Frequently Asked Questions

Delaware Wealth Planners Frequently Asked Questions

About Our Firm

1. What services does Delaware Wealth Planners provide?

We provide comprehensive financial planning and investment management services, including retirement planning, cash flow planning in retirement, tax-smart/tax-wise investment strategies, estate and wealth preservation illustrations, education funding, and customized investment portfolios for high net worth individuals.

2. Are you a fiduciary?
Yes. As a fiduciary, we are legally and ethically obligated to act in your best interest. Our advice is transparent, independent, and free from hidden commissions.

3. Who do you typically work with?
We work with individuals, families, high net worth families, and business owners who want a long-term financial strategy. Many are preparing for retirement, wealth transfer, or seeking a professional partner to simplify complex decisions.

4. Where are you located and do you work with clients outside Delaware?
Our office is in Delaware, but we serve clients across the U.S. Many of our meetings are held virtually, making it easy to stay connected from anywhere.

Retirement & Investment Planning

5. How does your investment management process work?
We start by learning about your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. From there, we create a tailored investment strategy and adjust it over time to align with market conditions and your evolving needs. Most of out clients begin with completing financial planning with us so that we can match your investment strategy to align with targeted goals from your financial plan. Understanding your full financial picture allows us to provide you and your family with a fully integrated approach that matches your financial needs and long term goals to custom investment strategies built to align with each of your accounts.

6. Do you provide retirement income planning?
Yes. We design strategies to generate sustainable income throughout retirement, maximize Social Security, and aim to dampen the impact of taxes so your savings last as long as you do.

7. How do you handle Social Security and Medicare planning?
We help you optimize Social Security claiming strategies and have partner resources who can help guide on how Medicare fits into your retirement plan.

8. What happens to my plan during market volatility?
Our planning process is built to withstand market ups and downs. We diversify portfolios, monitor risks, and adjust strategies as needed to keep you on track.

Tax & Estate Planning

9. Do you provide tax planning services?
Yes. While we don’t prepare tax returns, we integrate tax-efficient strategies—such as Roth conversions, tax-loss harvesting, tax-smart investing, asset location optimization, and charitable giving—to reduce your overall tax burden.

10. Can you help with estate and legacy planning?
Absolutely. We can clearly illustrate the effects of different estate planning strategies, balancing your retirement needs with your family legacy.  We then collaborate with attorneys and tax professionals to execute those strategies, minimize estate taxes, protect wealth, and ensure your legacy passes according to your wishes.

11. Do you provide charitable giving or philanthropic planning?
Yes. We assist with donor-advised funds, gifting strategies, and charitable trusts to maximize both your charitable impact and tax benefits.

Insurance & Risk Management

12. Do you provide insurance guidance?
Yes. We help evaluate life, disability, and long-term care insurance needs. While we don’t sell products, we review existing coverage and recommend strategies to protect your family and assets.

13. What if my circumstances change after we create a plan?
We regularly revisit your plan and make updates to ensure it continues to align with your life changes, such as marriage, children, career transitions, or inheritance.

Business Owner Services

14. How do you help business owners?
We provide education about what’s available and beneficial as well as discuss options and resources available to business owners. This includes concepts such as: succession planning, business valuation, retirement plans for employees (and owners!), and strategies to grow and protect your business while maximizing your personal wealth.

15. Do you coordinate with my other advisors?
Yes. We work alongside your attorney, CPA, or other professionals to ensure your financial, tax, and estate strategies are fully aligned.

Client Experience

16. How are your investment fees structured?
We are a fee-only firm, meaning our compensation comes directly from clients. We do not accept commissions, ensuring our advice is objective and unbiased.

17. What technology or tools will I have access to as a client?
You’ll have secure access to digital tools where you can view investments, track progress, and stay updated on your entire/complete financial picture.

18. How often will I hear from you once I become a client?
We provide regular portfolio reviews, strategy meetings, and updates. You’ll also have direct access to our team whenever questions or new financial decisions arise. Some clients prefer to keep actively and regularly engaged while others prefer to maximize their free time and keep things simple. We are happy to accommodate your preference and most clients keep in contact in frequencies between quarterly and annual. We are always flexible to meet your needs as our client and can meet any time as needed especially as financial questions come up and during any financial change in personal circumstances.

19. How do you measure success for your clients?
We define success by helping you achieve financial clarity, reduce “money anxiety”, and stay confident about your financial future—not just by investment performance.

20. What is the first step in working with Delaware Wealth Planners?
We begin with a complimentary consultation to discuss your goals and financial situation. This helps determine if we’re the right fit and outline how we can support your financial journey.

Other

21. Do you have access to buy cryptocurrencies?

We do have access to purchase crypto currency ETFs (exchange traded funds) for our clients. The ETFs we recommend generally hold 100% of the underlying cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin). In this way, we can access cryptocurrency investments for our clients within any type of investment account under our management. It is important to note that cryptocurrencies are incredibly volatile and risky so these funds are not a fit for all investors and we also help you consider the right allocation (i.e. to avoid undue risk) to help manage the overall risk of your long-term savings and wealth.

22. Do you have access to private equity, private credit and other high net worth alternative strategies?

Yes.  We are carefully vetting funds that we have access to. At this time we are not actively promoting these funds but can purchase them upon request for our clients. We are continuing our own due diligence before making active recommendations in this area.  Our 2 key questions continue to be: (1) what is the calculated net-benefit of adding this to your portfolio? (will it reduce volatility due to non-correlation? Increase rates of return? Or neither?) and (2) what is an appropriate amount of a portfolio to allocate to a Private Equity, Private Credit or other Alternative fund?