Fiduciary Services

Why Do Fiduciary Services Matter?

Fiduciary services are important because they are objective and holistic, encompassing every aspect of your financial life from cash flow and tax planning to investments and retirement strategies.

If you work with a broker or sales agent instead of a fiduciary, they are more likely to push products that boost their sales and commissions—even if they aren’t ideal for your financial needs. One wrong choice can have damaging consequences to your portfolio that may be hard to recover from.

When you work with a fiduciary, you have the confidence of knowing their investment recommendations are made with your best interest in mind.

What Is the Fiduciary Standard?

Investment professionals who act as fiduciaries are bound to uphold the Fiduciary Standard, a set of five key principles designed to protect consumers.

1. Your EP Wealth Certified Financial Planner (CFP) is legally and ethically required to put your interests ahead of their own. Our commitment is to our clients, first and foremost.
2. We act with skill, care, and good judgment, with the highest level of competence based on generally accepted investment theories.
3. We work to avoid conflict of interest when it comes to the products and services we recommend.
4. We disclose any conflicts.
5. Transparency is another core principle of our fiduciary services. We provide accurate and timely financial guidance, always explaining the benefits, risks, fees, and alternatives for the actions we recommend. This allows you to stay informed and engaged throughout the process.

Fiduciary Services We Offer

Think of your EP Wealth advisor as a trusted advocate, offering comprehensive financial guidance to guide you towards a more secure financial future.

Here is an overview of the fiduciary services we offer.

Financial Planning

A healthy financial plan is like a roadmap that gets you where you want to be. To build this roadmap, we start with a clear understanding of your net worth. We build upon that, setting clear and realistic goals to prioritize saving and spending. Together, we’ll create a practical budget to meet your needs today, tomorrow, and 30 years from now.

Investment Management

A one-size-fits-all approach to building wealth does not work. EP Wealth investment advisors create an investment portfolio that is highly customized to meet your unique short and long-term goals.

We achieve this by conducting an extensive financial health assessment to look for risks, gaps, and room for growth. We also help you prepare for exciting life milestones, whether that is buying your first home, having a baby, or sending your child off to college.

Tax Planning

We know you work hard to build your wealth and want you to hold on to as much of it as possible. That requires strategic tax planning to optimize the efficiency of your investments and reduce your tax liability.

EP Wealth also offers tax preparation services for clients who meet our $500,000 investment minimum and are receiving fee-based wealth management.

Retirement Planning

Have you often wondered when you can retire? We can help answer that question and provide sound guidance to help you get back on track to retire earlier if that’s your dream.

With smart savings and investment strategies, you can close the gap between your yearly income and the income you need to retire. A solid retirement plan manages the risk of outliving your income, offers a cushion for unexpected events, and helps you enjoy a good quality of life during the retirement years.

Estate Planning

Our clients want to know their legacy wishes will be fulfilled, whether that means providing financial distributions to loved ones, or supporting a charitable cause that inspires them. We know the key to protecting your legacy is preserving, managing, and distributing your assets now and after your passing.

Wills, trusts, real estate transfers, and other advanced planning strategies help you avoid the public and time-consuming probate process and protect your assets while minimizing that tax impact on your estate. You can feel confident that your wishes are honored even if you cannot speak for yourself. That peace of mind is truly priceless.

EP Wealth’s Approach to Fiduciary Services

Managing your money can be a daunting task at any stage of life. It requires time, skill, and attention. Even then, it’s hard to know if you are making the wisest choices not only for your financial present, but also for the future. The good news is that you don’t have to make these critical decisions alone.

EP Wealth advisors provide informed and objective financial guidance throughout all of life’s transitions. We work for you—not the financial products and companies we recommend. Schedule a consultation with an EP Wealth Advisor to discuss your financial planning needs and goals.