Kathy Duffy Email & Phone Number

Washington D.C. Metro Area

After years of working with organizations under the umbrella of Independence Wealth Advisors, we founded a separate division – Safe Harbor Partners – where we serve as a fiduciary advisors dedicated to retirement plans and the needs of retirement plan sponsors.We excel at creating strategies that are unique, achievable and measureable, a stark contrast in an industry that is typically focused on products, sales, and lack of transparency. I founded the division because I saw a significant void in the retirement plan marketplace. I saw how difficult it was for plan sponsors to select a financial advisor who could deliver the right services with a transparent fee structure on behalf of their employees’ retirement plan. Although plan sponsors have fiduciary responsibility for their retirement plans, many aren’t fully aware of what that entails, or why they should seek an advisor who will share the responsibility with them – and put it in writing. With the growing complexity of managing a retirement plan, particularly with ever-evolving regulations, I saw an opportunity to help companies manage this critical aspect of their business effectively. My goal is to help you understand your fiduciary responsibility so you can meet its requirements – and to ensure you have a prudent process in place for making investment and plan decisions.Together with my team, we act as either 3(21) or 3(38) advisors to plan sponsors. This means I can advise you regarding – or accept the authority in – selecting, managing and replacing the investment options as required to ensure your plan meets your initial selection criteria. We’ll review your current plan for potential risk, and request RFPs from multiple reputable providers to seek the best pricing and value for your plan.We provide you with the necessary knowledge, tools and conflict-free support to plan for your employees’ retirement.

Mclean, Va

I founded Independence Wealth Advisors to provide fiduciary service to clients – conflict-free and transparent financial planning, including: retirement planning, estate planning, asset management, investment management, risk assessment, and education planning. We sit on the same side of the table with you, looking at financial planning through your lenses and acting in your best interests.As a fiduciary, I like to work in an environment where no one has to second-guess and wonder why we are making a particular investment or financial recommendation. My team and I are not compensated by the products we recommend. So our interests are aligned with you, working in the same direction and towards the same outcome. Few in the financial services industry focus on strategy for their clients. Strategy doesn’t sell in financial services; you can’t put a price tag on it or attach a commission to it. But having an effective, personalized strategy for clients can mean all the difference in the ultimate achievement of the lifestyle clients wish to lead.Another reason strategy is difficult is that you need to apply critical thinking to your client’s situation. For many advisors, the focus is on the product sale, then they move on. For others there is planning involved, but often without a broader look a fundamental strategy.There are 3 components of strategy:1) Understanding and evaluating the broad, future-oriented picture. Understanding where a client is now and where they are headed. 2) Having and evaluating the proper modeling and implementation tools so clients can traverse from where they are to where they are going.3) Knowing when and how to change direction, and being effective at making course corrections.To achieve certain goals in your life, we help you to manage and monitor your assets and investments in a manner consistent with your needs and your goals, and to address to changes in today’s markets and economy.