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Questions To Ask
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Questions To Ask

The following questions were from a Forbes Magazine article called “10 Questions To Ask When Choosing A Financial Advisor”.

1. How do you charge for your services and how much?

As Fee-Only advisors, we are paid only by our clients. This means we can be completely objective in making financial recommendations, and that you can be assured that we are looking out for your best interests. To facilitate an open relationship with our clients, our fee includes all the services we offer. The fee is based on the discretionary assets we manage for clients and is calculated as follows:

    • Fixed fee: $5,000 per year, plus
    • Asset-based fee: 0.50% per year of managed assets

2. What licenses, credentials or other certifications do you have?

Bill Jameson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant and a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).

Jared Jameson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant and a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).

Jonathan Chapman is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant and a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).

Brandon Arns is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant, a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).

Alisha Weaver is a registered Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

WJ Interests, LLC, is registered with the Securities & Exchange Commissions (SEC).

3. What services does your firm provide?

Retirement planning, investment planning, tax planning, estate planning, insurance planning and business succession planning.

4. What type of clients do you specialize in?

WJ Interests has provided Fee-Only financial advice to individuals, families and businesses since 1996. Clients come from a variety of different backgrounds and professions, including but not limited to: Physicians, Engineers, Lawyers, Entrepreneurs, and Corporate Executives. In our experience, clients with the following characteristics are those most likely to benefit from our services:

  • Have investable liquid assets of at least $500,000, or a combined annual income of at least $250,000.
  • Trust in and commit to the plan and process of reaching financial independence.
  • Have realistic expectations of investment performance.
  • Desire a mutually beneficial partnership.
  • Value long-term relationships.

5. Could I see a sample financial plan?

Sample financial plans are always available on our site. Click here to view.

6. What is your investment approach?

The core tenants of our investment philosophy are:

  1. Long-term investment horizon
  2. Broad asset allocation
  3. Active management
  4. Global investing
  5. Participation in unique public and private opportunities

After we decide on an appropriate investment plan, we don’t just invest your portfolio. We monitor your investments on a regular basis, looking for opportunities to add value and making sure you are on track to meet your goals.

7. How much contact do you have with your clients?

You may determine how often you would like to come into the office to have a portfolio review meeting – most clients come in once a year. Our clients receive a monthly communication piece from us via email with original content we write ourselves addressing various financial topics, what is happening in the economy and our view of the investment market. We host Investment luncheons twice a year addressing various financial topics and what is happening in the economy. Depending on what’s happening in the market, we also host periodic conference calls if there is a need.

8. Will I be working only with you or with a team?

You will be assigned a primary advisor who will usually be the one to conduct your annual portfolio review meetings. But the entire WJ Team is available to you if you have a question and someone will get you the answer you need.

9. What makes your client experience unique?

Going from civil engineering to financial planning doesn’t seem like a typical progression, but in retrospect, it makes perfect sense. When Bill Jameson and his son, Jared, founded WJ Interests, they not only brought with them years of disciplined project management and client service experience, they brought a unique discipline. We apply the same research-driven and technology-intensive approach in civil engineering to understanding investment markets and money managers. We are proud to have distinguished ourselves as one of Houston’s most respected wealth management firms. Unlike the other 80 percent of advisors, our compensation comes from our fees, which translates into sound, objective financial advice that benefits you and you alone. We’ve structured our business to provide financial planning and investment management advice that is in our client’s best interest, not ours. We are selling our advice, not a product. This translates directly to a unique level of trust between our clients and us, which has been the mortar of our success. In addition, we’ve carefully managed our growth to ensure clients get the individual attention they deserve. We individually review each client’s investment portfolio on a regular basis and at least annually, we update each client’s financial plan. We’re proud of what we’ve built—our company and our reputation. But more importantly, we’re proud of our relationships and of the long-term financial success we’ve brought to our clients.

10. Did the advisor ask me questions and seem to be interested in me?

This is a question you can answer after you come visit us at our office. We look forward to talking with you.