What does 1919 Investment Counsel do?
1919 Investment Counsel is a US SEC-registered investment adviser founded in 1919 and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp.
As of December 31, 2024, the firm managed approximately $23.9 billion in assets.
The firm’s core business is providing comprehensive investment counsel services, including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management for individuals and institutions, along with related wealth planning services.
1919 generally operates as an advisor-led investment manager, meaning a 1919 advisor works directly with clients to develop investment policy statements that define objectives, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, tax considerations, and portfolio restrictions. Portfolios are tailored to these guidelines and reviewed periodically as circumstances change.
Key services
- Comprehensive investment counsel: Including equity, fixed income, and private fund strategies
- Responsible investing strategies: Including ESG, faith-based, and impact-focused portfolios
- Balanced and multi-strategy portfolios: Combining equity and fixed income allocations
- Family office services: May include outsourced Chief Investment Officer (CIO) services, administrative coordination, consolidated reporting, and financial planning
- Financial planning services: Covering areas such as retirement analysis, asset allocation comparisons, cash flow review, and insurance needs analysis
- Estate and generational wealth planning: Including coordination with legal and tax advisors
- Philanthropic planning guidance: Including support related to donor-advised funds and private foundations
- Investment management for mutual funds: Where 1919 serves as investment manager to SEC-registered funds
Primary clients
1919 provides advisory services to:
- High-net-worth individuals and families
- Trusts and estates
- Endowments, foundations, and charitable organizations
- Public and government-related clients
- Pension and profit-sharing plans
- Corporations, partnerships, and investment companies
What is 1919 Investment Counsel’s investment philosophy?
The firm centers on actively managed portfolios that are tailored to each client’s objectives, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and tax considerations.
Where appropriate, portfolios may incorporate a core-and-satellite structure. This means blending internally managed strategies with selected third-party managers to complement specific asset classes or styles.
Overall, the approach reflects a research-driven framework that emphasizes quality, diversification, and alignment with individualized investment guidelines rather than a standardized or purely passive allocation model.
What are the pros and cons of 1919 Investment Counsel?
Here’s a summary of the key advantages and disadvantages of 1919 Investment Counsel to guide your choice.
Pros of 1919 Investment Counsel:
- Fiduciary advisory standard: 1919 operates under a fiduciary duty of care and loyalty when acting as an investment advisor, requiring it to align recommendations with client objectives.
- Customized portfolio construction: Portfolios are built around formal investment policy statements that reflect risk tolerance, liquidity needs, tax considerations, and investment restrictions.
- Discretionary and non-discretionary options: Clients can choose whether to grant discretionary authority or retain approval rights over investment decisions.
- Broad strategy access: The firm offers multiple strategy types, including equity, fixed income, balanced, and responsible investing strategies.
- Integrated planning services: Financial planning, estate and generational wealth planning, and family office services are available, depending on client needs and agreements.
- Targeted planning initiatives: Programs such as Women & Wealth reflect an emphasis on personalized engagement for specific client groups navigating wealth accumulation, inheritance, or legacy planning.
Cons of 1919 Investment Counsel:
- Program-based minimums may limit certain services: Minimum account sizes range from $10,000 to $500,000, depending on the program, meaning access to more customized advisory services requires higher asset levels.
- Asset-based advisory fee structure: Advisory fees are calculated as a percentage of assets under management and are typically billed quarterly. While the percentage rate may decline at higher asset tiers, the total dollar amounts paid increase as account assets grow.
- Layered investment expenses: Clients may incur additional underlying costs such as mutual fund, ETF, private fund, brokerage, or custody fees, beyond the advisory fee.
- Traditional advisory model not automated: 1919’s service model is centered on personalized advisor relationships rather than automated, low-cost digital portfolio management, which may not appeal to investors seeking purely passive or technology-driven solutions.
1919 Investment Counsel fees: How much does 1919 Investment Counsel cost?
1919 Investment Counsel charges asset-based management fees, typically billed quarterly, calculated as a percentage of assets under management (AUM).
Here is a breakdown of its costs.
Standard advisory fee schedule (Individual accounts)
Based on a $2 million minimum account or client relationship
Asset tier | Equity/alanced | Fixed income |
|---|---|---|
First $3 million | 1.00% | 0.50% |
Next $7 million | 0.70% | 0.35% |
Next $30 million | 0.50% | 0.25% |
Balance | 0.40% | 0.20% |
Standard advisory fee schedule (Institutional accounts)
Asset tier | Equity/balanced | Fixed income |
|---|---|---|
First $10 million | 0.75% | 0.30% |
Next $15 million | 0.60% | 0.20% |
Next $25 million | 0.50% | 0.15% |
Balance | 0.40% | 0.10% |
Program-based options
Program | Minimum | Fee range |
|---|---|---|
Fund Asset Allocation Program | $10,000 | 0.35%–0.50% |
Investment Strategies Program | $100,000 | 0.35%–0.50% |
Tailored Investment Strategy | $500,000 | 25%–50% discount from standard schedule |
Additional costs to consider
Beyond advisory fees, clients generally incur:
- Custody, brokerage, and trade execution costs
- Embedded mutual fund, ETF, or private fund expenses
- Other transaction-related fees, such as wire fees, SEC fees, ADR fees, and bank service charges
What is 1919 Investment Counsel’s minimum account size?
1919 Investment Counsel applies different minimum account requirements depending on the program and service structure, rather than using a single universal threshold.
Under its standard advisory fee schedule for individual accounts, the firm references a $2 million minimum account or client relationship.
However, certain structured investment programs have lower entry points:
Program | Minimum account size |
|---|---|
Fund asset allocation program | $10,000 |
Investment strategies program | $100,000 |
Tailored investment strategy | $500,000 minimum relationship |
Who should choose 1919 Investment Counsel?
1919 Investment Counsel is best suited for investors seeking a personalized, advisor-led wealth management relationship rather than an automated investment platform.
1919 Investment Counsel works well for:
- High-net-worth individuals and families: Who want customized portfolios structured around specific risk tolerance, liquidity needs, tax considerations, and long-term financial objectives.
- Clients with complex planning needs: Investors require integrated support for financial planning, estate and generational wealth planning, or philanthropic strategies alongside investment management.
- Institutional investors: Such as foundations, endowments, pension plans, and other organizations that require actively managed equity or fixed-income strategies aligned with formal investment guidelines.
- Investors interested in responsible or values-based strategies: Who want access to ESG-oriented mandates and other mission-aligned portfolios within an actively managed advisory framework.
Who might not benefit as much:
- Cost-sensitive investors: Investors who mainly want the lowest possible fees may prefer low-cost index or robo-advisory platforms instead of a traditional percentage-of-assets advisory model.
- Fully self-directed investors: Clients who prefer to pick their own investments and make their own trading decisions may not need an ongoing advisor-managed portfolio.
- Investors seeking purely digital solutions: Those who want a fully automated, app-based investing experience with minimal human interaction may find the firm’s advisor-led structure less aligned with their expectations.
1919 Investment Counsel: Is it secure?
Yes, 1919 Investment Counsel is generally considered secure based on its regulatory oversight, custody arrangements, and disclosed compliance framework.
The firm is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an investment advisor and is subject to fiduciary obligations. Client assets are typically held with qualified custodians rather than directly by the firm. This structure means that custodians are responsible for safeguarding client securities and cash, and clients generally receive account statements directly from the custodian, providing an independent layer of reporting.
1919 Investment Counsel: Customer service
1919 Investment Counsel operates within a traditional, advisor-led service model, where client interaction is centered on direct relationships with investment professionals rather than app-based or automated support systems.
Unlike digital investment platforms that emphasize live chat, app messaging, or 24/7 online help desks, 1919’s model appears structured around personalized advisor access.
1919 Investment Counsel: Mobile app
The firm offers a dedicated mobile app, designed to provide clients with digital access to their account information and portfolio reporting.
The platform focuses primarily on account monitoring and financial visibility rather than active trading.
Key features include a consolidated view of a client’s personal balance sheet, current portfolio holdings, recent transaction activity, portfolio allocation breakdowns, and cash flow tracking tools.
Is 1919 Investment Counsel worth it?
1919 Investment Counsel may be worth considering for investors seeking a traditional, advisor-led wealth management relationship built around customized portfolio construction and integrated planning services.
Its fiduciary structure, actively managed strategies, and broad planning capabilities may appeal to high-net-worth individuals and institutions with more complex financial needs.
At the same time, its asset-based fee model and tiered minimum requirements may make it less suitable for cost-sensitive investors or those seeking a low-cost, digital-first investment platform.
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