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McDonald Partners LLC

Updated today

Total assets under management

$1,279,273,513

Total clients

1,131

26% high-net worth

Total advisors

22

of 29 employees

Firm size

Multi Team

Average clients per advisor

51

Average account size

$1,131,099

About

McDonald Partners serves individual (including high‑net‑worth) and institutional clients — banks, pension and deferred compensation plans, trusts, estates, foundations, charitable organizations, and business entities — offering investment management and financial planning alongside pension and defined‑benefit consulting and brokerage services. Engagements can be structured as discretionary or non‑discretionary portfolio management, one‑time or subscription financial planning, and participation in wrap or advisor programs.

The firm takes a customized approach, tailoring portfolios to client objectives and using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across multiple platforms, including an in‑house large‑cap “Core” strategy and RBC‑sponsored advisor and UMA offerings. McDonald Partners also sponsors and advises pooled investment vehicles through an affiliated manager, applies formal valuation policies to illiquid fund holdings, and may waive advisory fees on client investments in those funds under specified offset arrangements.

What distinguishes McDonald Partners from many peers is its dual role as an investment adviser and affiliated broker‑dealer: some financial advisors are registered representatives who may receive commissions and sell insurance products, and the firm has acted as placement agent, sponsor, and manager for private funds. The firm has in the past settled SEC and FINRA enforcement matters related to private fund placements and supervisory deficiencies, resulting in monetary sanctions and agreed‑upon compliance remediation.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers

Expertise

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy

Occupation focus

Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive

Demographic focus

Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals

Fee options

Fixed

One-time financial planning flat fee determined by Financial Advisor based on complexity.

Percentage

$0 - $500,000: 1.75% annually (Fixed Income Only Accounts) $500,001 - $1,050,000: 1.25% annually (Fixed Income Only Accounts) $1,050,001 - $2,050,000: 1.00% annually (Fixed Income Only Accounts) $2,050,001+: 0.75% annually (Fixed Income Only Accounts) $0 - $500,000: 3.00% annually (Equity/Balanced Accounts) $500,001 - $1,050,000: 2.50% annually (Equity/Balanced Accounts) $1,050,001 - $2,050,000: 2.00% annually (Equity/Balanced Accounts) $2,050,001+: 1.50% annually (Equity/Balanced Accounts)

Commissions

Commissions on option trades: $9.00 per trade plus $0.50 per option contract (minimum $3.00); Commissions on Michigan municipal tax-free bonds; Selling concessions on new issue securities and secondary offerings.

Performance-based

Carried interest and performance fees related to private funds as disclosed in offering documents; fees waived until advisory fees equal or exceed placement fees.

Subscriptions

Subscription-based financial planning fees: $4,000 to $10,000 annually depending on clientship level.

Other

Account minimum: $5,000 Fee-only: One-time financial planning fees are flat fees determined by Financial Advisor based on complexity; Subscription financial planning fees are $4,000 (Foundation), $7,500 (Growth), $10,000 (Legacy) annually.

Main office location

McDonald Partners LLC

1301 East 9 Th Street, Suite 3700

Cleveland OH 44114, United States

Number of offices

4

Most active in

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Advisors at this firm

user avatar

Thomas Y

Series 66

Olmsted Falls, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Jonathan H

CFA®, Series 63

Cleveland, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Rita M

Series 63, Series 65

Cleveland, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Timothy N

Series 63, Series 65

Boyne City, MI

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Joseph S

Series 63, Series 65

Kirtland, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Steven R

Series 66

Beachwood, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

John C

Series 66

Toledo, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Devon M

Series 63, Series 66

Ann Arbor, MI

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Michael M

Series 63, Series 65

Fort Myers, FL

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Paul M

Series 63, Series 65

Boyne City, MI

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Ted S

Series 63, Series 65

Fort Myers, FL

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Matthew N

Series 66

Toledo, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Jacqueline R

Series 63, Series 65

Paris, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Arnold M

Series 66

Shaker Heights, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
user avatar

Brian M

Series 66

Cleveland, OH

McDonald Partners LLC

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
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