Firm Info
Firm Size
Services Offered
- Financial Planning
- Portfolio Management for Individuals & Small Businesses
- Portfolio Management of Pooled Investment Vehicles
- Portfolio Management for Businesses or Institutional Clients
- Pension Consulting Services
- Selection of Others Advisors
- Other
Types of Clients
- Individuals (Not High Net Worth)
-
Individuals High Net Worth
*>=750k in Investable Assets or >=1.5m of Estimated Total Net Worth
- Pooled Investment Vehicles
- Pension & Profit Sharing Plans
- Charitable Organizations
- State & Municipal Govt Entities
- Corporations or Other Businesses Not Listed Above
Available Fee Structures
- Percentage of Assets Under Management (AUM)
- Hourly
- Fixed Fees (Other than subscription)
- Performance-based Fees
Empirical Wealth Management Overview
EMPIRICAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT is a registered investment advisory firm that provides investment advice only. Founded in 2011, the firm has its headquarters in Seattle, WA. They operate under a fee-only arrangement, meaning that they do not receive commissions or any other form of compensation from the sale of financial products. EMPIRICAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT offers a range of services to its clients, including financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management of pooled investment vehicles, and portfolio management for businesses or institutional clients. They also offer pension consulting services, which can be very valuable for businesses looking to manage their retirement plans. In addition, EMPIRICAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT offers selection of other advisors, which means that they can assist their clients in identifying other professionals in the industry that would be a good fit for their needs. Finally, the firm also offers other services, including tax preparation and insurance services, which can be a big help for clients who want to ensure they are fully covered in their financial planning and management. Overall, EMPIRICAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT is a well-established and highly reputable investment advisory firm that offers a broad array of services to individuals, businesses, and institutional clients alike. With their emphasis on fee-only arrangements and a commitment to providing the highest level of advice and service, they are definitely worth considering for anyone looking for investment management and financial planning services.
EMPIRICAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT caters to a diverse group of clients, including individuals, high net worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles, pension or profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, state or municipal government entities, and other types of corporations. With their extensive financial expertise, EMPIRICAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT offers tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each client. The firm's commitment to delivering outstanding service and personalized attention has earned them a reputation as one of the leading wealth management firms in the industry. To accommodate the varying needs of their clients, EMPIRICAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT provides a range of fee structures. Depending on the service provided, clients may pay a percentage of assets under management (AUM), an hourly rate, fixed fees, or a performance-based fee. This flexibility allows clients to choose a fee structure that aligns with their financial goals and investment strategies. Whether it's managing a client's portfolio or providing investment advice, EMPIRICAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT is committed to delivering exceptional value and results that exceed expectations.
Typical Clients, Fee Structures & Investment Minimum
EMPIRICAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT's Part 2 Brochure does not mention an investment minimum.
How This Office Can Help Los Gatos, CA Residents
Empirical Wealth Management strives to help clients in Los Gatos, CA navigate their unique financial situations. The city is known for its high cost of living, with median home prices well above the national average, making financial planning especially important. Empirical Wealth Management works closely with clients to understand their goals and priorities, creating customized financial plans to help them achieve those goals. For Los Gatos residents, managing investment portfolios, maximizing retirement savings, and minimizing taxes are critical financial concerns. Empirical Wealth Management offers a range of services, including investment management, financial planning, retirement planning, and tax planning, to help clients meet these needs. With a focus on personalized service and long-term relationships, Empirical Wealth Management is committed to helping clients achieve financial security and peace of mind.
Services Offered by Empirical Wealth Management
Core Advisor Services
Financial Planning
Financial planning services encompass the process of devising strategies for your future financial well-being, including preparing for events such as retirement, funding your child's college education, or planning for the transfer of assets.
Portfolio Management for Individuals & Small Businesses
Portfolio management entails the careful selection and strategic management of investment combinations tailored to meet the needs of individuals and small businesses.
Market Timing Services
Market timing services involve the endeavor to generate short-term profits from investments by capitalizing on opportunities to buy at low prices and sell at high prices.
Other Services
Selection of Other Advisors
The firm provides support in selecting and engaging other advisors who possess specialized expertise to complement your financial needs.
Publication of Periodicals or Newsletters
The firm engages in the dissemination of diverse financial educational materials through the publication of periodicals.
Educational Seminars & Workshops
The firm organizes and conducts seminars or workshops aimed at enlightening investors on various financial concepts.
Fee Structures
Financial advisory fees usually are based on the services provided. Fee types charged by Empirical Wealth Management most likely consist of the following fee types: asset-based, hourly or fixed. Wrap fee programs, or the practice of bundling services for a single fee, are not offered by the firm.
Available
Percentage of Assets Under Management (AUM)
This fee structure charges a percentage of the assets under management by the firm. Fee structures are often tiered based on the amount of assets managed, with higher AUM often charged a lower rate.
Between 0.50% and 2.00% of assets under management (annually), often lower for a robo advisor. Fees are typically charged quarterly by the firm and will show on your investment statement. View typical advisor costs here.
~96% of registered firms offer this fee structure.
If you have $1 million managed by a firm at a 1% management fee, you would be charged $10,000/year to manage your assets (or $2,500 per quarter). This would be automatically deducted from your investment portfolio.
Hourly
Similar to an attorney, a financial consultant might charge fees based on hourly rates. This fee structure can be advantageous when seeking specific or ad hoc advice.
Charges generally span from $150 to $400 per hour, depending on the extent of the services required.
~33% of registered firms offer this fee structure.
If you needed hourly consulting to sell a business or transfer your estate to your children but did not want your assets managed by a firm, you could consult a firm at an hourly rate to answer any questions you may have.
Fixed Fees (Other than subscription)
Fixed fees are a one-time, lump-sum payment rendered for a specific service, such as creating a financial plan without ongoing management or implementation. This option is beneficial if you solely require guidance for a particular objective rather than a long-term consultancy or asset management.
Fixed fees for creating a financial plan often range from $1,000 to $3,000.
~49% of registered firms offer this fee structure.
If you did not want a firm to manage your assets but needed to create a retirement plan, life transition plan such as divorce or loss of a spouse, estate transition plan, business financial plan, or any other financial planning, you could consult with an RIA firm to help you with the creation of that plan.
Performance-based Fees
Advisors typically obtain performance-based fees if a portfolio surpasses a predefined benchmark. This fee is determined through various methods, but is most commonly assessed as a percentage of investment gains. Performance-based fees may incentivize advisors to undertake riskier decisions in pursuit of generating higher returns.
“Two and Twenty” is common among hedge funds with a 2% management fee and a 20% incentive fee above the “hurdle rate,” or performance threshold the fund is compared against.
32% of registered firms offer this fee structure.
A hedge fund earns a 15% return with a 20% performance fee in above the performance of the S&P 500, which grew 7% that same year.
20% of fund growth in excess of S&P 500’s 7% growth for that year = 15% hedge fund growth - 7% S&P 500 growth = 8% difference x 20% = 2% performance fee (in addition to the management fee).
Unavailable
Subscription (Newsletter or Periodical)
Commissions
Occasionally, advisors are compensated through commissions by selling certain financial products, such as mutual funds or life insurance policies, or as a broker-dealer by facilitating the buying and selling of securities. Advisors who receive commissions may be incentivized to make specific suggestions to clients in order to secure a commission. Advisors who operate on a fee-only basis do not earn commissions, whereas fee-based advisors may do so.
Often 3% - 6% of the value of the security.
Only ~3% of registered firms say they offer this fee structure, but other advisors may receive “soft dollars”. Many mutual funds charge 12b-1 fees to cover the promoting and selling of the fund’s shares. While your advisor does not charge these fees, they may receive a kickback for recommending the investment.
An advisor selling their client on a life insurance policy and receiving a commission on the sale of that policy, or recommending a specific investment and receiving a kickback for that recommendation.
Other
Firms occasionally offer unconventional fee structures when charging clients. For more detailed information about a firm’s specific fee structures, please refer to their Form ADV and Part 2 Brochure.
Types of Clients
*The Securities & Exchange Commission defines someone as “high net worth” if they have $750,000 or more in investable assets or $1.5M of estimated total net worth.
This Office Location
Other Office Locations
Firm Headquarters
This firm has no other locations.
State Registrations
Empirical Wealth Management is registered to service clients in the following states:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Disciplinary History
Empirical Wealth Management does not have any disclosures. Please visit it's Form ADV for more details.