Fee-only means that, as a true fiduciary, we have endeavored to eliminate any and all conflicts of interest that surround some of the common compensation arrangements in the industry. We believe that simple and transparent fees result in fewer distractions to us — and better advice for you.

The ReFrame Wealth fee is calculated as a percentage of the assets that we advise on. This fee covers investment management, financial planning, and elder care consulting. Your fee is automatically deducted from your investment account every quarter; you do not get a separate bill for these services. We do not charge an hourly rate. We have no ties to financial product companies and do not accept commissions or kickbacks for recommending certain investments over others.

We selected Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), as the custodian for our client’s assets based on Schwab’s long history of serving investors, as well as their extraordinary commitment to data security and privacy. 

Charles Schwab also provides our clients with their Schwab Security Guarantee, which promises that “Schwab will cover losses in any of your Schwab accounts due to unauthorized activity”.   How’s that for peace of mind?

Additionally, Schwab is a member of Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”).  SIPC protection covers stocks, bonds, Treasury securities, certificates of deposit, mutual funds, and money market mutual funds held at SIPC member firms.  It does not cover investment losses due to market declines.

ReFrame Wealth is registered as a large investment advisor (more than $100MM assets under management) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The SEC audits our activities, trading procedures, billing, documentation, advertising, and financials, among other things. 

Yes. We built ReFrame Wealth to provide fiduciary advice bound by the standards of both the SEC and the CFP(R) Board. There is no circumstance in which we step away from the fiduciary standard. We embrace our legal obligation to deliver financial advice that is in our client’s best interest — at all times, without exception.

Your financial planner will present you with an Investment Policy Statement that takes your total financial picture, your preferences, and your income needs into account.  With your approval, our portfolio managers will adhere to your personal investment policy at all times.

Yes. We offer investment options that match your values. We can build portfolios that are aligned with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) values. We believe that every investment has the potential to be impactful — and take pride in helping our clients vote with their dollars while making progress toward their financial goals.

No. Offering those types of products directly to our clients would disqualify us from running a true fiduciary fee-only firm. If your comprehensive financial plan indicates a need for insurance, annuity, or a mortgage, the ReFrame planners can introduce you to a vetted professional outside of our firm — and walk alongside them to ensure that you are taken care of. We do not receive any payment related to insurance, annuities, or mortgage products that you choose to buy. 

We have structured ReFrame Wealth as a fully integrated team.  If your financial planner is unavailable for any reason, another ReFrame Wealth teammate can help you.

Thanks to our partnership with Charles Schwab, you can always access your assets and account support directly through the Schwab website, call center, or any branch/investor center.