Investment advisor representative of and investment advisory services offered through Garrett Investment Advisors, LLC, a Fee-Only SEC registered investment advisor. Tel: (910) FEE-ONLY. Upstate Financial Advisers may offer investment advisory services in the State of South Carolina and in other jurisdictions where exempted.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to empower you to manage your money wisely. It doesn’t matter what stage of life you are in or what walk of life you come from. If you are just starting your earnings after graduation from school and need to understand “personal finance 101” (e.g., the importance of living within your means, saving early, and investment basics) we will start you down the right path. If you are raising a family and facing complicated choices regarding financial instruments (e.g., insurance, mortgages, college savings plans) we can provide competent, objective advice. If you are approaching, or in the early stages of retirement we can provide retirement income projections and look at good distribution choices from a variety of savings vehicles (e.g., IRAs, 401(k)s, annuities). We provide investment portfolio reviews and recommendations.
Our Philosophy – On Financial Planning
We believe that the best way to ensure that a client is obtaining competent, objective financial advice is to remove potential conflicts of interest from the client – advisor relationship. That is why we operate on an hourly, Fee-Only basis. The only compensation we receive comes from our clients – no product sales or commissions, no referral fees, no hidden fees of any type. We do not require any account minimums. We also don’t require that clients enter into long term agreements or that they transfer their assets under our management.
Upstate Financial Advisers provides financial services based on a holistic approach. The engagement starts with a detailed client review designed to understand the client’s current situation, needs, risk tolerance, goals and dreams. Based on that understanding, a customized plan is crafted that is specific to the client.
What that all means to our clients is that they can receive financial services on an as-needed basis, and they can be confident of objective, professional results. In the end, they will have confidence and peace-of-mind in knowing that they are on the right track to meet their goals.
Our Philosophy – On Investing
We believe that most clients are best served by investing in a diversified portfolio that includes a variety of asset classes. Asset allocation should reflect the client’s risk tolerance, timeline, and specific situation. Disciplined rebalancing boosts returns by scheduling transactions designed to “sell high and buy low.” It is critical to remember that it is net returns that matter to the client, so minimizing transaction costs and taxes is important. We believe that most intelligent and independent-minded clients who are willing to learn are capable of grasping and executing a financial plan. Upstate Financial Advisers can develop a plan that meets the client’s needs, and assist to the degree the client needs it, in implementing the plan.