# W.A. Smith Financial Group

> 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.

- CRD: 146608
- Filed as: W.A. SMITH FINANCIAL GROUP
- Legal name: Great Lakes Retirement, Inc.
- Also doing business as: W.A. SMITH FINANCIAL GROUP
- Registration: SEC-registered investment adviser (status as filed: Approved)
- Location: Sandusky, OH
- Filing period: October 2026
- Form ADV filing dated: September 18, 2026
- SEC record (IAPD): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/146608
- AdvisorCensus page: https://advisorcensus.com/firm/w-a-smith-financial-group-sandusky-oh-146608

## Quick answers

**How is W.A. Smith Financial Group compensated?**
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).

**Where is W.A. Smith Financial Group located?**
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).

**Is W.A. Smith Financial Group registered with the SEC or a state?**
W.A. Smith Financial Group is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 2017. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 146608.

**How much does W.A. Smith Financial Group manage?**
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).

**How have W.A. Smith Financial Group's assets and staff changed since 2021?**
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.

**What types of clients does W.A. Smith Financial Group serve?**
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).

**Which custodians does W.A. Smith Financial Group use?**
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.

**Does W.A. Smith Financial Group 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/146608

**Does W.A. Smith Financial Group state an account minimum?**
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."

**What changed in W.A. Smith Financial Group's recent Form ADV filings?**
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%).

## From the Form ADV filing

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

### Fees and minimums (Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 31, 2026)

- Account minimum: $250,000 (the brochure says it may be waived or negotiated)

> There is an account minimum, $250,000, which may be waived based on the needs of the client and the complexity of the situation.

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

### Custodians (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3))
- 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: $1,163,783,212
- Discretionary: $1,082,391,612
- Non-discretionary: $81,391,600

### Clients (Item 5.D)

| Client type | Clients | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individuals (other than high net worth individuals) | 1,329 | $490,418,628 |
| High net worth individuals | 336 | $671,721,550 |
| Pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans) | 4 | $1,643,034 |

### Advisory services (Item 5.G)
- 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

### Firm details
- Registered since: 2017 (9 years)
- Employees: 27 total, 13 performing advisory functions
- Wrap fee program participation: No
- States registered or notice-filed: AZ, CA, FL, MI, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX
- Disclosures (Item 11): Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.

### Other offices (Schedule D, Section 1.F), as of the October 2026 filing
- Independence, OH
- Sarasota, FL
- Sheffield Village, OH

### Websites listed on Form ADV (Item 1.I)
- [wasmithfinancial.com](https://wasmithfinancial.com)
- Facebook @wasmithfingroup
- Instagram @was smith financial
- LinkedIn @wa-smith.financial-group
- TikTok @wasmithfingroup
- X @wasmithfingroup
- YouTube @WASmith Financial

## Assets and staff over time

| Data period | Regulatory assets under management | Employees | Filing dated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| October 2021 | $541,770,025 | 7 | March 30, 2021 |
| October 2022 | $691,513,930 | 10 | March 10, 2022 |
| October 2023 | $624,937,836 | 10 | February 22, 2023 |
| October 2024 | $776,914,104 | 13 | September 10, 2024 |
| October 2025 | $962,640,394 | 25 | March 25, 2025 |
| October 2026 | $1,163,783,212 | 27 | September 18, 2026 |

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.

## Changes in the filing (last 12 months)

### April 2026
- Employees performing advisory functions went from 12 to 13.
- Regulatory assets under management went from $962,640,394 to $1,163,783,212 (+21%).

## Source

Form ADV as filed, October 2026. Values appear as filed. Cite as: AdvisorCensus. W.A. Smith Financial Group (CRD 146608): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.