Frequently asked questions

Edelman Financial Engines was founded with a core mission – to give everyone the opportunity to move their financial life forward. For more than 35 years, we’ve offered the tools and expertise to help make that possible. Our founders set the tone – Nobel Prize-winning economist Dr. William F. Sharpe gave individual investors access to sophisticated investment modeling tools that were previously available only to institutional investors, and Ric Edelman established his advisory firm with the belief that everyone should have a trusted financial advocate. Our advisors carry that mission forward every day with every client.

No matter where your financial journey starts with us – from your first paycheck into and through retirement – we bring to bear an expert team, patent-awarded investment technology and a full array of services designed to help you transition from one milestone to the next. And our firm is award-winning, but awards are simply the result of our passion for helping our clients. As a fiduciary, when it comes to investment advice, we’re dedicated to applying that passion with personal and objective wealth planning and investment management services that put our clients and their best interests first, always. When you put your trust in us, you’ve chosen the firm named by Barron’s* – awarded each September (2018-2023) by Barron’s, based on data within a 12-month period – as the nation’s top independent Registered Investment Advisor for the sixth consecutive year.

* The Barron’s 2023 Top 100 RIA Firms list, an eight-year annual ranking of independent advisory firms, is qualitative and quantitative, including assets managed by the firms, technology spending, staff diversity, succession planning and other metrics. Firms elect to participate but do not pay to be included in the ranking. Investor experience and returns are not considered. The 2018 ranking refers to Edelman Financial Services, LLC, which combined its advisory business in its entirety with Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. (FEA) in November 2018. For the same survey, FEA received a precombination ranking of 12th.

Bringing your financial vision to life – that’s what drives our team of leaders. Led by our chief executive officer, Jay Shah, our leadership team is composed of some of the brightest minds in the industry, with deep experience in financial services and fintech.

We have financial advisors in 145+ locations nationwide who are ready to partner with you to help support the future you desire. Explore our locations to find one that may suit you and your wealth planning needs.

Serving 1.3 million clients, 690+ plan sponsors and more than 10 million plan participants, we’re one of America’s top independent wealth planning and workplace investment advisory firms, with more than $270 billion in assets under management.

* Data as of Dec. 31, 2023

A relationship with a wealth planner is an important one – especially as your finances get more complex. Your individual advisor provides value far beyond what shows up on a financial statement. They understand your overall goals, and they know what keeps you up at night. They can look at the facets of your financial life to help you understand what’s happening in the short term — and help guide you so you can be positioned for the long term.

We work with clients in all stages of life. You’re an individual with financial goals that are your own. And the further you go in life, the more complex your financial life becomes. That’s why you need a trusted partner who can help you throughout your journey. At Edelman Financial Engines, we give your life’s work the individual attention it deserves. Whether you’re making a plan for your personal financial goals or strengthening your legacy, be certain you’re tapping into the knowledge that comes with a specialized planning team.

Becoming an Edelman Financial Engines client is a straightforward process. The first step is to schedule an initial consultation with a financial advisor in your area. After this meeting, if you and your advisor mutually agree that it makes sense for you to become an EFE client, the advisor will start the process with you. This involves scheduling a second meeting to review your financial goals and how to plan for them and authorizing Edelman Financial Engines to manage your portfolio. Your advisor will be with you every step of the way as you embark on your new journey. Connect with a planner to get started.

To help maximize your wealth, your financial life – investment strategy, taxes, insurance, retirement and estate planning – must be wired together in a holistic approach. Your dedicated financial advisor can coordinate with a team of experts to connect those different pieces into a cohesive view so you can unlock new ways to help build, grow, protect and preserve your wealth.

Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only.

We believe it’s critical to match every client’s investment risk to their financial goals, personal circumstances and risk tolerance. To accurately model investment risk, we use a proprietary, patent-awarded methodology that encompasses economic factors, asset class historical risks and correlations, and fund- and stock-level risks. Models are also used in creating our investment portfolios at various risk levels to suit different client needs.

At Edelman Financial Engines, our advice is personal. We start by assessing your financial goals. Then, using our proprietary analysis and advanced investment engines, your financial advisor will help select a personal portfolio that is uniquely aligned with your goals and risk tolerance. This isn’t a one-time event, though; it’s the beginning of an ongoing relationship that will continue as you move through each stage of life and your situation and circumstances change.

The firm’s Investment Committee has overall responsibility for the oversight of advisory and investment management services, including the application of proprietary investment methodology that generates advice recommendations and portfolio management. The committee meets regularly to review and approve methodology and parameter updates, investment policies, new service and client communications designs, and ongoing monitoring of portfolio allocations. The committee is comprised exclusively of Edelman Financial Engines employees with a broad range of experience and expertise. Most members of the committee have long tenure with Edelman Financial Engines, and the majority have been integrally involved in the development of the advisory platform for many years. For specific information about the membership on the Investment Committee, please see the firm’s Form ADV Part 2B.

Neil Gilfedder, executive vice president of Investment Management and chief investment officer, oversees the team that manages investments for more than 1.3 million clients* at Edelman Financial Engines while helping them navigate the financial market cycles. Neil directs the investment management operations and evolution of our proprietary investment methodology, built upon the principles of the firm’s co-founder and Nobel laureate William F. Sharpe. Our advice is powered by a sophisticated investment management approach that has been awarded 12 U.S. patents.

* Client data as of Sept. 30, 2023

To determine the right investment portfolio for you, we’ll ask you to complete a client questionnaire that helps us understand your financial goals, tolerance for risk, time horizon and more. From there, we’ll use our market insights and patent-awarded investment methodology to build a portfolio designed with the most appropriate asset allocation mix for your financial goals in mind – and we’ll continue to make adjustments and provide guidance on other planning considerations, such as taxes, as your goals evolve.

Fees are based on a percentage of your total investable assets. This percentage changes based on how much wealth is being managed by your advisor. To get a better understanding of what kind of fee structure would apply to your account, connect with a planner. You’ll start by answering a few questions designed to help your advisor prepare an initial meeting with you. Review this form to learn more about our fees and other helpful questions.

It's OK if you're currently working with an advisor. Many people work with different advisors or firms throughout their lives in order to find one that is the right fit for them. We suggest connecting with a planner so you can discuss what your needs are. The advisor/client relationship is based on an intimate understanding of your goals and the services and expertise required to help meet those goals.

When you schedule an initial meeting, we encourage you to answer a few questions. The more information you provide, the more productive that first meeting will be. We understand that not everyone is comfortable entering detailed financial information into a questionnaire. That's why we enable you to share high-level information in our connect to a planner form to simply start the planning process.

Yes, we have full virtual meeting capabilities and are happy to accommodate a client’s personal meeting preference, whether that is in person in one of our 145+ office locations* nationwide or virtually from the comfort of your own home.

* Data as of Dec. 31, 2022

Your account must reside with one of our custodian partners, which include Charles Schwab, Fidelity and Axos (previously E*TRADE). If your assets are elsewhere, once you choose a custodian among our partners, we’ll help you with the asset transfer, enabling us to manage your assets for you. Rest assured, Edelman Financial Engines does not hold your funds directly; we simply require your permission to manage your assets at the custodian on your behalf.  

At Edelman Financial Engines, our integrated financial planning is truly personal, designed to help elevate your wealth plan today and take it to the next level. Your accounts are maintained at the custodian in your name. Edelman Financial Engines is authorized to manage the account on your behalf, and you always have access to your money. Edelman Financial Engines does require that you allow us to make all day-to-day investment decisions in the accounts we manage – that’s why you hired us!

Your account must reside with one of our custodian partners, which include Charles Schwab, Fidelity and Axos (previously E*TRADE). If your assets are elsewhere, once you choose a custodian among our partners, we’ll help you with the asset transfer, enabling us to manage your assets for you. Rest assured, Edelman Financial Engines does not hold your funds directly; we simply require your permission to manage your assets at the custodian on your behalf.  

We encourage clients to take the time to meet with us at whatever financial stage in life they are in. We can help clients build a sound financial plan from the time they are early investors all the way through retirement and wealth transition. The right time to meet with a financial advisor is now.

A fiduciary is an individual who acts in the best interests of a particular person or beneficiary. In the world of financial services, that means fiduciary advisors must only act in the best interests of their clients.

Yes, Edelman Financial Engines and our financial advisors act as a fiduciary when it comes to investment advice and investment management. This means we only make decisions based on the best interests of our clients. Not simply because it’s a legal requirement, but because it’s the right thing to do. Fiduciaries must act with a higher standard of care and we take this obligation seriously.

A financial advisor can help you focus on the future and gain control of your personal finances. Edelman Financial Engines financial advisors know how to help optimize your portfolio for today – and adapt it for tomorrow. Our advisors will guide you every step of the way as you embark on your new journey.

While not all of our advisors are able to take on new clients at this time, if you have a preference to work with a particular advisor, we will do everything that we can to accommodate your request.

Every financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines is listed on our website with their credentials and work experience. You may use Find a Financial Planner to connect with an advisor near you.

You may also view the SEC’s public disclosure website for financial advisors.

At Edelman Financial Engines, we have more than 145 offices nationwide* – we recommend that you work with an advisor that is in your area. For those who do not live close to an Edelman Financial Engines office or are otherwise unable to meet in person, we have the option of having a virtual relationship. Don’t see a location near you? Our National Advisor Center can help.

* Data as of Dec. 31, 2022

We have more than 360 financial advisors* here at Edelman Financial Engines and our goal is to provide the very best service and experience possible to our clients. On our website, we have each of our advisors and their profiles available to the public. If you would prefer to meet with another advisor who was not assigned to you, please just let us know and we will do everything that we can to accommodate you.

* Data as of Dec. 31, 2023

Your wealth planning team is led by your advisor, who will get to know you – your specific goals, your concerns and what you want to accomplish. Together, you’ll clarify what wealth means to you and explore how much further you’d like your wealth to take you. Your advisor has access to a team of experts in everything from investments and tax planning strategies to estate planning and insurance guidance who can build a personalized plan that takes into account your entire financial life and helps you reach your goals.