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What Sets Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. Apart?

A new perception has taken hold: “A Fiduciary, Fee-Only, Financial Advisor” is better. 

Times have changed – and so have financial advisors. Today, people don’t want financial advice from a salesman. Instead, they want a relationship with a financial advisor who is candid, trustworthy, unbiased and provides personalized investor education for each client.

That search often leads them to a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor.  Listed below are seven key points we feel make us unique from most other firms out there.

1. We Are a Fiduciary Firm
We have fiduciary duty. The SEC describes a fiduciary like this. “A fiduciary must act for the benefit of the person to whom he owes fiduciary duties, to the exclusion of any contrary interest.”  The client’s best interest comes first and it is the only interest that matters.

2. We Are Not With A Broker-dealer
Broker-dealers are not bound by fiduciary duty, instead must meet a much lower standard… suitability. The suitability standard allows brokers to pursue their own interests without disclosing those interests. Compared to fiduciary duty, suitability is a lower bar. Advisors associated with a broker-dealer are typically selling commission-based products. We do not sell products for commissions, we are fee-only.

3. We Are an Independent, Registered Investment Advisor firm
As a fee-only adviser we earn no commissions. We derive income from annual management fees. The management fees are usually a percentage of the assets a client has invested. With this compensation arrangement, you know that we are just as interested in your account growing as you are.

4. We Use An Evidence-Based Investment Strategy
Because there is a lot more noise than there is valuable knowledge, the basic recipe for evidence-based investing begins and ends with academic rigor. It should always be a key ingredient in separating likely fact from probable fiction:

  • It requires robust data sets that are large enough, representative enough, and free from other common data analysis flaws.
  • Authors should be impartial, lacking incentives to “torture” the data to make a point.
  • Other studies should be able to reproduce the same findings under different scenarios, suggesting the results are more likely to persist upon discovery.
  • The data, methodology, and results should be published in reputable, peer-reviewed forums where informed colleagues can comment on the findings.
  • Enough time must pass to make all of the above possible.After that, we also must be able to apply the results in the real world. In other words, even if a theoretical strategy is expected to enhance your returns, it must do so after considering all practical costs and portfolio-wide tradeoffs involved. For example, sometimes one source of expected returns may offset another, even bigger source. Sometimes, we can combine them for even stronger results; other times, it’s best to favor one over the other. To learn more click here

After that, we also must be able to apply the results in the real world. In other words, even if a theoretical strategy is expected to enhance your returns, it must do so after considering all practical costs and portfolio-wide tradeoffs involved. For example, sometimes one source of expected returns may offset another, even bigger source. Sometimes, we can combine them for even stronger results; other times, it’s best to favor one over the other.

5. Our Compensation — We Are Fee-Only
Advisors associated with a broker-dealer are typically selling commission-based products that can reap large commissions.   Their income is not dependent on the performance of what they sold you.  They must sell you products again and again in order to get paid.

As a fee-only adviser we earn no commissions.  We derive income from annual management fees, calculated and debited quarterly from your account.  This fee appears directly on your statement and in some cases is tax deductible.  With this compensation arrangement, you know that we are just as interested in your account growing as you are.  By hiring us, we can provide investors with investments whose total costs are less than the investments they might choose on their own, through a bank, or even other commission-based advisors.

6. We follow the Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA).  UPIA is a legal document that was published by the American Law Institute in 1992, that outlines what it means to be a prudent fiduciary.  The UPIA provides for a duty to diversify investments which can be done by utilizing a concept called Modern Portfolio Theory.

In 1990, Harry Markowitz, Ph.D., won a Nobel Prize for his concept called Modern Portfolio Theory. Modern Portfolio Theory is a scientific way to build a portfolio that can identify and measure the amount of volatility for any given level of expected return. So what does that fancy language mean?

Instead of talking about risk in a general way, you can measure the volatility in a portfolio (with a scientific number) and actually determine how relatively volatile the portfolio is.

You can also look at historic rates of return for every capital market and gain some insight into how various capital markets perform historically. (You can get an actual measurement of expected risk versus expected return!)

UPIA states that the fiduciary’s role is to manage risk and expected return by developing and monitoring the trust portfolios. Modern Portfolio Theory is the idea that you should diversify, measure risk, and account for all costs. Not only are these your primary responsibilities as a fiduciary, but the great news is that there is an academic and scientific method, if applied appropriately, that can give you very good solutions and prudent reasons for making an investment decision.

7. We Have GIPS Audited Returns
Make sure the returns of the money manager you use are audited by a third-party firm like Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS). Many portfolio managers, financial advisors, stockbrokers, and financial planners claim consistent, superior performance, but do not provide independently-validated evidence of that performance from a firm like GIPS. Ask for a GIPS audit report. If they can’t provide a GIPS audit, then be leery! For more information about GIPS, visit their website at gipsstandards.org.

To receive a free information packet please click here.

The Introduction To Prosperous Investing — The First Appointment


Once you schedule your
Introduction To Prosperous Investing, we will send you a short first appointment questionnaire within 24 hours.  The first appointment questionnaire gives us a brief overview of your current situation, what your top concerns are, and will helps us better understand your investment experience.  To schedule your first appointment, simply call us at 801-545-0696 or click, Let’s Begin. 

 

Enjoy retirement as you’ve always envisioned

We’re here to help, no matter where you’re starting from!

© 2024 Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. A fiduciary, independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor

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