Clients
Wells Fargo Investment Institute serves 12,216 clients, 11,004 of them high-net-worth individuals. The average client has about $3.5 million with the firm, and high-net-worth clients hold 81% of its $43 billion in assets.
- High-net-worth individuals11,004 clients81%
- Corporations and other businesses127 clients6%
- Other748 clients11%
- OtherIndividuals, Pension and profit-sharing plans, Charitable organizations, State or municipal government entities2%
Show client breakdownHide client breakdown
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | Share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 177 | $104,574,611 | 0.2% | $591K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 11,004 | $34,695,681,732 | 80.7% | $3.15M |
| Banking or thrift institutions | 1 | $0 | 0.0% | $0 |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | 11 | $37,859,091 | 0.1% | $3.44M |
| Charitable organizations | 114 | $369,498,380 | 0.9% | $3.24M |
| State or municipal government entities | 32 | $357,138,054 | 0.8% | $11.2M |
| Other investment advisers | 2 | $0 | 0.0% | $0 |
| Corporations and other businesses | 127 | $2,665,737,999 | 6.2% | $21.0M |
| Other | 748 | $4,764,578,874 | 11.1% | $6.37M |
| Total | 12,216 | $42,995,068,741 | 100% | $3.52M |
- Clients
- 177
- Regulatory AUM
- $104,574,611
- Share
- 0.2%
- Avg. per client
- $591K
- Clients
- 11,004
- Regulatory AUM
- $34,695,681,732
- Share
- 80.7%
- Avg. per client
- $3.15M
- Clients
- 1
- Regulatory AUM
- $0
- Share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- $0
- Clients
- 11
- Regulatory AUM
- $37,859,091
- Share
- 0.1%
- Avg. per client
- $3.44M
- Clients
- 114
- Regulatory AUM
- $369,498,380
- Share
- 0.9%
- Avg. per client
- $3.24M
- Clients
- 32
- Regulatory AUM
- $357,138,054
- Share
- 0.8%
- Avg. per client
- $11.2M
- Clients
- 2
- Regulatory AUM
- $0
- Share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- $0
- Clients
- 127
- Regulatory AUM
- $2,665,737,999
- Share
- 6.2%
- Avg. per client
- $21.0M
- Clients
- 748
- Regulatory AUM
- $4,764,578,874
- Share
- 11.1%
- Avg. per client
- $6.37M
Total
- Clients
- 12,216
- Regulatory AUM
- $42,995,068,741
- Share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $3.52M
What it does
Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, selecting other managers and publishing newsletters. It is paid through a percentage of assets and fixed fees.
Wells Fargo Investment Institute advises no private funds.
100.0% of assets ($43.00B across 12,213 accounts) are managed with discretion. $7.76B sits in a wrap fee program the firm both sponsors and manages. 0% of clients are outside the U.S., and 3 clients received advice without assets under management last fiscal year.
What the accounts hold
- Stocks40%
- Funds14%
- Bonds32%
- Investment grade corporate bonds25%
- U.S. government and agency bonds6%
- State and local bonds1%
- Cash12%
- Other2%
- Derivatives2%
Custodians
Wells Fargo Investment Institute’s client accounts are held mainly at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., with 82% of managed assets. Wells Fargo Investment Institute has custody of client assets.
- Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. · San Francisco, CA · $35.24B82%
- All other custodians$7.76B18%
Ownership and leadership
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. owns 75% or more of Wells Fargo Investment Institute.
- Owns 75% or more of Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Control person · since July 2017
- Owns 75% or more of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Wells Fargo & Company
Control person · since July 2017
Leadership
- Darrell CronkPresident and Chief Investment Officer, Director (board Member)
- Haley RonzioChief Financial Officer, Treasurer
- Gregory SigmundChief Operating Officer, Director (board Member)
- David WilliamsChief Compliance Officer
- Britta McCorduckManaging Director and Secretary
- George RusnakDirector (board Member)
- Barry SommersDirector (board Member)
Staff
- 225 employees
- 143 in advisory functions
- 48 state-registered reps
- 7 broker-dealer reps
Fees
Wells Fargo Investment Institute is paid through a percentage of assets under management and fixed fees (other than subscription fees).
Wells Fargo Investment Institute’s fee rates are not included in this profile. Find its brochure on the SEC’s site.
Offices and registrations
Besides its headquarters, Wells Fargo Investment Institute has 2 offices, with 3 listed addresses across 3 states.
Minnesota · 1 listed address
- 550 S 4th Street, Minneapolis
Missouri · 1 listed address
- 2801 Market Street, Saint Louis
North Carolina · 1 listed address
- 550 South Tryon Street, 40th Floor, CharlotteHQ
Other business names
Wells Fargo Investment Institute has reported 8 other business names to the SEC.
- Equity Optimization
- Fixed Income Strategies Team
- Global Asset Allocation
- Global Investment Strategy
- Global Manager Research
- Global Portfolio Management
- Global Securities Research
- Option Strategies Group
Registration details
- Legal name
- Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc.
- Headquarters
- 550 South Tryon Street, 40th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202
- Phone
- 314-354-5814
- Website
- Not reported
- SEC file
- 801-64191
- Structure
- North Carolina corporation
- Fiscal year end
- December
This directory does not report disciplinary history, for any firm or individual, in either direction. The SEC publishes the complete record, including any disciplinary events, and it is the authoritative place to check one. See this firm's record on adviserinfo.sec.gov
Common questions
How many clients does Wells Fargo Investment Institute have?
Wells Fargo Investment Institute has 12,216 clients and manages $43 billion for them, as of March 2026. They include 11,004 high-net-worth individuals, 748 other clients and 177 other individuals.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 23 March 2026
What services does Wells Fargo Investment Institute offer?
Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for institutions, selecting other managers and publishing newsletters.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Which custodians does Wells Fargo Investment Institute use?
Wells Fargo Investment Institute’s separately managed account assets are held at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (San Francisco, CA), with $35,237,460,308. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 23 March 2026
How many financial advisors does Wells Fargo Investment Institute have?
Wells Fargo Investment Institute has 48 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 225 employees, and 143 perform investment advisory functions. 7 are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 0 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 Wells Fargo Investment Institute invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Wells Fargo Investment Institute’s separately managed accounts held 40% exchange-traded equities, 25% investment grade corporate bonds, 14% pooled vehicles (private funds and similar), 12% cash and equivalents, 6% U.S. government and agency bonds, 2% derivatives and 1% state and local bonds. It advises no private funds of its own.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Wells Fargo Investment Institute?
Wells Fargo Investment Institute is owned through a holding company by Wells Fargo & Company. Its direct owner is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 23 March 2026
How does Wells Fargo Investment Institute get paid?
Wells Fargo Investment Institute is paid through a percentage of assets under management 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