Washington Financial Group is a investment adviser based in Osterville, MA, that holds a 77.2/100 Fidelon TransparencyScore (13th percentile among SEC-registered advisers), with 2 registered advisors. Score based on public SEC and FINRA filings.
Washington Financial Group
Washington Financial Group, INC. · CRD #132369
A registered investment adviser with a clean regulatory record.
Fidelon Fact Sheet
Washington Financial Group, INC. is an SEC-registered investment adviser in Osterville, MA. It has 2 registered advisors. It manages $119 million across 710 client accounts. It charges a percentage of the money it manages for you, and it can also earn commissions when it sells you a product. Its services include financial planning, portfolio management and investment newsletters. Its record shows no customer complaints, regulatory actions or fines.
Peer Context
9,371st of 10,815
SEC-registered advisers
Bottom 13%
321st of 371
SEC-registered advisers in MA
Bottom 13%
2nd of 2
SEC-registered advisers in Osterville, MA
Bottom 1%
How This Firm Works
Registration & Standard of Care
Investment Adviser — this firm is a registered investment adviser, held to a fiduciary standard — legally required to act in clients' best interests.
How This Firm Gets Paid
- Charges a percentage of assets under management
- Charges fixed fees for specific services
- Representatives can earn commissions on product sales
Specializations
Extracted from Form ADV Part 2A brochure
Key Findings
Strengths
- Registered as investment adviser with fiduciary obligation
- Clean regulatory record — no disclosures, arbitrations, or fines
Things You Should Know
- Earns commissions when you buy certain products — may influence what gets recommended
- Its brochure names insurance commissions as a conflict, but it does not explain what this arrangement tempts the firm to do, say what the firm is paid for it, or say what it can cost you. Ask whether anyone at the firm earns a commission on insurance recommended to you, and whether it lowers your fee.Items 10, 11, 12.B and 14
- Its brochure says some of its people can earn insurance commissions, but it does not say you can buy the same products elsewhere or commissions can shape what they recommend. Ask whether you could buy any recommended product through another broker or insurer.Item 5.E
Conflict Audit
Our analysis identified 2 potential conflicts of interest in regulatory filings.
Source: Form ADV Part 1, Items 6-8; Part 2A, Items 10-14
What this firm says about how it gets paid
“The more assets there are in your advisory account, the more you will pay in fees, and we may therefore have an incentive to encourage you to increase the assets in your account.”
Source: the firm’s own Form CRS, filed 2026-06-17 — quoted directly
Regulatory Track Record
0
Disclosures
Clean record — no disclosures found
$0
Total Fines
Clean record — no fines found
Regulatory Events
TransparencyScore Dimensions
Disclosure Record
Customer complaints, arbitrations, and fines. Frequency and recency matter.
100/100
Strong
Avg for investment adviser firms: 82.6 | Top 10%: 99.5
Filing Quality
How clearly the firm describes services, fees, and investment approach in regulatory filings.
86/100
Strong
Avg for investment adviser firms: 84.1 | Top 10%: 100
Conflict Disclosure
How openly the firm explains who pays it and what it's paid to sell. The conflict isn't the problem — hiding it is.
51/100
Weak
Avg for investment adviser firms: 54 | Top 10%: 67
Enforcement History
Self-reported legal and disciplinary history from Form ADV Item 11.
100/100
Strong
Avg for investment adviser firms: 99.7 | Top 10%: 100
Their two-page relationship summary
The SEC requires every SEC-registered investment adviser to hand you this summary, called a Form CRS, and says what it must cover. We checked this firm's against that list. What is a Form CRS?
- Does it include everything the SEC requires?
- Required sections
- 88/100
- Does it explain how the firm's conflicts affect you?
- Conflicts of interest
- 74/100
- Can you tell what you would pay?
- What you pay
- 78/100
- Is it written in plain English?
- Plain language
- 92/100
This firm's Form CRS averages 83 out of 100. It adds 5.75 points once the firm's filings and record score 90 on their own; they score 77.19 today.
What their brochure tells you
The firm must give you this brochure, Form ADV Part 2A, before you sign. We read it against the SEC's own instructions, item by item. Quotes are the firm's own words; page numbers refer to the filed brochure. What is in a brochure?
Can you tell what you'd pay and when?Brochure Fee Clarity75/100
The SEC asks every brochure to spell out the fee schedule, whether fees can be negotiated, how and when you are billed, the other costs you pay, and refunds.
Each point is marked Covered or Not found. When a point is not found, we say what to ask.
- Can you tell what you'd pay?CoveredItem 5.A
Without a fee schedule you cannot compare this firm with any other.
Following is the current “Standard Fee Schedule”: 1.00% of assets under management up to $1,000,000. 0.75% of assets under management from $1,000,000 up to $5,000,000. 0.50% of assets under management from $5,000,000 up to $10,000,000. 0.25% of assets under management in excess of $10,000,000.p. 7
- Does it say whether the fee can be negotiated?CoveredItem 5.A
If fees are negotiable, other clients may be paying less than you for the same service.
The Adviser reserves the right to negotiate such fees.p. 6
- Does it say whether the fee comes out of your account or gets billed?CoveredItem 5.B
A fee taken straight from your account is easy to stop noticing.
The client authorizes payment of the fees directly to the Adviser from the account upon presentation of a letter of instruction or Advisory Agreement signed by the client and submitted to the custodian.p. 7
- Does it say how often you're charged?CoveredItem 5.B
Monthly, quarterly, in advance or in arrears changes what you owe when you leave.
Fees are billed in arrears for each calendar quarter based upon the value of the portfolio (including cash or its equivalent) (a) at inception, or (b) at the last day of the calendar quarter directly proceeding the quarter to which such a fee relates to.p. 7
- Does it list the other costs you pay, like fund and custodian fees?Not found in the brochureItem 5.C
The advisory fee is rarely the whole bill; fund, trading and custody costs come on top.
What to askAsk what you will pay beyond the advisory fee, in dollars, over a typical year.
- Does it say how you get money back if you leave mid-period?CoveredItem 5.D
If you pay in advance and leave early, the refund rule decides what you get back.
For any fees that are paid in advance, the client(s) will be refunded any unearned fees, calculated on a pro-rata basis, no later than the following quarterly billing cycle.p. 8
Does it explain each conflict of interest and what it could cost you?Brochure Conflict Specificity50/100
The SEC asks the brochure to name each way the firm gets paid besides your fee, what that tempts the firm to do, and what it can cost you.
Each point is marked Covered or Not found. When a point is not found, we say what to ask.
If its people can earn insurance commissions, does it explain them?
Insurance commissions
- Does the brochure name this conflict where the SEC requires?CoveredItems 10/11/12.B/14
A conflict named in the right place is one the firm has thought about; one buried elsewhere is easy to miss.
The Adviser offers insurance products through various companies and may receive compensation.p. 12
- Does it explain what this arrangement tempts the firm to do?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
You can only judge advice when you know which way it is being pulled.
What to askAsk what this arrangement gives the firm a reason to recommend, and how often that happens.
- Does it describe what the arrangement actually is?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
A conflict described in one vague sentence tells you it exists but not how it works.
What to askAsk the advisor to explain this arrangement in plain terms, including who pays whom.
- Does it say what the firm is paid for it?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
The size of the payment tells you how strong the pull is.
What to askAsk how much the firm or its people receive from this arrangement in a typical year.
- Does it say how the firm comes out ahead?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
Benefits that are not cash, like free services or referrals, still shape advice.
What to askAsk what the firm gains from this arrangement beyond fees.
- Does it say what it can cost you?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
Every conflict has a price; the question is whether the brochure puts it in your hands.
What to askAsk what this arrangement can cost you, in fees, returns or choices you do not get.
- Does it say how the firm keeps this conflict in check?Not assessed yetItems 10.C-D, 11.B-D, 14.A
A conflict with no control on it is left to the advisor's goodwill.
What to askAsk whether anyone at the firm earns a commission on insurance recommended to you, and whether it lowers your fee.
If the firm collects 12b-1 fees from mutual funds, does it explain them?
12b-1 distribution fees from mutual funds
- Does the brochure name this conflict where the SEC requires?CoveredItems 10/11/12.B/14
A conflict named in the right place is one the firm has thought about; one buried elsewhere is easy to miss.
The Financial Planner may also receive additional compensation in the form of 12(b)-1 distribution fees as a result of the sale of certain investment company’s products to his/her advisory clients.p. 12
- Does it explain what this arrangement tempts the firm to do?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
You can only judge advice when you know which way it is being pulled.
What to askAsk what this arrangement gives the firm a reason to recommend, and how often that happens.
- Does it describe what the arrangement actually is?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
A conflict described in one vague sentence tells you it exists but not how it works.
What to askAsk the advisor to explain this arrangement in plain terms, including who pays whom.
- Does it say what the firm is paid for it?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
The size of the payment tells you how strong the pull is.
What to askAsk how much the firm or its people receive from this arrangement in a typical year.
- Does it say how the firm comes out ahead?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
Benefits that are not cash, like free services or referrals, still shape advice.
What to askAsk what the firm gains from this arrangement beyond fees.
- Does it say what it can cost you?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
Every conflict has a price; the question is whether the brochure puts it in your hands.
What to askAsk what this arrangement can cost you, in fees, returns or choices you do not get.
- Does it say how the firm keeps this conflict in check?Not assessed yetItems 10.C-D, 11.B-D, 14.A
A conflict with no control on it is left to the advisor's goodwill.
What to askAsk whether any fund you own pays the firm a 12b-1 fee, and whether a cheaper share class exists.
Do they earn commissions on products, and do they say so?Brochure Sales Compensation55/100
When a firm or its people sell products for a commission, the SEC asks the brochure to say so, name the pull, and tell you whether you could buy elsewhere.
Each point is marked Covered or Not found. When a point is not found, we say what to ask.
- Does it say that earning commissions is a conflict of interest?CoveredItem 5.E.1
A firm paid to sell a product has a reason to recommend it that has nothing to do with you.
The Adviser accepts compensation for the sale of securities or other investment products from mutual funds and/or annuity and/or limited partnership companies.p. 9
- Does it say commissions can shape what they recommend?Not found in the brochureItem 5.E.1
Naming the pull is the first step to controlling it; silence leaves it working on you.
What to askAsk how the firm keeps commissions from steering the advice you get.
- Does it say you can buy the same products elsewhere?Not found in the brochureItem 5.E.2
You may be able to buy the same product for less somewhere else.
What to askAsk whether you could buy any recommended product through another broker or insurer.
- Does it say whether commissions lower your advisory fee?CoveredItem 5.E.4
If the firm earns a commission and the full advisory fee, you pay twice for one recommendation.
Also, such predetermined and agreed upon fee between the Financial Planner and the client may be offset and/or reduced by commissions and 12(b)-1 distribution fees realized by the Adviser on commissionable products relating to client investment portfolio under the Financial Planner’s management.p. 7
Do they get free research or services from brokers, and does it affect you?Brochure Soft DollarsNot applicable
Not applicable: the brochure describes no research or services from brokers
A point not found is not a finding against the firm; many points apply only when the firm has that arrangement, and state-registered firms file the same brochure form.
Next Steps
Advisor Roster
2 advisors
| Advisor | CRD | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Emily Sirhal | 7239416 | — | — |
| Humam Khalil Sirhal | 2130828 | — | — |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the TransparencyScore measure?
The TransparencyScore measures how clearly and completely an advisor or firm discloses important information in their regulatory filings — things like fees, conflicts of interest, disciplinary history, and business practices. A higher score means better disclosure quality, not better investment performance.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from public regulatory filings: SEC Form ADV (Parts 1, 2, and 3), FINRA BrokerCheck, and the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) database. These are official filings that firms and advisors are legally required to submit.
Does a low score mean they're a bad advisor?
Not necessarily. A low score means the firm's public filings are less transparent — they may use vague language about fees, skip details about conflicts, or have a more complex regulatory history. Some excellent advisors work at firms with poor disclosure practices. The score measures the filing, not the person.
How often is this data updated?
Fidelon refreshes data from SEC and FINRA sources on a regular schedule. Form ADV filings are updated annually by firms (with amendments throughout the year), and BrokerCheck data is updated as events are reported. Scores are recalculated after each data refresh.
Can an advisor or firm improve their score?
Yes. Scores are based on what's in public filings. A firm that rewrites its ADV brochure in clearer language, discloses conflicts more specifically, or resolves outstanding regulatory issues will see its score improve at the next refresh. The incentive structure is intentional.
Data Sources
Scores are generated using Fidelon's published scoring methodology and reflect the quality of public disclosures, not the quality of investment advice. A firm that improves its disclosures will see its score improve. Fidelon does not provide investment advice.
Verify on SEC IAPD
Last scored: · Score version: 3.15 · CRD #132369