McQuade, Kathleen Mary

This firm is a fee-only, solo practice that provides financial planning and consulting to individual clients, covering investment planning, retirement, insurance, education and estate planning. Engagements are tailored and range from comprehensive written financial plans developed over several meetings to ongoing consultations, shorter two-hour "Financial Physical" sessions, and hourly advice.

The adviser emphasizes a fundamental, long-term, buy-and-hold approach and generally recommends no-load, low-cost, tax-efficient mutual funds—primarily index funds—with asset allocation identified as the primary driver of portfolio returns. The firm does not accept discretionary authority or custody of client assets, so recommendations are implemented at the client’s discretion and account reviews are conducted by the adviser annually or as needed.

Notable features in the brochure include a small client base and a fee-only model that relies on fixed, retainer, or hourly engagements rather than percentage-of-AUM billing, and a two-hour "Financial Physical" option that functions as a concise planning workshop. The adviser’s advanced academic credentials and prior sell-side analyst experience, together with an absence of brokerage or referral arrangements, further distinguish the practice from many peers.