An advisor will maintain an objective, unemotional viewpoint while working with you to assess your current needs. The advisor will help you set up a plan for your future often times using techniques and strategies not available to individuals outside of the industry. They will hold you accountable as well as always be available to answer questions and offer solutions to new problems as they arise.

Advisors are an invaluable resource to millions of families across our country, we only get one chance at this life and an advisor will help you make the most of it.

First and foremost, we are Fiduciaries. That means we must adhere to a higher standard than other advisors who adhere to the suitability standard. A fiduciary must act in the best interest of client at all times. This is also a regulation which is strictly enforced by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secondly, it is our belief that personal finance is about more than money, it is about quality of life. At C-Phase Financial, we are not simply a “financial advisor”. Although we are financial advisors, we strive to be more. We truly empathize with our clients by understanding their family dynamics, work, and social lives. This allows us to create personalized plans for each individual and family we work with, then armed with that understanding we can guide you to the best possible outcomes.

A Fiduciary Standard simply means that (a) Financial advisors must act in the best interests of their clients, (b) Conflicts of interest must be avoided wherever possible, and (c) There must be full disclosure and transparency around fees and compensation. The fiduciary standard of care is the highest legal standard, and it speaks to duties of good faith and trust.

A “fiduciary” who manages an investor’s assets has a legal and ethical obligation to put the investor’s interests first. That means helping the investor make decisions in his or her best interests. This fiduciary standard has always been at the core of our firm’s mission to our clients.

You should always set up a meeting with your advisor whenever you have a question or concern. Whether over the phone or in a face-to-face setting, your advisor’s role is to place your interests first and offer you advice when you require it. You should always feel comfortable contacting your advisor, even if it’s not in a formal meeting. At C-Phase Financial, every client is different and, therefore, has different needs and expectations. We cater to every individual and their preferences.

There are no minimums to open an account. We do not want to limit the people we can help based on dollar amounts. We use a fee-based model in our firm. That means we don’t require new clients to have a minimum amount of money in the bank or in investments. We can explain more about how we charge and why we believe it’s the best way to do business on our first call.

Through a combination of in-person meetings and online resources, we identify your goals and develop strategies to achieve them. This is an interactive process – we provide the information and knowledge to empower you throughout your financial journey.

We start with an initial, no-obligation meeting to learn about you, and for you to learn about us. This meeting helps us determine if we are the best fit for your needs. After that, we set forth with discovery and strategy meetings, where we learn about your goals and strategize how to achieve them. Once complete, we move on to implementation and review, putting our plan into practice.

Short answer – our independence. Unlike individuals affiliated with a large wirehouse or investment banks, we don’t have quotas to meet or a limited selection of products. We’re business owners. Our founder, Thomas Tollefson, started in his career in a large corporation that focused more on profit than providing the best service possible to clients. In founding C-Phase Financial, he was determined to create a business that put the client first. We are deeply committed to providing holistic financial advising and planning services. We have a “fiduciary first” mindset, meaning that we always put the clients’ interests ahead of our own.

Although we are independent, we are not alone. We have relationships with several key companies that allow us to have an incredible amount of autonomy while protecting client assets. Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. serves as our broker-dealer and registered investment advisor. They provide back office support and processing services, facilitate the purchasing of investments, and help us adhere to securities law. Clearing firms like Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions and Pershing are responsible for trade execution, clearing, and holding client assets. Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. is a member of SIPC, which protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash).

The frequency of meetings/conversations varies from client to client, according to individual preferences and circumstances. After completing our initial comprehensive financial planning effort, we maintain an ongoing dialogue with our clients on all aspects of their financial decision making. We recommend that progress on all financial plans be reviewed at least annually and be thoroughly re-evaluated at least every two to three years. We communicate with our wealth management clients throughout the year, monitoring their portfolios and reporting on the progress toward each client’s goals.

Choosing an advisor is a very personal decision that may come with some uncertainty. What we offer is financial advice, but what our clients really buy is the confidence and peace of mind that comes from working with experienced advisors they trust. As fee-based advisors, we can be objective in the advice we offer since we do not sell or receive any compensation for recommending specific investments or insurance. Our success depends entirely on the quality of our advice and the satisfaction of our clients.

First and foremost, we want clients to know that everyone in our firm is trustworthy and will always act in their best interest. Being a fiduciary and fee-based advisory firm, we believe we can give clients a high degree of confidence and comfort since we have nothing to gain from the advice we give. You speak directly with your advisor and staff instead of machines so that your needs and requests can be handled promptly & efficiently by people that prides themselves on personal service and always going the extra mile. We consistently strive to go beyond our client’s expectations. Our greatest reward is our client’s peace of mind.

Lastly, our business is not just about helping clients manage or grow their investments. It’s about having fun working together and living a life “on purpose” or by design. It’s about showing and guiding clients how to get to or remain where they want to be and considering alternatives for all the “unexpected stuff” that life seems to present along the way.

The bottom line at C-Phase Financial is that our team focuses on the client’s entire financial situation, assists clients in achieving their goals, attempts to provide unparalleled service, and does it without a bias on a fee-based basis.

Yes. We work with clients residing outside of Minnesota on a regular basis, many who frequently have both winter and summer homes or may take up residence in “warm & sunny” places throughout the United States.

Buying specific stocks or mutual funds is only one, and, ultimately, a relatively unimportant piece of our entire service array. Our clients hire and retain us as advisors because of a coordinated matrix of services we provide. We serve our clients as comprehensive wealth managers, providing personal financial planning & advisory services, including the monitoring of investment portfolios.