Organize. Grow. Protect.
your assets through life's transitions
We are a fee-only comprehensive wealth management firm, offering financial planning and investment management for independent women or women-led households.
SERVICES INCLUDE
+ Clarifying Your Financial Values
+ Setting Financial Priorities
+ Organizing Your Financial Life
+ Investing Your Assets Optimally
+ Ensuring You Don't Overpay Taxes
+ Navigating Complex Compensation
Structure
+ Maximizing Employer-Provided Benefits
+ Revealing Blind Spots or Potential Pitfalls
+ Assisting With Your Estate Planning
+ Planning for Retirement or Life Change
+ Supporting YOU and YOUR Vision
You’ll receive a customized financial plan built specifically to meet your unique goals.
Ongoing Wealth Management
Our fee is an annual advisory fee (charged quarterly) of 1% of assets under management (AUM) for up to $1 million. A tiered fee schedule is available for AUM above $1 million.
The annual fee includes all services - both investment management and financial planning. There are no additional flat or hourly fees.
Minimum annual fee is $5,000.
One Time Financial Planning
One-time comprehensive financial plans start at $3,000 and are based on complexity. All fees will be agreed upon before an engagement begins.
We do not currently offer hourly advice. If you prefer this type of engagement, we encourage you to visit Garrett Planning Network to find a fee-only, fiduciary in your area who offers hourly advice.
FAQ
What makes BW Financial Planning a good fit for me?
Are you a fiduciary?
What are your qualifications?
Why is the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation important?
How do you get paid?
I'm interested, what is the next step?
What should I consider when evaluating the right financial advisor for me?
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What makes BW Financial Planning a good fit for me?
We work best with clients who value a long-term partnership with a trusted financial guide to support and advise them during life’s personal and financial changes and challenges. Our clients appreciate our accessible, down-to-earth demeanor and straight forward approach.
They prefer to spend their limited free time doing something more enjoyable than obsessing over their finances and are relieved to delegate their wealth management to someone they trust to watch out for their best interest and who proactively communicates any issues that may effect their financial outlook.
Our clients also agree with our investment philosophy that a broadly diversified, lower cost portfolio is the most optimal approach to achieving their investing goals. Market timing doesn’t work and can do real damage to long-term wealth.
BACK TO QUESTIONS
Are you a fiduciary?
Yes. A fiduciary places client interests first and is held to the highest standard of care. Sounds basic but not all financial professionals work as a fiduciary. We do.
BACK TO QUESTIONS
What are your qualifications?
Betty has over 18 years of experience working with highly sophisticated institutions and personal investors in the wealth management industry.
She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, holds a FINRA Series 65 license, and has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
As a lifelong learner, Betty is dedicated to continuously upleveling her financial expertise by attending conferences and webinars so she can continue to provide conscientious, relevant service to her clients.
BACK TO QUESTIONS
Why is the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation important?
Most people think all financial planners are “certified,” but this isn’t true. Anyone can use the title “financial planner.” Only those who have fulfilled the certification and renewal requirements of CFP Board can display the CFP® certification trademarks which represent a high level of competency, ethics and professionalism. A CFP® professional has special technical expertise with regards to retirement, estate, tax and investment planning; but the real skill comes in the ability to bring all those pieces of a person's financial life together.
BACK TO QUESTIONS
How do you get paid?
As a fee-only firm, the only person who pays us is you. No commissions, product sales, or hidden third party referral fees to influence our financial advice to you. We work with the utmost integrity and do our best to earn your trust.
BACK TO QUESTIONS
I'm interested, what is the next step?
Start here to schedule a complimentary, no pressure call with Betty. We’ll talk about your specific situation, answer any pressing questions, and go from there!
BACK TO QUESTIONS
What should I consider when evaluating the right financial advisor for me?
Having the right financial advocate and partner can go a long way towards ensuring a comfortable future. Jason Zweig, regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, has an excellent article titled “The 19 Questions to Ask Your Financial Adviser” to help in the search for the right financial planner.
Whether BW Financial Planning is right for you or not, we encourage you to find a trusted advisor when you are ready. We recommend XY Planning Network (“XYPN”) or the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (“NAPFA”) for a list of qualified fee-only professionals. The key is to find someone who is held to the Fiduciary standard, which is a requirement for the entire network of advisors in these organizations.
BACK TO QUESTIONS
THE PROCESS
An overview of how to work with us
Intro call with Betty
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The first step in our process is a short 30-minute call to learn more about each other. This is where we get a general idea of where you’re at today, and what’s on your mind. We’ll share a little about our process too, and this is where we decide if we’re a good fit.
There is no obligation and no pressure. If for whatever reason we determine we're not a good fit for your current needs, we will do our best to recommend an alternate solution.
Complimentary Financial Assesment
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If we’ve both decided we’re a good fit after our intro call, the next step is a 60-minute online meeting. Before the meeting, you will receive a brief and secure online financial profile to fill out. We’ll get a clearer picture of your current financial situation, and dig into the questions that brought you to us in the first place.
This is where we give you some ideas to consider and some observations about your current situation and your plans for the future. This is also where you get a good sense of how we will work together.
Take your time and think about it
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We are looking for long-term relationships, not a transaction. We want you to take as much time as you need to make a decision.
Gather Additional Information
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Yay! You’ve decided we’re a good fit and have signed the Agreement. The next step is to fill out our detailed client questionnaire and provide us with the necessary documents so we can gain a full understanding of your financial picture.
From our conversations and the information you provide, we develop your customized financial plan and investment strategy. Your financial plan will be updated regularly to reflect any changes in your life suits your risk tolerance and supports your ongoing financial objectives.
WHAT'S NEXT?
So you've decided to work with us...
Strategy Meeting
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At this meeting we will review our financial planning recommendations. It will include action items in order of priority. We will also walk you through our Investment Philosophy and the proposed Investment Policy Statement for your accounts, and our investment recommendations.
If you are an ongoing wealth management client, we will also cover the steps in order to open your accounts, transfer your assets and what to expect from your partnership with BW Financial Planning.
Begin Ongoing Service Process
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Finally, after completing the onboarding process we’ll begin our regular review process, where we’ll meet one to two times annually to review accomplishments and your financial snapshots. We also discuss whether your priorities have shifted and refresh your financial plan.
Throughout the year, we’ll monitor progress on your (and our) action items. We also work hard to stay current on anything on the horizon, such as tax policy or other economic changes, that may impact your financial plan.
We are available by phone, email, and ad hoc meetings for questions or changes to your circumstances.
