Financial Designs provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, and insurance. Financial planning was provided to 500 clients last fiscal year.
Financial Designs reports 516 clients. They include 338 individual clients, 177 high-net-worth individuals and 1 corporate or other business client. Of its assets, 73.1% ($371M across 1,015 accounts) are managed with discretion; $137M across 297 accounts are not. A wrap fee program the firm both sponsors and manages holds $371M. It advised 8 clients without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 66% | 31% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 34% | 69% |
| Corporations and other businesses | <1% | <1% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 338 | $160M | 31.4% | $472K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 177 | $348M | 68.6% | $1.97M |
| Corporations and other businesses | 1 | $1.22K | 0.0% | $1.22K |
| Total | 516 | $508M | 100% | $984K |
- Clients
- 338
- Regulatory AUM
- $160M
- AUM share
- 31.4%
- Avg. per client
- $472K
- Clients
- 177
- Regulatory AUM
- $348M
- AUM share
- 68.6%
- Avg. per client
- $1.97M
- Clients
- 1
- Regulatory AUM
- $1.22K
- AUM share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- $1.22K
Total
- Clients
- 516
- Regulatory AUM
- $508M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $984K
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 8
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 500
Financial Designs charges 0.75%–1.50% a year for its Portfolio Management Services/Wrap Fee Program. Each asset band is charged at its own rate. The fee is billed in arrears. The brochure also prices 2 other services, listed under fee details.
| Asset band | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| $0–$500K | 1.50% |
| $500K–$1M | 1.35% |
| $1M–$2M | 1.20% |
| $2M–$5M | 1.00% |
| $5M and above | 0.75% |
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Asset allocation services
- Non-discretionary asset allocation is billed at 1.00% a year on assets of $100,000 or more; discretionary asset allocation uses the wrap tiers.
- Financial planning
- Financial planning is billed at $600 an hour; a typical plan takes 5 hours and totals $3,000, with half payable on signing.
FDC Holdings Corporation owns 75% or more of Financial Designs and is in turn owned by The 2008 Pavan Family Trust (75% or more). The leadership team of Financial Designs includes President Nino Pavan and Chief Compliance Officer Greg Morton. It has 6 employees, 3 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
- Nino PavanPresident
- Greg MortonChief Compliance Officer/Director of Finance
Investment adviser representatives
3 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
- Vaughn Gregory Heydel
- Brandon A Morton
- Nino Gabriel Pavan
Staff
- 6 employees
- 3 in advisory functions
- 3 state-registered reps
- 3 insurance agents
- Owns 75% or more of Financial Designs Corporation
FDC Holdings Corporation
Control person · since January 2017
- Owns 75% or more of FDC Holdings Corporation
The 2008 Pavan Family Trust
Control person · since January 2017
Financial Designs’ regulatory assets grew from $397M (July 2021) to $508M (January 2026); clients were 516 in both filings and employees were 6 in both filings.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | $508M | 516 | 6 | 3 |
| February 2025 | $454M | 511 | 6 | 3 |
| February 2024 | $396M | 544 | 6 | 3 |
| February 2023 | $379M | 510 | 6 | 4 |
| March 2022 | $426M | 525 | 6 | 4 |
| July 2021 | $397M | 533 | 6 | 2 |
Besides its headquarters, Financial Designs has 2 offices (1 private residence, listed without an address), with 2 listed addresses in California and Nevada.
California · 1 listed address
- 540 W. Baseline RD, #10, ClaremontHQ
Nevada · 1 listed address
- South Rainbow Business Park, Las Vegas
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Financial Designs Corporation
- Headquarters
- 540 W. Baseline RD, #10, Claremont, CA 91711-5805
- Website
- fdcadvisors.com
- Phone
- 909-626-1642
- @financial-designs-corporation
- SEC file
- 801-49374
- Founded
- 1981
- Structure
- California corporation
- Fiscal year end
- December
Financial Designs uses Charles Schwab ($371M) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. Financial Designs has custody of $371M in client assets for 516 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · Westlake, TX · $371M100%
At year end, Financial Designs’ separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (95%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $187M across 41 positions; the largest are iShares TR (24.8%), iShares TR (15.3%) and Listed Fds TR (8.7%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks1%
- Funds95%
- Bonds2%
- U.S. government and agency bonds1%
- State and local bonds1%
- Cash2%
Reported 13F holdings
- $187M
- Reported 13F value
- 41
- Positions
- 87.3%
- In the 10 largest
- +3.9%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- iShares TR · Core S&P Ttl Stk24.8%
- iShares TR · Core US Aggbd ET15.3%
- Listed Fds TR · Swan Hedged Eqty8.7%
- Invesco Exch Trd Slf Idx FD · Rusl 1000 Dynm8.4%
- iShares TR · Core MSCI Total7.8%
- Amplify ETF TR · Cwp Enhanced Div7.5%
- Victory Portfolios II · Shs FR CA FL ETF5.3%
- Thornburg ETF TR · Intl Equity ETF5.0%
- Tidal Trust I · Fund Gran US ETF2.3%
- Innovator ETFS Trust · Defined Wlt Shld2.3%
Together, the ten largest are 87.3% of reported value.
How many clients does Financial Designs have?
Financial Designs has 516 clients and manages $508 million for them, as of January 2026. They include 338 individual clients, 177 high-net-worth individuals and 1 corporate or other business client.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 27 January 2026
What services does Financial Designs offer?
Financial Designs provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, 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 Financial Designs charge?
Financial Designs charges 0.75%–1.50% a year for its Portfolio Management Services/Wrap Fee Program. Each asset band is charged at its own rate. The fee is billed in arrears.
Which custodians does Financial Designs use?
Financial Designs’ separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Westlake, TX), with $371M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 27 January 2026
How many financial advisors does Financial Designs have?
Financial Designs has 3 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 6 employees, and 3 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 Financial Designs invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Financial Designs’ separately managed accounts held 95% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 2% cash and equivalents, 1% exchange-traded equities, 1% U.S. government and agency bonds and 1% state and local bonds.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Financial Designs?
Financial Designs is owned through a holding company by the 2008 Pavan Family Trust. Its direct owner is FDC Holdings Corporation (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 27 January 2026
How does Financial Designs get paid?
Financial Designs is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges 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
How do I contact Financial Designs?
Financial Designs’ main office is at 540 W. Baseline RD, #10, Claremont, CA 91711-5805. Its phone number is 909-626-1642. Its website is fdcadvisors.com.