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Fee Only Financial Advisor vs. Commission Financial Advisor

A new perception has taken hold: “fee-only 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 professional who is candid, trustworthy and thoroughly educated, who provides personalized financial consulting for each client.

That search often leads them to a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor.

A pleasant alternative to Wall Street. A paradigm shift is happening, and the traditional brokerage houses are lagging. While old-school “stock brokers” have gone the way of the wooly mammoth, you still have a sales-first mentality in place at big banks and Wall Street brokerages. If you’re employed by one of them, the mantra is simple: make a sale, earn a commission.

As they try to serve their clients, these “wirehouse” brokers regularly contend with sales quotas and the inherent potential for conflicts of interest. It wears on them: a 2010 survey revealed that only 15% were “very satisfied” at their firms, and another 20% wanted to leave within two years.1

Given the tarnished reputations of so many giant banks and brokerages, it isn’t surprising that consumers are turning elsewhere for financial advice.

A Fee-only Registered Investment Advisor earns no commissions at all. They derive 100% of their income from client fees – hourly or per-project consulting fees or annual management fees. The management fees represent a percentage of the assets a client has invested. With this compensation arrangement, you know that a fee-only advisor is available to help you address myriad issues in your financial life, not simply those that could lead to a commission.

Even as the market has struggled since the end of 2007, independent Registered Investment Advisors have gained a greater share of assets under management in the U.S.3

People need unbiased advice. That’s probably the #1 reason why people seek an independent Registered Investment Advisor. They know that the advice they receive is not influenced by sales incentives or directives. There is often a candor to the discussion that may not always be present at a bank or a brokerage.

This is the age of independence. When it comes to the financial future, no one wants to be “sold” – just advised. That’s why we’ve seen the rise of a new kind of financial advisor who puts the client relationship first. An independent fee-only Registered Investment Advisor.

To find out how we can help you with your investment management please click here. 

 

Citations
1 – bankinvestmentconsultant.com/news/pirker-aite-wirehouse-advisors-2667209-1.html [6/1/10]
2 – investopedia.com/articles/financialcareers/06/whatisaRIA.asp [6/11/10]
3 – fa-mag.com/fa-news/5548-independents-make-headway-despite-downturn.html [5/10/10]

This information should not be construed as investment advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.  If other expert assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. Please consult your Financial Advisor for further information. This material was prepared by Peter Montoya Inc. for Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. an independent fee only registered investment advisor firm in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Introduction To Prosperous Investing — The First Appointment


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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. 

 

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