What's the benefit of using Managed Advisory Services? How are they different from Investment Brokerage Services?

Managed Advisory Services are an innovative approach to investing by combining our personal financial advice with the portfolio modeling, mutual fund research and selection, and account administration resources of H.D. Vest Advisory Services. Each portfolio model diversifies across asset classes, seeking to dampen the ups and downs of the portfolio from varying market conditions. You as the client get access to institutional mutual fund shares, resulting in lower fees that are also directly tied to the portfolio's performance.  Additionally, you will receive quarterly rebalancing of your portfolio, quarterly statements of performance, a quarterly economic update newsletter, and semi-annual personal consultation of your portfolio's on-going performance at no additional fees. 

What are the fees associated with Managed Advisory Services?

The structured fees for Managed Advisory services are, on average, lower than those of Investment Brokerage Services.  The fee structure is based on total assets under management (meaning the value of your fund) and range from 1-3% average annual rates paid on a quarterly basis.  This is more beneficial to the investor because overall fees are lower, and are directly tied to the performance of the portfolio. This means that as the assets under management become greater (meaning the portfolio is performing strongly) then the manager benefits with the investor and vice versa, keeping the manager focused on portfolio performance. 

What are Investment Brokerage Services? What do I receive from these services?

Investment Brokerage Services are designed to allow you the flexibility to make individual investments based on your risk preferences and future goals.  These services are less hands on in terms of on-going management compared to Managed Advisory Services, but are still customized to your personal needs. We offer all major mutual funds, equities, and other securites within brokerage, allowing you to place individual orders based on your future planning. ​

What type of Company Retirement Plan should I setup?

This answer differs for everyone, depending on what your personal and company situation are. Here are some basic differences in the company retirement plans available.

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• Traditional 401-K Plan - A qualified plan established by employers to which eligible employees may make salary deferral (salary reduction) contributions on a post-tax and/or pretax basis. Employers offering a 401(k) plan may make matching or non-elective contributions to the plan on behalf of eligible employees and may also add a profit-sharing feature to the plan. Earnings accrue on a tax-deferred basis.

• SEP Plan -A retirement plan that an employer or self-employed individuals can establish. The employer is allowed a tax deduction for contributions made to the SEP plan and makes contributions to each eligible employee's on a discretionary basis.

• SIMPLE IRA Plan - A SIMPLE IRA plan provides small employers with a simplified method to contribute toward their employees' and their own retirement savings. Employees may choose to make salary reduction contributions and the employer is required to make either matching or non-elective contributions. Contributions are made to an Individual Retirement Account or Annuity (IRA) set up for each employee (a SIMPLE IRA). This plan is an IRA and follows the same investment, distribution and rollover rules as traditional IRAs.

• Profit Sharing Plan - A plan that gives employees a share in the profits of the company. Each employee receives a percentage of those profits based on the company's earnings. The company decides what portion of the profit will be shared. And there are typically restrictions as to when and how you can withdraw these funds without penalties. 

What type of life insurance plan should I setup?

This answer depends on your personal preferences, age, and other life circumstances. Here are some basic definitions of available life insurance plans to help you decide: 



• Whole Life Insurance - A life insurance contract with level premiums that has both an insurance and an investment component. The insurance component pays a stated amount upon death of the insured. The investment component accumulates a cash value that the policyholder can withdraw or borrow against. 

• Term Life Insurance - A policy with a set duration limit on the coverage period. Once the policy is expired, it is up to the policy owner to decide whether to renew the term life insurance policy or to let the coverage end. This type of insurance policy contrasts with permanent life insurance, in which duration extends until the policy owner reaches 100 years of age (i.e. death). 

• Variable Life Insurance - A form of permanent life insurance, this provides permanent protection to the beneficiary upon the death of the policy holder. This type of insurance is generally the most expensive type of cash-value insurance because it allows you to allocate a portion of your premium dollars to a separate account comprised of various instruments and investment funds within the insurance company's portfolio such stocks, bonds, equity funds, money market funds and bond funds. In addition, because of investment risks, variable policies are considered securities contracts and are regulated under the federal securities laws; therefore, they must be sold with a prospectus. 

What carriers does your company work with to setup these plans?

Our firm coordinates with most major national carriers of life insurance policies to provide you competitive rates and plans that cater to your specific needs.  Some of the insurance and annuity carriers we work with include: 



• Hartford Life Insurance (Now Prudential)

• ​MetLife

• John Hancock

• Lincoln Financial Group

• Allianz

• Sun Life Financial 

This list does not include all the carriers we partner with.

Feel free to call and ask for a carrier that you prefer.