The Retirement Solution provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, selecting other managers, publishing newsletters, education planning, estate planning, insurance, and tax planning. Financial planning was provided to 780 clients last fiscal year.
The Retirement Solution reports 824 clients. They include 499 individual clients, 324 high-net-worth individuals and 1 corporate or other business client. Of its assets, 64.2% ($449M across 1,988 accounts) are managed with discretion; $250M across 1,176 accounts are not. It advised 108 clients without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 61% | 42% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 39% | 58% |
| 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) | 499 | $292M | 41.8% | $586K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 324 | $407M | 58.2% | $1.26M |
| Corporations and other businesses | Fewer than 5 | $40.8K | 0.0% | $40.8K |
| Total | 824 | $699M | 100% | — |
- Clients
- 499
- Regulatory AUM
- $292M
- AUM share
- 41.8%
- Avg. per client
- $586K
- Clients
- 324
- Regulatory AUM
- $407M
- AUM share
- 58.2%
- Avg. per client
- $1.26M
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $40.8K
- AUM share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- $40.8K
Total
- Clients
- 824
- Regulatory AUM
- $699M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 108
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 780
The Retirement Solution is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges and 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 2 other services, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- One-Time Financial Planning and Consulting
- Fixed fees agreed in writing before work begins and paid on delivery of the work product; the brochure states no amount.
- Ongoing Financial Planning Services
- Ongoing service fees are set in the client agreement and paid monthly in advance; the brochure states no amount.
Sivako LLC owns 75% or more of The Retirement Solution and is in turn owned by James Black (75% or more). The leadership team of The Retirement Solution includes President Thomas Black and Chief Compliance Officer Brian Petraitis. It has 35 employees, 15 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
- Thomas BlackPresident, Financial Planner
- Brian PetraitisChief Compliance Officer
James BlackCEO, Financial Planner
Investment adviser representatives
18 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
Staff
- 35 employees
- 15 in advisory functions
- 15 state-registered reps
- 13 insurance agents
- Owns 75% or more of The Retirement Solution LLC
Sivako LLC
Control person · since February 2023
- Owns 75% or more of Sivako LLC
James Black
Control person · since February 2023
The Retirement Solution’s regulatory assets grew 2.7× from $263M (June 2021) to $699M (May 2026); clients rose from 690 to 824 and employees from 28 to 35.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $699M | 824 | 35 | 5 |
| March 2025 | $573M | 860 | 33 | 4 |
| June 2024 | $475M | 807 | 31 | 4 |
| July 2023 | $397M | 760 | 34 | 4 |
| May 2022 | $466M | 765 | 30 | 4 |
| June 2021 | $263M | 690 | 28 | 4 |
Besides its headquarters, The Retirement Solution has 4 offices, with 5 listed addresses in Colorado and Washington.
Washington · 4 listed addresses
- 18300 Redmond Way, Suite 250, RedmondHQ
- 1110 North Center Parkway, Kennewick
- 1600 Bothell Everett Highway, Mill Creek
- 1600 Continental Way, MT. Vernon
Colorado · 1 listed address
- 9800 Mount Pyramid Court, Englewood
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- The Retirement Solution LLC
- Headquarters
- 18300 Redmond Way, Suite 250, Redmond, WA 98052
- Website
- theretirementsolution.com
- Phone
- 425-558-3700
- @the-retirement-solution
- SEC file
- 801-113783
- Founded
- 2007
- Structure
- Washington LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
The Retirement Solution uses Fidelity ($558M) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. The Retirement Solution has custody of $262M in client assets for 1,148 clients.
- FidelityFidelity Brokerage Services LLC · Smithfield, RI · $558M100%
At year end, The Retirement Solution’s separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (73%) and cash (23%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $511M across 75 positions; the largest are Dimensional ETF Trust (49.9%), Dimensional ETF Trust (10.8%) and Dimensional ETF Trust (7.2%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks4%
- Funds73%
- Cash23%
Reported 13F holdings
- $511M
- Reported 13F value
- 75
- Positions
- 90.1%
- In the 10 largest
- +21.0%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- Dimensional ETF Trust · US Sustainabilty49.9%
- Dimensional ETF Trust · US High Prof ETF10.8%
- Dimensional ETF Trust · US Equi Mark ETF7.2%
- Dimensional ETF Trust · US Cor Equ 2 ETF6.0%
- Dimensional ETF Trust · US Small Cap ETF5.0%
- Dimensional ETF Trust · International3.1%
- Dimensional ETF Trust · Emer Mark SU ETF2.5%
- Microsoft Corp.2.4%
- Apple Inc.1.8%
- Invesco Qqq TR · Unit Ser 11.4%
Together, the ten largest are 90.1% of reported value.
How many clients does The Retirement Solution have?
The Retirement Solution has 824 clients and manages $699 million for them, as of May 2026. They include 499 individual clients, 324 high-net-worth individuals and 1 corporate or other business client.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 15 May 2026
What services does The Retirement Solution offer?
The Retirement Solution provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, selecting other managers, publishing newsletters, education planning, estate planning, insurance, 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
Which custodians does The Retirement Solution use?
The Retirement Solution’s separately managed account assets are held at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (Smithfield, RI), with $558M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 15 May 2026
How many financial advisors does The Retirement Solution have?
The Retirement Solution has 15 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 35 employees, and 15 perform investment advisory functions. 0 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 13 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 The Retirement Solution invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, The Retirement Solution’s separately managed accounts held 73% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 23% cash and equivalents and 4% exchange-traded equities.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns The Retirement Solution?
The Retirement Solution is owned through a holding company by James Black. Its direct owner is Sivako LLC (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 15 May 2026
How does The Retirement Solution get paid?
The Retirement Solution 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
Is The Retirement Solution registered with the SEC?
Yes, The Retirement Solution has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 1 August 2018. Its CRD number is 148106 and its SEC file number is 801-113783.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 15 May 2026; IAPD firm record
How do I contact The Retirement Solution?
The Retirement Solution’s main office is at 18300 Redmond Way, Suite 250, Redmond, WA 98052. Its phone number is 425-558-3700. Its website is theretirementsolution.com.