Who we are

In simple terms—and we like to keep it simple—we make sure your advisor is empowered to give you, the investor, objective advice and to make recommendations based on your best interest—not ours.  

What we do

We take care of advisors, freeing up their time and attention so they can take care of you. We provide them with technology, tools, and guidance to keep them focused on your financial goals. And we've been doing it for 40 years and counting. Beyond our industry accolades, what we're most proud of is that along with our national network of dedicated professionals, people from all walks of life entrust us to invest more than $200 billion to prepare for their future. 

Serving you through your advisor is an opportunity to demonstrate why so many independent financial advisors call Commonwealth home. We hope you'll feel at home here, too.  

How we help your advisor 

Advisors look to Commonwealth to provide the same level of service that you expect from them as a client. We've built an infrastructure that frees advisors to be the best they can be, including: 

What does this mean for you? 

The tools and guidance we provide to your advisor help them offer the best service to the clients they work with—that's you. Here's how the Commonwealth infrastructure works hard to support your relationship with your advisor: 

Here's what else you should know 

Choosing an independent financial advisor involves due diligence and trust. Here are some common questions clients have about Commonwealth: 

What is a Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer? 

A Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), provides advice, for a fee, regarding whether to invest in, purchase, or sell investment products, as well as circulates investment analysis and reports. A broker/dealer, as defined by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), buys and sells investment products on behalf of investors.  

Commonwealth is dually registered as both an investment adviser and a broker/dealer. This means we supervise and process the investment business of the more than 2,000 financial professionals who have affiliated with us. These professionals, whom we call advisors, are independent business owners who provide financial guidance to clients looking for assistance. Commonwealth functions as the unseen back office that processes client transactions for them.    

Because ours is a heavily regulated industry, advisors must register with a broker/dealer and/or an investment adviser to ensure supervision and a clear chain of responsibility. 

What does it mean to be "independent"? 

Commonwealth is an "independent" Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer, which means our advisors work for themselves out of their own offices and are free to help their clients choose the best investment products—without pressure to sell a particular company's products—to meet their financial goals. This business model differs from that of other, large financial institutions, known as "wirehouses," whose advisors (stockbrokers) are employees of the company.

Will Commonwealth stay independent and privately owned? 

Commonwealth has been 100 percent owned and controlled by the managing partners of the firm since its inception in 1979, and we look to stay that way. First, because we love what we do and the people we do it with. Second, because our independence and thriving culture is a competitive advantage. Building Commonwealth has been our life's work, and retaining the autonomy to manage it while remaining true to our core principles is essential. We value our independence in much the same manner our advisors value theirs. 

How can I be sure my assets are being protected? 

NFS is a leading clearing firm and is subject to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), FINRA, and other principal exchanges of which it is a member. 

Can you tell me more about Commonwealth's relationship with NFS?

We believe that we can deliver substantial benefits from the important service relationship we maintain with NFS. Knowing that every investor's account is being serviced with the commitment and resources of an industry leader allows our advisors to focus on what they do best: provide the personalized guidance and comprehensive investment services you need to reach your goals. 

NFS's reputation for delivering quality products and services is made available to you through Commonwealth and your investment professional. 

Together with NFS, we offer you these benefits: 

• The experience of an industry leader 

• Complete investment reporting on one easy-to-read, consolidated statement 

• Checkwriting, with detail on the same statement 

• Comprehensive tax reporting form (1099) for all investments 

• Asset management accounts 

• A range of retirement program options, including Premiere Select® IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, Roth IRAs, Profit-Sharing and Money Purchase Plans, and SEP IRAs 

• Thousands of well-known class shares, including Fidelity Investments 

Is there any insurance provided to protect me? 

Commonwealth and NFS are members of the SIPC, a federal nonprofit corporation that protects customer assets in the unlikely event that a member Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer should fail to meet its financial obligations. 

As a result, if your Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer should fail and NFS fails, cash awaiting reinvestment and all securities held in your account are protected by SIPC coverage up to $500,000 (limited to $250,000 for claims in cash). Coverage does not protect against a decline in the market value of securities. 

To supplement its SIPC coverage, NFS has arranged for additional protection for cash and covered securities. This additional protection covers up to an aggregate loss limit of $1 billion for all customer claims, of which $1.9 million may cover cash awaiting reinvestment at the individual account level. There is no per-customer dollar limit on coverage of securities. This is the highest level of excess SIPC coverage currently available. For more details on SIPC, or to request a SIPC brochure, visit www.sipc.org or call 202-371-8300. Neither coverage protects against a decline in the market value of securities.