What does Armbruster Capital Management (ACM) do?
Armbruster Capital Management is a registered investment adviser (RIA) that provides customized wealth management services, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm manages over $1 billion in assets and serves individuals, families, institutions, and corporations.
ACM also offers sub-advisory services to professional service organizations, such as other investment firms, accounting firms, and law firms seeking specialized investment expertise, and helps them build and service their own RIAs.
What is your approach to investing?
Markets rise and fall, but investors can control fees, taxes, and risk exposure. ACM focuses on these controllable factors rather than attempting to time the market. Our approach emphasizes disciplined long-term investing across stocks, bonds, and alternative investments.
What is your investment philosophy?
Our investment philosophy is grounded in evidence-based strategies developed at leading academic institutions, including the University of Chicago, Stanford, and Yale. For stock portfolios, we use factor-based investing, emphasizing four key drivers of long-term returns:
- High Quality – Companies with strong balance sheets and consistent earnings.
- Low Volatility – Stocks that exhibit lower price fluctuations.
- Value – Companies trading at attractive valuations.
- Momentum – Stocks with strong recent performance that often continue to outperform.
What is your fee structure?
ACM is a fee-only advisor, meaning we are compensated solely by our clients. We do not receive commissions, referral fees, or compensation for selling financial products. Our advisory fee is 0.60% on the first $3 million of assets under management and 0.40% on assets above $3 million.
What is the minimum to become a client?
We offer personal consultations to individuals and families with investable assets of $1,000,000 or more.
How do I become a client?
To learn more or begin the onboarding process, contact us through our website or call (585) 381-4180. A financial advisor will discuss your goals and guide you through the next steps.
Who do you typically work with?
We serve high-net-worth individuals and families, institutions, foundations, endowments, and employer retirement plans such as 401(k) or 403(b) plans.
Who owns Armbruster Capital Management?
ACM is an independent, employee-owned firm founded in 2009 by CEO Mark Armbruster.
How do you ensure investment security?
Client assets are held by large, reputable custodians such as Charles Schwab. This separation between management and custody provides an important safeguard and ensures security.
Where is ACM located?
ACM ‘s headquarters are in Pittsford, NY, and our advisors serve clients nationwide.
Address:
1250 Pittsford Victor Rd
Bldg. 100, Ste 180
Pittsford, NY 14534
Are you affiliated with any broker-dealers?
No. ACM operates on a zero-commission model and receives no third-party compensation. We are a fully independent RIA and fiduciary. We are not a broker-dealer, are not hybrid-registered, and are always committed to working in our clients’ best interests.
What is the difference between a broker-dealer and an RIA?
RIAs are independent fiduciaries legally obligated to act in their clients’ best interests. They are typically compensated through transparent, fee-based arrangements.
Broker-dealers are often associated with large brokerage firms and are held to the lower suitability standard and are not required to act as fiduciaries. They may receive commissions for selling certain products, which can create conflicts of interest.
For a deeper comparison, see our article Working with a Broker-Dealer vs. RIA.
Are you a fiduciary?
Yes. As an SEC-registered investment adviser, ACM is legally bound to always act in your best interest. Our fiduciary duty means placing our clients’ financial needs above our own. We focus on protecting what you’ve built so you can focus on your family and your future.
Will my assets be invested in a standard portfolio? To what degree can my investments be customized?
ACM builds portfolios using an evidence-based investment framework, but every client’s financial situation is unique. We begin with a research-driven core portfolio and tailor it to your goals, risk tolerance, tax considerations, liquidity needs, and personal preferences. Your portfolio reflects both our structured methodology and your individual circumstances.
What is your tenure in the market? What designations do you have?
ACM was founded in 2009 and is staffed by experienced professionals, including CFA charter holders and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Our team brings deep analytical expertise and decades of combined industry experience.
How do you stand out from your peers?
Armbruster Capital Management delivers hyper-rational wealth management rooted in academic research, low costs, and uncompromising fiduciary integrity. As a fee-only firm, we do not have sales incentives or product agendas. Our focus is simple: doing what is right for our clients, every time.