Who We Serve
Who We Serve at Virtue Asset Management
At Virtue Asset Management, we have intentionally built a practice focused on serving a specific type of client. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, we provide personalized investment management and financial guidance to families who value disciplined decision-making, thoughtful planning, and advice delivered under a fiduciary standard.
If you are evaluating whether working with a boutique, fee-only fiduciary advisor in the Chicago area makes sense for your situation, this page is designed to help you understand who typically benefits most from our approach—and whether it aligns with your objectives.
The $2 Million Guideline (and Why It’s Flexible)
As a general guideline, many of our clients expect to have approximately $2 million or more at retirement; however, this is not a minimum requirement. In many cases, complexity matters more than portfolio size.
Some families with $1.5 million in assets may have multiple retirement plans, stock compensation, real estate holdings, trust structures, or business interests requiring coordination. Others with larger portfolios may have relatively straightforward needs.
Our focus is whether we can provide meaningful value through coordination, discipline, and ongoing oversight. Factors that often influence fit include:
- Income sources and tax considerations
- Number and type of investment accounts
- Ongoing monitoring and coordination versus investment-only management
- Ongoing planning with regard to long-term goals, short-term needs, and comfort with delegation
If your financial life has reached a point where coordinated oversight would provide clarity and structure, a conversation may help determine whether our approach is appropriate.
A Boutique Approach to Wealth Management
One of the primary differences between boutique wealth management firms and large national institutions is the structure of the client relationship.
At Virtue Asset Management, clients work directly with the principal advisor responsible for their investment strategy and ongoing guidance. This structure allows for continuity, familiarity with your financial situation, and consistent communication over time.
For many families, particularly those who have previously worked with larger firms, this model provides a more personalized experience and a clearer understanding of how decisions are made.
We regularly coordinate with clients’ CPAs, estate planning attorneys, and other professionals to help ensure financial decisions are aligned across disciplines.
What You Can Expect From a Client Relationship
At Virtue Asset Management, client relationships are built around disciplined investment management, tax-aware decision-making, planning support, and structured communication.
Our investment management approach focuses on constructing diversified portfolios aligned with each client’s risk tolerance, time horizon, and long-term objectives. Portfolios are rebalanced periodically with the goal of keeping allocations aligned with established strategies.
Tax awareness is integrated into our process. We consider the tax implications of portfolio decisions, including asset location across account types and withdrawal sequencing for clients in the distribution phase. When appropriate, we coordinate with clients’ CPAs on investment-related tax considerations.
Planning support means we revisit goals as circumstances evolve—whether due to retirement transitions, family considerations, or shifts in financial priorities.
Communication follows a structured schedule. Clients receive quarterly performance reporting, and periodic review meetings are scheduled to discuss goals and address questions.
Services provided vary by client based on individual needs and are outlined in each client’s investment management agreement. Clients are not required to engage in services beyond what is appropriate for their situation.
Working With Children and Family Members of Existing Clients
Because Virtue Asset Management maintains a deliberately smaller client-to-portfolio-manager ratio, we are often able to work with children and close family members of existing clients, even when their asset levels are below our typical guideline. In many families, financial decisions are interconnected across generations. Adult children may be beginning to accumulate assets, navigating employer retirement plans, or making early decisions that can have long-term implications. In other cases, parents want their children or relatives to have access to a trusted advisor who already understands the family’s broader financial picture.
When appropriate, we may work with family members at earlier stages of wealth accumulation in order to provide continuity, education, and coordination across generations. This approach is intended to help keep planning decisions aligned while allowing younger family members to establish sound financial habits early. Our goal is not to impose a minimum threshold, but to maintain a manageable number of client relationships so that each family receives consistent attention and thoughtful guidance over time.
Acceptance as a client is subject to the firm’s discretion and capacity.
A Structured Communication Process
Consistency and communication are important components of long-term investment management. Each quarter, clients receive performance reporting that includes portfolio results alongside relevant benchmark comparisons. These reports are intended to provide context around how portfolios are positioned relative to broader markets and to help clients understand performance within the framework of their long-term investment strategy. Benchmark comparisons are provided for informational purposes only and may not reflect the composition or risk profile of client portfolios.
Following the delivery of quarterly reports, we typically reach out to request a review meeting. These conversations provide an opportunity to revisit goals, discuss changes in circumstances, and address planning considerations that may affect long-term decisions. Meetings may occur in person, by phone, or via video conference depending on client preference. The objective is to help maintain alignment over time rather than only communicating during periods of market volatility or major life events.
In addition to client reporting, we publish a quarterly newsletter that reviews recent market and economic developments and provides commentary on market and economic conditions for informational purposes only. The purpose of this commentary is to help clients better understand the environment in which investment decisions are being made, rather than to make market predictions or recommend short-term changes in strategy.
Together, these touchpoints are designed to keep clients informed, provide ongoing context, and support disciplined decision-making throughout changing market environments.
For Busy Professionals and Business Owners
Many of our clients are professionals or business owners in their peak earning years. They prefer a structured investment process that removes the need for ongoing day-to-day decisions.
Automated contribution and investment processes allow portfolios to remain aligned with established investment strategies without requiring frequent intervention. This is intended to help maintain discipline and reduce the temptation to make short-term decisions based on market movements.
For Retirees and Near-Retirees
We also work with clients transitioning from accumulation to distribution. During retirement, portfolio management often shifts from growth-focused decision-making to income sustainability and tax awareness.
This may include:
- Coordinating withdrawals across account types
- Managing required minimum distributions (RMDs)
- Aligning withdrawals with tax considerations
- Monitoring portfolio sustainability relative to spending needs
Our goal is to help retirees maintain a structured and thoughtful distribution process while coordinating with their broader financial plan.
The Fiduciary, Fee-Only Model
Virtue Asset Management operates as a fee-only registered investment adviser. We do not receive commissions from the sale of financial products.
Our compensation comes solely from advisory fees paid by clients. This structure is designed to align our interests with those of the families we serve and to reduce potential conflicts associated with commission-based compensation models.
Families evaluating financial advisors often find it helpful to understand whether an advisor operates under a fiduciary standard, as not all advisors are held to the same legal obligation.
Virtue Asset Management is registered as an investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Is Virtue Asset Management the Right Fit?
You may be a good fit if you:
- Expect to have approximately $2 million or more at retirement, or have financial complexity that benefits from coordination
- Prefer direct access to the person managing your investment strategy
- Value structured communication and ongoing review
- Appreciate tax-aware investment management
- Are seeking advice delivered under a fiduciary, fee-only model
Virtue Asset Management is intentionally designed to serve a limited number of families in order to maintain a high level of service and responsiveness.
If this approach resonates with you, we welcome a conversation to determine whether working together makes sense.
Disclosure
This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Advisory services are offered through Virtue Asset Management, a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Past performance is not indicative of future results.