Authentic Counsel provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for pooled vehicles, selecting other managers, publishing newsletters, and educational seminars. Financial planning was provided to 26–50 clients last fiscal year. The firm advises 2 private funds.
Authentic Counsel reports 271 clients. They include 190 individual clients, 77 high-net-worth individuals and 2 pooled investment vehicles. Of its assets, 97.6% ($169M across 823 accounts) are managed with discretion; $4.09M across 20 accounts are not.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 70% | 25% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 28% | 64% |
| Pooled investment vehicles | <1% | 6% |
| Charitable organizations | Fewer than 5 | 4% |
| Corporations and other businesses | <1% | <1% |
Client shares use reported counts. Client types without a reported count are excluded from that total.
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 190 | $43.2M | 25.0% | $227K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 77 | $111M | 64.4% | $1.44M |
| Pooled investment vehicles | 2 | $10.9M | 6.3% | $5.43M |
| Charitable organizations | Fewer than 5 | $6.41M | 3.7% | — |
| Corporations and other businesses | Fewer than 5 | $979K | 0.6% | $490K |
| Total | 271 | $173M | 100% | — |
- Clients
- 190
- Regulatory AUM
- $43.2M
- AUM share
- 25.0%
- Avg. per client
- $227K
- Clients
- 77
- Regulatory AUM
- $111M
- AUM share
- 64.4%
- Avg. per client
- $1.44M
- Clients
- 2
- Regulatory AUM
- $10.9M
- AUM share
- 6.3%
- Avg. per client
- $5.43M
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $6.41M
- AUM share
- 3.7%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $979K
- AUM share
- 0.6%
- Avg. per client
- $490K
Total
- Clients
- 271
- Regulatory AUM
- $173M
- 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
- 2
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 26–50
Authentic Counsel charges 1.00%–1.50% a year for its Wealth Management. The fee is billed in advance, is negotiable and requires an account of at least $100,000. The brochure also prices one other service, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial Planning Services
- Financial planning is billed at $350 per hour, as a fixed fee from $750 to $10,000, or as an annual retainer of $2,500.
Wealthbuilders Holdings Inc owns 50% to 75% of Authentic Counsel and is in turn owned by Billy Epperhart (50–75%). The leadership team of Authentic Counsel includes Chief Compliance Officer Chad Frantzen. It has 8 employees, 6 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
Chad FrantzenManaging Member, Owner and Chief Compliance Officer
Investment adviser representatives
4 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
Staff
- 8 employees
- 6 in advisory functions
- 6 state-registered reps
- 3 insurance agents
- 1 soliciting firm
- Owns 50% to 75% of Authentic Counsel, LLC
Wealthbuilders Holdings Inc
Control person · since August 2022
- Owns 50% to 75% of Wealthbuilders Holdings Inc
Billy Epperhart
Control person · since August 2022
- Owns 25% to 50% of Authentic Counsel, LLC
CK Venture Holdings, LLC
Control person · since August 2022
- Owns 25% to 50% of CK Venture Holdings, LLC
Chad Frantzen
Control person · since August 2022
Authentic Counsel’s regulatory assets grew 1.6× from $106M (March 2023) to $173M (July 2026); clients rose from 250 to 271 and employees from 6 to 8.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | StaffEmployees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026July 2026 | $173M | 271 | 8 | 2 |
| May 2025May 2025 | $122M | 249 | 7 | 3 |
| Mar 2024March 2024 | $122M | 259 | 7 | 3 |
| Mar 2023March 2023 | $106M | 250 | 6 | 3 |
Besides its headquarters, Authentic Counsel has 1 office, with 2 listed addresses across 2 states.
California · 1 listed address
- 5871 Cathedral Oaks, Goleta
Colorado · 1 listed address
- 5600 S. Quebec St., Suite 130b, Greenwood VillageHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Authentic Counsel, LLC
- Headquarters
- 5600 S. Quebec St., Suite 130b, Greenwood Village, CO 80111
- Website
- authenticcounsel.com
- Phone
- 972-719-2557
- @authentic-counsel-llc
- SEC file
- 801-127787
- Structure
- Colorado LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
Authentic Counsel’s named custodian for separately managed accounts is Charles Schwab ($112M). Authentic Counsel has custody of $90M for 300 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · San Francisco, CA · $112M100%
At year end, Authentic Counsel’s separately managed accounts were largely in funds (42%) and stocks (25%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks25%
- Funds42%
- Pooled vehicles27%
- Registered funds15%
- Bonds2%
- Cash19%
- Other10%
- Private fund, annuities and physical gold10%
Filed values cover 98%. The neutral 2% gap has no reported category.
How many clients does Authentic Counsel have?
Authentic Counsel has 271 clients and manages $173 million for them, as of July 2026. They include 190 individual clients, 77 high-net-worth individuals and 2 pooled investment vehicles.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 7 July 2026
What services does Authentic Counsel offer?
Authentic Counsel provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for pooled vehicles, 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
How much does Authentic Counsel charge?
Authentic Counsel charges 1.00%–1.50% a year for its Wealth Management. The fee is billed in advance, is negotiable and requires an account of at least $100,000.
Source: AUTHENTIC COUNSEL, LLC BROCHURE, filed 30 March 2026
Which custodians does Authentic Counsel use?
Authentic Counsel’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (San Francisco, CA), with $112M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 7 July 2026
How many financial advisors does Authentic Counsel have?
Authentic Counsel has 6 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 8 employees, and 6 perform investment advisory functions. 0 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 3 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 Authentic Counsel invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Authentic Counsel’s separately managed accounts held 27% pooled vehicles (private funds and similar), 25% exchange-traded equities, 19% cash and equivalents, 15% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 10% other and 2% state and local bonds. The 10% other category is described as: Private Fund, Annuities and Physical Gold. It advises 2 private funds.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Does Authentic Counsel have a minimum investment?
Yes, Authentic Counsel’s minimum account size for its Wealth Management is $100K.
Source: AUTHENTIC COUNSEL, LLC BROCHURE, filed 30 March 2026
Who owns Authentic Counsel?
Authentic Counsel is owned through holding companies by Chad Frantzen and Billy Epperhart. Its direct owners are CK Venture Holdings, LLC (25% to 50%) and Wealthbuilders Holdings Inc (50% to 75%).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 7 July 2026
How does Authentic Counsel get paid?
Authentic Counsel is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges, fixed fees, commissions and performance-based fees.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
How do I contact Authentic Counsel?
Authentic Counsel’s main office is at 5600 S. Quebec St., Suite 130b, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Its phone number is 972-719-2557. Its website is authenticcounsel.com.