Ritholtz Wealth Management is a fee-based financial advisory firm that's been in business since 2013. Headquartered in New York City, Ritholtz Wealth Management offers asset allocation, wealth management, corporate retirement services and institutional wealth management. It provides both traditional asset management services through its team of financial advisors, as well as a robo-advisor program called Liftoff.
Ritholtz works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans.
Ritholtz Wealth Management Background
Ritholtz Wealth Management was founded in 2013. According to Ritholtz, its mission is to help its clients achieve their financial goals through comprehensive financial and estate plans and goals-based investment planning. Chairman and chief investment officer Barry Ritholtz owns the largest percentage of the firm, while CEO Josh Brown, director of wealth management Kris Venne and director of research Michael Batnick also own minority stakes. There are over 20 other owners who control less than 5% of the business.
Ritholtz founder Barry Ritholtz's presence in the financial industry extends beyond his firm. He is also the creator and host of Bloomberg radio podcast "Masters in Business,” and the author of leading financial blog, “The Big Picture.” Additionally, he previously wrote a column for Bloomberg and penned a monthly column on personal finance and investing for The Washington Post. In 2009, Ritholtz published a book titled “Bailout Nation,” which was named one of the best finance books of the year by several organizations.
Ritholtz Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
As of August 2024, Ritholtz works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, government entites, corporations and businesses.
Ritholtz previously required a minimum balance of $1 million for its comprehensive portfolio management services. However, the firm no longer requires this mininum account balance.
Services Offered by Ritholtz
Ritholtz Wealth Management provides a number of services to individuals and institutions:
Comprehensive Portfolio Management: Provides asset management and financial planning tailored to clients' goals and risk tolerance, with regular reviews and adjustments.
Good Advice Automated Wealth Management: An online service offering portfolio management using model portfolios, focusing on tax-loss harvesting and tailored investment strategies.
Liftoff Automated Advisory Services: Similar to Good Advice, it uses model portfolios and automated management, adjusting portfolios based on client goals and risk profiles.
Retirement Plan Consulting: Assists employers with retirement plan options, structure, and participant education.
College Financial Planning: Helps families plan and fund education expenses through financial strategies, aid optimization, and college selection guidance.
Investment Philosophy
Ritholtz Wealth Management's top priorities are capital preservation and risk management. The firm uses behavioral economics and asset allocation to build and manage its client portfolios.
The firm believes that financial planning and wealth management should be intertwined, and it makes investment recommendations based on clients’ goals determined throughout the financial planning process. The firm offers a few different types of discretionary portfolio models, of which there may be multiple versions:
- Core asset allocation: Uses institutional share class mutual funds and ETFs
- Tactical model portfolio: Often used to complement asset allocation models
- Separately managed accounts: May use all-equity or all fixed-income strategies
Fees Under Ritholtz Wealth Management
For its comprehensive portfolio services, the firm generally charges clients based on a percentage of their assets under management. The rates in the table below are the highest clients will receive, as these fees are negotiable.
| Comprehensive Portfolio Management Fee Schedule | |
| Assets Under Management | Maximum Annual Fee Rate |
| $1,000,000 - $1,999,999 | 1.25% |
| $2,000,000 - $2,999,999 | 1.00% |
| $3,000,000 - $4,999,999 | 0.85% |
| $5,000,000 - $9,999,999 | 0.75% |
| $10,000,000 - $19,999,999 | 0.65% |
| $20,000,000 - $49,999,999 | 0.45% |
| $50,000,000 and above | 0.35% |
The firm charges different fee rates for its robo-advisor service Liftoff and its retirement plan consulting. For Liftoff, the firm may charge clients up to 0.50% of their assets under management. For retirement plan consulting, plan participants are annually charged up to 1.00% of assets in the plan.
Here’s how Ritholtz’s portfolio management fees compare to its competitors. Note that these fees are estimates based on the firm's maximum rates, and exact fees may vary depending on certain factors.
| Estimated Fee Comparison* | |
| Your Assets | Ritholtz Comprehensive Portfolio Management Fees |
| $500K | $6,250 |
| $1MM | $12,500 |
| $5MM | $52,000 |
| $10MM | $89,500 |
| *Fee estimates only consider the maximum base fees for the services each firm provides. You may also pay manager fees and other fees, which can vary in amount. The above estimates solely take into account AUM-only fees. Total costs will likely be higher due to additional expenses. | |
Ritholtz Wealth Management Awards and Recognition
In 2017, Financial Times named Ritholtz Wealth Management one of the top 300 registered investment advisors in the U.S. Additionally, the firm was named Best ETF Advisor in 2017 by ETF.com, an award that recognizes firms that are using ETFs to build high-quality portfolios. Financial Advisor has also dubbed the firm the fourth-fastest-growing registered investment advisory firm in the nation.
What to Watch Out For
Prospective clients should be aware that Ritholtz personnel also own an insurance agency, RWM Insurance Services. They and their associates sell insurance products to clients of the firm on a commission basis, which could be useful for clients who need insurance solutions. However, this creates a potential conflict of interest, because Ritholtz advisors have a financial incentive to recommend certain products over others. Although, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty, meaning it must always act in clients' best interests.
Aside from that caveat, there isn’t much else to watch out for with Ritholtz Wealth Management. The firm does not have any disclosures on its record with the SEC.
Opening an Account With Ritholtz Wealth Management
Ritholtz makes it easy to get in touch. You can reach out via its phone number listed on its website or its informational email address, info@ritholtzwealth.com. Perhaps the most targeted way to strike up a client relationship with Ritholtz, however, is by clicking the "Talk to an Advisor" button in the right hand corner of its website. Once you click, you'll be asked to answer a short series of questions, including your email address, first and last name, phone number, zip code, range of investable assets, any other information you'd like the firm to know before contacting you and how you heard about the firm.
For clients who use the firm's comprehensive portfolio management service, Ritholtz will begin the process with at least one meeting, ideally in person. The advisor and client will discuss the client's current financial situation, goals and risk tolerance. The firm may then propose a plan, which the client has the option of whether to accept.
Where Is Ritholtz Located?
Ritholtz’s main office is located in midtown New York City, right near Bryant Park. It has additional offices in Chicago; New Orleans; Newport Beach, California; Charlotte, North Carolina; Bend, Oregon; Manhattan Beach, California; Austin, Texas; Barrington, Rhode Island; Nashville, Tennessee; Lafayette, Louisiana; and Naples, Florida.
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