When to Consider Moving from Allos to Searcy Financial

A client’s financial needs often become more complex as their career progresses, their family grows, and their assets increase. Investment management may remain an important part of the relationship, while questions involving retirement, taxes, insurance, estate planning, education funding, and other long-term goals begin to require more attention. At that point, you may start thinking about how much financial planning and investment management support you need.

For clients of Allos Investment Advisors, this can lead to an important question: When should I consider moving my advisory relationship to Searcy Financial Services?

There is no single portfolio balance or life event that determines the answer. The decision usually depends on the level of financial planning support you want, the complexity of your circumstances, and the potential cost of the expanded relationship.

Understanding the Allos Relationship

Allos Investment Advisors, LLC (“Allos”) provides discretionary investment management through a team of advisors. Clients receive portfolio management, diversification, online performance access, market and economic updates, and connections to professionals in areas such as accounting, estate planning, mortgage lending, and career coaching.

Allos also offers financial planning services through Allos+, which may include budgeting and cash flow planning, retirement income planning, and education planning. Allos+ can be used on its own or alongside investment management.

This structure may work well if your primary need is professional investment management, planning around a particular goal or season of life, or a combination of both.

Over time, however, a client may want a more comprehensive and ongoing planning relationship. That is where Searcy Financial Services may become a good fit.

What Additional Services Does Searcy Financial Provide?

Searcy Financial Services, Inc. (“Searcy”) combines investment management with more extensive financial planning services. Depending on a client’s circumstances, the planning relationship may include:

• Behavioral finance coaching
• Life, disability, and long-term care insurance planning
• Estate planning review
• Charitable and legacy planning
• Business, divorce, or special-needs planning
• Guidance during major life transitions
• Accountability and follow-through on planning priorities
• Ongoing monitoring of the financial plan

Our Service Level Comparison can be helpful when considering a move. It provides a side-by-side overview of the services available through Allos, Allos+, and Searcy Financial Services.

One meaningful difference with Searcy is the breadth and ongoing nature of the planning relationship. Financial planning can continue to evolve after a single analysis or meeting. Career changes, marriage, children, retirement, inheritances, business decisions, and the loss of a loved one can all create new questions. An ongoing relationship gives the planning team an opportunity to revisit assumptions, monitor progress, and help clients respond as their lives evolve.

Why a Portfolio Above $400,000 May Prompt a Conversation

Part of the answer comes down to the financial advisor fee structure at each firm. Searcy Financial Services has a different investment management fee schedule from Allos Investment Advisors. Once a client’s managed portfolio exceeds approximately $400,000, the difference in investment management fees between the firms may begin to offset a portion of the additional financial planning fee.

Searcy Financial Services has minimum annual investment management fees that vary by service level. The actual overall cost of moving to Searcy depends on several factors, including:

• The total assets managed by the firm
• The applicable investment management fee tier
• The client’s existing service level
• The amount of financial planning work involved
• The planning services the client expects to use

For some clients with portfolios above $400,000, the difference in investment management fees may make the expanded relationship more financially practical, in terms of total annual advisory fees paid. As assets continue to grow, the fee comparison may also change. Individual circumstances vary, so we prepare a personalized fee comparison before discussing a change.

The $400,000 level serves as a useful point to begin the conversation. It does not mean every client above that amount should transition to Searcy. A client who is satisfied with investment management and does not need broader planning may prefer to remain with Allos. A client with meaningful planning questions may find value in beginning the conversation sooner.

Signs That Your Planning Needs May Have Changed

Portfolio size is only one consideration. Your life may also signal that it is time to explore a more comprehensive financial planning relationship.

It may be helpful to consider a different service model if you are asking questions such as:

• Am I saving enough to retire on my preferred timeline?
• How should I coordinate my workplace retirement plan with my other accounts?
• Should I consolidate retirement accounts from former employers?
• How much should we save for our children’s education?
• Do we have the appropriate life, disability, or long-term care insurance?
• Are our estate planning documents and beneficiary designations aligned?
• How should we balance retirement savings, debt reduction, and other goals?
• What financial decisions should we consider before a career change or retirement?
• How can charitable giving fit into our broader financial plan?
• Who will help us track these decisions and follow through over time?

These questions often overlap. A retirement decision may affect taxes, investment allocation, insurance coverage, Social Security, charitable giving, and estate planning. Comprehensive financial planning can help organize these areas within one coordinated process.

How We Identify Potential Transition Opportunities

Our team periodically reviews the total assets we manage for Allos clients. When a household’s portfolio has grown and the Searcy Financial fee structure may warrant a closer look, we may contact the client to discuss a potential move.

A rollover from a former employer’s retirement plan, consistent contributions, or market growth may cause assets under management to cross that general review point. In those situations, we may prepare an individualized comparison showing the estimated investment management fees and the additional financial planning fee.

You do not need to wait for our team to contact you. If your planning needs have expanded or you would like more ongoing guidance, you are welcome to raise your hand at any time. We can review the services, discuss your priorities, and explain the expected costs before you decide whether to make a change.

Financial Planner vs. Investment Advisor: Which Service Model Fits Your Life?

In many ways, this decision comes down to how much financial planning and investment management support you want. The appropriate advisory relationship should reflect the help you value. Allos may continue to serve clients whose primary focus is investment management or who want planning support for a particular goal or period of time. Searcy Financial Services may be appropriate for clients who want investment management integrated with a broader, ongoing financial planning process.

If your managed portfolio is above approximately $400,000 and you value the additional services described in our Service Level Comparison, it may be worth reviewing the numbers. This may be a point when families choose to have a conversation with an advisor about whether their current service level still fits their needs.

Fees, service offerings, and individual planning considerations may change over time. Any decision to move from Allos to Searcy should be based on your circumstances, the applicable advisory agreements, and a personalized fee comparison.

If a broader, ongoing planning relationship sounds like it may fit where you are now, we’d be glad to talk it through. Reach out to our team to review your priorities and the numbers together, with no obligation to make a change.

Allos Investment Advisors, LLC (“Allos”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Searcy Financial Services, Inc. (“Searcy”), also a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Searcy provides integrated financial planning and wealth management services for its Clients. Searcy provides day-to-day investment management services to Allos and its Clients. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice, or as a recommendation to buy or sell any security or adopt any investment particular strategy.