Fiduciary Investment Advisors in Connecticut

Fiduciary advisors typically charge fees based on assets under management (AUM), often ranging from 0.50% to 1.50% annually, depending on portfolio size and service complexity. At Sentinel, our fee structure is transparent and disclosed upfront—no hidden commissions or product sales incentives. Fees may also vary based on whether you require comprehensive financial planning, tax coordination, or specialized services like estate or special needs planning. We provide a clear breakdown during your initial consultation so you understand exactly what you're paying for and why.

A fiduciary advisor is legally and ethically required to act in your best interest at all times. This means recommending investments, strategies, and financial products based solely on what's best for you—not what generates the highest commission. Fiduciaries must disclose all conflicts of interest and prioritize your financial goals above their own compensation. At Sentinel, we operate under the fiduciary standard for every client relationship, ensuring transparency, accountability, and alignment with your long-term objectives.

Ask directly: "Are you a fiduciary, and will you put that commitment in writing?" True fiduciaries will provide a written acknowledgment of their fiduciary duty. You can also verify if they're a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) regulated by the SEC or state securities authorities. Be cautious of advisors who only act as fiduciaries "sometimes" or under certain circumstances. Sentinel operates as a fiduciary 100% of the time, with full transparency and documentation of our obligations to you.

Fiduciary advisors offer comprehensive financial planning, including retirement income strategies, tax-efficient portfolio management, estate and legacy planning, risk management, and specialized services like divorce or special needs planning. At Sentinel, we coordinate your entire financial ecosystem—taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts—into one cohesive plan. We also stress-test portfolios against market downturns, manage Roth conversions and tax-loss harvesting, and collaborate with estate attorneys when trusts or complex legal structures are needed. Our goal is to preserve your independence and quality of life through every market cycle.

Most clients benefit from quarterly or semi-annual reviews, with additional meetings during major life events like retirement, inheritance, divorce, or health changes. At Sentinel, we proactively monitor portfolios year-round and reach out when markets shift or tax planning opportunities arise. Regular reviews ensure your Investment Policy Statement remains aligned with your goals, your withdrawal strategy adapts to changing conditions, and your estate plan reflects current intentions. We're also available between scheduled meetings for time-sensitive decisions or concerns.

Yes. Connecticut imposes a state estate tax on estates exceeding $13.61 million (2024), which requires careful coordination of asset titling, trusts, and gifting strategies. Fiduciary advisors analyze your taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts to structure distributions and ownership in ways that minimize exposure. At Sentinel, we review beneficiary designations, assess spousal portability elections, and collaborate with Connecticut estate attorneys to design trusts or other planning instruments that reduce unnecessary tax burdens while ensuring efficient wealth transfer to heirs and charities.

An Investment Policy Statement (IPS) is a written document that outlines your financial goals, risk tolerance, asset allocation strategy, and guidelines for portfolio rebalancing. It serves as a roadmap for your advisor and a reference point during market volatility. At Sentinel, every client portfolio is guided by a personalized IPS that's stress-tested against historical downturns and reviewed annually. This ensures disciplined decision-making, prevents emotional reactions to market swings, and keeps your investments aligned with long-term objectives regardless of short-term noise.

Yes. Fiduciary advisors design structured withdrawal strategies that coordinate taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts to provide steady income while minimizing taxes and protecting against sequence-of-returns risk. At Sentinel, we use "bucket" strategies that insulate near-term cash flow from market volatility, paired with growth-oriented allocations for longer horizons. We model scenarios for Social Security timing, required minimum distributions (RMDs), Roth conversions, and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). The goal is reliable income throughout retirement, adaptive to market conditions and longevity risk.