Frequently Asked Questions: H.D. Vest
We’re a financial services firm started in 1983 by a CPA named Herb Vest who believed that tax and accounting professionals were the best people to provide financial services to their clients. We’re the largest in our niche with over 5,300 Reps just like you. We’ve built our firm around being a leader in the areas that in our 23 years of experience we’ve found to be critical to successfully integrating financial services into your practice. Our experience and commitment to being a leader in these areas is why we are the number one choice for tax and accounting professionals looking to offer financial services to their clients.
What makes us different is our experience in partnering with tax and accounting professionals to help them integrate financial services into their existing or growing tax business. This experience has helped shape the focus of our firm. Our Advisors have access to unmatched support and training to make them successful. In addition to that, we offer technology that helps you to save time and work more efficiently. Lastly, we have solutions that meet most all of the needs your clients will have, including mutual funds, fee-based programs, insurance products and banking products like mortgages and loans. We’ll put you in the position of being a one-stop shop for your clients when it comes to their financial needs.
If you are a tax and accounting professional, we are the partner you need. Nowhere else will you find the support and training that H.D. Vest provides. As a tax and accounting professional with an already busy schedule, these two things will be keys to your success at integrating financial services into your business. Remember, we have extensive experience in partnering with individuals just like you. Because of that experience, we know what it takes to be successful at this, and as your partner we will show you how it is done.
While it is true we specialize in working with tax professionals, that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from the support, technology and extensive solutions we offer our Advisors. We are a leader in each of those areas, and regardless of your background, we want to partner with you and help you take your business to the next level.
We understand you, the tax and accounting professional, better than any other firm out there. We have tailored our services and support to best meet the needs of Advisors just like you. Remember, we’re only successful when you are. We view our Advisors as partners in this business, and therefore we are partners in each other’s success.
That’s a great question, but we look at it in a different way. We have nothing to gain unless you are successful. Why would we spend so much time and money trying to get you to partner with us unless we were totally convinced you could do well?
Our payouts are among the best in the industry. They start at 50% and go as high as 90%. What we do for our keep is provide you with the support, training, technology and product solutions you need to be a successful Advisor. None of these change regardless of your payout. That means that when you get to the 90% payout level, you will still have access to the same excellent support you had when you started.
To assure the highest standards of professionals associated with H.D. Vest, we conduct an FBI fingerprint and reference check before someone can become affiliated with us. We require each Advisor to pledge in writing to us that he or she will maintain the highest professional standards, abide by the H.D. Vest Code of Ethics, adhere to all applicable rules and regulations, and maintain the appropriate knowledge and skills required to professionally serve their clients.
We continually monitor our Advisors to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations and educational requirements to be certain they are conducting themselves in a professional manner.
No. There is simply no other firm in the country that can support your professional needs like H.D. Vest. We have tax and accounting professionals transferring their licenses to us from other firms every day. The reason: Other firms are geared to support stockbrokers and insurance agents. They simply do not understand your requirements as a tax and accounting professional. No other firm offers you, the tax and accounting professional, support tailored to your needs. We have empirical data based on the research of Tiburon Strategic Advisors (www.taxprobestpractices.com) that proves our training and support produce better results. On average, H.D. Vest Advisors convert more of their existing tax clients to financial planning clients, they gain more assets under management, and they produce higher overall revenues than tax and accounting professionals who use other independent broker/dealers or custodial firms.
Having worked with tax and accounting professionals for over 20 years, we know that most questions arise when you’re visiting with the client. To get a timely answer, you don’t have the luxury of scheduling an appointment with your local broker/dealer; you’re going to have to call someone. Our toll-free number is available to you, and you will find H.D. Vest staff on duty and ready to help you from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. We also maintain extended hours during tax season to make sure you have access to the support you need.