Frequently Asked Questions
How is being a Certified Financial Planner different than other advisors?
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ has, at a minimum:
- An undergraduate degree
- Three years of client experience in financial planning
- Completed a financial planning education program including:
- General Principals of Financial Planning
- Insurance Planning
- Investment Management
- Income Tax Planning
- Retirement Planning
- Estate Planning
- Interpersonal Communication
- Professional Conduct and Fiduciary Responsibility
- Passed a rigorous comprehensive exam (historical pass rate of 55-60%)
- Completed a required 30 hours of continuing education hours bi-annually
- Committed to adhering to the standards of ethics and practice outlined in the CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct
To summarize, CFP®’s are obligated to act in their client’s best interests. Period.
Not everyone in the financial services industry is held to this standard and we would encourage all consumers to ask their advisors whether they do.
What is the account minimum at Outbound Financial?
We don’t have account minimums. You’re a professional growing your life, family, and career…a lot of your investable assets may be in your employer’s retirement plan. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have access to a good advisor. We’re here to grow with you.
What is the investment philosophy of Outbound Financial?
We believe that low-cost, risk adjusted asset allocation along with self-discipline works best in the long run. We don’t try to predict the future, because we don't believe it can be done.
We believe that markets are efficient at pricing in new information. What this means is that it is very difficult to profit by making a trade today based on information you have recently seen or read.
We believe market timing or looking for inefficiently priced securities has limited success. A better strategy, in our opinion, is to build globally diversified, low cost, portfolios which are based on client's goals, objectives and risk profiles. Your portfolio should react to changes in your life rather than changes in the market.
How often will we meet?
After the onboarding process, in which we meet more frequently, we prefer to meet with clients three times a year. We are also available by phone or email at any time.
Why should I hire a financial planner? Is financial planning right for me?
A financial advisor can help increase your chances to meet your financial goals, through proper portfolio construction, financial planning and counseling. Additionally, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING PROFESSIONALS™, like those employed at Outbound Financial, are well suited to handle the more complex financial situations one might face.
What if I'm not sure about my goals?
What if you don’t know what your goals are, or what they should be? Are you worried that you aren’t on track? Do your goals feel out of alignment with your values? In our work together, we will explore all of these areas, customizing our process to fit your needs.
Is Outbound Financial a good fit for me?
If you know where you are and where you’d like to be, but don’t have a clear picture of all the steps in between, we can help you build that bridge! We work with clients that are motivated to share important information, work through what their priorities and goals are, and are willing to make changes.
I don't live in Boulder, Colorado. Can we still work together?
Yes! We have built Outbound Financial Planning with the latest technology. We can work with clients all over the country. We have the ability to meet virtually and share data using the latest security features. If you are here in Colorado, it is your preference. We can meet in person or virtually – whatever is best for you.
How does Outbound Financial get paid?
We are a fee-only financial planning firm. That means we don’t accept commissions, kick-backs, or referral fees from others. We are only paid by our clients. This allows you to be certain that our advice is unbiased and in your best interest. This is not how all advisors run their business. We strongly encourage all consumers to understand how their advisors are being compensated.
