Planning Alternatives provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, education planning, estate planning, family office services, insurance, retirement plan services, and tax planning. Financial planning was provided to 693 clients last fiscal year.
Planning Alternatives reports 693 clients. They include 345 individual clients, 324 high-net-worth individuals, and 13 corporations and other businesses. Of its assets, 100.0% ($1.54B across 693 accounts) are managed with discretion.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 50% | 9% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 47% | 87% |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | 1% | 2% |
| Charitable organizations | <1% | <1% |
| Corporations and other businesses | 2% | 2% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 345 | $140M | 9.1% | $405K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 324 | $1.34B | 87.1% | $4.14M |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | 8 | $23.4M | 1.5% | $2.93M |
| Charitable organizations | Fewer than 5 | $8.75M | 0.6% | $2.92M |
| Corporations and other businesses | 13 | $27.5M | 1.8% | $2.12M |
| Total | 693 | $1.54B | 100% | — |
- Clients
- 345
- Regulatory AUM
- $140M
- AUM share
- 9.1%
- Avg. per client
- $405K
- Clients
- 324
- Regulatory AUM
- $1.34B
- AUM share
- 87.1%
- Avg. per client
- $4.14M
- Clients
- 8
- Regulatory AUM
- $23.4M
- AUM share
- 1.5%
- Avg. per client
- $2.93M
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $8.75M
- AUM share
- 0.6%
- Avg. per client
- $2.92M
- Clients
- 13
- Regulatory AUM
- $27.5M
- AUM share
- 1.8%
- Avg. per client
- $2.12M
Total
- Clients
- 693
- Regulatory AUM
- $1.54B
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 0
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 693
Planning Alternatives charges 0.20%–0.95% a year for its Wealth Management. Each asset band is charged at its own rate. The fee is billed in arrears, is negotiable and has a $5,000 annual minimum. The brochure also prices 2 other services, listed under fee details.
| Asset band | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| $0–$2M | 0.95% |
| $2M–$5M | 0.75% |
| $5M–$10M | 0.50% |
| $10M–$25M | 0.35% |
| $25M–$50M | 0.25% |
| $50M and above | 0.20% |
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Family Office Services
- Advisory fee of 0.95% on the first $2,000,000 down to 0.20% on the next $50,000,000, plus a retainer set in the agreement; billed quarterly in arrears.
- Qualified Plan Investment Management
- 3(38) investment management for qualified plans: 0.75% on the first $1,500,000, 0.50% on the next $3,500,000, 0.35% on the next $5,000,000 and 0.25% above $10,000,000, billed quarterly in arrears.
Nathan Mersereau owns 75% or more of Planning Alternatives. The leadership team of Planning Alternatives includes President Nathan Mersereau and Chief Compliance Officer Andrew Warning. It has 20 employees, 9 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
- Nathan MersereauPresident
- Andrew WarningChief Compliance Officer
Investment adviser representatives
10 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
- Heather Elizabeth Fulton
- Kent W. Golightly
- Stacey Marie Gomez
- Thomas Edward Graney
- Timothy Hanna
- Bradley James Improta
- Tracey Anne Labrecque
- Nathan Mark Mersereau
- Gary Steven Rosenberg
- David Walter Tutak
Staff
- 20 employees
- 9 in advisory functions
- 8 state-registered reps
- 1 soliciting firm
- Owns 75% or more of Planning Alternatives LTD
Nathan Mersereau
Control person · since May 2013
Planning Alternatives’ regulatory assets grew from $1.09B (April 2021) to $1.54B (August 2026); clients were 693 in both filings and employees fell from 24 to 20. Between 2010 and 2018, 2 advisory firms joined it. The most recent was Wealthcare Advisors, in February 2018.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | $1.54B | 693 | 20 | 3 |
| July 2025 | $1.28B | 683 | 24 | 3 |
| March 2024 | $1.16B | 663 | 21 | 3 |
| March 2023 | $1.02B | 665 | 24 | 3 |
| March 2022 | $1.22B | 669 | 25 | 2 |
| April 2021 | $1.09B | 685 | 24 | 1 |
Firms that joined
20181 joined
- Wealthcare AdvisorsNo filed AUM
20101 joined
- Oakland Wealth ManagementNo 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, Planning Alternatives has 2 offices, with 3 listed addresses in Florida, Michigan and Wyoming.
Florida · 1 listed address
- 405 Fifth Avenue South, Naples
Michigan · 1 listed address
- 255 South Old Woodward Ave., Suite 310, BirminghamHQ
Wyoming · 1 listed address
- 50 West Broadway, Jackson
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Planning Alternatives LTD
- Headquarters
- 255 South Old Woodward Ave., Suite 310, Birmingham, MI 48009-6615
- Website
- planningalt.com
- Phone
- 248-645-1520
- @planning-alternatives
- SEC file
- 801-18310
- Structure
- Michigan corporation
- Fiscal year end
- December
Planning Alternatives uses Charles Schwab ($1.33B, 88%) and Fidelity ($187M, 12%) as custodians for its separately managed accounts. Planning Alternatives has custody of $418M in client assets for 411 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · San Francisco, CA · $1.33B88%
- FidelityFidelity Brokerage Services LLC · Boston, MA · $187M12%
At year end, Planning Alternatives’ separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (84%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $933M across 129 positions; the largest are iShares TR (33.4%), Invesco Exch Traded FD TR II (13.0%) and iShares TR (10.8%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks5%
- Funds84%
- Bonds8%
- U.S. government and agency bonds4%
- State and local bonds2%
- Investment grade corporate bonds2%
- Cash3%
Reported 13F holdings
- $933M
- Reported 13F value
- 129
- Positions
- 83.9%
- In the 10 largest
- +20.4%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- iShares TR · Core S&P500 ETF33.4%
- Invesco Exch Traded FD TR II · S&P 500 Momntm13.0%
- iShares TR · Core S&P Mcp ETF10.8%
- Vanguard Tax-managed Fds · Van FTSE Dev Mkt9.6%
- iShares TR · Core S&P Scp ETF5.6%
- Invesco Exch Traded FD TR II · S&P Intl Momnt3.3%
- Columbia ETF TR II · EM Core EX ETF2.2%
- Apple Inc.2.1%
- Vanguard Index Fds · Growth ETF2.0%
- Schwab Strategic TR · Intl Eqty ETF2.0%
Together, the ten largest are 83.9% of reported value.
How many clients does Planning Alternatives have?
Planning Alternatives has 693 clients and manages $1.54 billion for them, as of August 2026. They include 345 individual clients, 324 high-net-worth individuals, and 13 corporations and other businesses.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 7 August 2026
What services does Planning Alternatives offer?
Planning Alternatives provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, education planning, estate planning, family office services, insurance, retirement plan services, and tax 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 Planning Alternatives charge?
Planning Alternatives charges 0.20%–0.95% a year for its Wealth Management. Each asset band is charged at its own rate. The fee is billed in arrears, is negotiable and has a $5,000 annual minimum.
Source: PLANNING ALTERNATIVES ADV PART 2A BROCHURE 8 7 26, filed 7 August 2026
Which custodians does Planning Alternatives use?
Planning Alternatives’ separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (San Francisco, CA), with $1.33B and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (Boston, MA), with $187M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 7 August 2026
How many financial advisors does Planning Alternatives have?
Planning Alternatives has 8 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 20 employees, and 9 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 Planning Alternatives invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Planning Alternatives’ separately managed accounts held 84% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 5% exchange-traded equities, 4% U.S. government and agency bonds, 3% cash and equivalents, 2% state and local bonds and 2% investment grade corporate bonds.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Planning Alternatives?
Planning Alternatives’ direct owner is Nathan Mersereau (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 7 August 2026
How does Planning Alternatives get paid?
Planning Alternatives 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 Planning Alternatives?
Planning Alternatives’ main office is at 255 South Old Woodward Ave., Suite 310, Birmingham, MI 48009-6615. Its phone number is 248-645-1520. Its website is planningalt.com.