Frequently Asked Questions
-
We understand you might have questions when asked to provide your banking information. Rest assured we will never take money out of your bank account without a verbal authorization from you.
As we know, you never know when you might want to add or remove funds into or out of your investment account(s). The ACH (Automatic Clearing House) linking allows for that movement to happen smoother and quicker than needing paperwork signed each time you would like to move funds around. This movement is for money going into and out of your preferred bank account. (Think of Direct Deposit or Automatic Bill Pay.)
When ACH is not set up, there will be paperwork required every time a request is made; this makes the process last anywhere from 10 to 14 business days.
With ACH set up, it is possible the funds can be sent the same day. As long as we receive the request before the cutoff time, and if there is enough cash in the account to cover it. (In some cases, we may have to sell some assets to free up cash. When this happens, it can take up to 3 business days to allow trades to settle).
Keep in mind that if money is being withdrawn from an IRA then we will need to have standing instructions on file for the amount you would like us to withhold for taxes. This would be an additional form that we would send to you.
-
DocuSign eSignature is a document signing software that you can use to legally—and securely—collect approvals online in minutes. It is used to replace the lengthy manual signing processes. By gathering signatures electronically we can speed up the process of opening a new account and therefore saving our clients time and money - no more postage and trips to the mailbox!
When you receive paperwork electronically to sign the email will be from 'Cambridge via DocuSign'. Please refer back to this email with specific password instructions.
If you are new to using DocuSign you can view a video overview by clicking HERE.
-
We know every client's needs are different and everyone has a different feeling about taking on risk when it comes to their investments. We will assess your risk by either sending (or going over it with you in person) you a RTQ so we know what will help you feel the most comfortable when it comes to your investments.
-
A Trusted Contact is a person you authorize your financial institution to contact in limited circumstances when they need to verify information. Times we would contact your Trusted Contact would be if we can not reach you and we have a concern about your health or a concern about fraud on your account.
A Trusted Contact can NOT authorize transactions in your account, make decisions about your account, withdraw money from your account or get information about your account.
Federal regulators in the securities industry are strongly recommending that everyone who has an investment account name a trusted contact. To set up a Trusted Contact on your account we will need the following: Their name, address, phone number, email and their relationship to the account owner.
Click HERE to learn more.
-
A Financial Planning Agreement is a document that we have you sign which tells us what areas you are seeking help with, the fees you will pay and the necessary disclosures.
-
To access your Simplicity Portal you can click HERE .
-
Be on the lookout for an email from your advisor with an invitation to register. Once you click that link it will guide you through the steps to register. You can click HERE for a step by step guide to walk you through the process.
-
Think of your Simplicty portal as a "One Stop Shop" for your entire financial picture. Once you have all of your information entered you will now have one place to go and view all of your accounts. Click HERE for a brief overview of the Organizer section of the portal. Please reach out to melissa@simplicity-fp.com with any questions you have about your portal.
-
Don't worry! This happens! If you forgot your password you can click on the "Forgot Password" link at the bottom of your log in page to reset your password. You can follow the prompts on the page or click HERE for step by step directions.
If you have any trouble please email anna@simplicity-fp.com or melissa@simplicity-fp.com.
-
Adding accounts to your Simplicity portal is a simple process but here are some resources to get started. Remember our portal is 'non-transactional' meaning you can not move funds from one account to another or move money around inside of your accounts. It is simply acting as a mirror - reflecting what assets you own in other places and allowing you to see everything in one place.
How To Link Accounts To My Simplicity Portal
Sometimes you will receive a notice when you log into your portal that your accounts need to be verified again - the connection was broken. Don't be alarmed. This happens quite often and it is happening due to the fact that your other financial institution made a change on their website, which in turn causes the connection to be temporarily suspended - all for your security.
You can click HERE to troubleshoot some basic steps to take to repair any of your connected accounts.
Click HERE for more information on how data is being sent to your portal and why a connection issue may arise.
-
Great question! The simple answer is YES!
Your Simplicity portal employs advanced security features and protocols to keep your data safe, private, and secure at every hour of every day, year round. Our comprehensive security measures include password protection, Secure Socket Layer encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection, audits, inspections, and more. With each measure in place, you can be confident that your important information is safe and secure. Click HERE to find out more on the safety and security of your portal.
-
This is probably one of our most asked questions. It takes a lot of people and oversight to properly and safely manage your money. Rest assured their are people and rules in place for oversight to make sure that your investments are in good hands. You can click HERE to view a list of the companies involved in making this process work. It can be overwhelming so please contact your advisor if you still have questions!
-
We understand questions arise and we are always happy to help. We never want you to hesitate when reaching out to us. We work for you!
Contact Anna (anna@simplicity-fp.com or call/text 970-426-0239) if you have questions about:
Account Performance
Contributions or Withdrawals from your account
Investment Management
Fees
Financial Planning process
Tax Planning questions
Want to schedule a time to meet (or click HERE)
Contact Brittany (brittany@simplicity-fp.com or call/text 970-272-1992) if you have questions about:
Account Paperwork/ Account Opening Process
Contact Melissa (melissa@simplicity-fp.com) if you have questions about:
Simplicity Portal questions
Updating data for your Financial Plan
Question about a connection issue in your Simplicity Portal
Contact Dana (dana@yourwealthwithin.com) if you have questions about:
Questions about the Financial Planning Budget Coaching session
Wanting to schedule future sessions with Dana? Click HERE.
-
As an investor you might receive some of these forms and will need to keep them handy when you go to file your tax returns each Spring. Keep in mind if their is no activity in a retirement account, no form would be generated.
1099-B, which reports capital gains and losses. (only for a non-retirement account)
1099-DIV, which reports dividend income and other distributions. (only for a non-retirement account)
1099-INT, which reports interest income. (only for a non-retirement account)
1099-C, which consolidates 1099-B, DIV and INT (only for a non-retirement account)
1099-R, which reports distributions from retirement accounts.
Clients often ask about the IRS form 5498. This form is submitted by the trustee or issuer of your IRA to report contributions, Required Mandatory Distributions (RMDs) and the Fair Market Value (FMV) of the account by the end of May. This form is for informational purposes only. You are not required to file it with your tax return. You can learn more about the IRS form 5498 HERE.
You can learn more by clicking HERE to visit the IRS website.
-
We embrace transparency of information that may help our clients (and prospective clients) make informed decisions. For your convenience here are links to all of our disclosures. Please do keep in mind that not all disclosures pertain to all client relationships. This will depend on the particular services, accounts or products that you choose to engage us for. We can tell you which items pertain to you, as needed, but don't hesitate to ask us for clarification at any time.
CRS Forms - Customer Relationship Summaries
Part 2A for the Form ADV for Cambridge’s RIA
ADV Part 2B for Anna Vollenweider.
ADV Part 2B for Melissa Naylor