# The Ascent Group, LLC

> The Ascent Group, LLC is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm in Virginia Beach, VA, registered since 2021, reporting $1 billion to $5 billion in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated March 30, 2026.

- CRD: 314424
- Filed as: THE ASCENT GROUP, LLC
- Also doing business as: ACITO & PAOLINI, ALERA GROUP RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES, ALERA GROUP WEALTH SERVICES, FINWELL CONNECT, ONE STOP FINANCIAL SERVICES, SUMMIT GROUP 401K CONSULTING, SUMMIT GROUP OF VIRGINIA, VESTED ADVISORS, WALSH & NICHOLSON
- Registration: SEC-registered investment adviser (status as filed: Approved)
- Location: Virginia Beach, VA
- Filing period: October 2026
- Form ADV filing dated: March 30, 2026
- SEC record (IAPD): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/314424
- AdvisorCensus page: https://advisorcensus.com/firm/the-ascent-group-llc-virginia-beach-va-314424

## Quick answers

**How is The Ascent Group, LLC compensated?**
On its Form ADV (Item 5.E, October 2026), The Ascent Group, LLC reports these compensation arrangements: a percentage of assets under its management; hourly charges; fixed fees (other than subscription fees).

**How much does The Ascent Group, LLC charge?**
Its Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 30, 2026 states: Flat fee: $250 to $25,000 (financial planning and consulting services under a stand-alone engagement). Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable; the brochure is the complete statement.

**Where is The Ascent Group, LLC located?**
The Ascent Group, LLC's principal office is in Virginia Beach, VA, according to its Form ADV; the April 2026 filing also lists 4 other offices (Schedule D, Section 1.F).

**Is The Ascent Group, LLC registered with the SEC or a state?**
The Ascent Group, LLC is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 2021. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 314424.

**How much does The Ascent Group, LLC manage?**
The Ascent Group, LLC reports $4,760,597,948 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated March 30, 2026 (100% discretionary).

**How have The Ascent Group, LLC's assets and staff changed since 2021?**
In the Form ADV data for The Ascent Group, LLC: Regulatory assets under management: $2,246,908,290 in the October 2021 data and $4,760,597,948 in the October 2026 data, up 112%. Total employees: 27 in October 2021 and 44 in October 2026. Assets under management move with markets as well as with clients coming and going.

**What types of clients does The Ascent Group, LLC serve?**
By number of clients on Form ADV Item 5.D: individuals (other than high net worth individuals) (3,303); high net worth individuals (874); pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans) (65).

**Which custodians does The Ascent Group, LLC use?**
The Ascent Group, LLC's most recent Form ADV filing (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)) lists Assetmark Trust, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC as custodians holding 10% or more of its separately managed account assets.

**Does The Ascent Group, LLC report any disciplinary disclosures?**
Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11. The detail of any item is on the firm's SEC record: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/314424

**What changed in The Ascent Group, LLC's recent Form ADV filings?**
In the April 2026 filing data: Added the business name One Stop Financial Services. Added the business name Vested Advisors. Added the business name Finwell Connect. Added the business name Acito & Paolini. Employees performing advisory functions went from 4 to 19. Added an office in Landsdale, PA. No longer lists an office in Wayne, PA. Registered or notice-filed in AZ, CO, LA, MI.

## From the Form ADV filing

### Compensation (Item 5.E)
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)

### Fees and minimums (Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 30, 2026)

- Flat fee: $250 to $25,000 (financial planning and consulting services under a stand-alone engagement)

> These fees are negotiable but range from $250 to $25,000 on a fixed fee basis and/or from $150 to $500 on an hourly basis, depending upon the scope and complexity of the services

As stated in the firm's brochure. Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable.

### Custodians (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3))
- Assetmark Trust
- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
- Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC

Custodians holding 10% or more of the firm's separately managed account assets, as filed on Form ADV (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)). A custodian holds client assets; it does not endorse or supervise the firm. AdvisorCensus has no relationship with any custodian.

### Regulatory assets under management (Item 5.F)
- Total: $4,760,597,948
- Discretionary: $4,750,688,012
- Non-discretionary: $9,909,936

### Clients (Item 5.D)

| Client type | Clients | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individuals (other than high net worth individuals) | 3,303 | $943,771,382 |
| High net worth individuals | 874 | $2,593,657,703 |
| Banking or thrift institutions | 0 | $0 |
| Investment companies | 0 | $0 |
| Business development companies | 0 | $0 |
| Pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies and business development companies) | 0 | $0 |
| Pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans) | 65 | $933,097,697 |
| Charitable organizations | 16 | $115,323,751 |
| State or municipal government entities (including government pension plans) | 0 | $0 |
| Other investment advisers | 0 | $0 |
| Insurance companies | 0 | $0 |
| Sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions | 0 | $0 |
| Corporations or other businesses not listed above | 34 | $174,747,415 |
| Other | 0 | $0 |

### Advisory services (Item 5.G)
- Financial planning services
- Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses
- Portfolio management for businesses (other than small businesses) or institutional clients
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
- Educational seminars/workshops

### Firm details
- Registered since: 2021 (5 years)
- Employees: 44 total, 19 performing advisory functions
- Wrap fee program participation: No
- States registered or notice-filed: AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
- Disclosures (Item 11): Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.

### Other offices (Schedule D, Section 1.F), as of the April 2026 filing
- Haddonfield, NJ
- Hilton Head, SC
- Landsdale, PA
- Wayne, PA

### Websites listed on Form ADV (Item 1.I)
- aleragroup.com/retirement-plan-services
- aleragroup.com/wealth-services
- summitfinwell.com
- summitgroup401k.com
- summitgroupva.com
- tagwm.com
- venrollment.com/v/alera-group-retirement-and-employee-benefits
- wnfg.com

## Assets and staff over time

| Data period | Regulatory assets under management | Employees | Filing dated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| October 2021 | $2,246,908,290 | 27 | August 31, 2021 |
| October 2022 | $2,515,790,834 | 30 | March 30, 2022 |
| October 2023 | $2,526,906,387 | 30 | August 22, 2023 |
| October 2024 | $2,880,025,369 | 23 | August 26, 2024 |
| October 2025 | $4,933,296,606 | 25 | June 30, 2025 |
| October 2026 | $4,760,597,948 | 44 | March 30, 2026 |

Regulatory assets under management: $2,246,908,290 in the October 2021 data and $4,760,597,948 in the October 2026 data, up 112%.
Total employees: 27 in October 2021 and 44 in October 2026.

## Changes in the filing (last 12 months)

### April 2026
- Added the business name One Stop Financial Services.
- Added the business name Vested Advisors.
- Added the business name Finwell Connect.
- Added the business name Acito & Paolini.
- Employees performing advisory functions went from 4 to 19.
- Added an office in Landsdale, PA.
- No longer lists an office in Wayne, PA.
- Registered or notice-filed in AZ, CO, LA, MI.

### December 2025
- Updated its list of owners and control persons (Schedule A).

## Source

Form ADV as filed, October 2026. Values appear as filed. Cite as: AdvisorCensus. The Ascent Group, LLC (CRD 314424): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.