IFG Advisory, Inc., also known as Integrated Financial Group, is an Atlanta-based financial advisor firm. It isn't structured like a conventional advisory firm, though. Instead, it's a consortium of independent firms that share office support and adminstrative staff, while all advisors retain full independence. The consortium has over $1.8 billion in client assets under management (AUM). Advisors work with a range of institutional and individual clients, and they each may provide slightly different services.
This firm is considered fee-based, which means its advisors can receive sales commissions beyond the firm's client-paid fee structure. On the other hand, a fee-only firm receives all compensation from client fees.
Integrated Financial Group Background
Integrated Financial Group was founded in 2013, and there are currently several independent advisors in the consortium. These advisors operate in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina and South Carolina. Its principal owners are founder and chief strategy officer Donald Warren Patrick and CEO John Land Bridgers.
The team of advisors at IFG hold a number of advisory certifications. These include certified financial planner (CFP), certified public accountant (CPA), chartered life underwriter (CLU) and more.
Integrated Financial Group Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Advisors in the Integrated Financial Group consortium work with a variety of different clients across the institutional and individual spectrums. The vast majority of clients, however, are non-high-net-worth individuals. Other clients include high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and businesses.
There is no set account minimum to work with an advisor in the IFG consortium.
Services Offered by Integrated Financial Group
Integrated Financial Group is a consortium of independent financial advisors that share advisory expertise, office space and administrative staff. These advisors retain full independence and can work with whatever clients they like and provide any services they like.
These advisors provide a range of various investment advisory services, from financial planning and investment management to educational seminars and third-party advisor selection. It's worth noting that while IFG allows advisors to remain independent, the firm does use in-house model portfolios that advisors can take advantage of.
Integrated Financial Group Investment Philosophy
Due to Integrated Financial Group being a consortium of independent advisors, investment philosophies vary greatly. On the whole, though, advisors who are a part of IFG tend to tailor their financial advice to the objectives of each client. They work to determine each client's risk tolerance, liquidity needs and other important characteristics of their situation.
When managing client assets, advisors may also use IFG model portfolios. These portfolios tend to use mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and stocks, though other investments may be chosen as well. Advisors may use cyclical, fundamental and technical analysis to inform their decisions.
Fees Under Integrated Financial Group
Fees for portfolio management services at Integrated Financial Group are typically charged based on a percentage of a client's total AUM. While the following fee schedule shows the maximum annual fees charged, annual flat percentage fees may also be negotiated. Such fees won't exceed 2.00%.
Integrated Financial Group Maximum Fee Schedule | |
Portfolio Value | Base Fee |
First $250K | 2.00% |
$250K - $500K | 1.75% |
$500K - $750K | 1.65% |
$750K - $1.25MM | 1.40% |
$1.25MM - $2MM | 1.25% |
$2MM - $5MM | 1.15% |
More than $5MM | 1.00% |
Financial planning fees are generally charged on either a flat fee or hourly fee basis. Hourly fees are typically charged at a rate of up to $500 per hour. Flat fee arrangements may range from $1,500 to $10,000 per engagement.
What to Watch Out For
Integrated Financial Group has no disclosures listed on its SEC-filed Form ADV.
As a fee-based firm, certain advisors who work at IFG can receive commissions from the sale of insurance products or securities to clients. While this induces a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty, requires it to act in clients' best interests, no matter what.
Opening an Account With Integrated Financial Group
Those interested in working with an advisor that's part of the IFG consortium can stop by an advisor near them or call (770) 353-6319.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
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