Financial planning services in Charlotte, NC

We like to start by taking some time to get to know each other, learn about where you are with your financial life, and what’s important to you as you plan for retirement and life’s other major events such as college tuition or a second home. Moving forward, we’ll begin by signing our agreement (which can be terminated at any time without penalty), setting up new accounts, and then begin working with our financial planning software.

We’ll then have a meeting to create your financial plan and make important decisions about how to build your portfolios, so they align with your plans and goals. Then we take care of the rest. If you have any questions or concerns, you have us on speed dial, and once a year we will update the plan to reflect what has changed in your life and keep us on target. Interested in getting started? →

Absolutely! As part of the planning process, we ask clients for their most recent Social Security benefits estimate, and these estimates become part of the financial plan where we can see the impact of beginning Social Security earlier or later in real time while we’re meeting. It’s not just Social Security; it’s how Social Security fits into the overall picture, like a piece in a puzzle.

Buoyant Financial does not sell insurance products, but we will look at your insurance needs as part of the planning process, identifying gaps or opportunities to dial back coverage.

Insurance is one of the most lucrative products to sell in the financial services industry, and we like to help clients find low cost solutions that meet their needs. Many firms will sell expensive products that behave like an investment vehicle and an insurance product, typically called annuities, and these are often unnecessary and extremely expensive in terms of fees. This is another area where, acting as a fiduciary, we can offer truly conflict free recommendations. Learn more about insurance consulting with Buoyant Financial →

Yes! Even with Medicare, healthcare costs are a significant expense in retirement. Our planning software has an excellent healthcare module that allows us to plan for and update these expenses into the future. Learn more about our approach to retirement planning →

The management of your portfolio begins with the planning process. We work with you and our planning software to strike a balance between your personal risk tolerance and your retirement goals. With your risk tolerance and goals in hand, we will build your portfolio using diverse, low cost funds of stocks and bonds.

We are not frequent traders, and we do not chase hot stocks and trends. We literally have generations of evidence that this type of “active” management will not beat a consistent allocation to quality stocks and bonds over the long run. Our approach is consistently disciplined, methodical, and frankly, boring by design. Learn more about private wealth management with Buoyant Financial →

We charge clients 0.80% on the portfolios we manage, well below the 1% or more charged by many firms. Additionally, we sell nothing on commission and do not act as a broker, so that we are always putting your best interests first as your fiduciary.

The funds we use have low management fees, usually a fraction of a percent. Some firms continue to place clients in expensive mutual funds that may charge a separate 1% or more in addition to their 1% (or more) management fees. These fees add up fast and are often hard to understand.

A goal of Buoyant Financial is to offer full service financial planning and portfolio management for under 1% after all fees. This is a great value in the industry and keeps more of our clients’ money working for them. We’re looking for long term, personal relationships. If this sounds like you, let's start the conversation →