- Fee-Only Information
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How does IFS get compensated?
- IFS works on a“fee-only” basis which means that our sole compensation comes from what clients pay us, not from sales commissions, sales loads, or any other third-party source. Because we are fee-only, we do not have the potential conflict of interest that commission-based compensation can create, making us distinct from advisors describing themselves as “fee-based”, (i.e. fees-plus-commissions) or “fees and commissions” (which often means “fees for the plan and commissions for the implementation”).
When shopping for a financial advisor, the most differentiating question consumers can ask is "Who regulates you?"
- If the answer is the NASD/FINRA, you are talking with a broker, i.e. a sales person obligated by law to make financial transactions in accordance with fair sales practices, and someone who is not required to disclose sources of compensation or potential conflicts of interest, and for whom providing financial advice is specifically characterized as being incidental to his or her business.
- If the answer is the SEC or state commissioner of investments, you are talking with a registered investment advisor (RIA), obligated by law to act as a fiduciary, that is, someone who is obligated to put the interests of the client first, who must disclose both sources of compensation and potential conflicts of interest, and who -- unlike a broker -- may not use testimonials in advertisements. Intelligent Financial Strategies, LLC is a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Putting our clients' interests first is of utmost importance to us and we would not operate any other way.
- How to get help with any issue
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Call us at (952) 941-2795 or click here to send an email.
Financial Planning Team
Jason Good | Becky Botzet, CFP®
Call or write members of the financial planning team if you have questions related to any of the following:
- Our financial planning or investment philosophy
- The state of the economy or financial markets
- Your financial plan or to discuss a new planning issue
- Your portfolio
- Understanding your financial planning, investment, or tax reports
Client Service Team
Connie Buescher
Call or write members of the client service team if you have questions related to the following:
- Moving money (e.g. deposits, withdrawals, transfers, wires, checks)
- Account paperwork (e.g. new accounts, beneficiary changes, etc.)
- Scheduling appointments
- Questions about accessing your secure private client portal
- My Advisor
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How should I contact my advisor?
Please either call or email. We will always do our best to return your call/email within 24 hours during the work week. Keep in mind that emails do not always go through or can get lost in the spam folder. Please follow up with a phone call if you haven’t received a timely response.
When should I contact my advisor?
You should contact your advisor whenever you have a question or concern about your finances, or changes in your financial situation. If you are unsure about anything to do with money please don’t hesitate to call us to talk about the issue.
- Deposits
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How do I make a deposit to my account/who do I make the check out to?
You can mail a check to the IFS office (or drop it by). Checks should be made payable to Fidelity Investments. Don’t forget to indicate in the memo section of the check which account the deposit is for. If the deposit is for a retirement account, please indicate the tax year of the deposit. Funds can be wired directly to your Fidelity Institutional account from any financial institution using Fidelity Institutional’s wire instructions. If you would like to make systematic deposits either monthly or quarterly, you can set up an Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit directly from your personal checking or savings account to your investment account.
- Withdrawals
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How can I get money out of my account?
Call or email us with the request. Any of us can take a funds request. Please let us know how you would like the funds sent (i.e. check, ACH or wire) and when you will need the funds. If you need to take a large amount from your account that may involve trading, it is a good idea to speak with your advisor directly. If you have check writing on your taxable account you may also write a check, just let us know the amount of the check/s so we can make sure there is cash available to cover your request.
Please do not leave withdrawal requests on voicemail.
In what ways can I take a withdrawal/ how long will it take to get my money?
There are several ways to take a withdrawal: A check issued to you and mailed to your address of record, Federal Funds Wire directly to your checking account or an ACH deposit to your checking account. You can also set up your account with automatic withdrawals for a fixed amount each month, quarterly, semi annually or annually, sent either to your bank electronically or to any bank of your choice. All withdrawal requests to a location other than your address of record via check require your signed approval.
Please give us about a week to process a cash request. If there is not adequate cash in the account it can take up to three days for the trades to settle. Keep in mind that it may take 5-7 business days to receive a check. Checks are mailed from Fidelity Institutional’s New York operations center. In many cases wires can be completed the next business day.
Is there a charge for withdrawals?
There is no charge from Fidelity or Intelligent Financial Strategies for a standard withdrawal. If you would like a check from your account sent via an over-night carrier there is a $15 fee charged by Fidelity. Also, your bank may charge a fee for processing wires. Please keep in mind that there may be tax ramifications upon the sale of any investment in a taxable account.
- My Account
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What if I don’t understand my statements from Fidelity or my Quarterly Statement from IFS?
Bring them in or give us a call. Financial statements can be difficult to interpret and we are happy to go over them with you.
Can I view my accounts online at Fidelity and can I get my statements/trade confirmations online?
You can. Please contact Connie to set up online access to your Fidelity account(s). Once online, you’ll be able to view your holdings and retrieve previous monthly statements and trade confirmations. When you complete your application for an account at Fidelity you can select to have your statements/trade confirmations viewable online. When a new statement is available online you will receive an email notification. If you ever experience technical problems with the online access please give our office a call.
