FAQ

I’m thinking about becoming a client of Monocot Wealth Management. What are the most important aspects of your firm you want me to know about?

• We have your best interest in mind at all times and will always make the choice that benefits you most. As an independent investment firm, that is what sets us apart from most of the large firms.
• We are here to protect you from the risky financial environment we live in today.
• We use our decades of experience and our credentialed expertise to make investment decisions that other financial advisors might not think of doing.
• We are conservative in our approach to financial investment, and we take only the amount of risk required to achieve your desired results.
• We have a tremendous amount of pride in what we do and how we do it. We have worked hard to create an investment philosophy and practice that yields real results for our clients, despite the financial environment.
• We are more than advocates on your behalf—we treat your money as if it were our own.

I’m a new client with Monocot Wealth Management. How can I get the most out of my relationship with your firm?

We’ll start by spending a good amount of time getting to know each other. That’s important because the better we know who you are—your preferences, your dreams and plans for the future, your approach to money—the more precisely we can tailor a financial plan that is just right for you. At the beginning of that process, we’ll take you through our Wealth Simulation Model, and we’ll talk about investment options and associated risks and characteristics. We want you to “kick the tires” before we engage with one another.

Once you engage us, the most important thing you can do is to trust us to do what we feel is right for you. You want the kind of relationship where you don’t feel like you have to look at your portfolio on a daily basis and constantly monitor the news because you know that we are handling your money. We’ll keep you up-to-date via our monthly phone call. In short, allow us to do what we do best: manage money.

Why should I call you to schedule a wealth simulation?

We truly believe that going through our Wealth Simulation Model is one of the most valuable things you can do in relation to your financial household. We say this because the results of the wealth simulation is a plan—a road map—that can pinpoint where you are now and clearly show you the best options to move forward with your money and your investments.

What are some questions I can ask myself to help me think about money and my relationship to it?

• What does money mean to me?
• If I had one year to live, what would I do?
• It today were my last day on earth, what would I regret not having done?
• What would I like my money to achieve for me?
• What would a typical day look like for me after retirement?
• What has been my best investment?
• What has been my worst investment?

What are the top five characteristics a client should consider when choosing a financial advisor?

Opinions vary about this question, of course, but we think it’s important to consider these characteristics:

• Integrity
• Experience
• Knowledge
• The process they take their clients through to understand how best to manage their money
• How they actually invest
• Education – Industry credentials and commitment to ongoing learning

How are you able to offer more value to clients than they might find elsewhere, including at larger firms?

We strive to outperform any other firm—large or small—in everything we do. Here are a few specific reasons why we believe we are able to do that:

• Better technology, which enables us to work more quickly and efficiently and provide better, faster information to clients.
• Compliance geared to our specific practice rather than implemented to the weakest link in a large firm. As a result, we can be more effective and productive, and we can do a better job of investing for our clients.
• Our clients have access to more products than they might at other firms. These products include such options as Vanguard funds and trust deeds.
• Better risk-adjusted performance than at most other advisors because of our investment philosophy and hands-on approach in managing portfolios.

I see you have a number of certifications—Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Investment Management Analyst. How do those certifications help you provide better service for me?

Behind each of these designations are hours of education and study, culminating in examinations in which we had to prove we were worthy of the certification. In addition, certifications such as these require continuing education to maintain the designation. That keeps us inspired to stay engaged with the latest happenings in the full spectrum of the financial and economic world.

In a nutshell, the knowledge we have gained from preparing for these certifications—and our continuing education—enable us to stay on top of changes in laws and regulations, tax issues and all of the rapid developments in the financial services industry and the world in general.

What are some of the criteria you use to help determine the best financial investment strategy for your clients?

• Current financial situation
• Goals
• Past investment experiences
• Personality
• Age
• Risk Tolerance
• Sophistication regarding investments

I’ve been told commission-based products are bad. What’s the problem with them?

Actually, the answer is nothing is wrong with commission-based products. There are situations in which commission-based products are the best choice. In fact, there are times when they are the only choice—such as in the case of insurance. When we believe a commission-based product can provide benefit to our clients, we fully disclose all costs and features and let our clients make the final decision.