Signature Estate & Investment Advisors (SEIA) has been providing financial planning services since 1997. This financial advisory firm is based in Los Angeles, and it currently oversees billions of dollars in client assets under management (AUM).
Signature Estate & Investment Background
Brian D. Holmes founded SEIA in 1997. According to the firm's brochure, it is wholly owned by Signature Financial Service Group, LLC, which is primarily owned by a "consortium of employees and investors through Reverence Capital Partners Opportunities Fund V, L.P."
The team of advisors collectively holds various certifications, including the certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) designations, among others.
Signature Estate & Investment Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Signature Estate & Investments works with a variety of clients including the following:
- Individuals with and without a high net worth
- Pension/profit-sharing plans
- Charitable organizations
- Business entities and corporations
Account minimum vary by investment strategy and account type. Clients with equity/blended portfolios are required to have at least $250,000. The firm's fixed-income portfolios require a minimum investment of $500,000.
Services Offered by Signature Estate & Investment
Signature Estate & Investment specializes in offering financial planning and portfolio management services to individuals. Its advisors are equipped to provide advice on the following topics.
- Wealth counseling
- Business advisory services
- Trust and estate planning
- Tax planning
- Risk management
- Investment solutions
- Comprehensive financial planning
Signature Estate & Investment Investment Philosophy
The firm’s investment philosophy is driven by research. Its Department of Investment Management and Economic Strategy (DIMES) screens the entire investment universe to identify securities that meet the company’s standards. These advisors evaluate potential investments using both quantitative and qualitative metrics.
The firm also relies on modern portfolio theory, which suggests that diversification is essential to capturing returns while protecting against downside risk. More specifically, the firm may use strategic, tactical and dynamic asset allocation strategies to manage portfolios.
Fees Under Signature Estate & Investment
SEIA negotiates investment managemetn fees with their clients. However, the firm also adhere to the following minimums:
- The minimum annual fee per client household portfolio is $3,500, billed as a minimum quarterly fee of $875.
- In all cases, the maximum annual fee a client will pay is capped at 2%.
- Any household that contains an active "elite" account is subject to the billing minimum.
- Households that have their entire portfolio invested in firm's Signature Allocation Series or Signature Targeted Strategies are not subject to the billing minimum.
- For clients that have opted to join households for billing purposes, minimums are applied to any non-exempt household on a pro rata basis
What to Watch Out For
SEIA does not have any disclosures on its SEC-filed Form ADV.
Some of the firm’s advisors are licensed to sell insurance and securities products. As a result, they may earn commissions or other forms of compensation in addition to the regular fees they charge their clients. While this creates a potential conflict of interest -- advisors may be incentivized to recommend certain products and services over others -- the firm must abide by fiduciary duty to always act in the clients' best interests.
Tips for Finding the Right Financial Advisor
- Don’t just settle for the first firm you find. Keep doing your research and interviewing potential advisors. 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.
- Not all advisors are the same. So make sure you ask your advisor the right questions.
All information was accurate as of the writing of this article.
