Frequently Asked Questions


  1. How much do your investment management services cost?
  2. Is there any charge for the initial meeting?
  3. Is it possible to obtain your financial planning services without having you manage our investments?
  4. What is Fee-Only Financial Planning?
  5. Why is Fee-Only Compensation important to the client?
  6. What is a Financial Planner?
  7. Does White Lighthouse Investment Management have a minimum requirement for investments under Management to engage your services?

  • 1. How much do your investment management services cost?

    Our fees for investment management are 1% of assets under management, billed quarterly in arrears. For portfolios over $2 million, the fees are less than 1% of investments under management.


  • 2. Is there any charge for the initial meeting?

    No, the initial meeting does not cost you anything.


  • 3. Is it possible to obtain your financial planning services without having you manage our investments?

    Yes, we work on an hourly basis to provide financial planning services. The initial meeting is at no charge. Our current rate is 400 CHF per hour.


  • 4. What is Fee-Only Financial Planning?

    A Fee-Only planner is one who, in all cases, is compensated solely by the client, with neither the advisor nor any other related parties receiving compensation that is contingent on the purchase or sale of any financial products.


  • 5. Why is Fee-Only Compensation important to the client?

    A financial planner who has a financial stake in the course of action that he or she recommends to a client faces an inherent conflict of interest and their advice cannot be considered objective and unbiased. This is true even if the planner truly believes that he or she has only the best interests of the client at heart.
    The vast majority of financial advisors are sellers of financial products. Some or all of their income is dependent upon their ability to steer their clients to a limited number of the thousands of financial products available today. Financial Advisers who work for large institutions (banks or brokerages) often have extra incentives for advising clients to buy their employer’s financial products.
    These advisors include stock-brokers, analysts, insurance agents, accountants and attorneys, as well as financial planners. Many clients are not aware of their advisors’ dependence on selling products, or do not recognize its significance. We believe that some of the problems that beset investors today in their financial affairs – including the mis-management of debt, failure to protect retirement assets and poor allocation of savings and investments – relate directly to the conflicts of interest that exist in the marketplace. We encourage you to do your research and ask your adviser to verify in writing how they are compensated.


  • 6. What is a Financial Planner?

    A general term used by a very wide spectrum of service and product providers. Unlike a Certified Financial Planner, this designation involves no specific training and can be used by anyone. There are however, many competent and ethical professionals who use this designation, so it is always important to look behind this name. Financial Planners are usually divided into 3 groups
    1) Commission-only - More commonly called stock brokers or insurance agents. All of their fees come from commissions on products they sell. Not necessarily the best way to go for objective advice.
    2) Fee-based - able to take commissions on products, but also charges on a fee basis. Fees are charged one of three ways, flat, hourly, or as a percentage of assets. As long as commissions are involved, the advice may not be objective.
    3) Fee-only - Compensated only by fees with no commissions. Again, either flat, hourly or a percentage of client assets. This provides the most objective advice free of any conflict of interest.
    The following link to the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards lists many of the financial services credentials in existence today. Some of these organizations are global, others are only in the United States.


  • 7. Does White Lighthouse Investment Management have a minimum requirement for investments under Management to engage your services?

    No, White Lighthouse Investment Management does not have a minimum requirement for investments under management. We do however have a minimum amount that we charge for investments under management of 1000 CHF per year. If you need financial planning advice and are just starting out, you may prefer to work with us on an hourly basis as needed.


    • Are there any questions and answers that you would like to see posted here or answered personally?
    Please contact us.