With billions in client assets under management, Polaris Wealth Advisory Group is one of the largest financial advisors in San Rafael, California. The financial advisor firm manages money for a variety of clients, the majority of whom are individuals. It offers a traditional lineup of financial planning, consulting and investment management services.
Polaris is a fee-only firm, meaning it only receives income from the advisory fees that clients pay. That's different from a fee-based firm, whose representatives might also earn commissions for insurance sales or certain securities transactions.
The firm also appears on our San Rafael top financial advisors list. The firm has five locations aside from its headquarters including in Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Dallas, Houston, Chicago and Troy, Michigan.
Polaris Wealth Advisory Group Background
Polaris Wealth Advisers formed in 2011 and merged with Greystone Financial Group in 2015. The firm changed its name to Polaris Wealth Advisory Group in August 2020. The firm is currently owned by Advisor Investments, which is owned by investment vehicles within Summit Partners, LP's suite of funds.
Polaris Wealth Advisory Group Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Polaris Wealth Advisory Group serves a range of individual and institutional clients. The firm's individual clients are mostly non-high-net-worth, but some do come in above the high-net-worth threshold. Other clients of the firms include pension and profit-sharing plans and businesses.
The firm typically requires a minimum initial investment of at least $500,000, but the firm may waive this requirement under certain circumstances.
Services Offered by Polaris Wealth Advisory Group
Polaris Wealth Advisory Group offers investment portfolio management, financial planning and financial consulting services to clients. When it comes to financial planning and consulting, advisors offer a comprehensive range of services, assisting clients with:
- General financial planning
- Educational fund planning
- Retirement planning
- Estate planning
- Investment planning
- Tax planning
- Risk management
- Business planning
- Business succession planning
Polaris Wealth Advisory Group Investment Philosophy
Whether providing financial planning or investment management services, Polaris Wealth Advisory Group looks to tailor its advice to clients' ultimate goals and objectives. This requires gathering significant amounts of information about each client's desired time horizon, investment history, risk tolerance and more. Using this information, the firm invests client assets in strategies that match up with their investor profile. Strategies offered by the firm include diversified exchange-traded fund (ETF) strategies and stock strategies.
When it comes to evaluating investments for client portfolios, Polaris Wealth Advisory Group uses internal research, as well as research from third parties. Advisors use a few methods of analysis, including fundamental analysis, technical analysis, macro-economic analysis, sentiment evaluations and asset allocation analysis. The firm uses a top-down and quantitatively driven investment selection process.
Polaris Wealth Advisory Group Fees
Polaris Wealth Advisory Group charges investment management fees based on each client's total assets under management (AUM). Individual and institutional clients are charged slightly different rates. These rates apply for both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts. Fees are calculated and billed on a quarterly basis, in advance.
| Individual Client Fee Schedule | |
| Account Size | Annual Fee |
| First $500K | 1.50% |
| Next $500K | 1.25% |
| Next $4MM | 1.00% |
| Next $5MM | 0.90% |
| Next $10MM | 0.80% |
| Over $20MM | 0.70% |
Here is the estimated dollar amount you'd pay in advisory fees (as an individual client) 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 Individual Client Investment Management Fees at Polaris Wealth Advisory Group* | |
| Your Assets | Polaris Wealth Advisory Group Fee Amounts |
| $500K | $7,500 |
| $1MM | $13,750 |
| $5MM | $53,750 |
| $10MM | $98,750 |
What to Watch Out For
Polaris Wealth Advisory Group has no disclosures listed on its Form ADV, and there generally isn't much to be wary of when investing with the firm.
Opening an Account With Polaris Wealth Advisory Group
For those looking to open an account with Polaris Wealth Advisory Group, go online to the firm's website and submit a contact form or send an email. You can also call (415) 263-5600 if you prefer working over the phone.
Tips for Financial Planning
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All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
