{"url":"https://nivawealth.com/firms/ballast-capital-advisors-282369","iapdUrl":"https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/282369","regulatoryAum":328737630,"crd":"282369","adviserRoster":{"asOf":"2026-10-09","items":[{"crd":"5884674","suffix":null,"lastName":"CARSTENSEN","firstName":"CHAD","middleName":null},{"crd":"5901323","suffix":null,"lastName":"CARSTENSEN","firstName":"GREGORY","middleName":"GEORGE"},{"crd":"6780980","suffix":null,"lastName":"Freund","firstName":"Patrick","middleName":"Joseph"}],"total":3,"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":"2021-03-17","regulatoryAum":220366374,"clients":41,"employees":5,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2022-05-26","regulatoryAum":261402490,"clients":53,"employees":5,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2023-03-23","regulatoryAum":273916175,"clients":54,"employees":7,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2024-01-18","regulatoryAum":297272625,"clients":58,"employees":8,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2025-03-07","regulatoryAum":318443752,"clients":46,"employees":7,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2026-03-02","regulatoryAum":328737630,"clients":42,"employees":7,"offices":1}],"secFileNumber":"801-120829","legalName":"Ballast Capital Advisors LLC","displayName":"Ballast Capital Advisors","slug":"ballast-capital-advisors-282369","website":"https://ballast-advisors.com/","logo":{"src":"https://rmkhnxnbeclogprvkfyl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/firm-logos/282369/0612848f823314e4-r1.webp","tone":"light","width":945,"height":200,"sourceUrl":"https://ballast-advisors.com/","sourceLabel":"Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC, website"},"classification":{"segment":"individuals","segmentLabel":"Wealth management","type":"independent_wealth_manager","typeLabel":"RIA","feeDisclosure":"full"},"linkedinUrl":"https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballast-capital-advisors-llc/","xUrl":"https://twitter.com/ballast_capital","founded":null,"organization":"Iowa limited liability company","fiscalYearEnd":"December","headquarters":{"street":"1200 Office Plaza Drive","city":"West Des Moines","state":"IA","stateName":"Iowa","country":"United States","postalCode":"50266"},"tradeNames":[],"registration":{"secApproved":"16 April 2021","noticeFilings":null,"latestNoticeFiling":null},"wealthAumPerClient":7827086.428571428,"staff":{"employees":7,"advisory":3,"brokerDealerReps":0,"insuranceAgents":0,"promoters":0},"aum":{"regulatory":328737630,"discretionary":328737630,"discretionaryAccounts":147,"nonDiscretionary":0,"nonDiscretionaryAccounts":0,"wrapProgram":null,"nonUsClientsPct":0,"nonAumClients":0},"clientTypes":[{"label":"High-net-worth individuals","clients":42,"regulatoryAum":328737630}],"feePrograms":[],"brochureCoverage":{"scope":"sec_inventory","status":"reviewed_no_numerical_schedule","checkedAt":"2026-10-22T10:10:02.335546+00:00","documents":[{"name":"FORM ADV PART 2 AND 2B 030226","status":"read","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1013177","versionId":1013177,"submittedOn":"2026-03-02"}]},"custodians":[{"name":"RBC Capital Markets, LLC","shortName":"RBC Capital Markets","location":"New York, NY","smaAssets":208623674}],"custodyNote":"Ballast Capital Advisors does not have custody of client assets.","leadership":[{"name":"Steven Harms","title":"Chief Financial Officer","crd":"5729413"},{"name":"Gregory Carstensen","title":"Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer","crd":"5901323"}],"ownership":[{"label":"Gregory Carstensen","detail":"Managing member and chief compliance officer in the 75% or more ownership band and a control person, since March 2016."}],"filedOffices":{"otherThanPrincipal":0,"privateResidences":0},"listedOfficeAddresses":1,"foreignOffices":[],"officesByState":[{"state":"Iowa","offices":1,"addresses":[{"street":"1200 Office Plaza Drive","city":"West Des Moines","headquarters":true}]}],"advFacts":{"source":{"file":"ia100226.zip","asOf":"2 October 2026"},"telephone":"844-331-4662","stateRegisteredReps":3,"otherAdviserReps":0,"compensation":["A percentage of assets under management","Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)"],"activities":["Financial planning services","Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses"],"financialPlanningClients":"1-10","assetMix":[{"label":"Exchange-traded equity securities","percent":5},{"label":"U.S. government/agency bonds","percent":10},{"label":"Investment grade corporate bonds","percent":50},{"label":"Cash and cash equivalents","percent":10},{"label":"Other","percent":25,"detail":"Hard Assets Such As Commercial Real Estate"}],"privateFunds":0},"sources":{"adv1FilingDate":"2 March 2026","adv1Url":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/282369/PDF/282369.pdf","brochureDate":"2 March 2026","brochureUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1013177","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 Ballast Capital Advisors have?","answer":"Ballast Capital Advisors has 42 clients and manages $329 million for them, as of March 2026. They include 42 high-net-worth individuals.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 2 March 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What services does Ballast Capital Advisors offer?","answer":"Ballast Capital Advisors provides financial planning and portfolio management for individuals and small businesses.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Which custodians does Ballast Capital Advisors use?","answer":"Ballast Capital Advisors’ separately managed account assets are held at RBC Capital Markets, LLC (New York, NY), with $209M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 2 March 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"custodians"}},{"question":"How many financial advisors does Ballast Capital Advisors have?","answer":"Ballast Capital Advisors has 3 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 7 employees, and 3 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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What does Ballast Capital Advisors invest in?","answer":"At the end of its last fiscal year, Ballast Capital Advisors’ separately managed accounts held 50% investment grade corporate bonds, 25% other, 10% U.S. government and agency bonds, 10% cash and equivalents and 5% exchange-traded equities. The 25% other category is described as: Hard Assets Such As Commercial Real Estate.","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":"Who owns Ballast Capital Advisors?","answer":"Ballast Capital Advisors’ direct owner is Gregory Carstensen (75% or more).","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 2 March 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"scheduleA"}},{"question":"How does Ballast Capital Advisors get paid?","answer":"Ballast Capital Advisors is paid through a percentage of assets under management and fixed fees. 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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Is Ballast Capital Advisors registered with the SEC?","answer":"Yes, Ballast Capital Advisors has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 16 April 2021. Its CRD number is 282369 and its SEC file number is 801-120829.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 2 March 2026; IAPD firm record","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"identity"}},{"question":"How do I contact Ballast Capital Advisors?","answer":"Ballast Capital Advisors’ main office is at 1200 Office Plaza Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Its phone number is 844-331-4662. Its website is ballast-advisors.com.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1.F, filed 2 March 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."}