Menu burger Close thin Facebook Twitter Google plus Linked in Reddit Email arrow-right-sm arrow-right
Loading
Tap on the profile icon to edit
your financial details.

Sowell Management Review

Your Details Done
by Updated

This review was produced by SmartAsset based on publicly available information. The named firm and its financial professionals have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this review and are not responsible for its accuracy. Review content is produced by SmartAsset independently of any business relationships that might exist between SmartAsset and the named firm and its financial professionals, and firms and financial professionals having business relationships with SmartAsset receive no special treatment or consideration in SmartAsset’s reviews. This page contains links to SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool, which may or may not match you with the firm mentioned in this review or its financial professionals.

Sowell Management is a financial advisor firm located in North Little Rock, Arkansas, a suburb of the capital city of Little Rock. This firm provides support to a network of independent financial advisors. Through these outside advisors, it has assets under management (AUM) totaling more than $2.1 billion. Advisors work with both institutional and individual clients, providing a range of both financial planning and portfolio management services through its network.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at Sowell can receive commissions from insurance and securities sales, in addition to standard advisory fees. A fee-only firm, on the other hand, receives all of its compensation from client-paid advisory fees.

Sowell Management Background

Sowell Management was founded in 2001 in North Little Rock. The firm was established by both Sowell Management, Inc. and Cindy Sowell, the firm's executive vice president. Sowell Management, Inc., however, is 100% owned by CEO and president William Sowell. 

This firm isn't a typical financial advisor, as it instead works with independent advisors to provide business support and other services. Many advisors in the firm's network are financially certified, with designations such as chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP).

Sowell Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

Sowell Management itself works with independent financial advisors. However, these advisors work with a wide range of both individual and institutional clients. The majority of clients are individuals without a high net worth. Other clients include high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and businesses.

To work with a Sowell advisor, you generally need to meet its $50,000 account minimum. However, this requirement may be waived or changed depending on the advisor.

Services Offered by Sowell Management

Sowell Management offers investment strategies and business support to advisors through an independent contractor model. Specific services provided to these advisors include portfolio management, trading, compliance consulting, marketing, financial planning and technology services.

The firm's network of advisors provide services to clients that mainly include financial planning and portfolio management, though more specific services are also available. Advisors work on both a discretionary or non-discretionary basis.

Sowell Management Investment Philosophy

When it comes to the investment philosophy at Sowell Management, there isn't an overarching standard that guides all advisors in the firm's network. However, there are some common themes. Advisors tailor their investment strategies based on the specific objectives of each client. They, in turn, work with clients to determine their financial situations, taking into account information such as their risk tolerance, time horizon and income needs.

Most advisors in the Sowell network craft client portfolios using a mix of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual debt securities and equity securities. Specific investment decisions depend on the client, with typical investing styles including:

  • Strategic allocation
  • Tactical allocation
  • Individual equity selection
  • Customized portfolio design

Fees Under Sowell Management

Investment management fees at firms in Sowell's network are charged based on a percentage of each client's total AUM. This rate is determined based on the size and scope of each particular advisory arrangement. However, rates typically won't exceed 2.50% annually.

Financial planning services are charged on either a fixed fee basis, which ranges up to $10,000, or on an hourly basis that ranges from $150 to $500 per hour.

What to Watch Out For

Sowell Management has four disclosures listed on its Form ADV. Of these disclosures, two are regulatory, one is criminal and one is civil judicial. All four of them are attributed to advisory affiliates of the firm.

Certain advisors who work with fee-based Sowell Management are registered as broker-dealer representatives or insurance agents. These roles can create potential conflicts of interest, as they allow the advisors to receive commissions from related sales. Despite this dynamic, the firm abides by fiduciary duty, legally binding it to act in clients' best interests at all times.

Opening an Account With Sowell Management

Sowell Management only works with financial advisors, not individual investors. But if you'd like to work with an advisor in Sowell's network, reach out to that advisor directly or contact Sowell for more information. You can visit the firm online, in-person or over the phone at (501) 219-2434.

All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.

Tips for Finding a Financial Advisor

  • A financial advisor can help you get your finances in order if you're buying a home, planning for retirement or learning to invest. Finding the right financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in just five minutes. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors, get started now.
  • When you invest, it's a good idea to have clear objectives in mind. Use SmartAsset's free investment calculator to determine what you need to earn to reach those goals.

How Long $1mm Lasts in Retirement

SmartAsset's interactive map highlights places where $1 million will last the longest in retirement. Zoom between states and the national map to see the top spots in each region. Also, scroll over any city to learn about the cost of living in retirement for that location.

Least
Most
Rank City Housing Expenses Food Expenses Healthcare Expenses Utilities Expenses Transportation Expenses

Methodology We analyzed data on average expenditures for seniors, cost of living and investment returns to determine how many years of retirement a $1 million nest egg would cover in cities across America.

First, we looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the average annual expenditures of seniors. We then applied cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to adjust those national average spending levels based on the costs of each expense category (housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other) in each city. Using this data, SmartAsset calculated the average cost of living for retirees in the largest U.S. cities.

We assumed the $1 million would grow at a real return (interest minus inflation) of 2%. Then, we divided $1 million by the sum of each of those annual numbers to determine how long $1 million would cover retirement expenses in each of the cities in our study. Cities where $1 million lasted the longest ranked the highest in the study.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Council for Community and Economic Research