Frequently Asked Questions

I'm Cliff Brockmann, a CFP^® and EA, and High Touch Financial Planning offers comprehensive financial planning with a strong emphasis on proactive, tax-efficient wealth strategies. While I do not file taxes, my combined CFP^® and EA expertise lets me integrate long-term financial goals, retirement planning, education funding, and legacy strategies, with both current and future tax considerations. This approach helps you reduce long-term tax drag and build wealth more efficiently.

I specialize in serving people who are underserved or overcharged by the traditional 1% AUM model, high-net-worth individuals who pay more than they should, and high-income individuals who don't yet have large investment balances but need real planning. My clients want advice, not products. They want a partner who helps them build wealth, not someone who profits only after they already have it.

Most firms focus heavily on investment management, but I focus on true financial planning, not just product sales. After nearly a decade at major institutions, I saw firsthand how asset-focused business models pushed advisors toward pace over perfection. I built High Touch Financial Planning to be the opposite: fewer clients, deeper relationships, and strategies tailored to individual goals, not sales metrics.

I use a flat-fee model, not an asset-based percentage. Your costs stay predictable and transparent, and more of your assets stay invested for your future. A flat fee eliminates many of the conflicts of interest common in percentage-based models and more closely aligns my incentives with your goals.

Yes. I act as a full fiduciary, meaning I am legally and ethically required to put your interests first. My flat-fee structure reinforces this commitment by removing product-based incentives or pressure to gather assets.

Yes. I offer both virtual appointments and in-person meetings at my office at 2001 US-46 Suite 310, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Clients across the country appreciate the convenience of a modern, flexible planning experience.

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER is a financial professional who has met the CFP Board's education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements, and who commits to acting as a fiduciary when providing financial advice. The certification covers the full planning picture: investments, retirement, insurance, taxes, estate, and cash flow. My CFP^® training is what turns scattered financial decisions into one coordinated plan.

An Enrolled Agent is a tax professional credentialed by the IRS. While I do not represent clients before the IRS, my EA designation provides deep tax-planning knowledge. This helps ensure your financial plan accounts for the tax side of every major decision, something many advisors overlook.

Your accounts are held at Altruist, a secure, modern custodian used by thousands of financial advisors nationwide. Altruist minimizes hidden fees, which allows savings to flow directly to you. I am also part of Core Planning, a network of independent advisors who share a commitment to simplicity, transparency, and fiduciary care.

I believe simplicity is the smartest long-term strategy. Overly complex investment strategies often generate unnecessary taxes and higher fees, ultimately reducing wealth. A clear, disciplined approach, anchored in evidence-based investing, helps you stay aligned with your goals while minimizing costs. Read the full philosophy here.