• What does S.F. Ehrlich Associates do?

    We provide fee-only financial planning and investment management. Our work may include retirement and cash-flow planning, Social Security, tax-related planning considerations, Medicare and health insurance considerations, estate planning considerations, and investment management.

    Our goal is to help clients bring these different pieces together and make thoughtful financial decisions over time.

  • Who do you typically work with?

    Our clients include individuals and families at different stages of their financial lives—from professionals and business owners accumulating wealth to people approaching or living in retirement.

    What they generally have in common is a desire to simplify their financial lives and work with an advisor who understands their situation and can help them navigate the decisions that arise along the way.

  • Are you a fiduciary?

    Yes. As a registered investment adviser, S.F. Ehrlich Associates has a fiduciary duty to its advisory clients.

    We are also a fee-only firm. We are paid directly by our clients and do not receive commissions for recommending investments or insurance products.

  • Where are my investments held?

    Client investment accounts are generally held with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., an independent third-party custodian. S.F. Ehrlich Associates provides investment advice and manages accounts under the authority granted by each client, while Schwab maintains custody of the assets and provides account statements and online account access.

  • Do I need to be retired - or close to retirement - to work with you?

    No. Retirement planning is an important part of our work, but we also work with clients who are still many years from retirement.

    Starting earlier provides more time to address decisions involving saving, investing, taxes, education funding, insurance, estate planning, and other financial priorities.

  • What happens at the first meeting?

    The first meeting is primarily a conversation. We want to understand what prompted you to contact us, what questions or concerns you have, and what you're hoping to accomplish.

    It also gives both of us an opportunity to determine whether working together makes sense. There is no charge for the initial meeting.

    You do not need to have everything figured out before contacting us.

    Part of our job is helping you organize the different pieces of your financial life and identify which questions deserve attention first. For an initial meeting, it is more important that we understand what prompted you to reach out and what you would like help with.

    If we decide to work together, we’ll let you know what information and documents we need from there.