A. Description of the Advisory Firm
Apollon Wealth Management, LLC (“Apollon Wealth” or the “Advisor”) is a limited liability company
organized in the State of Delaware. Apollon Wealth is an investment adviser registered with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Apollon Wealth’s registration with the SEC
became active on January 22, 2018. Apollon Wealth is wholly owned by Apollon Holdings, LLC.
Our firm offers services through our network of investment advisor representatives (“Advisor
Representatives” or “IARs”). IARs may have their own trade names and logos that are used for marketing
purposes and may appear on marketing materials or client statements. These are trade names that Apollon
Wealth is Doing Business As (“DBA”), for purposes of providing its advisory services. The IARs using
the separate DBAs are under the supervision of Apollon Wealth, as are the advisory services offered by
the IAR. Examples of DBAs used to conduct advisory services for Apollon Wealth include: Apollon New
England, Adi Dassler International Family Office (“ADIFO”), Bluechip Wealth Management, Catalyst
Apollon, Jason Young and Associates, JE Wilson of Apollon, Podesta Capital Apollon, Prism Advisory,
Pelley Group or Apollon, Piershale Financial Group of Apollon, Tree City Advisors of Apollon, Proper
Wealth Management, and Westside Wealth Management of Apollon. Additionally, certain IARs use
regional identifiers, along with Apollon Wealth as their DBA.
All statements in this brochure, including those made in the present tense, describe the prospective
business of Apollon Wealth. If you have any questions regarding the contents of this Disclosure
Brochure, please do not hesitate to contact our Chief Compliance Officer, Michael Herman by telephone
at (843) 579-0018 or by email at mike.herman@apollonwealth.com.
B. Types of Advisory Services
Apollon Wealth offers investment advisory services to individuals, high net worth individuals, families,
family offices, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations, retirement plans and pooled investment
vehicles (each a “Client”).
The Advisor serves as a fiduciary to Clients, as defined under the applicable laws and regulations. As a
fiduciary, the Advisor upholds a duty of loyalty, fairness and good faith towards each Client and seeks to
mitigate potential conflicts of interest, by putting the best interests of its clients ahead of its own interest.
Apollon Wealth’s fiduciary commitment is further described in the Advisor’s Code of Ethics. For more
information regarding the Code of Ethics, please see Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in
Client Transactions and Personal Trading.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
Apollon Wealth provides a variety of comprehensive financial planning and consulting services to its
Clients. Such engagements may be part of the investment advisory engagement or pursuant to a separate
engagement. Generally, such financial planning services will involve preparing a financial plan or
rendering a financial consultation based on the Client’s financial goals and objectives. This planning or
consulting may encompass one or more areas of need, including, but not limited to cash flow analysis,
investment planning, retirement planning, estate planning, personal savings, educational savings, and
other areas of a Client’s financial situation. For certain Clients, Apollon Wealth offers specialized
planning for businesses of Clients that focuses on exit strategies and succession plans.
A financial plan developed for, or financial consultation rendered to, the Client will typically include
recommendations for a course of activity or specific actions to be taken by the Client. For example,
recommendations may be made that the Client start or revise their investment programs, commence, or
alter retirement savings, establish education savings and/or charitable giving programs. Apollon Wealth
may recommend its own services and/or other professionals to implement its recommendations. Clients
are advised that a conflict of interest exists if Apollon Wealth recommends its own services, as such a
recommendation may increase the advisory fees paid to Apollon Wealth. The Client is under no
obligation to act upon any of the recommendations made by Apollon Wealth or its IARs under a financial
planning or consulting engagement to engage the services of any such recommended professional,
including Apollon Wealth itself. Apollon Wealth will not provide investment advisory services,
including any ongoing investment recommendations for Client assets for which it does not receive
written authority from the Client for such advisory services.
For certain Clients, such as small businesses, Apollon Wealth may provide specialized needs analyses,
planning, business valuation analysis, business performance reviews or other services as may be required
by such Clients. Clients may hire Apollon Wealth to provide financial guidance services on a one-time
basis or continually until canceled. Client deliverables, including written financial plans or
recommendations for implementation of financial guidance will be presented within six (6) months of the
date of the Client’s execution of an investment management agreement with Apollon Wealth.
Apollon Wealth does not provide tax preparation and filing services. Clients are urged to consult with a
tax professional for any tax advice. Certain Apollon Wealth IARs may also provide tax related services to
Clients; however, these services are provided as an outside business activity that is not affiliated with or
conducted through Apollon Wealth, and such services are not subject to the supervision or oversight of
Apollon Wealth or any of its affiliates.
General Description of Investment Management Services
Apollon Wealth provides investment management services to its Clients using a variety of asset classes
and investment vehicles that typically include mutual funds, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), equity
securities, fixed income securities, and other related securities. Client accounts are generally invested in
strategies, with similar accounts invested in the same securities. Accounts are also managed at a custom
level, with security selection varying from one Client to another. Apollon Wealth IARs work with Clients
to understand the Client’s risk tolerance, investment objectives, investment attribute preferences, and to
determine an appropriate asset portfolio construction. Apollon Wealth IARs determine an appropriate
portfolio for each of their clients. Depending on how the Client’s assets are allocated, they are managed in
different ways.
One of the ways assets are managed is through centrally-managed strategies, with well-defined strategy
mandates, or in custom investment portfolios. Apollon Wealth’s Investment Committee oversees these
strategies to ensure the assets are managed as expected and according to the strategy mandates defined by
Apollon Wealth, where applicable. The other way assets are managed is through local Apollon Wealth
offices. For local office management, Apollon Wealth’s IARs retain primary portfolio management
decision-making responsibilities, with additional oversight by Apollon Wealth’s Local Office Due
Diligence Sub-Committee.
Members of the Investment Committee and IAR’s that retain portfolio management decision making
responsibilities are generally required to have both a high school and college education or equivalent
experience. In addition, all personnel who provide investment financial guidance are required to have
financial, analytical or portfolio management experience, or to have passed the Uniform Investment
Adviser Law Examination (Series 65 or Series 66), or other relevant qualifying examinations, or to have
obtained a professional designation such as Charted Financial Analyst or CERTIFIED FINANCIAL
PLANNER™, or other valid educational background or professional designations as permitted by
regulations.
Generally, Client assets are managed in investment strategies in which multiple accounts are invested in
the same securities with the same allocation. Client assets may also be managed on a custom and/or non-
discretionary basis. All Clients have the ability to request reasonable restrictions on how their account is
allocated, but Apollon Wealth may not be able to accommodate all restrictions based on specific
mandates of particular strategies. If Apollon Wealth cannot accommodate a requested restriction, the
Client will be notified and given the option to withdraw their request, or the Client can work with their
IAR to find an investment solution that meets the Client’s expectations. If Apollon Wealth is unable to
accommodate a Client’s requested restrictions, the Client will need to find another firm to help meet their
financial objectives.
Unless the Client specifically directs otherwise in their written investment management agreement (the
“IMA”), the Client grants Apollon Wealth authority to:
use its discretion in determining the types of securities bought and sold, along with the percent
allocation,
direct trades to the custodial agent,
reallocate the Client’s portfolio to keep it in line with the Client’s investment goals and risk
tolerances,
rebalance the Client’s account periodically to conform to the asset allocation expectations of the
individual account,
replace the custodial agent if deemed necessary, after obtaining the Client’s consent,
select the broker-dealer for execution of securities transactions,
hire and fire Sub-Managers,
act as the Client’s agent and attorney-in-fact to receive prospectuses, periodic reports, transaction
confirmations, proxy materials, any Sub-Manager Form ADV, Form ADV, Part 2A, and other
communications from issuers of securities, as applicable, and
deduct investment management fees directly from the Client’s account.
The frequency and timing of transactions made in Client accounts may vary significantly, depending on
the investment options chosen. Certain investment strategies offered by Apollon Wealth were created to
limit the amount of trading activity. Other strategies are tactical and adjust depending on micro and
macroeconomic indicators. The Apollon investment team will typically screen investments using both
qualitative and quantitative factors to determine the best fund(s) for each asset class. Qualitative factors
include, but are not limited to, the fund’s portfolio management team and any turnover, the stability and
financial condition of the firm, and its investment process. Quantitative factors include, but are not limited
to, the fund’s expense ratio, performance returns, tracking error versus its benchmark, fund AUM and
average trading volume, and other risk/return statistics. See important risk disclosures relating to the
management of assets, under Item 8, below.
There are several reasons that would cause one client to have a different performance outcome than
another client, where their assets are invested in a similar manner. Examples of situations where there
would be a difference include, but are not limited to:
Due to custodial restrictions, not all mutual fund share classes are available at each custodian.
Therefore, different share classes of the same mutual fund may be purchased for different
clients. This creates a conflict of interest, since some clients may pay higher mutual fund expenses
than other clients, based on where their accounts are held in custody. To mitigate this conflict, in no
instance will Apollon have any benefit based on the share class that is used and will attempt to find
the lowest share class available. Additionally, Clients have the right to change the custodian for their
account to access lower costs investment options, where Apollon can reasonably associate with the
custodian to provide advisory services.
Custodians may have different mutual fund selling agreements, so certain funds may be available
only at certain custodians. If a fund is not available at a custodian, Apollon may select an alternate
fund within that custodian’s fund universe.
Certain Exchange Trades Funds (ETFs and ETNs) have no transaction fees at certain custodians.
When this is the case, Apollon may replace the model ETF for a similar ETF, in an attempt to reduce
costs.
Client request to hold specific securities in their accounts will impact the holdings in the account that
is managed to the model.
The investment advisor overseeing the account may request changes to the model for certain Clients,
which will impact the performance of the account that is otherwise managed to the model.
The account is managed in a custom manner, different from other Client accounts, for reasons
including but not limited to the management of legacy investments, tax considerations, and Client
requested accommodations.
Apollon Wealth also manages a set of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk-based models
across different client risk profiles. In addition to applying the same quantitative and qualitative factors to
screen investments, Apollon Wealth also considers the fund’s sustainability ratings from third-party
research providers as a key criteria to selecting underlying funds. While Apollon Wealth leverages third-
party research, the Apollon Wealth investment team will also conduct its own independent review of
individual funds it considers for inclusion in the ESG models. Certain asset classes may not have a
universe of funds that can differentiate themselves with sustainability ratings, so the Apollon Wealth team
will lean more towards its quantitative and qualitative factors in those cases. For the ESG models,
Apollon will use both open end mutuals funds and ETFs. Apollon Wealth relies on ESG classification of
holdings provided by the mutual fund or ETF issuer and does not independently verify that underlying
investments are categorized appropriately.
As part of Apollon Wealth’s management of Client assets, there is a potential that a wash sale might
occur. A wash sale negates the taxable advantage of realizing investment losses from the sale of
securities. Other strategies attempt to improve the taxable consequence of the assets invested, using tax
loss harvesting and other tax management strategies, including Direct Indexing. When deploying tax loss
harvesting and other tax management strategies, Apollon Wealth does not guarantee the ability to reduce
the taxable consequence from managing assets. Further, attempts to reduce the taxable consequence of a
portfolio may cause a disparity in the performance of the managed account, because certain assets may
not be sold, when they might have been sold if taxes weren’t considered. Clients are urged to work with
their IAR to help choose the investment strategy that best meets their goals and objectives.
When deciding the appropriate method for executing transactions, Apollon Wealth may choose to:
execute all Client transactions at the same time in a block transaction,
stage transactions, and/or
submit each Client’s transaction independently.
When trades are placed in a “block” all Client shares as part of that block are aggregated and provided an
average execution price. At times, because of the size of a transaction, Apollon Wealth, at its discretion,
may choose to stage transactions. Staging transactions means that Apollon Wealth, or its trading agent,
will submit the transactions for execution at varying times and/or days. This is done to minimize the price
movement of the security attributable to the transaction.
Other than its authority to request the deduction and payment of agreed upon management fees from the
Client’s account, Apollon
Wealth does not take or exercise custody of Client assets.
Discretionarily managed accounts typically hold a portion of the account in cash or cash like securities.
The cash is important for a number of reasons, including but not limited to providing a reasonable buffer
to allow for the rebalancing of accounts, to address cash flow needs of the Client, as a means to reduce
risk exposure, and to help settle expected purchases. Cash is typically held in the custodian cash sweep
account. The interest rate paid to Clients by the account custodian for assets held in sweep accounts may
vary significantly from custodian to custodian and can be significantly less than the rate of return
available in non-sweep accounts. Clients may request to have cash moved to a different account, with a
higher yield, but reducing the cash below a reasonable buffer can cause an account to have insufficient
cash available to settle transactions. To address this concern, Apollon Wealth typically has a target cash
balance of approximately 1 to 5 percent of the account value. As noted, the actual cash position may be
significantly higher at times.
Apollon Wealth may invest Client assets in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). When an IPO is made
available to Apollon Wealth, it is typically in a limited capacity. Typically, an indication of interest is
required to be submitted to the underwriter of the IPO. The investment will only be made available to a
limited number of Clients that have specifically expressed an interest in investing in IPOs, have had
historical experience investing in IPOs or whose IAR believes that the IPO meets the Client’s investment
objectives.
Non-Discretionary Account Management
Clients may hire Apollon Wealth to manage their assets in a non-discretionary capacity. Non-
discretionary management of assets fall into two categories, a Client’s expectation that transactions are
pre-cleared by them before executing changes to a portfolio and transactions that require a Client to sign
third-party documents prior to entering into a transaction, such as the purchase of alternative investments
(i.e. a private placement or limited partnership). When a Client requests that all transactions be pre-
cleared, they do so through their investment management agreement with Apollon Wealth.
Sub-Manager Limited Discretion, Provided to Apollon Wealth
For certain strategies, on a limited discretionary basis, Apollon Wealth outsources a portion of the
investment selection to independent professional asset managers, who are not affiliated with Apollon
Wealth, who serve as sub-advisers (“Sub-Manager,” “External Manager,” or “Sub-Advisor”).
A Sub-Manager’s responsibility varies and may include the authority to:
exercise discretion to determine the types of securities bought and sold, along with the percentage
allocation
apply their discretion on when to buy and sell
apply their discretion on the timing of transactions
select the broker-dealer for execution of securities transactions, if appropriate, and
take other portfolio management actions that Apollon Wealth delegates or deems appropriate.
Apollon Wealth has also hired third-party non-affiliated advisers to provide research to assist with the
investment management of Client assets. These non-affiliated advisers, Sub-Managers, do not have any
authority to exercise discretion over the management of Apollon Wealth’s Client’s assets.
The Client may be required to enter into a separate agreement with the Sub-Manager[s], which will set
forth the terms and conditions of the Client’s engagement of the Sub-Manager. Clients grant Apollon
discretionary authority to select Sub-Managers. Apollon Wealth also assists in establishing the Client’s
investment objectives for the assets managed by the Sub-Manager, monitors and reviews the account
performance and defines any restrictions on the account. The investment management fees charged by the
designated Sub-Manager[s], or research provider, together with the fees charged by the corresponding
designated broker-dealer/custodian of the Client’s assets, may be exclusive of, and in addition to, the
annual advisory fee charged by Apollon Wealth.
When working with Sub-Managers, their activities are overseen by the Apollon Wealth Investment
Committee.
As part of the discretionary investment management agreement the Client executes with Apollon Wealth,
the Client appoints Apollon Wealth as a limited power of attorney for the Client’s assets that are invested
through Sub-Managers. The limited power of attorney grants Apollon Wealth the right to receive certain
documents from the Sub-Manager on the Client’s behalf, including but not limited to prospectuses,
shareholder reports, privacy notices, proxies and Part 2A of the Sub-Manager’s Form ADV, and other
documents. This limited power of attorney granted by the Client may be rescinded by the Client at any
time upon written notice to Apollon Wealth.
Upon request, Apollon Wealth will provide Clients with information about any Sub-Manager
participating with Apollon Wealth to provide Client services. This information may include content
provided by a Sub-Manager explaining its investment style, or an explanation from Apollon Wealth
describing the Sub-Manager’s investment style. Additionally, Apollon Wealth will provide Clients with a
copy of the Sub-Managers Form ADV, Part 2 upon request.
When a new Investment Advisor Representative (IAR) joins Apollon Wealth, if the Client’s account was
set up as a wrap account, Apollon Wealth may maintain it as a wrap account for a limited period of time.
In some instances, the Advisor may utilize Affiliated registered investment adviser’s (“RIAs”) (as noted
in Item 10) models when a Client’s investment objectives are well suited. This practice presents a conflict
of interest as the Advisor will benefit from compensation and revenue generated through the RIA’s
models. To mitigate this conflict of interest, the Advisor will only utilize the models when Apollon
Wealth believes they are an appropriate option to help meet the Client’s needs. Clients are under no
obligation to invest in these models. There is no assurance that other investment options will cost less.
Retirement Plan Advisory Services
Apollon Wealth provides retirement plan advisory services on behalf of the retirement plans (each a
“Plan”) and the company (the “Plan Sponsor”). The Advisor’s retirement plan advisory services are
designed to assist the Plan Sponsor in meeting its fiduciary obligations to the Plan and its Plan
Participants. Each engagement is customized to the needs of the Plan and Plan Sponsor. Services can
include:
Vendor Analysis
Plan Participant Enrollment and Education Tracking
Investment Oversight Services (ERISA 3(21))
Discretionary Investment Management (ERISA 3(38))
Performance Reporting
Ongoing Investment Recommendation and Assistance
ERISA 404(c) Assistance
Benchmarking Services
These services are provided by Apollon Wealth as a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). In accordance with ERISA Section 408(b)(2), the Plan
Sponsor is provided with a written description of Apollon Wealth’s fiduciary status, the specific services
to be rendered and all direct and indirect compensation the Advisor expects to receive under the
engagement.
For certain retirement plans that Apollon Wealth provides plan advisory services, Apollon Wealth also
acts as the discretionary manager for individual plan participants of the plan. When this is the case the
plan participant is response for paying Apollon Wealth an advisory fee that is separate and distinct from
the fee paid to Apollon Wealth by the Plan Sponsor. This presents a conflict of interest, as Apollon
Wealth is paid from the plan and from the participant. To address this conflict, the participant is under no
obligation to hire Apollon Wealth to provide the additional services. To receive individualized investment
management services, the plan participant is required to enter into a separate Investment Management
Agreement with Apollon Wealth.
Sub-Advisor and Consulting Services Provided by Apollon Wealth
Apollon Wealth provides discretionary management and customized investment advisory consulting
services to other investment advisers and/or to broker-dealers. When providing these services, Apollon
Wealth charges a fee that is either individually negotiated for each consultation or based upon a
percentage of Client assets that Apollon Wealth is hired to manage. When acting as Sub-Advisor, the
services may be similar to the services provided to Clients of Apollon Wealth or they may differ. Sub-
Advisor costs are typically different, and may be higher or lower, than costs charged to Clients of Apollon
Wealth. The specific services provided to the third-party adviser and/or broker-dealers are documented in
a written agreement executed with each firm.
Private Fund Advisor
Apollon Wealth also serves as the investment advisor to the Apollon Private Credit Fund and Apollon
Private Credit Fund II, a series of the Glide Fund Series, LLC, as well as the Prism Jade Fund, LP (the
“Funds”). These services are detailed in the offering documents for the Funds, which include as
applicable, operating agreements, private placement memorandum and/or term sheets, subscription
agreements, separate disclosure documents, series supplements and all amendments thereto (“Offering
Documents”).
Advisory services provided to the Funds by Apollon Wealth are based on the investment objectives,
policies and guidelines as set forth in the respective Offering Documents and not in accordance with the
individual needs or objectives of any particular investor therein. Each prospective investor interested in
investing in the Funds is required to complete a subscription agreement in which the prospective investor
attests as to whether such prospective investor meets the qualifications to invest in the Fund and further
acknowledges and accepts the various risk factors associated with such an investment.
Apollon Wealth may recommend that certain Clients who meet certain qualifications invest in the Funds.
For its Clients that invest in the Funds, the Advisor does not receive a separate advisory fee for its
Investment Advisory services to the Funds, nor any other type of compensation from the Funds. Rather,
the Advisor’s only compensation from its Clients is the advisory fee that it receives from the Client as
discussed in Item 5 below. For non-Clients of Apollon Wealth, the Advisor has the right to receive
compensation from the Fund for its services.
Private Fund Sub-Advisor to Insurance Dedicated Funds
Apollon Wealth may recommend that certain clients invest in Private Placement Life Insurance (“PPLI”).
When recommending PPLI, Apollon Wealth refers the client to a third party to evaluate the individual
Client’s specific needs and, when appropriate, create for the client a PPLI policy. After the PPLI policy is
created, Apollon Wealth may be hired by the Advisor to the PPLI policy as Sub-Advisor to help supervise
the assets of the policy. The PPLI policy is an insurance dedicated fund ("IDF"). An IDF may operate as
one or more private investment funds each being organized as a designated series (each a "Fund"). Each
Fund Sub-Advised by Apollon Wealth will have its own set of investment objectives and strategy. The
non-affiliated Advisor hiring Apollon Wealth as Sub-Advisor is responsible for providing Apollon
Wealth with the specific investment objectives and strategy for the specific Fund. Apollon Wealth is
responsible for directly managing those Funds consistent with the Fund's objective and strategy and
subject the oversight of the Advisor. The IDFs are offered solely to segregated asset accounts of insurance
companies established for the owners of private placement variable life insurance contracts or private
placement variable annuity contracts. Each Fund typically has the ability to invest globally in speculative
investments utilizing a variety of financial vehicles, including without limitation, funds, private
investment vehicles, hedge funds, stocks, bonds, pools, warrants, options, preferred and convertible debt
and equity, real estate and any other investments which may be legally invested in by the Fund under
applicable law. The investment strategy applicable to investments in all Funds varies from seeking capital
preservation to capital appreciation. Investors in the Funds may not impose restrictions on the types of
securities purchased.
Investment Banking Advisory Services
Based on individual Clients needs and circumstances, Apollon Wealth refers clients to non-affiliated
third-party investment banking advisors. The Client referral is made to help address a specific need,
where the services would result in a possible transaction. A transaction shall mean the sale of all or part of
the assets or securities that comprise one or more businesses owned, directly or indirectly, by a client of
Apollon Wealth. It may also mean helping a Client secure funding for their business. Apollon Wealth is
paid a fee by the third-party advisor, an intermediary that directs the referral, or the financial institution
executing the transaction for the benefit of the Client. When making a referral to an investment banking
client, Apollon Wealth merely provides a referral of one possible firm that could be engaged by the Client
to assist in connection with a transaction, who Apollon Wealth believes can meet the Client’s needs. It is
up to the Client to engage the third-party investment banking advisor and conduct reasonable due
diligence prior to engaging the investment banking advisor. The decision on whether to hire the
investment banking advisor is made solely by the Client and the client shall not rely on Apollon Wealth to
assist in making the decision to retain the advisor. Further, it is the Client’s responsibility to engage
financial, tax and legal advisors to assist in considering a possible transaction, and Apollon Wealth does
not provide the Client with those services for the Client’s use in evaluating or executing a transaction.
Apollon Wealth, its employees, officers, directors, and representatives shall not have any responsibility to
the Client in connection with the referral, the services provided to the Client or any transaction.
C. Client-Tailored Advisory Services
Client portfolios are managed based on individual Client’s financial situation and investment objectives.
Apollon Wealth consults with Clients on an initial and ongoing basis to assess their specific risk
tolerances, time horizon, liquidity constraints and other related factors relevant to the management of their
portfolios. If Clients’ financial situations change, or if their investment objectives or risk tolerances
change, Clients are advised to promptly notify Apollon Wealth of such changes. Clients may impose
reasonable restrictions on the management of their accounts if Apollon Wealth determines, in its sole
discretion, that the conditions would not materially impact the performance of a management strategy or
prove overly burdensome for Apollon Wealth’s management efforts.
D. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, Apollon Wealth manages $5,147,182,851 in Client assets, of which
$5,519,652,128 are managed on a discretionary basis and $372,469,277 on a non-discretionary basis.
In addition, as of December 31, 2023, the Advisor also has $140,322,449 in assets under advisement
(“AUA”). Clients may request more current information at any time by contacting the Advisor.