Posts Tagged ‘registered investment advisor’
A Balanced Portfolio to Avoid (III): Most Financial Advisors Are Not Fiduciaries!
Posted on: April 30, 2011
My friend is a savvy businessman. However, like most Americans, he has a misconception: he thinks financial advisors are legally bound to put clients’ interests first. This can not be further from the truth. Everybody and his grandma can be a “financial advisor.” Unlike being a “physician”, there are neither legal requirements no educational qualifications. Whether a certain financial advisor is bounded legally to act in his client’s best interests all depends on his true profession. Here is an ad hoc summary:
| Professional Title | Fiduciary? |
| Attorney | Yes |
| Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | Yes |
| Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) | Yes |
| Financial Planner | Maybe |
| Certified Financial Planner (CFP) | Maybe |
| Wealth Manager | Maybe |
| Insurance Agent | No |
| Registered Representative | No |
| Stock Broker | No |
The Investment Scientist 