About the Firm
We are an investment adviser registered with the SEC since December 2023. We are a limited
liability company organized under the laws of Puerto Rico. We are wholly owned by Mariner
Wealth Advisors, LLC (“Mariner”). MWA Midco, LLC (“Midco”) is the manager of Mariner.
MWA Holdco, LLC (“Holdco”) is the manager of Midco. Holdco is owned by 1248 Holdings,
LLC (formerly known as Bicknell Family Holding Company, LLC and referred to herein as
“1248”), the Martin C. Bicknell Revocable Trust dated August 7, 1996, as amended and restated,
and GEI VIII MW Aggregator LLC (“MW Aggregator”).
We are headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas with an office as of the date of this filing in Puerto
Rico.
Investment Advisory Services
We provide personal financial planning, reporting, consulting, and investment advisory services
to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations,
corporations and business entities. We employ a variety of investment strategies when constructing
a client’s portfolio. We generally offer our investment management and advisory services for a
fee based on assets under management or advisement as further described in the agreement with
the client. In certain cases, we provide financial planning, reporting and/or consulting services for
an additional fee, which can be a percentage of assets under advisement, based on the client’s net
worth or a flat or hourly rate.
Typically, when providing investment advisory services, we have full discretion to select securities
to buy and sell for a client’s account. Client accounts are tailored to address the specific goals,
objectives and constraints of each client. We consider a range of factors that can impact the
investment management process, including risk tolerance, investment time horizon, current and
future cash needs and such other circumstances deemed relevant.
We provide these services under the nonexclusive safe harbor from the definition of an investment
company for programs that provide discretionary investment advisory services to clients under 17
CFR 270.3a4. We usually do not allow clients to impose restrictions on investing in certain
securities or types of securities due to the level of difficulty this would entail in managing their
account. We will accept investment restrictions from clients if the restrictions do not hinder our
ability to execute our investment strategies.
We also provide our clients with access to third-party managers (each a “third-party manager”),
including managers in which Mariner or a related entity holds an ownership stake as well as
managers of private funds that are affiliated with, but operationally independent of, the Firm. This
service provides clients access to a wide range of investment opportunities and asset classes,
including international equities, emerging market equities, global fixed income, high-yield fixed
income, private equity, commodities, hedge funds, digital assets, structured notes and real assets.
By combining third-party managers with our experienced in-house resources, we seek to optimize
our customized portfolio management capabilities for clients. Unless otherwise set forth in the
third-party manager’s agreement, the third-party manager shall have discretionary authority for
the day-to-day management of the assets that are allocated to it by the Firm or the client. The third-
party manager shall continue in such capacity until such arrangement is terminated or modified by
the Firm. For certain accounts, the Firm utilizes private funds (including through access to a
platform which provides access to various alternative investments), third-party providers of unified
managed accounts, separately managed accounts and model programs to access third-party money
managers.
The Firm’s Investment Committee, led by the Chief Investment Officer and supported by the
investment team, is generally responsible for overseeing the due diligence process on prospective
investment strategies, managers and products that are made available for investment in a client’s
portfolio. The Firm’s Private Investments Committee generally approves private equity, private
real estate, private credit, hedge funds and other illiquid pooled investment vehicles available for
investment in a client’s portfolio. The Firm may also approve certain other alternative strategies
for use in clients’ portfolios. A client’s wealth advisor works with the client to understand the
client’s objectives, goals, risk tolerance, constraints and other relevant criteria, and to develop an
appropriate portfolio for the client. As a general matter, the wealth advisor will determine the
specific investments to utilize in a client’s portfolio. The Firm also maintains an internal portfolio
management team, which wealth advisors may leverage in developing client portfolios.
Financial Planning and Consulting
To the extent specifically requested, the Firm will provide financial planning and/or consulting
services (including investment and non-investment related matters, such as estate planning,
insurance planning, education savings, tax consulting and preparation, divorce, etc.). Financial
planning and consulting services are typically provided as part of the Firm’s investment advisory
services, however, the Firm may charge an additional fee for such services depending on the level
of service provided and other considerations deemed relevant by the Firm in its sole discretion.
The Firm will also provide financial planning and consulting services on a stand-alone basis. Prior
to engaging the Firm to provide these services and to the extent a client has not entered into an
investment advisory agreement (also referred to as an investment management agreement) with
the Firm, clients are generally required to enter into a Financial Planning or Consulting Agreement
with the Firm setting forth the terms and conditions of the engagement (including termination),
describing the scope of the services to be provided, and the portion of the fee that is due from the
client prior to the Firm commencing services, if applicable.
The Firm provides coaching and financial planning services to individuals who are employed by
companies who are utilizing the Financial Wellness Platform offered through our affiliate, Mariner
Financial Wellness. These employees become our clients and receive access to the (general)
advisory and financial planning services offered through the platform for the duration of their
employer’s subscription. The Financial Wellness Platform provides educational resources and
tools for financial wellness and goal-setting as well as access to one-on-one Financial Wellness
Coaching with one of our advisors.
Core Family Office (“CFO”) Services
To the extent specifically requested, the Firm offers Core Family Office (“CFO”) Services along
with other services or independently, which includes the assistance with bill or invoice payments.
Within the online platform(s) we use, we are typically designated as administrator which gives us
the authority and ability to categorize and approve bills, authorize and schedule payments, and
control user access (such as adding and deactivating users on the account) depending on the scope
of services selected. CFO Services may include: banking, paying bills, record keeping, reporting,
and payroll.
Tax Compliance, Planning, Preparation and Consulting
To the extent specifically requested by a client, we provide coordinated tax compliance, planning,
preparation and consulting services (collectively referred to as “tax services”) to investment
advisory clients as an integrated part of our investment advisory services. We also provide tax
services on a stand-alone basis, pursuant to a separate tax engagement agreement, to individuals,
businesses and family offices. The Firm’s tax planning practice includes employees who are
certified public accountants (CPAs) with backgrounds in complex tax matters as well as enrolled
agents (EAs), who are federally authorized tax practitioners with technical expertise in the field of
taxation and are qualified to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal
Revenue Service for audits, collections and appeals. Although the Firm is a registered investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”), the Firm is not serving in a
fiduciary capacity in its provision of stand-alone tax services and will not provide ongoing
investment advisory services with respect to stand-alone tax clients’ assets or accounts. For clients
who receive tax services on a stand-alone basis, we may recommend the Firm be retained as their
investment adviser pursuant to a separate investment advisory agreement; however, such clients
are under no obligation to do so. The Firm may also recommend the services of other, non-
affiliated professionals to provide tax services. Our clients are under no obligation to engage the
services of any such recommended professional. It is solely up to our clients as to whether they
accept or reject any recommendation made by the Firm.
Please Note: Our clients agree that, if any dispute arises between our client and any other
professional recommended by the Firm, they will seek recourse exclusively from and against the
engaged qualified professional.
Please Note: While certain investment adviser representatives of the Firm are licensed CPAs or
EAs, they are not responsible for providing tax services unless the client’s Agreement with the
Firm specifically sets forth that such tax services will be provided. The Firm typically charges an
additional or separate fee for tax services.
Retirement Plan Consulting and Management Services
We provide consulting and advisory services for employer-sponsored retirement plans that are
designed to assist plan sponsors of employee benefit plans. Generally, such retirement plan
consulting and advisory services consist of managing, or otherwise advising sponsors in
establishing, selecting, monitoring, removing and/or replacing, the investment options under the
plan, consistent with the objectives, written guidelines and/or investment objectives set forth in
the written investment policy statement adopted by the plan sponsor. As the needs of the plan
sponsor dictate, the Firm offers the following areas of management or advisement: plan investment
options, asset allocation, plan structure, participant education, and managing model portfolios.
When providing consulting and/or management services to plan sponsors of employee benefit
plans, plan participants should not assume that general informational materials or educational
sessions devised and/or provided by the Firm on behalf of the plan serves as the receipt of, or as a
substitute for, personalized investment advice from the Firm, or from any other investment
professional. To the extent that any participant requires initial or ongoing personalized investment
advice, he/she is encouraged to consult with the investment professional of his/her choosing.
In addition to the services described above, the Firm may also provide discretionary advisory
services to client accounts that are governed by the Employment Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
Retirement plan investment advisory services shall be in compliance with the applicable state
law(s) regulating retirement plan advisory services. This applies to client accounts that are plans
governed by ERISA. If the client accounts are part of the plan, and we accept appointments to
provide our services to such accounts, we acknowledge that we are a fiduciary within the meaning
of section 3(21) of ERISA (but only with respect to the provision of services described in the
applicable agreement). We emphasize continuous and regular account supervision. Once the
appropriate plan investments have been determined, we review the plan investments at least
annually and if necessary, provide advice to or otherwise add, replace or remove investment
options based upon the plan sponsor’s objectives, written guidelines and/or investment objectives.
Our Fiduciary
Acknowledgement
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or IRA, we are
fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
(“ERISA”) and/or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “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
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest
For purposes of this special rule, covered “plans” include 401(k), 403(b), profit sharing, pension
and all other plans that are subject to ERISA, together with tax-qualified retirement plans under
the Code (even if not subject to ERISA) such as Solo 401(k) and “Keogh” plans. “IRAs” subject
to the special rule include both traditional and Roth IRAs, individual retirement annuities, health
savings accounts, Archer medical savings accounts and Coverdell education savings accounts.
Our Material Conflicts of Interest
Our material conflicts of interest are described in this brochure.
Investment advisory, financial planning, tax and/or retirement service recommendations as
described above may pose a conflict between the interests of the Firm and the interests of clients.
For example, a recommendation to engage the Firm for investment advisory services or to increase
the level of investment assets with the Firm, including through rollovers or other transfers of
retirement plan accounts or IRAs, would pose a conflict, as it would increase the advisory fees
paid to the Firm. Clients are not obligated to implement any recommendations made by the Firm
or maintain an ongoing relationship with the Firm. If a client elects to act on any of the
recommendations made by the Firm, the client is under no obligation to execute the transaction
through the Firm.
Rollovers and Account Type Changes
Regardless of the investments and services you select, the Firm (together with our affiliates) will
make more money if you roll over assets from a retirement plan or IRA for which we do not
provide services, to a retirement plan or IRA for which we do provide services, whether the
rollover is from (1) a plan to an IRA, (2), an IRA to an IRA, (3) a plan to another plan, or (4) an
IRA to a plan (as those terms are described above). As noted above, our individual wealth advisors
are typically compensated in part based on the total advisory fee and commission revenues they
generate for our Firm and its affiliates. Therefore, both our Firm and our individual wealth advisors
have financial incentives to recommend plan and/or IRA rollovers to plans and IRAs serviced by
us. You are under no obligation, contractually or otherwise, to complete the rollover. Furthermore,
if you do complete the rollover, you are under no obligation to have the assets in an IRA managed
by us.
Certain QDIA (Investment Management) Services
If you are the sponsor or other fiduciary (e.g., a committee or trustee) of a 401(k) or other
participant-directed plan, we may recommend to you that your plan utilize one of the Firm’s
Managed QDIA (“Qualified Default Investment Alternative”) Services, which are provided in
partnership with certain third-party providers. A QDIA is a default investment used when money
is contributed to an employee’s 401(k) account, but the employee has not made an investment
election. Managed QDIA Services will result in our receipt of additional asset-based fees (which
vary according to the specific program you select), and the level of fees will likewise depend on
whether a regular or “dynamic” QDIA service, or a participant-by-participant “opt-in” service,
will be used. Likewise, our Managed QDIA Services with certain third-party partners impose a
“minimum assets” requirement which, if not met, would require the Firm to make a payment to
the third-party partner.
Again, as noted above, our individual wealth advisors are typically compensated in part based on
the total fees and other revenues they generate for our Firm. Therefore, both our Firm and our
individual wealth advisors have financial incentives to recommend Managed QDIA Services, and
those particular services, which would pay us the most additional revenues. If we recommend a
Managed QDIA Service for your plan, you will be provided with additional information about fees
and costs at that time.
A recommendation to a retirement plan sponsor or fiduciary to use a specific Managed QDIA
program or service level would pose a conflict because some programs and service levels cause
the Firm to receive more advisory fees than others. Also, where a “minimum assets” requirement
is imposed upon the Firm by a third-party provider of QDIA Services (or any other services), this
poses a conflict because the Firm may avoid having to make a payment to the provider by
recommending it to enough plans to maintain the “minimum assets” required.
Client Agreement
Prior to engaging us, the client will be required to enter into one or more written agreements setting
forth the terms, conditions, and objectives under which we shall render our services (the
“Agreement”). Additionally, we will only implement our investment recommendations after a
client has arranged for and furnished all information and authorization regarding accounts with
appropriate financial institutions. Our clients are advised to promptly notify us if there are ever
any changes in their financial situation or investment objectives.
Managed Accounts – Equity and Fixed Income Portfolios
We also offer our clients a variety of equity and fixed income strategies. These strategies offer
clients access to equity and fixed income securities. The Firm generally imposes account
minimums of $100,000 when offering managed accounts to clients, which may be adjusted
depending on the level of service provided to the client, the investment strategy employed by the
account and other considerations deemed relevant by the Firm in its sole discretion. The equity
strategies vary by mandate, all with a focus on capital appreciation as a primary objective.
Philosophies include dividend-based strategies, GARP (growth at a reasonable price), direct
indexing and socially conscious. The Firm will select individual securities based upon fundamental
analysis performed by our research investment professionals. We rely primarily on publicly
available information in our analysis, supplemented by third-party research and analytical tools.
With respect to our fixed income strategies, our primary objective is capital preservation.
Secondary objectives include providing a steady, tax-efficient revenue stream and the potential for
capital appreciation. Our fixed income strategies are formed through a combined top-down and
bottom-up perspective. From the top-down, we develop our economic outlook and interest rate
strategy using macroeconomic and market data and trends. We will alter our duration, sector, and
yield curve exposure targets based on this outlook.
Closed-end Funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Mutual Fund Portfolios
The Firm provides advice to client accounts that are limited to or include as part of the overall
client allocation portfolios of closed-end funds, ETFs and mutual funds. The Firm implements a
number of investment strategies for clients by creating portfolios that may include closed-end
funds, ETFs and mutual funds.
Options Strategies
We also offer our clients a variety of options strategies. These strategies are generally designed to
provide clients with income that is generally uncorrelated to the performance of their underlying
investments held as collateral. Alternatively, the options strategies may be used to enhance the
returns of an underlying concentrated position or to protect the downside of an equity or an index.
Structured Notes Strategies
We offer our clients structured notes strategies. These strategies are generally designed to provide
clients with an alternative risk/reward payoff compared to owning the same asset directly. The
structured notes objectives are to offer capital appreciation to equity indices and varying levels of
downside protection to the index. They may also be used to provide income or principal
protection.
Personalized Equity Portfolios
We offer our clients personalized equity portfolios. This strategy is generally designed to provide
clients with broad equity exposure with the added benefit of tax loss harvesting. It may also be
used to create personalized equity strategies based on client circumstances around tax or stock
concentrations or based on their values-based preferences. We rely on the screens provided by our
portfolio management system to implement the portfolios with respect to sector, industry, or
values-based identification.
Alternative Strategies
Our alternative and private fund strategies focus on generating absolute, risk-adjusted returns that
are intended to have lower correlation to the broad equity market. As a result, clients must
affirmatively subscribe for any such investment.
Annuity Products
Clients may grant the Firm discretion to: (a) select investment strategy allocations for clients’
existing or new annuity products; and (b) allocate among the investment strategy allocations
available from the specific annuity sponsor (collectively (a) and (b) are referred to as the “Annuity
Allocation Services”). In performing Annuity Allocation Services, the Firm will only consider the
options available within the specific annuity purchased by the client. If an annuity was purchased
with retirement account assets, client agrees that the Firm did not exercise discretionary control
with respect to the purchase of the annuity. Any changes in client’s annuity investments (re-
allocations among investment strategy allocations) are subject to the terms and conditions imposed
by the applicable annuity sponsor. The assets invested in any annuity product for which the Firm
is providing Annuity Allocation Services are included in the total assets on which the Firm’s
advisory fee is calculated. The Firm’s advisory fee is separate from, and in addition to, the
management fees and expenses charged on a continuing basis by the annuity sponsor, insurance
company, and/or associated investment manager. Annuities have inherent risks, will fluctuate in
value, incur losses based on the performance of selected investments or investment strategy
allocations, are suitable only as long-term investments, and should not be viewed as short-term
trading vehicles. Clients should carefully review the prospectus and other offering documents for
more information on annuities.
Other Businesses and Investment Programs
The Firm and our affiliates also offer to our clients a variety of services, including estate and trust
services, and risk management. The Firm earns fees for the services provided by it, and its
affiliates will likewise earn fees directly for services they provide. Please see Item 10 for more
information on the services provided by our affiliates.
Securities Class Actions and Proofs of Claim
The Firm is not obligated to file, nor will it act in any legal capacity with respect to class action
settlements or related proofs of claim. If requested by the client, the Firm will try to provide the
client with the required documentation, if available
Assets Under Management
Our total assets under management are approximately $0 as of December 2023.