{"url":"https://nivawealth.com/firms/authentic-counsel-173306","iapdUrl":"https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/173306","regulatoryAum":172621305,"crd":"173306","adviserRoster":{"asOf":"2026-10-09","items":[{"crd":"5406093","suffix":null,"lastName":"ARBER","firstName":"MATTHEW","middleName":"RICHARD"},{"crd":"4210741","suffix":null,"lastName":"FRANTZEN","firstName":"CHAD","middleName":"RYAN"},{"crd":"1801500","suffix":null,"lastName":"REESE","firstName":"GARY","middleName":"ROBERT"},{"crd":"2413388","suffix":"JR","lastName":"SALCEDO","firstName":"JOSE","middleName":null}],"total":4,"loadedAt":"2026-10-10T00:20:19.761928+00:00","sourceUrl":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/CompilationReports/IA_INDVL_Feed_10_09_2026.xml.zip"},"history":[{"filedOn":"2023-03-29","regulatoryAum":105708742,"clients":250,"employees":6,"offices":3},{"filedOn":"2024-03-28","regulatoryAum":121666733,"clients":259,"employees":7,"offices":3},{"filedOn":"2025-05-27","regulatoryAum":122329256,"clients":249,"employees":7,"offices":3},{"filedOn":"2026-07-07","regulatoryAum":172621305,"clients":271,"employees":8,"offices":2}],"secFileNumber":"801-127787","legalName":"Authentic Counsel, LLC","displayName":"Authentic Counsel","slug":"authentic-counsel-173306","website":"https://authenticcounsel.com/","classification":{"segment":"individuals","segmentLabel":"Wealth management","type":"independent_wealth_manager","typeLabel":"RIA","feeDisclosure":"full"},"linkedinUrl":"https://www.linkedin.com/company/authentic-counsel-llc/","founded":null,"organization":"Colorado limited liability company","fiscalYearEnd":"December","headquarters":{"street":"5600 S. Quebec St., Suite 130b","city":"Greenwood Village","state":"CO","stateName":"Colorado","country":"United States","postalCode":"80111"},"tradeNames":[],"registration":{"secApproved":"28 April 2023","noticeFilings":null,"latestNoticeFiling":null},"wealthAumPerClient":578154.329588015,"staff":{"employees":8,"advisory":6,"brokerDealerReps":0,"insuranceAgents":3,"promoters":1},"aum":{"regulatory":172621305,"discretionary":168526931,"discretionaryAccounts":823,"nonDiscretionary":4094374,"nonDiscretionaryAccounts":20,"wrapProgram":null,"nonUsClientsPct":0,"nonAumClients":0},"clientTypes":[{"label":"Individuals (other than HNW)","clients":190,"regulatoryAum":43151454},{"label":"High-net-worth individuals","clients":77,"regulatoryAum":111215752},{"label":"Pooled investment vehicles","clients":2,"regulatoryAum":10862830},{"label":"Charitable organizations","clients":null,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":6411991},{"label":"Corporations and other businesses","clients":2,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":979278}],"feePrograms":[{"role":"main","program":"Wealth Management","feeBasis":"range","fee_tiers":null,"sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1033002","versionId":1033002,"ratePeriod":"annual","fee_billing":"advance","submittedOn":"2026-03-30","documentName":"AUTHENTIC COUNSEL, LLC BROCHURE","fee_rate_low":1,"fee_rate_high":1.5,"fee_negotiable":true,"minimum_account":100000,"feeMinimumPeriod":null,"fee_minimum_annual":null},{"role":"other","program":"Financial Planning Services","summary":"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.","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1033002","versionId":1033002,"submittedOn":"2026-03-30","documentName":"AUTHENTIC COUNSEL, LLC BROCHURE"}],"brochureCoverage":{"scope":"sec_inventory","status":"reviewed","checkedAt":"2026-10-22T15:03:02.972014+00:00","documents":[{"name":"AUTHENTIC COUNSEL, LLC BROCHURE","status":"read","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1033002","versionId":1033002,"submittedOn":"2026-03-30"}]},"custodians":[{"name":"Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.","shortName":"Charles Schwab","location":"San Francisco, CA","smaAssets":111809026}],"custodyNote":"Authentic Counsel has custody of $90M in client assets for 300 clients.","otherCustodians":[],"leadership":[{"name":"Chad Frantzen","title":"Managing Member, Owner and Chief Compliance Officer","crd":"4210741"}],"ownership":[{"label":"CK Venture Holdings, LLC","detail":"Owner in the 25% to 50% ownership band and a control person, since August 2022."},{"label":"Wealthbuilders Holdings Inc","detail":"Owner in the 50% to 75% ownership band and a control person, since August 2022."},{"label":"Chad Frantzen","detail":"Indirect owner: a owner of CK Venture Holdings, LLC in the 25% to 50% band and a control person, since August 2022.","parent":"CK Venture Holdings, LLC"},{"label":"Billy Epperhart","detail":"Indirect owner: a owner of Wealthbuilders Holdings Inc in the 50% to 75% band and a control person, since August 2022.","parent":"Wealthbuilders Holdings Inc"}],"branchOffices":null,"filedOffices":{"otherThanPrincipal":1,"privateResidences":0},"listedOfficeAddresses":2,"foreignOffices":[],"officesByState":[{"state":"California","offices":1,"addresses":[{"street":"5871 Cathedral Oaks","city":"Goleta"}]},{"state":"Colorado","offices":1,"addresses":[{"street":"5600 S. Quebec St., Suite 130b","city":"Greenwood Village","headquarters":true}]}],"advFacts":{"source":{"file":"ia100226.zip","asOf":"2 October 2026"},"telephone":"972-719-2557","stateRegisteredReps":6,"otherAdviserReps":0,"compensation":["A percentage of assets under management","Hourly charges","Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)","Commissions","Performance-based fees"],"activities":["Financial planning services","Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses","Portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies)","Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)","Publication of periodicals or newsletters","Educational seminars/workshops"],"financialPlanningClients":"26-50","assetMix":[{"label":"Exchange-traded equity securities","percent":25},{"label":"U.S. state and local bonds","percent":2},{"label":"Securities issued by registered investment companies or business development companies","percent":15},{"label":"Securities issued by pooled investment vehicles (other than registered investment companies)","percent":27},{"label":"Cash and cash equivalents","percent":19},{"label":"Other","percent":10,"detail":"Private Fund, Annuities and Physical Gold"}],"privateFunds":2},"sources":{"adv1FilingDate":"7 July 2026","adv1Url":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/173306/PDF/173306.pdf","brochureDate":"30 March 2026","brochureUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1033002","iapdCompiledDate":null,"retrievedDate":"15 October 2026","retrievedOn":"2026-10-15","updatedOn":"2026-10-22","holdingsUpdatedOn":"2026-10-21","adv1Pages":{},"brochurePages":{}},"otherBusiness":[],"faq":[{"question":"How many clients does Authentic Counsel have?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What services does Authentic Counsel offer?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"How much does Authentic Counsel charge?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"brochure","section":"fees"}},{"question":"Which custodians does Authentic Counsel use?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"custodians"}},{"question":"How many financial advisors does Authentic Counsel have?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What does Authentic Counsel invest in?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Does Authentic Counsel have a minimum investment?","answer":"Yes, Authentic Counsel’s minimum account size for its Wealth Management is $100K.","source":"AUTHENTIC COUNSEL, LLC BROCHURE, filed 30 March 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"brochure","section":"fees"}},{"question":"Who owns Authentic Counsel?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"scheduleA"}},{"question":"How does Authentic Counsel get paid?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"How do I contact Authentic Counsel?","answer":"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.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1.F, filed 7 July 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"offices"}}],"holdings":null,"notice":"Compiled from public SEC Form ADV filings on the dates in `sources`. Facts as filed; not a rating, ranking, or recommendation. Niva is not affiliated with this firm. Disciplinary history is deliberately not included here or on the page; the SEC publishes the complete record at the `iapdUrl` above."}