Find the Best Financial Advisors in Omaha, NE

Choosing a financial advisor in Omaha

Financial advisors in Omaha help people manage their money and reach their financial goals. Anyone can benefit from hiring a financial advisor, whether they need advice on buying a house, planning for college education, creating a monthly budget, preparing for retirement or saving for the future.

Financial advisors also have the education and experience to examine your assets and create a custom strategy to help you invest your money and manage your wealth.

People of all ages and income levels in Omaha benefit from consulting with a financial advisor. With some advisors having no minimum account balance, it’s never too early to start thinking about your financial future.

Types of financial advisors

There are different types of financial advisors in Omaha to help you reach your goals. This includes both living people and online financial advisory services called robo-advisors. Robo-advisors ask you a series of questions and then build a portfolio using computer algorithms, which significantly lowers costs. Some robo-advisor companies have human advisors on staff as well to answer your questions.

For a more personalized experience, hire a human financial advisor in Omaha. If you have a complex financial situation or need advice on several different topics such as estate planning, insurance needs and retirement, a human financial planner is well worth the increased cost over a robo-advisor.

Another distinction among financial advisors is whether or not they are a fiduciary. Fiduciary advisors are legally and ethically obligated to act in their client’s best interest. A non-fiduciary advisor only has to recommend or sell products that are suitable for the client, which may lead to a conflict of interest if they earn bigger commissions for selling less-than-ideal products.

What is the cost of a financial advisor in Omaha?

The cost of a financial advisor in Omaha depends on the services you need and the type of advisor you choose. Depending on your situation, a financial advisor may charge a flat fee, an hourly rate, a commission or a percentage based on your assets under management. Here’s how each payment method works:

• Flat fee: a one-time payment for a specific financial advisory service; for example, $1,000 - $3,000 for a financial plan
• Hourly rate: a time-based fee of $100 - $200 for minor services and consultations
• AUM fee: a monthly or yearly fee of 1 - 2 percent of your account for asset management
• Commission: 3 - 6 percent of the investments you buy or sell, charged per transaction

Financial advisors in Omaha refer to themselves as fee-only or fee-based to show how they make money.

Knowing whether your advisor gets paid by a third party to sell certain financial products is critical because it influences their recommendations. Choose a financial advisor who is transparent about how they make money, and always ask a financial advisor if they are a broker or a dealer making commission.

Lastly, some advisors in Omaha work for an annual or monthly retainer. Typically, when you have a financial advisor on retainer, they create a comprehensive financial plan for you and then help you implement it. These asset management advisors handle your investment portfolio by monitoring its progress and making necessary adjustments.

What qualifications should a financial advisor have?

When you’re trusting someone with your asset management, make sure they’re qualified to do the job. Reputable advisors in Omaha should have one of the following designations:

• Certified Financial Planner
• Chartered Financial Analyst
• Certified Public Accountant
• Chartered Financial Consultant

Not all certifications carry the same weight. For instance, a ChFC and a CFP are more prestigious because both require an advisor to have several years of experience, complete a course, submit to a background check and abide by specific ethical standards.

Note that financial advisors can also have more than one designation or certification. You can verify an advisor’s credentials and background by looking up their Form ADV with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Before you commit to a financial advisor, get to know them over a consultation. Ask them:

• How are you compensated?
• Are you a fiduciary?
• What qualifications do you have?
• What financial advisory services do you provide?
• What’s your investment philosophy?
• What are my total costs going to be?
• Have you ever been disciplined by the SEC or Financial Industry Regulatory Authority?
• How will you help me reach my financial goals?

Make sure your financial advisor is transparent with you. Know that if you’re working with a broker or dealer, they earn commissions for the financial products they sell.

If possible, work with a fiduciary to avoid scams. The following professional organizations require their members to adhere to the fiduciary standard:

• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
• Garrett Planning Network
• XY Planning Network
• Alliance of Comprehensive Planners