Better Money Decisions, LLC (Santa Fe)

Name: Better Money Decisions, LLC
Address: 460 St. Michael's Drive, Santa Fe, NM, 87505
Telephone: 844-507-0961

Better Money Decisions, LLC is a large advisory firm based in Santa Fe. It manages $120.56 million of regulatory assets for 417 client accounts. It has been registered with the SEC as an adviser since 2019 and has operated in the jurisdictions of Arizona, California, Massachusetts, and 3 other states.

Better Money Decisions provides financial planning services and portfolio management for individuals and small businesses. It prepares financial plans for more than 25 clients. On top of advisory services, the firm doesn't engage in other business activities.

Better Money Decisions: assets under management

The assets under management (AUM) of Better Money Decisions, LLC is $120.56 million, all of which is managed in discretionary accounts. The firm's AUM has grown by 9% since the beginning of its operation, and the company doesn't manage any assets belonging to foreign clients.

The firm manages $120.56 million in discretionary accounts. On average, the discretionary accounts where all decisions are made on behalf of the client hold $289.11 thousand each.

Investments

The firm invests in investment and business development companies the most. They account for 73% of the total AUM. The second-largest asset type is cash and cash equivalents, which make up 11% of the firm’s portfolio. Investments in exchange traded securities form 8% of the total invested assets.

Fees & Commissions

The advisory firm has several streams of revenue. Clients pay Better Money Decisions, LLC for their services and products based on a percentage of assets under management and fixed fees. Compensation based on assets under management promotes a long-term relationship between a client and the adviser and helps align mutual interests. These fees don’t include brokerage commissions, interest, taxes, and other account expenses.

What kind of clients Better Money Decisions serves?

The firm provides services to individuals and high net worth individuals. The largest group of clients of Better Money Decisions is high net worth individuals with 29 clients and $69.86 million of assets under management. Among the 9 most similar advisory firms, Better Money Decisions has the 5th highest percentage of high net worth individuals out of all clients.

The amount of regulatory assets under management is $118.69 million for 152 clients that can include trusts, estates, and 401(k) plans and IRAs of individuals and their family members. None of the firm’s clients are foreign persons or businesses.

Better Money Decisions doesn't advise any private funds.

Careers at Better Money Decisions, LLC

The company employs 7 people that are either part- or full-time employees. 71 percent of the employees work as investment advisers or researchers. 7 employees are registered as investment adviser representatives with the state securities authorities.

There isn’t anyone with the role of looking for and bringing in new clients on behalf of the firm. The firm doesn’t compensate employees in addition to the salary for bringing in new clients. Employees don’t receive compensation from other entities for client referrals.

Direct owners and executive officers

Name	Entity	Date acquired	Ownership	Employer ID
Maria Katharine Stalter	Managing member	1 Sep 2014	25% - 50%	6120014
Lorraine Frassinell Ell	Managing member, cco	1 Nov 2015	25% - 50%	1128365
Lea Ann Garrison Knight	Minority owner	1 Jan 2019	Other	2911144

Based in Santa Fe

The principal office where Better Money Decisions, LLC performs its advisory services is located at 460 St. Michael's Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505, which is also the mailing address of the firm. An additional office of the firm is in Phoenix, AZ. It doesn’t run an office outside of the United States.

You can reach the main office by calling the phone number 844-507-0961 or by fax 505-717-8717. The normal business hours are by appointment on Monday - Friday. You can find more information about the New York firm at facebook.com/bettermoneydecisions/ and its LinkedIn profile.