FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The stock market isn’t fair - It can be generous but it can also be cruel. 

The stock market can help you build life changing wealth but the market can also take it away - it will have pull backs and corrections which are expected but it will also have bear markets, and crashes - which can delay or disrupt your plans. 

I don’t say this to scare you but for you to take a step back and ask yourself are you prepared?

Many investors are not prepared- they do nothing when the markets get ugly and if you’re in your 30s or 40s that may work out for you but - what if you’re in your 50s, 60s, or 70s+?

⏳ Did You Know It Took This Long for Markets to Bounce Back?

Your portfolio needs to capture the upside to grow so you can live a great life, spend freely, and outpace inflation. But also it needs to play defense. Whatever the market throws at you, your strategy needs to overcome it. 

But here’s the truth: your mind can work against you.

It knows your fears and wants to protect you from discomfort. In investing, that often means when markets get rough, your instinct is to run for safety—moving into “safe” investments or even selling at the worst possible time. Without a plan, emotions can quietly sabotage your returns.

The good news? You’re the hero of your financial life. You have the power to take ownership. Our role is to be your guide—through both the good markets and the bad.

We invest with rules. We follow the trends, track the moves of big money, and apply clear risk management. We rely on math, not emotion.

And we go beyond investing. We help you make smart financial planning decisions—analyzing taxes, estate strategies, and insurance needs—always with your best interest at heart. As fiduciaries, our only goal is to help you move confidently toward the life you want.

Why should I make a switch now? 

US stocks recently experienced their best 15-year period relative to cash since 1970. But it is far from guaranteed that this exceptional run will continue.

The beginning of that 15-year period of outperformance saw favorable conditions for US equities — low valuations following the Global Financial Crisis, low inflation, and easy monetary policy in the form of low interest rates.

But times are changing, and the next economic season could look very different from the last:

• Starting equity valuations are much higher, creating a higher bar to clear for outperformance.

• Geopolitical risks are elevated, and shifts in the direction of deglobalization or the implementation of tariffs create novel risks.

• Inflation has become a relevant concern for investors and policymakers, after decades where it hovered right around 2%.

What are the risks of your strategy?

Resilient Long-term Returns:
Is Investing with Rules the Answer?

Uncertainty might be the only certainty in life and in the world of investing. As the world evolves, so do the conditions investors face.

The good news is you don’t have to struggle to predict the future. Prepare for the future using a trend following portfolio approach designed to deliver resilient returns over the long term, no matter which way markets move or how the economic environment changes.

 Although the invest with rules approach is designed to provide consistent returns in the long run, like any investment strategy, it carries its own risks.

Added complexity: A trend following approach to investing can be complex because it is globally diversified across stocks, bonds, commodities, and currencies. For many, trying to create and manage a trend following portfolio on their own may be a challenging burden.

Underperformance in equity only bull markets: Because of its diversified allocation, a trend following approach may underperform traditional equity-dominant portfolios in environments that are particularly favorable for large cap equities.

What makes you different from the tons of firms out there?

Every firm says some form of the same thing: 

“We’re a fiduciary, so we care about your well-being!”

“We don’t charge commissions so our advice is in your best interest!”

“We provide personalized service!”

Let’s face it - all of these "selling points” should be standard for any firm you entrust with your hard-earned money! 

1. Investment Philosophy & Strategy

Does it make sense to you? This is often the core differentiator.

• Active vs. Passive Management: Some firms pie-chart buy-and-hold portfolios - get your surf board, because you’ll be riding the market waves!
  
  

• Risk Management Approach: We embrace a rules-based or disciplined approach to minimizing drawdowns (e.g., using stop-losses and hedging strategies) versus firms who focus solely on returns, telling you to “not worry about it!” when the market is down.
  
  

✅ Why it matters: You want a clear, consistent approach—especially during volatile markets.

2. People, Experience & Communication Style

How a firm interacts with you can make or break the relationship.

• Education & Transparency: Some firms are like a “black box” where clients truly don’t understand how their money is being invested (oh, the stories we could tell you about what we’ve seen!). At IWR Advisors, we are passionate about helping you understand our philosophies and strategies, through newsletters, webinars, or one-on-one reviews.
  
  

• People: So many firms, especially the larger ones, will sell you on their firm, only to play “musical chairs” with you as the relationship develops. 

At IWR Advisors, we have a simple goal: “Helping 100 Great Families!". What does that mean? 

• We are small - and plan to stay that way! We currently (as of 2025) work with about 35 fantastic families and plan to cap our firm’s growth at about 100 families.

• Why? So we can continue to provide very personalized service and truly get to know you and your family’s needs and desires.

• We are careful with choosing who we help - we want to work with people who share our beliefs and philosophies.
  
  

• Frequency of Contact: When was the last time you heard from your current advisor? There’s a good chance it’s been quite a while. At IWR Advisors, you will hear from us as much or little as you choose! For example, we send a daily email recap, which you can choose to opt-out of if you prefer.

• Accessibility: Do you enjoy the “phone tree” you have to navigate every time you call your current financial firm? At IWR Advisors, you're building a relationship with a small boutique firm who won’t make you wait for service or questions - in fact, you’ll have our cell phone numbers for full accessibility - how’s that for bypassing the phone tree?

✅ Why it matters: We want our relationship with you and your family to grow as much as we want your money to grow!

3. How We Get Paid

How services are packaged and priced speaks volumes about a firm’s positioning.

• Fee-only vs. Commission-based vs. Hybrid: Transparency and simplicity is key! Do you truly understand how your current advisor is paid? If not, please find out! At IWR Advisors, we keep it transparent and simple! You pay one fee based on % of your account value - and nothing else!
  
  

• Comprehensive Planning: Does your current firm offer financial planning? Is the plan worth the paper it’s printed on or is it a canned template used for every client? At IWR Advisors, truly comprehensive financial planning is part of our promise - and part of the fee you pay us with no additional charges.
  
  

✅ Why it matters: You deserve to receive tailored value—not a one-size-fits-all product.

Where do you hold my investments and

how can I see them? 

We hold client assets at Fidelity Investments, where Scott worked for over 16 years.

Fidelity Investments® is one of the world’s largest providers of financial services. Founded in 1946, the firm is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing, and many other financial products and services to more than 20 million individuals and institutions, as well as through 5,000 financial intermediary firms. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit Fidelity.com.

Fidelity Investments provides clearing, custody, or other brokerage services to IWR Advisors  through National Financial Services LLC or Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Members NYSE, SIPC.

Through our relationship with Fidelity Investments, you will receive a simplified, consolidated statement each month reflecting all your investment positions and transactions in your Fidelity brokerage account.Our firm values the unparalleled support they provide to make sure we are giving our clients the best possible experience when working with our firm. 

▶ See How We Can Protect & Grow Your Wealth in 5 Minutes

>> https://www.iwradvisors.com/learn

How do you make money - what fees do you charge me?

We believe in keeping things as simple as possible, so when it comes to how you pay us, we have one fee, which is a % of the total assets we manage for you. What makes this advantageous is the % fee incentivizes us to both protect and grow wealth. Plus, we also include comprehensive financial planning in the fee.

Here’s a summary of the fee range:

The annual advisory fee is paid quarterly in advance based on the value of Client’s account(s) as of the last day of the prior calendar quarter. The advisory fee is a straight tier and may be negotiable. 

For example, for assets under management of $2,000,000, a Client would pay 1.00%. The quarterly fee is determined by the following calculation: (($2,000,000 x 1.00%) ÷ 4) = $5,000.

Can you work with people in different states?

Yes, we can! Currently (as of 2025), IWR Advisors works with clients in over 12 states around the US! So, as long as your permanent residence is within the United States, we can work together!