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Did you know that two of our associates are Dave Ramsey SmartVestor's? 
Click here to find out more about Eric Nager.
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Southern Capital Services TV Interview

What is an Independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)?

  • An RIA is in the business of giving advice.
  • An independent RIA is not owned by another company or institution.
  • An RIA has a Fiduciary Responsibility to their clients. They are legally required to put the client’s interest first. This is a higher standard that what is required of brokerage firms, which is the suitability of an investment for an individual client.
  • An RIA is typically compensated by fees for advice, rather than commissions on buying & selling.
  • An RIA is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the state in which they operate.

The Difference Between an RIA and a Broker

Blogs

A major storm rolls through. The headlines light up. Power outages. Travel chaos. Damage estimates climbing into the billions. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a question starts to form: What does this mean — for the economy, for markets, for my financial plan? It's a fair question. And the short answer may surprise you. But before we get there, something needs to be said. Events like these ripple through people's lives first...
You know how life tends to throw in a few plot twists? They don't ask if you're ready. They just show up—with potential financial consequences tagging along. A layoff. A diagnosis. A parent who needs help. These moments don't come with instruction manuals. But they do come with price tags, deadlines, and decisions that can echo for years. The good news? You don't have to wait until you're standing in the middle of a crossroad...
Some years pass quietly. 2025 wasn't one of them. Between market swings, geopolitical shocks, and a news cycle that never seemed to pause, this year tested patience across the board. And yet, as we close out December, the real story isn't about what the markets did. It's about how we responded. 2025 Market Volatility: A Year in Review Even those who tried to tune out the noise found it crashing through anyway: The Spring Selloff...