What is a fiduciary?

 

Meridian Wealth Management and its investment advisors are held to a fiduciary standard. As fiduciaries, investment advisors are required to act in the best interest of their clients and not place their interests ahead of their clients. Meridian strives to act with professional prudence and provide fair disclosure. As a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), Meridian is required to uphold this standard by the SEC. The fiduciary standard is the highest in the industry and differs significantly from the “suitability” standard, which typically governs product sales.

Do I need a financial plan?

As our financial lives have become much more complex, we face many more choices than ever before. Many of us have complicated family situations with blended families, spousal support payments and social security choices never encountered by our parents. Meridian offers you professional advice and guidance that helps simplify the complexity and provide you with actionable steps.

Whether you are in the distribution phase and want to know how to make your money last, or in the accumulation and trying to determine how much to save, a financial plan provides a path to follow.

Why do you use three different custodians?

Our independence allows us to be objective in our analysis and recommendations to our clients, and to provide advice in an unbiased manner. Our freedom also involves the ability to choose which custodian will fit each client’s needs.

Each custodian has different facets that appeal to different clients. While one custodian may be best for a client that needs a more user-friendly interface, another client could have needs another custodian might better fulfill.

To learn more about our three custodians, contact us!

What are the steps to becoming a client?

1. Define Client Relationship

  • Determine Client’s Needs

  • Define Advisor’s Services Provided

  • Disclose Compensation Arrangement and any Conflicts of Interest

2. Gather Client Data

  • Define Client’s Goals and Objectives

  • Gather Data Relevant to Prepare Client’s Financial Plan

3. Analyze Client’s Financial Status

  • Determine Cash-Flow and Liquidity Needs

  • Review Materials Relevant to Client’s Financial Situation

  • Determine Client’s Risk Tolerance

4. Develop and Present Recommendations

  • Complete Custodian Documentation

  • Select Investment Strategies

  • Prepare an Investment Policy Statement

  • Present a Report of Recommendations

5. Implement The Financial Plan

  • Process Asset Transfers

  • Implement Investment Plan and other Financial Planning Recommendations

6. Monitoring

  • Rebalance Client’s Portfolios

  • Review Portfolio Manager Performance

  • Communicate with Client on a Consistent Basis

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