Working with an Independent Registered Investment Advisor vs. a Wall Street Firm

​Investors with complex needs are increasingly seeking out independent advice—and one way to ensure you’re getting independent advice is to work with an independent financial advisor. Sounds pretty straight forward, if you want independent advice, then seek out firms that are independent.

So what are 5 benefits of working with an independent financial advisor?
​

1. Customized guidance based on your entire financial picture: Independent advisors are not tied to any particular family of funds or investment products. So whether you need help with retirement planning, a tax situation, estate planning, or managing assets at multiple places, independent advisors have the freedom to choose from a wide range of investment options in order to tailor their advice based on what’s best for you.
2. A relationship that’s responsive, attentive, and personal: To offer advice closely aligned with your goals, independent advisors must first build a strong understanding of your situation. As a result, we focus on building deep relationships with our clients. This often takes regular, ongoing interactions. And because I am an entrepreneurial business owner myself, I hold myself personally accountable to my clients.
3. A fee structure that is simple and transparent: Independent advisors typically charge a fee based on a percentage of assets managed. This fee structure is simple, transparent, and easy to understand. It also gives an advisor an incentive to help grow your assets. When you succeed, your advisor succeeds. Our firm in particular never receives any third-party compensation which means never receiving any commissions or kick-backs from vendors.
4. A high level of expertise to support your complex financial needs: Independent advisors can help investors address the variety of complex investment needs that arise when you accumulate significant wealth. Many times our clients think of us as their financial “quarterback” focused on their financial picture. 
5. Your money is held by an independent custodian, not the advisor firm: Independent advisors use independent custodians, we use Charles Schwab to hold our clients’ assets. For our clients this provides a reassuring system of checks and balances—your money is not held by the same person who advises you about how to invest it.

-Paul R. Rossi, CFA