Learn more about our comprehensive wealth management services.
Frequently Asked questions
Does Northern Lights Advisors DO Financial Planning?
Why Does Northern Lights Advisors offer Fee-Only Services?
At Northern Lights Advisors, we do not charge by the hour — we charge annually. There are a few reasons we follow this format:
- Our team conducts a thorough review of every client’s data and continually works in the background to optimize your portfolio, tax strategies, and financial opportunities.
- We believe our specialized expertise in navigating the nuances of the tech industry pays for itself in the inclusion of the fee as part of your investment management. After all, we’re invested in your outcomes.
- Simply put, the more money you have, the more complicated it gets. (Don’t worry, this is where we “nerd out” and put our knowledge to work.)
- Though we follow a service calendar, it’s impossible to anticipate what activities will be necessary in a given year — this means more value for you! Our team is always “on,” no matter what arises.
Our annual fee for portfolio management services is based on a percentage of the assets under management. Costs start at $10,000 annually and follow the schedule linked here.
More Frequently Asked Questions About Northern Lights Advisors Wealth Management Services
What Does Northern Lights Do?
Northern Lights Advisors provides wealth management services as a fiduciary, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm. We are deeply familiar with the income-related nuances of Seattle’s tech industry. Northern Lights Advisors offers clients investment solutions tailored to each client’s unique circumstances and provides ongoing advice for clients whose funds we manage.
In all cases, we look at your full financial status today (including savings, insurance, estate planning, education funding, etc.) And then we create scenarios for what you may be planning in the future.
What is a fiduciary
A fiduciary is a person or organization legally and ethically obligated to act in the best interest of another party, such as a client or beneficiary. In financial services, fiduciaries must prioritize their clients’ needs above their own when offering advice or managing assets. A fee-only structure is the most logical model to provide truly unbiased guidance from a fiduciary.
What does fee-only mean?
Fee-only means a financial advisor is compensated solely by the client, typically through a flat fee, hourly rate, or a percentage of assets under management. They do not earn commissions or incentives for selling financial products, reducing potential conflicts of interest. At Northern Lights Advisors, we do NOT offer an hourly rate; rather, our compensation is derived from a percentage or flat fee.
Does Northern Lights Advisors do direct indexing?
Yes! Direct indexing is a service that is included for clients without paying a separate, secondary management fee on top of your standard advisory fee. Learn more about direct indexing here.
Do you charge for non-managed assets or specialty accounts? (houses, 401(k)s, donor-advised funds, college plans, etc.).
No, we only charge for the portfolios we manage.
How do you support your clients’ philanthropic goals?
As mentioned above, we do not charge for charitable giving vehicles, including donor-advised funds (DAFs). We also work closely with dedicated philanthropic consultants who can help you maximize your impact.
Where Are You Located?
Northern Lights Advisors has offices in Seattle, Washington.
What companies do your clients work for?
Northern Lights Advisors is based in Seattle, Washington, and many of our clients work for established tech companies headquartered here or Silicon Valley. The list includes Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, and Sony. Additionally, we serve clients employed by start-ups and smaller (but growing) technology firms, along with those in biotech, gaming, AI, and other innovative sectors thriving in the region. We are well-equipped to help you navigate the compensation nuances and employee benefits that accompany these organizations.
Curious what kind of questions our clients ask? Explore some more in-depth content about how Northern Lights Advisors helps clients navigate the tech wealth maze.
What Does Investment Managing Include?
As part of your investment management, we can help with:
- Choosing, monitoring, and keeping investments organized
- Avoiding investment selection and allocation mistakes
- Rebalancing
- Maximizing tax efficiency in investments
- Tax-loss/Tax-gain harvesting
- Direct Indexing
- Facilitating Roth Conversions, Backdoor Roth IRAs
- Compensation and benefits review
- Aligning investments with client values
- SRI/ESG research and implementation
- Facilitating corrective actions (removal of excess contributions, etc.)
- Aligning asset allocation with client time horizons and risk profile (and keeping it up to date)
- Account management of custodian paperwork and administrative details
- Income planning (which accounts to pull from and in which order)
- Avoiding behaviorally and emotionally driven errors
- Estate planning
- Family-based financial planning (i.e, caring for elders or your children’s education)
How Much Do your Services Cost
Our fees start at $10,000 annually and follow the schedule linked here.
How does Northern Lights Advisors prioritize the cybersecurity of their clients?
Northern Lights Advisors uses a layered approach to cybersecurity that combines best-in-class technology with strict internal processes. Client data is stored in centralized, secure systems with multi-factor authentication and limited access points. The team follows clear policies around device security, identity verification (including verbal passwords), and ongoing cybersecurity training. In addition, safeguards around account structure, transaction approvals, and custodian oversight help ensure both your data and your assets remain protected.
What states are you registered in?
Northern Lights Advisors is registered federally with the SEC and can work with clients in any state.
If you have any additional questions, please get on our schedule!
You’re invited: Take a few moments to get to know the Northern Lights Advisors team.