DESCRIPTION OF THE ADVISORY FIRM
Our firm is dedicated to providing individuals and other types of clients with a wide array of
investment advisory services. Our firm is a limited liability company formed under the laws of the
State of Utah in 2009 and has been in business as an investment adviser since 2020. Our firm is owned
by CD Kesler Wealth Management, Inc., PM Norman Wealth Management, Inc., Haydar Properties,
LLC, GGS Wealth Management, Inc. and Brett Keller, which are owned and managed by Chris Kesler,
Paul Norman, Darcy Wride and Garrett Smith respectively.
The purpose of this Brochure is to disclose the conflicts of interest associated with the investment
transactions, compensation and any other matters related to investment decisions made by our firm
or its representatives. As a fiduciary, it is our duty to always act in the client’s best interest. This is
accomplished in part by knowing our client. Our firm has established a service-oriented advisory
practice with open lines of communication for many different types of clients to help meet their
financial goals while remaining sensitive to risk tolerance and time horizons. Working with clients to
understand their investment objectives while educating them about our process, facilitates the kind
of working relationship we value. In addition, our firm has developed a unique planning process that
is strong enough to be time tested but flexible enough to handle changing market. Our planning
method called the CLIMBTM method which is designed to help guide you to and through retirement
systematically. The CLIMBTM Process simplifies financial planning and asset management so as to not
overwhelm you from the start. The CLIMBTM Process includes (1) Characterizing your goals; (2)
Leveraging our knowledge; (3) Implementing a plan; (4) Monitoring and reviewing your accounts;
and then (5) Benefiting from your hard work.
TYPES OF ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED
Wrap Asset Management:
Please refer to our Part 2A, Appendix 1 (“Wrap Fee Program Brochure”) for more information
regarding our Wrap Asset Management service offering.
Pontera® Held Away Accounts Service:
In certain instances, our firm will provide an additional service for client’s held away accounts
through the Pontera platform (“the platform”). The accounts are not directly held in our custody (i.e.,
held away), but are ones wherein we still have discretion, and may leverage an Order Management
System to implement tax-efficient asset location and opportunistic rebalancing strategies on behalf
of the client. These are primarily 401(k) accounts, HSA’s, and other assets we do not custody and
cannot manage through our Wrap Asset Management service.
If our firm offers a client this service, then a link will be provided to the client allowing them to
connect an account(s) to the platform. Once the client’s account(s) are connected to the platform, our
firm will review their current account allocations. Our firm will then review these accounts on a
regular basis and when deemed necessary, our firm will rebalance the account considering client
investment goals and risk tolerance. Any change in allocations will consider current economic and
market trends.
ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure Page 5 Ascend Investment Partners
Discretionary Advisory Services
Ascend offers separately managed accounts traded on a discretionary basis through First Clearing
and the Advisory Services of Wells Fargo Advisors through their Advisory Program Account. A
separate agreement will be entered into between the client and First Clearing, that is in addition to
the Advisory Contract that you will enter into with Ascend. Program fees are paid to First Clearing
and a portion of these fees will be paid to Ascend. Fees will be automatically deducted from your
account at First Clearing. Fees will not be more than 2.50% of assets held within the Program.
Retirement Plan Consulting:
Our firm provides retirement plan consulting services to employer plan sponsors on an ongoing
basis. Generally, such consulting services consist of assisting employer plan sponsors in establishing,
monitoring and reviewing their company's participant-directed retirement plan. As the needs of the
plan sponsor dictate, areas of advising may include:
• Establishing an Investment Policy Statement – Our firm will assist in the development of a
statement that summarizes the investment goals and objectives along with the broad
strategies to be employed to meet the objectives.
• Investment Options – Our firm will work with the Plan Sponsor to evaluate existing
investment options and make recommendations for appropriate changes.
• Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction –
Our firm will develop strategic asset allocation
models to aid Participants in developing strategies to meet their investment objectives, time
horizon, financial situation and tolerance for risk.
• Investment Monitoring – Our firm will monitor the performance of the investments and
notify the client in the event of over/underperformance and in times of market volatility.
• Participant Education – Our firm will provide opportunities to educate plan participants
about their retirement plan offerings, different investment options, and general guidance on
allocation strategies.
In providing services for retirement plan consulting, our firm does not provide any advisory services
with respect to the following types of assets: employer securities, real estate (excluding real estate
funds and publicly traded REITS), participant loans, non-publicly traded securities or assets, other
illiquid investments, or brokerage window programs (collectively, “Excluded Assets”). All retirement
plan consulting services shall be in compliance with the applicable state laws regulating retirement
consulting services. This applies to client accounts that are retirement or other employee benefit
plans (“Plan”) governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”). If the client accounts are part of a Plan, and our firm accepts appointment to provide
services to such accounts, our firm acknowledges its fiduciary standard within the meaning of Section
3(21) or 3(38) of ERISA as designated by the Retirement Plan Consulting Agreement with respect to
the provision of services described therein.
Annuity Consulting:
For annuity products that are commissioned products Ascend Investment Partners advises on these
as a consultant only. Ascend Investment Partners does not get paid by commission. Ascend Investment
Partners can advise on commissionable products already owned by clients or that clients are
considering purchasing as part of financial planning. For clients who would like advice and servicing
help on these commissionable products, they can assign Mutual Securities, LLC as the agent. Mutual
Securities provides servicing and then contracts with Ascend Investment Partners to provide
investment advisory services for those clients who have provided written consent. Mutual Securities
ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure Page 6 Ascend Investment Partners
pays Ascend Investment partners for consulting on these accounts and policies. See Item 10 for details
on this arrangement.
TAILORING OF ADVISORY SERVICES
Our firm offers individualized investment advice to our current Wrap Asset Management clients.
General investment advice will be offered to our Retirement Plan Consulting, and Referrals to Third
Party Money Management clients.
Each Wrap Asset Management client has the opportunity to place reasonable restrictions on the types
of investments to be held in the portfolio. Restrictions on investments in certain securities or types of
securities may not be possible due to the level of difficulty this would entail in managing the
account.
Pontera® Held Away Accounts Service:
In certain instances, our firm will provide an additional service for client’s held away accounts
through the Pontera platform (“the platform”). The accounts are not directly held in our custody (i.e.,
held away), but are ones wherein we still have discretion, and may leverage an Order Management
System to implement tax-efficient asset location and opportunistic rebalancing strategies on behalf
of the client. These are primarily 401(k) accounts, HSA’s, and other assets we do not custody and
cannot manage through our Wrap Asset Management service.
If our firm offers a client this service, then a link will be provided to the client allowing them to
connect an account(s) to the platform. Once the client’s account(s) are connected to the platform, our
firm will review their current account allocations. Our firm will then review these accounts on a
regular basis and when deemed necessary, our firm will rebalance the account considering client
investment goals and risk tolerance. Any change in allocations will consider current economic and
market trends.
Participation in Wrap Fee Programs
Our firm offers and sponsors a wrap fee program. Asset Management services are only offered
through wrapped accounts, which are managed on an individualized basis according to the client’s
investment objectives, financial goals, risk tolerance, etc. Please see our firm’s Wrap Fee Program
Brochure for more information.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, our firm manages $483,025,666 of client assets on a discretionary basis
and $27,946,976 on a non-discretionary basis.