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Getting Started
18 articlesHow do I get started as a new client?
Book a free consultation, complete the onboarding wizard, upload your documents, and we'll build your personalized financial plan — most clients are fully onboarded within two weeks.
Read answerWhat documents do I need for onboarding?
You'll need your two most recent tax returns, recent paystubs, retirement and investment statements, student loan statements, malpractice declarations, and a government-issued ID.
Read answerHow do I transfer existing accounts to my new advisor?
Your advisor will initiate an ACAT transfer on your behalf. Most transfers complete within 5–7 business days, and you don't need to sell your holdings — they transfer in kind in most cases.
Read answerIs my personal and financial information secure?
Yes. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and your advisor operates under strict regulatory and fiduciary obligations to protect your information.
Read answerWho should I contact if I have questions during onboarding?
Your primary point of contact is your assigned advisor. You can reach them via email, phone, or through the secure messaging feature in your client portal.
Read answerWhat does a financial plan include?
A comprehensive financial plan covers net worth and cash flow analysis, retirement planning, investment strategy, insurance needs, estate planning, and education funding.
Read answerHow often will my financial plan be reviewed?
Most advisors schedule a formal plan review at least annually, with check-ins more frequently as needed — especially during major life events.
Read answerWhat is a fiduciary advisor and why does it matter?
A fiduciary is legally obligated to act in your best interest at all times, meaning your advisor's advice is driven by your goals, not by commissions or incentives.
Read answerHow are investment recommendations made?
Recommendations are based on your unique financial situation, goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance — gathered during your initial discovery meetings.
Read answerWhat happens to my plan if my life circumstances change?
Life changes such as divorce, inheritance, job loss, or a new baby are exactly when your advisor adds the most value — your plan will be updated to reflect your new situation.
Read answerHow do I set financial goals, and how are they tracked?
During onboarding and planning meetings, your advisor helps you define short-, medium-, and long-term goals, with progress tracked and reviewed at each meeting.
Read answerDoes my advisor provide tax advice?
Your advisor provides tax-aware financial planning and may collaborate with or refer you to a CPA or tax attorney for specific tax return preparation or legal tax advice.
Read answerWhat is tax-loss harvesting?
Tax-loss harvesting involves selling investments at a loss to offset capital gains, reducing your taxable income — your advisor monitors for these opportunities year-round.
Read answerWhat is the difference between a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA from a tax perspective?
Traditional IRA contributions may be tax-deductible with taxed withdrawals; Roth IRA contributions are after-tax with tax-free qualified withdrawals in retirement.
Read answerWhat is a Roth conversion, and should I consider one?
A Roth conversion moves money from a pre-tax account into a Roth IRA, triggering taxes now in exchange for tax-free growth later.
Read answerHow can I reduce my required minimum distributions (RMDs)?
Strategies include Roth conversions before RMDs begin, Qualified Charitable Distributions, and managing withdrawals strategically in early retirement years.
Read answerWhat is tax-efficient asset location?
This strategy places investments in the account type where they are taxed most favorably — tax-deferred for bonds, taxable for tax-efficient equities, and Roth for high-growth assets.
Read answerWhen should I reach out to my advisor for tax planning?
Year-round tax planning is most effective, with special focus in Q4 for tax-loss harvesting, January–April for prior-year returns, and around major life events.
Read answerAbout Cognis
9 articlesWhy does the firm focus specifically on medical professionals?
Cognis structured its practice around three core healthcare realities: high tax brackets requiring year-round tax advisory, asset protection demands, and the severe time constraints of busy clinicians.
Read answerIs Cognis Retirement Group a fiduciary?
Yes. Cognis operates under a 100% fiduciary standard as a fee-only advisor, meaning it does not sell financial products for commissions, ensuring its strategies always put the client's best interests first.
Read answerWhat is the firm's investment strategy?
Cognis anchors client wealth in a low-cost, tax-efficient public market core and pairs it with institutional-grade private market alternative allocations to maximize long-term wealth growth.
Read answerWhat core services does Cognis provide?
Cognis offers comprehensive wealth integration across three pillars: Total Household Wealth Management, Investment Solutions, and Retirement & Practice Advisory.
Read answerDoes Cognis help medical practices design corporate retirement accounts?
Yes. For practice founders and medical institutions, Cognis handles 401(k)/403(b) plan design and management, advising on tax-deductible contribution paths and ongoing ERISA compliance.
Read answerWhat is the Cognis Wealth Platform™?
The Cognis Wealth Platform™ is a proprietary institutional-grade brokerage, trading, and account aggregation infrastructure built specifically for healthcare professionals.
Read answerWho provides custody and clearing services for the Cognis Wealth Platform™?
Accounts are custodied and cleared via strategic partnerships with Altruist Financial LLC and BNY Pershing, delivering maximum transparency and secure document vaults.
Read answerCan I track both my practice's 401(k)/403(b) and my personal investments on the platform?
Yes. The Cognis Wealth Platform™ aggregates public market core portfolios, alternative private market assets, practice-level 401(k)/403(b) plans, and estate structures into a single secure interface.
Read answerDoes the platform accommodate self-directed trading alongside managed accounts?
Yes. Clients have access to commission-free self-directed trading for isolated positions, alongside fully advisor-assisted model execution overseen by a dedicated Cognis fiduciary.
Read answerPricing & Fees
2 articlesHow are your advisory fees structured?
Cognis Group charges a flat monthly subscription fee — not a percentage of assets under management — with no AUM charges or commissions. Three tiers are available: Foundational ($275/mo), Growth ($475/mo), and Legacy ($675/mo), each covering comprehensive financial planning, investment oversight, tax coordination, and more. You can cancel or upgrade anytime.
Read answerWhat is the difference between fee-only and fee-based advisors?
A fee-only advisor is compensated solely by the client, while a fee-based advisor can earn both client fees and commissions from product sales — creating a potential conflict of interest.
Read answerRetirement Plans
5 articlesWhat retirement plan options are available for medical practice owners?
Practice owners can access 401(k) profit-sharing, cash balance plans, SEP IRAs, and combo designs that can push owner deductions well above standard employee limits — often $300K+ per year.
Read answerWhat is the best retirement plan for a high-earning 1099 medical professional?
An Individual/Solo 401(k) typically allows the highest combined employee and employer contributions.
Read answerWhat is a Cash Balance Plan, and how does it benefit practice owners?
A Cash Balance Plan lets high-earning owners shelter hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxable income on top of a 401(k).
Read answerHow do we structure a 401(k) plan to avoid failing annual IRS non-discrimination testing?
A Safe Harbor 401(k) design automatically passes IRS non-discrimination testing, letting owners maximize contributions.
Read answerWhat retirement benefits should we offer to attract top talent in a competitive market?
A robust 401(k)/403(b) with immediate matching or profit-sharing dramatically improves staff retention.
Read answerPractice Ownership
2 articlesHow do we financially structure a partnership buy-in or buy-out for our practice?
A clean transition requires a formal practice valuation and structured financing that protects both parties.
Read answerIs it more advantageous for our practice group to lease or buy our clinic real estate?
Buying through a separate LLC builds a tangible wealth asset while creating a tax-efficient rent deduction for the practice.
Read answerPrivate Markets
14 articlesWhat is a "general evergreen fund"?
An evergreen fund is a private market investment vehicle that operates without a fixed end date, continuously accepting new capital and offering structured exit pathways — unlike traditional private equity funds that lock up capital for 10–12 years.
Read answerWhat are the main types of evergreen funds available on this platform?
We offer three main structures: Interval Funds (mandated periodic buybacks), Tender Offer Funds (discretionary periodic buybacks), and Business Development Companies (BDCs) focused on private credit.
Read answerWhy do evergreen funds use these specific structures?
Private assets like real estate, private credit, and venture capital cannot be sold overnight, so these specialized wrappers let fund managers pool capital into long-term private investments while offering a regulated, predictable way to request money back.
Read answerHow do I get my money out of an evergreen fund?
Since evergreen funds don't trade on public exchanges, investors participate in periodic liquidity events — quarterly redemption windows for Interval Funds, or board-announced tender offers for Tender Offer Funds and Private BDCs.
Read answerWhat happens if too many investors try to cash out at once?
This is called oversubscription. If redemption requests exceed the fund's limit, the fund scales back everyone's request proportionally (pro-rata), and remaining shares stay invested until the next window.
Read answerCan a fund refuse to buy back my shares?
Interval Funds are legally mandated by the SEC to buy back a minimum percentage every period, while Tender Offer Funds and Private BDCs can pause a liquidity window at their board's discretion.
Read answerAm I eligible to invest in private markets?
Private market investments are available to accredited investors — generally individuals with $1M+ net worth (excluding primary residence) or $200K+ income ($300K joint) — and qualified purchasers for certain funds.
Read answerWho is eligible to invest in these evergreen funds?
Eligibility depends on the fund wrapper: sub-accredited professionals generally qualify for Interval Funds and Publicly Traded BDCs, while Accredited Investors and Qualified Purchasers can access all structures.
Read answerHow do BDCs differ from Interval and Tender Offer funds?
BDCs focus specifically on private credit and are legally required to distribute at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders, making them highly effective yield generators compared to growth-oriented equity funds.
Read answerWill I receive a Schedule K-1 or a Form 1099 for these investments?
Most Interval Funds, Tender Offer Funds, and BDCs are structured as RICs and issue standard 1099-DIV forms, though a select few evergreen private equity or real estate funds issue a Schedule K-1.
Read answerHow are distributions from evergreen funds taxed?
Distributions may be split into Ordinary Dividends (taxed at standard rates), Qualified Dividends/Capital Gains (taxed at lower long-term rates), and Return of Capital (not immediately taxable but lowers cost basis).
Read answerCan I hold evergreen funds inside my retirement accounts?
Yes — because most evergreen funds issue 1099s and don't generate UBTI, they are highly compatible with self-directed IRAs, Roth IRAs, and Solo 401(k)s, letting high-earning professionals shelter private credit income from annual taxes.
Read answerHow does the platform verify my Accredited Investor or Qualified Purchaser status?
During onboarding, the platform verifies status through Income Verification (W-2s/tax returns), Net Worth Verification (brokerage statements/credit reports), or Third-Party Confirmation from a CPA, attorney, or RIA.
Read answerWhat is the "Pro-Rata" rule during a redemption squeeze, and is it a compliance violation if I can't exit?
No — pro-rata scaling is a legally protected fund defense mechanism under SEC rules, not a compliance violation. When redemption requests exceed the fund's limit, everyone gets an equal percentage of their request fulfilled.
Read answerStudent Loans
4 articlesHow does Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) work for healthcare professionals?
PSLF forgives the remaining balance on Direct federal student loans after 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer — typically a non-profit hospital or government facility.
Read answerShould I use the SAVE plan or a different Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan?
Your optimal repayment structure depends entirely on whether your hospital qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
Read answerIs private refinancing a smart move right after graduation?
Refinancing strips away federal protections, so we only recommend it in specific circumstances.
Read answerHow do I start investing when I still have a mountain of medical or nursing school debt?
Capture your employer retirement match first, then build an emergency fund before splitting extra cash flow between debt and investing.
Read answerCareer & Benefits
2 articlesWhat are the most critical benefits to look for in my first employment contract?
Look beyond base salary — disability insurance, retirement vesting, CME allowances, and malpractice tail coverage matter most.
Read answerHow can I build a proper emergency fund on a trainee or shift-based salary?
Automate small, consistent transfers to a high-yield savings account, targeting 3 to 6 months of living expenses.
Read answerTax Strategy
7 articlesHow do I execute a Backdoor Roth IRA without triggering the Pro-Rata tax rule?
You must clear out pre-tax IRA balances before converting, often by rolling them into your employer's 401(k) or 403(b).
Read answerWhat is a Mega-Backdoor Roth, and do I qualify for it?
It lets you convert tens of thousands in after-tax 401(k) contributions to Roth, if your plan allows in-service distributions.
Read answerHow should my investment strategy shift once I hit top-tier tax brackets?
We shift toward strict asset location and tax-loss harvesting to reduce tax drag on your portfolio.
Read answerWhen should a 1099 physician or locum tenens provider switch from a Sole Proprietorship to an S-Corp?
S-Corp elections generally become tax-efficient once net 1099 earnings clear $100,000 to $150,000 annually.
Read answerHow does an S-Corp reduce my self-employment tax burden?
You split earnings into a W-2 salary and owner distribution, paying payroll tax only on the salary portion.
Read answerWhat is an IRS "Reasonable Salary" for a medical professional operating an S-Corp?
The IRS requires S-Corp owners to pay themselves a market-rate salary reflecting actual specialty and geographic benchmarks.
Read answerWhat specialized business deductions can I claim as a 1099 locum tenens provider?
You can deduct malpractice insurance, licensing fees, CME, home office space, travel, and healthcare premiums.
Read answerExecutive Benefits
2 articlesHow do RVU production models or executive bonus structures impact my cash flow planning?
We use a two-tier cash flow strategy: baseline lifestyle on guaranteed salary, variable bonuses routed to wealth goals.
Read answerWhat specialized insurance policies do I need to protect my specific career?
You need a true Own-Occupation disability policy plus $3M to $5M in personal umbrella liability coverage.
Read answerStill have a question?
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Frequently asked questions
Answers tailored to where you sit on the healthcare spectrum. Choose your segment to see the questions your peers ask us most.
High-Earner Tier
High-earner tier questions — complex compensation, private markets, and practice ownership.
Accelerator Tier
Accelerator tier questions — shift differentials, debt payoff, and building wealth on a W-2.