May 6, 2016
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments.
We spent the last two months meeting with several different brokerage firms (Chase, Edward Jones, Fidelity, US Bank) to determine whether to move our current relationship. We started the process due to up coming retirement and dissatisfaction with our current fees and investment returns over the past five years.
OMG. What an education. From SMAs, UMAs, ETFS, Mutual funds, bond funds - it goes on and on. And understanding the fee structure or have them explain it in ways that a lamen can understand. Forget it. I must say though I found FINRA and glad I did. It helped with finding fee ratios on ETS and Mutual Funds. But SMAs and UMAs - nothing.
My point being, when trying to get specific breakdowns of expense ratios, management fees, operating expenses, etc. A nightmare. And 12b1 fees - really- who knew. I do now because I found on FINRA and not from our brokerage firm.
If I can see a breakdown of food ordered at a restaurant why can't I get this from a brokerage firm.
Please help us.
Jeff