How it Works

Hiring a financial adviser should not be mysterious. Here is exactly what happens when you work with me, step by step.

The process

1. 1

   We talk

   Book a free introductory phone or Zoom call. There is no obligation whatsoever — we talk through your situation, what you are trying to accomplish, and whether my practice is a good fit for it.

2. 2

   I get the full picture

   We collect and review your current statements across all of your accounts — 401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs, 529s, taxable accounts, equity comp. You complete a risk tolerance questionnaire, and we go over the results together.

3. 3

   You get your plan, in writing

   I draft an Investment Policy Statement from your risk profile and your goals — a written document that spells out how your money will be invested and why, with the portfolio built using my portfolio optimization tools. When you are satisfied with it, you sign the advisory agreement and the IPS. Nothing happens to your money or investments before that signature.

4. 4

   You open your accounts

   I send you an account invitation from my custodian brokerage, Interactive Brokers, and you complete the application yourself — the accounts are in your own name. Then we fund them: I help with the transfers and rollovers, and money moves directly between you and the custodian, never through Luther Wealth.

5. 5

   I manage it, ongoing

   I invest and rebalance your portfolio, harvest tax losses, and update the plan as your life changes. You can reach me whenever a decision comes up — that on-demand counseling is part of the service, not an add-on. My fee is a transparent 0.65% of assets under management per year, invoiced monthly, and I cover trading commissions. Most importantly, I'm available by phone, email, or in person at any time you have a question or concern, or if you just want to learn more about investing.

From first call to funded account is typically a matter of weeks, driven mostly by account-transfer timing. Curious about the portfolio tech mentioned in step 3? I wrote about it in Modern Portfolio Theory and Luther Wealth's tech.

Where your money is held

Luther Wealth never takes custody of your money. Your assets are held at Interactive Brokers, a large custodian brokerage that specializes in safeguarding financial assets, in accounts under your own name. I have the authority to manage the investments in your account — and no capability to withdraw your funds. Sensitive financial transactions, like deposits and withdrawals, happen directly between you and Interactive Brokers.

Client assets are segregated at Interactive Brokers, and accounts are protected by SIPC, with supplemental insurance above that. I wrote a full breakdown of how these safeguards stack in Seven Layers of Investor Protection at Luther Wealth.