Aspiriant, LLC is a fee-only financial advisor firm headquartered in Los Angeles. The firm is featured SmartAsset’s list of the top financial advisors in Los Angeles.
The only form of compensation Aspiriant receives is client-paid fees, which makes it a fee-only firm. A fee-based firm, on the other hand, may receive third-party compensation in addition to client fees or employ advisors who can earn third-party compensation.
Aspiriant Background
Aspiriant was formed in 2008. Although Aspiriant is principally owned by holding companies, a number of firm employees have stakes in its ownership.
Aspiriant's team of advisors hold several financial certifications, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified public accountant (CPA), certified investment management analyst (CIMA), chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA), certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) and accredited estate planner (AEP) designations.
Aspiriant Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Aspiriant's clients include both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as investment companies, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.
Although Aspiriant does not require a specific account minimum, it says that it usually works with clients who have at least $1.5 million in investable assets. There is a minimum annual fee of $14,000, making it potentially cost-prohibitive for some.
Services Offered by Aspiriant
Aspiriant primarily offers wealth management and financial planning services. Investment management is woven into most of the firm’s services as well. The firm can create long-term net worth, cash flow and income tax projections for clients. Additionally, it can offer services related to retirement planning, education planning, debt management, and concentrated stock planning, among other areas.
Aspiriant Investment Philosophy
Aspiriant relies on a customizable process to build clients’ investment portfolios. The firm bases asset allocations on its proprietary capital market expectations (CMEs), or multi-year market projections. Although the firm prefers a long-term investment approach, it will consider short-term investment opportunities.
The firm builds client portfolios using a broad range of asset classes, including stocks, bonds, real estate, private investments and diversification strategies. Portfolios may be structured for either stable returns or closer alignment with market benchmarks. They incorporate both internal and third-party research, including capital market expectations that reflect multi-year outlooks. Aspiriant actively monitors investments, rebalances portfolios as needed, and evaluates external managers used in client portfolios.
Fees Under Aspiriant
Aspiriant charges fees primarily based on a percentage of assets under management, with rates typically ranging from 0.85% to 0.20% per year for high-net-worth clients, and 0.70% annually plus a planning retainer for emerging wealth clients.
Fees are billed quarterly, generally in arrears, and calculated based on the average daily value of managed assets during the quarter. Additional fees may apply for certain services, such as a 0.30% annual fee on recommended private investment offerings and a 0.20% fee for separately managed durable cash accounts.
For wealth planning, family office and specialty services, fees are charged through negotiated retainers or hourly rates, depending on the engagement. Clients may also incur additional costs from third-party custodians, brokers or fund managers, though Aspiriant itself does not receive commissions or product-based compensation.
What to Watch Out For
Aspiriant has a clean legal and regulatory record according to its latest SEC-filed Form ADV.
Opening an Account With Aspiriant
To find out more about Aspiriant, prospective clients should call the firm. If you’d prefer that an advisor reach out to you, fill out an email form on Aspiriant’s website. Simply enter your full first and last name, phone number, email address and a clear description of the purpose of your inquiry.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
Tips for a Smarter Retirement Plan
- It's been said that a goal without a plan is only a dream. For help making a concrete plan so you can achieve your retirement goal, consider hiring a financial advisor. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Social Security should be an important factor in anyone’s retirement plans, but it can be difficult to estimate what your check will look like. To get an idea of what you can expect to receive, use SmartAsset's Social Security calculator.
