The wealth management process is broken. We’re fixing it.
We can fix financial planning for you, too.
Schedule a free consultation.
Or complete this form, and we’ll contact you for a free chat to make sure we’re a match.
Or complete this form, and we’ll contact you for a free chat to make sure we’re a match.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
1 What's Broken:
Advisors use too much industry jargon.
Why it matters:
Humans fear what they don’t understand. And fear, confusion, discomfort and embarrassment are not going to help you on your financial journey. If you can’t communicate with your advisor, how can you be sure they understand your goals and are acting in your best interest?
The EmberHouse way:
Einstein once said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough,” and who are we to disagree with Einstein? We avoid using jargon like “basis points,” “risk tolerance,” or “standard deviation.” Instead, we speak as plainly as possible and even ask clients to repeat decisions in their own words so we can be sure everyone is on the same page.
Why our way is better:
Feeling knowledgeable and empowered about your money and investments is a huge part of relieving money anxiety. We want you to be confident that your advisor “gets you”. We want you speak up if your financial plan doesn’t make sense.
Humans fear what they don’t understand. And fear, confusion, discomfort and embarrassment are not going to help you on your financial journey. If you can’t communicate with your advisor, how can you be sure they understand your goals and are acting in your best interest?
The EmberHouse way:
Einstein once said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough,” and who are we to disagree with Einstein? We avoid using jargon like “basis points,” “risk tolerance,” or “standard deviation.” Instead, we speak as plainly as possible and even ask clients to repeat decisions in their own words so we can be sure everyone is on the same page.
Why our way is better:
Feeling knowledgeable and empowered about your money and investments is a huge part of relieving money anxiety. We want you to be confident that your advisor “gets you”. We want you speak up if your financial plan doesn’t make sense.
2 What's Broken:
Advice is given based on only math.
Why it matters:
Advice that doesn’t consider emotional consequences can steer you away from your happiness. Consider the person who hates debt – does the financial upside of keeping debt outweigh the psychological burden of carrying extra debt? Our advice considers both.
The EmberHouse way:
At EmberHouse, the focus is on emotions, as well as, numbers. By weighing the financial and emotional consequences of every decision, we help clients build a financial foundation that supports their needs and happiness.
Why our way is better:
We know money can’t buy happiness. But we also know that a mindful approach to money helps.
Advice that doesn’t consider emotional consequences can steer you away from your happiness. Consider the person who hates debt – does the financial upside of keeping debt outweigh the psychological burden of carrying extra debt? Our advice considers both.
The EmberHouse way:
At EmberHouse, the focus is on emotions, as well as, numbers. By weighing the financial and emotional consequences of every decision, we help clients build a financial foundation that supports their needs and happiness.
Why our way is better:
We know money can’t buy happiness. But we also know that a mindful approach to money helps.
3 What's Broken:
You feel judged by your advisor.
Why it matters:
Author and scholar, Brené Brown, put it best in her Ted Talk, “Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Your journey stops the moment you are afraid to be vulnerable with your advisor.
The EmberHouse way:
Your financial life is personal. So, we get personal. We get to know you and your core values, and we make those values the centerpiece of every meeting agenda. If you don’t feel comfortable and heard, we aren’t doing our job.
Why our way is better:
When you allow yourself to be vulnerable, you can discover your inner light. You go farther, faster and with greater confidence. You are free of money anxiety, stress and shame and are truly open to sharing your life and light with others.
Author and scholar, Brené Brown, put it best in her Ted Talk, “Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Your journey stops the moment you are afraid to be vulnerable with your advisor.
The EmberHouse way:
Your financial life is personal. So, we get personal. We get to know you and your core values, and we make those values the centerpiece of every meeting agenda. If you don’t feel comfortable and heard, we aren’t doing our job.
Why our way is better:
When you allow yourself to be vulnerable, you can discover your inner light. You go farther, faster and with greater confidence. You are free of money anxiety, stress and shame and are truly open to sharing your life and light with others.
4 What's Broken:
Advisors plan your future at the expense of your present.
Why it matters:
You want to retire someday, but not at the expense of living fully. The more conservative your financial plan, the more your lifestyle suffers. Maybe you want to travel the world during your early retirement years -- it is your advisor’s job to help you plan, not shut down your dreams.
The EmberHouse way:
We don’t crush dreams. Instead, we help you understand the financial consequences of your dreams. We help you weigh your options, visualize potential outcomes, and make an informed decision.
Why our way is better:
Your dreams stay on the table and you, not advisors, decide if the trade-offs are worth it. Maybe you will pursue a dream that other advisors would have written off. Maybe you will make peace and let go because the cost is too high. Either way, you feel empowered instead of deprived.
You want to retire someday, but not at the expense of living fully. The more conservative your financial plan, the more your lifestyle suffers. Maybe you want to travel the world during your early retirement years -- it is your advisor’s job to help you plan, not shut down your dreams.
The EmberHouse way:
We don’t crush dreams. Instead, we help you understand the financial consequences of your dreams. We help you weigh your options, visualize potential outcomes, and make an informed decision.
Why our way is better:
Your dreams stay on the table and you, not advisors, decide if the trade-offs are worth it. Maybe you will pursue a dream that other advisors would have written off. Maybe you will make peace and let go because the cost is too high. Either way, you feel empowered instead of deprived.
5 What's Broken:
You don't know when your advisor will get back to you.
Why it matters:
Waiting around for a response is frustrating and stressful. What if your concern falls through the cracks? What if you are worrying and stressing out about nothing? You can’t know what isn’t communicated with you.
The EmberHouse way:
We have a formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) that states that we will respond to any communication within one business day (and we often reply even faster than that!). You will also have your advisor’s mobile number in case something urgent arises after business hours.
Why our way is better:
Less time waiting means less time worrying. When decisions are time-sensitive or stressful, it is nice to know you can count on a prompt answer. Whoever said “no news is good news” obviously has never had to wait for an answer to an important question.
Waiting around for a response is frustrating and stressful. What if your concern falls through the cracks? What if you are worrying and stressing out about nothing? You can’t know what isn’t communicated with you.
The EmberHouse way:
We have a formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) that states that we will respond to any communication within one business day (and we often reply even faster than that!). You will also have your advisor’s mobile number in case something urgent arises after business hours.
Why our way is better:
Less time waiting means less time worrying. When decisions are time-sensitive or stressful, it is nice to know you can count on a prompt answer. Whoever said “no news is good news” obviously has never had to wait for an answer to an important question.
6 What's Broken:
Meeting with your advisor feels like visiting the dentist.
Why it matters:
If you don’t like meeting with your advisor, then you won’t. Whether you find them tedious, insulting or just not helpful, you’ll find every excuse not to go. Meetings and calls will get postponed, and so will your progress.
The EmberHouse way:
At EmberHouse, your comfort and sense of safety are key. Every meeting is driven by your priorities and goals and celebrates at least one piece of positive news – maybe conquering a new stage of the IGNITE process or reaching an important milestone. We want you to feel good about your progress and look forward to your meetings with our team.
Why our way is better:
When it comes to inspiring personal, tangible change, positive emotions drive progress, but fear halts it. Our process harnesses happy feelings and carries you forward toward your goals.
If you don’t like meeting with your advisor, then you won’t. Whether you find them tedious, insulting or just not helpful, you’ll find every excuse not to go. Meetings and calls will get postponed, and so will your progress.
The EmberHouse way:
At EmberHouse, your comfort and sense of safety are key. Every meeting is driven by your priorities and goals and celebrates at least one piece of positive news – maybe conquering a new stage of the IGNITE process or reaching an important milestone. We want you to feel good about your progress and look forward to your meetings with our team.
Why our way is better:
When it comes to inspiring personal, tangible change, positive emotions drive progress, but fear halts it. Our process harnesses happy feelings and carries you forward toward your goals.
7 What's Broken:
Your advisor gives you lots of tedious homework.
Why it matters:
A financial plan is only as good as the information it is based on. Gathering up statements and answering 20-page questionnaires might prevent you from ever getting the plan done. No plan, no progress. You could stay stuck and stressed with unresolved concerns.
The EmberHouse way:
Getting organized is more inspiring than delivering a stack of papers to your advisor. We hold your hand throughout the process - telling you exactly what we need, where it might be and helping you find it. We’ll even hire outside professionals to help you completely organize your important papers and financial records so that finding or checking on your information is never a source of stress.
Why our way is better:
Envisioning a positive outcome motivates action. Getting organized has powerful potential – it can leave a lasting impact on your everyday life. First and foremost, you’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing that your vital financial information is at your fingertips in the event of an emergency or sudden change to your situation.
A financial plan is only as good as the information it is based on. Gathering up statements and answering 20-page questionnaires might prevent you from ever getting the plan done. No plan, no progress. You could stay stuck and stressed with unresolved concerns.
The EmberHouse way:
Getting organized is more inspiring than delivering a stack of papers to your advisor. We hold your hand throughout the process - telling you exactly what we need, where it might be and helping you find it. We’ll even hire outside professionals to help you completely organize your important papers and financial records so that finding or checking on your information is never a source of stress.
Why our way is better:
Envisioning a positive outcome motivates action. Getting organized has powerful potential – it can leave a lasting impact on your everyday life. First and foremost, you’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing that your vital financial information is at your fingertips in the event of an emergency or sudden change to your situation.
8 What's Broken:
Advisors have too many clients.
Why it matters:
The typical advisor serves at least 150 households. Assuming they meet with each household every 6 months, that works out to 3.5 hours of meeting prep, the meeting itself & follow-up each day. With just 4 hours a day remaining for portfolio management, administrative tasks, finding new clients and golf, it is no wonder you don’t hear from your advisor.
The EmberHouse way:
We limit the number of households per EmberHouse advisor to 50. If we’re going to do something, we make sure we are focused and equipped to do it right.
Why our way is better:
Your full financial picture is stored in our advisors’ brains, not just in a dusty file they glance at every 6 months. We spot more opportunities and you enjoy hyper-personalized and uber-responsive service from an advisor who is focused on your unique needs.
The typical advisor serves at least 150 households. Assuming they meet with each household every 6 months, that works out to 3.5 hours of meeting prep, the meeting itself & follow-up each day. With just 4 hours a day remaining for portfolio management, administrative tasks, finding new clients and golf, it is no wonder you don’t hear from your advisor.
The EmberHouse way:
We limit the number of households per EmberHouse advisor to 50. If we’re going to do something, we make sure we are focused and equipped to do it right.
Why our way is better:
Your full financial picture is stored in our advisors’ brains, not just in a dusty file they glance at every 6 months. We spot more opportunities and you enjoy hyper-personalized and uber-responsive service from an advisor who is focused on your unique needs.
9 What's Broken:
Your money blockage is outside your advisor’s expertise.
Why it matters:
Sometimes your advisor can spot what’s holding you back – like chronic fights with your spouse about spending – but s/he lacks the ability to help you solve or move past the issue. In fact, his/her involvement could make matters worse.
The EmberHouse way:
We connect you with outside professionals to help when your blockage is outside of our expertise. Fighting with your spouse about spending? We can suggest a couples’ money counselor. With proper attention, your progress and happiness is within reach.
Why our way is better:
We help you treat the problem, not just the symptom – conquering your road block and empowering you to push forward toward financial harmony.
Sometimes your advisor can spot what’s holding you back – like chronic fights with your spouse about spending – but s/he lacks the ability to help you solve or move past the issue. In fact, his/her involvement could make matters worse.
The EmberHouse way:
We connect you with outside professionals to help when your blockage is outside of our expertise. Fighting with your spouse about spending? We can suggest a couples’ money counselor. With proper attention, your progress and happiness is within reach.
Why our way is better:
We help you treat the problem, not just the symptom – conquering your road block and empowering you to push forward toward financial harmony.
10 What's Broken:
Your advisor only has one tool in their toolbox.
Why it matters:
If the advice you receive is colored by your advisor’s own biases or interests, it may not be the right solution for you. For example, if your advisor gets 75% of their revenue from variable annuities, it’s likely they will repeatedly recommend an annuity to you, regardless of your goals. At this point, getting the right solution for your finances is sheer luck.
The EmberHouse way:
We are completely independent and operate on a fee-only basis to reduce conflicts of interest. We never have to decide between a product paying zero commission versus one paying 5% when recommending investments. The result? Sound, consistent, client-focused advice.
Why our way is better:
You can always rely on us to give unbiased advice. Your interests are our top priority. We like to think of ourselves as financial advocates instead of just advisors.
If the advice you receive is colored by your advisor’s own biases or interests, it may not be the right solution for you. For example, if your advisor gets 75% of their revenue from variable annuities, it’s likely they will repeatedly recommend an annuity to you, regardless of your goals. At this point, getting the right solution for your finances is sheer luck.
The EmberHouse way:
We are completely independent and operate on a fee-only basis to reduce conflicts of interest. We never have to decide between a product paying zero commission versus one paying 5% when recommending investments. The result? Sound, consistent, client-focused advice.
Why our way is better:
You can always rely on us to give unbiased advice. Your interests are our top priority. We like to think of ourselves as financial advocates instead of just advisors.
All rights reserved 2021 © EmberHouse / Legal Notice