High-Level Overview
Acrylic Financial, Inc. is a registered investment advisor (RIA) based in Fountain Hills, Arizona, focused on delivering transparency in investing and portfolio management for clients ranging from beginners to high-net-worth individuals with billions in assets.[1][2][3] Founded in 2017, the firm manages approximately $84 million in assets under management (AUM), offering personalized portfolio management, investment planning, debt/credit planning, and strategies emphasizing risk reduction and market outperformance through diversified assets like ETFs, mutual funds, equities, fixed income, REITs, and commodities.[2][3][4] Its mission centers on uncovering hidden fees, aligning investments with clients' goals, risk tolerance, and time horizons via Investment Policy Statements, while providing services from retirement planning to debt optimization—making complex finance accessible and effective.[1][2]
Origin Story
Acrylic Financial, Inc. was formed as an Arizona corporation in February 2017, with principal owners David Racich, Charles Anthony Truhlar (designated principal in Illinois), and Ashley Megan Racich.[2] The firm's inception addressed a core need for transparency in investing, evolving from a focus on helping novice investors understand their portfolios and fees to managing proprietary strategies that aim to outperform markets while minimizing risk.[1] Early traction built on personalized advisory services, growing to handle diverse client needs across portfolio management and planning, with Charles Anthony Truhlar leading operations.[2] This foundation has sustained the firm through expansion to nearly $84 million AUM by serving a broad spectrum of investors.[3]
Core Differentiators
- Transparency as Core Philosophy: Unlike traditional advisors reliant on relationships, Acrylic emphasizes clear visibility into fees, performance, and strategies, uniquely serving beginners who need it most alongside billion-dollar investors.[1]
- Personalized Portfolio Management: Tailors Investment Policy Statements to individual goals, risk tolerance, and horizons, using diversified assets like ETFs (primary focus), mutual funds, equities, fixed income, REITs, commodities, and inflation-protected bonds for risk-adjusted outperformance.[2]
- Comprehensive Planning Services: Beyond investments, offers debt/credit planning (budgets, income analysis, debt optimization) and holistic strategies for goals like retirement or home buying, with limited third-party advisor use (under 3%).[2]
- Proven Track Record and Scale: Manages $84 million AUM as an RIA specializing in portfolio management, financial planning, advisory consulting, and sub-advisory, with a focus on proprietary strategies since 2017.[3][4][5]
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Acrylic Financial operates in the fintech-adjacent RIA space, riding the wave of democratized investing fueled by retail trading apps, fee compression, and demand for transparency post-GameStop era and regulatory scrutiny on hidden costs.[1][2] Its timing aligns with market forces like rising interest in ETFs and alternatives (REITs, commodities) amid inflation and volatility, enabling outperformance for everyday investors.[2] By bridging novices and institutions, Acrylic influences the ecosystem through education on fees and diversification, countering opaque traditional finance and supporting broader access to wealth-building tools in a low-fee, tech-enabled advisory model.[1][4]
Quick Take & Future Outlook
Acrylic Financial is poised for growth as transparency demands intensify with AI-driven analytics and robo-advisor competition, potentially expanding AUM through proprietary strategies and sub-advisory services.[4][5] Trends like sustainable investing, crypto integration (via ETFs), and personalized AI planning could shape its path, amplifying influence among underserved retail clients while scaling to more institutional relationships.[2] Its evolution from 2017 origins to $84 million AUM positions it to redefine accessible, high-performing advisory—ultimately empowering more investors with the clarity that defines its transparent core.[1][3]