Primerica Advisors
Primerica is a fee-based financial advisor firm that primarily operates out of Duluth, Georgia. However, the firm has advisors across all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico and Canada.
Primerica Advisors Background
Founded in 1977, Primerica Advisors is an independent financial services firm. Its legal name is PFS Investments, Inc., and Primerica is a subsidiary of Primerica, Inc., a financial services company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Primerica Advisors Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Primerica Advisors offers investment services to high-net-worth individuals, non-high-net-worth individuals, corporations and charitable organizations.
Although the firm generally requires $25,000 minimum investment, with other program models requiring higher minimums.
Services Offered by Primerica Advisors
Primerica Advisors offers the following services:
- Portfolio management
- Financial planning
- Auto & home insurance referral program
- Identity theft protection
Primerica Advisors Investment Philosophy
Primerica Advisors says on its website that it strives to help "middle-income families learn personal finance,” reduce consumer debt and prepare for the unexpected. The firm’s advisors offer a range of investment solutions, and Primerica often uses third parties to distribute investment and financial products.
Advisors provide clients with investment models through a wrap fee investment program called the "Lifetime Investment Program." Through this program, the firm selects an appropriate model portfolio for each client based on their risk tolerance, time horizon, investing preferences, tax situation and personal objectives. Each model is typically comprised of some combination of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Fees Under Primerica Advisors
Primerica Advisors divides its platform management fees into three components: program fees, advisor fees and administration fees. The program fee represents the percentage investors pay for the services offered through the firm’s Lifetime Investment Program. Clients pay the advisor and administration fees as part of the program fee schedule, as well as asset manager fees.
Each of the fee schedules at Primerica are listed below, starting with the total program fee rates:
| Account Value | Program Fee (Maximum) |
| $250K or less | 2.24% |
| $250K - $500K | 2.21% |
| $500K - $1MM | 2.02% |
| $1MM - $3MM | 1.88% |
| $3MM - $5MM | 1.7% |
| $5MM - $10MM | 1.55% |
| $10MM - $15MM | $1.45% |
| $15MM - $25MM | 1.20% |
| $25MM and up | 1.10% |
And here is the Primerica advisor administration fee schedule:
| Account Value | Administration Fee |
| $250K or less | 0.49% |
| $250K - $500K | 0.46% |
| $500K - $1MM | 0.42% |
| $1MM - $3MM | 0.38% |
| $3MM - $5MM | 0.35% |
| $5MM - $10MM | 0.25% |
| $10MM - $15MM | 0.20% |
| $15MM - $25MM | 0.15% |
| $25MM and up | 0.10% |
Below is a table that shows what you'd pay in total program fees for Primerica Advisors' Lifetime Investment Platform:
| *Estimated investment management fees do not include brokerage, custodial, third-party manager or other fees, which can vary in amount. | |
| Estimated Investment Management Fees at Primerica Advisors* | |
| Your Assets | Primerica Advisors Fee Amount |
| $500K | $11,125 |
| $1MM | $21,975 |
| $5MM | $95,575 |
| $10MM | $180,575 |
What to Watch Out For
Primerica Advisors has 18 disclosures listed on its Form ADV, although only two were associated with the firm itself. The rest were related to advisory affiliates of the firm.
Primerica also offers brokerage services, meaning some of its employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer. Advisors can therefore earn commissions from clients invested in certain mutual funds offered through the firm’s brokerage business. The firm also generates commissions from clients who buy annuities. This can create a potential conflict of interest, but the firm’s fiduciary obligation requires it to act in your best interest.
Opening an Account With Primerica Advisors
Interested in becoming a client of Primerica Advisors? You can visit any of the firm’s locations to speak with an advisor, or you can reach the firm’s principal office at (833) 786-0550.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
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