Frequently Asked Questions

Due to the size of our firm, we have advisors who work with individuals, families and business owners at all stages in their financial journey. From young professionals just starting out in their careers, to young families saving for their children’s future needs, to pre-retirees worried about saving enough for retirement, to seeing clients through retirement confidently. Several of our advisors specialize in working with business owners who are concerned about employee retention and succession planning.

Yes, we are held to a fiduciary responsibility with all our clients. This means we are legally and ethically required to always act in your best interest. As fiduciary advisors, we prioritize transparency, honesty and personalized recommendations that align with your financial goals, not commissions or outside incentives. Working with a fiduciary gives you confidence that your plan and investments are designed solely to benefit you.

Because we are an independent firm with a diverse team of advisors, there isn’t a single compensation structure that applies to everyone. Our advisors use different models; fee-based planning, commission-based compensation, hybrid of the two, or will offer multiple methods. Transparency is central to our approach, and your advisor will clearly outline how they are compensated before you engage in any planning or investment relationship. No matter the structure, our commitment remains the same: to provide objective, client-first advice that supports your financial goals.

Yes! You can work with a financial advisor virtually or in person. With advisors across Michigan and eight other states, we make it easy to plan and manage your finances from anywhere.

Yes, we provide advice on the possible need for protection products, such as life insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability income insurance, to protect and preserve your family’s financial future. As independent advisors, we have access to a multitude of highly rated companies. We can help you determine what insurance products, and which companies align best with your goals, needs, and financial plan.

Yes, we work with your other estate planning professionals. While we are not attorneys or CPAs and do not provide legal or tax advice, a financial advisor is a crucial part of your estate planning process. We will work alongside your estate attorney to ensure your legal documents align with your overall financial and wealth management goals. By leveraging our expertise, you can build a more robust and integrated estate plan that safeguards your legacy and provides peace of mind for your loved ones.

Financial planning is important because it helps you manage your money, set goals, and prepare for the future. A solid financial plan can guide you through retirement planning, saving for education, managing debt, investing wisely, and protecting your family with insurance. By planning, you can make informed decisions, reduce financial stress, and help build long-term wealth and security.

Getting started is simple! You can either visit the “Get Started” page of our website and book an insight meeting with an advisor directly on that page, or you can navigate to our Team page to find a specific advisor you wish to work with and reach out to them through their listed direct contact information to schedule an introductory meeting. These initial insight meetings can take place in-person, virtually, or over the phone and are designed to get to know you and your goals and to introduce you to our firm and our process to make sure it is a good fit. 

Working with a financial advisor provides professional guidance, accountability, and a long-term strategy tailored to your goals. While managing money on your own is possible, an advisor helps you avoid costly mistakes, optimize tax strategies, and make informed investment decisions even during market volatility. Advisors also bring experience in areas like retirement income planning, estate strategies, and risk management, helping you feel confident and supported as you grow and protect your wealth.

Yes, we welcome the chance to work with your CPAs, attorneys, and other professional advisors. We believe it’s extremely important to bring all your advisors into the “same room,” the same conversation, if you want integrated advice that protects your family, business, and personal wealth. Together, they can look at your life, your goals, and your business. They can identify issues, discuss solutions, and put together a unified plan that makes sense for you. Working as a coordinated team allows them to provide more comprehensive, efficient, and customized advice for your unique financial and legal situation.

We help you prepare for retirement by creating a personalized financial plan that covers every stage, from saving and investing to managing income and taxes once you retire. We have Our Platinum Advisory Process where we take the time to get to know you and your goals, implement a financial plan and strategy, and adjust your plan as life changes, ensuring you stay on track toward the retirement lifestyle you want.

The right time to begin Social Security benefits depends on your financial situation, life expectancy, and retirement income needs. You can begin taking payments as early as age 62 (with penalties), but if you are able to delay, you can greatly increase your lifetime benefits. A financial advisor can help you evaluate your options by looking at factors such as other sources of income, your spouse’s benefits, tax implications, and your overall retirement strategy.

Saving for college/education expenses is one of the most common financial goals we hear from our young family clientele. We will make sure that you have a sound strategy in place to save for your children’s educational expenses using a variety of financial tools including, but not limited to: 529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), Custodial Accounts (UTMA/UGMA), and Roth IRAs.

We place a focus with our pre-retiree and retiree clients on helping them navigate the complexities of Medicare enrollment. We want to be sure you understand the various options available to you and that your selections align with your overall financial strategy. We offer educational webinars annually with experts in this area that are open to everyone, regardless of whether you are a client. We encourage you to visit our Events page to register for our next webinar.

Yes, we can help you with employer sponsored plan rollovers. Whether changing jobs, planning for retirement, or ready for retirement, we can guide you through your alternatives. We can explain the tax implications, assess the investment options, and explain the liquidity differences of your various rollover choices to find the best fit for your risk tolerance and retirement goals.