FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ's)
Q: What is your background and qualifications?
A: John is a results-driven, indispensable financial professional with two decades of industry experience working as a Regional Vice President for Fortune 100 companies prior to becoming owner of 3 Pointe Financial Services. Prior to 3 Pointe Financial, John worked as a wholesaler for companies such as Pacific Life, Lincoln Financial Group, Conseco, Bankers Trust, and Western Southern Life where he instructed financial advisers on how to better serve their clients on the products they were offering. He has held the CFP® designation in good standing for over a decade and has harnessed years of technical experience to become your ultimate advocate.
Q: Why is the CFP® certification important?
A: Most people think that all financial planners are "certified," but this isn’t true. Anyone can call himself or herself a "financial planner." When selecting a financial planner, you need to feel confident that the person you choose to help you plan for your future is competent and ethical. The CFP® certification provides that sense of security by allowing only those who meet the following requirements the right to use the CFP® certification marks. Practitioners must pass a comprehensive two-day, 10-hour exam, must have three years minimum experience, and abide by a strict code of ethics.
Q: What are your fees?
A: With every situation unique, we design each program to fit your needs and all fees are clearly disclosed prior following your specific assessment. As a CFP® our firm can charge fees based on an hourly rate, a flat rate, or on a percentage of your assets. Firm revenue can come directly from the product manufacturer. A salary or consultant fee can be paid by a corporation or family planning office as a contractor agreement.
Q: What is your philosophy or approach?
A: Our philosophy is to offer precise advance planning techniques and outside the box solutions but on a conservative basis. We never want to have to apologize to our clients and what you may have learned in the past from others doesn’t mean it will necessarily work going forward. We enjoy working as a cohesive quarterback leading your team of professionals which may also include other financial, legal, tax, or sports advisors. If you are missing a key professional to your team we can provide one from our extensive network.
Q: What do you specialize in?
A: We specialize in three main areas. The first is principal and family protection which means keeping what you’ve earned. The second is designing an income stream for life…at some point most of our clients want to make work optional. The third area is estate planning which gives our clients the peace of mind on how to minimize tax liability while maximizing wealth potential and generational transfer.
Q: Can you provide examples of how you have helped people?
A: Unfortunately our industry does not allow testimonials like most other industries. However, once we learn in detail about your own personal situation, we can often provide examples of how we have help a client but keep in mind no two situations are ever the same.
Q: Do you have investment or minimum requirements?
A: $50,000 is the standard minimum however, other factors may apply such as family referrals and household aggregation of accounts.
Q: Who regulates your industry and what protection do I have?
A: The state department of insurance is the regulator for all insurance licensed agents in their respective state. John is licensed in Arizona, California, and Montana. In addition, John is a CFP® which has a strict regulatory board that holds its practitioners to the highest standards in the industry.
California State Insurance License #0C29207
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