your own home or office. It saves you time and money on travel. It also saves our firm significant overhead costs so we can offer the highest quality financial advice at affordable rates.
How do you get paid?
Wise Steward Financial Planning is a fee-only firm, which means we get paid only by you, the client, not by selling any products or making any referrals to other providers. We are also a fiduciary, which simply means we put your interests first 100% of the time. Investopedia explains it like this: “A fiduciary’s responsibilities are both ethical and legal. When a party knowingly accepts a fiduciary duty on behalf of another party, they are required to act in the best interest of the party whose assets they are managing.” Together, this means that if we recommend an insurance policy, an investment, or suggest you take some action, you know we’ve done so because we are convinced that it best serves your needs, not because we are making a commission off of it.
P.S. You should always ask every other financial advisor you are considering if they are a fiduciary. If they answer with anything other than an unqualified and immediate “YES” and won’t put that in writing, then you should look elsewhere. It’s not worth trusting something as important as your financial life to someone who isn’t working in your best interest 100% of the time.
Do you manage investments?
Yes. We believe the most productive relationships are those where we work with clients in both a financial planning and investment management capacity. That said, you are under no obligation to do both. Financial planning and investment management are available as separate services, although at this time we are limited in the clients we take on as investment-management only.
Do I need to have a certain amount of money to work with you?
You don’t need a minimum account balance or wealth level to work with us. Many fee-only planners get paid based on the investments they manage for you. Which means you have to have a minimum investment balance to make it worth their while. That is why Wise Stewardship runs on a different model: The cost depends on the complexity of your situation and the value we provide. You can read all about our services and pricing here.
Can I cancel my services with you?
Yes, of course. You can cancel the relationship at any time. Our comprehensive planning clients typically pay their annual fee on a monthly basis. If you cancel, your billing will stop immediately. There is no contract for anyone.
Why can’t I just implement all of this financial advice on my own?
Intellectually speaking, there’s no question. There are many fantastic do-it-yourself (DIY) folks out there who do a great job at staying on top of their financial picture and following through on their goals. For readers like that, we hope our information can be a help to you! Many people though find themselves lacking some of the specific knowledge, time, discipline, or emotional bandwidth to accomplish all this. That’s where Wise Stewardship can come alongside as a trusted third party to help you look more dispassionately and rationally at your situation. We can help hold you accountable to your goals and decisions, especially with the emotional challenges that come with grief. I (Daniel) know that, because when I was going through the first year as a widower, I hired a financial planner to help me with those challenges. Schedule a free consultation to see what working together might be like so we can be a help to you!
What is the difference between a financial planner and a financial advisor?
These two titles are essentially the same thing. However, the term ‘financial advisor’ is used interchangeably in the public regardless of the standard being followed (fiduciary vs. suitability). We believe Financial Planner is more transparent and suitable for the breadth of our services.
You’re a small firm. What happens to the firm and to me if something were to happen to you?
Wise Stewardship Financial Planning is, indeed, a small firm. We take seriously, however, our obligation to our clients to make sure they are taken care of at all times. As such (and by regulation), we have a Business Continuity Plan, which we review annually and update as necessary.
This all sounds great, what is the next step?
Our process begins with a free, no-obligation introductory meeting. Click here to schedule your appointment with Daniel!