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Asset Allocation Strategies 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.

Asset Allocation Strategies, or AA Strategies, is a Farmington Hills, Michigan-based financial advisor firm. The firm is on SmartAsset's list of the top financial advisors in Farmington Hills.

This firm employs a smaller team of financial advisors. AA Strategies provides a range of financial services to clients, including investment management, financial planning and consulting on a range of financial topics. The firm works almost exclusively with individuals, typically through the management of their individual employer-sponsored retirement accounts.

AA Strategies is a fee-based firm, as some advisors earn transaction-based fees or commissions from the sale of securities or certain insurance products. That's different from a fee-only firm, which only receives compensation through client-paid advisory fees.

Asset Allocation Strategies Background

Asset Allocation Strategies is an arm of GLP Financial Group, which has been in business for over 50 years. AA Strategies, on the other hand, registered as an investment advisor only in 2010. The firm has three principal owners: President Alexander Kocoves, Vice President of Operations and Chief Compliance Officer Michael P. McEvilly and firm Treasurer and Secretary Richard H. Martin II.

GLP Financial Group has branch locations throughout Michigan, Texas and California.

Asset Allocation Strategies Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

All but a few of AA Strategies' clients are individuals, with most of them not having high net worths. These clients are typically employer-sponsored retirement plan participants, meaning the firm principally manages their retirement plan accounts. The firm maintains advisory relationships with a handful of businesses as well.

AA Strategies imposes an account minimum of $15,000 to open a new account. You can also get around this minimum by depositing at least $400 per month.

Services Offered by Asset Allocation Strategies

AA Strategies offers a range of advisory services, including financial planning, retirement account portfolio management and retirement plan consulting services. Here's breakdown of everything the firm can do:

  • Portfolio management
    • Designed for employer-sponsored retirement plan accounts, like 401(k)s and 403(b)s
    • Focuses on the construction and rebalancing of client portfolios
  • Financial planning
  • Retirement plan consulting services
    • Development of an investment policy statement (IPS)
    • Periodic reviews of investments

Asset Allocation Strategies Investment Philosophy

AA Strategies tailors its investment strategies, financial advice and overall philosophy to match the long-term objectives of each client. Client relationships begin with a series of interviews that are intended to determine the type of investor the client is. This will then help the firm to understand what investments would be best suited for them. As other financial needs become apparent through such interviews, the firm and its advisors can provide additional financial planning support if clients wish. Clients reserve the right to impose reasonable restrictions on how their assets are managed.

The firm tends to limit its investment selection to mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. The firm uses a wide range of research sources to inform its investment decisions, including company releases and investment information services like Morningstar. Specific investment strategies, methods of analysis and trading techniques vary based on the individual client and their profile.

Fees Under Asset Allocation Strategies

AA Strategies charges advisory fees based on a percentage of each client's total assets under management, or AUM. The firm charges fees in advance, on either a quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis. Fees are negotiable and may vary between clients.

Asset Allocation Strategies Fee Schedule
Service Fee Rates
Retirement account investment services Maximum 2.00% annual fee
Financial planning services $500 - $1,500 flat fee or $150 hourly fee

The average asset management fee throughout the United States is 0.95%, according to a 2018 study of 1,500 firms by RIA in a Box. Learn more about advisors' typical costs here.

What to Watch Out For

Asset Allocation Strategies reported no disclosures of legal or regulatory issues on its latest Form ADV.

One thing to note: some advisors at AA Strategies sell insurance products or securities on a commission basis. This gives them an incentive to recommend certain products over others, a potential conflict of interest. That said, the firm is a registered fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

Opening an Account With Asset Allocation Strategies

To become a client of AA Strategies, visit the website of GLP Financial Group, the firm's parent organization. There you can submit a contact form or find a branch near you. You can also call the firm at (248) 489-0101 during business hours.

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

Investing Tips

  • financial advisor can be a great partner in putting together an investing plan. Finding a local financial advisor doesn't have to be hard: SmartAsset's free advisor matching tool can connect you with advisors who serve your area in five minutes. Get started now.
  • Asset allocation is the central consideration of any investing plan and should reflect the goals and risk tolerance of the investor. SmartAsset’s asset allocation calculator can help you figure out the allocation that makes the most sense for you.

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