As with any other professional services, you will pay for the services of a qualified financial planner. You should discuss, in advance, how the planner will be paid for plan preparation, advisory services or product implementation. Expect full disclosure of this information, in writing, before entering into a working relationship with the planner.

Planners are usually compensated in one of three ways:

1. Fees: Based on the value of your assets and/or income, or on an hourly rate.
2. Fees and Commissions: Fees are charged as above, but additionally, if you wish to implement the recommended financial plan and that involves the purchase of financial products, the planner may earn commissions on the products you purchase.
3. Commissions: Some financial planners are compensated solely on the basis of insurance and/or investment products they sell as part of a financial plan.
   

EFC is a fees and commissions planning firm.

The bottom line is selecting your financial planner is their level of competence and ability to do the job you require - not their method of compensation.

Both Mr. Elhoff and Mr. Van Sickler have stated minimums while keeping in mind exceptions can be made. Mr. Elhoff sees a limited number of new clients and his typical client has an income of at least $300,000 and/or a minimum of $1,000,000 of invest able assets. His hourly fee is $300. Mr. Van Sickler has a stated minimum of $100,000 income and/or $250,000 of invest able assets. Mr. Van Sickler reviews all of his clients planning with Mr. Elhoff.

Depending on what the one concern is, the answer is yes. It can be handled on an hourly fee basis or we may be compensated through a management fee or commission.

Not necessarily. We analyze what each client has and if what they have is either appropriate or we can help connect then that asset or policy would simply come over to EFC "in kind". If a change or liquidation is recommended, you need to be comfortable that it is in your best interest and not that of the planner.

As an independent advisor and insurance agent/counselor, in the eyes of regulatory agencies, we work for the client, no brokerage firm or insurance company. This is good and bad. Good in that we have a very broad spectrum of investment options available and can shop all the insurance companies for the full variety of products. Bad in that sometimes we find clients may be overwhelmed with choices. That is when the planner narrows down the choices for the client provided he has enough information ad feedback to do so.

Yes, please see listing under our services.

Our broker dealer, VSR Financial Services, Inc., provides due diligence on all investment choices before they can be offered to our clients. Once VSR's due diligence is completed it is then our duty to become familiar with each product's features and their appropriateness for our clients and apply them within their suitability standards. We make every effort for our clients to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each so they can be comfortable with any decisions they make regarding that product..

We use various sources, out source if you will, many of the companies and products analysis before bringing any recommendations to our clients. We make every effort to explain and demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of the various insurance options. As independent agent, Mr. Elhoff is a life and health insurance counselor, we have almost unlimited access to all companies and their products.