What is the minimum investment to work with Harrington?
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Our Conservative Preservation and Balanced Growth strategies begin at $250,000 and $500,000 respectively. The Long-Term Growth Equity strategy requires $750,000. Our Private Markets Alpha mandate requires a minimum of $2,000,000 and qualified purchaser status. For clients working toward our threshold, we offer a Harrington Starter Portfolio beginning at $100,000 through our digital advisory platform.
Are you a fiduciary, and exactly how are you compensated?
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Yes — Harrington & Associates is a 100% fee-only registered investment advisor operating under the fiduciary standard at all times. We charge a transparent annual advisory fee ranging from 0.65% to 1.15% of AUM, with breakpoints at $500K, $1M, $3M, and $10M+. We accept absolutely no commissions, referral fees, or compensation of any kind from third-party product providers. Our sole financial incentive is the growth of your portfolio.
Where are my assets held and how are they protected?
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All client assets are held in custody at Fidelity Institutional or Charles Schwab — entirely separate from Harrington's own accounts. Harrington never takes custody of client funds. All accounts carry SIPC insurance up to $500,000 per account ($250,000 cash), and our custodians maintain substantial private excess-SIPC coverage above those limits. Harrington carries professional liability, errors & omissions, and cyber liability insurance. The firm is examined regularly by the SEC.
Can I access my money whenever I need it?
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For standard managed accounts, yes — withdrawals can be initiated at any time, with cash typically available within 2–5 business days. For illiquid private market investments, capital commitments are locked for the duration of the fund (typically 7–12 years). These lockup terms are clearly disclosed in full before any commitment. We carefully design every client's liquidity profile so that sufficient liquid assets remain available for all anticipated and emergency needs.
What does the client onboarding process look like?
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Step 1: A complimentary 30-minute discovery call with a senior advisor. Step 2: A comprehensive financial planning session (1–2 hours) covering your complete financial picture, goals, and values. Step 3: We deliver a bespoke Investment Policy Statement and portfolio proposal. Step 4: Account opening, ACAT transfer, or wire funding — typically completed in 3–5 business days. Step 5: Ongoing quarterly portfolio reviews, annual plan updates, and proactive advisor outreach throughout the year.
How do you approach tax efficiency in portfolio management?
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Tax efficiency is not an afterthought — it is embedded in every investment decision. Our process includes year-round tax-loss harvesting, strategic asset location (placing tax-inefficient assets in IRAs and 401(k)s, tax-efficient assets in taxable accounts), long-term capital gain orientation, municipal bond strategies for high-bracket clients, and opportunistic Roth conversion analysis. We work in close coordination with your CPA and estate attorney throughout the year.
How does Harrington handle multi-generational family wealth?
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Multi-generational family wealth is our speciality. We offer dedicated family office services including consolidated reporting across all family accounts and entities, heir education and financial onboarding, family governance facilitation, philanthropic strategy (DAFs, family foundations, CLATs), and coordinated estate planning. Many of our client families have been with us for two or three generations, and we consider this continuity one of our most important institutional capabilities.
