FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I'm sure you have a lot of questions. I hope I can make things a little easier by giving some information about what it's like to work with Seagrass Financial.

 

Have a different question? Contact me

+ Do I have to pay for the introductory meeting?

No, the first meeting is free. The purpose of this meeting is to get to know each other and figure out if we’d like to work together. Financial planning is a very personal process, so it’s important to pick someone who makes you feel comfortable.



+ How much money do I need to have in order to work with you?

Seagrass Financial doesn’t have an asset minimum; we accept clients at all asset levels. We do have an annual fee minimum of $4000/year for our ongoing services. Please see Pricing for additional details. If this annual fee does not make sense for your situation, you may wish to consider one of our Fixed-Term Planning Packages.



+ Who is your typical client?

Most of my clients fall into one of these two categories: ​ 1. Mid-career professionals with a complicated financial situation, usually interested in reaching financial independence before a traditional retirement age. I specialize in working with Intel employees. 2. Households in retirement that wish to delegate all of the day-to-day management of their investments to me. I handle all of the investment decisions and transactions (according to a plan that we work out together) and create a steady stream of income to be transferred from the portfolio to the client.



+ Who is NOT a good fit for Seagrass Financial

If you want someone to pick the next hot stock or trade actively, you should look elsewhere. I construct portfolios using low-cost, diversified investments such as index funds. If you’d like to learn more, please take a look at my Investing Philosophy.

I use several web-based software tools in my practice. If you’re uncomfortable using computers, it may be challenging for us to work together. At a minimum, you’ll need to be comfortable using email, opening web pages, and willing to learn the rest.



+ What does a Financial Planner do? How will you help me?

A Financial Planner provides two main benefits to clients: knowledge and behavior management. The knowledge, such as information about investing, taxes, estate planning, and insurance, you can learn on your own - if you have the time and interest to educate yourself. Managing behavior and emotions is more difficult, and it can really help to have someone to keep you motivated and focused. Check out this one-page summary quantifying the value of financial planning advice (from Michael Kitces, Nerd's Eye View, www.kitces.com).



+ Where will we meet?

I offer virtual meetings (using videoconferencing software) and in-person meetings if you’re in the Portland area. Many local clients like to meet in person for the first few meetings, but then switch to virtual meetings after the first few months.



+ If I sign up for Comprehensive Financial Planning, how often will we meet?

During the first few months that we’re working together, we’ll meet regularly to get organized, talk about goals, and build your financial plan. Once the initial plan is in place, we will typically meet every 4-6 months, although I’m always available for a quick phone call or meeting to discuss what’s on your mind. At a minimum, we’ll need to meet once a year to update and review your plan.



+ How do you get paid?

Seagrass Financial is a fee-only financial planning and portfolio management firm. As a fiduciary, I'm committed to eliminating conflicts of interest, in part by ensuring that 100% of my compensation comes directly from my clients. Check out my Pricing page for more details.



+ Why do you charge so much less than other wealth managers?

A few reasons. First, the amount of time it takes to manage a portfolio doesn’t increase that much as your portfolio size grows. Second, I have a fundamental issue with the usual compensation model in which fees double when assets double; I think it creates an unhealthy focus on asset gathering among advisors. Third, I don’t need to maximize my own income because we’ve already reached our financial goals. I’m doing this because I enjoy it and I want to help people. I believe that my pricing is fair and compensates me adequately for my time and expertise.



+ I'd like to learn more. What's the next step?

You can contact me with questions or schedule an introductory meeting if you’d prefer to chat.



© 2020 Seagrass Financial, LLC.

Seagrass Financial, LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor Firm in the State of Oregon.  Prior to any advisory work conducted outside Oregon, Seagrass Financial, LLC would become registered in that jurisdiction or qualify for an exemption or exclusion to the registration.