Frequently Asked Questions
What are your credentials?
Do you offer the services I need?
Most likely, yes. If you want to know for sure, contact us and ask.
Eads & Heald Wealth Management offers comprehensive bundled services, or "a la carte" services. You may choose from three types of relationships with Eads & Heald Wealth Management, as explained below.
- Provides highly personalized, comprehensive financial planning as well as investment and portfolio management for high-net-worth clients, future high-earners, doctors, attorneys, millennials, individuals, businesses, retirement plans, and other clients.
- Coordinates with other professional advisors such as attorneys and accountants in order to serve more complex financial needs. This may include tax minimization, trust management, wealth transfers, and real estate management.
- Designs investment portfolios, generally consisting of stocks, bonds, and other individual securities.
- Manages the portfolio on a discretionary basis, meaning that you authorize Eads & Heald to trade on your behalf without the need for advance approval from you.
-
Help you look to the future and do long-term financial planning in the areas of retirement, college funding, wealth transfer, tax planning, and insurance. -
The financial planning process lays the groundwork and prepares the road map with which you develop and implement investment management and overal wealth management strategies. You may always opt to further hire Eads & Heald Wealth Management to handle ongoing investment management and financial planning needs. See above.
How are you compensated?
If you would like to know what our fee would be for your situation, please feel free to ask.
Eads & Heald Wealth Management's fee schedule aligns our interests with your interests. We only make more money if you make more money. Period!
Where will my assets be held?
You choose the custodian for your assets. Charles Schwab is a good example of a custodian with whom many of our clients place their assets, but we can work with any custodian you choose.
How do I determine my investment goals and preferences?
-
Investment goals - What are you working toward: A comfortable retirement? Leaving a legacy? Philanthropic goals? -
Risk tolerance - How much fluctuation in value can you tolerate in exchange for the opportunity to earn above-average returns? -
Time horizon - When will you need to withdraw money from your investments? -
Income needs - Do you need current income from your portfolio? How much? -
Tax situation - Does your tax bracket require a tax-sensitive strategy? -
Other holdings - Do you have significant wealth tied up in real estate or other illiquid assets? -
Other needs - Do you have complex planning needs related to wealth transfer, executive compensation, risk management, business succession planning, or philanthropic planning?
How will we work together?
Good communication between you and Eads & Heald is essential. We are effectively your "financial doctor" or "financial concierge". If you have a question or concerns, please let us know.
The firm offers a consistent product and service across all portfolio managers. So, we are always on the same page with each other and with you.
How will you report performance?
What investment services do I need?
How do I choose an investment advisor?
Whether you’re starting with a list of recommended advisors or you have a specific advisor in mind, the following three steps can help you make a thoughtful choice.
-
Start with a preliminary screening. You can review pertinent information about an advisor even before you meet. Most independent financial advisors are required to publicly disclose details about their business by filing a Form ADV. You can review the Form ADV on the SEC website for federally registered independent financial advisors at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. -
Form ADV, Part 1 describes an advisor’s advisory services, compensation, disciplinary history, and other aspects of its business operations. -
Form ADV, Part 2 describes an advisor’s services, fees, and investment strategies. Advisors are required to give you Part 2 information before you hire them. -
Keep in mind that not all investment advisors are registered. State-registered financial advisors may not file a Form ADV, and advisors that are exempt reporting firms only complete parts of Form ADV. -
Things to check on Form ADV: Type of business, Assets under management, Affiliations with other financial services companies, Services offered, Disciplinary history
-
-
Know your investment objectives. Identifying your objectives will help you select an advisor who is in tune with your ultimate goals and personal preferences. -
Investment goals - What are you working toward: A comfortable retirement? Leaving a legacy? Philanthropic goals? -
Risk tolerance - How much fluctuation in value can you tolerate in exchange for the opportunity to earn above-average returns? -
Time horizon - When will you need to withdraw money from your investments -
Income needs - Do you need current income from your portfolio? How much? -
Tax situation - Does your tax bracket require a tax-sensitive strategy? -
Other holdings - Do you have significant wealth tied up in real estate or other illiquid assets? -
Other needs - Do you have complex planning needs related to wealth transfer, executive compensation, risk management, business succession planning, or philanthropic planning?
-
-
Prepare to interview advisors. As you begin to talk with advisors, you’ll want to evaluate them objectively. Asking each advisor a consistent set of questions will help ensure that you have the information you need to make a good comparison.
Will I have secure online access?
Absolutely! Eads & Heald is a modern firm. There are two avenues for online access:
What input do I have in the construction of my investment portfolio?
We prepare a written Statement of Investment Objectives for your approval before we begin managing your portfolio. In your Statement of Investment Objectives you can delineate specific companies or industries you do not want to own if you so choose. If you have liquidity, income, or asset mix needs, those should be addressed as well. Beyond that, we need to be free to manage the portfolio as appropriate in an attempt to meet your long-term investment goals. You can revise your written objectives anytime.
Can I control when and how much capital gains I realize?
In general, it is better to manage a portfolio for fundamental reasons and let capital gains take care of themselves. Of necessity, think of some percent of your realized capital gains as going toward taxes. A portfolio can become convoluted if one has an extreme focus on minimizing capital gains. Nevertheless, our investment philosophy lends itself to minimizing tax consequences given our low portfolio turnover and emphasis on growth rather than dividends.
What is your investment time horizon?
We are long-term investors. We look out three to five to ten years and longer. If your primary focus is on six to twenty four months or so, we would not be a good fit for you.
Will an individual or team manage my account?
Each portfolio will have an assigned manager. All of our portfolio managers are working within the same corporate investment philosophy, so longer-term results will be very similar regardless of who is actually assigned to your account(s).
Are you regulated?
Yes, we are regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If you would like a copy of our SEC filing (Form ADV), please contact us.