AdvisorCensus / Financial advisors / California / San Diego / Ward & Associates
Ward & Associates is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm in San Diego, CA, registered since 1998, reporting $100 million to $500 million in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated June 23, 2026.
Quick answers
From the filingHow is Ward & Associates compensated?
On its Form ADV (Item 5.E, October 2026), Ward & Associates reports these compensation arrangements: a percentage of assets under its management; hourly charges.
What does Ward & Associates' brochure say about its fees?
Its Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 31, 2026 states: Up to $1,000,000: 1% a year; $1,000,000 to $4,000,000: 0.75% a year; $4,000,000 to $5,000,000: 0.5% a year; $5,000,000 to $10,000,000: 0.35% a year; Above $10,000,000: see the brochure. Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable; the brochure is the complete statement.
Where is Ward & Associates located?
Ward & Associates' principal office is in San Diego, CA, according to its Form ADV.
Is Ward & Associates registered with the SEC or a state?
Ward & Associates is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 1998. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 107878.
How much does Ward & Associates manage?
Ward & Associates reports $187,200,000 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated June 23, 2026 (94% discretionary).
How have Ward & Associates' assets and staff changed since 2021?
In the Form ADV data for Ward & Associates: Regulatory assets under management: $212,774,926 in the October 2021 data and $187,200,000 in the October 2026 data, down 12%. Total employees: 3 in October 2021 and 2 in October 2026. Assets under management move with markets as well as with clients coming and going.
What types of clients does Ward & Associates serve?
By number of clients on Form ADV Item 5.D: high net worth individuals (40); individuals (other than high net worth individuals) (9); charitable organizations (3).
Does Ward & Associates 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/107878
Does Ward & Associates state an account minimum?
Its Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 31, 2026 says: "We require accounts to be opened with a minimum asset value of $1,000,000. We may waive the minimum, at our sole discretion."
What changed in Ward & Associates' recent Form ADV filings?
In the July 2026 filing data: Registered or notice-filed in TX.
From the Form ADV filing
Every figure below is as the firm filed it with regulators, as of October 2026.
How the firm is compensated
Item 5.E- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
Item 5.E lists how the firm is compensated for its advice; Items 5.B, 6.A, and 7.A show whether its people or related companies can also earn commissions. Percentage of assets, fixed, hourly, subscription, and performance-based fees come from clients (a performance-based fee depends on investment results); commissions come with a sale or a trade, often from the company behind the product. How fees, commissions, and other arrangements differ
Fees and minimums
Form ADV Part 2A| Assets | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $1,000,000 | 1% |
| $1,000,000 to $4,000,000 | 0.75% |
| $4,000,000 to $5,000,000 | 0.5% |
| $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 | 0.35% |
| Above $10,000,000 | See the brochure |
The brochure's wording
Our firm typically receives compensation for investment advisory services based on a percentage of account assets under management as outlined in the “Basic Fee Schedule” shown below. Basic Fee Schedule: Amount of Assets Annual Fee Percentage
On the first $1,000,000 1.00% $1,000,000 - $$4,000,000 0.75% $4,000,000 - $5,000,000 0.50% $5,000,000 - $10,000,000 0.35%
Account minimum: $1,000,000 (the brochure says it may be waived or negotiated)
The brochure's wording
We require accounts to be opened with a minimum asset value of $1,000,000. We may waive the minimum, at our sole discretion.
As stated in the firm's Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 31, 2026. Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable; the brochure is the complete statement. Read the brochure on the SEC's IAPD site
Regulatory assets under management
Item 5.F$187,200,000 as of October 2026, filing dated June 23, 2026.
A measure of scale, not skill or returns. Discretionary means the firm decides trades; non-discretionary means clients approve each one. What assets under management means
Who the firm serves
Item 5.DA firm with no individual clients is an institutional manager even if it manages billions; the mix tells you whom the practice is built around.
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
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
Registration and firm details
Items 1, 2, 5- Registration
- SEC-registered investment adviser. Status as filed: Approved.
- Registered since
- 1998 (27 years)
- Employees
- Total: 2. Performing investment advisory functions: 2.
- Wrap fee program participation
- No.
- States registered or notice-filed
-
3 states or jurisdictions
SEC-registered investment advisers are examined by the SEC. SEC, state, and exempt registration
Disclosures
Item 11None Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11. View on IAPD.
Item 11 asks about criminal, regulatory, and civil events involving the firm and its advisory personnel. The detail of each yes answer is on the IAPD record. Reading a firm's disclosures
Assets and staff over time
Items 5.A, 5.F| Data period | Assets under management | Employees | Filing dated |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | $187,200,000 | 2 | June 23, 2026 |
| October 2025 | $191,335,879 | 2 | March 31, 2025 |
| October 2024 | $179,640,917 | 2 | March 29, 2024 |
| October 2023 | $170,818,987 | 3 | March 31, 2023 |
| October 2022 | $233,758,000 | 3 | March 31, 2022 |
| October 2021 | $212,774,926 | 3 | March 30, 2021 |
Regulatory assets under management: $212,774,926 in the October 2021 data and $187,200,000 in the October 2026 data, down 12%.
Total employees: 3 in October 2021 and 2 in October 2026.
As filed in each year's data for the same month. Assets under management move with markets as well as with clients coming and going; they measure scale, not skill or returns. Most firms update these figures once a year.
Changes in the filing
Last 12 months- July 2026
- Registered or notice-filed in TX.
Compared month to month from the SEC's monthly adviser data and the state compilation feed. Owners and control persons are summarized, never named.
Websites listed on Form ADV
Item 1.ISource: Form ADV, as of October 2026. Values appear as filed; a value the firm did not report is shown as "Not reported."
Cite this page
AdvisorCensus. Ward & Associates (CRD 107878): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026. https://advisorcensus.com/firm/ward-and-associates-san-diego-ca-107878