The Bahnsen Group
The Bahnsen Group is a privately-held wealth management firm managing approximately $9 billion in assets for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients, with a dividend-growth investment philosophy and nine U.S. offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNewport Beach, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Bahnsen Group does
The Bahnsen Group is a privately-held, independent wealth management firm founded in April 2015 by David L. Bahnsen following his departure from Morgan Stanley. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and affiliated with Hightower Advisors, LLC for shared back-office and compliance infrastructure, the firm manages approximately $9 billion in assets for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients. Its investment philosophy is centered on dividend-growth investing, anchored by the founder's Dividend Cafe newsletter and media platform.
The firm operates a vertically integrated service model spanning investment management, multi-family office capabilities, financial planning, and end-to-end tax services. Distinctive offerings include the TBG Dividend Focus Fund (a packaged dividend-growth vehicle), TBG Investment Advisory Solutions (an institutional OCIO channel serving pensions, endowments, and corporate clients), and the in-house Multi-Family Office practice launched in 2021. The organization employs more than 90 professionals across nine U.S. offices (Newport Beach, New York City, Minnesota, Tennessee, Arizona, Oregon, two Texas locations, Florida, Michigan, and Pittsburgh), with leadership held by David Bahnsen as Founder and CIO and Joe Klein as President.
Revenue is generated primarily through recurring asset-based fees calculated as a percentage of assets under management, supplemented by performance fees on certain strategies and by fees from integrated financial planning, family office, and tax services. Distribution is driven by the founder's external media presence (Dividend Cafe, podcast, book authorship) and by advisor referrals, producing inbound lead flow that supports the firm's organic AUM growth. Recognition from Barron's, Forbes, and Financial Times as a top advisor firm reinforces its positioning within the U.S. RIA landscape.
The Bahnsen Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Bahnsen Group
- Legal name
- The Bahnsen Group LLC
- Website
- https://thebahnsengroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Bahnsen Group is a privately-held wealth management firm managing approximately $9 billion in assets for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients, with a dividend-growth investment philosophy and nine U.S. offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Bahnsen Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Wealth Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities (523999)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Client/High-Net-Worth Advisory (FSAEAAAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Managed Platforms & Wrap Programs for Private Clients (Model Portfolios, UMA/SMAs) (FSAAABAM), Private Banking & UHNW Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAC)
Keywords
Where The Bahnsen Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newport Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
The Bahnsen Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Asset Management Fees: Fees assessed as a percentage of Assets Under Management (AUM). The firm manages $9 billion of client assets. For institutional clients (OCIO or equity-only management), fees are based on AUM percentage, with fixed-fee arrangements available for large and complex institutions.
- Institutional Advisory Services (IAS): OCIO (Outsourced Chief Investment Officer) and direct equity management services for institutions with assets between $25 million and $100+ million. Fees are assessed as a percentage of AUM, with fixed-fee arrangements available for large institutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | OCIO Services for institutions ($25M-$100M) |
| Subscription | Annual | Direct Equity Management for institutions ($100M+) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Large/Complex Institutional Accounts |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Bahnsen Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Bahnsen Group is a private wealth management firm that provides dividend growth investment management, financial planning, tax services, family office, and institutional OCIO (Outsourced Chief Investment Officer) services. The firm manages $9 billion in client assets across 9 U.S. offices, serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals and institutions. The core investment philosophy centers on investing in companies that consistently grow their dividends, supported by integrated wealth services.
Product overview
The Bahnsen Group is a private wealth management firm offering a comprehensive suite of investment and advisory services. The core offering centers on Dividend Growth Investing philosophy, supported by three investment modules: Dividend Growth (core equity strategy), Out of the Box (alternative investments), and Principles (first-principles approach). For institutional clients, the TBG Institutional Advisory Services (IAS) provides OCIO and direct equity management for organizations with $25M+ in assets. The firm also delivers Family Office, Financial Planning, and Guiding services to high-net-worth individuals. Key products include the TBG Div Focus Fund (an ETF focused on dividend growth), the Client Portal for account access, and the Dividend Cafe content platform featuring weekly market commentary and the annual Year Behind, Year Ahead white paper. In 2021, the firm launched an internal multi-family office for ultra-high-net-worth clients, and in 2023 added end-to-end tax services for full wealth service integration. The firm manages $9 billion in client assets and operates under Hightower Advisors as an SEC registered investment adviser.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dividend Cafe: Weekly market commentary and investment research publication written by David L. Bahnsen, available as a podcast and email newsletter.
- TBG Div Focus Fund
- TBG IAS
Products and services
- Dividend Growth Investing
- Out of the Box
- Principles
- Family Office Services
- Financial Planning
- Guiding Services
- Institutional Advisory Services (IAS)
- TBG Div Focus Fund (ETF)
- End-to-End Tax Services
Quantifiable outcome
- No client attrition during the 2008 financial crisis while guiding clients through the market downturn
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Bahnsen Group
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Bahnsen Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
The Bahnsen Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Bahnsen Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Carson Group: PE-backed network of independent advisor teams providing wealth management, coaching, and business services. Comparable platform model supporting breakaway advisors and offering HNW/UHNW services through affiliated practices.
- Focus Financial Partners: Leading partner firm for independent wealth management practices, providing scale capital and operational support to hundreds of RIAs. Comparable as a platform consolidator in the same RIA space as TBG.
- Hightower Advisors: The parent/advisory platform under which TBG operates. Hightower is a national network of independent advisor teams with a comparable breakaway-advisor business model; broad incumbent rather than direct competitor since practices maintain autonomy.
- Edelman Financial Engines: One of the largest U.S. RIAs offering investment management and financial planning across mass-affluent, HNW, and institutional segments. Comparable as a scaled wealth platform though broader in customer segmentation and less UHNW-tilted than TBG.
- Cetera Financial Group: Large independent advisor network providing wealth management and investment services through affiliated financial professionals. Comparable in scale and HNW client focus, though with broader product distribution model.
Direct peers
- Bessemer Trust: Private wealth and investment management firm specializing in ultra-high-net-worth families and foundations. Highly comparable on UHNW client focus, multi-family office services, and integrated wealth planning.
- Fisher Investments: Large private active money manager serving high-net-worth and institutional clients with discretionary portfolio management. Highly comparable to TBG in customer segment, active management style, and AUM-based fee model, though with significantly larger AUM.
- Creative Planning: One of the largest U.S. independent RIAs offering comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and tax services to HNW/UHNW clients. Comparable integrated service stack and high-net-worth focus, with significantly greater AUM.
- Mariner Wealth Advisors: Independent RIA providing comprehensive wealth advisory, family office, and institutional services to UHNW clients. Direct comparable on integrated service model, multi-office footprint, and UHNW client base.
- Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Independent RIA providing evidence-based wealth management and planning services to HNW clients. Similar model as a privately-held independent practice with Hightower-style platform affiliation, with comparable AUM scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Bahnsen Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Bahnsen Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The Bahnsen Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Bahnsen Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Bahnsen Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Bahnsen Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Bahnsen Group
What does The Bahnsen Group do?
The Bahnsen Group is a private wealth management firm that provides dividend growth investment management, financial planning, tax services, family office, and institutional OCIO (Outsourced Chief Investment Officer) services. The firm manages $9 billion in client assets across 9 U.S. offices, serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals and institutions. The core investment philosophy centers on investing in companies that consistently grow their dividends, supported by integrated wealth services.
Is The Bahnsen Group a public or private company?
The Bahnsen Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Bahnsen Group founded?
The Bahnsen Group was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Bahnsen Group based?
The Bahnsen Group is headquartered in Newport Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Bahnsen Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Asset Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are institutional Advisory Services (IAS).
Who are The Bahnsen Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Carson Group, Focus Financial Partners, Hightower Advisors, Edelman Financial Engines and Cetera Financial Group. Direct peers are Bessemer Trust, Fisher Investments, Creative Planning, Mariner Wealth Advisors and Buckingham Strategic Wealth.
Does The Bahnsen Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Bahnsen Group.
What industry is The Bahnsen Group in?
The Bahnsen Group's product category is Private Wealth Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAAAN, Private Client/High-Net-Worth Advisory, with a secondary code of FSAAABAM, Managed Platforms & Wrap Programs for Private Clients (Model Portfolios, UMA/SMAs). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.