4.A Aureus Asset Management, LLC is an independent investment firm founded in 2005 to address
the key financial challenges facing individuals, families and organizations today. By successfully
adapting the investment sophistication of leading endowments and institutions to meet the
individualized goals and objectives of our clients, we have created a unique contemporary wealth
management model.
Aureus Asset Management operates as a partnership with eight employees having a membership
interest as of December 31, 2023. Karen Firestone and Thaddeus Davis each own 25% or more of
the partnership.
4.B Aureus employs a Contemporary Wealth Management approach to investing which:
Maintains traditional investment tenets such as prudent diversification, fundamental research
and risk management.
Applies a global investing philosophy, incorporating a comprehensive view of geographies and
asset classes.
Combines traditional asset classes (equities and fixed income) and alternative asset classes in
building client specific investment portfolios.
Manages portfolios with a total return approach, tailored for specific client requirements.
Provides the benefit of both internal (Aureus) management and external management
(unaffiliated managers) for client investment portfolios.
4.C Aureus creates a portfolio designed to meet the individual needs of each client. We allocate a
client's portfolio among various asset classes and investment strategies taking into consideration
the specific objectives of the client. Portfolios consist of one or more of the following: individual
equities, individual bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, non-traditional assets, and other investment
vehicles including private partnerships. We provide a hybrid approach to managing client
portfolios using a combination of internally managed strategies and externally managed strategies.
We recognize our strengths in specific asset classes and the benefits of using other, specialized
investment managers to complete a client’s targeted asset allocation.
At Aureus’ discretion and consistent with the client’s investment objectives, assets may be
internally managed by Aureus and complimented by an allocation to external, unaffiliated
managers for specific asset classes.
Internal Management.
Aureus Internal Management refers to management of predominately US-listed Equity portfolios.
As of December 31, 2023, we manage three primary equity strategies those being Core Equity,
Dividend Equity, and High Income Equity. All portfolios are actively managed using
fundamental research prepared by Aureus investment professionals. The Core Equity and
Dividend Equity strategies generally contain 30-40 holdings diversified by industry sector and
market capitalization. All holdings in the Dividend Equity strategy are required to pay a dividend,
while there is no dividend requirement for holdings in the Core Equity strategy. The High Income
Equity strategy generally holds 15-20 securities and provides a dividend income yield higher than
that of the S&P 500 Index and targets a longer-term return greater than the return from the ten-
year US Treasury Note.
Most client portfolios will, over time, tend to own the same holdings with similar weightings
as
other clients in the strategy. Differences will occur due to the inception date of the portfolio,
client-specific tax considerations, legacy holdings, and the accommodation of client-specific
limitations on certain industries/companies.
Affiliated Funds and External Managers.
An allocation to these external, unaffiliated managers may be obtained through an investment in
an Aureus affiliated fund, provided such investments are consistent with the investment guidelines
set forth in the investment management agreement entered into between the client and Aureus.
Aureus is the managing member of Aureus Fund Series LLC (the “Fund”) which is an investment-
related limited liability company. The Fund currently has three underlying portfolios,
International Series, Absolute Return Series and Directional Series. The Fund and the portfolios
are focused on a long-term investment horizon and will seek out investment opportunities
available through external, unaffiliated funds and/or other investment alternatives managed by
independent investment managers.
Aureus provides its investment management services to the Fund on a discretionary basis in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Management Agreement and the Fund's
subscription agreement. Aureus will determine the initial asset allocation to each investment
manager and any subsequent changes in asset allocation. Investors should review the disclosure
documents and subscription agreement provided by the Fund for information about the investment
strategies employed by Aureus and/or the independent investment managers as certain strategies
may entail substantial risk. An investment in the Fund should only be made by investors who
understand the nature of the investment, do not require liquidity in the investment and can bear the
economic risk of loss of their investment.
For certain clients, Aureus will make direct investments in external, unaffiliated funds which are
appropriate for the client’s investment objectives.
An investment in any external manager or affiliated fund does not increase the fees payable by a
client to Aureus. These external managers charge fees directly to their investment strategies/funds
reducing the net performance to the client for the Fund. Aureus does not share in any fees charged
by the external managers.
Sub-Advisors.
Aureus may, from time to time, appoint one or more unaffiliated sub-advisors to manage client
assets that may be invested in a specific investment strategy. Aureus maintains the discretionary
authority to hire and/or replace any sub-advisor as part of Aureus' engagement to manage the
client's portfolio(s) consistent with the client's objectives.
As described in the Management Agreement, clients have the opportunity to place reasonable
restrictions on the types of investments that will be made on the client's behalf.
4.D Aureus does not participate in any wrap fee programs.
4.E As of December 31, 2023, Aureus has total assets under advisement of $6.95 billion. Of this
amount we have discretion over $1.74 billion in assets on which our fee schedule shown in item 5,
applies. We have $5.22 billion in assets, on which we advise our clients but do not have full
discretion.