Frequently Asked Questions

Find the answers to all of our most frequently asked questions

• When is the stock market going to crash?

  If I had a dollar for every time I get asked this question, I'd have a lot of dollars. When people ask this question their frame of reference is usually the Great Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, when the S&P 500 index fell 55% in a matter of months. The good news is people who did not panic and sell their investments at the bottom fared ok and their accounts recovered within a few months.

  As the date of this writing (Jan 2022) there just are not any major indicators predicting a crash of similar magnitude. The US economy is having its ups and downs but is still generally strong. Corporate profits are still good, which is the main factor that drives US stock prices up.

  A "Correction" - which is a 10-15% drop in the stock market, could happen any time. But those are generally short lived and can represent a buying opportunity.

  Remember to not panic when you think the market is going in the wrong direction. And talk with a professional, whether it's us or someone else.

• What do you charge?

  We have a standard fee schedule that breaks down the costs associated with using our professional services, those being financial planning and investment management. Our financial planning service fees start at $1,200 for a basic financial plan and increase as a client's situation gets more complex.

  Fees for investment management start at 1.25% annual for accounts under $50,000 and generally decline as the amount of assets we manage for you increases.

  We will provide our fee schedule to you during our Discovery interview process.

• What is your process?

  Our M1 Process for bringing on new clients includes three stages: Discovery, Design and Deploy

  Discover – two appointment process where we learn what is most important to you and what resources you have available to work towards goals that might get developed.

  Design – this is the art of financial planning – we work with you to develop a plan that works based on your goals and resources. It includes steps you need to take and a strategy for managing your investments to accomplish those goals.

  Deploy – getting started (fun stuff like paperwork, getting set up with software, consolidating accounts) and reviewing progress. We are in the Deploy stage until something new happens that needs to be addressed.

• How do you pick a cigar to smoke?

  Cigar preference is like any other – what do you enjoy? Stout? Mild? Time you want to sit smoking? What meal did you just enjoy? Based on your preferences or mood, there are many cigars that smokers can enjoy.

• What is your favorite whiskey?

  Everyday whiskey – Maker's 46 by Maker's Mark

  Treat – some smokey/peaty scotch

• What is your favorite fast car right now?

  Shelby Mustang GT-350R in the 2017-2019 vintage. But really, anything with Carroll Shelby's name on it.

• Should I buy gold or bitcoin?

  Do you like to gamble? Gold and cryptocurrency represent asset classes that are very volatile and yet can enhance your overall portfolio with a little bit sprinkled in. If you can't stomach the ups and downs, these might not be investments for you.

  As a financial advisor we cannot help you directly with cryptocurrency as they not financial products registered with the SEC or FINRA. A simple Google search will provide you with resourceful information and a list of custodians that can help you make purchases if you wish.

• Do I need a financial advisor?

  Who knows? DO you need a doctor these days with resources like WebMD available? Or do you need an attorney with resources like RocketLawyer?

  The answer is up to you. If you are comfortable guiding yourself through complex financial markets and products and have the time to dedicate to the process, go for it!

  But it you would like to focus on what you are good at (work, family, golf, your business, etc..) and want to outsource navigating financial management to a professional, then working with an advisor could be very beneficial to you.

• How do we get started working with you?

  We start with our two appointment Discovery interview process. That includes two appointments, about an hour each. There is no cost to you to go through these two appointments and we think you'll have a good idea if you want to work with us by the end of the second appointment. There is no pressure to commit or buy anything.

• What is the value of active management?

  Active management is the process of reviewing your investments on a regular basis and making a decision whether or not to make a change or hold tight based on some set of parameters. Active management, we believe, becomes more valuable as market volatility increases, which tends to also increase panic in investors.

• Is the current political environment affecting my money?

  It can. Political environments can drive markets up and down. But that does not necessarily mean that your goals have been hijacked. Keep that in mind. You can still stay on course even when the current administration throws you a curve ball.