Questions To Ask
1. What experience do you have?
Greg’s career as a financial planner began in 1985. Prior to that, he was a vice president at a bank. Ben joined Greg in 2006 and combined, they have more than 40 years of financial planning experience.
2. What are your qualifications?
Greg and Ben have both passed the General Securities Representative Examination (Series 7), Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination as well as the Minnesota Accident & Health, Life, Variable Life and Variable Annuities Insurance Producer Examination. In 2014, Ben earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation... A level of certification that fewer than 30% of financial advisors posses*. Recently, Ben also earned the Behavioral Financial Advice designation.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, CFP® Board
3. What services do you offer?
We offer comprehensive financial planning, which can include some or all of the following: Investment planning - Asset Allocation Planning - Risk Management Planning - Income Tax Planning - Retirement Planning - Estate Planning - Education Objective Planning - Coordination with CPA and/or Attorney - Employer Retirement Plan Consulting
4. What is your approach to financial planning?
Our approach financial planning focused on goal achievement. We help people to use money to enrich their lives, not simply to be rich.
5. What types of clients do you typically work with?
We only work with incredible families! The most important thing to us is that we enjoy spending time talking to you. Our services are ideal for the family that has accumulated considerable assets, but we also know that everyone needs help getting started.
6. Will you be the only financial planner working with me?
We hate working alone! With such a wide range of age and experience, we each bring different skills to the financial planning process. (Plus, we like spending time with each other.) In addition to the planners, as the need arises, we may bring in the knowledge of an accountant, mortgage broker or attorney.
7. How will I pay for your financial planning services?
We offer fully transparent and unbiased financial planning and investment management services. These services are delivered in a combination of as-promised and as-needed-on-demand advice through an annual subscription fee, charged monthly....just like your mobile phone, Netflix and gym membership. The fee is typically between $99 and $120 per month.
Refer to disclosure brochure, investment prospectus, offering circular and/or insurance contract for detailed information on advisor compensation.
8. How will I pay for investment management services?
The typical all-inclusive fee, based on the natural affordability model, is 1.00% of the assets we manage for you. This fee is spread across the entire year and charged on a quarterly basis.
Refer to disclosure brochure, investment prospectus, offering circular and/or insurance contract for detailed information on advisor compensation.
9. Do others stand to gain from the financial advice you give me?
As an independent financial advisor, we have no special arrangements with any investment or insurance company. We have no proprietary offerings or conflicts of interest. This allows us to survey the market and utilize only the best solutions.
10. Have you ever been publicly disciplined for any unlawful or unethical actions in your professional career?
Never. Not a single complaint. None.
Further details can be found at http://brokercheck.finra.org/