How We Work

When you work with us you can expect . . .

You will have more quality time to spend with your family and friends, and more focus in managing your career without feeling guilty that your are neglecting your finances.  You will have us to not only help you plan out the financial direction for you and your family based on your needs and desires, but to also help you follow through on your commitments and make necessary adjustments along your wealth building journey.

Your financial assets will be simplified, organized, and well diversified.  As a result, you can expect to gain a sense of control of your finances and feel a sense of financial well being.

You will have an improved chance of providing for the best education that your children deserve, and affording a comfortable retirement in the lifestyle you've grown accustomed to.  You will deploy your resources to the financial goals that are important to you.  You will build and manage your wealth within a deliberate framework, and earn a more consistent rate of return according to your comfort level with the frequent fluctuations in the stock market.

You will make your financial decisions more intelligently and coherently.  You will understand and appreciate the implications of your decisions within the context of your goals and values.  Working with Mark Stempel & Associates as your sounding board you will no longer make your financial decisions in a vacuum, thereby increasing the likelihood of achieving the optimal financial results.

Guiding Beliefs and Values

Financial independence is within the reach of all of us.  It is not luck nor is it birth that enables one to live a life of financial independence.  Just as success in other domains of life are based on learning new skills and taking new actions, so success in your financial life is based on engaging in new conversations about money and establishing new practices.

It takes a wise person to know when to ask for assistance.  Many of us believe that we should be able to make it work on our own.  We may have made mistakes in our financial lives and think that if we seek professional assistance it means that we have failed.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  There is only so much that we can accomplish on our own.  It is a sign of wisdom to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses and to ask for help where and when we need it.

Our Approach

Assess your existing situation.  Before we make any recommendation we will assess your existing situation and review your entire investment portfolio, insurance policies and estate plan.

Help you define your goals.  Your financial plan should be based on your goals, not your advisor's.  We will help you to clarify exactly what needs to happen in your life for you to feel happy about your progress over the next one, three and five years.

Create a plan that considers all the financial aspects of your life.  By understanding your total financial picture, we are in the best position to create a plan that integrates the seven key areas of your financial life:  budgeting, retirement planning, college savings, insurance protection, tax planning, investment planning and management, and estate preservation.

Assist you in implementing the recommendations.  Nothing is more frustrating than working with a financial professional who does not guide you on implementing the solutions he proposes or simply guides you to using products on which he or she receives a commission.  As fee-only advisors, we not only provide objective advice, but can also implement the advice free from any conflicts of interest.

Periodically review and revise the plan to adjust to changes in either the financial environment or your goals.  In the past, how many financial professionals whom you dealt with did not keep in contact with you after the initial plan was developed?  Financial planning is a process not a one time event.  We are committed to maintaining long-term relationships with all of our clients.  We are here for you for the long haul, making sure you are making optimal decisions on your wealth building journey.

Our Uniqueness

The Most Comprehensive Advice Available 
We integrate all the financial areas in your life, including tax planning/preparation, estate planning, will execution, insurance and investment advice and implementation into one overall comprehensive plan.  Amazingly, most so-called "financial planners" pay little or no attention to taxes or your personal residence, even though these two items probably represent your largest financial commitments.  In addition to being skilled financial planners, we are personal income tax specialists and fully integrate taxes, all investments and financial planning.

Objective Advice 
We are free from the conflicts of interest that plague many so-called "financial planners".  We are compensated solely by fees paid by our clients and do not accept commissions or compensation from any other source. We believe that a significant “conflict of interest” exists if an advisor stands to gain financially from the purchase of any product he or she recommends to the client.

Accessibility
We consider financial planning a process rather than a one-time review.  Therefore, when you work with us on an open-retainer basis, not only will you have regularly scheduled tax and financial reviews, but you can call us or schedule an appointment whenever an unexpected problem or new opportunity arises - and it won't cost you a penny more!

Value Based Pricing
We are not the least expensive financial advisors you will find, however we are committed to providing value that exceeds our fee.  If we do not believe that you will realize savings that add up to more than your fee, we will not accept you as a client or will offer you a retainer option more appropriate to your situation.

Credentialed Professionals
Mark Stempel & Associates work as part of a team with other Licensed Cambridge Advisors to provide you with in-depth expertise in every financial area. The professional strength of our alliance is based on rigorous academic training and years of seasoned experience.

To learn how our services can help you successfully transition into retirement, please go here.