Are you paying too much for financial advice? Understanding how your financial advisor is compensated is one of the most critical steps in building your wealth. In this video, we break down the four main ways financial advisors charge for their services: Commission, Hourly, Assets Under Management (AUM), and Flat Fee. We explain the pros and cons of each model, potential conflicts of interest, and why some fee structures may be better for certain financial situations. Here's what you'll learn: -Commission: How this legacy model works (e.g., on life insurance or annuities), the potential for a large, compounding difference in returns, and why these advisors aren't necessarily fiduciaries. -Hourly: When a one-time, limited scope project (like college or debt planning) makes this fee worthwhile, and the potential conflict of "scope creep." -Assets Under Management (AUM): Why it's the most common fee today, how the percentage changes with portfolio size, and why the "we do better when you do better" claim can feel like a "wealth tax" as your portfolio grows. -Flat Fee: The clarity and certainty of this subscription-style model, why it's great for a comprehensive financial planning relationship, and a 15-year comparison showing the impact of lower fees on compounding returns. A Fiduciary Discussion: We clarify why most commission-based advisors are not fiduciaries, while Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) are generally fiduciaries.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:20 – Commission-Based Advisors
02:40 – Hourly Financial Planning
05:00 – AUM Fees Explained
07:50 – Flat Fee Model
12:00 – Comparing AUM vs Flat Fee
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: All financial advisory models have potential conflicts of interest. As a Flat Fee RIA, we believe this model best aligns our interests with our clients' comprehensive financial success, providing unbiased advice on all assets, including your 401k and real estate, without the incentive to push for an AUM rollover or commissionable products. This video is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to choose one specific fee structure over another. Consult your own financial professional to determine the best fee structure for your unique situation.