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Frequently Asked Questions

What type of clients do you typically work with?

We can work with you wherever you are in life, but we find that our services tend to appeal to international professionals, business owners and growing families. We'd love to work with you if you want help making the most out of your financial life; whether that's help with making smarter moves related to your personal finances, or crafting and putting into action a financial plan that frees up your time so that you can focus on doing the things in life that you are passionate about. We have the expertise and experience to help you get there; we call it "planning for life."

If you're ready to start a conversation about your financial life, please schedule a consultation meeting.

How will you work with me?

We work with clients on an hourly basis and we do not require account minimums.

We can also work with you on an as-needed basis. We track the time we spend working with you in person, as well as behind the scenes, and bill for those services monthly in arrears. We track our time by the minute.

If the work is a project (for example, reviewing your portfolio), we will give you an estimate of the cost of the project. The cost of the project is dependent on the complexity of your financial situation and the scope of the project work. The engagement letter outlines the anticipated scope of work, the expected cost of the engagement and the deliverables to be given at the end of the project. Please note that project work is not a fixed fee arrangement; the actual cost of services provided could be more or less than what is quoted in the engagement letter.

If you reside in Houston, we can meet you at a place that is convenient for you. If you reside outside of Houston - and even if you live in Houston - we can conduct meetings via video conference or phone call. We are available on-call to help you with urgent financial matters; we aim to respond to emails and phone call messages within 24 hours unless it's the weekend or a U.S. holiday.

If you're ready to start working on your financial future, please schedule a consultation meeting.

How does the financial planning process start?

There are two ways we will work with you.

The first option is an "ask us anything" format where you meet with us to ask questions about anything you'd like financial guidance on.

The second option is a personalized financial plan that is tailored to your specific financial situation. In preparing your financial plan, we will meet with you to understand your financial goals and objectives, and securely collect information such as your most recently filed tax return, brokerage statements, insurance policies, employee benefits guide and other information that will help us see your financial picture. Should you wish to engage us to help you put your plan into action, we would be happy to work with you. Fees for plan implementation services are separate and apart from the creation of the financial plan and will be subject to a new engagement letter.

Please note that we require a client-signed engagement letter before we will begin working with you. Additionally, we may require a retainer, which is an upfront payment of fees, before we start any work.

If you're ready to start on your personalized financial plan or would like to try out the "ask us anything" option, please schedule a consultation meeting.

How much do your services cost?

To prepare a personalized financial plan, as described in the section above, typically costs around $4,000. We do not require account minimums. If you'd like to get a jump-start on your financial life, please schedule a consultation meeting.

How do you estimate the cost of a financial plan?

We estimate the cost of a financial plan based on the amount of time we anticipate meeting with you and building the plan. Complex plans typically require more time and therefore cost more than basic plans. For example, if you are married or have a partner, own a small business and own rental properties, your financial situation is probably a lot more complex than someone who is single and has a steady salary. Therefore, the former will likely pay more for a personalized financial plan than the latter. 

If you'd like to see our services in action, please schedule a consultation meeting.

What do the terms “fee-only” and “fiduciary” mean?

"Fee-only" means that we do not sell financial products, nor do we receive commissions or referral fees. We are solely compensated by the fees you pay directly to us for the services we render to you. While no compensation structure can remove all potential conflicts of interest, we believe that being fee-only greatly reduces conflicts of interest between what's in your best interest and what's in our best interest. Along those same lines, the term "fiduciary" means that we must always put your interests ahead of our own. 

If you'd like to work with an adviser who always has your best interests at heart, please schedule a consultation meeting.

Will you prepare my tax return(s)?

We do not usually prepare personal or business tax returns. We would be happy to refer you to a tax professional if you are looking for tax compliance help. In the rare instances that we do prepare tax returns, the cost of those services is separate and apart from the cost of financial planning and investment advisory services. We do offer tax consulting services on a stand-alone basis. 

If you'd like some tax planning advice that is tailored to your unique financial situation, please schedule a consultation meeting.

Will you manage my investments?

We can advise clients on investments that are appropriate for them based on various factors such as their risk profile, investment time horizon, and investment objectives. We do not typically manage clients' investments. We believe that clients are best served by managing their own investments with guidance from us. If you'd like someone to manage your money, we'd be happy to refer you to one or more qualified investment advisors.

If you'd like help with your investments, please schedule a consultation meeting. 

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