M Holdings Securities is a financial advisor firm with billions of dollars in assets under management (AUM) and a very large advisory staff. M Holdings Securities' home office is located in Portland, Oregon. Through a network of affiliated independent financial advisors, the firm offers services such as financial planning and portfolio managment, as well as annuity products.
Certain advisors who are affiliated with this firm can sell insurance or securities on a commission basis, in addition to charging client-paid fees. A fee-only firm, on the other hand, earns all of its compensation from client fees.
M Holdings Securities Background
M Holdings Securities is a wholly owned subsidiary of M Financial Holdings Incorporated (M Financial Group), which was founded in 1978. However, M Holdings Securities has been in business as an investment advisor since 2000. According to its website, it works with an exclusive network of hundreds of member firms. Westley V. Thompson serves as M Holdings' president and CEO.
M Holdings Securities Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
M Holdings Securities advises many types of clients, including:
- Non-high-net-worth individuals
- High-net-worth individuals
- Pension and profit-sharing plans
- Corporations and businesses
Minimum account sizes at M Holdings Securities vary based on account type.
Services Offered by M Holdings Securities
Offerings from M Holdings Securities include investment management, third-party asset management services, retirement consulting services, financial planning and solicitor services. Assets under the firm's management are managed on a solely discretionary basis, which means clients give the firm the right to make investment decisions on their own.
The firm also offers a number of wrap fee programs that are sponsored by M Securities or its sub-advisors.
M Holdings Securities Investing Philosophy
IARs at M Securities may use many different methods of analysis when they create investment advice or manage assets of clients, including but not limited to the following:
- Charting: review of market activity charts in order to identify when and how the market is moving
- Fundamental analysis: attempt to measure the intrinsic value of a security by looking at economic and financial factors
- Technical analysis: analysis of how the market has performed historically
- Cyclical analysis: measurement of the movements of a particular stock against the overall market
- Quantitative analysis: use of mathematical models to review data, draw conclusions and make recommendations
- Qualitative analysis: subjective evaluation of non-quantifiable factors (such as quality of management, labor relations or strength of research) in order to predict change to share price
- Mutual fund and/or ETF analysis: review of experience and track record of the mutual fund or ETF manager in order to determine demonstrated ability to invest over time
- Sub-advisor and third-party asset manager program (TPAM) analysis: evaluation of the experience, expertise and past performance of sub-advisors and third-party asset managers in order to determine demonstrated ability to invest over time
Furthermore, they may use one or more of the following strategies for managing assets:
- Asset allocation: focuses on combining multiple types of securities within a portfolio to achieve a specific risk/return level
- Long-term purchases: buying and holding securities for at least a year
- Short-term purchases: buying securities and selling them within a year
- Short sales: securities transactions in which the investor sells in anticipation of a price decline
- Margin transactions: securities transactions in which the investor borrows money to purchase a security, making the security collateral on the loan
- Option purchases: uses both calls and puts
Fees Under M Holdings Securities
M Holdings Securities agrees with clients to charges advisory fees either in advance or in arrears. Clients authorize the custodian of their account to have fees debited from their assets. With regards to investment management account fees, M Holdings Securities charges rates as a percentage of assets under management (AUM). The client will negotiate a fee schedule for this service directly with the IAR.
For financial planning, fees are determined based on the complexity of services provided and are charged on either an hourly ($0 to $500 per hour) or fixed fee basis ($0 to 10,000).
For its wrap fee programs, clients may be charged various program fees in addition to the advisory fee charged by M Securities. In a wrap fee arrangement, clients pay a single fee for advisory, brokerage and custodial services.
What to Watch Out For
M Holdings Securities has four disclosures listed on its SEC-filed Form ADV. Three of these disclosures are attributed to advisory affiliates of the firm, whereas one regulatory disclosure belongs to the firm itself.
It is important to note that advisors at M Holdings Securities may also be broker-dealer representatives. Employees acting in these roles generally receive transaction-based fees, which can be a potential conflict of interest. That said, as an SEC-registered investment advisor, the firm is legally obligated to uphold its fiduciary duty and work in clients’ best interests at all times.
Opening an Account With M Holdings Securities
To open an account with M Holdings Securities, you can visit the firm's website or call (800) 656-6960.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
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