Foster & Motley
Foster & Motley is a Cincinnati-based, employee-owned, fee-only RIA providing integrated wealth management and financial planning to 600+ high-net-worth families. Founded in 1996, it manages ~$1.5 billion in assets across three tiered AUM-fee service levels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Foster & Motley does
Foster & Motley, Inc. is an employee-owned, fee-only Registered Investment Advisor headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 1996 and serving high-net-worth individuals and families. The firm manages approximately $1.5 billion in assets across 600+ client households (per a 2020-era source) and structures its wealth management offering through three service tiers—Prime ($2M–$5M), Premier ($5M–$10M), and Legacy ($10M+)—each integrating comprehensive financial planning with personalized investment management. Its geographic footprint is anchored in the Tri-State region of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, with stated service to clients across the United States. Multiple team members have been elevated to shareholder status under the firm's employee-ownership model, formalizing generational succession without external capital.
The technology stack centers on an integrated planning and investment-management platform that combines Monte Carlo scenario analysis (running thousands of simulated outcomes against client assets, liabilities, cash flow, and expected market volatility), a client-facing financial dashboard with secure document storage, and a net-worth analysis tool that captures assets and liabilities beyond accounts under the firm's direct custody. Charles Schwab serves as third-party custodian and provides research/data resources. The firm also sources and conducts diligence on qualified-purchaser private investments (limited partnerships, real estate) for higher-tier clients, while day-to-day service delivery is structured around a deliberately low 20:1 client-to-advisor ratio—roughly half the industry average of 39:1.
Revenue is generated entirely through recurring Assets Under Management (AUM) fees on a tiered, declining schedule ranging from 1.00% on the first $2M (Prime) down to 0.25% on balances above $10M (Legacy), with no commissions, referral fees, or vendor payments. Customer acquisition combines a high-touch, consultative field-sales motion targeting HNW prospects with content marketing (podcast, blog, newsletter), earned media, community engagement, and a referral network of accountants and attorneys. A key capacity constraint is the headcount-to-client ratio: growth in client relationships requires near-proportional advisor hiring, limiting the firm's ability to scale without commensurate talent investment.
Foster & Motley firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Foster & Motley
- Legal name
- Foster & Motley, Inc.
- Website
- https://fosterandmotley.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Foster & Motley is a Cincinnati-based, employee-owned, fee-only RIA providing integrated wealth management and financial planning to 600+ high-net-worth families. Founded in 1996, it manages ~$1.5 billion in assets across three tiered AUM-fee service levels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Foster & Motley industry classification
Industry- 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
- Private Wealth Planning (Tax, Estate & Succession) (FSAAABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Alternative Investments for Private Wealth (Hedge Funds, PE/VC Access, Private Credit) (FSAAABAI), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH), Trust, Fiduciary & Estate Planning Services (FSABADAG)
Keywords
Where Foster & Motley is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Foster & Motley business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Assets Under Management (AUM) Fees: Fee-only approach where compensation is a percentage of assets under management. As client assets increase, the blended rate decreases. No commissions, referral fees, or payments from vendors. Completely independent from all financial product providers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Prime tier for $2M-$5M investments: 1% on first $2M, 0.75% on next $3M |
| Subscription | Annual | Premier tier for $5M-$10M investments: 0.85% on first $5M, 0.50% on next $5M, 0.25% thereafter |
| Subscription | Annual | Legacy tier for $10M+ investments: 0.85% on first $5M, 0.50% on next $5M, 0.25% thereafter |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Foster & Motley product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Foster & Motley provides fee-only wealth management services combining comprehensive financial planning with personalized investment management for high-net-worth individuals and families. Services are delivered through three tiered offerings — Prime ($2M-$5M), Premier ($5M-$10M), and Legacy ($10M+) — each bundling financial planning, investment management, tax planning, estate planning, and access to private investment opportunities as appropriate to the tier.
Product overview
Foster & Motley offers a unified wealth management platform combining Financial Planning and Investment Management services. The firm provides three customized service tiers based on investment levels: Prime ($2M-$5M), Premier ($5M-$10M), and Legacy ($10M+). Each tier includes comprehensive financial planning integrated with personalized investment management, with higher tiers offering additional sophisticated services such as estate planning, tax strategies, charitable giving, and private investment opportunities. The firm also produces a podcast as an educational resource. Services are delivered through dedicated financial planners and investment managers using a fee-only fiduciary approach.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Foster & Motley: A Podcast About Wealth & Life: The firm's official podcast exploring wealth management topics and financial planning.
Products and services
- Prime Wealth management service tier for clients with investments between $2,000,000 and $5,000,000, combining comprehensive financial planning with investment management under a fee-only model.
- Premier Elevated wealth management service tier for clients with investments between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000, offering sophisticated solutions including advanced tax strategies, estate planning, and global investment opportunities.
- Legacy Comprehensive wealth management service for clients with investments starting above $10,000,000, including dedicated financial planners and investment managers, tax planning, estate planning, charitable giving, private investments, and family involvement services.
- Financial Planning Integrated financial planning covering net worth analysis, cash flow analysis, tax planning, estate planning, retirement analysis, and insurance analysis to create a comprehensive view of a client's financial life.
- Investment Management Personalized investment plan development using a broadly diversified approach seeking capital appreciation and income, with ongoing risk tolerance assessment and portfolio rebalancing.
Quantifiable outcome
- Client-to-advisor ratio of 20:1 (vs industry average 39:1)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Foster & Motley
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Foster & Motley technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Foster & Motley partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Charles SchwabcoreCharles Schwab serves as the third-party custodian for client accounts. The firm offers recommendations on how to transfer business ownership and provides research and market data resources used by Foster & Motley advisors.
- Client's Accountants and AttorneyscoreFoster & Motley partners with clients' existing accountants, attorneys, and other advisors to streamline financial life management. The firm coordinates tax planning, estate planning, and other specialized services through these partnerships.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Foster & Motley competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cetera Financial Group: Large IBD/wealth management platform offering investment advisory and financial planning to HNW investors through affiliated advisors, competing for the same client demographic via a broader product shelf.
- Edelman Financial Services: Large national RIA providing fee-based financial planning and investment management for HNW individuals, with a much broader branch footprint and asset base than Foster & Motley.
- Mariner Wealth Advisors: Large national RIA consolidator offering wealth advisory, financial planning, and investment management across HNW and ultra-HNW segments, operating at materially greater scale and geographic reach than Foster & Motley.
- Creative Planning: Large fee-only RIA combining financial planning, investment management, and tax services for HNW clients nationally; broader scope and headcount position it as a scaled incumbent competitor.
Direct peers
- Creative Financial Group: Fee-only advisory firm providing financial planning and investment management to HNW individuals and business owners with a similar tier-based, fiduciary-only service model.
- Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors: Employee-owned, fee-only RIA serving HNW and ultra-HNW households with integrated financial planning and discretionary investment management, closely mirroring Foster & Motley's structure and client profile.
- Modera Wealth Management: Fee-only RIA with comprehensive financial planning and investment management for HNW clients, founded on a fiduciary, employee-owned model comparable to Foster & Motley's.
- Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Fee-only registered investment advisor offering integrated financial planning and investment management to HNW individuals and families, with a comparable tiered-fee model and credentialed advisor base.
Emerging players
- Wealthfront: Digital wealth management platform serving mass-affluent investors below Foster & Motley's $2M minimum with low-cost automated portfolio management, representing the technology-driven emerging competitor in the lower-HNW segment.
- Empower (formerly Personal Capital): Hybrid digital + human advisor platform combining automated portfolio management with dedicated advisors for HNW clients, overlapping with Foster & Motley at the $1M-$5M tier through a tech-enabled service model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Foster & Motley social profiles
Digital presenceFoster & Motley financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Foster & Motley leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Foster & Motley funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Foster & Motley 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 Foster & Motley
What does Foster & Motley do?
Foster & Motley provides fee-only wealth management services combining comprehensive financial planning with personalized investment management for high-net-worth individuals and families. Services are delivered through three tiered offerings — Prime ($2M-$5M), Premier ($5M-$10M), and Legacy ($10M+) — each bundling financial planning, investment management, tax planning, estate planning, and access to private investment opportunities as appropriate to the tier.
Is Foster & Motley a public or private company?
Foster & Motley is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Foster & Motley founded?
Foster & Motley was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Foster & Motley based?
Foster & Motley is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Foster & Motley make money?
One revenue line is on record: assets Under Management (AUM) Fees.
Who are Foster & Motley's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cetera Financial Group, Edelman Financial Services, Mariner Wealth Advisors and Creative Planning. Direct peers are Creative Financial Group, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors, Modera Wealth Management and Buckingham Strategic Wealth. Emerging players are Wealthfront and Empower (formerly Personal Capital).
Does Foster & Motley have an API?
No public API is recorded for Foster & Motley.
What industry is Foster & Motley in?
Foster & Motley's product category is Wealth Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAABAE, Private Wealth Planning (Tax, Estate & Succession), with a secondary code of FSAAABAI, Alternative Investments for Private Wealth (Hedge Funds, PE/VC Access, Private Credit). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.