CreativeOne Securities is a financial advisor firm located in Overland Park, Kansas. Rather than manage client assets directly, the firm serves as a program provider and network for independent financial advisors and their firms. In total, it works with hundreds of financial advisors that boast a collective billions of dollars in assets under management (AUM). Its range of financial services that advisors can take advantage of include portfolio management and financial planning.
As a fee-based firm, some of CreativeOne's advisory representatives have an opportunity to earn commissions from the sale of insurance products and securities. Fee-only firms operate differently, as they only earn income from client-paid fees.
CreativeOne Securities Background
CreativeOne Securities opened for business in 2010. It is wholly owned by Creative One Marketing Corporation, which is an insurance marketing company. The firm's leadership team includes Jeff Eisenhauer, who serves as president and chief compliance officer (CCO), and Sandy Monical, who acts as chief operating officer (COO). The firm employs several other employees who help oversee its network of independent advisors.
Among the advisors who are part of the firm's network, there are several that boast financial certifications and designations. These include chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified financial planners (CFPs).
CreativeOne Securities Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Through its network of advisors, CreativeOne works with over 17,000 clients, the vast majority of whom are individuals below the high-net-worth threshold. The rest of its client base is made up of high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans and businesses.
Those looking to open an account with a CreativeOne advisor will need at least $25,000 in investable assets. However, if you only want financial planning or consulting services, there is no minimum.
Services Offered by CreativeOne Securities
CreativeOne Securities mainly provides investment management programs, tools and oversight to its network of independent advisors. The firm also has a selection of financial planning, consulting and retirement plan offerings. Here's a breakdown of everything the firm can offer through its advisors:
- Investment management
- Making recommendations to investment advisers about mutual fund and variable annuity management services
- Third-party ChangePath platform services
- Separately managed advisory services
- Client choice investment management services
- Financial planning
- Estate planning
- Retirement planning
- Investment planning
- Tax planning
- Insurance planning
- Consulting
- Personalized, one-time financial analysis
- Insurance
- Taxes
- Investment objectives
- Estate management
- Personalized, one-time financial analysis
- Retirement plan services
- Plan sponsor investment advising
- Investment policy statement (IPS) creation
- Investment performance monitoring
- Plan participant education
CreativeOne Securities Investment Philosophy
CreativeOne Securities and its network of advisors work directly with clients to determine their risk tolerance, time horizon, investment objectives and other important factors. Using this information, advisors tailor their investment advice and portfolio strategies to help clients meet their individual financial goals. In general, though, the firm is focused on long-term asset growth, as it tends to utilize a "buy-and-hold" philosophy. As a result, advisors don't buy and sell securities within clients' portfolios very often.
CreativeOne typically limits its investment advice to stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), variable life insurance and annuities. The firm generally sticks to fundamental and cyclical analysis when it comes to evaluating potential investments.
Fees Under CreativeOne Securities
Fees at CreativeOne Securities vary by the type of services requested. For financial planning and consulting services, hourly fees can range from $100 to $250, while flat fees fall between $300 to $10,000. The firm's other financial services include fees based on a percentage of each client's total AUM. Depending on the program the client uses, investment management fees can range from 0.50% to 2.50%. Separately managed accounts (SMAs) are charged a negotiable flat fee.
What to Watch Out For
According to its official Form ADV, CreativeOne Securities has one disclosure on its legal and regulatory record. This is in reference to a situation from 2019 where the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) found that CreativeOne breached its fiduciary duty when it came to the disclosure of its "mutual fund share class selection practices and the fees it received." As a result, the firm submitted to censure, disgorgement and a cease and desist order.
CreativeOne Securities' status as a fee-based firm means that some of its advisory representatives can earn commissions from the sale of specific investment and insurance products. This creates the potential for a conflict of interest. Despite this situation, the firm and its advisors abide by fiduciary duty, legally binding them to act in clients' best interests at all times.
Opening an Account With CreativeOne Securities
CreativeOne Securities' website features a contact form, which prospective clients can fill out to have an advisor reach out to them. You can also call (913) 814-6097 to find a CreativeOne advisor.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
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