Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC logo

Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC

Updated today

Client assets under management

$324,632,763

Clients

602

20% high-net-worth

Advisors

5

of 5 employees

Firm type

Team

5-30 advisors or >$500M in AUM

Clients per advisor

120

Very High

Average account size

$539,257

About

Ballast Financial Advisors serves a mix of individual and high‑net‑worth clients as well as trusts, employer plans and other business entities, providing asset management, standalone financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm also assists clients by selecting and monitoring third‑party money managers as part of its asset management services.

Portfolios are tailored and monitored on an ongoing basis with a mix of strategic, dynamic, tactical and core‑satellite asset allocation approaches, and the firm employs a range of analytical methods (fundamental, technical, quantitative and sector analysis) and instruments (fixed income, equities, options, margin and short/long‑term trading). Notably, Ballast reports managing the majority of its regulatory assets on a non‑discretionary basis — approximately $213.5 million non‑discretionary versus $129.1 million discretionary of $342.6 million total AUM — and continues to provide individualized oversight even when not granted full trading discretion.

Distinctive features disclosed in the firm brochure include an affiliation with a CPA practice owned by a firm principal, which the firm acknowledges as a potential conflict and says it will recommend only when in a client’s best interest, and its role as a wrap fee program sponsor on a legacy basis (no new wrap accounts will be accepted). The firm also combines investment management with broader consulting services — from tax and corporate structure advisory to cost segregation and participant education for retirement plans — reflecting a multi‑disciplinary service model that the firm highlights in its disclosures.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers

Expertise

Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Cash flow / budgeting

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Fee options

Fixed

Flat fees up to $10,000 for financial planning, consulting, and retirement plan consulting services

Project-based

Hourly fees up to $500/hour for financial planning and consulting services

Other

Fee-only: Hourly fees up to $500/hour; flat fees up to $10,000 for financial planning and consulting services

Main office location

Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC

535 N. Church St., Suite 205

West Chester PA 19380, United States

Number of offices

3

Most active in

California · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Maryland · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Texas · Virginia

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Advisors at this firm

user avatar

Kevin W

CFP®, Series 65

Annapolis, MD

Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC

Kevin Wrenn is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC. Prior to joining Ballast in 2020, he worked at Anchor Capital Management LLC from 2015 to 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he is an assistant high school basketball coach with Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate clients, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods and may use third-party money managers, managing portfolios on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Cash flow / budgeting
user avatar

Daniel M

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66

West Chester, PA

Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC

Daniel Mchugh is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving at Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, and Origin Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a director on the board of the Media Rugby Football Club. Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC provides asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension/profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods and may use third-party money managers, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Cash flow / budgeting
user avatar

Daniel E

CFP®, Series 65

West Chester, PA

Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC

Daniel Elser is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with six years of industry experience. He has worked at Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC since 2019 and previously held roles at Ameriprise Financial and Keystone State Insurance. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in personal home and auto insurance sales. Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. The firm provides asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting using a range of investment strategies and analytical methods tailored to each client.

Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Cash flow / budgeting
user avatar

Joseph B

CFP®, Series 66

Georgetown, DE

Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC

Joseph Baker is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC, where he has worked since 2019 and serves as Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer. His prior experience includes roles at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, and Origin Financial. Baker is also the owner of a CPA firm, Ballast & Associates, LLC, which provides tax advisory services. Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, pension/profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing a range of analytical methods and occasionally third-party managers to implement individualized portfolios.

Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Cash flow / budgeting
user avatar

Mark M

CFP®, Series 65

Georgetown, DE

Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC

Mark May is a CFP® with two years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at JP Morgan Chase & Co. and various positions outside finance. He serves on the board of directors for People's Place, a nonprofit addressing social and mental health needs in Delaware. Ballast Financial Advisors, LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as trusts, pension/profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. The firm offers asset management, standalone financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing a mix of analytical methods and occasionally using third-party money managers to implement client strategies.

Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Cash flow / budgeting
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