A. We specialize in providing investment management or advice on workplace plans, IRAs, and brokerage accounts for all life stages. In addition, we specialize in retirement planning and the many issues related to retirement. Our advice is based on persistent, thorough research and proven principles. We use or recommend no-load mutual funds and exchange traded funds and believe that a diversified portfolio with the proper asset allocation and a variety of styles and strategies is a sound investment strategy.
Q. Who is not a good match for your services?
A. People looking for credit counseling or who have serious debt problems. People looking for advice about tax shelters, real estate investments, or non-publicly traded securities.
Q. Are there services you do not offer?
A. Yes, we are not experts in rental real estate or commercial real estate investments and are not able to offer advice on those topics. Also, we do not prepare tax returns or provide legal advice. In such cases, a CPA or attorney is a better person to consult.
Q. What is your typical client profile?
A. The defining quality of our clients is that they are serious about their current and future financial security. Generally, our clients fall into a few different groups:
1. Those planning for long-term retirement needs, but juggling competing financial demands.
2. Those preparing for retirement within the next five to ten years.
3. Those who are pursuing other goals and interests, but who wish to maximize their savings during retirement.
Our clients frequently include working professionals, families, nontraditional couples, small-business owners, and retirees.
All of our clients receive sophisticated and customized financial advice without the pressure to purchase products. We make very specific recommendations, but are not limited in our ideas or advice.
Q. Do you get paid for products we purchase?
A. No. Unlike most advisors, our advice is our ONLY income source. We do not receive sales commissions, mutual fund payments, finder's fees, referral fees, or accept vendor sponsorships. We have no insurance, bank, or brokerage ties and therefore no sales quotas, product alliances, or hidden fees. We believe this approach -- known as fee-only -- eliminates conflicts and enables us to act in our clients' best interests.
Q. What is the difference between fee-only and fee-based?
A. Fee-based compensation is a confusing and potentially misleading term. Fee-based advisors are different from fee-only advisors. Whereas fee-only advisors earn their fees solely from direct client payments, fee-based advisors may receive client-paid fees and/or fees from the sale or purchase of a product, including commissions, 12b-1 fees, referral fees, or other indirect forms of compensation. Such product payments are rarely disclosed to clients, which might represent conflicts of interest.
Q. Is there a minimum account size or income level that I must have to work with Greenleaf Financial Group?
A. For investment management, we recommend assets of $200,000. There is no minimum for hourly investment and retirement advice.
Q. What is the advantage of investment management?
A. For busy people who might neglect to monitor, change, or rebalance their investments, investment management is an ongoing relationship with professional responsibility and accountability. This service provides customized tax- and cost-sensitive portfolio management. Over time, we tackle clients’ financial-planning needs as part of the investment management fee.
Q. How much does investment and retirement advice cost?
A. We provide fee information that prospective clients can use as a guideline when we are first contacted. Once we have more information about your needs, assets, and circumstances, we will provide you with an exact cost. In brief, our hourly rate is $125 per hour for the time it takes us to prepare your personalized advice. For clients with simple needs we recommend our Two-Hour Working Session. For those seeking more extensive advice, we recommend scheduling a no-cost introductory meeting. We will gladly schedule this meeting upon receiving your completed questionnaire.
Q. Why must I complete your introductory questionniare before scheduling a meeting?
A. In order to make the most of our time together, we ask prospective clients to provide some key points of personal and financial information. We are very strict about privacy and confidentiality, but need this information for two reasons. First, we can determine if our services meet your interests. If not, then we will try to direct you to a person or firm that better matches your needs. Second, we want to make the most of the one-hour meeting time. Rather than use up precious minutes asking your age, employment status, and so forth, we can delve into the next layer of financial planning, exploring your goals and preferences and the particulars of your savings and investments.
Q. How does your cost compare to other advisors?
A. Our mission is to provide you with enduring value. Our fees are very competitive and our recommendations often save clients money through lower investment costs and reduced taxes.
Q. Are you a fiduciary? What exactly does that mean?
A. The word fiduciary comes from the Latin fides, meaning faith, and its modern equivalent, fiducia, meaning trust and confidence. A fiduciary must not put personal interests before the duty owed to a client. A fiduciary duty is the highest standard of care. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) places a fiduciary requirement on Registered Investment Advisors. We are a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with the states of California, Indiana, and New York.
Q. What makes you a better choice?
A. We hold ourselves to high standards. Each client with Greenleaf Financial Group receives individual management, not an assembly line approach. Our distinctive approach includes the following:
We seek fund companies with business practices that benefit shareholders, such as compensation methods that promote long-term investing, an independent board of directors, and managers who have their own money invested in their mutual funds.
If you don't see your question, just email us and we will gladly respond!