Private Client
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBedminster, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Private Client does
Private Client Group (operating as PCG Asset Management, LLC) is an independent, fee-based registered investment adviser founded in 2009 by David Johnson in Gladstone, New Jersey. The firm delivers personalized financial advisory services to high-net-worth individuals and families, business owners, pre-retirees, and retirees, with an explicit emphasis on concierge-level service and multi-generational wealth management. The team is intentionally small — a Senior Partner, a Vice President Financial Advisor, two additional Financial Advisors, and an Executive Assistant — supported operationally by a core affiliation with Cetera Financial Group, which provides custody through Pershing (Bank of New York Mellon), compliance, technology platforms, and access to specialist planning teams.
The firm's service offering is organized into Client Services (financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, estate and legacy planning, insurance and risk management, philanthropic planning) and Business Services (qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s and IRAs, succession planning, and exit/transition strategies for business owners). Client engagement is high-touch and advisor-led, with digital support through the AdviceWorks cloud-based client portal (available on iOS and Android), NetX investor platform, and Nitrogen Riskalyze for risk profiling — all provided via Cetera rather than developed in-house. The firm does not publish AUM or revenue, and there is no evidence of proprietary technology development, AI capabilities, or external capital raised.
Revenue is generated through multiple streams: AUM-based advisory fees (typically 1%–1.5% per annum on $1M–$10M accounts, capped at 2.00%), fixed financial planning fees ($1,000–$5,000), hourly planning fees (up to $350/hour), wrap fee programs billed quarterly, flat quarterly third-party manager fees, securities commissions earned through Cetera Advisors LLC, and insurance commissions as licensed independent agents. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and referral-driven — built on long-tenured client relationships, professional network referrals from accounting/tax/estate advisors, and a content-driven website — with markets currently concentrated in New Jersey, New York, and Florida, alongside claimed nationwide concierge capability.
Private Client firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Private Client
- Legal name
- PCG Asset Management, LLC
- Website
- https://privateclientgroupam.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Private Client industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wealth Management and Financial Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Banking Advisory & Discretionary Portfolio Management (FSABADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Personal & Family Trust Services (FSAAANAA), Private Banking Philanthropy & Impact Advisory (FSABADAJ)
Keywords
Where Private Client is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bedminster
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Private Client business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Financial Planning Fees (AUM-based): Fees calculated as a percentage of assets under consultation, not exceeding 2.00% per year. Clients with $1 million to $10 million typically pay 1% to 1.5% per annum.
- Financial Planning Fees (Fixed): Fixed fees typically ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, due upon completion of the financial plan.
- Financial Planning Fees (Hourly): Hourly fees ranging up to $350 per hour, due upon completion of the plan.
- Wrap Fee Program: Fees for SMA Program and Mutual Fund Program, billed quarterly in advance based on tiered fee schedules.
- Third-Party Manager Fees: Flat quarterly fee based on account size covering management, custody, transaction costs, quarterly reporting, and benchmarking.
- Securities Commissions: Compensation earned as registered representatives through Cetera Advisors LLC in connection with purchase and sale of securities or other investment products.
- Insurance Commissions: Commission-based compensation for selling insurance products as licensed independent insurance agents.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Minimum annual fee for financial planning services |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Fixed fee financial planning |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Hourly fee financial planning |
| Subscription | Annual | AUM-based financial planning fees |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Wrap Fee Program (SMA Program) |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Wrap Fee Program (Mutual Fund Program) |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Third-party institutional money manager fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Private Client product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Private Client Group is a fee-based independent financial advisory firm that delivers personalized wealth management through dedicated financial advisors. Its core offering combines financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, estate and legacy planning, insurance and risk management, and business succession advice for high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, pre-retirees, and retirees, supported by the AdviceWorks client portal and Cetera's institutional research and custody infrastructure.
Product overview
Private Client Group Asset Management operates as a fee-based independent financial advisory firm offering a unified wealth management platform with dedicated client and business services. The core offering includes personalized financial planning, retirement planning, investment management, wealth management, estate planning, and insurance services. The firm provides its own client portal (AdviceWorks) and practice management tools (Pentameter), while also leveraging partner services from Cetera including the Financial Plan Design Group, Advanced Planning Team, and Investment Management for specialized planning needs and market research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Client Services Comprehensive personal financial services delivered to individuals and families, including financial planning, retirement planning, investment management, wealth management, insurance and risk management, estate and legacy planning, and philanthropic planning. Designed for high-net-worth individuals, families, pre-retirees, and retirees seeking concierge-level personalized guidance.
- Business Services Business-focused financial services for entrepreneurs and business owners, including retirement and qualified plans (such as 401(k)s and IRAs), succession planning, and exit and transition strategies. Targeted at business owners who need integrated personal and business financial planning support.
- Private Client Group Asset Management Fee-based financial advisory firm providing personalized wealth management, investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, and insurance services for high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners through independent financial advisors. Operates under the legal entity PCG Asset Management, LLC.
- AdviceWorks Client Portal Cloud-based all-in-one client portal providing holistic financial overview, goal tracking, document storage, and secure collaboration between advisors and clients through a single login. Deployed as a Cetera-affiliated platform for Private Client Group clients.
Companies that use Private Client
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Private Client technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Private Client partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Cetera Financial GroupcoreCetera Financial Group provides the technology, operations, and infrastructure that power Private Client Group's practice. Through this partnership, the firm gains access to independent research and planning resources, innovative technology platforms (AdviceWorks, NetX), rigorous product due diligence, compliance oversight, and specialist support teams for complex financial planning needs. Private Client Group retains full independence and is not beholden to sales quotas or proprietary products.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Private Client competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Creative Planning: Fee-only independent RIA providing comprehensive wealth management to HNW individuals and families. Directly comparable business model and service offering; a meaningful share of the same HNW prospect pool that Private Client Group targets.
- Carson Group: Wealth management firm offering financial advisors access to technology, coaching, and a holistic planning platform for HNW clients. Comparable advisor-platform model and HNW focus; a likely consolidator competitor for boutique advisory talent.
- Mariner Wealth Advisors: Independent, fee-based RIA serving HNW individuals, families, and business owners with investment, estate, retirement, and tax planning. Same target segments and holistic planning value proposition, though at much larger scale.
- Mercer Advisors: Independent, fee-based national RIA focused on HNW individuals and families with comprehensive wealth, estate, and tax planning. Comparable full-service HNW offering, though built primarily via roll-up acquisitions of smaller practices.
- Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Independent, fee-only RIA providing evidence-based financial planning and investment management to HNW households. Closely aligned on independent, fiduciary, fee-only positioning and HNW/affluent target market.
- Hightower Advisors: Independent RIA platform supporting breakaway wirehouse advisors serving HNW clients with wealth management and financial planning. Comparable independent RIA go-to-market and HNW client profile.
- Edelman Financial Engines: Large independent RIA offering fee-based wealth management and financial planning to individuals and families. Comparable in core service mix (investment, retirement, estate planning) though materially larger in scale; both compete for the same HNW advisory client.
- Sequoia Financial Group: Fee-based independent wealth management firm serving HNW individuals and families with comprehensive financial planning. Same service scope and HNW focus; useful as a scale-comparable peer for boutique practices.
Broad incumbents
- First Republic (now part of JPMorgan Private Bank): Private bank serving HNW individuals and families with wealth management, lending, and concierge service — overlapping target client and concierge service positioning. Now operating inside JPMorgan's Private Bank, it represents the institutional incumbent Private Client Group positions against.
- Cetera Financial Group: Independent advisor network and broker-dealer that hosts hundreds of affiliated advisors, including Private Client Group. Cetera provides the technology, custody, and back-office infrastructure the firm runs on, while also hosting many similar boutique HNW practices as direct competitors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Private Client social profiles
Digital presencePrivate Client financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Private Client leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Private Client funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Private Client 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 Private Client
What does Private Client do?
Private Client Group is a fee-based independent financial advisory firm that delivers personalized wealth management through dedicated financial advisors. Its core offering combines financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, estate and legacy planning, insurance and risk management, and business succession advice for high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, pre-retirees, and retirees, supported by the AdviceWorks client portal and Cetera's institutional research and custody infrastructure.
Is Private Client a public or private company?
Private Client is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Private Client founded?
Private Client was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Private Client based?
Private Client is headquartered in Bedminster, United States, in the North America region.
How does Private Client make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Financial Planning Fees (AUM-based) is the primary driver. The others are financial Planning Fees (Fixed), financial Planning Fees (Hourly), wrap Fee Program, third-Party Manager Fees, securities Commissions and insurance Commissions.
Who are Private Client's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Creative Planning, Carson Group, Mariner Wealth Advisors, Mercer Advisors, Buckingham Strategic Wealth, Hightower Advisors, Edelman Financial Engines and Sequoia Financial Group. Broad incumbents are First Republic (now part of JPMorgan Private Bank) and Cetera Financial Group.
Does Private Client have an API?
No public API is recorded for Private Client.
What industry is Private Client in?
Private Client's product category is Wealth Management and Financial Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABADAD, Private Banking Advisory & Discretionary Portfolio Management, with a secondary code of FSAAANAA, Personal & Family Trust Services. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.