Avalon Advisors LLC (Houston)


Avalon Advisors LLC is a large advisory firm based in Houston. It manages $7.39 billion of regulatory assets for 4,775 client accounts. It has been registered with the SEC as an adviser since 2009 and has operated in the jurisdictions of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and 48 other states.

Avalon Advisors provides financial planning services, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles, portfolio management for businesses and institutional clients, selection of other advisers, educational seminars and workshops, and model portfolio provider. It prepares financial plans for less than 10 clients. On top of advisory services, the firm doesn't engage in other business activities.

Avalon Advisors: assets under management

The assets under management (AUM) of Avalon Advisors LLC is $7.39 billion. The firm's AUM has grown by 152% since the beginning of its operation, and the company doesn't manage any assets belonging to foreign clients.

The firm manages $6.3 billion in discretionary accounts and $1.08 billion in non-discretionary accounts. On average, the discretionary accounts where all decisions are made on behalf of the client hold $1.55 million each. Non-discretionary accounts, where clients actively manage their portfolios, generally hold around $1.52 million.
Avalon Advisors has custody of $4.91 billion in cash and securities for 1,439 clients in total but doesn’t act as a qualified custodian.

Investments

The firm invests in exchange traded securities the most. They account for 57% of the total AUM. The second-largest asset type is state and local bonds, which make up 26% of the firm’s portfolio. Investments in investment and business development companies form 5% of the total invested assets.

Fees & Commissions

The advisory firm has several streams of revenue. Clients pay Avalon Advisors LLC for their services and products based on a percentage of assets under management and performance-based 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 Avalon Advisors serves?

The firm provides services to individuals, insurance companies, charitable organizations, high net worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles, corporations or other businesses, and pension and profit sharing plans. The largest group of clients of Avalon Advisors is high net worth individuals with 1,260 clients and $5.52 billion of assets under management. Among the 10 most similar advisory firms, Avalon Advisors has the 4th highest percentage of high net worth individuals out of all clients.

The amount of regulatory assets under management is $7.36 billion for 1,724 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.

Avalon Advisors also advises several private funds. Namely, two other private funds and three private equity funds. The minimum investment commitment required of non-related persons ranges from $75,000 to $500,000.

Careers at Avalon Advisors LLC

The company employs 68 people that are either part- or full-time employees. 66 percent of the employees work as investment advisers or researchers. 39 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 compensates 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
Russell Brian Hawkins Member 1 Apr 2001 Other 2176084
Billy Joe Mccombs Member 1 May 2001 Other 1519020
Willie Thurman Langston Member, executive officer, elected manager 1 Mar 2005 Other 1441946
Gary Thomas Bonner Chief operating officer, member 1 Jun 2007 Other 5503180
Llc Platform Partners Member 1 Mar 2008 Other 20-4311042
Kevin John Lilly Member, executive officer, elected manager 1 Mar 2008 Other 1937298
Robert Paul Gauntt Member, executive officer, elected manager 1 Mar 2008 Other 1551568
Frederick Rice Lummis Elected manager 1 Mar 2008 Other 2239148
David John Jesulaitis Member, executive officer 1 Mar 2008 Other 5044912
Brett Alan Williams Member, executive officer 1 Mar 2008 Other 4852665
Llc Avaquant Member 1 Mar 2008 Other 26-2240192
Henry James Lartigue Member, executive officer, elected manager 1 Mar 2008 Other 2003032
Robert Lewis Heintz Member, executive officer 1 Mar 2008 Other 1647825
Michael Joseph Cregan Member, executive officer 1 Mar 2008 Other 1164240
James Alan Pavlik Member, executive officer 1 Jan 2009 Other 4279213
L.P. Carlyle Financial Services Avalon Member 1 Sep 2011 25% - 50% 45-3637479
Christopher Vincent Dodds Elected manager 1 Sep 2011 Other 1596630
Randal K Quarles Elected manager 1 Sep 2011 Other 6067244
Peggy Elaine Lebert Chief compliance officer 1 Mar 2012 Other 1082302
Jeffrey Phelps Member, executive officer 1 Jan 2013 Other 2907826
Henry James Lartigue Managing partner, member, executive officer, elected manager 1 Feb 2014 Other 2003032
Alexander Chase Robison Director of finance 1 Feb 2014 Other 6187335
Alexander Chase Robison Chief financial officer 1 May 2015 Other 6187335
Llc Cynosure Avalon Holdings I Member 1 Sep 2015 Other 32-0470438
Cynosure Avalon Holdings Ii Member 1 Sep 2015 Other 47-4604609
Alexander Chase Robison President & cfo 1 Sep 2015 Other 6187335
Richard Keith Taylor Elected manager 1 Oct 2015 Other 4992112
Andrew Robert Braithwaite Elected manager 1 Apr 2016 Other 5668328
Robert Kean Hatcher Elected manager 1 Dec 2016 Other 6042758
Spencer Peterson Eccles Elected manager 1 Dec 2016 Other 6589570
Richard Keith Taylor Elected manager 1 Dec 2016 Other 4992112
Ltd. Minion Trail Member 1 Dec 2016 Other 20-1920087
Pinto Investment Partners Lp Member 1 Dec 2016 Other 91-2191863
Henry James Lartigue Chief investment officer, member, elected manager 1 Feb 2017 Other 2003032
Peggy Elaine Lebert Chief compliance officer, member 1 Feb 2017 Other 1082302
Alexander Chase Robison President & ceo, member, elected manager 1 Feb 2017 Other 6187335
David John Jesulaitis Executive officer, member 1 Feb 2017 Other 5044912
Wyatt Leclercq Hogan Chief legal officer 1 Feb 2018 Other 6912678
Henry James Lartigue Co-chief investment officer, member, elected manager 1 Oct 2018 Other 2003032
Eugene William Stone Co-chief investment officer, member 1 Oct 2018 Other 2533249
Henry James Lartigue Executive officer, member, elected manager 1 Jan 2019 Other 2003032
Eugene William Stone Chief investment officer, member 1 Jan 2019 Other 2533249

Indirect Owners

The SEC currently registers 40 indirect owners.

Name Entity Date acquired Ownership Employer ID
Spencer Fox Eccles Director 1 Jan 1981 Other 6614570
Texas Production Company General partner 1 Jan 1997 75% - 100% 74-1109785
Lisa Ellen Eccles Director 1 Jan 2000 Other 6589578
Robert Maurice Graham Director 1 Jan 2000 Other 6680014
Cockrell Investment Partners Lp Member 1 Jul 2002 75% - 100% 76-0541105
Cip Gp Llc General partner 1 Sep 2002 75% - 100% 68-0511794
Pinto Gp Limited General partner 1 Feb 2003 75% - 100% 32-0031091
Gordy Oil Company General partner 1 Jan 2005 Other 76-0070845
Russell Douglas Gordy Limited partner 1 Jan 2005 50% - 75% 6741092
Frederick Walter Brazelton Elected manager, member 1 Mar 2008 Other 5513251
Carlyle Group Management L.L.C. General partner 1 Jul 2011 Other 45-2831199
L.P. Carlyle Financial Services Aiv Vi Member 1 Sep 2011 75% - 100% 45-3637568
L.P. Carlyle Financial Services Aiv Vi Holdings Member 1 Sep 2011 25% - 50% 45-3637685
L.P. Tcg Financial Services A General partner 1 Sep 2011 Other foreign
L.P. Tcg Financial Services A General partner 1 Sep 2011 Other foreign
L.P. Tcg Financial Services Investment Holdings Member 1 Sep 2011 50% - 75% 98-0570648
Ltd Carlyle Financial Services A General partner 1 Sep 2011 Other foreign
Ii L.P. Tcg Holdings Cayman Member 1 Sep 2011 75% - 100% 98-0206218
Ltd. Dbd Cayman General partner 1 Sep 2011 Other 98-0206216
Ltd. Dbd Cayman Holdings Member 1 Sep 2011 75% - 100% 98-0684875
William Elias Conway Non-voting member 1 Sep 2011 25% - 50% 1776820
Daniel Anthony D'aniello Non-voting member 1 Sep 2011 25% - 50% 1723797
David Mark Rubenstein Non-voting member 1 Sep 2011 25% - 50% 1723794
Ltd. Carlyle Offshore Partners Ii Voting member 1 Sep 2011 75% - 100% 98-0233709
Ltd. Carlyle Offshore Partners Ii Holdings Member 1 Sep 2011 75% - 100% 98-0684878
Ltd. Carlyle Financial Services Holdings General partner 1 Sep 2011 Other 98-0567837
L.P. Tc Group Cayman Investment Holdings Member 1 Sep 2011 75% - 100% 98-0339178
L.P. Tcg Holdings Cayman Ii General partner 1 Sep 2011 Other 98-0206218
Ltd Carlyle Financial Services Holdings General partner 1 Sep 2011 Other 98-0567837
Carlyle Holdings I Gp Sub L.L.C. General partner 1 Nov 2011 Other 61-1675874
Carlyle Holdings I Gp Inc. Member 1 Nov 2011 75% - 100% 80-0784146
The Carlyle Group L.P. Shareholder 1 Nov 2011 75% - 100% 45-2832612
L.L.C. Tc Group General partner 1 Feb 2012 Other 54-1686957
Tc Group Sub L.P. Member 1 May 2012 75% - 100% 80-0789190
Carlyle Holdings I L.P. Member 1 May 2012 75% - 100% 80-0784309
Clista Hope Eccles Member 1 Jun 2015 Other 6589577
Stephen Eccles Denkers Member 1 Jul 2015 Other 6630514
Spencer Fox Eccles Member 1 Jul 2015 Other 6614570
Christina Hope Hayward Member 1 Jul 2015 Other 6614571
George S. And Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation Member 1 Jul 2015 75% - 100% 87-6118245

Based in Houston

The principal office where Avalon Advisors LLC performs its advisory services is located at 2929 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019 7124, which is also the mailing address of the firm. An additional office of the firm is in San Antonio, TX. It doesn’t run an office outside of the United States.

You can reach the main office by calling the phone number 713-238-2050 or by fax 713-238-2092. The normal business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday - Friday. You can find more information about the New York firm at avalonadvisorslp.com and its LinkedIn profile.