Understanding the Fiduciary Standard

Lot of financial advisors claim to meet a “higher standard,” but how many of them actually do?

New Horizon Financial Strategies does.

New Horizon Financial Strategies, a member of the Strebel Planning Group, is an independent financial-advisory firm plus a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).

What does this mean for you?

The Big Differences between Financial Advisors

Wouldn’t you prefer to work with someone bound by trust and the highest legal standards of professional care and accountability or someone who is not?

Then you should work with a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)!

What you do not know about who’s managing your money can hurt you.

Most investors do not understand or are not aware of the serious differences between a stockbroker and Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Many do not realize that such differences exist. The fact that numerous individuals are permitted to offer investment products only further complicates the problem.

But to which standards do they hold themselves? Are they managing your money for the long or short term? What are their qualifications? Are you their top priority?

Only Registered Investment Advisors are held to the industry’s highest standards. It is known as their “Fiduciary Duty.” Also called a “Fiduciary,” a Registered Investment Advisor is subject to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Not everyone offering financial advice is a fiduciary.

Stock brokers and others who offer investments are not held to such a high standard and are referred to as “Non-Fiduciaries,” a lesser classification.

A Fiduciary RIA such as The Strebel Planning Group’s New Horizon Financial Strategies must follow the “Trust Standard.” This is the highest known standard in securities law. It requires RIA firms to place the interests of their clients ahead of its own and fulfill critical fiduciary duties of trust and confidence. What this means to you is that under the fiduciary trust standard, an RIA must provide its “best advice” to you the client, no exceptions.

If you’re like most people, you’ve never thought about the qualifications of the person(s) managing your money. At New Horizon Financial Strategies, we regularly think about this, and you should too.

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