FAQ

Why would I need a financial plan?

We are experiencing a kind of epidemic - Many people are caught in the "Rat Race." They don't slow down enough to take a solid look at exactly where they are financially. And many people only have, at best, a vague notion of where they want to end up. A written financial plan can answer important questions such as, how much capital do I need to accumulate in my 401(k) to retire comfortably? Do I have an estate issue, and how should I address it? In the event of my death or disability, how much capital will my family need to maintain their current lifestyle?It serves not only as a road map with a beginning and a destination, it serves as a compass to monitor whether or not you're on track to getting to where you want to go.

What is the compensation structure of your financial professionals?

Comprehensive financial plan: Hourly fee (with a five-hour minimum).

Asset management: We charge a percentage of assets under management, which will depend on the amount of money we are managing for you and your family.

Financial consulting or modular planning: Hourly fee.

Life insurance, long-term care, disability , and health insurance already have built-in commission structures, so we do not charge a fee for these services.

What do those letters after an advisor's name stand for (CLU, ChFC, CFP, REBC, RHU)? And how do I know they are credible?

Not all designations are equal. You want to look for designations that are widely recognized in the financial services industry as credible. Some of the most common designations are listed here. Click on the designation to read about it from the American College's web site.

CLU® - Chartered Life Underwriter®

ChFC® - Chartered Financial Consultant®: Advanced Financial Planning

REBC® - Registered Employee Benefits Consultant®

RHU® - Registered Health Underwriter®

CFP® - Certified Financial Planner®

For other credible designations, visit the American College's web site at: http://theamericancollege.edu/

How do I know if an advisor is registered with the proper authorities?

Go to FINRA.org and do a "broker check." This will tell you if your advisor is registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

To make sure your advisor is licensed with your state insurance department, go to your the department of insurance web site for your state. For South Carolina, visit the South Carolina Department of Insurance at http://www.doi.sc.gov/. Here you can search the SCDOI Database for individual agents as well as companies licensed to do business in your state.

How can I research a broker or advisor to see if any complaints are filed against him/her with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority?

Go to FINRA.org and do a "broker search." If there are any complaints filed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, it will be listed there.

If I have a CPA/broker/insurance agent I'm happy with, can I still work with you?

Absolutely! We want to work with your existing team. Envision yourself as the head coach - you have all these team members working on your side (your CPA, your attorney, your broker, your insurance agent). Our team will work with you to help ensure all the pieces of the puzzle are working together cohesively to help you reach your goals.