Frequently Asked Questions

Velocity Capital Consulting is a veteran-owned financial planning and wealth management firm headquartered in North Bethesda, Maryland. We help clients with comprehensive financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, insurance strategies, and tax-aware planning — delivered through a clear three-step process with year-round support.

When we provide investment advisory services through LPL Enterprise (LPLE), a Registered Investment Advisor, we are held to a fiduciary standard — meaning we're required to act in your best interest. Some services, such as insurance products, are compensated differently. The LPL Enterprise Form CRS linked in our footer explains both in plain language, and we're happy to walk through it with you.

A few common triggers: you're earning well but don't have a clear picture of where it's going; your accounts are scattered across old 401(k)s, the TSP, and brokerages; you're approaching a big transition — federal retirement, a practice or business sale, an equity windfall, a move, a loss; or generic advice no longer fits your situation. If any of those sound familiar, it's a good time to talk.

Look for someone who listens more than they talk, explains the "why" behind every recommendation, is upfront about how they're paid, and has real experience with situations like yours. Then trust the conversation — you'll know quickly whether you're being educated or sold.

Education first, planning over predictions. We don't build portfolios around market forecasts — we build them around your plan: your timeline, tax picture, income needs, and tolerance for risk, diversified and reviewed as your life changes. Our goal is for you to understand, and be comfortable with, the reasoning behind every position you hold.

We work extensively with federal employees and annuitants, physicians and medical professionals, corporate executives, business owners, and high-earning professionals building wealth. Specialization isn't exclusion — if your situation doesn't fit neatly into a box, that's exactly what planning is for, and we'd like to hear your story.

No — we don't have account minimums. Our clients range from high earners early in their careers to federal annuitants, executives, and business owners approaching a transition. What matters to us is your goals and your willingness to plan, not a number.

We charge an annual consulting fee for our planning advice, and investment management fees range from 0% to 1.25% per year depending on the engagement. The intro call is always free, and before you commit to anything we'll show you exactly what you'd pay, in plain dollars. You can also review the LPL Enterprise Form CRS linked in the footer of this site.

The first conversation is a free 15-minute intro call — no pitch, no obligation, just clarity. We talk through where you are, what you're trying to accomplish, and whether or not it makes sense to continue the conversation. From there, a discovery meeting digs into your full financial picture.

Our client experience follows a simple timeline: a discovery meeting to start, strategy development, and a full financial plan within 60 days — followed by 365 days of ongoing support, including quarterly check-ins, annual planning, tax planning, and life-event support.

As often as it takes at the start — then a steady rhythm of quarterly check-ins and an annual planning meeting, with extra meetings whenever life changes: a new job, a sale, a birth, a loss, or a market that has you worried. You'll never have to wonder when you'll hear from us next.

Yes — federal employees and annuitants are a core specialty. We help with FERS and CSRS pension decisions, Social Security timing, TSP withdrawal strategy, and planning for the tax impact when required minimum distributions stack on top of pension income — including evaluating Roth conversion windows before RMD age.

Yes. We work with physicians on own-occupation disability coverage, private practice ownership and transitions, and student loan strategy — weighing forgiveness programs, refinancing, payoff schedules, and the trade-off of investing early.

No — we don't prepare or file tax returns, and we don't render tax or legal advice. But tax-aware planning is built into everything we do, from Roth conversion windows to RMD planning and withdrawal sequencing, and we're glad to coordinate directly with your CPA or refer you to one we trust.

Moving doesn't have to end the relationship. We already meet many clients virtually, and the LPL Enterprise professionals on our team can work with residents of the states where they're properly registered or licensed. If a move is on your horizon, let us know and we'll confirm the details for your new state.

Nicolas Thornton and Cole Draper are Financial Planners with, and offer securities and investment advisory services through, LPL Enterprise (LPLE), a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA and SIPC, and an affiliate of LPL Financial. LPLE and LPL Financial are not affiliated with Velocity Capital Consulting. You can review the LPL Enterprise Form CRS linked in the footer of this site.

Our headquarters is at 909 Rose Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852, but we have offices in Philadelphia as well, and clients all across the country. We're happy to meet in person, by phone, or by video — whatever works best for you.

Nothing is required for the intro call. For a discovery meeting, recent investment and retirement account statements, a pay stub or benefits summary, insurance policies, and your latest tax return help us see the complete picture — but don't let a missing document delay the conversation.

Book a free 15-minute intro call from our contact page, call us at (443) 743-7956, or send us a message — you'll hear back from our team within one business day.