Foundations Investment Advisors is a financial advisor firm with its headquarters located in Phoenix, Arizona. The firm has a large group of on-staff financial advisors. Some of these advisors are employed directly by the firm, while others are independent advisors who use Foundations' services.
In total, the firm has billions of dollars in client assets under management (AUM). The client base at the firm is mainly comprised of individuals, though there are a handful of institutional clients as well. Foundations provides general asset management services, which may relate to topics such as investment management and financial goal-setting and planning.
Foundations is a fee-based firm. This is because some of the firm's advisors can receive third-party compensation from the sale of certain financial products. A fee-only firm, on the other hand, avoids this extra compensation entirely.
Foundations Investment Advisors Background
Foundations Investment Advisors was founded in 2015 by current principal owner and CEO Bryon Rice. Rice has spent more than 20 years in the financial services industry. The firm offers its services through both in-house advisors and a network of affiliated independent advisors.
Advisors affiliated with the firm are located throughout the country, with many having various financial certifications to their names. These include certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial analyst (CFA).
Foundations Investment Advisors Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Foundations Investment Advisors works primarily with individual clients, and the vast majority of them have less than a high net worth. The rest of the firm's client base is made up of high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations and businesses.
This firm has a modest $5,000 minimum account size.
Services Offered by Foundations Investment Advisors
Foundations Investment Advisors offers a spectrum of asset management services. These encompass investment management, financial planning, development of investment goals and more. Since a sizable portion of Foundations team of advisors is a network of independent professionals, specific services may vary. These services can be conducted on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis.
Foundations Investment Advisors Investment Philosophy
The goal of Foundations' investment strategy is to provide tailored portfolios and advice to clients. As a result, all advisors collect information from their clients about their risk tolerance, time horizon, desired investment strategies, financial history, net worth, liquidity needs and other related factors. Using these insights, advisors will craft investment philosophies and strategies for clients on an individual basis, with all relevant information being updated at least every two years.
While advisors may invest client assets in a wide range of securities, they tend to focus on cash, stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, bonds and annuities. While they don't typically perform market-timing services, advisors may take into account all possible strategies when deciding how to structure or rebuild a portfolio. Advisors typically use fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis when evaluating securities and other investment opportunities.
Fees Under Foundations Investment Advisors
Investment management fees at Foundations Investment Advisors are charged based on a percentage of each client's total AUM. If a client has less than $5 million in AUM, the maximum annual fee is 2.00%. For accounts that surpass that $5 million mark, the maximum annual fee drops to 1.00%. All fees are calculated and charged on a quarterly or monthly basis.
Financial planning arrangements work much differently, as they are usually based on either an hourly or fixed fee schedule. Rates can be anywhere from $100 to $500 per hour or $100 to $5,000 at once.
What to Watch Out For
Foundations Investment Advisors has three regulatory disclosures to its name. Each of these are attributed to advisory affiliates of the firm.
Some of the advisors who are affiliated with Foundations can sell certain insurance products and securities on a commission basis. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm must act in clients' best interests.
Opening an Account With Foundations Investment Advisors
If you're interested in opening an account with this firm, submit a contact form through its website so an advisor can reach out to you.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
Tips for Finding a Financial Advisor
- Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Any investment gains outside of a tax-advantaged retirement account will be subject to taxation. To get an accurate picture of how much you might have to pay, stop by SmartAsset's capital gains tax calculator.
