7 kept points to consider when choosing a financial advisor in Utah

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.

Listed below are seven key points to consider when choosing a financial advisor to work with.

#1 Use A Fiduciary Firm
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 Use A Financial Advisor Who is Not Affiliated 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.

Financial 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.

#3 Use An Independent Financial Advisor, one with a Registered Investment Advisor firm, who Is Fee-Only
A fee-only financial advisor earns no commissions. They 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 they are just as interested in your account growing as you are.

#4 Use A Financial Advisor Who Follows The Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA).
The 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.

#5 Use A Financial Advisor Who Has 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.

#6 Use A Financial Advisor Who Shares Your Investment Philosophy.
There are only two investment philosophies.  The first is that free markets fail, while the second is that free markets work. It is important for all people to understand what each means, choose one and align themselves with an advisor who shares the same belief.

#7 Use A Financial Advisor Who Will Continue To Coach You Along The Way. 
Ongoing participation in group coaching events will help to keep your investing perspective sharp and focused on issues that are important to your long-term goals. The Investor Coaching Series is designed to help you confront common investing challenges and put short-term events into perspective. By making these events a priority for yourself and viewing them as exercise for your financial fitness, you will be better prepared to face tough challenges when they arise.

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