Frequently Asked Questions

The technical answer to that is we help people plan for retirement, create financial plans, ensure estate plans are sound, manage risk, proactively tax plan, manage investment portfolios, and much more. The practical answer is much more simple: we guide people to peace of mind and confidence.

No set number to worry about here. Unlike many other financial advisor offices, we don't set "minimums" just to get in the door.

Our first meeting is really just a conversation. We want to get to know you — what you really care about most, what's going on in your life right now, what you're working toward, and what financial concerns keep you up at night. There's no obligation and no pressure. By the end, you'll have a clear sense of whether we're a good fit, and we'll have a starting point for building something around what matters most to you.

Every situation is a little different, but most plans take a few meetings to really take shape. To give you the best service that you deserve, we need to make sure we understand your position and goals, and then build a plan tailored around that information. You'll never be left wondering what's happening — we'll keep you posted at every step.

Yes. Your first conversation with us doesn't cost you anything, and there's no commitment attached to it. We want you to leave that meeting with clarity — whether that means moving forward with us or just having a better sense of your own financial picture.

Absolutely. A lot of the families we work with have spent decades in steady, hardworking jobs — plenty of our Ohio clients built their careers at the Honda plant, for example — and simply want to protect what they've earned and feel confident heading into retirement. You don't need to consider yourself wealthy to deserve a solid plan.

A lot of the folks we work with are retirees or getting close to it, but we also work with younger families and working professionals who are just starting to build wealth and want to protect the people they love. Wherever you are in that journey, we can help guide your next steps.

Very. We have been helping long-time Honda employees for years and, by this point, have constructed hundreds of retirement plans for those who wear the Honda whites.

Yes. Alongside individuals and families, we work with business owners on everything from personal financial planning to Simple IRA plans.

We have three offices — one in Bellefontaine, OH, one in Dublin, OH and one in Jacksonville, FL. If you're in Central Ohio or Northeast Florida, there's a good chance we're right around the corner.

Yes. We love meeting people in person, but we also meet with clients over Zoom and phone conference, so distance doesn't have to get in the way of working together.

Since 1979. We have active members of the second and third generation of the family carrying that same commitment to integrity and care forward.

Pat Dodds started this company in 1979. He and his wife Sharon raised 8 kids and most all of them either work in our company now or have at some point. All four of his boys, a daughter, and a son-in-law are current advisors for us. His family retains ownership of the company, so the only people we answer to are the people who matter most — our clients.

Dodds Wealth Advisors has served Bellefontaine-area families and business owners since 1979 — with 95 combined years of experience in retirement, investment, and tax planning. We're independent, not tied to proprietary products or sales quotas, and as fiduciaries we're legally required to put your interests first. When you have a question, you're talking to the people who built your plan — not a call center. That local accountability is something we take seriously.

We are, literally, a family business, comprised of sons, daughters, siblings, in-laws — you name it. So we treat our clients like an extension of that family. You're not a number in a call center queue — you're getting to know real people who plan to be around for the long haul, the same way Pat built relationships in this community starting back in 1979.

Securities offered through us are processed through Money Concepts Capital Corp, a broker-dealer member of FINRA and SIPC. Dodds Wealth Advisors operates independently — we're not owned by or affiliated with Money Concepts beyond that securities relationship.

It means we've been reviewed and approved to be part of Ramsey Solutions' network of trusted financial professionals — we've been part of that network since 2018. If you've been through Financial Peace University or you just like Dave Ramsey's money mindset, you'll find our philosophy lines up well with those values.

As a registered investment advisor, we're held to a fiduciary standard when we provide investment advice. That means we're required to act in your best interest. If you'd like the specifics of how that applies to your account, we're always happy to walk you through it in person.

Retirement planning is about the specifics of getting your income and savings ready for life after work. Wealth planning is a bit broader — it's about the whole picture of your financial life, both building what you have and protecting it, wherever you are on your timeline.

In our company's case, these words can be used interchangeably. We settled on the term "Wealth Advisors" because, frankly, the financial part of our jobs is only one element. Most of our clients define the term wealth using lots of different metrics, not just dollars. That's why we always want to know what our clients really care about most.

Yes, that's a core part of retirement planning for us. Timing can make a real difference in your income down the road, so it's something we look at closely as part of your overall plan.

Tax planning is part of what we do — we look ahead for ways to help minimize what you owe, both before and after retirement. We're not a substitute for a CPA preparing your return, but we work to make sure your investment and retirement decisions are tax-smart along the way.

It's our hands-on approach to managing investments. Rather than setting a portfolio and forgetting it, we stay engaged, working to grow your investments while keeping it aligned with your individual risk profile.

We work hand-in-hand with your attorney on the legal side of your estate plan — that part isn't something we do in place of one. In certain situations, depending on complexity, we're also able to help facilitate certain estate planning documents directly, as part of a broader plan. The best way to know what makes sense for you is to talk it through with us.

Nothing formal is required — just come as you are. If you'd like, bringing recent statements or a general sense of your financial picture can help us dig in a little deeper, but it's not necessary to get started.

You won't just hear from us once a year. Between regular check-ins, client newsletters, market updates, and being available whenever something in your life changes, we aim to stay a steady, familiar presence that's up-to-date on what's happening in your life now.

It depends on the services you need and the complexity of your situation, so there isn't one flat number that applies to everyone. Well before you ever decide to move forward with us, we'll walk you through exactly how we're compensated and what that means for you. Frankly, our clients have worked hard to build their finances to where they are - we aim to honor that by charging fairly and only for the value we provide.