Length
Roughly 15 minutes
Long enough to get the picture, short enough that it fits between the rest of your day.
How We Work Together
The path ahead, from first conversation to ongoing work.
Most people want to know what they're walking into before they commit to anything. Here is the whole arc, in plain terms.
Schedule an Explore Call 1
Explore Call
2
Strategy Session
3
Keystone Method™
4
Ongoing Advisory
A clear path from initial conversation to lasting partnership
1
Explore Call
2
Strategy Session
3
Keystone Method™
4
Ongoing Advisory
Your journey from first conversation to ongoing partnership
Each step is a decision point, not a funnel. You can step off at any stage, and plenty of good conversations end after Step 01.
Step 1: The Explore Call
Short. Honest. Low stakes. A conversation, not a presentation. You don't need to arrive prepared, and nothing is expected of you afterward.
Format
Phone
Usually the easiest way to see whether going further makes sense.
What to bring
Nothing at all
No financial documents. No statements. No spreadsheets. We don't need them yet, and the call doesn't depend on them.
Prep required
None
Showing up is enough. If something specific is on your mind, you can bring it, but the conversation works either way.
There is no pressure to move forward after the call. If it's a fit, we'll talk about next steps. If it isn't, I'll tell you that directly, and point you toward whatever looks more useful. Either ending is a good one.
Step 2: The Strategy Session
If the Explore Call goes well on both sides, this is where we go deeper. A focused one-hour meeting where I walk you through your priorities and we settle the order of the work.
What this meeting is for
- Getting a clear view of where you stand today, not in theory.
- Deciding which areas deserve attention first, and why.
- Talking through timing, coordination, and what we would need from you.
What to share in advance
- Your most recent tax return
- A recent statement for your investment accounts
- Any recent estate documents
- Anything relevant from the business, equity comp, or rental-property side
Step 3: The Keystone Method™
Our structured six-month engagement. Four to five working meetings, with analysis and coordination handled by our team between them. This is where I lead the decisions you've been turning over, and where we put the resulting actions into motion.
Cadence: Four to five meetings over roughly six months, about 60 minutes each. Most of the work happens between sessions, which is the point.
How it flexes: Every client works through the same framework. The emphasis shifts based on what matters most.
Keystone turns scattered financial pieces into a working system, held together by the confidence of understanding it.
Step 4: The next chapter
By the end of Keystone we have wrapped our minds around your whole picture together, and that is what makes the next chapter possible. There are two paths, they are on the table from the start, and many families choose both. Ongoing Advisory covers your planning, your strategy, and your investment management in one relationship. Tax Membership covers tax strategy implementation, tax preparation, and the tax side of your cash flow through the year.
Neither is required. Some clients finish Keystone in good shape to manage independently and come back only when life changes. Whatever you choose, it will not be a surprise conversation, because it never was one.
Choose one, the other, or both.
Common Questions We Hear
Getting Started & Prep
Do I need to get everything ready before we meet?
No. Bring what you have. We'll work through what's needed and fill the gaps together.
Do I have to move my investments to start?
No. You can begin without moving accounts. If it makes sense later, we'll talk through options and timing.
What if I only want help with one thing?
That's common. We can focus the Keystone build on your top priority and let the rest of the picture inform it.
How long is the Explore Call?
About 15 minutes. Enough time to learn what brought you here and decide whether going further makes sense.
What happens in the Strategy Session?
We review what you've shared, talk through priorities, and decide together what the Keystone build should focus on first.
How long is the Strategy Session?
Usually about 60 minutes, sometimes a bit longer.
The Keystone Method™
What is the Keystone Method™?
Our structured six-month engagement. We start by looking across your whole financial life: cash flow, taxes, investments, estate coordination, risk. Then we sequence the work in the right order, so progress is visible and the deeper strategies sit on a solid foundation.
How long does Keystone take?
About six months. Usually four to five meetings at most, with most of the work happening between them.
How often do we meet during Keystone?
As often as the work genuinely needs and no more. Meetings are for the input only you can give and for making sure you understand each step; the analysis and coordination happen between them, handled by our team.
Accounts, Assets & Minimums
Is there a minimum to work with you?
No minimum for Keystone. It's a flat-fee engagement, and anyone it fits can work with us. If you continue into Ongoing Advisory after that, the fee is a percentage of managed assets or a $5,000 annual minimum, whichever is greater.
Who holds my investment accounts?
If we manage assets, they sit in your name at an independent custodian.
Fees & How We Are Paid
How do you charge?
Keystone is a flat fee. Ongoing Advisory is a single advisory fee that covers planning and investment management.
Do I have to continue after Keystone?
No. Many clients continue. Others pause and come back later. We'll lay out the options. You decide.
How does Ongoing Advisory work day-to-day?
We keep an eye on investment strategy, taxes, and cash-flow actions. You get scheduled check-ins and can reach us when decisions come up between them.
Taxes & Other Professionals
Do you prepare taxes?
Yes, through Talley Tax, for a separate fee. Strategy is coordinated either way. Preparation is optional.
Will you work with my CPA or attorney?
Yes. We coordinate with your existing professionals or, if you need them, introduce trusted ones.
Meetings, Location & Logistics
Can we meet virtually?
Yes. Zoom or phone works well. In-person meetings are available in the Tri-Cities region.
Do you work with clients outside the Tri-Cities/Northeast TN?
Yes. We serve clients in many states virtually. We confirm registrations before we engage.
What if I need to reschedule or cancel a meeting?
Use your confirmation link to pick a new time, or just contact us directly.
Standards, Privacy & Safety
Are you a fiduciary?
Yes. For the planning work, always. For the investment side, always when acting as advisor. It's not a marketing word for us. It's a legal standard we're held to and one we take seriously.
How do you handle confidentiality and security?
We use secure portals for document sharing, follow privacy requirements, and limit access to only what's needed.