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Fiduciary Financial Advisor

So, you have found a wealth advisor who offers an array of services, has decades of experience, and has shown you a resume with impressive educational qualifications. As a high net worth individual, you feel confident that such a wealth advisor can help you make important decisions regarding your money. But is the wealth advisor a fiduciary financial advisor as well? 

That will be the topic of discussion in this guide. And by the way, if you happen to have $10 million or more in liquid investible assets, then we encourage you to download this complimentary guide on choosing the best financial advisor. It talks about the fiduciary aspect

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STRATEGIES FOR FAMILIES WORTH $5 MILLION TO $500 MILLION

7 Secrets To High Net Worth Investment Management, Estate, Tax and Financial Planning

The insights you’ll discover from our published book will help you integrate a variety of wealth management tools with financial planning, providing guidance for your future security alongside complex financial strategies, so your human and financial capital will both flourish.

Clients frequently share with us how the knowledge gained from this book helped provide them tremendous clarity, shattering industry-pitched ideologies, while offering insight and direction in making such important financial decisions.

The quest to find the best wealth manager to work with involves multiple considerations. You need to think about the personality of the manager, the expertise that they bring in, their style of working, the cost of their services, the way in which those costs are structured, and their overall service levels. Wealth managers like to talk about portfolio management, risk management, investment returns, credit cards management, and asset allocation.

Those are plenty of subject areas in one sentence. Do all the wealth managers who talk about these topics practice them in a way that serves the best interests of their clients? Pillar Wealth Management, a fiduciary financial advisor, can demonstrate that it has done so for clients with $5 million to $500 million in liquid assets.

In this article, we will look at what a fiduciary financial advisor is and the difference between a fiduciary and a generic financial advisor. You might also ask, “How do I know if my financial advisor is a fiduciary?” The answer to that is explained below. Lastly, we will answer the important question of how to choose the best financial advisor.

What is a fiduciary financial advisor?

What is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor?

If you are paying your wealth advisor a fee, shouldn’t the advisor always act in your best interests? As a high net worth individual, you normally expect a strong alignment between your advisor’s actions and your best interests. Surprisingly, that isn’t always the case. Pillar Wealth Management, a boutique wealth management firm focused on clients with $5 million to $500 million in investible assets, has structured itself to ensure such an alignment.

The diverse types of financial advisory roles and the various compensation structures mean that financial advisors get motivated by different factors. In such an industry, what you need is someone who is morally and legally bound to act in your best interests. That is, what you need is a fiduciary financial advisor. Below, we will explain briefly what a fiduciary financial advisor is. However, we also encourage you to check out this book called The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Financial Advisor: For Investors With $5 Million to $500 Million in Liquid Assets.

In the simplest terms, a fiduciary financial advisor is someone who is obligated to manage a client’s assets for the benefit of the client and not his/her own interests.

A fiduciary financial advisor is someone who is registered with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), or the state regulator. In order to maintain that registration, the investment advisor has to always ensure that he/she acts in the best interests of the client. A fiduciary duty is a legal duty. In addition, you may choose a financial advisor that is registered as Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or has listed on the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).

Feel free to start a conversation with Hutch Ashoo or Chris Snyder from Pillar Wealth Management to learn how they act as a fiduciary financial advisor for their clients. A wealth management firm like Pillar Wealth Management is a fiduciary when it is even willing to turn down clients who make special requests that would cause the firm to go against its fiduciary duties.

How Does a Fiduciary Financial Advisor Get Paid?

Many fiduciary advisors do not accept commissions or performance fees so they can be free of conflicts of interest. They are paid only by client fees. However, some fiduciary advisors may recommend a product that is in the best interests of the client and receive a commission on that sale. In that case, they should reveal the conflict of interest to the client. They may also get a second opinion on the choice of product to ensure they are free of bias.

Does a CFP Have a Fiduciary Responsibility?

A CFP must act as a fiduciary at all times when providing financial advice, that is, making a recommendation. At such times, CPFs must act in the best interest of the client; they must avoid conflicts of interest or fully disclose any conflict to the client. They must act without regard to their own interests or the interests of their employer. They must follow the client’s instructions and act with the utmost diligence, skill, and professionalism.

What is a Fee-only Financial Advisor?

In terms of compensation, financial advisors are either fee-only, commission-based, or fee-based advisors. Many fiduciary financial advisors adhere to the fee-only compensation model, meaning that they are compensated only by the fees paid by clients; they do not accept commissions, bonuses, or performance fees. As a result, fee-only advisors are much more likely to be free of conflicts of interest than commission-based or fee-based advisors, who accept either commissions or a combination of commissions and fees, respectively.

The financial advisory fee paid by the client is usually a percentage of the value of the assets managed by the advisor, but this can be a flat fee that doesn’t vary with the value of the assets. Clients may also pay an hourly fee or a fee per service.

Fiduciary Duty Versus Suitability Standard

The SEC requires a registered financial advisor to adhere to the suitability fiduciary standard, which means that when the advisor recommends a product, the product will be suitable for the client. It will meet the requirements set by the client; however, it may not be the best product available.

5 Common Misconceptions About Fiduciaries    

1. Anyone can be a Fiduciary

The SEC holds financial advisors to a fiduciary standard, called the suitability standard. The suitability standard requires the advisor to always offer a suitable product that meets the customer’s needs. The product must be suitable but not necessarily the best.

In contrast, a certified financial planner (CFP) is held to a higher standard. CFPs are required to act in the best interests of their clients. As a result, a recommended product must be the best available to meet the client’s requirements.

For other fiduciaries, such as lawyers and guardians, their responsibilities may be defined by the law.

2. There Is Always a Test or License

An individual who acts as a fiduciary may not have acquired a particular license or passed a test to take on that role. Being a fiduciary means that the individual is qualified to act in the best interest of the client. The fiduciary must be an expert in their field and abide by the code of ethics as expected by that profession.

3. Fiduciary Law Is Easy to Enforce

A fiduciary financial advisor must not mislead the client or make false claims. They must not put their own interests first, have hidden fees or charges, or sell the client something they don’t need. If a client suspects unacceptable behavior, they can initiate a lawsuit.

However, while we hold financial advisors to a high standard, unethical behavior may be difficult to prove. Moreover, unforeseen events may result in poor investment performance even when the advisor adheres to a strict fiduciary standard.

4. Being A Fiduciary is like a Guarantee

Investment firms include a caveat in the documents they issue to customers, stating that any investment can result in a loss of capital, or no gains. The fact that a financial advisor is a fiduciary does not guarantee any particular level of earnings even if we know, for example, that the stock market always rises.

5. Fiduciaries Cannot be Dishonest

As the saying goes, everyone makes mistakes. Unfortunately, some bad actors misbehave intentionally. Unethical financial advisors may put their own interests first, out of greed and egoism (e.g., Bernie Madoff). Therefore, before you decide to work with a particular advisor, do some research to ensure the advisor has not misbehaved in the past.

A word about how fee structures can affect decision making

The wealth management industry generally has two compensation models. The first is a fee-based model where the wealth manager earns compensation through fees as well as commissions. The fee portion can be based on an hourly rate or a pre-determined milestone-based understanding. So, if a certain number of hours are spent on a task, then that is multiplied by the hourly rate and invoiced. In the milestone approach, once the milestone is achieved, the pre-determined amount is released. There are other such structures that determine the fee.

The commissions can be a cut paid to the advisor by the product company when the client of the advisor buys a certain financial product. Such commissions can incentivize advisors to “push” clients to opt for certain products over others. The downside is that the client ends up investing in/buying the product even when there is no real need to do so.

A fee-only structure solves the problem of commissions by completely excluding them. The only way a fee-only advisor gets paid is through fees. Whether the fees are based on an hourly rate, milestones, or through a percentage of the assets under management, that is all there is. So, the advisor is able to always provide advice that is in the best interest of the client. There are no distractions like commissions and the only financial incentive is to do what is best for the client so that he/she recommends the wealth manager to other people. In many cases, a fiduciary wealth manager adopts a fee-only compensation model.

Why Working with a Fiduciary Financial Advisor Is Important

The importance of working with a fiduciary advisor cannot be underestimated, as such an advisor is bound by fiduciary duty. Having a fiduciary duty means having to work for the best interests of the other party (the client, in the case of a financial advisory relationship).

Therefore, the fiduciary advisor must be free of conflicts of interest, which means not prioritizing commissions or bonuses they could earn from the sale of certain products. The advisor must recommend products that are the best available to meet the needs of the client.

The fiduciary advisor must fully disclose any conflicts of interest so the client can make the best decision. The advisor must act with skill and care in their work for the client and always adhere to the client’s wishes.

In contrast, a non-fiduciary advisor is only required to recommend products that are suitable for the client but may not be the best available, allowing the advisor to benefit from commissions on sales of such products.

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A fiduciary is the better choice because they will focus on your best interests, while some financial advisors will make suitable recommendations that are also beneficial to them.

You can expect to pay a fee of 1% of your assets to a fiduciary financial advisor. Some advisors charge hourly fees or flat fees for certain services, such as preparing an estate plan.

Yes, at Charles Schwab, a financial advisor has the fiduciary duty to work in their clients’ best interests at all times, putting them above their own interests and the interests of the firm.

Fiduciaries derive their income from the fees clients pay for their services. They may also earn commissions on the products they sell, but only if the sale is in the best interests of the client.

Define your financial goals and the financial services you need to achieve them. The right fiduciary is someone you can trust, which you can determine by talking to them and asking a lot of questions.

A fiduciary financial advisor is able to make investments on your behalf, based on your financial goals. Having this control over your assets affects your financial future.

A financial advisor may have a certification that requires them to be a fiduciary, and they should be able to tell you if they are a fiduciary when you ask them.

The advisor may charge an hourly rate of $200 to $400, a flat fee for a particular service, such as $1,000–$3,000 for a financial plan, or a retainer fee of $2,000–$7,500.

According to the Fidelity website, the firm’s representatives are required to provide advice that is in the client’s best interest, and Fidelity advisors comply with all applicable regulations.

If you have a trusting relationship with a fiduciary advisor, and they are helping you meet your financial goals, including growing your wealth, then it is worthwhile to pay for those services.

Fiduciary Financial Advisor

How do I know if my advisor is a fiduciary financial advisor?

Now that you know what a fiduciary financial advisor is, the next obvious question on your mind may be – how do I know if my advisor is a fiduciary financial advisor? When you go about looking for financial advisors, you will generally find quite a few of them near your area. With so many financial advisors around, it becomes important to pick out the ones that are registered as fiduciary.

One way to identify a fiduciary financial advisor is by browsing through the website of the wealth advisor and keeping an eye out for any references to the word fiduciary. You can gain deeper insight into how to select the best fiduciary financial advisor if you have $5 million to $500 million in investible liquid assets by reading this authoritative guide written especially for high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals.

Another direct way to find out if someone is a fiduciary financial advisor is simply by asking. You can either reach out by email or simply call. If you plan on holding a one-on-one introductory meeting (which we highly recommend once you have shortlisted the most promising advisors), then you can ask about the fiduciary status during that meeting. A good fiduciary financial advisor should have a fiduciary duty, including when acting as a broker-dealer. We also encourage you to schedule your free consultation with Pillar Wealth Management to discuss anything related to wealth management and being a fiduciary financial advisor.

Some intuitive, less obvious ways of finding out whether an advisor is a fiduciary financial advisor or not is to learn about past case studies. In these examples, try to spot if the advisor acted in the best interests of the client. Any specific mentions of advisors going above and beyond the immediate decision at hand and advising clients on a seemingly unrelated aspect because it was in the client’s best interest is something a fiduciary would do.

What is the difference between a generic advisor and a fiduciary financial advisor?

We have often used the terms wealth advisor, fiduciary financial, and financial advisor in this article. However, you may be wondering one thing – what is the difference between a generic advisor and a fiduciary financial advisor. Being a fiduciary is a role that an advisor plays. A financial advisor may or may not be a fiduciary. That is a choice the financial advisor has to make. Call Hutch Ashoo to discuss why Pillar Wealth Management chose to be a fiduciary.

A financial advisor is a generic term for anyone who advises clients on money-related decisions. The services can include investment management, tax planning, retirement planning, including managing your retirement accounts, risk management, estate planning, and so on. However, a fiduciary is someone who manages the assets of his/her clients without any personal benefit from doing so. The only benefit is the fee that the advisor earns.

Before you choose a financial advisor, make sure that you want a human financial advisor or Robo advisors. If you want to have investment advice that comes from professional financial planners, you also need to make sure that they will always open up about potential conflicts of interest. Because a conflict of interest can affect your financial performance and future planning.

So, a fiduciary financial advisor has to give unbiased advice that is always in the best interest of the client. For example, a client is facing the decision of whether to invest in a passive low-cost fund or an actively managed higher-cost fund. A fiduciary should be in a position to point out when it makes sense to go for the passive fund offering a lower return because that is good enough to meet the financial goals of the client. There should be no doubts about the advisor recommending a higher-cost fund in the hope of earning a commission from the fund company.

We have discussed this topic in this guide on improving portfolio performance for investors with $5 million to $500 million in investible liquid assets. A fiduciary will also generally point out multiple aspects of a seemingly simple decision that may get impacted as a result of the decision. Anything in the best interests of the client is covered.

How to choose the best fiduciary financial advisor

How to choose the best fiduciary financial advisor

There are financial advisors as well as fiduciary financial advisors. If you are convinced about working with a registered fiduciary, then you will probably start looking for such advisors. However, what if you find multiple such advisors? How do you choose the best fiduciary financial advisor? After all, you are going to trust the fiduciary financial advisor with your hard-earned wealth. The stakes are high and every decision has an impact worth millions of dollars.

One way is to analyze the reputation of the advisor. Has the advisor successfully worked with high net worth portfolios? Working with a portfolio worth $50 million requires specific skill sets than working on a $1 million portfolio. You want an advisor who understands your niche profile. The track record of the advisor, the testimonials of the clients, and the general reputation can give you insights. The number of years of experience is also a key indicator as it can signal consistency in service levels.

Secondly, you can ask your family members, relatives, and friends about any good fiduciary advisors that they work with or know of. Your personal network including your business colleagues, work colleagues, suppliers, partners, or anyone who is in the same income profile as you may be aware of advisors who specialize in working with high net worth individuals. Plus, your own people are more likely to give you an honest review.

Advisors that are registered board members should fit the standard of fiduciary. Fiduciary advisors may be responsible for financial issues such as assets management for a person or group of people. Some people should have fiduciary responsibility such as financial advisors, money managers, accountants, corporate officers, and so on.

Most importantly, figure out what you really want out to working with a fiduciary advisor. Know what your goals are, what your expectations are, and then look for an advisor, including the investment firm, investment products that you want to buy, and other investments’ planning. We have discussed this point about self-introspection in our short guide on the 5 critical shifts for maximizing portfolio growth for individuals and families with $5 million to $500 million in liquid assets.

Are All Financial Advisors Considered Fiduciaries?   

All financial advisors are qualified to provide financial services, but not all of them are fiduciaries. Some financial advisors accept commissions on products they sell and may also receive bonuses or other perks from their employer for reaching their sales targets. These earnings create a conflict of interest for the advisors so they are not acting in the best interests of the client.

A registered investment advisor or a certified financial planner is legally required to abide by the fiduciary standard at all times, while a broker-dealer is subject to regulation best interest at all times.

Is a Robo-advisor a Fiduciary?

Somerobo-advisors are considered fiduciaries because they are registered with the SEC. However, a robo-advisor does not have the capacity to understand the investor’s unique financial situation. So, these robo-advisors are not fiduciaries in the full sense of the term because they lack human perception.   

What Is Fiduciary Duty?

When someone has a fiduciary duty to someone else, the person with the duty must act in a way that will benefit the other person, usually financially. The person with a fiduciary duty is called the fiduciary, and the person to whom the duty is owed is called the principal or the beneficiary.

Fiduciaries have two main duties, duty of care and duty of loyalty. Duty of care is the responsibility to be informed as completely as possible to exercise sound judgment that protects the beneficiary’s interests, such as a thorough consideration of options for decision-making.

Having a duty of loyalty means acting in the best interest of the beneficiary at all times, putting their well-being first and foremost. The fiduciary may not take action when there’s a conflict of interest with the beneficiary’s welfare.

What Happens If Fiduciary Duty Is Breached?

What Happens If Fiduciary Duty Is Breached?   

If your advisor is a fiduciary, and you think they have breached their fiduciary duty, you should end your relationship. A breach occurs if your advisor makes false statements about stock trades or executes trades without your approval. If your advisor benefits from recommendations they make, a breach has occurred.

If you have incurred a financial loss, you can file a civil claim to recoup your losses.

If your claim is successful, you may be awarded damages, and your advisor will face disciplinary action, such as having to pay a fine.

Types of Fiduciary Relationships

  • When working with a financial advisor, you want to trust that they will give you advice and make recommendations that are in your best interests. As a result, whether or not they are a fiduciary is important. Your advisor’s recommendations directly impact your financial life and ability to achieve your investment goals. Your advisor’s certifications will tell you if they are bound by a fiduciary duty, but you can also ask for something in writing.
  • Guardians are legally required to work in the best interests of their wards. Hence, they are considered to have a fiduciary duty. This is critical because a ward, who is a minor, cannot make decisions on their own.
  • A corporation’s board members are required to act as fiduciaries because the board manages the company on behalf of its shareholders, who are the true owners of the company. Therefore, as owners of the company, the shareholders expect their investment to be managed to the best of the abilities of the board.
  • Lawyers must do their utmost to defend and protect their clients in difficult and often critical circumstances. As a result, lawyers have a fiduciary duty toward their clients, which includes maintaining complete confidentiality.

Pillar Wealth Management is a niche fiduciary fee-only advisor

Pillar Wealth Management is a unique wealth management firm that focuses on providing white-glove wealth management services to affluent clients. It works with a person and families who have $5 million to $500 million in investible liquid assets. The firm is unlike the big-name listed companies that focus on signing up more clients and inflating their assets-under-management numbers. In fact, Pillar took up only 17 new clients last year.

However, with the clients that the firm has, it knows the by the first name. It knows what their motivations are, what their goals are, and how every decision impacts the journey towards those goals. Pillar Wealth Management also makes a unique commitment to saving $100,000 for every $10 million in assets brought in by the client. The firm values investment costs as much as it values returns. Pillar also regularly stress tests all client portfolios and simulates 1,000 scenarios to check whether the portfolio can hold up during events like the current COVID pandemic.

Hutch Ashoo and Christopher Snyder are the expert founders of independent, fee-only, and fiduciary wealth management firm Pillar Wealth Management. If you would like to speak with them or simply ask any questions or information about how custom and trusted wealth management advice is offered to high net worth individuals with $5 million to $500 million in investible assets, then feel free to start a conversation.

Pillar Wealth Management, all rights reserved, advertiser disclosure.

Authors

To be 100% transparent, we published this page to help filter through the mass influx of prospects, who come to us through our website and referrals, to gain only a handful of the right types of new clients who wish to engage us.

We enjoy working with high net worth and ultra-high net worth investors and families who want what we call financial serenity – the feeling that comes when you know your finances and the lifestyle you desire have been secured for life, and that you don’t have to do any of the work to manage and maintain it because you hired a trusted advisor to take care of everything.

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