Frequently Asked Questions

Clients

Our typical clients are nearing or in retirement and looking for coordinated investment and tax guidance. If you have other financial needs, I'm happy to chat and will help with a referral if we think another advisor would be a better fit.

The process

After an initial meeting to go through details, we have quarterly check ins with clients to review investments and taxes and follow up on any open items or questions. These are meant to be quick regular check ins in place of an occasional marathon session. These typically begin in person or virtually and can move to email updates when the plan is on a good course. In the spring, we connect to wrap up income tax returns. I'm also available year-round for any questions that come up between meetings. 

Why it matters

Some financial advisors don't check in regularly, and many tax offices don't do tax planning. Coordinating both with regular pulse checks keeps plans on track, communication clear. and minds at ease. 

Ashland Advisors is as a Registered Investment Adviser, providing fee‑only fiduciary investment advice. As a CPA, I also coordinate investments and taxes seamlessly for clients. I have master’s degrees in finance, economics, and accounting, which gives me an informed view on markets, investments, and taxes.

I see investing as a long‑term effort to build financial independence. If you're looking for hot stock tips or confident-sounding guesses about the future, I won't be much help. The truth is the future is unknowable, so I focus on what I do know: retirees need dependable income, and having an effective plan with clear communication helps them sleep well at night regardless of what tomorrow brings. 

My background in finance and accounting helps me understand both parties to investments: the companies in search of capital and the investors in search of returns. Understanding the obligations and risks of different investments also informs my approach to investing. It's one of the reasons I lean toward income investing for retirees. When your investments generate consistent cash flows each month, you're less exposed to market swings that can be tough to recover from. Base hits win ball games in finance too. 

I also emphasize the behavioral side of money. I encourage clients to aim for enough instead of more, and to put a value on peace of mind even though it's tough to quantify in a spreadsheet. Ecclesiastes puts it well: better a handful with peace than two handfuls without. 

I worked with a large national broker-dealer early in my career. I enjoyed working with clients but the sales quotas and management elbows on recommendations didn't sit well with me. I wanted to get away from those conflicts of interest, so I setup Ashland Advisors as an independent, fee‑only fiduciary. This allows me to give clients objective advice that's free from third party influences. Industry research finds that 97% of Americans expect a fiduciary relationship with their financial advisor, but less than 5% of advisors actually operate as fiduciaries. 

I also bring a unique blend of training and real‑world experience. With master’s degrees in finance, accounting, and economics, two decades in corporate financial leadership, and the experience of co‑founding and selling two small businesses, I approach investing with a balance of analytical depth and a battle-tested preference for simple plans executed well that actually move the needle and deliver results. 

Typically, advisor fees are based on the dollars a client has to invest (AUM fees). I don't agree that a 10% larger portfolio creates 10% more work or justifies 10% higher fees, so I charge a flat annual fee that aligns to the actual investment and tax work that I do for clients during the year. Clients say they find this approach more transparent, more predictable, and often a better value than the typical 1% AUM model.