A plain guide to finding financial advice in Boise.
What options exist, what the terms mean, and what questions to ask anyone you’re considering working with.
More advisors in Boise than ever. They’re not all the same.
Boise’s population has grown a great deal over the past decade, and its financial services sector has grown with it. There are more advisors, more firms, and more options than there were five years ago. But “financial advisor” is a broad term that covers a wide range of business models, compensation structures, and levels of obligation to the client.
Before choosing anyone, including Koinos, it pays to know what you’re actually choosing.
What the words actually mean.
What is a fee-only financial planner?
A fee-only financial planner is paid only by the client: no commissions, no referral fees, no payments from product providers of any kind. What you pay is what the advisor earns. Nothing else changes hands.
This matters because the alternative, commission-based or fee-based advising, means the advisor can earn more by recommending certain products. Fee-only removes that conflict entirely and is the cleanest business model in financial planning.
What is a fiduciary?
A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interests at all times, whether or not it’s convenient for the advisor. Registered investment advisors (RIAs) are fiduciaries. Broker-dealers operate under a “suitability” standard, which is lower: they must recommend products that are suitable for you, but not necessarily the best option.
The easiest way to check: ask directly. “Are you a fiduciary, and will you put that in writing?” A fiduciary will say yes. Someone who isn’t may hedge.
What is the difference between a financial planner, a financial advisor, and a wealth manager?
These terms are not legally defined and can mean almost anything. In the real world:
Financial planner typically means someone focused on the full range of financial planning (budgeting, insurance, taxes, investments, retirement, estate) as one picture. Financial advisor is broader and may mean someone who primarily sells products. Wealth manager often implies a focus on investment management for larger portfolios.
What matters more than the title is how they’re compensated and what legal standard they operate under. Ask those questions directly.
What is an RIA?
RIA stands for Registered Investment Advisor: a firm or individual registered with either the SEC or a state securities regulator to provide investment advice. RIAs are fiduciaries. Koinos Financial is an RIA registered with the Idaho Department of Finance.
You can verify any RIA’s registration and disciplinary history at adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Questions worth asking any financial planner in Boise.
Before working with any financial planner, including Koinos, these are reasonable questions to ask. A good advisor will answer them directly.
- Are you a fiduciary? Will you confirm that in writing?
- How are you compensated? Do you earn commissions or referral fees from any source?
- What is your minimum to work with a client?
- Are you registered with the SEC or a state regulator? What is your CRD number?
- Have you had any disciplinary actions or client complaints? (Check IAPD.)
- What does a typical client engagement look like? What do I actually get?
- Who will I be working with? Will I ever be handed off to someone else?
- What is your fee structure, and where is it published?
What Koinos offers, specifically.
Koinos Financial is a fee-only, fiduciary financial planning firm in Boise, Idaho. Founded by Mathew Eardley, it serves individuals and families across Idaho with no asset minimum.
Koinos is registered with the Idaho Department of Finance. CRD #342846. You can verify registration at adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Services include ongoing financial planning and investment management, one-time financial plans, and single-question project engagements. Fees are published at koinosfinancial.com.
The first call is free. There’s nothing to prepare. If Koinos isn’t the right fit, Mathew will say so.
The first call is thirty minutes and costs nothing.
Tell me what’s in front of you. If the fit is good, a written proposal follows. If it isn’t, I’ll tell you and point you somewhere better.
A person to walk with you, year after year.
Have questions first? Read the FAQ →