Question 1

What does Northshire Consulting do?

Accepted Answer

Northshire Consulting is an independent investment advisory firm that provides comprehensive financial planning for individuals and families, along with retirement plan consulting for small businesses. On the personal side, we help people build a complete financial roadmap covering retirement planning, investment management, cash flow, tax strategies, insurance needs, education funding, and estate planning. For businesses, we help owners select, implement, and manage retirement plans — including 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, and other plan types — so their employees can build a secure future.

Question 2

Who do you typically work with?

Accepted Answer

We work with individuals and families who want more than just investment advice — they want a holistic strategy that addresses their full financial picture, from retirement readiness and debt management to education funding and long-term goals. We also work with small business owners in Connecticut who need help setting up or improving a retirement plan, or navigating state mandates or MyCTSavings.

Question 3

Where is Northshire Consulting located?

Accepted Answer

Northshire Consulting is based in Southington, Connecticut. We serve individuals, families, and small businesses throughout Connecticut. We also work with clients remotely, so you don't need to be local to get started.

Question 4

Do you serve clients outside of Connecticut?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While many of our clients are based in Connecticut, we work with individuals and families nationwide for financial planning and investment management. For retirement plan consulting, we work with small businesses across multiple states.

Question 5

How do I get started with Northshire?

Accepted Answer

It starts with a conversation. Schedule a no-obligation introductory call. We'll learn about your situation, discuss your goals, and explain how we can help — with no pressure and no sales pitch.

Question 6

What does your financial planning process look like?

Accepted Answer

We take a comprehensive approach. We start by understanding your complete financial picture — income, expenses, assets, debts, insurance, tax situation, and goals. From there we build a personalized plan that addresses retirement projections, investment strategy, risk management, tax efficiency, estate planning, and more. It's not a one-time document — we work with you on an ongoing basis to keep your plan on track as life changes.

Question 7

What areas does your financial plan cover?

Accepted Answer

Our plans are tailored to each client, but typically cover retirement planning and projections, investment portfolio management, cash flow and budgeting strategy, tax planning and efficiency, insurance and risk management, education funding, estate planning, and Social Security optimization. We look at everything together so each piece of your financial life is working toward the same goals.

Question 8

Do I need to have a certain amount of money to work with you?

Accepted Answer

We work with clients at various stages of their financial journey. Whether you're just getting started building wealth or you're approaching retirement and want to make sure you're on the right track, we can help. Reach out and we'll have an honest conversation about whether we're the right fit.

Question 9

What does "fee-only" mean and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Fee-only means we are compensated solely by the fees our clients pay us — never through commissions, referral fees, or revenue-sharing from product providers. This eliminates conflicts of interest and ensures our advice is always aligned with your best interest, not ours. As a fiduciary, we are legally and ethically required to put your needs first in every recommendation we make. This is the highest standard of care in the financial industry.

Question 10

How much do your services cost?

Accepted Answer

Our fees are transparent and competitive. Pricing depends on the scope of services and complexity of your needs. We're happy to provide a clear fee schedule during our initial conversation. Visit our Services & Fees page for more details.

Question 11

What types of retirement plans do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We work with a range of retirement plan types to find the right fit for your business, including 401(k) plans, SIMPLE IRAs, SEP IRAs, and other qualified plans. The best choice depends on your business size, budget, goals, and employee needs — and we'll walk you through the options so you can make a confident decision.

Question 12

I don't currently offer a retirement plan. Can you help me set one up?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We guide small businesses through the entire process — from evaluating which plan type makes sense for your situation to selecting a recordkeeper, choosing investments, and enrolling employees. We make it straightforward, even if you've never offered a retirement plan before.

Question 13

I already have a retirement plan. How can Northshire help?

Accepted Answer

We can perform a comprehensive review of your existing plan to identify areas for improvement — including excessive fees, underperforming investments, compliance gaps, and plan design opportunities. Many businesses are surprised to learn how much they can save and how much better their plan can perform.

Question 14

What is MyCTSavings and does it affect my business?

Accepted Answer

MyCTSavings is Connecticut's retirement savings program. If you have five or more employees and don't already offer a qualified retirement plan, you are required by law to offer a retirement plan such as a 401(k), SIMPLE IRA or the state-run MyCTSavings. As of 2025, Connecticut has introduced a three-strike enforcement process with escalating annual fines for noncompliance — up to $500 for businesses with 5–24 employees, $1,000 for 25–99 employees, and $1,500 for 100 or more employees. We help businesses understand their obligations and choose the best path forward, whether that's setting up a private retirement plan or making sure an existing plan meets the state's requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Financial Planning

Fees & How We Work

Retirement Plans for Businesses