Frequently Asked Questions

What does “fee-only” mean?

It means we are compensated only by the advisory fee our clients pay — a percentage of the assets we manage. We don’t earn commissions, sell insurance products, receive referral fees, or benefit from any proprietary investment products. There are no hidden revenue streams. Our only incentive is to grow and protect your portfolio.

What is a fiduciary?

A fiduciary is legally required to act in the client’s best interest at all times. Not all financial advisors are fiduciaries. Many operate under a “suitability” standard, which means they only need to recommend products that are “suitable” — even if a better option exists. At Relativity Capital, every recommendation is held to the fiduciary standard. We dropped all of our FINRA licenses in 2007 specifically to ensure there would never be a conflict of interest.

What is your investment minimum?

We currently work with clients who have $500,000 or more in investable assets. Because Tommy manages every portfolio personally and watches markets daily, we keep our client base concentrated to ensure each family gets the attention they deserve.

How are your fees structured?

We charge an annual advisory fee based on the assets we manage, billed quarterly in advance. Our standard rate is 1.5%, declining at higher asset levels. We charge more than many advisors because we do more — daily active management, proprietary research, and personal portfolio attention that most firms don’t deliver. The question we ask prospects to consider isn’t “which fee is lower” but “which advisor is actually doing the work you’re paying for?”

How is your approach different from a typical financial advisor?

Most advisors build a diversified portfolio once, rebalance it periodically, and spend the rest of their time prospecting for new clients. Tommy spends approximately 2 hours each morning on dedicated market research before the market opens, then monitors conditions throughout the trading day. He uses proprietary relative strength rankings and sector breadth analysis to make active rotation decisions — moving into strong sectors and out of weak ones. This daily attention is what clients are paying for, and it’s what most advisors simply don’t do.

What is the CMT designation?

The Chartered Market Technician (CMT) is the premier credential in technical analysis — the discipline of reading market data, charts, and trends to make investment decisions. Most financial planners hold the CFP® (Certified Financial Planner), which focuses on financial planning. Tommy holds both, because the investment side and the planning side of the practice require fundamentally different expertise. The CMT is rare among financial advisors — it signals deep, specialized knowledge of how markets actually work.

What does “discretionary management” mean?

It means that once you choose your risk level (Growth, Moderate, or Conservative), Tommy manages the portfolio decisions day to day without needing your approval for each trade. When conditions change, your portfolio changes — in real time, not after a phone call and a committee meeting. You always know what’s happening, and Tommy is available for questions anytime, but the whole point of hiring an expert is letting them do the work.

Where is my money held?

All client accounts are custodied at Charles Schwab. We never take possession of your money. Schwab provides independent custody, reporting, and account access. You can log into your Schwab account anytime to see your holdings, transactions, and performance.

What should I expect when I become a client?

After our initial conversation and your decision to move forward, we’ll send you an onboarding packet including our ADV (the disclosure document all RIAs are required to provide), a client profile questionnaire, and a client agreement. You’ll provide recent account statements, and we’ll handle the Schwab applications and transfer process. Tommy over-communicates during the transition — you’ll know exactly where things stand at every step. Most clients are fully onboarded within 2-4 weeks.

Do you serve clients outside of Georgia?

Yes. While we’re based in Greensboro, GA and many of our clients are in the Lake Oconee area, we serve clients across the country. The daily portfolio management is the same regardless of where you live.