Resources

1. How much do you charge for personal planning?  

   Fees can vary greatly depending on a client’s needs and the type of services required. Typically, the pricing for personal financial planning starts at $1,500. However, we offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation. ARGI’s pricing commitment to all new clients: fees will be based on the complexity of the situation. We will fully disclose all fees before doing any work.

2. Do you have a minimum amount of assets you will manage strictly for investments?

   We make recommendations based purely on a client’s needs, assets, risk tolerance, and time horizon, and not all new clients need investment management. Based on these factors we may recommend services outside of ARGI. Your advisor will be able to discuss these in detail at the initial discovery meeting.

3. How much do you charge for business planning?

   Charges vary according to the desired outcome and where the client stands in relation to that goal. Due to the unique situations, business types, and tax classifications, we are unable to use fixed pricing. However, our pricing commitment to businesses is the same as our commitment to personal planning clients, and clients will incur no charges until we have come to a mutual understanding and agreement of the services we will provide. As always, the initial consultation is free.

4. How does ARGI get paid? 

   For personal planning, we typically charge a flat planning fee plus an annual retainer for planning advice. We calculate a separate investment advice fee based on a percentage of assets under management, according to each particular agreement. We deduct investment advice fees directly from accounts on a quarterly basis. We can deduct planning and retainer fees from client accounts, or be paid by personal or business debit or credit card, whichever is more convenient. Clients can choose to pay retainer fees on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis, subject to SEC guidelines.

   For business planning, we typically charge a flat planning fee plus an annual retainer, according to each client’s particular agreement. We can deduct planning and retainer fees via ACH, or be paid by personal or business debit or credit card, whichever is more convenient.

What is your risk number?

Portfolio Risk Analysis

At ARGI, after evaluating your financial position, we begin by determining your risk quotient. This begins with an application called Riskalyze, a series of easy questions that help determine your risk number. Click now for your  Portfolio Risk Analysis. This identifies which of our six risk / return profiles should be appropriate for you.

Diversification* through asset allocation is the framework for the portfolio construction of each of the six profiles.

The main benefit of diversification is the relationship one asset class has with another since certain financial asset classes can go up when others go down, and vice versa.

Because they behave in this manner, when blended together properly, their characteristics can offset one another. This, in turn, can potentially reduce volatility (i.e., risk).

More risk (volatility) means more potential return and vice versa.

Properly identifying your risk number is the start for determining the optimum asset allocation for you so that your investment choices are matched appropriately with your level of risk.

Learn more about our Investment Philosophy and Approach here.

*Diversification cannot ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

ASSET ALLOCATION — A method by which a financial planner or investment advisor allocates the assets at a client’s disposal. The allocation reflects a client’s appetite for risk, current financial well-being, and market conditions.

BOND — A debt investment in which an investor loans money to an entity (typically corporate or governmental) that borrows the funds for a defined period of time at a variable or fixed interest rate.

DEDUCTIBLE IRA — An account in which contributions are made with pre-tax assets based on the ordinary income level of the individual. Earnings within the IRA have no tax impact until withdrawn at retirement and are then taxed as ordinary income.

ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) — A security similar to and closely related to the closed-end mutual fund. But unlike a mutual fund, a holder of an ETF share does not own a portion of the securities held by the ETF sponsor, but owns a portion of the creation unit held by institutions called authorized participants (APs). APs are major investment banks and brokerage houses, such as Blackrock. The APs create and redeem the ETFs through their buying and selling the underlying securities in exchange for the ETF share. This is what keeps ETF prices accurate and close to the index a fund is supposed to track.

INTEGRATED FINANCIAL SERVICES — Some companies offer investment management, wealth management, tax planning, or insurance. Integrated financial services companies such as ARGI offer all of those services, resulting in a seamless, all-inclusive financial strategy.

INVESTMENT ADVISER — An individual or a firm that is in the business of giving advice about securities.

IRA CONTRIBUTION LIMIT — In 2015 the maximum amount for earned income was $5,500, and for age 50 or over, $6,500.

NON-DEDUCTIBLE IRA — An account where contributions are allowed for those not qualifying for pre-tax assets. Earnings within the IRA have no tax impact until withdrawn at retirement, and are then taxed as ordinary income, except for those portions of the withdrawal corresponding to contributions that were not deducted.

RE-BALANCING — Portfolios construction often reflects the constituents of an index or an economy. Over time those constituents or that economy can change, so portfolios are periodically altered to address those changes.

REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR (RIA) — A firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or a state’s securities agency.

ROTH IRA — An account where contributions are made with after-tax assets, all transactions within the IRA have no tax impact, and withdrawals are tax-free.

ROTH IRA CONTRIBUTION LIMIT — Check irs.gov for the maximum contribution amounts for earned income. Be sure to check with your tax advisor about your particular situation.

ROTH IRA CONTRIBUTION LIMIT BASED ON AGI — Contribution amount limited and varied for AGI under $181,000 for married filing jointly, and $129,000 for single filers.

SECURITY — A catch-all term for many kinds of intangible investments: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. There are primarily two types of securities: equity securities (stocks) and debt securities (bonds).

STOCK — A type of security that signifies ownership in a corporation and represents a claim on part of the corporation’s assets and earnings.

The ARGI Gateway is a web-based solution that can help clients consolidate and manage their financial lives at any time and from anywhere in the world.

The ARGI Gateway allows clients to instantly view plans, print reports, upload documents, or download forms using secure links to access our virtual vault. Using the Gateway, you can:

• See an instant financial snapshot every time you log in.
• Run your own financial reports in minutes.

View the ARGI Gateway Demo