Questions & Answers

Financial planning is a systematic top-down approach to evaluating your current financial situation, determining your true long-term goals, and recommending action to get you where you want to be. Comprehensive planning is most effective, but a focus on specific areas can also be beneficial. With either approach, you can discover financial decisions and lifestyle solutions that are right for you.

We applaud you for paying close attention to the financial options available to you. But it’s hard to cut through the extraneous noise to get at what’s really important. We can help you do so in a way that is personalized to meet your needs.

“Hourly, Fee-only” financial advice addresses your needs without any bias toward particular courses of action or types of products. And our hourly, fee-only structure means that you can get as much or as little advice as you need. You won’t be subject to any annual retainer fees or asset minimums. And we also don’t charge any commissions. Nor do we accept or pay referral fees.

The cost of financial advice and planning varies with the degree of complexity and analysis. The goal of financial planning is to improve the effectiveness of your spending and investing; therefore, the benefits usually outweigh the costs. For investors who have been paying asset-under-management fees, we are almost always a less-expensive and more-personalized resource. Most clients’ initial needs can be accommodated with 6-12 hours of work. Our hourly rate is $170 per hour, with discounts for extended services.

We’re fundamentally different. By having a comprehensive understanding of your total financial situation, we can better see how your investments fit within your long-term goals. We then consult with you and/or your stock broker or portfolio manager to recommend appropriate changes to your portfolio. Our many years working in investment analysis give us the credentials to provide sound investment advice.

In our role as your “personal CFO”, we can work with you and your team of product specialists to implement the appropriate strategies. When needed, we will refer you to qualified professionals who can provide you with those specialized services and products.

Section 212 of the Internal Revenue Code permits an itemized deduction for tax and/or investment advice in the miscellaneous section of Schedule A. It is subject to a 2% floor of the adjusted gross income on a personal tax return.

Money is woven through the fabric of each of our lives. Everyone can benefit from the stronger sense of financial security that comes from working with a financial professional. But we find that those who have a near-term retirement goal or who are building or managing an investment portfolio benefit most from our services.

Basic advice may be all that is needed if you are just starting out. That advice can help build a solid foundation for future financial success. On the other hand, comprehensive and ongoing services would be appropriate if you have a more complex financial life. The level of financial advice and planning that clients need vary with their position along that spectrum. The key is for you to obtain the level of personalized service that is right for you.

The best time to get started is now! The catalyst for many clients is a major life event, such as getting married or divorced, having children, looking for a new home, or nearing retirement. Planning for life’s adventures is best done well ahead of time. It’s simply never too early for you to get started. And don’t fret if it seems too late. As they say, “better late than never”.

An advocate is someone who “supports or promotes the interests of another”. As such, we are advocates for each of our clients. In addition, we actively advocate for any client who seeks our support and presence at meetings with other professional advisors, such as accountants, insurance providers, stock brokers, or estate attorneys.

Absolutely! We are happy to provide our services in whatever format works best for you. You are welcome to arrange group sessions with friends, neighbors or colleagues. We also offer some free workshops which are listed on our Events page. While you won’t get as much personalized attention with this format, you can still gain practical advice and knowledge.

Education is key to employee involvement, especially in tough market times. (Ever notice that investments seem to be the only products that people don’t like to buy “on sale”?) We can tailor a program to help your employees understand the long-term benefits of active participation in your retirement plans.

For all practical purposes, a financial plan is never finished. Rather it is a roadmap that needs to be tweaked as new paths --and new roadblocks-- are discovered. That being said, when your initial plan or advisory session is completed, we will recommend specific courses of action which you can implement on your own or with our assistance. At that point, our services may end or you may return for periodic reviews or an occasional consultation.

Cole Financial Consulting, LLC is an investment advisory firm registered with the states of New Mexico and Colorado. While our primary market is the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area, modern technology and frequent travel enable us to work with clients throughout the region. In additional to our local area, we serve other communities in New Mexico and Colorado such as Los Alamos, Taos, Las Cruces, Farmington, Durango, Raton, Trinidad, Denver, and Colorado Springs. In addition, we also provide services to other out-of-state clients under applicable de minimis rules.

First, we recommend that you peruse all the pages of this website. Then contact us at (505) 286-7915 or through the CONTACT US inquiry form. We look forward to helping you create the appropriate strategies for your financial security.