Five Truths About Independent Advisors
The right investment advisor does what's right for you
Investment advisors are registered with and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission( SEC) or their state securities regulator. Registered Investment Advisors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of their clients.
GET ADVICE BASED ON WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.
If the advice you're getting isn't all about you, it isn't really advice at all. Whether it's your retirement planning, tax situation, estate planning, or asset at multiple places, it's fundamentally important that your advisor truly understand you, your goals, and your situation. An independent advisor is in a position to do that. They're entrepreneurs and they pride themselves on strong personal interaction with their clients and dedication to their needs. They believe that their independence is key to offering investment advice based on what's best for their clients.
UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR.
Independent advisors typically charge a fee based on a percentage of total assets managed. This has two advantages. One: The fee structure is simple and easy to understand, helping to avoid surprises. Two: Since this fee structure does not give your advisor an incentive to recommend one product over another, you can feel confident that your advisor is making recommendations based on what's best for your situation and your portfolio.
GET ADVICE FOR YOUR COMPLEX NEEDS.
Many advisors can provide services that address a variety of more complex investment needs that often arise when you accumulate significant wealth, such as the sale of a business, complicated tax situations, trusts, and intergeneration issues. Some advisors are also specialists in certain investment strategies. Others can assist you with comprehensive services, such as estate planning or borrowing. Given the rich diversity of specialization throughout the industry, no matter how complex your individual needs, you will likely find a registered investment advisor who can provide advice that's right for you.
ENJOY A ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIP.
Working with an advisor, you'll generally enjoy a one-on-one relationship with a local professional who shares a vested interest in your success. Their goal is to fit you with strategies that account for your personal needs and objectives - and that often takes regular, ongoing interactions. Because many independent advisors are entrepreneurial business owners- the buck stops with them, so to speak- they frequently share strong sense of personal accountability to their clients.
KNOW THAT YOUR MONEY IS WITH A SECURE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
Independent advisors use institutional custodians - generally large brokerage firms or banks - to hold and safeguard their clients' stock, mutual funds and other assets. These custodians also provide important infrastructure services such as executing trades and preparing monthely brokerage statements for clients. This helps advisors focus on understanding your needs and providing the best advice possible.
Independent advisors work on your behalf to help you achieve your financial goals. This is a philosophy that has always been at the heart of the way MIG- MA investment group works with all of its clients. That's also why for over 10 years so many clients have worked with MA investment group.
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