What is a Registered Investment Adviser?
A Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) is a firm or individual who provides financial advice and investment management under a fiduciary duty — meaning we are legally required to put your interests first.
Unlike brokers or sales representatives, RIAs:
Work directly for you – not a bank, brokerage, or insurance company.
Provide transparent fees – usually based on a percentage of assets managed, not commissions on products.
Act as fiduciaries – always putting your financial goals above all else.
In short: An RIA is your partner in building, protecting, and managing your wealth with independence and accountability.
What does it mean to be “independent”?
As an Independent Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), I’m not tied to a big bank, brokerage, or insurance company. That means:
No sales quotas or hidden agendas – My only job is to act in your best interest, not to push products.
Fiduciary duty – By law, I must put your goals first, with full transparency on fees and recommendations.
Freedom of choice – I can select the best investments, technology, and custodians for your situation—without corporate influence.
Personalized service – Independence allows me to build lasting relationships and create solutions tailored to you, not a “one-size-fits-all” model.
Simply put: I invest like it’s my family’s money.
How can I be sure my assets are being protected?
When you work with an independent RIA, your money is never held by me directly. Instead, your investments are safeguarded by a trusted third-party custodian — in my case, Charles Schwab. Here’s what that means for you:
Independent Custody – Schwab holds your accounts, reports balances, and sends statements directly to you. I have permission to manage investments, but I cannot withdraw your funds for myself.
Regulatory Oversight – As a Registered Investment Adviser, I’m regulated by the State of Michigan and must follow strict compliance, auditing, and disclosure rules.
Insurance Protection – Your accounts are protected by SIPC coverage (up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash) and Schwab carries additional insurance above that for extra peace of mind.
Transparency – You receive regular statements directly from Schwab, not just from me, so you always see the full picture of your accounts.Fidelity Investments® (Fidelity)³ provides clearing, custody, and other brokerage services to Commonwealth through National Financial Services LLC (NFS). Like Commonwealth, NFS is an industry leader with a long and stable history of customer service excellence. We have the utmost confidence in the proficiency with which NFS handles every trade, statement, report, and myriad other transactions for millions of clients—and we believe you can, too.
Is insurance provided to protect me?
Yes. Your accounts are protected in several ways:
SIPC Coverage – Through our custodian, Charles Schwab, your accounts are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) up to $500,000 per client (including up to $250,000 for cash balances). SIPC protects against the loss of securities in the rare case a brokerage firm fails financially.
Additional Custodian Insurance – Schwab also maintains supplemental insurance beyond SIPC coverage, providing extra layers of protection.
What SIPC Does Not Cover – It’s important to know that SIPC does not protect against losses from market fluctuations or investment performance. Your account value will still rise and fall with the market.
In short: Your assets are always held in your name, at Schwab, with multiple levels of protection against brokerage failure.