Firm Overview

 

FIRM OVERVIEW

Gibson Financial Solutions, Inc. is a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm located in Ellsworth, Maine. GFS is registered in Maine and Florida.

GFS is a client-focused NAPFA registered investment advisory firm offering planning and investment services. GFS does not charge commissions.

Gibson Financial Solutions, Inc. is owned by Paul E. J. Pangburn,  CFP®.

Our primary focus is financial planning, a process in which we help our clients get organized, set goals, and develop strategies to meet those goals. Our fee-only approach enables us to view each client’s circumstances objectively and all recommendations are made purely with the clients’ best interests in mind. We are FIDUCIARIES for our clients.

Paul began his career in 2007, developing a passion for helping clients make life decisions as they relate to finances and gaining a great deal of satisfaction from seeing clients’ concerns diminish as their knowledge grows, consequently giving them control over their financial lives. The financial planning process involves working with numbers as well as the softer issues in life and both are equally as important and influential. The financial planning process is an ongoing process since our clients’ lives, circumstances and dreams change over time.

Mission statement and values:

The Mission of Gibson Financial Solutions, Inc. is to educate clients to enable them to take control of their own financial circumstances with confidence.

In fulfilling its mission, employees of GFS place a high value on the following traits and actions:

  • Client Service-responsive and proactive
  • Educating Clients
  • Empowering Clients
  • Clients’ interests first
  • Ethical conduct at all times
  • Honesty
  • Trustworthy
  • Respectful of all others
  • Confidentiality
  • Standards of Excellence

Frequently Asked Questions:

Am I qualified to be a client of Gibson Financial Solutions, Inc.?
We work with clients who have substantial assets as well as those who are just beginning to build assets.

What does it cost to work with Gibson Financial Solutions, Inc.?
We work with clients in a number of ways. Our hourly planning fee is $200. An average financial plan that addresses the multiple aspects of a family’s personal finances typically takes between 3-10 hours, depending upon the complexity of a client’s situation. Hourly charges will be billed periodically or upon completion of plan. Completion of the planning process includes reports on all aspects of one’s financial circumstances, and may include a write-up of findings and recommendations, if desired, and a task list of things to accomplish to improve financial outlook. Once the plan is developed, we are available to assist with implementation or ongoing consulting at our hourly rate.

Investment management fees are based upon the assets we manage. Our fee schedule is generally 1% of market value annually to $1,000,000 , .5% to $3,000,000 , .25% on balances, payable monthly or quarterly, with a $500 minimum fee. Alternatively, under certain special circumstances a fixed retainer fee may be assessed in lieu of the AUM fee.

Do you sell any product, receive commissions or get referral fees?
No. We work on a fee-only basis and the only compensation we receive is that paid by you to us.

What information will I need to provide for financial planning?
It will depend on what you want us to do for you. The basic rule is you can’t give us too much information! We will want to know about your personal goals, values, fears, concerns, past experiences and financial biases. We are likely to want to see tax returns, divorce papers, wills and estate plans, business agreements, insurance documents, investment and bank statements, employee benefit statements, pay stubs, and anything else you think might be relevant. We ask you also to complete a questionnaire which includes a list of documents we’d like you to provide us. We also need you to be actively involved in the process.

Is there a cost for the first meeting?
As a general rule, no. We use this first meeting to determine whether or not we can effectively be of service to you, as well as to allow you to evaluate us. In other words, it’s a time for us to get to know one another. As long as that is the main purpose, there is no charge for the meeting. On the other hand, if the purpose of the meeting is to address very specific questions of yours and to get our advice about how to handle them, then we would charge you for the time at our normal hourly rate.

How many clients do you have?
We have approximately 140 investment management clients and we intend to keep our number small in order to provide quality service. We also work with a number of clients on a consulting basis. Our clients cover a broad spectrum of demographics. Our goal is to work with a manageable number of clients (rather than grow grow grow!) so that we can control the quality of services provided, in line with our values.

Who will I be working with?
Paul Pangburn is the primary service provider for Gibson Financial Solutions. Office Manager Kim Clark provides support in all aspects of business management and client services.

Disclosures: Gibson Financial Solutions, Inc. is a state registered Investment Adviser in the states of Maine and Florida. Gibson Financial Solutions does not render or offer to render personalized investment advice or financial planning advice through this medium. This medium is limited to the dissemination of general information on our services and provides a way for you to contact us. Advice can only be rendered after all of the following conditions are met: 1. Delivery of our Form ADV Part II or the brochure equivalent to you. 2. Execution of an Advisory Agreement or Financial Planning Agreement between you and Gibson Financial Solutions, Inc.