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Johnson Wealth 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.

Johnson Wealth, Inc. - also known as Johnson Wealth - is a financial advisor firm with billions in assets under management (AUM). Johnson Wealth's home office is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is one of the top financial advisors in the city and state, according to SmartAsset. The firm offers services such as financial planning and portfolio managment. 

Johnson Wealth Background

Johnson Wealth Inc. is an investment advisory firm registered with the SEC. The firm's name was changed in October 2018 from Cleary Gull Advisors to Johnson Wealth The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson Financial Group, which is a privately held financial services company. The firm also acts as a marketing name for its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, Inc. and Johnson Insurance, LLC.

The firm itself was formed in 2003 but its predecessor firms have served clients all over the country since 1987. Helen Johnson-Leipold serves as chairman of Johnson Financial Group and Jim Popp serves as its president and CEO. 

Johnson Wealth Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

Johnson Wealth advises the following types of clients:

  • Non-high-net-worth individuals
  • High-net-worth individuals
  • Trusts
  • Not-for-profit hospitals and senior living organizations
  • Public and private foundations and endowments
  • Municipalities and other government entities
  • Corporations or businesses
  • Other investment advisors

While the firm does not generally require a minimum amount to be invested, it does recommend clients have $1 million in investable assets to allow for diversification of managers and assets. It generally requires a minimum of $200,000 per separately managed account, though certain account managers may impose a higher minimum.  

Services Offered by Johnson Wealth

Johnson Wealth's investment advisory services include, but are not limited to: analysis of objectives (including customized risk budgeting), asset allocation and portfolio construction, investment policy development, investment research, evaluation and selection of investment managers, responsible investing, custodian reviews and trustee and board education. The firm manages client accounts on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis. 

Johnson Wealth Inc.'s affiliate, Johnson Bank, retains the firm at times to perform discretionary and/or non-discretionary subadvisory services for a significant percentage of its wealth management clients. These services include discretionary investment management, broad investment trends analysis, investment policy direction, asset allocation modeling, manager and fund due diligence, fixed income and equity strategy and analysis, portfolio construction advice and model portfolios. 

The firm provides pre-retirement planning services to airline pilots and their famillies under its Pilot Program (including risk tolerance profiling, asset allocation design, pension benefits review, retirement timing and transition consultation). 

In terms of financial planning services, the firm offers these to help clients evaluate the potential of attaining their financial goals. 

Johnson Wealth Investing Philosophy

Johnson Wealth's methods of analysis for funds and mangers include screening of managers and funds using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Information sources for research include but are not limited to: research services and products of third-party providers, financial newspapers and magazines, manager interviews and conference calls or on-site visits, rating services, annual reports and other filings with the SEC, company press releases and portfolio modeling tools. The firm primarily uses an investment approach that is long-term in focus and emphasizing asset allocation.

Fees Under Johnson Wealth

Johnson Wealth offers investment advisory services for a negotiable fee based on the amount and type of assets under management in client accounts, the level of service provided to the client and the complexity and scope of services. Fees may be in the form of an asset, retainer or based on the specific project and may be subject to an annual minimum. They are usually paid quarterly in advance, according to a fee schedule set up in each client's advisory agreement. Fees are usually deducted from the client's account unless the client requests to be billed. 

The standard advisory fee schedule that applies to individual clients is below:

Johnson Wealth Individual Fee Schedule (Minimum is $5,000)
AUM Advisory Fee Rate
First $2,000,000 1.00%
Next $2,000,000 0.85%
Next $4,000,000 0.70%
On the Balance 0.60%
Minimum Fee $5,000

Here is the estimated dollar amount you'd pay in advisory fees based on the size of your account:

*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 Johnson Wealth*
Your Assets Johnson Wealth Maximum Fee Amount
$1MM $10,000
$2MM $20,000
$5MM $34,000
$10MM $77,000

Johnson Wealth only offers financial planning services to clients who do not engage the firm to manage assets. Clients pay these planning fees based on the complexity of the plan. Clients are responsible for other fees and charges imposed by third parties. Learn more about advisors' typical costs here.

What to Watch Out For

Within the past 10 years, Johnson Wealth has not undergone any disciplinary or legal action deemed material to a client’s evaluation of its business integrity. You can view its latest Form ADV on the official website of the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).  

It is important to note that advisors at Johnson Wealth Inc., Johnson Bank and Johnson Insurance refer clients to each other in order to offer a full range of financial services to their clients. As a result, certain officers and employees of the firm or its affiliates receive referral fees and/or compensation for referring clients between these affiliated services, which is a potential conflict of interest. That said, as an SEC-registered investment advisor, the firm is legally obligated to uphold its fiduciary duty and work in clients’ best interests at all times.

Opening an Account With Johnson Wealth

To open an account with Johnson Wealth, you can visit the firm's website or call (414) 291-4500.

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

Tips for Finding a Financial Advisor 

  • 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.
  • Ask candidates whether they adhere to the fiduciary standard of putting clients’ interests first. Yes is the ideal answer, of course. But they may follow a lower standard of providing only suitable recommendations.

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