What is the minimum investment to work with Pinnacle?
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Our Conservative and Balanced strategies have a minimum of $250,000. The Growth and Aggressive strategies require $500,000. Private Equity and Alternative Investment vehicles require $1,000,000 and accredited investor status. We also offer a digital-first managed account program starting at $50,000 for clients who are beginning their wealth-building journey.
Are you a fiduciary? How are you compensated?
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Yes — Pinnacle is a 100% fee-only registered investment advisor (RIA) and operates as a fiduciary at all times. We charge an annual advisory fee of 0.75% to 1.25% of AUM depending on account size, with breakpoints at $500K, $1M, $5M, and $10M+. We accept no commissions, referral fees, or compensation from product providers. Ever. This structure eliminates conflicts of interest and ensures our advice is always aligned with your goals.
How is my money protected?
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All client assets are held in custody at major US custodians (Fidelity, Schwab, or Pershing) — completely separate from Pinnacle's own assets. Accounts are SIPC-insured up to $500,000 per account ($250,000 for cash). Our custodians carry additional private excess SIPC insurance. Pinnacle itself is SEC-registered and subject to regular examinations. We also carry professional liability (E&O) and cyber liability insurance.
Can I access my money at any time?
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For standard managed accounts, yes — you can request a withdrawal at any time. Typical settlement and transfer time is 2–5 business days. For illiquid alternative investments (private equity, private REIT), capital is locked up for the duration of the fund (typically 5–10 years), which is disclosed fully before investment. We design each client's liquidity profile carefully to ensure you always have access to the funds you need.
What does the onboarding process look like?
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Step 1: Schedule a free 30-minute discovery call with a senior advisor. Step 2: We complete a comprehensive financial planning session (1–2 hours) to understand your full picture. Step 3: We deliver a personalized investment proposal with recommended strategy, projected outcomes, and fee schedule. Step 4: Account opening and funding — typically completed within 3–5 business days. Step 5: Ongoing quarterly reviews and annual comprehensive plan updates.
How do you handle taxes on my investments?
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Tax efficiency is a core component of our investment process, not an afterthought. We employ tax-loss harvesting throughout the year, strategic asset location across taxable and tax-advantaged accounts, long-term gain orientation, and municipal bond strategies for high-income clients. We work closely with your CPA and can coordinate with estate attorneys. We do not provide tax advice ourselves, but our strategies are designed to minimize your after-tax cost basis.
Do you work with clients outside the United States?
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Pinnacle is SEC-registered and primarily serves US persons. We do work with American expatriates living abroad, and we have experience with the complex cross-border tax and reporting requirements (FATCA, FBAR) they face. For non-US citizens resident in the US, we can generally serve you depending on visa status. Please contact us to discuss your specific situation.
