SEC-registered independent wealth management RIA
W.A. Smith Financial Group
As of its Form ADV filed September 18, 2026, W.A. Smith Financial Group, an SEC-registered independent wealth management RIA in Sandusky, Ohio, reported $1.2 billion in regulatory assets under management across 7,044 accounts, ranking #47 among independent RIAs in Ohio by assets.
Registration
- Registration
- SEC-registered, Approved
- CRD number
- 146608
- SEC file number
- 801-110042
- Registered since
- February 27, 2017
- Latest Form ADV filing
- September 18, 2026
- Legal name
- GREAT LAKES RETIREMENT, INC.
- Organized as
- Corporation
- Fiscal year ends
- December
- Other offices
- 3
Key figures
- Regulatory assets under management
- $1.2 billion
- Discretionary
- $1.1 billion (93.0%)
- Non-discretionary
- $81.4 million
- Accounts
- 7,044 (5,823 discretionary)
- Clients
- 1,669, approximate as reported
- Employees
- 27
- Advisory staff
- 13 performing investment advisory functions
- Average account
- $165,216
- Asset growth, 1 year
- 20.9% (from $962.6 million a year earlier)
- Asset growth, 3-year annual rate
- 23.0% (from $624.9 million three years earlier)
- Asset growth, 5-year annual rate
- 16.5% (from $541.8 million five years earlier)
- Client growth, 1 year
- 6.2% (from 1,572)
Independent wealth management RIA: individual and high net worth clients hold at least half of its regulatory assets, it offers financial planning or portfolio management for individuals, and it is not a broker-dealer, a bank or part of one by the directory's rules. How firms are classed.
Growth rates come from the SEC's yearly snapshots and are left blank when the years are not comparable.
Rankings
Among independent wealth management RIAs.
| Ranking | Nationally | In Ohio | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largest independent RIAs by assets under management | #1,092 | #47 | $1.2 billion |
| Fastest-growing independent RIAs over one year | #2,181 | #81 | 20.9%from $962.6 million |
| Fastest-growing independent RIAs over three years | #1,132 | #41 | 23.0%from $624.9 million |
| Fastest-growing independent RIAs over five years | #1,001 | #36 | 16.5%from $541.8 million |
| Independent RIAs with the biggest asset gains over one year | #1,062 | #50 | $201.1 million |
| Independent RIAs with the most clients | #521 | #29 | 1,669 |
| Independent RIAs with the fastest client growth over one year | #2,321 | #103 | 6.2%from 1,572 |
| Independent RIAs with the most accounts | #231 | #14 | 7,044 |
| Independent RIAs with the most advisory staff | #786 | #43 | 13 |
| Independent RIAs with the most high net worth clients | #776 | #43 | 336 |
Assets over time
Data table
| As of | RAUM |
|---|---|
| October 2, 2017 | $148.8 million |
| October 1, 2018 | $217.9 million |
| October 1, 2019 | $290.9 million |
| October 1, 2020 | $410.2 million |
| October 4, 2021 | $541.8 million |
| October 3, 2022 | $691.5 million |
| October 5, 2023 | $624.9 million |
| October 1, 2024 | $776.9 million |
| September 2, 2025 | $962.6 million |
| October 2, 2026 | $1.2 billion |
Clients and services
Client mix
| Measure | Bar | RAUM |
|---|---|---|
| High net worth individuals 336 clients | $671.7 million | |
| Individuals (other than high net worth) 1,329 clients | $490.4 million | |
| Pension and profit sharing plans fewer than 5 clients | $1.6 million |
How the firm is paid
- A percentage of assets under management
- Fixed fees
Advisory services
- Financial planning
- Portfolio management for individuals or small businesses
- Pension consulting
- Selection of other advisers
- Educational seminars or workshops
Financial planning clients (Item 5.H): 1-10.
Wrap fee program sponsor or portfolio manager: no.
Other business, affiliations and custody
Other business activities (Item 6.A)
- Insurance broker or agent
Financial industry affiliations (Item 7.A)
- Accountant or accounting firm
- Insurance company or agency
Custody (Item 9)
The firm reported custody of client cash or securities, $27.8 million in total.
Investment adviser representatives
- IARs registered with the firm
- 10
- Also registered through a broker-dealer
- 0
- Employees who are IARs (Form ADV 5.B(3))
- 10
2 of the firm's 10 IARs are registered in jurisdictions that require IAR CE. IAR CE requirements by state.
Counts only. AdvisorIQ does not list individual people.
Disclosures
On Form ADV Item 11 the firm answered yes to 0 disclosure questions. See the detail on IAPD.
Succession and acquired firms
On Form ADV Item 4 the firm did not report succeeding to another adviser's business.
Similar-sized firms in Ohio
| Firm | City | RAUM |
|---|---|---|
| HCM Wealth Advisors | Cincinnati | $1.2 billion |
| Van Cleef Asset Management Inc | Beachwood | $1.2 billion |
| TCP Asset Management, LLC | Upper Arlington | $1.2 billion |
| Frazier Financial Advisors, LLC | Columbus | $1.2 billion |
| Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services, LLC. | Akron | $1.1 billion |
The five independent RIAs nearest in regulatory assets with a main office in the same state.
Elsewhere
- W.A. Smith Financial Group on IAPD: Form ADV, brochures and disclosure detail.
- Firm website: www.wasmithfinancial.com
- Independent RIAs in Ohio
Firm data as of October 2, 2026, from ia100226.zip. Figures are as the firm reported them; corrections are made on Form ADV and appear after the next monthly reload.
Data as of October 2, 2026, from Form ADV. Sources: SEC registered adviser data (ia100226.zip) and IAPD compilation reports. How the directory is built.