Best Financial Advisors: Do You Really Need Them?

At Pillar Wealth Management, our team of financial advisors caters to the needs of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, helping them grow and protect their assets and providing investment management services. PillarWM managers take the time to understand each of our clients’ financial circumstances, aspirations, and values in order to create financial plans that will enable our clients to achieve financial success and serenity. Some of our services include investment management, retirement and estate planning, and tax planning. Make an appointment to manage your money with us, or click here.

In this article, we will discuss why you need the best financial advisors, then discuss some of the signs that show it’s high time you changed your financial advisor, and we end with whether or not one can really trust financial advisors. Let’s get started.

America’s Top Wealth Advisors

1. Hutch Ashoo

Hutch Ashoo, along with his business partner Chris Snyder, launched Pillar Wealth Management over three decades ago, with a focus on the affluent investor. Their extensive experience has helped shape the financial destinies of countless individuals who possess substantial wealth.

Together, Hutch and Chris have authored a number of influential books. Their titles include “Improving Portfolio Performance for Multi-Millionaires,” which dives deeply into strategies for enhancing the financial health of substantial portfolios. They also explored the philosophical dimensions of wealth in “Beyond Wealth: Finding the Balance Between Wealth and Happiness” and tackled the complexities of safeguarding significant assets in “The Art of Protecting Ultra-High Net Worth Portfolios and Estates.” Their expertise extends to numerous whitepapers and scholarly articles focused on the nuances of wealth management.

Moreover, Hutch is a prolific writer in various respected national journals, newspapers, and specialized publications around the field of law and taxes.

Away from the demands of his career, Hutch finds solace and enjoyment in the great outdoors. He shows great love and passion for traveling around the globe to indulge in big game fishing and hiking challenging trails. Hutch shares his life and adventures with his wife, Toni, in the sunny coastal town of Delray Beach, Florida.

2. Chris Snyder

Chris Snyder, alongside his business partner Hutch Ashoo, established Pillar Wealth Management, a firm catering to the intricate financial needs of affluent investors, over thirty years ago. Their joint venture has been pivotal in guiding high-net-worth individuals towards effective wealth management solutions.

Chris, together with Hutch, has co-authored several insightful books that address various aspects of finance and wealth preservation. Chris is a recognized figure in the financial writing sphere, contributing expert columns and articles to prestigious national journals, newspapers, and specialized legal and tax publications.

A proud alumnus of Saint Mary’s College of California, Chris earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on finance, which has underpinned his professional journey.

Aside from his professional life, Chris is involved in community activities. He coaches the high school baseball team at the local level, developing young players on and off the sports field. On the weekends, Chris and his wife Diana head off to the Sierra Mountains, where they go fishing during the warmer months and take to the slopes for skiing in wintertime. Next, Chris and Diana will be on the go, with traveling the globe on their to-do list.

3. Jeff Erdmann

Jeff is the founding partner of the Merrill Lynch Erdmann Group, based in Greenwich, Connecticut. He has been named #1 on Forbes America’s Top Wealth Advisors list for eight years running (2016–2023). In addition, Merrill Lynch awarded him the David Brady Award in 2017, recognizing him for client focus, philanthropy, and commitment to his company and community. Jeff was inducted into Research Magazine’s Advisor Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2019, The Erdmann Group was ranked #1 Private Wealth Group by Barron’s Magazine and has remained in the top 10.

Jeff develops tailored financial solutions for families with substantial wealth, using a multi-generational lens to work with not just the parents but also the next generation. The Erdmann Group team has worked with many public and private companies, offering advice on everything from executive compensation strategies to liquidity events. Jeff also runs a Merrill Training Program supporting the development of future advisors.

Jeff holds an economics and business degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. He, his wife Barbara, and three sons are actively involved in Open Doors, a homeless services organization in Norwalk, Connecticut, where the family lives and where Jeff is the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

4. Lyon Polk

Lyon Polk is the Managing Partner of Polk Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley, heading a very able team of 34 members who specialize in investment management, portfolio construction, and alternative investments. Under his leadership, the company provides robust wealth management strategies tailor-made to meet the unique needs and goals of affluent clients.

The Polk team at Morgan Stanley is set to launch the new Family Office Model, under which services will be offered that go beyond traditional wealth management to include estate planning, philanthropic coordination, and holistic lifestyle management—all tailored to the requirements of high-net-worth families.

Outside his professional commitments, Lyon is actively engaged in various philanthropic and community organizations. He serves on the board of the New York Boys Club, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Xavier University of Louisiana, an educational research and community development organization.

5. Charles Zhang

Charles Zhang is no stranger to financial industry accolades, and that was driven home by his appearance as #7 nationwide on Forbes’ list of America’s Top Wealth Advisors in 2020, which served as an exclamation point to his standout approach as a NAPFA-registered fee-only financial advisor, marking him as the highest-ranked individual in that category on the Forbes list. His level of service and expertise in wealth management for his clients have seen him ranked Michigan’s #1 Financial Advisor on Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for three consecutive years: 2018–2020. This simply goes to show the kind of recognition his name gets time and time again from Forbes for his work and the respect he builds within the financial fraternity.

Together with this outstanding achievement in the financial portfolio, Charles is a renowned voice in the financial field, who airs his professional views in the national media and various publications. His frequent interviews underscore his thought leadership and deep understanding of financial trends and strategies. This visibility solidifies his professional standing as a trusted advisor and influential figure in the realm of financial planning and investment management.

6. Rod Westmoreland

Since 1978, Rod has anchored his entire wealth management career at Merrill in Atlanta, dedicating himself to serving private business owners and their families. With a keen focus on this niche, Rod has assembled and led a team of over 20 professionals who specialize in various aspects of wealth management. Their services include developing tailored investment portfolios, planning for estates, crafting strategies for family legacy continuity, advising on philanthropic endeavors, and providing access to credit through Bank of America. This comprehensive approach and Rod’s leadership have consistently earned him accolades as a top advisor in several prestigious industry publications.

Rod is also deeply committed to community service and holds positions on several boards, which reflects his diverse interests and dedication to giving back. He is currently a member of the Alexander-Tharpe Fund Board of Directors at the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, underlining his support for collegiate athletics and education. Previously, he served on the board of the Atlanta Chamber Players, contributing to the local arts scene. Additionally, Rod is involved with the High Museum of Art, where he engages actively in their Annual Wine Auction as a member of the Director’s Circle, helping to foster cultural initiatives.

Educationally, Rod’s foundation was laid at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he graduated through an ROTC scholarship, highlighting his early leadership capabilities. He is married with two children, which anchors his investments in the Atlanta community. Through his professional achievements, community involvement, and personal commitments, Rod exemplifies a model of leadership and civic engagement, blending his career expertise with a solid dedication to cultural and educational growth.

7. Drew Freides

Drew Friedes is the founder and managing director of UBS Mainsail Wealth Partners. This gives him leadership and expertise, with the result that he has the highest and most prestigious rankings that can be achieved, including Forbes Top 100 Advisor and Barron’s Top 100 Advisor. Under his leadership, the team at Mainsail Wealth Partners also received the honor of being recognized in Barron’s listing of the Top 50 Private Wealth Teams, further positioning his team to exemplify excellence and leadership in wealth management.

Before joining the finance world, Drew had an extraordinary and illustrious career; he was in charge of custom racing yacht construction, applying his deep knowledge in naval architecture and marine engineering. That love for the sea translates into competitive sailboat racing, where he has won scores of championships testifying to his tactics, vision, and dedication on and off the waters.

His education can be no less remarkable; he holds a Darden School of Business MBA and a Bachelor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). If he is not crunching numbers and strategizing for the financial solutions of his clients, then Drew’s other love is golfing at a famous country club.

8. Raj Sharma

Raj Sharma is the founder of the esteemed Merrill Private Wealth Management Sharma Group, boasting over 30 years in the financial services industry. His extensive experience began before he joined Merrill in 1987, where he worked in various roles, including financial analyst, management executive, and media specialist. These early career roles equipped him with a solid foundation in financial analysis and strategic planning, skills he has effectively applied to benefit his clients at Merrill.

As a qualified portfolio manager under Merrill-MSG, Raj creates, for clients, a tailored investment strategy that will assist them in achieving their financial objectives through a blend of traditional advice and some “old school” counsel. This often involves a variety of investment vehicles, ranging from individual stocks and bonds to Merrill model portfolios and select third-party investments. His deep knowledge of the markets and personalized service ensure strategic alignment of every client’s portfolio according to their explicit needs and aspirations. Hence, he is a valued strategic partner in wealth management.

9. Michael Valdes

Michael Valdes joined Merrill in 1985. As the founder and senior advisor of the Valdes Group, he directs a Merrill Private Wealth Management team that strives to satisfy the needs of a wealthy clientele.

In 2023, Michael and his team were named to the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” list, ranking #1 in North Florida. Also in 2023, he joined the Forbes “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” list for the eighth consecutive year, ranking #12 for 2023.

Michael has acquired extensive knowledge during more than three decades of wealth management experience, giving him the expertise needed to assist his clients in achieving their financial aspirations.

Michael earned his Bachelor’s degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

As a manager for Little League Girls Softball, Michael led the South Tampa Girls Junior All-Star Softball team to victory in the World Series Championship in 2013, as televised on ESPN. He also led the Academy of the Holy Names high school softball team to their first-ever class 3A State Championship in 2021.

10. Richard Jones

Richard has been a financial advisor to high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and endowments since 1980. He was employed at J.P. Morgan and Bank of America before joining Merrill Lynch in 1999. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston University in 1978, magna cum laude, and his master’s degree in international finance from Columbia University.

Richard’s team at Merrill is the Jones Zafari Group, which was ranked as the #1 Private Wealth Management Team by Barron’s in 2020. Richard was named to Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” every year from 2005–2022

What Are the Duties of Top Financial Advisors?

Going by the name, you might think that the best financial advisor advises you on your finances, but in reality, the best financial advisors do more than that. They help the investor achieve their financial goals by turning vague ideas into more actionable targets. The best financial advisors help you manage your assets, such as money, real estate, and stocks and bonds. They guide you through various aspects of your financial life, such as how much to save, how much and where you should invest, which assets you should go for, and how to start saving for retirement.

In short, the best financial advisors help you sustainably grow your wealth to achieve your short-term and long-term goals while also protecting your assets. You can find out more about protecting your wealth by ordering a free hardcover copy of our book, The Art of Protecting Ultra-High Net Worth Portfolios and Estates – Strategies for Families Worth $25 Million to $500 Million.

Why an experienced financial advisor is necessary

The most skilled advisors serve clients in the areas of financial planning, estate planning, investment, retirement planning, and bank account management. However, when the work is done, the profits earned from investments belong to the investor. Thus, the real meaning of a financial advisor to the super-rich with $5 million to $500 million in liquid assets is the difference between an honest financial expert and someone who wants to be rich lick their clients.

1. Get Access for Personal Advisor Services

Wealth management does not mean a uniform approach. Particularly for high-net-worth individuals, their financial decisions yield significant rewards but also entail considerable risks. This underscores the necessity for the best personal financial advisors who possess the requisite experience and expertise to guide clients toward prudent decisions.

The right financial advisor excels in managing a vast and varied array of assets, employing diverse strategies to maximize both quantitative and qualitative returns for high-net-worth clients. This nuanced asset management is just one facet of comprehensive wealth management. For further insights on adapting your approach to enhance your portfolio growth strategy, this informative guide offers valuable perspectives.

2. Creating Financial Goals and Deciding on a Financial Plan

Here’s the bad news. You may think that you are different from most people, and based on your current savings plan, you think you will reach the $100 million mark. However, the fact is that it probably won’t happen.

Perhaps, as a human being, you have some specific objectives in life, like traveling or indulging in hobbies. Working with the best financial advisors helps you turn those goals into reality. They strive to understand where you would like to go and then point you in that direction. They’ll come up with a financial plan to get you there in the shortest time possible.

3. Gearing for Retirement

A retirement plan is not something you whip up one day just when you are about 60 or 65. If you want to plan to retire comfortably, you have to plan for that much earlier, and the best financial advisors go a long way to help. They are the ones to tell you exactly which decisions to make, which eventually will help you reach your retirement goal. Even if you have started your retirement planning a little late, you can still use a financial advisor.

Retirement and investment strategies are complex and can even be intimidating, depending on the stage one is in. And as you approach retirement, perhaps the best thing to do is not plowing your money into equities—but that’s something only a financial adviser can tell.

4. Minimizing Tax and Other Expenses

It would be a real pity to grow your wealth and then lose half of it in taxes and expenses, right? And that is actually what happens if you try to manage your wealth on your own or through some private bank or broker. The best financial advisors understand that every financial move has tax implications; therefore, they take action in advance to minimize your tax-loss harvesting and associated costs.

At Pillar WM, our team of experienced wealth managers and financial advisors offer various services, including tax planning and optimization. Click here to begin a conversation with our advisors about your tax liabilities.

5. Assisting with Estate Planning

Even estate planning is complicated. You want to not only grow and conserve your wealth but also ensure it is passed on to the proper beneficiaries in the easiest way possible. The best financial counselors serve the affluent, who have more complicated estate and legacy plans than those who are less wealthy and need to be concerned about the financial security of their loved ones when they pass away. If you have any philanthropic plans for the future, then you may seek the advice of a financial advisor for that.

6. Ensuring Financial Serenity

Suppose you need absolute financial serenity that allows you to be confident in your financial position and not even think about your wealth, In that case, engaging a financial advisor is the way to go. You may not have the time or the desire to manage your wealth. The perfect financial advisors mix a little bit of both.

A fiduciary financial advisor is committed to providing you with the best possible advice for the accomplishment of your financial aims, which in turn results in financial stability. For more strategies for achieving success and securing your finances, be sure to check out our complete guide on improving portfolio performance by clicking here.

Signs — When you should part ways with your financial advisor.

Just as important as the ability to judge the actions of a good advisor is understanding the warning signs that might indicate that your advisor is not acting according to your expectations. The following points emphasize the main ways your advisor could effectively steal from you.

Bad Investments

One of the most apparent signs is that your advisor is pushing you toward bad investments. They might tempt you with investments offering high returns at low risks. But at the end of the day, you won’t see much of a difference in your ending balance. Sometimes, this is a Ponzi scheme, which is often considered fraud.

Another sign is that the advisor might push you to keep buying the same products. This usually happens when they benefit from the direct sales of those products, as is the case with brokers.

Not Achieving Your Financial Goals

The wrong financial advisor will also not help you achieve your financial goals and other targets in life. In fact, they won’t know much about your goals since they won’t bother to understand what you really want. Therefore, any advice they give or decisions they make may only be fulfilling short-term performance targets and won’t help you get any closer to your long-term financial aims.

Excessive Transactions

A client, whose funds are managed by a financial advisor and who realizes that a list of transactions is reflected on his account but without any substantial cash inflow, should be very suspicious. The client may even be able to determine conclusively that the advisor is working for his or her own enrichment and not for the benefit of the client or the firm. To illustrate this, let us consider an advisor who is a banker. He operates on the commission-based model, which is quite common. This means that he gets a commission every time he buys or sells a security.

You can avoid this problem by finding an advisor who charges a flat fee, but more importantly, you want to switch to a fiduciary advisor—like the advisors at Pillar WM—someone who will work only in your best interests. Please click here to chat with one of the managers, and let us explain how we manage our clients’ assets.

All Talk, No Results

Another obvious sign is that your advisor will make promises and claim results without ever achieving them. They might keep pushing you toward certain investments without providing any solid reasoning or research behind them. They will boas that they can beat the market, which is a hazardous sign on its own.

Not Accounting for Major Life Changes

The best financial advisors not only develop the right financial plan for you but also keep adjusting it, especially when significant changes occur in your life. Suppose your advisor gives you the same advice, regardless of anything else happening in your life, such as a divorce or someone passing away. In that case, you need to find a different financial advisor right away.

No Monthly or Quarterly Reports

Even if you have left all your wealth management to the financial advisor, you should still be getting regular reports on the state and performance of your assets. If your advisor contacts you only once a year, without any information about your assets, it is a big warning sign. Do you have $10 million or more liquid assets? You need a financial advisor or financial planning service, whether you are in Chicago, Beverly Hills, Washington D.C, Michigan, New York, or anywhere.

How can we trust financial advisors?

Because advisor quality varies, it’s not unusual for the financial advisory arena to be faced with the issue of trust. While it’s true that some advisors don’t live up to their clients’ expectations, highly competent and reputable financial advisors, like those at PillarWM, are available to provide quality service.

The trustworthiness issue boils down to whether or not the advisor is a fiduciary. Fiduciary advisors have a legal obligation to act in the client’s best interest and provide advice advantageous to the client, even if the advisor does not profit by it. Such a high level of commitment would ensure that they only recommend strategies serving the client’s financial goals.

Even sources such as Investopedia, at first sight ready to offer financial help, list plenty of financial advisory companies, including such massive institutions as Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo Advisors. However, while such firms are widely known, the question should arise: Will their advisors be able to serve your needs in full? The difference is that some experienced investment advisors work with you hand in hand to understand and meet your distinctive financial goals, such as with PillarWM. That personal touch could make all the difference in realizing your financial dreams.

How to Find a Financial Advisor that is Right for You

The best financial advisors are ten a penny, but finding one that is best meets the complex and unique needs of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals is anything but simple. Only the best financial advisors from the best financial advisor firms are able to guide you toward achieving your goals, be it retirement, estate planning, taxes, and ultimately achieving financial success and serenity.

Below are some factors on which you can base your search and establish if a financial advisor you are considering is right for you:

• Experience and Expertise: Consider their professional background and areas of specialization.

• Results: Look at the performance history and success stories.

• Advice: Assess the quality and applicability of the advice provided.

• Constant Monitoring: Ensure they offer ongoing oversight and adjustments to your financial strategy.

First, get to know the types of financial planners available, who might be able to help you achieve your financial goals. They consist of certified financial planners (CFPs), broker-dealers, financial coaches and consultants, investment and wealth advisors, and Robo Advisors. A Robo Advisor is different from the others since the others are human financial advisors. A Robo Advisor is a digital platform that can manage your assets and provide financial planning.

6 Ways to Make Sure You Choose the Best Financial Advisor

The decision you make either now or in the future is vital since it will influence your financial and emotional welfare. It could be worthwhile to visit some of these investment companies and banks to make sure you make the right decision.

It’s essential that you consult a shortlist of advisors before settling on the one with whom you could discuss your financial affairs openly. And follow these six tips:

1. Find a fiduciary

A fiduciary advisor is a certified financial planner or an investment advisor whose duty to their clients is to put their interests first, guaranteeing that the advice and the actions that follow are in the best interest of the clients. Among the clear indications that an advisor is operating under fiduciary standards is their compensation model, whereby the advisor earns a living solely from the fees paid by the client and not commissions for certain financial products recommended to them. This reduces any conflict of interest and aligns the incentive of the advisor to that of the client. Further, a fiduciary advisor is usually required to have ongoing education to be up-to-date with laws and regulations. This commitment makes their expertise more valuable, but even more so, it directly benefits you with a potentially better result on your tax returns.

Having a title does not automatically mean that an advisor is a fiduciary. Savvy financial advisors are those who provide flexible solutions based on the needs of their clients instead of offering only talk. Practice what you preach—as the client would say; results, such as an effective achievement of monetary objectives, should be included as one of the signifiers of the pursuit of fiduciary principles.

2. Check those credentials

After identifying a financial adviser you would like to work with, the next step would be to verify the advisor’s professional credibility. You can access such information by visiting the relevant accrediting organizations on the web. For example, if your potential advisor claims to be a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), then you can check his certification from the website of the CFP Board at cfp.net. This site maintains a complete list of designees that have met stringent requirements for the acquisition and retention of this designation. You check the credentials for two reasons: that the advisor has the qualifications necessary and subscribes to professional standards, and secondly, that one is in good standing with the accrediting body. This way, they can safeguard your interests and, at the same time, assure you that you are in contact with a professional person of high competence and trust.

3. Understand how the advisor gets paid

Now, should you be contemplating seeking the services of a financial advisor from an investment firm, concerned about financial advisor cost and how the individual is compensated, chances are that the advisor will be compensated on a fee-only, fee-based, commission-based, or hybrid option. Each of these models will affect the recommendations of the advisor differently and the total cost of your investment in a different way.

Equally important is to establish if, in any case, the advisor receives compensation for promoting the firm’s products because this is likely to lead to conflict. The advisor may be biased regarding the type of product they advocate for you, which may benefit them more than it would benefit you.

Furthermore, if an individual uses the services of an independent financial advisor or company, the advice is more likely to be impartial. An independent financial advisor is more likely to advise on the use of products or options that are to the benefit of the user, not being confined to offering advice on options or products of just one firm.

Equally important is determining whether the advisor adheres to the standard of care of a fiduciary. In fact, the standards legally bind the advisor to act in the client’s best interests, affording them more assurance that the advice rendered is not only ethical but also tailored explicitly to support the client’s financial goals.

4. Look for fee-only advisors

A fee-only financial advisor derives their compensation from fees paid by you and their other clients but does not include the commissions attached to the sale of specific financial products. This makes the incentives of the advisor align with your interests, thus making them seek your financial wellness at the expense of their profit motive. Most often, fee-only advisors levy a charge based on a percentage of the assets they handle, a flat fee, or an hourly rate. In effect, as your fortune grows, and most likely due to how diligently and wisely the advisor manages your assets for growth, your compensation also grows. This contributes to their genuine concern for your financial growth and stability since theirs are pegged directly to the progress of your finances.

5. Expect clarity

Moreover, a good financial advisor should have the capability to provide deep insight into your financial situation and long-term goals and objectives. You should feel an active interest in understanding and see visible signs of attentive listening and empathetic responses to your financial concerns. The advisor, therefore, needs to clearly articulate their approach to the financial products they advise on, together with the reasons for the advice. Equally important is their ability to clearly outline all related costs, ensuring you do understand what you are paying for and why. This level of clarity and openness is necessary for developing a relationship at once trusting and productive between you and your advisor.

6. Find an advisor who keeps you on track

Your advisor should work with you on a financial plan that aims to make you a better investor, enabling you to put a strategy in place for investment and prepare for a financially secured retirement. Better yet, work with an advisor who can put into plain terms exactly how you’re going to meet your goals. With a better understanding, you will be in a more comfortable position to negotiate the markets with its many variables.

“Pillar WM is a 100% fee-only wealth management firm. We offer everything from investment management to a wide range of services, from credit card management, risk management, and retirement planning to estate planning, tax planning, and accounting, and a lot more.” Our team includes wealth managers and financial advisors with 30-plus years of experience, thence having the best knowledge and skills to see to it that our affluent clientele is well served. Visit our website. Please book an appointment for a consultation today by clicking here.

Related Post

1. Wealth Management Boulder – Portfolio management can be nerve-wracking for even the most experienced investors…
2. Wells Fargo Wealth Management – Wells Fargo is the fourth-largest bank in the US and the fourth-largest bank in the world by market capitalization…
3. Top Wealth Management Firms – Ultra-high net worth and even high net worth individuals prefer to invest their wealth in…
4. Wealth Advisor Near Me – A wealth advisor near me is a phrase that is generally associated with wealth management…