A. Advisory Firm Description
Transform Wealth, LLC (“Transform Wealth”), is a fee-only investment advisory firm. Transform
Wealth has been providing advisory services (through it and its predecessor) since 2011.
Transform Wealth is a fee only, fiduciary advisor meaning we are required to act in your best
interest and not place our own interests ahead of yours. Our commitment is to:
• Meet a professional and prudent standard of care when making investment
recommendations;
• A duty of loyalty to never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making
recommendations;
• Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give you advice that is in your
best interest;
• Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
As a fiduciary, we have duties of care and of loyalty to you and are subject to obligations imposed
on us by the federal and state securities laws. As a result, you have certain rights that you cannot
waive or limit by contract. Nothing in our agreement with you should be interpreted as a
limitation of our obligations under the federal and state securities laws or as a waiver of any un-
waivable rights you possess.
Transform Wealth is managed by Nathan Kubik and David Kubik (“Transform Wealth Principals”),
pursuant to a management agreement between C & K Management, LLC (“C&K”) and Transform
Wealth. The Transform Wealth Principals serve as officers of Transform Wealth and are
responsible for the management, supervision and oversight of Transform Wealth.
Focus Financial Partners
Transform Wealth is part of the Focus Financial Partners, LLC (“Focus LLC”) partnership. Specifically,
Transform Wealth is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Focus LLC. Ferdinand FFP Acquisition,
LLC is the sole managing member of Focus LLC. Ultimate governance of Focus LLC is conducted
through the board of directors at Ferdinand FFP Ultimate Holdings, LP. Focus LLC is majority-owned,
indirectly and collectively, by investment vehicles affiliated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC
(“CD&R”). Investment vehicles affiliated with Stone Point Capital LLC (“Stone Point”) are indirect
owners of Focus LLC. Because Transform Wealth is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Focus
LLC, CD&R and Stone Point investment vehicles are indirect owners of Transform Wealth.
Focus LLC also owns other registered investment advisors, broker-dealers, pension consultants,
insurance firms, business managers and other firms (the “Focus Partners”), most of which provide
wealth management, benefit consulting and investment consulting services to individuals, families,
employers, and institutions. Some Focus Partners also manage or advise limited partnerships,
private funds, or investment companies as disclosed on their respective Form ADVs.
B. Types of Advisory Services
Transform Wealth is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisory firm that offers Wealth
Management, Financial Planning Services and Consultation Services.
Transform Wealth offers a complimentary initial consultation to discuss services available, to give a
prospective Client the opportunity to review services desired, and to determine the possibility of a
potential relationship. Services begin only after the Client and Transform Wealth formalize the
relationship with a properly executed Client agreement.
Transform Wealth implements investment advice on behalf of certain clients in held-away accounts
that are maintained at independent third-party custodians. These held-away accounts include
401(k) accounts, 529 plans and other assets that are not held at our primary custodian(s).
Transform Wealth is a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended (“ERISA”) with respect to investment management services and investment advice
provided to ERISA plans and ERISA plan participants. Transform Wealth is also a fiduciary under
section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”) with respect to
investment management services and investment advice provided to individual retirement accounts
(“IRAs”), ERISA plans, and ERISA plan participants. As such, Transform Wealth is subject to specific
duties and obligations under ERISA and the IRC, as applicable, that include, among other things,
prohibited transaction rules which are intended to prohibit fiduciaries from acting on conflicts of
interest. When a fiduciary gives advice, the fiduciary must either avoid certain conflicts of interest
or rely upon an applicable prohibited transaction exemption (a “PTE”).
Wealth Management Services
Transform Wealth offers wealth management services that include ongoing and continuous
portfolio management depending on the services desired, as outlined in the Investment
Management Agreement.
Transform Wealth tailors its wealth management services and recommendations to meet the
needs of its individual Clients by assessing Client stated needs, goals, intentions, time horizons, risk
tolerance and investment objectives, based upon information provided by the Client and the nature
of services requested. Transform Wealth anticipates that each Client will actively participate in
the review of information and the formulation of their investment plan.
Transform Wealth places a focus on liquidity, diversification, risk analysis and cash flow through
the use of investments primarily available through nationally-recognized security exchanges.
The portfolio strategies considered for use by Transform Wealth include individual equity securities
(foreign and domestic), bonds, ETFs, no-load mutual funds, corporate debt securities, commercial
paper, Certificates of Deposit, municipal securities, government debt securities (foreign and
domestic), real estate (private and public), partnership (using a Fund of Funds) investments,
private equity and credit and other securities, or a combination thereof. Transform Wealth also
offers advice on the following: warrants; certificates of deposit; option contracts on securities and
commodities; and investments in variable life or annuity products. Transform Wealth also offers
advice on partnerships (public and private).
For Clients with non-discretionary investment management agreements with us, implementation
of any advice or recommendations pertaining to securities and/or non-securities matters – in whole
or in part – is entirely at the Client’s discretion.
Where an existing portfolio has been designed
by the Client or another party, Transform Wealth
can provide recommendations for ongoing management, re-design, adjustments or rebalancing.
Certain Clients may desire to keep holdings within their account(s) that are selected by the Client
and are not the subject of investment advice by Transform Wealth. These are self-directed assets.
Transform Wealth will have no responsibility to manage any self-directed assets in Client accounts
and Transform Wealth accepts no liability to those Clients in connection with any loss relating to self-
directed assets.
Clients requiring assistance on issues relating to matters outside of investment advisory topics
should consult their personal tax adviser, legal counsel, or other professionals for expert opinions.
When providing a review or advice on investments within ERISA retirement plans, the advice and
any recommendations are limited to plan offerings and the service provider(s) selected by the plan
providers.
If services desired go outside the scope of Wealth Management Services during the engagement,
Transform Wealth is available to provide Consultation Services. In such cases, Transform Wealth
will request a new or amended Client Agreement and additional fees will apply. Transform Wealth
will not engage in additional services without the Client’s written direction.
We implement investment advice on behalf of certain clients in held-away accounts that are
maintained at independent third-party custodians. These held-away accounts are often
401(k) accounts, 529 plans and other assets that are not held at our primary custodian(s).
C. Selection of Other Advisers
In limited instances, when Transform Wealth allocates Client assets to External Advisers, the
Client-facing adviser, is responsible for assessing the Client’s needs, communicating with the
client, allocating (or recommending the allocation of) the Client’s assets and conducting due
diligence and monitoring of the Client’s investments. The External Adviser is responsible for
managing certain of the Client’s assets that we allocate to them in a manner consistent with the
manager’s stated investment strategies and in accordance with the guidelines we provide.
D. Financial Planning & Financial Assessment Services
Financial Planning & Financial Assessment Services are dependent upon the nature and scope of
services to be provided. Transform Wealth’s services and the fee for those services are agreed to
with the Client at the time of engagement.
Transform Wealth undertakes two general approaches for providing written Financial Planning
and Financial Assessment Services:
1. A “Comprehensive Financial Plan,” which reviews all o f the various aspects of a Client’s
situation as presented by the Client, which may include, but are not limited to: individual
needs, finances, goals and objectives, time horizons and risk tolerance, business activities,
taxes, estate planning, insurance, educational funding, budgeting, retirement and more. This
Comprehensive Financial Plan includes the data gathering process through a comprehensive
Client Workbook, actual presentation of the written Plan, and ongoing consultation services
regarding the implications and recommendations provided. Ongoing consultation services
are typically provided in conjunction with regular investment portfolio reviews ; however,
if a Client experiences significant changes in their circumstances or requires more
comprehensive updates, the Client may need to re-engage Transform Wealth under a new
planning agreement.
2. A “Focused Financial Assessment” typically includes a simplified, limited scope analysis
covering basic cash flow and net worth projections. Transform Wealth collects data using a
brief Financial Assessment questionnaire. Because of time and project limitations, the Client’s
overall financial situation will not be considered. The Focused Financial Assessment is typically
provided for Clients utilizing Transform Wealth for their wealth management needs. If desired,
Clients can secure Comprehensive Financial Planning services under a separate agreement.
When Clients utilize our combined Comprehensive Financial Planning and Wealth
Management services, we will reach out to them quarterly to encourage a discussion about
their investment portfolios. At the same time, we will also address their ongoing planning
needs. We encourage our Clients to contact us immediately if they experience any significant
life events that could alter the assumptions of their financial plan.
E. Consultation Services
Transform Wealth’s business consulting services are focused on individuals and families who
manage their own business. We will work to understand the unique and complex aspects of your
business operations with a holistic view of your financial situation. These services are offered
outside of the Transform Wealth’s Financial Planning and Wealth Management Services for a fee.
F. Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
Transform Wealth recognizes that each Client is unique, and therefore, Transform Wealth focuses
on providing individualized services. Transform Wealth can tailor services to each Client and their
specific situation based on the nature of the engagement. Clients electing to receive limited
services should understand that Transform Wealth will not have sufficient information to perform
a comprehensive analysis of their long-term financial goals and objectives.
Clients c a n impose reasonable restrictions on the management of their portfolios if Transform
Wealth determines in its sole discretion that the conditions can be accommodated. Clients are
advised to promptly notify Transform Wealth in writing if there are changes in their personal or
financial situation, needs, goals, or objectives, and if they wish to place any limitations on the
management of their portfolios.
G. UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions
We offer Clients the option of obtaining certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party
financial institutions through UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC (together with UPTIQ, Inc and
its affiliates, “UPTIQ”). Please see Items 5 and 10 for a fuller discussion of these services and other
important information.
H. Wrap Fee Programs
Transform Wealth does not offer wrap fee programs; however, wrap fee programs are available
through Weatherstone Capital Management.
I. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, Transform Wealth had discretionary assets under management of
$2,506,767,328 and non-discretionary assets of $7,539,291 for a total of $2,514,306,619.