We think our clients would have great things to say about us. We are always there for them when they need us. We listen to their concerns. We are thorough and diligent in our planning.
Unfortunately, the powers that regulate our industry have determined that it is not in the public interest for our clients to provide testimonials. So we cannot offer feedback from our clients on this page. However, if our clients WERE allowed to share their thoughts, here is what we HOPE they would say abou t us.
Note: The names and towns are not real (we respect our clients’ privacy), but the situations are. Furthermore the words are ours, not theirs. Even though we do believe this is what they would say if we asked!
Lifeline After Tragedy
Jim has been my financial lifeline since my husband passed away 6 years ago. He has always been there to answer my questions, and doesn’t mind going through my long laundry list of mundane issues whenever we get together. He is very patient when I ask for more detailed explanations. Financial matter aren’t my strength, but I still like to understand what is going on. Six years later I am getting ready to send my twin boys off to college, and I think things are going to be all right.
Sally T.
Basking Ridge, NJ.
Real Advice, for a change.
We had previously used one of those big company financial planning firms, like you see on TV. Except we always felt that every time we saw our rep he was trying to sell us something. The plans Jim did for us were incredibly detailed and complete. While he addressed our investment needs in his recommendations, he wasn’t selling us any products. More importantly, he spent a lot of time on the non-investment goals which we had brought to him. With his help we were able to provide financial assistance to our daughters as they purchased their first homes. This was very important to us, but we wanted to make sure we did not damage our own retirement prospects. 6 years later our daughters are living in their own homes, with grandchildren, and John should be retiring next year!
John and Betsy Z.
Hillsborough, NJ.
Early Retirement - or not!
I came to Jim four or five years ago in desperation on the recommendation of a friend. I hated my job and desperately wanted to retire. I had saved a fair amount of money, but I was only 63 years old. Jim did a detailed retirement analysis and recommended that I try to hang tight for a few more years. He was very concerned in particular about health care costs, since it would be two more years until I qualified for Medicare. I was disappointed, but what he said made sense. I stuck it out another year, then called Jim back and told him ready or not, I’m taking the plunge. He recommended a suitably cautious retirement portfolio and setup a cash distribution regimen that he believed would help preserve my principle balance as long as possible. Jim spent a lot of time working with us, even though we are not by any means rich folks. He really seemed to care about us.
Jerry S.
Somerset, NJ.
College and Horses
My daughter was about to enter the nation’s top vet school. The cost was frightening, but this was her lifelong dream coming true. I make decent money, but this seemed beyond my reach. She had qualified for financial aid, but the majority was in non-subsidized student loans. Neither of us wanted to see her finish school buried in a mountain of debt. We spent two hours with Jim as he helped us figure out a balanced approach to paying the tuition bills, using debt where necessary, and my own extra cash flow to help where I could. For a modest fee and small time commitment, Jim helped remove a load of worry from our backs. Subsequent conversations had us address my long neglected 401k which was invested 100% in the stock of my former employer (in retrospect this was not such a great idea). Jim was also an invaluable sounding board as I negotiated the purchase of my dream homestead, a 5 acre farm in rural New Jersey..
David A.
Washington Twp, NJ.
Retirement Party!
My husband and I were growing frustrated in our careers. Furthermore, we had a new granddaughter – but she was 3000 miles away! We both wondered if we could retire so as to spend a lot more time on the west coast, where we had bought a condo nearby our daughters home. Jim did a careful analysis and determined that we were ideal candidates for early retirement. My husband had a generous government pension with health benefits, I also had a smaller pension, we had paid off our mortgage, and we had managed to save a sizable nest egg in our retirement plans. Jim did a very detailed financial plan for us –and took the time to explain it to us in great detail. I pull it out frequently just to make sure we are still on track. Jim used very modest investment return projections, because I kept telling him how I did not like investment risk. He recommended a very conservative portfolio that could meet our income needs without any more risk than he thought I could handle. So far, we are thrilled with the advice. But one piece of advice I don’t follow, even though I know he’s right. I still keep looking at the investment account balance every day! I can’t help it! I am the caricature of Nervous Nellie.
Anne Marie T.
Bedminster, NJ.
Important: All investments involve risks, including risk of loss of principle. Past performance of any investment or investment strategy is not predictive of future performance. The scenarios described above are not client testimonials, and do not represent the actual words of any of our clients. The situations described are based in fact, but details may have been changed and identities concealed.