FAQs: Answers to Your Most Important Financial Questions

Who is Genesis Wealth Advisor Group?

Genesis Wealth Advisor Group is an independent, fiduciary financial planning firm in Marlton, New Jersey, serving individuals, families, and business owners across multiple states. Founded by Scott E. Jones, BFA^™ CPFA^® CRPC^® RFC^®, the firm specializes in retirement income planning, behavioral finance, protection planning, and coordinated wealth management through the Genesis Premier Virtual Family Office^™.

What does a fiduciary financial advisor do?

A fiduciary financial advisor is legally and ethically required to act in a client's best interests, offering transparent, unbiased advice while avoiding conflicts of interest. This means putting clients’ needs first, disclosing relevant information, and selecting products and strategies that best support financial goals—not those that generate higher commissions for the advisor

How do I know if my advisor is a fiduciary?

Ask whether the advisor is a fiduciary, check their credentials (look for designations like CRPC® or RFC®), and review their fee structure. 

What is financial planning?

Financial planning means evaluating your entire financial situation and developing a tailored plan to reach your short and long-term goals. It includes assessing income, spending, investments, taxes, insurance, retirement, and estate plans in a cohesive strategy.

Why do I need a financial advisor?

A financial advisor offers expertise in investment management, tax efficiency, retirement planning, and major life decisions—helping clients stay disciplined, avoid common mistakes, and optimize their financial future especially during market shifts or life transitions.

How much does a financial advisor cost?

Financial advisor fees vary by firm and by how services are delivered. Common structures include: 1.0% to 2.5% of assets managed (AUM), an annual retainer ($2,500–$10,000), hourly fees ($200–$500+ per hour), or flat project fees (typically $2,500–$15,000). Fees are based on the complexity of the client's situation and service level the client requires. We offer flat fee, retainer plus AUM and consolidated wealth management fee structures and will discuss costs clearly before you decide to work with us.

What services do you offer?

Services can include comprehensive financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, tax optimization (not preparation), risk management, 401(k)/403(b) participant account management, estate planning, education planning and charitable giving strategies.  We specialize in multi-generational wealth and estate planning helping families and business owners create wealth to be passed down from one generation to the next. For business owners we offer retirement plan design such as SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA and 401(k) plans for companies in Marlton, South Jersey, and the Greater Philadelphia area and most other states we are in which we are licensed to work.

What are your credentials and experience?

Our advisors and affiliated advisors may have different credentials. Look for credentials such as BFA, CRPC, CPFA and RFC.  These designations indicate advanced training, ethical commitment, and ongoing education, all of which validate expertise and trustworthiness.  We have advisors with over 20 years of experience in the business.

How do we work together and communicate?

Clients typically meet with advisors in person or virtually at least annually to review plans and progress. Most clients meet with us at least twice a year and our most complex clients meet with us quarterly or even monthly. Communication can occur via phone calls, emails, video conferences, or secure client portals based on client preferences.

What is your process for creating a financial plan?

The financial planning process involves understanding your current finances, identifying goals, analyzing opportunities and risks, creating a comprehensive written plan, and conducting regular reviews to adjust as life, economic, tax or market conditions changes.

When should I claim Social Security?

There's no single right answer—the best claiming age depends on your health, whether you're still working, your other retirement income, and your spouse's benefit. Claiming early permanently reduces your monthly amount, while waiting increases it, so the decision is really about coordinating Social Security with the rest of your plan rather than picking a number in isolation. We walk through the trade-offs in detail in our guide on when to claim Social Security for New Jersey retirees.

Can I work while collecting Social Security?

Yes, but if you claim before your full retirement age and keep working, the Social Security "earnings test" can temporarily reduce your benefit based on how much you earn. Those withheld amounts aren't lost—they're credited back later—but the timing surprises a lot of people, which is why it's worth planning around before you claim. We cover how the earnings test works, and how to coordinate it with your income, in our Social Security timing guide.

What investment strategies do you use?

Strategies are tailored to each client, focusing on diversification, risk tolerance, time horizon, tax efficiency, and specific goals. Advisors may use mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, alternative investments, and tactical asset allocation to optimize portfolios. As independent advisors we help clients evaluate what strategies are best for their situation without bias to any particular company.

How do you protect my privacy and data?

Reputable advisors use secure systems to protect client data, comply with regulations like SEC and FINRA privacy requirements, and will explain their data handling policies and client confidentiality standards.

Do you have account minimums?

Some advisors set minimums (often $250,000–$500,000 in investable assets) while others offer flexible plans for clients at various stages of wealth, including emerging affluent or younger clients. We offer flexibility as we often work with multiple generations in a family from grandparents and parents to children and great grandchildren who may have just graduated school.

Can someone manage my 401(k) while I'm still working?

Yes—and most people are surprised to hear it. You don't have to wait until you leave your job. Advisors can now manage many workplace accounts as "held-away" assets, meaning the money stays right where it is inside your employer's plan while a professional manages the investments for you. Instead of a 401(k) sitting on autopilot in a target-date fund, it can be actively managed and coordinated with the rest of your plan while you keep contributing.

Does my 401(k) already have a financial advisor?

Usually not in the way people assume. The plan itself has a recordkeeper and an investment menu, but no one is watching your specific account or adjusting it as your life changes. For many people, their 401(k) has quietly become one of their largest assets with no one actively managing it. We can review the account you're contributing to right now and tell you whether it still fits your timeline—the first conversation is complimentary.

Can you manage my 403(b), 457, or TSP?

It depends on the plan. In most corporate 401(k)s, nonprofit and school 403(b)s, and government 457s, we can manage the account within the plan's investment menu—and, when the plan offers a self-directed brokerage window, that can expand the available choices. The federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is the honest exception: its structure does not allow an outside advisor to actively manage the account. In that case we cannot manage it directly, but we can still educate you on your TSP fund choices, how the account coordinates with your household, and how to plan the rollover when you separate or retire. The service you receive depends on what your specific plan permits.

Should I manage my own 401(k), or hire an advisor?

Plenty of people do a fine job on their own for years. The honest test isn't confidence—it's coordination. A do-it-yourself investor can pick reasonable funds, but it's much harder to manage one account in isolation from everything else you own, and in practice most self-directed accounts drift into "not really touching it." If you enjoy reviewing your allocation and actually rebalance, do-it-yourself can work. If your 401(k) has become one of your largest assets and you're not sure it still fits your timeline, a second set of eyes is worth the conversation.

What red flags should I watch out for with advisors?

Red flags include lack of transparent fees, vague credentials, pressure to buy certain products, unwillingness to act as a fiduciary, or poor communication. Always check for complaints or disciplinary actions on SEC or FINRA sites.

How do I switch advisors or get started with Genesis?

To switch, review your agreements, notify your current advisor, and transfer assets to your new advisor or custodian. To get started with Genesis Wealth Advisor Group, schedule an introductory call or meeting to discuss goals and compatibility. Your new advisor can guide you through the paperwork and account setup process.

Do you help with 401(k) rollovers?

We help clients evaluate old 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, compare rollover options, and choose a strategy that fits their retirement plan and tax situation. We can coordinate rollovers to IRAs or new employer plans and help avoid costly tax mistakes.

Are you a financial advisor near me in Marlton, NJ?

Yes. We are an independent financial advisor located in Five Greentree Centre on Route 73 North in Marlton, NJ. We serve clients throughout Marlton, Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel, Maple Shade, Medford and the surrounding South Jersey communities.

Do you offer retirement income planning in South Jersey?

Yes. We help clients across South Jersey design retirement income plans that coordinate Social Security, pensions, IRAs, 401(k)s, and other investments. Our goal is to create a sustainable income strategy so you can feel confident about your lifestyle in retirement.

Can you work with clients outside Marlton and the Greater Philadelphia area?

Yes. While our office is in Marlton and we regularly serve clients in South Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area, we also work with multi‑state families and clients in other states where we are licensed, including Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. We often use virtual meetings to stay connected with clients who have moved or who split time between locations.

Can you tell me if we’re on track for retirement?

Yes. We review your current savings, investments, pensions, Social Security, and goals to estimate whether you’re on track for retirement. We then outline specific adjustments—such as changing savings rates, investment strategy, or retirement age—to help you move closer to your target.

Do you offer virtual meetings?

We meet with clients in person at our Marlton office and virtually via secure video. This allows us to serve families in South Jersey, Greater Philadelphia, and other states where we are licensed, while still providing personal, relationship‑based advice.

What areas do you serve?

We are based in Marlton, New Jersey, and serve clients across South Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area, as well as multi‑state families in other regions where we are licensed. Many clients first find us when searching for a financial advisor near Marlton, Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel, Maple Shade, Moorestown, Shamong or Medford.