Capital Asset Management (CAM) is a Denver-based firm with a small staff of a handful of financial advisors who manage millions in client assets. The firm, which specializes in asset management, works with individuals investors above and below the high net worth threshold.
Some of Capital Asset Management’s employees have an opportunity to earn commissions from insurance sales. This makes the firm fee-based, as it receives income from both client fees and outside sources. This is different from a fee-only firm, which avoid conflicts of interest by only earning compensation from the fees that clients pay.
Capital Asset Management Background
Matthew D. Hickey founded Capital Asset Management in 2003, though the firm wasn’t registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) until 2016. Hickey is the sole owner and president of the firm and has worked in the financial services industry for around 35 years.
The small team at CAM has a certified wealth strategist (CWS) as part of its staff.
Capital Asset Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
A vast majority of the firm's clients are individuals beneath the high-net-worth threshold, though there are some high-net-worth individuals as well. The firm does not have any institutional clients.
As a general requirement, Capital Asset Management requires new clients to have at least $500,000 in investable assets. The firm reserves the right to accept clients with less than this, though.
Services Offered by Capital Asset Management
Capital Asset Management’s advisory services can be divided into three main categories:
- Wealth management
- Customized portfolio creation based on:
- Risk tolerance
- Time horizon
- Individual investment objectives
- Asset allocation planning
- Regular portfolio monitoring
- Investment discretion for clients
- Outside advisor programs
- Envestnet
- SEI Managed Accounts
- SEI Mutual Fund Models Program
- SEI Funds
- Customized portfolio creation based on:
- Retirement income planning
- Retirement account reviews
- Healthcare planning
- Social Security benefit planning
- Estate and insurance planning
- Probate fees planning
- Death and inheritance tax planning
- Death, disability and critical illness insurance planning
Capital Asset Management Investment Philosophy
The primary aim of Capital Asset Management is to create an investment portfolio that’s aligned with your personal needs. To do this, the company will do a deep dive into your financial situation so it can formulate an investor profile. When complete, this profile will detail your risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity and income needs and any specific financial or investment goals you may have.
CAM tends to stick to the basic securities. In fact, most of its investments are in stocks, bonds, mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The firm states in its Form ADV that it usually holds onto securities for the long-term, meaning a year or longer. However, under certain circumstances, it may decide to sell earlier than this.
Fees Under Capital Asset Management
Capital Asset Management’s fee schedule is standard, as rates are charged in a tier-based system according to the size of your account. In other words, the more money you invest with the firm, the better the rate you’ll get. Although shown as annual rates, these fees are billed quarterly, in advance, based on the amount of assets managed at the close of the final business day of the previous quarter.
| Capital Asset Management Fee Schedule | |
| AUM | Annual Fee |
| First $1MM | 0.95% |
| Next $1MM | 0.90% |
| Next $1MM | 0.85% |
| Next $1MM | 0.80% |
| Next $1MM | 0.75% |
| Over $5MM | Negotiable |
Check out the table below to see estimated fees for CAM management services.
| *Estimated investment management fees do not include brokerage, custodial, third-party manager or other fees, which can vary in amount. | |
| Estimated Investment Management Fees at Capital Asset Management* | |
| Your Assets | Capital Asset Management Fees |
| $500K | $4,750 |
| $1MM | $9,500 |
| $5MM | $42,500 |
| $10MM | Negotiable |
Learn more about advisors' typical costs here.
What to Watch Out For
As a fee-based firm, some of Capital Asset Management’s advisors can earn commissions from the sale of insurance products to clients. While this represents a potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary. This legally binds it to act in your best interest at all times.
While previously licensed in just four states, Capital Asset Management received its SEC registration in April 2022, allowing it to operate nationwide.
As of its latest SEC filing, Capital Asset Management has a clean legal and regulatory record.
Opening an Account With Capital Asset Management
If you want to get in touch with a Capital Asset Management advisor, call the firm at (303) 832-7770, or toll-free at (800) 843-4409. There’s also a form on the firm’s website that lets you put down your name, email address and a message so an advisor can contact you.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
Tips for Your Investment Portfolio
- 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.
- If you're primarily investing to build a secure retirement, then consider first checking out our retirement calculator. Just punch in your current savings, your target retirement age and a few other details, and the calculator will indicate whether you're on pace to meet your retirement income needs.
