The Everyday Steward® division of Ronald Blue Trust focuses on helping a specific type of client typically referred to as the “middle market” or the “mass affluent.” They are often overlooked or poorly served by many financial companies, and are sometimes described by other companies as “not asset-heavy enough for us.” We call them our preferred client.
Designed for individuals who need one-on-one financial planning or investment management (ranging generally from $100,000 up to $1 million in assets), Ronald Blue Trust’s Everyday Steward advisors work with people who are beyond the debt stage, but who desire objective, biblically based advice. We created Everyday Steward to address your needs in a simple and affordable way with the same financial planning and fee-only investment management services that we provide for our multimillion dollar clients but designed for your everyday needs.
See how one of our Everyday Steward advisors has encouraged their clients’ journey of generosity.
Do you feel like your financial advisor shares your personal goals and values? If somebody asks you, “So what has your financial planner done for you today?” they’re asking the wrong question. The outcome is only partially experienced today.
You will only fully realize the benefits of your financial plan after it is implemented. Of course, if you start today, the benefits will come more quickly. You can begin now by following the three steps outlined below or learn more about our planning or investment management services.
The financial consulting process begins with you (and your spouse if married) completing a questionnaire and collecting pertinent financial data, such as tax returns and investment statements, so we can evaluate your current financial situation and establish goals. Your Everyday Steward® advisor reviews your completed questionnaire and then contacts you to discuss which of our services would best meet your needs.
You will receive a quote providing an overview of time and cost for our financial planning service and/or our investment management service, along with an Advisory Agreement for you to sign that outlines the details of the relationship with Ronald Blue Trust. The normal turnaround time for our financial planning service is approximately three to four weeks after the signed Advisory Agreement is received.
You can start the investment management process today. We will create the paperwork needed to set up your accounts and, if necessary, transfer assets from other investment providers or custodians. We will also gather information regarding your risk tolerance and the appropriate portfolio strategies for your financial needs, review this information and use it for the basis of our investment decisions together.
It’s easy: Start a conversation with us by completing our questionnaire. Please complete as much of the questionnaire as you can easily answer (information that may be time-consuming to retrieve can be obtained later, if needed). The data provided will allow us to assess your situation and provide you with a custom quote for services. Based on the information you give us, we’ll get in touch to discuss how our services can help you address your financial questions. If you decide to work with us, we then send the necessary paperwork to initiate the relationship.
All information received from you is kept confidential.
Please contact us to obtain a secure link to upload documents (completed questionnaire, statements, etc).
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Q. Who is the “typical” Everyday Steward® client at Ronald Blue Trust?
The typical client desires to make wise financial decisions and follow biblical principles of stewardship, but their financial situation is not complex. Rather than be a “smaller fish in a big pond,” you want to be served by someone who values your relationship and is familiar with the everyday financial issues you face and goals you have. You want an advisor who can evaluate your entire financial picture, even when addressing a single financial issue.
We’re not right for you if you . . . are looking for a brokerage company just to buy or sell your investments, want to speculate or “time” the markets, prefer to work on a commission rather than a fee basis, and don’t want to delegate your investment management. In addition, if you have high income, have built a significant net worth, or have an estate situation that would pass on significant wealth to your family or others, your place is not in the Everyday Steward division, but in the Private Wealth division that works with people with more complex situations.
Q. How do you know if you need a financial planner?
The following questions can help you determine your need for professional financial planning:
If you answered “no” or “I don’t know” to any of these questions, then you could benefit from the services of a financial planner.
Q. What is the cost for a financial plan?
Our fees are based on a $250 per hour rate and depend on the scope of the work performed. An Everyday Steward advisor will provide a quote based on the number of hours we estimate it will take to create your plan. You are charged only the fee quoted even if the plan requires more hours than originally estimated.
Below is an overview of how much time is typically required for a financial plan:
Analysis of ONE of the following areas: (1-3 HOURS):
1) General Questions, 2) Budgeting, 3) Goal Setting, 4) Tax Estimate, 5) College Education, 6) General Overview Detailed Financial Analysis, which may include the above areas and an additional 5-12 HOURS: 1) Cash Flow Analysis, 2) Retirement Analysis, 3) Investment Analysis, 4) Life Insurance Analysis, 5) Basic Estate Advisement
Q. How do I know if my needs match your services?
After receiving your personal financial information, we will contact you to discuss how we can be of service and give you an idea of the time and cost that would be involved, so you can decide whether or not to move forward.
Q. What if I am dissatisfied?
You can terminate your relationship with us at any time by giving the advisor 30 days’ written notice. If you are a financial planning client, we simply do not charge for any work not meeting your expectations. If you are an investment-management client, your fee is prorated to the time that your accounts with us are closed.
Q. How often will you contact me?
Each client situation is unique. Our goal is for you to achieve clarity and confidence around your finances, therefore we are committed to contacting you as often as needed.
Q. What does a financial plan delivery look like?
Typically, you will be provided with your written financial plan (recommendations, supporting information, etc.) which we will review with you in detail. For comprehensive planning, the delivery time could be two hours or more. If we are discussing a single issue or financial concern, the conversation could be as short as 30 minutes.
Q. What qualifications do Everyday Steward advisors have?
Many of the Everyday Steward advisors are CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals or Certified Public Accountants (CPA). The CFP® mark is the most widely recognized standard in the financial planning industry.
Q. How often do we revisit the plan if we are engaging in the financial planning process?
This depends on your situation. We can structure the initial work and the subsequent follow-up or updates as your situation warrants or as you prefer.
Q. What happens when the work for the financial plan is completed?
We work with each individual to determine the best path ahead. This might be engaging in regular, annual planning and/or investment management, or just having the client reach out at the appropriate time for updated planning. Each engagement is custom so we will determine best next steps together to help the client achieve their goals. Ongoing or additional financial planning engagements are subject to execution of applicable client agreement.
Q. What does an investment management portfolio look like?
Each individual client portfolio is based upon client goals, financial situation, risk tolerance, and life stage. Usually portfolios are diversified across multiple asset classes using mutual funds. Typically, our minimum investment is $100,000.
Q. What does it cost to have you manage my portfolio?
The Everyday Steward Investment Management fee is an annual management fee billed quarterly in advance (typically from the account) and is prorated over the time period you work with us. The actual fee will be detailed in your Advisory Agreement.
Q. Who picks the investments?
Our Investment Strategy Group selects and monitors the approved investments used in our company investment portfolios. Your personal advisor works with you to implement the appropriate portfolios based on your investment goals and objectives. The Investment Strategy Group focuses on investments while your financial advisor focuses on you. The two of these knowledge bases have merged together to implement a portfolio suitable for your situation.
Q. Do you use only mutual funds and ETFs?
Our goals are to assemble professionally managed investment alternatives that provide liquidity and diversification. Most Everyday Steward portfolios consist of no-load mutual funds and ETFs.
Q. What if I don’t live near an Everyday Steward office?
Everyday Steward advisors currently serve clients in almost all 50 states. Seventy percent of our clients are not local to an existing office, but are served with ease through electronic communication and the phone. We do invite you to review our locations and to feel free to contact an advisor who may be close to you or based in our main office in Atlanta, Georgia.
We currently serve clients in all 50 states. Most clients are served remotely from our Atlanta location, but where Ronald Blue Trust offices are convenient, our advisors meet with clients in the local office.
We help individuals and families make intentional decisions that can lead to clarity and confidence around their finances.
