Avant Wealth Management is a investment adviser based in Topeka, KS, that holds a 78.9/100 Fidelon TransparencyScore (6th percentile among state-registered advisers), with 1 registered advisor. Score based on public SEC and FINRA filings.
Avant Wealth Management
Avant Wealth Management, LLC · CRD #289017
A registered investment adviser with a clean regulatory record.
Fidelon Fact Sheet
Avant Wealth Management, LLC is a state-registered investment adviser in Topeka, KS. It has one registered advisor. It manages $2.4 million across 16 client accounts. It charges a yearly percentage of your account that gets smaller as the account grows, and it can also earn commissions when it sells you a product. Its services include financial planning, portfolio management and investment newsletters. Its record shows no customer complaints, regulatory actions or fines.
Peer Context
14,907th of 15,825
state-registered advisers
Bottom 6%
131st of 147
state-registered advisers in KS
Bottom 11%
8th of 8
state-registered advisers in Topeka, KS
Bottom 1%
How This Firm Works
Registration & Standard of Care
Investment Adviser — this firm is a registered investment adviser, held to a fiduciary standard — legally required to act in clients' best interests.
How This Firm Gets Paid
- Charges a percentage of assets under management
- Charges fixed fees for specific services
- Can earn money selling products alongside advice — the product company pays that, so it never appears on an advisory invoice
What you’d pay
Blended across 1 tiers, from $750,001 - $1,500,000.
This fee is negotiable
Avant Wealth Management, LLC states in its Form ADV that advisory fees may be negotiated.
From their Form ADV Part 2A. Most investors never ask.
Not included above
- • Mutual fund sales loads, 12b-1 fees, surrender charges, variable annuity fees, IRA and qualified retirement plan fees, Custody Fee, Sponsor Fee, Sub-Manager Fee (if applicable). Financial planning fixed fees $250-$5,000 or hourly $250.
Estimated from the firm’s Form ADV Part 2A brochure — not a quote. Actual fees are set in your agreement and may differ. Costs charged by others (custodians, fund managers) are not included.
What This Firm Charges
| Account Size | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 - $750,000 | 1.25% |
| $750,001 - $1,500,000 | 1.00% |
| $1,500,001 - $3,000,000 | 0.75% |
| $3,000,001 - $5,000,000 | 0.65% |
| $5,000,001 and above | 0.50% |
Billed quarterly in arrears
Extracted from Form ADV Part 2A brochure
Specializations
Extracted from Form ADV Part 2A brochure
Key Findings
Strengths
- Registered as investment adviser with fiduciary obligation
- Clean regulatory record — no disclosures, arbitrations, or fines
Things You Should Know
- Its brochure names payments received for referring clients elsewhere as a conflict, but it does not name this conflict where the SEC requires, explain what this arrangement tempts the firm to do, or say what the firm is paid for it. Ask whether the firm is paid when it sends you to another company, and by whom.Items 10, 11, 12.B and 14
Conflict Audit
Our analysis identified 1 potential conflict of interest in regulatory filings.
Source: Form ADV Part 1, Items 6-8; Part 2A, Items 10-14
Regulatory Track Record
0
Disclosures
Clean record — no disclosures found
$0
Total Fines
Clean record — no fines found
Regulatory Events
TransparencyScore Dimensions
Disclosure Record
Customer complaints, arbitrations, and fines. Frequency and recency matter.
100/100
Strong
Avg for investment adviser firms: 82.6 | Top 10%: 99.5
Filing Quality
How clearly the firm describes services, fees, and investment approach in regulatory filings.
93/100
Strong
Avg for investment adviser firms: 84.1 | Top 10%: 100
Conflict Disclosure
How openly the firm explains who pays it and what it's paid to sell. The conflict isn't the problem — hiding it is.
47/100
Weak
Avg for investment adviser firms: 54 | Top 10%: 67
Enforcement History
Self-reported legal and disciplinary history from Form ADV Item 11.
100/100
Strong
Avg for investment adviser firms: 99.7 | Top 10%: 100
Their two-page relationship summary
The SEC requires every SEC-registered investment adviser to hand you this summary, called a Form CRS, and says what it must cover. We checked this firm's against that list. What is a Form CRS?
Not required
This firm is not required to file a Form CRS.
Without a Form CRS, the score above cannot go over 90. A firm that gives us one is scored on the same yardstick and can earn up to 10 more points.
What their brochure tells you
The firm must give you this brochure, Form ADV Part 2A, before you sign. We read it against the SEC's own instructions, item by item. Quotes are the firm's own words; page numbers refer to the filed brochure. What is in a brochure?
Can you tell what you'd pay and when?Brochure Fee Clarity100/100
The SEC asks every brochure to spell out the fee schedule, whether fees can be negotiated, how and when you are billed, the other costs you pay, and refunds.
The brochure answers every one of these.
- Can you tell what you'd pay?CoveredItem 5.A
Without a fee schedule you cannot compare this firm with any other.
For our asset management services, client will be charged the following annual fee based upon the amount of assets under management:p. 8
- Does it say whether the fee can be negotiated?CoveredItem 5.A
If fees are negotiable, other clients may be paying less than you for the same service.
Fees charged for our asset management services are negotiable based on the investment adviser representative providing the services, the type of client, the complexity of the client's situation, the composition of the client's Account (i.e., equities versus mutual funds), the potential for additional Account deposits, the relationship of the client with the investment adviser representative, and the total amount of assets under management for the client.p. 8
- Does it say whether the fee comes out of your account or gets billed?CoveredItem 5.B
A fee taken straight from your account is easy to stop noticing.
The investment advisory fees will be deducted from your account and paid directly to our firm by the qualified custodian of your account.p. 8
- Does it say how often you're charged?CoveredItem 5.B
Monthly, quarterly, in advance or in arrears changes what you owe when you leave.
Fees charged for our asset management services are charged based on a percentage of assets under management, billed in the arrears on a quarterly calendar basis and calculated based on the average daily balance value of your Account as of the last business day of the quarterly billing period.p. 8
- Does it list the other costs you pay, like fund and custodian fees?CoveredItem 5.C
The advisory fee is rarely the whole bill; fund, trading and custody costs come on top.
In addition to our compensation, you may also incur charges imposed at the mutual fund level (e.g., advisory fees and other fund expenses).p. 8
- Does it say how you get money back if you leave mid-period?CoveredItem 5.D
If you pay in advance and leave early, the refund rule decides what you get back.
Any prepaid, unearned fees will be promptly refunded by Altruist to you.p. 8
Does it explain each conflict of interest and what it could cost you?Brochure Conflict Specificity43/100
The SEC asks the brochure to name each way the firm gets paid besides your fee, what that tempts the firm to do, and what it can cost you.
Each point is marked Covered or Not found. When a point is not found, we say what to ask.
If it has an affiliated insurance agency, does it explain what that means for you?
An affiliated insurance agency
- Does the brochure name this conflict where the SEC requires?CoveredItems 10/11/12.B/14
A conflict named in the right place is one the firm has thought about; one buried elsewhere is easy to miss.
You may work with your investment adviser representative in his or her separate capacity as an insurance agent.p. 15
- Does it explain what this arrangement tempts the firm to do?CoveredStaff Bulletin Q11
You can only judge advice when you know which way it is being pulled.
This receipt of commissions creates an incentive for the representative to recommend those products for which your investment adviser representative will receive a commission in his or her separate capacity as an insurance agent.p. 15
- Does it describe what the arrangement actually is?CoveredStaff Bulletin Q11
A conflict described in one vague sentence tells you it exists but not how it works.
When acting in his or her separate capacity as an insurance agent, the investment adviser representative may sell, for commissions, general disability insurance, life insurance, annuities, and other insurance products to you.p. 15
- Does it say what the firm is paid for it?CoveredStaff Bulletin Q11
The size of the payment tells you how strong the pull is.
When acting in his or her separate capacity as an insurance agent, the investment adviser representative may sell, for commissions, general disability insurance, life insurance, annuities, and other insurance products to you.p. 15
- Does it say how the firm comes out ahead?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
Benefits that are not cash, like free services or referrals, still shape advice.
What to askAsk what the firm gains from this arrangement beyond fees.
- Does it say what it can cost you?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
Every conflict has a price; the question is whether the brochure puts it in your hands.
What to askAsk what this arrangement can cost you, in fees, returns or choices you do not get.
- Does it say how the firm keeps this conflict in check?Not assessed yetItems 10.C-D, 11.B-D, 14.A
A conflict with no control on it is left to the advisor's goodwill.
What to askAsk whether insurance recommended to you is sold by a company tied to the firm, and who earns what.
If the firm is paid for referring clients elsewhere, does it explain those payments?
Payments received for referring clients elsewhere
- Does the brochure name this conflict where the SEC requires?Not found in the brochureItems 10/11/12.B/14
A conflict named in the right place is one the firm has thought about; one buried elsewhere is easy to miss.
What to askAsk the advisor to walk you through every way the firm gets paid besides your fee.
- Does it explain what this arrangement tempts the firm to do?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
You can only judge advice when you know which way it is being pulled.
What to askAsk what this arrangement gives the firm a reason to recommend, and how often that happens.
- Does it describe what the arrangement actually is?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
A conflict described in one vague sentence tells you it exists but not how it works.
What to askAsk the advisor to explain this arrangement in plain terms, including who pays whom.
- Does it say what the firm is paid for it?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
The size of the payment tells you how strong the pull is.
What to askAsk how much the firm or its people receive from this arrangement in a typical year.
- Does it say how the firm comes out ahead?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
Benefits that are not cash, like free services or referrals, still shape advice.
What to askAsk what the firm gains from this arrangement beyond fees.
- Does it say what it can cost you?Not found in the brochureStaff Bulletin Q11
Every conflict has a price; the question is whether the brochure puts it in your hands.
What to askAsk what this arrangement can cost you, in fees, returns or choices you do not get.
- Does it say how the firm keeps this conflict in check?Not assessed yetItems 10.C-D, 11.B-D, 14.A
A conflict with no control on it is left to the advisor's goodwill.
What to askAsk whether the firm is paid when it sends you to another company, and by whom.
Do they earn commissions on products, and do they say so?Brochure Sales Compensation60/100
When a firm or its people sell products for a commission, the SEC asks the brochure to say so, name the pull, and tell you whether you could buy elsewhere.
Each point is marked Covered or Not found. When a point is not found, we say what to ask.
- Does it say that earning commissions is a conflict of interest?CoveredItem 5.E.1
A firm paid to sell a product has a reason to recommend it that has nothing to do with you.
This receipt of commissions creates an incentive for the representative to recommend those products for which your investment adviser representative will receive a commission in his or her separate capacity as an insurance agent.p. 15
- Does it say commissions can shape what they recommend?CoveredItem 5.E.1
Naming the pull is the first step to controlling it; silence leaves it working on you.
This receipt of commissions creates an incentive for the representative to recommend those products for which your investment adviser representative will receive a commission in his or her separate capacity as an insurance agent.p. 15
- Does it say you can buy the same products elsewhere?Not found in the brochureItem 5.E.2
You may be able to buy the same product for less somewhere else.
What to askAsk whether you could buy any recommended product through another broker or insurer.
- Does it say whether commissions lower your advisory fee?Not found in the brochureItem 5.E.4
If the firm earns a commission and the full advisory fee, you pay twice for one recommendation.
What to askAsk whether any commission the firm earns is credited against your advisory fee.
Do they get free research or services from brokers, and does it affect you?Brochure Soft DollarsNot applicable
Not applicable: the brochure describes no research or services from brokers
A point not found is not a finding against the firm; many points apply only when the firm has that arrangement, and state-registered firms file the same brochure form.
Next Steps
Advisor Roster
1 advisor
| Advisor | CRD | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Paul Schilling | 5410017 | — | — |
Preparing for a meeting?
Pick an advisor at this firm to get a prep kit with their fees, conflicts, track record, and the questions worth asking.
Monitor this firm
Get notified when something changes — new complaints, score movements, firm changes. Free.
Free: 1 advisor, monthly status report. Pro ($7/mo): up to 5, instant alerts, pending complaints.
Is this your profile?
Claim it to understand your TransparencyScore, see your level, and track changes over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the TransparencyScore measure?
The TransparencyScore measures how clearly and completely an advisor or firm discloses important information in their regulatory filings — things like fees, conflicts of interest, disciplinary history, and business practices. A higher score means better disclosure quality, not better investment performance.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from public regulatory filings: SEC Form ADV (Parts 1, 2, and 3), FINRA BrokerCheck, and the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) database. These are official filings that firms and advisors are legally required to submit.
Does a low score mean they're a bad advisor?
Not necessarily. A low score means the firm's public filings are less transparent — they may use vague language about fees, skip details about conflicts, or have a more complex regulatory history. Some excellent advisors work at firms with poor disclosure practices. The score measures the filing, not the person.
How often is this data updated?
Fidelon refreshes data from SEC and FINRA sources on a regular schedule. Form ADV filings are updated annually by firms (with amendments throughout the year), and BrokerCheck data is updated as events are reported. Scores are recalculated after each data refresh.
Can an advisor or firm improve their score?
Yes. Scores are based on what's in public filings. A firm that rewrites its ADV brochure in clearer language, discloses conflicts more specifically, or resolves outstanding regulatory issues will see its score improve at the next refresh. The incentive structure is intentional.
Data Sources
Scores are generated using Fidelon's published scoring methodology and reflect the quality of public disclosures, not the quality of investment advice. A firm that improves its disclosures will see its score improve. Fidelon does not provide investment advice.
Verify on SEC IAPD
Last scored: · Score version: 3.15 · CRD #289017