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Est. 2026The front page of wealth managementNew York

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RIA comparison · SEC Form ADV

Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. vs Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc.

Two independent wealth managers side by side: assets, clients, staff, services and fees, from each firm’s own filing.

The short answer

Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. is the larger of the two, with $32B in regulatory assets to $23B at Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc., 40% more than its rival, by their latest Form ADV filings. Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. reports more individual clients (11,064 vs 5,251), while Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc’s clients hold more on average (about $2.9 million each against $2.7 million). Both are based in Ohio: Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. in Akron and Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. in Cincinnati.

FigureSequoia Financial Group, L.L.C.Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc.
Regulatory AUM$32B$23B
National rank#32#45
HeadquartersAkron, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Individual clients11,0645,251
High-net-worth clients4,5562,995
Average client assets$2.7 million$2.9 million
Accounts39,63618,154
Discretionary95% of AUM99% of AUM
Employees424164
Advisory staff19576
Clients per advisory employee5769
Offices396
Form ADV filed2026-08-242026-05-19

Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C.

Full profile →

Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management for individuals and small businesses
  • Portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles
  • Portfolio management for businesses and institutions
  • Pension consulting
  • Selecting other advisers
  • Periodicals or newsletters
  • Educational seminars and workshops

How it’s paid

  • A percentage of assets under management
  • Hourly charges
  • Subscription fees
  • Fixed fees
  • Performance-based fees

Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc.

Full profile →

Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management for individuals and small businesses
  • Portfolio management for investment companies
  • Portfolio management for businesses and institutions
  • Pension consulting
  • Selecting other advisers

How it’s paid

  • A percentage of assets under management
  • Fixed fees

Questions

Which is bigger, Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. or Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc.?

Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C., with $32B in regulatory assets under management against $23B at Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. Nationally they rank #32 and #45 among 5,657 independent wealth management RIAs.

How many clients do Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. and Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. have?

Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. reports 11,064 individual clients (4,556 high-net-worth) with 195 advisory employees; Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. reports 5,251 (2,995 high-net-worth) with 76 advisory employees.

How do Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. and Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. charge clients?

Only Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. lists hourly charges; subscription fees; performance-based fees on Form ADV. Fee schedules and minimums are in each firm’s Form ADV Part 2A brochure.

What services do Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. and Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. offer?

Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. lists portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles; periodicals or newsletters; educational seminars and workshops, which Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. does not. Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. lists portfolio management for investment companies, which Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. does not. Both offer financial planning; portfolio management for individuals and small businesses; portfolio management for businesses and institutions; pension consulting; selecting other advisers.

More comparisons

Where these numbers come from

Every figure is the firm’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). Average client assets divide the assets held for individual and high-net-worth clients by their number. Ranks compare each firm with all US-based independent wealth management RIAs, the same field as The Largest RIAs. Figures can lag recent deals and market moves.

Not an endorsement or a recommendation of either firm. Before hiring an adviser, read its Form ADV Part 2A brochure and check its record on the SEC’s adviser search: Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. ↗, Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. ↗. How to check a financial advisor →