Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. logo

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Updated today

Client assets under management

$1,187,081,417

Clients

2,584

21% high-net-worth

Advisors

18

of 18 employees

Firm type

Team

5-30 advisors or >$500M in AUM

Clients per advisor

144

Very High

Average account size

$459,397

About

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. is a fee‑only registered investment adviser that provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit‑sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and small businesses. Services described in the brochure include personalized financial planning and analysis, ongoing maintenance contracts, portfolio management across multiple platforms, pension planning, and management of fee‑based annuity contracts.

The firm integrates individualized financial plans with discretionary portfolio management and model strategies, offering custom accounts, quarterly rebalancing, and performance reporting; it also makes available third‑party platforms and wrap programs (including Focus Partners/FPAS and Assetmark). For suitable clients, the brochure discloses use of a broad mix of asset classes and techniques—including options/derivatives, margin transactions, and alternative investments—applied through both discretionary and non‑discretionary mandates.

The brochure highlights several features that distinguish Acorn from many peers: it both develops and administers internal model families (e.g., strategicALPHA/strategicCORE/strategicOPPORTUNITIES and SA Funds) and provides subadvisory services to other registered advisers, and it discloses affiliated operating entities such as a public accounting/tax firm (Acorn Tax Planning, Inc.), a payroll/bookkeeping entity, and related real‑estate and capital affiliates. The firm also documents client education via seminars and maintenance contracts, formal solicitation/referral arrangements and marketing disclosures, and specific policies for overseeing fee‑based annuities and third‑party fund use.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers Educational seminars or workshops
Subadvisory portfolio management services other registered investment advisers

Expertise

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments

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Fee options

Fixed

Financial Planning and Analysis Contract fees range from $3,750 to $19,950,000; Maintenance contracts have ongoing fees

Percentage

$0 - $1,000,000: 1.70% annually (0.425% quarterly) $1,000,001 - $5,000,000: 1.00% annually (0.25% quarterly) $5,000,001 - $10,000,000: 0.90% annually (0.20% quarterly) $10,000,001 - $20,000,000: 0.80% annually (0.175% quarterly) $20,000,001 - $50,000,000: 0.70% annually (0.15% quarterly) >$50,000,001+: 0.60% annually (0.125% quarterly)

Commissions

Some Investment Adviser Representatives are also Registered Representatives and/or licensed insurance agents receiving commissions on insurance products and certain securities transactions

Project-based

$625 - $1,295 per hour for adviser consultations; staff time $175 per hour; minimum two-hour charge

Subscriptions

Maintenance Contract fees charged on 12 or 24 month terms as ongoing consultation and support after initial planning

Other

Account minimum: $1,000,000 Minimum fee: Minimum financial planning fee of $3,750 Fee-only: Fee-only financial planning and investment management; no commissions

Main office location

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

1900 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 600

Reston VA 20191, United States

Number of offices

7

Most active in

Arizona · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Indiana · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Montana · Nebraska · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia

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

Jonathan B

Series 63, Series 65

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Jonathan Browning is a financial advisor with Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. in Reston, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Great Point Capital, LLC, The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc., Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., and Rosenthal Wealth Management Group. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion for around 2,300 to 2,400 clients across 11 advisors, offering both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Shannon W

Series 66

Harrisonburg, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Shannon Ware is a financial advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. with 22 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Great Point Capital, LLC, Acorn Financial Advisory Services, The Strategic Financial Alliance, and Triad Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she is also involved in selling and servicing fixed insurance policies. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion across a client base of around 2,300–2,400 and offers both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management on multiple platforms.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Jonathan C

Series 65

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Jonathan Cox is a financial advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and is also an attorney, owning NOVA Estate Planning, PLLC, an estate planning and administration law firm where he provides legal services on a flat-fee and hourly basis. Cox serves clients in northern Virginia and has plans to expand similar legal services to the Richmond area. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion for around 2,300 to 2,400 clients through 11 advisors, offering both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management across multiple platforms.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

James G

CFP®, Series 66

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

James Gambaccini is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. since 2003. He previously worked at Republic Capital Group and is also president of Acorn Tax Planning, Inc., where he oversees tax return preparation and filing services. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion across 2,300–2,400 clients with a focus on custom and model-based portfolios, discretionary and non-discretionary management, and offers subadvisory and pension planning services.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Michael W

Series 65

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Michael Wakeham is a financial advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in the financial industry since 2015, including positions at Bloomsbury Wealth and Caroline Banks & Associates Ltd. He is currently based in Reston, VA. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion across about 2,300 to 2,400 clients, offering both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Margaret S

Series 63, Series 65

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Margaret Swinney is a financial advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. with 27 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. and The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. outside of her current firm. Swinney also owns and manages a financial services LLC and is involved in the sale of fixed life insurance. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion for around 2,300–2,400 clients across 11 advisors, offering both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Sean T

Series 63, Series 65

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Sean Tyll is a financial advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Acorn since 2019. His prior experience includes roles at Mutual of Omaha and Guardian Life Insurance. Outside of his advisory work, he is also a licensed insurance agent and a mortgage loan originator. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion for around 2,300–2,400 clients and offers both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management across multiple platforms.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Vincent B

CFP®, Series 65

Bethesda, MD

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Vincent Barrett is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. since 2017. He also has a longstanding role at Thomas F Barrett Inc beginning in 2013. Outside of his advisory work, Barrett is Vice President of an independent TPA/Record Keeper and manages an individual life/health business along with group employee benefit plans. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion across about 2,300 to 2,400 clients with 11 advisors, offering both custom and model-based portfolios through discretionary and non-discretionary management across multiple platforms.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Donald U

Series 63, Series 65

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Donald Unger is a financial advisor with Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including VOYA Financial Advisors and Great Point Capital, and has led Old Dominion Insurance & Financial Services since 1991. Unger serves as an unpaid at-large board member of the Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad, a nonprofit organization. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion across 11 advisors, offering both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Nathan G

Series 66

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Nathan Gertler is a financial advisor with Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. in Reston, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Great Point Capital, LLC, Equitable Advisors, LLC, and Ameriprise. Outside of his advisory work, he is licensed as a Life and Health Insurance Agent. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, small businesses, and various institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion for about 2,300 to 2,400 clients, offering custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management across multiple platforms.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Kerby B

Series 65

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Kerby Baden is a financial advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and also works as a lawyer and a full-time senior tax accountant at Canto, Rausch, Deck & Co, PA, occasionally providing clients advice related to these roles. Acorn Financial Advisory Services offers personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion across a broad client base, providing both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Justin S

Series 65

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Justin Souder is a financial advisor with Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. in Reston, VA. He holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Acorn in 2020, he worked at Falls Road Golf Course for four years. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion for around 2,300 to 2,400 clients through 11 advisors, offering both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Ronald W

Series 63, Series 65, Series 66

Alexandria, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Ronald Whitley is a financial advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has been with Acorn since 2017. In addition to his advisory role, he is an independent software consultant. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion across 11 advisors and offers both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Alex D

Series 65

Reston, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Alex D'attilio is a financial advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. with a Series 65 designation and no prior industry experience. Before joining Acorn, Alex worked at the University of Connecticut Recreational Center and Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion across 11 advisors and offers both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Steven B

Series 63, Series 65

Alexandria, VA

Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc.

Steven Brandt is a financial advisor at Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Cetera Advisors, and Brandt & Associates Financial Services. His other activities include serving as a partner in a personal closed investment partnership with two other licensed representatives. Acorn Financial Advisory Services provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages approximately $1.23 billion for around 2,300–2,400 clients across 11 advisors, offering both custom and model-based portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management on multiple platforms.

Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Debt management Private / alternative investments
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