Do I need a financial advisor if I own a business?

Not always. It usually matters once the business is most of your net worth, because entity structure, retirement plans, taxes, and the eventual sale then depend on each other. An advisor's job is to make those decisions fit together.

How much does a financial advisor in St. Louis cost?

One advisory fee based on the assets we manage: 1.00% a year on the first $1 million, with lower rates on the portions above it, billed quarterly. For example, $1 million under management costs $10,000 a year, about $2,500 a quarter. The full schedule is on our Work With Us page.

Where is my money held?

At Charles Schwab, in accounts in your name. Belmont manages them under your authorization, and you see every holding and transaction on Schwab's statements.

Is Belmont a fiduciary?

Yes. Belmont Private Wealth is an investment adviser registered with the SEC, which means we are legally required to put your interests ahead of our own.

Do you help with business succession planning in Missouri?

Yes. Succession planning decides who owns and runs the company next and how you get paid, whether that’s a sale, a transfer to family or employees, or a slow wind-down. We build it into your plan with your CPA and attorney. See business exit planning.

BELMONTPRIVATE WEALTH

Belmont Private Wealth · Chesterfield, Missouri

FEE-ONLY FINANCIAL ADVISORS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND LEGACY FAMILIES IN ST. LOUIS.

Belmont is a 100% independent, SEC-registered fiduciary founded and run by James Pieper, CFP®, and John Rhodes, CFP®, ChSNC®. We build one plan that covers your business, investments, taxes, and estate, then manage it with you year after year.

Schedule a conversation How we work and what it costs

We serve

owners whose company is most of their net worthfamilies passing wealth to the next generationowners selling in the next 5 yearspeople inheriting wealth

SEC-registered fiduciary
Fee-only
100% Independent, no Private Equity
Assets held at Charles Schwab
St. Louis, MO

Who we serve

A small firm for two kinds of clients

We work with a limited number of households, most of them owners of private businesses or families with wealth they are looking to pass on. Both share the same reality: many moving parts and the responsibility of managing how they fit together.

Business owners

Your company is probably your largest asset and your biggest tax question. We plan around it: cash flow, entity structure, retirement plans, succession, or a potential sale.

FAMILIES PASSING WEALTH TO FUTURE GENERATIONS

Whether its meant for children, grandchildren, or organizations, we coordinate the estate plan, gifting, trusts, taxes. Most importantly, we guide the conversations that make those transfers work.

One plan. Six services. One fee.

Six things, done together

Financial planning
A written plan you can understand: cash flow, taxes, insurance, investments, estate.
Investment management
Portfolios built for your plan, held at Charles Schwab in your name, managed by Belmont.
Tax planning
Reducing unnecessary taxes both now and in the future. We talk directly with your CPA.
Estate and legacy
Titling, beneficiaries, trusts and gifting, coordinated with your attorney.
Business exit
Valuation, deal structure, taxes on the sale, and life afterward.
Retirement
When can you retire, how much do you need, and how to turn it into income.

One advisory fee based on the assets we manage covers all six. No commissions, no products, no hourly bills. The schedule is on Work With Us.

James Pieper, Founder and Managing Partner of Belmont Private Wealth — **James Pieper, CFP®**Founder & Managing Partner

John Rhodes, Founder and Managing Partner of Belmont Private Wealth — **John Rhodes, CFP®, ChSNC®**Founder & Managing Partner

Built small on purpose

We stop at 100 households. On purpose.

We’ve each worked inside practices managing billions. At that scale, the partners can’t know every client. We built Belmont to be the opposite by capping our practice at 100 households. Every one of our clients works directly with an owner, James or John, never a junior advisor.

Fee-only

No commissions or product sales. One advisory fee, disclosed up front.

One plan

Business, investments, taxes, estate, and insurance in a single plan, so each decision incorporates the others.

Your money stays yours

Accounts are held at Charles Schwab in your name. You can see every transaction on Schwab’s statements.

How it works

Five steps, at your pace

1
First conversation
A no-obligation meeting, in person or by video, to hear what's going on and say plainly whether we're a fit.
2
INTIAL REVIEW
We gather statements, tax returns, entity and estate documents, and ask a lot of questions.
3
Your plan
A written plan in plain English, with specific recommendations and the numbers behind them.
4
Implementation
We open accounts at Charles Schwab, build the portfolio, and coordinate with your CPA and attorney.
5
Ongoing
Regular reviews, tax-season coordination, and a plan that updates as your business and family change.

Common questions

What people in St. Louis ask us

Is Belmont a fiduciary?: Yes, we are a fiduciary. Belmont Private Wealth is an investment adviser registered with the SEC, which means we are legally required to put your interests ahead of our own.
How much does a financial advisor in St. Louis cost?: One advisory fee based on the assets we manage: 1.00% a year on the first $1 million, with lower rates on the portions above it, billed quarterly. For example, $1 million under management costs $10,000 a year, about $2,500 a quarter. The full schedule is on our Work With Us page.
Where is my money held?: At Charles Schwab, in accounts in your name. Belmont manages them under your authorization, and you see every investment and transaction on Schwab's statements.
Do I need a financial advisor if I own a business?: Not always. It usually matters once the business is most of your net worth, because entity structure, retirement plans, taxes, and the eventual sale then depend on each other. An advisor's job is to make those decisions fit together.
Do you help with business succession planning in Missouri?: Yes. Succession planning decides who owns and runs the company next and how you are paid, whether that’s a sale, a transfer to family or employees, or a slow wind-down. We build it into your plan with your CPA and attorney. See business exit planning.

Next step

Start with a conversation

Tell us about your business or your family. We'll tell you plainly whether we can help, and what it would cost.

Speak with a founder

Thirty minutes with a founder. No homework.

Quarterly Recap

Get the Quarterly Recap

Our quarterly market update, in plain English. No sales pitch.