Questions to Ask
As part of your due diligence process, consider asking the following questions...
Are you always a fiduciary?
Yes, we act as a fiduciary always in our relationship with clients. You can find a copy of our fiduciary pledge here.
How do you get paid?
Our firm’s only revenue comes from the fees paid by clients. We don’t sell investment or insurance products. We don’t get kickbacks or referral fees from 3rd parties.
What are my all-in costs?
Our clients generally incur 3 sets of costs:
1) Advisory fees–paid to our firm.
2) Fund management fees–paid to the fund manager.
3) Account and trading fees–paid to the custodian (e.g. Schwab).
Is there a long-term commitment?
No. We hope to create lifelong relationships with our clients, but understand that circumstances can change. Our clients are free to leave at any time and we will gladly assist with any account transfers.
What is your investment approach?
We are evidence-based investors. You can read our investment philosophy here.
Who do you use for custody services?
We advise all of our clients to use Charles Schwab for custodial and brokerage services.
Do you prepare tax returns or estate plan documents?
Integrated tax preparation is available through an affiliated firm – Noble Hill Tax – for an additional fee. Please contact us for more details.
We do not prepare estate planning documents, but can help refer you to a qualified attorney or service to help prepare documents.
How will we work together?
We generally work with clients virtually – meeting either over the phone or video call. We provide a secure portal for uploading documents and reviewing financial projections.
We will meet at least twice per year to discuss various topics, but we often meet with clients more frequently to address various concerns or updates that arise.
What experience or credentials do you have?
You can review the qualifications of our team here.
How do you handle assets you aren't directly managing?
We like to take a holistic approach to financial planning and investment management. As a result, we will incorporate any unmanaged investment accounts into your financial and investment plan either through account links or requesting your updated quarterly account statements.