FAQs
Choosing a financial planner is a decision built on trust, and trust starts with answers. Below are common questions about choosing a financial advisor, working with Clarity Financial Design, and planning through retirement or a major life transition. If yours isn't here, ask it on a complimentary call; we'd rather answer a hard question than have you wonder.
Finding the Right Advisor
What does "fee-only" mean?
A fee-only financial advisor is paid only by you, the client — never by commissions on products, payments from fund companies, or referral fees from other professionals. An advisor's compensation shapes their incentives: when the only person who pays us is you, our advice answers to you. Clarity Financial Design is a fee-only firm, and we sell no products and accept no commissions. (Read more about what we do.)
What is a fiduciary, and are you one?
A fiduciary is an advisor who is obligated to act in your best interest, putting your interests ahead of their own. Yes, we serve as a fiduciary and are committed to identifying and disclosing any potential conflicts of interest. (Fee-only describes how an advisor is paid; fiduciary describes the duty they accept. They're related, but they are not the same thing- a good question to ask any advisor you interview.) Clarity Financial Design is an Investment Advisor registered with the State of Florida, and our current disclosure brochure (Form ADV Part 2A) is available here or on request.
Why work with a financial planner who specializes in women?
Because your situation deserves an advisor who has guided many women through the same moments: suddenly being the one responsible for every financial decision, approaching retirement, rebuilding after divorce or widowhood, or running a successful business. The math of planning is the same for everyone — the situations are not. We work best with independent women and friendly couples, and we've built our entire practice around this niche. (See who we work with.)
What do the CFP® and CFA® credentials actually mean?
The CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) certification means rigorous training in comprehensive financial planning — retirement, taxes, insurance, estates, and how they fit together. The CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter is focused on investment analysis and portfolio management. Melissa Walsh holds both, so the same person directs the two halves of your financial life: the plan and the portfolio. (Read more on our team page.)
Where do you work with clients?
Clarity Financial Design is based in Sarasota, Florida, and works virtually with clients across the country. (Check out our contact page for more information.)
Costs and Working Together
Do you have a minimum for new clients?
We work best with clients who wish to invest more than $1,000,000. If you're not sure whether that describes you, book a no-pressure meet-and-greet call and ask. We'll tell you honestly, and if we're not the right fit, we'll point you to someone who is.
How much does it cost to work with you?
It depends on what you need, and we'll put it in writing before you decide anything. Fees may be an asset-based fee (a percentage of the investments we manage), a planning fee, or an annual subscription, depending on your situation. We receive no commissions of any kind.
What happens on the complimentary call — and after it?
The first step is a complimentary, no-pressure meet-and-greet call with Melissa: a conversation about where you are and what's on your mind. If we decide to work together, the first six months are structured around you: listening to your vision for today and the future, focused meetings on your priorities, documenting your accounts, insurance, and estate plan, aligning your assets with your life design, evaluating where you are today, and reviewing your first account statements together. (See what to expect in your first six months.)
The Moments That Change a Financial Life
How do I know if I have enough to retire?
Retirement planning helps you understand whether your money can support the life you want. We determine your readiness for retirement and construct a retirement income plan, including whether tax, insurance, or estate-planning updates make sense upon retirement, and we model your actual numbers rather than rules of thumb. (See our retirement planning services.)
My partner handled our finances, and they passed away. Where do I even start?
You don't need to have every account organized before asking for help. Our initial focus is understanding your financial resources, near-term expenses, and any decisions that may have deadlines. From there, we can help you evaluate longer-term choices and coordinate with your estate-planning attorney and tax professional as appropriate; which actions to take, and when, depends on your circumstances. There is no one-size-fits-all timeline, and we won't pretend there is.
I'm facing divorce. When is the right time to involve a financial planner?
Earlier than most people think- the decisions made around a settlement (how assets are divided, what the house costs to keep, the tax character of each asset) can shape every year that follows. During the process, we work alongside your attorney, not instead of them. And if your divorce is already final, we help you rebuild: a budget for your new reality, an investment approach that fits your goals, and a plan for the questions that keep you up at night, like "will I run out of money?"
I own a business. Can you help with both my business and my personal finances?
Yes! Helping women entrepreneurs navigate the cash flow, tax, and legal complexities of business ownership is one of our specialties. On the personal side, that includes retirement planning, investments, insurance, and estate planning; on the business side, how the business feeds your personal plan and what to consider as you grow it. For legal and tax execution, we work with your attorney and CPA. Our role is the planning that ties your business and your personal finances together.