How I Help Clients Align Their Money with What Matters Most

Discussing Financial Planning at Stanley Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho

While out at Stanley Lake with Mount McGown rising behind me, I recorded a quick video introducing myself and my firm. I had just cross-country skied in for the first time—only fell a couple of times! Watch the video here.

Meet Your Financial Planning Guide

Hi folks, I'm Robbie Schoonmaker with Matterhorn Financial Planning. I just want to take a couple minutes and introduce myself today—and my firm.

I’m out here at Stanley Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho, with Mount McGown behind me. I cross-country skied in today, and it's actually my first day on cross-country skis. I only fell a couple times, so that’s not bad, I think.

My Professional Background

Let me just tell you a little about me professionally first.

I’ve been a financial planner for 20 years—since the summer of 2000. I have a Master’s in Accountancy, I’m a CPA, and of course, a Certified Financial Planner.

I’ve also done training in George Kinder’s Life Planning approach, and am now a Registered Life Planner.

I’ve got over a dozen years of experience in direct real estate investment management, and I’ve worked with clients ranging from the guy next door who has no money and a bunch of debt and is just trying to work on budgeting, to clients that have $100 million in investable assets.

Who I Am Outside of Work

Personally, I’ve got eight kids—yeah, eight, that’s right—and they range from living out of the house to living with me full-time to some of them living with me half the time.

I love learning, music, art, experiencing new things, chocolate, donuts, and hamburgers. And I love being in the wilderness, particularly by myself.

What Matterhorn Financial Planning Offers

A Different Kind of Financial Planning

Matterhorn Financial Planning is a one-person firm—just me. I offer all the traditional financial planning services: retirement planning, cash flow planning, benefits reviews, insurance reviews, and helping you get educated and make decisions. I also help with your investments and really try to make your money match with you.

So what’s different from some other firms?

Fee Structure That Works for You

Number one, I work as a consultant. I work on an hourly basis. No assets under management fee. No product sales. Basically, you’re buying my brain and my time—for whatever that’s worth!

I don’t care how much money you’ve got or where it goes or what you’re invested in or which brokerage firm you’re with. None of that affects me. I'm just here to help you get educated on what the risks of your different decisions are, what the potential benefits are, what’s possible and what’s not—and help you make decisions yourself.

I will not be delivering a single financial plan with all of the answers. It’ll be consulting, and you’ll have to be mentally engaged in the process for it to work.

My Life-First Approach to Planning

Uncover What Matters Most

Rather than just starting by asking you what your goals are, I like to go through a process—some meetings and activities—for you to get in touch with what is most important in your life.

We’ll work to help you identify what might be missing that needs to be there. In the short term, what are the most essential elements of a fulfilled life for you? Why don’t you have that right now? What’s standing in the way?

Then we can make that the purpose of your money. We can make that the focus of a financial plan, and make sure that we’re making your life the best it can be with all the effort you’ve put in and the resources that you have.

That’s the most fulfilling part of financial planning to me.

How I Work with Investments

No Control, Just Guidance

On the investment side, I never take discretion over people’s investments. I never take control. I consult with you on your risk tolerance, your time frame, and those kinds of things.

We set up a passive portfolio to work with that you can manage yourself if you want, within parameters we set up. Or we can touch base on it on an ongoing basis.

It’s just index funds—long-term strategic asset allocation. I don’t have fantastic stock tips. I don’t think that works. It sure doesn’t for me.

Flexible, Virtual, and Personal

I work virtually, out of my home. We just work on Zoom, so I can work with you wherever you’re at.

I do some nights and weekend appointments. I’m just flexible.

Take a look around the website—it’s got pictures of beautiful places I’ve been in Idaho, that I’ve taken. There’s free stuff—take advantage of that. Reach out to me. You can schedule an appointment for free at the top.

I’d love to talk to you. Thanks.