What is an RIA and what is the fiduciary standard?

By definition, a Registered Investment Adviser has a fiduciary duty to provide investment advice that is at all times in the best interest of the client. A Registered Investment Adviser operates independently of a bank or insurance company, which means that the advisor has no requirements or incentives to sell proprietary products, and does not charge commissions.  Our only product is our advice.  This allows the adviser to provide advice that is based strictly on doing what’s best for the client.

Registered Investment Advisers are regulated by either the States or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, but all are subject to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. This is important because it establishes a code of conduct for how we treat our clients. We have a direct fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of our clients. Most other financial services professionals do not have this fiduciary obligation despite impressive titles on their business cards.

Although we have working relationships with many other professionals (attorneys, accountants, banks, trust companies, brokerage firms), Marius Wealth Management is a completely independent Registered Investment Advisory firm. It is typically based on a percentage of the assets that we manage. Growing and protecting your assets is the basis for how we are compensated.