Who is the most trustworthy financial advisor?
There are a few ways you can check if a financial advisor is legitimate. You can check with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) by visiting their BrokerCheck website or calling (800) 289-9999. You can also check the SEC's Investment Advisor Public Disclosure (IAPD) website.
- Visit FINRA BrokerCheck or call FINRA at (800) 289-9999.
- Or, visit the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website.
- Also, contact your state securities regulator.
- Check SEC Action Lookup tool for formal actions that the SEC has brought against individuals.
There are a few ways you can check if a financial advisor is legitimate. You can check with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) by visiting their BrokerCheck website or calling (800) 289-9999. You can also check the SEC's Investment Advisor Public Disclosure (IAPD) website.
Several financial advisors such as Dave Ramsey and Robert Kiyosaki are most known for their print publications. TV personals including Suze Orman and Ben Stein are recognizable financial advisors.
On the other hand, fee-based or commission-based compensation structures can both be financial advisor red flags. These advisors may earn part or all of their compensation in sales commissions. In other words, they may be more incentivized to sell products than give advice.
Generally, having between $50,000 and $500,000 of liquid assets to invest can be a good point to start looking at hiring a financial advisor. Some advisors have minimum asset thresholds. This could be a relatively low figure, like $25,000, but it could $500,000, $1 million or even more.
A big red flag is advice to act quickly before the opportunity disappears. High pressure or using fear to get you to make a quick decision is a sales tactic. If they are using high pressure sales, they may not have your best interest at heart. And they might just be a good salesperson, not a quality financial planner.
- "I offer a guaranteed rate of return."
- "Performance is the only thing that matters."
- "This investment product is risk-free. ...
- "Don't worry about how you're invested. ...
- "I know my pay structure is confusing; just trust me that it's fair."
- They are a part-time fiduciary.
- They get money from multiple sources.
- They charge excessive fees.
- They claim exclusivity.
- They don't have a customized plan.
- You always have to call them.
- They ignore you or your spouse.
Of high-net-worth individuals, 70 percent work with a financial advisor. You can compare that to just 37 percent in the general population.
Who are the top 5 financial advisors?
| 2024 Rank | Name | Firm |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Warr | Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management |
| 2 | Tony Smith | Stonegate Investment Group |
| 3 | Christopher Compton | Stonegate Investment Group |
| 4 | Brian Woodke | Merrill Wealth Management |
Financial advisors aren't just for rich people—working with a financial advisor is a great choice for anyone who wants to get their personal finances on track and set long-term objectives.
While 1.5% is on the higher end for financial advisor services, if that's what it takes to get the returns you want then it's not overpaying, so to speak. Staying around 1% for your fee may be standard but it certainly isn't the high end. You need to decide what you're willing to pay for what you're receiving.
Many financial advisers charge based on how much money they manage on your behalf, and 1% of your total assets under management is a pretty standard fee. But psst: If you have over $1 million, a flat fee might make a lot more financial sense for you, pros say.
Edward Jones serves as an investment advice fiduciary at the plan level and provides educational services at both the plan and participant levels, if applicable.
Poor performance, high fees, strained communication and stagnant advice are among the reasons to look for a new advisor.
The short answer is that they could be, depending on how an advisory firm structures its fees. There's no guarantee that negotiating will work, though there are other things you might be able to do to save money when hiring a financial advisor.
If the advisor can demonstrate that their actions were well-intended regardless of the outcome, the financial advisor is often not guilty of any crime. However, if an advisor's actions are ill-mannered or not in the best interest of their client, the client may have basis for a lawsuit.
Those who use financial advisors typically get higher returns and more integrated planning, including tax management, retirement planning and estate planning. Self-investors, on the other hand, save on advisor fees and get the self-satisfaction of learning about investing and making their own decisions.
A financial planner generally takes a more comprehensive, long-term approach to money management. While they often hold the same licenses and carry out the same functions as financial advisors, financial planners tend to focus on creating personalized and holistic plans for clients.
Are financial advisors worth paying for?
A financial advisor is worth paying for if they provide help you need, whether because you don't have the time or financial acumen or you simply don't want to deal with your finances. An advisor may be especially valuable if you have complicated finances that would benefit from professional help.
There are definite risks involved in getting too friendly with a financial advisor, or hiring a friend who is a financial advisor. "It's a good idea for everyone to take a more proactive approach with their own investments," says Vic Patel, a professional trader and founder of Forex Training Group.
You should meet with your advisor at least once a year to reassess basics like budget, taxes and investment performance. This is the time to discuss whether you feel you are on the right track, and if there is something you could be doing better to increase your net worth in the coming 12 months.
It's important to note that not all bank advisors are bad financial advisors – they're usually really great and friendly people, but they're part of a system where they are told what to sell and that typically translates into the highest fee, most profitable investment products for the bank, not their customers, like ...
A fiduciary is someone who must act in your best interest. A financial advisor is a job title that anyone advising about your finances can use. If you're in the market for a financial advisor, you should strongly consider a financial advisor who is a fiduciary or a fiduciary financial advisor.
