FAQ

The first is individuals and families who are approaching retirement or already retired. These clients often need help coordinating multiple areas of their financial lives, including investments, retirement income planning, tax planning strategies, estate planning, and Social Security decisions. Our goal is to help bring those moving pieces into a more organized planning process and, when appropriate, coordinate with a client’s other professional advisors.

The second is self-employed and 1099 professionals, including sales professionals, whose income and tax situations may be more complex than those of traditional W-2 employees. These clients often benefit from advice around cash flow, tax planning strategies, retirement savings, and long-term wealth planning.

If you fall into either of those categories and are looking for ongoing wealth management or financial planning, Tiverton may be an appropriate fit.

There is no formal minimum to work with Tiverton Wealth.

That said, many of our clients tend to have household assets of $250,000 or more. At that stage, financial planning and investment management may involve a broader range of considerations, including tax planning strategies, cash flow planning, estate planning, insurance, and portfolio management.

Our services are designed to be comprehensive, and the value of that work can vary depending on a client’s individual situation, goals, and complexity.

If you are near that level, or expect to be there in the future, it may make sense to have a conversation to determine whether our services are appropriate for your needs.

Tiverton Wealth may not be the right fit for everyone.

For example, if you are primarily looking for basic portfolio management without broader financial planning, there may be other firms that are better aligned with that approach.

Our firm focuses on comprehensive planning. While investments are an important part of what we do, we also spend significant time on areas such as tax planning strategies, cash flow planning, estate planning, and coordination with other professionals. Clients who are not interested in that broader planning process may not fully benefit from the scope of our services.

We also tend to work best with clients who are engaged in the planning process. That does not mean you need to have everything figured out, but rather that you are open to ongoing conversations and collaboration around your financial goals.

If that approach resonates with you, it may be worth having a conversation to see if Tiverton is an appropriate fit.

Yes. Tiverton Wealth works with clients both within Texas and in other locations, subject to applicable registration and regulatory requirements.

Many of our client relationships are conducted virtually through video meetings and other digital tools, which allows for flexibility in how we meet and communicate.

For clients who are local to The Woodlands area, we also offer in-person meetings.

Regardless of location, our goal is to provide a consistent planning experience and maintain ongoing communication tailored to each client’s needs.

Fee-only means that Tiverton Wealth is compensated directly by its clients for advisory services. We do not earn commissions from the sale of investment/insurance products.

This structure is designed to reduce many of the conflicts that can exist in other compensation models. Our goal is to provide advice that is aligned with each client’s financial situation, goals, and best interests.

It is also helpful to understand the difference between “fee-only” and “fee-based.” Fee-based advisors may charge fees but can also earn commissions from certain products or transactions.

If you have questions about how an advisor is compensated, it is always appropriate to ask for clarification so you understand how they are paid and how that may influence the services they provide.

Being a fiduciary means we are legally required to act in our clients’ best interests when providing investment advice and to disclose any material conflicts of interest.

As a Registered Investment Adviser, Tiverton Wealth is held to a fiduciary standard. This is a legal obligation that applies to the advice and services we provide.

It is also helpful to understand that different types of financial professionals may be held to different regulatory standards. Some operate under standards that require recommendations to be appropriate or suitable based on a client’s situation.

For clients, the key takeaway is to understand how an advisor is compensated, what standard they are held to, and how they manage and disclose potential conflicts of interest.

That depends on the relationship we build together, and we believe in being transparent about it.

We have a dedicated page on our website called “How We Get Paid” that walks through the primary ways we structure our fees. We wanted that information to be easy to find because we think it’s important that you understand how your advisor is compensated. It should be clear, upfront, and explained in plain English.

Every client situation is a little different, and the right fee structure depends on the services you need. The best way to determine what makes sense for you is a conversation. We will walk you through the options, answer any questions you have, and make sure you understand everything before moving forward.

No. Tiverton Wealth does not sell insurance products, and we do not earn commissions from them.

This is consistent with our fee-only model, where we are compensated directly by our clients for advisory services. This structure is designed to reduce certain conflicts of interest that can arise when compensation is tied to product sales.

That said, insurance is often an important part of financial planning. Life insurance, disability coverage, and long-term care planning may all be considered as part of a client’s overall financial picture, and we will address those areas when relevant.

When appropriate, we provide recommendations and guidance based on a client’s situation and goals. Clients are free to work with any insurance agent or provider they choose to implement those recommendations.

We typically meet with clients on a regular basis and as needed based on their circumstances.

At a minimum, we meet twice a year—a mid-year check-in and an end-of-year review. Many clients meet more frequently, often two to four times annually, depending on what is happening in their lives, such as job changes, major financial decisions, or market developments.

In addition to scheduled meetings, clients are welcome to reach out to us by email with questions or to discuss decisions as they arise.

Our approach is to maintain ongoing communication and to reach out when we believe a conversation may be helpful based on changes in a client’s situation or broader financial considerations.

Financial credentials can be confusing, so it is helpful to understand what they represent.

The CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™) designation is a professional certification in the field of financial planning. Earning the CFP designation requires completing coursework across key areas of financial planning, passing a comprehensive examination, meeting experience requirements, and maintaining ongoing continuing education and ethical standards.

CFP® professionals are required to act as fiduciaries when providing financial advice, which means they are obligated to act in the client’s best interest in those circumstances.

While credentials are one factor to consider, they are just one part of evaluating a financial professional. Experience, communication, and the overall approach to planning are also important considerations.

My interest in financial planning started early, well before I entered the industry professionally. I became interested in how investing, planning, and long-term decision-making impact financial outcomes, and that interest continued to grow over time.

I formally entered the financial services industry in January 2017. Over the course of my career, I have worked in a variety of environments, including large insurance-affiliated firms, wirehouses, and independent practices. Each experience provided a different perspective on how financial advice is structured and delivered.

Before founding Tiverton Wealth, I served as Chief Strategy Officer for a large advisory practice, where I gained insight into both the client experience and the operational side of the business.

Those experiences ultimately led me to establish Tiverton Wealth as a fee-only registered investment adviser. In this structure, we are compensated directly by our clients, which is designed to reduce certain conflicts of interest associated with product-based compensation models.

Your assets are held at Charles Schwab, an independent third-party custodian. This means your accounts are maintained separately from Tiverton Wealth.

We manage your investments, but we do not take custody of your assets. Instead, your accounts are held at Schwab, a registered broker-dealer and member of SIPC. SIPC provides limited protection against the loss of securities in the event of firm insolvency, but it does not protect against market losses.

You will receive account statements directly from Schwab, in addition to any reporting we provide. This allows you to review your accounts independently at any time.

The transition process is often more straightforward than many clients expect, though the experience can vary depending on the specific accounts and circumstances involved.

In most cases, account transfers are handled directly between your current custodian and Schwab. You may not need to communicate directly with your current advisor to complete the transfer, although in some situations it may be necessary. If you are paying a separate planning or retainer fee at your current firm, you may need to contact them directly to cancel that service.

Transfers typically take one to two weeks, depending on the type of account. Your current advisor or custodian may charge a transfer fee, which is often in the range of $50 to a few hundred dollars per account.

From a tax perspective, certain transfers—such as custodian-to-custodian IRA transfers—are generally not taxable when completed properly. For taxable accounts, we review the potential tax implications of existing holdings before making any recommendations, with the goal of helping clients make informed decisions.

All transfers require your authorization, and nothing moves without your approval.

Throughout the process, we aim to provide guidance and support to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

That is a fair question, and one worth understanding.

Many clients who come to us are looking for a more comprehensive approach to financial planning. In some cases, they are seeking more frequent communication, greater clarity around fees, or a broader focus that extends beyond investment performance alone.

Tiverton Wealth is structured as a comprehensive planning practice. While investment management is an important component, we also focus on areas such as tax planning strategies, cash flow planning, retirement planning, and coordination with other professionals when appropriate.

Our goal is to provide advice that is tailored to each client’s individual goals, timeline, and circumstances, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

We also work to provide transparency around fees and services, so clients understand what they are paying for and how we are compensated.

In certain cases, we coordinate with tax and estate planning professionals, or assist clients in organizing those areas as part of their overall financial plan.