Independent Registered Investment Advisers are professional independent advisory firms that provide personalized financial advice to their clients, many of whom have complex financial needs. Because these advisors are independent, they are not tied to any particular family of funds or investment products. As fiduciaries, they are held to the highest standard of care—and are required to act in the best interests of their clients at all times. They are registered with either the Securities and Exchange Commission or state securities regulators.

A fiduciary is a professional entrusted to manage assets or wealth while putting the client’s best interests first at all times. Financial advisors who follow a fiduciary standard must disclose any conflict, or potential conflict, to their clients prior to and throughout the advisory engagement. Fiduciaries will also adopt a code of ethics and will fully disclose how they are compensated.

A combination of independence, comprehensive service, and client focus sets us apart. As an independent Registered Investment Advisor, we provide the best advice for each client’s specific situation and needs without concerning ourselves with the agenda of a parent company. Our services range from financial planning to investment management to estate planning—we can meet a wide range of needs under one roof. Finally, we are oriented toward providing each client the attention and service they deserve. We treat our clients as individuals and not numbers.

A fee-based financial advisor provides financial advice and services in exchange for a fee, which is generally a percentage of the assets they manage or a flat fee for their services. At Excelsior, our management fees are a percentage of the assets that we manage and not a flat fee. Fee-based advisors can help align their interests with the client's financial goals, as they do not earn commissions or other incentives from financial products they recommend. This fee structure is often seen as more transparent and potentially less conflicted compared to advisors who earn commissions from selling specific financial products.

In our advisory role, we never take custody of client assets. We utilize Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. as the custodian of client accounts and as our primary broker. Our relationship with Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. is an arm’s length transaction with no exchange of funds between Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. and us. When your account is established with Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., you provide us with limited trading authorization on your account. This authority allows us to process trades directly in client accounts.

You can request a “Discovery Meeting” by clicking on this link.