A.  First, it is often used as a marketing tool to sell financial products. The reason? To generate commissions or asset fees on the recommendations. The individual working with the planner may often have little way of knowing whether the recommendations are in their best interest or the best interest of the planner. They may also have little way of knowing whether the products could have been obtained elsewhere at a lower cost.

Many planners actually work for a brokerage firm or broker/dealer and thus may be focused mainly on what the firm wants to sell. The brokerage firm may actually control what products can be recommended.  Although, this does not preclude the requirement for suitable recommendations, we believe it limits the flexibility and objectivity of the advisor.

Based on the traditional planning process we were taught and exposed to early in our business careers, it did little to adequately educate investors and help them deal with the instincts and emotions that have historically caused many common investment mistakes which may often lead to poor or less competitive results.

* Investing carries an inherent element of risk.  Additionally, no strategy can assure a profit, guarantee better performance, or protect against losses.

A.  To begin with we are independent! We believe this allows us the ability to bring better solutions to you – not just those from a single provider. We look at the big picture and make our recommendations based on what is best for our client’s circumstances. We’re not just about selling products; we’re about empowering our clients with simple, yet effective ways to plan their financial future. We are also a big believer in systems. We use a systematic approach to our planning and investing which we believe gives us a competitive edge and a strong position in the marketplace. Our clients like to know why we handle things the way we do. By taking a systematic approach our plan of action is transparent while remaining flexible to help meet our client needs.

A.  We use many different tools to assist us in designing an investment strategy for a given client including liquidity needs, risk tolerance, etc. This approach utilizes a logical, non-emotional formulaic method for long term growth monies. Depending on your overall money situation, this and other investment concepts may represent valuable financial tools for your financial plan.

A.  The short answer is that a trader attempts to gain an advantage by buying or selling at perceived peaks or troughs; basically trying to “time the markets”. An investor, on the other hand, is more focused on the longer-term economic directional trend of markets and the potential impact on their investments, making buying and selling decisions based on that information.

A.  We are compensated in various ways. Similar to many other financial advisors, we charge a recurring planning and/or asset fee for assets we manage on your behalf. We believe in economies of scale, so the more you have invested through our firm, the less you will tend to pay as a percentage of your portfolio. With some products like insurance based products, we get paid commissions rather than a fee, just like any other agent offering the same or similar product tools.

We also charge a fee for financial planning services we provide based on the size or complexity of your financial issues. You can engage us for a specific planning area or you may be able to benefit from one of our planning packages based on your needs. We offer a free initial consultation to help you determine whether a relationship with our firm is right for you. Your advisor can help you decide which option will provide you the greatest value. It is our company policy to disclose any and all expenses you may incur prior to establishing a formal relationship with our firm.

A.  We DO NOT provide legal, accounting, or tax return preparation services. If you currently have an attorney or CPA you work closely, we will be glad to work with them to help verify we have a full understanding of your financial circumstances and vice versa. However, if you do not already have an attorney or tax professional, we may be able to recommend several. We do not receive a referral fee or any other compensation from any other CPA or attorney to whom we might refer our clients.

A.  Our physical address is 433 Airport Blvd, Suite 500, Burlingame, CA 94010, (650) 373-0088 or Fax (650) 373-0099. Click HERE or go to the CONTACT US page to get a map and directions to our office.