Frequently Asked Questions

Flat-fee financial planning means you pay a clear, agreed-upon fee for planning services rather than a percentage of assets under management (AUM). This structure may align our interests with yours and is one of several ways advisory services can be delivered.

Awaken Financial Designs LLC acts as an investment adviser and, as such, is subject to applicable fiduciary and anti-fraud duties under North Carolina law and federal securities laws. Fiduciary duties depend on the specific relationship and services provided under a written client agreement.

We serve individuals and couples who are preparing for or living in retirement, virtually nationwide and in person in North Carolina and Arizona.

Reach out through our contact page to schedule an initial conversation. Information provided on this website is educational and does not create an advisory relationship.

A trust is not a set-it-and-forget-it document. We recommend reviewing it whenever your circumstances change - a marriage or divorce, a new child or grandchild, a move to another state, or a meaningful change in assets. Proper funding also matters from the start, since assets need to be moved into the trust for it to carry out your wishes. We can help you set a simple, practical cadence for keeping it current.

They serve different purposes but work best together. A financial plan focuses on income, savings, and growth, while an estate plan addresses how your assets are passed on and who makes decisions if you cannot. When the two are coordinated, each one informs the other, and the picture is much clearer. We help people see how they fit together as part of one thoughtful approach.

Long-term care is one supporting piece of the protection side of a retirement plan - it helps you stay in control if care is ever needed later in life. It works alongside your healthcare and savings strategies rather than standing alone. We help people understand the options without pressure and see how this one piece fits into the broader picture.

A little advance planning can make a difficult time much easier to navigate. Knowing where accounts are held, what beneficiaries are listed, and who to call first spares the surviving spouse a great deal of administrative burden. We help couples put simple, practical steps in place so that if one partner passes, the other knows exactly where things stand and what comes next.