Menu burger Close thin Facebook Twitter Google plus Linked in Reddit Email arrow-right-sm arrow-right
Loading
Tap on the profile icon to edit
your financial details.

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Review

Your Details Done
by Updated

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.

Mesirow Financial Investment Management (MFIM) has distinguished itself as a competitive independent firm since the early 1900s. MFIM is one of Chicago-based Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc.'s businesses. MFIM also goes by Mesirow Asset Management Inc. In 2016, the corporation acquired Fiduciary Management Associates, Inc. and joined its insurance business with Alliant Insurance.

MFIM manages assets for individuals, as well as institutional and corporate clients. The firm appears on SmartAsset's lists for top financial advisor firms in Illinois and Chicago.

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Background

Mesirow was founded in 1986, though the parent company goes back to 1937. It has offices in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Puerto Rico, Tennessee and Texas. It also has offices in London and Hong Kong.

As a fee-based firm, some advisors may have dual or multiple roles, which may present potential conflicts of interest that they are obligated to disclose.

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

Most individual clients at MFIM do not have a high net worth. The firm also serves banking or thrift institutions, other investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, state and municipal government entities, insurance companies, wealth funds, corporations and endowments. 

The firm does not specify a minimum for portfolio management services, though it does have a minimum annual fee of $4,000, which it may choose to waive.

Services Offered by Mesirow Financial Investment Management

Through its Wealth Advisors unit, MFIM provides customized investment management and financial planning to individuals. This unit also manages a discretionary micro cap strategy and a socially conscious strategy that it calls Impact Management. Additionally, it serves as an investment manager to affiliated private funds. 

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Investing Philosophy

The firm uses quantitative and qualitative measures to evaluate securities and the performance of portfolios. Generally, it implements asset allocations using mutual funds, equities, fixed income products and alternative investments. 

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Fees

Management fees are typically an annual 1% of assets under management or advisement, though the percentage may vary, depending on account size, complexity of financial planning services and other factors. Alternately, fees can be a negotiated flat amount. As noted earlier, the minimum annual fee is $4,000. Private fund fees and other fees will be in offering and other relevant documents.

What to Watch Out For

In its most recent SEC filings, MFIM had no disclosures of legal or disciplinary actions to report.

Through its parent corporation, MFIM is affiliated with companies that sell financial products, including mutual funds and insurance products. These relationships can present potential conflicts of interest. As a fiduciary registered with the SEC, the firm is obligated to act in your best interest.

Opening an Account With Mesirow Financial Investment Management

You'll have multiple options for setting up an account with Mesirow Financial. You can either visit the firm's corporate headquarters in Chicago, set up an appointment with an advisor by calling the Chicago office or visit or contact any of the firm's other offices. You can reach Mesirow Financial at (312) 595-6000.

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

Tips for Finding the Right Financial Advisor 

  • 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.
  • Ask prospective advisors how many times a year you’ll go over your finances together. The right answer depends on your needs and expectations. But once or twice a year should be the minimum. Here are some important questions to ask a financial advisor.

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