What is an Investment Advisory?

Sometimes a company needs assistance to determine where funds should be invested, and this is when an investment advisory is sought out. Here’s a breakdown of what an investment advisory can do for companies.

What is an investment advisory?

An investment advisory is a unit linking the investment professionals in the central asset management unit to the relationship managers and important clients of the asset management organization. In short, an investment advisory is a firm that helps businesses determine where the best investments lie.

It’s important to remember that an investment advisory doesn’t have the ability to act without consent, but rather serves as a place for suggestions. It is possible for an investment advisory to act on behalf of their client, but they must have explicit written consent from the customer that states what actions can be completed. The discretionary authority is generally arranged as part of the client’s on-boarding process.

What sort of clients need investment advisories?

Investment advisories have a close relationship with their clients because it’s their job to determine what exactly the customer needs and what their best options are. Sometimes clients can be an individual investor, or they can be a major corporation looking for advice. Clients may also seek out an investment advisory because they wish to diversify their portfolio or increase their size.

Are there any regulations with investment advisories?

Like any trading or investment firm, investment advisories have a lot of rules and regulations they must follow on a regular basis. One such rule is that investment advisors are prohibited from disseminating advice known to be deceitful or fraudulent. This is an important rule, considering clients put their full trust in the hands of the advisor to do what’s best with their finances.

Additionally, an investment advisor must not act as principal on their own accounts by buying and selling securities between themselves and a client without prior written consent. This regulation helps prevent fraud within the investment advisories business.

With this being said, investment advisors are not required to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to dispense advice. These are often individuals who work with hedge funds, venture capital funds, and other private funds in other states. However, those who don’t register are required to file regular reports with the SEC.

Do investment advisories charge?

Nothing is free—even advice. Investment advisories do charge their clients, but the fees are explained up front. Customers can expect to pay a flat fee or a percentage of the assets they manage. Registered investment advisories are those that have filed with the SEC and may have a higher cost than others. Occasionally, you may find an investment advisory that uses a “hybrid” system where a flat fee is charged as well as a percentage, but this is usually for high fund investments