Planning is paramount at Oakton Financial. We can’t predict what life has in store for us, but we can prepare for most of it with careful planning. We want to be your trusted advisor for all your financial decisions in life, not just your investment manager.
Oakton Financial’s roots were formed in the fee-only, fiduciary business model.
We are committed to putting our clients’ interests above our own. I started Oakton Financial to continue that fiduciary, client-first, service model at a price based on service provided, not based on how much money you have.
There are many great financial planners out there. Many of them charge a “percentage fee” based on the assets they are managing on your behalf (i.e. 1% for the first $1M, 0.8% for the second $1M). So, the annual fee you pay for their services will be based on the size of your portfolio. That fee you pay will be different, and maybe very different, than the fee the next client pays for relatively the same service.
At Oakton Financial, we work with two types of clients: Accumulators and Pre-Retirees/Retirees. All Accumulators pay the same price, regardless of portfolio size and all Pre-Retirees/Retirees pay the same price regardless of portfolio size. It’s a true fee-for-service business model.
We want to work with people that want a financial coach for all their financial choices in life. We strive to provide financial services beyond just managing your portfolio.
We typically work best with people that understand their finances, but need a plan. They know their financial life is starting to get a little complicated or stressful, and they want a trusted advisor to help them develop, implement, and monitor their financial independence plan.
You are looking for a financial partner to build, implement, and then monitor your progress toward your goal of financial independence. You have begun accumulating some of the resources needed to achieve your goals, but are recognizing you don’t have the time or desire to focus on your finances as much as you wish. You want a plan to continue building your financial resources as efficiently and effectively as possible, increasing the likelihood of reaching your goals.
$2,000/quarter
You have been successful in your career and in saving money. You are working hard and have lived below your means; however, you don’t know if it’s enough as you near retirement. You don’t know if your money is working as hard as it possibly can for you. Finally, while you have been successful in accumulating money, you aren’t sure how to use it to pay the bills efficiently and effectively in retirement.
$3,000/quarter
Typically a one-hour face-to-face meeting to get to know each other better. This is a no-obligation meeting to determine if we have a fit. Typical discussion topics include:
If you decide to become a client after the get acquainted meeting, our next meeting will focus on your financial plan. We’ll build a draft plan based on data we will collect and our earlier conversation. This meeting is a very collaborative meeting where we work towards finalizing your financial plan together.
After your financial plan is finalized, we’ll turn toward implementing that plan. We might have a few action items, ranging from insurance tasks, estate planning, and others. We will also have investment action items and this meeting is to discuss, in detail, how we intend to execute the plan.
After the financial plan is created and implemented, we need to monitor it, with annual review meetings and as-needed consultations.
We understand that no two people lead the same lives and each holds different aspirations in life. So while each investment plan is personalized to your unique situation and goals, we ask each of our clients to embrace the below principles in order to have the best chance at success in investing.
The market is an effective information-processing machine. Each day, the world equity markets process billions of dollars in trades between buyers and sellers—and the real-time information they bring helps set prices.
The market’s pricing power works against mutual fund managers who try to outperform through stock picking or market timing. As evidence, only 14% of US equity mutual funds and 13% of fixed income funds have survived and outperformed their benchmarks over the past 15 years.
Some investors select mutual funds based on their past returns. Yet, past performance offers little insight into a fund’s future returns. For example, most funds in the top quartile (25%) of previous three-year returns did not maintain a top-quartile ranking in the following three years.
The financial markets have rewarded long-term investors. People expect a positive return on the capital they supply, and historically, the equity and bond markets have provided growth of wealth that has more than offset inflation.
Academic research has identified these equity and fixed income dimensions, which point to differences in expected returns. Investors can pursue higher expected returns by structuring their portfolio around these dimensions.
Holding securities across many market segments can help manage overall risk. But diversifying within your home market may not be enough. Global diversification can broaden your investment universe.
You never know which market segments will outperform from year to year. By holding a globally diversified portfolio, investors are well positioned to seek returns wherever they occur.
Many people struggle to separate their emotions from investing. Markets go up and down. Reacting to current market conditions may lead to making poor investment decisions.
Daily market news and commentary can challenge your investment discipline. Some messages stir anxiety about the future, while others tempt you to chase the latest investment fad. When headlines unsettle you, consider the source and maintain a long-term perspective.
A financial advisor can offer expertise and guidance to help you focus on actions that add value. This can lead to a better investment experience.