MagnifyMoney 
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC is an independent investment advisory firm headquartered in Chicago. The firm primarily serves individual investors, and its typical account minimum for individuals of $1 million indicates a focus on those who are high net worth. The firm also serves institutional investors and advises funds. Additionally, Segall Bryant & Hamill has its own funds across a variety of asset classes.
The bottom line: Segall Bryant & Hamill is a Chicago-based wealth management and financial planning firm with a focus on proprietary research for investment recommendations.
| Assets under management: $22,890,772,422 | |
| Minimum investment: $1 million | |
| Individual investor to advisor ratio: 34:1 | |
| Fee structure: A percentage of AUM, fixed fees, performance-based fees | |
| Headquarters: 540 West Madison Street, Suite 1900 Chicago, IL 60661 Website: www.sbhic.com Phone: 1-800-836-4265 |
All information included in this profile is accurate as of August 25, 2021. For more information, please consult Segall Bryant & Hamill’s website.
Chicago-based firm Segall Bryant & Hamill was founded in 1994 and offers portfolio management for individuals and businesses, as well as financial planning services. As of 2021, the firm is principally owned by CI U.S. Holdings, whose parent company is CI Financial Corp., a Toronto-based global asset and wealth management company. Segall Bryant & Hamill’s co-founder Ralph Segall is still with the firm as chief investment officer and senior portfolio manager.
Segal Bryant & Hamill currently has close to 120 employees, approximately 60 of whom perform investment advisory functions.
The minimum individual account size at Segall Bryant & Hamill is $1 million, although the firm mentions that it may modify the minimum on a case-by-case basis. And in fact, the firm currently has more clients who are non-high net worth than high net worth. For reference, the SEC defines high net worth individuals as those who have at least $750,000 under management or a net worth of at least $1.5 million.
Segall Bryant & Hamill offers the standard fare of financial planning and portfolio management to its individual clients.
For clients interested in financial planning, Segall Bryant & Hamill uses goals-based planning, which may include stress testing of possible scenarios in order to assess client financial objectives. Financial planning also may include retirement planning, philanthropic gift planning and tax efficiency planning.
The following is a menu of services offered by Segall Bryant & Hamill:
Advisors at Segall Bryant & Hamill construct client portfolios security by security; the company calls themselves “bottom-up investors.” New clients will work with a portfolio manager to determine their portfolio’s asset allocation, which will be based on their financial objectives and goals, as well as factors like their time horizon, risk profile and income needs. The firm also stresses its proprietary research when it comes to making investment decisions about specific companies.
The portfolio manager will then create a diversified portfolio based on the collected information. The firm divides wealth management client portfolios into fixed-income and equity and balanced strategies, based on the investment objectives gathered from the clients.
Portfolios will consist primarily of individual stock and bond securities, as well as mutual funds and some alternative investments. Fundamental factors — such as qualitative measures like management and competitive advantage or quantitative measures like a company’s assets, equity and liabilities — are the primary focus when analyzing and investing in securities. The firm also focuses on tax-friendly strategies when it comes to managing client portfolios.
Additionally, Segall Bryant & Hamill has integrated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into its research process. For example, its Workplace Equality Strategy focuses on companies that meet the firm’s Workplace Equality screen. The company signed the United Nations’ Principles of Responsible Investment in 2017.
Segall Bryant & Hamill’s fees are all subject to negotiation; however, the annual minimum fee for all individual account investment styles (equity, balanced and fixed income) is listed at $10,000.
The firm calculates fees based on a percentage of assets under management, with the minimum account size generally set at $1 million. Total fees will depend on factors such as the size of the account, relationships to other accounts, any competitive pricing agreements or conditions at the inception of the relationship, the historical or projected nature of trading for the account and the extent of supplemental client services provided to the account. Clients will not incur an additional fee for financial planning services.
| Segall Bryant & Hamill Investment Management Fee Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Investment style | Management fee |
| Equity and balanced | First $3 million: 1.00% Next $7 million: 0.75% Over $10 million: 0.50% |
| Fixed income | All balances: 0.50% |
Note that the rates listed in the table above do not include brokerage commissions, transaction fees and other related costs and expenses that may be incurred through portfolio management services.
Segall Bryant & Hamill notes that with some qualified clients, it has performance-based fee arrangements, which are subject to individualized negotiation with each client. Some of the firm’s funds may charge this fee as well.
Segall Bryant & Hamill does not have any disclosures, meaning it has a clean disciplinary record. Financial advisory firms that are registered with the SEC are required to disclose all events on their Form ADV paperwork that would influence a potential client’s decision to work with the firm. These disclosures include civil, regulatory and criminal actions against the firm, its employees and its affiliates over the last decade.
For more information on Segall Bryant & Hamill, go to the firm’s IAPD page.
Segall Bryant & Hamill has offices in the following cities:
As an investment advisory firm aimed at high net worth individuals as well as institutional investors, Segall Bryant & Hamill provides ready access and “high-touch” service for investors located within the range of its offices. The company offers competitive fees for investment management and an individualized approach, rather than a model portfolio-only style.
However, high net worth investors who wish to keep most financial services with one firm might be better served by a firm that offers accountant services and a wider range of family office services. While Segall Bryant & Hamill does offer financial planning and associated services at no additional fee, it’s not as tailored to managing a full spectrum of family wealth planning services as some other firms may be. Before you make your decision, take the time to research multiple firms to ensure you find the right advisor for you.
Nina SemczukNina Semczuk is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® (CEPF®), a member of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and an Army veteran with five years of active service.
Read More
