We welcome all questions from our clients.

Q

What is the Jersey Shore Financial Advisor’s mission?

Our mission is to help create a financial life plan that helps you focus on the true values and motivations in your life

Q

Who do you work with?

Women (and their families) who are in some stage of transition:

  • Some are moving to a life after career (aka retirement)
  • Some are facing the loss of a spouse by choice or by fate either recently or imminently
  • Some have received an unexpected sum of money (more than they have ever had, wanted or expected)

If you're a woman who is 50 to 70 years old and the descriptions above resonates with you, I invite you to schedule a complimentary phone consultation.
 

Q

Who is NOT a good fit to work with JSFA?

I use web-based software tools in my business. Given the recent quarantine, I will be utilizing web-based meeting software to conduct essentially all of our meetings.  Although my office is quite comfortable, I will not require anyone to meet face to face.

Consequently, if you are uncomfortable using computers, it may be challenging for us to work together. At a minimum, you will need to be comfortable using email, opening web pages, and willing to learn the rest.

Q

What makes your firm different from all the others?

I work with new widows/widowers (and their families) who are looking to:

  • understand & organize their new financial lives.
  • evaluate & prioritize financial decisions.
  • establish a financial life plan to live forward without fear.

Q

How do you charge for your services?

I charge a combined flat fee for financial planning and investment management.

Some legacy clients pay a % of assets under management for investment management and/or financial planning.

Visit the fee page for more info.

Q

Are you a fiduciary?

Yes. I am a fee only, fiduciary advisor. I will provide you with a written fiduciary oath when we establish our relationship.  You can also see it here.

Q

Are you fee-only?

Yes, I am a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor. This means that my ONLY compensation comes directly from the fees paid to me by my clients. I do not accept commissions or any other form of compensation from third parties like other financial or investment companies. I do not receive or pay any compensation for referrals to or from other service providers.

Q

How much do you charge?

I have a simple fee schedule that I believe is fair for the level of advice & service provided.

My fee includes all financial planning, investment management, coordination with your other professional advisors, regular meetings and full access to me during working hours. One-fourth of the fee is charged each calendar quarter and deducted from your investment accounts or you may pay via credit card or via electronic check from your bank account.

Q

Are there any other fees if I become a client?

Yes. The investments I recommend have expense ratios that could range from 0.06% to 0.50%. This is not an explicit fee that you pay. Instead it is deducted from the value of your portfolio.  I do not share in this fee; the investment manager collects this to compensate their firm for the work they do.

If you need the services of an outside professional such as an accountant or attorney those professionals will present their own independent fee for service.  I have no control over what other professionals may charge, I will however do what I can to minimize the fee by providing information, facilitating document flow or by other means as appropriate.

I utilize a company called SEI to help with the administrative and trading aspects of investment management.  SEI charges a fee for their services.  The fee varies depending on how much we ask them to do -- the SEI fee will be explained to you prior to any investment decisions are made.  I endeavor to keep this fee under 0.50% (that's one half of one percent).

TD Ameritrade, where many of my clients maintain custody of their accounts, may also charge transaction fees every time we buy or sell a position in one of your accounts. Until recently this transaction fee was $4.95 per trade.  TD has eliminated transaction fees for most of the trades completed online as many other providers have done.  It remains to be seen if that policy continues.  If transaction/trade fees are re-implemented, you will be responsible for those fees.

Q

How often will we meet?

Contact with clients is higher in the first 6-12 months of our relationship as we establish your financial plan.  Working through the items that we agree need to be addressed can be time consuming.  I promise not to press anything that is not absolutely critical to get done right away.

Either me or my service staff will be available by phone or e-mail generally most of the time, We maintain two standing review meetings, one in the Spring and one in the fall to make sure we are fulfilling your expectations and to be.

Q

How much experience do you have?

I have been a practicing financial advisor for over 20 years.  I was awarded the Certified Financial Planner© designation in 1996. I also have a Master’s in Business Administration from Monmouth University and completed the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor© designation in 2018.

I have taught financial literacy at the college level since 2010.  I am an adjunct instructor of financial planning in the Department of Economics & Finance, Cotsakos College of Business at William Paterson University.

Q

How do I get started?

Getting started is easy. Simply schedule an initial phone conversation to determine if a meeting makes sense. If we both agree to meet, we’ll sit down (virtually or in person) at a convenient time to continue exploring the possibility of working with each other. There is no cost or obligation for this meeting. If we mutually agree to move forward, we’ll schedule a 90 minute “discovery” meeting to begin the financial planning process.