Johnson Wealth Inc. is a financial advisor firm with billions in assets under management (AUM). Johnson Wealth's home office is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is one of the top financial advisors in the city and state, according to SmartAsset. The firm offers various financial planning and portfolio managment services.
Johnson Wealth Inc. Background
Johnson Wealth Inc. is an investment advisory firm registered with the SEC. The firm's name was changed in October 2018 from Cleary Gull Advisors to Johnson Wealth Inc. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson Financial Group, which is a privately held financial services company that also owns Johnson Bank.
The firm itself was formed in 2003 but its predecessor firms have served clients all over the country since 1987. Helen Johnson-Leipold serves as chairwoman of Johnson Financial Group and Jim Popp serves as its president and CEO.
Johnson Wealth Inc. Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Johnson Wealth advises the following types of clients:
- Individuals
- High-net-worth individuals
- Families
- Trusts
- Non-profit organizations
- Hospitals
- Senior living organizations
- Public and private foundations
- Endowments,
- Business entities
- Government entities
While the firm does not generally require a minimum amount to be invested, it does recommend clients have $1 million in investable assets to allow for diversification of managers and assets. It generally requires a minimum of $200,000 per separately managed account, though certain account managers may impose a higher minimum.
Services Offered by Johnson Wealth Inc.
Johnson Wealth's investment advisory services include, but are not limited to: analysis of objectives (including customized risk budgeting), asset allocation and portfolio construction, investment policy development, investment research, evaluation and selection of investment managers, as well as trustee and board education. The firm manages client accounts on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis.
Johnson Bank frequently engages the firm to provide discretionary and non-discretionary subadvisory services for a large portion of its wealth management clients. These services may encompass asset allocation modeling, portfolio design, development of model portfolios, fixed income and equity strategies, investment policy guidance, due diligence on managers and funds, analysis of market trends, and discretionary investment management.
The firm provides pre-retirement planning services to airline pilots and their famillies under its Pilot Program (including risk tolerance profiling, asset allocation design, pension benefits review, retirement timing and transition consultation).
In terms of financial planning services, the firm offers these to help clients evaluate the potential of attaining their financial goals.
Johnson Wealth Inc. Investing Philosophy
Johnson Wealth's investment approach is long-term and asset-allocation-focused, grounded in both qualitative and quantitative research. The firm typically advises clients on mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), common stocks, fixed income and alternative assets.
The firm uses a proprietary multivariate scoring system to screen managers and funds, considering factors such as returns, information ratio, fees and adherence to investment philosophy. Individual securities are evaluated using income, valuation and risk metrics, while fixed income analysis covers credit quality, yield curve positioning and duration. Johnson Wealth also offers curated private investment options to qualified clients.
Fees Under Johnson Wealth Inc.
Johnson Wealth offers investment advisory services for a negotiable fee based on the amount and type of assets under management in client accounts, the level of service provided to the client and the complexity and scope of services. Fees may be in the form of an asset, retainer or based on the specific project and may be subject to an annual minimum. They are usually paid quarterly in advance, according to a fee schedule set up in each client's advisory agreement. Fees are usually deducted from the client's account unless the client requests to be billed.
The standard advisory fee schedule that applies to individual clients is below:
| Johnson Wealth Individual Fee Schedule (Minimum is $5,000) | |
| AUM | Advisory Fee Rate |
| First $2,000,000 | 1.00% |
| Next $2,000,000 | 0.85% |
| Next $4,000,000 | 0.70% |
| On the Balance | 0.60% |
| Minimum Fee | $5,000 |
Here is the estimated dollar amount you'd pay in advisory fees based on the size of your account:
| *Estimated investment management fees do not include brokerage, custodial, third-party manager or other fees, which can vary in amount. | |
| Estimated Investment Management Fees at Johnson Wealth* | |
| Your Assets | Johnson Wealth Maximum Fee Amount |
| $1MM | $10,000 |
| $2MM | $20,000 |
| $5MM | $44,000 |
| $10MM | $77,000 |
Johnson Wealth only offers financial planning services to clients who do not engage the firm to manage assets. Clients pay these planning fees based on the complexity of the plan. Clients are responsible for other fees and charges imposed by third parties. Learn more about advisors' typical costs here.
What to Watch Out For
Within the past 10 years, Johnson Wealth has not undergone any disciplinary or legal action deemed material to a client’s evaluation of its business integrity. You can view its latest Form ADV on the official website of the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).
It is important to note that advisors at Johnson Wealth Inc. and Johnson Bank refer clients to each other in order to offer a full range of financial services to their clients. As a result, certain officers and employees of the firm or its affiliates receive referral fees and/or compensation for referring clients between these affiliated services, which is a potential conflict of interest. That said, as an SEC-registered investment advisor, the firm is legally obligated to uphold its fiduciary duty and work in clients’ best interests at all times.
Opening an Account With Johnson Wealth Inc.
To open an account with Johnson Wealth, you can visit the firm's website or call (414) 291-4500.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
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