What Makes Us Different?
and other frequently asked questions...Certified Financial Planners™ on our team
Our Clients Trust Us to act as their Fiduciary.
The heart and soul of what Shira Ridge does is financial planning and wealth management because it helps to bring intention, confidence, peace of mind, and success to our clients. We love what we do and promote a culture of commitment to our clients and their goals.
With a Certified Financial Planner™ on your team at Shira Ridge, you can rely on our commitment to the financial planning process, financial education, and professionalism. Furthermore, we act as a fiduciary under federal regulations, which means that our advice and recommendations are always in your best interest.
What’s the Value of a Certified Financial Planner™ Professional?
Goals
A good financial adviser helps you to identify, and then move toward, your financial and personal goals. Most who struggle with finances don’t really have a plan, which can lead to a lack of confidence when making financial decisions. When you feel financial confidence, we know we’ve done our job.
Financial Health
Understanding where you’re at now provides a guidepost for what to do next. When we bring clients under our umbrella, it starts with a record and assessment of financial vitals; assets, liabilities, income, insurance, taxes, investments, and estate plans.
Plan Development
Based on weighted goals and appraised financial status, we create plans for clients that are achievable and flexible.
Monitor Progress
It’s one thing to create a plan; it’s another to make it happen. We ensure your plan is put into action and monitor for any impediments during your financial journey.
Adapting to Life
We track and manage our clients’ financial progress against their personalized plans, personal circumstances, life stages, and market conditions.
Aligning Professionally & Personally
Our relationship with our clients is structured collaboratively and professionally. We build trust through goal achievement and aligned values while practicing kindness and integrity.
Questions Frequently Asked by Investors
Does your firm act as a Fiduciary? How do you get paid?
Shira Ridge acts as a Fiduciary with all of our clients, which means that we put your best interests first when making financial recommendations or providing advice. While that might seem like a basic concept, not all firms act in this manner. Aligned with that is how Shira Ridge gets paid. As an RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) firm, we charge a fee for managing our clients’ assets, never being compensated or influenced to use one investment vehicle or strategy over another. This fee covers all of our ongoing wealth management activities including annual financial plan updates.
Does your firm provide financial planning and wealth management?
Financial planning and wealth management is the heart of what we do at Shira Ridge. Our belief is that true financial success comes from having a plan designed to meet your goals as well as needs, then putting systems and strategies in place to make that plan to work for you financially and emotionally. The plan is a living document, requiring annual updates and change of life scenario plans.
Does your firm have a minimum amount of investments that you require to work with me?
Yes, the minimum amount of your combined (household) investment amounts must be at least $1,000,000, unless you are a family member of an existing client.
Will I have online access to my accounts?
You will have online access through the Schwab website, through a secondary reporting system, and through the Shira Ridge App that you can download to your smartphone for easy mobile access.
How would our relationship work? How often would I hear from you or meet with you?
At a minimum, we meet with clients annually. We also provide online or long-distance meetings when needed or convenient. We can meet more frequently at your request or if your financial situation changes significantly (new job, inheritance, marriage or divorce, etc.).
What is your investment philosophy?
We believe in controlling expenses and taxable events (gains, losses, etc.). We believe that your cash flow needs and financial plan objectives guide the composition of investment portfolios (accumulation, spending, tax-sensitivity, Roth IRA’s, etc.). We believe that “beating the market” isn’t the goal – fulfilling the needs and goals of your financial plan is the objective. Our primary investment vehicles are index-style mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETF), and individual bonds or stocks, where appropriate.
Does your firm provide or support socially responsible investing?
Yes, our firm has a number of diversified investment solutions available for clients who would like to screen their investments based on their values and/or personal societal goals.
How do I know if I need a financial planner?
A few questions to consider when working with a financial planner:
How complex is your financial situation?
If you rent and receive one W-2 at the end of the year, then you may not need wealth management services. You may benefit from working with a financial planner if you’re nearing retirement (or want to take early retirement), have multiple 401k or IRA accounts from various places of employment, are wondering when to start social security, sell or buy a house, or sell your business, etc.
Are you on track to meet your long-term goals (five years or more)? Have you thought about what those goals are?
Developing a strategy that aligns itself with your goals, cash flow needs, and mental capacity for handling the risk required to achieve financial growth are elements of long-term financial success. If having a partner (like a coach) to help identify what’s important and to help you stay on track appeals to you, then working with a financial planner might be a good option.
Do you have the desire, and the expertise, to manage your financial assets with consistency, an investment philosophy, and the discipline to stick with it?
If you answered yes, you might be fine on your own. What we’ve found over the years is that money is emotional, not just financial. Uncertainty in life – politics, tax changes, your job situation, caring for parents or children – all play a role when making short-term financial decisions. And that can sabotage long-term financial results and goals. Working with a financial professional should help you to stay on track in working toward your goals and in managing distractions and impediments that may arise along the way.
