Cerity Partners financial advisors: what are the pros and cons? 

Cerity Partners financial advisors: who are they? 

Cerity Partners is one of the largest independent wealth management firms in the U.S. with assets under management over $130 billion. Based out of New York, they are a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (RIA) that primarily serves high-net-worth and ulta-high-net-worth individuals, families, corporations, and nonprofit organizations with 59 locations in 19 states. 

The firm offers various financial wealth management services and prides itself on objectivity.  

Cerity Partners provides access to advisors who adhere to global fiduciary standards. 

What does Cerity Partners do? 

Cerity's wide range of financial services is designed to help you achieve your financial goals at every step of your life. To meet these needs, Cerity has an impressive breadth and depth of services for clients that are especially important for high-net-worth individuals and successful business owners. 

These services are listed below. 

Individuals and families

• Wealth management and protection

• Investment solutions

• Insurance planning and risk management

• Financial planning 

• Retirement planning 

• Tax strategies 

• Estate and gift planning

• Cross-border financial planning

• Marital and women’s financial planning

• Business owner financial planning and advisory

• Professional service owner financial planning

Corporations

• Executive financial counseling

• Beneficiary financial counseling

• Financial wellness coaching

• Retirement plan consulting

• Employee stock ownership plans

• Defined contributions and benefit plans

• Corporate venture capital

• Nonqualified plan management

• Pooled employer plan

Nonprofits

• Investment advisory

• Financial administration

• Investment consulting services

• Outsourced chief investment office

What are the pros and cons of Cerity Partners? 

Carefully considering and selecting a financial advisor is essential. Weighing the pros and cons can aid your decision-making process.  

Pros of Cerity: 

• RIA Firm: As a registered investment advisor, Cerity has fiduciary duties to act in your best interest. 

• Wide range of services: The firm offers a generous range of services, from wealth management to tax planning for individuals, families, corporations, and nonprofits.

• Personal relationship with financial advisor: You’ll receive personal and custom financial services from experienced financial advisors. 

• Corporate and nonprofit services: Cerity has the ability to manage pensions, retirement plans, and employee stock ownership plans for corporations. 

Cons of Cerity: 

• Higher cost: Cerity Partners fees may be higher when compared to competitors. 

• Geared for high-net-worth finances: The firm's approach may not be ideal for those with simpler financial needs. 

• High minimums: Cerity’s $2,000,000 minimum excludes many prospective customers; however, Cerity can waive this requirement. 

• Conflicts of interest: Though, Cerity is required to act in your best interest as an investment adviser, the way Cerity is paid can create conflicts of interest. These are listed in the disclosures. 

What financial services does Cerity Partners offer? 

Cerity Partners' broad range of financial services helps you manage and grow wealth.  

These services customize plans based on risk tolerance, time horizon, specific goals, investment restrictions, and other client needs.

The main services offered by Cerity Partners include: 

• Wealth management

• Investment management

• Financial planning

• Retirement 

• Tax planning

• Estate planning

• Alternative investments

For those concerned with estate matters and gift-giving, Cerity Partner's estate planning services help protect your assets and ensure they're distributed according to your wishes.  

What fees does Cerity Partners charge? 

Cerity Partners charges both fixed and asset-based fees (or a combination), depending on the service. They are negotiable and vary according to the service. The investment advisory and wealth management fees max out at 1.50% of assets under management (AUM). 

It’s wise to discuss the fees and commissions you’ll pay during a consultation to have a clear understanding of the costs, services, and packages. 

What is the minimum investment for Cerity Partners?

As a general rule, clients need to have at least $2,000,000 in investable assets for an advisory relationship with Cerity Partners. 

However, Cerity Partners reserves the right to waive this requirement. According to an SEC filing, the median account size for a client of Cerity Partners was $1.6 million dollars. 

What is Cerity Partners’ Investment Philosophy?

Cerity designs investment programs based on the client’s needs, goals, and risk profile. These investment programs are designed with asset allocation strategies, which is a way of putting a certain percentage of your money in different types of investments to balance your investment goals with risk tolerance.   

They adjust asset allocation to align the performance of the investment program with the economic conditions and client needs through time. They also rebalance investment as needed. It is possible for Cerity to invest in individual securities as part of the investment strategy. 

What technology does Cerity Partners use? 

Cerity Partners leverages technology to streamline its financial services. Client portals allow you to view your portfolio and track its performance. The firm also uses financial planning software to model scenarios and help you visualize your financial prospects.  

Cerity Partners ensures the tech they use supports their mission of providing tailored, client-focused advice. Combining human expertise and technology can be a strong asset for managing your finances. 

Cerity Partners security: Is it secure? 

Cerity is a registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (RIA) and a member of Financial Industry Regulatory Advisory (FINRA). It adheres to the financial regulations and security standards set forth in law. 

Security is a top priority at Cerity Partners, and they take several measures to protect your financial information.

The firm uses industry-standard encryption to ensure your data is safe when you access your accounts online. Additionally, they implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra security layer when you log in. 

Does Cerity Partners have good customer service? 

When choosing a financial advisor, reviews can be a helpful way to gauge a company's reputation.  

Cerity Partners reviews often highlight their helpful customer service, client-centered approach, and team expertise.  

Clients also appreciate the personalized attention they get from their advisors, who are usually praised for being attentive and responsive. 

Get expert financial advice  

Cerity Partners LLC offers a mix of personalized service, comprehensive offerings, and experienced advisors. For high-net-worth individuals, the comprehensive services mean you’ll never outgrow the investment advisory. 

For expert financial advice, let Unbiased match you with a financial advisor or fiduciary who can guide you through your financial journey.