# Empirical Wealth Management

Empirical Wealth Management is a Private Equity based in Seattle, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Private Equity
- **Headquarters:** Seattle, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Seattle, WA, United States
- **Founded:** 2006
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.empirical.net
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/empirical-wealth-management

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Empirical is an independent firm founded to solve the financial problems of high-net-worth individuals. It specializes in simplifying the complexities of clients' lives and turning their goals into reality. As an employee-owned fiduciary, it is committed to acting in clients' best interests. It offers holistic, multi-disciplinary wealth management and financial planning with a goal-based returns approach.

## Sectors

- high-net-worth individuals

## People

- Kenneth R. Smith — Chief Executive Officer | Principal

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Empirical Wealth Management?

CEO Kenneth R. Smith oversees the firm's strategic direction and investment philosophy. Empirical employs a multi-disciplinary team structure for each client, where portfolio construction is coordinated alongside in-house tax, estate, and insurance specialists. The firm does not publicly name a standalone chief investment officer.

### What investment approach does Empirical use?

Empirical applies a goals-based return framework that considers client-specific factors including income requirements, tax brackets, projected fees, inflation scenarios, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and estate-planning objectives. The approach uses multi-asset public and private market allocations calibrated to those individual targets rather than benchmark-relative performance.

### How does Empirical source and construct client portfolios?

The firm assigns a cross-disciplinary team — combining investment, tax, estate, insurance, and real-estate specialists — to each client relationship. Portfolios draw from public equities, fixed income, alternatives, and related planning levers, with decisions shaped by the in-house team's collaborative review rather than third-party model portfolios.

### Does Empirical participate in private equity or venture fund commitments?

The firm's public disclosures reference alternative investments within its portfolios but do not detail specific fund structures, direct deal activity, or co-investment programs. Its core identity is a wealth-management and planning platform rather than a dedicated private-markets investor.

### What is the ownership structure of Empirical Wealth Management?

Empirical is employee-owned. The equity resides with the professionals inside the firm rather than external private-equity investors, consolidator platforms, or a founding family. This structure is designed to align adviser retention and long-term client outcomes.

## Related profiles

- [Empire Capital Holdings](https://altss.com/profile/empire-capital-holdings)
- [Empirical Ventures](https://altss.com/profile/empirical-ventures)

---

Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:06:42.396Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/empirical-financial-services

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology