Navigating the complexities of personal finance requires more than just picking stocks; it demands a strategic approach that aligns your financial resources with your life goals. At Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors, we believe in transparency, partnership, and empowerment.
If you have ever wondered what it is actually like to work with a dedicated wealth advisor, you have come to the right place. Below is a clear overview of our process, our philosophy, and what you can expect if we partner together to secure your financial future.
What do you do?
At a high level, we help clients make wise decisions with their money. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all financial advice. Instead, we take a holistic approach to understand your unique aspirations.
More specifically, we:
- Invest money for our clients in the stock market.
- Help plan for retirement income.
- Help reduce taxes where possible through thoughtful planning.
- Guide estate planning, ensuring your assets fit into your overall long-term vision.
Our role is to look at the full financial picture and help align your money with your goals, values, and long-term vision.
Understanding Our Approach to Investment Management
When it comes to growing your wealth, we believe in specialization.
What is investment management? Investment management, for us, means acting as managers of managers.
We have relationships with many professional portfolio managers. We partner with portfolio managers ranging from large, well-known firms like Fidelity, Vanguard, and American Funds to specialized managers who focus on specific areas of the market. Based on your goals, your tolerance for risk, and your capacity for risk, we build and manage a portfolio using those managers.
Our responsibilities include, to name a few:
- Selecting and monitoring portfolio managers.
- Handling all trading.
- Making adjustments as needed.
- Performing ongoing due diligence on the managers we work with.
Everything is built around your specific objectives, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Simplicity and Security in Logistics
We believe that managing your wealth should not be a logistical headache. We strive to make the mechanics of moving money as seamless as possible.
How do I move my money? Moving money is usually very straightforward.
- If funds are coming from an employer plan (like a 401(k)), we help coordinate a direct rollover into an account we manage.
- When money needs to be invested, we handle the allocation and trading.
- When you need money out, we raise the necessary cash inside the account and typically send it to your bank via ACH.
We handle the logistics so the process is smooth and simple for you.
Where is my money being stored? All client assets are custodied at Pershing LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank of New York Mellon. We never take possession of your money directly. Pershing serves as the independent custodian, which provides an added layer of security and oversight.
Control, Fees, and Transparency
We often get asked about the balance between professional management and client control. We believe in providing a structured strategy while keeping you in the driver’s seat regarding your financial goals.
Who manages my money? How much control do I have? We hire the portfolio managers, and we manage those managers on your behalf. Generally, clients do not make day-to-day decisions about specific holdings inside their portfolio. That is intentional. We hire managers to execute a strategy aligned with the goals you set.
That said, you absolutely have a say in:
- The type of portfolio you’re in.
- The level of risk you’re comfortable taking.
For clients who want more direct involvement, we can also discuss allowing a portion of assets where you have input on specific buys and sells.
What percentage of my money goes to fees? Our firm charges 1% annually on assets under management, billed quarterly. The portfolio managers we work with have their own internal fees, which is standard in the industry. Those typically range from 0.25% to 0.60%, depending on the manager. All fees are fully disclosed, and there are no hidden charges.
Can I pay a flat-rate fee? We do offer flat fees for financial planning. At this time, we do not offer a flat-fee model for investment management. However, for accounts over $1 million, our management fee is discounted to 0.9%.
Access and Communication
We want you to feel confident and informed about your financial standing at all times.
How easy is it to make monthly or quarterly withdrawals? It’s very easy. Before processing withdrawals, we’ll look at which accounts the money should come from to be as tax-efficient as possible. Once that’s determined, distributions are handled quickly and smoothly.
What information do I have access to in my portal? Your client portal gives you access to:
- Account values.
- Individual holdings.
- Statements and important documents.
We are also in the process of building a new and improved client portal. I currently sit on the advisory team helping shape its functionality, so accessibility and clarity are a big priority for us.
Let’s Plan Wisely Together
Your financial journey is personal, and our goal is to ensure you feel secure, informed, and confident every step of the way. If you have follow-up questions or want to walk through any of this together, I’m always happy to talk it through.
Ready to align your money with your vision? Contact Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors today to schedule a consultation.
Your First Step to Financial Security
Schedule your Strategy Session
Curious about working with Plan Wisely? Schedule your no-obligation 30-minute strategy session with us to explore how we can help you achieve your goals.
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