FAQs

Everyone has different needs. At Raymond James Financial Services, our business is your financial well-being. To efficiently move forward in finding the right financial advisor, communication is key. Generally speaking, stating your needs and goals, and what you hope the financial advisor can do for you, contributes to a more collaborative and valuable relationship.

The professionals at Southport Financial Group are registered financial advisors with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., a member of FINRA and SIPC. All transactions are cleared through Raymond James & Associates, Inc., a non-bank owned New York Stock Exchange and SIPC member firm. This allows us to provide independent advice in-line with the best interests of our clients.

Yes. Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), established as a nonprofit entity by Congress in 1970, protects client assets in the event of a member firm’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Raymond James & Associates is a member of SIPC, which protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash). An explanatory brochure is available upon request or at sipc.org or by calling 202.371.8300.

Account protection applies when a SIPC-member firm fails financially and is unable to meet obligations to securities clients, but it does not protect against market fluctuations.

In the vast majority of cases, SIPC is likely to meet 100% of the claims of individual investors.

However, to account for clients whose losses may be such that a deficiency still exists after they have received the full SIPC entitlement (subject to any sub-limit for claims for cash), Raymond James has purchased excess SIPC coverage through various syndicates of Lloyd's, a London-based firm. Excess SIPC is fully protected by the Lloyd’s trust funds and Lloy';s Central Fund. The additional protection currently provided has an aggregate firm limit of $750 million, including a sub-limit of $1.9 million per customer for cash above basic SIPC for the wrongful abstraction of customer funds.¹

Lloyd’s of London is the world’s leading insurance market. It was established in 1688 and provides specialist insurance coverage to businesses worldwide. It is regulated by the Financial ServicesAuthority, which oversees all financial institutions in the United Kingdom.

Its financial strength is constantly rated by independent rating agencies. At present, Lloyd's enjoys an A+ rating from both Fitch and Standard & Poor's and an A rating from A.M. Best.² More information on Lloyds is available at Lloyds.com.

¹ In the event of the member firm's bankruptcy or insolvency, clients may incur losses if the aggregate amount of insurance coverage has been exhausted.

² Ratings are subject to change and do not remove market risk.

For more information, please see http://www.raymondjames.com/privacy_security/account_protection.htm.

For nearly 50 years, we have quietly gone about the business of treating each client as an individual with unique financial needs, helping you plan for every eventuality.

Raymond James is often called the “clear alternative to Wall Street” because of our conservative, client-focused approach to financial planning. The results of this unique approach are often noted by independent experts. For example, for stock picking, The Wall Street Journal chose Raymond James as a top 10 (out of 163 firms) honoree on the newspaper’s 2011 Best on the Street stock-picking contest. On recommendation performance, Raymond James ranked fifth on the Forbes 2009 Blue Chip Analyst Survey, which measured stock recommendation performance for earnings accuracy over a three-year period. And in 2012, Fortune magazine named us one of the most-admired securities company in the world.

Our business is you and your financial well-being. Planning and investing for your future, your family or your business doesn’t have to be complicated – especially when you have someone you trust who has taken the time to get to know you and your specific situation, helping guide you along the way.

As one of the nation’s leading investment management firms, Raymond James believes that choice is crucial in investment and financial planning. Our firm provides access to a selection of investment products that is both broad and deep, because we feel that your strategies should change along with your lifestyle and needs – and a change in strategy may require alterations to your portfolio.

Diversification is sound policy, because it's designed to reduce the inherent risk of investing. That's why we offer an extensive array of investment alternatives within the Raymond James Service 1st^SM culture where the advisor-client relationship is central to decision-making.

Diversification does not guarantee a profit nor protect against loss.

For more information, please see this page: http://www.raymondjames.com/invalts.htm.

Every investor has to start somewhere. The dollar amount you choose to invest can be discussed with your advisor, who serves as an advocate and expert – someone trusted to listen, understand, and be in full support of your goals. Whether to ensure you have the income needed today, to plan for retirement tomorrow, or to attempt to grow your hard-earned assets for future generations, you can feel comfortable meeting with our seasoned advisors.

Knowing the client’s needs, as well as maintaining a responsibility to make sure the investments are suited to their client are the FA’s main priorities. With our relationship with Raymond James, we are able to offer a wide range of investment products - each with their own fee structure to meet your needs. Your financial advisor is available to discuss in detail how compensation is determined.

Client account statements are mailed monthly if there has been activity in your account during that 30-day period. Quarterly statements are sent if there has been no activity during the previous 90-day period or if the account is an individual retirement account.

Raymond James is committed to providing investors clear, in-depth information about their accounts as well as consistent, high-quality service. That’s why we offer you two options for viewing your account information. The Executive Overview Statement shows only the most important information, while the Comprehensive Statement provides a more detailed view.

Yes, for your convenience, you will have easy access to your account and any transactions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

At Raymond James, Service 1st is our commitment to always placing clients financial needs first. Raymond James provides you with account information that is timely, clear and convenient.

There are client resources such as "A Guide to Your Statement" located on our website, http://www.raymondjames.com/statement.htm. In addition, feel free to contact your financial advisor , Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 203.307.2356 or toll free at 800.925.8860.

No, Raymond James does not impose a fee to transfer your account from your last securities firm.

You may call us today at 203.307.2356 and arrange to speak to a financial advisor. Once on board, we would like you to maximize your experience with your FA. We encourage you to continue to call on a regular basis and/or meet in person, quarterly, to share any concerns, goals and to allow time for you and your advisor to review your plan.