About

It depends on the advisor, but here’s how we do things at Chesapeake:

• Flat annual fee for planning: Our comprehensive financial planning and personal oversight ranges from $3,000 to $10,000 per year, depending on the complexity of your situation.
• Optional investment management: We charge a percentage of assets under management. That starts around 1.3% for smaller portfolios and decreases to as low as 0.35% as your assets grow.

We’re also licensed to offer commission-based products (like life insurance), but we only recommend them when they’re in your best interest and we’ll always disclose how we’re compensated.

No guesswork. Our fee structure is fully disclosed in our client agreement. Just full transparency and a clear breakdown of what you're paying for and why it matters.

It means they’re legally and ethically required to put your interests first.*

A fiduciary must give advice that’s best for you. That includes full transparency about fees, conflicts of interest, and recommendations.

At Chesapeake, we strive to uphold the fiduciary standard as Certified Financial Planner™ professionals and CPA’s and as people who believe you deserve honest, personalized guidance.**

We’re also dual-registered, which means we can offer commission-based solutions (like insurance) but only when they truly fit your needs. If we recommend something that involves a commission, we’ll clearly explain why, how we’re paid, and what your alternatives are.

Bottom line? We treat your money with the same care we’d want for our own families.

Yes, and an advisor should be willing to talk about them openly.

Anytime someone gives you financial advice and could earn money from that advice, there’s potential for conflict. That doesn’t mean the advice is bad, it just means you deserve to know the full picture.

Here’s what to ask:

• Do you receive commissions from any products you recommend?
• Are you affiliated with any firms or platforms that influence your recommendations?
• Are you always using the fiduciary standard when giving advice?
• How are you paid and how might that impact what you suggest?

At Chesapeake, we’re committed to full transparency. Yes, we’re dual-registered and can receive commissions when appropriate, but we always act in a fiduciary capacity and disclose any potential conflicts up front. No hidden agendas. No fine print.

If your advisor gets defensive when you ask these questions, that’s a red flag.

The short answer: ask the right questions and pay attention to how they answer.

Here’s what to look for:

• Are they a fiduciary 100% of the time? That means they’re legally obligated to put your interests first, not just when it’s convenient.*
• Do they clearly explain how they’re paid and why they’re recommending something? Vague answers or “don’t worry about it” are red flags.
• Do they educate you or just tell you what to do? Advisors who truly work in your best interest will empower you, not keep you in the dark.
• Do they adjust your plan as your life changes or leave you on autopilot? Real partnership means ongoing guidance, not one-and-done advice.

At Chesapeake, Jeff is a CFP® professional, and Mark is a CPA®, who strive to always act as fiduciaries, even when we’re offering commissionable products. We lead with education, transparency, and accountability—because trust is everything in this business.

Start by looking beyond the title. “Financial advisor” isn’t a regulated term, anyone can use it, regardless of training or experience.

Here’s how to spot real qualifications:

• Do they hold respected credentials? Look for designations like CFP® (Certified Financial Planner™), ChFC®, or CPA® not just generic titles.
• Do they have experience with situations like yours? If you’re selling a business, managing equity comp, or planning early retirement, make sure they’ve done it before.
• Are they held to a fiduciary standard? That means they will always put your interests first.
• Do they take a comprehensive approach? Great planners look beyond investments. They help with tax planning, cash flow, insurance, estate planning, and long-term strategy.

At Chesapeake, our advisors hold advanced credentials including CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CPA, and RICP®. We serve as fiduciaries, bring decades of experience, and provide ongoing oversight, not one-time plans.**

A CFP® (Certified Financial Planner™) has met rigorous standards in education, ethics, and experience.

Here’s what sets a CFP® apart:

• Comprehensive knowledge: CFP® professionals must master a wide range of topics like investments, taxes, insurance, estate planning, retirement strategies, and more.
• Real-world experience: They’re required to have thousands of hours of professional experience before they can use the CFP® designation.
• Fiduciary standard: CFP® professionals are held to a strict ethical standard to always put your interests first.
• Ongoing education: They must complete continuing education (including ethics) to stay current and maintain certification.

At Chesapeake, we combine deep expertise, multiple advanced designations, and concierge-level service. Because you deserve more than just advice. You deserve a partner you can trust.

It all comes down to how they get paid and who they’re ultimately working for.

• Fee-only advisors are paid directly by you, the client. That could be a flat annual fee, hourly rate, or percentage of assets managed. They don’t earn commissions from selling products, which reduces potential conflicts of interest.
• Commission-based advisors are paid by third parties when they sell products like insurance or annuities. That means their income may be tied to what they recommend, even if it’s not the best fit for you.

There’s also a third category, like us at Chesapeake:

We’re fee-based and use the fiduciary standard, meaning*:

• We charge a transparent fee for planning and investment management
• We can offer commissionable products (like life insurance) when appropriate
• We always act in your best interest as a CFP® professional and a CPA® professional and disclose how we’re paid**

The key isn’t just how someone gets paid, it’s how transparent they are about it, and whether they act in your best interest at all times.

We believe the most meaningful credentials are the ones that reflect deep training, ethical standards, and real-world experience, not just flashy titles.

Here are what we believe to be the top designations to look for:

• CFP® (Certified Financial Planner™): The most widely recognized comprehensive financial planning credential. Requires extensive coursework, a rigorous exam, years of experience, and ongoing education. CFPs are held to the fiduciary standard, meaning they must always act in your best interest.
• ChFC® (Chartered Financial Consultant): Like the CFP®, with a broader focus and additional electives in areas like small business or special needs planning.
• CPA (Certified Public Accountant): Especially valuable for clients needing deep tax planning expertise or business planning.
• RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional): Ideal for clients approaching or in retirement—focuses on tax-efficient income strategies, Social Security, Medicare, and longevity risk.
• CLU® (Chartered Life Underwriter): Useful for complex insurance, estate, or legacy planning strategies.

These credentials require years of training, ethics oversight, and continuing education so you’re not just getting advice, you’re getting valued expertise.

At Chesapeake, our advisors hold multiple advanced credentials and always serve as fiduciaries because we believe you deserve nothing but the best.

The short answer? Independence means our only loyalty is to you.

Here’s how we differ from banks or big-name firms:

• No proprietary products

Banks often incentivize their advisors to sell in-house funds, insurance, or other products. We have no such obligation.

• Advice at a fiduciary standard, not sales quotas

As independent CFP® and CPA® professionals, we’re held to the fiduciary standard, legally bound to put your interests first.**

• Personalized service, not a call center

At Chesapeake, you work directly with your advisor, not a rotating team of junior staff. We build long-term relationships with real accountability.

• Tailored strategies, not cookie-cutter plans
• We’re not tied to one-size-fits-all portfolios. We create integrated plans built around your goals, tax picture, cash flow, and lifestyle.

In short: independence gives us the freedom to do what’s best for you—and only you.