Why did I decide to become a financial planner?
I used to work for a coaching/consulting firm called the Halftime Institute that serves successful people in mid-life who are trying to discern how best to steward their time, talent, and treasure. I often worked closely with our client's financial advisor, which gave me a great opportunity to observe how meaningful an advisory relationship could be, especially when it went beyond the numbers.
Why do I focus on working with owners of investment real estate?
Real estate represents one of the largest stores of wealth in America. Many successful families have spent decades building significant wealth through rental properties, commercial buildings, or land. Yet surprisingly, most financial plans focus almost exclusively on investment portfolios while treating real estate as little more than a line item on a balance sheet.
I believe that's a missed opportunity.
Retirement decisions involving investment real estate are rarely simple. Should you keep the properties? Sell them? Complete a 1031 exchange? Transfer them to your children? Donate appreciated assets? Create retirement income from them? Reduce management responsibilities? Every decision has investment, tax, estate planning, and cash flow implications. Those aren't isolated real estate decisions—they're financial planning decisions.
That's why I focus on helping retiring real estate owners integrate every property into one coordinated retirement strategy. My role isn't to persuade clients to hold or sell real estate. As a flat-fee fiduciary, I don't benefit from either decision. My responsibility is to objectively evaluate every option so each property serves the client's retirement goals, rather than becoming an obstacle to them.
Independent Advice
FOOTLAMP FINANCIAL, a fee-only wealth management firm based in Opelika, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia, provides retirement planning and investment management to clients for a flat fee.
My name is Ed Kerns, CFP®, TPCP® and I built FOOTLAMP FINANCIAL around everything I believe about serving clients in a transparent, competent, and trustworthy way. Life is full of transitions. Retirement is complex. Financially, the stakes are high. I find great enjoyment and purpose in guiding clients to make smart decisions with their money for reasons that are important to them.
Our fee structure, planning approach, and investment philosophy are designed and implemented with your retirement in mind. Above all, our job is to listen and help you design a plan where your money can be a tool for living a meaningful life.
As an independent wealth adviser, we don't represent any bank, investment firm, or insurance company which means we have no financial products to sell, and the recommendations we make are made because they are in the best interests of our clients.
As a fee-only adviser, the only fee we receive is what is paid directly to us from our clients, and we do not receive any commissions from a third party. In most cases we charge a flat-fee for investment management and financial planning services.
FOOTLAMP FINANCIAL does not safe keep securities in our offices. We safe keep client assets with a qualified custodian and our clients receive independent statements from the custodian in addition to our customized reports. This places our clients in a position of overview, control, and security. We operate like your personal Chief Financial Officer.
Ed Kerns, CFP® background information:
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Hometown: Clarksburg, West Virginia
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B.A. Economics and Business, Virginia Military Institute – 1993
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US Army Veteran
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Series 65 License – Investment Advisor
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Univ. of Georgia – Terry College of Business, Executive Program for Certified Financial Planner Certification - 2010
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CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional (CFP Board ID: 255008)
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Member, Lee County Sunrise Rotary Club
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Member, Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.
- Proverbs 11:25
This ancient script serves as the inspiration for our company trademark, FOOTLAMP, as we seek to provide light for your financial path through leadership, accountability, proactivity, and relationship.
334.203.2495 (AL) or 404-476-2236 (GA)