Answers to Frequently Asked Questions...
Landmark offers customized financial planning on an hourly, as-needed basis. That means you can put in place all the pieces of a comprehensive financial plan as needs change and/or dollars allow. The hourly model allows great flexibility in providing as much or as little help as you wish.
Landmark is an investment advisor in the state of Missouri. Landmark’s principal, Brant Donis, is a Certified Financial Planner, ™. He has been involved in the financial services industry since 2001.
Landmark’s flexibility lends itself to a wide range of potential clients. Most are comfortable making their own decisions, but value the objective advice a fee-only planner can offer. Others, perhaps getting a handle on their finances for the first time may initially be overwhelmed and need assistance implementing advice on a piece by piece basis.
Good financial planning is a process that occurs over time, it is not simply an event. A first-class garden isn’t worked on one day and suddenly bloom the next, it progresses in stages, and requires periodic attention over time. Landmark’s approach is to assist in the diversification of your investments according to your risk tolerance, so you can spend your time engaged in more personally satisfying activities than trying to forecast the next great investment. Not to be overlooked is the role of risk management, not only in an investment portfolio, but in our possible needs or for the needs of loved ones in future times. Landmark helps clients integrate possible scenarios and take appropriate steps to minimize risk. The approach Landmark takes is about your priorities, and assisting you in making informed decisions.
For starters, Landmark is entirely fee-only, which means the only compensation derived is from services provided to clients. Not to be confused with fee-based arrangements, Landmark’s interests are fully aligned with the clients’ financial health and there are no revenue affiliations with brokerages, banks, insurance companies, or other financial product companies. Landmark receives no incentives for referrals from other companies/professionals, and is free to refer clients to the best provider to meet their need(s). Landmark also has no minimums on income, portfolio, or net worth in order to become a client. Anyone can be a Landmark client.
Landmark is a fiduciary to its clients. A fiduciary is someone who acts in your best interests at all times when providing you with financial advice and financial planning services. Asking a prospective financial planner if they are a fiduciary can provide valuable insight into a planner’s approach to clients. Many may assert they are objective advisors, but fewer are willing to hold themselves to a fiduciary standard/oath. To learn more about fiduciary responsibilities, visit NAPFA’s Focus on Fiduciary https://www.napfa.org/financial-planning/fiduciary-101 or CFP Board's https://www.letsmakeaplan.org/. Landmark believes all holding themselves out as financial planners or advisors should embrace the fiduciary role and responsibility of placing client needs first.
All financial planning advice at Landmark will come from Brant Donis, but referrals to specialists such as estate planning attorneys and accountants will be required for some components of the financial plan process. Landmark is not authorized to practice law, and does not prepare tax returns, but works in conjunction with those experts, and more, to make sure your wishes are in place and all possible steps are being taken for your benefit. Financial planners are often referred to as the “quarterback” of the financial team, distributing the “ball” to the specialists, and keeping the team marching down the field.
We help our clients accumulate, grow, protect, preserve and transfer their wealth. How much, or how little assistance you need with that is determined by you. If you are looking for a financial coach/sounding board, but are comfortable implementing on your own, an hourly engagement to keep you on track is likely be all you need.
The only compensation to Landmark is from client fees for services rendered, much as you would pay an attorney for drafting a document, an accountant for doing your taxes, an architect for creating a blueprint for your house addition. There is no outside compensation from financial products vendors.
Fees are based on the actual time spent on the phone/email or meeting in person with you, researching and analyzing your situation and needs, and providing recommendations and implementing those recommendations, if applicable. The current hourly rate is $175 and is billed in 15 minute increments for partial hours. Should a client wish to engage Landmark regarding a further project, a deposit is required, equal to $500 or ½ of the lower end of the estimated project fee. In the event a project spans more than 3 months, it may be billed quarterly. Fees are not collected on projects spanning more than 6 months in advance.
Yes, you will also be provided Landmark's ADV electronically before an agreement is made, and a paper copy at the time a contract is entered into. Also prior to meeting, you will receive a fee estimate with a high and low estimate of likely charges. If acceptable, the project can begin as soon as you have provided all necessary documents/information. You will have a specific dollar amount of fees on the client services agreement executed upon our first meeting.
Landmark does not have income or net worth minimums of any kind. Those just starting to think about their financial future are welcome.
That is possible, but the nature of such an engagement does not allow for written recommendations provided by Landmark.
In today’s day and age, everyone needs financial planning, whether they’ve realized it or not. Companies have largely given up on pension plans in favor of 401k type arrangements, but that leaves persons unfamiliar with investing and diversification responsible for growing a large percentage of the assets they will need to retire on, when, in times past, trained actuaries and investment managers handled the pension monies. The looming fundability issues with Medicare and Social Security alone make it wise for anyone depending on those sources of income for their future living needs to seek help to ensure their retirement is as golden as they hope it to be.
No, you will be able to open accounts at the brokerage of your choosing, or use your employer’s retirement plan, if applicable. We'll help you figure out the best location for you!
