A Smarter Way to Invest provides portfolio management for individuals and small businesses and portfolio management for institutions.
A Smarter Way to Invest lists other investment advisers as clients. Of its assets, 100.0% ($150M across 837 accounts) are managed with discretion. A wrap fee program the firm both sponsors and manages holds $91.4M.
Share breakdown unavailable
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Other investment advisers | Fewer than 5 | 100% |
Client shares use reported counts. Client types without a reported count are excluded from that total.
Client shares are unavailable because no positive client counts were reported.
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other investment advisers | Fewer than 5 | $150M | 100.0% | — |
| Total | Not reported | $150M | 100% | — |
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $150M
- AUM share
- 100.0%
- Avg. per client
- —
Total
- Clients
- Not reported
- Regulatory AUM
- $150M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 0
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 0
A Smarter Way to Invest is paid through a percentage of assets under management and other compensation; its fees and minimums are set out in its brochures on the SEC website.
Ronald Briggs owns 75% or more of A Smarter Way to Invest. The leadership team of A Smarter Way to Invest includes President Maxwell Carlson and Chief Investment Officer Ronald Briggs. It has 7 employees, 4 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
- Maxwell CarlsonVice President & SR. Portfolio Manager
- Ronald BriggsFounder & Chief Investment Officer & CCO
- Nathan MeyerDirector of Compliance & Operations
Investment adviser representatives
5 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
- Ronald John Briggs JR
- Ronald John Briggs III
- Maxwell E Carlson
- Jacob Kasperski
- Nathan Daniel Meyer
Staff
- 7 employees
- 4 in advisory functions
- 5 state-registered reps
- 5 insurance agents
- Owns 75% or more of A Smarter Way to Invest, Inc.
Ronald Briggs
Control person · since November 2012
A Smarter Way to Invest’s regulatory assets grew 2.5× from $60.5M (March 2021) to $150M (March 2026); clients fell from 308 to 0 and employees rose from 1 to 7.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | $150M | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| March 2025 | $112M | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| April 2024 | $84.8M | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| March 2023 | $75.2M | 417 | 2 | 2 |
| March 2022 | $92.6M | 313 | 2 | 2 |
| March 2021 | $60.5M | 308 | 1 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, A Smarter Way to Invest has 2 offices (2 private residences, listed without an address), with 1 listed address in Michigan.
Michigan · 1 listed address
- 1024 E. Grand River Ave, Suite B, BrightonHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- A Smarter Way to Invest, Inc.
- Headquarters
- 1024 E. Grand River Ave, Suite B, Brighton, MI 48116
- Website
- asmarterwaytoinvest.com
- Phone
- 810-588-6178
- SEC file
- 801-110895
- Structure
- Michigan corporation
- Fiscal year end
- December
A Smarter Way to Invest uses Charles Schwab ($150M) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. A Smarter Way to Invest does not have custody of client assets.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · Westlake, TX · $150M100%
At year end, A Smarter Way to Invest’s separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (52%) and stocks (45%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks45%
- Exchange-traded equities44%
- Non-exchange-traded equities1%
- Funds52%
- Cash3%
What services does A Smarter Way to Invest offer?
A Smarter Way to Invest provides portfolio management for individuals and small businesses and portfolio management for institutions.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Which custodians does A Smarter Way to Invest use?
A Smarter Way to Invest’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Westlake, TX), with $150M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 17 March 2026
How many financial advisors does A Smarter Way to Invest have?
A Smarter Way to Invest has 5 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 7 employees, and 4 perform investment advisory functions. 0 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 5 employees are licensed insurance agents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
What does A Smarter Way to Invest invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, A Smarter Way to Invest’s separately managed accounts held 52% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 44% exchange-traded equities, 3% cash and equivalents and 1% non-exchange-traded equities.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns A Smarter Way to Invest?
A Smarter Way to Invest’s direct owner is Ronald Briggs (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 17 March 2026
How does A Smarter Way to Invest get paid?
A Smarter Way to Invest is paid through a percentage of assets under management and other compensation. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
How do I contact A Smarter Way to Invest?
A Smarter Way to Invest’s main office is at 1024 E. Grand River Ave, Suite B, Brighton, MI 48116. Its phone number is 810-588-6178. Its website is asmarterwaytoinvest.com.