Frequently Asked Questions

We specialize in working with professionals who have built careers in construction, manufacturing, and related industries, people who have spent years doing demanding work and are now ready to transition into the next chapter of life. While our roots are in these fields, we also welcome professionals from other backgrounds who value a planning-first relationship. 

While most of our clients reside in the southeast, we regularly work with clients across the country.  We are currently registered in 24 states and have added 5 of those states in the last year.

You'll work directly with the people building your plan, not a call center. Goose, John Dunham, leads our planning work; he graduated with a Chemical Engineering degree and spent 12 years in paper manufacturing before becoming an advisor, so he understands the demands of your world firsthand.  Michelle Largen and Cassie Davenport support the planning efforts during data collection and plan implementation.

We believe in planning and require incoming clients to go through the Flying V Planning Process.  It starts with a lifestyle design exercise that allows you and us to dive into exactly what is important to you.  We use your lifestyle design exercise as a lens when reviewing the technical aspects of your financial situation: investments, taxes, insurance and estate.

Our process is a structured, multi-meeting experience designed to align your finances with your vision.  It starts with Discovery and lifestyle design and ends with implementation.  During the process, we review: income and expenses, investment and tax strategy, risk management and estate planning, and business planning (if applicable). Each step builds on the last, giving you a clear, personalized “flight plan” for your future. 

We will never arrive at the destination if we don’t have a clear picture of where that destination is.  We have found that when we focus on defining the ideal destination, clients are more engaged in taking the actions required to get there. 

We believe confidence starts with understanding your income needs and sources.  When you understand the income needed and where that income comes from, you can begin to appreciate the opportunities the additional money has to offer.  Whether that is a dream vacation or funding a grandkid's college, you deserve to spend with confidence on the areas of life that mean the most to you.

We believe in comprehensive review which goes beyond assets we manage.  The review includes: income and expenses, investments, tax strategy/W-2s, insurance, estate planning, employer benefits, and business planning.  

Studies suggest wealth transfer fails not because of a lack of planning but because of a lack of communication.  We take a long-term, family-first approach to make sure your wealth is protected, passed on efficiently, and aligned with what matters most to you. It’s all about creating continuity, avoiding unnecessary stress or conflict, and setting future generations up for success.  We welcome the opportunity to lead multi-generational discussions around the family’s financial future.

Financial planning is a partnership. We bring the expertise and you bring your vision and transparency.  We ask clients to share goals, concerns and ALL financial details openly.  Participate in decisions and seek understanding for all topics covered. Knowledge is power and we seek to empower you in your financial lives. 

Yes, all the time. We believe planning works best when everyone’s on the same page, so we regularly collaborate with CPAs, estate attorneys, and other trusted professionals. If you already have a team, we’re happy to coordinate with them.  If you are not currently working with a team, we are happy to connect you with experienced professionals.

We believe flexibility is crucial, so we give you the opportunity to choose.  We will implement some, all or none of the recommendations.  Most clients decide to implement the solutions with us as we act as a catalyst to get things done. 

Consistency and communication are the keys to your success.  We have turned the planning process into a yearlong service calendar.  Just because you haven’t heard from us doesn’t mean we haven’t been working for you.  Income, expense and investment review at the beginning of the year.  Tax return analysis and review mid-year.   3rd quarter life event update to determine if changes or adjustments need to be made.  4th quarter clean up and final implementation.

And more importantly, any time life enters a storm, we are here to help guide you out of it.

Yes. We serve as a fiduciary, which means we're obligated to put your best interests first in every recommendation and not just to offer options that are merely "suitable."

Goose is Series 7, Series 66, and Insurance licensed.  Prior to his financial planning career, he spent 12 years as an engineer solving equipment and process problems.  An engineering background has contributed to his love for planning and unearthing problems.

We don't require an investment-account minimum.   Our planning relationship is based on a flat fee (see the question below). 

We have a minimum planning fee of $3,500 and ongoing support and implementation minimum of $3,000/year after the first year.  We believe in full flexibility during implementation and will review the fee structure for each solution we propose.

We provide both fee-based investment management and commission based insurance products.  Fee-based investment management starts with an advisor fee of 1% and reduces to 0.75% when account values exceed $1.0 million.  Fees on insurance products differ per product and will be discussed during the implementation process.

Goose walked in your shoes during his 12 year career in paper manufacturing.  The stress and work you walk into every day reduces the time and mental capacity you have to spend on other areas of life.  We aim to help remove that burden from you so you live a more fulfilled life away from the plant or jobsite.

We begin with a discovery call which allows each of us to determine if we are a “good fit” for each other.  If we decide to proceed, a Financial Planning contract will follow.  You can book a meeting with the QR code under the “Let’s Talk” button.