Ellicott City, MD Office

The Advisory Group of San Francisco, LLC is an SEC-registered, fee-only advisory firm whose six-advisor team manages approximately $809.9 million for about 116 clients. It serves individuals (including high-net-worth clients), foundations and endowments, and retirement plans, offering discretionary investment management, integrated financial planning, ERISA 3(21)/3(38) plan services, and the WealthStep portfolio program.

The firm’s investment program blends modern portfolio theory with fundamental, quantitative, and other analysis techniques and uses both active and passive mutual funds; portfolios are rebalanced periodically and taxable accounts may receive tax‑loss harvesting. AGSF frequently implements portfolios using Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) funds (which are generally available only through approved advisers), may appoint sub‑advisors, and provides institutional reporting, spending policy guidance, and fiduciary support for endowments and plans.

Noteworthy differences from many peers include operating across five or more offices and providing and managing pooled investment vehicles and pooled institutional accounts, activities called out in the brochure’s fees and custody discussions. The firm’s disclosures also note the presentation of hypothetical performance and references to third‑party ratings in its materials, and the use of DFA funds can limit portability of certain positions if a client later changes advisers.