Frequently asked questions

No, and that’s part of why we changed our name. For years, people called us trying to pay off loans at Austin National Bank. We’re financial advisors: we help you plan, invest, and handle the life stuff that comes with money. We don’t do checking accounts, loans, or mortgages, though we’re happy to help you think a mortgage through.

No. Welcome Wealth is the new name for Austin National Financial Services. Same people, same office, same phone number. Nobody sold, nobody merged, and nobody’s retiring. We’re an independent firm, and we intend to stay that way. We just wanted a name that fits who we’ve always been.

In your name, at LPL Financial. We advise on and manage your investments; LPL holds the accounts, sends your statements, and gives you a secure login to check on everything anytime. We never hold your money ourselves.

Log in to LPL Account View to see your statements anytime. A few older accounts still send statements through Osaic Equipt. Not sure which you have? Call us at 512-338-0111 and we’ll walk you through it.

Yes. Nearly half of our clients live outside Austin, many of them people who moved away and kept us anyway. We meet by phone or video, and in person whenever you’re in town. We can work with residents of the states where we’re registered, so ask us about yours.

What matters most to us is fit, not a number. Most of our clients are heading into or through retirement, or saving their way there. We look for people we’ll enjoy working with, who enjoy working with us. Book a hello and we’ll tell you honestly whether we’re right for you.

A whole team. You’ll have a wealth advisor (Nikki or Ethan), plus Maylene, our portfolio manager, and Mandy and Jennifer, who keep everything running. Four of us are licensed, so whoever picks up the phone can help. Nobody gets handed off. You get all of us.

It’s a phone call, not a pitch. You tell us what’s on your mind, ask anything you like, and we’ll be honest about whether we can help. If it feels right, the next step is a real meeting, in our office or on video. There’s nothing to prepare.

Yes. Call 512-338-0111 and you’ll get a person, usually Jennifer. We’re here Monday through Thursday from 8:30 to 4:30, and Fridays from 8:30 to 4. We answer our phones. It sounds basic, and it’s rarer than it should be.

It depends on the service. We may be paid through advisory fees, commissions, or both. We’ll walk you through exactly how, in writing, before you decide anything, and LPL’s Form CRS lays it out too.

Not at all. We love working with our clients’ kids (and grandkids), whether they’re landing a first job, opening a first 401(k), or wondering what to do with a first bonus. At one point, five generations of one family worked with us. The next generation is always welcome here.

There’s no magic number, no matter what the internet says. Your number comes from the life you want: where you’ll live, how you’ll spend your days, and what you’d like to leave behind. We start there, work backward to what you’d need saved, and then check it against where you are today.

That depends on four things: what you spend (health care included), how your investments perform, inflation, and how long you live. Nobody controls the markets or the calendar, but we can plan for a range of what-ifs, including living to 100, so you know where you stand and what you could adjust.

Yes. An estate plan isn’t about being rich. It’s about making sure the right people can make decisions for you, raise your kids, and receive what you have. At a minimum, that means a will, powers of attorney for money and health care, and up-to-date beneficiaries on your accounts. We’ll help you get organized, and an estate attorney drafts the documents.

Maybe. A will says who gets what. A trust can do that too, and it can also skip probate (the court process that settles an estate), keep things private, and control how and when money is handed out. Plenty of people only need a will; some families really benefit from a trust. We’ll help you think it through with your estate attorney.

Your business may be your biggest asset, but it shouldn’t be your whole retirement plan. We’ll help you build savings outside the business, use accounts with real tax advantages for owners, and think early about what happens when you step back, whether you sell, hand it down, or close the doors on your own terms.

The usual options are a SEP IRA, a SIMPLE IRA, a 401(k), or a profit-sharing plan, which can be paired with a 401(k). The right one depends on how many people you employ, how much you want to save for yourself, what you want to offer your team, and what it will cost to run. We’ll compare them side by side and help you set it up.

Enough to live well, in a way that’s smart for taxes and keeps the business healthy. The right mix of salary, distributions, and retirement contributions depends on how your business is set up (an S corporation works differently from a sole proprietorship, for example). We’ll work through it with you and your CPA.

It depends on your business, but the usual list includes general liability, professional liability, business interruption, cyber, key person, and disability coverage. We’ll help you spot the gaps. Some of these we can help with directly and some we’ll refer to a specialist we trust, and we’ll always tell you which is which.

Usually with layers: the right insurance (an umbrella policy is often inexpensive peace of mind), the right business structure, and sometimes a trust. How much protection makes sense depends on your profession and what you own. We’ll look at the whole picture and work alongside your attorney, who handles the legal side.