Selecting the Right Financial Partner

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the "fee-only" model mean, and how does it protect you?

Fee-only means we are compensated exclusively by the fees our clients pay us, never by commissions, referral fees, or product sales. This avoids the conflicts of interest that arise when advisors earn commissions or sell products. When an advisor earns a commission for recommending a particular product, it's difficult to know whether that recommendation is truly in your best interest. With a fee-only model, our only incentive is to give you objective advice that serves your best interests.

What sets Schroeder Capital Management apart from traditional advisory firms?

Most advisory firms focus on one piece of the puzzle, usually investment management. If you need tax planning, they refer you out. We built our firm differently. We provide investment strategy, retirement planning, and investment advice, and we coordinate tax preparation.

What are the practical advantages of working with a true fiduciary?

As a fee-only fiduciary, we put your interests first by law. We do not earn commissions or sell products, so recommendations stay tied to your goals rather than product incentives.

What types of individuals and families do you typically assist?

We work with individuals and families who have accumulated meaningful wealth and want thoughtful, coordinated guidance. Many of our clients are approaching or already in retirement. Others are business owners, corporate executives with equity compensation, startup founders, or high-net-worth individuals navigating complex financial situations.

Is working with your firm an option for clients outside of New York?

Yes. We are an investment adviser registered in New York and based in Brooklyn. We work with clients in other states through video calls and secure digital tools where we are registered or exempt under applicable law. Our planning process works wherever you live.

What happens after we first talk?

In the first 90 days or so, we get to know you, build your plan and get your portfolio set up. After that, we meet at least twice a year. Here's how it works.

A 20-minute call. You fill out a short form and we have a 20-minute video call. We listen to what's going on, tell you how we work with people in a similar spot, and we both decide if it's a fit. If it isn't, we'll say so.

Getting organized. Once you sign on, we set you up in our planning software, RightCapital, where you link your bank, investment and loan accounts, and give you a secure way to send documents. We gather statements, old tax returns, and pay and stock plan details, and we book the next meetings before we hang up.

Building your plan. This takes two or three meetings over about two months. The first is about you, not the numbers. We ask three questions. If money were no issue, how would you live? If you had only a few years left, what would you change? What would you regret not doing? Then we go over your goals, what you own and owe, how you save, your 401(k), any backdoor Roth, and anything urgent. Next we show you the plan: a projection of this year's taxes and planning ideas to lower them, how we'll invest, mostly in low-cost ETFs, changes to your current portfolio, a plan for selling company stock if you have it, and an estimate, not a guarantee, of when you could reach financial independence. You leave with a short list of tasks.

A 30-day follow-up. About a month later, we pick up anything we skipped, often wills and life insurance, which we review with you and coordinate with your attorney or insurance agent, and make sure your portfolio is set up and invested.

Ongoing. From then on, we meet at least twice a year: early in the year to plan around taxes, and near year end for benefits and year-end tax moves. We also meet any time life changes.