Independent registered investment advisors are seeking out ways to better serve their clients and provide them with the resources available to family offices.
On Thursday, Fidelity Investments announced that its ultra-high-net-worth program for independent RIAs has reached almost $2 billion in assets in just the first six months since its launch in October 2010.
In addition the firm has hired Trevor A. Norton as senior vice president and head of its ultra high-net-worth program for RIAs.
The ultra-high-net-worth program has worked with Fidelity Family Office Services to give RIAs’ clients with investable assets of $50 million or more direct access to the same resources available for family offices. This includes a dedicated relationship management team and investment analyst/trader, and an open architecture reporting system.
“RIAs and their ultra-high-net-worth clients often expect a different level of service, and the initial success from both existing and new investor accounts is evidence that we can help meet those expectations,” said Michael R. Durbin, president of Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services, in a press release. “We are excited about Trevor’s appointment. His leadership and experience reinforce our commitment to investing in this business and to offering advisors access to the proven, advanced resources and support many of them are accustomed to receiving in other full-service environments.”
Norton will develop and implement the program’s strategic business plan as well as oversee the day-to-day program activities. Norton will report to Edward J. Orazem, president of Fidelity Family Office Services. Norton has 13 years of experience working with RIAs, focusing on providing advisors with sophisticated wealth management products and building custody solutions. Prior to joining Fidelity, Norton was head of LPL Financial’s RIA Services group and before that spent 10 years at Fidelity’s intermediary businesses.
“Having a business that is dedicated to working with family offices provides us with significant insight into their distinct trading and service needs,” said Norton. “This insight allows us to develop the custody, brokerage and investment services that can help RIAs more efficiently meet the complex, sophisticated investment and service needs of their clients.”
