Archvest offers a variety of advisory services, which include financial planning, consulting, and
investment management services. Prior to Archvest rendering any of the foregoing advisory services,
clients are required to enter into one or more written agreements with Archvest setting forth the relevant
terms and conditions of the advisory relationship (the “Advisory Agreement”).
Archvest has operated as a registered investment adviser since August 2014 and is wholly owned by Eric
T. Lai and John R. Wenzel. As of December 31, 2023, Archvest had $280,000,000 of assets under
management. $275,100,000 of which was managed on a discretionary basis and $4,900,000 of which
was managed on a non-discretionary basis.
While this brochure generally describes the business of Archvest, certain sections also discuss the activities
of its Supervised Persons, which refer to the Firm’s officers, partners, directors (or other persons occupying
a similar status or performing similar functions), employees or any other person who provides investment
advice on Archvest’s behalf and is subject to the Firm’s supervision or control.
The Firm believes that all material conflicts of interest regarding Archvest, its Supervised Persons which
could reasonably be expected to impair its rendering of unbiased objective advice to an advisory client
been disclosed.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
Archvest offers clients a broad range of financial planning and consulting services, which may include
any or all of the following functions:
Business Planning
Cash Flow Forecasting
Trust and Estate Planning
Financial Reporting
Investment Consulting
Insurance Planning
Retirement Planning
Risk Management
Charitable Giving
Distribution Planning
Tax Planning
Manager Due Diligence
While each of these services is available on a stand-alone basis, certain of them may also be rendered in
conjunction with investment portfolio management (described in more detail below).
Archvest’s Financial Coaching services are designed to help clients work through psychological and emotional
barriers to achieving their financial goals.
In performing these services, Archvest is not required to verify any information received from the client or
from the client’s other professionals (e.g., attorneys, accountants, etc.,) and is expressly authorized to rely
on such information. Archvest may recommend clients engage the Firm for additional related services
and/or other professionals to implement its recommendations. Clients are advised that a conflict of interest
exists if clients engage Archvest or its affiliates to provide additional services for compensation. Clients
retain absolute discretion over all decisions regarding implementation and are under no obligation to act
upon any of the recommendations made by Archvest under a financial planning or consulting engagement.
Clients are advised that it remains their responsibility to promptly notify the Firm of any change in their
financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating or revising Archvest’s
recommendations and/or services.
Investment Management Services
Archvest manages client investment portfolios on a discretionary basis and non-discretionary basis.
Archvest primarily allocates client assets among various mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”),
individual debt and equity securities, and independent investment managers (“Independent Managers”) in
accordance with their stated investment objectives.
Where appropriate, the Firm may also provide advice about any type of legacy position or other investment
held in client portfolios. Clients may engage Archvest to manage and/or advise on certain investment
products that are not maintained at their primary custodian, such as variable life insurance and annuity contracts
and assets held in employer sponsored retirement plans and qualified tuition plans (i.e., 529 plans). In these
situations, Archvest directs or recommends the allocation of client assets among the various investment
options available with the product. These assets are generally maintained at the underwriting insurance
company or the custodian designated by
the product’s provider.
Archvest 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.
Archvest 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. Clients
are advised to promptly notify Archvest if there are changes in their financial situation or if they wish to
place any limitations on the management of their portfolios. Clients may impose reasonable restrictions
or mandates on the management of their accounts if Archvest determines, in its sole discretion, the conditions
would not materially impact the performance of a management strategy or prove overly burdensome to the
Firm’s management efforts.
Services to Retirement Plan Sponsors
Archvest works with businesses to design 401(k) and pension plans. As part of this service, the Firm will
coordinate with third party administrators and custodians to design a plan that best suits the plan sponsor’s needs
and that of its employees. We offer to assist with investment selection, select QDIA, payroll uploads, and
working with the TPAs. We also offer employee education and advice. The assets we presently provide advisory
services to total $870,000.
Retirement Plan and Account Services
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement account,
we are fiduciaries 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 we make money creates some
conflicts with your interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and not put
our interest ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give prudent advice);
Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give loyal advice);
Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give 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.
Affiliated Private Investment Funds
We are the advisor to Archvest Private Fund I, LP (the “affiliated private fund”). We may on a non-discretionary basis,
recommend that qualified clients consider allocating a portion of their investment assets to the affiliated private fund.
The terms and conditions for participation in the affiliated private fund, including incentive fees, conflicts of interest,
and risk factors, are set forth in the fund’s offering documents. Our clients are under absolutely no obligation to
consider or make an investment in a private investment fund.
Risk Factors: Private investment funds generally involve various risk factors, including, but not limited to, potential
for complete loss of principal, liquidity constraints and lack of transparency, a complete discussion of which is set
forth in each fund’s offering documents, which will be provided to each client for review and consideration. Unlike
liquid investments that a client may maintain, private investment funds do not provide daily liquidity or pricing. Each
prospective client investor will be required to complete a Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which the client shall
establish that he/she is qualified for investment in the fund and acknowledges and accepts the various risk factors that
are associated with such an investment.
Conflict of Interest. Because the Registrant earns compensation from the affiliated private funds (incentive
compensation) that may exceed the fee that Registrant would earn under its standard asset based fee schedule
referenced in Item 5 below, the recommendation that a client become an investor in the affiliated private funds
presents a conflict of interest. No client is under any obligation to become an investor in the affiliated private fund.
Sponsor / Manager of Wrap Fee Program
Archvest is not the sponsor or manager of a wrap fee program.