Are your recommendations truly in my best interest?
As a firm, we take very seriously our Fiduciary duty to always act in the client’s best interest (vs. just trying to sell you a product). In addition to a legal obligation, for more than 20-years, our firm has been built on a foundation of placing the client’s interest before any thoughts of our own compensation. We recommend for clients the same investment strategies used in our personal accounts and the accounts of our immediate family members. Our commitment to honest and ethical behavior has allowed us to build a very successful firm.
For our clients, we serve as a single point of contact for all their financial needs. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, this includes coordinating every aspect of their financial needs. We create a financial plan of action with each of our clients to detail what is needed to reach their goals. As needed, these action items are coordinated with accountants, attorneys, and other professionals.
Will your recommendations be primarily focused in one area, or will your recommendations be comprehensive in nature? In other words, will I need to find another adviser for advice in other areas?
Do you have the knowledge and experience necessary to successfully navigate the complicated financial planning and tax world to achieve my financial goals?
Travis Tsukayama is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CFA charterholder, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance. He has been serving clients in our community and their families for more than 10 years.
Christina June Brown is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance. She has over 24 years of experience serving clients in the financial services field.
Both Travis and Christina have been mentored by and continue to learn from the country's top minds in financial, legal, and tax planning. Together they manage a portfolio of more than $200 million.
We currently serve approximately 175 clients, totaling more than $200m in combined assets. We have intentionally limited the size of our practice to ensure every client receives the service they require to achieve their financial goals. The majority of our clients are retired, or close to it. Our clients’ investments range from $250,000 to over $10,000,000.
We primarily focus on the investment, tax, and cash flow management issues related to retirement.
How many clients do you serve and how does their situation compare to mine?
We typically meet twice annually. Client education is a big focus for our firm. We publish regular newsletters explaining what the headlines mean for our clients. We also hold client education events on an assortment of topics. Each quarter we mail a performance report that clearly displays what is going on in your accounts. In addition, clients are always welcome to call or email any questions or concerns to a dedicated client service team.
How often will we meet?
As detailed in our client agreements, for clients with assets up to $1 million, each quarter we deduct a fee equal to 0.25%. For those with assets between $1 million - $5 million, we deduct a fee equal to 0.175%. For clients with assets between $5 million - $20 million, we deduct a fee equal to 0.15% each quarter. All fees are deducted directly from the accounts under our management. This deduction is detailed in the quarterly statement we provide to every client.
To put this fee in perspective, most days the stock markets move more than 0.20%.
The majority of the investment funds we use have an internal expense of less than 0.30% annually. The combined expense is well below the industry average.
It only makes sense to hire a financial adviser, or any professional, if the benefit from the services they provide exceed the fees being charged. In other words, the time and effort saved, plus the tax savings and potentially increased investment returns need to exceed the advisory fees. The financial plan we present to you will clearly quantify the benefits you will receive.
What will be my total investment expense, how much will you be compensated and where can I see this in writing?
Yes. We have assisted clients in solving an assortment of financial issues such as 401k plans, IRS audits, family deaths, disability, tax issues, real estate, debt, Social Security, Medicare, health insurance, college, gifting, and almost any other financial issue imaginable.
While we certainly don’t have all the answers, through our network of resources, we will not stop until a solution has been found.
Will you help me solve any and all financial problems I may encounter?
For your convenience and safety, we use Charles Schwab as the custodian for our client assets. Schwab administers more than $7 Trillion in assets. As a custodian, Schwab holds your funds and provides reporting to you and the IRS. Your accounts can be viewed at any time at https://client.schwab.com
Where do you keep my money and how can I see it?
8 questions to ask your financial adviser
The following questions are designed to help you see “behind the curtain” of any firm with whom you might entrust your financial future.