FAQs
We understand that working with a financial advisor can raise a lot of questions. Here are answers to the ones we hear most often. If something is not covered here, we are always happy to talk through it directly.
What does working with a financial advisor actually involve?
Working with a financial advisor at Black Oak means having an ongoing planning relationship, not a one-time transaction. We start by learning about your financial situation, your goals, and what decisions are on your horizon. From there, we build a personalized plan that brings together your investments, income strategy, taxes, insurance, and retirement considerations.
Over time, we stay engaged to help you adjust as life changes.
How is Black Oak Asset Management different from other firms?
A large number of our advisors came from careers in education, coaching, and ministry before transitioning to financial planning. That background shapes how we work. We focus on helping clients understand their options before making decisions, not on moving quickly toward a sale. Our approach is coaching-oriented, educational, and focused on building a plan you feel confident in over the long term.
What does the first meeting look like?
We typically start with a brief introductory phone call, around 15 to 20 minutes, to learn a little about where you are and what brought you to us. If it feels like a good fit on both sides, we schedule a longer in-person or video meeting. That second meeting is more of a conversation than an evaluation. We are not asking you to bring statements or commit to anything. We just want to understand your situation and answer your questions. From there, we can talk about whether and how we might work together.
What types of clients do you work with?
We work primarily with individuals and families who are approaching retirement or already in it, typically in their late 40s through mid-60s. We also work with educators, small business owners, and individuals navigating significant financial transitions such as a job change, rollover decision, divorce, or the death of a spouse. If you are looking for clear guidance and ongoing support rather than a product-focused relationship, we may be a good fit.
What is the Perfect Game Retirement framework?
The Perfect Game Retirement framework was created by Ryan Ledden as a way to help clients approach retirement with structure and realistic expectations. Drawing on coaching and baseball metaphors, the framework focuses on preparation, process, and execution rather than chasing a single number. It serves as the foundation for how we think about retirement readiness at Black Oak and is the basis for our podcast and educational content.
How does Black Oak work with RFG Advisory?
Black Oak Asset Management operates in partnership with RFG Advisory, a national registered investment advisor that provides investment oversight, technology, compliance support, and operational infrastructure. This partnership allows our advisors to focus on client relationships and planning while benefiting from the resources of a larger organization. Advisory services are offered through RFG Advisory, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Black Oak Asset Management, Private Client Services, and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities.
Let’s Meet.
We’re educators first. Coaches second. And Advisors third. In that order.
Let’s answer your questions first and figure out where to go from there.