Valor Financial Planning

Valor Financial Planning is a registered investment advisor (RIA), not a broker-dealer. As an RIA, the firm is held to a fiduciary standard under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, meaning it must put client interests first and cannot earn commissions on product sales. This structural choice eliminates the dual-registration conflicts that arise when an advisor can recommend either a commissionable product or an advisory service for the same client need.

The firm charges asset-based advisory fees calculated as a percentage of assets under management, consistent with the fee-only RIA model. Valor does not accept commissions, referral fees, or revenue-sharing payments from fund companies or insurance carriers. This compensation alignment is disclosed in the firm's Form ADV Part 2A, which registered investment advisors must provide to clients and file with the SEC or state securities regulator.

Valor builds client portfolios from third-party ETFs and mutual funds rather than operating a proprietary fund or in-house investment vehicle. Advisors who use solely external, liquid, low-cost instruments avoid the conflict that arises when a firm offers both a proprietary product and independent advice. This approach is standard for mid-sized independent RIAs that prioritize investment neutrality over product manufacturing margins.

The firm integrates retirement projections, tax-efficient withdrawal strategies, estate plan reviews, and insurance needs analysis alongside portfolio management. A fee-only RIA that bundles these services under a single advisory fee rather than charging separately for each planning component gives clients a holistic view without incremental billable-hour pressure. The specific planning software and third-party tax coordination approach would be detailed in the firm's client service agreement.

Investment decisions at a firm of Valor's size and independent RIA structure are typically made by one or two lead advisors who serve as principals and are named on the firm's SEC Form ADV filing. Without public documentation naming a specific CIO or investment committee, the exact decision-making structure remains undisclosed — but an independent RIA of this scale most commonly vests portfolio authority in the founding owner-advisors rather than a specialized investment department.