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Adviser Investments Review

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This review was produced by SmartAsset based on publicly available information. The named firm and its financial professionals have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this review and are not responsible for its accuracy. Review content is produced by SmartAsset independently of any business relationships that might exist between SmartAsset and the named firm and its financial professionals, and firms and financial professionals having business relationships with SmartAsset receive no special treatment or consideration in SmartAsset’s reviews. This page contains links to SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool, which may or may not match you with the firm mentioned in this review or its financial professionals.

Adviser Investments, LLC is a fee-only financial advisor firm that’s headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts. Its services include financial planning, investment management, portfolio model programs, 401(k) plan advisory services, consulting and institutional advisory services.

Adviser Investments Background

Adviser Investments, LLC was co-founded in 1994 by chairman Daniel Wiener, president and CEO Dan Silver and director David Thorne. Each spent around 30 years in the financial industry. The firm is employee owned.

The staff at Adviser Investments includes such certifications as certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), certified senior advisor (CSA), certified private wealth advisor (CPWA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and accredited wealth management advisor (AWMA). 

Adviser Investments Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

Adviser Investments has nearly 4,000 client accounts. Its client base includes individuals, high-net-worth individuals, privately held businesses, pension plans, profit-sharing plans, estates, trusts and charitable organizations.

The firm requires a minimum relationship size of $350,000. Adviser Investments also has different account minimum requirements for some of its investment programs and services to participate in each one. The minimum investment required to participate in each program is as follows:

  • Managed Funds Program: $100,000
  • Managed Equities Program: $100,000
  • Managed Fixed-Income Program: $500,000

Services Offered by Adviser Investments

Adviser Investments approaches financial planning, consulting and advisement in a holistic manner, and its services reflect that. Its services include:

  • Financial planning
    • Retirement planning
    • Estate planning
    • Tax planning
    • Insurance planning
    • Major financial decision assistance
    • Cash flow forecasting
    • General consulting
  • Institutional advisory services
    • Discretionary and non-discretionary investment management
    • Fundamental investment analysis
    • Tactical asset allocation creation
    • Computer-based investment models
    • Portfolio monitoring and rebalances

The managed investment programs and portfolios listed in the section above are incorporated into these services depending on which program aligns with your needs and goals. Each program has a varying risk level and uses a different asset allocation and investment types.

  • Managed Funds Program: This uses an active asset allocation that combines exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds throughout the stock, bond and alternative investment markets. The firm runs algorithms through its computer models to build strategies with these investments for both short- and long-term risk tolerance.
  • Managed Equities Program: A “moderately aggressive” portfolio, this program includes mostly dividend-generating stocks for the purpose of both long-term growth and income generation.
  • Managed Fixed-Income Program: This portfolio includes almost exclusively investment grade corporate and municipal bonds for discretionary investment management.
  • Managed Annuity Program: This service is reserved for those who own variable annuities. The firm will managed the contracts using the using the same strategy as the Managed Funds Program, described above.
  • Retirement Plan Advisory Services: Includes the development of a mutual fund-centric portfolio and investment advice for clients.
  • Adviser Investments Alliance Program: This sub-advisory program allows investment professionals to utilize the portfolio construction, trade execution and client management services of the firm, while still remaining the client’s face-to-face advisor.

Adviser Investments Investment Philosophy

Diversification is at the core of Adviser Investments’ long-term investment strategy. The firm builds clients’ asset allocations based on their risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs. Your advisor will then match your short- and long-term needs to one of the firm’s seven general portfolio models, which will shape your investment plan. However, Adviser Investments notes that in certain instances it may customize its existing strategies based on clients’ circumstances.

The firm invests in many different areas of the market. Investments used in client portfolios include mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed-income, individual corporate bonds, municipal bonds and variable annuity contracts.

Fees Under Adviser Investments

Adviser Investments has different fee schedules for its various advisory programs. Regardless of which advisory program you use, your account will be charged at the conclusion of each calendar quarter based on the average daily market value of your account for the previous quarter. Although these are the rates that Adviser Investments publicly provides, it says that it may alter rates on a case-by-case basis.

Managed Funds, Managed Equities, Managed Annuity and Alliance Program Fees
Portfolio Vale Annual Fee
$350,000 - $500,000 1.50%
$500,001 - $1,000,000 1.25%
$1,000,001 - $3,000,000 1.00%
$3,000,001 - $5,000,000 0.90%
$5,000,001 - $7,500,000 0.80%
$7,500,001 - $10,000,000 0.70%
$10,000,001 - $15,000,000 0.60%
$15,000,001 - $20,000,000 0.50%
$20,000,001 and above 0.45%

 

Managed Fixed Income Program Fees
Portfolio Vale Annual Fee
$500,000 - $2,500,000 0.60%
$2,500,001 - $5,000,000 0.50%
Above $5,000,000 0.40%

Other accounts and programs may charge different fees that do not have set fee schedules.

What to Watch Out For

Adviser Investments has one disclosure in its past that’s related to a violation of investment-related regulations. However, it appears that the violator wasn’t the firm itself, but rather one of its advisory affiliates. The firm did not appear to pay any fines or face any other punishments for the violation.

Opening an Account With Adviser Investments

If you live near Newton, Massachusetts, you can stop by Adviser Investments’ office and speak with an advisor about what services the firm can offer you. Another option is to call the firm over the phone at (617) 321-2200 and set up an appointment.

All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.

Tips for Getting Retirement Ready

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How Long $1mm Lasts in Retirement

SmartAsset's interactive map highlights places where $1 million will last the longest in retirement. Zoom between states and the national map to see the top spots in each region. Also, scroll over any city to learn about the cost of living in retirement for that location.

Least
Most
Rank City Housing Expenses Food Expenses Healthcare Expenses Utilities Expenses Transportation Expenses

Methodology We analyzed data on average expenditures for seniors, cost of living and investment returns to determine how many years of retirement a $1 million nest egg would cover in cities across America.

First, we looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the average annual expenditures of seniors. We then applied cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to adjust those national average spending levels based on the costs of each expense category (housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other) in each city. Using this data, SmartAsset calculated the average cost of living for retirees in the largest U.S. cities.

We assumed the $1 million would grow at a real return (interest minus inflation) of 2%. Then, we divided $1 million by the sum of each of those annual numbers to determine how long $1 million would cover retirement expenses in each of the cities in our study. Cities where $1 million lasted the longest ranked the highest in the study.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Council for Community and Economic Research