Forum Financial Management review

What does Forum Financial Management do?

Forum Financial Management provides advisor-led wealth management that combines ongoing portfolio management with financial planning. 

The service is primarily designed for individuals. Planning can address areas such as retirement, taxes, estate planning, education, healthcare costs, and charitable giving.

Forum generally requires $25,000 to open and maintain an advisory account, giving the service a relatively broad client range that extends from individual investors to high-net-worth individuals. 

However, clients with less than $335,000 who use both portfolio management and financial planning may face a minimum annual fee of up to $4,000. This means clients below that threshold could pay an effective advisory rate above the standard 1.20%, making the service more costly for smaller portfolios.

Forum generally builds long-term, diversified portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, U.S. government securities, and municipal bonds. It adjusts portfolio allocations to client needs and generally does not recommend alternative investments, except for certain exchange-traded funds offered through outside managers.

What are the pros and cons of Forum Financial Management?

Forum’s main strength is combining ongoing portfolio management with financial planning in one advisor-led relationship. Its main limitation is the higher effective cost for some smaller portfolios.

Pros of Forum Financial Management: 

• Integrated wealth planning: Investment decisions can be coordinated with retirement, tax, estate, healthcare, and other planning needs.
• Coordination with other professionals: Forum can work with a client’s accountants, attorneys, and insurance providers, helping coordinate complex financial decisions.
• Support for business owners and retirement plans: Forum can help evaluate retirement plan alternatives, including profit sharing, cash balance, and 401(k) plans. This broadens the service.

Cons of Forum Financial Management:

• Higher costs for smaller portfolios: Clients below $335,000 may pay an effective rate above 1.20% if the minimum annual fee applies.
• Additional investment costs: Fund, transaction, custodial, and outside-manager fees can increase the total cost.
• Standalone financial planning is limited: Forum generally provides financial planning as part of its portfolio-management relationship and only offers standalone planning on a limited basis.

Forum Financial Management fees: How much does Forum Financial Management cost?

Forum charges portfolio-management fees primarily as a percentage of assets under management (AUM). The standard schedule is tiered, meaning each rate applies only to assets within that tier.

The main exception applies to clients with less than $335,000 who use both portfolio management and financial planning.

For example, a $300,000 portfolio would cost $3,600 per year at the standard 1.20% rate. If Forum applied the full $4,000 minimum annual fee, the effective rate would rise to about 1.33%. This means clients below $335,000 may pay proportionally more for the combined wealth management and financial planning service. Once assets reach $335,000, applicable clients transition to the standard asset-based fee schedule.

What is Forum Financial Management’s minimum account size?

Forum generally requires $25,000 for its portfolio management services. This gives the service a relatively broad entry point rather than limiting it only to high-net-worth clients.

The minimum is flexible. Forum can waive or modify it at its discretion, including for clients who may add more assets over time. 

Who should choose Forum Financial Management?

Forum Financial Management works well for:

• Investors seeking ongoing advisor involvement: Forum can be a fit for clients who want a financial professional to monitor their portfolio, discuss changes in their financial situation, and provide continuing guidance rather than managing investments independently.
• Business owners with retirement-plan needs: Forum can help evaluate retirement-plan options, including profit-sharing and cash-balance, making the relationship useful for owners managing both personal wealth and company retirement benefits.
• Clients with assets across multiple account types: Forum can advise on held-away accounts such as 401(k), 403(b), and 529 plans, helping clients coordinate assets.

Who might not benefit as much:

• Clients who only want standalone financial planning: Forum offers standalone planning only on a limited basis, so the service is less suited to people who want advice without ongoing portfolio management.
• Clients with smaller portfolios who are sensitive to fees: Those below $335,000 who use both portfolio management and financial planning may pay an effective fee above the standard 1.20% rate.
• Self-directed investors: Forum is generally built around ongoing advisor management, so investors who prefer to make their own trading and portfolio decisions may get less value from the service.

Forum Financial Management: Is it secure?

Forum has several standard safeguards in place. 

It is registered with the SEC and does not physically hold client assets. Instead, Forum generally holds assets with qualified custodians, including Charles Schwab, Fidelity, and Altruist, all of which are FINRA and SIPC members. This keeps client assets separate from Forum itself. 

Clients  receive account statements directly from their custodians at least quarterly, providing an independent record of holdings and advisory-fee deductions. Forum also maintains cybersecurity policies and controls and works with third-party technology providers to manage cybersecurity risks.

These measures help protect the  custody of client assets and account information, but they do not protect  normal investment losses or market declines.

Forum Financial Management: Customer service

Forum provides advisor-led service, so clients work with a financial professional who monitors their portfolio and discusses changes in their financial situation, goals, and investment needs. 

Forum conducts more comprehensive account reviews at least annually, with additional reviews when client circumstances or market conditions materially change.

Clients can contact Forum by phone, email, or online contact form, and they can also find an advisor based on their interests and location. This structure suits clients who want an ongoing advisory relationship rather than a primarily self-service experience.

Forum Financial Management: Mobile App

Forum does not offer a dedicated mobile app. Clients instead rely on Forum’s web-based client portal and custodian platforms for digital account access.

The lack of a dedicated app makes mobile access less convenient for clients who want to check their portfolio and financial information in one Forum-branded app.

Is Forum Financial Management worth it?

Forum combines advisor-led financial planning with long-term, diversified portfolio management. Its $25,000 minimum is relatively accessible for investors seeking a full-service advisory relationship.

The main trade-off is cost. Forum’s standard advisory fee starts at 1.20%, and additional investment expenses may apply. Clients  with less than $335,000 can pay an effective rate above 1.20% if the minimum annual fee applies. 

Overall, Forum may be a better fit for investors who value ongoing advisor involvement and broader financial planning, particularly those with enough assets and planning needs to make full use of the bundled service.

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