FAQ

We provide wealth management and financial planning services for wide range of clients, including individuals, families and small businesses throughout the United States.

In our initial “Discovery Meeting,” we gather information that allows us to create a financial plan.  From this foundation, we are able to provide financial planning, asset protection, risk management, tax planning, investment management, retirement planning, and estate planning.

FIS charges hourly or a percentage of assets under management (AUM) based on an asset-tiered schedule with fee compression (schedule below).  Fees are computed and billed quarterly, in arrears, and are based on the average daily balance of the account.  Fees will be prorated, on a monthly basis, with respect to new accounts opened during a quarter.

Assets Under Management Annual %

$ 0 – 249,999.99 = 1.00 %
$ 250,000 – 499,999.99 = 0.90%
$ 500,000 – 749,999.99 = 0.80%
$ 750,000 – 999,999.99 = 0.70%
$1,000,000 – 1, 999,999.99 = 0.60%
$2,000,000 – 2, 999,999.99 = 0.50%
$3,000,000 – 4, 999,999.99 = 0.40%
Over $5,000,000 Negotiable

Clients who want financial planning without having their assets managed are charged an hourly rate of $250/hour.

For small business retirement plans, we offer a percentage of AUM on an asset-tiered schedule with fee compression or a negotiable flat rate percentage of AUM.

Yes, FIS is happy to meet with any potential client that has a minimum of $100,000 in investable assets.

Once a new client’s investment and financial plan is finalized, FIS may recommend that certain assets be held or sold. FIS will receive a Limited Power of Attorney over the assets but will never have a custodial relationship with any client assets.

Our clients typically have their assets held in an account(s) at TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab or Vanguard.  Clients can get access to their account(s) 24/7 via the internet from any of these custodians.  Furthermore, clients receive statements from the custodian and detailed quarterly statements from FIS.

Evidence from practicing investors and academics alike points to an undeniable conclusion:  returns come from risk.  Gain is rarely accomplished without taking a chance, but not all risks carry a reliable reward.  Financial Science over the last fifty years has brought us to a powerful understanding of the risks that are worth taking and the risks that are not.

Everything we have learned from this Financial Science is that expected returns in the equity markets can be summarized by three factors.  The first is that stocks are riskier than bonds and have greater expected returns.  The other two factors are based on overwhelming statistical evidence that shows small cap stocks outperform large cap stocks and value stocks outperform growth stocks over time because the market rationally discounts their prices to reflect underlying risk.  The lower prices give investors great upside as compensation for bearing this risk.

FIS can create individualized, laddered bond portfolios consisting of Corporate, Municipal, Agency, or US Treasury bonds.  FIS does not mark up the cost of bonds it acquires for clients.

We provide wealth management and financial planning services for wide range of clients, including individuals, families and small businesses  throughout the United States.

FIS believes in DFA’s “evidence-based” philosophy and utilizes DFA when it makes sense; however, there are specific situations when other funds such as Vanguard or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are used due to specific tax liabilities, asset selection, portfolio risk, and/or tax efficiencies.

FIS is a Fee-Only Advisory firm.  (Click Here for Link to Fee-Only Vs. Fee Based)

Absolutely!  In addition to providing wealth management services, we can manage an existing 401(k) or 403(b) so long as the existing retirement plan offers a self-directed platform.

Yes…FIS utilizes a sophisticated risk analysis to determine current portfolio risk as well as recommended risk levels so that clients can have a realistic expectation on portfolio returns.

Yes, more than you think.  That seemingly small .50% difference on a $100,000 401(k) plan invested today with ongoing annual contributions of  $19,000 per year (and assuming an 8% average annual rate of return) can lower your net return by more than $60,000 over a twenty-year period.  Factor in our fee compression, and that number can jump to six figures over one’s lifespan.  How many additional months/years are you willing to work as a result of your “choice of advisor” to reach your retirement goal?

Do you really like your current advisor that much to be required to work an extra year or two?

Yes!  Our financial planning software utilizes 700 calculations to determine Social Security optimization.

We do help our clients calculate RMDs for their IRAs and when possible, we utilize Roth conversions as a tax-planning strategy.  We also help our clients with beneficiary IRAs.

Yes!  In addition to wealth and investment management, FIS has a Retirement Services division specializing in start-up plans and plan conversions of all types for small businesses and self-employed individuals.

The FIS mission has always been to bring personalized service.  We are always open and willing to meet with you in person as permitted via State regulations on Covid-19. Additionally, we will continue to offer Zoom meetings for those that prefer a remote method of communication.

Absolutely.  There are many types of executive compensation programs availailable.  FIS has a lot of experience and can provide specific recommendations to help our clients navigate and take advantage of these complex employee benefits.

Please contact us through the information provided below:

Fischer Investment Strategies
920 Hampshire Road, Suite A2
Westlake Village, CA  91361
Telephone: (805) 418-7686
Fax: (866) 279-7711
info@fischerinvestmentstrategies.com