frequently asked questions

1. What does Unbiased Wealth Management Inc. do?

   • “We help our clients gain complete control over their net worth and balance their current and future lifestyles.”

2. Why did you start a company offering fee-only Net Worth Management Services?

   • “I could see that people were frustrated with their financial planning arrangements. Some very affluent individuals were unsettled about whether or not their financial plan was going to properly provide for their retirement. Others were annoyed that their advisors didn’t seem to be working together as a team. They felt like no one was really in charge of everything."

   • “So I decided it was the right time to offer a fee-only service that gave people the kind of advice that many of them wanted and that also gave them what I knew they needed: complete control over their net worth.”

3. When did you found Unbiased Wealth Management Inc.?

   • "I started the company in 1999, so we’ve been in operation for a little over ten years."

4. As simply as possible, please tell us what a Net Worth Advisor does?

   • “A Net Worth Advisor will help you create a customized net worth program that controls all aspects of your financial life. The key to that program lies in balancing your current and future lifestyles.”

5. What is a net worth program?

   • “A net worth program is a financial planning process that considers your entire net worth over time, from both a values and an objectives perspective."

   • “This information is used to help find a way to balance your income, your consumption and your investments so as to provide the kind of support you need for your lifestyle, for now and for the future."

6. How many clients do you have?

   • “We offer exclusive personal services. We have no more than 50 clients at any time.”

7. How do your services differ from my stockbroker’s?

   • “Your broker is responsible for managing your investment portfolio. I help you manage your net worth. Our approaches are very different."

   • “For instance, a net worth advisor might encourage you to repay debt before investing additional funds. It is unlikely a broker would suggest this due to the resulting reduction in investment related revenue.”

8. Do you advise on securities?

   • “No. We do not advise on securities. We would ask an investment professional to implement specific components of your investment strategy.”

9. How do you get paid?

   • “Our clients pay an annual fee based on their net worth. We collect no commissions.”

10. How is your fee structure different than industry norms?

    • “There are two norms. The most common form of payment is commission, based on the sale of investment product. The alternate model is an annual fee based on a percentage of marketable securities. Both these models are focused on marketable securities, rather than net worth."

    • “In comparison, we charge an annual fee on your net worth, which includes your marketable securities. By focusing on your net worth, our compensation model aligns our interests with yours. This net worth-based fee structure enables us to consider all aspects of your net worth.“

11. How many managers do I need?

    • “We are not managers, we’re advisors. While your more traditional managers focus on specific aspects of your financial life, such as life insurance or your investment portfolio, we look at your entire financial picture."

    • “By integrating all aspects of your financial life, we can show how your investments, debt reduction, risk management, retirement and estate planning relate to today and to tomorrow."

12. Why should I pay my investment manager and you?

    • “Your investment manager focuses specifically on your market holdings. We direct your entire net worth. Our roles are entirely different."

    • “I will mention that many of our clients find that the addition of a net worth advisor can result in a reduction of their investment costs. We often save enough money to offset the majority of our fees.”

13. Is it your objective to cover your fees with either increased returns or through reduced investment costs?

    • “No. Our objective is to help you gain complete control over your net worth, to ensure your lifestyle now and in the future. Any increase in returns and cost savings that offset our fees is a secondary benefit of the process.”

14. What is your investment philosophy?

    • “Academic research suggests that the combination of a disciplined approach and the use of low fee investment products, such as indexes, often outperforms other strategies over the long-term. However, not all clients are best served by the indexing approach. Some clients are better served with a discretionary investment counsel relationship, or even a traditional brokerage realationship. We can guide you through your alternatives and help you make the decsion that is right for you."

    • “We recognize that investors can be their own worst enemy. Too often, they make emotion decisions that are inconsistent with their stated objectives. This is why we take so much time to work with you in order to define disciplined behaviors that can be used to guide your investment decision making. “

15. Why is discipline important when investing?

    • “As human beings, we tend to over react to current events and make rash decisions about our investments. These emotional responses often lead to the disappointments of ‘buying high/selling low’ results."

    • “A disciplined investment approach that’s based on previously agreed-upon constraints and trigger points can minimize the negative impacts of emotional decision-making.”

16. What’s your performance history?

    • “Each of our clients’ net worth profiles is unique. Their individual returns are a function of their personal objectives, risk tolerance, and resulting net worth asset mix. For more on our results we invite you to visit our page of client testimonials.”

17. What can you do for me, if I give you part of my portfolio?

    • “We do not manage your portfolio. We are net worth advisors. We look after your entire net worth, not just marketable securities.”

18. I am comfortable with my current managers, why would I switch?

    • “Your current managers may continue to play a role in the implementation of your investment strategy, supported by the net worth program focus of Unbiased Wealth Management Inc.”

19. Do you have a list of other professional advisors that you work with?

    • “Yes, as program advisors we have a wide variety of specialists that work with us on an ongoing basis.”

20. Who are your typical clients? Do I qualify to be a client?

    • "The majority of our clients have a net worth in excess of $5 million. However, there are a variety of factors that determine whether we can work together effectively.”

21. How do we get started?

    • “We begin by meeting for an hour to get to know one another, to discuss your objectives and to answer any questions you may have about our approach, as well as how an engagement would proceed. Please contact us to setup an appointment."

    • “And if you’re interested but just not ready to meet yet, I encourage you to download our white paper or view our webinar.”

22. What do I bring to the initial meeting?

    • “Your spouse or partner, if applicable, and an open mind.”