Investing, with the
full plan in view.
The traditional industry default is a percentage-based AUM fee that scales with your balance regardless of complexity. We chose a different structure. Our AUM fee is an add-on, paired with a transparent flat membership, and built around tax-aware portfolios held in your own name.
Investment Philosophy
Five criteria.
No exceptions.
Every strategy we consider must pass through the same five-part filter before it ever reaches a client conversation.
Evidence-Based
If the strategy is not supported by decades of academic research and real-world data, we do not use it.
Transparent
If you cannot understand how it works in a single conversation, it is too complex for your practice.
Diversified
If its success depends on a single stock, sector, or outcome, it is too concentrated.
Cost-Conscious
If the fees eat more than the alpha, the alpha belongs to the manager — not to you.
Repeatable
If it cannot be applied consistently across time and across clients, it is not a strategy — it is a story.
“If a strategy cannot pass all five, we do not use it — regardless of how impressive the returns may sound.”
Why It Matters
Built around you. Not your balance.
In the traditional 1% AUM model, the advisor's fee scales with the size of the balance. Our model holds the AUM fee at a hard cap and pairs it with a separate flat membership that prices the work, not the balance. Here is what that structure means in practice.
Lower fee drag, by design.
Our AUM fee is below the 1.0%–1.5% range commonly cited as the industry norm. Over long horizons, the difference between fee structures may compound into a meaningful portion of total return, though the actual impact depends on the portfolio, the markets, and the period.
Aligned, not extractive.
A flat membership fee covers planning. AUM covers investment management. You always know what you are paying for — and why.
Institutional access, individually applied.
Direct indexing, selective alternatives, and disciplined portfolio construction — built around your tax picture, not a one-size model.
Coordinated with the rest of your plan.
Your portfolio is one of ten Practice Domains. Investing decisions move with your taxes, cash flow, and estate plan — not in isolation.
The Grounded Approach
Four building blocks. One coordinated portfolio.
GPS model portfolios
Globally diversified, low-cost core portfolios mapped to your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
GTAP direct indexing
For accounts $25,000 and above — own the index in a separately managed account to harvest losses and reduce tax drag.
Selective alternatives access
For qualified members, curated access to private credit, real estate, and structured strategies — with a fit screen, not a sales pitch.
Tax-aware execution
Asset location, lot-level harvesting, and rebalancing decisions made with your full tax picture in view.
What's Included
The Investment Marketplace.
Available as part of Advisory Wealth and Virtual Family Office. A coordinated set of investment capabilities — vetted, sized, and reviewed inside your full plan.
- Vetted investment opportunities
- Advisor-guided selection
- Portfolio fit and sizing analysis
- Tax-aware allocation
- Ongoing position reviews
- Coordinated execution across accounts
Side By Side
Traditional 1% vs. Grounded Wealth™
| Feature | Traditional 1% RIA | Grounded Wealth™ |
|---|---|---|
| AUM Fee | 1.0% – 1.5% (uncapped) | Transparent AUM Fee |
| Planning Included | Sometimes — extra cost | |
| Direct Indexing | Often high minimums | |
| Selective Alternatives | Varies by firm | |
| Tax-Coordinated Investing | Varies by firm | |
| Fee-Only Fiduciary | Varies by firm | |
| Commission-Based Products | Varies by firm |
The 1.0%–1.5% AUM range cited reflects industry fee benchmarks reported by sources including Kitces Research and AdvisoryHQ; individual firms vary. The traditional column represents general industry practice, not any specific firm. The Grounded Wealth column reflects our published fee schedule. See our Form ADV Part 2A for full fee detail.
Transparent fees.
A coordinated plan.
A short conversation is the simplest way to see whether coordinated investing fits your situation.