Top Financial Advisors in Ann Arbor, MI

Find an Advisor

Established in 1992, Retirement Income Solutions is a large wealth advisory firm. The vast majority of the firm’s clients are individuals with and without a high net worth, but it also manages accounts for pension plans, charitable organizations and corporations. 

The firm provides fee-only asset management, financial planning and retirement plan consulting. On occasion, the firm may also select independent money managers for its clients. New clients of the firm are required to have at least $500,000 in investable assets.

Retirement Income Solutions Background

Retirement Income Solutions originally opened in 1992 under the leadership of K. Larry Hastie and R. Griffith McDonald. Today, the firm is owned by a combination of four managing partners: Brock E. Hastie, H. Todd Kephart, John B. Goff and Karen A. Chapell.

For asset management clients, the firm will typically charge a percentage of your AUM between 0.6% and 1%. Financial planning fees can come in the form of either a $600 to $1,200 fixed fee or a $50 to $150 hourly fee.

Retirement Income Solutions Investment Philosophy

Retirement Income Solutions begins every client relationship by discussing their risk profile, time horizon, cash flow needs, personal investment philosophy, asset allocation preferences and tax considerations. From there, the firm will determine what combination of asset classes would be most appropriate to help them reach their goals. The firm will also monitor the portfolio daily to determine when, and if, rebalancing is necessary.

The firm typically constructs portfolios using one or all of the following securities: individual equities and bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), managed futures, alternative investments and no-load or load-waived mutual funds.

Find an Advisor

Vintage Financial Services is an advisory firm that has been around for over 30 years. The firm typically only accepts clients with at least $500,000 in investable assets.

This fee-only firm can provide clients with financial planning, investment management and income tax planning and preparation services. Its clients are a mix of individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold, with some charitable organizations as well.

Vintage Financial Services Background

Vintage Financial Services was first established in 1985. The firm is under the ownership of Franklin S. Moore, who also founded the firm and serves as its chief investment officer (CIO). Chief operating officer (COO) Jack McCloskey rounds out the firm’s team of leaders.

Investment management services come with a negotiable fee that’s based on a percentage of your assets. These can range from less than 0.5% to 1% annually. Vintage Financial doesn’t charge any additional fees for financial planning services. For new clients, the firm imposes a minimum quarterly fee of $625, which could be cost-prohibitive for some.

Vintage Financial Services Investment Philosophy

Vintage Financial Services opts for a tactical asset allocation approach when constructing client portfolios. This approach embraces the idea that a portfolio’s asset allocation, which is a designed mix of different asset classes and their respective proportions, is the most important factor in determining the return of that portfolio. Where tactical asset allocation differs from strategic asset allocation, another popular approach, is in its willingness to tweak allocation targets based on new information.

The firm primarily invests in mutual funds that allow for easy diversification across an asset class. More specifically, the firm prefers actively managed mutual funds. Vintage will also invest in equity securities, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other investment products when the situation calls for it. In general, the firm makes investments with a long-term perspective in mind.

Find an Advisor

Columbia Asset Management was founded in 1997. The firm works with non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations. This is a fee-only firm, which means all of its compensation comes from client-paid fees.

The firm provides clients with a combination of portfolio management and financial planning services. Columbia has a rather steep minimum asset requirement of $1 million, making it one of the most exclusive firms on this list. This minimum is waivable under certain conditions, though.

Columbia Asset Management Background

Columbia Asset Management was formed in 1997 by Brian H. Weisman. Today, Weisman is still the principal owner of the firm. Weisman is a certified financial planner (CFP), a chartered financial analyst (CFA), a certified management accountant (CMA) and a certified public accountant (CPA).

For portfolio management services, the firm typically charges a percentage of your AUM that’s negotiable, although it won’t exceed a 1% rate annually. Financial planning fees come as a percentage or as an hourly fee. These fees are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and the arrangement is laid out in full before the onset of any professional relationship.

Columbia Asset Management Investment Philosophy

Columbia Asset Management primarily invests in individual stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), foreign issues, certificates of deposit (CDs) and publicly traded real estate. From time to time, the firm may consider options or short sales, but it will always discuss these investments with the client first. Typically, the firm makes investments with the intent to hold onto them for years.

Columbia’s advisors make asset allocation and investment decisions based on each client’s goals, risk tolerance, limitations and other specific circumstances. For instance, if a client is very close to or in retirement, the firm might construct a more conservative asset allocation that allows the client to draw income from dividends and fixed-income securities, for example.

Find an Advisor

Exchange Capital Management is a fee-only firm. Its clients include non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, state governments, insurance companies and corporations.

The firm can offer investment advice, as well as financial planning and consulting services. Exchange Capital Management has a minimum portfolio size of $500,000, though it may decide to waive this requirement at its own discretion.

Exchange Capital Management Background

Exchange Capital Management was founded in 1989. Currently, its principal owners are partners Michael R. Reid, Andrew Stewart and Kevin D. McVeigh. Among the firm’s advisors, you’ll find certifications like certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Exchange typically charges management fees as a percentage of your assets under management (AUM). The exact percentage can vary from 0.35% to 1.15%, depending on the value of your assets. These fees will generally be billed quarterly, and they cover both investment management and financial planning services.

Exchange Capital Management Investment Philosophy

Exchange Capital Management tailors its investment strategy to each client, factoring in their risk tolerance, cash flow needs, timeline until retirement and overall investment goals. The firm uses a wide range of securities. More specifically, it might recommend equity securities, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), fixed-income instruments, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities, government securities and corporate debt obligations.

The firm often utilizes fundamental analysis to evaluate if a particular security is worth investing in. It will examine factors such as a company’s balance sheet, return on equity, historical financial performance and the overall financial and economic environment.

Find an Advisor

Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors does not have a minimum account size requirement. The firm’s client base is a mix of non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations and government entities.

Arbor Trust is a fee-based firm, meaning some advisors may earn commissions from certain securities transactions. This can create a potential conflict of interest, but the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to act in your best interest at all times.

The firm provides both investment management and financial planning services to its clients, along with consulting for retirement plans and independent manager selection. Financial planning typically touches on topics like retirement planning, education planning, Social Security & Medicare planning, estate planning, philanthropy planning, cash flow planning, generational wealth transfer and insurance planning.

Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors Background

Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors was established in Ann Arbor in 2014, and it has four principal owners: managing partner Gary Haapala and partners Carol Sewell, James Winslow and Charles Waterhouse.

Investment management fees are charged according to your AUM, with rates ranging from 0.8% to 1.75%. Financial planning fees can be charged as an hourly rate between $200 and $400, or a fixed fee between $2,500 and $5,000.

Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors Investment Philosophy

Before investing any of your money, Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors will identify the objectives of the client. After establishing these goals, along with the client’s risk tolerance and time horizon, the firm will formulate an appropriate investment strategy.

The firm usually invests in a mix of individual equity securities, individual fixed-income securities, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Under certain circumstances, the firm may call for alternative investments like limited partnerships or real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Although there are exceptions, Arbor Trust generally makes investments with the intent to hold them for several years, believing that markets are usually efficient in the long term. On occasion, the firm may appoint independent managers to supervise part or all of a client’s portfolio.

Find an Advisor

Greenup Street Wealth Management provides fee-only portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and foundations. There is no minimum account requirement to work with the firm for any of its service offerings. 

Greenup Street Wealth Management Background

Greenup Street Wealth Management was founded in 2021 by advisors serving across four states to provide financial advice and management services to, primarily, individuals in an effort to help build strong retirement options. Across its team, the firm now holds prestigious designations such as certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), and certified private wealth advisor (CPWA). 

Greenup Street Wealth Management Investing Strategy

Greenup Street offers its investment services based on individual goals, time horizons, objectives, and overall risk tolerance. The aim is to craft an investment approach that is unique for each client receiving its services. 

The firm typically limits its investment advice to a collection of investments that include mutual funds, fixed-income securities, real estate funds (including REITs), equities, ETFs, treasury inflation or linked bonds, commodities, non-U.S. securities, venture capital funds and private placements. 

Find an Advisor

Pollock Investment Advisors has been doing business in Ann Arbor since 2006. Its clients consist of non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations and businesses.

Pollock provides investment management, financial planning and consulting services to its clients. The fee-only firm generally imposes a minimum account size of $500,000, although it may waive this at its discretion.

Pollock Investment Advisors Background

Pollock Investment Advisors was created in 2006 and is owned by James K. Pollock and Robert N. Pollock, Jr. James Pollock is a chartered financial analyst (CFA), and one of the firm's other advisors is a certified financial planner (CFP) and a chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC).

Pollock calculates its management fees as a percentage of your AUM. Depending on the value of your assets, the exact percentage can range from 0.5% to 1%. The firm may also decide to negotiate a different fee arrangement.

Pollock Investment Advisors Investment Philosophy

Pollock’s investment approach generally uses each client’s risk tolerance to determine the most appropriate investment strategy. This strategy could rely on a spectrum of securities, such as individual stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or cash and cash equivalents.

When analyzing stocks, the firm will consider factors such as earnings growth, stability of earnings, the company’s valuation, dividend growth, amount of debt, return on equity and strength of cash flow.

Find an Advisor

Vision Capital Partners is a fee-based registered investment advisor. Its advisory team boasts several financial certifications, including certified public accountant (CPA), chartered life consultant (CLU), certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial consultant (ChFC). The firm primarily works with non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charities and businesses. It does not require a minimum account size for its services.

Some of the advisors at Vision Capital Partners are also representatives of broker-dealer Triad Advisors. These dual roles may pose a potential conflict of interest due to possible commissions earned. However, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in clients' best interests at all times.

Vision Capital Partners Background

Thomas Duncan owns Vision Capital Partners, which was founded in 2006. Combined, the team has more than a century of experience in the financial services industry. They specialize in designing and continuously managing portfolios on behalf of its clients.

In addition to investment management services, the firm offers individual financial planning for such topics as retirement planning, retirement distribution management, estate planning and risk management.

Vision Capital Partners Investment Strategy

Vision Capital Partners designs portfolios with asset allocations specific to a client’s financial profile, objectives and risk tolerance. These portfolios typically invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and low-cost mutual funds. The firm may also consider stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities, options, U.S. government bonds and other securities if deemed suitable for the client. 

Investors are allowed to sell or re-allocate positions that have been held for less than a year in response to market conditions.

Find an Advisor

Sage Hill Capital has a very small team of advisors. It has fewer than 100 clients, including non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals and businesses. Sage Hill is a fee-only firm.

The firm offers financial planning and consulting services to its clients, along with investment management. The firm advises clients on estate planning, tax planning and insurance matters. While there’s no minimum account size requirement here, the firm does prefer to work with clients that have at least $1 million in investable assets.

Sage Hill Capital Background

Sage Hill Capital was founded in 2010. It’s equally owned by F. Chris Fragner and David Roberts, who are also the firm’s advisors. Neither Fragner nor Roberts hold any of the common advisory certifications, like certified financial planner (CFP) or chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Sage Hill doesn’t have a set schedule for its investment management fees, so exact rates will vary. Financial planning services may be a fixed, negotiable fee or an hourly fee of $200.

Sage Hill Capital Investment Philosophy

Sage Hill Capital typically recommends that its clients invest in some combination of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and options. 

To determine how to allocate among different asset classes, the firm will sit down with each client and establish several key factors, including the client’s investment goals, risk tolerance and timeline until retirement, as well as any specific investment or financial preferences. With those factors nailed down, the firm can formulate an allocation that has an appropriate amount of aggressiveness and suits the client’s cash flow needs.

Find an Advisor

Darden Wealth Group has a freshly minted SEC registration, as the firm officially registered with the federal entity in January 2021. The firm is almost entirely individual-centric, as most of its client base comprises those with and without a high net worth. Institutional clients of the firm include retirement plans and charitable organizations. This fee-only firm has a $500,000 minimum investment requirement for new clients.

The advisory staff at Darden holds a few certifications. These include chartered financial analyst (CFA), accredited asset management specialist (AAMS), registered financial consultant (RFC), certified financial planner (CFP) and certified investment management analyst (CIMA).

Darden Wealth Group Background

Founded in just 2018, Darden Wealth Group is one of the younger firms on our list. The firm is owned by its founder, president and CEO, Andrea B. Darden, who has years of experience in financial services.

Along with investment management, there are plenty of financial planning services available at Darden. These include retirement planning, college savings planning, legacy planning, long-term care strategizing and more.

Darden Wealth Group Investing Strategy

At Darden Wealth Group, investment management is a part of its financial planning suite. Because of this, your personal financial situation will have a heavy bearing on your portfolio's structure and plan. For example, some major factors affecting your portfolio include risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs, and financial goals. For the most part, this firm tends to invest in stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, CDs, various types of bonds and cash.