Whether you're preparing for retirement, saving for college, or investing, you'll need someone who can go beyond simple budgeting to get the best results. That's where a financial advisor comes in.
Even when you go shopping, the first thing you do is check out the prices and compare one product to another. Why? Because you want to get the best deal. It's the same with finding a financial advisor. With many years of experience and knowledge, it’s most useful to think about the cost of their financial expertise as part of your investment.
With the right financial planner in Arizona, discussing financial needs and investments with a local should be easy - but the good ones will always come with a fee that suits your needs and compensates them for their expertise. This fee will vary somewhat depending on the financial products and services you get.
Financial Advisor Fee Structures in Arizona
Figuring out how much to pay for financial planning and advice is like translating a foreign language. Knowing different financial fees in Arizona could be tricky, but worth your time.
We'll help you better understand more about fee structures in Arizona using data gathered from the top eight financial advisors in the area.
One notable takeaway from these financial companies is that most employ the same fee structure.
Another point worth noting: the minimum asset investment in Phoenix is relatively low and flexible in the $0 to $25,000 range, as compared to Scottsdale, with a minimum amount of $100,000.
But before we dive in let's take a look at how fee structures may differ:
- Asset-Based: The most common fee that advisors charge where they get a percentage of your assets under management (AUM).
- Hourly Rates: fees charged for one-time projects or consultation sessions.
- Fixed Fees: Comprehensive payment scheme that you can pay either monthly or annually.
- Commission-Based: Conservative type of fee but you'll always know how much they're making from your investment.
- Performance-based: Your success is the advisor's success. They get paid if you make more money than the projected investment gains.
It's natural to feel some hesitation about fees. The important thing is you're getting the best financial advice for the price, which is part of your successful investment strategy.
How Much Do Financial Advisors Typically Charge?
The truth is there's no fixed price to what financial advisors charge. Each of them has a unique pricing structure.
There are 2,168 financial advisors in Arizona who earn a mid-range living when compared to the highest-paid advisors in New York, with an average annual income of $166,100 (based on 10 years). This means that there are still a lot of financial advisors who charge well above or below the average.
For more detail, here's a quick run-down as to how much a certified financial planner costs:
- AUM fees are at 1-1.2% if the asset value is under $50,000
- Average flat-rate fee is $7,500 for investments under $500,000
- Average hourly cost ranges from $100 to $300
If you're in Arizona, financial advisor fees are regulated by-law to ensure clients get a fair and reasonable price. Don’t let them overprice you. Ask questions!
Extra Costs You May Encounter in Arizona
Are there hidden fees that your advisor might not be telling you? Though big-wig financial companies in Arizona may charge service fees, they are still regulated by the Consumer Financial Regulation Arizona.
In fact, premium finance companies can only place an interest or charge no more than 3% per month for an initial investment amount below $1,000; and no more than 2% per month if it’s more than $1,000.
To avoid unexpected advisor fees, find a financial firm that will work with you in creating an investment plan that fits your budget.
Robo-Advisor vs. Traditional Advisor
Figuring out how to invest your money is already confusing, and there’s one more wrinkle to consider. To help you in your investment journey, let’s compare the difference between a Robo-advisor from a traditional advisor.
Robo-Advisor
Not everyone has the leisure time to watch the stock market trend go up and down every day. But many people are interested and willing to invest even with the relatively small amount of money they have. This is how “Robo-advisors'' came about. They provide a low-cost, automated solution to investing.
The biggest benefit is that they charge lower fees than human advisors. If you're the DIY-kind of investor, the “leave it to the algorithms” approach is worth investigating - but we recommend proceeding with caution when using large sums.
Traditional Advisor
If you have a lot of assets at stake and you want to learn about current market trends in-depth, a personalized approach is probably your best option. To build a solid investment plan with your advisor, it’s ideal to meet them personally, discuss investment objectives, and tailor everything to your needs. Note that all these come for a price.
How to Ensure Fair Fees
After you choose a financial advisor, make sure they don't sneak in extra fees. In an article published by Forbes, "Investing costs have significantly dropped in past decades, but advisor fees have not."
So, how do you ensure you're charged fairly?
Ask about the advisor's fee structure. A trustworthy advisor should be upfront and honest about what they charge.
Transparency is key. Get an estimate of the total cost including all services and commissions they charge.
Have them explain how each item in your account statement is charged and computed.
At Asset Preservation, we want you to make an informed decision. That’s why we provide detailed explanations of where to invest your money and how much we charge.
Plus, we verify all our information with the SEC to ensure we're giving you the most accurate information possible.
How to Minimize Financial Advisor Fees
Finding the balance between saving money from service fees versus getting premium service can be challenging. Most of the time, you end up paying for more because you're not sure what you're looking for or what to avoid.
We've laid out some tips that you might want to explore to minimize financial advisor fees:
- Go for the win-win solution. Hire a fee-based advisor. You only pay for the service you agreed to buy.
- Negotiate fees. Be upfront if you think they're charging way too much or pushing for other services you don't like to avail.
- Be innovative. To keep costs low, make technology work for you, including your investments. You can use a Robo-advisor to get a feel for how investing works before making the larger jump to a financial advisor.
As you might expect, the highest-rated financial planners frequently charge higher fees. But keep in mind that it’s not that hard to find one that offers a unique blend of affordability and quality.
Tips for Finding a Financial Advisor
An expert in navigating the financial market and providing a range of investment choices could benefit you in the long run.
If you live in the Arizona area, working with a local financial advisor might even be better.
We've put together a few tips for finding a financial advisor near you:
- Referrals: ask your family and friends for who they know that has a proven track record.
- Don't search too far: Find a local financial advisor who could meet you at their local office or coffee shop to discuss your investment portfolio. It might even open local market investment opportunities.
- Look for flexibility: Work with an advisor who can customize your investments based on local market trends. No one knows your local economic conditions better than a financial planner in Arizona.
Getting Started
The greatest benefit to an experienced advisor is how easy they make it for you to succeed. It doesn't have to be hard. Enjoy the process of working with a professional who makes you feel confident and excited about your financial journey.
Get to know the financial experts behind Asset Preservation.
We offer a free consultation so we can help in reaching your goals.
Contact us today!
