With a large team of advisors, Grimes & Company, Inc. has grown beyond its family business roots. Still, four family members work at the firm: Founder and Chairman Timothy Grimes, President and Chief Investment Officer Kevin Grimes, VP Thomas Grimes and VP Emily G. Wood.
Grimes & Company is based in Westborough, Massachusetts, and is on SmartAsset’s top financial advisor list for the town. The firm has another MA office in Newton and offices in Dallas and Westport, Connecticut, too. The firm also has a number of industry awards to boast. To list one, it was named by Barron's Magazine as a top 100 advisor every year from 2009 to 2021.
Grimes & Company Background
After working at Paul Revere Companies, Timothy Grimes started a predecessor firm in 1985, which he renamed and formed as a corporation in 1999. From 2009 to 2016, Barron’s Magazine named him one of its “Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors.” His son Kevin Grimes has since taken his place on Barron’s rolls and was No. 19 on the 2019 list. Also in 2019, the younger Grimes was No. 4 for Massachusetts in the publication’s top financial advisor rankings by state.
Grimes & Company Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Grimes & Company works with individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and state and municipal government entities. Of its individual client base, most do not have a high net worth. Still, the minimum to open an investment account is $500,000, though the firm may lower the amount at its discretion.
Services Offered by Grimes & Company
Grimes & Company is primarily in the business of providing customized investment advisory services, mostly on a discretionary basis. It may, however, consult on such topics as estate planning, insurance and tax planning. If it does provide this kind of financial planning advice, it will not charge an additional fee.
Grimes & Company Investing Philosophy
The firm primarily implements asset allocations with no-load and load-waived mutual fund classes and individual debt and equity securities. Generally, its strategies include long-term purchases (securities held for at least a year), short-term purchases (securities sold within a year) and options. Its methods of analysis are fundamental and technical.
Fees Under Grimes & Company
As is the case with many firms, Grimes & Company’s advisory fees are a percentage of client assets under management (AUM). These fees do not include brokerage costs and other third-party expenses., but they are negotiable. Rates generally follow this tiered schedule:
| Grimes & Company Fee Schedule | |
| AUM | Annual Fee |
| Under $500K | 1.25% |
| $500k - $2MM | 1.00% |
| Next $5MM | 0.75% |
| Next $3MM | 0.65% |
| Above $10MM | 0.50% |
Below is an overview of what you can expect to pay in advisory fees as a client of Grimes & Company.
| *Estimated investment management fees do not include brokerage, custodial, third-party manager or other fees, which can vary in amount. | |
| Estimated Investment Management Fees at Grimes & Company* | |
| Your Assets | Grimes & Company Fee Amount |
| $500K | $6,250 |
| $1MM | $11,250 |
| $5MM | $43,750 |
| $10MM | $78,250 |
Grimes & Company Awards and Recognition
Grimes & Company has a number of awards and accolades to boast, such as:
- Named to Barron’s Magazine Top 100 Independent Advisors, 2009 - 2021
- Featured in Barron’s Magazine's list of Top 100 Advisors, 2015 - 2021
- Featured in Barron’s Magazine's list of Top 1,200 Advisors State by State, 2011 - 2020
- Named by the Financial Times as a Top 300 RIA Firm, 2014 - 2019
- Named by Financial Advisor Magazine as a Top Independent RIA Firm, 2012 - 2019
What to Watch Out For
In its most recent SEC filings, Grimes & Company had no criminal or regulatory actions to report.
Advisors may be registered representatives of a broker-dealer or insurance agents. While these roles can create a potential conflict of interest due to the commissions that are earned, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in its clients' best interest at all times.
Opening an Account With Grimes & Company
If you're interested in opening an account with Grimes & Company, go online to the firm's website and submit a contact form. You can also call over the phone or visit the firm in person.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
Tips for Finding the Right Financial Advisor
- Need an advisor who provides financial planning? SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Ask candidates who will be able to move money out of your account. This is especially important if the firm doesn’t use third-party custodians. Even with a discretionary account, all transfers out of it should have to be authorized by you.
