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Argent 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.

Argent Wealth Management

Argent Wealth Management has operated as an independent investment advisor since its establishment. The firm also says on its website that it distinguishes itself through experience and expertise, its value proposition, comprehensive wealth management and its large endowment approach.

Argent Wealth Management is an SEC-registered financial advisor and fee-only financial planner. It currently provides clients with a range of services, including financial planning, investment management, estate planning and tax planning. It has 16 financial advisors who have more than $1.7 billion in assets under management (AUM). 

The firm also appears on our Waltham top financial advisors list. 

Argent Wealth Management Background 

David Duchesneau founded Argent Wealth Management in 1992 as the The Duchesneau Group. In 2013, Argent Wealth Management merged with Pillar Financial Services to provide a greater scope of offerings to a broader range of clients.

Argent Wealth Management's financial advisors include certified financial planners (CFPs), certified public accountants (CPAs) and chartered financial analysts (CFA).

Argent Wealth Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes 

Argent Wealth Management works mostly with individuals, including high-net-worth people. This profile makes up the bulk of the firm’s clientele. However, Argent Wealth Management also advises a number of profit-sharing plans. 

Argent generally requires a minimum account value of $1 million to recieve investment advisory services. 

Services Offered by Argent Wealth Management

Argent Wealth Management offers a variety of financial planning services, including investment advice. Depending on your financial situation and objectives, the firm may recommend investing in a variety assets in a variety of securities. A typical portfolio may invest in the following: 

Argent Wealth Management Investment Philosophy

Argent Wealth Management deploys fundamental analysis, analytical techniques and more when considering investments. It draws information from financial publications, case studies and corporate reports. 

Fees Under Argent Wealth Management

Depending on what kinds of services you receive from Argent Wealth Management, you may face fees based on a percentage of assets under management or a fixed fee. 

The standard annual investment advisory fee ranges from 0.50% to 1.00% of assets under management (AUM). We outline this fee below. In addition, the firm may charge you a fixed or hourly fee for financial planning and tax preparation services. This fee would depend on the scope of the services provided.

Market Value of Account Annual Fee
On the first $1 million 1.00%
On the next $2 million 0.80%
On the next $2 million 0.70%
On the next $5 million  0.60%
On the balance 0.50%

Check out the table below to see how these asset-based fees compare to national median advisory fees. 

*Fee estimates only consider the maximum base fees for the services each firm provides. You may also pay manager fees and other fees, which can vary in amount.  **All figures are based on median fee levels according to Bob Veres' 2017 Planning Profession Fee Survey. The above estimates solely take into account AUM-only fees. Total costs will likely be higher due to additional expenses.
Estimated Fee Comparison*
Your Assets Argent Wealth Management standard annual investment advisory fee National Median Advisory Fees**
$500K n/a (below required minimum) $5,000
$1MM $10,000 $8,500 - $10,000
$5MM $40,000 $25,000 - $32,500
$10MM $70,000 $50,000

According to a more recent 2018 study of 1,500 firms by RIA in a Box, the average financial advisor's investment advisory fee is 0.95% of AUM. 

What to Watch Out For

Argent Wealth Management has not undergone any disciplinary action while in business, according to the firm’s latest Form ADV. This is paperwork that firms file with the SEC to keep their status.

Argent Wealth Management works with Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments. This arrangement may present a conflict of interest if the firm's advisors recommend investing in securities these firms manage.

Opening an Account With Argent Wealth Management

You can set up an appointment with an advisor by visiting the firm's Waltham office, or you can contact a representative at (781) 290-4900.

Tips for Financial Planning

  • Financial planning can be difficult and overwhelming. You want to make sure you have the best plan in place with as little hassle as possible, which is something a financial advisor can help with. Finding the right financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors, get started now.
  • Investing with a goal in mind is often confusing. It can be tough to know how much to invest in order to meet your goals. Use SmartAsset’s investment calculator to help you reach your goals. Know how much you’re starting with, how fast you want to grow, and how long you want to invest, and the calculator will have you well on your way to reaching your financial goals.

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

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