Finding the right financial planner for you is tough.

Real Questions. Real Answers.

We know a lot goes into deciding what financial planner is right for you. Here are answers to the most common questions we hear from people looking to find their BFFF (Best Financial Friend Forever)

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What is a fiduciary? Are you one?

A fiduciary is ethically and legally bound to act in their client’s best interest…and we are proud to be one! Basically, it means that we will never give you financial advice that we could somehow benefit from, like suggesting investments or insurance that would give us a commission or kickback. Our number one priority is doing what is right for YOU.

Who are your clients?

Generally awesome people who are interested in participating in their financial future! This includes individuals, couples, executives, small business owners, children of clients, parents of clients, and beyond. We focus mainly on healthcare professionals and women+, but we’re excited to work with anyone who is ready to make the world better for themselves and others.

Do I need to have a lot of money to work with you?

Not at all. Everyone deserves the opportunity to get solid financial advice and get guidance for improving their future. You shouldn’t have to have seven figures in the bank before you start investing. We have a flat-fee service model and no minimum investment requirement.

Do fee-only and fee-based mean the same thing? Why is fee-only important?

Though they sound similar, fee-only and fee-based are quite different. Fee-only means an advisor is compensated only through the flat fee they charge. Fee-based means the advisor is compensated by both fees and commissions. This means they may not be impartial advisors. At Rising Financial we put your interests first and are strictly fee-only and always will be.

Why do I need to diversify my portfolio? What does that even mean?

When you diversify, it means you invest in lots of different kinds of asset types (stocks, bonds, real estate, currencies, etc). This can reduce your risk since the performance of any one asset won’t grossly affect your entire portfolio.

Will my portfolio still be diversified if it’s invested to align with my values?

Absolutely! The investments that we collaboratively recommend for you can be as low-cost, tax-efficient, and diversified as any traditional portfolio, and are only limited in scope if we decide together to limit them (to a specific sector, country, impact area, for example).

Do you do taxes? Will you file my taxes?

While we don’t file your taxes, Amber is an EA (Enrolled Agent) which means she could. We do lots of tax planning to minimize your overall taxes from a holistic perspective and we partner with a few consultants for your tax filing.

What about insurance?

We review all of your insurance and will point out any holes that need filling, but we don’t sell anything. If you are interested in home, auto, umbrella, life, disability, or long-term care insurance, we can recommend caring, trustworthy partners who won’t oversell or overcharge you.

Can you help me get a will or a trust?

Yes! While we are not attorneys, we will help you understand the difference between a will and a trust–and help you determine which one you need. Then we will refer you to trusted attorneys who can help you create not only a family trust or will, but also your ever important power of attorneys, healthcare directives, guardianship documents, and more.

Do you offer a free consultation?

Of course! Click here to set up your first meeting. We’ll talk about where you are financially right now, what goals you have, and see if we would be a good fit.

What does a typical year look like as your client?

After your initial onboarding and plan creation, we’ll stay in regular contact throughout the year. We’ll meet multiple times a year to ensure you are on track and allow for changes in the law and in your life to redirect your plan. We also send you a monthly email update about timely planning concepts and your portfolio, as well as a newsletter for the entire Rising Financial community, and hold regular community meetings and service days.

How are you compensated?

We charge a flat monthly fee for each of our membership levels. We do not sell investment products or accept commissions of any kind. You can view the pricing chart here.

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Do you do hourly work? Can I hire you on an hourly basis?

We believe the value in financial planning is in the long-term relationship and building habits that last. That’s why we only offer ongoing membership plans and not hourly work. However, don’t be afraid to email or call us with your questions. You’ll never be billed for communication…we want to hear from you! We’re in this together!

I just need someone to tell me if I’m on track for retirement. Do you do that?

Other than our unique Student model, we do not do one-off reviews. Instead we work to nurture long-lasting relationships.

Do you pursue ongoing professional development?

Absolutely. As a CFP I am required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. I am also an active member of the financial planning community, including a national study group through the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors that is focused on socially responsible investing.

Where is your office?

Anywhere you are! We’re strictly virtual for meetings, but do host traveling IRL volunteer activities in locations where most of our clients live.

Do you have appointments on Saturdays? Evenings?

We respect your time as well as ours. We devote weekends and evenings to our families and helping our communities. We will be happy to meet with you Monday-Thursday, from 9am-4pm Central time.

How do you protect my sensitive information?

We take your privacy seriously. We use many secure platforms to share and discuss your financial life, and they have all gone through our rigorous privacy assessment.

We don’t send sensitive data via email and will similarly ask clients to refrain. We use an online portal to share information instead, which is more secure than email.

Almost all of our software is web-based and uses multi-factor authenticaion when available. We select app-based over SMS-based and all software and hardware is protected by strong passwords that are updated regularly.

You can read more about the security policies of our providers linked below:

Advice Pay (payment processing)

Calendly (meeting scheduler)

Capitect (investment performance reporting and billing)

Google’s GSuite (email, calendar, file storage)

Hello Sign (electronic signature)

Holistiplan (tax-return analysis)

JotForm (data gathering)

LastPass (password security)

Mailchimp (all-client and group emails)

Quickbooks Online (bookkeeping)

RightCapital (financial planning and document portal)

Schwab (client investment management)

Wealthbox (client relationship management)

Zoom (phone and virtual meetings)

Who is not a good fit for RF?

If you’re looking for a one-time plan, hourly work, or would rather DIY, we won’t be the best fit for you. In addition, if you’re looking for the “next hot” investing tip or a get-rich quick scheme or aren’t ready to share the details about your finances, you should look elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for a long-term partner who will do the legwork and offer clear, trustworthy advice, schedule a meeting!