• 4700 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343
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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a financial advisor in Chattanooga do?

A financial advisor helps you build and follow a plan for your money across your whole financial life, not just your investment accounts. At Franklin Wealth Management, that includes retirement income planning, tax planning, estate and legacy planning, Social Security timing, education funding, and investment management. The goal is a coordinated strategy where each decision supports the others, rather than a collection of products that were sold to you one at a time.

Our office is at 4700 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343, just north of downtown Chattanooga. You can reach us at (423) 870-2140. We meet with clients in person at our Hixson office and virtually for those who prefer it.

No. We are headquartered in Tennessee and serve many families throughout the Chattanooga area, but we work with clients across the country. Our team serves select families, business owners, institutions, and retirees regardless of where they live.

Yes. We operate under a fiduciary advisory relationship, which means we are obligated to put your interests first. That is a higher standard than the suitability standard many advisors work under, where a recommendation only has to be considered appropriate rather than the best available option for you.

We are fee-based, and we tell you exactly what you will pay before any work begins. No fees are charged until you have signed an engagement letter agreeing to the arrangement. Asset management fees are charged on a scale tied to assets managed. We prefer fee arrangements over commissions because they reduce conflicts of interest.

Your first meeting is a Discovery Meeting, and it is provided at our expense in our offices. We use that time to understand your situation, your goals, and what you want your money to accomplish. We also cover how we work and how we are compensated. There is no fee and no obligation to move forward.

WealthFit™ is our ongoing financial conditioning process, and it is the core of how we work with clients over their lifetimes. The idea is that staying financially fit is not a one-time event. Your plan is built, reviewed, and adjusted as your circumstances, tax laws, and goals change. Life changes, and so you plan.

A faith based financial advisor incorporates your values and convictions into financial decision-making alongside the numbers. At Franklin Wealth Management, we work from biblical principles and focus on stewardship, generosity, and helping clients use their time, talent, and treasure toward their God-given purpose. Clients who do not share those convictions are welcome as well; the planning work is the same.

The terms overlap heavily and neither is a protected title, which is part of the confusion. In practice, “wealth advisor” often signals broader work across estate, tax, business succession, and multi-generational planning, while “financial advisor” is used more generally. What matters more than the title is whether the person is a fiduciary, how they are paid, and what credentials they hold. Ask all three before you hire anyone.

Use FINRA’s BrokerCheck at brokercheck.finra.org, which shows an advisor’s registrations, employment history, and any disclosures. You can also review a firm’s Form CRS and Form ADV, which describe services, fees, and conflicts of interest. Our CRS form is linked in the footer of every page on this site.

The earlier the better, but the years immediately before and after you retire are the highest-leverage window. Decisions about when to claim Social Security, which accounts to draw from first, and how to manage taxable income in early retirement can affect your lifetime after-tax cash flow substantially. If you are within ten years of retiring, it is worth having a plan in writing.