Our Services
Charleston Financial Advisors is flexible in providing a full range of comprehensive financial planning services. In fact, we think that’s one of the great reasons to work with us. Our favorite client relationship is an ongoing, comprehensive financial planning relationship because it provides you with the most in-depth financial analysis and support while giving us the best chance to get to know you, your values, and goals. However, we also recognize that depending on your preferences and situation, a one-time engagement or quick check-up may be a better fit. And we’re happy to work with you in whichever way is best-suited for you.
We also recognize that some people want full-service investment management as part of their financial planning relationship, and others prefer to implement our advice on their own. Either is fine with us.
Our financial planning services include advice on issues such as:
Retirement planning
Financial decision support including saving for a home, how much to spend on a car, how much emergency fund you should have
Investment analysis and management
Retirement distribution and tax planning
Social security timing
Pension analysis including lump sum and survivor options
Long-term care funding
Insurance review and recommendations
Restricted stock and stock options
Deferred and other executive compensation
Small business retirement plans
401(k), 403(b), and other employer plan allocations
College planning
Tax planning
Employment benefits
Planning Process
Each client situation is unique. We have developed a process to uncover your specific planning needs.
INITIAL MEETING- No Charge
This is the opportunity for you to decide if our firm is the right fit for you. You set the agenda addressing what you hope to accomplish after working with us. Following the meeting, we ask you to fill out a financial fact finder and provide supporting documents.
DATA MEETING - No Charge
Together, we review your fact finder and documents and exchange information regarding your planning goals and objectives. Based on our meeting, we determine the level of financial planning services (as described below) that will suit your specific goals. Following the meeting, we prepare an Engagement Letter with a quoted fee and an Agreement. Should you choose to engage us, simply return the signed agreement and one-half of the quoted fee to get your plan underway.
Planning Services
Comprehensive Planning
Designed for clients who are interested in an integrated plan encompassing all aspects of their financial life. Through a series of meetings, we will analyze your current financial position and make recommendations to put your plan in action. We will meet regularly to check progress and assist with implementing recommendations.
Typically, we’ll identify strategies within these core areas:
Life Values and Goals
Cash Flow Planning
Retirement Income Planning
Risk Management and Asset Protection
Asset Allocation Strategies reflecting your goals
Investment Review and Planning
Education Planning
Tax Planning
Estate Planning Review
Typical comprehensive plans begin at $3,500 up to $7,500 which covers services for 12 months. One-half of the fee is due upon accepting the engagement letter. The remainder is due at the completion of the last report.
Focused / Project Based Planning
Designed for clients who are interested in advice on a specific topic or a limited project. A typical project plan topic combinations could include:
Retirement Savings Plan and Investment Analysis
College Savings Plan and Investment Analysis
Investment Analysis and Life Insurance Review
Cash Flow Plan and Retirement Savings Plan
Retirement Income Plan and Investment Analysis
Based on the depth of the project, fees generally range from $850-$4,000
Coaching/Hourly Planning Services
The hourly sessions are designed to cover a limited topic that we can tackle during our meeting time. Typically, we'll identify strategies surrounding these common issues:
Setting priorities for paying down debt, building an emergency fund, and saving for the long term.
Tackling debt: student loans, credit cards, etc.
Understanding your employee benefits plan, and investment allocations for your work retirement plan.
Investing Do's and Don't's
Setting retirement saving goals when you are more than 15 years from retirement
Buying your first home when the time is right.
Hourly financial planning fees can range from $100 to $400 per hour depending on the complexity of the case and the staff member providing services.