As you may have noticed in the news, investment advisory firms must adhere to a new Fiduciary Rule published by the U.S. Department of Labor with respect to any investment advice provided to retirement investors under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). Many brokerage firms, banks and insurance companies are not required to work in the best interests of their clients and even after this recent ruling, can continue to avoid doing so when advising clients on non-retirement assets, such as taxable accounts held in the name of a trust, joint account or individual name.
Total Wealth Planning (“TWP”) has been a fiduciary for all client situations since we began advising clients on a fee-only basis in 2004. Even prior to 2004, it’s been in our team’s DNA to put client interests ahead of our own and to build long term relationships by going the extra mile every time. As fiduciaries, we are required to act prudently and to manage all potential conflicts of interest. As such, investment recommendations and financial plans are based on our belief the recommendation is in the best interests of the client. Our team owes a duty of loyalty, fairness and good faith towards each client, and serving families from Cincinnati, Mason, or nationwide in a fiduciary role is paramount to adhere to the core values of our firm and principles defined in our Code of Ethics.
If you would like additional information about the fiduciary standard, click here, or contact us. Our SEC registration and form ADV can be obtained here or on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov and search our firm name or CRD# 174434.
Our team remains grateful to serve and enrich client’s lives embracing the fiduciary standard to the fullest.
