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HighPoint Planning Partners 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.

HighPoint Planning Partners, also known as HighPoint Advisor Group (HPAG), is a large financial advisor firm located in Downers Grove, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Through a network of affiliated advisors, the firm manages a large pool of client assets and offers both financial planning and consulting. HighPoint also provides services for retirement plan sponsors and participants.

HighPoint Planning Partners Background

HighPoint Planning Partners has been in business since 2012. While the firm's legal name is HighPoint Advisors Group, it conducts business as HighPoint Planning Partners. In 2016, the firm was purchased by Craig Ibrahim and Martin Campbell, who both still own the firm as its partners.

In addition to its headquarters in Downers Grove, HighPoint has offices in six other cities across Illinois, including Chicago. The firm is partnered with LPL Financial, a broker-dealer, and its advisory representatives are typically registered with LPL as well.

HighPoint Planning Partners Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

HighPoint works with thousands of clients. Individuals with less than a high net worth make up the majority of the firm's client base, while high-net-worth individuals also comprise a sizable chunk. Institutional clients include pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and corporations.

HighPoint has a relatively low $5,000 account minimum for its base services. Note that certain programs, like the ones offered through LPL, have different requirements. This base minimum may be waived or negotiated at the discretion of the firm.

Services Offered by HighPoint Planning Partners

HighPoint Planning Partners provides clients with a range of services, including financial planning, consulting and asset management. Asset management services are provided on either a discretionary or a non-discretionary basis. The firm will occasionally work with third-party money managers as well.

Financial planning and consulting services may include the following and may be either short-term or long-term in nature:

  • Cash management
  • Risk management
  • Insurance planning
  • Education fund planning
  • Goal-setting
  • Retirement planning
  • Estate and charitable gift planning
  • Capital needs planning

This firm also provides access to wrap fee accounts through LPL.

HighPoint Planning Partners Investment Philosophy

HighPoint Planning Partners, like many other advisory firms that provide individualized client services, looks to tailor its investment management services based on the client's financial situation and objectives. Advisors work with clients to determine their financial situation, such as their tolerance for risk, time horizon, desired investment strategies and any reasonable investment restrictions.

Advisors use this information to craft personalized investment portfolios for all clients. Mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual debt securities, equity securities and real estate investment trusts (REITs) are among the most common investments at HPGA. Advisors tend to use fundamental analysis and long-term trading strategies to drive growth in client portfolios.

Fees Under HighPoint Planning Partners

HighPoint Advisor Group charges fees to clients in a number of ways, including through fixed rates, hourly rates and rates based on a percentage of the client's assets under management (AUM). Fees for asset management services, including wrap program accounts, are charged as an annual percentage of each client's AUM, with rates ranging from 0.05% to 2.20%. The rate you receive is negotiable depending on the range and scope of services being provided.

*Estimated investment management fees may not include brokerage, custodial, third-party manager or other fees, which can vary in amount.
Estimated Investment Management Fees at HighPoint Advisor Group*
Your Assets HighPoint Advisor Group Fee Amounts
$500K Up to $11,000
$1MM Up to $22,000
$5MM Up to $110,000
$10MM Up to $220,000

Financial planning fees are typically fixed or hourly. Hourly fees may range up to $500 per hour. Fixed fees usually vary from $500 to $20,000. Financial planning can also be obtained by paying a retainer fee on an ongoing basis of up to $20,000 per year. As is the case with asset management, specific fees are determined based on the scope of the agreement.

What To Watch Out For

There are four regulatory disclosures on HighPoint Planning Partners' SEC-filed Form ADV. Three of the disclosures are in relation to the alleged actions of advisory affiliates of the firm. The fourth disclosure indicates the firm paid a disgorgement of $508,995 and a $125,000 civil penalty after no-transaction-fee funds were allegedly used in accounts when cheaper alternatives were available. 

Meanwhile, HighPoint Advisor Group is a fee-based firm, as many of its advisors are registered representatives of broker-dealers and insurance providers. This creates a potential conflict of interest, which is mitigated by the firm's status as a fiduciary advisor. This legally requires the firm to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

Opening an Account with HighPoint Advisor Group

If you're looking to work with HighPoint Advisor Group, simply call the firm at (630) 719-9222 to find out where you can find an advisor.

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

Tips for Finding a Financial Advisor

  • As you navigate through the world of retirement planning, it's important to remain on track. In this case, the professional help of a financial advisor can be especially beneficial. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now
  • Financial advisors use all sorts of fees, so make sure you familiarize yourself with them. As a starting point, check out SmartAsset's comparison of fee-only and fee-based financial advisors.

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