GWA is a SEC registered investment advisor located in Mill Valley, California and was formed in 2011.
GWA also has an office in Palm Desert, California. GWA’s principal owners and Managing Members
are:
Elliott Elbaz
Michael Phippen
GWA provides investment management services to:
Individuals
High net worth individuals
Trusts and estates
Pooled investment vehicles
GWA has two distinct types of business activities 1) Advisory Client Services; and 2) Advisor to
Pooled Investment Vehicles. Most of GWAs clients are referred to as “advisory clients” in this
disclosure Brochure. The Firm also has an affiliated entity, Gordian Capital Management, LLC
(“GCM”) who is the General Partner for a pooled investment vehicle. GCM is a Delaware limited
liability company that is owned by Elliott Elbaz and Michael Phippen. Because GCM is “operationally
integrated” with GWA, we are including this investment advisory activity as activity of GWA, and we
will assume responsibility for reporting on the GCM fund(s) as private funds managed by GWA.
In this disclosure Brochure, the two business lines will be discussed separately in each section, as
appropriate.
The Firm currently manages client assets of approximately $342,712,542 on a discretionary basis.
This amount reflects regulatory assets under management (“RAUM”) and was calculated as of March
1, 2024. It is noted that RAUM are assets of securities portfolios over which the adviser provides
“continuous and regular supervisory or management services,” regardless of whether they are
proprietary assets, assets managed without receiving compensation or assets of foreign clients, all of
which an adviser currently may, but is not required to exclude in calculating the “assets under
management” for SEC registration purposes. RAUM represents gross assets rather than net assets
(AUM).
Advisory Client Services:
Portfolio Management: GWA provides investment management services and investment advice to its
advisory clients. This advice is based on the individual needs of each client. Client needs are
determined by reviewing the client’s financial circumstances and working with the client to
determine his/her goals and objectives. During this process an Investment Policy Statement (“IPS")
is created, by which the portfolio will be managed. Investment recommendations are tailored to each
client’s needs, taking into consideration investment objectives, tolerance for risk, liquidity and
suitability, and clients may be able to add reasonable restrictions on investing in certain securities,
types of securities, or industry sectors. A scenario when restrictions may not be accommodated
includes selection of an outside portfolio manager who may not be able to accommodate such
restriction.
Advisory client accounts are managed on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis and advice
is not limited to specific types of investments or products. Based on the client’s IPS, allocations may
include a range of investments. Including exchange-listed securities, securities traded over-the-
counter, corporate debt securities (other than commercial paper), municipal securities, mutual fund
shares, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), United States governmental securities, options contracts on
securities, interests
in partnerships investing in real estate, Interests in partnerships investing in oil
and gas interests, interests in private equity, venture capital funds, private companies, hedge funds
or cash or cash equivalents.
Independent Managers: Where appropriate, GWA recommends the use of independent investment
manager(s) (“independent manager(s)”) to manage certain types of investments in advisory client’s
portfolios. As such, we have an investment committee process by where we evaluate and monitor
these independent managers. More information about our investment committee process can be
made available upon request.
Financial Planning: GWA offers financial planning as part of the services it offers to its advisory
clients at no extra cost to the client. This is not a separate advisory business and advisory clients are
under no obligation to participate in the financial planning services offered.
Pooled Investment Vehicles:
As described above, GCM is a separate entity owned by Elliott Elbaz and Michael Phippen. GCM serves
as the general partner and provides investment advisory services to a private investment fund,
Gordian Capital Strategies, LP (referred to in this Brochure as “GCS”, or the “Fund”). The Fund is
offered as two separate share classes referred to as follows:
Gordian Capital Strategies, LP Class A/B A.K.A. Gordian Capital Strategies Total Return
Gordian Capital Strategies, LP Class C/D A.K.A. Gordian Capital Strategies Income
Pursuant to the Fund’s offering memorandum, limited partnership agreement and subscription
documents (“Constituent Documents”), GCM provides discretionary investment advisory services to
the Fund. This involves all aspects of management of funds invested in the Fund. The Fund is
considered a “Fund of Funds” and invests primarily in other privately held investment funds (each,
an “Underlying Fund” and, collectively the “Underlying Funds”), each managed by an independent
investment adviser (each, an “Underlying Adviser” and, collectively the “Underlying Advisers”). As
such, GCM’s discretionary investment advisory services to the Fund consist largely of selecting the
Underlying Funds and Underlying Advisers in which the Fund invests.
The Fund is offering limited partnership interests (“Interests”) to certain qualified investors as
described in response to Item 7 below (such investors or prospective limited partners are referred
to herein as “Fund Investors”). The Limited Partnership Interests generally have the same rights and
characteristics, differing primarily in terms of the Management Fee (see Item 5 below).
Investment allocations for the Fund are tailored to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives, not
necessarily the investment objectives of the Fund Investors. Generally, GCM has the authority to
select which and how many securities and other instruments to buy or sell without consultation with
the Fund or Fund Investors.
Side Letter Agreements: In accordance with common industry practice, GCM may enter into “Side
Letter” agreements with one or more Fund Investors pursuant to which GCM may agree to vary
certain of the terms applicable to any investor or grant to any such investor specific rights, benefits
or privileges that are not made available to investors generally. At this time, GCM has no such
agreements.