Savant Wealth Management Review

Savant Wealth Management is an independent, fee-only firm headquartered in Illinois that offers wealth management and financial planning. Other services provided by the firm include estate planning and wealth transfer services, as well as retirement plan consulting. Most of the firm’s clients are individuals or high net worth individuals.

Assets under management (AUM): $13,130,277,826

Minimum investment: $300,000

Individual investor to advisor ratio: 72:1

Fee structure: A percentage of AUM, hourly charges, fixed fees

Headquarters: 190 Buckley Drive Rockford, IL 61107   Phone: 815-227-0300   Savant Wealth Management website and SEC Form ADV

All information included in this profile is accurate as of May 11, 2022. For more information, please consult Savant Wealth Management’s website.

Overview of Savant Wealth Management

Savant Wealth Management is a largely Illinois-based firm that was launched in its current form in 1993 by Thomas Muldowney and Brent Brodeski. The firm grew out of Savant Planning Group, which was founded by Muldowney in 1986. Muldowney retired from the firm in 2016, and Brodeski, who remains CEO, recapitalized the firm with his own money along with investments from employees, family offices and other investors.

The firm has been on an acquisition spree since then. Notable purchases include D3 Financial Counselors in 2018, which continues to operate under its own name, and, in 2021, the financial advisory firm AMDG Financial and tax and accounting firm AMDG Business Advisory Services. Currently, the firm has roughly 250 employees, about 100 of whom serve as investment advisors.

Additionally, the firm owns a subsidiary accounting firm, Savant Tax & Consulting, which primarily serves medical and dental practices. The firm also runs the Women’s Wealth Initiative, a series of educational events and services aimed at helping women build their financial future.

A look at the founder of Savant Wealth Management

While Muldowney has retired, Brodeski remains CEO of Savant Wealth Management. Brodeski is also co-founder and past president of Zero Alpha Group, an industry association, and co-founder of the Alliance for RIAs, an industry group that collectively manages close to $50 billion in assets.

Brodeski has been named to the Barron’s Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors list and also appeared in the Forbes’ top 250 wealth advisors rankings.

Types of clients

The firm primarily serves individuals, including high net worth individuals (who the Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] defines as someone with at least $750,000 under management or a net worth of at least $1.5 million). However, Savant Wealth Management offers different services depending on the size and complexity of a client’s portfolio. To open an investment portfolio with Savant Wealth Management, clients typically should have $300,000 to invest, though clients with less than $1 million may pay higher fees for comprehensive wealth management services.

Services offered

The firm offers investment management and comprehensive wealth management services, as well as financial planning services for non-wealth management clients. The firm also offers standalone estate planning and wealth transfer services, business succession planning, retirement plan services and tax preparation.

Here’s a comprehensive list of Savant Wealth Management’s offerings:

• Asset management
• Digital advisory service
• Financial planning
  • Visions and goals planning
  • Investment planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Estate planning and administration
  • Charitable planning
  • Education planning
  • Business planning and succession
  • Income tax planning
  • Debt management
  • Divorce planning
  • Insurance/risk management
• Estate and wealth transfer services
• Document preparation and legal services
• Subadvisory services
• Retirement plan consulting services and 401(k) rollovers
• Tax advisory and preparation
• Accounting services
• Workshops and seminars
• Newsletters and publications

Investment strategy

Savant Wealth Management uses an investment committee, composed mostly of Savant employees, to create its model portfolios and overall investment strategy. The firm uses several methods to analyze potential investments and portfolios, including computer-based risk-return analysis, statistical analysis and qualitative research.

Savant stresses what it terms the “Evidence-Based Method” of management, in which the team strives to:

• Challenge conventional wisdom
• Ask meaningful questions
• Apply the evidence
• Monitor for effectiveness

The firm uses model portfolios based on asset allocation strategies that take into account risk tolerance and individual client objectives. For example, a client may choose a portfolio that focuses on social and sustainability issues.

Model portfolios typically include mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) across a broad set of equity, fixed income and alternative asset classes. In some cases the firm may use individual fixed-income securities and private placement funds, or use options strategies.

Savant Wealth Management’s fees

The firm bases its fee structure on the services provided. Note that in addition to the fees clients pay to the firm, clients may also have to cover third-party fees, such as third-party advisory fees or other investment-related costs.

• Comprehensive wealth management: Fees for comprehensive wealth management, which includes financial planning services, range from 0.50% to 1.00% of assets under management. A minimum annual fee of $10,000 per account is required. This means clients who hold less than $1 million with the firm will pay more than the annualized 1.00% rate.
• Asset management: The firm also charges clients based on a percentage of assets under management for standalone investment management. Rates depend on which program the client uses, and also the complexity of a client’s financial situation and their total account balance. Annual rates typically range from 0.75% to 1.25%.
• Financial planning: For standalone financial planning services, the typical fixed fee ranges from $250 to $5,000. The firm also provides financial consulting on specific topics, for which it charges an hourly rate. Hourly rates typically range from $100 to $500 per hour depending on the topic and who is providing the services.
• Digital advisory program: Those in the digital advisory program, in which Betterment acts as a sub-advisor, will pay a fee of 0.75% of assets under management to Savant Wealth Management as well as a sub-advisor fee of 0.25% on assets up to $2 million, and 0.15% on assets over that amount.

The firm also lays out separate fee schedules for its multitude of other services, including estate planning and wealth transfer; tax advisory and preparation; business succession planning; and medical practice accounting and business advisory services, among others. For more information on the firm’s full list of fees, consult the firm’s brochure.

Disciplinary disclosures

None reported in the past 10 years.

Becoming a client

1. Contact the firm: You can schedule a free consultation with an advisor. You can do so by visiting the schedule an introductory call page on the firm’s website, or by calling your local office.
2. Assess your current financial situation: When you get started with Savant, the first step will be to review your financial situation and your existing financial portfolio. From there, the firm will determine appropriate next steps.
3. Transition your investments: For those using the firm for investment management, the next step will be to establish custodial relationships and coordinate the transfer of assets in a tax-efficient manner. Your investment policy is documented at this stage, and your portfolio will get designed and implemented.
4. Receive regular updates: Once you are on board, your advisor will provide written reports on a quarterly basis. The firm will rebalance your portfolio as needed, and proactively manage your tax liability. Updates to your portfolio and investment policy statement will be made as needed.

Locations

The firm has offices in the following locations:

• Phoenix
• Bloomington, Ill.
• Chicago
• Downers Grove, Ill.
• Freeport, Ill.
• Hoffman Estates, Ill.
• Lincolnshire, Ill.
• Naperville, Ill.
• Peoria, Ill.
• Rockford, Ill.
• St. Charles, Ill.
• Sterling, Ill.
• Wilmette, Ill.
• Indianapolis
• Plymouth, Mich.
• Santa Fe, N.M.
• McLean, Va.
• Madison, Wis.
• Middleton, Wis.
• Park Falls, Wis.

Beyond these office locations, the firm is also registered to serve clients in every state.

Is Savant Wealth Management right for you?

Savant Wealth Management could be a good choice for you if you want independent, fee-only financial advice and investment management brought to you by a dedicated team with an evidence-based focus.

However, investors who don’t have assets of over $300,000 to invest — or $1 million if they don’t want to pay a higher fee for asset management — might be better served by a different firm.

And don’t be discouraged if Savant Wealth Management isn’t your ideal fit. MagnifyMoney can help match you with an advisor. Find the trusted financial pro you deserve today.

The “Find a Financial Advisor” links contained in this article will direct you to webpages devoted to MagnifyMoney Advisor (“MMA”). After completing a brief questionnaire, you will be matched with certain financial advisers who participate in MMA’s referral program, which may or may not include the investment advisers discussed.