At Valeo, there is one transparent fee based on your net worth. By focusing on net worth, we eliminate many of the conflicts of interest traditional advisors face when charging solely on investments. We deliver financial planning and investment advice with one simple fee covering all we do for you. In contrast, many advisors sell products to earn commissions, have fees that vary based on the type and quantity of assets they manage, allow fees to vary significantly for similar clients, charge separately for financial planning which likely means this is not a core service – and the list goes on.
Transparently, we publish our fee schedule for all to see right here on our website. Think what it must mean if an advisor is unwilling to do this. Their fees must either be too high, too confusing or inconsistent from client to client. None of which is good.
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Net Worth vs. Assets Under Management
Our industry is dominated by “advisors” who sell products or charge a percentage of investments managed. If you want objective, comprehensive advice, you have to financially structure your relationship that way. Paying commissions when products are sold to you is certainly not objective, and paying a percentage of your investments alone is certainly not comprehensive.
By focusing on your entire net worth, we strive to deliver as much value as possible, wherever it may be, to all clients at all times.
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Our Fee vs. Their Fee(s)
If your advisor does not post their fees on their website you have to wonder why. It is by far the most frequently asked question of an advisor. One can only assume that if they are not willing to make it easy to see, then it must be high, complicated, inconsistent across their clientele or any number of other explanations that ultimately are not good for you, the client.
There are other ways to find your advisor’s fees. First, simply ask your advisor. If that is unproductive, review your monthly statements (the first month of each quarter is generally when they appear). Next, review your signed agreements that established your relationship with them. Finally if you still cannot find them, the SEC requires registered investment advisors to detail their fees in an annual filing. Visit the SECs Advisor Search website, search for your advisor, click “Get Details” and then “Part 2 Brochures”.
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Are There Exceptions?
Of course. Every client is unique, and sometimes the composition of their net worth requires a conversation and some common sense accommodations. Business owners of significant net worth are the most common type of client requiring some exceptions to our standard fee schedule.
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Account Minimums
While there are no account or net worth minimums for our services, we charge a minimum annual fee of $10,000, and a one-time transition fee for all new clients equal to one quarter of their annual fee.
*All new clients pay a one-time transition fee equal to one quarter of their initial annual fee.