If you’ve ever seen a fish out of water, then you know exactly what it looks and feels like for a client when they are managing their investments through chaotic and volatile markets. When the fish is flopping around aimlessly trying to find safety in a cold Montana fishing stream, it’s like a client trying to find some form of protection while their account values are falling, and the media is melting down. As all this is happening, imagine a fish somewhere singing, “… take me to the river … put me in the water!” And that’s exactly where we come in: We can help!

Clients often look for help after they experience financial pain, whether it’s self-induced, market-driven, or most commonly both. And when a client starts their search, they are often clueless about what to look for. This is a significant problem because it reduces the odds of finding a quality long-term solution. But in their pursuit of finding a good fit, they often start with their bank and take their guidance under serious consideration. And this is where the rubber meets the road: If the bank sells the client an expensive product that produces lackluster results, it may negatively impact the relationship. On the other hand, if the bank does a wonderful job of presenting a quality and long-term solution, the client not only sticks around but becomes even more valuable to the bank! And the cherry on top is client advocacy and the stream of future clients and revenue that can often follow.

To put it bluntly, the investment advice universe consists of commissioned salespeople and fiduciaries. Everything being equal, 100% of discerning clients would choose to work with a fiduciary and avoid the inherent conflicts of interest that exist when there is an incentive to sell products that may not be the most suitable: Insurance, Annuities, Loaded Funds, even Timeshares?! These investments often have high initial and ongoing expenses, plus occasionally a few other undesirable things like illiquidity, tax problems, and other nasty gotchas. Investors are becoming more educated and aware, but so are the companies that sell these terrible products. For this reason, we always advocate working with an advisor that is legally bound to act in their best interest 100% of the time, and frankly, there is absolutely no reason not to do this!

Many firms claim they are “comprehensive,” but any claim should be both clarified and verified. At Creative Planning, we strive for the best rate of return on a risk, fee, and after-tax basis. We have CFP® professionals, CPA’s, CFA’s, and JD’s working on a client’s behalf, with the assigned wealth manager acting as a single point of contact to coordinate everything. This means the client can rest easy knowing they are getting recommendations from a team that’s deeply invested in their financial well-being. And this team is backed by our own law firm, accounting firm, trust company, P&C division, and other specialty groups. So, when we say we are comprehensive, we mean it from beginning to end, which a client can clarify, verify, and experience firsthand.

Some firms still use model or age-based portfolios which are not always best suited for a client. A model portfolio is used after a client fills out a survey of sorts, and the “score” determines which portfolio they go into. An age-based formula might take 100 and subtract a client’s age from it to determine the percentage they should invest in stocks and the rest in fixed-income. Both ideologies are not only archaic but don’t allow for depth, sophistication, or customization. And if the goal is the best risk-adjusted return based on fees, volatility, diversification, and taxes, a model may not be up to the challenge.

Our solution is a financial planning-led approach where we identify a rate of return needed to meet the specific client goals while mitigating risk, taxes, and any legacy goals the client may have. We act as fiduciaries 100% of the time and have the tools and resources for flawless execution. A client getting this type of depth and sophistication is not only willing to pay the annual advisory cost but, what’s more, often becomes an advocate. This leads to greater client satisfaction, additional business, and growing streams of ongoing revenue.

There is a lot of social proof regarding our track record of delivering on our promise to clients. We’ve been recognized by outlets such as Barron’s, CNBC, Worth, Financial Times, as the #1 firm in the country. We have a long track record of very successful and long-term partnerships, so we understand how to be a value added without taking anything away from our partners. We currently have $100 billion in assets (as of November 2021), with advisors serving clients in all 50 states and worldwide.

Here are some of the services available:

• Investment Management — Always customized, comprehensive, and fully optimized
• Tax Planning and Preparation — Strategies to mitigate current and future tax liabilities
• Trust & Estate Planning — Preserving and transferring wealth while mitigating fees, risk, and taxes
• Retirement Plans — Establish and/or maintain company retirement plans at all sizes
• Institutions — Operations, governance, and portfolio management for various nonprofits
• Businesses — Valuations, dispositions, succession planning, and other needs
• International — Helping Americans living abroad manage their global financial nuances