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Our Verdict
Our Verdict
Fisher Investments offers portfolio management and financial planning for wealthy investors. When you sign up, an investment advisor designs and manages a customized portfolio for your goals based on the guidance of Ken Fisher, a famous investor and author. Fisher Investments does not offer brokerage services, but it can be a good choice if you want to leave your investing to a professional.
Pros
- Designs customized investment portfolios
- Investment decisions based on the research of Ken Fisher
- Ongoing support from your investment advisor
- Good customer service, including in-person branches
- Excellent educational resources and market insights
Cons
- Requires a minimum portfolio of $500,000
- High investment management fee
- Doesn’t offer a brokerage platform
- Basic website with limited investment research tools
Trading Commissions
None, not a brokerage platform
Account Minimum
$500,000
Table of Contents
- Who Should Choose Fisher Investments
- Fisher Investments Commissions and Fees
- Fisher Investments Platform and Technology
- Fisher Investments Range of Offerings
- Fisher Investments Research and Education
- Fisher Investments Customer Service and Security
- About Fisher Investments
Show more
Who Should Choose Fisher Investments
Fisher Investments can be a good choice for those who have already built considerable wealth and now want a professional to take over running their portfolio.
When you sign up with Fisher Investments, you are matched with an investment advisor. The advisor figures out your financial goals and then designs a customized portfolio to meet those goals. The advisor also supervises the portfolio and adjusts it to keep you on track through market ups and downs, changes in your needs and deviations in your portfolio’s asset allocations from your game plan.
Fisher Investments is especially appealing if you’re a fan of the books and advice of Ken Fisher, executive chairman and co-chief investment officer of the investment advisory and money management firm. He oversees the strategies recommended by the company’s advisors. To help you decide whether to sign up, you can learn more about his take on money and investing by reading his columns and books.
Handing over your portfolio to Fisher Investments is not ideal if you want to make investment decisions on your own. They do not offer a brokerage account where you can handle your own trades. In addition, you pay a high annual management fee for the ongoing support from Fisher Investments. Finally, you need at least $500,000 to enroll, so Fisher Investments is not an option for those still building wealth.
Fisher Investments Commissions and Fees
Fisher Investments charges an assets under management (AUM) fee to run your portfolio. The fee is a percentage of the total amount you invest with Fisher Investments, and it depends on the size of your portfolio:
- The first $1 million: 1.25% per year
- Next $4 million: 1.125% per year
- Assets over $5 million: 1% per year
This AUM fee covers everything. You do not owe any additional charges. The Fisher Investments professionals do not earn a commission recommending funds or products for your portfolio.
Fisher Investments Platform and Technology
Fisher Investments does not offer a brokerage platform where you can make your own trades. As a result, the Fisher Investments technology and website are both relatively simple. They aren’t offering capabilities for you to research, build and maintain your portfolio independently because you are paying a professional to handle this work for you.
Fisher Investments does not provide an online login for its website because it does not hold your money or investments. Instead, it outsources this work to an external custodian. Upon retaining Fisher Investments Private Client Group, you receive the login information from this third party to check your portfolio balance, asset allocation and performance. Fisher Investments then builds and manages your portfolio.
If you want a brokerage platform to research and make your own trades, you might want to take a look at some of the best online brokers instead.
Fisher Investments Range of Offerings
For individuals, Fisher Investments offers personal wealth management. This includes:
- Portfolio management. Where a professional designs and runs your investments based on your goals.
- Financial planning. Fisher Investment professionals will help you set goals for your future and determine the steps you need to take for saving and investing to reach these goals. The advisor will also review your past progress to see if you’re on track.
- Retirement planning. Fisher Investments can plan how much you need to save to hit your retirement goals. The firm can also figure out how much income you can safely take out each year in retirement without excessively depleting your balance and without impeding your financial goals, which can include providing wealth for your spouse, loved ones and beneficiaries. Fisher Investments will also determine how best to use the tax breaks from your individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and workplace retirement plans.
- Estate planning. If you want to provide an inheritance to one or more loved ones, Fisher Investments can determine how much you can leave and ensure you have the proper documents, such as a will and trust funds.
- Annuity evaluation. Ken Fisher famously said he hates annuities. If you are considering buying one, an expert from Fisher Investments can explain the possible drawbacks of a contract to balance what you hear from a company offering the annuity. Fisher Investments does not sell annuities.
Fisher Investments stands out for its portfolio management. The advisors build customized portfolios tailored to meet your investment goals rather than using the same approach for all clients. While your personal advisor is in charge of creating your portfolio, the process is overseen by an Investment Policy Committee, which includes the firm’s leaders and Ken Fisher himself.
Fisher Investments requires you to bring in at least $500,000 to join as a client for wealth management.
Business and Institutional Services
Fisher Investments also works with businesses and institutions. It offers 401(k) services for small and medium-sized businesses. This includes setting up investments, employee support and plan administration.
In addition, Fisher Investments offers institutional support for pension funds, governments, foundations and endowments. Fisher Investments provides investment selection and advice for these organizations.
Fisher Investments Research and Education
Fisher Investments’ website has a solid resource library of articles, investment guides, calculators and even books to teach people about investing. The Fisher Investments experts, including Ken Fisher, publish articles and videos with insights about the latest market trends and how they could impact your portfolio.
While Fisher Investments provides many high-quality materials to teach you about investing and the market itself, it doesn’t provide the ongoing research tools you would get from a brokerage platform.
For example, you can’t run your own personal portfolio analysis or access stock screeners to find your next investment. Also, Fisher Investments focuses on teaching people about long-term market trends so they can develop a strategy with their advisor, but the company offers little support for active day trading.
In a nutshell, Fisher Investments does not cater to do-it-yourself investors. Rather, Fisher provides a chauffeured limo service for investors who’d rather not drive themselves to their financial destinations.
Fisher Investments Customer Service and Security
You can contact Fisher Investments for customer service by phone or email, or you can schedule a meeting with your investment advisor. Fisher Investments has 10 U.S. locations where you can meet with a representative, plus additional corporate offices in the U.S. and other countries.
You can schedule an in-person meeting with your advisor if you live near a Fisher Investments branch. Otherwise, you can meet by phone or video chat.
Fisher Investments uses data management systems and security policies to protect client information. Your advisor gets to know you and will watch out for any unusual investment transactions on your account that don’t match your goals. Fisher Investments does not hold your investments but passes this work on to a third-party custodian. The exact security procedures for protecting your assets will depend on the custodian.
About Fisher Investments
Fisher Investments is an investment advisory firm headquartered in Plano, Texas. Ken Fisher founded Fisher Investments in 1979. Today, Fisher Investments oversees roughly $205 billion for 140,000 clients. The firm has 5,000 employees working around the United States and the World.
Ken Fisher is a well-known investor and author. He has published several best-selling financial books, was a long-running columnist for Forbes and is regularly seen on financial news. He helps oversee Fisher Investments as part of the Investment Policy Committee, though he is no longer the firm’s CEO.
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As an investment enthusiast with a deep understanding of portfolio management and financial planning, I've closely examined the information provided in the article about Fisher Investments. My extensive knowledge allows me to break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
Fisher Investments Overview:
1. Fisher Investments Background:
- Founded in 1979 by Ken Fisher, a renowned investor and author.
- Headquarters located in Plano, Texas.
- Manages approximately $205 billion for 140,000 clients with 5,000 employees worldwide.
- Fisher is no longer the CEO but is actively involved in overseeing the firm through the Investment Policy Committee.
2. Target Audience:
- Geared towards wealthy investors who have amassed considerable wealth and seek professional portfolio management.
- Minimum portfolio requirement of $500,000.
Fisher Investments Services:
3. Portfolio Management:
- Fisher Investments offers personalized portfolio design and management based on individual financial goals.
- Investment decisions guided by Ken Fisher's research and strategies.
4. Financial Planning:
- Provides assistance in setting financial goals and creating a customized plan.
- Covers retirement planning, determining savings needs, and optimizing tax benefits.
5. Estate Planning:
- Offers guidance on inheritance planning, ensuring proper documentation such as wills and trust funds.
6. Annuity Evaluation:
- While Fisher Investments doesn't sell annuities, it provides expert advice on potential drawbacks for individuals considering them.
Fees and Costs:
7. Assets Under Management (AUM) Fee:
- Charges a percentage of total investment as an annual fee.
- Fee structure:
- First $1 million: 1.25% per year
- Next $4 million: 1.125% per year
- Assets over $5 million: 1% per year
- All-inclusive fee with no additional charges.
8. Minimum Investment:
- Requires a minimum portfolio of $500,000 to enroll as a client.
Technology and Platform:
9. No Brokerage Platform:
- Fisher Investments does not offer a brokerage platform.
- Technology and website are simple, reflecting a focus on professional management rather than DIY trading.
10. Outsourced Custody:
- Doesn't hold client investments directly; outsourcing this function to an external custodian.
- Clients receive login information from the custodian to monitor their portfolio.
Research and Education:
11. Educational Resources:
- Fisher Investments provides a robust resource library, including articles, guides, calculators, and books.
- Emphasis on long-term market trends rather than active day trading.
12. Limited Research Tools:
- Lacks advanced research tools found in brokerage platforms.
- Focuses on educating clients about investing and market trends.
Customer Service and Security:
13. Customer Support:
- Accessible via phone, email, or in-person meetings.
- 10 U.S. locations for in-person meetings, with additional corporate offices globally.
14. Security Measures:
- Uses data management systems and security policies to protect client information.
- Monitors accounts for any unusual transactions and relies on a third-party custodian for holding client assets.
In summary, Fisher Investments caters to wealthy individuals seeking a hands-off approach to portfolio management, offering personalized services guided by Ken Fisher's expertise. The emphasis is on long-term planning, and while it lacks DIY trading features, it provides a comprehensive range of financial services.
