At Warren Street, we keep your best interests at the core of every investment recommendation. Sales commissions have never been a part of our business model, because we believe we should only make money when you do. We’re solely focused on you and your success.
Read on for answers to common questions about how we work for you, and feel free to reach out directly with any additional questions or comments!
+ Are you a fiduciary?
Yes. Being independent, we work directly with the regulators and must work in a fiduciary capacity for our clients.
Being a fiduciary means that we are legally obligated to act in our client’s best interest. Doing anything else would be a breach of that obligation.
+ What do you mean by "ensemble practice"?
Traditionally, you hired one person to be your financial planner, investment manager, and your client service advisor, and they would have to wear all these hats for hundreds of clients. At Warren Street, you get a dedicated planner, a dedicated investment management team, and a primary point of contact for all of your questions.
We feel that this ensemble structure helps deliver the best possible client experience, and it ensures our team members are working in their strongest capacities.
+ What are your credentials?
On staff, we have 3 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ (CFP®), and 1 Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). We put an emphasis on attaining and continuing education at our firm because we believe it helps us produce the tailor-made solutions that clients need and are looking for from a financial advisor.
+ How long have you been in business?
Warren Street Wealth Advisors was founded in 2015 by Cary Warren Facer and Blake Street. Cary entered the industry in 2007 for a Fortune 100 Company and Blake in 2008 at La Pointe Wealth Management, LPL Financial.
Cary and Blake realized they shared the same vision for delivering financial advice. Their vision was to provide clients with financial advice that was transparent, unbiased, and always with their client’s best interest at heart.
Since 2015, the Warren Street team has grown to a size of 8 members who manage over $275,000,000 for 350+ families and businesses.
+ What are your fees?
To view our fees, click here.
Warren Street is a fee-based investment advisor firm. This means that we charge a flat rate for our financial planning services and a percentage fee for the assets that we actively manage. Our investment management fee is based on the previous quarter’s average daily account balance, so no fee is billed until after the work is done. Fees are typically directly debited from brokerage accounts, to make things easy for our clients.
Please note that we do hold licenses to sell insurance that may come with commision, such as term life insurance or health insurance.
+ Is there a minimum net worth/annual income I need to have to work with you?
Typically, our fee structure makes the most sense for those with at least $500,000 investable assets, and our average client has $750,000 assets under management. That said, if that’s not you, we are still happy to discuss your personal situation with you and see if there is a way we can still work together.
+ How much is a consultation?
While our consultations are valued at $250, we offer complimentary virtual consultations to anyone seriously considering our firm. We don’t shy away from giving advice during these calls; our ultimate goal is to help, even if you don’t end up becoming a client. There is no obligation to work with us.
+ Do I need to bring anything to our first consultation?
No, you are not required to bring anything. That said, we would be happy to look over your financial statements with you. When you book the consultation, you’ll have the option to upload any documents you’d like to share.
+ What if I decide to leave?
You are free to leave at any time, and there are no fees or penalties to do so. We always want to work with people for the next 30 years and beyond, but on the rare occasions that clients feel they need to move in another direction, they can move on at any time.
+ What type of investments do you use?
We utilize active investment managers and passive index funds to gain our market exposure, typically by utilizing ETFs and mutual funds.
Using these tools, we give our clients the appropriate exposure to asset classes that are in line with their goals and objectives. To learn more about how we invest for clients, you can visit our Investment Proven Process.
+ Will you beat the market?
“The market,” we find, is an arbitrary benchmark. Our main focus is improving upon the investment outcomes that clients would achieve on their own. Our job as an advisor is to make sense of the infinite investment options available and keep clients away from long-term damage to their capital and portfolio. If we can provide this outcome for clients, then we have succeeded.
+ How do you measure success?
We believe returns should not be the only metric of success for clients, as they do not accurately reflect the success of an individual’s financial plan and goals. For most people, being able to sleep well knowing someone knowledgeable and ethical is looking out for their financial well-being is more valuable than capturing 100% of the S&P 500 returns. Success for some means having an income stream to enjoy their retirement years and help their children from time-to-time. For others, achieving their 5-year plan to save a down payment for their first house might be their measure of success. We work with each individual to formulate their financial goals, and to help them successfully achieve those goals.
+ Can you help me with my taxes?
We can do everything but file them. We’ll work with you on tax-saving strategies throughout the year, helping you move your money in the right ways to ultimately save on tax dollars. Then, we’ll help get all of your documents together for tax season, so all you have to do is have an accountant file them. If you need an accountant, we have a list of CPA referrals and are happy to recommend them to you.
Get Started
For more information, schedule a complimentary call with one of our advisors.