You have questions – we have answers

Fee-Only advisors are those who are paid solely by the client. They do NOT accept commission on products sold or any other forms of compensation from third parties, eliminating conflicts of interest related to compensation and allowing for objective advice.

Most Fee-Only advisors’ primary compensation is through fees related to managing client investments. Hourly-only means we do not manage assets — eliminating another potential conflict of interest since the amount of assets you have does not impact our compensation.

This model also means we don’t have to turn anyone away, as most firms that manage assets have a minimum requirement for assets.

No, some firms have net worth minimums, but we believe that quality financial planning is for everyone.

Financial planning fees vary from client to client, based on the specific service areas required and the complexity of the situation. The final fee will be based on the hourly rate of your primary advisor ($350 – $800 per hour). To get an idea, visit our fees page. To get a firm quote, call us to set up a no-obligation introductory consultation.

Value. At Timothy Financial Counsel, we offer:

• Depth of knowledge: access to up-to-date expertise from our experienced team of professionals;
• Objectivity: confidence that the advice you get is objective and independent;
• Customized advice: solid financial advice reflecting your own unique situation with specific recommendations to equip you to move closer to your goals.

Very often, yes. While the initial plan often creates the highest number of hours since we are seeing your information for the first time, ongoing work is often a fraction of the time (50-75% less) for our annual reviews. As your circumstance gets more or less complex, our time follows accordingly.

Our clients widely vary, but an average engagement might be 18-22 hours or about $7,000, though we have clients who have only needed 1 hour as well as those who have exceeded 60 hours.

Review our fees page to get an idea of what level of service you need and who the primary advisors could be. Fill out our “Get started” form, and we will contact you and have a brief conversation to confirm if there is a good match. Or, call us during regular business hours. We will then schedule a no-obligation consultation and provide you with a firm quote before we begin any work.

Yes. In addition to serving clients in the Chicago area, Timothy Financial Counsel provides hourly fee-only financial planning to clients all over the country (see disclosure page) . Contact our office to set up a no-charge introductory consultation.

Those seeking a long-term relationship without a long-term contract, high-priced retainer fee, or hidden costs.

Our clients come from a variety of backgrounds: from new graduates to retirees, small business owners to corporate executives, young parents to grandparents, and anywhere in-between in these groups. However, the profile of a typical client might be:

• Preference for objectivity and honest answers to difficult questions
• Good savers who are willing to work at achieving a secure financial future
• Strong accountability to themselves to “get things done”

• Individuals who spend more than they earn, or struggle with debt.
• Day traders or stock pickers looking for a brokerage-type relationship.
• Individuals who want to delegate all financial decisions.

It may seem overwhelming at first, but our job is to partner with you to take charge of your financial future. We have a questionnaire that is designed to be thorough but easy to use. Many of our clients find this data gathering part to be extremely helpful in and of itself. It provides clarity and organization that they can continue to use in the future.

Next, we do an in-depth review of your current financial situation, then assess your objectives, risk tolerance, and priorities to provide you with specific advice and recommendations in a clearly written plan made just for you. At the presentation meeting we review the recommendations in detail and will answer any questions you might have. You may, like many clients, continue to engage us to do regular reviews or to answer future questions.

Accountants and lawyers generally focus on their specific areas of expertise. We advise on how those areas interrelate. We don’t replace any of these specialties but advise you to make the right decisions that best achieve your overall goals.

After the initial engagement, we offer ongoing services, periodic reviews, and specific issue consultations. We will periodically check in to see if you would like to review your situation, have updates or there is a life change, Contact us anytime, if you just have a financial question. All future work is billed in one-minute increments at our current hourly rate.

Without question, yes. Financial planning is so much more than investments. We look at investments as the gasoline that runs the car, not the car itself. At Timothy Financial we begin by exploring your overall goals, then explore the most efficient, effective ways for you to accomplish those goals. This involves analyzing your cash flow, income taxes, and long range trajectory while assessing the risks that could derail your plan. Hourly is the perfect model for those that either want to continue to self-manage their investments or are simply looking for objective input on their investments within the context of their big picture. We never take custody or manage our clients investments.

There are many factors to determine that answer. Are you just getting started or have a mature financial picture? Is there a significant event that is impacting your financial picture that need to be considered? Have you already done a recent assessment in certain areas but looking for advice in other areas? Answers to these questions and more will aid in answering that question, and our team will walk this journey with you to customize the plan that fits your needs.

Absolutely! We will need to know the values and cost basis for planning purposes, but investment advice is not required to do financial planning with Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc.

For Timothy Financial advisors, it means the clients never need wonder if we are giving advice for our benefit vs. theirs. The clients interest always comes first, and we believe that the hourly model does this best.

There are a variety of triggers that can lead someone to this decision, including a) the value is getting high enough that you begin to second guess, b) you have uncertainty as to whether you are doing a good job or not, c) you would like to share or delegate the responsibility to someone else, etc. Since our founding in the year 2000 our hourly model has helped thousands of clients gain confidence in their investing while adding additional value of providing guidance on tax efficiency and cash flow management.