Financial Advisor FAQs
Don’t see your question below? Contact our team for a straightforward, personal response.
These financial advisor FAQs answer the questions we hear most often from prospective clients from fees and fiduciary duty to retirement planning and our process.
Are you a fiduciary?
Yes. Ruiz Financial Group is a state-registered investment adviser and serves clients under a fiduciary standard when providing advisory services. That means we are legally required to act in our clients’ best interests, disclose material conflicts of interest, and provide advice based on each client’s goals, circumstances, and needs. There is no “sometimes” fiduciary standard in how we serve our advisory clients.
Are you fee-only? What does that actually mean?
Yes. Ruiz Financial Group is a fee-only financial advisory firm compensated by our clients. We do not receive commissions, referral fees, or compensation from product providers. This structure is designed to reduce product-related conflicts and keep the focus on your goals, circumstances, and needs. Learn more about working with a fee-only financial advisor →
Who will I actually be working with?
You will work directly with Anthony Ruiz, CFP®, CPWA®, MBA, Founder and Principal Wealth Strategist of Ruiz Financial Group. From your first conversation through every annual review, Anthony is your primary point of contact. Our support team assists with scheduling, document management, and client experience, but your financial plan, your investment strategy, and your ongoing advice come directly from Anthony.
When is the right time to start working with a financial advisor?
There is no perfect moment to begin working with a financial advisor. Most people reach out when life becomes more complex, important decisions are approaching, or they want a clearer picture of where they stand.
Often, the best time is before a major transition rather than after one. For people nearing retirement, that may mean coordinating Social Security, healthcare, taxes, portfolio withdrawals, and other retirement planning decisions.
The goal is not to hand off every financial decision. It is to understand what needs attention now, what can wait, and how the different pieces fit together.
What is Wealth Management?
Wealth Management combines SMART Planning™ and SMART Investing™ in one coordinated advisory relationship.
Your financial plan provides the context for decisions involving retirement, taxes, cash flow, estate planning, risk management, and other priorities, while your investment strategy is managed in support of that broader plan.
The goal is to coordinate the major parts of your financial life rather than treating financial planning and investment management as separate conversations.
How much do your services cost?
Ruiz Financial Group offers three ways to work with us: SMART Planning™, SMART Investing™, and Wealth Management.
SMART Planning™ includes an Initial Financial Planning Fee of $1,500, $3,000, or $4,500 depending on the level of service, plus an ongoing planning fee.
SMART Investing™ is priced as a percentage of assets under management.
Wealth Management combines SMART Planning™ and SMART Investing™ in one advisory relationship. After the Initial Financial Planning Fee, you pay one ongoing fee: either the applicable SMART Planning™ fee or the asset-based investment management fee, whichever is greater. We do not add the two together.
For clients with $1 million or more managed by Ruiz Financial Group, SMART Planning™ is included at no additional ongoing charge.
Complete pricing is available on our Fees page and in Form ADV Part 2A.
Is there a minimum asset requirement?
There is no single minimum asset requirement across all of our services.
SMART Planning™ may be appropriate for clients who are still building assets, including younger professionals and those early in their careers.
SMART Investing™ and Wealth Management are generally a better fit when there are meaningful assets to manage and enough financial complexity to benefit from an ongoing advisory relationship.
We evaluate each relationship based on your circumstances, needs, and whether we believe we can provide meaningful value.
Can your process work around my schedule?
We built our process around the reality that our clients are busy professionals with demanding careers and full lives. Meetings are available during regular business hours Monday through Friday, with select virtual and phone appointments available into the evening, including times as late as 7:00 p.m. Weekend appointments may also be available by arrangement.
We can meet virtually or in person at our Toledo office, depending on the type of meeting and what works best for you. Between meetings, you have direct access to Anthony by email and messaging, so time-sensitive questions do not have to wait for a scheduled review.
How often do we meet?
Meeting frequency depends on how you’ve chosen to work with us.
SMART Investing™ clients typically meet once per year to review their portfolio, goals, and any changes that may affect the investment strategy.
SMART Planning™ and Wealth Management clients follow the meeting schedule associated with their planning level: Foundations clients meet twice per year, Growth clients meet quarterly, and Legacy clients meet six or more times per year.
Additional conversations can be scheduled when a meaningful financial decision or change in circumstances warrants it, and clients may reach out between scheduled meetings with questions.
Do you provide tax preparation?
No. We do not prepare tax returns. Instead, we focus on proactive tax planning throughout the year by helping clients identify opportunities that may improve long-term outcomes and coordinating with their CPA when appropriate.
It’s not what you earn that matters. It’s what you keep.
We believe taxes should be part of the financial planning conversation, not a once-a-year event. Decisions involving retirement accounts, investments, charitable giving, Social Security, and retirement income can all have meaningful tax implications. Our role is to help clients make informed decisions with those implications in mind.
Am I on track for retirement?
This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the honest answer is that it depends on your specific situation. Factors like your expected retirement age, lifestyle goals, Social Security timing, other income sources, and projected expenses all play a role in determining whether you’re on track. Rather than relying on generic rules of thumb, we run detailed retirement projections built around your actual numbers so you can see exactly where you stand and what adjustments, if any, need to be made. That clarity is one of the first things we deliver in our planning process.
When should I claim Social Security benefits?
Yes, and this is one of the most important retirement decisions you’ll make. The difference between claiming Social Security at the wrong time versus the right time can mean tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. We analyze your specific situation including your age, health, other income sources, spousal benefits, and retirement timeline to help you determine the optimal claiming strategy. This analysis is included as part of our planning process and is one of the first things we address as you approach retirement.
How do you help with retirement income planning?
Retirement income planning isn’t simply about generating income. It’s about understanding where your income will come from, how long it may last, and how taxes can affect the decisions you make along the way.
We help coordinate the various sources of retirement income—including Social Security, retirement accounts, pensions, investments, and other assets—into one strategy designed to support your lifestyle and adapt as circumstances change.
The goal isn’t just to create income. It’s to help you make informed decisions so you can spend with confidence and focus on enjoying retirement.
Can you work with clients in multiple states?
Yes. While our roots are firmly planted in the Greater Toledo community and Northwest Ohio, we regularly work with clients across multiple states who prefer the convenience of virtual meetings via Zoom and similar tools. Anthony is licensed to provide investment advisory services in Ohio and Michigan, and we can work with clients in additional states depending on registration requirements. If you’re located outside of Ohio or Michigan, reach out and we’ll confirm whether we’re able to serve you before scheduling a consultation.