How do you charge for your services? +
Typically we are paid on a quarterly basis. The amount of the fee is dependent on the total dollar amount of assets that we manage for you and are kept by our custodian. This does not include 401k plans, other employer plans, or assets our clients choose not to keep with our custodian.
Do you earn commissions? +
Only if you want us to. We know that there is a significant debate in the financial advisor community on the merits of commissions versus fees. While we firmly believe that operating on a fee basis is the best method for both advisor and client, there are certain circumstances where this may not be practical. The best example is in the case of life insurance and fixed rate annuities. If we make a recommendation that involves a commission, then that will be disclosed to you. And we will never charge a fee on an asset where we've earned a commission.
Do I have to come to your office? +
NCU Investment Solutions advisors can meet you in any of Navigant Credit Union’s 25 branches around the state of Rhode Island. In addition, we are available to meet online when appropriate.
What can I expect as part of an initial consultation? +
When you visit us for an initial consultation, we want to get to know you just like you want to get to know us. We will review your present circumstances, make suggestions, discuss our approach to financial planning, and the services we offer. You can be assured we will answer your questions in a professional manner, free from any pressure.
Can you handle my 401k and other employer related plans? +
Yes, we can handle your 401k or employer related plan. Our investment approach is comprehensive, so we need to take all of your investments into consideration. However, because we cannot custody your employer sponsored plan, we cannot provide complete services such as executing trades, monitoring investments, and reporting performance. Because we cannot provide complete service on these assets, we do not include them when calculating your annual fee.
Is my money safe? +
NCU Investment Solutions uses Fidelity Investments as its independent custodian. All assets that are managed by NCU Investment Solutions are held by Fidelity. In addition, Fidelity sends monthly statements to our clients detailing current holdings and transactions. Fidelity accounts are insured by SIPC as well as private insurance carried by Fidelity.
Am I limited to just Fidelity Mutual Funds? +
Absolutely not. We utilize Fidelity because of the broad array of investments we can offer our clients. This includes thousands of mutual funds from other managers as well as virtually every publicly traded stock and bond on the secondary market.
What types of investments do you use? +
In our experience, the most important part of a portfolio is the decision about what types of assets to own and in what percentage to own them. From there we decide with the client about what specific investments should be utilized to execute the portfolio. The investments we recommend typically include mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and individual bonds.
