SEC-registered firm
Registration does not mean the SEC approves or recommends the firm, and it does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
William Blair & Company L.L.C.
Chicago, IL
CRD 1252
Firm filing updated March 31, 2026 ·
- $64.3BAssets
- 38,171Clients
- 231Advisory staff
- 39,781Accounts
Fees and minimums
All fee types on the form
- Percentage of assets under managementYes
- Fixed feesYes
- Hourly chargesNo
- Subscription fees (for a newsletter or periodical)No
- CommissionsNo
- Performance-based feesNo
- OtherNo
Who the firm serves
- Individuals26,242
- High net worth individuals9,054
- Corporations or other businesses1,333
- Other investment advisors1,146
- Pension and profit sharing plans364
- and 2 more32
See the client table
| Client type | Approximate number of clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than high net worth) | 26,242 | $7.3 billion |
| High net worth individuals | 9,054 | $45.4 billion |
| Pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies and business development companies) | 1 | $5.6 million |
| Pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans) | 364 | $379.1 million |
| Charitable organizations | 31 | $1.8 billion |
| Other investment advisors | 1,146 | $1.4 billion |
| Corporations or other businesses not listed above | 1,333 | $8.1 billion |
What the client labels mean
Here, "individuals" includes trusts, estates, and IRAs of individuals. A "high net worth individual" is a qualified client or qualified purchaser.
Services
- Financial planning services
- Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses
- Portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies)
See all 6 services
- Portfolio management for businesses (other than small businesses) or institutional clients
- Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
- Other: "EQUITY RESEARCH SERVICES"
- Financial planning services
- Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses
- Portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies)
- Portfolio management for businesses (other than small businesses) or institutional clients
- Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
- Other: "EQUITY RESEARCH SERVICES"
Assets and accounts
- Regulatory assets$64.3 billion
- Accounts39,781
- Discretionary$58.1 billion · 38,800 accounts
- Non-discretionary$6.2 billion · 981 accounts
People
- Employees492
- Advisory staff231
- Broker-dealer reps410
- Licensed insurance agents49
- Planning clients2,700
Advisors
189 advisors with a profile on Advisable
Listed A to Z by last name. Not a ranking.
Registration details
- SEC-registered investment advisor. CRD 1252, SEC file 801-688.
- Registered with the SEC as an investment advisor (status date on record: December 24, 1947).
Is William Blair & Company L.L.C. a fiduciary?
Short answer: William Blair & Company L.L.C. is registered with the SEC as an investment advisor. Some of its people may also act in other roles, such as for a broker-dealer or as insurance agents, where different rules apply. Details below.
More detail
The SEC put it this way in 2019: 'Under federal law, an investment adviser is a fiduciary.'
Some of the firm's people may also act for a broker-dealer: 410 staff are broker-dealer representatives, the firm is itself a broker-dealer and the firm has a related broker-dealer. When someone acts for a broker-dealer, a different SEC standard, Regulation Best Interest, applies to their recommendations. Ask which role they are acting in.
49 staff are licensed insurance agents and the firm is itself an insurance broker or agent.
The firm's Form CRS explains its services, fees and conflicts in plain language: Form CRS.
About this data
Informational only. Advisable Finance is not an investment advisor, does not give investment advice, and does not endorse any advisor.