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U.S. Capital Advisors Review

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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.

U.S. Capital Advisors, formerly known as Legacy One Financial Advisors, is a Houston-based investment management firm. The firm currently holds the No. 1 spot on SmartAsset lists of the top financial advisors in Houston, and is ranked among the top 10 firms in the state of Texas. With billions in assets under management (AUM), this fee-based financial advisor specializes in wealth management, capital markets, financial planning and investment management. The firm also has offices in Dallas, Austin and Georgetown, Texas, as well as New York and Andover, Massachusetts.

U.S. Capital Advisors Background 

U.S. Capital Advisors was founded in 2010 by managing partners Patrick Mendenhall and David King. The firm, which was previously a subsidiary of U.S. Capital RIA Investors, Legacy One Financial Holdings and PLH Financial Holdings, was acquired by USCW Holdco, LLC in April 2024.

The large team of advisors at this firm boasts a number of certifications. These include the chartered financial analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified investment management analyst (CIMA)  and chartered portfolio manager (CPM) designations.  

U.S. Capital Advisors Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes 

This firm's minimum account size for new clients is $50,000. Its client base consists mostly of non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. However, it also maintains advisory relationships with trusts, estates, charitable organizations, retirement plans and businesses.

Services Offered by U.S. Capital Advisors

It should come as no surpise that a firm as large as U.S. Capital Advisors would offer a wide range of advisory services. Here's a breakdown of what the firm can do:

  • Investment management
    • Asset allocation planning
    • Investment performance reporting
    • Liquidity management
    • Concentrated position strategizing
  • Wealth management
  • Financial planning
    • Cash flow analysis
    • Philanthropic planning
    • Estate planning
    • Wealth transfer planning
    • Tax planning
    • Investment planning
  • Pension consulting
  • Investment manager searches
  • Educational seminars and workshops

U.S. Capital Advisors Investment Philosophy 

U.S. Capital Advisors' investment process relies upon a range of investment strategies that each have different objectives and asset allocations. For instance, a portfolio might use a mix of stocks and bonds, with the goal of promoting diversification and long-term returns. When deciding what kinds of securities to invest your money in, the firm will use your risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs and financial objectives to guide the way.

When it comes to security analysis, U.S. Capital Advisors says it uses quantitative, statistical, fundamental and technical methods. Each of these identify potential investments based on specific markers. Once the research is complete, the firm will combine its findings and choose investments for your portfolio.

Fees Under U.S. Capital Advisors

 

Advisory fees at U.S. Capital Advisors typically range from 2% to 0.75% of assets under management. The maximum allowable asset-based fee that a client can be charged is 3%.

Fees are charged on a quarterly basis, in advance. Payments can be invoiced directly to the client, but in most cases they will be debited right from their account. Specific fees for advisory services are disclosed in the Client Advisory Agreement. Rates are determined based on the total amount of assets under management, the program and services that a client enrolls in, the complexity and mix of the client's portfolio and other factors.

Financial planning fees are different though, as clients will pay a fixed fee for these services. Your exact fee rate will depend on the amount of time the firm expects an advisor to spend on your financial plan.

What to Watch Out For 

U.S. Capital Advisors does not have any disclosures on its legal and regulatory record.

While this firm has a fiduciary duty that requires it to work in each client’s best interest, its fee-based structure presents a few potential conflicts of interest. For instance, some advisors on staff may be licensed to sell insurance in their separate capacities as insurance agents. These transactions can produce additional, third-party compensation, which can incentivize them to recommend certain products and services over others. This is a conflict of interest. 

Opening an Account with U.S. Capital Advisors

If you're interested in becoming a client of U.S. Capital Advisors, your best bet is to reach out to the firm over the phone by calling (713) 366-0500.

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

Tips for Investing

  • Finding a financial advisor who can help with your investments doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three 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.
  • So you’ve decided you’d like to invest, but how much might your initial investment earn you over time? Our investment calculator can help. You’ll simply need your initial investment amount, the rate and frequency at which you plan to contribute, your expected rate of return and the number of years you’d like it to grow.

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