Why should I hire a financial planner to help with retirement and my investments?

Most people we meet aren't looking for someone to just “manage investments.” They're looking for someone to help them answer the big questions:

• When can we retire without regret?
• How much can we safely spend?
• How do we avoid paying unnecessary taxes on our IRAs?
• How do Social Security, RMDs, and withdrawals all fit together?
  
  

A good financial planner connects all the moving pieces — income, taxes, investments, Social Security, legacy — into one clear plan you can actually follow.

And frankly, one of the biggest benefits is behavior coaching: having someone who knows your plan well enough to keep you steady when markets get noisy, headlines get scary, or tax rules change. It's a lot easier to stay on track when someone is walking alongside you, not just sending you statements.

What's the difference between a financial planner and a financial advisor?

In practice, the terms overlap — but “financial planner” usually means someone building a full plan across income, taxes, and goals, while “financial advisor” can sometimes mean someone focused mainly on managing investments. Eric, CFP®, does both: he builds the full retirement income plan — taxes, Social Security, withdrawals, legacy — and then manages the investment strategy that supports it, so you're not stitching advice together from multiple people.

What does CFP® mean, and why does it matter?

CFP® stands for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, a designation that requires rigorous coursework, an exam, relevant experience, and ongoing ethics and education requirements. Eric earned his CFP® designation in 2009 and has focused on retirement income, tax strategy, and long-term planning ever since. You can verify any advisor's CFP® status and disciplinary history directly at cfp.net.

How much experience does Eric Van Ness have as a financial advisor?

Eric has more than twenty years of experience in financial planning, starting his career in 2004 and earning his CFP® designation in 2009. Before that, he served in the U.S. Army as a Civil Affairs Economic Development Team Sergeant in Kosovo, earning the Meritorious Service Medal — an experience he credits with shaping the calm, methodical way he approaches retirement planning today.

Who will I actually be working with — just Eric, or a team?

You'll work directly with Eric Van Ness, CFP®, supported by a dedicated team so nothing falls through the cracks. Andrea Ongaro and Natasha Russell, both Advisor Assistants, handle day-to-day client service and help keep your plan, paperwork, and meetings moving smoothly — so Eric's time stays focused on your planning and strategy.

What is a fiduciary, and are you one?

A fiduciary is required to act in your best interest, not just recommend something “suitable.” As an investment advisor representative, Eric operates in a fiduciary capacity when providing financial planning and investment management — meaning your interests come first, not a product or a commission. On the occasions when a commission-based product is genuinely the better fit (see “How do you charge for your services?” below), that's held to a suitability standard instead, and we'll always explain which standard applies and why.

How can I check the background of a financial advisor?

It's smart to check — and we encourage it. Here are the most reliable places:

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ verification and disciplinary history: cfp.net
• FINRA BrokerCheck® for licensing and disclosures: brokercheck.finra.org
• SEC AdvisorInfo for firm and advisor records: adviserinfo.sec.gov
  
  

These tools give you a clear, unbiased view of an advisor's background and credentials.

Is there a fee for the initial meeting?

No. The first meeting is simply a chance for us to talk through what you want retirement to look like, what's driving your decisions, and where you may be leaving money or confidence on the table.

There's no obligation. If we both feel like the fit is right, we'll take the next step together. If not, you'll still leave with more clarity than you came in with.

How do you charge for your services?

We keep this simple and transparent. Most clients choose the approach that aligns with their retirement goals and how they prefer to work with us.

Financial Planning Fee

Some couples want a full retirement income plan without immediately moving investments. In those cases, we can create a comprehensive plan for a flat fee. The fee is based on the complexity of your situation — things like multiple accounts, pensions, tax scenarios, or business income. Once we understand your goals and what you want your retirement to look like, you'll know the exact cost before any work begins.

Asset-Based Fee

Most ongoing clients choose an advisory relationship where we manage investments and provide retirement income planning, tax strategy, Social Security analysis, ongoing reviews, and behavioral coaching — all included in the fee. There's no separate planning charge when we manage assets in a fee-based account.

Commission (only when appropriate)

There are a few situations where a commission-based structure makes more sense — mainly certain insurance or non-fee-based investment products. This is not the typical path for retirement-income clients, but when it's the right fit, we'll explain exactly why and how it works.

If you're ever unsure which structure makes the most sense, we'll walk through the tradeoffs together so you can make the decision that feels right for you.

Do you have account minimums?

No. Retirement planning isn't about hitting a magic number — it's about understanding the income, tax, and lifestyle picture you're trying to build.

Some investment or insurance products have their own minimums, but there are usually several options available. What matters most is that we're doing the planning first, so any investment decisions line up with your long-term retirement strategy.

What happens after the first meeting?

Here's the typical sequence:

1. You share your information through a secure organizer.
2. We build your retirement income plan.
3. We meet again to review the plan together — live, on screen.
4. You see your ideal retirement age, spending levels, tax strategy, and investment plan all on one page.
5. You decide whether you want an ongoing relationship or just the plan.
   
   

There's no commitment until you see the value clearly.

Can we meet digitally?

Absolutely. Many clients prefer to meet via Zoom, especially when we're building or reviewing their retirement income plan. We can share the planning software directly on your screen so you can see, in real time, how decisions about taxes, withdrawals, and Social Security affect your plan.

Digital meetings are simple, secure, and easy to use — even if you don't consider yourself “techy.”

How do you figure out how much we can safely spend in retirement?

We build a detailed retirement income plan that looks at your savings and investments, taxes, expected spending, longevity, inflation, Social Security timing, and market risk.

Instead of guessing, we run your numbers through real-time planning software that stress-tests your income under different scenarios. You'll see exactly what you can spend, when you can retire, and how long your money is projected to last — in plain English, not jargon.

Do you help with Roth conversions and tax planning?

Absolutely — tax efficiency is central to retirement planning. We model Roth conversions, RMD timing, tax bracket management, Social Security taxation, and long-term tax savings strategies. You'll see how each decision affects your lifetime tax bill, not just this year's return.

And yes — we coordinate with your CPA so everything stays aligned.

How often will we meet after our retirement plan is in place?

Ongoing clients typically have regular scheduled reviews, plus ad hoc check-ins whenever life or the markets shift. Reviews are a core part of the asset-based advisory relationship — we revisit your plan as tax law changes, markets move, or your goals evolve, rather than setting it once and leaving it alone.

Do you work with clients outside of Illinois?

It depends on where Eric is registered or licensed. As an LPL Financial representative, Eric can only work with residents of states where he's properly registered — so availability depends on your location. Reach out and we can quickly confirm whether we're able to work together in your state.