Dragan Mark Filipovic, CFA®
Independent financial advisor and founder of Gold Coast Capital Management, serving individuals and families in Chicago and nationwide.
After approximately two decades across investment banking, finance and wealth management, I founded Gold Coast Capital Management to offer investors something I believed was increasingly difficult to find: disciplined investment management, transparent fees and direct access to the professional responsible for their portfolio.
Dragan Mark Filipovic, CFA® My Story
Over approximately two decades working across investment banking, finance and wealth management, I have had the opportunity to see investing from many different perspectives.
One lesson has remained remarkably consistent.
Successful investing is rarely about predicting the next market move, identifying the next hot stock or reacting faster than everyone else.
More often, long-term success comes from doing the fundamentals exceptionally well.
It means understanding what you are trying to accomplish. Building a portfolio appropriate for those objectives. Managing risk thoughtfully. Diversifying intelligently. Paying attention to taxes and costs. Maintaining discipline when markets become uncomfortable. And having someone accountable for helping you make sound decisions when circumstances change.
Over the years, I also encountered many investors who were paying substantial advisory fees while having surprisingly little clarity about their portfolios.
They did not always understand what they owned. They did not necessarily know why particular investments had been selected. Some rarely spoke with the person actually responsible for managing their money. And many had never stopped to calculate how much they were paying for investment management each year.
I believed investors deserved a better experience. So in 2022, I founded Gold Coast Capital Management.
The objective was straightforward: create an independent investment advisory firm where clients could receive disciplined portfolio management, transparent pricing and direct access to an experienced investment professional who remains personally accountable for the relationship.
No proprietary investment products. No sales quotas. No rotating advisor teams. Just thoughtful financial guidance and investment management built around each client's circumstances.
Approximately Two Decades Across Investment Banking, Finance and Wealth Management
Why I Founded Gold Coast Capital Management
I did not create Gold Coast Capital Management to replicate the traditional wealth management model on a smaller scale.
I wanted to build a different kind of advisory relationship.
- One where clients know who is managing their investments.
- One where the fee is clear.
- One where investment decisions are driven by the client's goals rather than sales incentives.
- And one where an investor can pick up the phone and speak directly with the person responsible for the portfolio.
That philosophy continues to shape how Gold Coast operates today.
Independent Fiduciary Advice
As an investment adviser, Gold Coast Capital Management provides advice within a fiduciary relationship.
That means recommendations are made with the client's interests at the center of the decision-making process.
There are no proprietary investment products to sell and no sales quotas determining what goes into a client's portfolio.
Direct Advisor Relationship
When you become a Gold Coast Capital Management client, you work directly with me.
Not a junior advisor. Not a call center. Not a rotating group of relationship managers.
I learn about your goals, financial circumstances, concerns and priorities, and I remain personally involved in managing your investment strategy.
Transparent Fees
Investors should be able to clearly understand what they pay for ongoing advice and portfolio management.
Gold Coast Capital Management charges a transparent 0.50% annual advisory fee, with a straightforward structure designed to make investment-management costs easy to understand.
Fees are only one part of choosing an advisor, but their long-term impact is worth understanding and comparing.
Why the CFA® Charter Matters
Earning the CFA® charter requires completing all three levels of the CFA Program, extensive investment study, qualifying professional experience and meeting CFA Institute membership requirements.
The CFA Program develops advanced knowledge in areas directly relevant to managing wealth, including investment analysis, portfolio management, valuation and risk management.
CFA® charterholders are required to follow the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, emphasizing integrity, professional responsibility and ethical decision-making.
At Gold Coast Capital Management, your portfolio is managed directly by a CFA® charterholder, not passed down to a junior advisor or investment team.
A Direct Relationship With Your Financial Advisor
Chicago investors have no shortage of choices when looking for financial advice. There are national banks, brokerage firms, large wealth management organizations, independent RIAs and individual financial advisors throughout the city.
Gold Coast Capital Management offers an alternative for investors who prefer a more direct relationship.
I work with individuals and families in Chicago who want to understand how their money is being managed, what they are paying and who is ultimately responsible for the investment decisions affecting their financial future.
Gold Coast Capital Management serves clients throughout Chicago and nationwide.
For Chicago investors accustomed to large financial institutions or multi-advisor teams, the difference is simple: when you work with Gold Coast, you work directly with me.
That may include someone who is:
Professional & Regulatory Information
Transparency should extend beyond your investment portfolio. Investors should be able to verify the professionals and firms they are considering working with.
Public registration information for investment advisers and investment adviser representatives can be reviewed through the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database.
Verify Dragan Mark Filipovic through IAPDGet an Independent Perspective on Your Portfolio
You do not need to become a client to start a conversation.
If you already have a financial advisor, manage your own investments or simply want another perspective before making an important decision, I would be happy to review your current portfolio with you.
We can discuss what you own, how your investments are structured, the level of risk you are taking, what you are paying and whether the strategy still aligns with what you want your money to accomplish.
There is no pressure and no obligation. The goal is to help you leave the conversation with greater clarity about where you stand.