Pop quiz: how much do you know about the ways financial advisors get paid? If you're like most people, the answer is probably between "not a lot" and "absolutely nothing". But stick with me for 10 seconds to learn about how it used to be – and how it is now.
How It Used to Be
Way back in the day, being a financial advisor was basically a sales job: they received commissions for buying & selling financial products like investments or insurance. There was no such thing a Robinhood, no fractional shares or zero-commission trading, no searching online for a good deal on insurance. In other words, no other options. If you wanted to invest your money or buy insurance, you needed a professional to do it for you – and pay a fee for that access.
How It Is Now
As technology made it easier for people to invest on their own or shop around for insurance, though, it became harder & harder to justify paying a commission simply for access to a product. This gave rise to the "fee-only" movement: the belief that an advisor's compensation should be exclusively linked to what's best for the client, rather than generating the highest commission.
Iseler Financial is a fee-only advisory, which means that the only way I earn money is through fees paid directly by clients – spelled out in advance – and never from commissions or kickbacks. Since all compensation comes directly from clients, you can be sure that any advice I offer is motivated by helping you build the life you want through smart financial decisions.
An Honest Sales Pitch
But there is still a sales aspect to what I do. Instead of selling investments or insurance products, though, I'm selling something else entirely.
Ready for my sales pitch?
You have the power to make smart financial decisions that will improve your life now & in the future.
I'll let you in on a secret: no one reaches out to an advisor because they feel super confident about how things are. If I'm sure of anything, though, it's that making smart decisions now will help you feel better and improve your life. Even if we never work together, even if you never pay me a dime, I know that building confidence around money is within your power.
That's what I want for you. Here's what I want from you:
I want you to believe that you are already that person who makes those good decisions. Right now, today, you are ready to take control of your financial life. It's already happening – you just needed a little push.
Maybe working with a fee-only advisor will help you get where you want to go faster, easier, and with less stress. Maybe we'll have a great conversation and you'll decide that I am the right advisor for you. (Want to find out if we're a good fit? Click here.)
Or maybe after we talk you'll decide, "you know what? I've got this. I can do this on my own." My sales itch is still the same: you have the power to make smart financial decisions that will improve your life now & in the future. In fact, you are already on your way.
If you'd like to learn more, ask a question about money, or just get a second opinion, click here to schedule an intro phone call or Zoom. No pressure, no judgement, just a conversation to see if working together could be a good fit.
Thanks,
Timothy Iseler, CFP®
Founder & Lead Advisor
Iseler Financial, LLC | Durham NC | (919) 666-7604
Iseler Financial helps creative professionals remove stress while taking control of their financial lives. We'll help identify current your strengths and weaknesses, clarify and refine your long-term goals, and prioritize decisions to improve your financial well-being now and later. Reach out today to take the first step.
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