Chuck Donalies
CFP®
Donalies Financial Planning, LLC
Financial Planner
Chuck Donalies
CFP®
Donalies Financial Planning, LLC
Financial Planner
You have financial goals. Let us help you achieve them. - Chuck Donalies, CFP®
Donalies Financial Planning, LLC was founded in 2012 with the goal of providing fee-only financial planning and investment management advice to anyone in need of assistance. While DFP works with clients of all ages, the majority of our clients are between the ages of 35 and 75.
I live in Washington, D.C. with my wife and two adorable little girls (but I'm biased). When I'm not trying to keep up with the kids, I devote time to other passions: CrossFit, creating artwork inspired by video games, playing video games (to research new painting ideas!), and reading/watching bad sci-fi (well, there's almost no such thing as bad sci-fi).
My academic background includes a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from The University of Maryland at College Park in College Park, MD. I also hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, which requires hundreds of hours of study and completion of a rigorous exam. In addition, I'm a member of The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and The XY Planning Network.
Chuck Donalies, CFP® is the founder and financial advisor at Donalies Financial Planning located in Washington, DC.
Donalies Financial Planning, LLC was founded in 2012 with the goal of providing fee-only financial planning and investment management advice to anyone in need of assistance. While DFP works with clients of all ages, the majority of our clients are between the ages of 35 and 75.
I live in Washington, D.C. with my wife and two adorable little girls (but I'm biased). When I'm not trying to keep up with the kids, I devote time to other passions: CrossFit, creating artwork inspired by video games, playing video games (to research new painting ideas!), and reading/watching bad sci-fi (well, there's almost no such thing as bad sci-fi).
My academic background includes a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from The University of Maryland at College Park in College Park, MD. I also hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, which requires hundreds of hours of study and completion of a rigorous exam. In addition, I'm a member of The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and The XY Planning Network.
Chuck Donalies is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
Here's What to Expect
Every client engagement is different. That's because every client's goals and financial situation are different. Despite the variation, here is the framework we follow to ensure you're on the right path to achieving your financial goals.
Step 1: Establish the Relationship
The first step in the planning process is for you and the planner to get to know each other. In many cases, you may not even know if you want to work with a planner until after you've had the first meeting! This is why we offer a free 60-minute consultation, which can be conducted in-person, virtually, or via phone.
Typically, the planner asks a lot of questions at the beginning of the relationship. You should also be prepared to ask questions, too. For example, is the planner a fiduciary? In other words, does the planner always work in your best interest (Hint: They should be).
Here's a guide to the 19 questions you should ask every financial planner.
Step 2: Develop Your Goals and Get Organized
Once we're officially working together it's time to document all of your short and long-term goals. In addition, we'll need you to gather and share all of your financial information. This includes, but is not limited to, bank statements, retirement plan statements, tax returns, mortgage statements, and student loan statements.
Step 3: Analyze Your Information
Now that we have all of your relevant financial information, it's time for us to review everything and begin creating your financial plan, keeping your goals in mind. This is a time-intensive process during which the planner reviews all of your financial information and begins creating your custom financial plan.
Step 4: Explore Additional Opportunities
During the creation of a financial plan, new questions and opportunities often arise. It's not unusual for the planner to ask additional questions or to seek clarification on certain subjects.
Step 5: Implement the Plan
Now it's time for the client and the planner to to review the plan together, answer any oustanding questions, and implement the plan. During this step, accounts may be opened or rolled over, investments sold or purchased, changes made to retirement plans, or life insurance quotes obtained.
Remember, every client relationship is different, which means the number of items on the to-do list is too.
Step 6: Monitor and Adjust
Once the plan has been implemented, the planner will monitor everything and adjust as needed. Examples include, the planner tracking the client's spending habits and providing feedback on a monthly or quarterly basis, coordinating meetings with an estate attorney or insurance broker, or rebalancing investments.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- College Education Planning
- Tax Planning
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Dual-Income Households
- Government Employees
- Sudden Money Situations
- Novice Investors
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Charles Donalies is a NAPFA-Registered Financial AdvisorThe National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Charles Donalies is a Member of the XY Planning NetworkThe XY Planning Network is the leading organization of fee-only financial advisors who are focused on working with Generation X and Generation Y clients. Our mission is to connect consumers with best-in-class financial advisors who specialize in working with clients just like you.
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Charles Donalies is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for VerificationCFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Chuck Donalies is Featured on Milestone's Happy Hour Financial Planning Chat
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Chuck Donalies is a Guest on the Wine and Dime Podcast: "In the Land of China"
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Charles Donalies is Featured in the Washingtonian: "12 Tips for Managing Your Money When You Retire in Washington"
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Chuck Donalies is Featured on XYPN Radio: "Building A Deliberate Firm As An Introvert: The Career Of Chuck Donalies"
Contact Chuck Donalies
Office Locations:
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641 S Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
