Can You Have More Than One Financial Advisor? (2024)

FAQs

Can You Have More Than One Financial Advisor? ›

Different advisors can offer different services, depending on the type of clients they typically work with. Can you have more than one financial advisor? The short answer is yes, you can. Whether it makes sense to have multiple advisors can depend on your goals, needs and budget.

Yes, you can have more than one financial advisor. There are no rules saying that you can't work with multiple advisors. For example, you might use a financial advisor for general financial planning and an investment advisor specifically for managing your investment portfolio.

The Bottom Line: Investors seeking to hire a financial advisor should interview multiple advisors before deciding and prepare a set of core questions in advance.

A good average number of clients per financial advisor to have is usually in the range of 50 to 150. But you may need fewer than that if you're primarily targeting high-net-worth individuals.

Are you paying too much to your financial adviser? Many financial advisers charge based on how much money they manage on your behalf, and 1% of your total assets under management is a pretty standard fee. But psst: If you have over $1 million, a flat fee might make a lot more financial sense for you, pros say.

Legally, switching financial advisors is pretty straightforward: Sign an agreement with your new firm, and notify your old advisor. However, there may be some financial ramifications. Check your old advisor's contract to see if there is a termination fee, which you'll need to pay.

While 1.5% is on the higher end for financial advisor services, if that's what it takes to get the returns you want, then it's not overpaying, so to speak. Staying around 1% for your fee may be standard, but it certainly isn't the high end. You need to decide what you're willing to pay for what you're receiving.

This fee can range from 0.5% to 2%. Advisors that charge a percentage usually want to work with clients with a minimum portfolio of about $100,000. This makes it worth their time and will allow them to make about $1,000 to $2,000 a year.

The rule is often used to point out that 80% of a company's revenue is generated by 20% of its customers. Viewed in this way, it might be advantageous for a company to focus on the 20% of clients that are responsible for 80% of revenues and market specifically to them.

How do you know if a financial advisor is good? ›

Having more than one financial advisor allows you to gain guidance in specialized areas that your current advisor may not have expertise in managing.

Whether you should consider working with more than one advisor can depend on your overall goals and financial situation. If you're fairly new to investing and you haven't built up a sizable net worth yet, for instance then one advisor may be sufficient to meet your needs.

Generally, having between $50,000 and $500,000 of liquid assets to invest can be a good point to start looking at hiring a financial advisor. Some advisors have minimum asset thresholds. This could be a relatively low figure, like $25,000, but it could $500,000, $1 million or even more.

You should meet with your advisor at least once a year to reassess basics like budget, taxes and investment performance. This is the time to discuss whether you feel you are on the right track, and if there is something you could be doing better to increase your net worth in the coming 12 months.

Your adviser's fees will be based on many things: what advice you need, how much time it will take, and the size of the assets involved. Advisers often charge between 1% and 2% of the asset in question (e.g. a pension pot), with lower percentages being charged for larger assets.

Is it worth it to pay for a financial advisor? ›

A financial advisor is worth paying for if they provide help you need, whether because you don't have the time or financial acumen or you simply don't want to deal with your finances. An advisor may be especially valuable if you have complicated finances that would benefit from professional help.

If your financial advisor is not meeting your expectations, it might be time for a new one. Breaking up can be hard to do. That's particularly true for your financial advisor. After all, they know not only everything about your finances but also your dreams and goals.

In most cases, you simply have to send a signed letter to your advisor to terminate the contract. In some instances, you may have to pay a termination fee.

When you break the news to your financial adviser, keep it brief and professional. Thank your adviser for his or her help in the past, and explain that things have changed and you're moving on. If you want to share the specific reasons that explain your move, go ahead and do it. But don't feel obligated to explain.

Generally, having between $50,000 and $500,000 of liquid assets to invest can be a good point to start looking at hiring a financial advisor. Some advisors have minimum asset thresholds. This could be a relatively low figure, like $25,000, but it could $500,000, $1 million or even more.

Different advisers specialize in different areas of the market. Choose your advisers well and you will get to see a great array of ideas and deals. This gives you the opportunity to pick and choose between investments and adding to the diversity of your portfolio. Having multiple advisers guards you against biases.

You should meet with your advisor at least once a year to reassess basics like budget, taxes and investment performance. This is the time to discuss whether you feel you are on the right track, and if there is something you could be doing better to increase your net worth in the coming 12 months.

An advisor needs to know how much money you bring in each month and each year. It will help them create a realistic plan for meeting your goals and protecting your assets. Yet, some clients don't disclose all their income sources to their advisor.