Woodard & Company Asset Management Group, Inc., operates as a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor. The firm is compensated directly and only by clients for advisory services and does not receive commissions, transaction fees and/or 12-b-1 fees from the sale or purchase of investment products in client accounts. Clients pay a standard, transparent management fee for the services provided by the firm. Depending on the investment used (typically mutual funds and ETF’s), clients may incur expense ratios, as described above. Woodard & Company does not receive any portion of these fees from the fund company and makes every effort to seek the lowest expense ratio available when purchasing mutual funds and ETF’s.
Many investors do not realize they may be paying for financial advice and investment management in multiple ways. Costs can include the management fee paid to the advisor, transaction-related costs, 12-b1 fees and commissions (also known as “loads”). Mutual funds and ETFs that are held in various types of accounts (401k, 403b, 457, IRA, Roth IRA, Non-Qualified Brokerage, UGMA & UTMA and Trust accounts) separately charge internal fees known as expense ratios. An expense ratio is a measure of the cost incurred to operate a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF), expressed as a percentage of the fund's total assets. In addition to all these fees, clients may also pay an additional fee for financial planning services.
Understanding the Fee-Only Difference
The distinction matters. Commission-based compensation can create incentives tied to the sale of specific products. A fee-only model is designed to align the firm’s compensation with the advisory services it provides directly to clients, rather than compensation from product sponsors.
This structure shapes the advisory relationship. When a firm’s compensation comes from a client’s management fee, rather than product commissions, clients can more clearly understand how the firm is paid and what services are being delivered. That transparency can help investors evaluate whether the relationship and service model are appropriate for their needs.
Woodard & Company provides discretionary asset management services using traditional investment vehicles. The firm works with both individual and institutional clients and applies a clearly disclosed management fee schedule for its services.
What Discretionary Management Means
Discretionary asset management gives the firm authority to make investment decisions on behalf of clients, consistent with the client’s investment goals and objectives, guidelines, and advisory agreement, without requiring approval for each individual transaction. This approach allows portfolios to be managed in a timely and consistent manner.
For clients, that means working with professionals who monitor portfolios, implement investment decisions, and make adjustments as warranted by the client’s strategy and circumstances. The discretionary model can be beneficial for individuals and institutions who prefer ongoing professional oversight rather than making each portfolio decision themselves.
As an independent and privately owned firm, Woodard & Company is not limited to proprietary products. This allows the firm to select from a broad range of traditional investment options in building client portfolios.
Traditional Investment Vehicles in Modern Portfolios
While some financial services firms emphasize more complex or specialized products, Woodard & Company builds portfolios using traditional investment vehicles such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and similar securities.
These investment vehicles generally offer familiar structures, publicly available information, and regulatory oversight. Clients can review what they own and better understand how each holding fits into an overall investment strategy. As with all investing, these vehicles involve risk, including the possible loss of principal.
The firm’s approach reflects the view that effective investing is often grounded in asset allocation, diversification, disciplined portfolio management, and alignment with client objectives, rather than unnecessary complexity.
Financial Planning Beyond Investment Returns
Discretionary asset management is only one part of a broader financial picture. Tax considerations, estate planning, retirement income, and risk management can all play important roles in long-term financial decision-making.
As a registered investment advisor offering both discretionary asset management and financial planning services, the firm works with clients to evaluate these interconnected issues. The fee-only structure supports an advisory relationship centered on planning and investment guidance rather than sales driven, product-based compensation.
This approach can be especially valuable during major life events such as retirement, inheritance, the sale of a business, or other transitions that require thoughtful financial coordination.
Taking the Next Step
When evaluating a financial advisor, it is important to understand how the firm is compensated, what services are being provided, and what fees, commissions and expenses may apply to the account and underlying investments. For individuals and institutions seeking investment advisory and financial planning services, Woodard & Company offers a fee-only, discretionary management model, utilizing traditional investment vehicles and ongoing portfolio management.
Woodard & Company Asset Management Group, Inc. serves clients from its office at 117 Kinderton Boulevard in Bermuda Run, NC. Additional information about the firm’s services, management fees, and important disclosures is available at wcamg.com.
