SEC-registered independent wealth management RIA
Whale
As of its Form ADV filed September 30, 2026, Whale, an SEC-registered independent wealth management RIA in Chicago, Illinois, reported $2.5 million in regulatory assets under management across 3,006 accounts, ranking #668 among independent RIAs in Illinois by assets.
Registration
- Registration
- SEC-registered, Approved
- CRD number
- 330063
- SEC file number
- 801-130339
- Registered since
- May 24, 2024
- Latest Form ADV filing
- September 30, 2026
- Legal name
- BUILD WHALE, INC.
- Organized as
- Corporation
- Fiscal year ends
- December
- Other offices
- 0
Key figures
- Regulatory assets under management
- $2.5 million
- Discretionary
- $2.5 million (100.0%)
- Non-discretionary
- $0
- Accounts
- 3,006 (3,006 discretionary)
- Clients
- 3,006, approximate as reported
- Employees
- 7
- Advisory staff
- 2 performing investment advisory functions
- Average account
- $842
- Asset growth, 1 year
- 903.4% (from $252,394 a year earlier)
- Asset growth, 3-year annual rate
- Not reported
- Asset growth, 5-year annual rate
- Not reported
- Client growth, 1 year
- 1195.7% (from 232)
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 Illinois | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largest independent RIAs by assets under management | #17,800 | #668 | $2.5 million |
| Independent RIAs with the biggest asset gains over one year | #6,684 | #257 | $2.3 million |
| Independent RIAs with the most clients | #289 | #13 | 3,006 |
| Independent RIAs with the most accounts | #685 | #33 | 3,006 |
| Independent RIAs with the most advisory staff | #6,488 | #262 | 2 |
Assets over time
Data table
| As of | RAUM |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2024 | $229,407 |
| September 2, 2025 | $252,394 |
| October 2, 2026 | $2.5 million |
Clients and services
Client mix
| Measure | Bar | RAUM |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than high net worth) 3,006 clients | $2.5 million |
How the firm is paid
- A percentage of assets under management
- Fixed fees
Advisory services
- Portfolio management for individuals or small businesses
Financial planning clients (Item 5.H): 0.
Wrap fee program sponsor or portfolio manager: no.
Other business, affiliations and custody
Other business activities (Item 6.A)
None reported.
Financial industry affiliations (Item 7.A)
None reported.
Custody (Item 9)
The firm reported custody of client cash or securities, $252,934 in total.
Investment adviser representatives
- IARs registered with the firm
- 0
- Also registered through a broker-dealer
- 0
- Employees who are IARs (Form ADV 5.B(3))
- 1
IAR registrations by jurisdiction are not available for this firm. 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 Illinois
| Firm | City | RAUM |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit Financial Planning and Investments | Champaign | $2.7 million |
| Salt Creek Hills Money, Ltd. | Springfield | $2.7 million |
| P.A. Berg Retirement Solutions | River Forest | $2.4 million |
| Obar Wealth Management LLC | Lake Forest | $2.3 million |
| Dream Weaver Financial Planning LLC | Richmond | $2.3 million |
The five independent RIAs nearest in regulatory assets with a main office in the same state.
Elsewhere
- Whale on IAPD: Form ADV, brochures and disclosure detail.
- Firm website: www.getwhale.co
- Independent RIAs in Illinois
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.