The Cambridge Difference

Planning that focuses on the person, not a product.

ACA Members are the pioneers of holistic financial planning--planning that focuses on the person, not a product. It's a higher standard of financial planning, one that makes the advisor your advocate and emphasizes education and wisdom. How is this different from other "financial planners"? Follow the money.

Stockbrokers and commissioned mutual fund salespeople are paid to sell you investment products, particularly those owned by the company they work for. You may receive a document called a financial plan, but there's nothing personal about it. It's overarching message is how their products will do everything you need.

Life insurance salespeople are paid to sell you life insurance policies. They will promise you that there is an insurance policy (or annuity) for all of your financial needs. They may not tell you how much those policies or annuities pay in commission or the other fees involved. You will rarely understand just what it is you are buying or exactly how much you are paying for it.

Money managers are focused on gathing and managing as many assets as possible. They tend to stress the return you will get on your investment portfolio, even though there are at least nine other factors more important to your financial future than your rate of return. Money managers are usually paid a percentage of the assets under their management and tend (for obvious reasons) to prefer to work only with high net worth clients.

CPAs and other tax professionals are the newest group of professionals to hang out the financial planner shingle. Unfortunately, the vast majority who provide financial planning services do so on a product sale, commission basis. While it may seem a natural fit to "buy" your IRA from your tax preparer, you still end up wondering whose interests are best being served.

There is a better way.

ACA members are paid to offer you unbiased advice on a fiduciary basis. Their compensation is never based on the outcome of a transaction they recommend, so they are free to offer the best advice for you.

They offer holistic (or life-integrated) financial planning. It is founded on the principles that:

• Financial planning is not an event, nor is it something done "to you"--it is a continuous, life-long process that requires your active involvement.
• You are far more in control of your financial future than you have been led to believe.
• Your values, your beliefs, and your attitudes about money are of primary importance in the financial planning process.
• You need financial strategies developed for "real people," not for pension funds and institutional investors.
• True financial independence lies in knowing how much is enough.

When you work with an ACA Member, you can expect:

Objective Advice--Their complete focus is on what is best for you.

Accessibility--Their open-retainer program means that not only do you have regularly scheduled tax and financial reviews, but you also can call your advisor or schedule an appointment whenever an unexpected problem or new opportunity arises--and it won't cost you a penny more!

The Most Comprehensive Advice Available--Taxes and your personal residence probably represent your largest financial commitments. ACA Members integrate these and all the other pieces of your financial puzzle into one overall, comprehensive plan.

Value-Based Pricing--ACA Members are not the least expensive financial advisors you will find, but each advisor is committed to providing value that exceeds his or her fee. If an advisor does not believe that you will realize savings that add up to more than your fee, you will not be accepted as a client, or you will be offered a retainer option more appropriate to your situation.

To locate an ACA Member in your area, visit our Find an Advisor page, or learn more about [Working with a Cambridge Advisor].