Is your financial advisor a Fiduciary? Maybe, but most likely not.
FACT: When the advisory fees you pay are the only source of income for a financial advisor the advisor works for you and only you. When an advisor receives compensation from other sources such as commissions and revenue-sharing from mutual funds, annuities, and managed asset accounts, your advisor works for someone else and cannot be a fiduciary to you at all times.
Prior to working with a financial advisor, always review their fee structure.
1. Fee-Only - A Fiduciary
Fee-only financial advisors do not accept any fees, compensation, or commissions based on product or investment sales. They are compensated solely by the the fees their clients pay for their services. At Clarity Capital Advisors, we are a fee-only, registered investment advisor firm and have eliminated the conflicts of interest associated with commission-based and fee-based advisors. In addition, our pricing includes asset management and retirement planning services for one flat fee. We are real fiduciaries to you at all times.
2. Commission-Based - Not a Fiduciary
The commission-based advisor (e.g., commission-based investment managers) earns commissions on the financial products they sell to their clients.
3. Fee-Based - (also known as a Commission and Fee Firm) - Not a Fiduciary
There really isn't a "fee-based" advisor, the term was created to confuse investors into thinking they are investing with an advisor that will charge them an annual fee, like a fee-only financial advisor. Not so! This is by far the most common fee structure available to investors from names such as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, UBS, Wells Fargo Advisors, and other bank and insurance programs. Just because it's commonplace does not make it right.
Fee-based advisors use a fee-only structure for some services and earn additional commissions (kickbacks) from investments they sell to their clients. This fee structure is riddled with conflicts of interest for clients as many fee-based advisors will not disclose when they are earning additional commissions or 12b-1 fees above the advisory fee they are already collecting from their clients. We see these advisors charge an annual asset-based (percentage) fee for "wealth management services", then recommend to their clients a mutual fund and/or annuity investment that pays a nice commission on top! This is why they are called "commission and fee". Some mutual funds and annuities can pay an advisor 3% - 8% in commissions in addition to the 1% "advisory fee" you are paying them. Don't get caught in this very, very expensive trap!
Suitability Standard vs. Fiduciary Standard
Under current financial laws and regulations, there are two sets of rules. One set (the Suitability Standard) is for advisors who sell financial products--generally fee-based and commissioned financial advisors at the larger firms, registered representatives, insurance company representatives, and all "fee-based independent financial advisors". Under the Suitability Standard, it is impossible for the fee-based or commissioned advisor to be a true fiduciary to the client at all times. This means that investment products such as an annuity or a mutual fund sold by one of them for a commission must be suitable for the client but need not be the best possible investment product to meet the client's needs. We would equate this to a doctor prescribing a medication that is "suitable" for your illness, but not necessarily the best possible medication for you.
The other set of rules (the Fiduciary Standard) governs advisors who only charge a fee for their services (i.e., fee-only) which is the only way they are compensated. Fee-only advisors do not offer any commission-generating investments or insurance products. Clarity Capital Advisors is bound by the Fiduciary Standard of Care.
Now, ask yourself, is a fee-based advisor or a commission-generating advisor the type of financial advisor you would trust to make the best decisions for your financial future? Probably not.
Question: How do I know if my advisor is a fee-based advisor?
Answer: Ask your financial advisor one simple question. Which securities licenses do you hold?
If your advisor holds a Series 6 or a Series 7 license in addition to the Series 65 or simply the Series 66 license your financial advisor is a fee-based advisor and is unable to be a true fiduciary to you at all times. Fee-based (commission and fee) advisors and commissioned advisors are employed with the larger firms such as Merrill Lynch, UBS, Morgan Stanley, J.P.Morgan, Ameriprise and Edward Jones, etc., the national and regional banks (Wells Fargo, Bank of America, etc.) or with an insurance company (Transamerica, Northwestern Mutual, Mass Mutual, etc.). Advisors who are independent, but affiliated with a broker-dealer such as LPL are fee-based advisors.
If you look towards bottom of a fee-based advisor's website in the footer, it will say, "Securities offered through (the name of the broker-dealer) and member of FINRA/SIPC."
How are fee-based advisors able charge an advisory fee and collect commissions?
The Series 6 and 7 licenses enable fee-based advisors to collect commissions from selling mutual funds and/or investment products like annuities and the Series 65 allows them charge you an additional advisory fee on top of the commissions you already paid! The Series 66 license is simply a blend of the two. In the industry this is referred to "financial double-dipping" or "the wearing of two hats". Don't get caught in this expensive trap!
Fee-only, fiduciary wealth advisors will only hold the Series 65 license and professional designations and do not offer commission-based investments to their clients.