The purpose of the first conversation
A first conversation with Inherent Wealth Fund is not a sales pitch or a portfolio review. It has one job: to find out whether we can be useful to you, and whether you would want to work with us. Both sides should leave knowing more than when they started. Nothing is signed, and no money moves.
What we ask
Most of our questions are about your life, not your accounts. We want to understand what the money is for before we talk about how it is invested.
- What you are planning for. Retirement, a business sale, education, a foundation, or keeping what you have built.
- When you will need money. Known expenses, tax payments, capital calls, a partnership buy-in, or a liquidity event on the calendar.
- What you own, in broad terms. Rough categories, any large single-stock position, restricted shares, real estate, or a stake in a private company.
- Who else advises you. Your accountant, your attorney, and anyone else managing money for you.
- What worries you. A market drop, a concentrated position, or a family conversation you have been putting off.
We also ask how you like to hear from an adviser. Some people want a short note each quarter. Others want to talk through every decision. Neither is wrong, but we need to know.
What we do not ask
We do not ask for account passwords or login details. We do not ask you to bring statements, though you may if you like. We do not ask you to move assets, sign an agreement, or decide anything before you leave.
We also do not ask you to pick themes. Some people arrive wanting to talk about artificial intelligence or the power grid first. That is a fair interest, and we will explain how we think about it. But every portfolio we manage starts from a diversified core. Thematic sleeves sit on top only where your written investment policy calls for them, and that policy decides which themes and how much. That discussion comes later, once we understand your situation.
What we tell you
You should hear as much from us as we hear from you. We explain that we are a fiduciary, which means we must act in your best interest and put your interests ahead of our own. We explain that we are fee-only. We are paid only by our clients, with no commissions and no payments from product providers. Our fees are described in our Form ADV, and we give you a copy.
We explain that client assets are held with our custodian, Charles Schwab, which is not affiliated with our firm. We describe how we work: we write an investment policy with every client before the first trade, and we publish our investment theses, each with a section on what would make it wrong. You can read those before you decide anything.
What you leave with
After the conversation, we send a short written summary. It covers:
- What we heard about your goals, timing and constraints.
- How we would approach your situation, in general terms.
- Questions worth raising with your accountant or attorney.
- What the next step would be, if you want one.
The summary is not a plan and not a recommendation. It is a record, so you can check whether we listened. If we got something wrong, tell us.
Some questions will touch on taxes or estate planning, such as how selling a stock might be taxed or how a trust is set up. We can flag those issues in general terms. Answers for your own situation depend on details that your attorney and accountant must review, and they need to be involved before you act.
When we are not the right firm
Sometimes the honest answer at the end of a first conversation is that someone else would serve you better. When we see that, we say so plainly.
It can happen for several reasons. You may mainly need something we do not provide, such as insurance, tax preparation or legal drafting. You may want frequent trading or short-term calls on the market, which is not how we work. You may want a promise about results, and we will not make one. Or your situation may call for a specialist we are not.
Saying so early costs both sides less than discovering a poor fit later. Where we can, we suggest the kind of professional who might help.
Before you call
You do not need to prepare much. It helps to think about three things: what you want the money to do, when you might need it, and what concerns you most about it. If a deadline is coming, such as a vesting date or a year-end decision, mention it at the start. That lets us be clear about what is realistic in the time available.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment, legal or tax advice, nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal.