Updated:
Cornerstone Wealth Planning
Founded in 2013 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cornerstone Wealth Planning registered as an investment adviser to deliver integrated wealth management...
Cornerstone Wealth Planning
Founded in 2013 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cornerstone Wealth Planning registered as an investment adviser to deliver integrated wealth management to a local client base of individuals, high-net-worth families, and small business owners. The firm structures its services as a flat-fee or AUM-based RIA, avoiding the brokerage and proprietary-product conflicts common among bank-affiliated competitors. The firm's stated capabilities span investment advisory services, portfolio management, financial planning, and tax planning. This bundling of investment and tax counsel under one roof distinguishes the practice from pure asset gatherers. While specific portfolio holdings and strategies are not publicly disclosed, the firm's typical mix for this RIA category includes individual equities, fixed income, and low-cost ETF sleeves, with allocations shaped by a client's tax profile and distribution timeline. The geographic focus remains concentrated in the North Carolina Piedmont region. Cornerstone's scale reflects a boutique practice. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, and small business owners without publicizing headcount or aggregate assets. For a Charlotte-based RIA founded without a large institutional anchor family, this points to a sub-$300 million AUM footprint — a book built through referrals and professional networks rather than enterprise sales. Structurally, Cornerstone operates as an independent fiduciary rather than a hybrid broker-dealer. The lack of a parent bank or insurance company removes a common layer of product-push incentives. This regulatory posture — pure RIA, pure fiduciary — means the firm's advice chain runs from client to adviser to custodian, with no intermediary collecting 12b-1 fees or trading spreads.
General information
Firm type
RIA
Year founded
2013
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Charlotte
Corporate office
Charlotte, NC, United States
Frequently asked questions
Is Cornerstone Wealth Planning a fiduciary?
Yes. As a registered investment adviser, Cornerstone Wealth Planning operates under the fiduciary standard established by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The firm must place client interests ahead of its own, disclose conflicts, and provide advice that is suitable for the client's specific circumstances. This differs materially from a broker-dealer standard, which requires only that recommendations be suitable at the point of sale.
How does Cornerstone charge for its services?
The firm most commonly bills clients on a percentage of assets under management, a structure typical for independent RIAs of this size. While the exact fee schedule is not published, AUM-based fees for a firm of Cornerstone's profile typically range from 0.50% to 1.25% annually, with breakpoints as assets rise. The firm may also offer flat-fee financial planning engagements or hourly consultations for tax planning work.
Does Cornerstone Wealth Planning manage proprietary investment funds?
The firm does not market any proprietary mutual funds, hedge funds, or private vehicles. Its posture is that of an open-architecture adviser, constructing client portfolios from third-party securities and funds. This sidesteps the structural conflict of a manager incentivized to fill client accounts with in-house products that carry higher internal expense ratios.
What types of clients does Cornerstone serve?
According to the firm's own disclosures, Cornerstone serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, and small business owners. The small business owner segment is notable — it suggests the firm competes for entrepreneur clients who need coordinated personal financial planning, retirement plan design, and entity-level tax strategy, rather than just portfolio assembly.
How does Cornerstone incorporate tax planning into investment management?
Cornerstone explicitly lists tax planning as a core service line, placing it alongside investment advisory and portfolio management. For a boutique RIA, this typically means the adviser reviews a client's tax return, coordinates with the client's CPA during the filing season, and manages asset location — deciding which securities sit in taxable accounts versus qualified retirement accounts — to minimize annual tax drag.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on registered investment advisers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: