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Retirement Planners of America is a mid-sized financial advisory firm that specializes in retirement planning. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the firm has more than 30 advisors across over 15 offices, which are located primarily in the Southwest. It currently holds about $4.5 billion in assets under management (AUM), and takes a relatively conservative approach to asset management, with a focus on protecting retirees and near-retirees against downside risk.
The bottom line: Retirement Planners of America is an asset management firm focused on serving clients who are transitioning into retirement.
| Assets under management (AUM): $4,504,485,677 | |
| Minimum investment: No minimum | |
| Individual investor to advisor ratio: 279:1 | |
| Fee structure: A percentage of AUM | |
| Headquarters: 2820 Dallas Parkway, Plano, Texas 75093 Website: retirementplannersofamerica.com Phone: 469-246-3600 |
All information included in this profile is accurate as of October 29, 2021. For more information, please consult Retirement Planners of America’s website.
The namesake host of the radio show “Money Matters with Ken Moraif” founded Retirement Planners of America in 2011. Moraif remains a principal owner of the firm, along with fellow senior advisors Charles Dyer, Jr., Elias Dragon, and Douglas Bartol.
The firm has 100 employees, and over 30 of them perform investment advisory functions. All of its senior advisors are certified financial planners (CFP) and about a third of its other advisors also hold that designation. In addition, a large majority of the firm’s advisors are chartered retirement planning counselors (CRPC).
The firm serves both individuals and high net worth individuals, though it serves significantly more who aren’t high net worth than are. For reference, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) defines a high net worth individual as someone with at least $750,000 under an advisor’s management or a net worth of at least $1.5 million. The firm has a focus on retirees and those getting ready to transition into retirement, particularly those age 50 and older. It also serves some pension and profit-sharing plans.
A minimum balance for investment isn’t required, but the firm states that it won’t work with clients who don’t have sufficient assets for efficient retirement planning.
The firm offers a range of services focused on serving the needs of retirees and near-retirees. For those preparing to transition into retirement, the firm provides retirement planning along with retirement income tax planning, estate planning and financial planning for newly single people.
For clients who have already ended their careers, the firm helps them budget to live on their retirement income, maximize their Social Security benefits, manage taxes in retirement and handle Medicare planning and estate planning.
In addition, the firm offers a range of free seminars aimed at those transitioning into retirement. Topics include Retirement Planning for Market Uncertainty, Cybersecurity for Retirees and Medicare Basics.
To recap, here is a full list of services that the firm can offer:
Since Retirement Planners of America focuses primarily on retirees, it places an emphasis on protecting assets when the market is in decline. The firm uses a stop-loss strategy that it calls “Invest and Protect,” which uses a preset target to determine when to sell investments.
The firm tailors its investment strategies to each client’s financial situation, but the stop-loss strategy means it’ll typically move all clients in or out of the market at the same time, based on trend analysis. All client assets are managed on a discretionary basis, meaning the advisor has the authority to make day-to-day investment decisions on behalf of a client.
In general, the firm builds portfolios that include mutual funds, variable annuities and fixed annuities. In some circumstances, it will also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
The firm charges clients a flat fee of 1.25% of assets under management. For all investments other than variable annuities, the firm offers services via a wrap fee program, so that fee will cover all transaction costs incurred on behalf of the client.
Clients may also have to pay separate fees to mutual fund or ETF managers.
The doesn’t report any disclosures in the past 10 years. The SEC requires that all registered investment advisory firms must disclose any civil, regulatory or criminal actions that occured in the last 10 years that might impact a client’s evaluation of the business or management on their Form ADV filing.
For more information, visit Retirement Planners of America’s Investment Advisor Public Disclosure (IAPD) page.
Retirement Planners of America has locations in five states. Specifically, its offices are in the following cities:
Retirement Planners of America could be a good choice for you if you live near one of its offices and are at or nearing retirement. However, if you live on the East Coast, or want additional financial planning services or a more aggressive approach to portfolio construction, you might find a different firm to be a better fit.
Before choosing an advisor, it’s important to conduct your own research and interview potential advisors you think might be a good fit. To start your search or consider some further options, try MagnifyMoney’s financial advisor search tool.
Beth BravermanBeth Braverman is a freelance writer covering personal finance, careers and parenting. Her work has appeared in dozens of publications, including CNN Business, CNBC.com and USNews.
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