The Short Version:

1. First, we visit at a local restaurant (my treat) or at my office to see if we are a fit.
2. Next, we meet at my office for an "intial interview" to collect data and goals.
3. Third, we will meet at my office to deliver a plan outline to meet your goals, as well as a list of "fixes" for your current plan and holdings.
4. At this second in-office visit (are third face-to-face), we will both decide if we are still a good fit and want to continue working together.

Detailed Version of Our Process and How We Get Paid

We are a little old fashioned. We want to "earn" your trust and your business.

Like any relationship, it starts with getting to know each other... Wouldn't you agree?

We understand that you have many options when choosing a financial advisor. We recognize that this difficult decision will affect you and your family for years to come.

We have found over the last decade that sitting down to a private one-on-one discussion together at a local restaurant is a great way to get to know each other. (Of course, this no obligation visit is my treat and my pleasure.)

This has been a great way to see if we get along personally before we both invest time and energy developing solutions for you. We are looking for a lifelong relationship, so if we can't get along during a meal, we probably are not a match!

Although this is a good way to meet each other, many clients will bypass this step and come directly to our office for an initial visit to get to know each other.

Next, we have our initial interview at our office in San Juan Capistrano. (Some potential clients may have travel or time challenges. We can work around these issues to possibly meet at your home or office.)

At the initial interview we will review your overall current plan and examine statements, policies, documents, deeds, and anything else relevant to your family.

We will also ask about your goals and desires for the future. Also, we will be asking about your concerns of the past, present, and future.

At this initial interview we will also cover ideas and concepts that are relevant to your family.

This initial interview will take approximately 90 minutes, and is best if both husband and wife attend. We ask that you make your appointment for your second visit at this time.

After your initial interview, we will follow up with a written "recap" of the meeting to make sure we covered all topics or to see if we surfaced any additional areas to address.

Three to seven business days after our initial interview, we will meet again for what we call our "second visit."

At your second visit, we will deliver to you (to keep at no charge):

• Written outline of what you have
• Where you are now in relation to your goals
• And most importantly:
• Solutions to get to where you want to go ASAP!

Of Note:

• Our plan will be on one page with plenty of back up (did you read the last 30-page report you received or even understood it?)
• Our plan will be in English, no fancy terms
• Our plan or "prescription" to use an analogy, can be taken anywhere to "fill"
• Let me be clear, we will spend our time and our expertise and deliver to you a clear and consise plan of action. All at no charge!

At the second visit, we will both decide if we want to go forward. If you have a ton of administrative work or documents to correct, we may BOTH agree on a small fee. This fee will be refundable for any reason if you are not happy.

IF we are going to go forward to research and educate you on solutions, we will meet again two to three more times. If you are not educated and feeling comfortable, how can you make a decision?

After five visits you should have enough information to make a decision on what's best for your family.

If you choose to go forward, we will be ready. If you want to shake hands and part ways, we will cheerfully do so. We want what's best for you.

You might ask, how do we get paid?

We have found after doing this for 13 years that if we "earn" your business and "earn" your trust, you will stay with us to fulfill the plan.

Here is the money part...... How do we get paid?

Like everyone else in the financial services industry, we get a commission. They may refer to it as something else, but it is still a commission.

The plan we deliver requires "products".... Accounts, policies, documents, and investments of various types. NO ONE has special products that only he or she has access to. Maybe in the past, but not in 2013.

All products pay a commission. A popular trend is "fee only." Come on, do you really believe that someone will advise you to move a $500,000 account from Company A to Company B and only charge a $75 fee?? I don't think so, and I'll bet you don't either.

To make the plan work you will have some administrative tasks to do; but to make changes you will have to "open accounts" or "move money" or "buy" products.

We have found that if we treat you right, make sense, and educate you, we have a high probability of you fulfilling your plan with us.