FAQs
FAQ's
How are you compensated?
- BPG Wealth Management is primarily a fee-based investment advisory firm. Our income comes from flat financial planning fees, as well as investment management fees as an annual percentage of the assets we manage on your behalf. The fees, paid quarterly, are set at an annualized rate.
- Insurance products + retail mutual funds are commission arrangements. Fees and commissions are always fully disclosed.
Why work with an advisory team?
Achieving your goals may take more than money. It likely requires planning, a long-term vision, and investment know-how. Working with an advisor can help you:
- Avoid emotional mistakes
- Perform portfolio manager selection, due diligence and monitoring
- Provide tax aware investment advice
- Keep your allocation as planned
- Plan for income distribution
- Provide ongoing investment education
See Vanguard's research on the added value of working with a Financial Advisor
As a client, you have the right to:
- Ongoing monitoring and regular reviews of your financial plans, accounts, investments, insurance policies, and applicable legal and tax documents.
- Receive accurate and timely statements of your account, including details related to every transaction.
- Have complicated financial concepts explained in simple English.
- Have any error acknowledged and corrected without delay.
- Receive a recommendation that has been thoroughly investigated in advance.
- Be treated with the utmost respect and integrity at all times.
- Receive honest advice and feedback
- Have a more than a business relationship with us; a genuine personal relationship that takes your circumstances, values, and goals into consideration at all times.
- Trust that your financial advisor is knowledgeable, registered, and up-to-speed with important developments that have the potential to impact you.
- Be fully informed about all strategic decisions regarding your accounts before any change is made.
- Have your privacy carefully guarded, and to never have your personal information shared with someone who is not entitled to it.
- Have all service requests completed in a reasonable timeframe
As a client, your responsibilities are:
- Fully disclose accurate information about your financial status and investment objectives, including goals, risk tolerance and other pertinent details.
- Ask any questions you have about recommendations we make.
- Ensure you understand and are comfortable with all strategies, investments, risks, costs and fees associated with your accounts – if you ever feel you are not, continue to ask for clarification
- Notify us of any changes in your financial situation, and of major life-events such as divorce, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, or other significant occurrence.
- Keep your advisor informed about any accounts or investments you have with another firm, or that you personally manage.
- Read all sales literature and prospectuses provided to you.
- Let us know if we fail to meet your expectations in any way, or if you don’t understand or agree with any actions we take.
- Complete all service requests (including document signing) in a reasonable timeframe
Can you do my taxes?
We do not prepare taxes, but we can help you tap into our vast network of local experts who can help put you into the best possible position to achieve your goals, including:
- Leading CPA Firms
- Business & Estate Planning Attorneys
- Commercial Lenders and Investment Bankers
- Commercial and Personal Lines Property and Casualty Agents
- Employee Benefits Experts
- Third Party Administrators
- Realtors and Mortgage Brokers
- Executive Coaches
Why should I create a financial plan?
For some, success comes from luck. For most, it comes from planning, determination and hard work. As life become more complex, and your choices begin to affect more people, it’s important to set goals and know what it takes to get you to where you want to be. A Financial Plan can help you:
- Define your goals and determine if they are realistic
- Analyze your budget and work to keep your spending in line with your goals
- Measure your progress and track changes that need to be made
- Identify risks
- Determine savings goal
- Create confidence around money and know what steps to take for your future
What certifications do your advisors have?
- AIF®-Accredited Investment Fiduciary®-
- ChFC®-Chartered Financial Consultant®
- CFP®-CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM
- CEPA®-Certified Exit Planning Advisor®
- RICP®-Retirement Income Certified Professional®
Who is Royal Alliance?
Great question! Our industry is heavily regulated (by FINRA and the SEC) and because of that we have affiliated with Royal Alliance, a Registered Broker/Dealer. What that means is that we’ve teamed up with them to help us make sure we are in compliance with all industry regulations. Additionally, they provide us with tools and resources to help us find great investment solutions so that we can help our clients reach their goals. If we did not have this relationship, we would be required to do all of these things internally, which would keep us away from what we love to do – serve our clients.
Who is National Financial Services (NFS)?
NFS acts as a custodian on behalf of Royal Alliance for your investment accounts. This is where you deposit funds to buy or sell investments through Royal Alliance.
What is fiduciary responsibility and why is it important?
A fiduciary is a person in a position of authority whom the law obligates to act solely on behalf of the person he or she represents and in good faith.
Acting in a fiduciary capacity is a critical responsibility. Fiduciaries are accountable for acting in the best interest of those who benefit from their organization. Fiduciaries are held to a higher standard by regulators at both state and federal levels.
The term “fiduciary” generally includes any individual with discretionary authority, control over, or management responsibilities for the assets held for the benefit of another.
This might include:
- Any persons servicing as Trustees, Board Members, or Officers
- Any persons or entity providing investment advice to a person or organization
- “De facto” fiduciaries who exercise authority over the organization’s assets such as a member of the investment committee
What is Regulation Best Interest?
Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”) requires Broker/Dealers and their Financial Professionals to act in the best interest of a retail customer, and place your interests ahead of all others when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy. Additionally, it requires that Broker/Dealers disclose the material facts relating to the scope of the terms of your relationship with your broker/dealer and Financial Professionals.
What should I expect when I open an account?
You’ll receive a welcome email from our team with instructions on how to register your online access and consent to e-delivery (if you prefer) to receive your monthly statements, trade confirmations and tax statements by email.
If we process the investment account electronically, through e-consent you’ll be delivered the respective Form CRS (Customer Relationship Summary), the Royal Alliance Broker/Dealer brochure, and applicable Client Agreements/Form ADV’s (The Uniform Application for Investment Advisor Registration) by email.
If we process the application through wet signature, you’ll be mailed each of these documents.