Eddy Gifford, CFP®
Wealth Advisor
Advanced Planning Methodologies
GET TO KNOW EDDY GIFFORD
Eddy Gifford has been serving in the financial services industry since 2005 and earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM designation in 2010. His unwavering goal for each of his clients is that their planning creates a positive difference in their lives.
Eddy’s motivation for financial planning began as a child when he watched his father work long hours in construction. When the workload became too burdensome on his father’s body, he faced early retirement. The entire family was impacted because they had not planned for the situation.
Eddy attended CSU Fresno on a wrestling scholarship. While competing at the highest levels and earning All-American honors through the US Open National Wrestling tournament, he focused on his education. He received a BA in mathematics and business finance. Eddy’s participation as a college wrestler taught him the value of hard work and discipline and helped him realize his passion for guiding individuals to achieve their goals.
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Eddy’s commitment to financial planning was further solidified when his wife’s grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and needed long-term care. While having saved throughout her lifetime, she was not prepared for the level of care she needed, and the family was forced to liquidate her assets.
These personal incidents drove Eddy to ensure that all his clients receive appropriate planning advice to prepare for anything life throws at them. He has a relentless drive to continuously improve and find better avenues for client success. This drive causes him to continuously research ways to drive success through portfolio construction while attempting to minimize drawdown risk. This led him to join the team at Tactive, a firm offering hedge fund-type investment strategies to everyday people.
When he is not helping his clients plan for their future, Eddy loves to spend time with his wife and two children. He also enjoys fitness-related activities, including CrossFit, football, and coaching his kids in various sports and activities.
In his own words, “I measure my success on whether I am a good husband, father, and role model.”
To book a meeting, click HERE. To send a message, please use the contact form below:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About Eddy
What experience do you have?
I have over 15 years of experience in the financial services business, with expertise in life insurance, annuities, and investments. I obtained my CFP® designation in 2010, the highest level of education in the financial planning industry. I focus on designing comprehensive wealth plans that coordinate and optimize planning and investment techniques to meet and/or exceed client objectives within their specific risk tolerance.
Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time?
Yes, I chose to be a CERTIFIED FINANICAL PLANNER™ in 2010 and as part of the CFP® designation, I am required to act as a fiduciary 100% of the time. I’ve always put my clients first and will continue to do so.
Who do you specialize in working with and how many clients do you have at a time?
My specialty is with working professionals, business owners, retirees, and accredited investors. I do not have a specific number of clients, but I ensure that I have time to properly service all of my clients.
Do you have a minimum portfolio size?
Apart from family and referrals from current clients, my minimum portfolio size for new accounts is $500,000.
What is your investment philosophy and how do you manage investments?
I believe investment management is NOT a one size fits all approach. I believe every investment should do a “job”. Each investment should have pre-determined entry and exit points and/or predetermined rebalances as well as a specified purpose. The actual investment strategy can be tactical, traditional, or a combination of the two. The strategy implemented depends on the comfort level and risk tolerance of the client after the client has been educated on their options.
What does your planning process look like?
We offer a comprehensive wealth planning process.
- Introductory call – 30-45 Minutes
- We briefly share about our experience and philosophy and ask you preliminary questions to ensure we can be a good fit for each other. After this call, we give you a needs list for you to complete and return on or before the “Dare to Dream?” appointment.
- Dare to Dream? – In-Person or Virtual Meeting – 1.5-2 Hours
- We do a deep dive into your goals, objectives, wants, needs, and wishes.
- Map Design – In-Person or Virtual Meeting – 1.5-2 Hours
- Using the information uncovered in the “Dare to Dream?” appointment, we build an Asset Map that helps us determine different ways to accomplish the dream. We also discuss risk tolerance and investment strategies.
- Shake Hands – Call, In Person, Or Virtual Meeting – 45-60 Minutes
- This is the “paperwork appointment” where we open accounts and initiate transfers. We also collect half of a mutually agreed-upon planning fee for additional in-depth analysis that may be needed for your specific plan. All agreed-upon analyses will be written within the planning agreement, if applicable. The planning fee is $1,000-$5,000 depending on complexity. Not all situations require a planning fee.
- 2 Month Follow-Up
- If any additional analysis was required, we present all analysis and recommendations agreed to in the planning agreement and collect the second half of the planning fee. We also review your first statement, help you navigate online access, and set you up on an agreed-upon contact schedule. Contact schedules available are Monthly, Bi-Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annually, and Annually. Please visit calendly.com/eddygifford for additional information related to ongoing service appointments.
- Congratulations! You are officially part of the family.
How often do you meet with your clients?
Clients have a pre-set quarterly contact schedule. We also have an open-door policy so if a client needs to meet in between their quarterly meetings, they are welcome.
I have some investments I want to manage on my own. Can I still work with you?
Absolutely! I encourage clients to have their own “side” investment account to help them learn and keep them in tune with the market.
What is my total cost to work with you, how are you compensated, and where can I see this in writing?
I can be compensated in 3 ways, namely upfront planning fees, ongoing investment management fees, and/or commission in the event of the sale of an insurance policy (life, long-term care, disability, etc.) or an annuity policy. Additional information regarding these compensation methods is available on the Wealth Planning agreement for planning fees, form ADV for investment management fees, and the commission disclosure on the insurance/annuity application.
Are there financial incentives for you to recommend certain financial products?
I have no incentives to recommend any specific products.
Account Management
Where do you keep my money and how can I see it?
We work with several custodians including Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, Goldman Sachs, and Interactive Brokers. Money invested in Cryptocurrency is held at Kingdom Trust Company. Clients can view their accounts via online access, on their mobile devices, and on their account statements.
Do you take custody of or have access to my assets?
I do not take custody of your assets; they are held with the custodian. I do have limited access to your accounts to facilitate trading and fund transfers per your request.
Are my assets pooled with other investor funds?
No, your assets are not pooled with other investor funds.
Can I get money out of my account quickly in case of an emergency?
Money can typically be in your personal account within 5 days unless there are restrictions with the account, such as a 401K account.
Do you contact me before you make trades in my accounts?
No. Trades are completed on a discretionary basis within the confines of the client’s risk tolerance.
Is my account guaranteed?
Your investments are not guaranteed as values will move up and down. Your account does have Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) protection of varying amounts depending on the custodian being used. Different custodians offer different protection. For example, accounts of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (including those held by clients of investment advisors with Schwab Institutional®) are insured by SIPC for securities and cash in the event of broker-dealer failure. SIPC provides up to $500,000 of protection for brokerage accounts held in each separate capacity (e.g., joint tenant or sole owner), with a limit of $250,000 for claims of uninvested cash balances.
How often will I receive statements on my account?
Statements are available at least quarterly, sometimes monthly. All clients have access to their accounts 24/7 online and through their mobile devices.
How do I pay you for your services?
All fees are paid to Tactive, then Tactive compensates me.
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