Pinnacle Wealth Management is a financial advisor firm headquartered in Denver. This fee-based firm primarily works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals, although it is open to working with institutional clients as well.
Pinnacle offers a number of resources that current and prospective clients can explore when analyzing their own personal financial situations. It has tools built for tax considerations, investment styles, retirement planning, lifestyle planning, insurance planning and more.
Pinnacle Wealth Management Background
Pinnacle Wealth Management has been in business since 1998. President Thomas Stefaniak is the principal owner of the firm, although he co-founded it with Joanne Gipple. It was established after Stefaniak spent 11 years in the financial services and management industry with American Express. During his time there, he was recognized at a district level for his attention to customer service.
Stefaniak holds a certified financial planner (CFP) designation, while two other members of his team are financial paraplanner qualified professionals (FPQPs).
Pinnacle Wealth Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Most of Pinnacle Wealth Management’s client base is comprised of individuals, both those with and without a high net worth. Estates, trusts, charitable organizations, small businesses and pension and profit-sharing plans are also typical clients of this firm.
Pinnacle Wealth Management does not require a minimum account size to open or maintain an account. So regardless of how much money you have ready to invest, this firm will not turn you away as a possible client.
Services Offered By Pinnacle Wealth Management
Pinnacle Wealth Management is primarily known for creating Wealth Plans for its clients, which are based on clients’ personal financial needs. These plans generally include the following information:
- Net worth overview
- Cash flow statement
- Current investment account review
- Asset allocation analysis
- List of investment repositioning recommendations
- Full review of life, disability and long-term care insurance policies
- Recommendations for changes
- Review of current estate plans
- Education planning with funding strategies
Depending on your existing retirement savings and any debt, this firm will also figure out what kind of investment return is needed to reach your objectives. Taxes are taken into account at every juncture, as your advisor will always look to minimize the impact of taxes as much as possible.
If you have specific questions for an advisor at Pinnacle, the firm also offers consulting services. These is meant for people who have questions regarding a particular area, such as retirement planning, real estate, employer-sponsored retirement plans, estate planning and more.
Pinnacle also offers retirement plan advisory services for businesses that need help creating and maintaining an employee retirement plan program. Not only will the firm help businesses select investment types, it will also help businesses to educate their employees about their choices.
Pinnacle Wealth Management Investment Philosophy
The cornerstone of Pinnacle Wealth Management’s investment philosophy is the “Surge and Protect” investing strategy. At its core, this ideology is meant for clients who are seeking capital preservation over appreciation. The objective is to capitalize during advancing markets and protect assets during sideways and negative markets. To do this, the firm will purchase a combination of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). When an ETF is initially purchased, a stop loss order is placed at 10% below the purchase price (15% for small-cap international stock ETF holdings) to minimize losses.
The firm also offers a diversified strategy for investors who prefer a buy-and-hold approach and a dividend income strategy that emphasizes income as its primary goal.
Your portfolio’s exact asset allocation will depend on your risk tolerance, which your advisor will figure out with you prior to your portfolio’s creation.
Fees Under Pinnacle Wealth Management
Pinnacle Wealth Management’s fees are based on the amount of assets under the firm’s management. The fee rates listed below are annual rates, though the firm bills clients and deducts fees from accounts in advance on a quarterly basis.
| Portfolio Size | Advisory Fee |
| Less than $500,000 | 1.50% |
| $500,001 - $750,000 | 1.45% |
| $750,001 - $1.5MM | 1.25% |
| $1,500,001 - $4MM | 1.00% |
| $4,000,001 and above | 0.75% |
Here's how much you're likely to 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 Pinnacle Wealth Management* | |
| Your Assets | Pinnacle Wealth Management Fee Amounts |
| $500K | $7,500 |
| $1MM | $14,250 |
| $5MM | $53,000 |
| $10MM | $90,500 |
What to Watch Out For
There are no legal issues or other disclosures to report for Pinnacle Wealth Management.
Clients should be aware that Pinnacle Wealth Management is a fee-based financial advisor firm. This means that the firm earns money in ways other than the fees its clients pay for advisory services. Some of Pinnacle’s advisors can earn commissions from selling certain insurance policies to clients. However, the firm is still a fiduciary, which means it must always act in clients’ best interests.
Opening an Account With Pinnacle Wealth Management
Pinnacle’s only physical location is in Denver, so if you live in the area, feel free to visit the office in person. You can also reach the firm at (303) 806-0988 or have an advisor contact you directly via email through the “Have a Question?” form available on the firm’s website.
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