Question 1

Who is FirsTrust?

Accepted Answer

FirsTrust was created by former big-corporation financial advisors who saw what happens behind the curtain on Wall Street and chose conscience over complicity.

Question 2

What does “FinancialTeam” mean?

Accepted Answer

Nobody is an expert in everything. We believe a solo advisor can't provide broader or deeper financial expertise than a collaborative FinancialTeam of specialists in investment management, financial and retirement planning, tax strategies and estate planning, working together on your behalf.

Question 3

Is FirsTrust a fiduciary financial advisor?

Accepted Answer

Every registered investment adviser is called a fiduciary; but most of them also hold a license to receive sales commissions and an obligation to recommend investments that their employer is paid to promote. At FirsTrust, we are independent, fee-only fiduciaries; no commission sales agenda and no handcuffs to an employers profit agenda.

Question 4

What does it mean that FirsTrust is “independent” and “fee-only”?

Accepted Answer

“Independent” means we are not obligated to the shareholders of any bank, brokerage, insurance company, or product manufacturer. “Fee-only” means we are compensated only by client fees; not sales commissions, marketing incentives, or third-party compensation for recommending investments or financial products.

Question 5

Where is FirsTrust located and do you work with clients outside your local area?

Accepted Answer

FirsTrust serves clients locally and across the country through secure virtual meetings. Many of our clients live in Florida and the Southeast, but we work with families and professionals in multiple states who value a fee-only fiduciary relationship and our team-based approach.

Question 6

What types of clients does FirsTrust typically work with?

Accepted Answer

We primarily serve affluent retirees and those who aspire to become one. Many are professionals, business owners, and families who recognize the benefits of a fiduciary relationship with an expert FinancialTeam.

Question 7

Do I need a minimum amount of assets to work with FirsTrust?

Accepted Answer

We generally establish ongoing wealth management relationships with clients who meet certain asset or fee minimums, which may vary by service. If we’re not the best fit, we’ll do our best to point you to other resources or advisors who may better match your situation.

Question 8

Can FirsTrust help if I’m just getting started building wealth?

Accepted Answer

Possibly. If you are early in your financial journey but are serious about long-term planning, we may be able to help through planning-focused engagements or referrals. The best way to find out is to schedule an introductory conversation so we can learn more about your needs.

Question 9

Can you help with finances related to major life changes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many clients come to us during or after significant life events such as divorce, the loss of a spouse, an inheritance, legal settlement or the sale of a business. Our role is to bring clarity, organization, and calm to complex decisions so you don’t have to go through them alone.

Question 10

What services does FirsTrust provide?

Accepted Answer

We provide a menu of financial services from a FinancialTeam of specialized experts in Comprehensive Financial Planning, Investment Management, Strategic Tax Planning and Advanced Trust and Estate planning; either standalone services or in combination with each other.

Question 11

Can you help with non-investment issues like risk, cash flow, or “what-if” scenarios?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your Personal Financial Website enables us to model “what-if” scenarios; retirement dates, Social Security timing, second homes, career changes, Roth conversions, spending changes, and more—so you can see potential long-term effects before you decide. We also analyze cash flow, reserves, insurance coverage, and other risk points as part of your plan.

Question 12

What do you mean by “Advanced Trust & Estate Services”?

Accepted Answer

Beyond wills & trusts. With nearly 40 years of experience and a rare blend of degrees in psychology, finance, and law, our Trust & Estate Specialist has a proven ability to simplify intricate trust structures, anticipate issues, mediate sensitive family interactions and craft tax-efficient, multigenerational strategies that truly work in the real world.

Question 13

How does FirsTrust get paid?

Accepted Answer

We’re paid exclusively by client fees for advice and service; typically as an asset-based fee, a flat or project fee, or a combination, based on the service menu you select. We do not accept sales-related compensation, marketing incentives, or production bonuses.

Question 14

Are your fees easy to understand?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We believe in transparent,  plain-English pricing with no complex “tax-bracket style” tiers or add-on charges that make your true cost hard to identify. Before you become a client, you’ll receive a clear explanation of your fee structure and what it covers.

Question 15

How are fees billed?

Accepted Answer

Most ongoing advisory fees are based upon investment account values and deducted directly from those accounts quarterly.

Question 16

Are there other costs I should be aware of?

Accepted Answer

Nope. FirsTrust has no hidden fees. Your quarterly management fee is all we charge. We also work to reduce any other investment costs such as fund expense ratios, trading costs, or custodial fees charged by outside institutions. We factor these costs into your total return strategy and strive to keep them reasonable given your objectives.

Question 17

Exactly what would my fee be?

Accepted Answer

Our SEC-filed fee schedule is attached - your exact fee will depend upon the scope of depth of services you want. We believe our fees are highly competitive; and not just for the level of expertise we provide. Please - just ask.

Question 18

How often will we meet or review my plan?

Accepted Answer

We review progress with you on a routine basis, often quarterly, and always at times and in formats that fit your schedule and location.

Question 19

What reports do you provide, and where do they come from?

Accepted Answer

We aggregate data from your accounts at multiple institutions into a single system that can generate detailed analytical reports. Your cloud-based Personal Financial Website also provides you with continuously updated account values, plan projections, and a secure document vault with 24/7 access.

Question 20

What should I bring to our first conversation?

Accepted Answer

For an initial call, bring nothing but your questions and a sense of what you want to accomplish. If we decide to move forward, we’ll then ask for items like recent account statements, tax returns, and estate documents so we can organize your complete financial picture.

Question 21

Can you provide references?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can provide a list of CPAs and attorneys who know our work and are willing to recommend us based on their experience collaborating with our FinancialTeam. Contact us and we'd be happy to provide them for you.

Question 22

How do we get started?

Accepted Answer

You start by choosing the services you’re interested in from our menu and scheduling a brief introductory conversation. Together we’ll confirm fit, outline the recommended scope, and provide your flat-percentage fee before you decide to move forward.

Question 23

How do I know if FirsTrust is the right fit for me?

Accepted Answer

FirsTrust is often a good fit if you want unbiased, fee-only advice from a seasoned team, value transparency and independence over product sales, and have enough complexity within retirement income, taxes, trusts, or multi-account portfolios, that you prefer a coordinated, long-term strategy rather than one-off transactions.

Question 24

What is FirsTrust’s investment philosophy?

Accepted Answer

We don’t force clients into a single “style box.” Each portfolio is designed to pursue your specific objectives while seeking the highest reasonable probability of success with the least expected risk, tax drag, and cost. Rather than chasing fads, we align your investments with your financial plan, time horizon, and comfort with risk, then adjust as your life and markets evolve.

Question 25

How do you manage risk in my portfolio?

Accepted Answer

We start by defining risk in terms that matter to you: the ability to fund your lifestyle and long-term goals without taking more risk than necessary. Using institutional tools and Nobel Prize–inspired risk analysis, we stress-test portfolios across different market environments, align investments with your written investment guidelines, and monitor risk factors like volatility, concentration, and sequence-of-returns risk over time.

Question 26

How do you handle concentrated stock positions or low-basis assets?

Accepted Answer

Many clients come to us with significant single-stock positions or highly appreciated holdings. Working closely with our Chief Investment Officer and your tax professional, we design a gradual, tax-aware transition—using tools like staged sales, diversification strategies, or charitable techniques—so you can reduce risk without blindly liquidating everything at once.

Question 27

Do you primarily use mutual funds, ETFs, or individual securities?

Accepted Answer

The answer depends on your goals, tax situation, and account size. We may use a mix of individual securities, mutual funds, and ETFs to build the right combination of diversification, tax efficiency, and cost control. The key is that our choices are driven by your objectives and our research—not by product incentives.

Question 28

How do taxes factor into your investment decisions?

Accepted Answer

Taxes are a design constraint, not an afterthought. We look at asset location (which investments go in which accounts), holding periods, gain/loss harvesting opportunities, retirement income sourcing, and estate goals when we make recommendations. Strategic Tax Planning at FirsTrust is a year-round process that connects your portfolio management with your broader tax picture.

Question 29

How do I know my money is safe at  FirsTrust?

Accepted Answer

Your money is never held at FirsTrust. Accounts are kept at an independent, third-party custodian, often a major brokerage such as Charles Schwab, in your name or your trust’s name. You receive statements and online access directly from the custodian.*

* FirsTrust and its employees are independent of and are not employees or agents of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). Schwab does not prepare, verify or endorse information distributed by FirsTrust.

Question 30

How is FirsTrust different from a broker or “fee-based” advisor?

Accepted Answer

Most “fee-based” advisors are dual-registered: they can charge fees and earn commissions or incentives from products they sell. FirsTrust is fee-only and does not hold brokerage sales licenses. We only hold a license to charge a fee for advice and service, and we refuse compensation arrangements that profit from your investment choices.

Question 31

How can I verify that you’re truly fee-only and not dual-registered?

Accepted Answer

You don’t have to take our word for it. You can: Review our Form CRS and ADV on the SEC’s adviser information site, and Confirm that we’re not also registered with FINRA as brokers. If an advisor is both an SEC-registered adviser and FINRA-registered broker, they are dual-registered and allowed to receive product-based compensation in addition to fees.

Question 32

Do you receive any sales incentives, revenue sharing, or trips from investment or insurance companies?

Accepted Answer

No. As a matter of philosophy and policy, we do not accept sales commissions, revenue-sharing payments, or marketing incentives from product providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?

Your Questions, Answered

Who is FirsTrust?

What does “FinancialTeam” mean?

Is FirsTrust a fiduciary financial advisor?

What does it mean that FirsTrust is “independent” and “fee-only”?

Where is FirsTrust located and do you work with clients outside your local area?

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