FAQ
We help clients with comprehensive financial planning and wealth management. Our philosophy is that an ongoing financial plan coupled with our investment management services results in the best value and outcome for our clients.
Finding the right fit is critical to your financial goals, and for us finding the right client is essential to foster the best working relationship. Our services are best suited for clients approaching retirement age, have at least $750,000 of investable assets, and seek professional guidance. Our clients understand the importance of having an ongoing plan and commit to being fully engaging in the process.
Nearly one-third of Thayer Financial’s clients currently reside outside of North Carolina. We offer our financial planning and investment services virtually, which allows us to work with clients all over the country.
In the first year, we will meet more frequently to develop the plan and begin implementing the necessary changes. Once we have established a plan, we will scale back and meet twice a year to evaluate the plan and make necessary adjustments. Outside of these formal meetings, we are always available to clients and encourage them to check in with us frequently if any questions arise that may impact our plan or their investment accounts.
Once you sign the paperwork to open a new account and move your investments from your previous advisor to Charles Schwab or TD Ameritrade, the new custodian initiates an account transfer that usually requires no help from your last advisor or firm. However, we recommend and believe it is best to have this tough conversation with your current advisor before initiating the process.
Data security is critical to us, and we maintain and implement industry-leading principles to keep our client’s information secure. We use unique complex passwords for all logins, multi-factor authentication when available, and have leading malware protection on our computers. We also do not keep or store clients’ passwords for their client portals, bank accounts, etc.
We do not have an investment minimum, but our services are typically best suited for pre-retirees and retirees with $750,000 or more in investable assets. To ensure we can continue providing a high level of service and massive value for each client, we have a minimum annual fee of $5,500 for clients without $500,000 in investable assets.
We charge a quarterly investment management fee that covers all of our services. There are no kickbacks, referral fees, commissions, hidden fees, or sneaky other ways we get compensated. The only way we get paid is directly by our clients.
No. We have vetted partners that we refer our clients to only because we trust them.
None. Not even one. We work for you. We are compensated for our advice and services, not for pushing investment or insurance products.
Deaton Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in Geospatial Information Science and Engineering from West Point and designations as CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®), Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) and Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA®).
Yes, 100% of the time!
Deaton is 38, and Kelly is 36. We love what we do and don’t plan to retire for at least 30 (plus) years.
As a husband and wife business, we take a team approach to working with our clients, which prevents unnecessary interruptions in our business for clientele. Keeping the firm small allows us to provide a higher-touch, more personalized service than you would get at larger firms. Our clients appreciate this aspect of our business.
In the unlikely event of our premature deaths, our clients are custodied with TD Ameritrade or Charles Schwab, with thousands of other independent Registered Investment Advisors in their network that can help take over planning and investment support. The strategies that we implement are built around long-term goals, so there will be no need to rush in finding a new advisor.
No. We take pride in our reputation and proudly report that we have a clean record with no complaints.
As Registered Investment Advisers, we take our fiduciary duty seriously. We will always act in the client’s best interest, versus just trying to sell you a product. In addition to having a legal obligation, our firm was built on the foundation of placing the client’s interest before any thoughts of our compensation. We use the same investment strategies for ourselves, our family, and our clients because we believe in the work that we do. Our commitment to honest and ethical behavior has allowed us to build a very successful firm.
We serve as a single point of contact for all their financial needs for our clients. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, this includes coordinating every aspect of their financial needs. Each of our clients has a financial plan with an action checklist detailing all the actions needed to achieve their financial goals. We coordinate these action items with accountants, attorneys, and other professionals as needed.
We utilize the TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab platform as our third-party custodians. TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab provide both record-keeping and security for your investments. The account is set up in your name and you own it/control it. You will give Thayer Financial limited power to manage investments, debit quarterly investment management fees, and transfer money to and from your investment accounts and banking accounts. We never have possession (custody) of your money.
We pride ourselves on the fact we are always available to our clients, and our goal is to return calls and emails immediately. Our office phones rollover to our cell phones even while away from the office and even on vacation. Clients also have full access to TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab to access funds at any time. We believe that open two-way communication is imperative to having a successful relationship.