FAQs

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What should I look for in a financial advisor?

Does Harbor work with clients outside of Colorado?

What do CFP® and CFA® stand for?

Where does Harbor custody assets?

Why should I choose to partner with Harbor?

I want to work with Harbor. How do I start?

What is a fiduciary?

How is Harbor different than a broker?

  • What should I look for in a financial advisor?

    • There are a number of factors to review when choosing a financial advisor.

    First, the knowledge, talent and experience of the team are critical. Is there a culture of learning and continuing education in place? There is an "alphabet soup" of credentials floating around. Does your potential advisor have a broadly recognized credential based on rigor and experience?

    The longevity of the firm is also a serious consideration. Will your needs and the needs of your family be met in the future? Check that the firms you consider have a succession plan in place.

    How is the advisor compensated and what is the firm's fee structure? Ask for the ADV Part II. For example, ours is located on our disclosures page. Compensation at all level should be transparent.

    Does the advisor report to a bank, wirehouse, or just to you? The possibility of proprietary products exists with branches of larger firms. Harbor has been fiercely independent from the beginning and an advocate for our clients at all times.

    Last, check for any regulatory actions or complaints against the firm and the specific advisor. The SEC provides a free online searchable database for investors through their Investment Adviser Search service.
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  • Does Harbor work with clients outside of Colorado?

    • Yes, absolutely. We have a number of out-of-state and international clients, and technological advances are making it even easier to communicate effectively. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more.
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  • What do CFP® and CFA® stand for?

    • CFP® stands for Certified Financial Planner™, a certification overseen by the CFP Board. Advisors with the CFP® designation have gained at least three years of work experience in a financial-planning-related position, completed a comprehensive educational program, received an undergraduate degree, passed a two-day, 10-hour examination, and agreed to a code of professional conduct.

    Additional information on the requirements needed for the right to use the CFP® certification marks is available on their website.

    CFA® stands for Chartered Financial Analyst, a credential overseen by the CFA Institute. CFA charterholders have passed three rigorous six-hour exams and agree to abide by a strict code of ethics and professional standards. They must have an undergraduate degree and at least four years of work experience in an investment decision-making role.

    For more information, visit the CFA Institute's investor information page.
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  • Where does Harbor custody assets?

    • We custody our clients' assets at Schwab Institutional (SI), which means SI handles account servicing and securities processing. They also provide independent monthly statements. SI is the largest custodian to independent investment advisors. For a detailed answer on why we continue to choose to work with Schwab, please review our disclosures.
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  • Why should I choose to partner with Harbor?

    • We would invite you to start with "Why Harbor?" and then give us a call.
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  • I want to work with Harbor. How do I start?

    • Contact us! Give us a call, send us an email or stop by our office in Boulder. We will schedule a free consultation to learn more about your needs and how we can help meet them. We look forward to hearing from you.
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  • What is a fiduciary?

    • A fiduciary must put your interests first at all times and disclose any possible conflicts of interest.
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  • How is Harbor different than a broker?

    • A broker is often compensated by commissions on trades placed in your account, creating an incentive to trade your assets frequently. The fiduciary standard does not apply to brokers and can lead to situations where they will place you into their firm's proprietary products, rather than what is best for you. Harbor's open architecture means that you are not restricted in your investment options and our fiduciary duty means that we always put your interests first, where they should be.
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