ABOUT MAXIM : Q & A

Who are your clients?
Our clients are primarily individuals and families, but we also work with trusts and foundations as well as corporate retirement plans and 401k plans. Our clients are located primarily in the Pacific Northwest and California, as well as in The Netherlands; however, we work with US citizens and permanent US residents living all over the world.

How will you communicate with me about my investments?
Every client of Maxim is supported by a portfolio management team, and is assigned a lead Portfolio Manager. We maintain an "open door" policy with clients and are available by phone or email at your convenience to discuss investments or other financial issues. Clear and candid communication is central to our wealth management approach. We endeavor to hold face-to-face client meetings at least once a quarter in the first year of our relationship. Beyond that, we allow our clients to dictate the frequency of our meetings, but generally we prefer to meet at least once per year.

What is the difference between a Registered Investment Advisor (like Maxim) and a traditional stockbroker?
Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) are governed by the SEC and are held to a higher standard known as a client fiduciary. We are required by law to place the interests of clients first. This is a requirement of any firm that assumes discretionary responsibility for your investments. We are allowed to charge a management fee, but do not accept any commissions or other hidden revenue sharing payments from other investment firms. Traditional stockbrokers are governed by the NASD and are not required to act in the investor's best interest or to disclose all sources of compensation. They generally earn fees in a transaction-based system through commissions; however, they are increasingly adopting fee-based pricing models which are often confused with the "fee-only" model of an RIA.

How and when is Maxim compensated?
Maxim is a fee-only investment advisor. This means that our only compensation comes from our asset-based fee, which is calculated as a percentage of your total assets under management. The fee is charged quarterly and is deducted directly from the client account(s). Please contact us to discuss our management fee schedules.

Where will my assets be held?
Maxim has relationships with two leading account custodians: Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments. Client assets are never transferred into our possession. We will help you to consolidate your assets at one custodian, including taxable accounts, trusts, IRAs, Roth IRAs, and any inactive 401k plans. From there, we obtain a limited power of attorney to act on your behalf inside of your investment accounts.

Will I have online access to my accounts?
Yes, clients have full access to their investments through the independent custodian's web site. Clients can log in to view current balances and transaction history, as well as prior month account statements.

What type of reports will I receive and how often?
On a quarterly basis, you will receive a detailed reporting package from Maxim including account statements, performance reports, and fee invoice. We will also provide you with a year-end tax report summarizing all gains, losses and income. Additionally, you will receive monthly statements and trade confirmations as well as complete online access to your investment accounts and past statements directly from your independent custodian.

Will I have to liquidate my current investments to work with you?
Generally we will make significant changes to your holdings during our investment implementation. However, we never sell anything without first analyzing the fees and tax implications of changes. In most cases, our investment programs can be customized to allow for low basis stock positions, significant concentration, as well as client wishes to hold on to certain investments or avoid others. In all cases, we will customize our solution to your specific needs and will work to maximize your investment dollars by minimizing unnecessary taxes and fees.

Will you provide me with advice on how I should invest my Company's 401k?
Yes, we will provide you with guidance on how to allocate your 401k plan in keeping with the investment objectives that we agree to. This is included in our comprehensive wealth management service and you will not be charged any additional fees for this assistance.

How do you interact with my other trusted advisors?
One of the benefits of our position as your fiduciary is that we are free to work closely with any of your trusted professional advisors, including your tax professional, attorney, or other advisor. We realize that they may charge you a fee for their time; therefore, we would only do so at your request. We can also refer you to a competent professional should you need one.

How do we begin working together?
We believe very much in the value of personal relationships and clear and candid advice. If you are interested in starting a relationship with us, we invite you to contact us and to schedule a personal meeting. Our primary goal at this meeting is to gain a better understanding of you and your investment goals, as well as to answer any further questions you may have about us. If at this point you decide to hire us, we will guide you through the process of establishing our relationship and formulating an investment plan.