Pinnacle Financial Group is a financial advisor firm located in Western Springs, Illinois with hundreds of millions in assets under management (AUM). Something that stands out about this advisor is that it also offers client education services and a blog that tackles complex financial topics. The firm and its small group of advisors provide financial planning and investment management services to a client base primarily consisting of individual accounts. There are some institutional clients at the firm too, though.
As a fee-only advisory firm, Pinnacle is compensated solely through client-paid fees (either investment management fees based on a percentage of AUM, or an hourly rate charged for financial planning). This is different from a fee-based firm, which may also earn compensation through third-party commissions.
Pinnacle Financial Group Background
Pinnacle Financial Group was founded in 1989. Principals Jim Stork and Dan Fitzgerald combine to own the firm, while Lauren Hunt serves as a wealth advisor and Bailey Reisman serves as an associate wealth advisor. Each of them holds the certified financial planner (CFP) designation, and Stork is also a chartered financial analyst (CFA). Collectively, this group has more than 60 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Pinnacle Financial Group Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Pinnacle works primarily with individual clients. About a third of its client base consists of high-net-worth individuals, while the rest don't have a high net worth. A handful of pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and businesses round out the firm's clientele.
Pinnacle's minimum account size is typically $500,000 for all services. However, this can be waived or lowered under certain circumstances at the discretion of the firm.
Services Offered by Pinnacle Financial Group
There are a variety of financial services available to Pinnacle Financial Group's clients. The most prominent among these are discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, Social Security planning and college fund planning. The firm's wealth management service combines investment management and financial planning into one broad offering.
Retirement plan consulting is also available through Pinnacle.
Pinnacle Financial Group Investment Philosophy
Pinnacle uses multiple methods of analysis and strategies when making investment decisions on behalf of clients:
- Fundamental analysis: This involves doing a deep dive into a company's financial statements, management team and overall financial outlook to determine its intrinsic value.
- Modern portfolio theory (MPT): MPT focuses on the relationship between risk and return, seeking to either maximize returns for a given risk preference or minimize risk for a given return target.
- Long- and short-term purchases: Depending on the type of returns you're looking for, the firm may decide to engage in either long- or short-term purchases, or some combination thereof. A long-term purchase will result in a security residing in your portfolio for at least one year; short-term purchases are made with the intention of selling within a year.
While the firm uses the specific practices listed above, it also provides uniquely tailored strategies to all of its clients. If a client is interested in pursuing a particular strategy, the firm will work with that client to stick to that particular approach based on their personal risk tolerance, time horizon, financial objectives and liquidity needs.
Pinnacle Financial Group Fees
Investment management and retirement plan consulting fees come in the form of a percentage of your AUM. Fees are charged on a quarterly basis, in arrears, even though they're shown in annual percentages. They are based on the value of your account on the last business day of the preceding quarter.
| Investment Management and Retirement Plan Consulting Fees | |
| Assets Under Management | Annual Fee |
| Up to $1,000,000 | 1.00% |
| $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 | 0.75% |
| Above $2,000,000 | 0.50% |
Financial planning services at Pinnacle will run you between $100 and $250 per hour. The rate you're given is chosen based on the complexity of your situation and the scope of services needed.
| *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 Pinnacle Financial Group* | |
| Your Assets | Pinnacle Financial Group Fee Amount |
| $500K | $5,000 |
| $1MM | $10,000 |
| $5MM | $32,500 |
| $10MM | $57,500 |
What to Watch Out For
Pinnacle Financial Group does not have any disclosures listed on its Form ADV, which means it has a clean record in the eyes of the SEC.
Opening an Account With Pinnacle Financial Group
If you're interested in opening an account with Pinnacle Financial Group, go online and submit a form on the firm's website. You can also call its team at (708) 246-6262. If you live near Western Springs, feel free to stop by its office.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
Retirement Planning Tips
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