About Fee-Only Advisors
What is a SEBI Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), and why does fee-only matter in Gurgaon?
A SEBI Registered Investment Adviser is authorised under the SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulations, 2013 to provide investment advice for a fee. A fee-only RIA is paid by the client, not through mutual fund, insurance, PMS, or other product commissions. That matters because the advice can be judged on fit, cost, risk, and tax impact rather than on what pays a distributor.
In Gurgaon, the practical issues often include RSUs or stock options, a large home loan, rental property exposure, or business income from the Manesar belt. A fee-only RIA can evaluate those trade-offs without being paid by a product manufacturer.
How much does a fee-only advisor charge?
Typical fee-only RIA pricing falls into two transparent models:
- A fixed planning or annual advisory fee between ₹20,000 and ₹1,00,000, depending on scope and complexity
- An asset-based fee of 0.5% to 1% per year on actively managed assets
The exact fee should be disclosed in writing before you engage the advisor. Ask whether the quoted fee covers only a one-time plan, ongoing reviews, portfolio monitoring, tax coordination, or family-wide planning.
How are advisors vetted before being listed?
Foliyo checks the basics before an advisor is listed: active SEBI RIA registration, fee-only positioning, no product-commission model, and enough information about the advisor's planning process to help users shortlist sensibly. Listing is still not a performance guarantee or a substitute for your own due diligence.
Before paying any advisor, verify the registration on SEBI's Intermediary Portal, read the engagement agreement, and confirm the fee schedule in writing.
I already have a distributor managing my investments. Can I still use Foliyo?
Yes. A fee-only RIA can review your existing portfolio, explain where distributor incentives may affect recommendations, and help you decide whether to keep, change, or gradually transition the setup. You do not need to make immediate changes after the introductory call.
Gurgaon-Specific Questions
What should Gurgaon executives with RSUs or stock options look for in an advisor?
Executives at the MNC and consulting headquarters along Cyber City and Golf Course Road should look for a SEBI-registered, fee-only RIA with documented experience in equity compensation planning. The key competencies to verify:
- Understanding of Section 17(2) perquisite income treatment at vesting
- Section 112A capital gains tax on listed securities after sale
- FEMA implications if the parent company's stock is listed overseas
- A phased liquidation strategy to bring down single-stock concentration without triggering avoidable tax events
Foliyo's directory lists SEBI-registered, fee-only advisors who specify equity compensation planning as a service area. Because they earn no commission from any product, their guidance on when and how to exercise or sell is not influenced by any downstream sale. Before engaging any advisor, verify their SEBI RIA registration directly on SEBI's Intermediary Portal at sebi.gov.in.
Most of my net worth is tied up in Gurgaon real estate. How does a fee-only advisor help me diversify?
A fee-only RIA starts by mapping your full balance sheet — including the market value, rental yield, and loan exposure of every property you hold — rather than treating each asset in isolation. Because the advisor earns no commission from selling you another property or a specific fund, the resulting plan is built around your actual liquidity needs and risk tolerance, not around what generates a sale.
For residents with a large, illiquid property allocation, this typically means directing new savings toward equity and debt instruments rather than a second or third property, and building a cash reserve that doesn't depend on selling real estate in a hurry. Property transactions in India also carry capital gains tax and TDS implications on sale that are worth planning around in advance — consult a qualified RIA and a chartered accountant for advice specific to your holdings.
I run an auto-ancillary business in the Gurgaon–Manesar belt. Can a fee-only RIA help with succession planning?
Yes — this is a common client profile in the region given the concentration of component manufacturers supplying Maruti Suzuki and other automakers based nearby. A fee-only RIA's role here is typically twofold: separating the owner's personal financial plan (retirement corpus, children's education, personal insurance) from the business's cash flow and reinvestment needs, and helping think through succession or exit options — whether that means passing the business to family, bringing in a partner, or an eventual sale.
Because the advisor is not selling any insurance, PMS, or investment product, their input on business structuring questions carries no hidden incentive. Legal and tax structuring for succession (trusts, shareholding transfers, buy-sell agreements) still requires a chartered accountant and a company secretary or lawyer alongside the RIA.
How do I find reliable financial advisor reviews in Gurgaon?
Online ratings can be useful for responsiveness, but they do not prove that an advisor is registered, fee-only, or conflict-free. Start by checking the advisor's SEBI RIA registration on SEBI's Intermediary Portal. Then review the engagement agreement, fee schedule, service scope, and how clearly the advisor explains conflicts.
Foliyo's directory is a shortlist, not a ranking. Use the intro call to test fit, ask for a sample planning process, and confirm how often reviews or portfolio changes are handled.
What do SEBI-registered RIAs in Gurgaon typically charge?
Fee-only RIAs serving Gurgaon usually charge in one of two ways:
- A fixed planning or annual advisory fee between ₹20,000 and ₹1,00,000, depending on complexity and service scope
- An annual fee of 0.5% to 1% on actively managed assets when the advisor is responsible for ongoing portfolio monitoring or rebalancing
Avoid vague quotes such as "percentage of total net worth" unless the advisor defines the billable asset base clearly. Always ask for the fee schedule and engagement terms in writing before you pay.
I just relocated to Gurgaon for a corporate role and don't have an existing financial advisor. Where do I start?
Start with a written list of your current situation: salary structure (including any RSUs or stock options), existing loans, insurance policies, and any investments you already hold — whether in Gurgaon or elsewhere. A fee-only RIA can then build a plan around that starting point rather than around products tied to your previous city or employer.
Because you're paying the advisor directly rather than through a product commission, there's no incentive for them to recommend a solution just because it's convenient to sell. This is particularly useful for new arrivals who haven't yet built a local financial history or relationship with a bank or distributor in the city.