Plain answers, before you have to ask

We talk for about 45 minutes about what the money is for, what worries you, and what you hope the next ten years look like. No documents, no fee, and no obligation. You'll leave knowing whether we're a good fit.

Not for a first conversation. Our wealth management fee starts at the first dollar, and families still building often begin with flat-fee Foundations planning, which has no minimum at all.

Nothing for the introduction. If we decide to work together, we send a short list: recent statements, tax returns, insurance policies, and estate documents. We'll help you track down anything that's missing.

No. Our office is on Batterymarch Row, but most reviews happen by video, and plenty of families never visit in person.

Only by you. Either a tiered yearly fee based on the assets we manage, or a flat yearly fee for planning only. No commissions, no referral fees, and no payments from any fund or insurance company.

Here's an example under this sample site's schedule: a household with $1,500,000 under advisement would pay $12,250 a year, about 0.82%, billed in four quarterly parts. Planning only costs a flat $4,800 a year. A real fee is set in your written agreement.

Quarterly, in arrears, which means after the work is done. The fee appears as its own line on your custodian statement, so you can always see it.

Yes, with 30 days' notice and no termination fee. Your accounts are already in your name at the custodian, so leaving doesn't mean moving your money.

No, and be wary of anyone who does. Markets rise and fall, and all investing carries risk, including losing money you put in. We show projections as ranges so you can see the hard outcomes too.

We use broadly diversified, low-cost funds sized to your plan. We don't try to predict markets or pick hot stocks, we have no house funds, and no fund company pays us anything.

We follow the policy we agreed on with you: rebalance, harvest losses where it helps with taxes, and keep talking. We can't stop a downturn. We can help you avoid selling at the worst time.

At an independent custodian, in accounts in your name. With your permission we can place trades and deduct our fee, but we can't withdraw money to ourselves.

It means we must act in your best interest at all times, and we put that in writing. Our fiduciary promise page also lists the conflicts that still exist and how we handle each one.

Registered advisers file a public brochure, called Form ADV, that describes their fees, services, and conflicts. You can look up any adviser on the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Cornerstone is fictional, so you won't find us there.

Two structured reviews a year, plus calls or messages whenever something changes. Most reviews happen by video.

Yes. You'll have a lead advisor and a second advisor who also knows your plan, so there's always someone who knows your file.

No. This is a sample site for a fictional firm. Nothing here is investment, tax, or legal advice, and every fee, figure, and projection is an example.