Overview
Assets Under Management: $179 million
Headquarters: IRVINE, CA
High-Net-Worth Clients: 24
Average Client Assets: $7 million
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals
Clients
Number of High-Net-Worth Clients: 24
Percentage of Firm Assets Belonging to High-Net-Worth Clients: 96.90
Average High-Net-Worth Client Assets: $7 million
Total Client Accounts: 180
Discretionary Accounts: 180
Regulatory Filings
CRD Number: 318729
Last Filing Date: 2024-07-31 00:00:00
Website: https://filigreeadvisors.com
Form ADV Documents
Primary Brochure: ADV 2A - FIRM BROCHURE - FILIGREE WEALTH ADVISORS (2025-03-25)
View Document Text
Item 1: Cover Page
Part 2A of Form ADV: Firm Brochure
March 2025
Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
530 Technology Drive, STE 100
Irvine, CA 92618-1350
Firm Contact:
Gerald Graves
Chief Compliance Officer
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Filigree
Wealth Advisors, LLC. If clients have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact
us at gerald@filigreeadvisors.com or (949) 989-2527. The information in this brochure has not been
approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any State
Securities Authority. Additional information about our firm is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov by searching CRD # 318729.
Please note that the use of the term “registered investment adviser” and description of our firm
and/or our associates as “registered” does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Clients are
encouraged to review this Brochure and Brochure Supplements for additional information on our
firm and the qualifications of our firm and our employees.
Item 2: Material Changes
Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC is required to notify clients of any information that has changed since
the last annual update of the Firm Brochure (“Brochure”) that may be important to them. Clients can
request a full copy of our Brochure or contact us with any questions that they may have about the
changes.
Since our firm’s last annual amendment filing on March 8th, 2024, our firm has no material changes
to report.
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2: Material Changes ............................................................................................................................ 2
Item 3: Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 3
Item 4: Advisory Business .......................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5: Fees & Compensation ..................................................................................................................... 5
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management .............................................................. 7
Item 7: Types of Clients & Account Requirements ................................................................................... 7
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss ........................................................ 7
Item 9: Disciplinary Information .............................................................................................................. 12
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations .................................................................... 12
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in .............................................................................. 13
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ................................................................................................................... 14
Item 13: Review of Accounts or Financial Plans ..................................................................................... 18
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation ................................................................................... 18
Item 15: Custody ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Item 16: Investment Discretion ............................................................................................................... 20
Item 17: Voting Client Securities .............................................................................................................. 20
Item 18: Financial Information ................................................................................................................ 20
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Item 4: Advisory Business
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 Delaware in 2022 and has been in business as an investment adviser since 2022. Our firm is
owned by Gerald Graves and Christen Dudley.
The purpose of this Brochure is to disclose 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. This collaborative approach allows us to work with a
wide variety 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.
Types of Advisory Services Offered
Investment Management:
As part of our Investment Management service, a portfolio is created, consisting of individual stocks,
bonds, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), options, mutual funds and other public and private securities or
investments. The client’s individual investment strategy is tailored to their specific needs and may
include some or all of the previously mentioned securities. Portfolios will be designed to meet a
particular investment goal, determined to be suitable to the client’s circumstances. Once the appropriate
portfolio has been determined, portfolios are continuously and regularly monitored, and if necessary,
rebalanced based upon the client’s individual needs, stated goals and objectives.
Our firm utilizes the separately managed account services of a third-party investment advisory firm
or individual advisor (“Third-Party Manager”) to aid in the implementation of an investment
portfolio designed by our firm. Before selecting a Third-Party Manager, our firm will ensure that the
chosen party is properly licensed or registered. Our firm will not offer advice on any specific
securities or other investments in connection with this service. We will provide initial due diligence
on Third-Party Managers and ongoing reviews of their management of client accounts. To assist in
the selection of a Third-Party Manager, our firm will gather client information pertaining to financial
situation, investment objectives, and reasonable restrictions to be imposed upon the management of
the account.
Our firm will periodically review Third-Party Manager reports at least annually. Our firm will contact
clients periodically in order to review their financial situation and objectives; communicate
information to Third-Party Manager as warranted; and, assist the client in understanding and
evaluating the services provided by the third party money manager. Clients will be expected to notify
our firm of any changes in their financial situation, investment objectives, or account restrictions that
could affect their financial standing.
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
Financial Planning & Consulting:
Our firm provides a variety of standalone financial planning and consulting services to clients for the
management of financial resources based upon an analysis of current situation, goals, and objectives.
Financial planning services will typically involve preparing a financial plan or rendering a financial
consultation for clients based on the client’s financial goals and objectives. This planning or
consulting may encompass Investment Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Charitable
Planning, Education Planning, Corporate and Personal Tax Planning, Cost Segregation Study,
Corporate Structure, Real Estate Analysis, Mortgage/Debt Analysis, Insurance Analysis, Lines of
Credit Evaluation, or Business and Personal Financial Planning.
Written financial plans or financial consultations rendered to clients usually include general
recommendations for a course of activity or specific actions to be taken by the clients.
Implementation of the recommendations will be at the discretion of the client. Our firm provides
clients with a summary of their financial situation, and observations for financial planning
engagements. Financial consultations are not typically accompanied by a written summary of
observations and recommendations, as the process is less formal than the planning service. Assuming
that all the information and documents requested from the client are provided promptly, plans or
consultations are typically completed within 6 months of the client signing a contract with our firm.
Tailoring of Advisory Services
Our firm offers individualized investment advice to our Investment Management clients. General
investment advice will be offered to our Financial Planning & Consulting clients.
Each Investment Management client can 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.
Participation in Wrap Fee Programs
Our firm does not offer or sponsor a wrap fee program.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
As of December 31st, 2024, our firm manages $180,493,287 dollars on a discretionary basis and $0
dollars on a non-discretionary basis.
Item 5: Fees & Compensation
Compensation for Our Advisory Services
Investment Management:
The maximum annual fee charged for this service will not exceed 0.90%. Fees to be assessed will be
outlined in the advisory agreement to be signed by the Client. Annualized fees are billed on a pro-
rata basis quarterly in arrears based on the time-weighted daily average value of the account(s) of
the quarter. Our firm adjusts for deposits and withdrawals. Our firm may bill on cash unless
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
otherwise agreed in writing. Fees are negotiable and will be deducted from client account(s). Our
firm does not offer direct invoicing. As part of this process, Clients understand the following:
a) The client’s independent custodian sends statements at least quarterly showing the market
values for each security included in the Assets and all account disbursements, including the
amount of the advisory fees paid to our firm;
b) Clients will provide authorization permitting our firm to be directly paid by these terms. Our
firm will send an invoice directly to the custodian; and
c) If our firm sends a copy of our invoice to the client, a legend urging the comparison of
information provided in our statement with those from the qualified custodian will be
included.
Clients utilizing the services of a third-party investment advisory firm or individual will be charged
a separate advisory fee by the selected third-party money manager. This fee shall be in addition to
the advisory fee charged by our firm. The maximum combined annual advisory fee charged to the
client by our firm and any third-party money manager will not exceed 1.5%. The Third-Party
Manager will debit fees for this service. Third-party money managers establish and maintain their
own separate billing processes over which we have no control. Their billing processes will be
described in their separate written disclosure documents.
Financial Planning & Consulting:
Our firm charges on an hourly or flat fee basis for financial planning and consulting services. The total
estimated fee, as well as the ultimate fee charged, is based on the scope and complexity of our
engagement with the client. Our maximum hourly fee is $500. The fee-paying arrangements will be
determined on a case-by-case basis and will be detailed in the signed consulting agreement. Our firm
will not require a retainer exceeding $1,200 when services cannot be rendered within 6 months.
Other Types of Fees & Expenses
Clients will incur transaction fees for trades executed by their chosen custodian. These transaction
fees are separate from our firm’s advisory fees and will be disclosed by the chosen custodian.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), does not charge transaction fees for U.S. listed equities and
exchange traded funds.
Clients may also pay holdings charges imposed by the chosen custodian for certain investments,
charges imposed directly by a mutual fund, index fund, or exchange traded fund which shall be
disclosed in the fund’s prospectus (e.g., fund management fees and other fund expenses), distribution
fees, surrender charges, variable annuity fees, IRA and qualified retirement plan fees, mark-ups and
mark-downs, spreads paid to market makers, fees for trades executed away from custodian, wire
transfer fees and other fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Our firm
does not receive a portion of these fees.
Clients may pay holding charges, performance-based fees or other fees on investments in private
equity or other private investments. Our firm will ensure that clients are accredited or qualified
investors, and that the investment is suitable for the Client prior to our firm recommending said
investment. The exact fee-paying arrangements will be disclosed in the fund prospectus or other
disclosure documents.
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
Termination & Refunds
Either party may terminate the advisory agreement signed with our firm for Investment Management
services in writing at any time. Upon notice of termination pro-rata advisory fees for services
rendered to the point of termination will be charged. If advisory fees cannot be deducted, our firm
will send an invoice for due advisory fees to the client.
Financial Planning & Consulting clients may terminate their agreement at any time before the
delivery of a financial plan by providing written notice. For purposes of calculating refunds, all work
performed by us up to the point of termination shall be calculated at the hourly fee currently in effect.
Clients will receive a pro-rata refund of unearned fees based on the time and effort expended by our
firm.
Commissionable Securities Sales
Our firm and representatives do not sell securities for a commission in advisory accounts.
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management
Our firm does not charge performance-based fees.
Item 7: Types of Clients & Account Requirements
Client Types:
Our firm has the following types of clients: Individuals and High Net Worth Individuals; Trusts,
Estates or Charitable Organizations; Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans; Corporations, Limited
Liability Companies and/or Other Business Types
Account Requirements:
Our firm generally requires a minimum account balance of $1,000,000 for engaging our firm for
services. However, our firm reserves the right to waive this minimum at our discretion.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
We use the following methods of analysis in formulating our investment advice and/or managing
client assets:
Source of Returns Analysis: Investment returns may be considered as being driven by enterprise
risk, structure and/or the competitive advantage of a given manager. As a result, much of our analysis
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
focuses on understanding the underlying risks of the various assets in which we are investing. While
the full set of risks associated with an investment are too numerous to catalog, they may be
represented by equity characteristics such as companies’ relative size, price and profitability. Other
fixed income characteristics may include term, credit, liquidity, the real rate and whether the
investment is real or nominal. We also consider whether various structural approaches may be able
to produce additional forms of return due to variables such as leverage, illiquidity and others. Lastly,
we consider if opportunities exist to enhance the return of a given investment by seeking access to
managers with competitive advantage and/or demonstrated and reproducible skill. Risk, structure
and competitive advantage all contribute to the potential return of a given investment. Our analysis
seeks to identify compensated forms of risk and weight strategies in those forms in which we have
the highest degree of confidence.
Asset Allocation: Rather than focusing primarily on securities selection, we attempt to identify an
appropriate ratio of securities, fixed income, and cash suitable to the client’s investment goals and
risk tolerance. A risk of asset allocation is that the client may not participate in sharp increases in a
particular security, industry or market sector. Another risk is that the ratio of securities, fixed income,
and cash will change over time due to stock and market movements and, if not corrected, will no
longer be appropriate for the client’s goals.
Mutual Fund and/or ETF Analysis: We look at the experience and track record of the manager of
the mutual fund or ETF in an attempt to determine if that manager has demonstrated an ability to
invest over a period of time and in different economic conditions. We also monitor the funds or ETFs
in an attempt to determine if they are continuing to follow their stated investment strategy. A risk of
mutual fund and/or ETF analysis is that, as in all securities investments, past performance does not
guarantee future results. A manager who has been successful may not be able to replicate that success
in the future. In addition, as we do not control the underlying investments in a fund or ETF, managers
of different funds held by the client may purchase the same security, increasing the risk to the client
if that security were to fall in value. There is also a risk that a manager may deviate from the stated
investment mandate or strategy of the fund or ETF, which could make the holding(s) less suitable for
the client’s portfolio.
Third-Party Manager Analysis: The analysis of the experience, investment philosophies, and past
performance of independent third-party investment managers in an attempt to determine if that
manager has demonstrated an ability to invest over a period of time and in different economic
conditions. Analysis is completed by monitoring the manager’s underlying holdings, strategies,
concentrations and leverage as part of our overall periodic risk assessment. Additionally, as part of
the due-diligence process, the manager’s compliance and business enterprise risks are surveyed and
reviewed. A risk of investing with a third-party manager who has been successful in the past is that
they may not be able to replicate that success in the future. In addition, as our firm does not control
the underlying investments in a third-party manager’s portfolio, there is also a risk that a manager
may deviate from the stated investment mandate or strategy of the portfolio, making it a less suitable
investment for our clients. Moreover, as our firm does not control the manager’s daily business and
compliance operations, our firm may be unaware of the lack of internal controls necessary to prevent
business, regulatory or reputational deficiencies.
Investment Strategies and Asset Classes
We use the following strategies in managing client accounts, provided that such strategies are
appropriate to the needs of the client and consistent with the client’s investment objectives, risk
tolerance, and time horizons, among other considerations:
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
Asset Allocation: The implementation of an investment strategy that attempts to balance risk versus
reward by adjusting the percentage of each asset in an investment portfolio according to the
investor’s risk tolerance, goals and investment time frame. Asset allocation is based on the principle
that different assets perform differently in different market and economic conditions. A fundamental
justification for asset allocation is the notion that different asset classes offer returns that are not
perfectly correlated, hence diversification reduces the overall risk in terms of the variability of
returns for a given level of expected return. Although risk is reduced as long as correlations are not
perfect, it is typically forecast (wholly or in part) based on statistical relationships (like correlation
and variance) that existed over some past period. Expectations for return are often derived in the
same way.
An asset class is a group of economic resources sharing similar characteristics, such as riskiness and
return. There are many types of assets that may or may not be included in an asset allocation strategy.
The “traditional” asset classes are stocks (value, dividend, growth, or sector-specific [or a “blend” of
any two or more of the preceding]; large-cap versus mid-cap, small-cap or micro-cap; domestic,
foreign [developed], emerging or frontier markets), bonds (fixed income securities more generally:
investment-grade or junk [high-yield]; government or corporate; short-term, intermediate, long-
term; domestic, foreign, emerging markets), and cash or cash equivalents. Allocation among these
three provides a starting point. Usually included are hybrid instruments such as convertible bonds
and preferred stocks, counting as a mixture of bonds and stocks. Other alternative assets that may be
considered include: commodities: precious metals, nonferrous metals, agriculture, energy, others.;
Commercial or residential real estate (also REITs); Collectibles such as art, coins, or stamps;
insurance products (annuity, life settlements, catastrophe bonds, personal life insurance products,
etc.); derivatives such as long-short or market neutral strategies, options, collateralized debt, and
futures; foreign currency; venture capital; private equity; and/or distressed securities.
Long-Term Purchases: Our firm purchases securities for your account with the intent to hold them
for a relatively long time (more than a year) in anticipation that the security’s value will appreciate
over a long horizon. The risk of this strategy is that our firm could miss out on potential short-term
gains that could have been profitable to your account, or it’s possible that the security’s value may
decline sharply before our firm makes a decision to sell.
Short-Term Purchases: When utilizing this strategy, our firm may also purchase securities with the
idea of selling them within a relatively short time (typically a year or less). Our firm does this in an
attempt to take advantage of conditions that our firm believes will better align your investment to
match a short-term goal that is less than one year.
Fund Selection & Portability: Many of the investments that we select for clients are mutual
funds/exchange traded funds. We utilize some mutual funds that may not be portable to all third-
party custodians or brokerage firms. If you choose to terminate us and wish to transfer mutual funds
that are not available at the replacement custodian/brokerage firm, you will need to divest and may
be subject to capital gain taxes. Alternatively, we are available to help you identify a custodian that
will enable you to continue to hold the funds in a retail account.
Private Equity: Private equity is an equity investment into non-quoted companies. The private
equity investor looks at an investment prospect as investing in a company as opposed to investing in
a company’s stock. Private equity funds hold illiquid positions (for which there is no active secondary
market) and typically only invest in the equity and debt of target companies, which are generally
taken private and brought under the private equity manager’s control. Risks associated with private
equity include:
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
● Funding Risk: The unpredictable timing of cash flows poses funding risks to investors.
Commitments are contractually binding and defaulting on payments results in the loss of
private equity partnership interests. This risk is also commonly referred to as default risk.
● Liquidity Risk: The illiquidity of private equity partnership interests exposes investors to
asset liquidity risk associated with selling in the secondary market at a discount on the
reported NAV.
● Market Risk: The fluctuation of the market has an impact on the value of the investments held
in the portfolio.
● Capital Risk: The realization value of private equity investments can be affected by numerous
factors, including (but not limited to) the quality of the fund manager, equity market
exposure, interest rates and foreign exchange.
Margin Transactions: We may purchase investments for your portfolio with money borrowed from
your brokerage account. This is generally done in an effort to create a financing resource for non-
investment related needs. In unusual cases, it may also allow you to purchase more stock than you
would be able to with your available cash and allows us to purchase stock without selling other
holdings.
Risk of Loss
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. While the stock
market may increase and the account(s) could enjoy a gain, it is also possible that the stock market
may decrease and the account(s) could suffer a loss. We do not represent, warrant or imply that the
services or methods of analysis employed by us can or will predict future results, successfully identify
market tops or bottoms, or insulate clients from losses due to market corrections or declines. It is
important that clients understand the risks associated with investing in the stock market, and that
their assets are appropriately diversified in investments. Clients are encouraged to ask our firm any
questions regarding their risk tolerance.
Capital Risk: Capital risk is one of the most basic, fundamental risks of investing; it is the risk that
you may lose 100% of your money. All investments carry some form of risk and the loss of capital is
generally a risk for any investment instrument.
Company Risk: When investing in stock positions, there is always a certain level of company or
industry specific risk that is inherent in each investment. This is also referred to as unsystematic risk
and can be reduced through appropriate diversification. There is the risk that the company will
perform poorly or have its value reduced based on factors specific to the company or its industry.
For example, if a company’s employees go on strike or the company receives unfavorable media
attention for its actions, the value of the company may be reduced.
Economic Risk: The prevailing economic environment is important to the health of all businesses.
Some companies, however, are more sensitive to changes in the domestic or global economy than
others. These types of companies are often referred to as cyclical businesses. Countries in which a
large portion of businesses are in cyclical industries are thus also very economically sensitive and
carry a higher amount of economic risk. If an investment is issued by a party located in a country that
experiences wide swings from an economic standpoint or in situations where certain elements of an
investment instrument are hinged on dealings in such countries, the investment instrument will
generally be subject to a higher level of economic risk.
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
Equity (Stock) Market Risk: Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations
and, volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence and perceptions of their issuers
change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would
generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the
issuer.
ETF & Mutual Fund Risk: When investing in an ETF or mutual fund, you will bear additional
expenses based on your pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including
the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally
reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities, the ETF, or mutual fund holds. Clients may also
incur brokerage costs when purchasing Mutual Funds or ETFs.
Fixed Income Securities Risk: Typically, the values of fixed-income securities change inversely with
prevailing interest rates. Therefore, a fundamental risk of fixed-income securities is interest rate risk,
which is the risk that their value will generally decline as prevailing interest rates rise, which may
cause your account value to likewise decrease, and vice versa. How specific fixed income securities
may react to changes in interest rates will depend on the specific characteristics of each security.
Fixed-income securities are also subject to credit risk, prepayment risk, valuation risk, and liquidity
risk. Credit risk is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely
manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the
price of a bond to decline.
Inflation Risk: Inflation risk involves the concern that in the future, your investment or proceeds
from your investment will not be worth what they are today. Throughout time, the prices of resources
and end-user products generally increase and thus, the same general goods and products today will
likely be more expensive in the future. The longer an investment is held, the greater the chance that
the proceeds from that investment will be worth less in the future than what they are today. Said
another way, a dollar tomorrow will likely get you less than what it can today.
Interest Rate Risk: Certain investments involve the payment of a fixed or variable rate of interest to
the investment holder. Once an investor has acquired or has acquired the rights to an investment that
pays a particular rate (fixed or variable) of interest, changes in overall interest rates in the market
will affect the value of the interest-paying investment(s) they hold. In general, changes in prevailing
interest rates in the market will have an inverse relationship to the value of existing, interest paying
investments. In other words, as interest rates move up, the value of an instrument paying a particular
rate (fixed or variable) of interest will go down. The reverse is generally true as well.
Liquidity Risk: Certain assets may not be readily converted into cash or may have a very limited
market in which they trade. This can create a substantial delay in the receipt of proceeds from an
investment. Liquidity risk can also result in unfavorable pricing when exiting (i.e. not being able to
quickly get out of an investment before the price drops significantly) a particular investment and
therefore, can have a negative impact on investment returns.
Market Risk: The value of your portfolio may decrease if the value of an individual company or
multiple companies in the portfolio decreases or if our belief about a company’s intrinsic worth is
incorrect. Further, regardless of how well individual companies perform, the value of your portfolio
could also decrease if there are deteriorating economic or market conditions. It is important to
understand that the value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, in response to changes in
the market, and you could lose money. Investment risks include price risk as may be observed by a
drop in a security’s price due to company specific events (e.g. earnings disappointment or downgrade
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
in the rating of a bond) or general market risk (e.g. such as a “bear” market when stock values fall in
general). For fixed-income securities, a period of rising interest rates could erode the value of a bond
since bond values generally fall as bond yields go up. Past performance is not a guarantee of future
returns.
Past Performance: Charting and technical analysis are often used interchangeably. Technical
analysis generally attempts to forecast an investment’s future potential by analyzing its past
performance and other related statistics. In particular, technical analysis often times involves an
evaluation of historical pricing and volume of a particular security for the purpose of forecasting
where future price and volume figures may go. As with any investment analysis method, technical
analysis runs the risk of not knowing the future and thus, investors should realize that even the most
diligent and thorough technical analysis cannot predict or guarantee the future performance of any
particular investment instrument or issuer thereof.
Strategy Risk: There is no guarantee that the investment strategies discussed herein will work under
all market conditions and each investor should evaluate his/her ability to maintain any investment
he/she is considering in light of his/her own investment time horizon. Investments are subject to
risk, including possible loss of principal.
Description of Material, Significant or Unusual Risks
Our firm generally invests client cash balances in money market funds, FDIC Insured Certificates of
Deposit, high-grade commercial paper and/or government backed debt instruments. Ultimately, our
firm tries to achieve the highest return on client cash balances through relatively low-risk
conservative investments. In most cases, at least a partial cash balance will be maintained in a money
market account so that our firm may debit advisory fees for our services related to our Investment
Management services, as applicable.
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
There are no legal or disciplinary events that are material to the evaluation of our advisory business
or the integrity of our management.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
Our firm’s representatives do not have any financial industry activities or affiliations that are
material to report.
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in
Client Transactions & Personal Trading
As a fiduciary, it is an investment adviser’s responsibility to provide fair and full disclosure of all
material facts and to always act solely in the best interest of each of our clients. Our fiduciary duty is
the underlying principle for our firm’s Code of Ethics, which includes procedures for personal
securities transaction and insider trading. Our firm requires all representatives to conduct business
with the highest level of ethical standards and to always comply with all federal and state securities
laws. Upon employment with our firm, and at least annually thereafter, all representatives of our firm
will acknowledge receipt, understanding and compliance with our firm’s Code of Ethics. Our firm and
representatives must conduct business in an honest, ethical, and fair manner and avoid all
circumstances that might negatively affect or appear to affect our duty of complete loyalty to all
clients. This disclosure is provided to give all clients a summary of our Code of Ethics. If a client or a
potential client wishes to review our Code of Ethics in its entirety, a copy will be provided promptly
upon request.
Our firm recognizes that the personal investment transactions of our representatives demands the
application of a Code of Ethics with high standards and requires that all such transactions be carried
out in a way that does not endanger the interest of any client. At the same time, our firm also believes
that if investment goals are similar for clients and for our representatives, it is logical, and even
desirable, that there be common ownership of some securities.
To prevent conflicts of interest, our firm has established procedures for transactions effected by our
representatives for their personal accounts1. To monitor compliance with our personal trading
policy, our firm has pre-clearance requirements and a quarterly securities transaction reporting
system for all of our representatives.
Neither our firm nor a related person recommends, buys or sells for client accounts, securities in
which our firm or a related person has a material financial interest without prior disclosure to the
client.
Related persons of our firm may buy or sell securities and other investments that are also
recommended to clients. To minimize this conflict of interest, our related persons will place client
interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to our firm’s Code of Ethics, a copy of which is
available upon request.
Likewise, related persons of our firm buy or sell securities for themselves at or about the same time
they buy or sell the same securities for client accounts. To minimize this conflict of interest, our
related persons will place client interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to our firm’s Code
of Ethics, a copy of which is available upon request. Further, our related persons will refrain from
buying or selling securities that will be bought or sold in client accounts unless done so after the
client execution or concurrently as a part of a block trade.
1 For purposes of the policy, our associate’s personal account generally includes any account (a) in the name of our associate, his/her
spouse, his/her minor children or other dependents residing in the same household, (b) for which our associate is a trustee or executor,
or (c) which our associate controls, including our client accounts which our associate controls and/or a member of his/her household has
a direct or indirect beneficial interest in.
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Custodian & Brokers Used
Our firm does not maintain custody of client assets (although our firm may be deemed to have
custody of client assets if they give the authority to withdraw assets from client accounts. See Item
15 Custody, below). Client assets must be maintained in an account at a “qualified custodian,”
generally a broker-dealer or bank.
Our firm recommends that clients use the Schwab Advisor Services division of Charles Schwab & Co.
Inc. (“Schwab”), a FINRA-registered broker-dealer, member SIPC, as the qualified custodian. Our firm
is independently operated and owned and is not affiliated with Schwab (“Qualified Custodian”, or
“our Custodian”).
Our Custodian will hold” client assets in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities when
instructed. While our firm recommends that clients use our Custodian as a custodian/broker, clients
will decide whether to do so and open an account with the applicable Custodian by entering into an
account agreement directly with them. Our firm does not open the account. Even though the account
is maintained at our Custodian, our firm can still use other brokers to execute trades, as described in
the next paragraph.
How Brokers/Custodians Are Selected
Our firm seeks to recommend a custodian/broker who will hold client assets and execute
transactions on terms that are overall most advantageous when compared to other available
providers and their services. A wide range of factors are considered, including, but not limited to:
● combination of transaction execution services along with asset custody services (generally
without a separate fee for custody)
● capability to execute, clear and settle trades (buy and sell securities for client accounts)
● capabilities to facilitate transfers and payments to and from accounts (wire transfers, check
requests, bill payment, etc.)
● breadth of investment products made available (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange
traded funds (ETFs), etc.)
● availability of investment research and tools that assist in making investment decisions
quality of services
● competitiveness of the price of those services (commission rates, margin interest rates, other
fees, etc.) and willingness to negotiate them
● reputation, financial strength and stability of the provider
● prior service to our firm and our other clients
● availability of other products and services that benefit our firm, as discussed below (see
“Products & Services Available from Schwab”)
Custody & Brokerage Costs
Our Custodian generally does not charge separately for custody services but are compensated by
charging commissions or other fees to clients on trades that are executed or that settle into our
Custodians account. In addition to commissions, our Custodian charges a flat dollar amount as a
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
“prime broker” or “trade away” fee for each trade that our firm has executed by a different broker-
dealer but where the securities bought or the funds from the securities sold are deposited (settled)
into our Custodians account. These fees are in addition to the commissions or other compensation
paid to the executing broker-dealer. Because of this, in order to minimize client trading costs, our
firm has our Custodian execute most trades for the accounts.
Products & Services Available from Our Custodian
Our Custodian has special business units serving independent investment advisory firms like our
firm. They provide our firm and clients, with access to its institutional brokerage – trading, custody,
reporting and related services – many of which are not typically available to retail customers. Our
Custodian also makes available various support services. Some of those services help manage or
administer our client accounts while others help manage and grow our business. These support
services are generally available on an unsolicited basis (our firm does not have to request them) and
at no charge to our firm. The availability of these products and services are not based on the provision
of particular investment advice, such as purchasing particular securities for clients. Here is a more
detailed description of the support services:
Services that Benefit Clients
Our Custodian’s institutional brokerage services include access to a broad range of investment
products, execution of securities transactions, and custody of client assets. The investment products
available through Schwab include some to which our firm might not otherwise have access or that
would require a significantly higher minimum initial investment by firm clients. These services
described in this paragraph generally benefit clients and their accounts.
Services that May Not Directly Benefit Clients
Our Custodian also makes available other products and services that benefit our firm but may not
directly benefit clients or their accounts. These products and services assist in managing and
administering our client accounts. They include investment research, our Custodian and that of third
parties. This research may be used to service all or some substantial number of client accounts,
including accounts not maintained at our Custodian. In addition to investment research, Schwab also
makes available software and other technology that:
● provides access to client account data (such as duplicate trade confirmations and account
statements)
facilitates trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client accounts
facilitates payment of our fees from our clients’ accounts
●
● provides pricing and other market data
●
● assists with back-office functions, recordkeeping and client reporting
Services that Generally Benefit Only Our Firm
Our Custodian also offers other services intended to help manage and further develop our business
enterprise. These services include:
technology, compliance, legal, and business consulting
● educational conferences and events
●
● publications and conferences on practice management and business succession
● access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants and insurance providers
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
Our Custodian may provide some of these services itself. In other cases, they will arrange for third-
party vendors to provide the services to our firm. Schwab may also discount or waive fees for some
of these services or pay all or a part of a third party’s fees. Schwab may also provide our firm with
other benefits, such as occasional business entertainment for our personnel.
Irrespective of direct or indirect benefits to our client, our firm strives to enhance the client
experience, help clients reach their goals and put client interests before that of our firm or associated
persons.
Our Interest in Schwab’s Services.
The availability of these services from Schwab benefits our firm because our firm does not have to
produce or purchase them. Our firm does not have to pay for these services, and they are not
contingent upon committing any specific amount of business to Schwab in trading commissions or
assets in custody.
In light of our arrangements with Schwab, a conflict of interest exists as our firm may have incentive
to require that clients maintain their accounts with Schwab based on our interest in receiving
Schwab’s services that benefit our firm rather than based on client interest in receiving the best value
in custody services and the most favorable execution of transactions. As part of our fiduciary duty to
our clients, our firm will endeavor at all times to put the interests of our clients first. Clients should
be aware, however, that the receipt of economic benefits by our firm or our related persons creates
a potential conflict of interest and may indirectly influence our firm’s choice of Schwab as a custodial
recommendation. Our firm examined this potential conflict of interest when our firm chose to
recommend Schwab and have determined that the recommendation is in the best interest of our
firm’s clients and satisfies our fiduciary obligations, including our duty to seek best execution.
In seeking best execution, the determinative factor is not the lowest possible cost, but whether the
transaction represents the best qualitative execution, taking into consideration the full range of a
broker-dealer’s services, including the value of research provided, execution capability, commission
rates, and responsiveness. Although our firm will seek competitive rates, to the benefit of all clients,
our firm may not necessarily obtain the lowest possible commission rates for specific client account
transactions. Our firm believes that the selection of Schwab as a custodian and broker is the best
interest of our clients. It is primarily supported by the scope, quality and price of Schwab’s services,
and not Schwab’s services that only benefit our firm.
Soft Dollars
Our firm does not receive soft dollars in excess of what is allowed by Section 28€ of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The safe harbor research products and services obtained by our firm will
generally be used to service all of our clients but not necessarily all at any one particular time.
Client Brokerage Commissions
Our Custodian does not make client brokerage commissions generated by client transactions
available for our firm’s use.
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
Client Transactions in Return for Soft Dollars
Our firm does not direct client transactions to a particular broker-dealer in return for soft dollar
benefits.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
Our firm does not receive brokerage services from a particular custodian in exchange for client
referrals.
Directed Brokerage
Neither our firm nor any of our firm’s representatives have discretionary authority in making the
determination of the brokers-dealers and/or custodians with whom orders for the purchase or sale
of securities are placed for execution, and the commission rates at which such securities transactions
are effected. Our firm routinely recommends that clients direct us to execute through a specified
broker-dealer. Our firm recommends the use of our Custodian. Each client will be required to
establish their account(s) with our Custodian if not already done. Please note that not all advisers
have this requirement.
Special Considerations for ERISA Clients
A retirement or ERISA plan client may direct all or part of portfolio transactions for its account
through a specific broker or dealer in order to obtain goods or services on behalf of the plan. Such
direction is permitted provided that the goods and services provided are reasonable expenses of the
plan incurred in the ordinary course of its business for which it otherwise would be obligated and
empowered to pay. ERISA prohibits directed brokerage arrangements when the goods or services
purchased are not for the exclusive benefit of the plan. Consequently, our firm will request that plan
sponsors who direct plan brokerage provide us with a letter documenting that this arrangement will
be for the exclusive benefit of the plan.
Client-Directed Brokerage
Our firm allows clients to direct brokerage outside our recommendation. Our firm may be unable to
achieve the most favorable execution of client transactions. Client directed brokerage may cost
clients more money. For example, in a directed brokerage account, clients may pay higher brokerage
commissions because our firm may not be able to aggregate orders to reduce transaction costs, or
clients may receive less favorable prices.
Aggregation of Purchase or Sale
Our firm provides investment management services for various clients. There are occasions on which
portfolio transactions may be executed as part of concurrent authorizations to purchase or sell the
same security for numerous accounts served by our firm, which involve accounts with similar
investment objectives. Although such concurrent authorizations potentially could be either
advantageous or disadvantageous to any one or more particular accounts, they are affected only
when our firm believes that to do so will be in the best interest of the effected accounts. When such
concurrent authorizations occur, the objective is to allocate the executions in a manner which is
deemed equitable to the accounts involved. In any given situation, our firm attempts to allocate trade
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
executions in the most equitable manner possible, taking into consideration client objectives, current
asset allocation and availability of funds using price averaging, proration, and consistently non-
arbitrary methods of allocation.
Item 13: Review of Accounts or Financial Plans
Our management personnel or wealth advisors review accounts on at least an annual basis for our
Investment Management clients. The nature of these reviews is to learn whether client accounts are
in line with their investment objectives, appropriately positioned based on market conditions, and
investment policies, if applicable. Our firm does not provide written reports to clients, unless asked
to do so. Verbal reports to clients take place on at least an annual basis when our Investment
Management clients are contacted.
Our firm may review client accounts more frequently than described above. Among the factors which
may trigger an off-cycle review are major market or economic events, the client’s life events, requests
by the client, etc.
Financial Planning clients do not receive reviews of their written plans unless they take action to
schedule a financial consultation with us. Our firm does not provide ongoing services to financial
planning clients, but are willing to meet with such clients upon their request to discuss updates to
their plans, changes in their circumstances, etc. Financial Planning clients do not receive written or
verbal updated reports regarding their financial plans unless they separately engage our firm for a
post-financial plan meeting or update to their initial written financial plan.
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation
Schwab
Our firm receives economic benefit from Schwab in the form of the support products and services
made available to our firm and other independent investment advisors that have their clients
maintain accounts at Schwab. These products and services, how they benefit our firm, and the related
conflicts of interest are described above (see Item 12 – Brokerage Practices). The availability of
Schwab’s products and services is not based on our firm giving particular investment advice, such as
buying particular securities for our clients.
Referral Fees
In accordance with Rule 206 (4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, our firm provides cash or
non-cash compensation directly or indirectly to unaffiliated persons for testimonials or
endorsements (which include client referrals). Such compensation arrangements will not result in
higher costs to the referred client. In this regard, our firm maintains a written agreement with each
unaffiliated person that is compensated for testimonials or endorsements in an aggregate amount of
$1,000 or more (or the equivalent value in non-cash compensation) over a trailing 12-month period
in compliance with Rule 206 (4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and applicable state and
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
federal laws. The following information will be disclosed clearly and prominently to referred
prospective clients at the time of each testimonial or endorsement:
• Whether or not the unaffiliated person is a current client of our firm,
• A description of the cash or non-cash compensation provided directly or indirectly by our
firm to the unaffiliated person in exchange for the referral, if applicable, and
• A brief statement of any material conflicts of interest on the part of the unaffiliated person
giving the referral resulting from our firm’s relationship with such unaffiliated person.
In cases where state law requires licensure of solicitors, our firm ensures that no solicitation fees are
paid unless the solicitor is registered as an investment adviser representative of our firm. If our firm
is paying solicitation fees to another registered investment adviser, the licensure of individuals is the
other firm’s responsibility.
Item 15: Custody
Deduction of Advisory Fees:
While our firm does not maintain physical custody of client assets (which are maintained by a our
custodian, as discussed above), we are deemed to have custody of certain client assets if given the
authority to withdraw assets from client accounts, as further described below under “Third Party
Money Movement.” All of our clients receive account statements directly from their custodian at least
quarterly upon opening of an account. We urge our clients to carefully review these statements.
Additionally, if our firm decides to send its own account statements to clients, such statements will
include a legend that recommends the client compare the account statements received from the
qualified custodian with those received from our firm. Clients are encouraged to raise any questions
with us about the custody, safety or security of their assets and our custodial recommendations.
Third Party Money Movement:
On February 21, 2017, the SEC issued a no‐action letter (“Letter”) with respect to Rule 206(4)‐2
(“Custody Rule”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”). The letter provided
guidance on the Custody Rule as well as clarified that an adviser who has the power to disburse client
funds to a third party under a standing letter of authorization (“SLOA”) is deemed to have custody.
As such, our firm has adopted the following safeguards in conjunction with our custodian:
● The client provides an instruction to the qualified custodian, in writing, that includes the
client’s signature, the third party’s name, and either the third party’s address or the third
party’s account number at a custodian to which the transfer should be directed.
● The client authorizes the investment adviser, in writing, either on the qualified custodian’s
form or separately, to direct transfers to the third party either on a specified schedule or from
time to time.
● The client’s qualified custodian performs appropriate verification of the instruction, such as
a signature review or other method to verify the client’s authorization, and provides a
transfer of funds notice to the client promptly after each transfer.
● The client has the ability to terminate or change the instruction to the client’s qualified
custodian.
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Filigree Wealth Advisors, LLC
● The investment adviser has no authority or ability to designate or change the identity of the
third party, the address, or any other information about the third party contained in the
client’s instruction.
● The investment adviser maintains records showing that the third party is not a related party
of the investment adviser or located at the same address as the investment adviser.
● The client’s qualified custodian sends the client, in writing, an initial notice confirming the
instruction and an annual notice reconfirming the instruction.
Item 16: Investment Discretion
Our firm manages accounts on a discretionary basis. After you sign an agreement with our firm, we’re
allowed to buy and sell investments in your account without asking you in advance. Any limitations
will be described in the signed advisory agreement. We will have discretion until the advisory
agreement is terminated by you or our firm.
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Our firm does not accept the proxy authority to vote client securities. Clients will receive proxies or
other solicitations directly from their custodian or a transfer agent. However, third party money
managers selected or recommended by our firm may vote proxies for clients. Therefore, except in the
event a third party money manager votes proxies, clients maintain exclusive responsibility for: (1)
directing the manner in which proxies solicited by issuers of securities beneficially owned by the
client shall be voted, and (2) making all elections relative to any mergers, acquisitions, tender offers,
bankruptcy proceedings or other type events pertaining to the client’s investment assets.
In the event that proxies are sent to our firm, (except for proxies that may be voted by a third party
money manager), our firm and/or the client shall instruct the qualified custodian to forward copies
of all proxies and shareholder communications relating to the client’s investment assets. Clients may
call, write or email us to discuss questions they may have about particular proxy votes or other
solicitations.
Item 18: Financial Information
Our firm is not required to provide financial information in this Brochure because:
● Our firm does not require the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees when services cannot
be rendered within 6 months.
● Our firm does not take custody of client funds or securities.
● Our firm does not have a financial condition or commitment that impairs our ability to meet
contractual and fiduciary obligations to clients.
● Our firm has never been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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