Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC

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Client assets under management

$328,737,630

Clients

100% high-net-worth

Advisors

of 7 employees

Firm type

Supported

1-4 advisors or >$200M in AUM

Clients per advisor

Very Low

Average account size

$7,827,086

About

Ballast Capital Advisors serves primarily high‑net‑worth individuals and institutional‑type clients — including trusts, retirement plans, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and funds — through discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning, retirement, estate and tax planning services. The firm’s client base does not generally include non‑high‑net‑worth retail individuals, resulting in a relatively small number of clients managing roughly $329 million in assets.

The firm emphasizes a liability‑driven investment process that treats fixed income as the foundation of portfolios, favoring individual bonds and asset‑liability matching over bond funds, while using low‑cost indexed ETFs for core equity exposure and selectively adding active equity or credit positions when opportunities arise. Investment decisions combine top‑down cycle and sector analysis with bottom‑up company and capital‑structure research, and the firm may include alternative investments and limited partnership interests within client policy limits.

Distinctive features include an affiliated sponsor that originates and manages commercial and residential real estate syndications and other private offerings, which the firm may make available to clients (often subject to accredited investor status and separate sponsor fees), and a small advisory team with institutional fixed‑income experience and professional credentials that focuses on bespoke, bond‑centric portfolios for a concentrated client roster. The firm discloses these relationships and referral arrangements and reports potential conflicts of interest when affiliated private opportunities are presented to clients.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management

Expertise

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Private / alternative investments

Fee options

Percentage

$0 - $299,999: $4,500 fixed fee $300,001 - $600,000: $5,500 fixed fee $600,001 - $900,000: $7,500 fixed fee $900,001 - $1,500,000: $10,000 fixed fee $1,500,001 - $3,000,000: $17,500 fixed fee $3,000,001 - $5,500,000: $30,000 fixed fee $5,500,001 - $10,000,000: $50,000 fixed fee $10,000,001+: Negotiable fixed fee

Other

Minimum fee: Annual fixed fees ranging from $4,500 to $50,000 based on asset size tiers Fee-only: Fee based on the greater of 0.75% of AUM or fixed fee schedule as listed; fees are negotiable

Main office location

Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC

1200 Office Plaza Drive

West Des Moines IA 50266, United States

Number of offices

Most active in

Iowa · Texas

Disclosures

Business activities & affiliations

Is active or affiliated with:

Fund sponsor

They manage or sponsor investment funds and may earn management or performance-based fees if clients invest in them.

Is not active or affiliated with:

Insurance agent

They sell insurance products and may earn commissions on those sales.

Broker-dealer / trader

They provide brokerage services and may earn transaction-based compensation in addition to advisory fees.

Bank

They're affiliated with a bank that may offer its own financial products and services.

Trust company

They provide trust and estate administration services, typically for separate fees.

Accountant / CPA / tax prep

They offer tax and accounting services, typically for separate fees.

Lawyer

They provide legal services, typically billed separately.

Real estate agent

They facilitate real estate transactions and may earn commissions.

Other specialized services

They may provide services such as pension consulting or municipal advisory work, typically for separate fees.

Forms ADV

Form ADV Part 2: Client Brochure Form ADV Part 3: Client Relationship

Quick links

LinkedIn Facebook X Website 844-331-4662

Advisors at this firm

Gregory C

CFA®

West Des Moines, IA

Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC

Gregory Carstensen is a CFA® charterholder and financial advisor with Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC, based in West Des Moines, IA. He has 13 years of industry experience and has been with Ballast Capital Advisors since 2016. He is also involved as a managing member and chief investment officer of Asymmetria Capital Partners, LLC, and serves as the general partner of the Ballast Distressed Opportunity Fund. Ballast Capital Advisors serves primarily high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients through discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm emphasizes a liability-driven investment approach focused on fixed income, combining top-down and bottom-up research to create bond-centric, bespoke portfolios.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Private / alternative investments

Chad C

Series 63, Series 65

New Hartford, NY

Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC

Chad Carstensen is a financial advisor at Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Ballast since 2016. He is also a board member of the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, a nonprofit organization based in Utica, NY. Ballast Capital Advisors primarily serves high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients through discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm emphasizes a liability-driven investment approach focused on fixed income and offers bespoke, bond-centric portfolios to a concentrated client base.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Private / alternative investments

Patrick F

CFA®

West Des Moines, IA

Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC

Patrick Freund is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC since 2017 and previously spent eight years at American Equity Investment. Freund is a member-manager of Spire Capital, LLC, a private investment holdings entity that is currently dormant. Ballast Capital Advisors serves primarily high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, offering discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm emphasizes a liability-driven investment approach centered on fixed income, combining top-down and bottom-up research, and provides access to affiliated private investment opportunities.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Private / alternative investments

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