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Values First Advisors 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.

Values First Advisors is a registered investment advisor (RIA) based in Gray, Tennessee. It provides portfolio management and financial planning services to different client types, including individuals and businesses.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at Values First can earn third-party commissions beyond client-paid fees. A fee-only firm, on the other hand, focuses its earnings entirely around client-paid fees.

Values First Advisors Background

Values First Advisors formed in 2009. Roy E. Nunn and L. Alex Ellis are the managing principals and owners.

The team at Values First Advisors features such certifications as certified financial planner (CFP), certified kingdom advisor (CKA) and investment advisor certified compliance professional (ICCP).

Values First Advisors Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

The advisors at Values First provide services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and retirement plans. Minimum account sizes are negotiable on a case-by-case basis.

Services Offered by Values First Advisors

Values First Advisors builds and monitors diversified investment portfolios on behalf of its clients. Depending on your needs, the firm may suggest that one of its sub-advisor partners manages portions of your account.  

The firm’s advisors can also devise financial plans for clients on a stand-alone basis or in conjunction with its portfolio management services. These plans can cover such topics as: 

  • Net-worth projection
  • Retirement planning
  • Insurance analysis
  • Investment planning
  • Tax planning
  • Estate planning summary

Values First Advisors Investment Philosophy

Values First Advisors believes every client’s investment goals are unique. To help each client reach these milestones, its advisors begin by analyzing his or her financial situation, risk appetite and other factors. Then they use this information to design an appropriate asset allocation or mix of investment types. Afterward, the firm may manage the account on its own or seek the help of a sub-advisor. 

Investment managers would carefully select securities when implementing its asset allocation. The firm generally builds portfolios with individual stocks, bonds, bond funds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and money market investments.

Fees Under Values First Advisors

Values First Advisors charges asset allocation fees as a percentage of account size. Below is the firm’s current fee schedule. 

Values First Advisors Fee Schedule
AUM Annual Fee
Less than $500,000 1.25%
$500,001 - $999,999 1.00%
Greater than $1,000,000 0.70%

Sub-advisors would charge their own fees. Each one sets its own fee schedule. You can view current rates in the firm’s investment brochure, which the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) makes available on its investment adviser public disclosure website. Fees for financial planning start at $950 for fixed-fee arrangements and $225 per hour for hourly arrangements.

Here's what you might expect to pay as a client of Values First Advisors at different asset levels:

*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 Values First Advisors*
Your Assets Values First Advisors Fee Amounts
$500K $6,250
$1MM $11,250
$5MM $39,250
$10MM $74,250

What to Watch Out For

Values First Advisors has no dislcosures on its SEC-filed Form ADV.

Values First is a fee-based advisory firm. This means that certain advisors at the firm can receive commissions from third parties by selling financial products, such as insurance, to clients. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

Opening an Account with Values First Advisors

If you're interested in working with Values First, go online to the firm's website. From there, you can get in touch via email or over the phone. You can also visit the firm in person in Gray, Tennessee.

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

Tips for Finding the Right Financial Advisor

  • Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
  • Make sure you know how your advisor gets paid. Fee-only and fee-based sound similar, but there’s a big difference. The latter  earns sales commissions from vendors, which can create potential conflicts of interest. Fee-only advisors generally have fewer conflicts of interest - and offer advice only in your best interest.

 

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