Who do you work with?
We work with individuals and families throughout their careers and into retirement, with a special focus on educators, healthcare professionals, young professionals, and first responders.
You don’t need to work in one of those professions to work with us. Our clients want thoughtful guidance, a clearer financial picture, and support making decisions that align with their goals.
Who will I be working with?
Depending on your situation, goals, and the type of support you’re looking for, you may work with Justin, Anne Claire, or Jeff. We work collaboratively as a team and thoughtfully match clients with the advisor we believe is best positioned to support them. Regardless of which advisor you work with most directly, you’ll have the resources and support of Garritt Financial Solutions behind you.
What if I’ve already saved well and manage my own investments?
You don’t need to be struggling financially to benefit from planning. An independent review can help you identify blind spots, coordinate decisions, and build confidence in what you’ve already accomplished.
We can help you evaluate retirement readiness, taxes, investment allocations, withdrawals, and other priorities. You can choose a focused project or ongoing guidance without delegating investment management.
Do I need ongoing planning or a one-time project?
Ongoing planning is designed for people who want a long-term partner, support with implementation, and adjustments as life changes.
Project-based planning provides a defined review and recommendations for agreed-upon goals, with steps you can implement independently.
We also offer focused early-career and student loan planning services. We’ll help you determine which option fits your needs.
Do you offer an affordable option for someone just starting their career?
Yes. Our Early-Career Financial Planning Project is a standalone engagement that includes two meetings and a personalized action plan. It is available to individuals in their first three years of professional work we offer at a steep discount rate.
We focus on building a strong foundation, including savings, debt priorities, employer benefits, and getting started with retirement investing.
Do I have to transfer my investments to work with you?
No. Financial planning is available as a standalone service, and investment management is optional.
We can review your existing accounts and recommend how they fit into your broader plan. If you want to delegate investment decisions and ongoing oversight, we can discuss our investment management service.
How are you paid?
GFS is a fee-only firm. We are paid by our clients for financial planning and, when selected, investment management. We do not receive commissions for selling financial products.
Your fees depend on the service and scope of work. We publish our pricing on the Services page and confirm your fees before the engagement begins.
We may waive separate ongoing planning fees based on the assets we manage and your planning needs. Eligibility is reviewed individually as your balances grow.
What does it mean to work with a fiduciary?
A fiduciary has a duty to put clients’ interests first when providing investment advice. Our recommendations are guided by your financial circumstances, goals, and needs.
We explain our recommendations and fees so you can make informed decisions about working with us.
What is your investment philosophy?
We emphasize diversified, low-cost investing aligned with your goals, time horizon, and comfort with risk.
Our focus is on decisions we can influence: investment costs, allocation, tax considerations, and consistent behavior. As your needs change, we review how your investment strategy should evolve—including the transition from building wealth to drawing retirement income.
Investing involves risk, and no strategy can guarantee returns or prevent losses.
Where would my investments be held?
If you choose investment management, your accounts are held with a third-party custodian; our preferred platform is Betterment. You retain ownership of your accounts and access to account information.
We manage investments according to the authority granted in your advisory agreement. Holding assets with a custodian does not eliminate investment risk or protect against market losses.
Where do you work with clients, and how do we meet?
Most meetings take place virtually over Zoom, making it easier to fit financial planning into your schedule.
We work with clients in Maryland and other states where we are permitted to provide services. We’ll confirm availability based on your state of residence before beginning an engagement.
If you prefer another meeting format, let us know so we can discuss available options. Appointment availability varies by advisor.
Is the first meeting free, and how do I get started?
Yes. The introductory discovery meeting is complimentary and gives us an opportunity to learn about your goals, explain our services and fees, and explore whether working together makes sense.
It is a conversation about your needs and the potential fit—not a full financial plan. There is no obligation to become a client.
To get started, click here and answer a few brief questions so we can guide you toward the appropriate service and next step.
