Financial Planning Designed to Empower You

How We Work

One of our core philosophies is that simplicity typically beats complexity. Our planning process and investment advice is designed to educate and empower you. We want you to fully understand why we are making our recommendations, so you are completely comfortable implementing the recommendations.

Aptus will collaborate with you to develop your initial financial plan and provide long-term support as you implement and update the plan. You typically begin with a Comprehensive Plan and after the initial process you start AptusCare ongoing support and meet with us for an Annual Review each year. We view financial planning as an ongoing process and do not believe one-time plans are effective. We ask you to commit to at least one year of ongoing support and at least your first annual checkup, and most of our clients stay with us much longer. Aptus is typically a good fit for those who desire a long-term trusted relationship with an advisor but can implement their plan mostly on their own with our guidance.

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1. Develop The Plan

1. Develop The Plan

You start with a Comprehensive Plan (most common) or a Limited Review. Our Comprehensive Plan includes two 2-hour Zoom meetings. Your first meeting focuses on cash flow management. We discuss your near- and long-term goals, and make sure you’re spending optimally and saving appropriately.

Our second meeting focuses on contingencies and investments. We help you think about various contingencies in your life and how you might address them with savings or insurance. We make sure you’re investing in a way that minimizes taxes and fees. We typically recommend a simple slate of index funds in a mix that is right for your age, income, net worth and risk tolerance.

There’s homework for both you and your Aptus planner before and after each meeting. We provide detailed to-do lists and guidance along the way. We ask questions, listen closely, and help you develop your unique, customized plan.

2. Implement the Plan

2. Implement the Plan

After the initial process, you begin AptusCare (most common) or AptusCare Limited. AptusCare includes up to 2.5 hours of Q&A time per year, and we will collaborate closely as you implement your plan. We can exchange emails, schedule phones calls, or even virtually look over your shoulder in a Zoom meeting in which you check items off the to-do list

Throughout the year, we take time to think about you and your unique situation every couple months and we reach out with guidance and support when appropriate.

We monitor economic conditions, the investment landscape, tax considerations and financial planning best practices, and communicate with you on emerging topics through our monthly newsletter.

3. Update the PLan

3. Update the PLan

Each year, you will meet with your planner for an Annual Review to discusses changes, updates, challenges and opportunities. Your life is not static and neither is your financial plan. We will help you adjust, refine, and optimize your financial life.

During these annual meetings, we think you'll appreciate the life-changing value of having an ongoing 2nd set of eyes on your finances and someone you trust to help you stay on track and achieve your goals.

Our mission is to help you consolidate, simplify, streamline, and automate, so financial concerns recede to the background of your life.

WHAT ARE SOME TOPICS COVERED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS?

PLANNING TOPIC 1:
CASH FLOW MANAGEMENT

Goal Setting
Income Sources (W-2, 1099, K-1, Passive)
Employee Benefits
Spending Prioritization
Savings Rate Targets and Trade-Offs
Automating Spending and Saving

PLANNING TOPIC 2:
CONTINGENCIES AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Emergency Funds
Specific Savings Goals
529 College Savings Plans
Insurance Review
Basic Estate Planning

PLANNING TOPIC 3:
INVESTING AND DEBT MANAGEMENT

Tax-Efficient Account Optimization
Asset Allocation Across All Accounts
Advisor Transition Support
Student Loan Management
Debt Reduction
Extra Mortgage Payments
Retirement Planning and Withdrawal Strategies

Our Investment Strategy: Simplicity beats complexity

WE RECOMMEND AN AGE-APPROPRIATE, RISK-NEUTRAL DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO OF INDEX FUNDS THAT CAPTURE THE BROAD MARKET'S RETURNS WHILE MINIMIZING FEES AND TAXES

WE RECOMMEND AN AGE-APPROPRIATE, RISK-NEUTRAL DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO OF INDEX FUNDS THAT CAPTURE THE BROAD MARKET'S RETURNS WHILE MINIMIZING FEES AND TAXES

We will help you develop a simple, effective investment strategy to achieve your near- and long-term goals. We will demystify the investing process so you feel comfortable and confident in all of our recommendations. We will help you implement and maintain your portfolio. It has never been easier to manage your own money in your accounts. You can do it yourself. You don't have to do it alone.

Other Services

Workplace Retirement Plans

Physician Financial Education