Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Why partner with Overture Wealth Management?
These are a few of the benefits of partnering with Overture:
- Peace of mind from receiving independent, conflict-free advice from a fiduciary
- Expert financial advice from an advisor with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry
- Partnering with a wealth manager who is ultra-sensitive to minimizing drags on investment returns: transaction fees, fund expenses, and taxes
- An intentionally low client-to-advisor ratio to ensure exceptional responsiveness when time-sensitive client needs arise
- The ability to pay a flat fee for holistic portfolio management—as your portfolio value presumably grows over time, the advisory fee you pay to Overture will not grow commensurately. This is very different from the more traditional “assets under management” (AUM) fee that many advisers charge.
What does it mean to be a fiduciary?
As a fiduciary, we are legally and morally obligated to act in your best interest. This means our recommendations are always aligned with your financial well-being, not influenced by commissions or third-party incentives.
Who do you work with?
We work with a wide range of clients, including individuals, families, and small business owners. We work with clients who are both accumulating assets for retirement, as well as retired clients who are drawing from their investment portfolios. Our expertise particularly benefits high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking ongoing portfolio management and comprehensive wealth management.
I don't live in Pennsylvania. Can you still work with me?
Yes. While Overture Wealth Management LLC is regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Banking & Securities, we are able to work in clients in 48 states.
What investments will be used in my portfolio?
Overture’s preferred investment strategy utilizes low-cost, commission-free Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) to provide investment diversification. We use both passively-managed and actively-managed ETFs from Vanguard, BlackRock iShares, and Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), among other providers. When deemed beneficial to the client (e.g. for tax reasons), we may also retain a client’s existing mutual fund, ETF, and/or individual stock and bond investments.
Do all of my investments need to be managed by Overture?
No. You can elect to have both managed and self-managed investments. Additionally, Overture will not recommend moving investment accounts under Overture’s management when not deemed to be in your best interest.
How are you compensated?
We are solely compensated by the flat fee that our clients pay to us. We receive no commissions or incentives for any products or services we recommend, and do not receive referral fees from third party professionals (e.g. tax, estate planning, and insurance professionals) to whom we may refer to you.
If you manage my investments, where will my money be held?
Your money is held by a third-party custodian whose primary job is to safeguard client assets. As your investment advisor, Overture Wealth Management is only granted limited authority to perform transactions on your behalf. The majority of our client accounts are custodied at Charles Schwab & Co. Clients receive account statements and transaction confirmations directly from Schwab. Schwab also provides clients with secure online account access.
Fees
Why a flat fee instead of AUM?
Relative to the more traditional AUM fee model–where clients pay a percentage of their portfolio value to their advisor, and where the fee paid increases as the portfolio value increases–we believe that a flat fee model is the fairest, and most conflict-free way to provide investment management.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. Transparency is at the core of our business. All fees are clearly outlined up front. We do not receive commissions, nor referral fees, for any products or third party professionals we recommend to our clients.
How is Overture able to offer holisitic wealth management at a lower cost than most other advisors?
Overture’s wealth management services are available at a lower cost compared to many of our competitors for the following reasons:
- Less overhead: We do not have a physical office that clients can visit; we primarily meet by videoconference.
- Fewer employees: Sean Dwyer is both the Owner and sole practitioner at Overture. We do not have separate employees, nor separate owners, who need to be paid for the work that is performed for our clients.
- Leveraging technology: we tactically leverage technology to enhance our client service experience and to improve efficiency in managing the firm.
If my fee through Overture would be less than what I'm paying my current advisor, should I also expect to receive less?
No. With our generally lower-than-average fees, we believe our clients may end up with more in the long run.
- Available investments: With the exception of proprietary (and often more costly) investments, Overture is able to invest in the vast majority of the investments that are available through other investment advisory and brokerage firms. This includes mutual funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), individual bonds, and stocks, among many other investment types.
- Greater Service: As the sole practitioner at Overture, Sean intentionally limits the number of client relationships he takes on. This allows him to develop deep knowledge of each client’s unique needs and circumstances. His focused approach also ensures he remains highly accessible whenever his clients need to reach him.
As a flat fee advisor, don't you lack the incentive to grow my investments compared to an advisor who's paid a percentage of my portfolio?
Investment growth comes from the markets–not the compensation model of your advisor. As a fiduciary, Overture is committed to acting in your best interest. That means recommending a portfolio allocation tailored to the growth you need to achieve your goals, while also aligning with your personal risk tolerance and capacity. Whether compensated by a flat fee or a percentage of assets under management, fiduciary advisors are legally and ethically required to provide advice that supports their clients’ best interests—not their own compensation.
Services
What services do you offer?
The following services are provided as part of Overture’s all-inclusive wealth management fee:
- Investment portfolio management
- Cash flow management
- Tax planning
- Estate Planning
- Insurance Planning
- Education Planning
How do you manage investments?
We create customized portfolios based on your unique goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Our approach focuses on keeping costs low, diversifying investments, and optimizing portfolios for tax efficiency.
Do you sell financial products?
No. As an independent Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), we do not sell products or receive commissions. This ensures our advice is unbiased and entirely focused on your needs.
How do Overture's Wealth Management Service and a One-Time Financial Plan differ?
Overture’s Wealth Management Service involves ongoing wealth planning and investment management. Overture implements any recommended portfolio rebalancing and monitors your portfolio on an ongoing basis. Typically, we meet with clients for formal wealth planning meetings two to three times per year to review the portfolio and to uncover any planning needs.
“One-Time” or Project-Based Financial Plans are geared toward clients who are primarily “DIY” investors and who only need occasional advice or a check-up. With one-time financial plans, Overture solely provides recommendations. The client is responsible for implementing the recommendations.
Getting Started
How do I get started?
It’s easy to begin working with us:
- Schedule a consultation: Contact us to book your initial meeting.
- Discuss your goals: We’ll take the time to understand your financial objectives.
- Create a plan: Together, we’ll design a personalized strategy to help you achieve your goals.
- Implementation & Ongoing Monitoring: For clients choosing to engage Overture for their ongoing portfolio management, we will implement your plan, monitor, and adjust it as needed.
Do I need to have a certain amount of assets to work with you?
While we typically serve high-net-worth individuals, we encourage anyone interested in professional financial advice to reach out. We’ll discuss how we can best support your financial journey.
Who will be my advisor?
Sean Dwyer is the sole practitioner at Overture. Sean has been guiding and advising clients throughout his 20+ year career in financial services and wealth management. More information about Sean’s employment history, industry licenses, and certifications can be found below:
“FINRA/SEC” and “CFP Board”
How often will we communicate?
For most clients, we will meet two to three times per year for formal meetings. Additional meetings can be scheduled at any time as specific needs arise. In addition, we will communicate frequently via email between meetings. All communications are included as part of your flat advisory fee.
If you didn’t find the answer you were looking for, don’t hesitate to Contact Us. We’re here to help!
