CFS

What CFS does

CFS Wealth Management, L.L.C. is a privately held, SEC-registered investment advisor (CRD #135579) founded in May 2005 by A. Wade Chapman and headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, with a second office in Macon. The firm provides fee-based investment advisory services to individuals, couples, IRA owners, trustees, and business owners, constructing portfolios primarily from open-end mutual funds, closed-end funds, ETFs, and individual equities and bonds, with Morningstar research used as an input. Account-level model portfolios are tailored to client circumstances and emphasize capital preservation over aggressive capital appreciation.

As of March 5, 2026, CFS held discretionary authority over 461 client accounts and non-discretionary authority over 4 accounts, with combined assets of $189,052,740. The core revenue engine is an AUM-based fee schedule ranging from 2.00% (accounts under $50K) down to 1.25% (accounts $1M+), billed quarterly in advance, supplemented by negotiable fixed annual fees ($250-$10,000) and $250/hour fees for financial plans and retirement evaluations. CFS Connect is offered as a client portal providing 24/7 account access and interactive planning tools for net worth, budgeting, and retirement scenarios. Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services serves as primary custodian, and the firm maintains a minor broker/dealer affiliation with Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments (PKS).

The firm's go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven: clients are acquired via direct outreach, the cfswealth.com website, referrals from existing clients, and third-party referrals such as from Fidelity, with each client assigned a lead advisor. CFS markets itself as a fiduciary offering conflict-free advice rather than sales-driven recommendations. The firm employs 1-10 staff across its two Georgia offices, and there is no parent company, external investor, or institutional ownership; Wade Chapman is the sole owner and managing member.

Name

CFS

Legal name

CFS Wealth Management, L.L.C.

Website

https://cfswealth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CFS Wealth Management is a Georgia-based, SEC-registered investment advisor founded in 2005 that provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement advisory services to individuals, trustees, and business owners across 465 accounts holding $189M AUM.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Institutional Trust Services (FSAAANAB)

Keywords

• Investment advisory services
• Wealth management
• Financial planning
• Portfolio management
• Retirement planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Thomasville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Percentage of AUM Fee: The primary revenue stream is investment management fees billed as a percentage of account value. Fee tiers range from 1.25% to 2.00% annually depending on account size. Billed quarterly in advance.
2. Fixed Annual Fee: Alternative fee arrangement ranging from $250 to $10,000 annually, negotiable. Used for clients preferring flat-fee structure.
3. Hourly Fees: Hourly billing at $250 per hour for financial plans and retirement evaluations. Maximum cost stated in agreement based on estimated time requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CFS Wealth Management is a fee-based registered investment advisor that delivers portfolio management services to individuals, couples, IRA owners, trustees, and business owners, primarily through model portfolios of mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, and individual equities and bonds. The firm also provides financial planning services (including retirement benefit evaluations) and operates the CFS Connect online client portal for 24/7 account access and interactive planning tools. Advisory, fixed, and hourly fee arrangements are billed as a percentage of account value, fixed annual amount, or at an hourly rate, respectively.

Product overview

CFS Wealth Management offers a unified wealth management platform combining investment advisory services with technology-enabled client engagement. The core offering consists of investment advisory (portfolio management using mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities), financial planning, and the CFS Connect client portal. CFS Connect serves as the digital front-end, providing 24/7 account access and interactive planning tools for net worth calculation, budgeting, and retirement planning. All services are fee-based, with advisory fees ranging from 1.00% to 2.00% annually depending on account size.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CFS Connect: An online client portal and financial management platform offered by CFS Wealth Management, providing 24/7 account access, interactive planning tools, net worth calculation, budgeting, investment account management, and retirement planning tools.

Products and services

• Investment Advisory Services Fee-based investment advisory service providing portfolio management to individuals, couples, IRA owners, trustees, and business owners, using model portfolios constructed from open-end mutual funds, closed-end funds, ETFs, and individual equities and bonds, offered on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis with portfolios tailored to individual client needs.
• Financial Planning Advisory service delivering written financial plans covering areas such as retirement benefit evaluations, tailored to individual client situations and goals and provided on an hourly basis or as part of the broader advisory engagement.
• CFS Connect Online client portal and financial management platform offering 24/7 account access, interactive planning tools, net worth calculation, budgeting, investment account management, and retirement planning tools for CFS Wealth Management clients.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fidelity InvestmentscoreOthersFidelity Investments serves as the primary custodian for client accounts through Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services (FIWS). They provide institutional trading and custody services, on-line services, desktop software for account administration, electronic trading, market data, accounting and reporting. CFS primarily utilizes Fidelity's No Transaction Fee, No-load or Load-Waived mutual fund platform.
• Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments (PKS)minorOthersSteve Anderson, an associate at CFS, is a registered representative with PKS broker/dealer. This creates a potential conflict of interest since Mr. Anderson may receive compensation for recommendations to purchase products through PKS. CFS does not charge advisory fees for client accounts held through this broker/dealer affiliation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Betterment: Leading digital wealth manager offering automated and hybrid advisory for individuals. Comparable to CFS in investment advisory for individuals and ETF-driven portfolios; differs as a low-cost robo with no in-person advisors and sub-0.50% fees.
• Personal Capital (Empower): Hybrid digital RIA offering free financial tools and fee-based advisory to mass-affluent and HNW individuals. Comparable to CFS in combining financial planning tools with advisory services; differs as a tech-led national platform now part of Empower.

Direct peers

• Facet Wealth: Tech-enabled fee-only RIA providing financial planning and investment advisory to individuals via virtual CFP-led teams. Comparable to CFS in fiduciary-only model, flat-fee/percentage pricing, and goal-based planning; differs in being virtual-first with a national footprint.
• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Fee-only RIA focused on evidence-based portfolio management and financial planning for individuals. Comparable to CFS in fiduciary-only positioning, model-portfolio approach, and AUM-based fee structure; differs in scale and research depth.
• Carson Wealth: Mid-size RIA providing fee-only investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement planning to individuals and families, often through local advisor offices. Directly comparable to CFS in service mix, fiduciary model, and middle-market client focus; differs in scale and parent ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Fisher Investments: Large private RIA managing portfolios primarily for HNW individuals and institutional clients. Comparable to CFS in fee-based discretionary portfolio management and individual investor focus; differs substantially in scale and minimums.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Large national RIA combining robo and human advisory for individuals, including workplace retirement plan participants. Comparable to CFS in individual-investor focus and fiduciary fees; differs massively in scale and corporate-channel distribution.
• Cerity Partners: National RIA and wealth management firm with fiduciary advisory for individuals, families, and institutions. Comparable to CFS in fiduciary mandate and trust/estate planning capabilities; differs as a multi-billion-dollar consolidator actively acquiring regional advisors.
• Creative Planning: Large national RIA serving individuals and families with fee-only investment advisory and financial planning. Comparable to CFS in fiduciary model, fee-based AUM pricing, and use of custodians like Fidelity; differs in scale ($300B+ AUM) and breadth of services.

Others

• Mariner Wealth Advisors: National RIA consolidator with fiduciary, fee-based wealth management for HNW individuals and families. Comparable to CFS in target client (HNW individuals, trustees) and fiduciary orientation; differs as a multi-billion-dollar platform actively acquiring smaller RIAs.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfs-wealth-management

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 CFS