10 Essential Questions When Hiring a 3(38) Investment Fiduciary

It’s important to assess a 3(38)’s experience. We have seen 3(38) fund recommendations that would not withstand scrutiny in an ERISA court. A fiduciary should be transparent about fees and how they make money. There is nothing legally wrong with receiving fees from mutual funds, but philosophically, whoever pays you, is who the advisor represents.  

Here are the most important questions you should be asking when considering a third-party plan fiduciary.

1. What is your investment philosophy?
2. How do you decide which funds to include in your investment lineup?
3. What are your fees?
4. What services are included in your fees and what are the additional costs?
5. Do you have any financial interest in or receive any incentives from the funds you recommend?
6. How do you track success for your clients?
7. Can you provide three references?
8. What is your background and is there anything on your regulatory record that I should know about?
9. How often will we interact in person, by phone, or by email?
10. Can you explain financial concepts to me and my staff?

Granite Group Advisors is an experienced independent wealth management firm with a nearly 20-year record of providing excellence. If you’d like to see how Granite Group can help with your investments, please schedule a time to talk.