Personal retirement and financial planning is one process. Employer 401(k) advisory is a different one. Here’s what actually happens in each.
For individuals, couples, and business owners engaging on their personal financial life.
Thirty minutes. No obligation. We look at where you are, what you’re trying to figure out, and whether formal planning would actually help.
If we agree to work together, we gather the details — accounts, income sources, cash flow, benefits, insurance, estate documents, tax return. A written planning agreement outlines scope and fees.
Retirement projections, tax scenarios, income strategy, allocation review. First-draft plan for you to react to — not a monologue.
Walk through the recommendations together. What we agree on, what needs more work, what to do first.
Move accounts if that’s the decision. Coordinate with your CPA and attorney. Set up whatever the plan calls for — contribution changes, beneficiary updates, Roth conversions, insurance adjustments.
Scheduled check-ins. Annual plan updates. Ad-hoc calls when something changes. The plan is a running conversation, not a document.
For plan sponsors reviewing an existing plan, starting a new plan, or changing advisors.
Thirty minutes with the decision-maker. What’s working, what isn’t, and whether a plan review or startup engagement makes sense.
For existing plans: Form 5500, plan document, 408(b)(2) fee disclosure, investment lineup, payroll integration setup, participant sample. For startups: census, payroll platform, goals, budget.
Fee benchmarking, investment review, fiduciary process review, payroll integration review. Or, for startups: design options with trade-offs and cost estimates.
Written summary. What’s good, what needs to change, and what the biggest opportunities are — in dollars where possible.
If a provider change is warranted, we run the comparison in writing. If your current provider stays, we say so — and we focus on service.
Contracts, plan document work with the TPA, payroll file setup, portal access, employee communication and enrollment.
Quarterly investment reviews. Annual plan review. Employee education on a set schedule. Fiduciary documentation. Audit prep. Access when questions come up.
You’ll get a short confirmation email with a video-meeting link (or a Charleston office address if in person). If it’s a 401(k) conversation, we may ask you to have your current plan document or fee disclosure handy — useful if you have it, not required if you don’t.
Thirty minutes. You do most of the talking. We look at what you’re dealing with, what you’ve tried, and whether working together makes sense. No pitch deck. No sales close.
A short email summarizing what we discussed and what makes sense as a next step. If we’re a fit, we outline what a formal engagement would look like — scope, fees, timeline, deliverables, all in writing. If we’re not a fit, we say so and point you toward something better.
An introductory meeting does not create an advisory relationship. Any advisory or brokerage relationship is documented in writing before it begins.