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 taxes seamlessly with investment management. I have master’s degrees in finance, economics, and accounting, which brings an informed view to 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. Nobody truly knows what the future holds, so I focus on what I do know: retirees need dependable income to support their lifestyle, and having a clear plan and consistent communication helps them sleep well at night.

My background in finance and accounting lets me see investments from both angles: how companies issue capital and how investors receive returns. That’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. Base hits win ball games in finance too. 

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

I worked for 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 found that 97% of Americans expect a fiduciary relationship with their financial advisor, but less than 5% of advisors actually operate that way.

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 preference for simple plans executed well that actually move the needle. 

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. Clients say they find this approach more transparent, more predictable, and often a better value than the typical 1% AUM model.