Fisher Investments: who are they?
Fisher Investments is a financial advisory firm founded in 1979 by Ken Fisher, a renowned investor and author of financial strategy books.
Assets Under Management:
$236 billion
Fee:
1.0%-1.50%
Fee Structure:
Fee-only
Minimum Account Sizes:
$500,000
The firm focuses on offering portfolio management and investment strategy guidance for wealthy investors who want to grow their assets without exerting too much direct effort.
Today, Fisher Investments serves over 150,000 clients worldwide and has more than $265 billion in assets under management.
Fisher Investments does not offer brokerage services, but its financial and investment planning services are comprehensive. Its philosophy is one of transparency, efficiency, and well-researched investment growth.
What does Fisher Investments do?
| Services provided by Fisher Investments |
|---|
| Personal Wealth Management |
| Business 401(k) Services |
| Institutional Investing |
| Financial Planning |
When you sign up with Fisher Investments, they will assess your existing investment portfolio and future financial goals and start developing a strategy to achieve them.
Fisher Investments’ advisors design highly customized portfolios based on the structure of Ken Fisher’s financial methods. Each portfolio is curated to reflect individual client needs and aspirations for their investment careers.
Fisher Investments is a good financial advisory firm to choose if you are a wealthy investor with a fair amount of investment experience but are seeking support for portfolio expansion and management over time.
What are the pros and cons of Fisher Investments?
While Fisher Investments' financial offering offers a range of impressive and comprehensive investment portfolios and financial management options, it doesn’t provide brokerage services, and its steep minimum investment requirement fees can be limiting.
These are the other pros and cons of this firm:
Pros of Fisher Investments:
- Exceptional customer service.
- Advisory support is ongoing.
- Portfolio design is bespoke.
- Investment decisions are heavily research-based.
Cons of Fisher Investments:
- No brokerage platform is available.
- The minimum investment portfolio is $500,000.
- Fees are higher than average.
What is Fisher Investments’ minimum account size?
Fisher Investments typically requires a minimum portfolio value of $500,000 to open an account. However, they offer WealthBuilder accounts for investors with at least $200,000 in investable assets on a case-by-case basis. These smaller accounts may incur a higher fee rate of 1.50%.
Fisher Investments: fees
| Account type | Account size | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Equity/Blended account | Up to $1M | 1.25% |
| $1M–$5M | $1M–$5M | 1.13% |
| Over $5M | Over $5M | 1.00% |
| Income-only account | Over $5M | 0.75%–0.28% |
| WealthBuilder account | Under $500K (limited) | 1.50% (flat rate) |
Fisher Investments’ fees are generally considered higher than average for the investment portfolio management industry.
With a minimum portfolio requirement of $500,000, the firm primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, making it less accessible for those still in the wealth-building phase.
The firm uses a percentage-based assets under management (AUM) fee model. Fees are tiered based on account type and portfolio size.
Below are some examples of Fisher Investments' fees:
Equity and blended accounts
- First $1 million: 1.25% annually
- Next $4 million: 1.125% annually
- Amounts over $5 million: 1.00% annually
Income-only accounts (available for portfolios over $5 million)
- First $5 million: 0.75% annually
- $5 million–$15 million: 0.50%
- $15 million–$25 million: 0.43%
- $25 million–$35 million: 0.38%
- $35 million–$45 million: 0.33%
- $45 million–$90 million: 0.28%
WealthBuilder accounts
- Designed for clients with portfolios below $500,000
- Charged a flat 1.50% annual fee
- Available on a limited basis
In addition to AUM fees, clients may also incur other costs such as brokerage commissions, custodian fees, and expenses related to ETFs or structured notes, depending on the specific investments held within their portfolio.
Fisher Investments security: Is it secure?
Fisher Investments' security is considered up to industry standards.
With tight encryption procedures and over ten locations where you can meet with a Fisher representative, all client information is handled with the utmost security and protection.
If in-person meetings are not preferable to you, Fisher Investments also offers online video meetings. Advisors work closely with clients to ensure that assets and data are handled securely and any unusual activity is detected immediately.
Fisher Investments: customer service
Excellent customer service is one of Fisher Investments' best-known attributes.
Each client is assigned a Fisher Investment financial advisor who is legally and ethically bound to serve their best interests and help them achieve their financial goals efficiently and smoothly.
Fisher Investments reviews: what real customers are saying?
Fisher Investments receives mixed reviews from clients.
Some users on Reddit report strong investment performance, noting returns that outpaced those of major index funds. Others, however, criticize the firm as being overly sales-driven, with less emphasis on personalized financial planning.
According to the Better Business Bureau, a few clients have alleged poor alignment with their financial goals, citing aggressive investment strategies and unresponsiveness.
Meanwhile, reviews on Yelp highlight clear communication and helpful explanations of strategy.
Overall, client experiences vary widely depending on expectations and individual advisors.
Get expert financial advice
Fisher Investments is a highly reputable financial and investment services firm that helps wealthy clients enhance their portfolios and manage their finances more effectively.
However, its requirement of a minimum portfolio value of $500,000 may be a barrier to entry for many people.
If you need expert financial advice, Unbiased can match you with a financial advisor who will help you manage your money and maximise your investments.
Frequently asked questions
What financial services does Fisher Investments offer?
The main financial service Fisher Investments offers is personal and investment wealth management.
Their aim is to equip clients with a highly customized and comprehensive investment portfolio that aligns with individual financial goals and strategies.
Under the personal and investment wealth management umbrella, Fisher Investments can help with portfolio design, financial planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and annuity evaluation.
What Technology Does Fisher Investments Use?
Fisher Investments’ technology is relatively basic and straightforward.
The platform used to access online investment services does not accommodate brokerage activity, so clients cannot make their own independent trades.
The Fisher Investment website is more of an external custodian than a personal account management system. Using login details that are created when you sign on with the firm, you can access personal information about the status of your accounts and portfolio, but any actions relating to them must be processed with the help of your financial advisor.
What is the average fee for Fisher Investments?
Fisher Investments charges fees ranging from 1% to 1.5%, depending on account size. For accounts under $500,000, the fee is 1.5%, and it decreases as the account size increases. These fees are slightly above the industry average due to the firm's active investment management approach.
Who is Fisher Investments' biggest competitor?
Fisher Investments' main competitors include Fidelity, BlackRock, and Morgan Stanley.
What are the hidden fees for Fisher Investments?
Fisher Investments does not charge hidden or layered fees.
How does Fisher Investments compare to other financial advisory companies?
We’ve compared Fisher Investments with other financial advisor companies. Find out more here:
- Fisher Investments vs Vanguard
- Fisher Investments vs Edward Jones
- Fisher Investments vs Fidelity Investments
- Fisher Investments vs Charles Schwab
- Fisher Investments vs Blackrock
- Fisher Investments vs Facet
- Fisher Investments vs Mercer
- Fisher Investments vs Betterment
- Fisher Investments vs Morgan Stanley
- Fisher Investments vs Merrill Lynch
- Fisher Investments vs Edelman Financial Engines
- Fisher Investments vs CAPTRUST
- Fisher Investments vs Creative Planning
- 5 Fisher Investments alternatives
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