Question 1

What does it mean that Modern Wealth is a “fee-only fiduciary”?

Accepted Answer

Two things, and both matter. Fiduciary means we are legally and ethically bound to put your interests ahead of our own: every recommendation has to be in your best interest, not ours. Fee-only means the only money we make comes directly from you, as a transparent fee. We sell no products, earn no commissions, and take no kickbacks from fund companies, insurers, or custodians. That removes the hidden conflicts baked into most of the financial industry, so the advice you get is on your side of the table.

Question 2

What makes Modern Wealth different from a big brokerage or bank advisor?

Accepted Answer

At most large firms, the advisor is ultimately a salesperson, and the products they recommend generate commissions. We are independent and fee-only: no parent company’s products to push, no sales quotas, no commissions. Because we focus on business owners, we also understand the issues a generalist misses: entity structure, owner compensation, equity compensation, and turning an illiquid business into retirement income.

Question 3

Who does Modern Wealth work with?

Accepted Answer

We specialize in business owners and entrepreneurs, people whose personal wealth and business are deeply intertwined. If your net worth is tied up in a company you built, your financial life does not fit the cookie-cutter models most advisors use. We advise on the decisions where the company and the household meet, then tie it all back to one balance sheet and one long-term goal.

Question 4

Do you work with clients outside of Pennsylvania?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We are based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and work with local clients in person or virtually, whichever they prefer. We also serve clients nationwide entirely virtually, using secure video meetings and online planning portals, so where you live is never a barrier to working together.

Question 5

Why don’t you show any client reviews or testimonials?

Accepted Answer

As an independent, state-registered fiduciary, we are not permitted to use client testimonials or endorsements, so you will not find star ratings or quotes here, and that is by design, not by accident. Instead of reviews, we are glad to show you the work itself: our credentials, the kinds of situations we handle every week, and references where appropriate. The best way to judge fit is a direct conversation.

Question 6

Are you actually registered, and where can I check?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Modern Wealth is a registered investment advisor, held to the fiduciary standard at all times. Our Form ADV and related disclosures are filed publicly and linked in the footer of every page, so you can read exactly how we operate, what we charge, and any disclosures before we ever meet.

Question 7

What do all of Alan’s credentials actually mean?

Accepted Answer

Each one was earned for a specific part of an owner’s financial life. CFP® is comprehensive financial planning. CPWA® is advanced planning for higher-net-worth families. CVGA® is growing the value of a business. CEPA® is exit and succession planning. RLP® is the life-planning side, the conversations about what the money is actually for. Together they cover the full arc from running a company to leaving it well.

Question 8

What should I ask any advisor before hiring them?

Accepted Answer

A handful of questions cut through most of the noise. Are you a fiduciary at all times, in writing? How exactly are you paid, and do you accept any commissions or referral fees? Where will my money be held? Will you sign a fiduciary oath? And what happens if I decide to leave? The answers, and how readily someone gives them, tell you most of what you need to know.

Question 9

What is the difference between a fiduciary and the suitability standard?

Accepted Answer

Under a fiduciary standard, the advisor must act in your best interest at all times. Under the older suitability standard that still governs many brokers, a recommendation only has to be suitable, meaning good enough, even when a better or cheaper option exists. We are held to the fiduciary standard across the entire relationship, not part of it.

Question 10

Should I pick an advisor near me, or is working virtually fine?

Accepted Answer

Either works well. What matters far more than a zip code is whether the advisor is a fiduciary, how they are paid, and whether they truly understand your situation, especially if you own a business. We meet local clients around Blue Bell in person and serve clients nationwide entirely virtually, with the same process and the same standard either way.

Question 11

How do I know an advisor does not earn commissions behind the scenes?

Accepted Answer

Ask directly, and read the Form ADV. A fee-only fiduciary’s disclosures spell out exactly how the firm is paid and confirm it accepts no commissions, trails, or referral fees. Ours is filed publicly and linked in our footer, so you can verify how we are compensated before we ever meet, rather than taking it on faith.

Question 12

What if I already have an advisor but want a second opinion?

Accepted Answer

That is a common and completely reasonable reason to reach out. We are glad to give you an objective read on your current plan, portfolio, and fees, with no obligation to change anything. Sometimes people leave reassured that they are in good hands, and sometimes they discover costs or conflicts they did not know about. Either way, you come away knowing more than you did.

Question 13

What areas of my financial life do you cover?

Accepted Answer

Our planning spans eight areas, included in every plan: investment planning and analysis; retirement savings and income; estate planning and documents; tax analysis and planning; risk management and insurance; employee benefits and equity compensation; education planning and funding; and cash flow and debt management. For business owners, we also provide business advisory: value acceleration, exit and succession planning, and the tax strategy around a sale or transition.

Question 14

What is the EVOKE® process?

Accepted Answer

It is our five-step path from “I’m not sure” to “I know exactly where I stand,” and each step produces something you keep. Exploration is a relaxed, free introductory call. Vision clarifies what your money is for and gives you a first read on where you stand. Obstacles organizes the full picture (accounts, tax, estate, and business) to find what is in the way. Knowledge is your financial plan, plus valuation, value acceleration, and an exit plan for owners. Execution is the ongoing partnership, with focused meetings through the year.

Question 15

Do you manage my investments, or only give advice? And what is your investment philosophy?

Accepted Answer

Both: we build and manage your portfolio as a fiduciary, as part of the larger plan rather than as a standalone product. Our approach is evidence-based and cost-conscious: broad diversification, tax-awareness, and discipline over stock-picking or market-timing. For clients whose wealth is concentrated in a single business or position, we specialize in unwinding that concentration patiently and tax-efficiently.

Question 16

How often will we meet once I’m a client?

Accepted Answer

As often as your plan needs, and at least on a regular cadence through the year, not once-and-done. We schedule focused meetings around the decisions that actually matter in your life and business, such as tax planning, a liquidity event, or a plan review, and you always have a direct line to your advisor in between.

Question 17

Will you coordinate with my CPA and attorney?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we think it is essential. Most owners have a CPA, an attorney, and an advisor who have never been in the same room, so decisions get made in isolation. We act as the quarterback, looping in your other professionals, or introducing you to ones we trust, so your tax, legal, and financial strategies actually point in the same direction.

Question 18

Do you prepare tax returns or draft legal documents?

Accepted Answer

No. We are not a CPA firm or a law firm, and we do not sell insurance. We do the planning and analysis: modeling tax strategy, mapping out an estate plan, and pressure-testing insurance, then coordinating with the CPA and attorney who prepare the returns and documents. Keeping those functions separate is part of what keeps our advice objective and conflict-free.

Question 19

How do we work together once I become a client?

Accepted Answer

You get ongoing, proactive advice rather than a one-time plan that sits on a shelf. We build your plan across the eight areas, manage your investments as a fiduciary, and revisit the plan as your business and life change. You will have access to secure online portals for your plan and accounts, and a direct line to your advisor.

Question 20

Do you offer one-time or hourly planning, or only ongoing relationships?

Accepted Answer

Our services are ongoing relationships, because the value of planning shows up over years of tax decisions, market cycles, and business changes, not in a single document handed over once. That said, the Exploration Call is always free and carries no obligation, so you can get a real read on where you stand before deciding whether an ongoing relationship makes sense for you.

Question 21

Can you help with Social Security and Medicare timing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Those decisions are part of building durable retirement income, and the timing can meaningfully change your lifetime outcome. We model claiming strategies and coordinate them with your tax picture, your other income, and, for owners, the proceeds from the business, so the pieces work together instead of being decided in isolation.

Question 22

How are you different from a robo-advisor?

Accepted Answer

A robo-advisor allocates a portfolio with an algorithm. We are a human fiduciary who plans across your whole financial life, investments, tax, estate, risk, and the business, and coordinates with your CPA and attorney. For an owner whose wealth is tied up in a company, that context is exactly what an automated model cannot provide.

Question 23

What is the difference between a financial planner and a wealth manager?

Accepted Answer

The labels are used loosely across the industry, so what matters is what is actually included. Our Private Wealth Management combines comprehensive financial planning across all eight areas with investment management in one relationship, while Investment Advisory is professional investment management on its own. We will help you decide which fits on the Exploration Call.

Question 24

Do I need to have my whole financial life figured out before we talk?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Most people reach out precisely because things feel scattered or uncertain, and bringing order to that is the point. Come as you are; the Exploration Call and our process are built to organize the pieces, not to grade you on how tidy they already are.

Question 25

What is your investment philosophy in one sentence?

Accepted Answer

Own a broadly diversified, low-cost portfolio matched to your goals and your capacity for risk, keep taxes in view all year, and stay disciplined through the cycles instead of reacting to headlines. We favor evidence over forecasting, and we build the portfolio as one part of your larger plan rather than as a product to sell.

Question 26

What should I do when the market drops?

Accepted Answer

Usually far less than instinct suggests. Volatility is the price of long-term returns, and the most common damage is self-inflicted: selling low and missing the recovery. Your plan is built with downturns already expected, so our job is to keep you invested according to it, rebalance where it helps, and use any tax opportunities the drop creates, not to guess the bottom.

Question 27

I have a large position in a single stock. Can you help me diversify it?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is one of our specialties. A concentrated, low-basis position, often company stock from a career or a sale, carries hidden risk and a real tax cost to unwind. We build a diversified plan around it and reduce the concentration patiently and tax-efficiently over time, rather than forcing it all into a single taxable event.

Question 28

Do you offer values-based or socially responsible investing?

Accepted Answer

Yes, where it fits your goals. We can tilt a portfolio toward or away from particular sectors or values, and direct indexing makes that especially practical because you own the individual holdings instead of a single fund. We are candid about any tradeoffs, so the choices reflect what matters to you with eyes open.

Question 29

Can you tell me when I will be able to retire?

Accepted Answer

We can give you a clear, honest read on where you stand and what it would take, then keep it current as life changes. Instead of a single date from a calculator, you get a plan that shows how your savings, your business, and other income turn into reliable retirement income, along with the levers that move your target sooner or later.

Question 30

How do you turn my savings and business into retirement income?

Accepted Answer

We map every source (your portfolio, Social Security, any pensions, real estate, and for owners the proceeds from the business) into a coordinated, tax-aware paycheck for the years after work. The aim is income you can count on, drawn in the right order from the right accounts, so more of it stays with you.

Question 31

What if I live longer than expected or markets underperform?

Accepted Answer

Both are planned for. We stress-test your plan against long lifespans, weak markets, and higher inflation, so it is not one lucky path but one that holds up across many. Where the numbers get tight, we show you the adjustments early, while you still have the most options on the table.

Question 32

How much do I need saved to retire?

Accepted Answer

There is no single magic number, because it depends on the income you want, how long it needs to last, your other sources (Social Security, pensions, real estate, and for owners the business), and your comfort with risk. Rather than a scary lump sum, we translate your goals into a target and a plan, and show you the levers that move it, so the number feels reachable instead of arbitrary.

Question 33

Do you do proactive tax planning, or only look at it at tax time?

Accepted Answer

Proactive, all year. Most tax savings come from decisions made before December 31, not from how the return is filed in April. We model the impact of moves like Roth conversions, harvesting losses, timing income, and charitable gifts, then coordinate with your CPA so the plan and the return line up. We do the planning; your CPA prepares the return.

Question 34

Can you help lower my taxes in a high-income year?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and that is when planning matters most. A big year, whether from strong business income, a bonus, or a sale, is when the right moves (retirement-plan contributions, entity and compensation choices, charitable strategies, and timing) can save the most. We plan them ahead of time with your CPA rather than discovering them after the fact. Every situation is specific, so this is planning, not one-size-fits-all tax advice.

Question 35

What is tax-loss harvesting, and do you do it?

Accepted Answer

Tax-loss harvesting means selling an investment that is down to capture the loss for tax purposes while staying invested through a similar holding, so the loss can offset gains elsewhere and lower your tax bill. We do it throughout the year, not just in December, and owning individual stocks through direct indexing gives us far more chances to harvest than a single fund would.

Question 36

Do you help with estate planning and documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as part of the plan. We map out what your estate plan needs to do (who inherits what, who decides if you cannot, and how to reduce taxes and delays), then coordinate with an estate attorney to draft the wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. We keep the plan current as your life and the law change, so it does not quietly go stale.

Question 37

How do you help pass wealth to my children or heirs?

Accepted Answer

We plan the transfer with intention: how much, when, in what structure, and with what tax impact, so more passes efficiently and it supports your family rather than complicating it. For owners, that often includes the business itself. We coordinate with your attorney and CPA so the estate documents, the tax strategy, and the plan all agree.

Question 38

Can you help with charitable giving?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Giving is often more powerful, and more tax-efficient, when it is planned: donor-advised funds, gifting appreciated stock instead of cash, bunching gifts into higher-income years, and qualified charitable distributions in retirement. We build the strategy into your plan and coordinate the details with your CPA.

Question 39

Do you sell insurance?

Accepted Answer

No. We are fee-only, so we do not sell insurance or earn commissions on it, which is exactly why our analysis is objective. We review what you have, identify real gaps in life, disability, and long-term care coverage, and tell you what you actually need. You then buy any policies through an independent agent, with no markup flowing to us.

Question 40

How much life insurance do I actually need?

Accepted Answer

It depends on who relies on your income and what you want protected, so there is no universal number. We size it to your real obligations (income replacement, debts, the business, and your family’s goals), pressure-test the coverage you already have, and make sure you are neither dangerously underinsured nor paying for far more than the plan requires.

Question 41

What happens to my family or business if something happens to me?

Accepted Answer

That question is exactly what risk planning answers. We map how your income, your debts, and your business would be affected, then close the gaps with the right mix of insurance, an estate plan, and, for owners, a succession or buy-sell arrangement, so a bad day does not become a financial catastrophe for the people who depend on you.

Question 42

How do you help me manage cash flow as a business owner?

Accepted Answer

We help you turn irregular business income into a stable personal system: what to pay yourself, how much to keep in reserves, where idle cash should sit to earn more, and how to fund goals without starving the business. The aim is that the money coming out of the company supports the life you want on purpose, rather than by whatever happens to be left over.

Question 43

Should I pay off debt or invest?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the interest rate, the tax treatment, your other goals, and how you feel about carrying the debt, so there is no blanket answer. We compare the guaranteed return of paying down a balance against the expected return of investing, factor in taxes and your reserves, and give you a clear recommendation for your situation instead of a rule of thumb.

Question 44

Where should I keep my cash reserves?

Accepted Answer

Somewhere safe, liquid, and actually earning, not sitting idle in checking and losing ground to inflation. We help you set the right reserve size for your business and your family, then place it where it stays accessible while earning a competitive yield, and we revisit it as rates and your needs change.

Question 45

Can you help me save for my kids’ or grandkids’ education?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Education funding is one of the eight areas in every plan. We help you decide how much to fund and through which accounts, balance it against retirement and the business so one goal does not crowd out the others, and coordinate the tax and estate angles, especially for grandparents who want to help without complicating their own plan.

Question 46

How much should I save for college?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the kind of school you are planning for, how many years you have, and what share of the cost you intend to cover, since many families aim to fund a portion rather than all of it. We turn those choices into a monthly target and fold it into the rest of your plan, so education funding moves forward without quietly crowding out retirement or the business.

Question 47

Is a 529 plan the best way to save for college?

Accepted Answer

Often, but not always. A 529 offers tax-free growth for qualified education costs and some estate-planning benefits, which makes it powerful, but the right mix depends on your timeline, your tax situation, and how much flexibility you want if plans change. We weigh it against the alternatives and fit the choice into the rest of your plan rather than treating college as a standalone goal.

Question 48

How do I pay for tuition without derailing my own retirement?

Accepted Answer

By sequencing the goals rather than pitting them against each other. Retirement usually comes first, for a simple reason: your child can borrow for school, but no one lends for retirement. We map how much to direct to each, which accounts to draw tuition from and in what order, and where financial aid, scholarships, and cash flow fit, so you support your kids without sacrificing your own future.

Question 49

Can you help with student loans, mine or my child’s?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as part of your broader cash flow and debt plan. We look at the interest rates, the repayment and forgiveness options, and how the loans stack against your other goals, then build a payoff approach that fits the rest of your plan. For families still deciding how much to borrow, we help weigh that against savings and cash flow before the debt is taken on.

Question 50

When is the right time to start working with an advisor?

Accepted Answer

Usually sooner than people assume. The most valuable planning happens before big decisions, not after, so the ideal time is when something is changing or about to: growth, a liquidity event, a new child, an inheritance, or retirement on the horizon. If you are wondering whether it is time, it probably is, and the Exploration Call costs nothing to find out.

Question 51

I just sold my business or had a liquidity event. What should I do first?

Accepted Answer

First, do not rush. A sudden influx of cash creates real tax, investment, and estate decisions, and the worst ones are made quickly. We help you hold the proceeds sensibly, plan the taxes (ideally before the sale, though there is still work to do after), and turn a one-time event into lasting, diversified, tax-aware wealth. Time spent planning here pays off for decades.

Question 52

I received an inheritance. Can you help me handle it well?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An inheritance often arrives with grief, complexity, and pressure to decide quickly, and it deserves a thoughtful plan rather than a fast reaction. We help you understand what you received, how it is taxed, and how it fits your goals, then integrate it into a plan that honors where it came from and puts it to work for your future.

Question 53

I am approaching retirement. When should we start planning?

Accepted Answer

The five to ten years before retirement are the highest-leverage window there is, so ideally before you stop working, not after. That is when tax moves, Roth conversions, the order you draw down accounts, and Social Security timing can be sequenced to add the most, and when there is still time to adjust if something is off. Starting early turns retirement from a hope into a plan.

Question 54

How do you charge, and what does it cost?

Accepted Answer

We are fee-only, so pricing is transparent and there are no commissions or product sales. Investment Advisory, our professional investment management service, starts from 1% per year. Private Wealth Management (our most comprehensive service, combining ongoing financial planning with investment management) starts from 1.25% per year. There are no hidden fees; you always know exactly what you are paying and what it is for.

Question 55

What’s the difference between Investment Advisory and Private Wealth Management?

Accepted Answer

Investment Advisory is professional investment management on its own, starting from 1% per year. Private Wealth Management is our most comprehensive service (ongoing financial planning across all eight areas combined with investment management), starting from 1.25% per year. The right one depends on how much of your financial life you want us actively managing, and we will help you decide on the Exploration Call.

Question 56

Is there an account minimum?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the service. Private Wealth Management, our most comprehensive service combining financial planning with investment management, has a $500,000 minimum. Investment Advisory, our standalone investment management service, has no minimum. If you are not sure which fits, an Exploration Call is the best way to understand your options, and we will be straight with you about the right fit today.

Question 57

What if I’m not at the Private Wealth Management minimum yet?

Accepted Answer

You still have options. Investment Advisory, our standalone investment management service, has no minimum, so we can often work together even if you are not yet at the $500,000 mark for Private Wealth Management. Either way, have the Exploration Call, and we will be honest about the right fit today. Minimums exist so we can give every client real attention, not to screen out good people.

Question 58

Do I have to move my accounts or leave my current advisor just to talk to you?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. The Exploration Call is a no-obligation conversation: nothing moves, and there is no pressure to change anything. If we do decide to work together, we will walk you through every step of transitioning accounts, and there is never a rush.

Question 59

How long does it take to get a plan in place?

Accepted Answer

After the free Exploration Call, most clients get a first read on where they stand within a few weeks, and a full plan takes shape over the first couple of months as we organize accounts, tax, estate, and, for owners, the business. It is not a one-time document; the plan is built to evolve as your life and business change.

Question 60

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

It begins with a complimentary 30-minute Exploration Call. It is a no-pressure conversation to understand where you are, what you are trying to accomplish, and whether we are the right fit. If it makes sense to move forward, we will walk you through the next steps from there.

Question 61

How are your fees billed?

Accepted Answer

Our fees are calculated as a percentage of the assets we manage for you and billed on a regular schedule, all disclosed in writing in your advisory agreement before anything begins. There are no commissions, product charges, or surprise line items; the number you agree to is the number you pay.

Question 62

Am I locked into a long-term contract?

Accepted Answer

No. There are no long-term commitments or lock-ins. Your accounts are always held in your name at a third-party custodian, they remain yours, and you can end the relationship at any time. We would rather earn your business every year than hold it with a contract.

Question 63

Are your advisory fees tax-deductible?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your situation and current tax law, so it is really a question for your CPA. Under current federal rules, investment advisory fees are generally not deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction for individuals, though the treatment can differ for certain accounts or entities. We flag where it may matter and coordinate with your CPA, but we do not give tax advice or prepare returns.

Question 64

What exactly do I get for the fee?

Accepted Answer

Ongoing, proactive advice across your whole financial life, not a one-time document. That means your plan across the eight areas, investment management as a fiduciary, coordination with your CPA and attorney, regular meetings through the year, secure online access to your plan and accounts, and a direct line to your advisor. For owners, it also includes business value, exit, and succession planning.

Frequently asked questions

The basics

Choosing the right advisor

What we do & how we work

Investing & markets

Retirement & income

Taxes & tax planning

Estate & family

Insurance & risk management

Cash flow & debt

Education planning

Life events & timing

Fees, minimums & getting started

For business owners

Your money, security & technology

For referral partners: CPAs, attorneys & advisors

For current clients

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