Approach Retirement Advisors provides portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, and financial planning.
Approach Retirement Advisors reports 144 clients. They include 81 individual clients, 59 high-net-worth individuals, and 3 pension and profit-sharing plans. Of its assets, 100.0% ($227M across 547 accounts) are managed with discretion.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 56% | 16% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 41% | 83% |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | 2% | <1% |
| Charitable organizations | <1% | <1% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 81 | $36.2M | 15.9% | $447K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 59 | $188M | 82.6% | $3.18M |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | Fewer than 5 | $1.67M | 0.7% | $557K |
| Charitable organizations | Fewer than 5 | $1.73M | 0.8% | $1.73M |
| Total | 144 | $227M | 100% | — |
- Clients
- 81
- Regulatory AUM
- $36.2M
- AUM share
- 15.9%
- Avg. per client
- $447K
- Clients
- 59
- Regulatory AUM
- $188M
- AUM share
- 82.6%
- Avg. per client
- $3.18M
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $1.67M
- AUM share
- 0.7%
- Avg. per client
- $557K
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $1.73M
- AUM share
- 0.8%
- Avg. per client
- $1.73M
Total
- Clients
- 144
- Regulatory AUM
- $227M
- 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
Approach Retirement Advisors charges 0.40%–1.00% a year for its Wealth Management Fee Arrangements. Each asset band is charged at its own rate. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable.
| Asset band | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| $0–$1M | 1.00% |
| $1M–$3M | 0.75% |
| $3M–$6M | 0.60% |
| $6M–$10M | 0.50% |
| $10M and above | 0.40% |
Fee details and sources
Eric McClain owns 50% to 75% of Approach Retirement Advisors. The leadership team of Approach Retirement Advisors includes Chief Compliance Officer Phillip Walker. It has 2 employees.
Staff
- 2 employees
- 2 in advisory functions
- 2 state-registered reps
- Owns 50% to 75% of Approach Retirement Advisors, LLC
Eric McClain
Control person · since November 2012
- Owns 50% to 75% of Approach Retirement Advisors, LLC
Phillip Walker
Control person · since August 2021
Approach Retirement Advisors’ regulatory assets grew 2.3× from $100M (June 2021) to $227M (March 2026); clients rose from 87 to 144 and employees from 1 to 2.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | StaffEmployees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026March 2026 | $227M | 144 | 2 | 2 |
| Mar 2025March 2025 | $199M | 153 | 2 | 2 |
| Mar 2024March 2024 | $174M | 154 | 2 | 3 |
| Mar 2023March 2023 | $153M | 155 | 2 | 3 |
| Mar 2022March 2022 | $165M | 146 | 2 | 3 |
| Jun 2021June 2021 | $100M | 87 | 1 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, Approach Retirement Advisors has 1 office, with 2 listed addresses across 2 states.
Alabama · 1 listed address
- 3928 Cypress Drive, Suite 150, BirminghamHQ
Florida · 1 listed address
- 3 W Garden Street, Pensacola
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Approach Retirement Advisors, LLC
- Headquarters
- 3928 Cypress Drive, Suite 150, Birmingham, AL 35243
- Website
- approachretirement.com
- Phone
- 205-588-8637
- @approach-retirement-advisors
- SEC file
- 801-121714
- Founded
- 2013
- Structure
- Alabama LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
Approach Retirement Advisors’ named custodian for separately managed accounts is Charles Schwab ($227M). Approach Retirement Advisors has custody of $117M for 93 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · San Francisco, CA · $227M100%
At year end, Approach Retirement Advisors’ separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (88%) and stocks (10%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $138M across 82 positions; the largest are Dimensional ETF Trust (16.9%), Aflac Inc. (9.1%) and Dimensional ETF Trust (6.6%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks10%
- Funds88%
- Bonds1%
- Cash1%
How many clients does Approach Retirement Advisors have?
Approach Retirement Advisors has 144 clients and manages $227 million for them, as of March 2026. They include 81 individual clients, 59 high-net-worth individuals, and 3 pension and profit-sharing plans.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 16 March 2026
What services does Approach Retirement Advisors offer?
Approach Retirement Advisors provides portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, and financial planning.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file; Part 2A brochure, Item 4
How much does Approach Retirement Advisors charge?
Approach Retirement Advisors charges 0.40%–1.00% a year for its Wealth Management Fee Arrangements. Each asset band is charged at its own rate. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable.
Which custodians does Approach Retirement Advisors use?
Approach Retirement Advisors’ separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (San Francisco, CA), with $227M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 16 March 2026
How many financial advisors does Approach Retirement Advisors have?
Approach Retirement Advisors has 2 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 2 employees, and 2 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 Approach Retirement Advisors invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Approach Retirement Advisors’ separately managed accounts held 88% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 10% exchange-traded equities, 1% state and local bonds and 1% cash and equivalents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Approach Retirement Advisors?
Approach Retirement Advisors’ direct owners are Eric McClain (50% to 75%) and Phillip Walker (50% to 75%).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 16 March 2026
How does Approach Retirement Advisors get paid?
Approach Retirement Advisors is paid through a percentage of assets under management and hourly charges. 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 Approach Retirement Advisors?
Approach Retirement Advisors’ main office is at 3928 Cypress Drive, Suite 150, Birmingham, AL 35243. Its phone number is 205-588-8637. Its website is approachretirement.com.
