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Michael A. Dubis Financial Planning
Michael Dubis founded the firm in 2002 as a fee-only registered investment adviser, building the practice in Middleton, Wisconsin. The firm serves individuals...
Michael A. Dubis Financial Planning
Michael Dubis founded the firm in 2002 as a fee-only registered investment adviser, building the practice in Middleton, Wisconsin. The firm serves individuals and high-net-worth clients through integrated financial planning and discretionary investment management. Dubis operates under a fiduciary standard, meaning the firm is legally obligated to place client interests ahead of its own — a structural commitment that distinguishes RIAs from broker-dealers operating under the less stringent suitability standard. The firm's investment approach centers on long-term portfolio construction informed by each client's financial plan. Rather than chasing market timing or individual stock selection, the strategy emphasizes asset allocation, diversification, and cost discipline. The portfolio management process integrates with cash-flow planning, tax considerations, retirement projections, and estate coordination — a holistic delivery model typical of mature fee-only planning firms. The practice targets clients whose financial complexity warrants ongoing advisory relationships, not episodic transactional advice. As a solo-founded firm bearing the founder's name, the practice's scale and continuity are tied directly to Michael Dubis as the key professional. Independent RIAs of this structure often manage assets through a combination of individually managed accounts and third-party custodial platforms, though the specific platform or total client assets are not publicly disclosed. The firm's proximity to Madison, Wisconsin situates it within a regional market that includes university-affiliated professionals, business owners, and retirees — demographic segments that commonly seek fiduciary financial counsel. Structurally, the firm represents the classic solo- or small-team RIA model — a direct advisory relationship unmediated by corporate layers or product-distribution mandates. The succession and continuity plan is not publicly known, a common condition for founder-led practices where the principal's involvement defines the service proposition. As advisory industry consolidation accelerates, independent firms in this segment face decisions about internal succession, external sale, or platform affiliation — each path carrying different implications for client continuity and investment philosophy.
General information
Firm type
Bank / Wealth / Trust
Year founded
2002
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Middleton
Corporate office
Middleton, WI, United States
Principals
Michael A. Dubis
President
Frequently asked questions
Is Michael A. Dubis Financial Planning a fee-only or fee-based firm?
The firm operates as a registered investment adviser on a fee-only basis, meaning it does not accept commissions on financial product sales. This structure removes the compensation bias present in commission-driven brokerage models. Fee-only compensation typically takes the form of a percentage of assets under management, hourly rates, or flat retainer fees, placing the advisory relationship under a fiduciary standard rather than the lower suitability threshold. The precise fee schedule is not publicly disclosed.
Who makes investment decisions at the firm?
Michael A. Dubis, as the firm's founder and president, is the central decision-maker for investment strategy and portfolio management. In a named-principal RIA of this structure, investment policy is typically set by the lead advisor with or without a formal investment committee. The firm has not publicly disclosed additional investment personnel or an external sub-advisor relationship, which is consistent with a solo-practitioner or small-team fiduciary model.
What is the firm's approach to portfolio construction?
The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment process, where portfolio design flows from each client's specific goals, time horizon, and risk capacity rather than from a standalone market strategy. The approach typically emphasizes globally diversified, low-cost asset-class exposure rather than concentrated individual positions or market-timing tactics. Asset allocation and ongoing rebalancing are integrated with the broader financial planning engagement, covering retirement income, tax management, and estate considerations.
Does the firm have a succession plan?
The firm has not publicly disclosed a succession or continuity plan. For a named-principal RIA where the founder's relationship is central to client retention, succession presents a structural risk common to the segment. Independent advisors in this position may pursue internal grooming of a successor, external sale to a larger RIA platform, or gradual wind-down — each path affecting investment continuity and client service. The current posture is not publicly known.
How does the firm differ from a traditional brokerage or wealth management wirehouse?
As a registered investment adviser, the firm is held to a fiduciary standard requiring it to act in the client's best interest at all times, while wirehouse brokers typically operate under the less stringent Regulation Best Interest standard that still permits commission-based conflicts. The firm's fee-only structure eliminates product-sales incentives. The RIA structure also means client assets are custodied at an independent third-party custodian — not held on the firm's own balance sheet — providing an additional layer of client protection.
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