What is a registered investment advisor?
A registered investment advisor can take the stress and guesswork out of managing your assets, but you need to understand what an RIA is and what they do so that you can find your perfect fit.
An RIA is a firm that provides financial and investment advice and services.
RIAs must register with the SEC or other regulatory body and are bound by their fiduciary duty.
You can research RIAs on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website.
RIA fee structures vary greatly, ranging from the percentage of assets under management to hourly rates.
Unbiased can match you with a financial advisor perfectly suited to meet your needs.
What is a registered investment advisor (RIA)?
A registered investment advisor, or RIA, sounds like an individual job title but tends to refer to a firm that provides personalized investment advice. RIAs are legally bound by a fiduciary standard to work in a client’s best interests rather than for the highest commissions.
This requirement is one of the main differences that distinguishes RIAs from other types of financial advisors.
RIAs are also likely to manage clients’ assets and investment portfolios.
RIAs must register with either the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or a state-level securities agency, depending on the value of the assets they manage.
What does a registered investment advisor do?
RIAs provide an extensive range of services. Popular ones involve assisting clients with mapping out, building, and then managing a suitable investment portfolio.
Other RIA services may extend beyond investment advice and include:
Budget management
Debt management
Financial planning
Insurance
Wealth management
Retirement planning
Tax planning
Risk management
Estate management
Whether you’re a private individual aiming to secure a comfortable retirement, or a major corporation in need of support with asset management, RIAs have the necessary skillsets, knowledge, and tools to help.
How do RIAs make money?
Let’s take a look at the most common registered investment advisor fee structures:
Asset under management (AUM) fees: This involves charging an annual percentage of your AUM.
Fixed/flat rates: Some firms offer fixed fee brackets. The higher the value of your AUM, the higher your fee bracket will be.
Hourly rates: This involves simply charging by the hour. The hourly rate is the same, regardless of the value of your assets.
Annual retainers: RIA fees in the form of annual retainers are a lot like flat rates by AUM. With annual retainers, however, firms consider the complexity of your needs as well as your AUM.
Packages: To service clients with very specific and limited needs, RIAs may offer fee structures that group related financial services into one package.
Hybrid RIA fee structures: To accommodate a broader range of client budgets, many RIA firms offer various fee structures for clients to choose from.
Because RIAs are bound by their fiduciary duties, it’s worth noting that they do not earn commissions from financial products (such as insurance plans) that a client might select.
RIA vs. IAR: what is the difference?
When weighing up your options when seeking investment advice, you may come across the term Investment Advisor Representative or IAR. This is the name given to an individual who works for an RIA.
Both RIAs and IARs are bound by their fiduciary duty to act in their client’s best interests.
How to become a registered investment advisor?
To become an RIA, a firm needs to pass the Series 65 exam in Uniform Investment Advisor Law with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Firms must also register with the SEC or relevant state authority, which includes submitting Form ADV, a detailed document that provides information about the firm in question.
While official registration as an RIA does not require any further designations or licensing, a firm is unlikely to be successful in this field without them. Some states may waive the Series 65 exam if a firm already holds certain designations.
RIAs can also boost their credentials and competencies by completing other FINRA exams.
How do RIAs register?
The steps to register as an RIA can be broken down as follows:
Pass the Series 65 exam or (if you only require state registration) have valid Series 7 and Series 66 qualifications.
Draft compliance documents for your registered investment advisor firm. This includes Form ADV Parts 1 and 2 for the SEC and U4 forms for state agencies. These forms disclose the nature of your organization, the types of clients you serve, your RIA fee structure, and possible conflicts of interest. They will also include your FINRA CDR number and account ID information.
Register with the SEC or state regulator by submitting these forms.
Create a detailed written compliance program, in line with regulatory standards, that covers all aspects of your practice.
How do I choose an RIA?
Your research process should begin with the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website, which lists every registered investment advisor in the US.
You can also take a look at review sites to see what other customers have to say about the RIAs you are considering, as well as these firms’ own websites and social media profiles.
Here are some key areas to consider:
Scope of services: Do they offer the specific services you require?
Assets under management: Can they handle the value of the assets you need to be managed? You can find each RIA’s AUM on the SEC’s investment advisor public disclosure site.
Fees charged and available fee structures: Can you afford their services, and do they offer the best possible pricing options?
Details in their Form ADV: You can also find this on the SEC or state agency site, and it will answer most of the questions you may have.
Credentials of IARs: Checking out the IARs employed by an RIA will give you a better idea of the individual you’ll be working with, as well as the ethos of the firm as a whole. FINRA’s free online BrokerCheck tool will tell you about each IAR’s qualifications, expertise, and even any disciplinary actions taken against them.
What fees do RIAs charge?
Several factors influence RIA fees and how they are structured:
The client’s financial position (including the value of the assets they want managed).
The client’s RIA service needs.
The extent and intricacy of the RIA services offered.
The size and kind of the RIA firm.
The location of the RIA firm.
The qualifications and experience of the advisor.
While varying fee structures can make it difficult to compare like with like when it comes to RIAs, here is a general overview of how much you can expect to pay:
Typical costs of financial advisor fees
| Fee type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Fee type | Typical cost |
| Percentage of AUM | 0.25% to 2% a year |
| Retainers | $2,000 to $7,500 a year |
| Hourly rates | $200 to $400 |
Seek expert investment advice
You now have a general overview of the world of registered investment advisors, including what they do, how much money they charge, and how to choose the best one for you.
If you want to be matched with an expert, SEC-regulated financial advisor, Unbiased can help. Let us match you with an advisor who can provide the financial advice and guidance you need to secure your future.
Content Writer
Andrew Michael is a multiple award-winning financial journalist and editor whose work has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines, and online platforms, including The Times, Evening Standard Money, Financial Times, Shares, and Forbes Advisor.