If you’ve spent any time looking for a financial advisor, you’ve probably come across the term “fee-only.” It’s used to describe registered investment advisors, and it’s one of the best things you can hear when searching for a financial professional.
But what does it mean? And why is it important? Let’s dig into the different types of compensation for financial advisors and highlight the benefits of using a fee-only financial wealth management company.
Compensation Structure for Financial Advisors
To truly understand the value of a fee-only advisor, it is important to understand the different ways advisors can get paid. The three most common methods include:
- Commission-based
- Fee-based
- Fee-only
Commission-based advisors don’t charge fees to their clients. On the surface, this model sounds great, but these advisors have to get paid somehow, so instead they earn commissions from the financial and insurance products they sell to their customers. Even if they mean well, commission-based advisors may be more motivated to sell products that will earn them the most money, rather than providing objective advice that is in the best interest of the client.
Fee-based advisors may sound like they’re fee-only, but they also make commissions from financial products and transactions. In addition to charging their clients fees, they earn a percentage of their revenue from selling products on behalf of brokerage firms, mutual fund companies, or insurance companies, thus placing them at the same risk for conflicts of interest as commission-based advisors.
Fee-only financial advisors are paid directly by their clients—and only by their clients. They don’t receive any type of kickback or commission for recommending certain securities or investments. Their fees are typically structured as a small percentage of the assets they manage, known as assets under management (AUM). Because fee-only advisors only get paid by their clients, they only succeed when you succeed.
The Benefits of Working With a Fee-Only Financial Advisor
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) believes fee-only advisors are the most transparent and unbiased advisors. (1) They typically have one of two titles: either registered investment advisor or CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. If you are in the market for a financial advisor, here are two reasons you should choose a fee-only advisor:
1. Reduced Conflicts of Interest
No matter how pure an advisor’s intentions are, it can be difficult to provide unbiased advice if they have a financial incentive to recommend products that will be more remunerative for themselves. This is not the case for fee-only advisors. Since they have no financial incentive to push one product over another, they are free to provide objective advice and recommend the products that are most suitable for your specific financial circumstances.
2. Fiduciary Commitment
Fee-only advisors are fiduciaries, which means they are legally and ethically obligated to act in your best interest at all times and to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. They are loyal to you and provide objective financial advice based on your unique situation and goals.
Why HBA Wealth Is Fee-Only
At HBA Wealth, we have a legal and moral obligation to place our clients’ interests first at all times. We pride ourselves on transparency and unbiased advice. We give our clients our undivided loyalty and are dedicated to helping them reach their financial objectives.
Whether you have a specific financial concern or need help developing a solid financial plan, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us at (626) 529-8347 or email Ricky directly at ricky@hbawealth.com to get started.
About Haydel, Biel & Associates
Haydel, Biel & Associates is an independent financial advisory firm serving individuals and families near Pasadena, California. The firm was founded in 2004 by Chris Haydel and Ricky Biel with a desire to provide unbiased, client-centered, community-based financial advice. Together, they have built a practice that has grown into a family of caring, smart professionals committed to blending proven investment methodologies with creative financial technologies that make it easier than ever to accomplish your goals. They strive to keep things simple and fun to give their clients peace of mind and alleviate financial stress. HBA Wealth takes care of their clients’ needs first and foremost and goes the extra mile to make their clients’ finances grow. To meet and see how the HBA Wealth team may be able to help, contact them today at (626) 529-8347 or email Ricky directly at ricky@hbawealth.com.
The commentary on this blog/website reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints and analyses of the Haydel Biel & Associates employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Haydel Biel & Associates or performance returns of any Haydel Biel & Associates Investments client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing on this website constitutes investment advice, performance data or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. Haydel Biel & Associates manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
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(1) https://www.napfa.org/financial-planning/what-is-fee-only-advising