{
  "crd_number": 146608,
  "slug": "w-a-smith-financial-group-sandusky-oh-146608",
  "primary_business_name": "W.A. SMITH FINANCIAL GROUP",
  "legal_name": "GREAT LAKES RETIREMENT, INC.",
  "dbas": [
    "W.A. SMITH FINANCIAL GROUP"
  ],
  "city": "Sandusky",
  "state": "OH",
  "country": "United States",
  "cbsa_code": "41780",
  "metro": {
    "cbsa_code": "41780",
    "common_name": "Sandusky",
    "msa_name": "Sandusky, OH",
    "path": "/advisors/oh/sandusky"
  },
  "registration_type": "sec",
  "registration_status": "Approved",
  "registration_date": "2017-02-27",
  "years_registered": 9,
  "period": "2026-10-01",
  "filing_date": "2026-09-18",
  "carried_forward": false,
  "raum_total": 1163783212.0,
  "raum_discretionary": 1082391612.0,
  "raum_non_discretionary": 81391600.0,
  "raum_band": "1b_5b",
  "raum_band_label": "$1 billion to $5 billion",
  "total_employees": 27,
  "advisory_employees": 13,
  "client_count_bucket": "fewer_than_5_in_some_types",
  "clients_by_type": {
    "individuals": {
      "raum": 490418628.0,
      "count": 1329
    },
    "pension_profit_sharing": {
      "raum": 1643034.0,
      "count": 4,
      "fewer_than_5": true
    },
    "high_net_worth_individuals": {
      "raum": 671721550.0,
      "count": 336
    }
  },
  "compensation_types": [
    "fixed",
    "percentage_of_aum"
  ],
  "advisory_activities": [
    "educational_seminars",
    "financial_planning",
    "pension_consulting",
    "portfolio_management_individuals",
    "selection_of_other_advisers"
  ],
  "wrap_fee_participant": false,
  "disclosure_yes_count": 0,
  "states_registered": [
    "AZ",
    "CA",
    "FL",
    "MI",
    "NC",
    "OH",
    "SC",
    "TN",
    "TX"
  ],
  "websites": [
    "https://facebook.com/wasmithfingroup",
    "https://instagram.com/was smith financial",
    "https://linkedin.com/company/wa-smith.financial-group",
    "https://tiktok.com/@wasmithfingroup",
    "https://twitter.com/wasmithfingroup",
    "https://wasmithfinancial.com",
    "https://youtube.com/@WASmith Financial"
  ],
  "iapd_url": "https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/146608",
  "city_as_filed": "SANDUSKY",
  "url": "https://advisorcensus.com/firm/w-a-smith-financial-group-sandusky-oh-146608",
  "display_name": "W.A. Smith Financial Group",
  "summary": "W.A. Smith Financial Group is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm in Sandusky, OH, registered since 2017, reporting $1 billion to $5 billion in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated September 18, 2026.",
  "citation": "AdvisorCensus. W.A. Smith Financial Group (CRD 146608): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.",
  "registration_type_label": "SEC-registered investment adviser",
  "compensation_labels": [
    "A percentage of assets under your management",
    "Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)"
  ],
  "advisory_activity_labels": [
    "Financial planning services",
    "Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses",
    "Pension consulting services",
    "Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)",
    "Educational seminars/workshops"
  ],
  "quick_answers": [
    {
      "q": "How is W.A. Smith Financial Group compensated?",
      "a": "On its Form ADV (Item 5.E, October 2026), W.A. Smith Financial Group reports these compensation arrangements: a percentage of assets under its management; fixed fees (other than subscription fees)."
    },
    {
      "q": "Where is W.A. Smith Financial Group located?",
      "a": "W.A. Smith Financial Group's principal office is in Sandusky, OH, according to its Form ADV; the October 2026 filing also lists 3 other offices (Schedule D, Section 1.F)."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is W.A. Smith Financial Group registered with the SEC or a state?",
      "a": "W.A. Smith Financial Group is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 2017. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 146608."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much does W.A. Smith Financial Group manage?",
      "a": "W.A. Smith Financial Group reports $1,163,783,212 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated September 18, 2026 (93% discretionary)."
    },
    {
      "q": "How have W.A. Smith Financial Group's assets and staff changed since 2021?",
      "a": "In the Form ADV data for W.A. Smith Financial Group: Regulatory assets under management: $541,770,025 in the October 2021 data and $1,163,783,212 in the October 2026 data, up 115%. Total employees: 7 in October 2021 and 27 in October 2026. Assets under management move with markets as well as with clients coming and going."
    },
    {
      "q": "What types of clients does W.A. Smith Financial Group serve?",
      "a": "By number of clients on Form ADV Item 5.D: individuals (other than high net worth individuals) (1,329); high net worth individuals (336); pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans) (4)."
    },
    {
      "q": "Which custodians does W.A. Smith Financial Group use?",
      "a": "W.A. Smith Financial Group's most recent Form ADV filing (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)) lists Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC as a custodian holding 10% or more of its separately managed account assets."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does W.A. Smith Financial Group report any disciplinary disclosures?",
      "a": "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/146608"
    },
    {
      "q": "Does W.A. Smith Financial Group state an account minimum?",
      "a": "Its Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 31, 2026 says: \"There is an account minimum, $250,000, which may be waived based on the needs of the client and the complexity of the situation.\""
    },
    {
      "q": "What changed in W.A. Smith Financial Group's recent Form ADV filings?",
      "a": "In the April 2026 filing data: Employees performing advisory functions went from 12 to 13. Regulatory assets under management went from $962,640,394 to $1,163,783,212 (+21%)."
    }
  ],
  "filing_history": [
    {
      "period": "2021-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 541770025.0,
      "total_employees": 7,
      "filing_date": "2021-03-30"
    },
    {
      "period": "2022-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 691513930.0,
      "total_employees": 10,
      "filing_date": "2022-03-10"
    },
    {
      "period": "2023-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 624937836.0,
      "total_employees": 10,
      "filing_date": "2023-02-22"
    },
    {
      "period": "2024-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 776914104.0,
      "total_employees": 13,
      "filing_date": "2024-09-10"
    },
    {
      "period": "2025-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 962640394.0,
      "total_employees": 25,
      "filing_date": "2025-03-25"
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 1163783212.0,
      "total_employees": 27,
      "filing_date": "2026-09-18"
    }
  ],
  "recent_changes": [
    {
      "period": "2026-04-01",
      "period_label": "April 2026",
      "notes": [
        "Employees performing advisory functions went from 12 to 13.",
        "Regulatory assets under management went from $962,640,394 to $1,163,783,212 (+21%)."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "fees_from_brochure": {
    "source": "Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 31, 2026",
    "tiers": [],
    "flat_rate": null,
    "stated_range": null,
    "stated_maximum": null,
    "account_minimum": "$250,000",
    "account_minimum_may_be_waived": true,
    "minimum_annual_fee": null,
    "figures": [
      {
        "label": "Account minimum",
        "statements": [
          "Account minimum: $250,000 (the brochure says it may be waived or negotiated)"
        ],
        "quotes": [
          "There is an account minimum, $250,000, which may be waived based on the needs of the client and the complexity of the situation."
        ]
      }
    ],
    "quotes": [
      "There is an account minimum, $250,000, which may be waived based on the needs of the client and the complexity of the situation."
    ],
    "note": "As stated in the firm's brochure; fees can differ by service and may be negotiable."
  },
  "custodians": [
    {
      "name": "Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC",
      "name_as_filed": "FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC",
      "affiliated": false
    }
  ],
  "custodians_note": "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.",
  "markdown_url": "https://advisorcensus.com/firm/w-a-smith-financial-group-sandusky-oh-146608.md",
  "clients": [
    {
      "type": "individuals",
      "label": "Individuals (other than high net worth individuals)",
      "count": 1329,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 490418628.0
    },
    {
      "type": "high_net_worth_individuals",
      "label": "High net worth individuals",
      "count": 336,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 671721550.0
    },
    {
      "type": "pension_profit_sharing",
      "label": "Pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans)",
      "count": 4,
      "fewer_than_5": true,
      "raum": 1643034.0
    }
  ],
  "disclosure_line": "Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.",
  "disclosure_items": [],
  "indexable": true,
  "suppressed": false,
  "claimed": false,
  "enhanced": false,
  "provided_by_the_firm": null,
  "source": {
    "name": "Form ADV",
    "as_of": "2026-10-01",
    "iapd_url": "https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/146608",
    "operator": "BH Monitor Services, LLC",
    "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "credit": "AdvisorCensus (advisorcensus.com), from SEC Form ADV data"
  }
}