Frequently Asked Questions

It’s a fair question, especially with so many DIY tools out there. But research consistently shows that working with a financial advisor can lead to better outcomes, not just more confidence.

A well-known study from Vanguard found that advisors can add about 3% in net annual value through smart asset allocation, behavioral coaching, tax strategies, and withdrawal planning.¹ Michael Kitces, a leading industry expert, found that financial planning alone can improve your retirement value by 20% or more.²

The truth is, managing money well goes beyond picking investments — it’s about making the right decisions consistently, especially during uncertain times. That’s where professional guidance can really pay off.

¹ Vanguard, “Advisor’s Alpha” Study
² Kitces.com, “How Financial Planning Increases Client Outcomes”

The difference comes down to how fees increase. Traditional advisors charge a percentage of your assets so as your portfolio grows, your costs grow exponentially.

At Cloyd Capital, fees increase in flat, predictable steps. Whether your portfolio grows 10% or 100%, your fee only changes when you cross into a new tier. Even then, it’s a set dollar amount, not a percentage.

For example, if your portfolio doubles from $750,000 to $1,500,000, a 1% advisor would double your annual fee from $7,500 to $15,000. With Cloyd Capital, your fee might only increase by a flat amount, such as $2,000, and then stay locked in until the next tier.

Even small portfolio changes work in your favor. Moving from $300,000 to $400,000 might raise your fee by nothing at all with us, but would cost an extra $1,000 per year with a typical advisor.

Our approach is designed to be fair, transparent, and easy to understand — no surprises, no compounding costs.

Your investments are held securely at Altruist, a modern custodian built specifically for independent advisors. Altruist provides SIPC-protected brokerage accounts, which is the same kind of setup used by firms like Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard.

As your advisor, I have discretionary authority to manage your portfolio, but I never take direct custody of your assets. You’ll always have full access to your account through Altruist’s client portal, and you can view your holdings, performance, and fee history at any time.

Absolutely. Cloyd Capital is built to serve clients nationwide through secure, virtual meetings. It doesn’t matter where you want to meet from.

All planning sessions, portfolio reviews, and ongoing support can be handled remotely. You’ll also have 24/7 access to your accounts through a secure client portal.

Prefer to meet in person? If you’re local to Kentucky, we’re happy to make that happen too.

Not at all. I’ve made the process simple, straightforward, and stress-free.

Once you reach out, I’ll guide you through everything from opening accounts and transferring funds to rolling over an old 401(k) or IRA. You won’t need to figure anything out on your own — I’ll handle the details and keep things moving every step of the way.

And once your account is set up, it’s even easier. All you have to do is deposit money — I’ll make sure it’s invested properly and aligned with your goals, while keeping you updated along the way.

Just fill out the contact form on the website, and I’ll give you a quick call to learn more about your goals and answer any questions.

From there, I’ll send over the onboarding paperwork and we’ll be up and running in no time.