Questions worth asking before you hire a financial advisor

Yes — at all times. As a fee-only advisor, my only compensation comes directly from the fees my clients pay me. I don't accept commissions, I don't sell products, and I don't receive referral fees. As a fiduciary, I'm legally required to act in your best interest. I'm happy to provide a signed copy of my fiduciary oath upon request.

I've been delivering personal financial advice to individuals and families for more than 30 years. I started my career at Merrill Lynch, later founded my own independent wealth management firm, and now work with Wealthcare Capital Management — an SEC-registered investment adviser that handles compliance, trading, and operations so I can focus entirely on client relationships.

I work as an Investment Advisor Representative under Wealthcare Capital Management, an SEC-registered Investment Adviser based in Richmond, Virginia. You can review our current Form ADV on the SEC's website or request a copy directly from me.

No — I work with women nationwide. While many of my clients are in and around Atlanta, I have clients in a number of other states, and even one client who is a citizen and resident of Japan. With today's technology, location is rarely a barrier to a great working relationship.

Absolutely — almost all new clients come to me via referral from existing clients or other professionals like CPAs and estate attorneys. If someone you trust referred you here, I'd love to connect.

The first step is a simple introductory conversation — no cost, no obligation. We'll spend about 30–45 minutes getting to know each other, and I'll ask a lot of questions and listen carefully. If it seems like a good fit, we'll schedule a more in-depth discovery meeting. If it doesn't, I'll be honest and do my best to point you in the right direction.

No. The initial conversation is completely free, with no obligation. I don't charge for introductory meetings — I want us both to be confident we're a good fit before moving forward.

Not at all — in fact, it's more common than you might think. Many of my clients come to me having managed their finances largely on their own, and they're ready for a more thoughtful, organized approach as retirement gets closer. We start wherever you are.

Most client accounts are held at Charles Schwab, which is where I custody assets. In most cases, transferring accounts is a straightforward process and we handle the paperwork. If you have accounts at other institutions that need to stay there for specific reasons, we can discuss how to work with that.

I charge a fee based on the value of the investment assets I manage for you — this is called an assets under management (AUM) fee. My fee includes everything: financial planning, investment management, tax planning coordination, regular meetings, and full access to me during working hours. One quarter of the annual fee is charged each calendar quarter and is typically deducted directly from your investment accounts.

My fees are straightforward and transparent, based on the size of your investment portfolio. I'm currently accepting new clients with investment assets of $2 million or more. I'm happy to walk you through the specific fee schedule during our introductory conversation.

The investments I recommend have very low internal expense ratios — typically between 0.06% and 0.12% — which are deducted from the fund's returns rather than charged to you separately. Charles Schwab may charge transaction fees on some investments, though the funds I typically use have no transaction fees. There are no other fees my clients pay.

Under current tax law, investment advisory fees are not deductible on a personal tax return. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended that deduction through at least 2025. If you're self-employed or a business owner, there may be limited circumstances where fees could be deducted as a business expense — but that's specific to your situation. Ask your CPA what applies to you.

Contact is more frequent in the first 12–18 months as we establish your plan and work through priorities together. After that, I typically reach out every 45 days or so to check in. Most clients meet with me one to two times per year for a full plan review — though I'm always available when something comes up.

I believe the best outcomes happen when your advisors are working together. I'm happy to coordinate directly with your CPA, estate attorney, or other professionals — sharing relevant information (with your consent) and making sure everyone is aligned around your overall plan.

I reach out proactively — you won't have to wonder where I am or what's happening. We'll review your plan together, put the market movement in context, and make sure your withdrawal strategy and overall approach still make sense. The goal is to make sure short-term volatility doesn't drive long-term decisions.

Yes. Your information is held in strict confidence and protected by robust security measures. By law, I cannot share your private information with anyone other than you or the advisors you authorize. If you'd like details about our specific security practices, I'm happy to walk you through them.

This is an important question and one I take seriously. I have a continuity arrangement in place with a trusted independent advisory firm, so if something unexpected happened to me, my clients would be transitioned to a qualified team who already understands the Wealthcare planning philosophy. Your accounts and your plan would be protected.

This is one of the most important questions I help clients answer — and it's rarely just about the numbers. We'll look at your income sources, savings, spending needs, and timeline, and model out what retirement actually looks like for you at different ages. The goal is to give you a clear, honest answer rather than a vague "you'll know when you know."

Absolutely — and this is one of the reasons I make sure both partners understand the plan from the beginning. Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult things anyone goes through, and the last thing you should have to worry about is your finances. I'll be there to help you navigate the transition, update the plan, and make sure you're on solid footing.

Yes. Divorce is one of the most financially complex transitions a woman can face, and having an advisor in your corner who understands the long-term implications — asset division, retirement accounts, Social Security, insurance — can make a significant difference. I work with women at various stages of this process and can coordinate with your attorney as needed.

The honest answer is: it depends — and anyone who gives you a definitive answer without knowing your full situation is oversimplifying. The right claiming age depends on your health, your other income sources, whether you're married, and what you actually want your retirement to look like. Sometimes waiting until 70 makes sense. Sometimes claiming earlier is the right call, even at a reduced benefit. We work through it together as part of your overall plan — not as a math problem to optimize, but as a personal decision to get right for you.

Learn more about how I approach Social Security planning.

These are among the most underutilized — and most valuable — benefits in the entire Social Security system, especially for women. If you're married, you may be eligible for up to 50% of your spouse's benefit. If your spouse passes away, you may be eligible to receive their full benefit. And if you were married for at least 10 years, you may be able to claim based on an ex-spouse's work record. How and when each of you claims affects both benefits significantly — which is why this needs to be part of a coordinated plan, not an afterthought.

Health care is one of the largest and most unpredictable expenses in retirement — and one of the most commonly overlooked in financial plans. I make sure it's built into yours from the start, including Medicare timing, IRMAA surcharge planning, and the gap years before Medicare if you retire before 65.

For the insurance side specifically, I partner with Move Health, a team of federally certified, non-commissioned health insurance advisors who specialize in Medicare and pre-65 coverage. Their guidance is provided at no cost to you, and they coordinate directly with me so your coverage stays connected to your overall plan.