Frequently asked questions

17 questions

• How can you afford to do this for $100/mo?

  Smarter Way Wealth uses virtual meetings, modern planning tools, and AI assistants for internal organization and routine business operations. That lower-overhead structure helps David focus on the work clients value: analysis, planning, judgment, and clear recommendations—and makes the $100 monthly fee possible.

  Technology helps run the business. David provides the advice.

  The flat-fee structure also removes the incentive to chase asset growth at the expense of advice quality. The fee is the same whether your portfolio is $250,000 or $5,000,000, so there is no commercial reason to recommend a product, allocation, or strategy that benefits the advisor over the client.

  See also: "How do you use AI?" and "Is this a robo-advisor?"

• Can the $100 monthly fee increase?

  When you become a client, your $100 monthly advisory fee is guaranteed not to increase for your first 12 months. If a fee change is ever proposed after that period, it will be handled under your advisory agreement; you can decide whether to continue the relationship.

  The calculator uses $100 per month throughout its illustration. That is a simplifying assumption, not a guarantee of your future fees or savings.

• What am I giving up?

  The main trade-off is implementation. Smarter Way Wealth provides financial planning and personalized investment recommendations on a non-discretionary basis, which means you keep control and place trades through your own brokerage account.

  You receive direct access to David, ongoing planning and investment guidance, and recommendations tailored to your situation. Smarter Way Wealth does not custody assets or execute trades, and its advisory fee does not rise automatically with your portfolio. Your broker, custodian, or investments may still charge separate transaction or product costs.

• Is there a contract?

  Yes. Clients sign a written advisory agreement that describes the services, responsibilities, and $100 monthly fee. Either you or Smarter Way Wealth may end the relationship with written notice.

  Fees are billed monthly in arrears. Fees earned through the termination date remain due, and any month in which services are provided is billed as a full month. There are no surrender charges or asset-transfer penalties.

• What happens on the first call?

  A focused 15-minute conversation to understand what you're looking for and see whether Smarter Way Wealth is a good fit. It happens over Zoom or Google Meet — whichever you prefer — and there is nothing to prepare.

  No obligation: personalized investment advice begins only after becoming a client. You can pick a time at smarterwaywealth.com/meet, and you'll receive the meeting link with your calendar invitation.

• Do I have to move my assets?

  No. You select and maintain your own brokerage accounts, and your assets remain with the broker-dealer or custodian you choose. Smarter Way Wealth does not take custody of client funds or securities.

  The firm provides recommendations on a non-discretionary basis. You decide whether to act and place any trades through your own brokerage account.

• Are there any hidden fees?

  No. The $100/month flat fee is the only advisory fee Smarter Way Wealth charges. The firm does not charge asset-based, performance-based, commission, or wrap fees.

  You may still incur costs charged by third parties, such as ETF or mutual-fund expense ratios, brokerage or transaction costs, and fees associated with any alternative investment you choose. Those costs are separate from the Smarter Way Wealth advisory fee and depend on the investments and providers involved.

• Do you help with estate planning?

  Estate considerations are part of the financial-planning process. Smarter Way Wealth can help you think through beneficiaries, charitable goals, cash flow, and how estate goals affect your broader plan.

  The firm does not draft wills, trusts, or other legal documents. When legal work is needed, you should work with a qualified attorney; we can coordinate with them when appropriate.

• Do you prepare taxes or give tax advice?

  We do not prepare tax returns, file tax forms, or provide individualized tax advice. We are not accountants.

  We do provide tax-aware planning: we can help you understand how investment, retirement, charitable-giving, and withdrawal decisions may affect your broader financial plan. When a decision calls for tax advice or return preparation, we encourage you to work with your qualified tax professional and can coordinate with them when appropriate.

• What's the catch?

  There isn't a hidden advisory charge. The difference is the fee structure: an asset-based fee compounds as the portfolio grows, while Smarter Way Wealth charges a flat $100 monthly advisory fee. Your Fee Calculator lets you compare hypothetical outcomes using assumptions you choose; actual results will vary.

  The trade-off is implementation. Smarter Way Wealth provides non-discretionary advice, so you decide whether to act and place any trades through your own brokerage account.

• Who manages the money?

  David Van Osdol, CFA, CFP®, personally provides the firm's planning and investment advice. Recommendations are tailored to your goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, tax considerations, and complete financial picture.

  Because the relationship is non-discretionary, you retain control of your accounts and make every final investment decision.

• Who makes trades?

  You do. Smarter Way Wealth provides investment guidance and recommendations but does not have authority to execute trades or place orders in client accounts.

  After David explains a recommendation and you decide to proceed, you implement it through your own broker-dealer or custodian.

• Are you qualified?

  Yes. David Van Osdol holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Practitioner, with 20+ years of experience in financial markets and advisory.

  See "What are your credentials?" for what each designation requires.

• What are your credentials?

  Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder — issued by the CFA Institute. Requires passing all three levels of the CFA Program exams, covering ethics, economics, financial reporting, equity and fixed-income analysis, derivatives, portfolio management, and wealth planning, plus 4,000 hours of qualified investment work experience accumulated over a minimum of 36 months.

  Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Practitioner — issued by the CFP Board. Requires education, a comprehensive exam, experience, and adherence to a fiduciary code of ethics, focused on comprehensive financial planning across investments, taxes, insurance, retirement, and estate.

  Smarter Way Wealth, LLC is registered with the Connecticut Department of Banking. David has 20+ years of experience in financial markets and advisory.

• Where can I read your official disclosures?

  The firm's Form ADV Part 2A brochure — the regulatory document describing services, fees, and conflicts in plain English — is available for download at smarterwaywealth.com/disclosures, along with the firm's other disclosures and privacy policy.

  You can independently verify Smarter Way Wealth's registration (CRD #342140) on the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site at adviserinfo.sec.gov.

• How do you use AI?

  AI assistants help with internal organization and routine business operations so David can spend more time on the work clients value: analysis, planning, judgment, and clear recommendations.

  Technology helps run the business. David provides the advice. AI does not make financial recommendations, replace David's professional judgment, or make decisions for clients.

  You remain in control of every final decision. The privacy policy explains how information is handled, and sensitive financial information should not be sent through ordinary website forms or email.

• Is this a robo-advisor?

  No. Smarter Way Wealth is a human-led advisory relationship. You work directly with David, a CFA charterholder and CFP practitioner, for financial planning, investment analysis, judgment, and clear recommendations.

  AI assistants help with internal organization and routine business operations. Technology helps run the business. David provides the advice. You retain control of every final decision.