Clients
Appleton Partners serves 6,112 clients, 5,314 of them other clients. The average client has about $2.1 million with the firm, and high-net-worth clients hold 15% of its $12.6 billion in assets.
- Individuals339 clients3%
- High-net-worth individuals443 clients15%
- Other5,314 clients82%
- OtherCharitable organizations, State or municipal government entities, Corporations and other businesses1%
Show client breakdownHide client breakdown
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | Share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 339 | $358,190,532 | 2.9% | $1.06M |
| High-net-worth individuals | 443 | $1,840,676,625 | 14.7% | $4.16M |
| Charitable organizations | 11 | $78,937,987 | 0.6% | $7.18M |
| State or municipal government entities | 1 | $412,933 | 0.0% | $413K |
| Corporations and other businesses | 4 | $27,607,817 | 0.2% | $6.90M |
| Other | 5,314 | $10,246,227,873 | 81.6% | $1.93M |
| Total | 6,112 | $12,552,053,767 | 100% | $2.05M |
- Clients
- 339
- Regulatory AUM
- $358,190,532
- Share
- 2.9%
- Avg. per client
- $1.06M
- Clients
- 443
- Regulatory AUM
- $1,840,676,625
- Share
- 14.7%
- Avg. per client
- $4.16M
- Clients
- 11
- Regulatory AUM
- $78,937,987
- Share
- 0.6%
- Avg. per client
- $7.18M
- Clients
- 1
- Regulatory AUM
- $412,933
- Share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- $413K
- Clients
- 4
- Regulatory AUM
- $27,607,817
- Share
- 0.2%
- Avg. per client
- $6.90M
- Clients
- 5,314
- Regulatory AUM
- $10,246,227,873
- Share
- 81.6%
- Avg. per client
- $1.93M
Total
- Clients
- 6,112
- Regulatory AUM
- $12,552,053,767
- Share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $2.05M
What it does
Appleton Partners provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, selecting other managers, publishing newsletters and educational seminars. It is paid through a percentage of assets.
Appleton Partners provided financial planning to 101–250 clients last fiscal year and advises no private funds.
100.0% of assets ($12.55B across 7,106 accounts) are managed with discretion. $2.07B sits in a wrap fee program the firm both sponsors and manages. 0% of clients are outside the U.S., and 0 clients received advice without assets under management last fiscal year.
What the accounts hold
- Stocks8%
- Funds4%
- Bonds84%
- State and local bonds76%
- Investment grade corporate bonds7%
- U.S. government and agency bonds1%
- Cash2%
Filed values cover 98%. The neutral 2% gap has no reported category.
Custodians
Appleton Partners’ client accounts are held mainly at Charles Schwab, with 31% of managed assets, and Fidelity, with 19%. Appleton Partners has custody of $1.59B for 402 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · San Francisco, CA · $3.89B31%
- FidelityFidelity Brokerage Services LLC · Smithfield, RI · $2.33B19%
- J.P. MorganJ.P. Morgan Securities LLC · 383 Madison Avenue, NY · $1.96B16%
- All other custodians$4.37B35%
Ownership and leadership
Appleton Partners Business Trust owns 75% or more of Appleton Partners.
- Owns 75% or more of Appleton Partners, Inc.
Appleton Partners Business Trust
since August 2001
Douglas Chamberlain
Trustee, appleton partners business trust · Control person · since August 2001
Michele Hubley
Trustee, appleton partners business trust · Control person · since June 2020
Geoffrey Chamberlain
Trustee, appleton partners business trust · since August 2022
Leadership
- Douglas ChamberlainPresident, CEO, Director
- Michael HowardSVP, Chief Compliance Officer
- Michele HubleySVP - Treasurer & Head of HR
- Robert KrantzSVP - Co-COO
Staff
- 59 employees
- 31 in advisory functions
- 23 state-registered reps
- 1 soliciting firm
Reported holdings
Appleton Partners’ reported 13F holdings total $1.63M across 275 positions, and the ten largest make up 34.6% of it.
- $1.63M
- Reported 13F value
- 275
- Positions
- 34.6%
- In the 10 largest
- +13.8%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- Apple Inc. · CS5.8%
- Micron Technology Inc. · CS5.7%
- Goldman Sachs ETF TR ActivebetETF3.7%
- Schwab Strategic TR US Lrg CapETF3.4%
- Alphabet Inc. Cap Stk CL C · CS2.9%
- GE Vernova Inc. · CS2.8%
- Microsoft Corp. · CS2.7%
- Broadcom Inc. · CS2.6%
- Amazon Com Inc. · CS2.6%
- JPMORGAN Chase & CO · CS2.5%
Together, the ten largest are 34.6% of reported value.
A 13F covers only exchange-traded long positions the firm holds with discretion, so this $1.63M is not its $12.55B in regulatory assets and does not represent any individual client's portfolio.
Fees
Appleton Partners is paid through a percentage of assets under management.
Appleton Partners’ fee rates are not included in this profile. Find its brochure on the SEC’s site.
Offices and registrations
Besides its headquarters, Appleton Partners has 0 offices, with 1 listed address in 1 state.
Massachusetts · 1 listed address
- One Post Office Square, 5th Floor, BostonHQ
Registration details
- Legal name
- Appleton Partners, Inc.
- Headquarters
- One Post Office Square, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02109
- Phone
- 617-338-0700
- Website
- www.appletonpartners.com
- SEC file
- 801-29384
- Structure
- Massachusetts corporation
- Fiscal year end
- December
This directory does not report disciplinary history, for any firm or individual, in either direction. The SEC publishes the complete record, including any disciplinary events, and it is the authoritative place to check one. See this firm's record on adviserinfo.sec.gov
Common questions
How many clients does Appleton Partners have?
Appleton Partners has 6,112 clients and manages $12.6 billion for them, as of March 2026. They include 5,314 other clients, 443 high-net-worth individuals and 339 other individuals.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 23 March 2026
What services does Appleton Partners offer?
Appleton Partners provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, selecting other managers, publishing newsletters and educational seminars.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Which custodians does Appleton Partners use?
Appleton Partners’ separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (San Francisco, CA), with $3,893,832,164, Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (Smithfield, RI), with $2,333,294,727 and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (383 Madison Avenue, NY), with $1,956,101,176. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 23 March 2026
How many financial advisors does Appleton Partners have?
Appleton Partners has 23 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 59 employees, and 31 perform investment advisory functions. None are registered representatives of a broker-dealer or 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 Appleton Partners invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Appleton Partners’ separately managed accounts held 76% state and local bonds, 8% exchange-traded equities, 7% investment grade corporate bonds, 4% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 2% cash and equivalents and 1% U.S. government and agency bonds. It advises no private funds of its own.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Appleton Partners?
Appleton Partners’ direct owner is Appleton Partners Business Trust (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 23 March 2026
How does Appleton Partners get paid?
Appleton Partners is paid through a percentage of assets under management. 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