Howard Financial Services

Howard Financial Services employs a goals-based, risk-graded portfolio construction methodology for its clients. The firm uses primarily low-cost mutual funds and ETFs to build diversified portfolios across equity and fixed-income markets, and it has discretion to allocate a small portion of aggressive client portfolios to alternative vehicles like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, according to public filings. The practice blends fee-based advisory assets alongside traditional brokerage and insurance products, a dual-registration model common among independent advisors.

The firm's client base is comprised of individuals, families, and their related trusts and estates, all within the mass-affluent to high-net-worth bands. It is not known to advise ERISA-qualified pension plans, endowments, foundations, or corporate accounts. Its form ADV, a public disclosure document filed with the SEC, confirms its focus on retail wealth management.

Compensation comes from an asset-based advisory fee charged as a percentage of assets under management, plus commissions earned on the sale of insurance products and certain brokerage transactions. This hybrid arrangement is common among independent advisors who maintain both a registered investment advisor (RIA) entity and a licensed insurance or broker-dealer affiliation. The specific fee schedule is disclosed in the firm's Form ADV Part 2, provided directly to clients.

As an independent advisor, Howard Financial Services does not take physical custody of client funds. The firm directs trades and manages portfolios held at third-party custodians. Public filings name several commonly used independent RIA custodial platforms, though the primary custodian for the firm is not singled out in public materials. This structure is an industry standard for protecting client assets from firm-level insolvency.

The firm has shown a willingness to access digital-asset exposure for qualified clients, as evidenced by a small position in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust reported in public filings. There is no indication the firm invests in private equity, hedge funds, direct real estate syndications, or other traditional alternatives. The practice remains squarely focused on liquid, publicly traded securities and insurance-based products.