Yes. Since our founding in 1991, we have served as fee-only fiduciary advisors and act in our clients' best interests at all times.

We are compensated directly by our clients and do not receive commissions, referral fees, or compensation tied to products or services we recommend. Unlike “fee-based” advisors, who may receive commissions in addition to client fees, fee-only advisors are compensated solely by their clients. We believe this minimizes conflicts and allows you to receive advice focused solely on your goals, needs, and long-term interests.

We work with successful individuals and families facing increasingly complex financial decisions. Our clients include retirees, professionals, executives, business owners, surviving spouses, and multigenerational families seeking guidance regarding investments, retirement planning, taxes, estate planning, and other important financial matters. Many come to us looking for greater coordination, clarity, and confidence in managing significant financial resources.

Financial Alternatives is independently owned by its employee partners. We are not owned by (or affiliated with) a bank, brokerage firm, insurance company, or private equity sponsor.

We believe ownership structure can influence a firm's culture, priorities, staffing decisions, and client experience. Our independent ownership allows us to maintain a long-term focus on client relationships, continuity of service, and decisions we believe are in our clients' best interests.

Our investment philosophy is guided by an internal investment committee that evaluates portfolio strategy through the lens of risk, taxes, costs, and long-term objectives rather than short-term market sentiment.

We then manage each portfolio in a manner that reflects the client's goals, financial circumstances, cash and income needs, risk tolerance, and broader financial strategy. Investment decisions are not made in isolation; they are evaluated in the context of retirement planning, income tax considerations, estate planning objectives, and other factors that influence long-term financial outcomes.

Clients typically meet with us at least annually, and many meet more frequently depending on planning opportunities, significant financial decisions, life events, market conditions, and personal preferences.

We also communicate throughout the year by email, phone, virtual meetings, in-person meetings, and coordination with other professional advisors as needed. We do not restrict access based on a predetermined number of meetings; communication is guided by your needs, planning opportunities, and the scope of our engagement.

You will work with a dedicated advisory team consisting of at least two advisors. Your relationship is also supported by client service, operations, investment, and financial planning professionals who help implement recommendations and manage ongoing service needs.

This team-based structure provides continuity, diverse perspectives, and consistency of advice while reducing key-person risk and supporting your family's changing needs over time.

We do not prepare tax returns or legal documents. Instead, we work closely with your CPA and estate attorney to help ensure your investment, tax, and estate strategies remain aligned.

We believe you are best served when each professional focuses on their area of expertise while collaborating to support informed, coordinated decision-making.

Our fees are fully transparent and clearly disclosed. You will see advisory fees reflected on your quarterly billing statements, while any custodial, transaction, or administrative fees are separately disclosed by the applicable provider.

Most clients evaluate value not only by investment results, but also by the confidence, tax efficiency, risk management, and decision-making support they receive over time.

We help you evaluate these situations through a process that balances taxes, timing, investment risk, liquidity needs, and personal priorities.

While every situation is unique, our initial focus is often on preserving options, understanding trade-offs, and reducing the likelihood of costly or difficult-to-reverse decisions. We then work with you and your other advisors to implement an appropriate strategy.

We typically begin with a complimentary Initial Conversation to discuss your goals, answer questions, and determine whether our services may be a good fit. Most prospective clients then participate in Exploratory Meeting(s) designed to better understand their circumstances and determine the most appropriate path forward. Qualified prospective clients may subsequently be offered a Financial Assessment, which helps both parties evaluate whether an ongoing advisory relationship would be beneficial.

The Financial Assessment is a structured, high-level review of your financial situation conducted for a flat fee of $500. We evaluate key areas such as investments, retirement, taxes, estate planning, insurance, and other financial considerations to identify opportunities, potential concerns, and areas where professional guidance may add value. The process helps both you and our firm determine whether an ongoing advisory relationship would be beneficial.

Before any accounts are transferred, we work with you to develop a mutually agreed-upon roadmap for the administration of your accounts.

In most cases, your existing holdings can be transferred in-kind to Fidelity or Charles Schwab without being sold, helping avoid unnecessary taxes and disruption. We refine the investment strategy together, evaluating your holdings, tax circumstances, cash needs, and objectives so your portfolio can be managed in alignment with your overall strategy.

Financial Alternatives does not take custody of client assets. Client accounts are typically held with established third-party custodians such as Charles Schwab or Fidelity. We selected these custodians because of their breadth of services, technology, security, and client support. While we work closely with them to help serve our clients, we are independent and not affiliated with either organization.

Once an ongoing advisory relationship is established, our initial focus is helping you gain clarity, establish priorities, and develop an action plan based on the scope of our engagement.

During the first several months, we typically meet multiple times to evaluate opportunities, address key risks, refine investment strategy where appropriate, and implement agreed-upon planning priorities. Depending on your circumstances, discussions may involve investments, retirement planning, tax planning opportunities, estate and legacy considerations, risk management, and other financial decisions that are important to you.

The objective is to create a strong foundation for ongoing advice, oversight, and long-term decision-making.

Meetings are designed to help you make informed financial decisions and stay aligned with your goals.

Early meetings often focus on understanding your circumstances, learning about and evaluating opportunities, and developing recommendations. As an ongoing client, discussions may include planning priorities, investment considerations, tax or estate issues, major life changes, and next steps. Depending on the topic, meetings may be educational, strategic, or decision-focused.