This is the most important question you can ask. Your protection is built into the structure of our relationship:

• Custody vs. Advice: At Chalk Money, we provide financial advice and planning. We do not take custody of your assets. Your investments are held securely at a third-party, institutional custodian (Charles Schwab or Altruist).

• The Fiduciary Duty: Jay Kadlec is an Investment Advisor Representative, bound by a legal fiduciary duty. This is the highest standard of care, requiring us to put your interests ahead of our own at all times. All recommendations must be for your benefit.

• Transparency & Supervision: Our advisory firm, Chalk Money LLC, a DBA of Forefront Wealth Partners, LLC, is under the regulatory supervision of the SEC and state authorities. Our Form ADV (which details our fees, services, and conflicts) is publicly available.

A fiduciary is legally and ethically obligated to act in your best interest. Unlike some financial professionals who operate under a "suitability" standard (where a recommendation only has to be suitable, not necessarily the best option), a fiduciary must seek the best option for you, disclosing and minimizing any conflicts of interest. As your fiduciary, our loyalty is to you.

Our "Chalk Method" focuses on the unique challenges of your life stage. Core services include:

• Retirement & Income Planning: Creating a sustainable, tax-efficient income plan from your assets, Social Security, and pensions.

• Estate Planning: Guidance and implementation of wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations to ensure your legacy is protected.

• Tax Optimization: Strategies to manage tax liability on withdrawals, investments, and inheritances.

• Wealth Management: Ongoing investment management designed to protect and grow your assets throughout retirement with smart planning for withdrawals, taxes and legacy.

• Insurance & Risk Analysis: Evaluating needs for Medicare, Long-Term Care, Life, and Annuity products.

• Mortgage Advisory: Analysis for purchases, refinancing, and reverse mortgages.

Yes! We work with clients at every stage of the wealth-building journey from your first year of saving through your peak earning years. Our services for growing wealth include:

• Wealth Management & Investing: Building and managing a diversified, tax-efficient portfolio designed to grow with you over time.

• Tax-Efficient Planning: Strategies like maximizing 401(k) and Roth contributions, HSA optimization, and tax-loss harvesting to help you keep more of what you earn.

• Insurance & Risk Protection: Making sure you and your family are protected against the unexpected, with life, disability, and health coverage suited to your career stage.

• Mortgage & Major Purchase Planning: Guidance and providing of loans on home purchases and refinancing as well as how debt fits into your broader financial picture.

• Goal-Based Financial Planning: Mapping out a plan for major milestones such as buying a home, starting a family, growing a business, or reaching financial independence.

Yes, implementing estate plans for both blended and unblended families is a critical part of our practice. Blended families especially require careful planning to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes while considering children from previous marriages and your current spouse. Our team and attorney(s) work with you to structure assets, beneficiaries, trusts, and/or wills to provide clarity and prevent future conflict, ensuring your legacy protects who and what you care about.

This is a pivotal moment that requires a coordinated strategy. The first step is to schedule a planning session (ideally, well before your retirement date). We will analyze your pension options (e.g., lump sum vs. monthly payment), review your 401(k) rollover strategies to maintain tax efficiency, model your expected income needs, and create a timeline for Social Security. The goal is to build a cohesive income plan from these different sources before you submit your retirement paperwork.

Yes, Roth IRA conversion analysis is a cornerstone of our retirement tax planning services. We project your future income and tax brackets to determine if strategically converting portions of a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA over several years makes sense for you. This can help reduce future required minimum distributions (RMDs), medicare cost increases (IRMAA), and tax liabilities, potentially leaving more tax-free money for you and your heirs.

Planning for long-term care without insurance involves building a dedicated funding strategy. We would model various scenarios to estimate potential costs, then explore alternatives like setting aside a specific investment portfolio, utilizing home equity (including reverse mortgages), or leveraging certain hybrid financial products. The goal is to create a pragmatic plan that protects your other assets and provides options, without assuming insurance is the only solution.

It is never too late to start. While starting early has advantages, making a plan at any age can significantly improve your financial security and options. For those near or in retirement, our focus shifts to efficient income strategies, tax optimization, risk management, and ensuring your estate is in order. Even small, informed adjustments can make a meaningful difference in your comfort and confidence.

Fees are included on this website under “Services,” within our Form ADV, as well as being fully disclosed in writing before any agreed-upon work begins.
Our compensation is structured to align with your goals and may include:

• Fee-Only Planning Fees: When applicable, this would include a fixed or hourly fee for financial, estate, or tax planning.

• Assets Under Management (AUM) Fees: A percentage fee based on the investment assets we manage for you, which incentivizes portfolio growth.

• Insurance/Mortgage Commissions: We may earn commissions from a licensed provider if you choose to implement an insurance or mortgage product we recommend. This is always disclosed, and a fiduciary recommendation must still be in your best interest, regardless of compensation.

Advisors can be incentivized by high commissions to sell certain products. As a fiduciary, our duty is to analyze whether an annuity, whole life, or any other solution is truly in your best interest. We will only recommend a product if, after a full analysis of your goals and alternatives, it proves to be the most suitable strategy for a specific need, such as generating guaranteed lifetime income.

You retain full control of your accounts. We provide investment advice and manage portfolios through a discretionary authority, but your assets are held securely at a major, independent custodian like Charles Schwab or Altruist. You receive regular statements from the custodian and can view your accounts online 24/7. This separation of advice (us) and custody (the large institution) is a critical layer of protection for you.

While we’re based in the Midwest of the United States of America, we serve clients across the entire nation and have many solutions that span all 50 states. We conduct meetings via secure video conference or phone, and all technology is designed for a seamless remote experience.

It's a collaborative, educational journey in clear, plain language:

1. Coffee Chat (Discover): We dive into your finances, goals, and concerns.

2. Chalk It Out (Analyze & Strategize): We review your data, identify risks/opportunities, and draft a personalized plan.

3. Catalyze Your Plan (Implement & Review): We implement the plan together. From there, we provide ongoing monitoring as well as annual reviews to adapt to life's changes.

Yes, he holds active licenses for insurance (Life, Health, Annuity, LTC) and as a Mortgage Loan Officer (NMLS #2343444). This allows us to provide integrated advice. For example, we can analyze if a reverse mortgage fits your retirement income plan or if a Long-Term Care policy is a prudent risk management tool. Our fiduciary duty applies to these recommendations as well. You are never obligated to use these services, and we will refer you to another qualified professional if preferred.

Generally, no.
It depends on the engagement of services you pursue with us. For example, if you were to engage us for estate planning, then our attorneys would enact your legal documents. But if you engage us for financial and insurance planning, then we would coordinate with your estate attorney(s) to ensure your investment, tax, and estate strategies work in harmony.

We act as the quarterback of your financial team. We help identify issues for you to discuss with them, making your relationships with them and us more effective.

• Certified Financial Planner® (CFP® Board ID# 447990): CFP® professionals meet rigorous education, training and ethical standards, and commit to CFP Board to serve their clients’ best interests.

• Licensed Investment Advisor Representative (SEC/FINRA CRD# 7047900): Held to a fiduciary standard for investment advice.

• Licensed Insurance Agent (NPN 18005247): For life, health, disability, annuity, and long-term care products.

• Licensed Mortgage Loan Officer (NMLS# 2343444): For mortgage planning and loans.

• Registered Tennessee Notary Public.

Our practice is built for continuity. Jay Kadlec is an Investment Advisor Representative of Chalk Money LLC, a DBA of Forefront Advisor Network. We are part of an established firm, and our business has detailed succession plans in place. Should Jay Kadlec become unable to serve you, another qualified advisor within the network would be appointed to seamlessly take over the management of your plan and ensure you continue to receive service without interruption.

The titles are often used interchangeably, but there's a key distinction. A "financial advisor" is a broad term for anyone who provides financial advice, which can include salespeople focused on products. A "financial planner," like Jay Kadlec, takes a holistic, goals-based approach. We analyze your entire financial life—cash flow, taxes, insurance, estate, and investments—to create a comprehensive, written plan. All financial planners are advisors, but not all advisors provide disciplined, ongoing financial planning.

The first step with us is a complimentary introductory call. This is a chance for you to share what's on your mind—whether it's worry about running out of money, confusion over investment options, or planning an estate—and for us to explain how our "Chalk Method" process works. If we both agree there's a good fit, the next step is a Coffee Chat (discovery meeting) where we dive into your complete financial picture.

The first step is a complimentary introductory call. We'll discuss your situation, see if there's a good fit, and explain the exact next steps. To schedule, call (865) 465-9811 or email jay@chalkmoney.com.