Process

What is a fiduciary, anyway?

fi·du·cia·ry: An individual in whom another has placed the utmost trust and confidence to manage and protect property or money. The relationship wherein one person has an obligation to act for another’s benefit.

Hightower Whiteboard Animation: Brokers vs Fiduciaries

2:32 | published on March 16, 2012

For Hightower Westchester advisors and clients, there exists the kind of relationship that our fiduciary agreement merely contractualizes. Yet, we think it’s important to be clear: the nature of the relationship between a Hightower Westchester advisor and a Hightower Westchester client is like the relationship between doctor and patient.

Fiduciary advisors are legally obligated to act in your best interest. A Hightower Westchester advisor will not just sell you the best product; instead, he or she will give you his or her best thinking on what is truly best for you.

Because we are a team of investment professionals at an independent financial advisory firm, we are under no obligation or pressure to sell or cross sell proprietary products. Our investment process is guided by multiple sources of independent research and comprehensive due diligence.

Our entire team is deeply committed to these values and standards, and we strive to achieve this type of relationship for years to come.

There's great clarity in knowing that your advisor's #1 obligation is to you and your financial well-being.

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Our Process

Our 4-step process empowers us to follow each client's needs, determine an objective-focused course of action, supervise plan implementation, and monitor results.

Westchester Process Pie Chart

Discovery

Ask yourself what really matters most to you?

  • What type of lifestyle do you enjoy?

  • What do you worry about?

  • What are you most passionate about?

  • What are your short and long term goals?

Our conversations will explore your values, key relationships, total assets and preferred manner of communication. Using our holistic approach, we can look at your financial position and plan accordingly.

Strategy

Using a team approach we will present to you a comprehensive plan that addresses:

  • Diversified allocation on all assets

  • Your income and cash flow needs

  • Borrowing

  • Asset protection

  • Retirement planning

  • Wealth transfer

  • Philanthropy

While keeping in mind your personal financial information including liabilities. We will assess risks and identify potential threats to your financial health.

Implement

We will create a structured road map to your financial success.

  • Paying close attention to how the various parts of your plan affect, enhance and integrate with one another.

  • We provide our advice on issues we have identified, such as family-dynamics, estate planning, lending, tax planning and more.

  • The Financial Plan we create specifically for you will be a combination of defining the following: roles and responsibilities, investment goals and objectives, investment guidelines, portfolio review and evaluation guidelines, communication guidelines.

We are your Financial CFO where we will build and coordinate relationships with your spheres of influence such as CPA's, Attorneys and other important advisors. Whatever approach we decide on, we will help your investment plan stay on track.

Monitor

We provide each client with a Wealth Binder which serves as an organized, systematic way to track all financial documents:

  • This is a great tool to hold your wills, trusts, insurance documents, healthcare proxies, contact information and many other important financial documents.

  • We will seek to make certain your assets are positioned according to your evolving needs.

  • An easy and accessible way to monitor and review your portfolio

SETTING A HIGHER STANDARD FOR YOU

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you build your legacy

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Hightower Advisors, LLC is a SEC registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Some investment professionals may also be registered with Hightower Securities, LLC and offer securities through Hightower Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. You can check the background of our firm and investment professionals on brokercheck.finra.org. Unless otherwise indicated relative to a specific award or ranking, Hightower Advisors, LLC does not pay a fee to be considered for any ranking or recognition, but may have paid to publicize rankings obtained and disseminated prior to 11.4.2022. All awards / rankings / ratings obtained and distributed on or after 11.4.2022 will be accompanied by specific disclosure as applicable.

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