Northern Financial Advisors provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, selecting other managers, education planning, estate planning, insurance, tax planning, and tax preparation. Financial planning was provided to 251–500 clients last fiscal year.
Northern Financial Advisors reports 324 clients. They include 188 high-net-worth individuals and 136 individual clients. Nearly all assets ($684M across 1,939 accounts) are managed with discretion; $97.3K across 18 accounts are not. Of its clients, 2% are outside the U.S. It advised 3 clients without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 42% | 9% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 58% | 91% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 136 | $61.1M | 8.9% | $450K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 188 | $623M | 91.1% | $3.31M |
| Total | 324 | $684M | 100% | $2.11M |
- Clients
- 136
- Regulatory AUM
- $61.1M
- AUM share
- 8.9%
- Avg. per client
- $450K
- Clients
- 188
- Regulatory AUM
- $623M
- AUM share
- 91.1%
- Avg. per client
- $3.31M
Total
- Clients
- 324
- Regulatory AUM
- $684M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $2.11M
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 2%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 3
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 251–500
Northern Financial Advisors is paid through fixed fees (other than subscription fees). The reviewed brochures do not disclose an asset-based fee rate. Read the SEC-filed brochure. The brochure also prices 3 other services, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Asset Management Retainer
- Investment management fee of 1% of assets under NFA management, recalculated annually and billed in advance.
- Spark Retainer
- Fee of $750 plus 1.5% of gross income under $75,000 in investible assets; 1% of investible assets plus 1.5% of gross income from $75,000 to $500,000.
- Standard Retainer
- Annual fixed fee from $6,200 to $75,000 set by complexity and scope; $300 per amended return and up to $300 per dependent return.
Christine Isham owns 75% or more of Northern Financial Advisors. The leadership team of Northern Financial Advisors includes President Christine Isham and Chief Compliance Officer Patrik Isham. It has 11 employees, 8 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
Christine IshamPresident- Patrik IshamChief Compliance Officer
Investment adviser representatives
5 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
Staff
- 11 employees
- 8 in advisory functions
- 5 state-registered reps
- Owns 75% or more of Northern Financial Advisors, Inc.
Christine Isham
Control person · since May 2002
Northern Financial Advisors’ regulatory assets grew from $474M (January 2021) to $684M (September 2026); clients were 324 in both filings and employees rose from 10 to 11.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | $684M | 324 | 11 | 1 |
| January 2025 | $620M | 323 | 13 | 1 |
| January 2024 | $561M | 311 | 13 | 1 |
| January 2023 | $508M | 350 | 12 | 1 |
| January 2022 | $532M | 317 | 8 | 1 |
| January 2021 | $474M | 312 | 10 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, Northern Financial Advisors has 0 offices, with 1 listed address in Michigan.
Michigan · 1 listed address
- 74 E. Long Lake RD., Suite 200, Bloomfield HillsHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Northern Financial Advisors, Inc.
- Headquarters
- 74 E. Long Lake RD., Suite 200, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
- Phone
- 248-985-1632
- SEC file
- 801-119217
- Founded
- 2002
- Structure
- Michigan corporation
- Fiscal year end
- October
Northern Financial Advisors uses Charles Schwab ($664M) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. Northern Financial Advisors has custody of $90.4M in client assets for 122 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · San Francisco, CA · $664M100%
At year end, Northern Financial Advisors’ separately managed accounts were largely in funds (35%) and bonds (31%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $151M across 100 positions; the largest are State Str SPDR S&P 500 ETF T (8.5%), Broadcom Inc. (3.9%) and Caterpillar Inc. (3.6%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks22%
- Funds35%
- Bonds31%
- Cash12%
Reported 13F holdings
- $151M
- Reported 13F value
- 100
- Positions
- 37.5%
- In the 10 largest
- +10.2%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- State Str SPDR S&P 500 ETF T · TR Unit8.5%
- Broadcom Inc.3.9%
- Caterpillar Inc.3.6%
- Apple Inc.3.6%
- Walmart Inc.3.3%
- Microsoft Corp.3.2%
- Nvidia Corporation3.1%
- State Str SPDR Dow Jones Ind · UT Ser 13.1%
- Micron Technology Inc.2.7%
- Goldman Sachs Group Inc.2.5%
Together, the ten largest are 37.5% of reported value.
How many clients does Northern Financial Advisors have?
Northern Financial Advisors has 324 clients and manages $684 million for them, as of September 2026. They include 188 high-net-worth individuals and 136 individual clients.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 21 September 2026
What services does Northern Financial Advisors offer?
Northern Financial Advisors provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, selecting other managers, education planning, estate planning, insurance, tax planning, and tax preparation.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file; Part 2A brochure, Item 4
Which custodians does Northern Financial Advisors use?
Northern Financial Advisors’ separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (San Francisco, CA), with $664M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 21 September 2026
How many financial advisors does Northern Financial Advisors have?
Northern Financial Advisors has 5 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 11 employees, and 8 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 Northern Financial Advisors invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Northern Financial Advisors’ separately managed accounts held 35% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 31% U.S. government and agency bonds, 22% exchange-traded equities and 12% cash and equivalents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Northern Financial Advisors?
Northern Financial Advisors’ direct owner is Christine Isham (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 21 September 2026
How does Northern Financial Advisors get paid?
Northern Financial Advisors is paid through 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
Is Northern Financial Advisors registered with the SEC?
Yes, Northern Financial Advisors has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 31 July 2020. Its CRD number is 121088 and its SEC file number is 801-119217.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 21 September 2026; IAPD firm record
How do I contact Northern Financial Advisors?
Northern Financial Advisors’ main office is at 74 E. Long Lake RD., Suite 200, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304. Its phone number is 248-985-1632. Its website is northernfinancialadvisors.com.