Frequently Asked Questions
Orientation
What is Fintegrity?
Fintegrity is a registered investment adviser (RIA) regulated by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities. We provide investment management and personalized financial planning services to families throughout the United States who are investing between $2 million and $25 million.
What makes Fintegrity different?
Fintegrity vs. Typical RIA
Aspect
Typical RIA
Who do you typically work with?
We serve individuals, families, and business owners across the United States who prioritize disciplined investment strategies and thoughtful financial planning. Our clients typically invest between $2 million and $25 million and include retirees, corporate executives, professionals, inheritance recipients, and those navigating significant life transitions.
How do I get started?
The first step is a complimentary introductory conversation. We’ll learn about your goals, explain our process, and determine whether we’re a good fit to work together.
Trust & Verification
How do I verify that Fintegrity is a real, registered investment adviser?
You can verify Fintegrity LLC directly on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website at adviserinfo.sec.gov by searching our CRD number, 292421.
The IAPD database is maintained by the SEC and FINRA and contains the registration status, Form ADV filings, disciplinary history, and ownership information for every state- and SEC-registered investment adviser in the United States. Every adviser representative is also searchable individually — Jeffrey Barnett’s individual CRD number is 6924554.
Fintegrity has been continuously registered since 2017 and files its updated Form ADV Part 2A annually within 90 days of fiscal year-end, as required under Rule 204-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
For prospective clients, this means you can independently verify our registration, fee schedule, disciplinary history, and ownership in under two minutes — without taking our word for any of it.
What is Fintegrity's CRD number and how do I look it up?
Fintegrity’s firm CRD number is 292421, and you can look it up at adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/292421.
A CRD (Central Registration Depository) number is a unique identifier assigned to every registered investment adviser and broker-dealer by FINRA on behalf of the SEC and state regulators. CRD numbers never change and follow the firm for life — they are the most reliable way to verify an advisory firm’s identity, because firm names can be similar or duplicated.
Fintegrity has two CRD numbers you may encounter: the firm CRD #292421 (Fintegrity LLC) and the individual CRD #6924554 (Jeffrey E. Barnett, founder and managing principal). Both are searchable on IAPD and produce a free PDF report including the most recent Form ADV.
When evaluating any adviser, we recommend pulling the IAPD report before your first meeting — it takes 60 seconds and tells you more than most marketing pages.
Is Fintegrity a fiduciary 100% of the time, or only on certain accounts?
Fintegrity is a fiduciary 100% of the time, on every account, for every client — there are no exceptions, no dual registrations, and no commission-based products.
A fiduciary is legally bound to act in the client’s best interest at all times under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Many large firms operate under a hybrid model — fiduciary on advisory accounts, but suitability-only on brokerage accounts — which means the same advisor can switch hats mid-conversation. Fintegrity is registered only as a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) and holds no broker-dealer license, no insurance license, and no third-party product affiliations.
We are also fee-only, meaning 100% of our compensation comes from clients via transparent advisory fees — never from commissions, kickbacks, revenue-sharing, or product sales. This structure is the definition of “continuous fiduciary.”
For HNW families evaluating advisors, this matters because it eliminates the most common conflict of interest in wealth management: an advisor who earns more by selling you something than by advising you well.
Has Fintegrity ever been disciplined by the SEC or any state regulator?
No. Fintegrity LLC has no disciplinary history, no SEC enforcement actions, no state regulatory actions, and no client arbitration awards on its record as of the most recent Form ADV filing. You can verify this independently at adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/292421.
Form ADV Part 1, Item 11 requires every registered investment adviser to disclose any criminal, regulatory, civil, or self-regulatory disciplinary events for the firm and its principals. The IAPD report displays these events for ten years after they occur and is updated within 30 days of any reportable event.
Founder Jeffrey Barnett (CRD #6924554) has held FINRA and/or SEC registrations continuously since 1996 with no disciplinary disclosures across nearly three decades of regulated employment, including senior roles at TIAA where he managed approximately $40 billion in assets across multiple asset classes (equities, fixed income, and alternatives).
We disclose this directly because we believe a clean regulatory record is a baseline expectation for an HNW fiduciary, not a marketing achievement — and because any prospect can verify it themselves in 60 seconds.
How does Fintegrity compare to Charles Schwab Wealth Advisory or Vanguard PAS?
Fintegrity is a fee-only, GIPS-verified boutique RIA serving 24 ultra-high-net-worth households, while Schwab Wealth Advisory and Vanguard Personal Advisor Services are mass-market advisory programs serving hundreds of thousands of clients each.
The key differences are scale, customization, and verification. Charles Schwab Wealth Advisory charges a tiered fee starting at 0.80% on the first $1M with a $500,000 minimum (Schwab.com) and assigns clients to a regional advisor team. Vanguard Personal Advisor Services (PAS) charges approximately 0.30% AUM with a $50,000 minimum (Vanguard.com) and uses a centralized advisor pool combined with model portfolios. Fintegrity charges 1.00% on the first $1M dropping to 0.25% above $10M, requires a $2M minimum, and provides direct access to its managing principal — an HBS MBA and former TIAA Managing Director — who personally manages every relationship.
Unlike Schwab and Vanguard, Fintegrity has obtained third-party GIPS verification by The Spaulding Group for the period 1/22/2019 through 12/31/2025 — a standard adopted by less than 1% of U.S. RIAs.
For prospects deciding between a national platform and a boutique fiduciary, the trade-off is breadth versus depth: Schwab and Vanguard offer brand recognition and lower fees on smaller balances; Fintegrity offers individually-managed portfolios, direct principal access, and verified performance for $2M+ relationships.
What happens to my accounts if Jeffrey Barnett is unable to manage them?
Fintegrity maintains a written Business Continuity and Succession Plan filed with the SEC under Rule 206(4)-7, which provides for the orderly transition of client accounts in the event the founder is unable to continue management.
In the short term, all client assets remain custodied at Interactive Brokers — a SIPC-member broker-dealer that custodies over $500 billion in client assets (Interactive Brokers 2024 Annual Report) — meaning your accounts are safe, accessible, and unaffected by any operational issue at Fintegrity itself. Fintegrity never takes custody of client funds.
Clients are notified in advance of any material change and retain the right at all times to terminate the advisory relationship and either retain assets at Interactive Brokers, transfer to a new advisor, or move to another custodian — without penalty.
For HNW families, the practical answer is: your assets are not held by Fintegrity, your portfolio holdings would not change, and you retain full control of next steps regardless of what happens at the firm level.
Fiduciary & Regulation
What does it mean to be a "registered investment adviser?
Key Differences: Obligation and Accountability
Discretionary Authority and Investment Control
Fintegrity operates as a discretionary account manager, meaning clients authorize Fintegrity to make investment decisions on their behalf without seeking approval for each trade. This authority is granted through a written agreement that outlines investment objectives, risk tolerance, and constraints.
Broker-dealers can offer discretionary accounts as well, typically marketed as “wrap accounts” where all fees are bundled into one charge. However, the key difference is that Fintegrity’s discretionary authority is exercised under fiduciary obligation, while a broker-dealer’s discretionary authority is exercised under the suitability standard.
Banks offering trust services also exercise discretionary authority, but the scope is constrained by trust documents and regulatory requirements, and trustees may have less flexibility than investment advisers in adjusting allocations to capture new opportunities
Fee Structures and Transparency
Fintegrity charges transparent, asset-based fees and receives no commissions from brokers, banks, insurance companies, or product manufacturers. This fee model aligns Fintegrity’s interests directly with client interests—the firm benefits when client assets grow, not when clients trade frequently or purchase high-commission products.
Broker-dealers earn commissions on each trade and from products sold, creating incentives that may not align with client interests.
Banks employ varied compensation models, often bundling advisory services with lending and deposit products. This creates multiple revenue streams and can encourage the bank to recommend its own products rather than those best suited to the client.
What does it mean that Fintegrity is "fee-only"?
Fintegrity is exclusively paid by clients and accepts no compensation, such as commissions or bonuses, for selling financial products. This removes the incentive to recommend one investment over another and leads to more objective, client-focused advice.
What disclosures should I review before becoming a client?
Before becoming a Fintegrity client, prospective clients should carefully review the following key disclosures:
- Form ADV Part 2A (Firm Brochure): Comprehensive information about Fintegrity’s business, services, fees, conflicts, and risks
- Form ADV Part 2B (Brochure Supplement): Background and qualifications of advisory personnel who will serve you
- Investment Management Agreement: The contract establishing the terms of your relationship with Fintegrity
- Privacy Notice: How Fintegrity collects, uses, and protects your personal information
- Interactive Brokers Custodial Documents: Account agreements, risk disclosures, margin disclosures (if applicable), and options disclosures (if applicable)
Taking time to read and understand these documents will help you make an informed decision about entrusting Fintegrity with the management of your assets. If anything is unclear, you should ask questions before signing any agreements or transferring assets.
Choosing an Adviser
Who is a good RIA for someone with a $2–5M portfolio who's tired of their wirehouse?
A good Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) for a $2–5M household leaving a wirehouse should provide four things wirehouses structurally cannot: fiduciary duty on every account, fee-only compensation, customized individual-security portfolios in place of proprietary products, and direct access to the senior adviser managing the relationship.
A wirehouse — Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, UBS, or Wells Fargo Advisers — is a dual-registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, which means the same adviser can switch between fiduciary (advisory) and suitability-only (brokerage) standards within a single relationship. Wirehouse advisers are typically compensated through a combination of advisory fees, embedded product revenue, and firm-set production targets — a structure that Kitces Research identified as carrying a median all-in cost of approximately 1.50% per year at the $2M level, declining to 1.20% at $5M+, when underlying expense ratios and platform fees are included (Kitces.com). By contrast, an independent fee-only RIA is registered solely as an investment adviser, accepts no commissions, and discloses every form of compensation in its Form ADV Part 2A.
Fintegrity LLC (CRD #292421) is structured specifically for the $2–25M household leaving a wirehouse: $2,000,000 minimum, fee-only compensation, continuous fiduciary duty, GIPS-verified performance, individual-security portfolios custodied at Interactive Brokers under its institutional IBKR Pro tier (typically under $1 per equity trade, with smart-order routing and execution quality that more than offsets the modest commission), and direct access to the managing principal — an HBS MBA and former TIAA Managing Director — for every client meeting. The blended effective fee for a $5M relationship is approximately 0.80%, with no embedded product revenue, soft dollars, or revenue-sharing arrangements.
For prospects evaluating the move, the practical due-diligence test is to compare your current wirehouse 1099 (advisory fee + fund expense ratios + platform fees + transaction costs) against an RIA’s all-in fee — the difference is often substantial, and the structural conflict elimination is independent of the cost savings.
Should I move my account from Merrill Lynch to a fiduciary RIA?
Whether to move from Merrill Lynch to a fiduciary RIA depends on three diagnostic questions: (1) Does your current adviser act as a fiduciary on every account, or only on advisory accounts? (2) What is your current all-in cost when fund expense ratios and platform fees are included? (3) Do you have direct access to the senior adviser managing your portfolio, or are you assigned to a rotating team?
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management is a division of Bank of America and operates as a dual-registered broker-dealer and investment adviser. According to Merrill’s own client relationship summary, client relationships can be structured as either advisory (where the firm acts as a fiduciary) or brokerage (where the firm acts under a suitability standard) — and many clients hold both account types with the same adviser. Merrill Guided Investing With an Adviser charges a stated annual program fee of 0.85% (Merrill Edge), but Kitces Research found that the median all-in cost for dually-registered firms at the $1M level is approximately 125 basis points versus 120 basis points for fee-only RIAs, with the gap widening at higher asset levels once underlying fund expenses are included (Kitces.com).
A move to a fee-only fiduciary RIA typically delivers four structural changes: (1) the adviser is fiduciary on every dollar at every moment, (2) compensation is paid only by the client with no product revenue, (3) portfolios can hold individual securities rather than proprietary or affiliated funds, and (4) Form ADV Part 2A discloses every conflict in plain language. The trade-off is that you lose the integrated banking, lending, and concierge services that a wirehouse bundles — services that are valuable to some HNW households but not worth the cost for others.
The practical decision framework: request your most recent 12 months of statements from Merrill, total your all-in costs (advisory fee + fund expense ratios + transaction charges + platform fees), and compare to a fee-only RIA’s published fee schedule plus underlying ETF or individual-security expenses. If the cost gap exceeds 30 basis points and you do not actively use Merrill’s lending and banking services, the structural and economic case for moving to a fiduciary RIA is typically strong. Fintegrity does not provide investment advice to prospective clients before engagement; this answer is intended as a decision framework, not a recommendation. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
How do I get started with Fintegrity?
The first step is a complimentary introductory conversation. We’ll learn about your goals, explain our process, and determine whether we’re a good fit to work together.
Services & Approach
What services do you provide?
We offer investment management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, tax-aware strategies, sustainable monthly income, estate planning coordination, and ongoing guidance to help you make informed decisions.
What is your investment philosophy?
Fintegrity builds disciplined, diversified portfolios grounded in behavioral finance—recognizing that investor psychology can create opportunities beyond fundamentals. We tailor strategies to each client’s goals, rebalance with discretion, and favor high-quality businesses and investment-grade bonds to preserve wealth, manage risk, and achieve lasting growth.
What types of investments do you recommend?
We construct diversified portfolios through a disciplined, evidence-based approach. Your investments are shaped by your personal goals, preferences, risk tolerance, and time horizon—never by commissions or product incentives. We primarily invest directly in individual stocks and bonds to build your portfolio, but may use exchange traded funds and other vehicles, as appropriate.
How do you customize your advice?
We begin by understanding your goals, preferences, and financial situation. From there, we design strategies tailored to your needs—whether that’s preserving wealth, pursuing growth, planning for retirement, or creating a legacy for future generations
How can a financial plan help me?
A financial plan brings clarity and organization to your wealth. It helps you evaluate scenarios—such as retiring at different ages, purchasing a property, or changing your investments—and shows how those decisions affect your long-term goals. It turns complexity into confidence.
Can you help with tax and estate planning?
Yes. While we do not prepare tax returns or draft legal documents, we integrate tax-aware strategies into your financial plan and coordinate with your CPA and attorney to ensure a cohesive approach.
How often will we meet?
We typically meet with clients at least annually to review progress and update plans. However, we are available throughout the year upon request and whenever life changes or new opportunities arise.
Fees & Pricing
How are you compensated?
As a fee-only advisor, our sole compensation comes directly from our clients. This ensures impartiality, as we never earn commissions or receive incentives from external parties. Our fee structure is transparent, determined either as a percentage of assets under management or a flat planning fee, tailored to the specifics of each engagement.
How are fees calculated and billed?
Fintegrity’s Investment management fees are calculated based on the daily value of your assets under management and are billed quarterly in arrears using a tiered fee structure:
- 1.00% annually on the first $1 million
- 0.75% annually on the next $4 million
- 0.50% annually on the next $5 million
- 0.25% annually on amounts over $10 million
For example, a $12 million portfolio would have an effective annual fee of 0.58%.
Our financial planning services are a separate service from investment management and start at $10,000. Investment management clients receive a $5,000 credit toward their investment fees. For ongoing support, continuous planning is available via a monthly retainer, with costs tailored to the scope of the engagement.
How does Fintegrity's 1.00% fee compare to a typical broker's commission-based pricing?
Fintegrity charges a transparent, declining advisory fee starting at 1.00% on the first $1M and dropping to 0.25% on assets above $10M — paid directly by the client, with no commissions, no product sales, and no revenue-sharing.
A typical commission-based broker is compensated through embedded product costs that are difficult to compare to a stated fee. Common sources include front-end mutual fund loads of 3.0% to 5.75%, 12b-1 trail fees of 0.25% per year, variable-annuity wrap costs averaging 2.0% to 3.5% per year (Morningstar), and proprietary-product placement incentives that are not always disclosed at the time of sale.
Industry research from the Personal Capital Financial Trust Report estimated that the average wrap-fee account carries all-in costs of 1.95% per year when commissions, fund expenses, and platform fees are combined.
For HNW clients, the practical comparison isn’t 1.00% advisory fee versus 0% commission — it’s the all-in cost of working with a fiduciary versus a salesperson. The latter is typically higher, less transparent, and structurally conflicted.
What is the all-in cost of working with Fintegrity, including custodian fees?
The all-in cost for a typical Fintegrity client is the advisory fee plus near-zero custodian fees — meaning a $2M household pays approximately 0.875% per year, or roughly $17,500, with no additional layers of cost.
This is meaningfully lower than the industry average. Custodian costs at Interactive Brokers are minimal for clients holding individual stocks, ETFs, and Treasuries — U.S. equity commissions typically under $1 per trade on the institutional IBKR Pro tier, no platform fee, no account-maintenance fee, and tight institutional spreads on bonds. We use IBKR Pro because the smart-order routing and execution quality it provides typically more than offset the modest per-trade commission. There are no mutual-fund expense ratios because Fintegrity does not use mutual funds for its core equity strategies; if a client holds an ETF or fund position, the underlying expense ratio is disclosed and typically below 0.10%.
The effective all-in cost at common asset levels is therefore:
Portfolio Value
Fintegrity Fee
Custodian Cost
Total All-In
This compares to industry-average wrap-account costs of approximately 1.95% per year and is one of the reasons HNW households moving from a wirehouse or wrap-fee program to Fintegrity often see meaningful cost reduction in addition to the change in service model.
Will my fees decrease over time as my portfolio grows?
Yes. Fintegrity uses a tiered fee schedule with breakpoints at $1M, $5M, and $10M — meaning your effective fee rate automatically declines as your portfolio grows, with no negotiation required.
The blended fee schedule is:
Portfolio Value (AUM)
Annual Fee on That Tier
At common asset levels, the blended effective rate is approximately:
$2M household → 0.875% blended
$5M household → 0.80% blended
$10M household → 0.65% blended
$20M household → 0.45% blended
Breakpoints are applied automatically at each quarterly billing cycle — no client request, application, or repricing meeting required. Fees are billed in arrears based on the average daily account value, which means clients pay on the actual portfolio value experienced during the quarter rather than a single point-in-time snapshot.
For multi-generational families building wealth across decades, this structure aligns the firm’s compensation with the client’s growth and avoids the friction common at large platforms where fee reductions require explicit negotiation or relationship escalation.
What's a reasonable fee for a fee-only adviser managing a $10 million portfolio?
A reasonable advisory fee for a fee-only fiduciary managing a $10 million portfolio is 0.50% to 0.75% per year, declining further at higher asset levels — meaningfully below the 1.00% rate that prevails at the $1M level.
Kitces Research synthesizing Bob Veres’ Inside Information fee survey found that the median advisory fee for $5M+ portfolios is approximately 0.50%, and that more than 10% of advisers charge 0.25% or less at that level. The same research identified median all-in costs (advisory fee + underlying expense ratios + platform fees) of approximately 1.20% at the $5M+ level for the broader advisory industry, with fee-only RIAs typically running below the median because they lack the product-revenue and platform-cost layers common at dually-registered firms (Kitces.com). For comparison, Charles Schwab Wealth Advisory charges 0.50% on assets between $5M and $10M and 0.30% above $10M (Schwab.com), while Vanguard Personal Adviser Wealth Management charges 0.20% between $5M and $10M (Vanguard.com) using model-portfolio mutual funds. Both programs separately charge the underlying expense ratios of the funds held in client portfolios — typically ~0.05–0.10% for index-fund-heavy Vanguard portfolios and ~0.05–0.20% for typical Schwab Wealth Advisory portfolios, with active-fund or alternatives sleeves pushing higher. A client’s all-in cost is therefore the stated advisory fee plus the asset-weighted underlying expense ratio.
Fintegrity’s tiered fee schedule produces a blended effective rate of approximately 0.65% on a $10M portfolio (1.00% on the first $1M + 0.75% on the next $4M + 0.50% on the next $5M = $65,000 per year, or 0.65% blended). At $20M, the blended rate declines to approximately 0.45%; at $25M, approximately 0.40%. Custodian costs at Interactive Brokers are extremely low and essentially offset by superior trade execution for individual-stock and ETF portfolios, meaning Fintegrity’s all-in cost at $10M is approximately 0.65% — versus a 1.20% industry-median all-in cost at the same asset level.
The practical evaluation framework for a $10M household: a “reasonable” fee is one that (1) is fully disclosed in writing in the advisory agreement and Form ADV, (2) declines at clearly-defined asset breakpoints without negotiation, (3) is paid only by you (no embedded product revenue), and (4) when added to underlying fund expense ratios, produces an all-in cost meaningfully below 1.00%. Any adviser charging materially above the Kitces median at the $5M+ level should be able to demonstrate specific differentiated services that justify the premium.
Custody, Security & Logistics
What is Interactive Brokers' role as custodian?
Interactive Brokers serves as the independent safeguard of your assets, holding them separate from Fintegrity’s operations and from Interactive Brokers’ own business. The custodian arrangement provides multiple layers of protection:
- Legal segregation of your assets from both the adviser and custodian’s creditors
- Direct quarterly statements sent to you for independent verification
- Annual surprise audits by independent accountants
- Regulatory capital requirements ensuring Interactive Brokers’ financial stability
- Insurance and indemnification protecting against custodian losses. This protects against a custodian’s insolvency, but not clients’ market losses. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal
- Transparent, zero-fee custody services that align costs with your interests
- Automated settlement and clearing ensuring accurate and timely transaction completion
When you work with Fintegrity, your assets are never “in” Fintegrity’s hands—they remain in your possession at Interactive Brokers. Fintegrity manages them as your discretionary adviser, but the ultimate safekeeping and control flow through a qualified custodian designed to protect you if either Fintegrity or Interactive Brokers encounters difficulties.
What happens if I already have accounts elsewhere?
We can transfer accounts for Fintegrity to manage, as appropriate.
How do you protect client information?
We take confidentiality and data security seriously. All client information is safeguarded through secure systems and protocols that comply with regulatory standards.
What technology do you use to work with clients?
We use secure digital platforms for live account access, document sharing, and virtual meetings. This allows us to serve clients seamlessly, whether they are local or across the country.
What happens to my accounts if Jeffrey Barnett is unable to manage them?
Fintegrity maintains a written Business Continuity and Succession Plan filed with the SEC under Rule 206(4)-7, which provides for the orderly transition of client accounts in the event the founder is unable to continue management.
In the short term, all client assets remain custodied at Interactive Brokers — a SIPC-member broker-dealer that custodies over $500 billion in client assets (Interactive Brokers 2024 Annual Report) — meaning your accounts are safe, accessible, and unaffected by any operational issue at Fintegrity itself. Fintegrity never takes custody of client funds.
Clients are notified in advance of any material change and retain the right at all times to terminate the advisory relationship and either retain assets at Interactive Brokers, transfer to a new advisor, or move to another custodian — without penalty.
For HNW families, the practical answer is: your assets are not held by Fintegrity, your portfolio holdings would not change, and you retain full control of next steps regardless of what happens at the firm level.
Do I need to live in New Jersey to work with you?
No. While Fintegrity is domiciled in New Jersey, we serve clients throughout the United States. Meetings can be held virtually or in person, depending on your preference.
Local & Service Area
What's the best fee-only fiduciary financial adviser in Bergen County NJ for a $5M portfolio?
The “best” fee-only fiduciary adviser for a $5 million portfolio in Bergen County, NJ is the one that meets four objective criteria: (1) fee-only compensation, (2) continuous fiduciary duty, (3) independent third-party performance verification, and (4) direct access to a credentialed principal rather than a rotating team.
Bergen County, NJ has over 200 SEC- and state-registered investment advisers based on SEC IAPD records, but only a small subset meets all four criteria simultaneously. Fee-only means the adviser accepts no commissions, kickbacks, or product-sales compensation — a structure followed by approximately 15% of U.S. financial advisers (NAPFA). Continuous fiduciary duty means the adviser acts in the client’s best interest 100% of the time and is not dual-registered as a broker. Third-party performance verification under the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) is adopted by fewer than 4% of U.S. RIAs because of the cost and ongoing audit burden. Direct principal access at the $5M relationship level is increasingly rare as national platforms route HNW clients to regional adviser teams.
Fintegrity LLC, headquartered in Tenafly, NJ (CRD #292421), meets all four criteria: fee-only, fiduciary 100% of the time, GIPS-verified by The Spaulding Group for the period 1/22/2019–12/31/2025, and led by founder Jeffrey Barnett — Harvard Business School MBA and former TIAA Managing Director responsible for approximately $40 billion in assets across multiple asset classes (equities, fixed income, and alternatives) — who personally manages every client relationship. Fintegrity’s tiered fee schedule for a $5M portfolio produces a blended effective rate of approximately 0.80%, declining further at higher asset levels.
For Bergen County families with $5M+ in investable assets, the practical recommendation is to verify these four criteria for any adviser on your shortlist using the SEC’s IAPD database — and to interview the principal who would actually manage your portfolio, not a regional sales representative.
Working Together
How do I contact you?
Contact Fintegrity at 201-266-6829, jeff@fintegrity.com, or conveniently schedule an appointment through the Calendly link on Fintegrity.com. We look forward to connecting with you.
What is your account minimum?
Fintegrity’s account minimum is $2 million in investable assets. We work with a deliberately limited number of households — currently 24 — so that every client receives direct attention from Jeffrey Barnett rather than being routed to a junior associate. The minimum reflects the level of complexity, tax coordination, and ongoing planning work that makes a fiduciary relationship genuinely valuable. Households just below the threshold are welcome to reach out; we’ll have an honest conversation about fit.
Do you hold the CFA designation? What does that mean for me as a client?
No — Jeffrey Barnett is not a CFA charterholder. The Chartered Financial Analyst designation is a rigorous three-exam credential designed primarily for institutional portfolio managers, research analysts, and securities-selection roles at investment banks and asset-management firms. It is a securities-analysis credential, not a fiduciary-advice credential.
When choosing an individual advisor, it’s crucial to ensure they meet several key criteria. The person managing your money should be:
1. A registered investment adviser held to a fiduciary standard.
2. Verifiable through public regulatory records.
3. Accountable for a proven track record you can inspect.
4. Experienced in handling your specific financial situation.
5. Operating a practice structured to prioritize your interests above all else.
Fintegrity meets all five. The firm is registered with the SEC (CRD #292421) and Jeffrey Barnett is registered as an investment adviser representative (CRD #6924554) — both verifiable on adviserinfo.sec.gov. Fintegrity is a fiduciary 100% of the time, is fee-only with no commissions, and is one of the few Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) that publishes GIPS-verified composite returns. Fewer than 4% of RIAs meet this institutional standard for performance reporting.
The most important question is not “what letters follow your advisor’s name?” but “would they pass a fiduciary audit, and can you verify their record?” Both answers for Fintegrity are public.
Can you work with my existing CPA and estate attorney?
Fintegrity works directly with each client’s CPA, estate attorney, and insurance advisor as part of an integrated planning process — we do not require clients to change their existing professional relationships.
Most HNW households have a long-standing CPA and estate attorney whose institutional knowledge of the family’s history is valuable and not easily replaced. Fintegrity’s role is to serve as the investment quarterback — coordinating the tax, estate, and risk-management implications of investment decisions with the professionals already in place. Typical coordination includes year-end tax projections shared with the CPA, gain/loss reporting tied to specific lots, beneficiary designations reviewed against the estate plan, and trust-funding sequencing aligned with the attorney’s recommendations.
For clients without a CPA or estate attorney, Fintegrity maintains a referral network of qualified professionals in the Bergen County, NJ and broader NY metro area; we receive no referral compensation from any third party.
The practical outcome is a unified financial picture: tax-aware portfolio decisions, estate documents that reflect actual account titling, and a single point of accountability for the family balance sheet.