Frequently Asked Questions

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS® have a responsibility to act in your best interest, regardless of what they stand to gain or lose. By choosing a financial advisor based on a fiduciary standard of conduct, you can feel confident and expect greater transparency into the services your advisor provides.

Your team of advisors brings knowledge, security, and financial clarity as we walk with you through your financial journey. Boston Wealth Strategies is an all-inclusive firm, working with clients at all stages of life, whether you are just starting out, mid-career, or retired. We also work closely with business owners to provide financial services to their employees.

We offer our clients inclusive financial advice, including Investment Management, Investment Strategy, Retirement Planning, Insurance, and Corporate Planning. Learn more about our services here.

A financial plan is a deep dive into your entire financial picture. It helps to answer questions like: When can I retire? Can we pay for our child’s college education? Can we afford a second home? How much money will we need in retirement, and how do we ensure we have enough? Learn about the Boston Wealth Strategies process for creating a customized financial plan for you.

We are proud to offer you a team of professionals and service members. This means that each team member will be aware of your needs and preferences. Your lead advisor will work with a relationship manager and our planning department to ensure you receive service that is based on your customized approach.

Just as we help families plan for the contingencies of life, we have also planned to provide ongoing service to our clients in the event of the death, disability, or separation from service of a team member. Boston Wealth Strategies is committed to being here to support our clients throughout their lifetime, along with their heirs and future generations.

That will depend on your needs and the way we choose to work together. Our focus on being a primarily fee-based firm with a holistic approach to your financial picture means we succeed if you succeed. Generally, there are three ways in which we can be compensated: an hourly or annual fee for a financial plan; an asset-based fee or advisory fee for managed wealth accounts; or a commission for products purchased, such as life insurance or long-term care insurance.

While many advisors call themselves financial planners, only those who have fulfilled the certification and renewal requirements of the CFP® Board can use the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification. To earn and maintain this certification, CFP® professionals must meet the following requirements.

• Education: CFP® professionals complete a comprehensive course of study approved by the CFP® Board.
• Examination: CFP® practitioners pass a comprehensive, six-hour CFP® certification examination to test their ability to apply financial planning knowledge in an integrated format.
• Experience: CFP® professionals must have at least three years of hands-on experience, possessing financial counseling skills in addition to technical knowledge.
• Ethics: CFP® practitioners agree to abide by a strict code of professional conduct, and pass a thorough background check.

Advisors who have earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) certification have acquired a thorough knowledge of fiduciary responsibilities. AIF® designees are required to successfully complete a program on investment fiduciary standards of care and pass an examination. Designees are also required to adhere to continuing professional education requirements, which keep them abreast of recent events in the industry.

Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist® (CRPS®) is a certification for those who create, implement, and maintain retirement plans for businesses. Unlike most other professional financial planning and advisory professional certification, the CRPS® focuses on wholesale and business clients.

Earning the certifications listed above requires an advisor to meet a certain number of continuing education credits every year to keep up with industry developments. This helps to ensure that the advisor has the most up-to-date information and knowledge related to practices in financial planning, investment management, corporate planning, and regulatory compliance.