What is the Signature Client Program?
The Signature Client Program at Scholar Financial Advising is an exclusive offering that provides tailored family office services to our clients. We focus on delivering ongoing comprehensive financial advice, guidance, and coordination. We become your go-to resource for everything finance. In addition to our ongoing services, any finance issues or opportunities that come your way can be immediately forwarded to us to be handled.
Our Team of Financial Advisors
At Scholar Financial Advising, we take great pride in our team of financial advisors, all of whom hold at minimum a Ph.D. in finance and possess extensive experience in researching, formulating, and presenting on complex financial topics. We feel that this expertise uniquely positions us to navigate the intricate situations faced by our clients.
Partners in Financial Management One of our core values at Scholar Financial Advising is to develop close, collaborative relationships with our clients. We believe that effective financial planning and advisory services are best achieved through open communication, trust, and a deep understanding of our clients unique needs and circumstances.
This close collaboration is key to achieving financial success and we are committed to building long-term relationships with our clients. We provide ongoing support, regular check-ins, and continuous monitoring of your financial situation. By staying connected, we can proactively address changes in your circumstances, adjust strategies accordingly, and coordinate with other members of your team to initiate and monitor implementation.
Highlighted Financial Services
We offer a range of services to provide support and address the diverse needs of our clients. We work closely with you to understand your goals, aspirations, and concerns. By developing a deep understanding of your financial situation, we can provide advice and strategies that align with your long-term objectives. Below are some of the services we provide within the context of a Signature Client relationship.
Coordinated Financial Management We understand that managing personal and business finances can be overwhelming. There is a large time commitment needed to meet with professionals, research their recommendations, and then implement the advice. We act as your dedicated financial quarterback, coordinating with your CPA, attorney, insurance agents, brokers, and other professionals. This ensures seamless communication and collaboration, saving you time and effort while providing comprehensive financial oversight.
Future Generations Planning Preserving and transferring wealth to future generations requires careful planning. We assist our clients in developing strategies and structures that foster the successful transfer of wealth, with the long-term financial well-being of your family in mind. Our education and mentorship programs for heirs are designed to instill financial responsibility and prepare them for managing inherited wealth.
Investment Advice We believe that clients should still maintain control over their financial accounts. However, we monitor client accounts for rebalancing needs, tax loss harvesting, plans for concentrated positions, conversion opportunities, and provide specific trade and strategy recommendations for our clients to implement when needed. We do not take custody of client accounts and do not provide the investment management. However, we will provide updates on your investment performance and are happy to help you set up your own accounts, create a transfer strategy (if needed) and educate you on the self management process.
Alternative Investment Valuation Our clients regularly receive offers to participate in joint ventures, real estate syndication deals, private placements, and investments in privately held companies. We provide advice on the valuation of these deals, evaluate their place (if any) in your portfolio, and the due diligence necessary before you invest.
Unplanned Events The one constant in finance is that once in a lifetime events happen all the time. Whether it is in the financial markets or our own lives, there is always some event that needs our attention and these events frequently have financial consequences. When these events occur, you simply send them our way. We will do the necessary research, due diligence, and planning to make sure you can make informed decisions.
Who is a Good Fit?
The Signature Client Program is solely for individuals looking to outsource the planning, advice, and coordination of their finances. We recommend that individuals meet at least one of the following thresholds, but we are willing to accept individuals who do not quite meet those thresholds if we think we could be of service to them:
- Ongoing annual income greater than $1 million
- Invested assets greater than $10 million
- Ongoing annual income taxes greater than $250,000
Fee Structure
Our monthly fee model is designed to mirror our ongoing financial services while removing as many conflicts of interest as possible. We do not charge or accept any commission-based compensation or asset under management (AUM) fees. We believe in transparency and ensuring that our clients receive objective advice from an independent fiduciary.
As part of our commitment to providing tailored services, all clients must complete a comprehensive financial plan before starting in our Signature Client Program. This process involves an in-depth analysis of your financial situation, goals, and objectives. The comprehensive financial plan serves as the foundation for our ongoing advisory services, enabling us to develop strategies that align with your specific needs. The cost for this plan is $15,000.
After completing and delivering an initial comprehensive financial plan, we will meet with you to discuss the complexity and ongoing needs of your financial situation. Based on our discussion, you will be placed in one of the following tiers:
Tier 1: $3,000/month
Tier 2: $6,000/month
Tier 3: $10,000/month
Next Steps
We are excited to embark on this financial journey with you. To explore whether our Signature Client Program is the right fit for your needs, we invite you to fill out our application. This will allow us to understand your financial situation and goals better. Once your application is reviewed, we will reach out to schedule an initial consultation to discuss your needs, answer any questions you may have, and determine the best way forward.