A. Opes Wealth Management, LLC (“OWM”) is a corporation formed on November 6, 2018 in
the State of California. OWM became registered with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an Investment Adviser Firm in December 2018. OWM is
principally owned by Mark Duvall, Erin Whalen, Tracie Southerland, and Louis Odette.
OWM operates out of Menlo Park, California and Ashland, Oregon.
B. As discussed below, OWM offers to its clients (individuals, business entities, and trusts)
discretionary investment advisory services, and, to the extent specifically requested by a
client financial planning services and related consulting services.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
The client can determine to engage OWM to provide discretionary investment advisory
services on a fee‐only basis. All investment advice provided is customized to each client’s
investment objectives and financial needs. OWM tailors its advisory services to meet the
needs of its individual clients and seeks to ensure, on a continuous basis, that client
portfolios are managed in a manner consistent with those needs and objectives. OWM
consults with clients on an initial and ongoing basis to assess their specific risk tolerance,
time horizon, liquidity constraints and other related factors relevant to the management
of their portfolios.
Opes Premier Services
Clients may choose to engage OWM to provide combined financial planning and
investment management services relative to investment accounts under the “Opes
Premier Services” program (“Opes Premier Program”). To commence the Opes Premier
Program engagement, clients are required to enter into a Financial Counseling and
Investment Advisory Agreement with OWM setting forth the terms and conditions of the
engagement (including termination), describing the scope of the services to be provided,
and the fee that is due from the client.
An investment adviser representative will then meet with the client to ascertain
investment objectives, risk tolerances, restrictions, and to create a balance sheet analysis
report. Once defined and agreed upon, OWM will prepare the client’s Financial
Assessment and Recommendations analysis and review it in detail with the client.
Thereafter, OWM will allocate investment assets consistent with the designated
investment objectives and the Financial Assessment and Recommendations analysis.
OWM primarily allocates investment assets among mutual funds and exchange traded
funds (“ETFs”) generally following the parameters of one or more similarly managed asset
allocation models described in Item 8.C. below. Under the Opes Premier Program, OWM
may adjust its trading strategies within the similarly managed investment allocation
models on an individualized client basis depending upon each client’s investment
objectives and/or tax consequences.
When consistent with client investment objectives, OWM may also allocate all or a portion
of their investment assets among Separately Managed Account programs sponsored by
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and its affiliates including but not
limited to Schwab Wealth Investment Advisory, Inc. are collectively referred to as
“Schwab”) OWM is not owned by, affiliated with, or sponsored or supervised by Schwab.
(Please refer to the “Separately Managed Account Program” disclosure below).
After OWM allocates Opes Premier Program investment assets, OWM continues to
provide ongoing monitoring and review of account performance and asset allocation as
compared to client investment objectives, provides tax loss harvesting and related
consultation services as may be applicable, and rebalances the portfolio on a discretionary
basis as applicable.
OWM also offers to review the Opes balance sheet analysis report on an annual basis with
the client to address any changed circumstances, and to evaluate whether the financial
plan is still appropriate based upon the client’s individual investment objectives. OWM will
also modify the balance sheet analysis report on an annual basis or upon a client’s specific
request based upon a change in financial circumstances without additional charge.
However, in the event that the client requires extraordinary planning and/or consultation
services (to be determined in the sole discretion of OWM), OWM may determine to charge
for such additional, the dollar amount of which shall be set forth in separate written
notice.
Opes Select Services
Clients may choose to engage OWM to provide combined financial planning and
investment management services relative to investment accounts under the “Opes Select
Services” program. To commence the Opes Select Program engagement, clients are
required to enter into a Financial Counseling and Investment Advisory Agreement with
OWM setting forth the terms and conditions of the engagement (including termination),
describing the scope of the services to be provided, and the fee that is due from the client.
An investment adviser representative will then meet with the client to ascertain
investment objectives, risk tolerances, restrictions, and to create a balance sheet analysis
report. Once defined and agreed upon, OWM will prepare the client’s Financial
Assessment and Recommendations analysis and review it in detail with the client.
Thereafter, OWM will allocate investment assets consistent with the designated
investment objectives and the Financial Assessment and Recommendations analysis.
OWM primarily allocates investment assets among mutual funds and exchange traded
funds (“ETFs”) generally following the parameters of one or more similarly managed asset
allocation models described in Item 8.C. below. The Opes Select program differs from the
Premier program in that there is no “location optimization” (tax optimization strategy that
strategically allocates taxable and tax deferred investments), fewer and different
Alternative Investments, no Separate Account Managers. Under the Opes Select Program,
OWM may adjust its trading strategies within the similarly managed investment allocation
models on an individualized client basis depending upon each client’s investment
objectives and/or tax consequences.
After OWM allocates Opes Select Program investment assets, OWM continues to provide
ongoing monitoring and review of account performance and asset allocation as compared
to client investment objectives, provides tax loss harvesting and related consultation
services as may be applicable, and rebalances the portfolio on a discretionary basis as
applicable.
OWM also offers to review the Opes balance sheet analysis report on an annual basis with
the client to address any changed circumstances, and to evaluate whether the financial
plan is still appropriate based upon the client’s individual investment objectives. OWM will
also modify the balance sheet analysis report upon a client’s specific request based upon
a change in financial circumstances without additional charge. However, in the event that
the client requires extraordinary planning and/or consultation services (to be determined
in the sole discretion of OWM), OWM may determine to charge for such additional, the
dollar amount of which shall be set forth in a separate written notice to the client.
Opes Access Services
Clients may choose to engage OWM to provide investment management services utilizing
the Institutional Intelligent Portfolios® Program, under the “Opes Access Services”
program. OWM may choose to accept accounts into the program that may be higher or
lower than this threshold, in its sole discretion. The Institutional Intelligent Portfolios®
Program is an automated investment program through which clients are invested in a
range of investment strategies OWM has constructed and manages, each consisting of a
portfolio of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) and a cash allocation. The client’s portfolio is
held in a brokerage account opened by the client at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“CS&Co”).
OWM uses the Institutional Intelligent Portfolios® platform (“Platform”), offered by
Schwab Performance Technologies (“SPT”), a software provider to independent
investment advisors and an affiliate of CS&Co., to operate Opes Access Services. OWM is
independent of and not owned by, affiliated with, or sponsored or supervised by SPT,
CS&Co., or their affiliates (collectively, “Schwab”). OWM, and not Schwab, is the client’s
investment adviser and primary point of contact with respect to Opes Access Services. As
between OWM and Schwab, OWM is solely responsible for determining the
appropriateness of Opes Access Services for the client, choosing a suitable investment
strategy and portfolio for the client’s investment needs and goals. OWM has contracted
with SPT to provide OWM with the Platform, which consists of technology and related
trading and account management services for Opes Access Services. The Platform enables
OWM to make Opes Access Services available to clients online and includes a system that
automates certain key parts of its investment process (the “System”). The System includes
an online questionnaire that helps OWM determine the client’s investment objectives and
risk tolerance and select an appropriate investment strategy and portfolio. Clients should
note that OWM will recommend a portfolio via the System in response to the client’s
answers to the online questionnaire. The client may then indicate an interest in a portfolio
that is one level less or more conservative or aggressive than the recommended portfolio,
but OWM then makes the final decision and selects a portfolio based on all the information
it has about the client. The System also includes an automated investment engine through
automatic rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting (if the client is eligible and elects).
OWM charges clients a fee for its services as described below under Item 5, Fees and
Compensation. OWM’s fees are not set or supervised by Schwab. Clients do not pay
brokerage commissions or any other fees to Schwab as part of Opes Access Services.
OWM does not pay SPT fees for the Platform so long as it maintains $100 million in client
assets in accounts at CS&Co that are not enrolled in Opes Access Services. If Opes does
not meet this condition, then it must pay SPT an annual licensing fee of 0.10% (10 basis
points) on the value of its clients’ assets in Opes Access Services. This arrangement
presents a conflict of interest, as it provides an incentive for Opes to recommend that
clients maintain their accounts at Schwab.
Clients enrolled in Opes Access Services are limited in the universe of investment options
available to them. For example, the investment options available are limited to ETFs,
whereas OWM recommends various other types of securities in its other services. Opes
Access Services is designed to provide guidance and professional assistance to individuals
who are beginning the process of accumulating wealth. Clients will have access to their
accounts
and a financial interface online but will also have the opportunity to confer with
OWM with respect to their account.
Rebalancing
The System will rebalance a client’s account periodically by generating instructions to
CS&Co to buy and sell shares of ETFs and depositing or withdrawing funds through the
“Sweep Program”, considering the asset allocation for the client’s investment strategy.
Rebalancing trade instructions can be generated by the System when (i) the percentage
allocation of an ETF varies by a set parameter established by OWM, (ii) OWM decides to
change the ETFs or their percentage allocations for an investment strategy or (iii) OWM
decides to change a client’s investment strategy, which could occur, for example, when a
client makes changes to their investment profile or imposes or modifies restrictions on the
management of their account. Accounts below $5,000 may deviate farther than the set
parameters as well as the target allocation of the selected investment profile. Rebalancing
below $5,000 may impact the ability to maintain positions in selected asset classes due to
the inability to buy or sell at least one share of an ETF. For example, withdrawal requests
may require entire asset classes to be liquidated to generate and disburse the requested
cash.
Sweep Program
Each investment strategy involves a cash allocation (“Cash Allocation”) that will be held in
a sweep program at Charles Schwab Bank (the “Sweep Program”). The Cash Allocation will
be a minimum of 1% of an account’s value to be held in cash, and may be higher,
depending on the investment strategy chosen for a client. The Cash Allocation will be
accomplished through enrollment in the Sweep Program, a program sponsored by
Schwab. By enrolling in Opes Access Services, clients consent to having the free credit
balances in their brokerage accounts at CS&Co swept into deposit accounts (“Deposit
Accounts”) at Charles Schwab Bank (“Schwab Bank”) through the Sweep Program. Schwab
Bank is an FDIC-insured depository institution that is a Schwab affiliate. The Sweep
Program is a required feature of Opes Access Services. If the Deposit Account balances
exceed the Cash Allocation for a client’s investment strategy, the excess over the
rebalancing parameter will be used to purchase securities as part of rebalancing. If clients
request cash withdrawals from their accounts, this likely will require the sale of ETF
positions in their accounts to bring their Cash Allocation in line with the target allocation
for their chosen investment strategy. If those clients have taxable accounts, those sales
may generate capital gains (or losses) for tax purposes. In accordance with an agreement
with CS&Co, Schwab Bank has agreed to pay an interest rate to depositors participating in
the Sweep Program that will be determined by reference to an index.
Financial Planning Services
For Select and Premier clients, OWM offers personal comprehensive financial planning
services to set forth goals, objectives and implementation strategies for the client over the
long-term. For certain Access clients, planning is conducted only as mutually agreed.
Depending upon individual client requirements, the comprehensive financial plan will
include recommendations, which many include the following areas: Retirement Planning,
Cash Flow Forecasting, Estate Planning, Charitable Giving, Tax Planning, and Insurance
Planning.
OWM prepares and provides the financial planning client with a written comprehensive
financial plan and performs quarterly, semi-annual or annual reviews of the plan with the
client, dependent on the client’s needs Clients should notify us promptly anytime there is
a change in their financial situation, goals, objectives, or needs and/or if there is any
change to the financial information initially provided to us. Clients are under no obligation
to implement any of the recommendations provided in their written financial plan.
MISCELLANEOUS
Non-Investment Consulting/Implementation Services. To the extent requested by the
client, OWM may provide consulting services regarding non-investment related matters,
such as estate planning, tax planning, insurance, expert witness, etc. Neither OWM, nor
any of its representatives, serves as an attorney, accountant, or licensed insurance agent,
and no portion of OWM’s services should be construed as same. To the extent requested
by a client, OWM may recommend the services of other professionals for certain non-
investment implementation purposes (i.e. attorneys, accountants, insurance, etc.). The
client is under no obligation to engage the services of any such recommended
professional. The client retains absolute discretion over all such implementation decisions
and is free to accept or reject any recommendation from OWM. Please Note: If the client
engages any such recommended professional, and a dispute arises thereafter relative to
such engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from and against the
engaged professional. It remains the client’s responsibility to promptly notify OWM if
there is ever any change in their financial situation or investment objectives for the
purpose of reviewing, evaluating or revising OWM’s previous recommendations and/or
services.
Separately Managed Account Programs. In the Opes Premier Services program, OWM
may allocate (and/or recommend that the client allocate) a portion of a client’s investment
assets among unaffiliated Separately Managed Account programs sponsored by Schwab
and/or its affiliated entities in accordance with the client’s designated investment
objective(s). In such situations, the Separately Managed Account Manager shall have day-
to-day responsibility for the active discretionary management of the allocated assets.
OWM shall continue to render investment advisory services to the client relative to the
ongoing monitoring and review of account performance, asset allocation and client
investment objectives. Factors which OWM shall consider in recommending Separately
Managed Account programs include the client’s designated investment objective(s) as
applied to the Separately Managed Account program: management style, performance,
reputation, financial strength, reporting, pricing, and research. In the event that OWM is
engaged to provide investment advisory services as part of an unaffiliated Separately
Managed Account program, OWM will be unable to negotiate commissions and/or
transaction costs.
Held Away Assets. 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). We review, monitor, and manage these held-away accounts in
an integrated way with client accounts held at our primary custodian(s). Further
information about this service is available in Item 5.
Use of Mutual Funds. Most mutual funds and exchange traded funds are available directly
to the public. Thus, a prospective client can obtain many of the funds that may be utilized
by OWM independent of engaging OWM as an investment advisor. However, if a
prospective client determines to do so, he/she will not receive OWM’s initial and ongoing
investment advisory services. In addition to OWM’s investment advisory fee described
below, and transaction and/or custodial fees discussed below, clients will also incur,
relative to all mutual fund and exchange traded fund purchases, charges imposed at the
fund level (e.g. management fees and other fund expenses).
Portfolio Activity. OWM has a fiduciary duty to provide services consistent with the
client’s best interest. As part of its investment advisory services, OWM will review client
portfolios on an ongoing basis to determine if any changes are necessary based upon
various factors, including, but not limited to, investment performance, fund manager
tenure, style drift, account additions/withdrawals, and/or a change in the client’s
investment objective. Based upon these factors, there may be extended periods of time
when OWM determines that changes to a client’s portfolio are neither necessary nor
prudent. Of course, as indicated below, there can be no assurance that investment
decisions made by OWM will be profitable or equal any specific performance level(s).
Client Obligations. In performing its services, OWM shall not be required to verify any
information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals, and is
expressly authorized to rely thereon. Moreover, each client is advised that it remains their
responsibility to promptly notify OWM if there is ever any change in their financial
situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating or revising
OWM’s previous recommendations and/or services.
Fiduciary Acknowledgment. When OWM provides investment advice to you regarding
your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, OWM is a fiduciary within
the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal
Revenue Code, as applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. The way
OWM makes money creates some conflicts with client interests, so OWM operates under
a special rule that requires the Firm to act in the clients’ best interest and not put OWM
interest ahead of the clients.’
C. OWM shall provide investment advisory services specific to the needs of each client. Prior
to providing investment advisory services, an investment adviser representative will
ascertain each client’s investment objective(s). Thereafter, OWM shall allocate and/or
recommend that the client allocate investment assets consistent with the designated
investment objective(s). Clients may impose reasonable restrictions on the management
of their accounts if OWM determines, in its sole discretion, that the conditions would not
materially impact the performance of a management strategy or prove overly burdensome
for OWM’s management efforts.
D. OWM will not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or the information provided by
clients. OWM is not obligated to verify any information received from a client or other
professionals (e.g., attorney, accountant) designated by a client, and OWM is expressly
authorized by the client to rely on such information provided. Under all circumstances,
clients are responsible for promptly notifying OWM in writing of any material changes to
the client’s financial situation, investment objectives, time horizon, or risk tolerance. In the
event that a client notifies OWM of any changes, OWM will review such changes and
implement any necessary revisions to the Client’s portfolio.
OWM does not sponsor a wrap fee program for its investment advisory services.
E. As of December 31, 2023, OWM had $589,916,182 of Assets under management on a
discretionary basis.