Frequently Asked Questions

Fees are deducted directly from your investment account. Wealth Management fees are billed quarterly in arrears based on average daily account value. Performance Partnership fees are billed annually in arrears. Interactive Brokers mails monthly statements directly to you showing all activity, including any fees charged.

We do not have a strict minimum. Fit matters more than account size. We need to be aligned philosophically on investment approach and expectations. We are not the right fit for everyone, and that is acceptable. If we are not the right match, we will refer you to other advisors we know and trust.

A high-water mark ensures that we only charge performance fees on new profits. If your account declines, we must first recover those losses and surpass the previous peak before earning any performance fee. This protects you from paying fees on the same gains twice. Combined with our hurdle rate, it means performance fees only apply to gains that exceed both the prior portfolio peak and the chosen hurdle rate.

At account opening, you select one of two hurdle rates: a 10% annual fixed rate or the S&P 500 Total Return Index. The performance fee applies only to gains exceeding the chosen hurdle. This ensures we earn only when we deliver returns above a meaningful benchmark, not just any positive return.

Under SEC Rule 205-3, a Qualified Client is someone with a net worth of at least $2.2 million (excluding primary residence) or at least $1.1 million in assets under management with our firm. Only Qualified Clients are eligible for our Performance Partnership model.

Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or give us a call. We will schedule a brief introductory conversation to understand your situation, answer your questions, and determine if there is a mutual fit. There is no obligation and no pressure.

Yes. As a state-registered investment adviser, we can work with clients in other states subject to applicable notice filing requirements. Most of our services are delivered virtually, so geography is rarely a barrier.

Interactive Brokers is one of the largest and most financially stable brokerage firms in the world. During the 2008 financial crisis, when household-name firms collapsed or required government bailouts, Interactive Brokers remained profitable and never needed a single dollar of rescue capital. They carry excess regulatory capital well above required minimums, maintain conservative balance sheet practices, and operate in over 150 markets across 34 countries. We use IBKR Pro, which charges a small commission per trade -- typically $0.35 to $1.00 -- but does not engage in payment for order flow. That matters. Brokers that offer "free" trading sell your orders to market makers who profit from the spread before your trade executes. IBKR Pro routes your orders directly to exchanges using SmartRouting technology to find the best available price. You pay a fraction of a penny per share and get better execution in return.

Your assets are held in a segregated account at Interactive Brokers in your name -- not ours. We never take custody of your funds. We hold Limited Power of Attorney solely to execute investment decisions on your behalf. Interactive Brokers is a SIPC member, providing up to $500,000 in securities protection per account, with additional coverage through Lloyd's of London for accounts exceeding SIPC limits. Because your assets are held at an independent custodian, they are always accessible to you regardless of what happens to our firm.

Discretionary management means you grant us Limited Power of Attorney to make investment decisions in your account without needing to call you before every trade. This allows us to act quickly when markets move, execute tax-loss harvesting at the right moment, and rebalance your portfolio as conditions change. You set the strategy and risk parameters with us upfront. We execute within those guidelines. You can see every trade in real time through your Interactive Brokers login, and you can revoke this authority at any time.

Yes. You have direct login access to your Interactive Brokers account at all times. You can view your positions, transaction history, and performance in real time. Interactive Brokers also mails monthly statements directly to you showing all activity, including any advisory fees charged. You never have to rely solely on us to know what is happening with your money.

No lock-up periods or termination penalties. Fees are pro-rated and refunded for any prepaid but unearned portion upon termination.

Because your assets are held at Interactive Brokers in your name, they are always yours regardless of what happens to our firm. We maintain a succession plan to ensure continuity of advisory service, but your access to your money never depends on us. You can log into your account, transfer assets, or close the account at any time with no involvement from us.

SEC regulations restrict how investment advisors can present performance data in marketing. During our consultation, we can discuss our investment approach, philosophy, and how we have navigated various market environments within compliance guidelines.

You can verify our registration on the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) database using our CRD number 335113. Our Form ADV disclosure documents are also available on our website at /form-adv. These documents detail our services, fees, conflicts of interest, and business practices.

In addition to our advisory fee, your portfolio may incur fund expense ratios (0.03% - 0.20%) and custodian platform fees. Fraction-of-a-penny commissions at IBKR Pro (typically $0.35-$1.00 per trade). We favor low-cost index funds and ETFs to minimize these underlying costs.