Fisher Investments Assets Under Management: Maximizing Client Wealth

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Fisher Investments has a long history of managing assets for clients, with a focus on maximizing their wealth. The company's expertise in asset management has allowed it to grow its assets under management significantly over the years.

One key factor in Fisher Investments' success is its global investment approach, which allows it to invest in a wide range of assets across different markets. This approach has helped the company to achieve strong returns for its clients.

Fisher Investments' global investment approach is supported by its in-house research capabilities, which enable the company to identify investment opportunities and manage risk effectively. The company's research team is highly experienced and has a deep understanding of global markets.

The company's commitment to its clients is reflected in its focus on long-term wealth creation, rather than short-term gains. This approach has helped Fisher Investments to build a loyal client base and establish itself as a trusted investment manager.

Bio

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Ken Fisher is a consistent figure in the investment world, having penned his "Portfolio Strategy" column for Forbes magazine for over 30 years.

Fisher has written 11 books and has been named one of the 30 most influential figures in the investment advisory business by Investment Advisor Magazine for the last three decades.

Fisher currently serves as the firm's executive chairman and co-chief investment officer, a position he has held for many years.

Since its founding almost 50 years ago, Fisher Investments has grown to serve clients across the globe.

It is a privately held, fee-only firm, which means they operate on a straightforward business model with no hidden fees.

Investment Overview

Fisher Investments is known for its flexible investment strategy, which allows it to adapt to changing market conditions.

The firm takes an active approach to investing, making changes to client portfolios as necessary. This approach is guided by a framework called The Four Market Conditions.

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Fisher Investments selects a benchmark for each client portfolio, which serves as the framework for constructing the portfolio, managing risk, and monitoring performance. This benchmark is carefully chosen to meet the client's long-term objectives.

The firm's Investment Policy Committee takes a top-down approach to making investment decisions, focusing first on asset allocation. This means they prioritize asset allocation as the primary driver of portfolio performance.

Fisher Investments customizes asset allocations for each client based on personal factors, including time horizons, risk tolerances, cash flow needs, and outside assets. This tailored approach helps ensure that each portfolio meets the client's unique needs.

By using a combination of dissimilar securities, the firm balances risk versus reward in each portfolio. This approach also helps to minimize potential losses and maximize returns.

Investment Strategy

Fisher Investments' investment strategy is based on a disciplined approach to investing in the global stock market. They use a quantitative model to identify undervalued stocks and sectors.

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Their investment philosophy is rooted in the idea that the stock market is a discounting mechanism, where prices reflect the present value of future earnings. This approach has been successful in identifying mispriced stocks.

Fisher Investments focuses on the global stock market, investing in developed and emerging markets. They believe that diversification across different regions and sectors is key to minimizing risk.

Their investment strategy involves buying undervalued stocks and holding them for the long term. This approach allows them to ride out market fluctuations and benefit from the eventual recovery of undervalued stocks.

The company's investment team uses a rigorous research process to identify potential investments. They analyze a wide range of data, including financial statements, economic indicators, and market trends.

Fisher Investments' investment strategy is designed to be low-cost and tax-efficient. They aim to minimize fees and taxes to maximize returns for their clients.

Fee Structure

Fisher Investments charges annual fees based on the total amount of assets under management. The fee structure is progressive, with different rates applied to different asset brackets.

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The first $1 million of assets is charged at 1.25%. This means that if you have a portfolio of $1 million, you'll pay 1.25% of that amount as an annual fee. For a $1 million portfolio, that works out to $12,500.

The next $4 million of assets is charged at 1.125%. This means that if you have a portfolio of $5 million, you'll pay 1.25% on the first $1 million and 1.125% on the next $4 million. For a $5 million portfolio, that works out to $12,500 + $45,000 = $57,500.

Anything over $5 million is charged at 1%. This means that if you have a portfolio of $15 million, you'll pay 1.25% on the first $1 million, 1.125% on the next $4 million, and 1% on the remaining $10 million. For a $15 million portfolio, that works out to $12,500 + $45,000 + $100,000 = $157,500.

Here's a breakdown of the fee structure:

Fisher Investments is a fee-only advisor, meaning it only makes money based on the value of your assets. This means that your annual fees will be directly related to the value of your portfolio.

Business and Model

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The business model of Fisher Investments is a unique blend of a product creator and a financial advisor. They create mass-market products, which is why you'll see them advertised on TV, and charge financial advisor fees of 1.5%.

This model is highly lucrative, with Ken Fisher being the wealthiest financial advisor in the world, boasting a net worth of more than $8.1 billion. Fisher Investments' business model is a key factor in their success.

Net Worth

Calculating your net worth is a crucial aspect of business and model success. Your net worth is the total value of your assets minus your liabilities.

A good rule of thumb is to aim for a net worth of at least 3-6 months of living expenses. This will provide a financial safety net in case of unexpected expenses or income disruptions.

Net worth can be calculated by adding up your assets, such as cash, investments, and property, and then subtracting your liabilities, including debts and loans.

For example, if you have $10,000 in savings and $5,000 in debt, your net worth would be $5,000.

Client Types and Account Sizes

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Fisher Investments works with a diverse range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and even governments.

The firm's private client base is comprised of individuals with a significant amount of investable assets.

Fisher Investments generally requires clients to have at least $500,000 in investable assets to work with them.

WealthBuilder accounts, which are approved on a case-by-case basis, have a lower minimum requirement of $200,000.

The firm also accepts smaller account sizes at its discretion, though these accounts are subject to a higher fee rate of 1.50%.

Services Offered

Fisher Investments offers a range of services to help individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals.

Their portfolio management services are tailored to maximize returns within specific risk parameters. They cater to private clients and businesses alike.

For private clients, they offer portfolio management, annuity conversion, financial planning, and retirement planning. These services are divided into three categories: equity accounts, fixed-income accounts, and blended accounts.

Equity accounts mainly use common stock and cash equivalents. Fixed-income accounts, on the other hand, rely on various fixed-income instruments and cash. Blended accounts combine stocks, fixed-income instruments, and cash.

Their institutional services include institutional investing and 401(k) solutions for businesses.

Business Model

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The business model of Fisher is a unique blend of a product creator and a financial advisor.

It's a crossover that shouldn't be combined, as it's hard to scale individualized services, but Fisher makes it work by charging financial advisor fees.

Fisher charges 1.5% financial advisor fees, which is unusually high, especially when compared to other fund managers that charge less than 1%.

Ken Fisher is the wealthiest financial advisor in the world, with a net worth of over $8.1 billion, thanks to this lucrative model.

Fisher operates and markets like a fund manager, but with fees that are more typical of a financial advisor.

New clients are assigned an Investment Counselor, which can feel backward to some people.

Performance and Returns

Fisher Investments doesn't share its average return publicly, so it's hard to say exactly what investors can expect.

The firm does use the MSCI World Index for many of its private clients' stock portfolios, which gives some insight into its investment strategy.

This means that if you're considering investing with Fisher, you'll want to do your own research and understand how their approach aligns with your financial goals.

Fees and Returns

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In most cases, fees are deducted from your returns, so be sure to factor that into your calculations. This means you'll need to adjust your expectations accordingly.

The standard fee for returns is 10% of the total amount, but this can vary depending on the specific circumstances. For example, if you're returning a product that was purchased with a discount, you may be charged a higher fee.

Returns can take anywhere from 7 to 14 business days to process, so be patient and plan accordingly.

Average Return

The average return on investment is a crucial factor to consider when evaluating a firm's performance. Unfortunately, Fisher Investments does not share its performance data publicly.

Fisher Investments does, however, disclose that it uses the MSCI World Index for many of its private clients' stock portfolios. This index tracks the performance of developed market stocks worldwide.

How Money Generates Wealth

Fisher Investments makes money by charging a percentage fee based on its clients’ assets. This is because it operates as a fee-only advisor.

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This fee-based model can be beneficial for investors, as it aligns the advisor's interests with their own. By charging a percentage of assets under management, the advisor has a vested interest in growing the portfolio.

The fee structure can be a fixed percentage, such as 1% of assets per year. This can make it easier for investors to understand and budget for their investment costs.

Investors should carefully consider their investment goals and risk tolerance before selecting a fee-based advisor. Fisher Investments is a good example of a fee-only advisor that can help investors achieve their financial goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Fisher Investments rank?

As of July 2023, Fisher Investments ranks #2 on InvestmentNews' RIA List, based on total assets under management. This prestigious ranking highlights Fisher Investments' expertise and success in the investment industry.

What is the downside of Fisher Investments?

Fisher Investments has several downsides, including no brokerage platform and high investment management fees. Additionally, it requires a significant $500,000 minimum portfolio and has a basic website with limited research tools.

Abraham Lebsack

Lead Writer

Abraham Lebsack is a seasoned writer with a keen interest in finance and insurance. With a focus on educating readers, he has crafted informative articles on critical illness insurance, providing valuable insights and guidance for those navigating complex financial decisions. Abraham's expertise in the field of critical illness insurance has allowed him to develop comprehensive guides, breaking down intricate topics into accessible and actionable advice.

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