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Is it Really All About the Money?

What makes a financial planning engagement successful? Is it walking out the door with a financial plan in hand? Is it beating market returns on investments? Is it reaching one's goals? Or is it something far broader in scope and impact? Is it, perhaps, learning that money is a tool and then mastering that tool to build a life that matters?

The consumers who work with members of the Alliance of Cambridge Advisors are seeking more than just short-term fixes to their financial issues. They are individuals and families who recognize that there is something not working in their lives and are ready for change. They are not looking for a transaction; they are looking for a transformation. They are not seeking the lowest possible price; they are seeking help to break free from financial limitations and dysfunctions which have already cost them more than they can express.

What they find is a unique brand of financial advisor, a confidante and coach equipped to guide them through the process of attaining financial independence. Our members are not run-of-the-mill financial planners. They differ in:

Compentency--Our members are required to hold the CFP™, ChFC, or CPA/PFS designations, or to have the advanced education and experience deemed equivalent by our Membership Committee. They must meet the highest professional standards for continuing education. And they must successfully complete our proprietary training program--the Cambridge Success Program.

Compensation--Our members are free to choose from several fee-only compensation models, which allows them to find the best option (the option where value received exceeds cost) for each client. Many offer one-time reviews or other short-term engagements for clients with the simplest planning needs. Many offer wealth management services for the well-to-do delegator. But the hallmark of the Cambridge System™ is the open-ended retainer where for a flat annual fee (based on a formula that considers income, assets, and the complexity of the situation) the client has unlimited access to their advisor. This is a true peace-of-mind retainer option.

Commitment--Our members are committed to their clients for the long haul. Great financial planning is not an event. It is a process that requires an ongoing relationship. It involves integrating all aspects of the client's financial life--taxes, investments, insurance, estate planning and more--with the client's goals and values. It involves regular review and updating because life is not an event either. It involves preventive strategies, the avoidance of mistakes that can jeopardize progress.

It is these stories that we offer you on this section of our website. Stories that we hope you will choose to retell and explore even more deeply.

For more of the story of the Alliance of Cambridge Advisors, read About Us.