Ian Arrowsmith

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Phone: 410-972-2494

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Ian Arrowsmith CMFC®, CRPC®

Managing Partner
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from your clients?

Saving for retirement takes the better part of a lifetime. You work on it for 30-40 years. There isn’t any way to make it quicker. But all it takes is adopting the right behavior—whether you’re 20 or 50. Then just put the savings behavior on autopilot.

Can you share a favorite kernel of wisdom for those just starting to invest and save?

20%, 20%, 20%! It’s the only number in investing that really matters. I’ve seen clients who save 5% on an annual basis, and clients who save 20%. The clients who save 20% have a better chance of living the lifestyle they desire.

Please share a few of your career highlights.

I began my career working with high net worth clients at T. Rowe Price. It was a valuable experience. T. Rowe Price didn’t offer advice on their clients’ accounts; each investor chose his or her own investments. I found that, no matter how much money they had, fear and greed often pushed people to make bad decisions. I knew I had to get into a firm that allowed me to help clients get over that hurdle.

What are your personal interests and passions?

I inherited a love of building things from my dad, who is an engineer. He helped me renovate the first house. There is a lot of satisfaction in taking a space and making it better with your own two hands.

Education & Designations:
  • Towson University, BS, Economics and Political Science
  • CHARTERED MUTUAL FUNDS COUNSELOR℠
  • CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANNING COUNSELOR℠
Registration & Licenses:
  • FINRA Series 7, 63 & 65 Registrations
  • Life and Health Insurance Licensed
Career Highlights:
  • Named as a “Five Star Wealth Manager” in Baltimore Magazine 2015-2024*

*This award was issued on 1/1/24 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 4/10/23 through 10/31/23. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,126 Baltimore-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 256 (12% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2126, 256, 12%, 1/1/23, 4/18/22 – 10/21/22; 2022: 2078, 260, 13%, 1/1/22, 5/10/21 – 11/12/21; 2029, 237, 12%, 1/1/21, 4/27/20 – 10/30/20; 2020: 1898, 234, 12%, 1/1/20, 4/1/19 – 11/13/19; 2019: 1865, 265, 14%, 1/1/19, 4/19/18 – 11/7/18; 2018: 1759, 232, 13%, 1/1/18, 4/21/17 – 11/6/17; 2017: 1093, 355, 32%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 – 11/11/16; 2016: 1215, 356, 29%, 12/1/15, 6/16/15 – 11/9/15; 2015: 1749, 412, 24%, 1/1/15, 6/16/14 – 11/9/14; 2014: 1484, 395, 27%, 1/1/14, 6/16/13 – 11/9/13; 2013: 1490, 448, 30%, 1/1/13, 6/16/12 – 11/9/12; 2012: 1470, 262, 18%, 1/1/12, 6/16/11 – 11/9/11. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.