What to expect
The whole path, before you take the first step.
Two conversations, six months of work, then a next chapter you choose. Here is your seat in each of them.
Schedule an Explore Call-
01 · 15 minutes, by phone
The Explore Call- You bring
- The question on your mind. Nothing else.
- We bring
- An honest read on whether the fit is there.
- You leave with
- A clearer next step, or a better place to take the question.
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02 · About an hour
The Strategy Session
- You bring
- Your last return, a recent statement, and any estate documents, sent a few days ahead so the hour is spent on answers.
- We bring
- A prepared read of what you sent, and the questions it raises.
- You leave with
- Real answers to what you walked in with, and the shape of the work, whether or not you go further.
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03 · About six months
The Keystone Method- You bring
- The movie, not the picture: how you got here and what you want the next chapter to feel like. Usually four to five meetings at most.
- We bring
- The analysis, the modeling, and the coordination with your CPA and attorney, done for you between the meetings.
- You leave with
- The decisions made, the actions in motion, and a written record of what was decided and why.
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04 · Your call, known from the start
The next chapter- You bring
- A choice you have seen coming since the first meeting.
- We bring
- Two ways the work continues. Wealth Advisory for the planning, strategy, and investments. Tax Advisory for the tax year. Many families choose both.
- You leave with
- A relationship that fits, or a working system you carry yourself and bring back when life changes.
Each step is a decision point. Plenty of good conversations end after the first one, and either ending is a good one.
After Keystone
One way in. Two paths after.
By the end of Keystone we have wrapped our minds around your whole picture together, which is what makes the next chapter possible. Both paths are on the table from the first meeting, and neither is required.
Common questions
Two short answers from the Learning Center cover the ground most people ask about first: what to expect at a first meeting, and what it means that we work as a fiduciary.
Getting started and 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 six-month engagement. We start by looking across your whole financial life: cash flow, taxes, investments, estate coordination, risk. Then the decisions get made together, in concert with one another, 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, and 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 Wealth 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 and how we are paid
How do you charge?
Keystone is a flat fee. Wealth 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 Wealth 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 and 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, and 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, and safety
Are you a fiduciary?
Yes. For the planning work, always. For the investment side, always when acting as advisor. 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.
Every step above happens from our office in Johnson City, in person or virtually. If you are local, the financial advisor in Johnson City, TN page has the fuller local picture.