What does Pinnacle Investments do?
Pinnacle Investments provides advisor-led financial planning and investment advisory services, including fee-based investment management and managed-account programs.
The firm serves individuals and high-net-worth clients, as well as businesses, institutions, retirement plans, trusts, estates and charitable organizations. The service is mainly for clients who want advisor support when choosing account structures and portfolio strategies based on their goals and needs.
Pinnacle Investments was established in 1995 and is registered with the SEC as both an investment adviser and broker-dealer; it is also a FINRA and SIPC member. The firm has more than 30 years in business, 22 US locations and more than $3 billion in total assets.
Key services:
- Financial planning advisory services
- Investments
- Retirement
- Income taxes
- Insurance
- Estate planning and related goals
- Portfolio management through wrap-fee programs
- American Funds F-2 Share Mutual Fund Program
- Ascend
- Wells Fargo advisors programs
- Personalized UMA
- FundSource/Pathways
- Customized Portfolios
- Private Advisor Network
- Private investment management (PIM)
- Asset advisor
- CustomChoice
Investment philosophy:
Pinnacle Investments does not have one single firmwide investment philosophy.
Its advisory approach is program-based and tailored to each client’s objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon and financial circumstances.
Across its wrap-fee programs, Pinnacle IARs may help clients select an advisory platform, asset allocation, manager, mutual fund, ETF or model strategy based on the client’s needs.
It also emphasizes diversification, risk/return alignment, target allocations and periodic rebalancing, while noting that many of these programs are designed for long-term investing rather than market timing or frequent strategy switching.
What are the pros and cons of Pinnacle Investments?
Here is a look at the pros and cons of Pinnacle Investments.
Pros of Pinnacle Investments:
- Broad program menu: Available structures include mutual funds, ETFs, UMAs, SMAs, Financial Advisor (FA)-directed programs, and non-discretionary, client-directed advisory programs.
- Planning plus investment management: The firm ties investment advice to retirement, tax, insurance and estate-planning considerations.
- Low entry point for some accounts: Ascend has no formal account minimum, with a $10 minimum deposit, though other programs require much higher balances.
Cons of Pinnacle Investments:
- The fee structure is complicated: fees depend heavily on the program, adviser, manager, and account type, so clients may need to compare several schedules to understand the total cost.
- Some programs are expensive: Several programs disclose standard fees of up to 2.50% or 3.00% before accounting for underlying fund, ETF, annuity, or account costs.
- Some account minimums are high: While Ascend is accessible, other programs require higher balances, ranging from $25,000 to $10 million.
Pinnacle Investments fees: How much does Pinnacle Investments cost?
Pinnacle Investments’ fees vary by advisory program. Most programs use asset-based advisory or wrap fees, but the exact rate depends on the account structure, selected strategy, account agreement and service model.
Program or strategy | Disclosed fee |
|---|---|
American Funds F-2 Share Mutual Fund Program | 0.25%–1.00% annually |
Ascend | 0.25%–1.50% annually |
Personalized UMA Optimal Blend | 2.50% |
Personalized UMA Custom Blend | 2.50% |
Individual mutual fund inside UMA Custom Blend | 2.00% |
Individual ETF inside UMA Custom Blend | 2.00% |
Advisory annuity inside UMA Custom Blend | 1.50% |
UMA SMA strategies under $100,000 minimum | 2.50% |
UMA SMA strategies with $100,000 minimum | 2.50% |
Allocation Advisors | 2.25% |
Wells Fargo Compass Strategies | 2.25% |
WFII Social Impact Investing Strategies | 2.25% |
FundSource | 2.00% |
FundSource Foundations | 2.00% |
Private Investment Management (PIM) | 3.00% |
Asset Advisor | 3.00% |
CustomChoice | 1.75% |
What is Pinnacle Investments’s minimum account size?
The minimum depends on the advisory program and selected strategy.
Program or strategy | Minimum account size |
|---|---|
Financial Planning | No minimum |
American Funds F-2 Share Mutual Fund Program | $250 |
Ascend Program | $0 ($10 minimum deposit) |
Personalized UMA Multi-Strategy — Optimal Blend | $200,000 or portfolio minimum |
Personalized UMA Multi-Strategy — Custom Blend | $10,000 |
Personalized UMA Single Strategy — SMA Strategies | $50,000 |
Allocation Advisors — Strategic ETF, active/passive and others | $25,000 |
Allocation Advisors — ESG Aware and others | $10,000 |
Allocation Advisors — CAAP Plus and Tactical ETF | $50,000 |
Wells Fargo Compass Asset Allocation Strategies | $250,000 |
WFII Social Impact Investing Strategies | $50,000 |
Personalized UMA — FundSource Optimal Blend | $25,000 |
Personalized UMA — FundSource Foundations Optimal Blend | $10,000 |
FundSource — Optimal Blend | $25,000 |
FundSource — Customized Blend | $25,000 |
FundSource — Foundations Optimal Blend | $10,000 |
Private Advisor Network | $100,000 |
Customized Portfolios — Fixed Income Portfolios | $10 million |
Customized Portfolios — Custom Option Portfolio | $250,000 |
Asset Advisor | $25,000 |
CustomChoice | $25,000 |
Private Investment Management (PIM) | $50,000 |
Who should choose Pinnacle Investments?
Pinnacle Investments works well for:
- Investors who want human-advisor guidance: Clients generally work with a Pinnacle IAR for advice, consultation and account review.
- Clients who want both planning and investment management: The firm offers financial planning, along with mutual fund, ETF, UMA, SMA and FA- and client-directed advisory programs.
- Investors who need flexible account structures: Pinnacle offers both discretionary and non-discretionary programs, so clients can either delegate portfolio management or retain greater decision-making control.
Who might not benefit as much:
- Small investors: Many programs require $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 or more.
- Cost-sensitive investors: Some programs have standard fees of 0.25% or 3.00%, and mutual fund, ETF, annuity or account-level costs may also apply.
- Clients with simple investment needs: Investors who only need a basic diversified portfolio may find Pinnacle’s many programs, fee schedules and account structures more complex than necessary.
Pinnacle Investments: Is it secure?
The firm is registered with the SEC as both an investment adviser and a broker-dealer, and is a member of FINRA and SIPC. For certain advisory programs, client assets are held through third-party custodial or platform relationships, including Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Betterment and Charles Schwab.
Pinnacle also discloses a code of ethics that covers the confidentiality of client information and personal trading oversight.
For online security, Pinnacle and First Clearing state that they use firewalls, encryption and authentication procedures to protect online sessions.
Pinnacle Investments: Customer service
Customer service is advisor-centered. The client’s main contact for program accounts is generally the Pinnacle IAR, and clients have no restrictions on contacting their IAR. The website also provides email, toll-free phone, direct phone, fax, headquarters address and branch-contact options.
Pinnacle Investments: Mobile App
Pinnacle Investments does not disclose a dedicated mobile app. Clients use third-party custodial or platform logins, including Betterment, Wells Fargo First Clearing and Charles Schwab.
Is Pinnacle Investments worth it?
Pinnacle Investments may be worth considering for investors seeking advisor-led financial planning and access to a wide range of managed-account programs. Its main advantage is flexibility; clients can choose from different portfolio structures, service levels and investment approaches depending on their goals and account size.
The service is less compelling for investors with simple needs. Those who want a basic, low-cost portfolio, a fully digital account or a single fee schedule may find the service more complex than necessary.
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