Wealth manager, independent · Dallas, TX
Balefire, LLC
SEC-registered investment adviser · CRD 168733 · SEC 801-78506
At a glance
Balefire, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser based in Dallas, Texas, with $2.0B in regulatory assets under management as of its Form ADV filed March 31, 2026. It reports 1,757 individual clients, 235 of them high-net-worth, holding an average of about $0.6 million each, and 38 employees. That ranks it 560th among the nation’s 5,657 independent wealth management RIAs and 33rd of 367 in Texas. It reports Charles Schwab as the custodian for its clients’ separately managed accounts.
Main office 972-361-1001balefirewealth.comLinkedInAs filed on Form ADV
- Regulatory AUM
- $2.0B
- Rank among independent wealth managers
- #560 of 5,657
- Rank among all SEC RIAs
- #3,648 of 17,210
- Rank in Texas
- #33 of 367
- Individual clients
- 1,757
- High-net-worth clients
- 235
- Accounts
- 1,871
- Discretionary
- 100% of AUM
- Employees
- 38
- Advisory staff
- 38
- Offices
- 9
Owners and executives on its Form ADV
- John R. HoffmanManaging Partner
- Mark M. OswaldChief Compliance Officer
- Jason S. HesterManaging Partner
- George W. HesterMinority Owner
- Blair M EnfieldMinority Owner
- Christopher A. TiptonMinority Owner
- Steven R. RutledgeMinority Owner
Custody and brokerage
Broker-dealer
Hybrid RIA
Balefire, LLC is a hybrid RIA: 17 of its employees are also registered representatives of a broker-dealer.
Its Form ADV brochure (filed March 2026) names Integrity Alliance as the broker-dealer its advisers are registered with.
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations Registered Representatives of Integrity Balefire associates and partners may also be Registered Representatives of Integrity, a registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA and SIPC.
Who it serves
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pension and profit sharing plans | 94 | $873M | 44% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 235 | $686M | 35% |
| Individuals | 1,522 | $364M | 18% |
| Corporations or other businesses | 13 | $59M | 3% |
| Insurance companies | – | $5M | <1% |
| State or municipal government entities | – | $1M | <1% |
| Charitable organizations | – | $0M | <1% |
Disciplinary disclosures
Balefire, LLC answers yes to 3 disclosure items in Item 11 of Form ADV (criminal, regulatory or civil matters involving the firm or its advisory affiliates). Read the details on the SEC’s adviser search ↗
Services
- Financial planning
- Portfolio management for individuals and small businesses
- Portfolio management for businesses and institutions
- Pension consulting
- Selecting other advisers
- Educational seminars and workshops
How it’s paid
- A percentage of assets under management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees
Form ADV and brochures on the SEC’s adviser search ↗balefirewealth.com ↗
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The full record on Balefire, LLC
Ten years of SEC filings, its owners and contacts, and how it stacks up against its peers. Atlas members see all of it.
- Assets, accounts, clients and staff, ten years of filings
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- Growth over one, three and five years
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- Rank against 1,987 peers of its type and size
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- Owners and executives, with titles and stakes
- 7 namedLocked
- Main office, fax and compliance officer
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- Filing changes this year, with alerts
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Free while Atlas launches: create a free account and confirm your email. Every figure comes from SEC filings.
Similar-size RIAs in Texas
All of Texas →| Firm | Regulatory AUM | Clients |
|---|---|---|
| Adell Harriman & CarpenterHouston | $2.1B | 764 |
| Inscription Capital, LLCHouston | $2.0B | 414 |
| Corda Investment Management, LLCHouston | $2.0B | 1,359 |
| Guidestone AdvisorsDallas | $2.0B | 2,087 |
| Cfo4lifeCoppell | $1.9B | 877 |
| Austin AssetAustin | $1.9B | 447 |
Background
Questions
How much does Balefire, LLC manage?
Balefire, LLC reports $2.0B in regulatory assets under management across 1,871 accounts, 100% of it on a discretionary basis, on its Form ADV filed March 31, 2026.
How many clients does Balefire, LLC have?
It reports 1,757 individual clients: 235 high-net-worth individuals and 1,522 other individuals. Individuals account for about 53% of its regulatory assets.
Where is Balefire, LLC headquartered?
Its main office is in Dallas, Texas. It reports 9 offices in total and 38 employees, 38 of whom perform investment advisory functions.
How does Balefire, LLC charge clients?
On Form ADV it lists these forms of compensation: a percentage of assets under management; hourly charges; fixed fees. Fees and minimums are set out in its Form ADV Part 2A brochure, available on the SEC’s adviser search.
What custodian does Balefire, LLC use?
It reports Charles Schwab as the custodian for its clients’ separately managed accounts. On Schedule D of its Form ADV filed March 31, 2026, it reports these amounts held: Charles Schwab ($336M). Form ADV lists only custodians holding 10% or more of separately managed account assets.
Is Balefire, LLC a hybrid RIA with a broker-dealer?
Balefire, LLC is a hybrid RIA: 17 of its employees are also registered representatives of a broker-dealer. Those representatives can also earn commissions on brokerage business through the broker-dealer, where different rules apply than for advisory accounts.
Is Balefire, LLC a fiduciary?
As an SEC-registered investment adviser, Balefire, LLC owes its advisory clients a fiduciary duty under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which includes duties of care and loyalty. 17 of its employees are also registered representatives of a broker-dealer, where different rules apply to brokerage recommendations.
Where these numbers come from
Every figure is Balefire, LLC’s own answer on its latest Form ADV, from the SEC’s registered-adviser list as of October 1, 2026: regulatory assets and accounts (Item 5.F), clients by type (5.D), employees (5.A and 5.B), compensation (5.E) and services (5.G). Custodians come from Schedule D 5.K(3) of its latest filing (2026-03-31), which lists those holding 10% or more of separately managed account assets and the amount at each. “Hybrid” means some employees are also registered representatives of a broker-dealer (Item 5.B(2)); affiliated broker-dealers are the related persons it lists in Item 7.A and Schedule D. Firm type comes from its own answers: broker-dealer firms are registered broker-dealers themselves (Item 6.A); private fund advisers manage mostly private funds (Item 7.B, 5.D); wealth managers manage at least half their assets for individuals (5.D). Its national rank compares it with every US-based independent wealth management RIA, the same field as The Largest RIAs. Figures are as of the firm’s last annual update, so they can lag recent deals and market moves. Regulatory AUM counts assets the firm continuously supervises and can differ from what a firm markets.
Not an endorsement or a recommendation. Before hiring any adviser, read its Form ADV Part 2A brochure and check its record on the SEC’s adviser search. How to check a financial advisor →