Custody & security
How your assets are protected.
The structure
Two important roles. One goal.
When you work with a modern advisory firm, two separate organizations play two distinct roles in protecting your wealth.
FWRD Financial provides the planning, advice, and portfolio management. An independent custodian — a regulated financial institution — holds your assets, executes transactions, and sends you your statements.
Separating the advisor from the custodian creates an important layer of accountability and protection.
You
The legal owner of every account. Everything else in this picture exists to serve your plan.
Independent custodian
A regulated financial institution that holds your assets, executes trades, and sends your statements directly to you.
Your investments
Held in accounts titled in your name, protected by regulatory safeguards, and accessible to you 24/7.
FWRD Financial
We provide the planning, investment advice, and portfolio management — as a fiduciary, legally required to act in your best interest. Your money never sits in our name or on our balance sheet.
Notice what's missing: any way for us to withdraw your money.
Withdrawals require your authorization, apart from items you've pre‑authorized, such as advisory fees.
Our custodian of choice
Why we chose Altruist.
After evaluating what a modern retirement client actually needs, we chose Altruist as our preferred custodian. Legacy platforms were built decades ago — and it shows in the paperwork, the delays, and the friction. We wanted a partner built for how planning is done today.
Altruist gives our clients a genuinely modern experience: a clean mobile app, real-time reporting, digital account opening in minutes, and cost efficiencies we can pass along. Behind the scenes, it also frees us from administrative drag — which means more of our time goes to your plan, not to paperwork.
Thousands of independent advisory firms have adopted Altruist for its modern technology, security infrastructure, and client experience.
5,000+Independent advisory firms
Top 3Independent RIA custodian
SOC 2Type II security certified
Altruist is our preferred custodian because of the client experience it provides. Clients may also choose other custodians when appropriate.
Built on a modern foundation
Institutional-grade security.
Modern infrastructure, thoughtfully designed — protecting your accounts with the same rigor demanded by the largest institutions.
Independent custody
Your assets are held at a regulated custodian in accounts titled in your name — never on our balance sheet.
Enterprise security
Bank-grade encryption, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring protect your accounts around the clock.
Modern client portal
A clean, intuitive web and mobile experience that lets you check balances, positions, and activity anytime.
Digital documents
Statements, tax forms, and confirmations delivered securely — with a permanent record you can access anytime.
Real-time reporting
Performance and holdings update continuously, so you always know exactly where you stand.
Cash management
Competitive cash yields, expanded FDIC coverage, and easy funding to and from your bank.
Accountability, by design
Who actually has access to your money?
This is the question most people don't ask out loud — but are quietly thinking about. Here is the honest answer: your advisor cannot simply move money wherever they want.
Withdrawals require your authorization — the only standing exception is items you have expressly pre‑authorized, such as advisory fee deductions.
The custodian independently verifies every request before it is processed.
You receive trade confirmations directly from the custodian — not filtered through us.
You receive account statements directly from the custodian on a regular schedule.
Every transaction is documented and creates a permanent, auditable paper trail.
Ownership, always
You remain in control.
Hiring an advisor doesn't mean handing over the keys. You keep direct ownership and direct access to your money — every day.
- Every account is in your name — not ours.
- You can log in to your accounts anytime, from anywhere.
- You can call the custodian directly — no gatekeeper.
- You can move assets in or out on your terms.
- You always know exactly where your money is.
- Less paperwork for us means more of our time goes to your plan.
Flexibility built in
We meet you where you are.
Already have accounts at Schwab or Fidelity? We can work with those too.
- AltruistPreferred
- Charles SchwabAlso supported
- FidelityAlso supported
Whichever custodian is the right fit, the same core protections apply: your assets remain in your name, independent of our firm.
“When you become a client of FWRD Financial, you're never asked to choose between personal advice and institutional protection — you receive both.”
Next step
Your accounts stay yours.Let's plan what they're for.
Start with a complimentary conversation about the retirement you're picturing — and whether our process is the right fit.
Every conversation is personal — by phone, at a time that works for you.
Schedule a Complimentary Call15 minutes · Complimentary · No obligation