Plain English
RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) is a fiduciary investment-management firm regulated by the SEC (if managing $100M+) or state securities authorities (under $100M). Unlike brokers, RIAs are held to a fiduciary standard — legally required to act in their clients’ best interest, not just to recommend “suitable” investments.
How it actually works
RIAs typically charge management fees (often around 1% of assets under management, lower at higher AUM levels) rather than commissions. They file Form ADV with the SEC, disclosing their services, fees, conflicts, and disciplinary history. Most HNW families work with an RIA either directly or as part of a multi-family-office relationship.
What it means for you
For HNW members coordinating across traditional and on-chain wealth, the RIA is typically the central advisor. The question is whether your RIA has crypto competence — many do not yet. Members increasingly look for RIAs with explicit on-chain expertise or work with crypto-native advisors alongside their traditional RIA.
Our DeFi-for-Family-Offices module discusses RIA integration with on-chain strategies — how RIAs can custody crypto, report on it for clients, and coordinate with the tax and estate aspects of digital-asset ownership.
Educational content only. Not investment, tax, or legal advice.