The Switch That Took Years | The RIA Model
Custom Wealth Management Is Evolving: What Does This Mean for You?
We’re excited to share an important update about the future of Custom Wealth Management. After more than three years of research and careful evaluation, we have transitioned to a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) business model, partnering with Blue Horizon Equity and Cetera.
While our structure is evolving, the things that matter most remain the same. Below, we’ve answered some of the questions you may have about the transition and what it means for you.
Why is Custom Wealth Management making this change?
Financial planning has become increasingly comprehensive. Today, our clients rely on us for much more than investment management. We help them consider their entire financial picture and make thoughtful decisions across many aspects of their financial lives.
The RIA structure gives our team greater flexibility and access to integrated platforms designed to help us provide a more customized and efficient client experience.
What is changing for me?
Our goal throughout this transition has been to make the impact on you as minimal as possible.
The biggest changes are happening behind the scenes. The new structure provides our team with better technology, more sophisticated analysis, customized performance reporting, improved household-level portfolio management, more efficient trading, and integrated client dashboards.
Simply put, we are gaining additional tools and flexibility designed to help us serve you more efficiently.
What is staying the same?
A lot.
You will continue working with the same Custom Wealth Management team, under the same Custom Wealth Management brand, in the same offices, with the same phone numbers and email addresses.
Most importantly, the relationships we have built and our commitment to putting our clients first remain unchanged.
Are my assets moving to a different custodian?
No. Your assets will continue to be held with National Financial Services (NFS), the same qualified custodian used before the transition.
What does being a Registered Investment Advisor mean?
As a Registered Investment Advisor, we operate as fiduciaries, meaning we are legally obligated to put our clients’ interests first.
While the RIA structure formalizes that responsibility, putting our clients first is not a new philosophy for our team. It has been a standard at Custom Wealth Management for more than 28 years.
How does this give Custom Wealth Management more flexibility?
The RIA structure provides greater independence and a more open architecture for investments, products, and financial planning opportunities.
This flexibility can help our team continue adapting our capabilities as our clients’ lives, financial needs, and goals evolve over time.
Will my fees or accounts be affected?
Our team has spent significant time reviewing accounts, modeling different scenarios, and evaluating fee schedules to understand how individual clients could be affected. Our objective throughout the process has been to create as seamless a transition as possible while minimizing the impact on our clients.
If you have questions about your specific accounts or circumstances, please reach out to our team directly.
Is there anything I need to do?
Yes. This is the most important action item for our clients.
As part of completing the transition, we need your permission to continue managing your finances, which requires new applications for each account you own.
You will receive DocuSign emails to help complete the necessary paperwork electronically. In rare situations where a physical signature is required, our team will contact you directly.
We have worked to minimize the amount of time and involvement required from you, but at this stage we need a few minutes of your time to help us complete the process.
What does this mean for Custom Wealth Management going forward?
Think of this transition as an evolution of Custom Wealth Management rather than a change in who we are.
We will have the same team, the same relationships, and the same commitment to putting you first, now supported by a structure designed to provide better tools, greater flexibility, and increased independence.
Still Have Questions?
We understand that a transition like this may bring up questions, particularly about how it relates to your individual accounts. Our team is happy to talk through the changes with you and provide additional information.
As always, thank you for your continued trust in Custom Wealth Management. We are incredibly grateful for the relationships we have built and excited about what this next chapter will allow us to accomplish together.
