Located in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, Altus Wealth Management is a relatively small financial advisor operation that offers financial planning, investment management and wealth management. Altus works on a fee-only basis, meaning all of its compensation comes from client charges rather than outside commissions.
Altus Wealth Management Background
Altus Wealth Management has been in business since 2010. The firm is run by a trio of managing partners: Steve O’Connor, Andrew Hermes and Bill Doepker. As a group, O’Connor, Hermes and Doepker have spent over 60 years working in the investing sphere.
All three members of Altus’ advisory staff hold the certified financial planner (CFP) designation.
Altus Wealth Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Individuals and high-net-worth individuals make up the vast majority of the client base at Altus Wealth Management. The firm also works with trusts and charitable organizations.
There are no minimum investment requirements for new clients of Altus Wealth Management.
Services Offered by Altus Wealth Management
Financial planning, wealth management and investment management are the central services available at Altus Wealth Management. This list details exactly what you can expect:
- Financial planning
- Retirement planning
- Asset accumulation
- Income planning
- Investment planning
- Tax planning
- Education planning
- Cash flow analysis
- Estate planning
- Stock option planning
- 401(k) planning
- Insurance planning
- Charitable gift planning
- Executive compensation
- Retirement planning
- Investment management
- Strategic investment selection
- Asset allocation planning
- Portfolio diversification
- Bond ladder construction
- Wealth management
- A holistic merger between financial planning and investment management
Altus Wealth Management Investment Philosophy
Altus Wealth Management combines two major investing ideologies when forming its clients’ portfolios: modern portfolio theory (MPT) and tactical asset allocation. MPT is an award-winning philosophy that looks to place investments throughout markets in a strategic fashion to produce maximum returns for a given level of risk. This diversification applies to both the types of investments that are chosen (stocks, bonds, mutual funds etc.) and the specific securities within their markets.
Tactical asset allocation is an active management strategy that looks to take advantage of market trends. At the same time, though, Altus is a passive investor. In turn, its advisors prefer to hold securities within a portfolio for a year or longer. However, should the market shift, your advisor may temporarily abandon this guideline for the benefit of your overall returns.
Fees Under Altus Wealth Management
The services you want and the size of your account will dictate what your fee schedule will be. If you want standard wealth management services and your account has $300,000 or less in assets under management (AUM), you will adhere to the first table below. Should your portfolio stretch past the $300,000 threshold, the second table will apply. Finally, clients who subscribe to Altus’ fixed income portfolio service and have more than $300,000 in AUM will stick to the final table.
| Fees for Altus Select (Accounts with $300,000 or less in AUM) | |
| Assets Under Management | Annual Fee |
| Up to $300,000 | 0.95% |
| Fees for Altus Premier (Accounts with more than $300,000 in AUM) | |
| Assets Under Management | Annual Fee |
| $300,001 - $500,000 | 0.95% |
| $500,001 - $1MM | 0.90% |
| $1,000,001 - $2MM | 0.80% |
| $2,000,001 - $3MM | 0.70% |
| $3,000,001 - $5MM | 0.60% |
| Over $5MM | Negotiable |
| Fees for Altus Preservation (Fixed Income Portfolio) | |
| Assets Under Management | Annual Fee |
| $300,000 - $1MM | 0.375% |
| $1,000,001 - $3MM | 0.25% |
| Over $3MM | Negotiable |
Although Altus shows its fees in annual percentages, clients are technically charged every quarter. Fees are in arrears and are based on the average daily balance of the total net assets in your account. The firm allows you to pay via fee withdrawals from your account or paper/online invoices.
Here's how much you may pay in advisory fees when enrolled in the Altus Premier wealth management service:
| *Estimated investment management fees do not include brokerage, custodial, third-party manager or other fees, which can vary in amount. | |
| Estimated Investment Management Fees for Altus Premier at Altus Wealth Management* | |
| Your Assets | Altus Wealth Management Fee Amounts |
| $500K | $4,750 |
| $1MM | $9,250 |
| $5MM | $36,250 |
| $10MM | Negotiable |
What to Watch Out For
According to its SEC-filed paperwork, Altus Wealth Management has no legal or regulatory disclosures in its past.
On occasion, employees of Altus Wealth Management may buy or sell securities that they also recommend for clients. While this could represent a conflict of interest, the firm has taken adequate steps to ensure that this is avoided. In fact, the firm has a code of ethics that every employee must follow when buying or selling a security that Altus recommends. Clients can gain access to a copy of this code by simply entering a written request. On top of this, the firm is a fiduciary, meaning it must always act in clients’ best interests.
Opening an Account With Altus Wealth Management
If you want to schedule a consultation with Altus Wealth Management, you can either call (859) 815-8566 or email one of its advisors at the following addresses:
- Steve O’Connor: steve.oconnor@altuswm.com
- Andrew Hermes: andrew.hermes@altuswm.com
- Bill Doepker: bill.doepker@altuswm.com
Tips for Building a Portfolio
- If you feel as though you’re not taking full advantage of your investments, maybe it’s time to get some professional help from a financial advisor. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Risk tolerance is a major factor in the planning of any investment portfolio, but the term is a bit abstract. Asset allocation is essentially the real world incarnation of risk tolerance, as it dictates how your portfolio should be constructed so that it matches your personal needs. To get an idea of what your allocation should look like, stop by SmartAsset’s asset allocation calculator.
