What is your educational background?
Robert Horowitz, Founder:
MBA, Finance and Marketing, Columbia Business School, New York.
B.A. in Political Philosophy, Trinity College, Connecticut.
What are your financial planning credentials/designations and affiliations?
Robert Horowitz, Founder:
NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor, www.napfa.org. An elite group of less than 1,000 fee-based financial advisors. Membership requires a signed Oath of Fiduciary Duty to clients, and participation in a strenuous continuing education requirement.
CFA – Chartered Financial Analyst, www.cfainstitute.org. Chartered Financial Analysts must pass a series of three rigorous examinations taken in sequential levels over several years.
A copy of our Form ADV, Part 2 is available for download here.
Member, Financial Planning Association – Members must adhere to a code of ethics that demands honesty, objectivity, competence and confidentiality. Robert is also a board member emeritus of the FPA of San Francisco. www.fpanet.org
How long have you been offering financial planning services?
Founder Robert Horowitz has been offering financial planning services for more than 10 years.
Do you have clients who might be willing to speak with me about your services?
Yes
Will you provide me with references from other professionals?
Yes
Have you ever been cited by a professional or regulatory governing body for disciplinary reasons?
No
Describe your financial planning work experience or attach your resume.
This web site is the best reflection of our financial experience. A formal resume is available upon request.
BUSINESS PRACTICE:
How many clients do you work with?
15-30, generally.
Are you currently engaged in any other business, either as a sole proprietor, partner, officer, employee, trustee, agent or otherwise?
No
Will you or an associate of yours work with me?
Founder Robert Horowitz will work directly with you.
Will you sign the Fiduciary Oath below?
Yes
FIDUCIARY OATH
The advisor shall exercise his/her best efforts to act in good faith and in the best interests of the client. The advisor shall provide written disclosure to the client prior to the engagement of the advisor, and thereafter throughout the term of the engagement, of any conflicts of interest which will or reasonably may compromise the impartiality or independence of the advisor.
The advisor, or any party in which the advisor has a financial interest, does not receive any compensation or other remuneration that is contingent on any client’s purchase or sale of a financial product. The advisor does not receive a fee or other compensation from another party based on the referral of a client or the client’s business.
Do you have a business continuity plan?
Yes. A copy of our BCP is available on request.
COMPENSATION: Financial planning costs include what a client pays in fees and commissions. Comparison between advisors requires full information about potential total costs. It is important to have this information before entering into any agreement.
Do you take commissions?
We do not receive any commissions whatsoever. 100% of earnings are paid directly from clients in the form of fees.
How is your firm compensated and how is your compensation calculated?
Fee-Only
In general fees are:
1% on 1st $1,000,000
0.75% on next $1,000,000
0.5% on amounts over $2,000,000
Do you have an agreement describing your compensation and services that will be provided in advance of the engagement?
Yes
Do you have a minimum fee?
Yes
Does any member of your firm act as a general partner, participate in, or receive compensation from investments you may recommend to me?
No
Do you receive referral fees from attorneys, accountants, insurance professionals, mortgage brokers or others?
No
Do you receive on-going income from any of the mutual funds that you recommend in the form of “12(b)1” fees, “trailing” commissions, or other continuing payouts?
No
SERVICES: Financial planners provide a range of services. It is important to match client needs with services provided.
We offer the following financial advice:
Goal setting
Cash management & budgeting
Tax planning
Investment review & planning
Estate planning
Insurance needs in the area of life, disability, long-term care, health and property/casualty
Education funding
Retirement planning
Important Note: Robert Horowitz Wealth Management does not do taxes nor provide specific tax, insurance or estate planning advice. We refer clients to qualified professionals for specific advice in these areas. Consult your legal or tax professional.
Do you provide a comprehensive written analysis of my financial situation and recommendations?
Yes
Does your financial planning service include recommendations for specific investments or investment products?
Yes
Do you offer assistance with implementation with the plan?
Yes
Do you offer continuous, on-going advice regarding my financial affairs, including advice on non-investment related financial issues?
Yes
Do you take custody of, or have access to my assets?
No. However, fees are generally deducted directly from account pursuant to our agreement.
If you were to provide me on-going investment advisory services, do you require “discretionary” trading authority over my investment accounts?
Yes
How often will we meet?
As often as appropriate. Some clients like to meet quarterly while others prefer to communicate by phone and email and not meet face to face more than once a year. It really depends on what works best for you.
Will you advise me in areas other than investments?
Yes. You can think of Robert Horowitz Wealth Management as your go-to contact for all your financial concerns, from buying a home to negotiating compensation and planning for retirement. As appropriate, we will refer you to qualified professionals for specific tax, insurance and estate planning advice.
Do you offer a free initial consultation?
Yes, we are happy to meet with you to see if our services and style is a good fit for your needs.
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE: Federal and state laws require that, under most circumstances, individuals or firms holding themselves out to the public as providing investment advisory services are required to be registered with either the U. S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) or the regulatory agency of the state in which the individual/firm conducts business. Robert Horowitz Wealth Management is registered as an Investment Advisor with the state of California. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. It is simply a registration.