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Annex Wealth Management 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.

Annex Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary investment advisory firm based in Elm Grove, Wisconsin. The firm also has several other branch offices throughout The Badger State, plus one in Naples, Florida. The staff includes advisors with certifications including certified financial planner (CFP), certified public accountant (CPA) and chartered financial analyst (CFA)

The firm mainly works with individuals, though it also serves a significant number of high-net-worth individuals. Annex also counts pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, state or municipal government entities and other corporations as clients. In addition to its traditional investment advisory and financial planning services, Annex also has an online advisory service called Annex Ignite, which matches clients with a low-cost model portfolio.

Annex Wealth Management Background

Annex Wealth Management was founded in 2001. It is the sole member to four other companies: Annex Insurance Services LLC, a licensed corporate insurance agent; Annex Advisory Services, the investment advisory arm of the company registered with the SEC; Annex Investment Services and  Annex Tax Services, LLC. The companies are collectively referred to as Annex Wealth Management.

Each of the subsidiary companies is wholly owned by Annex Wealth Management. Annex Wealth Management is wholly owned by Dave J. Spano, the firm’s president and CEO. 

Annex Wealth Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

Annex Wealth Management primarily serves individual investors, including high-net-worth individuals. It also works with pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities.

The firm is likely a good choice for anyone looking for independent advice without connections to a major bank or insurance company. If you are located in Wisconsin, particularly near one of the firm’s offices (in Elm Grove, Mequon, Middleton, Delafield, Appleton, Milwaukee and Naples, Florida), the firm may especially work for you as you’ll be able to meet with your advisor in person.

Annex Wealth Management does not list a required minimum account size for its traditional managed accounts.

Services Offered by Annex Wealth Management

Annex Wealth Management offers investment management, asset selection, asset allocation and rebalancing to its clients. Investment advice is offered either through individual consultations or continuously on a discretionary basis. 

Additionally, the firm offers the following wealth management and financial planning services:

  • Private wealth management
  • Financial planning
  • Tax planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Legacy and estate planning
  • ERISA fiduciary consulting
  • Education planning
  • Tax reduction planning
  • Risk management
  • Insurance planning
  • 401(k) services

Annex Wealth Management Investment Philosophy

Annex Wealth Management uses actively managed mutual funds, ETFs and individual stocks to build a customer’s portfolio. It looks for active managers that outperform similar funds when adjusted for risk. The firm tends to select mutual funds for sectors of the market that are less efficient. ETFs, meanwhile, are preferred for the more efficient areas of the market. Annex also uses variable annuities, fixed-income strategies and cash.

The firm employs a core and tactical investment philosophy, which focuses on creating globally diversified portfolios. Annex explains in its Form ADV that it strives to “combine the benefits of a long-term core portfolio with the potential for reduced risk and/or enhanced returns through tactical investment selections.”

Fees Under Annex Wealth Management

Unlike some companies that have a set fee structure, Annex makes a point of having its wealth management fees subject to negotiation. The firm bases its fees on the “scope and complexity” of the services offered to each client. The firm notes that clients’ fees will never exceed a maximum rate of 1.50% of assets under management per year, and fees generally average around 1.00% per year. Fees are charged on a quarterly basis and are based on the total amount in a client’s account on the last day of the quarter.

For consulting services, Annex may charge an asset-based, hourly or flat fee. Flat fees start at $1,000 and depend on the scope and duration of services. The firm will give clients a written estimate before it provides the services.

The firm, in recent years, completed its transition to being a fully fee-only firm.

What to Watch Out For

There are no disclosures present on Annex Wealth Management's SEC-filed Form ADV.

Opening an Account With Annex Wealth Management

If you are interested in opening an account with Annex, the best way to get in touch is to call its headquarters at (262) 786-6363. From there, the firm will be able to connect you with an advisor who can talk you through your options. You can also click "Get Started" on the firm's website or send an email.

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

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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