Questions & Answers

Most people think all financial planners are “certified,” but this isn’t true. Anyone can use the title “financial planner.” Only those who have fulfilled the certification and renewal requirements of the CFP Board can display the CFP® certification trademarks, which represent a high level of competency, ethics, and adherence to a fiduciary standard (see below).

CFP® professionals must pass the comprehensive 10-hour, two-day CFP® Certification Exam, which tests one’s abilities to apply financial planning knowledge to real-life situations.

A fiduciary standard, which means the firm and its associates will act in the utmost good faith and perform in a manner believed to be in the best interest of its clients. As an investment advisor, we put you, the client, first. This sets us apart from investment brokers, who are held to a lower “suitability” standard and are not legally required to place clients’ interests ahead of their own or to disclose their conflicts of interest involving their clients’ transactions.

For investment management, you will pay a fee based on the size of your assets. For assets between $250,000 and $5.0 million, the advisory fee will range from 0.50% to 0.85%. (This is well below the 1.0% to 1.25% most people pay their advisors.)
See how expenses can impact your assets

You don’t have to invest all your assets with Glazier Financial Advisors. Let us prove what we can do for you with an investment as low as $250,000.

For a financial plan, you will pay a fixed amount. Glazier Financial Advisors does not sell insurance, but we will work with you and outside resources to help ensure your needs are being met at a reasonable cost.

The ideal client for Glazier Financial Advisors would either be someone seeking guidance on how to achieve financial security or someone experiencing a transition in life, for example: marriage, divorce, a new job, an inheritance, retirement, selling a business. Our clients are typically young professionals planning for the future or those 55 years or older thinking about retirement and its related complexities.

No, Glazier Financial Advisors does not take any cash or securities. You will be asked to transfer assets to either a Fidelity Investments or Vanguard account. All assets are in your name, and you will provide Mitchell Glazier trading authorization.

Mitchell Glazier only works with a select number of clients. As such, you will receive exceptional service and customized solutions; your requests will be answered promptly, your assets will be managed at a low cost and your portfolio will be set up in a tax-efficient manner.

Mitchell Glazier will work with your other advisors to ensure each aspect of your finances are working together efficiently. If Glazier Financial Advisors manages your assets, you will also receive a complete web-based financial plan that can be updated easily in real time on an on-going basis.

Your financial plan will include a total look at your assets, expenses, and cash today and in the future. Importantly, it will include “what-if” scenarios and the impact on your future:

• What if the stock market suffers a major setback in the next few years?
• What if I retire at age 62 instead of age 65?
• What if I have a serious illness without having long term care insurance?

If these are the kinds of questions that keep you up at night, we will see what would happen to your portfolio, now and in the future, should events like these occur. While no one can predict the future, you can help prepare for it.

Assets are managed according to “Modern Portfolio Theory” using a diversified asset allocation based on your risk profile and financial goals. Allocation targets will be set for each asset class. Rebalancing will occur on a yearly basis. Tax harvesting (e.g., taking any loses to offset gains) will be conducted throughout the year.
Expenses will be kept low using mostly low-cost mutual funds and ETFs (exchange traded funds). Index funds and ETFs (especially Vanguard funds) will be used as core holdings. View model portfolios

Individual stocks will be used sparingly with most stocks being large dividend-paying positions. The funds managed by Glazier Financial Advisors will be viewed in the context of your total financial holdings and in accordance with your goals and risk profile.

Glazier Financial Advisors applies a “contrarian approach.” As asset classes become over or undervalued according to historical standards, funds will be shifted and rebalanced to lower performing or “less loved” investment areas in an attempt to reduce short-term volatility/risk and to take advantage of long-term value.

Regardless of your income or asset size, setting up your portfolio to minimize taxes will be a priority. For example…

– If you are in a 28% or higher bracket, qualified dividends are far more valuable in a taxable account.

– Offsetting gains against any losses each year is critical.

– Maximizing tax-deferred investments, such as 401k, Roth IRA, or self-employed 401s, are key components to maximizing long-term accumulation of income.

Typically every investment decision will be considered in the context of maximum tax efficiency.

Yes, you can have a multifaceted financial plan developed without having Glazier Financial Advisors manage your assets. Depending on the degree of complexity, a plan will cost between $1,750 and $2,500.

Please note that if Glazier Financial Advisors manages at least $250,000 of assets, a financial plan will be included at no additional cost. Many clients begin having a financial plan developed and then use Mitchell Glazier to help implement and manage at least a portion of their total assets.

There is no written minimum, but most clients have over $500,000 investment assets unless they are a son or daughter of a client.

Because each client has a custom portfolio, there is no overall performance calculation. A benchmark index will be established for you based on your allocation and risk profile. The performance of your portfolio will be measured each quarter. The goal is to at least equal the stated benchmark but to do so with reduced risk.

We will be in contact regularly either by email, phone, or text – in most cases at least once a month. We will conduct an in-person annual review to see if your goals or personal situation has shifted in any way.