Kevin F. Schulz, MBA, CFP®

Offering Advice Since 1994

About My Practice: Since 1994, I've been working with people who are focused on achieving their retirement goals. I collaborate with clients to help develop a financial road map that pursues an ever-increasing level of financial independence and help them reach a point where work becomes optional.

A Full-Service Financial Planning Approach: We're here to help.

As Investment Adviser Representatives of Commonwealth Financial Network^®, our staff of financial professionals typically offers financial assistance in one or both areas:

I.  Consulting: Depending on the client's situation, fee-based advice through comprehensive financial planning or issue planning
  
    Comprehensive Financial Planning: Holistic, simultaneous analysis of a client's
    situation, used to help clients make better, informed financial decisions

                                1.  Cash Flow Analysis

                                2.  Risk/Insurance Management

                                3.  Saving or Investment Planning

                                4.  Tax Planning

                                5.  Retirement Planning

                                6.  Estate/Wealth Preservation Planning

     Issue Planning: Fee-based advice in only one or a few specific financial planning areas

II.  Asset Management: Developing and actively managing investment portfolios for a fee.  Portfolios are created and monitored based on the client's risk tolerance, time frames, experience, and personal situation. This service includes regular review meetings, which may result in portfolio modifications based on changes in economic situation, interest rates, product performance, tax laws, and/or client needs.

Portfolios developed and managed by Kevin typically consist of a combination of low-cost index funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and actively managed mutual funds. Risk assessment, tax efficiency, and diversification are also factors considered. Asset protection strategies may be employed, if desired, in an effort to limit market volatility.

Experience: I am a past-chapter president of the Financial Planning Association of Puget Sound (eight years as board member). During my time on the board, our chapter was recognized by the national Financial Planning Association's top Gold Chapter Award five years in a row.

I spent seven years as a member of the East King County Estate Planning Council and four years as a board member of the Finance Committee for Open Window School in Bellevue, Washington.

I am president and owner of Financial Insight Group, an independent financial planning and consulting firm. Prior to 2004, I had been affiliated with American Express Financial Advisors Inc. as a financial planning practitioner and OSJ branch manager. Prior to my OSJ* responsibilities, I was a district manager for AEFA** (co-managing and training first-year advisors) while maintaining my personal planning practice.
 
*Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJ): Any main or branch office of an FINRA member where one or more of the following take place: order execution or market making; public offerings or private placements are structured; customers' funds or securities are held; new accounts are approved; customer orders are reviewed and endorsed; advertising or sales literature for use by the member's associated persons is approved; the activities of associated persons at other branch offices of the member are supervised.

**AEFA: Abbreviation for American Express Financial Advisors, Inc.On September 30, 2005, American Express spun off its American Express Financial Advisors unit as a publicly traded company, Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

Areas of Specialty:

• Asset Allocation, Management, and Protection (investment planning)
• Business Planning (large/small business, family owned, buy/sell agreements)
• Comprehensive financial planning
• Retirement planning
• Insurance (risk management, disability insurance)
• Mutual Fund Investing
• Nontraditional Households
• Divorce Planning

Investment Adviser Registration: I am a Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network. Commonwealth is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser and is a FINRA member firm.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations:

Securities registered in Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington

FINRA Series registrations 7, 24, 51, 63, and 65

Insurance Licenses:

Life insurance: Washington
Health/disability insurance: Washington
Variable annuities: Washington

Other Licenses, Certifications, and Designations:

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant - 1999

Broker/Dealer Affiliation: 

Commonwealth Financial Network, 110 West A Street, Ste. 1800, San Diego, CA  92101

Charges to Clients for Services:

Adviser-controlled charges: Fee for financial planning (initial, hourly, and/or retainer)

Charges not set by adviser:

• Commissions and/or loads for investment products purchased
• Trail fees on mutual funds or insurance policies
• Redemption fees on mutual funds or insurance products
• Commissions on insurance products purchased
• Account fees (such as those for IRAs)

Compensation: My clients' interests come first. I will recommend products based on what is in their best interest and not based on which one would give me more earnings.

When appropriate, I refer my clients to other related professionals for services for which they are qualified or licensed to provide that I cannot.

I sometimes receive referrals or other fees from these professionals.

When requested, I will work with clients on a fee-only basis.

When requested, I will inform clients of the dollar amount of fees, including commissions or loads, they will pay on the purchase of any product.

My firm does not, nor does any affiliate or member of my firm, act as a general partner or participate in or receive compensation as a general partner from the investments that I recommend.

Miscellaneous:

To maintain my insurance licenses, I am required to earn 24 Continuing Education (CE) credits every two years.

To maintain my CFP^® certification, I am required to earn 30 CE credits every two years.

Upon request, I will provide prospective clients with references.

I will provide a free, initial, one-hour consultation to prospective clients so that we may determine if their needs and my practice are well matched.