What Do You Want Us to Do?
There are two fundamentally different ways to work with a financial professional. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right structure for your needs — and ensures you know exactly how we're compensated.
You're in the Driver's Seat
We recommend. You decide. You pay per transaction. Best for institutions and clients who want to approve each trade individually and prefer not to pay an ongoing management fee.
- We present specific bond offerings, CDs, funds, or other securities — you approve each trade before it executes
- Compensation is earned through markup or markdown on fixed income transactions, or commissions on other securities
- No ongoing annual management fee
- You retain full control — nothing happens without your explicit approval
- Governed by FINRA's Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) — we are required to act in your best interest at the time of each recommendation
- Ideal for: institutions buying individual bonds, clients making periodic investment decisions, or clients who prefer transactional relationships
We Manage It for You
We manage your portfolio on an ongoing basis for an annual fee. As your Investment Adviser Representative, we are legally obligated to act in your best interest at all times — this is the fiduciary standard.
- We manage your portfolio with investment discretion — making trades on your behalf within an agreed strategy
- Annual advisory fee charged as a percentage of assets under management, billed quarterly
- Ongoing monitoring, rebalancing, reporting, and strategy adjustments included
- Access to LPL Financial's full suite of investment advisory platforms and institutional money managers
- Governed by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 — the fiduciary standard legally requires us to put your interests ahead of our own at all times
- Ideal for: HNW individuals, families seeking comprehensive wealth management, and institutions preferring ongoing portfolio oversight
Brokerage: We recommend a specific investment and you decide whether to buy it. We are paid at the time of the transaction. The Reg BI standard means our recommendation must be in your best interest, but the obligation ends there.
Advisory / Managed: We manage your money on your behalf, continuously. Our obligation to act as your fiduciary never stops — it applies to every decision we make, every day your assets are under our care. You pay an ongoing fee regardless of transaction volume, which removes the incentive to trade more than necessary. You should always ask any financial professional which standard applies to your account.
Institutional Fixed Income Fee Schedule
Fees vary based on account structure (brokerage vs. advisory), asset size, and security type. All fees are disclosed in writing prior to any transaction or advisory engagement.
Important: The fee ranges shown below are illustrative examples based on typical market practice for institutional fixed income advisory. Your actual fees will be outlined in your client agreement and, for advisory accounts, in LPL Financial's Form ADV Part 2 Brochure, which will be provided to you before any advisory relationship begins. Fees may be negotiable.
Brokerage — Fixed Income Transactions
Transaction-based compensation — no ongoing management fee
In a brokerage account, compensation is earned on a per-transaction basis through markups or markdowns on fixed income securities. There is no ongoing annual management fee — you are only charged when a transaction occurs.
To discuss current pricing for your specific security types and trade sizes, please contact Chris Theut directly. Larger institutional block trades are priced competitively based on par amount and market conditions at the time of execution.
Advisory — Managed Portfolio (Fiduciary)
Annual fee as % of assets under management, billed quarterly
| Assets Under Management | Annual Advisory Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $5,000,000 | 0.35% |
| $5,000,000 – $25,000,000 | 0.25% |
| $25,000,000 – $100,000,000 | 0.20% |
| Over $100,000,000 | Negotiated |
| Minimum Annual Fee | $2,500 |
What's included: Portfolio construction, ongoing monitoring and rebalancing, quarterly performance reporting, investment policy statement guidance, cash flow analysis, swap opportunity identification, and direct access to Chris Theut. Transaction costs on individual bond trades are charged separately at brokerage rates above.
What You Get in an Institutional Advisory Relationship
- — IPS-aligned portfolio construction
- — Duration and yield management
- — Sector allocation strategy
- — Maturity ladder construction
- — Credit quality monitoring
- — Bloomberg-driven analytics
- — Cash flow projections
- — Quarterly portfolio reports
- — Investment committee-ready summaries
- — Benchmark comparisons
- — Swap opportunity identification
- — Rate environment updates
- — Regulatory guidance (NCUA, OCC, FDIC)
- — New offering notifications
- — Direct access to Chris Theut
Wealth & Personal Advisory Fee Schedule
Wealth management fees are structured to align our interests with yours — the better your portfolio performs, the more valuable our relationship becomes. All fees are fully disclosed before any engagement begins.
Important: The fee ranges below are illustrative. Your actual advisory fee will be agreed upon in writing before any advisory relationship begins and will be detailed in your investment advisory agreement and LPL Financial's Form ADV Part 2 Brochure. Fees are negotiable and may vary based on the complexity of your situation.
Brokerage — Transactional
Pay per transaction — no ongoing management fee
In a brokerage account, you pay on a per-transaction basis — commissions, markups, markdowns, or sales charges depending on the investment type. There is no annual management fee charged against your account balance.
Transaction costs vary by security type and are disclosed to you in writing before or at the time of each transaction. For mutual funds and annuities, costs and charges are also described in the product's prospectus or disclosure document, which you will receive prior to purchase.
Contact Chris Theut directly for a conversation about how brokerage costs would apply to your specific investment goals and account type.
Advisory — Managed Account (Fiduciary)
Annual fee as % of AUM — tiered, billed quarterly
| Assets Under Management | Annual Advisory Fee |
|---|---|
| First $500,000 | Up to 1.25% |
| $500,000 – $1,000,000 | Up to 1.00% |
| $1,000,000 – $2,500,000 | Up to 0.85% |
| $2,500,000 – $5,000,000 | Up to 0.70% |
| $5,000,000 – $10,000,000 | Up to 0.55% |
| Over $10,000,000 | Negotiated |
| Minimum Account Size | $250,000 |
Fees are billed quarterly in advance based on the account value on the last business day of the prior quarter. Fees shown are the maximum advisor fee. Underlying fund expenses (mutual funds, ETFs) are separate and disclosed in each fund's prospectus. Total fees paid depend on the investments selected.
Is an Advisory Account Worth the Fee?
An advisory fee may cost more or less than a brokerage account depending on your trading activity, account size, and investment complexity. Here's a straightforward comparison:
- ✓ You trade frequently or rebalance regularly
- ✓ You value ongoing monitoring and reporting
- ✓ You want a fiduciary managing your money
- ✓ You prefer not to approve every trade
- ✓ Your situation is complex (tax, estate, etc.)
- ✓ You buy and hold for long periods
- ✓ You want to approve every transaction
- ✓ You have a focused, simple portfolio
- ✓ You prefer to pay only when something happens
- ✓ Your portfolio is primarily individual bonds
Available Investment Options
Through LPL Financial, Theut Financial, LLC clients have access to one of the broadest investment platforms available to independent advisors. Below is an overview of what's available by account type.
Fixed Income
- U.S. Treasury Bonds, Notes & Bills
- Federal Agency Bonds (FNMA, FHLMC, FHLB, FFCB)
- Corporate Bonds (Investment Grade)
- Municipal Bonds (Tax-Exempt & Taxable)
- CMOs / Mortgage-Backed Securities
- SBA Bonds
- Brokered Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
- High-Yield Corporate Bonds
- Preferred Securities
Equities & Funds
- Individual Stocks (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX)
- Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
- Index Funds
- Mutual Funds (10,000+ available)
- Closed-End Funds
- Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
- American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)
Insurance & Annuities
- Fixed Annuities
- Fixed Indexed Annuities
- Variable Annuities
- Term Life Insurance
- Whole & Universal Life Insurance
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Disability Income Insurance
Managed Portfolio Solutions
- LPL Model Wealth Portfolios (MWP)
- LPL Optimum Market Portfolios (OMP)
- LPL Personal Wealth Portfolios (PWP)
- LPL Strategic Wealth Management (SWM)
- Guided Wealth Portfolios (GWP)
- Third-party strategist models
- Institutional money manager access
Retirement Accounts
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- Rollover IRA (from 401k/403b)
- SEP-IRA (Self-Employed)
- SIMPLE IRA
- 401(k) Plans (for businesses)
- 403(b) Plans
- Inherited IRA
Specialty & Other
- 529 Education Savings Plans
- Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
- UTMA / UGMA Custodial Accounts
- Trust Accounts
- Corporate / Business Accounts
- Charitable Accounts (DAF)
- Money Market Funds
Managed Account Platform Options
For clients choosing a managed advisory account, LPL Financial offers several platform options depending on your investment objectives, account size, and desired management style. Chris Theut will recommend the platform best suited to your needs.
Chris Theut manages your portfolio directly with full investment discretion within your agreed strategy. Ideal for clients who want a deeply personalized, hands-on approach from their advisor.
Your portfolio is managed using model portfolios built by leading third-party investment strategists selected from LPL's platform. Diversified, professionally managed, and cost-effective.
A mutual fund wrap program offering diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes. Professional allocation management with access to institutional share classes.
Access to institutional money managers typically available only to the largest institutions and ultra-high net worth investors. Multiple managers can be combined in a single account.
A goals-based, technology-driven investment solution that provides professional portfolio management at a lower cost. Continuously monitored and rebalanced automatically.
During your introductory conversation, Chris will walk through your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance to recommend the right platform — or combination of platforms — for your situation.
Schedule a ConversationImportant Information
LPL Financial — Brokerage & Advisory Disclosure
Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.
The LPL Financial registered representative(s) associated with this website may discuss and/or transact business only with the residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.
Review LPL Financial's Form CRS (Client Relationship Summary).
Check the background of investment professionals associated with this site on FINRA's BrokerCheck.
Investment Advisory Services
Investment advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Christopher Theut is an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) of LPL Financial. As a fiduciary, LPL Financial and its IARs are legally required to act in the best interest of advisory clients at all times.
Prior to entering into an investment advisory relationship, clients will receive LPL Financial's Form ADV Part 2 Brochure, which describes LPL's investment advisory services, fees, potential conflicts of interest, and other important information. Clients are encouraged to read this document carefully and ask questions before agreeing to any advisory relationship.
Advisory accounts are subject to an annual advisory fee charged as a percentage of assets under management, billed quarterly. Fees are described in detail in your advisory agreement. Clients have the right to terminate an advisory agreement at any time.
Brokerage Accounts — Regulation Best Interest
In a brokerage account, Christopher Theut acts as a registered representative of LPL Financial, a FINRA-registered broker-dealer. Recommendations made in a brokerage capacity are subject to FINRA's Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), which requires that recommendations be in the best interest of the retail customer at the time the recommendation is made, taking into account the customer's investment profile.
Brokerage accounts involve transaction-based compensation (commissions, markups, or markdowns). LPL Financial's Regulation Best Interest Disclosure and Form CRS (Client Relationship Summary) are available upon request and describe the nature of the brokerage relationship, associated fees, and potential conflicts of interest.
Important: Brokerage and advisory accounts have different fee structures, standards of conduct, and services. You should carefully consider which type of account best suits your needs.
General Investment Risks
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Fixed income investments are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, call risk, and market risk. The value of fixed income securities generally decreases as interest rates rise. Bond ratings are subject to change. Investing in lower-rated securities involves greater risk of default.
Mutual funds and ETFs are subject to management fees and other expenses. ETFs trade like stocks and are subject to market fluctuation. The value of equity investments fluctuates with market conditions. International investing involves additional risks including currency fluctuation, political instability, and different accounting standards.
Annuities are long-term investment vehicles designed for retirement purposes. Withdrawals prior to age 59½ may be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty. Surrender charges may apply during the surrender period. The guarantees in an annuity contract are backed by the financial strength of the issuing insurance company.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a solicitation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. Please consult with a financial professional before making any investment decision.