Answers to commonly asked questions

ABOUT / Frequently Asked Questions

 

Firm Overview

What types of services do you offer?

Services we offer

 

We can provide as comprehensive of a financial experience as you wish, so you can focus on what matters most to you.

Who is your typical client?

We provide wealth management services to a diverse group of successful and high net worth families from various fields and backgrounds, from all over the world.  The families we serve are seeking a trusted partner to provide detailed advice on a myriad of financially related and personal topics, typically across multiple generations. While we do not have a minimum asset threshold, our client families typically maintain at least a $1 to $5 million liquid net worth. Our team offers capabilities, through our RIA, to serve in an advisory role for an annual retainer.

Describe your investment firm and explain the Steward Partnership?

We are able to deliver a unique solution to families through our firm, by providing the combination of a boutique, personal touch experience, while still offering the world class resources of a global firm.  

Raymond James was founded in 1962, by Bob James.  Today, Raymond James Financial has more than 7,900 Financial Advisors located in more than 3,000 locations worldwide, with more than $750 billion in client assets.  The firm has enjoyed 122 quarters of consecutive profitability, more than 30 years.  Raymond James Financial was also one of the few investment firms during the 2008 financial crisis to remain profitable and NOT require tax payer assistance from the U.S. government.

Steward Partners Global Advisory is an employee-owned, full-service partnership, catering to family, institutional and multigenerational investors.  Our professionals deliver comprehensive wealth planning and investment strategy implementation, professional asset services, private banking, institutional consulting, international advisory and business solutions. 

We pride ourselves on delivering personalized client service with an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Steward Partners Global Advisory LLC maintains a separate professional business relationship with, and our registered professionals offer securities through, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Where are your clients located?

Technology allows us to serve families all over the world.  While the concentration of our client families remains along the East Coast, we have clients nationwide, as well as Europe.

Investment Process

What is your investment approach?

We utilize our proprietary Stratactical Investment Process; tested through the longest bull market in history, but also in the bear markets of the dot.com bubble, the financial crisis of 2008, and the 2020 pandemic. This process, at its core, is designed to enable upside market participation while attempting to reduce the impacts during bouts of volatility. We establish our strategic view of the market by utilizing both Raymond James and other investment partners’ research, adding in tactical areas of the market we view favorably.

Next, we customize your portfolio using risk as needed, not as tolerated. Once executed, tactical adjustments are implemented as factors within the market, economy, and even the political landscape evolve. Our team has refined this “secret sauce” over countless market cycles.

Do you use no-load mutual funds or ETFs?

Yes. It is difficult to accurately predict year in and year out whether active strategies or passive strategies will be best suited within the capital markets; therefore, we incorporate both actively managed institutional investments and passive ETFs to create a perfectly balanced, hybrid portfolio.

Do you invest client assets into individual stocks and bonds?

Yes. In portfolios we design, we utilize individual equities and bonds based on each client's objectives and risk tolerance. For those clients with the risk capacity, we incorporate individual securities in an alpha seeking effort.  We use fundamental analysis to select those companies with the strongest balance sheets in their respective industry/sector, in combination with Point and Figure technical analysis, to determine buy and sell price points.  Having an exit strategy when owning individual equities is critical in our opinion.    

What is the process involved when moving my accounts?

Our team will execute all related transfer related documentation to transition your existing accounts.  Any non-retirement accounts will transfer “in-kind”, or in other words exactly as they are, to avoid potential unintended tax consequences.  We coordinate directly with your current firm, custodian, or former employer to ensure a smooth transition of your assets.  Once your investment portfolio arrives, we will complete an accounting of all assets to ensure all positions are accurately accounted.

Client Service

Who will I work with at Godfrey & Spradlin Private Wealth Advisory?

We believe every member of our team offers a unique set of skills that enables us to provide a team approach that will add up to 1+1 equaling 3.  As a G&S PWA family, you will have direct access to every member of our team and their individual expertise.  Whether it is background, life experiences, or common interests, we understand that some of our families occasionally relate more to one partner than another.  While we do work as a team in a majority of relationships, as we believe in the benefits of the insights and perspectives of more than one seasoned financial advisor, you have discretion in who you work with and interact with regularly. 

How can I view my investment performance and holdings?

You may view your accounts and performance, in real time, on the Raymond James Client Access website or App, your monthly statement, as well as through regular review meetings with our team.

How are you compensated?

We are compensated only by our clients. We have lived by the belief that our clients are our employers and have stood by the axiom of “our client's interest must always come first.”  We do not receive additional compensation from any of outside investment managers.  We overwhelmingly utilize an advisory agreement in which we collectively agree on a reasonable cost, based on services provided and assets managed.  As we have said, we customize most everything.  As an example, if a client has a long term and/or concentrated position they never intend to sell, we will not charge a fee to simply hold assets.

What are your costs?

At Godfrey & Spradlin Private Wealth Advisory, we advise – not sell.  We are traditionally compensated as a percent of the assets we manage on our clients' behalf and the rate is customized based on the services required and assets managed. Our wealth management program encompasses both investment management and ongoing advisory services.

We also have the capability to charge an hourly rate for financial planning services.  Our per-hour rate is considered custom pricing and dependent upon the complexity of your situation. 

Advisory fees are in addition to the internal expenses charged by mutual funds and other investment company securities. To the extent that clients intend to hold these securities, the internal expenses should be included when evaluating the costs of a fee-based account. Clients should periodically re-evaluate whether the use of an asset-based fee continues to be appropriate in servicing their needs. A list of additional considerations, as well as the fee schedule, is available in the firm's Form ADV Part 2A as well as the client agreement.

What is a fiduciary duty?

As a part of the registered investment advisor, Steward Partners Global Advisory, Godfrey & Spradlin Private Wealth Advisory has a fiduciary obligation and responsibility to act for the sole benefit and interest of our families within our advisory relatioships. This is the highest act of loyalty, trust and care as established by law.

 
 

 

Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck
Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck