At R.W. Stanley Investment Planning we make objective, unbiased, conflict free financial planning and investment advice available to the average American family. Located in Libertyville, IL, we have honed our expertise in the financial services industry for over 20 years. Our typical client is an investor who has come to the realization that there exists a substantial cost savings which is available to those investors who possess the knowledge and skill necessary to self-direct (execute and monitor) their own investment portfolio. They also realize, to efficiently capture those savings some professional guidance is likely required to both establish a workable financial plan (capital needs analysis) and then properly apply the components of modern portfolio theory to design an investment portfolio which is adequately diversified across asset classes and styles to minimize portfolio risk. At R.W. Stanley Investment Planning it is our mission to deliver such services at an overall net cost which is far less than is generally available; the difference is your gain.
R.W. Stanley Investment Planning was born of its founder's personal journey. Bob Stanley started investing in the equity markets back in the 1980's. By the 1990's he had accumulated not only an investment portfolio but also quite few questions about asset allocations, security selection, active vs. passive management, safe portfolio withdraw rates, and future return probabilities, to name just a few. In his quest for knowledge and advise he quickly realized that " objective, competent, unbiased financial planning and investment advice is very hard to find". To his dismay he discovered that most investment advisors have high investment minimums or, even worst, are just product salesman with little or no academic background in finance operating (quite legally by the way) under the guise of financial advisor. After extensive research, additional education, and lot of commitment, he created R.W. Stanley Investment Planning, a Registered Investment Advisor, providing the objective Fee-Only financial advisory services services he once sought.
An Objective, Fee-Only NAPFA Financial Advisor – The only compensation we receive is directly from you, our valued client. Commission based brokers/dealers and asset based advisors are paid based on product sales and/or fees from assets under management. The more assets they gather and/or company product they sell the more they make. Since product salesmen can only sell the products their company offers and asset gatherers are only interested in the assets you can transfer to them – there clearly must exist significant conflicts of interest. Our advice is based solely on what's best for you. See; Fee-Only Financial Planner: What's the Difference? - Forbes
An Independent Financial Advisor – Since we collect no commissions and charge no asset based fees our investment universe is not limited by, or to, any single product line, company, service nor to asset location. The plan we create for you is based solely on your needs; we receive no additional compensation based on where, when or how you implement it. It's that simple, we reduce your investment costs, get wall street out of your pocket, and you retire with more. See; Does Your Broker Have Your Best Interests at Heart? - Morningstar
Fiduciary, a Special Client-Advisor Relationship – As a Registered Investment Advisor, R.W. Stanley Investment Planning is legally bound, under the Investment Advisor Act of 1940, to place our client's best interest above that of the firm. Further, as a Chartered Financial Consultant, ChFC, and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® practitioner Bob Stanley also adheres to the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility adopted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. and accepts the obligations not only to comply with the mandates and requirements of all applicable laws and regulations but also to take responsibility to act in an ethical and professional manner in all professional services and activities. A copy of the code of ethics is available at: Code of Ethics & Professional Responsibility - CFP Board
A Cost Effective Financial Advisor – How much are you paying to invest your money? The hidden cost of "free advice" (broker/dealers and product salesmen) is substantial. A properly designed, academically sound, low cost investment portfolio can substantially increase your future wealth. As an independent, objective, legally bound fiduciary, it is our job to deliver a plan which will do just that for you! For additional information on investment costs watch the August 2012 Wealth Track episode with legendary financial consultant Charles Ellis, author of Winning the Loser's Game, discussing investment fees. See also - Fees; The Cumulative Impact Over Time
