FAQs
Think of a financial plan as your roadmap — without one, you're making decisions in isolation rather than as part of a coordinated strategy. Investing alone isn't enough. Without a plan, it's easy to chase performance, react emotionally to market swings, or overlook areas of your financial life that could be working harder for you. A financial plan brings everything together — your income, your goals, your timeline, and your values — so every decision you make supports the life you're working toward.
A well-designed financial plan helps you get organized, set clear goals, and make informed decisions with confidence. It addresses cash flow and budgeting, retirement income planning, investment strategy, risk management, tax-efficient planning, and estate considerations — not as separate buckets, but as a coordinated whole. Most importantly, it gives you a clear picture of where you are, where you're headed, and what needs to happen to close the gap.
Almost nothing significant gets accomplished alone. Athletes have coaches, students have teachers, and CEOs have boards. Having a trusted advisor in your corner — someone who knows your full financial picture, holds you accountable, and brings an objective perspective — can make a meaningful difference in your outcomes. At Crescent Capital Planning, we don't just hand you a plan and send you on your way. We sit alongside you as your circumstances evolve, coordinate with your other professionals, and make sure your plan keeps pace with your actual life.
No. We'll work with you to evaluate your existing investments and transition only what makes sense — in a tax-aware manner that avoids unnecessary taxable events. Assets that align with your goals and our investment guidelines can stay right where they are.
That's one of the most important questions you can ask — and most people don't know the answer until they look. We use a quick risk assessment tool that scores your comfort level with risk and compares it against how your portfolio is actually positioned. The gap between those two numbers often tells us more than anything else about whether your current strategy is working for you or against you. It takes about five minutes, there's no obligation, and you'll have a clear answer. Take the Assessment to help us better understand your portfolio risk assessment.
Most people are surprised when they find out. Between advisory fees, fund expense ratios, transaction costs, and 12b-1 service fees, the total cost of your current relationship may be higher than what appears on your statement. We'll prepare a fee analysis using your most recent monthly or quarterly statement — at no cost and no obligation. It gives you the information you need to make a confident, informed decision.
We're a fee-based firm, and our costs are transparent and disclosed upfront before you commit to anything. Financial planning fees are based on the complexity of your situation, and investment management fees are generally asset-based. Clients receive a clear fee proposal during the initial process — no surprises. If you'd like to discuss what an engagement might look like, schedule a conversation.
We believe professional financial advice should be accessible — not reserved for those who've already accumulated significant wealth. We don't have a hard investment minimum. That said, we work best with households earning $200,000+ in annual income or with $500,000+ in investable assets, or those on a clear path to reach those levels. If you're not sure whether we're the right fit, the easiest way to find out is a 25-minute conversation.
Yes — our practice is fully virtual and we work with clients across the country. While we're based in San Jose, CA and have deep roots in Silicon Valley, we serve professionals and pre-retirees nationwide. All meetings are available via Zoom or phone, and the planning experience is the same regardless of where you live.
Yes. Chris Blodgett holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation — a credential that signifies specialized knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and the ability to implement policies and procedures that meet a defined standard of care. As a Registered Investment Adviser Representative, Chris is legally required to act in your best interests and provide investment advice that serves you — not a quota or a product sponsor. Crescent Capital Planning operates as a fee-based fiduciary firm affiliated with Cetera Advisors LLC.
Independence means we're not tied to any single platform, product lineup, or sales quota. We can recommend what's actually right for your situation — not what generates the highest commission or satisfies a firm's internal requirement. Our affiliation with Cetera Advisors LLC gives us access to institutional-grade research and a broad range of investment options, while our independence means you always come first.