Nelson Capital Management provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, pension consulting, publishing newsletters, education planning, estate planning, insurance, and philanthropic planning. Financial planning was provided to 1–10 clients last fiscal year.
Nelson Capital Management reports 214 clients. They include 178 high-net-worth individuals, 21 individual clients and 13 charitable organizations. Of its assets, 100.0% ($811M across 685 accounts) are managed with discretion. It advised 3 clients without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 10% | <1% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 83% | 87% |
| Charitable organizations | 6% | 10% |
| Other investment advisers | <1% | 3% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 21 | $3.05M | 0.4% | $145K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 178 | $706M | 87.1% | $3.97M |
| Charitable organizations | 13 | $77.7M | 9.6% | $5.98M |
| Other investment advisers | Fewer than 5 | $24M | 3.0% | $12M |
| Total | 214 | $811M | 100% | — |
- Clients
- 21
- Regulatory AUM
- $3.05M
- AUM share
- 0.4%
- Avg. per client
- $145K
- Clients
- 178
- Regulatory AUM
- $706M
- AUM share
- 87.1%
- Avg. per client
- $3.97M
- Clients
- 13
- Regulatory AUM
- $77.7M
- AUM share
- 9.6%
- Avg. per client
- $5.98M
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $24M
- AUM share
- 3.0%
- Avg. per client
- $12M
Total
- Clients
- 214
- Regulatory AUM
- $811M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 3
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 1–10
Nelson Capital Management charges 0.25%–1.00% a year for its Comprehensive Portfolio Management. Each asset band is charged at its own rate. The fee is billed in advance. The brochure also prices one other service, listed under fee details.
| Asset band | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| $0–$3M | 1.00% |
| $3M–$5M | 0.75% |
| $5M–$10M | 0.50% |
| $10M–$25M | 0.375% |
| $25M and above | 0.25% |
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial Planning
- Financial planning for clients who do not hire the firm for discretionary management is billed hourly at $500 per principal hour for financial advisors, with a 50% retainer.
Brooks Nelson owns 50% to 75% of Nelson Capital Management. The leadership team of Nelson Capital Management includes President Brooks Nelson. It has 10 employees, 7 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
Brooks NelsonPresident- Chrissy DiandaPartner
Darcy SmootPrincipal
Stephen PhilpottMember and Chief- Evan NelsonPrincipal
Investment adviser representatives
4 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
Staff
- 10 employees
- 7 in advisory functions
- 4 state-registered reps
- Owns 50% to 75% of Nelson Capital Management, LLC
Brooks Nelson
Control person · since December 2003
- Owns 10% to 25% of Nelson Capital Management, LLC
Darcy Smoot
Control person · since December 2021
- Owns 10% to 25% of Nelson Capital Management, LLC
Stephen Philpott
Control person · since January 2006
- Owns 10% to 25% of Nelson Capital Management, LLC
Evan Nelson
Control person · since December 2021
Nelson Capital Management’s regulatory assets grew from $575M (April 2021) to $811M (April 2026); clients rose from 162 to 214 and employees from 8 to 10. In 2011, Sylvan H. Kline Jr. joined it.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | $811M | 214 | 10 | 1 |
| March 2025 | $712M | 204 | 10 | 1 |
| March 2024 | $638M | 190 | 10 | 1 |
| March 2023 | $511M | 178 | 10 | 1 |
| June 2022 | $626M | 174 | 9 | 1 |
| April 2021 | $575M | 162 | 8 | 1 |
Firms that joined
20111 joined
- Sylvan H. Kline Jr.No filed AUM
Firms whose SEC withdrawal reports a sale to this firm, and deals reported in the press. Teams that moved without selling a registered firm may not appear.
Besides its headquarters, Nelson Capital Management has 0 offices, with 1 listed address in California.
California · 1 listed address
- 545 Middlefield Road, Suite 200, Menlo ParkHQ
Other business names
Nelson Capital Management has reported 1 other business name to the SEC.
- Nelson Capital
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Nelson Capital Management, LLC
- Headquarters
- 545 Middlefield Road, Suite 200, Menlo Park, CA 94025
- Website
- nelsoncap.com
- Phone
- 650-322-4000
- @822268
- SEC file
- 801-62601
- Founded
- 2004
- Structure
- California LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
Nelson Capital Management uses Charles Schwab ($615M, 79%) and U.S. Bancorp Advisors ($165M, 21%) as custodians for its separately managed accounts. Nelson Capital Management has custody of $675M in client assets for 190 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · San Francisco, CA · $615M79%
- U.S. Bancorp AdvisorsU.S. Bancorp Advisors, LLC · Palm Beach Gardens, FL · $165M21%
At year end, Nelson Capital Management’s separately managed accounts were mostly in stocks (65%) and bonds (32%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $912M across 120 positions; the largest are Nvidia Corporation (35.3%), Vanguard Tax-managed Fds (5.4%) and iShares TR (4.5%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks65%
- Bonds32%
- State and local bonds18%
- Investment grade corporate bonds12%
- Sovereign bonds2%
- Cash3%
Reported 13F holdings
- $912M
- Reported 13F value
- 120
- Positions
- 65.4%
- In the 10 largest
- +11.3%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- Nvidia Corporation35.3%
- Vanguard Tax-managed Fds · Van FTSE Dev Mkt5.4%
- iShares TR · Ishs 1-5yr Invs4.5%
- Select Sector SPDR TR · ST Str Techn ETF4.2%
- Alphabet Inc. · Cap Stk CL C3.0%
- Apple Inc.3.0%
- Microsoft Corp.2.9%
- SPDR Series Trust · ST Sho Treas ETF2.8%
- Select Sector SPDR TR · ST Str Indl ETF2.5%
- Vanguard Index Fds · Small CP ETF2.1%
Together, the ten largest are 65.4% of reported value.
How many clients does Nelson Capital Management have?
Nelson Capital Management has 214 clients and manages $811 million for them, as of April 2026. They include 178 high-net-worth individuals, 21 individual clients and 13 charitable organizations.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 2 April 2026
What services does Nelson Capital Management offer?
Nelson Capital Management provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, pension consulting, publishing newsletters, education planning, estate planning, insurance, and philanthropic planning.
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 Nelson Capital Management charge?
Nelson Capital Management charges 0.25%–1.00% a year for its Comprehensive Portfolio Management. Each asset band is charged at its own rate. The fee is billed in advance.
Which custodians does Nelson Capital Management use?
Nelson Capital Management’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (San Francisco, CA), with $615M and U.S. Bancorp Advisors, LLC (Palm Beach Gardens, FL), with $165M. 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 April 2026
How many financial advisors does Nelson Capital Management have?
Nelson Capital Management has 4 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 10 employees, and 7 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
What does Nelson Capital Management invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Nelson Capital Management’s separately managed accounts held 65% exchange-traded equities, 18% state and local bonds, 12% investment grade corporate bonds, 3% cash and equivalents and 2% sovereign bonds.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Nelson Capital Management?
Nelson Capital Management’s direct owners are Brooks Nelson (50% to 75%), Darcy Smoot (10% to 25%), Stephen Philpott (10% to 25%) and Evan Nelson (10% to 25%).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 2 April 2026
How does Nelson Capital Management get paid?
Nelson Capital Management is paid through a percentage of assets under management and hourly charges. 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 Nelson Capital Management?
Nelson Capital Management’s main office is at 545 Middlefield Road, Suite 200, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Its phone number is 650-322-4000. Its website is nelsoncap.com.