Frequently Asked Questions

(And Answers!)

What is The Capital Stewards

The Capital Stewards is a private wealth management firm dedicated to serving the unique needs of individuals and families in Birmingham, Huntsville, Nashville and Atlanta. We act as stewards of your wealth, offering comprehensive financial planning and investment management services.

How is The Capital Stewards different from other wealth management firms?

We are focused on helping our clients be good stewards of the resources with which they have been entrusted. That means being an independent, fee-only advisor with no hidden agenda other than serving our clients. We prioritize a deep, personal relationship with each client to help them achieve their long-term financial goals.

Are you a fiduciary?

Yes. Capital Stewards is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and as such we are legally and ethically obligated to place our client’s interests ahead of our own in all situations.

What are your qualifications and certifications?

In addition to decades of experience, Brian holds an MBA in finance from Emory University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). You can learn more about our credentials on our About Us page.

What is your typical client experience like?

We start by having a conversation. Not a consultation or a sales meeting, a conversation about where you are today and your goals for the future. Then we schedule a financial planning workshop. In your customized planning workshop we will build a plan to accomplish your financial goals. That workshop generally includes things like retirement income planning, minimizing taxes, social security planning, and investment planning. Most clients have initial one workshop, but more complex situations may take 2 or 3 meetings to build a full financial plan.

Then we work together to implement your plan over time. We work with you throughout the year, not just in a review meeting. In the winter, we help you prepare for tax filings, plan any required minimum distributions and make sure your cash flow is on-track for the upcoming year. In the spring and summer, we review your tax return from the prior year to find new opportunities and we update your financial plan. In the fall, we typically review items like your estate plan, employee benefits and insurance.

We generally meet with clients in person at least once a year and more frequently if needed or desired.

How do you get paid?

Our fee schedule is designed to be straightforward. Clients have two options:

The first is a one-time financial planning workshop, which costs $1,500.

The second is our on-going, proactive financial planning and investment management service that has a monthly subscription fee based on a client’s net worth. The Proactive Planning and Investing Fee Schedule is:

Net Worth:

<$499,999: $300/month

Between $500,000 and $999,999: $500/month

Between $1,000,000 and $1,999,999: $800/month

Between $2,000,000 and $4,999,999: $1,500/month

Greater than $5,000,000: $2,000/month

How do I get started with The Capital Stewards?

The first step is a confidential, no-obligation conversation to discuss your financial situation. We want to get to know you, your concerns, your family and your goals. You can schedule this by contacting us through the “start a conversation” page on the website or by calling directly.

What is your investment philosophy?

We employ a disciplined, long-term approach to investing that is focused on four key areas:

Identifying and investing to achieve your specific goals
Growing your assets responsibly over the long-term using passive strategies where possible.
Choosing the right investment asset mix
Minimizing taxes and fees.

Do you help with estate planning?

Yes, we will help build the starting point for your estate plan and then work collaboratively with legal and tax professionals to implement a comprehensive estate plan that reflects your wishes and protects your legacy. We assist with everything from trust establishment to charitable giving strategies.

How can you help me with philanthropic giving?

We can help you formalize your giving strategy and establish the most effective vehicles for your philanthropy, such as a donor-advised fund or a private foundation.

Do you help with retirement planning?

Yes. We start by working with clients to establish their goals, like retirement or financial freedom. Then we build and execute a plan to achieve your retirement goals.

Do you offer tax preparation services?

Yes. We take a fully integrated approach to clients’ financial lives. That means helping with taxes, planning and investments and other financial areas. Through our partnership with McCarthy Tax, our clients can have their tax returns prepared each year. For clients with more than $1,000,000 in Net Worth, tax preparation is included in our monthly subscription fee.

Do you sell products like mutual funds or insurance?

No. We are a fiduciary. That means we only get paid by you to do the right thing for you and your family. No commissions or compromises. We utilize mutual funds and insurance where they are the best solution for clients, but we never receive any compensation for using a particular fund or product.

How does a one-time financial plan work?

We call them "workshops" because these sessions are a collaboration with our clients! Prior to the session, we set specific objectives and collect information about your current financial situation using our digital tools. In our workshop, we will work together to build a plan to achieve your goals. That goal could be retirement, working less, estate planning, saving for college, starting a business, charitable giving, or anything else. We will provide a detailed document and recommendations that you can choose to implement.

Will you help with financial planning without managing my investments?

Absolutely. We will help you understand your long-term financial and investment needs in a financial planning workshop. We can circle back on a regular basis to update the plan if you desire.

Do you have an asset or net-worth minimum?

No and we never will. Every family's journey to generational wealth starts somewhere. Often financial planning workshops are a great starting point. As your situation becomes more complex, our fee structure ensures that we can leverage the right resources and expertise for you and your family.

What if I have a financial advisor or broker?

If you are uncomfortable or questioning your current financial situation, it never hurts to ask for a second opinion. Everyone does this for medical questions, why not for the most important financial questions? If you have a great advisor and plan, we’ll congratulate you and tell you so. If we see opportunities to improve, we will share those, and you can decide what makes most sense for your situation. No pressure.

Do you work with a brokerage firm?

Capital Stewards is an independent registered investment advisor. We choose the broker and custodian that we believe provides the best mix of quality service and low cost for our clients. Currently, all our client assets are held at Charles Schwab. Clients have access to their accounts both through our digital tools and directly through Schwab.com.

Who holds my money if I invest through your firm?

Charles Schwab is our custodian. That means that we open accounts in your name at Schwab and your assets are held there. Schwab is one of the largest global custodians and brokerage firms. Schwab provides digital access through the web and their mobile app so that you can see what’s happening with your money. As part of the account opening process, you simply give us permission to manage these accounts for you.

Do you work with people like me?

Everyone needs a personalized, unique plan. We have worked with a range of individuals and families from professionals to business owners, from artists to engineers, from just starting out to grandparents.

What if I’m not satisfied?

If you don’t feel like we earned our fee in your financial planning workshop, don’t pay. We’ve never had that happen, but we are 100% committed to delivering value for our clients.

What is your fee structure?