It’s time to get fearless!

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fearless Financial only serve women?

We may have a soft spot for women, but we serve all people: men, women, non-binary, transgender, couples and families, and entrepreneurs. We offer a special invitation to single, widowed, and self-supporting women because they often experience unexpected life changes and are called to be their most fearless about their financial future. Our advice-only model of financial planning is the perfect solution in these situations. As a working mother herself, Fearless Financial founder Amy Rosenow has extensive experience working with women in various circumstances and enjoys helping them master their financial concerns and priorities.

What do you mean by FEARLESS?

Fearless Financial Planning is not about having no fear. It’s more like the theme in Susan Jeffers’ book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. Planning involves uncertainty, investing involves risk, and a lot of financial planning involves thinking and talking about things that can make us uncomfortable – like our own mortality. What makes financial planning fearless to us? Showing up and doing it!

Being fearless definitely isn’t being reckless. It’s having the courage to face the difficult stuff in your financial world: debt, estate planning, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, long-desired travel, leaving a legacy, etc. Most of all, being fearless is about achieving your greatest desires in life before you leave this Earth, without being overly worried about financial constraints. It’s about bravely deciding what’s most important to you and then having the courage to go for it with the right financial plan!

What does Advice-Only mean?

Financial advisors generally get paid in one of two ways:

  1. Commissions (also referred to as sales-related compensation)
  2. Fees

Commission-based advisors get paid to sell you a financial product (like an insurance policy, investment product, or annuity). While many high-integrity advisors sell clients products they truly need and want, the commission structure can create an opportunity for misaligned incentives between the client and the advisor. In the wrong hands, that kind of model can quickly become ruthlessly transactional (think coffee is for closers…) That’s not how we roll.

A Fee-Only Advisor is defined by the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) as compensated solely by the client with neither the advisor nor any related party receiving compensation that is contingent on the purchase or sale of a financial product.

Fees can be calculated in a variety of ways such as annual, hourly, or flat fee. The most typical fee structure is to charge clients a percentage of their Assets Under Management (the AUM Model).

Some advisors are Fee-Based, which actually means they receive both fees AND commissions.

Fearless Financial is part of a small but growing group of Fee-Only advisors who choose to provide Advice-Only. We believe Advice-Only is a great model because it allows us to:

  • give thoughtful, holistic, unbiased recommendations regardless of the amount you invest or where you invest it
  • meet clients where they are and provide as much or as little guidance as you need
  • help you find that sweet spot where you feel empowered to manage your own investments, but also have a trusted advisor on call as an accountability partner, or when life throws you one of its inevitable curveballs

Do you manage investments too?

As an advice-only financial planner, we do not manage investments or make specific investment recommendations. Instead, we believe in educating and empowering our clients to manage their own financial picture. We do consult on risk tolerance, asset allocation, and equity compensation strategies.

Can I just schedule something small...like a meeting...or two?

Yes! Although we love building long-term relationships and find that clients typically receive the best value from an engagement of several months and several meetings, we are also available for consultation by the hour.

Learn more about our Fearless for Hire option.

Do I have to use certain financial products if I come to Fearless Financial?

Absolutely not! We look at your current investments and guide you on how to best use the resources you have in place and/or those at your preferred providers to help you achieve your financial goals. We can make general recommendations, advise on asset allocation, equity compensation, and risk tolerance. We receive no incentives or kickbacks for recommending a particular software product, website, or financial institution. You will always get our best effort at straightforward, objective advice.

How can I help my young adult manage their money better?

Fearless Financial offers a special program for young graduates and adults, designed to be gifted from their parents, grandparents, or other loved ones (or invested in by savvy new grads themselves). It offers a block of time and meetings with us to give the young adult a preliminary financial plan to help them with student debt, first major purchases, etc.

Learn more about the Fearless Future Plan.

How can I get my very young children to be more interested in investing?

This is a subject near and dear to the heart of our founder, Amy Rosenow. She has a video series for children about learning to invest.

Email us to learn more.