FAQ

What clients fit best with your firm?
  • Pre-retirees and recent retirees who want an understanding of the next steps in their financial lives and the answer to questions about how to make retirement work
  • Mid-career individuals and families who are conscientious about their finances, but don’t have the time or energy to devote to the development and execution of their plans 
What is your investment philosophy and what does that mean?

We believe in passive investing, generally speaking. Our approach to portfolio construction is a product of research-based analytics on market efficiency, which leads to capturing market returns over long periods of time. We create customized tax-sensitive portfolios with low turnover and low internal costs made up mostly of ETFs. We are not “stock pickers”, and we do not attempt to “time the market”; on the contrary, we believe that “time IN the market” is one of the fundamental aspects to successful investing.

How are you compensated and how do I know how much I’m paying?

We are a 100% fee only firm. We are also a flat fee firm. We have a completely transparent fee for planning and investment management, so you will be confident our interests are aligned with those of our clients. Visit our pricing page.

What does “fee only” mean?

Fee only means that we do not accept commissions of any kind. We are paid for our services by our clients, and only our clients. This dramatically reduces conflicts of interest.

What does ‘flat fee” mean?

Flat fee means we charge an all-in fee for the advice and services we provide. Our fee isn’t based on the amount of client assets we manage, so we are not influenced by the size of a client’s portfolio, large or small.

Are you a fiduciary, fee only advisor?

Yes, and if you want to learn more about what that means for you and your financial plan, you can read more about it here: https://www.napfa.org/financial-planning/what-is-fee-only-advising

What is the minimum amount of money/savings I need to work with Afton Advisors?

There is no minimum amount, we meet you where you are in your financial journey.

Do you work in person or just virtually via web conferencing?

Our planning meetings are virtual/online. We believe this fits with the lifestyles of our clients, and avoids the traffic, and scheduling issues that come with in-person meetings. That being said, we do occasionally meet in person if the situation requires.

Where are my money and securities held if I work with you?

We work with Charles Schwab as our custodian. Schwab is one of the largest custodians in the world, with over $3 trillion in assets as of 2024.

Does it matter where I live?

It does not. We operate virtually, so if you’re in the United States, we can work with you.

What do you think about cryptocurrency?

We think cryptocurrency is here to stay and we keep up with macro trends surrounding digital assets. If a client is interested in crypto we’re open to finding a place for it in a well-diversified portfolio, if appropriate.

Do you prepare tax returns?

We do not. However, we have a strong focus on tax efficiency, strategic tax planning and asset location. We help clients pay less in tax where possible.

What if I decide to stop working with you, what happens to my accounts?

Clients are always in control of their money and have the option to stop working with us at any time. Since we work with Charles Schwab, clients can leave their accounts on Schwab’s retail platform, or choose to transfer their assets to another custodian.

Can I get planning support if I continue to manage my own assets?

After the Foundations Planning Process is complete, we can discuss options for further support on a case by case basis.

How long does the planning process take?

The Foundations Planning Process takes six (6) to eight (8) weeks on average.

Will you work with my CPA, attorney, (or other financial professional)?

Yes, we are more than happy to be connected to your other financial professionals to make sure your plan is cohesive across disciplines.

Have more questions?

Contact Us