Arbogast Financial Advisors

The firm operates on a fee-only basis, charging a percentage of assets under management for investment advisory services. This compensation model aligns with the fiduciary standard applied to registered investment advisors, reducing conflicts associated with commission-based product sales. Clients also pay separate custodial and transaction fees to the third-party broker-dealer that holds their assets.

Yes. The firm uses proprietary risk assessment and asset allocation models to build client portfolios. Investments are selected based on individual client financial plans rather than packaged model portfolios from an external platform. The firm invests primarily in equities, fixed income, and cash equivalents tailored to client objectives.

No. The firm is independently owned and operated, founded by Michael Arbogast in 1986. It is not a subsidiary of a bank, insurance company, or private-equity-backed consolidator. This independence permits it to select investments and custodians without institutional product pressure.

Arbogast places financial planning at the center of its client relationships, integrating retirement projections, tax considerations, and estate coordination into the investment process. The firm builds each portfolio around a written financial plan, updating allocations as client circumstances change. This contrasts with advisory firms that emphasize investment management over comprehensive planning.

There is no public disclosure indicating that Arbogast allocates client capital to private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, or direct real estate. Its stated investment philosophy and regulatory filings reflect a focus on publicly traded securities and fixed income, consistent with a practice serving individual retirees and accumulators.