Question 1

Do you have a customer satisfaction or refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Yes. My client portfolios do not include proprietary products and I do not bill in advance. My clients "rent" me. So, they can leave at anytime without having paid for services not delivered. I feel strongly that I must work consistently to earn clients trust and business by delivering prudent guidance and added value.

Question 2

Why should I choose you as my financial advisor?

Accepted Answer

I am passionate about Economics and investment performance. My investing experience began in 1986 managing part of my College's Endowment Fund. In 1987 I graduated with Honors in Economics from the College of Wooster. I have a strong background in both Math & Statistics. I earned the designation of CFM (Certified Financial Manager) in 1996. I continue to add to my base of knowledge each year. I am overly driven to deliver above Index results for my clients while always staying within their desired risk budgets. I do not control the financial markets, no one does, but I work hard to position portfolios so they participate and benefit under all market conditions.

Question 3

What are your qualifications? What is your education background?

Accepted Answer

" FINRA Registered since 1991. SEC Registered since 1997.
" Five Star Wealth Manager award winner 2011-2023
" In 2022 AdvisorHub ranked Mr. Sakellariou 5th in the nation in its annual Fastest Growing Advisors to Watch ranking.
" During 2008, Mr. Sakellariou Ranked in the top 1% of all Merrill Lynch Financial Advisors regarding the firm's highly monitored Net-New Client Criteria. Additionally, Mr. Sakellariou did not have a single client leave the firm during 2008.
" The Wharton Business School-Successfully completed the advanced course "Stocks for the Long-Run" by Dr. Jeremy Seigel PhD, The Warton Business School.
" CFM-1996, earned the Certified Financial Manager designation offered through Merrill Lynch University.
" All Industry Licenses, Examinations, and State Securities Law Examinations:
" Series 31-Futures Managed Funds Examination, June 19, 2012. Series 30-National Futures Association Branch Manager Examination, June 13, 2012.
" Series 65-Uniform Investment Advisor Law Examinat

Question 4

How do you charge for your services?

Accepted Answer

Fiduciary Fee Based Compensation.  We charge a fixed % monthly and in arrears. Annually our fee 0.85% of the assets we care for.  Depending on the scope of the work, this fee is possibly discounted for Households were I manage greater than 25 million in assets.

Question 5

How are you compensated? How will I pay for your services?

Accepted Answer

Fiduciary Fee Based Compensation.  We charge a fixed % monthly and in arrears. Annually our fee 0.85% of the assets we care for.  Depending on the scope of the work, this fee is possibly discounted for Households were I manage greater than 25 million in assets.

Question 6

If you are going to manage my account, will you obtain my permission every time you buy or sell something?

Accepted Answer

The manner in which your portfolio is managed, the level of risk taken, the asset allocation implemented, any investment restrictions you may prefer, are all discussed and agreed upon in advance of your portfolio being managed in any way.  This is accomplished as part of my financial planning process, and my clients input is a critical part of this. Once these frame works are in place, they are followed for my clients until we together decide to change those frame works.  When managing your portfolio within your agreed upon frame work, I will not contact you every time I buy and sell something. However, your will promptly be sent a confirmation of every transaction and I am open to client communications based on these, as well as any personal financial changes clients experience or have questions regarding. I am the only person responsible for day to day Investment discussions and decisions.  My assistant (19 years experience) is available to handle any non-investment related tasks.

Question 7

How many clients do you currently manage?

Accepted Answer

250 separate Families, 20 Business Retirement Plans. I manage 263,000,000 in assets on a Financial Planning Based Approach, I employ an Endowment Investment Style that has been proven effective by its long time use by Institutional and Endowment Managers.

Question 8

Will you be the only person working with me?

Accepted Answer

This is determined by client preference as part of my Financial Planning Process. I am most often the only person responsible for day to day Investment discussions and decisions.  My assistant (19 years experience) is available to handle any non-investment related tasks.   My partner, Woodrow Willey, CPA/PFS, Certified Financial Planner is often brought in for Tax Planning, Tax Preparation and Filing, and Financial Planning.   I reserve the right to decline investment mandates.

Question 9

Do you offer any guaranteed results?

Accepted Answer

No. Investment Results cannot be guaranteed by any person or government. However, I can offer clients FDIC Insured products.  The principle of these is guaranteed per FDIC Guidelines. I can also offer Insurance oriented products which have certain guarantees provided by the Insurance Company with respect to principle protection and or minimum income payouts.

Question 10

How much risk should I be willing to take?

Accepted Answer

I match the risk taken to the individual client. My Planning Process helps determine an appropriate and acceptable level of risk for each account and household.  Some clients are very conservative where the target risk level is such that based on historical performance we expect to see worst case declines during any one year of less that -10% overall.  Some clients chose to be aggressive where the target risk level is such that based on historical performance we expect to see worst case declines during any one year of -50% or slightly more overall.  However, the risk level is the clients choice.  I do promise clients that if they are requesting to take too much, or too little risk, I will advise them of this.

Question 11

Have you ever been charged with any breaches?

Accepted Answer

No.

Question 12

What are your management fees?

Accepted Answer

I do not handle 401k Plans unless I also handle the personal portfolio of the business owner. .

Question 13

What kind of plans do you specialize in?

Accepted Answer

SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, TRADITIONAL IRA, ROTH IRA, and Regular Investment Accounts.

Question 14

What services do you provide?  What are your specialties?

Accepted Answer

Investment management, Financial Planning and Estate planning.
My specialty is building and maintaining well diversified portfolios which resist market declines and are matched well with my clients objectives.

Question 15

What is your experience?  How many clients do you currently manage?

Accepted Answer

33 years of experience prudently managing client investment portfolios.  I work for 250 separate Families, 20 Business Retirement Plans. I manage 263,000,000 in assets for these clients. Client investment goals and risk levels are based on a Financial Planning Based Approach, I employ an Endowment Investment Style that has been proven effective by its long time use by Institutional and Endowment Managers.

Question 16

What financial institution(s) do you represent?

Accepted Answer

None. I represent individual clients only.

Question 17

What is your approach to financial planning?

Accepted Answer

Most importantly is my insistence on over estimating the negative items, and under estimating the positive items. This ensures a wide margin of error, such that after 30 years of practice i have seen my client plans out perform original expectations considerably.  I also insist on "garbage in, garbage out". In other words, I do not input items that are not actually happening in my clients financial situations.  From a detail perspective, I insist on creating "what if scenarios" that include events clients may not want to plan for, but doing this helps prepare for all foreseeable negative events. My planning work uses Ibbotson Associates for historical return assumptions and Morningstar's Planning Modules for Monte Carlo Simulation work.

Question 18

What services do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Investment management, Financial Planning and Estate planning.  Via my partner we offer Tax Planning, Tax Preparation and Filing.

Question 19

What are your qualifications?

Accepted Answer

I am passionate about Economics and investment performance. My investing experience began in 1986 managing part of my College's Endowment Fund. In 1987 I graduated with Honors in Economics from the College of Wooster. I have a strong background in both Math & Statistics. I earned the designation of CFM (Certified Financial Manager) in 1996. I continue to add to my base of knowledge each year. I am overly driven to deliver above Index results for my clients while always staying within their desired risk budgets. I do not control the financial markets, no one does, but I work hard to position portfolios so they participate and benefit under all market conditions.

Question 20

What is your approach to 401 K plan rollovers?

Accepted Answer

The approach is the same as for all investment portfolios I manage. I rely on my 33 years of experience to prudently managing all client investment portfolios.  Client investment goals and risk levels are based on a Financial Planning Based Approach, I employ an Endowment Investment Style that has been proven effective by its long time use by Institutional and Endowment Managers.

Question 21

How long does the process of rolling over a 401K plan usually take?

Accepted Answer

The actual paperwork can take as little as 15 minutes. The transfer of assets can take as little as 3 days and as long as 3 weeks depending on what company handles your current plan.

Question 22

What financial institutions do you represent?

Accepted Answer

I represent only individual clients.
However, if this question is interpreted as "What institutions do you work with in terms of your use of financial investments"? I work with all major institutions in this respect.  As an Independent Financial Fiduciary Advisor I am obligated to work with and consider all prudent investment options available to my clients.

Question 23

How many years of experience do you have?

Accepted Answer

33 years.

Question 24

What are your fees for this service?

Accepted Answer

Fiduciary Fee Based Compensation.  We charge a fixed % monthly and in arrears. Annually our fee 0.85% of the assets we care for.  Depending on the scope of the work, this fee is possibly discounted for Households were I manage greater than 25 million in assets.

Question 25

How many 401K rollover clients do you currently manage?

Accepted Answer

225

Question 26

Why should I roll over my 401K plan to your firm?

Accepted Answer

My Truth fullness, my experience of successful results for my clients, and my well above industry average knowledge base. Additionally, one should review all of the other answers provided herein.  They are also important towards this question.

Nilos T. Sakellariou