A 2013 study by the National Federation for Credit Counseling revealed that more than half of all Americans – 56 percent – admit they don’t have a budget. Even more alarming was that nearly one-third confessed they do not pay their bills on time, and nearly 40 percent of all Americans also indicated they do not have any savings outside of employer-sponsored retirement programs.
Those are statistics that Kelly Trageser, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Principal of Sea Clear Financial Planning, LLC, of Sea Girt, NJ, strives each day to reverse. She is also a Fee-Only Registered Investment Advisor with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), meaning Trageser does not sell any products and has taken a fiduciary oath to act in the best interest of her firm's clients. With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, she understands very well that trust is one of the most important elements in the industry. 

According to Trageser, “Our comprehensive wealth management approach involves discovering client's goals and then incorporating them into (the) seven areas of financial planning.” Sea Clear specializes in these financial planning areas, providing services that include risk management planning, education funding, tax planning, investment management, cash flow analysis, retirement forecasting, and estate planning.

As a fee-only firm, Sea Clear utilizes a one-year starter contract for new clients, with fees ranging from $2,500 to $5,500, depending on the complexity of the new client's financial situation. Approximately three months are needed to gather all pertinent documentation and formulate the financial plan.  The remaining nine months are spent assisting the client with implementation.  The firm also offers a $250 hourly rate for non-comprehensive services.

Sea Clear Financial Planning provides extensive investment management services for clients who need asset management. Sea Clear works in conjunction with Morningstar Managed Portfolios, based in Chicago. Morningstar Managed Portfolio is an investment-management program that provides a diverse range of portfolios that are researched, engineered, and monitored by Morningstar Investment Services. Sea Clear Financial Planning works closely with Morningstar to recommend, implement and monitor the individual client portfolios. Morningstar provides each client with 24-hour, individualized online access independent of Sea Clear's technology platforms.

Trageser emphasized, “As a trusted financial advisor, we will see to it that the lives of our clients are more secure today, than the day they walked into our office.”

Learn more about Sea Clear Financial Planning, LLC, online at www.seaclearfinancial.com