Description of the Firm
GCW, a Limited Liability Partnership incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, has been registered as
an investment adviser with the SEC since April 2018. GCW was formed in December 2016. The Firm provides
comprehensive investment management services and wealth management solutions to affluent families through
both direct relationships and partnerships with family offices and/or similar institutions. As of March 31, 2023
we managed approximately $620 million, of which $270 million was on a discretionary basis and $343 million
on a non-discretionary basis.
Investment Management Services
GCW provides its investment advisory services through one of three ways:
First, we manage assets on a discretionary basis through investment vehicles structured as partnerships for
single individuals or family entities that aggregate the interests of related beneficial owners, such as trusts
(“Private Investment Vehicles”). These Private Investment Vehicles effectively serve as “funds of one”.
Second, we manage assets on a discretionary basis through pooled investment vehicles (collectively, the “Pooled
Funds”), which presently consist of GCW Investments LP, a Delaware domiciled alternative investment fund,
GCW Investment Limited, a Jersey, Channel Islands, domiciled alternative investment fund. And which
aggregate the interests of multiple investors, including most of our investment professionals who are also
limited partners in certain of our Pooled Vehicles.
GCW Global Customised Wealth LLP is the investment advisor to the Private Investment Vehicles and the
Pooled Funds.
Third, we help individuals manage liquid portfolios on a discretionary basis and oversee their financial balance
sheets, including liquid and illiquid assets, typically on a non-discretionary basis. We provide this service in
conjunction with investments in our Pooled Funds, with the overall goal of providing comprehensive oversight
to client portfolios. The liquid portfolios we manage are custodied in brokerage accounts in which GCW has
discretionary trading authority but does not have authority to move assets in or out of the accounts. Certain
portfolio reporting services are typically included in this category of advisory services.
In respect of the Pooled Funds and Private Investment Vehicles, collectively referred to herein as “Client
Vehicles”, GCW implements an investment strategy in line with the investment objective set out in the relevant
Client Vehicles’ offering or governance documentation. Depending on those investment objectives, the Firm
invests across a mix of traditional and alternative investment strategies, potentially including direct holdings of
public securities, foreign exchange, futures, options, and other derivatives, funds (hedge funds, private equity,
venture capital, real assets, purchased either in primary or secondary transactions), co-investments in private
equity, private debt, sponsors, general partners or holding companies of private investment funds.
Neither the Private Investment Vehicles nor the Pooled Funds are registered under the U.S. Securities Act of
1933 or the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940. The owners of the Private Investment Vehicles and the
investors in the Pooled Funds all satisfy applicable eligibility and suitability requirements. They are all: (1)
“Accredited Investors” (as defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), (2) “Qualified
Clients” (as defined in Rule 205-3 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended), and (3) “Qualified
Purchasers” (as defined in Section 2(a)(51)(A) of the Investment Company Act of 1940).
Otherwise, and as detailed in Item 8 (below), GCW primarily allocates clients’ investment management assets in
order to maximize risk-and liquidity-adjusted expected returns, based on specific
market factor risk targets and
liquidity risk targets set at the time of formation of the Client Vehicle, and, in the case of the Private Investment
Vehicles, which are determined in conjunction with clients’ expressed preferences and in relation to their specific
circumstances and other personal objectives, and which may be updated from time-to-time. Investments include,
but are not limited to, funds, separately managed accounts, direct co-investments and other private placement
securities, as well as liquid financial instruments such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and
derivative securities as a means of fine-tuning portfolio risks. GCW may also provide advice about a client’s
comprehensive balance sheet, including legacy positions and/or externally managed portfolios, depending on
the terms of the engagement.
Private Investment Vehicles
GCW tailors its services to the individual needs of its Private Investment Vehicle clients. The Firm consults with
clients at the initiation of a relationship and on an ongoing basis to determine risk tolerance, time horizon, desired
expenditure levels, optimal currency exposures, intergenerational plans and other factors that may impact the
clients’ investment objectives. GCW ensures that clients’ investment portfolios are suitable for their investment
needs, goals, existing obligations and expressed risk tolerance. Risk and liquidity targets may be adjusted over
time as client circumstances or objectives change.
Clients are expected to be in regular contact with GCW and are advised to promptly notify GCW if there are
changes in their financial situation or investment objectives or if they wish to impose any reasonable new
restrictions upon GCW’s management services. Clients may seek to impose reasonable restrictions on the
management of their account (e.g., require that portfolios avoid holding assets in a certain industrial sector or
sub-sector that are highly similar to core assets held outside of the GCW mandate, or that a portion of their
assets be invested in socially responsible funds or that a certain percentage of assets are set aside for future
liquidity needs) if, in the Firm’s sole discretion, any such additional conditions will not prove overly burdensome
to its abilities to deliver portfolio outcomes that are consistent with client’s stated objectives and the Firm’s
business model. Restrictions that clients ask GCW to impose may have implications for portfolio expected
returns.
GCW also helps individuals manage their overall wealth by managing all or part of their liquid portfolios. GCW
provides this service for certain clients in conjunction with their investments in GCW’s Pooled Funds, with the
overall goal of maximizing expected returns on a risk- and liquidity-adjusted basis tailored to client preferences.
In performing its services, GCW is not required to verify independently any information received from the client
or from the client’s other professionals (e.g., primary advisor, attorney, accountant, etc.) and is expressly
authorized to rely on such information. Clients are advised that it remains their responsibility to promptly notify
GCW if there is ever any change in their financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing,
evaluating, or revising the Firm’s previous recommendations and/or services.
GCW is independently owned and managed. Its managing partners control the firm. Ownership is divided
among GCW’s managing partners, partners, professionals, as well as certain other third parties who invested
capital in GCW.
Wrap Fee Programs
The Firm does not sponsor or participate in any wrap fee programs.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2022, GCW had under its discretion regulatory assets under management totaling
approximately U.S. $277,087,580