Grey Ledge Advisors

What Grey Ledge Advisors does

Grey Ledge Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser and fiduciary providing wealth management, retirement planning, and executive benefits services from its headquarters in Guilford, Connecticut, with a secondary office in Branford. The firm serves five client segments — Individual Investors, Business Owners (with a specialized offering for Veterinary Practices), Credit Unions, and Non-Profit Organizations — and reports approximately 1,000+ clients with $620M+ in assets under management as of October 2025. Core product lines include personalized investment management, 401(k) and Cash Balance Plans, IRA rollovers, executive benefit packages (SERPs, Nonqualified Deferred Comp, Split Dollar, BOLI/COLI), credit union asset-liability management, and non-profit endowment management. The firm supports these services through integrations with Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Vestwell, PCS Retirement, and Alerus; no proprietary technology platform is disclosed.

The business model is AUM-based advisory fees under a fiduciary standard, with the firm explicitly stating it does not earn commissions on investment transactions. Revenue is recurring and tied directly to managed asset levels, providing operating leverage as AUM scales. Grey Ledge Advisors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ascend Bank, a community bank serving the Connecticut shoreline since 1875, providing a referral channel and brand association. The team of approximately 10-15 includes credentialed advisors (CFP, CFA, CAIA, PFS) with 250+ years of combined experience, supplemented by client experience administrators, a Chief Compliance Officer, and a Director of Client Experience.

Distribution is consultative and relationship-driven, operating primarily in Connecticut through direct advisor relationships and referral partnerships with CPAs, third-party administrators, and Ascend Bank. Marketing is conducted through thought-leadership content, the 'Thoughts from the Ledge' podcast, a quarterly newsletter, and community involvement (over 60 non-profit board seats, ~792 volunteer hours YTD). The firm grew AUM from approximately $200M to $620M+ over five years, completed a merger with CTMA in January 2021, and appointed Michael Schulitz as President in 2025 to lead inorganic growth initiatives under the continued strategic direction of CEO Emeritus Kenneth Russell.

Name

Grey Ledge Advisors

Legal name

Grey Ledge Advisors LLC

Website

https://greyledge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grey Ledge Advisors is an SEC-registered, fiduciary wealth management firm serving individuals, business owners, credit unions, veterinary practices, and non-profits in Connecticut. A wholly owned subsidiary of Ascend Bank, it manages $620M+ in AUM across 1,000+ clients through AUM-based advisory fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Fee-Only Advisory (FSAEAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advisory Portfolio Management (Non-Discretionary) (FSAAABAD), Private Banking & UHNW Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAC)

Keywords

• Wealth management advisory
• Retirement plan services
• Investment management
• Fiduciary financial planning
• Executive benefits consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Guilford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory Fees (AUM-based): Grey Ledge Advisors generates revenue through investment advisory fees, typically calculated as a percentage of assets under management (AUM). As an SEC-registered investment adviser, they operate as a fiduciary and do not earn commissions on investment transactions, aligning their interests with client outcomes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Grey Ledge Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser that delivers personalized wealth management, investment management, retirement plan design (401(k), Cash Balance, SEP/SIMPLE IRAs), executive benefits (SERPs, Nonqualified Deferred Compensation, Split Dollar Life Insurance), IRA rollover guidance, and institutional investment services (credit unions, non-profits, veterinary practices). The firm charges advisory fees as a percentage of assets under management, operates as a fiduciary, and serves clients across Connecticut through direct advisor relationships.

Product overview

Grey Ledge Advisors is a wealth management firm operating as an SEC Registered Investment Adviser and fiduciary, offering a comprehensive suite of financial services built around personalized wealth management and retirement planning. The core offering consists of investment management for individuals and institutions, business retirement solutions (401(k) Plans, Cash Balance Plans, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs), and executive benefits programs. The firm serves five primary client segments: Individual Investors, Business Owners (including veterinary practices), Credit Unions, and Non-Profit Organizations. Supporting these core services, the firm provides IRA rollover guidance, individual investment portfolio management, credit union ALM services, and non-profit endowment management. The firm also produces the 'Thoughts from the Ledge' podcast as an educational content platform. The company is a subsidiary of Ascend Bank and manages approximately $540 million in assets under management with over 250 years of combined advisor experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thoughts from the Ledge: The firm's podcast covering wealth management, retirement solutions, current economic conditions and market insights.

Products and services

• Wealth Management Comprehensive wealth management services providing personalized financial planning, investment management, and retirement solutions for individuals, business owners, and organizations. The firm operates as a fiduciary, offering investment advice aligned with client interests.
• 401(k) Plans for Business Business retirement plans including Traditional, Safe Harbor, and Solo 401(k) plans. The firm provides plan setup, management, automated investment options, compliance support, and employee education for small business retirement benefit programs.
• Cash Balance Plans Defined benefit retirement plans that maintain participant benefits as hypothetical accounts funded by employer contribution credits and interest credits. Designed for businesses with stable high-income cash flow, including law firms, medical practices, and veterinary practices to maximize retirement contributions.
• IRA Rollovers 401(k) and IRA rollover guidance services helping clients transfer retirement funds from previous employers into IRAs, including Traditional, Roth, and SIMPLE IRA options with various investment strategies.
• Executive Benefits Comprehensive executive compensation packages including Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs), Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans, Split Dollar Life Insurance, and Post Distribution Asset Management for business owners and executives.
• Individual Investment Management Customized investment portfolios for individual investors including IRAs, Trust Accounts, 529s, individual investment accounts, and annuities. The firm utilizes asset allocation strategies across multiple accounts with focus on transparency and low-cost, appropriate risk strategies.
• Credit Union Services Specialized financial services for credit unions including fiduciary obligations, custom portfolio management, 401(k) programs, executive benefits plans, and balance sheet management. The firm focuses on asset and liability management (ALM) strategies.
• Non-Profit Investment Management Investment portfolio management for non-profit organizations including endowment management, Investment Policy Statement (IPS) creation, charitable gift conversion, and grant planning to maximize community impact.
• Veterinary Practice Financial Management Specialized retirement solutions and asset management tailored for veterinary practices, including SIMPLE IRAs, complex 401(k) designs with Discretionary Profit-Sharing Plans and Cash Balance Plans, coordinated with CPAs and Third-Party Administrators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grew AUM from just over $200 million to more than $620 million over five years (as of October 31, 2025)

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Fidelity InvestmentsminorOthersListed as a partner/custodian relationship on the firm's disclosures and website footer, indicating integration or preferred partnership for client account services.
• Charles SchwabminorOthersListed as a partner/custodian relationship on the firm's disclosures and website footer, indicating integration or preferred partnership for client account services.
• VestwellminorOthersListed as a partner on the website footer, indicating a retirement plan platform partnership.
• PCS RetirementminorOthersListed as a partner on the website footer, indicating a retirement plan services partnership.
• AlerusminorOthersListed as a partner on the website footer, indicating a retirement plan and benefits administration partnership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hightower Advisors: Large national RIA wealth management platform serving individuals, families, and institutions with fiduciary advice and AUM-based fee structure; one of the most direct comparable platforms for scaling RIA AUM via organic growth and advisor onboarding.
• Creative Planning: Large independent fee-only RIA providing comprehensive wealth management, retirement planning, and institutional services — the closest analog in business model (fee-only fiduciary) to Grey Ledge's integrated individual and institutional offering.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: National wealth management firm offering fiduciary financial planning, investment management, retirement plan services, and tax strategies to individuals and institutions — a comparable full-service RIA model.
• Carson Group: Partnership-based RIA platform supporting independent financial advisors with back-office, investment, and growth resources; relevant peer for a community-embedded RIA evaluating scale paths and advisor support models.
• Mercer Advisors: National RIA providing comprehensive wealth management, retirement plan, and family-office services on a fee-only basis with M&A-led growth; directly comparable for specialized institutional + individual advisory offerings.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Large RIA combining workplace retirement plan services with individual wealth management, serving both retail and institutional clients on a fee-only basis — a strong model and scale comparable.
• Focus Financial Partners: RIA platform acquiring and supporting independent wealth management firms; relevant comparable both as a buyer (tuck-in M&A dynamics) and as a model showing how small- to mid-sized RIAs scale via partnership.
• Steward Partners: Wealth management firm supporting affiliated advisors with comprehensive investment, retirement, and planning services for individuals and institutions — comparable full-service RIA platform model.

Emerging players

• Sequoia Financial Group: Mid-sized fee-only RIA providing wealth management and retirement plan services; comparable in size and service mix (individuals + institutional retirement plans) to Grey Ledge's offering.
• Beacon Pointe Advisors: Independent, fee-only advisory firm offering wealth management, family-office-style services, and institutional consulting; comparable in fiduciary model and integrated individual + institutional focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grey-ledge-advisors

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grey Ledge Advisors