Financial Planning & Investment Advisory Services

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. First, investors should be aware of the many conflicts of interest present with many advisors and firms.

Second, insist on an independent, fee-only advisor. Only independent, fee-only advisors are free of the many biases and conflicts of interest. They are the only advisors who are legally-obligated to place your interests first.

Third, find an advisor who will tailor recommendations to your values, your objectives and goals. Of course, doing so will require the advisor to actually get to know you before rushing to make recommendations.

Finally, for added peace of mind, search for an advisor who shares your values and beliefs.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Most of the investment recommendations provided by brokerages and advisors are fraught with conflicts of interests.

Knowing and understanding how the large investment firms operate is essential to protecting yourself from poor investment performance and unnecessary (sometimes hidden) layers of expenses.

Only independent, fee-only advisors are legally-required to place your interests ahead of that of the markets, their firm and their own.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. Do you, your firm or your parent company receive compensation from anyone other than the investor?

Do you or your firm receive any incentive to recommend any investment(s) over others?

Do you receive commissions or other transaction-based (trading) fees?

Inclusive of your fees, all fund fees, management fees, trading expenses and any other fees, what will be my total annual expenses, as a percentage of my assets under your management?

What are your qualifications?

How have your recommendations performed in poor markets?

What is you investment philosophy?

What criteria do you utilize in selecting investments?

Under what circumstances would you recommend that your clients sell holdings?

How frequently do you monitor investment performance?

Do you have client recommendations available for review?

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. My practice is small, by design. By remaining small and independent, I retain the capacity to service client's needs personally and with great attention. Each client, regardless of the size of their account, deserves individualized attention, planning and supervision - something most firms resist, but that Storehouse embraces.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. As an adviser, I see my role as a steward or manager of my client's assets. I enjoy getting to know my clients - their hopes and dreams, their challenges and their victories. Its through this process that I discover how to most effectively manage their assets, and be a good steward.