Charles Schwab FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Unified Retirement Planning Group's transition to Charles Schwab - not for its broker-dealer operations - but solely as custodian of your assets.
Questions About Your Schwab Custodial Account?
If you have any additional questions, you’re welcome to call us at 914-432-5800 or schedule a time to speak with Peter. We appreciate your trust and are excited to continue serving you through this next chapter.
1. Why did you decide to leave your previous firm, and why didn’t you tell us ahead of time?
We made this decision to serve our clients with an independent, fiduciary-focused structure. Our firm name, Unified Retirement Planning Group, remains the same and our new firm allows us to offer greater flexibility, transparency, and alignment with your best interests. At the end of 2026, your accounts were scheduled to be moved to LPL Financial due to Commonwealth’s decision to sell their practice - all a matter of public record. We spent a lot of time researching our options to remain putting our clients needs first, in a full fiduciary capacity. We are excited to begin this next chapter in putting our clients needs first, a not so common commitment on Wall Street.
Due to industry regulations, we were not permitted to discuss this transition with you in advance. As soon as we were allowed, we began communicating directly with you to ensure a smooth and transparent process.
2. Why did you choose Charles Schwab as custodian, and what is its track record?
We are aligning with Charles Schwab as a custodian to secure your assets and not for its broker-dealer operations. Charles Schwab is a widely-known custodian in the financial services industry with over $11 trillion dollars of company assets. Unified Retirement Planning Group has over 30 years of industry-related experience with over $170 million of client assets. Our investment philosophy, retirement planning focus and client relationships remain exactly the same. This transition allows us to build a firm designed specifically around our clients’ needs, compliance oversight, with modern technology and full fiduciary responsibility.
3. How long will my accounts take to transfer, and how will I know when it’s complete?
Most account transfers are completed within 1–3 weeks, depending on the account type and delivering institution.
We will keep you informed throughout the process and notify you once your accounts have fully transferred and are ready for normal activity.
4. What happens to my account history and cost basis?
Your account history and cost basis information will transfer with your accounts in most cases.
There may be a short period where some historical data is still updating, but nothing is lost. We monitor this closely to ensure everything is accurate.
5. Who do I contact if you’re not available? What happens when you’re on vacation?
You will always have access to our team for support. We have systems in place to ensure your needs are handled promptly, even when we are unavailable.
Additionally, your accounts will be held with Charles Schwab, providing an added layer of service and security.
6. What happens to my accounts if something happens to you?
We have a formal continuity plan in place to ensure your accounts continue to be managed without interruption.
This includes arrangements for another qualified advisor to step in and provide service if needed. Your assets remain safely held at an independent custodian at all times. Contact us with any questions.
7. Will my periodic transactions be interrupted? How do I make sure I receive my money?
We take great care to ensure that all recurring transactions—such as withdrawals, deposits, and required distributions—continue without interruption.
During the transition, we will confirm these instructions with you and monitor them closely to ensure everything proceeds as expected.
8. Will my fee change? How and when will my accounts be billed?
Your fee structure will remain consistent with what we have previously agreed upon. Accounts are typically billed quarterly in advance, exactly how you have been used to, based on the value of assets under management. We are always available to review your specific arrangement with you at any time.
We’re Here to Help
If you have any additional questions, you’re welcome to call us at 914-432-5800 or schedule a time to speak with Peter. We appreciate your trust and are excited to continue serving you through this next chapter.