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About Synergy Financial Management, LLC |
Synergy Financial Management, LLC (SFM) is a financial planning and Registered Investment
Advisory firm headquartered in Bellevue, WA. The firm specializes in providing fee-based
comprehensive financial planning services and investment advice to individuals and businesses.
Since Synergy Financial Management, LLC is a fee-based advisor; potential conflicts of interest
regarding compensation are removed. |
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General Information |
Years of Experience in Financial Services: |
30
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Foreign Languages Serviced: |
Spanish (some)
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Work Experience: |
Synergy Financial Management, LLC
PRINCIPAL/FOUNDER/CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER 2001-PRESENT
Joe's diverse investment experience ensures the careful management of daily operations and diligent responsibility for the firm's portfolio management, strategic and tactical asset allocation, securities analysis, quantitative, fundamental, and statistical research, economic analysis, compliance, financial planning, risk management, business consulting, and financial modeling.
Synergy Financial Services, Inc
PRESIDENT 1997-PRESENT
Synergy Financial Services is the parent company of the Synergy family of companies: Synergy Financial Management, LLC , Synergy Business Valuation & Consulting, LLC, and Synergy Mergers + Acquisitions, LLC.
Joe is responsible for all aspects of the company's diversified and integrated wealth and portfolio management service for business owners. Areas of specialty include certified business valuation, business financial planning and analysis, financial statement analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, merger and acquisition analysis and execution, and investment analysis for commercial real estate portfolios.
Seattle Pacific University
ADJUNCT FINANCE PROFESSOR
Adjunct instructor for Problems in Corporate Finances, BUS 4274. This course teaches future MBAs the myriad issues involved with real-world investment practices.
Financial Services Int'l Corporation
SECURITIES BROKER DEALER PRINCIPAL 1997-2001
Owned and operated a branch office of an independent securities broker/dealer with accountability for daily operations, compliance, marketing, recruiting, and business development. Experienced and knowledgeable in every aspect of a securities broker/dealer's responsibilities including securities trading, underwriting, syndications, research, business consulting, fundamental and technical analysis, portfolio management, business transactions, tax planning, insurance planning, estate planning, options trading, risk management, and financial planning.
John Hancock Financial Services
SALES MANAGER 1990-1997
Responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising registered financial services representatives, promoting their professional development, and expanding their sales unit.
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States Licensed in: |
All states
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Name of Custodial Firm: |
Charles Schwab, TIAA-CREF, Accessor, TD Ameritrade
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Number of Years with Current Firm: |
20
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Work with the following types of clients: |
Businesses, Individual Investors, Non-Profit Organizations
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States Willing to do Business in: |
Auburn,Bainbridge Island,Bellevue,Black Diamond,Bothell,Bremerton,Carnation,Edmonds,Everett,Federal Way,Gig Harbor,Hobart,Indianola,Issaquah,Kenmore,Kent,Keyport,Kingston,Kirkland,Lynnwood,Manchester,Maple Valley,Medina,Milton,Mountlake Terrace,Mukilteo,Olalla,Pacific,Port Orchard,Ravensdale,Redmond,Renton,Seattle,Snohomish,Suquamish,Tacoma,Vashon,Woodinville,Mercer Island
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Education |
Academic Background |
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BA, Finance - Seattle Pacific University (1990)
Studied finance abroad in Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand. |
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Services |
Investment Types: |
Mutual Funds, Options & Futures, Bonds, Stocks, Annuities, Insurance, Mortgages & Real Estate, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Alternative Investments, Socially Responsible Investments (SRI), Real Estate
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Can meet clients in the following ways: |
Your Office, Email, Phone, Our Office, Your Home, Our Offices, Video Conference
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Qualifications & Memberships |
Certifications, Accreditations & Designations: |
CFA®, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, MSFS, CWPP, CVA, ABAR, CM&AA, CCIM
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Securities Licenses: |
Series 65
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Insurance and Annuity Licenses: |
Long Term Care, Life, Health, Annuity, Disability
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Financial Organization Memberships: |
Financial Planning Association (FPA), Society of Financial Services Professionals, CCIM Association
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Firm Information |
Assets Managed by Firm: |
$125,000,000
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Assets Managed by Advisor: |
$440,000,000
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Advisor's Number of Clients: |
150
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Firm's Number of Clients: |
150
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Advisor's Number of Planning Clients: |
150
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Advisor's Number of Managed Clients: |
150
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Firm's Number of Planning Clients: |
100
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Firm's Number of Managed Clients: |
150
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Compliance |
Criminal Disclosures in Last 5 years: |
Have a clean record
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Compliance Disclosures in Last 5 years: |
Have a clean record
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Registered Investment Advisor: |
Yes
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Acknowledged fiduciary: |
Yes
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Compensation and Fees |
Fee % Based on Assets: |
.5 to 1.0%
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Additional Details on Charges: |
Our fees are on a tiered scale, based upon the size of the account.
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Compensation Methods: |
Based on Assets, Hourly, Flat Fee
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Minimum Portfolio Size for New Managed Accounts: |
$200,000
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Do you have a customer satisfaction or refund policy? |
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Yes, we do not have any exit fees if a client is unhappy, and would like to leave us. We only bill quarterly, and will refund any unearned premiums if the client leaves prior to the end of that quarter. |
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What are your qualifications? What is your education background? |
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Holistic Wealth Management |
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How are you compensated? How will I pay for your services? |
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If you are going to manage my account, will you obtain my permission every time you buy or sell something? |
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No, we work with each client as a team. |
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How many clients do you currently manage? |
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Will you be the only person working with me? |
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No, we create an IPS (Investment Policy Statement), and manage your assets as per this plan. |
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Do you offer any guaranteed results? |
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No, unless the client enters into an investment product that has a separate guarantee on the specific product. |
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How much risk should I be willing to take? |
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We will work with each client to help them determine their individual level of risk. We look for a client's willingness and ability to take risk. |
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Have you ever been charged with any breaches? |
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What is your approach to financial planning? |
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What services do you offer? |
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After an initial consultation, you should hire us if we can put you in a better situation versus going it alone or with another firm. We accomplish this through our investment planning, strategies, and holistic approach. |
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What carrier(s) do you represent? |
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We have an independent brokers license, so are able to represent almost all companies out there. |
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Are there any pre-existing conditions that you can not cover? |
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This will vary company to company, depending on what type of coverage the client is looking for. |
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Why should I choose you as my financial advisor? |
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CFP®, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, CCIM, CWPP, CFA |
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How do you charge for your services? |
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Comprehensive Financial Planning and Investment Wealth Management are our two main services, but other services can include real estate and business consulting. |
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What services do you provide? What are your specialties? |
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Comprehensive Financial Planning and Investment Wealth Management are our two main services, but other services can include real estate and business consulting. |
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What is your experience? How many clients do you currently manage? |
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One partner has been in the business for 24 years, and the other has been in the business for 18 years. In addition to the other staff we have available. |
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What financial institution(s) do you represent? |
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We are an independent planning firm and do not "represent" any particular institutions, but we do hold our clients assets at Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade, but can use any others we may choose. |
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What are your management fees? |
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They will vary based upon the size of the 401k, but will scale down, typically from about .5% down to .1%, and are very competitive in the marketplace. |
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What kind of plans do you specialize in? |
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Plans that like having customized allocation models, and high service models for their employees, and advisers who are providing ongoing management of the investments inside of the plan. |
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Do you have a minimum requirement for number of employees or total investment value? |
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No, we will help a start-up plan, all the way across
the board to a plan with a 1000 participants. |
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What type of plans do you offer? |
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Plans ranging from a 401k, SEP IRA, SIMPLE Plan, IRA, Roths, Cash Balance Plans, ESPP, and Deferred Comp plans. |
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Do you offer any additional services? |
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Individual planning for the participant members |
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What are your qualifications? |
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Comprehensive Financial Planning and Investment Wealth Management are our two main services, but other services can include real estate and business consulting. |
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What is your approach to 401 K plan rollovers? |
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They should be evaluated on an individual basis as some rollovers make sense, but others may not, depending on the individual client circumstance. |
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How long does the process of rolling over a 401K plan usually take? |
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It can usually be done within weeks. |
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What financial institutions do you represent? |
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Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade are our two main providers, but we have several other smaller providers. |
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How many years of experience do you have? |
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One principal has 24 years of experience, and the other has 18. |
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What are your fees for this service? |
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Scaling down from .8% down to .1% |
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How many 401K rollover clients do you currently manage? |
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About 50% of the existing clients have some sort of account that originally came from a 401k plan. |
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Why should I roll over my 401K plan to your firm? |
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Knowledge of investment management, and flexibility of investment choices versus leaving it with the old plan. |
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