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Sound Advice For a Secure Future

Financial Planning & Investment Services    Sustainable Investing 

About Four Ponds

David McPherson, CFP®, founded Four Ponds Financial Planning in 2007 to provide sound, objective financial advice to clients looking for help with their investments, retirement planning and other money-related needs. The firm works with clients from offices on Cape Cod and in Boston. It also serves clients long distance via online technology.

The firm grew out of David's earlier career as a financial journalist when he gained an up-close view of the shenanigans in some segments of the financial services industry. He concluded there is an unmet need for sound financial advice from objective sources.

The firm’s name is derived from the Four Ponds Conservation Area located a short walk from David McPherson’s home in the Pocasset section of Bourne on Cape Cod. Four Ponds features miles of walking trails that make it a popular destination for short hikes and a favorite place for mountain bikers and trail runners. A silhouette of the ponds that give the area its name is the centerpiece of the Four Ponds logo.

David McPherson, CFP® Photo

David McPherson, CFP®

Founder
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David McPherson, CFP®


David founded Four Ponds Financial Planning in 2007 to provide sound, objective financial advice to clients looking for help with their investments, retirement planning and other money-related needs.

He is a former journalist who worked for several New England newspapers, including the Cape Cod Times and The Providence Journal, where he wrote and directed coverage of banking, investing and personal finance.

David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stonehill College and a certificate in financial planning from Boston University. He is a member of the Garrett Planning Network, National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, Financial Planning Association and XY Planning Network.

David’s personal interests include running, hiking and other outdoor activities. He previously served on the Board of Trustees of Sturgis Charter Public School in Hyannis and the Financial Planning Association of Massachusetts Board of Directors.

Five things to know about David:

  • He spent a summer living in Tokyo, Japan, as a 15-year-old exchange student.
  • During his reporting days, he watched former President Clinton play the saxophone while Carly Simon sang at a party on Martha’s Vineyard.
  • He once hitch hiked into Belfast, Northern Ireland, when The Troubles were still under way.
  • His favorite movie is Good Will Hunting.
  • His retirement dream includes working as a cross-country ski patroller in the winter and a national park ranger in the summer.
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Nicoles Tsafos, MBA

Associate Financial Planner
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Nicoles Tsafos, MBA


Nicole Tsafos joined Four Ponds Financial Planning in 2022, bringing with her a breadth of business and finance experience from her previous work in real estate investment banking and private equity, consulting and commercial lending. Former employers include Cushman & Wakefield, Monadnock Associates, Harbourvest Partners, Deloitte & Touche, and BankBoston/Fleet Boston Financial.

Nicole received a Wall Street Executive Fellowship from Boston College’s Carroll Graduate School of Management where she earned her MBA.  She earned her undergraduate degree from Vassar College in New York in psychology.

More recently, she received the Richard B. Wagner Memorial Scholarship established by the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning and the Financial Planning Association.  As a result, she completed a Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University and passed the CFP® certification exam in November 2023. She also has passed the CFA Level I and Series 65 investment advisor exams.

At Four Ponds, she contributes to the development, presentation, and implementation of financial recommendations and plans for new and existing clients.  She also responds to client service requests and assists with the operational needs of the firm.

Nicole enjoys travel and has spent time in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Costa Rica, China, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam.  She currently works for Four Ponds remotely from her home in Rhode Island.

Therese R. Nicklas, CFP®, CMC® Photo

Therese R. Nicklas, CFP®, CMC®

Financial Planner
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Therese R. Nicklas, CFP®, CMC®


Therese Nicklas, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, joined Four Ponds in 2023 with more than two decades of experience in the financial advising industry.

Therese's journey started with an undergraduate degree in business administration from Eastern Nazarene College, followed by a certificate in financial planning from Boston University. 

She specializes in financial planning for women, and in 2016 established her own investment advisory firm, The Wealth Coach for Women, to serve single professional Gen-X women, particularly in the aftermath of unexpected traumas or lifestyle changes. This work has been featured in various news outlets and publications, such as the Wall Street Journal and CNN.

Therese merged her investment advisory firm into Four Ponds Financial Planning in 2023 and will continue to provide investment and financial planning services as a member of the Four Ponds team. She also offers financial coaching under The Wealth Coach for Women name.


Keyana Russ, CFP®, MBA Photo Keyana Russ, CFP®, MBA Hover Photo

Keyana Russ, CFP®, MBA

Financial Planner
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Keyana Russ, CFP®, MBA

Keyana Russ, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, joined Four Ponds in 2021 with more than 20 years of experience in business management in financial services, higher education, and nonprofit industries. She earned her undergraduate degree in political philosophy at Brown University, her Executive MBA at Florida Atlantic University, and her certificate in financial planning from Boston University. Keyana has an affinity working with young professionals and spent several years at the College of Charleston assisting MBA graduates in launching their careers. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), and the Association of African American Financial Advisors (AAAA).  In 2023, Keyana was recognized as a top 50 under 50 financial professional by the Association of African American Financial Advisors.

Keyana is a native of South Jersey and grew up in New England and the Mid-Atlantic. She moved to Charleston, South Carolina in 2014 by way of Boca Raton, Florida. Her personal interests include traveling, reading, and baking desserts.

Keyana prepares financial plans for new and existing clients, assists with client service requests and provides operations support. She works remotely from the Charleston, S.C., area. 



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Eric Stein, CFA

Chief Investment Strategist
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Eric Stein, CFA

Eric Stein of East Bay Investment Solutions serves as the chief investment strategist for Four Ponds.  His experience includes serving as a vice president at Goldman Sachs Asset Management and chief investment officer for RSM U.S. Wealth Management.

Before joining East Bay in 2018, Stein worked with Nuveen, where he was focused on business intelligence and strategy. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2001.

Stein assists Four Ponds with portfolio oversight, investment due diligence, and development of the firm's investment models. He is based in Charlotte, N.C.

East Bay partner Mario Nardone, CFA, assists Stein. Nardone spent 10 years working at Vanguard before moving on to become chief investment officer and chief compliance officer for a financial planning and investment advisory firm. He launched East Bay Investment Solutions in 2010 and is based in Charleston, S.C.

Stein and Nardone are not employees of Four Ponds nor Investment Advisor Representatives of the firm. They serve as consultants to Four Ponds through East Bay Investment Solutions, a Registered Investment Advisor based in Charleston, S.C.

Financial Planning and Investment Management

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Services

"More than a decade of experience has shown us that clients benefit most from an upfront financial plan followed by help implementing and managing a portfolio designed for them."

The financial plan serves as the foundation for our work together by establishing goals and identifying key issues. The next step is implementing a suggested portfolio and adopting other recommendations.

We know there are clients who do a good job managing their investment accounts, and we are happy to work with those clients who value outside guidance but prefer to manage things on their own.

Many clients, however, benefit from our investment management service, which ensures efficient adoption of an appropriate portfolio. During times of market turmoil, it will help avoid costly mistakes and reduce stress and anxiety.

Research by Vanguard has found that clients who delegate investment management can realize significant value over the cost of the service. The sources of this value identified by Vanguard include cost-effective implementation, rebalancing, tax efficiency and behavioral coaching.

Putting a Value on Your Value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha®, Francis M. Kinniry Jr., CFA, Colleen M. Jaconetti, CPA, CFP ®, Michael A. DiJoseph, CFA, Yan Zilbering, and Donald G. Bennyhoff, CFA, September 2016.

Financial Planning & Investment Services

Four Ponds Financial Planning LLC offers prospective clients a range of financial planning and investment services, from one-time plans to ongoing investment management and financial planning. Listed below are our most common types of services. Customized engagements may be offered for those with unique or complex circumstances at an hourly billing rate of $350. 

Core Financial Plan

$4,200

  • A detailed financial plan designed to measure your progress toward a financially secure retirement and other financial goals.
  • Includes help with fund selection for workplace retirement savings plans.
  • Seeks to ensure your investments are helping you reach long-term goals rather than hindering your efforts.
  • Covers your overall financial health, including estate planning, insurance and tax planning.
  • Results explained in Presentation Meeting and recommendations outlined in a Summary Report.
  • Updates initiated within 24 months of original engagement cost $2,800 to $4,200.

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Investment Management

Starting at 0.80%/year

  • An ongoing service that allows you to delegate oversight of your portfolio, freeing up your time and reducing anxiety about when and how to invest.
  • Ensures implementation of investment recommendations developed during the financial planning process.
  • Provides support during times of market volatility when investors tend to make the biggest mistakes.
  • Appropriate for clients of any age.
  • Financial planning updates included for clients with more than $350,000 under management.
  • Utilizes low-cost mutual funds and exchange-traded funds held at an independent, third-party custodian.

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Financial Checkup

$1,000

  • A single 90-minute meeting with a financial planner.
  • Entry-level service focused on your most pressing financial issues.
  • Most appropriate for clients with less complex circumstances.
  • A short summary of recommendations.
  • Not appropriate for clients with complex needs or those seeking detailed investment recommendations.
  • Appropriate topics for discussion include budgeting strategies, basic retirement planning and college savings options.
  • Future engagements may cost more as financial circumstances change.

Investment Management

  • Investment management and continuous financial planning support for those who seek ongoing assistance and wish to delegate investment oversight. Appropriate for clients who have sufficient assets to make the service worthwhile and cost effective for them.
  • Includes creation of an investment policy statement, ongoing portfolio reviews, periodic rebalancing, as-needed financial planning updates and assistance with employer-sponsored retirement plans.


Annual Cost

Assets under management
Charge
First $1 million
.80%
Next $4 million (From $1 million to $5 million)
.60%
Any amount above $5 million
.40%


Quarterly Billing Examples

Portfolio size
Amount
$500,000
$1,000/quarter
$1 million
$2,000/quarter
$1.5 million
$2,750/quarter



Sustainable Investing

"More than ever, investors are seeking investment options that incorporate their concerns about environmental, social and governance issues."

Socially responsible mutual funds have been around for decades, but until recently they remained a small niche within the investment universe. Now, growing public acceptance of climate change is leading to a spike in demand for the next generation of socially responsible funds called ESG funds.

ESG funds incorporate environmental, social and governance criteria in the investment selection process. These types of funds favor investments in companies that actively choose to pursue sustainable practices within their business operations.

Some ESG funds may exclude particular companies with low ratings on environmental, social or governance issues, while other ESG funds use an inclusionary process that favors companies doing a better job on these issues.

To meet the growing interest in ESG investing, Four Ponds now offers sustainable investment options for clients who wish to incorporate such factors in part or all of their portfolio. We utilize ESG funds offered by a variety of investment firms including Dimensional, Vanguard, Fidelity and iShares.

Let us know if you're interested in this type of investment approach. And for investors not ready to leap into ESG investing, we will continue to offer our traditional approach that emphasizes low-cost options, proper asset allocation and taking a long-term view.

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Contact

Phone

(888) 285-7705

Mailing Address

PO Box 1346
Mashpee, MA 02649-1346

Email

info@fourpondsfinancial.com


Main Office:
13 Steeple St., Suite 203
Mashpee, MA 02649

Boston Office:
One Boston Place, 201 Washington Ave., Suite 2600
Boston, MA 02108


Charleston Office:
Hub Executive Offices, 8887 Old University Blvd., Suite 200-1
North Charleston, SC 29406


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(888) 285-7705 | info@fourpondsfinancial.com