Financial advisor firm Great Valley Advisor Group, Inc. (GVA) is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. The firm has been in business for nearly 40 years, and it offers various advisory services to thousands of clients. The firm employs a large staff of advisors who manage billions of dollars in client assets under management (AUM).
As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at GVA can receive third-party compensation in addition to client-paid fees. A fee-only firm, on the other hand, earns only client-paid fees as income.
Great Valley Advisor Group Background
Founded in 1986 by Alan Peters, GVA functions as a full-service registered investment advisor (RIA). Though based in Delaware, the firm also has three Pennsylvania offices: one in Chester Springs and two in Paoli. The firm is now equally owned by CEO Ryan C. Todd and chief operating officer (COO) James J. Spinelli.
GVA’s team includes two chartered financial consultants (ChFCs), two accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), one chartered life underwriter (CLU), one chartered financial analyst (CFA) and two certified public accountants (CPAs).
Great Valley Advisor Group Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Non-high-net-worth individuals make up the majority of GVA’s client base, but the firm also advises high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans and profit-sharing plans.
The firm generally doesn’t impose a minimum account size requirement for new clients. The firm can set a minimum account value for each of its services that depend on the client and the scope of work being done.
Services Offered by Great Valley Advisor Group
GVA offers its clients the following advisory services:
- Portfolio management
- LPL Financial programs
- Financial planning
- Net worth calculation
- Cash flow planning
- Retirement planning
- Estate planning
- Income tax planning
- Investment plannin
- Educational seminars/workshops
- Consulting services
Great Valley Advisor Group Investment Philosophy
GVA’s firm brochure says its investment approach is characterized by portfolio management tailored to the long-term goals of each client. In offering its clients investment recommendations, the firm utilizes in-house portfolio strategies. These include several options which are available in three categories: equity-only, ETF-only or blend. Here's a brief breakdown of each:
- Anchor (very conservative): ETF and blended portfolio made up of 10% equity and 90% fixed-income
- True North (conservative): ETF and blended portfolio made up of 25% equity and 75% fixed-income
- Oasis (balanced): ETF and blended portfolio made up of 50% equity and 50% fixed-income
- Windward (aggressive): ETF and blended portfolio made up of 75% equity and 25% fixed-income
- Titan (very aggressive): ETF and blended portfolio made up of 90% equity and 10% fixed-income
- Triumph: equity-only portfolio focused on large-cap stocks
- Trident: equity-only portfolio focused on mid-cap stocks
- Divided-Focused: equity-only portfolio focused on dividend stocks
Fees Under Great Valley Advisor Group
GVA primarily earns its compensation from asset-based fees, hourly charges and fixed fees. Fees are billed quarterly in advance or arrears, and fees vary for non-wrap fee and wrap fee arrangements. Non-wrap fee clients pay investment advisory fees ranging up to 2.50%.
| Great Valley Advisor Group Fee Schedule | |
| AUM | Annual Fee |
| $0 – $500,000 | 2.50% |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | 2.25% |
| $1,000,000 – $3,000,000 | 2.00% |
| $3,000,001+ | Negotiable |
Below is an overview of about what you can expect to pay for advisory services at GVA:
| *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 Great Valley Advisor Group* | |
| Your Assets | Great Valley Advisor Group Fee Amounts |
| $500K | $12,500 |
| $1MM | $22,500 |
| $5MM | Negotiable |
| $10MM | Negotiable |
For financial planning and/or consulting services, the firm charges a negotiable fixed fee ranging from $250 to $16,000. Clients requiring ongoing financial planning services generally pay a recurring fee up to $2,500 per year.
What to Watch Out For
Great Valley Advisor Group’s Form ADV doesn’t list any disclosures.
Potential conflicts of interest can arise at GVA, as advisors here earn additional compensation from recommending and selling certain investment products and services. However, the firm’s fiduciary duty prevents advisors from favoring such products over client needs.
Opening an Account With Great Valley Advisor Group
GVA offers several different ways to get in touch. If you’re interested in setting up an account, you can email the firm or fill out its contact form on its website. You can also contact GVA at (302) 483-7200.
All information was accurate as of the writing of this article.
Tips for Investing
- If you’re in search of professional guidance, 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.
- It can be exciting to see how much your investments earn you over time, but you’ll want to make sure you’ve familiarized yourself with your area’s capital gains taxes. This will help you anticipate how your returns will be affected. Our capital gains tax calculator can help.
