Client Fee Structure Options: Potential clients of a financial advisor fall into one of three categories as outlined below; commission as regulated by the financial industry, managed assets or a fixed fee. The category you might fall into depends on YOU! Your plans, goals, risk tolerance etc. My job, through our conversations, is to explain where you fit and why.
FINRA
(Financial Industry Regulation Authority) According to FINRA, a client includes a person (who is not a broker or dealer) who opens a brokerage account at a broker-dealer, or purchases a security for which the broker-dealer receives or will receive, directly or indirectly, compensation even though the security is held at an issuer, the issuer's affiliate or a custodial agent, and is dictated by such issuer or custodian. We want to meet with you at least annually to update any personal information that may have changed, and review your evolving personal situation.
Assets Under Management
The assets that the investment company manages on behalf of the client, and for which it receives compensation as a percentage of assets. We want to meet with you at least quarterly, or more frequently as your portfolio requires, to discuss the characteristics of the account.
Fixed Fee
The client is paying a fixed annual advisory fee, or hourly fee, for all work performed. This client is typically very well versed about investing and risk management and uses us as a sounding board, checking market conditions, etc. All implementation is handled by the client, and funds are under their (or their custodian's) complete control. Most meet with us monthly, although we only require it semiannually.