About the Firm
HB Wealth Management, LLC (“Homrich Berg” or “HB”) succeeded the business of Homrich &
Berg Inc., which was founded in 1989. Homrich & Berg Inc. sold a minority stake in firm
ownership to NMSEF I Holdings V, L.P., and affiliate of New Mountain Capital (together “NMC”)
a growth-oriented investment firm. In connection with the NMC investment, HB completed an
internal restructuring, pursuant to which it created a new wholly owned subsidiary, HB Wealth
Management, LLC, into which NMC made its investment, and Homrich & Berg, Inc. contributed
substantially all its assets to this new subsidiary entity (the “Restructuring,” and together with
the NMC Investment, the “Transaction”). Following the Restructuring, HB Wealth
Management, LLC became the operating entity. The transaction closed on 9/30/2021. HB’s
principal owners are Homrich & Berg Inc. and NMSEF I Holdings V, L.P.
Investment Management Services
HB primarily provides wealth management services. We provide these services mainly to
individuals and families, but also to trusts, retirement plans, corporate entities, foundations,
and family offices. HB’s investment management services involve the review of client
portfolios with respect to stated investment objectives, other outside assets of the client, and
the obligations of the client. HB also provides specific investment advice solely on the basis of
investment objectives and instructions received from the client. HB offers consolidated
quarterly investment capital reports.
HB considers the client's specific goals and risk tolerance and our capital markets outlook
when directing assets to investments. Clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain
securities or types of securities.
Investment purchases are generally made through our primary custodian of client accounts,
Charles Schwab & Company, but may also include Fidelity Investments or Bank of New York
Mellon “Pershing,” an unaffiliated SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA member, if
appropriate. Using the custodian's services, each client opens a custodial/brokerage account
and authorizes HB to effect transactions on his or her behalf. The custodian’s services offer
the client the advantage of, among other things, online access to accounts, a dedicated service
team for handling client matters, and a broad range of investment and asset management
options. Each of the custodians offer consolidated statements of account.
HB provides its clients with a periodic summary of the firm's outlook on the capital markets. In
addition, HB occasionally sends general industry, individual investments, or economic reports
to clients (and at times, other persons) that are believed to have a particular interest in the
subject of this material.
HB consults with its clients on other wealth management matters. Such advice includes, but is
not limited to, cash flow planning, planning for retirement income needs, wealth transfer and
estate planning, insurance planning, income tax planning, and other non-security services
agreed upon by HB and the client. These services may be referred to as financial planning or
some similar term.
All investment management and financial planning services clients retain HB by entering into a
written agreement. This agreement may be terminated within five (5) days of the executing
date of the agreement or by either party with a written notice thirty (30) days prior to
termination as agreed upon. Fees will be prorated to the date of the termination as specified
in the notice and any unearned portion of prepaid fees will be refunded to the client.
Investment Types
In addition to equities and bonds, we invest in the following securities:
Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds
Occasionally, we recommend investments in no-load, open-ended mutual funds or
exchange traded funds (ETFs) instead of individual equity or fixed income securities. We
consider this investment appropriate in certain circumstances for diversification without
investing in a portfolio of individual securities.
Private Investment Funds
HB provides investment advice regarding private investment funds, both affiliated and
unaffiliated, but are limited to accredited investors, and for some funds, we require the
investors to also be qualified clients or qualified purchasers. Private funds are suitable
only for sophisticated investors who do not require immediate liquidity for their
investments, for whom an investment in a private fund does not constitute a complete
investment program, and who fully understand and are willing to assume the risks
involved in the private fund’s investment program. Even when the investments of a
private fund are successful, some do not produce a realized return for a period of years.
The private funds’ offering documents contain additional information that must be
reviewed by any potential investor. If a client determines to become a private fund
investor, the amount of assets invested in the fund(s) shall be included as part of “assets
under management” for purposes of HB calculating its investment advisory fee. HB’s
clients are under absolutely no obligation to consider or make an investment in any
private investment fund(s).
HB Funds (Affiliated Funds)
HB forms and manages its own private investment funds (“HB Funds”). HB uses a third-party
administrator for administration and reporting. Within the HB Funds, HB may invest in
underlying private investments including but not limited to issuers such as direct real estate
investments in addition to other private funds including pooled investments such as private
equity, debt, real estate, and natural resources. HB Fund valuations are prepared by the fund
administrator and are reported to investors by HB on a quarterly basis. These valuations are
based upon the most recent valuation reports received from underlying fund managers or
investment sponsors. The valuations are generally lagged by one quarter such that a quarterly
report dated June 30th will contain the valuation from March 31st. This may result in a higher
or lower fee based on the current value of the fund.
Unaffiliated Private Investments
HB invests in other unaffiliated private investments such as direct real estate investments and
pooled investments such as private equity, debt, real estate, and natural resources funds.
Valuations are reported quarterly and are based upon the most recent valuation reports
received from underlying fund managers or investment sponsors. Quarterly HB Advisory fees
will be calculated using the most recent valuation reports provided by the investment manager
or sponsor. The valuations are generally lagged by one quarter such that a quarterly report
dated June 30th will contain the valuation from March 31st. This may result in a higher
or lower
fee based on the current value of the fund.
Hedge Funds
HB invests in pooled hedge fund entities. The values and returns for pooled hedge fund
entities are computed monthly. Final monthly valuations are usually available around the 20th
business day of the month. To give a more accurate picture of the values of pooled hedge
fund entities, HB may use estimates from the hedge fund managers as soon as they are
available and update the hedge fund values in client accounts. Generally, hedge fund
managers provide these estimates beginning on the 5th business day of the month for the prior
month ending value. HB uses its best efforts to update hedge fund valuations based upon
estimates provided by the managers. When the managers deliver the final valuation the last
week of the month, HB will update the value if there is a change from the estimate. Quarterly
HB Advisory fees will be calculated using the most current hedge fund valuations. In some
cases this is an estimate and in other cases it may be the actual value from the prior month.
This may result in a higher or lower fee based on the current value of the fund.
Portfolio Accounting and Reporting
HB uses a third-party provider, Black Diamond Performance Reporting, for portfolio accounting
and client performance reporting. Clients have online access to view portfolio holdings,
performance, and other portfolio attributes. Market values in Black Diamond are updated
daily and include accrued interest and accrued dividends. Client accounts are reconciled daily
by Black Diamond. Valuations of private investments, including such investments as direct real
estate, hedge funds, private equity, private debt, and other private funds are updated by HB as
valuations are provided to us by the fund managers or investment sponsors.
Legal Proceedings
HB has engaged a third-party service provider, Chicago Clearing Corporation (“CCC”), to
monitor and file securities claims class action litigation paperwork with Claims Administrators
on behalf of HB Clients. HB may share client information such as name, tax ID, and account
number with CCC as necessary to provide this service. HB does not receive any fees or
remuneration in connection with this service nor does it receive any fees from the third-party
provider(s). CCC will earn a fee of all claims they collect on behalf of HB Clients. This fee is
retained by CCC out of the claims paid by the Claim Administrator. Clients may opt out of this
service at any time. If a client opts out, HB has no obligation to advise or to take any action on
behalf of a client in any legal proceedings, including bankruptcies or class actions, involving
investments held in or formerly held in a client's account. HB will forward to the client or to
the client's custodian any notices received relating to pending class actions involving a client's
account.
Disaster Recovery
HB has developed a contingency and disaster recovery plan (“CDRP”) which will be followed in
the event of a business disruption. The objectives of the plan are to minimize the impact upon
the safety of the firm's employees, protect against the loss or damage of firm assets, and
provide alternative site processing with a minimum of inconvenience to firm clients.
Retirement Plan Rollovers - Potential for Conflict of Interest
A client or prospective client leaving an employer typically has four options regarding an
existing retirement plan (and may engage in a combination of these options): (i) leave the
money in the former employer’s plan, if permitted, (ii) roll over the assets to the new
employer’s plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) roll over to an Individual
Retirement Account (“IRA”), or (iv) cash out the account value (which could, depending upon
the client’s age, result in adverse tax consequences). If HB recommends that a client roll over
their retirement plan assets into an account to be managed by HB, such a recommendation
may create a potential conflict of interest if HB will earn new (or increase its current)
compensation as a result of the rollover. HB mitigates this potential conflict by analyzing the
former employer’s plan comparing to the client’s options taking multiple factors into account
and making a recommendation in the best interest of the client. No client is under any
obligation to roll over retirement plan assets to an account managed by HB.
HB is a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”), with respect to investment management services and investment advice provided to
ERISA plan clients, including ERISA plan participants. HB is also a fiduciary under the Internal
Revenue Code (the “IRC”) with respect to investment management services and investment
advice provided to ERISA plans, ERISA plan participants, IRAs and IRA owners (collectively,
“Retirement Account Clients”). As such, HB is subject to specific duties and obligations under
ERISA and the IRC that include, among other things, prohibited transaction rules which are
intended to prohibit fiduciaries from acting on conflicts of interest. When a fiduciary gives
advice in which it has a conflict of interest, the fiduciary must either avoid or eliminate the
conflict or rely upon a prohibited transaction exemption (a “PTE).
As a fiduciary, we have duties of care and of loyalty to you and are subject to obligations
imposed on us by the federal and state securities laws. As a result, you have certain rights that
you cannot waive or limit by contract. Nothing in our agreement with you should be
interpreted as a limitation of our obligations under the federal or state securities laws or as a
waiver of nay unwaivable rights you possess.
Assets Under Management
HB provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management. Our RAUM as of
12/31/2023 are as follows:
Discretionary: $ 13,470,685,163
Non-Discretionary: $ 1,728,618,967
Total: $ 15,199,304,130
In addition, HB also advises clients on assets and makes investment recommendations to
clients on assets where HB has no ability to places trade for the clients. In this situation, we
refer to those assets as “assets under advisement”.
Financial Planning and Wealth Advisory Services
HB offers financial planning services to clients. These services include assessing a client’s
present financial situation and assisting with defining personal financial planning goals and
objectives. Focus areas can include, but are not limited to, cash flow planning, tax planning,
retirement planning, estate planning, investment planning and education planning.
HB does not prepare any accounting or legal documents for implementation of the financial
plan. Any fees incurred for such professional services are the client’s responsibility.