Ballast provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, pension consulting, selecting other managers, education planning, and insurance. Financial planning was provided to 1–10 clients last fiscal year.
Ballast reports 476 clients. They include 237 individual clients, 217 high-net-worth individuals, and 17 pension and profit-sharing plans. Of its assets, 93.1% ($700M across 1,675 accounts) are managed with discretion; $51.7M across 213 accounts are not. It advised 1 client without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 50% | 12% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 46% | 83% |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | 4% | 4% |
| Charitable organizations | <1% | <1% |
| State or municipal government entities | <1% | <1% |
| Other client typesOther | <1% | <1% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 237 | $88.3M | 11.8% | $373K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 217 | $627M | 83.4% | $2.89M |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | 17 | $29.1M | 3.9% | $1.71M |
| Charitable organizations | Fewer than 5 | $2.36M | 0.3% | $786K |
| State or municipal government entities | Fewer than 5 | $3.94M | 0.5% | $3.94M |
| Other | Fewer than 5 | $713K | 0.1% | $713K |
| Total | 476 | $752M | 100% | — |
- Clients
- 237
- Regulatory AUM
- $88.3M
- AUM share
- 11.8%
- Avg. per client
- $373K
- Clients
- 217
- Regulatory AUM
- $627M
- AUM share
- 83.4%
- Avg. per client
- $2.89M
- Clients
- 17
- Regulatory AUM
- $29.1M
- AUM share
- 3.9%
- Avg. per client
- $1.71M
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $2.36M
- AUM share
- 0.3%
- Avg. per client
- $786K
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $3.94M
- AUM share
- 0.5%
- Avg. per client
- $3.94M
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $713K
- AUM share
- 0.1%
- Avg. per client
- $713K
Total
- Clients
- 476
- Regulatory AUM
- $752M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 1
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 1–10
Ballast charges 1.15%–1.75% a year for its Investment Management Services. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable. The brochure also prices one other service, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial Planning
- Hourly fees of $200 to $700, or flat fees of $1,000 to $10,000; negotiable, with at least 50% paid in advance.
John Boardman owns 50% to 75% of Ballast. The leadership team of Ballast includes President John Boardman and Chief Compliance Officer Jeffrey Lehmann. It has 12 employees, 8 of them in advisory roles.
Staff
- 12 employees
- 8 in advisory functions
- 8 state-registered reps
- 4 insurance agents
- Owns 50% to 75% of Ballast, Inc.
John Boardman
Control person · since January 2008
- Owns 25% to 50% of Ballast, Inc.
Andrew Reynolds
Control person · since March 2010
- Owns 5% to 10% of Ballast, Inc.
Cameron Hamilton
Control person · since January 2018
- Owns 5% to 10% of Ballast, Inc.
Brian Burton
Control person · since January 2018
Ballast’s regulatory assets grew 2.1× from $358M (March 2021) to $752M (July 2026); clients rose from 356 to 476 and employees from 9 to 12.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | StaffEmployees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026July 2026 | $752M | 476 | 12 | 1 |
| Feb 2025February 2025 | $625M | 452 | 12 | 1 |
| Feb 2024February 2024 | $544M | 434 | 12 | 1 |
| Mar 2023March 2023 | $423M | 367 | 12 | 1 |
| Mar 2022March 2022 | $463M | 378 | 6 | 1 |
| Mar 2021March 2021 | $358M | 356 | 9 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, Ballast has 0 offices, with 1 listed address in 1 state.
Kentucky · 1 listed address
- 400 East Vine St, Suite 400, LexingtonHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Ballast, Inc.
- Headquarters
- 400 East Vine St, Suite 400, Lexington, KY 40507
- Website
- ballastplan.com
- Phone
- 859-226-0625
- @ballastplan
- SEC file
- 801-79651
- Founded
- 2008
- Structure
- Kentucky corporation
- Fiscal year end
- December
Ballast’s named custodian for separately managed accounts is Charles Schwab ($656M). Ballast does not have custody of client assets.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · Westlake, TX · $656M100%
At year end, Ballast’s separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (71%) and stocks (21%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $530M across 156 positions; the largest are Vanguard Index Fds (10.6%), Vanguard Index Fds (9.4%) and Invesco Exchange Traded FD T (6.3%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks21%
- Funds71%
- Bonds3%
- Cash5%
How many clients does Ballast have?
Ballast has 476 clients and manages $752 million for them, as of July 2026. They include 237 individual clients, 217 high-net-worth individuals, and 17 pension and profit-sharing plans.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 14 July 2026
What services does Ballast offer?
Ballast provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, pension consulting, selecting other managers, education planning, and insurance.
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 Ballast charge?
Ballast charges 1.15%–1.75% a year for its Investment Management Services. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable.
Source: BALLAST, INC ADV PART 2A BROCHURE, filed 27 February 2026
Which custodians does Ballast use?
Ballast’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Westlake, TX), with $656M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 14 July 2026
How many financial advisors does Ballast have?
Ballast has 8 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 12 employees, and 8 perform investment advisory functions. 0 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 4 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 Ballast invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Ballast’s separately managed accounts held 71% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 21% exchange-traded equities, 5% cash and equivalents and 3% U.S. government and agency bonds.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Ballast?
Ballast’s direct owners are John Boardman (50% to 75%), Andrew Reynolds (25% to 50%), Cameron Hamilton (5% to 10%) and Brian Burton (5% to 10%).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 14 July 2026
How does Ballast get paid?
Ballast is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges, fixed fees 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 Ballast?
Ballast’s main office is at 400 East Vine St, Suite 400, Lexington, KY 40507. Its phone number is 859-226-0625. Its website is ballastplan.com.