What's up with the pictures on this website?
Text and images communicate. Hopefully from your reading of our text you will know that we take our business and your needs very seriously. And from the pictures - that we like to have fun along the way. <smile> If you'd like to see some special treats, visit the homepage on any of these dates: Jan 10,20; Feb 10,12,13,14,20; Apr 1; Nov 26; Dec 10,20.

What control am I forfeiting when you manage my assets?
None. Marotta Asset Management, Inc. has a Limited Power of Attorney over your assets authorizing us to make trades on your behalf and take out our fee quarterly. You remain in total control of your assets with the flexibility to terminate our agreement any time with no obligation and receive a prorated refund of your fee paid for the quarter.

What do your services cost?
Our fee schedule is posted online. We receive no other form of compensation.

How do you earn your fee?
By providing services and benefits of value to our clients.

What is the difference between Fee-Based and Fee-Only?
"Fee-Based" advisors have two sources of income from their clientele (1) fees and (2) the commissions they receive on products they represent. Fee-Only advisors receive only a fee for their services. Marotta Asset Management, Inc. is a fee-only advisory firm and annually re-signs the following:

NAPFA Fiduciary Oath

1. I shall act in good faith and in my client's best interest at all times.
2. I shall provide written disclosure to my client of any conflicts of interest that may compromise my impartiality or independence.
3. I shall not accept any referral fees or compensation that is contingent upon the purchase or sale of a financial product.

Can you just look at my portfolio and just let me pay you an hourly rate?
Technically, yes. Our rate is $500/hour. But we prefer long term relationships with clients who appreciate long term service.

Since hourly work is more expensive, most of our client prefer a long-term relationships.

1. An hourly analysis can be insightful, but it will always become out of date in time. The long term service we provide our clients allows us to make changes as they are needed.
2. Periodic hourly service is both a cumbersome and time consuming task for our staff. It is a wiser use of our time to be helping our long term clients with their lifetime goals.
3. Our clients appreciate being able to ask us for financial advice. We don't charge an hourly rate so that they will never hesitate to call.

What is the minimum account size for a new client?
Clients who will benefit most from our services bring certain characteristics to a relationship with our firm, including a minimum account size.

What financial planning services do you offer?
We have an extensive list of services we offer our clients.

How often will I hear from you?
Besides our Quarterly Report, after every client meeting we ask, "When would you like to meet or talk again?" You can call us anytime - no charge.

Can I view my account online?
Yes. And electronically make deposits, transfers and withdrawals.

Will you be working with my other financial advisors?
Yes, financially planning is often the work of a team of professionals combining their respective expertise to represent your financial needs. As advisors with no products to sell or hourly rate to charge clients, we are often the team coordinators.

Do you work with people outside the Charlottesville area?
Yes. Several of our clients live throughout the country. Even for clients in Charlottesville, the phone and electronic communications keep us in constant contact with each other.