Financial Frequently Asked Questions

  • We primarily use a tiered fee structure based on assets under management. 

    Tell Me More: 
    In Practice, as portfolios grow, the percentage fee typically decreases in tiers. In certain situations, particularly for standalone or project-based planning, we may charge a flat planning fee. 49 Financial clients are not locked into long-term contracts. We believe ongoing value should be earned, not assumed. 

    In short, our goal is alignment. We structure our compensation so that our incentives are directly tied to the success and growth of our clients’ portfolios and long-term plans. 

  • Because we are independent, the platforms we use can evolve as better technology and partners emerge.  

    Tell Me More: 
    Currently, some of the tools we utilize include: 

    • Asset-Map & RightCapital - Financial planning software used to create clear balance sheets and model customized scenarios for retirement and other goal-based timelines. 
    • Morningstar & YCharts - Analytical tools used during diagnosis and portfolio evaluation. 
    • Charles Schwab & Fidelity - Independent custodians that hold and safeguard client assets. 
    • Black Diamond - Performance reporting and account aggregation platform for consolidated visibility. 

    Depending on strategy, we may also work with a range of insurance carriers and investment partners to implement recommendations. 

    In Practice, our Chief Product Officer evaluates platforms, investment strategies, and carrier partners on a quarterly basis to ensure we remain current and aligned with industry best practices. 

    In short, as an independent firm, we intentionally select best-in-class tools to support planning, analysis, and reporting. 

  • Nothing is more important to us than the safety and security of our clients’ assets. That’s why we leverage some of the largest and most established custodians in the world. The majority of assets we advise on are held at Charles Schwab, which oversees over $11 trillion in assets under custody. Depending on the strategy, assets may also be held with other reputable custodians such as Fidelity or directly with selected investment or insurance companies. 

    Tell Me More: 

    In Practice, 49 Financial provides advice, portfolio management, and strategic oversight, but we do not physically hold client funds. The custodian safeguards the assets, provides account reporting, and executes transactions, while we manage the investment strategy and planning.  

    In short, your money is protected by established institutions and your strategy is guided by us. 

About 49 Financial

  • I work at 49 Financial which is a values-based financial planning firm built on the core belief that Two are Better than One'.  

    Tell Me More:  

    Our financial planners, including myself, take a process-driven approach to provide integrated planning through our Collective Partners and team-based model.  

    In Practice, 49 Financial is committed to bringing a family office-level experience to the mass affluent by delivering coordinated, high-touch planning traditionally reserved for ultra-high-net-worth families. 

    In short, we create community and simplify lives.  

    To learn more, visit www.49financial.com. 

  • 49 Financial began operating in 2016 and became an independent organization in 2019. 

    Tell Me More: 
    The firm was originally launched as a DBA within a large financial organization in 2016. In 2019, 49 Financial transitioned into an independent firm so that in practice, we can allow for greater flexibility, expanded resources, and a broader platform to serve clients. 

  • Yes, we are an independent firm. This means we are not owned by, tied to, or manufacturing products for any bank, investment company, or insurance carrier. 

    Tell Me More: 
    In Practice, independence allows me and my firm to access a wide range of financial strategies and companies so that recommendations are guided by what best serves our clients, not by proprietary products or internal quotas. Because we are not beholden to any one institution, I’m able to sit on the same side of the table as my clients. 

    In short, independence gives us flexibility, planning gives us direction, and together, this allows me to advocate fully for the people I serve. 

  • The name 49 Financial is inspired by Ecclesiastes 4:9: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” 

    Tell Me More: 

    In Practice, every client works with a team, typically three advisors, rather than relying on a single point of contact. This team-based model creates built-in collaboration, creativity, and accountability. Whether it’s advisor and client, or advisor and advisor, we truly believe collaboration produces stronger outcomes. 

    In short, this verse reflects my core belief that financial planning (and life for that matter) should never be navigated alone. 

  • For my clients, I serve on the planning team, most typically within the consultant or architect role. At my firm, I serve as an Associate Vice President in our Los Angeles office. 

    Tell Me More: 
    In 2022, I moved from Austin to Los Angeles to launch our first West Coast office alongside my mentor and business partner, Dean Dillenberg. In my role as AVP, I serve my personal book of business, lead trainings and mentor advisors in the Southwest region, and participate in the recruiting and growth of our firm.  

    In Practice, this means I’m both hands-on in client planning and actively involved in building our advisory presence in Los Angeles. I serve as a strategic partner to my clients while also helping shape the culture and leadership of our local office. 

    In short, I love what I do 🙂

Planning & Investment Philosophy

  • Our investment team, Opal Capital, operates as a specialized investment partner. They are engaged to design, implement, and manage portfolios in alignment with the strategy we build for clients. 

    Tell Me More: In Practice, as your planner, I do not personally trade or adjust portfolios. Instead, I oversee the strategy and ensure the investment team is executing in alignment with your plan. Opal Capital then constructs and manages the portfolio within that framework.  

    In short, we partner with an outsourced investment team to manage portfolio construction and oversight. 

    To be clear, there is no long-term binding contract with them; performance and alignment matter. To learn more about Opal, visit https://www.opalinvest.com/ 

  • We develop investment strategy the same way you’d approach building a home -  with a clear blueprint and the right specialists. 

    Tell Me More: 
    Think of my planning team and me as your general contractors.  

    • Our role is to understand your goals, timeline, risk tolerance, tax considerations, and overall vision. We design the blueprint. 

    • Then, we bring in the appropriate “subcontractors” to execute that vision. For investments specifically, that often includes our dedicated investment team: professionals with decades of combined experience in portfolio construction, risk management, and market strategy. 

    In Practice, we build the strategy around your goals first: income needs, growth targets, liquidity, tax efficiency. Then, our investment team constructs and manages the portfolio aligned with that plan. 

    Just like in construction, the general contractor ensures everything works together cohesively. The specialists focus on their craft. And yes, I may not be Chip and Joanna Gaines, but I do believe in a well-organized, color-coded framework. Whether it’s retirement income “buckets,” a travel fund, or a golf fund — simplicity drives clarity, and clarity drives confidence. 

    In short, blueprint first. Specialists second. Strategy always aligned with the plan. 

  • Our investment philosophy is planning-driven, not market-driven. 

    Tell Me More: 
    As planners, we first define time horizons, liquidity needs, and risk tolerance within your broader financial framework. That planning structure informs the investment strategy, not the other way around. We believe thoughtful portfolio construction should aim to optimize return relative to risk taken, reduce unnecessary fees, and minimize tax drag over time (RFT). 

    In Practice, we often utilize diversified, evidence-based strategies - including ETF-based models - designed to be both cost-efficient and tax-aware. We also don’t believe investments should be determined solely by age; instead, allocations are guided by liquidity needs, time horizon, and overall financial complexity. 

    In short, RFT is our investment philosophy:  

    • R:  improve risk-adjusted returns 
    • F: lower fees 
    • T: lower taxes 

  • Great question — and I appreciate the food analogy. Our planning framework stays consistent. The customization happens within it. 

    Tell Me More: 
    Think of it like a favorite restaurant. The fries taste the same every time because the process is refined and consistent. But the overall meal experience can be completely customized based on what you order. 

    Our planning process works the same way. We follow a structured, proven framework.  However, how we apply it depends entirely on your goals, stage of life, complexity, and opportunities we uncover together. 

    In Practice, during the discovery meeting, we focus on listening: understanding your values, priorities, and financial landscape. From there, we use our independent model and planning framework to identify strategic value-adds and goal-based solutions tailored specifically to you. 

    In short, the process sets framework while the strategy is personal and customized. 

  • To start, we are not market timers. 

    Tell Me More: 
    Rather than trying to predict market highs and lows, we build a planning framework that assigns risk based on time horizon and liquidity needs. 

    In Practice, we segment assets into short, mid, and long-term time horizons. This structure informs asset allocation and helps ensure that money needed in the near term isn’t exposed to unnecessary volatility. This way, during market downturns, clients are typically drawing from assets allocated to shorter-term horizons - designed to be more stable - rather than selling long-term investments at depressed prices. 

    In short, our allocation strategy is intentional. From balancing growth and protection and segmenting assets in different buckets, we are able to help clients build plans and protect their peace amid volatility. 

Planning Process & Client Experience 

  • We follow a structured, three-meeting process to build a thoughtful and comprehensive financial plan. 

    Tell Me More: 
    The first phase is discovery - understanding your goals, concerns, values, and current financial landscape. From there, we analyze your situation and develop recommendations aligned with your priorities, timelines, and level of complexity. By the final meeting, we present a clear framework outlining opportunities, risks, and strategic next steps designed to add measurable value. 

    In Practice, planning is not a one-time event. Once a strategy is implemented, we revisit and refine it through regular review meetings, typically quarterly,  or whenever life changes occur or clients prefer. 

    In short, if something shifts in your situation or plans, we adjust accordingly. Sometimes you call us. Sometimes we call you. 

  • At 49 Financial, our tagline is “Create Community, Simplify Lives.” Onboarding is where that promise is put into action. Clients work with a three-person planning team. Your Plan Implementor handles paperwork, application processing, and keeps you informed every step of the way. We aim to make administrative details feel seamless and transparent. 

    Tell Me More: 

    In Practice, once paperwork is signed, most investment accounts are opened within 2–3 business days. Transfer timelines vary depending on the institution we are moving assets from. Insurance-related applications may take longer depending on underwriting requirements and coordination with healthcare providers. 

    After accounts are funded, we schedule an Orientation Meeting. This ensures you can log into your accounts, understand where everything is held, and feel confident navigating your financial dashboard. We also establish a review cadence - quarterly, biannual, or annual - depending on your preference and needs. 

    In short, our onboarding process is designed to create clarity, structure, and community from day one. 

  • Once you become a client, that’s when the relationship truly begins. 

    Tell Me More: 
    Communication cadence is customized. During your Orientation Meeting (after accounts are funded and set up), we establish expectations around how often you’d like to meet and how proactive you’d like us to be. 

    Some clients tell me, “Liv, I adore you but once a year is enough.” 
    Others prefer more frequent touchpoints. (I know, we are just that fun.) 

    Recurring reviews are typically: 
    • Quarterly for clients closely approaching or in retirement 
    • Biannual or annual for clients in steady accumulation or those with simpler planning needs 

    The cadence depends on complexity, timeline, and preference. 

    In Practice, beyond review meetings, communication happens in several ways: 

    • Weekly Investment Update: A concise, high-level market recap from our investment team delivered every Monday. This is designed to inform without overwhelming you and remind you that you have a team watching the market 24/7. 

    • Monthly Newsletter: From me personally - blending financial education, firm updates, events, and a little “life in practice” along the way. I believe relationships matter, and I want clients to know the person behind the planning. 

    • Proactive Outreach: If something shifts in markets, tax law, or planning strategy that affects you, we reach out. 

    In short, if you ever need us, you can always reach out but we will keep you in the loop in various ways as listed above! 

Other Questions Asked 

  • That’s a thoughtful and proactive question - and one we’ve intentionally planned for! After all, our firm operates on a team-based model so no client relationship is built around a single point of contact. 

    Tell Me More:
    In Practice, from the beginning, multiple professionals are familiar with your financial plan, goals, and history. This structure creates continuity and shared understanding rather than dependency on one individual. Many of our advisors have decades of runway ahead of them, and our collaborative model ensures long-term stability for clients. 

    In short, if I were to retire, become unavailable, or transition roles, your plan would continue seamlessly within the team so that be your choice.  

  • I get it - I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. Every client comes with a different stage of life, level of complexity, and communication style. Our job is not to force a formula, but to adapt the experience and build a team thoughtfully to support both planning and personality. 

    Tell Me More: 
    As needs evolve, from early accumulation to retirement, business ownership, or legacy planning, the strategy inevitably evolves with them. We also intentionally build planning teams with complementary strengths and personalities. This means bringing in subject matter experts when needed and ensuring clients feel both supported and understood. 

    In Practice, if you’re analytical and love digging into charts, we’ll lean into that. If you prefer high-level clarity and big-picture strategy, we’ll meet you there. If sports analogies are your thing, I promise I’ll be useless, but I will bring in the right teammate while I respectfully sit out the play-by-play recap. 

    In short, not every advisor is the right fit for every person, and that’s okay. Give me feedback, and I’ll do my best to build a team that supports you as a person and your goals.  

  • This is a question I get often - especially from my own clients. Many tell me, “You would relate so well to my kids,” or, “I wish I knew this in my 20s.” And truthfully, I agree. 

    Tell Me More: 
    One of the reasons I entered this industry was to build financial literacy for myself. Personal finance isn’t widely taught, and I deeply believe younger individuals deserve education and clarity. 

    That said, the depth of planning we provide is designed for individuals and families experiencing growing financial complexity: in practice, this may look like retirement income planning, tax strategy, equity compensation, business ownership, estate coordination. A full-scale retirement and distribution plan is often not the most immediate need for someone in their 20s.  

    In short, this doesn’t mean the need isn’t real. It just means the format may be different. I am always happy to answer questions, point people toward resources, or have introductory conversations. 

  • It has always been about the relationships. 

    Tell Me More: 
    Financial planning is deeply personal. I have the privilege of walking alongside my clients through career transitions, business launches, retirements, family milestones, and everything in between. Helping problem-solve, build strategy, and watch clients achieve goals they once thought were distant is incredibly rewarding. Along the way, some clients have become long-term friends, mentors, and even travel companions.  

    In Practice, YES, just like Taylor (Swift) has always prioritized her music career around fully showing up for her fans (there’s a reason why she’s so successful), I believe in building my practice in a way that always puts my clients at center stage. After all, my clients are the reason why I get to love what I do! 

    In short, planning isn’t just numbers. It’s narrative, relational, and… real. I pinch myself sometimes in awe and honor to be part of so many client stories. If you are one that is reading this right now, I’m grateful for you!