What It’s Like to Work With a Financial Advisor

Shopping for a financial advisor isn’t easy, and some advisors have earned the industry a less-than-stellar reputation. So we understand why, as an investor, you might be wary of salespeople with expensive products to pitch and doubt that the advice given really applies to you. That’s why we structured EP Wealth Advisors as a fee-only firm whose status as a fiduciary means we do not receive financial incentives when recommending investment products, and we are required to put your interest before our own. In addition to explaining these benefits to prospective clients, we wanted to be able to demonstrate them. To do this effectively, we have created a Financial Health Assessment. It’s a transparent, two-meeting process* geared to inform and educate you on the realities of the markets, financial planning, and establish the foundation for a trusting relationship with an EP Wealth Advisor.

When you sit down for your initial discovery meeting, you’ll be with an actual financial advisor. You don’t need to bring any documents, or have them handy if you’re on the phone. We may not be the right fit for you—this offering is only available to individuals with a minimum of $500,000 in investable assets--but our advisors will try to provide some level of guidance in every case. We know not everyone needs our help, but we believe that a more financially stable community is a healthier, less-stressed community, and we’re pleased to support that goal.

How Your Discovery Meeting With an EP Wealth Advisor May Start

Because we offer customized financial plans paired with the appropriate portfolio allocation, we’re most interested in what your goals are and where you stand with your investments and finances. We plan around what success looks like to you. That’s why our tagline is “Invest in what’s important”—because what’s important is relative to everyone’s individual needs.

Many advisors use a favorite question to start off the initial discovery meeting of a Financial Health Assessment with a discussion that ranges more broadly than just investments. Some may ask: “What’s the one thing that brought you to talk to me?” Others may ask: “Could you describe your financial landscape?” You may notice that the advisor will ask a lot of questions on a variety of topics to get a better understanding of where you’re at, taking notes to document the important points.

From the start, you’ll get a better understanding of what it feels like to work with EP Wealth Advisors. You’ll see how our financial planning team will collect documents and acquire the detailed personal insights needed to help determine the asset allocation we would use to invest your portfolio if you were to become a client.

Your Introduction to the EP Wealth Advisors Process

The discovery phase sets the stage for your second proposal meeting, where the discussion typically revolves around your investments, financial situation, and potential action items. This is how we provide guidance our clients can put to use. This is especially valuable, because even if you don’t hire us, it can help you better understand the general areas where we might see opportunity to improve your financial and investment life. We use an interactive proposal for this second Financial Health Assessment meeting to clarify the numbers and help you better visualize the potential recommendations we make.

For some investors, they may want to get into the details of investment strategy.

The reason why we go into this level of detail on a proposal is that it sets the expectations for a more transparent and trusting relationship, which is where we think we can add the most value over the long term.

Your Takeaways From Your First Financial Health Assessment Meeting

When you walk out the door or hang up the phone after your first meeting with us, we hope you have a better sense of the questions that can help shape your financial future. We also hope that you’ll have scheduled the second meeting in the Financial Health Assessment so you can see how we work more closely and interact with you as we deliver the recommendations we make.

For more information on the second proposal meeting of the Financial Health Assessment, check out our second article in this series: “What It’s Like to Work With EP Wealth Advisors – Completing Your Financial Health Assessment.”

To talk with an EP Wealth Advisor today, visit our contact us page or directly reach out to an advisor via their bios.

[FOOTNOTE]

*The meetings referenced here do not represent the sequence, chronology, order, nor are they a guarantee or warrantee, of what every client or prospective client will be offered or provided. Each client is assessed uniquely and the number of meetings and what information is exchanged or presented will vary and will be tailored to the unique needs of that specific client. This is not indicative of the experience every client or prospective client will encounter. In many cases, a client may choose to engage us for Financial Planning or Financial Planning services. Furthermore, EP Wealth Advisors does not mandate that their clients complete a Financial Plan.

Disclosures:

The free financial health assessment referenced here is limited to, and can only be provided to, individuals with $500,000 or more in investable assets. The health assessment is limited to an initial call or meeting with an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) of EP Wealth Advisors, LLC to discuss and assess your current financial situation and a subsequent follow-up meeting or call to share our thoughts. No additional services will be provided. EP Wealth Advisors’ obligation is limited to extending an offer to provide these services. It is the responsibility of the individual requesting the free health assessment to accept the service offered. No guarantee or warranty can be made that any of the information discussed or relayed in these meetings will be suitable or relevant. The free financial health assessment is limited in nature and is not intended to be regarded as an attempt to provide comprehensive financial advice.
EP Wealth Advisors (“EPWA”) makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information presented here.
Hiring a qualified advisor and/or financial planner does not guarantee investment success, and does not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. No guaranty or warranty is made that any direct or implied results or projections being represented here will be met or sustained.
Information presented is general in nature and should not be viewed as a comprehensive analysis of the topics discussed. It is intended to serve as a tool containing general information that should assist you in the development of subsequent discussions. Content does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice nor is it intended to supplement professional individualized advice.
The need for a financial advisor or financial planner and/or the type of services required are specific to the uniqueness of each individual’s circumstances. There is no guarantee or warrantee that the services offered by EP Wealth Advisors will satisfy your financial services requirements. Services offered by other advisors may align more to your specific needs.
All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Different types of investments and investment strategies involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment or strategy will be suitable or profitable for a client's portfolio. The risk of loss can never be eliminated even if working with a professional.
All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Changes in investment strategies, contributions or withdrawals, and economic conditions, may materially alter the performance of your portfolio. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment or strategy will be suitable or profitable for a client’s portfolio.
EP Wealth Advisors, LLC. is registered as an investment advisor with the SEC and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission nor does it indicate that the advisor has attained a particular level of skill or ability