WHO WE ARE
TRUSTED ADVISORS
As a fiduciary and fee-only financial planning firm, Method, is committed to providing objective advice and guidance on your entire financial picture. We do not receive compensation outside of the client/advisor relationship, and provide advice with no other incentive but to help you to identify and achieve your own personal financial goals. We offer unparalleled peace of mind by designing and implementing individualized financial plans regardless of where your investment and financial accounts reside.
INDUSTRY LEADING PROFESSIONALS
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals must complete extensive training and experience requirements and be held continuously to rigorous ethical standards. They must adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism and diligence when dealing with clients. Only 20 percent of all financial advisors hold a CFP® designation. (Source: www.cfp.net)
Katie Burke, CFP®
...to offer clients simpler, more effective solutions to achieve their financial goals, by focusing on what is important to you, the client.
My experience gives me the knowledge my clients trust and the personalized service they receive at Method gives my clients the service experience they deserve.
As a wife, mother and business owner I understand the stress of managing the household finances on top of everything else on your never ending list of things to do. My goal is to simplify this process and help clients take control of their finances and feel empowered to make good financial decisions.
I am so passionate about my work and the relationships that I have with my clients that in 2018 I co-founded Equita Financial Network, a collaboration of women-led planning firms to help attract, support and retain women in the financial planning profession. I am also a mentor through the CFP® Board to support others through the process of obtaining the CFP® certification.
If I can find some free time after chasing after my two sons, Parker (5) and Ashton (3) I like to spend my time running, reading, getting together with family and planning (I can’t help it – I am built to plan!) with my husband, Ryan, for whatever is next.
Mario Nardone, CFA®
...financial advisors on investment policy, portfolio construction, and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).
Mario also contributed to the research and publication of the firm's world-renowned investment philosophy and served as a municipal bond fund specialist, among other roles during his tenure.
In 2003 he earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, widely regarded as the highest standard in the investment profession, and he continues to mentor aspiring Charter candidates in its curriculum, ethics, and career opportunities. Mario relocated to Charleston in 2010 to serve as Chief Investment Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for a respected financial planning and advisory firm in Mount Pleasant before establishing East Bay Financial Services, the collaborative partner firm of Method Financial Planning. Mario is Past President and of CFA Society South Carolina and Former Chairman of the College of Charleston Finance Department Advisory Board.
His approach to investments and the industry has been featured in Investment News, NAPFA Advisor Magazine, and other regional and local publications. Mario is active in recreational sports and the Charleston community, and is a member of the Historic Middleton Place Foundation. He is an avid traveler and SCUBA diver, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Piper, and their "energetic" lab/shepherd mix, Cady.
WHAT WE DO
Our planning process starts with you. Together we will shape your financial future by building a customized plan and action list based on your needs, concerns and goals. We focus exclusively on financial planning and offer the following services:
- Organize your entire financial picture
- Define the path to reach your financial goals
- Create a system of accountability to help you attain financial success
- Serve as a trusted advisor to support you every step of the way
Comprehensive Financial Planning – Every client relationship begins with a comprehensive financial plan to understand where you are today and where you want to be. We will work with you every step of the way to organize your financial life and create a clear path to achieve your goals. Along the way we give you the tools and education to feel empowered financially and the support needed to make informed financial decisions. The planning process culminates in a personalized assessment and an implementation checklist detailing the steps needed to put your customized plan into action.
Investment Management – Our investment management solutions are tailored for each client specific to their needs. We are a member of a select group of advisors utilizing the Dimensional Fund Advisors investment platform. Dimensional’s investment approach is grounded in economic theory, backed by decades of empirical research. Over time the performance of your investments may vary, however Method’s role as your trusted advisor is to cut through the noise, adhering to your financial plan on your road to success.
Ongoing Financial Consulting – Financial plans are dynamic and we are here to provide you with the advice and guidance that is important to you. As a client you will have access to our innovative planning solution, MyBLUEPRINT, providing a clear dashboard of your entire financial picture. My BLUEPRINT and its features, are available when convenient to you (24/7); providing a central location for viewing all of your financial accounts, managing budgets, and the ability to archive your important documents in a secure vault.
Blog
The Importance of Knowing Your Money Mindset
Money may involve percentages and compound interest, savings scenarios and formulas, but the logical comfort of math does not make our response to a crisp Benjamin any less emotionally driven. But once you know your money mindset it is possible to rationalize your conscious mind away from automatic habits and disentangle the emotion from the[…]
Tax Season Part 2: Smart Ways to Manage Taxable Accounts
Tax season is about more than just reluctantly handing over hard-earned dollars to Uncle Sam. It is also a time to reflect on the multitude of options and vehicles available to the astute investor. It is a moment to refocus your attention on diversification and portfolio construction, to check the choices you’ve made in the[…]
Tax Season Part 1: Get All Your Ducks in a Row
Tax Day – for many, possibly one of the most loathed entries on the annual calendar – usually falls on or shortly after April 15 and is the day by which your federal tax return must be submitted. In 2022, April 18 marks the deadline for filing your 2021 tax season return. If the idea[…]
Setting Financial Goals: Taking Stock and Plotting New Paths
Every year, at roughly this time, financial planners and wealth management professionals encourage clients to sit down and undertake a thorough review of the year past. An annual review of your financial goals, as well as the progress made in attaining them, is a cornerstone of responsible financial planning. It provides a timely reminder of[…]
Social Security and Retirement: What Should You Expect?
Social Security is the one monthly contribution American workers don’t begrudge, and which millions count on each and every year. In 2021 alone, Social Security paid out more than $1 trillion in benefits to some 65 million recipients, including some 46.7 million retirees and 8.1 million disabled workers. According to the US Social Security Administration[…]
Create an Investment Strategy that Works for Your Personal Situation
It’s never been easier to access a range of investment options. Today’s investor can buy stocks across a range of sectors with just the click of a button, they can hold cryptocurrencies alongside US Treasury bonds and property, and easily gain exposure to markets as far afield as Europe and Asia. But just because you[…]
Saving for College? Here’s Why You Should Consider a 529 Plan
Have you ever weighed up the return on investment that comes with having a college degree? Or why saving for a child’s college education is among the biggest financial stressors facing American parents? If you sit down to crunch the numbers, it’s clear that it all comes down to future possibilities. Holding an associate degree[…]
Looking After Your Health: A Vital Part of Your Financial Plan
How do you imagine your retirement? I’m sure you see yourself aging gracefully, a picture of health and happiness, right? Maybe enjoying frequent holidays, catching up with friends and loved ones, pursuing interests and hobbies once your working days are behind you. But your health is certainly not to be taken for granted, and neither[…]
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Please note that we work with clients across the nation.