Frequently Asked Questions

Book a free 30-minute intro call. We will learn about your situation, share how we work, and answer any questions you have. If it feels like the right fit, we will walk you through the next steps. There is no obligation and no sales pressure. Schedule your call here.

Yes. We are based in Carbondale, Illinois, but we serve clients across the country, entirely virtually. All meetings are conducted by video call. Many clients find that working virtually actually gives them more regular contact with their advisors, not less.

You will work directly with experienced, credentialed advisors who hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. Our advisors have backgrounds at respected firms including Facet, Moneta, Buckingham Strategic Wealth, OppenheimerFunds, and Personal Capital. Your plan is handled by people who genuinely know your situation.

Most clients receive their initial financial plan within 30 days of their first planning meeting. The timeline depends on how quickly information is gathered and how complex your situation is. We move at a pace that allows us to be thorough, not just fast.

A flat-fee financial advisor charges a fixed annual fee for their services rather than a percentage of the assets they manage for you. This means your advisory cost stays the same whether your portfolio grows or shrinks. At Novak Financial Partners, plans start at $4,000 per year and include comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and unlimited advisor access.

Many advisors charge a percentage of the money they manage for you, typically around 1% per year. On a $500,000 portfolio that is $5,000 per year. On a $1,000,000 portfolio it is $10,000 per year, and it grows automatically as your wealth builds. Our flat fee stays fixed regardless of portfolio size, so your cost never increases simply because your investments performed well.

No. We have no asset minimums. Our flat-fee model means you pay for the planning, not the size of your portfolio. We work with clients who are actively building wealth and clients who have already accumulated significant assets.

Yes. Portfolio management and rebalancing are included in your flat annual fee. We build diversified, low-cost portfolios aligned with your goals and time horizon. There is no additional charge for managing your investments.

Yes. There are no long-term contracts. You can cancel at any time. We keep clients by consistently delivering value, not by locking them into agreements.

The best way is to book a free intro call and we will help you figure it out. In general: if you are within 10 years of retirement or already retired, the Pre-Retirees and Retirees plan is the better fit. If you are in your prime earning years, growing your income or business, and managing competing priorities, the Wealth Accumulators plan is designed for your stage of life.

Your financial plan covers your full financial picture: goals, cash flow, investments, tax strategy, insurance, estate planning, and equity compensation if applicable. It includes specific, actionable recommendations and is built around your actual life and priorities, not a generic template. We review and update it as your situation changes.

Yes. Equity compensation is one of the areas where proactive planning creates the most value. RSUs, ISOs, NQSOs, and ESPP each come with different tax rules and different optimal strategies. We help you understand what you have, when to act, and how to minimize your tax liability.

Our standard cadence includes a planning review in Q1, a mid-year check-in in Q2, an estate and insurance review in Q3, and year-end tax optimization in Q4. You also have unlimited access to your advisor by email and phone between meetings, and we reach out proactively when something in your plan warrants attention.

We provide proactive tax planning throughout the year, including Roth conversion analysis, tax-loss harvesting, income timing strategies, and coordination with your CPA or tax preparer. We do not prepare tax returns directly, but we work closely with your tax professional and can help coordinate the process.

Yes. We review your estate planning needs as part of your comprehensive financial plan, including wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. We coordinate with estate planning attorneys and make sure the right documents reflect your actual wishes.

Yes. Social Security claiming strategy is included in the Pre-Retirees and Retirees plan. The timing of your claim can have a significant impact on your lifetime benefits. We run detailed analysis to help you understand your options and make the most informed decision for your situation.

Yes. Advisory services are offered through Core Planning LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. As a registered investment advisor, we are legally required to act in your best interest at all times. We do not sell products, earn commissions, or have any financial incentive to recommend anything other than what is genuinely right for your situation.

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation is widely regarded as the highest standard in the financial planning profession. CFP® professionals are required to complete a rigorous education program, pass a comprehensive exam, demonstrate professional experience, and adhere to ongoing ethics requirements set by the CFP Board of Standards. When you work with a CFP® professional, you are working with someone who has been trained to look at your entire financial life, not just one piece of it.

Your financial information is handled with strict confidentiality. We use secure client portals for document sharing and communication. Your data is used solely to provide personalized financial advice and is never sold or shared with third parties. We take data security seriously and follow all applicable regulatory requirements.