MATRIX360® Financial Planning Services Fees and Investment Advisory Fees

For more detailed information on firm fees, please see the firm’s Form ADV Part 2A, Part 2A Appendix 1 (Wrap Brochure), and Part 3 (Form CRS).

The Connemara Group receives no fees or revenue from any sources other than its clients.

The Connemara Group does not receive commissions, trailing fees, revenue sharing fees, or any other such types of fees.  The firm does not pay for client referrals.

In general, initial MATRIX360® financial planning services engagements are performed for a fixed fee of $8,995-$12,995 based upon estimated time required and complexity of specific engagements.  A firm quote is provided in advance and must be accepted in writing by prospective clients before detailed work begins.  

Fixed Fees for initial MATRIX360® financial planning services engagements are generally waived for clients who, immediately upon conclusion of initial MATRIX360® financial planning reviews, elect to become ongoing clients of the firm.

In general, ongoing MATRIX360® financial planning and investment advisory services are provided according to the following assets-under-management fee schedule:

$0-$2,000,000 – 60 basis points (1/2 of 1%, where 1 basis point = 1/100 of 1%)

$2,000,001-$10,000,000 – 50 basis points

$10,000,001-$20,000,000 – 40 basis points

$20,000,001 and above – 30 basis points

Fees are negotiable at the sole discretion of the Connemara Group and can include flat fees.

Fees for ongoing MATRIX360® investment advisory services include financial planning services.

The Connemara Group is committed to providing often helpful and sometimes essential MATRIX360® investment advisory services on a fee basis.  The firm works with its clients to manage individual household portfolios collaboratively with client input on a custom bespoke basis, often using Vanguard and/or Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) exchange traded funds (ETFs) and handful of individual securities. Prospective clients should be committed to minimal trading in accounts other than for annual portfolio rebalancing, year-end tax loss harvesting, and related portfolio management activities.

Schwab and Fidelity have been selected as the firm’s institutional custodians to hold firm-managed client accounts.  Clients retain access to these accounts and can conduct transactions without The Connemara Group’s assistance. 

The Connemara Group will advise but not bill on “held-away” accounts that cannot or should not be moved to firm management for MATRIX360® investment advisory services at the present time. For example, many clients have active 401(k), 403(b), TSP, deferred compensation arrangements, and other accounts that cannot or should not be moved to firm management. Additionally, on a case-by-case basis, certain retired clients may be best advised to keep former employer retirement accounts where they are pending other decisions.

The Connemara Group does not advise or bill on “held-away” accounts that clients prefer to manage themselves or that are managed without firm oversight by professional third-party investment advisory firms.

Prospective clients are invited to compare The Connemara Group’s fee schedule for MATRIX360® financial planning services and MATRIX360® investment advisory services with fees charged elsewhere. It is important to do the math and understand the implications.

The Connemara Group advisors conduct all quantitative, analytical reviews exclusively virtually. Clients still often like to meet in person, however, to discuss more qualitative planning and investment issues, including household goals and priorities. Certain senior level The Connemara Group advisors accommodate the needs and preferences of these clients by meeting with them over lunch in Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Washington DC, and Tysons Corner. The firm also has meeting locations available through co-working space provided by Carr Workplaces in Bethesda, Washington DC, and Tysons Corner. Some advisors also travel and visit with clients in person nationally.

In down markets and in low real (net of inflation) return environments, costs matter. In fact, they can make all the difference.

The firm invites prospective clients to compare the Firm’s highly competitive fee schedule listed in Item 5 (Fees and Compensation) of the firm’s Form ADV Part 2A with fee schedules of other firms.