FAQ
Questions, answered plainly.
Direct answers to the questions prospective clients actually ask. Where a topic is governed by our regulatory filings, the filing controls and we link to it.
What does fee-only fiduciary mean?
Fee-only means our only compensation is the advisory fee our clients pay us. No commissions, no product sales, no revenue sharing, no third-party payments of any kind. Fiduciary means we are legally obligated to act in your best interest, and we would run the firm that way regardless.
Is there an account minimum?
The Managed Wealth Program requires a minimum of $500,000 in household assets under management, waivable at the Firm's discretion. The Planning & Strategy Program has no asset minimum. We treat the minimum as a qualification of fit rather than a price of admission.
What is the Engagement Fee?
A one-time fee paid when a new Managed Wealth relationship begins: $1,950 at the Foundational level, $3,900 at Strategic, $5,850 at Premier. It covers the concentrated work of starting well: initial financial planning, data gathering, account setup, risk evaluation, and strategy implementation. It is not a prepayment for ongoing advice and is not credited against future advisory fees. Complete terms, including the refund provisions, are in Form ADV Part 2A, Item 5.
How are fees billed?
Monthly, after the month ends, deducted from your Schwab account and shown as a line item on your Schwab statement. The stated rate applies to the first $1,000,000 of household assets; assets above $1,000,000 are billed at the stated rate minus 0.30%. No advisory fees are collected in advance. The complete schedule and worked examples are published on the Service page.
Do you take custody of my money?
No. Client accounts are held at Charles Schwab in your name. We never take possession of client funds; our authority is limited to managing the investments and deducting the advisory fee you have authorized. Your statements come from Schwab, not from us.
What is the Standards Eval?
Our annual planning diagnostic. It reads your household against three progressive standards, Security, Freedom, and Independence, across the full territory of your financial life, and shows the result in plain colors: what is handled, what is in progress, what needs attention. Every client household receives it every year. You choose what to act on; the Eval keeps the whole picture honest.
Who is your ideal client?
Someone building or preserving meaningful wealth who wants the truth about their money, even when the truth is not comfortable. Accomplished enough to have options, experienced enough to distinguish a process from a pitch, and looking for an advisor they do not have to second-guess. That is a disposition, not a dollar amount.
Who is this not for?
Anyone shopping primarily on price, seeking guaranteed outcomes or hot picks, or wanting an advisor who validates decisions already made. We say this plainly because acknowledging poor fit early protects both parties.
Do we need to be near Grand Rapids?
No. The practice is virtual-first and serves clients across the country, including Americans living and working abroad: video reviews, secure document delivery, screen sharing. We provide advisory services only in jurisdictions where the Firm is registered or exempt from registration, and we confirm that fit before any engagement begins. When geography allows, we still prefer relationships to begin in person, because human connection is the foundation of a concierge practice.