Determining if there is a fit between a prospective client and any investment advisory firm can be a long, but important process - for both parties.  Below are some typical questions we get asked by prospective clients, as well as our typical answers.  If you have a question, please don't hesitate to contact us.

 

What does CFG do?

 

CFG serves as a Personal Financial Fiduciary® for individuals and families. Our role is to manage the decision making process in association with financial and lifestyle matters. The scope of our work may include personal financial planning, portfolio construction and active management and ongoing, comprehensive financial management services.   

 

Who are typical clients of CFG?

 

a) People with at least $100,000 in investments outside a company retirement plan, who have reached a point in their life when they would prefer to “offload” the management of their financial, investment and lifestyle affairs.

 

b) Individuals and families who are in a state of transition with respect to their retirement, lifestyle and legacy planning and would like to identify a trusted adviser to assist them work through a complex financial decision.

 

What makes CFG unique?

 

a) Regardless of the nature of our engagement, we serve individuals, families and institutions in the role of a Personal Financial Fiduciary®.  A Personal Financial Fiduciary® serves in a position of trust for or on behalf of the exclusive benefit of an individual or family.  Whether as an adviser, a manager or financial intermediary, a Personal Financial Fiduciary® is obligated to provide these services in an independent, ethical and professional manner.

 

b) Our approach toward wealth management! We recognized many years ago wealth management, taken literally, includes the oversight and management of broad disciplines affecting financial outcomes, i.e. finance, taxation, investments, risk management, and estate and legacy planning. The decisions made in one discipline can dramatically affect the outcome in one or more related categories.  Consequently, each decision must be made with the full knowledge and understanding of objectives and constraints across the entire family's financial situation. 

 

Is CFG an investment management firm?

 

Yes. Managing clients’ money is our primary business practice.  CFG does provide investment management services to individuals, families and in some cases, institutions. 

 

We are not a portfolio manager in the traditional sense; we are not “stock pickers”.  Our proprietary portfolio management process is grounded in science, primarily Modern Portfolio Theory and the Capital Asset Pricing Model.   Further information regarding our investment management process can be found in our Form ADV Part 2.  Also, we would be happy to walk you through a presentation on the steps involved in our investment management process.

 

How is CFG paid?

 

CFG is paid solely by its clients. Our compensation structure may include fixed project fees, asset based fees or hourly charges for planning, portfolio management and ongoing consulting services. A detailed description of our compensation policy is found in our Form ADV Part 2.   Our fees are fully disclosed and we believe they are quite competitive.

 

What are your fees?

 

CFG actively seeks investment portfolio management relationships for portfolios of $100,000 or more.  Fees typically begin at 1% of assets under management annually for our portfolio management service.

 

We also provide financial planning services separately from portfolio management services, on a per-project or hourly fee.

 

Please see our Form ADV Part 2 for more detailed information on our various services and the corresponding fees. 

 

Why should an individual or family entrust the management of its entire financial situation to one organization?

 

How often does an individual or family’s entire advisory team actually meet? How often are decisions made without consideration of the impact across the entire financial, tax, investment and risk management spectrum? Employing a single, proven organization familiar with every financial aspect of the family is the most logical and cost effective approach.  CFG has been doing this for nearly 30 years!

 

Where will my assets be held? 

 

All client accounts are maintained by a third-party custodian – Charles Schwab & Company. Client assets are never commingled with company assets or the assets of any other client. Monthly statements are provided by the independent custodian. CFG has discretionary trading authority within client accounts as defined within the client’s investment policy statement, client agreement, and agreements with Charles Schwab & Company.

 

What financial or advisory services are not provided by CFG?

 

CFG is not a law firm, accounting firm or manufacturer of financial products. We do not prepare legal documents, provide legal advice, nor do we give tax advice.

 

Will CFG work with existing advisors?

 

Sure! Trusted advisory relationships are not developed overnight, nor quickly relinquished. It is not CFG’s desire to disturb advisory relationships you value.  We will work in cooperation with a family’s existing legal and tax advisors when executing our services if requested. 

 

What is the significance of the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) certification?

 

The CFP® certification marks identify professionals who have met the high standards of competency and ethics established and enforced by CFP Board. CFP Board's Standards of Professional Conduct require CFP® professionals to act in their clients’ best interests.

 

Click here for more information on this certification and the importance of having a well structured financial plan.

 

What is the significance of the Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst® (AIFA®) designation?

 

The AIFA® designation certifies that the recipient has advanced knowledge of fiduciary standards of care, their application to the investment management process, and procedures for assessing conformance by third parties to fiduciary standards. To receive the AIFA® designation, individuals must complete a training program, successfully pass a comprehensive, final examination and agree to abide by the AIFA® Code of Ethics. In order to maintain the AIFA® designation, the individual must annually renew their affirmation of the AIFA® Code of Ethics and complete ten hours of continuing education credits.

 

Click here for more information on this designation.