Frequently Asked Questions.

No. I’m an independent, fee-only financial planner.

Of course! Although student loan planning is our speciality, we can still work with clients who are not in that situation.

$0. I have flexible pricing models that makes things possible and affordable for anyone to get sound financial planning advice. Some people want to pay for a one-time consultation on an important decision, but most clients want an ongoing financial planner at a monthly cost that's affordable. See our Services pages for details.

1. We work with you regardless of how wealthy you are.

2. We have a fee structure that prices services to fit what is affordable and fair for you.

3. We've actually received high-level education in financial planning, not just passed an easy license exam to sell life insurance or mutual funds.

4. We don’t sell financial products for commission.

5. We have no account minimums.

6. We're open and transparent about conflicts of interest.

7. We'll be honest about how much you need - or if you need - a financial planner.

8. We're 100% fiduciary - legally obligated to act in your best interest, all the time.

9. We believe that finding a good financial planner should be like dating. We should have as much conversation as necessary, completely free of any sales-pitchy-ness, before a long-term commitment.

10. We're not stuffy, boring, old, impersonal, intimidating, or wanting clients who are those things.

Is that enough? :)

I studied Family Finance and Personal Financial Planning for my bachelors degree. I then worked at a nonprofit agency as a Financial Counselor for several years and worked remotely as an assistant financial planner at a firm based in New York prior to starting Wealth Mode Financial Planning.

I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional. This is the closest thing to a “CPA” in the financial planning world. To become a CFP® professional you have to go through a CFP® educational program (which I completed in college), complete a 6-hour comprehensive exam (brutal), get 3 years of full-time experience in the field, and agree to a code of ethics to serve the public’s best interest.

I am also an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), which gives me a unique view of how we think and feel about money as individuals, and how those beliefs and attitudes influence our financial choices. Most importantly, I can help you figure out how to change your behavior around money and feel better about your decisions.

I am an Enrolled Agent (EA). This means I passed a three-part comprehensive IRS test on individual and business tax returns, and am admitted to represent taxpayers and practice before the IRS. I believe good tax planning and thorough tax return preparation is a critical part of comprehensive financial planning, and so at the request of my own clients, I deepened my expertise and expanded our service offerings to take care of all things taxes for our clients.

I am also a proud member of a national group of financial planners who specialize in working with people in Generations X and Y. We're called the XY Planning Network, and we created a change in the financial planning industry. We found a way to bring financial advice in an affordable, unbiased way to more people, rather than just to older people who already have a lot of wealth. We collaborate and give support and feedback to each other on our clients’ situations so that we can give the best advice to our clients.

Oh, it’s awesome (did you think we’d say anything else?). We’re going to have some great conversations about your life and what you want to achieve. We'll use interactive technology to create a customized financial plan, keep in contact, and make managing your finances efficient and convenient. Most of all, we'll seek to find your personal balance of enjoying the present and setting up your future so you'll live in Wealth Mode now AND later.

Loaded question!

I believe what the research says - the research done by academia and objective third parties, not the biased conclusions that come from research done by Wall Street.

Please go to our Investment Philosophy page to read the strategy and 7 core principles of investing that I stand by.

If you feel yourself getting hung up on the right investment strategy, remember: when you are in the first half of your working career, asset accumulation is more important than asset allocation. Don’t get fooled into thinking there’s a secret investment or strategy with magically high rates of return.

In the end, it doesn't matter what your investment strategy is if you don't save enough money. Focus on that, and your holistic financial plan. Define your goals and values, then make the right cash flow decisions from early on in your life, when it matters most.