Question 1

Is there a cost for a first conversation?

Accepted Answer

No. The first conversation is free, and there’s no obligation afterward. It’s there so Sean can understand your situation and the questions you have, and so you can decide whether working together makes sense.

Question 2

I already work with an advisor. Can I still have a conversation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A second opinion on a plan you already have is one of the most common reasons people get in touch. If your plan is in good shape, you’ll hear that. If there are gaps in it, you’ll hear that too. Either way, there’s no obligation.

Question 3

What does ChFC® mean?

Accepted Answer

It stands for Chartered Financial Consultant. The American College of Financial Services issues it, and earning it takes a series of courses in retirement income, tax planning, estate planning, risk management, and investments. A designation is not a license, and it guarantees no result. It tells you the ground an advisor has covered.

Question 4

What does it mean that Sean acts as a fiduciary?

Accepted Answer

It means he is required to act in your interest and to put it ahead of his own. That is the basis he advises on. Sean is also licensed for insurance. If he recommends an insurance product, that transaction may happen in a separate capacity, and you’ll hear the costs, the limitations, and the compensation involved before you decide anything. The disclosures page sets this out in full.

Question 5

Do you offer insurance products?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sean is licensed for both insurance and investments, so insurance is on the table where it fits your plan. It’s not the starting point. Insurance products carry costs and limitations, and any guarantee depends on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. You will hear those details before any recommendation.

Question 6

I do not live in Florida. Can Sean still work with me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sean works with clients nationwide, so where you live does not decide whether he can advise you. Meet at an office in Central Florida if you are nearby, or work together by phone if you are not. Insurance is licensed state by state. Today that means Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee, and Sean adds states as clients need them. Ask about yours.

Question 7

How are fees handled?

Accepted Answer

You will hear what the fees and costs are before any work begins: what you pay, who you pay it to, and what it covers. What you actually pay depends on the services involved, so ask and Sean will lay it out for you.

Question 8

How often is a plan reviewed?

Accepted Answer

As often as your circumstances call for. Tax law changes, health changes, families change, and markets move, and any of those can affect a plan. You and Sean agree the review schedule when the work begins.

Question 9

What should I bring to a first meeting?

Accepted Answer

Nothing at all. Come as you are. If you would rather get specific, recent statements for your retirement accounts, your last tax return, and any insurance policies you hold will help.

Question 10

Do you work with my accountant or attorney?

Accepted Answer

Yes, gladly. Tax preparation and legal drafting are separate professions, and a plan works best when everyone involved knows what the others are doing. Nothing on this site is tax or legal advice, and planning does not replace those professionals.

Question 11

Do you only work with retirees?

Accepted Answer

Primarily, yes. Most of the people Sean works with are retired or close to it, and the planning reflects that: income, taxes, healthcare costs, risk, and what passes to family. If retirement is still some way off for you, ask anyway.

Question 12

What happens to information I submit through the form?

Accepted Answer

It goes by email to the office so someone can reply to you. It’s not sold, and it’s not used for advertising. The privacy policy on this site sets out what gets collected and how it’s handled.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions