Ballwin, MO Office

Shearwater Capital provides investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and supervisory services primarily for individuals, families, high net worth clients, qualified retirement plans, and trusts; the firm manages roughly $427 million for about 180 clients and operates with a small advisory team. Services include portfolio construction, ongoing account supervision, and coordination with sub-advisors for separately managed accounts.

The firm follows a scientific, long-term investment approach emphasizing broad global diversification, tax efficiency, and low-cost passive exposure, relying heavily on mutual funds and ETFs — notably Dimensional funds that the brochure describes as generally available only through approved advisors — and prepares a tailored Investment Policy Statement for each client that is reviewed at least annually. Most client accounts (about 99.7% of AUM) are managed on a discretionary basis in line with the IPS, with customization available where tax sensitivity or client preferences require it.

Distinctive features noted in the brochure include the use of customized separately managed accounts with independent sub‑advisors for tax-loss harvesting or charitable gifting and the firm’s willingness to establish margin accounts at a client’s request (while generally advising against margin loans). Shearwater also communicates with clients through periodic client communications and offers educational seminars and workshops, practices that the firm highlights alongside its fee-only, non-commission model and household-based fee treatment.