Certified Financial Planner™

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is a professional regulatory organization based in the United States of America. It fosters professional standards in personal financial planning. Consequently the public is able to confidently access the benefits of competent and ethical financial planning.

For more information regarding a CFP™ Designation please go to: www.cfp.net

Certified Financial Planner™ Disclosure

Part I

Relationships Which May Reasonably Compromise Objectivity or Independence of the CFP®: As the President of Financial Architects, Joe M. McCartney, CFP, ChFC, is licensed through KMS Financial Services, Inc to sell general securities including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, limited partnerships, variable life insurance and annuities, as well as fee-based wrap accounts. Financial Architects is also an Independent Insurance Broker offering coverage in Life, Disability and Long-Term Care from multiple insurance companies.

Part II

Material Information Relative to the Professional Relationship:

Basic philosophy of the CFP (or firm) when working with clients: As you provide significant financial and related information, including your attitudes, goals and objectives, we analyze the information and develop strategic alternatives for your consideration. To enable wise decisions, we educate you about the implications of selecting a particular alternative . Together we implement the selected alternatives, monitor results and periodically update the plan.

We serve as our clients' chief financial advisor developing coordinated strategies in their best interest and inviting the finest efforts of their other advisors. We educate our clients and encourage them to be actively involved in managing their financial affairs.

Philosophy and principles of financial planning which will be utilized: We gather adequate and reliable information about your personal financial situation to determine your goals, objectives, time horizon and risk tolerance. Then we analyze the information in an objective manner in order to develop an action plan with written Personal Recommendations based upon our thorough analysis. We have a fiduciary responsibility to provide disinterested advice for your benefit.

Resumes of principals who will be providing financial planning services:

1. Educational Background: Joe M. McCartney, CFP, ChFC:
  • Graduated from Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon in 1976 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Business, Communications and Theatre.
  • Completed designation from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., Denver, Colorado, in 2002 as a Certified Financial Planner Certificant.
  • Graduated from the American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania in 2007 with the Certified Financial Consultant designation.
2. Professional / Employment History

Joe M. McCartney, CFP, ChFC, has had a successful career in the financial services industry since 1985. He has worked in the following capacities: Registered Representative, Insurance Broker, Managing Associate, General Manager, Regional Vice-President and Senior Financial Planner with several of the largest companies in the industry. He now serves as President and Senior Financial Planner for Financial Architects.

3. Professional certifications and licenses held:
  • Certified Financial Planner Practitioner - 2002
  • Chartered Financial Consultant - 2007
  • NASD Series 7 (General Securities) 1998
  • NASD Series 24 (General Securities Supervisor) 1998
  • NASD Series 6 (Variable and Mutual Funds) 1985
  • Life and Health Insurance 1985
  • (States of Washington, Alaska, Illinois, Florida, Arizona)
4. Areas of competence and specialization:
  • Joe M. McCartney, CFP, ChFC provides personal financial planning services in the areas of Investment Strategies, Retirement Planning, Legacy Planning, and Risk Management.
  • He also provides specialized expertise regarding Employee Benefits, Qualified Plan Design, Executive Compensation Packages
5. Description of the financial planning services the CFP will provide:
  • Retirement Planning
  • Comprehensive Planning
  • Situational Planning
  • Legacy Planning
  • Investment Planning (Asset Allocation)
  • Business Continuity Planning
  • Employee Benefits Planning
  • Qualified Plan Design

Method of compensation:

We are compensated by fees for our financial planning services and by commission for the placement of products and services. Upon signing the agreement, 50% of the quoted fee is due. The remainder is due upon the client's acceptance of the delivered plan. Exceptions will only be made in the event a client wishes to pay 100% upon signing the agreement. Typically the total cost ranges from $750 – $2,500+ per plan. If we expect the fee to exceed the quoted amount by more than 10%, the client's written approval is required prior to incurring additional costs.

Compensation Arrangements:

  • Sources of compensation: Fees from clients and commissions from third parties.
  • Contingencies or other aspects material to the fee and/or commission arrangement: We do not receive commission compensation unless you purchase products we recommend.
  • Affiliations and business relationships: Financial Architects offers investment and insurance products approved and available through KMS Financial Services, Inc. In addition, Financial Architects is an Independent Insurance Broker representing multiple insurance companies.

Other material information relevant to the professional relationship:

  • Safeguarding Your Confidential Information
  • SEC Disclosure Form ADV Part II
  • Form ADV Part II offered annually to all clients

Part III

Subsequent Disclosures Selling Relationships: Securities Broker/Dealer
KMS Financial Services, Inc.
2001 Sixth Avenue
Suite 2801
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 441-2885
Independent Insurance Brokerage

Financial Architects represents multiple Insurance Companies offering Life, Disability and Long-Term Care Insurance.

Scope of authority of the CFP in any affiliated relationship:

Joe M. McCartney, CFP, ChFC, is the President of Financial Architects and has authority over all decisions affecting Financial Architects. However, he has no authority over the affiliates listed above other than to discontinue or continue their relationship with Financial Architects.