Why Fee-Only Matters
Your interests come first, always.
SFM was founded on a simple principle, the financial advice you receive should be free from hidden agendas, commissions, or conflicts of interest. That’s why we operate as a Fee-Only fiduciary advisor.
Fee-Based or Fee-Only and what it means for you
"Fee-based" or commission-based advisors are often paid directly by third parties (insurance companies, mutual fund companies, broker-dealers, etc.). These advisors are paid based on the size and type of product that they sell to you. This can create pressure to recommend investments that generate higher commissions, even if they aren’t in your best interest. Often, this type of relationship can be flawed and unfavorable for you, and forces you to carfully consider how your advisor is paid and what their incentives are.
At SFM, we are a fee-only fiduciary advisory and this means the only compensation we receive comes directly from our clients. We do not, and cannot, accept commissions or payments from mutual fund companies, insurance providers, broker-dealers, or other third parties. This allows us to make recommendations based solely on what’s best for you, not what pays us the most.
Why This Matters
At the end of the day, you deserve a financial advisor whose loyalty is to you, not a product provider. By choosing a Fee-Only fiduciary, you can trust that every recommendation we make is in your best interest and designed to help you achieve your goals-nothing more, nothing less.
Your success is our only incentive.
How We Charge for Services
We believe in full transparency. You should always know exactly what you’re paying and what you’re getting in return. At SFM, we offer clear options depending on your needs:
1. Asset Under Management Fee
For clients who prefer full-service wealth management, including investment management, we charge a percentage of investment assets under our management. This is by far the most common way for us to work with our clients, as it aligns our incentives with yours. As your investment portfolio grows, our compensation grows. If your portfolio declines, so does our fee. This fee structure covers all the services we offer, including financial planning, retirement planning, business succession planning, and more.
Our annual AUM schedule is:
Account Size | Annual Fee % |
|---|---|
$50,000 – $500,000 | 1.375% |
$500,000 – $750,000 | 1.125% |
$750,000 – $1,000,000 | 1.00% |
$1,000,000 – $1,250,000 | 0.95% |
$1,250,000 – $1,500,000 | 0.875% |
$1,500,000 – $2,000,000 | 0.85% |
$2,000,000 – $3,000,000 | 0.825% |
$3,000,000 – $4,000,000 | 0.80% |
$4,000,000 – $5,000,000 | 0.775% |
Over $5,000,000 | Custom Quote |
2. Hourly Advice & Financial Planning
For clients who want specific advice or a financial plan without ongoing investment management, we offer an hourly option as well. This is ideal for someone looking for a one-time written plan that they can enact themselves. This may include advice on managing their own investments. However, they may want guidance and a structure, and a clear financial path to follow. Along with the peace of mind, knowing they are heading in the right direction. We can help you understand aspects of your financial plan and give you a roadmap forward without requiring us to manage your assets.
For this, we charge $275 per hour.
