RMB Capital Management is a large financial advisor firm headquartered in Chicago. It currently holds a spot on our list of the top financial advisors in Chicago. RMB has several other accolades to its name, including its recognition by Barron's as one of the top 100 registered investment advisor firms in the U.S. in 2020.
This fee-only firm provides a wide range of financial services that generally include investment portfolio management, financial planning and consulting. RMB Capital Management has additional offices in Denver, New York, Milwaukee and Washington D.C., as well as Wyoming, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan.
RMB Capital Management Background
RMB Capital Management was founded in 2005. At its inception, the firm had just 19 employees. Today, it employs close to 150. The firm is led by a large team of executives, with co-founder Richard Burridge serving as its CEO and co-chief investment officer (CIO). Burridge and Frederick Paulman own the firm through RMB Capital Holdings LLC.
The advisory certifications at the firm include chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP), certified investment management analyst (CIMA) and many others.
RMB Capital Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
RMB Capital Management works with a diverse client base. These clients include non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, foundations, endowments, mutual funds, businesses, government entities and Taft-Hartley funds.
To establish an investment account with RMB, you'll normally need a minimum investment of $1 million. Internally managed private funds have a $250,000 minimum. Both of these minimums are negotiable at the discretion of the firm.
Services Offered by RMB Capital Management
RMB Capital Management offers clients a wide range of services. Its wealth management services are comprehensive and may include financial planning, portfolio management, asset allocation recommendations and more. The firm may also take advantage of third-party managers.
Separately managed accounts (SMAs) and asset management services are offered both in-house and from third parties. Private fund strategies, mutual funds, family office services and retirement plan services are included in this large firm's service offerings.
RMB Capital Management Investment Philosophy
When developing investment strategies, RMB Capital Management works with each client on an individual level to ensure that their goals and financial needs are being met. It specifically places an emphasis on long-term objectives when crafting a financial or investment plan, taking into account factors like risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs and even desired investment strategies.
In order to inform its decisions when creating these customized investment plans, RMB and its advisors do a significant amount of research. Its primary method of analysis is fundamental analysis, which looks to identify investment opportunities through the risk-reward ratio of each potential security.
Fees Under RMB Capital Management
Fee schedules at RMB Capital Management vary depending on the strategy or service you use. Many of these options have no set fee schedule. For example, fees for wealth management services vary based on a variety of considerations, but typically range between 0.25% and 1.00% of the client's assets under management (AUM).
The fees for SMAs have more defined schedules, though, and they are shown below. Note that other funds and third-party managers may charge different fees for certain products or for being engaged in certain strategies.
| Model-Based Strategies | |
| Total AUM | Annual Fee |
| First $250K | 0.35% |
| Next $750K | 0.35% |
| Next $2MM | 0.325% |
| Next $5MM | 0.30% |
| Next $15MM | 0.275% |
| Core Equity/Balanced Strategies | |
| Total AUM | Annual Fee |
| First $1MM | 0.50% |
| Next $2MM | 0.50% |
| Next $2MM | 0.475% |
| Next $5MM | 0.45% |
| Next $15MM | 0.425% |
| Over $25MM | 0.40% |
| Taxable and Tax-Exempt Fixed-Income | |
| Total AUM | Annual Fee |
| First $1MM | 0.35% |
| Next $2MM | 0.35% |
| Next $2MM | 0.325% |
| Next $5MM | 0.30% |
| Next $15MM | 0.275% |
| Over $25MM | 0.25% |
| International-Focused Equity Strategies | |
| Total AUM | Annual Fee |
| First $1MM | 1.00% |
| Next $2MM | 0.975% |
| Next $2MM | 0.95% |
| Next $5MM | 0.90% |
| Next $15MM | 0.825% |
| Over $25MM | 0.75% |
| Small-Cap Focus | |
| Total AUM | Annual Fee |
| First $2MM | 0.75% |
| Next $2MM - $5MM | 0.70% |
| Next $5MM - $10MM | 0.65% |
| Next $10MM - $20MM | 0.60% |
| Over $20MM | 0.55% |
| Tax Advantaged Fixed-Income | |
| Total AUM | Annual Fee |
| First $5MM | 0.35% |
| Next $5MM - $10MM | 0.30% |
| Next $10MM - $15MM | 0.25% |
| Next $15MM - $20MM | 0.20% |
| Over $20MM | 0.15% |
RMB Capital Management Awards and Recognition
RMB Capital Management is a large firm with offices around the country. Over the years, it has been recognized through a number of awards, including:
- Named by Financial Times as a Top 300 Registered Investment Adviser (2017-2020)
- Ranked among Barron's Top 50 Independent Advisory Firms in 2019
- Ranked among Barron's Top 40 Independent Advisory Firms in 2018
- Ranked among Barron's Top 30 Independent Advisory Firms in 2017
- Ranked among Barron's Top 20 Independent Advisory Firms in 2016
What To Watch Out For
RMB Capital has no disclosures listed on its Form ADV.
While the firm has several representatives of a broker-dealer on staff, these employees do not receive commissions for recommending investment products, unlike some advisors at fee-based firms.
Opening an Account With RMB Capital Management
RMB Capital Management has offices located around the country, but you don't need to live near one to become a client. If you'd like to open an account, go online to the firm's website and submit a contact form, or call (312) 993-5800. If you do happen to live near a branch, though, you can visit in person.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
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