Our Process
What to Expect
Getting Started /
Disclosures &
Documentation
Getting Started / Documentation
Prior to becoming a client, we will provide you with our Form CRS, ADV Brochures, and other related disclosure documents. Once you have had a chance to review them and ask any questions you may have, please sign CCM’s investment management agreement and any new account forms from Charles Schwab required to set-up or link your account(s) to our firm.
Data Gathering
Data Gathering
To provide you with comprehensive financial planning services, we request that you provide paper or electronic copies (via our secure client portal) of your investment account statements, recent tax returns, social security statements, insurance policies, other major assets and liabilities, and your approximate annual income and living expenses. However, all we will need at this stage of the process are your account statements and tax returns. The rest can be provided when we start your financial plan.
Discovery Meeting
/ New Client
Questionnaire(s)
Discovery Meeting / New Client Questionnaire(s)
We will meet with you (and if applicable, your partner, preferably in person) to learn more about why you have sought out an investment advisor and what is important and unique about you and your family. We will seek to understand your personal journey and circumstances, the messages you received about money, your goals and risk tolerance, your tax situation and liquidity needs, and your investment preferences. We will ask about any non-financial (values-based) goals you hope to achieve with your assets, and we will ask you to identify your top financial planning priorities as we move forward.
Investment Policy Statement
Investment Policy Statement
We will summarize the data gathered during the discovery process in a document we refer to as your Investment Policy Statement (IPS). The IPS outlines our suggested high-level asset allocation strategy for your portfolio and serves as an important set of guidelines for how we manage your portfolio over time. We will provide you with a draft copy of this document for your review and approval.
Investment Strategy
Proposal
Investment Strategy Proposal
The next document you will receive will be our investment strategy proposal, which lays out in detail the investments that we are proposing and the overall key characteristics of the resulting portfolio. To the extent possible, we will contrast the portfolio we are recommending with your current holdings so that you can clearly understand the differences in various key metrics (such as expenses, track record, risk level, third-party ratings, and various dimensions of asset mix). Once you approve the plan and assets are transferred into your CCM managed Schwab account(s), we will begin executing the plan according to an agreed upon timetable (although this may be adjusted with changing market conditions). As we go through this process, you will receive trade confirmation detail and ongoing correspondence.
Financial and Tax Planning
Financial and Tax Planning
After getting your investment strategy in place, we typically focus on financial and tax planning. This usually includes analyzing your recent tax returns for tax saving opportunities and preparing long-term financial projections to assess and confirm the viability of your retirement and spending plans. We may also evaluate your insurance coverage (especially property, life, long-term care, health/Medicare, and personal liability). We will connect you to third-party insurance experts if you wish to revise your coverage (as we don’t sell insurance). We can also assist with estate planning strategy, real estate financing options, college savings plans, and other major financial decisions.
Ongoing Reporting and Meetings
Ongoing Reporting and Meetings
Each quarter we will send you a personalized portfolio report, a letter from your advisor and our CCM newsletter (which details our take on the economy and the financial markets). Additionally, we will invite you to our client webinars on investment and planning topics, which usually follow a quarterly schedule. In addition, we send out updates during periods of unusual market volatility. We would like to meet with you in person (or by Zoom) two to four times annually to review your portfolio and financial plans. We are also available by phone and email and would love to take you to coffee or lunch at your convenience.
