Welcome!  We are thrilled that you have chosen our firm to build a partnership with and we want to make sure we are diligent in meeting your needs and delivering information and advice that is useful and pertinent to you.

We have created this list of Frequently Asked Questions and have provided answers to questions we hear often in an effort to make the transition to our firm as seamless as possible.

Who is Viren and Associates, Inc.?

• Viren and Associates, Inc. prides itself on providing objective advice and world class service to our clients. Our office includes two advisors: Paul Viren, CLU, ChFC and Michael “Mike” Smalley, CFP® who are both ready to serve you. We help our clients through all chapters of their lives and needs with a variety of expertise:

Financial Planning

Estate Planning

Life & Disability Insurance

Employee Benefits – medical, dental, vision, life, disability

401k plan management and advice for employers and participants

Executive Benefits and Succession Planning Strategies

• For more information on our firm, please visit our website: virenandassociates.com

At the core of what we do as a firm is Financial Planning!  To help our clients achieve their goals and clarify their vision we need a plan to work from.   In order for the client experience to be personal, responsive, and professional, it will be helpful for you to know about the several partnerships that are behind the scenes.

They say it takes a village to have success in any venture and this is no different for our firm and our clients.  We have several partners that assist us in creating a unique investment structure that offers open investment design, world class investment tools and transparency of operation.  These key partners are LPL Financial – our Broker Dealer – and the Strategic Wealth Advisors Group (SWAG) – our independent RIA (Registered Investment Advisor).

Who is LPL Financial?

• LPL Financial is one of the nation’s leading financial services companies and a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ under ticker symbol LPLA. The firm’s mission is rooted in the belief that objective financial guidance is a fundamental need for everyone. LPL does not offer proprietary investment products or engage in investment banking activities, this means advisors affiliated with LPL are not pressured or influenced by LPL to sell its products. Thousands of financial advisors nationwide are able to rely on the firm’s tools and resources to help them provide financial guidance and recommendations to help meet their clients’ needs.
• For more information about LPL Financial, please visit their website: lpl.com

Who is Strategic Wealth Advisors Group (SWAG)?

• Based out of Sacramento, CA, SWAG is our RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) firm that provides us with critical services and support. What SWAG offers are office compliance supervision, dedication to best practices, as well as additional support as needed.  Each of these areas gives our clients the comfort and security to know that we are not only independent but have powerful resources and support.
• For more information about Strategic Wealth Advisors Group (SWAG), please visit their website: fsnweb.com

You will receive information directly from us or in the mail from LPL or SWAG on a regular basis.  Many of these items are important to save in your investment records for future reference.  If at any time you have questions about any of these items, please let us know.

What is the process for opening a new account?

1. The first step is to have you complete a New Client Worksheet which will provide us with the critical information required to complete the new account application(s).
2. Once we receive the completed New Client Worksheet we will create a packet of new account paperwork which will need your signature(s). Once the packet is ready, we will be in touch to confirm if you would like us to mail the packet to you for signature or to set up a time for you to come back by the office to sign.
3. When we receive the completed and signed account packet back, we will open the accounts and submit any necessary account transfer paperwork.
   1. If you are funding your account via check, the initial contribution can be processed the same day the account is opened.
   2. If the account will be funded via an account transfer, the transfer is usually completed within one week of being submitted, but can take longer to process.
4. After the account has been created, you will receive an email (if you do not have/use email, please let us know and we will be happy to send the information in the mail) which will be sent securely and will include a completed copy of all the paperwork you signed as well as the disclosure documents we are required to provide to you. Please hang on to these documents for your records!  This email will also contain the information you will need to access Account View which will allow you to view your accounts online.  (Additional information on this below.)
5. Prepare for a FLOOD – of mail that is! You should begin to receive correspondence from LPL Financial.  Some of this mail should be kept and filed but most can be tossed.  If you have questions about what you are receiving or if you should retain it, please do not hesitate to reach out to us and ask!
6. Once the account is funded, we will be in touch to let you know so that we can get the money invested and working for you! You may have already discussed investment design with Paul and/or Mike at a previous meeting, in which case, we should be set with a plan in place.  If we have not finalized a plan, we will get to work on one!  We may schedule a follow-up meeting to get you back in the office to go over the plan, or you may receive a call from Paul and/or Mike to discuss the plan over the phone.

Can I view my account(s) online?

• Yes! Account View is your secure, 24-hour online access to your investment account information, which can be accessed from a computer, tablet or smartphone.  You will receive an email upon account opening with information on how you can access Account View (myaccountviewonline.com).
• Account View also offers eDelivery opt in for paperless statements, trade confirmations, quarterly performance reports, and prospectuses.

Do I have the option of becoming paperless?

• Yes! In order to become paperless you will need to log-in through your Account View profile where you will see the option to “Go Green.”

How do I move money between my investment account and my bank account?

• Part of the paperwork you will fill out and sign as part of the new account packet will be the required form(s) to link your investment account with your bank account. In order to set up this link, we will need a copy of a blank and voided check.
  • If you would like to make a contribution to your account, simply call or email our office and let us know! If you make the request via email, we will call to confirm with you before proceeding and we will also confirm the bank account information we have on file.  Once the information is confirmed we can pull the funds directly from your bank account.  We can also set up contributions to occur automatically on a regular basis either monthly, quarterly, or annually.
  • If you would like to take a distribution from your account, simply call or email our office and let us know! If you make the request via email, we will call to confirm with you before proceeding and we will also confirm the bank account information we have on file.  Once the information is confirmed we can send the funds directly to your bank account.  We can also set up distributions to occur automatically on a regular basis either monthly, quarterly, or annually.  Please note, distributions can take up to seven business days from the day of your request to post to your bank account so please plan accordingly!

How do I make updates or changes to my account?

• Please contact our office with any changes to your contact information (mailing address, email address, phone number, etc.), employment changes, bank account or tax withholding updates, or changes to your beneficiary information. We will take care of the updates to your account(s) and will send you any required paperwork to make the changes.

How does Viren and Associates, Inc. build its portfolios?

• Our portfolios are all custom created for each client based on their personal financial situation, needs, and risk tolerance. Each year, we do extensive fund research to ensure that the funds we are putting to work in our portfolios are performing well and meet our high standards in regards to internal fees, risk, and fund style drift.  Because we are independent, take no promotional fees or even lunch with fund wholesalers, we are truly impartial and objective.

How often does my portfolio get reviewed?

• Although you may only meet with Paul and/or Mike on an annual or semi-annual basis, rest assured that we are continually keeping an eye on your portfolio! At least once each quarter we complete a portfolio review for each client to ensure that the funds and accounts are tuned up and allocated properly based on the needs and risk tolerance for each of our clients.

When can I expect to receive my end-of-the-year tax documents?

• LPL begins mailing consolidated 1099s on January 31^st, on a staggered mailing schedule. In order to minimize corrected forms, holders of securities that do not send final tax distribution information until February (mutual funds, REITs, CMO/REMICs, UITs and certain foreign securities) will have their consolidated forms mailed on February 15^th, March 1^st, or March 15^th.

Who should I contact with questions, concerns, account updates, etc.?

• Viren and Associates, Inc.

Phone:

509 462.0747

Fax:

509 838.7641

Address:

111 South Post Street

Suite 2260

Spokane, WA 99201

Email:

info@virenandassociates.com

In the event that you are unable to contact Viren and Associates, Inc. directly, please contact LPL Financial at

(800) 877-7210 for emergency assistance.