Commonly Asked
Over the years, I've found that many families have similar questions when they're considering working with a financial planner. Here are the ones I hear most often.
Still Have Questions?
Yes, we are fiduciaries, which means we're required by law to act in your best interest at all times. We're also fee-only, meaning we don't sell products or earn commissions—period. Our compensation comes exclusively from the clients we serve, so our advice is always objective and aligned with helping you reach your financial goals, not selling you something.
We operate on a fee-only basis, which means we're compensated solely by our clients—never through commissions or product sales. Our fee is typically a percentage of assets under management, charged quarterly. This structure aligns our interests with yours: when your portfolio grows, we benefit together. Our fee covers comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and ongoing advice.
Our team holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation, which requires extensive education, examination, experience, and ongoing ethics requirements. Joseph Kolb, CFP® has over 18 years of experience in financial planning, with a particular focus on retirement planning for families.
Our approach is research-based and long-term focused. We build diversified portfolios with low-cost index funds and ETFs, emphasizing proper asset allocation, tax efficiency, and systematic rebalancing. We focus on what we can control—costs, taxes, and investor behavior.
We specialize in building long-term relationships with families and retirees who value ongoing guidance. This approach allows us to continuously adapt your financial plan as your life evolves—adjusting your retirement income strategy, investments, and tax planning along the way. Because of this commitment to ongoing partnership, we don't offer hourly consultations or one-time projects.
For your safety and convenience, we use Charles Schwab as the third-party custodian for all client accounts. Schwab is one of the industry's largest and most trusted custodians, safely holding your investments and providing SIPC insurance up to $500,000 (including $250,000 in cash) with additional coverage beyond that. You receive statements directly from Schwab and can access your accounts anytime at www.schwab.com. Importantly, we never take custody of your money—we have limited authority to manage your investments, but we cannot withdraw funds. If something were to happen to our firm, your assets remain safely at Schwab and you maintain complete control.