Why are you thinking about working with a financial advisor?
Contrary to what you may have heard, the value of financial planning has nothing to do with any "deliverable." And it has nothing to do with meeting length, quantity, or format. Rather, the best financial planning process gives you the knowledge and confidence to actually take action. Ultimately, the real value lies in making your money work for you, so that you can live the life you and your family desire without unnecessary stress or uncertainty.
The value of financial planning has nothing to do with a specific deliverable or a certain number of meetings. Rather, the best financial planning process gives you the knowledge and confidence to actually take action. In partnership with Illumint, your family should be able to live the life you desire without unnecessary uncertainty.
Millennial parents like you deserve a streamlined, low-stress financial planning process so that you can start receiving guidance with minimal impact on your time.
After you apply, we'll chat on the phone for 15 minutes to answer any questions you have
Day zero: "So, How Does This Work?"
You don't need to make a decision immediately! After our call, you'll have 2 weeks to accept your client spot
Then, you'll get some light "homework" to start. (I don't need every financial statement you've ever received.)
We can schedule our first meeting within 14 days. I'd love to meet for a walk around the city if you're in D.C.!
"So, How Does This Work?"
1
Apply
to make sure I'm the best fit for your most important questions
2
3
4
5
Act
6
Improve
Here Are the Steps We'll Take Together:
Discover
Imagine
Explore
which financial data will play the biggest role in shaping your progress
how you could use your money to give your family the lives you each desire
the financial strategies that best align with your preferences & timing
on our decisions to more thoughtfully spend, save, invest, & use your time
upon the first version of our plan as life, finances, & interests change
(Today!)
(Week 1)
(Month 1)
(Months 2-3)
(Months 3-6)
(Months 6-12)
*You can find additional service details on the desktop version of the Illumint website
Engaging With You On Your Schedule
After the first live meeting, most of our work relies on a video app to share questions, input, & ideas
Sharing With You the Best Financial Tech
Teaching You So That You May Not Need Me
This way, you don't need to set aside more of your time for more meetings. Or receive more e-mail.
But we actually chat more often! On a weekly (month #1) or biweekly (months 2-12) basis.
I prefer Google Docs over complex software so that we both can update your plan as needed
We use College Aid Pro to give you the most accurate projection of your family's college costs.
I never ask you to share sensitive personal data. Instead, I request screenshots whenever possible
When a financial advisor fully manages your investments, you miss opportunities to learn
I'm with you at every step, but I also want to empower you to make decisions on your own
The personal finance education you receive also enables you to think differently about money
How You Get a Different Financial Planning Process With Illumint
Not Trying To Impress You With Tech
We use College Aid Pro to give you the most accurate projection of your family's college costs. But otherwise, I try to keep the tech we use simple & effective for us.
Engaging With You On Your schedule
After the first live meeting, much of our work relies on a video app to share questions, input, & ideas. This way, you don't lose more time to more meetings.
Teaching You So You Don't Need Me
I'm with you at every step of the way, but I also want to empower you to make decisions on your own in the future. Investing doesn't need to be complicated.
I've intentionally created a financial planning process that should result in sustainable strategies for you. So most clients only desire check-in meetings after year #1.
Our initial engagement lasts for 1 year. You don't have any commitment beyond that point if you don't want.
Day 365: "What comes next?"
After the first year, many clients opt to continue with only a mid-year and/or end-of-year check-in meeting.
The fee for most clients decreases substantially after the first year. A check-in meeting averages about $1,500.
I highly value my relationships with former clients. You're always welcome to message me with basic questions.
"What Comes Next?"
Recent Questions From Millennial Parents Who Became Clients
No, I don't. Most people our age don't need to pay someone to manage their investments. Investing should be fairly straightforward for us. So I give clients detailed investment advice and I educate them on the most important aspects of their investments.
Do you manage investments for your clients?
We work frequently from a financial plan document that I craft for you. The document is purposefully kept to one page in length. (Most humans don’t look at a financial plan more than once if it's any longer.) We also monitor your savings rate in Google Sheets.
What deliverables do you provide as part of our work?
Reasons Why You Should Not Work With Illumint
YOU CAN'T have ME LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNTS TO BUY OR SELL INVESTMENTS
You want to Find the cheapest Financial Advisors To Work With
You want a financial advisor who only offers in-person, real-time meetings
You can't work with a TEAM OF associate FINANCIAL ADVISORs; YOU ONLY WORK WITH Me
