Financial | Investment | Insurance Services
- IRAs
- 401 (k) Plans
- Pension/Profit Sharing Plans
- SEPs
- Simple Plans
- Estate Planning
- Insurance Needs Analysis
- Business Ownership Succession Plans
- Charitable Remainder Trusts
Retirement Planning
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Education Planning
- 529 Plans
- Coverdell Education IRAs
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Insurance
- Fixed and Variable Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Fixed and Variable Annuities
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Investments
- Mutual Funds
- Stocks, and Bonds of all types (Corporate, Municipal, US)
- Fee-Based Asset Management Services
My licensed titles include: Certified Public Accountant, Registered
Representative, Investment Advisor Representative, Personal Financial
Specialist, and Financial Advisor. I carry these titles and the rights
and Fiduciary Responsibilities these titles require in both the
States of Missouri and Illinois. I also hold a Missouri Life/Health
Insurance License. With these credentials I can assure you I possess
the ability to aid you in decision making, and the responsibility to be held
to highest standards in the industry while providing you with these
services. This means the best possible planning for you, not "suitable" planning.
Many of the "suits and ties" you meet at the various brokerage houses in the area (and the nation) are what is called Registered Representatives, which are Non Fiduciary Advisors. A Registered Representative is required only to provide you advice and place you in investments that are "suitable" for your investment needs.
Fiduciary advisors have the following characteristics:
- They are Registered Investment Advisors or Investment Advisor Representatives.
- RIAs and IARs are held to the highest ethical standards in the industry.
- They frequently use job descriptions such as: Personal Finance Specialist, Financial Advisor, Investment Advisor, Financial Consultant, Financial Planner, Money Manager.
- They provide financial advice and services for fees.
- They acknowledge they are fiduciaries when they provide investment advice and services.
- Fiduciaries are required to always put their clients' financial interests first versus their own needs for revenue and income, as opposed to only being required to place you in "suitable" investments.
Non-Fiduciary advisors (sales representatives) have the following characteristics:
- They hold securities licenses, such as Series 6 and 7.
- They are held to much lower ethical standards than RIAs and IARs.
- Their job descriptions are sales representative, investment representative, financial consultant (note overlap with fiduciary advisors).
- Their licenses limit them to selling investment products for commissions.
- They are not allowed to charge fees for their advice and services.
- They are not fiduciaries because they are not RIAs or IARs
The critical question you should be asking yourself is: do you want a sales representative investing assets that will impact your standard of living during retirement and your financial security late in life? If your answer is no, and it should be, then you should limit your selection to fiduciary advisors, such as myself, or someone similarily credentialed. .