Frequently Asked Questions2025-04-21T12:37:48-04:00

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is financial planning?2025-04-17T04:55:56-04:00

Financial planning is the process of evaluating your current financial situation and setting clear, achievable goals for your future. Our holistic approach helps ensure that all areas of your financial life are working together to support your long-term success. A comprehensive financial plan includes:

  • Retirement Planning
  • Asset Allocation Recommendations
  • Tax Planning & Strategy
  • Estate & Legacy Planning
  • Risk Management & Insurance Analysis
  • Education Planning

Why do I need financial planning?2025-04-17T04:57:26-04:00

Financial planning provides a clear picture of your overall financial health and outlines a personalized path to help you reach your goals. While everyone’s goals are different, common objectives often include retiring comfortably, becoming debt-free, starting a business, purchasing a second home, or saving for a child’s education. Whatever your goals may be, having a plan in place is the most effective way to achieve them. Although your plan may evolve over time, financial planning offers the structure, direction, and actionable steps needed to move forward with confidence.

What is wealth management?2025-04-17T04:58:29-04:00

We offer a unique wealth management experience, combining comprehensive financial planning with strategic portfolio management. At Wiser, wealth management includes asset management and personalized financial planning. We manage your investment portfolio while also helping you plan for all areas of your financial life, including retirement, tax strategies, estate planning, risk management, and charitable giving. With unlimited access to your dedicated advisor, you’ll always have guidance when you need it most. Our goal is to optimize your entire financial picture and be a long-term partner in your success.

What is retirement planning?2025-04-17T04:59:31-04:00

Retirement planning is a key part of our financial planning process. Together, we establish your retirement goals and create a strategy to help you achieve them. This involves estimating future expenses, identifying potential income sources, and developing a savings and withdrawal plan designed to support long-term financial security and a comfortable retirement.

What does it mean to be a fiduciary advisor?2025-04-17T05:00:39-04:00

Being a fiduciary means we are legally and ethically obligated to act in your best interest at all times, whether it’s the advice we provide or the investments we recommend. At Wiser Wealth Management, serving as a fiduciary is a core part of our commitment to transparency and client-first service.

Wiser Specific Questions

How much does financial planning cost?2025-04-17T05:02:15-04:00

The cost of financial planning depends on which service model you choose and the complexity of your financial situation. At Wiser Wealth Management, we offer two options:

  1. Wealth Management – We manage your investment accounts and provide ongoing financial planning as part of that service. Our management fees range from 1.50% to 0.50% annually, based on the size of your portfolio.

  2. Flat Fee Financial Planning – For those who prefer a one-time engagement, we offer comprehensive financial planning starting at a flat fee of $5,750.

A well-crafted financial plan can help you avoid costly mistakes, uncover new opportunities, and bring clarity to your financial future.

How do you charge your fees?2025-04-21T12:39:24-04:00

Our fees depend on the type of service you choose:

Wealth Management – If we manage your investment accounts, we charge an investment management fee quarterly. This fee is directly debited from your managed accounts and is based on the annual rate outlined in your agreement. Our fees range from 1.50% to 0.50% annually, depending on the assets under management. For example, an annual fee of 1.00% would be billed as 0.25% per quarter. You’ll receive a detailed billing statement each quarter. Ongoing financial planning is included in this service at no additional cost.

Flat Fee Financial Planning – For one-time financial planning, we estimate the hours needed and charge a flat fee accordingly, with pricing starting at $5,750. Half of the fee is due upfront, and the remaining balance is due upon delivery of your completed financial plan. You’ll have access to your planning team for one year after your plan is delivered. If you choose to update your plan later, we charge an hourly rate for those future meetings.

Do you earn a commission on investments you recommend?2025-04-21T12:39:32-04:00

No, we do not earn commissions. Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only firm, which means our compensation comes solely from the fees our clients pay for flat fee financial planning and wealth management, never from commissions or product sales. Our fees are simple, transparent, and clearly outlined in the client agreement.

Does your firm have a minimum account size?2025-04-23T10:33:38-04:00

No, we don’t have a minimum account size. However, our wealth management services are typically the best fit for families with around $1 million or more in investable assets. For those with accounts under $400,000, we offer a lower-cost investment platform through Betterment. It includes our portfolio models and high-yield savings accounts, all at a reduced annual fee of 0.50%.

Do I need to live in the Atlanta area to work with you?2025-04-17T05:06:48-04:00

Not at all! We work with clients across the country, thanks to virtual meeting capabilities and secure technology. We can either meet virtually or in person at our office. Many of our clients in the Metro Atlanta area enjoy visiting our office near the historic Marietta Square, but we’re happy to work with you wherever you are.

How can you help me with tax planning?2025-04-17T05:07:49-04:00

While we’re not CPAs or an accounting firm, we are well-versed in tax laws as they relate to financial planning. We can help identify tax-saving opportunities and incorporate tax-efficient strategies into your overall financial plan. For more advanced tax planning or preparation, we’ll refer you to a trusted CPA within our professional network, or we’re happy to collaborate with your existing tax advisor.

How can you help me with estate planning?2025-04-17T05:08:45-04:00

While we are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice, we can offer guidance on your estate planning needs and help identify potential gaps or strategies based on your financial situation. For legal matters, we can refer you to a trusted law firm within our network or work directly with your existing attorney to ensure a coordinated and seamless approach. Our goal is to help align your estate plan with your overall financial goals and provide support throughout the process.

Who will I be working with at your firm?2025-04-17T05:09:45-04:00

We utilize a team approach here at Wiser Wealth Management. You’ll primarily work with a Senior Financial Advisor or Financial Advisor, along with a Financial Planning Associate who will guide you through the financial planning process. Our Client Services team handles account setup and ongoing support, while our Investment Manager oversees portfolio construction and rebalancing. This collaborative structure ensures you receive well-rounded, personalized support every step of the way. Click here to learn more about our team.

What is your investment philosophy?2025-04-17T05:11:44-04:00

Our investment philosophy is grounded in academic research, data-driven insights, and a long-term perspective. Our model portfolios are carefully constructed to align with varying levels of risk tolerance, to maximize risk-adjusted returns over a full market cycle.

We design our portfolios to be resilient, built to endure market volatility, including bear markets and economic downturns. While we don’t react to short-term market movements, we do remain flexible. If there’s a sound, fundamental reason that changes our forward-looking return expectations, we may adjust our allocations accordingly.

Why choose Wiser instead of a larger, institutional advisory firm?2025-04-17T05:12:42-04:00

At Wiser, we offer the personalized service and attention that larger, institutional firms often lack. We are committed to acting in your best interest, without the conflicts of commission-based sales or proprietary product pushes. Our clients value the direct access to a dedicated advisory team, tailored financial plans, and the continuity of working with professionals who truly understand their goals. We take a holistic approach, integrating investment management, retirement planning, tax strategies, estate planning, and more into one cohesive plan. With us, you’re not just another account, you’re a long-term partner, and your financial success is our top priority.

What can I expect during the initial consultation?2025-04-17T05:13:50-04:00

In this complimentary 30-minute meeting, we get to know each other, discuss your goals, and see if we are a good fit. We explain our services and what working with us will look like. Click here to schedule your consultation.

What can I expect after the initial consultation?2025-04-17T05:14:52-04:00

Once you decide to work with us, we provide you with a comprehensive checklist to help you gather your personal and financial information for your Discovery Meeting. We will discuss your financial goals for the future, including investments, retirement, tax strategies, business planning, college savings, estate planning, risk management, and insurance. We get to know where you are now and what you want out of life. For more information about our complete process, click here.

Have more questions?

We are here to guide you every step of the way, call or schedule a meeting with Wiser Wealth Management today!

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