Salish Wealth Management
Salish Wealth Management is an independent registered investment advisor in Bellingham, WA offering managed portfolios, comprehensive financial planning, retirement, and estate advisory services to affluent individuals, families, BP employees and retirees, and small business owners in Whatcom County.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBellingham, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Salish Wealth Management does
Salish Wealth Management is an independent registered investment advisor founded in 2016 by Scott A. Hume, CFP, and headquartered at 2122 Barkley Blvd, Suite 200, Bellingham, WA. The firm delivers managed portfolios, comprehensive financial planning, retirement accounts (IRA, ROTH IRA, rollover 401(k)), small business retirement plans (Simple IRA, SEP IRA, 401(k)), alternative investments for accredited investors, estate conservation, tax strategies, and insurance advisory services. Its primary customer base is affluent individuals and families in Bellingham and Whatcom County, with specialized segments for BP employees and retirees (including cross-border planning), female investors, and small business owners.
The firm operates through a regulatory partnership with Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. (BFCFS) as broker-dealer and BFC Planning, Inc. as the registered investment advisor, while Salish itself remains independently owned. The team of five comprises three financial advisors (Hume with 27+ years experience, Ted Newman with ~30 years, Aretha Ryan with 20+ years) and two client services associates. Technology is non-proprietary: client engagement relies on third-party platforms including Nitrogen (Riskalyze), Circle Black, and WMConnect. Marketing is content-driven via an active blog, downloadable resources (Key Numbers, Financial Planning Checklist), and community sponsorships, with referrals from long-standing relationships as the primary new-client source. Revenue is generated through recurring AUM-based advisory fees billed monthly; fees are not publicly disclosed and clients are quoted individually following free consultations.
Salish Wealth Management firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Salish Wealth Management
- Legal name
- Salish Wealth Management
- Website
- https://salishwm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Salish Wealth Management is an independent registered investment advisor in Bellingham, WA offering managed portfolios, comprehensive financial planning, retirement, and estate advisory services to affluent individuals, families, BP employees and retirees, and small business owners in Whatcom County.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Salish Wealth Management industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wealth Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive/Full-Service RIAs & Independent Wealth Managers (FSAAACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Wealth Management (FSAEABAA), Retirement & Distribution Planning RIAs (401(k)/IRA/Pension Rollovers) (FSAAACAE), Family Wealth & Multi-Generational Planning RIAs (HNW/UHNW-lite) (FSAAACAH), Tax-Focused Wealth Management RIAs (FSAAACAD)
Keywords
Where Salish Wealth Management is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bellingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Salish Wealth Management business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Management / Advisory Fees: Revenue appears to be generated through investment advisory/management fees, likely based on assets under management (AUM). The firm is a registered investment advisor operating through Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services (BFCFS) and BFC Planning, Inc.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Quote-based advisory services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Salish Wealth Management product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Salish Wealth Management is an independent registered investment advisory firm offering comprehensive financial planning and investment management to affluent individuals, families, and small businesses in Bellingham and Whatcom County, WA. Core offerings include Managed Portfolios, Comprehensive Financial Planning, retirement accounts (IRA, ROTH IRA, Rollover 401(k)), small business retirement plans (Simple IRA, SEP IRA, 401(k)), alternative investments for accredited investors, estate conservation, tax strategies, and insurance advisory — delivered through a fiduciary, personalized one-on-one model in coordination with CPAs and estate attorneys.
Product overview
Salish Wealth Management is a financial advisory firm offering a unified suite of wealth management services centered around comprehensive financial planning and investment management. The core offering combines Managed Portfolios (internally managed advisory accounts) with Comprehensive Financial Planning to create individualized financial roadmaps. The firm provides specialized retirement account services for both individuals (IRA, ROTH IRA, Rollover 401(k)) and small businesses (Simple IRA, SEP IRA, 401(k)), along with supplementary services including Alternative Investments for accredited investors, Estate Conservation, Tax Strategies, and Insurance advisory. All services are delivered through a client-first fiduciary approach with collaboration among advisors, CPAs, and estate attorneys.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Managed Portfolios Internally managed advisory accounts that simplify investment fees and provide the advisor flexibility to adjust portfolios in response to changing market conditions; designed for individuals and families seeking professionally managed, market-responsive investment portfolios.
- Comprehensive Financial Planning Financial planning service providing a high-level overview and deep-dive analysis of a client's overall financial picture, serving as a roadmap to assess progress toward and through retirement; intended for individuals, families, and small business owners.
- Retirement Accounts Tax-advantaged retirement vehicles including Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), ROTH IRA, Rollover 401(k), and Individual and Joint Accounts for saving and growing assets; targeted at individuals and families planning for retirement.
- Small Business Retirement Accounts Retirement plan options for small business employers including Simple IRA, SEP IRA, and 401(k) to support employee benefit packages; intended for small business owners seeking competitive retirement benefits.
- Alternative Investments Investment opportunities outside traditional stocks, bonds, or cash for accredited investors seeking portfolio diversification; an add-on offered to qualifying existing clients of the firm.
- Estate Conservation Collaborative service with other financial professionals (CPAs, estate attorneys) to ensure financial plans continue when clients are unable to make decisions or after death, protecting assets and fulfilling their wishes; for individuals and families with estate planning needs.
- Tax Strategies Collaborative tax planning service working with accountants, CPAs, and other financial professionals to identify tax-saving strategies and advantages for clients in their financial plans.
- Insurance Insurance advisory services covering life, health, long-term care, and annuities, integrated into clients' long-term and short-term financial planning strategies.
Companies that use Salish Wealth Management
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Salish Wealth Management technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Salish Wealth Management partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Lydia PlaceminorLocal nonprofit agency serving homeless families in the community since 1989. Salish Wealth Management sponsors Tuesday Tunes concerts to benefit Lydia Place.
- Blaine Scholarship FoundationminorNonprofit providing scholarships for graduating Blaine High School seniors. Since 1992, has provided over $475,000 in scholarships. Salish participates as hole sponsor and provides tournament golf balls.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Salish Wealth Management competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Ellevest: Digital wealth management platform purpose-built for female investors. Overlaps with Salish's dedicated female-investor practice but delivers via a scalable tech model rather than personal advisor relationships.
- Facet Wealth: Tech-enabled financial planning firm offering flat-fee comprehensive financial planning digitally to affluent households. Represents the emerging digital-RIA model that competes with traditional local firms like Salish on convenience and pricing transparency.
Broad incumbents
- Cerity Partners: Independent advisory firm providing wealth management, retirement plan services, and tax/estate planning to high-net-worth individuals and families. Directly comparable comprehensive-service offering and target market.
- Edelman Financial Engines: National independent RIA providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan services to individuals and corporate plans. Comparable client focus (affluent individuals, small business retirement plans) but operates at significantly greater scale with corporate-plan roots.
- Mariner Wealth Advisors: National independent wealth advisory firm offering comprehensive planning, investment management, retirement, tax, and estate services to affluent individuals and families. Overlaps with Salish's full-service offering and target client base but at enterprise scale.
- Creative Planning: Large independent RIA offering comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and tax/estate services nationally. Comparable to Salish's full-service RIA model but at vastly greater scale with proprietary technology and a multi-advisor team structure.
Direct peers
- Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Independent RIA focused on evidence-based financial planning and investment management for affluent individuals and families. Comparable client base, fiduciary model, and comprehensive planning offering.
- Carson Wealth: Independent RIA platform serving individual families and small business owners with comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan services. Closely comparable in target market and service mix, though larger and structured as a partnership-supported firm.
- Sequoia Financial Group: Independent fee-only RIA providing comprehensive wealth management, retirement plan, and family office services to individuals and businesses. Highly comparable service model and target clientele at a larger footprint.
Regional players
- Northwest Investment Advisors: Regional independent RIA serving Pacific Northwest clients with comprehensive financial planning and investment management. Directly comparable in service scope and Pacific Northwest geographic focus, but serves a broader regional footprint than Salish's Bellingham base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Salish Wealth Management social profiles
Digital presenceSalish Wealth Management financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Salish Wealth Management leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Salish Wealth Management funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Salish Wealth Management 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 Salish Wealth Management
What does Salish Wealth Management do?
Salish Wealth Management is an independent registered investment advisory firm offering comprehensive financial planning and investment management to affluent individuals, families, and small businesses in Bellingham and Whatcom County, WA. Core offerings include Managed Portfolios, Comprehensive Financial Planning, retirement accounts (IRA, ROTH IRA, Rollover 401(k)), small business retirement plans (Simple IRA, SEP IRA, 401(k)), alternative investments for accredited investors, estate conservation, tax strategies, and insurance advisory — delivered through a fiduciary, personalized one-on-one model in coordination with CPAs and estate attorneys.
Is Salish Wealth Management a public or private company?
Salish Wealth Management is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Salish Wealth Management founded?
Salish Wealth Management was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Salish Wealth Management based?
Salish Wealth Management is headquartered in Bellingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Salish Wealth Management make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Management / Advisory Fees.
Who are Salish Wealth Management's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Ellevest and Facet Wealth. Broad incumbents are Cerity Partners, Edelman Financial Engines, Mariner Wealth Advisors and Creative Planning. Direct peers are Buckingham Strategic Wealth, Carson Wealth and Sequoia Financial Group. Northwest Investment Advisors is listed as a regional player.
Does Salish Wealth Management have an API?
No public API is recorded for Salish Wealth Management.
What industry is Salish Wealth Management in?
Salish Wealth Management's product category is Wealth Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAACAA, Comprehensive/Full-Service RIAs & Independent Wealth Managers, with a secondary code of FSAEABAA, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Wealth Management. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.