Overview
Assets Under Management: $250 million
Headquarters: PEORIA, IL
High-Net-Worth Clients: 53
Average Client Assets: $2 million
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (FORM ADV PART 2A)
| Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $250,000 | 2.00% |
| $250,001 | $500,000 | 1.50% |
| $500,001 | $1,000,000 | 1.25% |
| $1,000,001 | $2,000,000 | 1.00% |
| $2,000,001 | and above | 0.75% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
| Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $15,000 | 1.50% |
| $5 million | $47,500 | 0.95% |
| $10 million | $85,000 | 0.85% |
| $50 million | $385,000 | 0.77% |
| $100 million | $760,000 | 0.76% |
Clients
Number of High-Net-Worth Clients: 53
Percentage of Firm Assets Belonging to High-Net-Worth Clients: 46.44
Average High-Net-Worth Client Assets: $2 million
Total Client Accounts: 388
Discretionary Accounts: 362
Non-Discretionary Accounts: 26
Regulatory Filings
CRD Number: 154159
Last Filing Date: 2025-02-27 00:00:00
Website: https://gwmanagers.com
Form ADV Documents
Primary Brochure: FORM ADV PART 2A (2025-09-18)
View Document Text
FORM ADV PART 2 - Brochure
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. 311 SW Water Street Suite 210 Peoria, IL 61602
309/692-1460 Email: info@gwmanagers.com Website:www.gwmanagers.com
September 17, 2025
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Guardian Wealth
Management, Inc. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at 309-
692-1460 or info@gwmanagers.com. 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. Registration
does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. is also available on the SEC's website
at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Material Changes
Since the last one was published and distributed to clients on March 25, 2024, Guardian Wealth Management,
Inc. has the following material changes:
• None.
In the future, should the content of this form materially change from its previous publication, this
section will articulate such material changes.
Page 2 of 15
Table of Contents
Form ADV - Part 2A - Firm Brochure
Section
Page Number
Material Changes
2
Table of Contents
3
Advisory Business
4
Fees and Compensation
6
Performance Based Fees
7
Type of Clients
8
Method of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
8
Disciplinary Information
9
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
10
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
11
Brokerage and Soft Dollar Practices
11
Review of Accounts
13
Client Referrals and Other Compensation
14
Custody
14
Investment Discretion
14
Voting Client Securities
14
Financial Information
15
Page 3 of 15
Advisory Business
Describe your advisory firm, including how long you have been in business. Identify your
principal owner(s).
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. was founded in 2010. Currently, Guardian has two wealth managers
working directly with clients and client accounts; and a client service manager who works with our clients on
servicing issues but who provides no investment advice or management.
Joshua R. Kirby is primary owner of Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. and is the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the firm. Mr. Kirby is a graduate of the University of Illinois. Mr. Kirby has recently joined
the financial services industry. Mr. Kirby purchased Guardian Wealth Management from its founder, Ron
Kirby. Mr. Kirby has no disciplinary events or history to report.
Kyle Gilmore is part owner of Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. and is the Chief Investment Officer of the
firm. Mr. Gilmore is a graduate of the University of Illinois and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst®
designation. Mr. Gilmore has no disciplinary events or history to report.
Describe the types of advisory services you offer. If you hold yourself out as specializing in a
particular type of advisory service, such as financial planning, quantitative analysis, or market
timing, explain the nature of that service in greater detail. If you provide investment advice
only with respect to limited types of investments, explain the type of investment advice you
offer, and disclose that your advice is limited to those types of investments.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. offers two different types of advisory services.
First, Guardian offers Investment Advisory Services. Investment Advisory Services are where Guardian
manages and supervises the investment, allocation, and monitors the performance of securities held in the
client's account in exchange for the payment of a fee. The relationship is ongoing until terminated by either
party. All clients are eligible to select Investment Advisory Services if they feel it meets their needs. The
amount of time spent on each client will vary based on the complexity of the client's financial situation. The
larger and more diversified the client's account, the more time required to monitor the account.
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The second is Investment Planning Services. Investment Planning Services are where Guardian provides an
investment plan to the client for his/her own implementation for a fixed payment. The relationship is not
ongoing and is limited to the production of a plan for a fee. All clients are eligible to select Investment
Planning Services if they feel it meets their needs. The number of hours spent preparing the client's
investment plan will vary based on the complexity of the client's financial situation. A client opting for
Investment Planning Services will be given an estimate of how many hours will be necessary to gather the
necessary information and to prepare an investment plan before agreeing to enter into an Investment
Planning Services Agreement.
All of the investment management services are designed to the individual Investment Policy Statement (IPS).
The IPS is designed after completing a personal Investment Questionnaire, which covers such topics as time
horizon, risk tolerance and other personalized information. The IPS is used to provide a means for Guardian
to manage the account within the standards established for the account. The IPS is reviewed annually with
clients as a means to evaluate if any changes have occurred that would perhaps lead to an investment
modification.
Other Non Advisory Services
Guardian also attempts to evaluate the investments with respect to each client in the areas of income taxes.
This normally includes the clients need for annual income, ordinary income treatment and capital gain
income. We do not provide tax counseling, we do attempt to assist in coordinating the investments with the
personal income tax situation for each client when possible in conjunction with the clients accountant.
Lastly, Guardian also assists clients in the area of estate planning. While Guardian does not provide legal
counseling in this area, we do encourage, work with and many times assist in coordination of estate planning
for clients. The estate planning many times has an impact on the titling of investments which are managed by
Guardian. The firm does not receive any compensation for any assistance in this area from clients or
attorney's fees.
Explain whether (and, if so, how) you tailor your advisory services to the individual needs of
clients. Explain whether clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or
types of securities.
In either type of advisory service arrangement, Guardian will collect information related to the client's
objectives, goals, family situation, risk tolerance, and net worth. In the case of Investment Advisory Services,
the information gathered will be used to establish an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) which guides the
client's investments and allocation going forward. Should the client's situation change, the client needs to
update Guardian on those changes so that the IPS can be updated and any necessary investment alterations
can be recommended.
If you participate in wrap fee programs by providing portfolio management services, (1)
describe the differences, if any, between how you manage wrap fee accounts and how you
manage other accounts, and (2) explain that you receive a portion of the wrap fee for your
services.
Guardian does not participate in wrap fee programs.
Page 5 of 15
If you manage client assets, disclose the amount of client assets you manage on a discretionary
basis and the amount of client assets you manage on a non-discretionary basis. Disclose the
date "as of" which you calculated the amounts.
As of February 18, 2025, the firm has assets under management of Discretionary: $ 181,650,782 and Non-
Discretionary: $67,949,458.
Fees and Compensation
Describe how you are compensated for your advisory services. Provide your fee schedule.
Disclose whether the fees are negotiable.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. charges fees to its clients for providing services. In the typical Investment
Advisory Agreement, Guardian charges a fixed percentage of assets under management as its fee. For
example, if the client hires Guardian to manage $1,000,000 and Guardian is charging 1% per year, billed
quarterly, then the client would pay Guardian $2,500 each quarter (assuming an account value which does
not change).
Guardian also offers fee-based planning. In a fee-based planning arrangement, Guardian charges a fee on a
one-time basis and in return provides an investment plan for the client to implement and monitor on his/her
own. Guardian does not assume management of the plan going forward and earns no compensation from the
plan beyond providing the original document.
The Investment Advisory Services Agreement with Guardian is terminable at any time. Any fees paid by the
client, but unearned based on the termination date, will be refunded to the client.
All fees earned by Guardian are based on the closing account value on the last day of each quarter.
In general, the following represents the model fee table for Guardian Wealth Management, Inc.:
Assets under Advice
Annual Fee
$0
to $250,000
at 2%
$250,001
$500,001
$1,000,001
to $500,000
to $1,000,000
to $2,000,000
at 1.5%
at 1.25%
at 1%
$2.000.001 and above
at 0.75%
Hourly fees range from $150 to $250 per hour.
Fees charged by Guardian are negotiable and are settled on at the time of execution of the Investment Advisory
Service Agreement.
Page 6 of 15
Describe whether you deduct fees from clients' assets or bill clients for fees incurred. If
clients may select either method, disclose this fact. Explain how often you bill clients or
deduct your fees.
All fees are deducted directly from the managed account. Such charges will be reflected in the client
account statement issued by the custodian.
Describe any other types of fees or expenses clients may pay in connection with your advisory
services, such as custodian fees or mutual fund expenses. Disclose that clients will incur
brokerage and other transaction costs, and direct clients to the section(s) of your brochure that
discuss brokerage.
Since Guardian does not execute transactions nor maintain custody of client accounts, Guardian does not
charge separate fees and expenses. Any fees or expenses charged by investment companies or custodians will
be disclosed by those companies and/or custodians and will be included in those entities agreements and
offering documents. For additional information, see the Brokerage and Soft Dollar section of this document.
If you or any of your supervised persons accepts compensation for the sale of securities or
other investment products, including asset-based sales charges or service fees from the sale of
mutual funds, disclose this fact and respond to Items 5.E.1, 5.E.2, 5.E.3 and 5.E.4.
1.
Explain that this practice presents a conflict of interest and gives you or your supervised
persons an incentive to recommend investment products based on the compensation
received, rather than on a client's needs. Describe generally how you address conflicts that
arise, including your procedures for disclosing the conflicts to clients. If you primarily
recommend mutual funds, disclose whether you will recommend "no-load" funds.
2. Explain that clients have the option to purchase investment products that you recommend
through other brokers or agents that are not affiliated with you.
4.
3. If more than 50% of your revenue from advisory clients results from commissions and
other compensation for the sale of investment products you recommend to your clients,
including asset-based distribution fees from the sale of mutual funds, disclose that
commissions provide your primary or, if applicable, your exclusive compensation.
If you charge advisory fees in addition to commissions or markups, disclose whether you
reduce your advisory fees to offset the commissions or markups.
Guardian is only compensated through its management fees. That means that Guardian is "fee-based".
Guardian receives no additional compensation on transactions which occur under an Investment Advisory
Services Agreement.
If Guardian recommends a security which will be held outside of the custodian, and for which the transaction
will occur through a broker/dealer, the Guardian advisor may receive compensation through a FINRA
registered broker/dealer. A client has the right to purchase securities recommended by a Guardian advisor
acting as a Registered Representative through another Registered Representative or FINRA broker/dealer.
Performance Based Fees
If you or any of your supervised persons accepts performance-based fees - that is, fees based
on a share of capital gains on or capital appreciation of the assets of a client (such as a client
that is a hedge fund or other pooled investment vehicle) - disclose this fact. If you or any of
your supervised persons manage both accounts that are charged a performance-based fee and
accounts that are charged another type of fee, such as an hourly or flat fee or an asset-based
fee, disclose this fact. Explain the conflicts of interest that you or your supervised persons face
by managing these accounts at the same time, including that you or your supervised persons
have an incentive to favor accounts for which you or your supervised persons receive a
performance-based fee, and describe generally how you address these conflicts.
Page 7 of 15
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. does not charge performance based fees. All fees earned by
Guardian are based on the closing account value on the last day of each quarter. The fee does not
change, though the actual amount of the fee will vary with the account balance.
Type of Clients
Describe the types of clients to whom you generally provide investment advice, such as
individuals, trusts, investment companies, or pension plans. If you have any requirements for
opening or maintaining an account, such as a minimum account size, disclose the
requirements.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. works with individuals, high-net worth individuals, trusts, qualified plans
(ex. 401(k)), charities, and businesses.
Typically, Guardian requires a client to have $250,000 in investable assets under management.
Method of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Describe the methods of analysis and investment strategies you use in formulating investment
advice or managing assets. Explain that investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients
should be prepared to bear.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. does not have any proprietary investment strategies or methods of
analysis. Rather, Guardian utilizes mainstream methods to analyze and review client investment
recommendations, including fundamental and technical analysis.
Our investment philosophy strives to provide income, capital appreciation & capital preservation through a
disciplined approach of asset allocation, security selection, and portfolio construction which is consistent with
long-term wealth building, inflation protection and the realization of each client's goals and objectives.
Investing in the stock market is particularly risky. Although the market has on average returned almost 10%
annually since the mid-1920's, in some individual years the market has been down almost 55%. You should
not invest all or even a majority of your assets in the stock market if you do not fully understand its potential
volatility and riskiness and are also mentally and financially able to absorb these risks and the potential for
significant losses.
We recommend you invest your assets in the financial markets only after having carefully considered several
factors, including: 1) your time horizon, 2) your risk tolerance and 3) your investment goals and objectives.
Given the significant potential losses described above we recommend that you invest in a well-diversified
portfolio of stocks, bonds, and/or mutual funds and that you are prepared both mentally and financially to
withstand the potential for material losses over both short- and long-term investment time horizons while
attempting to meet your investment goals and objectives.
Page 8 of 15
Fundamental analysis - Guardian will review the value of a security through economic and financial factors
including the position of the issuing company's within its industry, the industry's position within the
economy, the management of company, and whether analysis indicates that the security is overpriced,
underpriced, or fairly priced. Guardian may rely on outside investment advisors to obtain this analysis.
Technical analysis - Guardian will examine market movement in an overall attempt to determine any
recurring patterns that could repeat themselves are present and how a client may be able to take
advantage of those patterns.
Mutual fund analysis - Guardian will examine the performance history of mutual funds, by class and
individually. Guardian will identify funds which have consistently performed in the top two quartiles of their
respective investment classes and are expected to continue to surpass their class peers. Naturally, past
performance does not guarantee future results.
Guardian Wealth Management performs analysis on individual stocks or bonds. Guardian also works in
conjunction with other investment manager(s), when necessary, to analyze individual stocks and bonds. For
diversification purposes, if alternatives investments are warranted, Guardian analyzes all provided
information. Some of the information would include the Private Placement Memorandums or Prospectus to
determine if the investment would be a recommended holding for the account before making a
recommendation to the client.
Guardian advises all clients that investment involves risk, including the risk of loss of principal. In
general, the higher the expected rate of return on an investment -the greater the risk of loss which
exists. Conservative investments tend to have lower rates of return and lower risk of loss. While
aggressive investments tend to have higher rates of return and higher risk of loss.
For each significant investment strategy or method of analysis you use, explain the material
risks involved. If the method of analysis or strategy involves significant or unusual risks, discuss
these risks in detail. If your primary strategy involves frequent trading of securities, explain how
frequent trading can affect investment performance, particularly through increased brokerage
and other transaction costs and taxes.
See above.
If you recommend primarily a particular type of security, explain the material risks involved. If
the type of security involves significant or unusual risks, discuss these risks in detail.
Guardian does not recommend on particular kind of security. Guardian searches for investments that meet
the client's needs, risk tolerance, time horizon and goals.
Disciplinary Information
If there are legal or disciplinary events that are material to a client's or prospective client's
evaluation of your advisory business or the integrity of your management, disclose all material
facts regarding those events.
Page 9 of 15
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc., nor its personnel, has any legal or disciplinary history. In the event that
such an issue ever arises, Guardian will report such information in an updated ADV Part 2.
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
If you or any of your management persons are registered, or have an application pending to
register, as a broker-dealer or a registered representative of a broker-dealer, disclose this fact.
Guardian advisors are also registered as Registered Representatives of Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, a
FINRA registered broker/dealer. Any transaction executed through Purshe Kaplan Sterling is done outside of
the Guardian advisory account. No client is required to have any account outside of Guardian, nor is any
client required to use Purshe Kaplan Sterling for brokerage transactions.
Compensation received for transactions done outside of Guardian, whether through Purshe Kaplan
Sterling or another brokerage firm, involves separate and customary compensation.
Guardian advisors may also be actively involved as an insurance agent. In that role, Guardian
advisors recommend insurance contracts/policies which are issued by the insurance carrier. Guardian
advisors receive commission on such sales separate and apart from investment advisory fees paid by
clients. Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. always acts in the best interest of the client; including the
sale of commissionable products to advisory clients. Clients are in no way required to implement the
plan through any representative of Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. in their capacity as an
insurance agent.
If you or any of your management persons are registered, or have an application pending to
register, as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, a commodity trading
advisor, or an associated person of the foregoing entities, disclose this fact.
No such persons or applications exist or are pending.
Describe any relationship or arrangement that is material to your advisory business or to
your clients that you or any of your management persons have with any related person listed
below. Identify the related person and if the relationship or arrangement creates a material
conflict of interest with clients, describe the nature of the conflict and how you address it.
No such relationship or arrangement exists.
If you recommend or select other investment advisers for your clients and you receive
compensation directly or indirectly from those advisers that creates a material conflict of
interest, or if you have other business relationships with those advisers that create a
material conflict of interest, describe these practices and discuss the material conflicts of
interest these practices create and how you address them.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. maintains a working relationship with other Investment Advisors. When
appropriate, Guardian recommends these other advisors to our clients. Any other advisor will be required to
provide its own Advisory Agreement for its services, as well as a separate ADV Part 2. Guardian does not
accept any compensation from these advisors for their services nor for referring clients to them.
Guardian recommends other advisors when those advisors provide services which supplement the services
that Guardian provides. For instance, Guardian may recommend another advisor which specializes in
individual equities or corporate or municipal bonds. In those instances, Guardian continues to monitor the
Page 10 of 15
client's account and the other advisors' performance. At any time, if Guardian determines that the other
advisor is no longer performing in a way which satisfies the clients' needs, Guardian will act to terminate the
other advisor's services and will seek other investment alternative solutions for their clients. At such time,
after obtaining client approval, Guardian will transition the assets to the recommended alternative
investment solutions. Guardian will manage the account within the Investment Policy Statement, with the
ongoing evaluation of achieving the goals and objectives established for the investments.
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
If you are an SEC-registered adviser, briefly describe your code of ethics adopted pursuant to
SEC rule 204A-1 or similar state rules. Explain that you will provide a copy of your code of ethics
to any client or prospective client upon request.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. maintains a Code of Ethics which among other things requires that all
transactions within a client's account are executed for the best interest of the client and that the client's
interests are always the primary motivation for any recommendation or execution.
In the event that a client holds securities which are also held by Guardian and/or its personnel, any
transaction in such security will occur so that the client benefits before Guardian and/or its personnel. In the
event of a sale of a security which the client and Guardian intend to participate, the client will have his/her
transaction conducted in a manner which leaves him/her better off or equal to Guardian. In the event of a
purchase of a security which the client and Guardian intend to participate, the client will have his/her
transaction conducted in a manner which leaves him/her better off or equal to Guardian.
This may be accomplished through the aggregation of trades. Aggregation allows all parties put together to
achieve the same price without consideration for who owns the stock and thus removing any conflict over
which party receives a better price.
A copy of the firm's Code of Ethics is available to clients and prospective clients upon request.
If you or a related person recommends to clients, or buys or sells for client accounts, securities
in which you or a related person has a material financial interest, describe your practice and
discuss the conflicts of interest it presents. Describe generally how you address conflicts that
arise.
Guardian does not recommend, buy or sell securities in which it or any related person has a material
financial interest.
If you or a related person invests in the same securities (or related securities, e.g., warrants,
options or futures) that you or a related person recommends to clients, describe your practice
and discuss the conflicts of interest this presents and generally how you address the conflicts
that arise in connection with personal trading.
See above.
If you or a related person recommends securities to clients, or buys or sells securities for client
accounts, at or about the same time that you or a related person buys or sells the same
securities for your own (or the related person's own) account, describe your practice and
discuss the conflicts of interest it presents. Describe generally how you address conflicts that
arise.
See above.
Page 11 of 15
Brokerage and Soft Dollar Practices
Describe the factors that you consider in selecting or recommending broker-dealers for
client transactions and determining the reasonableness of their compensation (e.g.,
commissions).
Some Guardian advisors are also registered as Registered Representatives of Purshe Kaplan Sterling, a
FINRA registered broker/dealer. Any transaction executed through Purshe Kaplan Sterling is done outside
of the Guardian advisory account. No client is required to have any account outside of Guardian and its
custodian, nor is any client required to use Purshe Kaplan Sterling for brokerage transactions.
Guardian believes that its affiliated personnel are best positioned to know about the client and his/her
needs. As such, Guardian believes that its personnel are best positioned to execute securities trades when
such trades must occur outside of the Investment Advisory Services Agreement. However, Guardian will
recommend other Registered Representatives if the client wishes someone else to transact the securities
trades. Any compensation or commission earned by Guardian personnel will be the usual and customary
commission for such a transaction.
If you receive research or other products or services other than execution from a broker-
dealer or a third party in connection with client securities transactions ("soft dollar
benefits"), disclose your practices and discuss the conflicts of interest they create.
Guardian does not receive soft dollar benefits from others in connection with client securities transactions.
Any research or information received by Guardian from others through whom Guardian utilizes services or
products is not based on client transactions, but rather subscription, contractual agreement or working
relationship. The research or information would be provided to Guardian regardless of client transactions.
If you consider, in selecting or recommending broker-dealers, whether you or a related
person receives client referrals from a broker-dealer or third party, disclose this practice and
discuss the conflicts of interest it creates.
Guardian does not recommend other FINRA broker/dealers unless requested. When requested, Guardian
recommends broker/dealers it knows offer good service and will look out for the client's best interest
without regard for compensation.
If you routinely recommend, request or require that a client direct you to execute transactions
through a specified broker-dealer, describe your practice or policy. Explain that not all advisers
require their clients to direct brokerage. If you and the broker-dealer are affiliates or have
another economic relationship that creates a material conflict of interest, describe the
relationship and discuss the conflicts of interest it presents. Explain that by directing brokerage
you may be unable to achieve most favorable execution of client transactions, and that this
practice may cost clients more money.
Guardian does not routinely recommend, request or require that a client direct the execution of transactions
through a specified broker/dealer. Guardian personnel will execute brokerage transactions through its
existing registrations unless the client desires otherwise.
If you permit a client to direct brokerage, describe your practice. If applicable, explain that you
may be unable to achieve most favorable execution of client transactions. Explain that directing
brokerage may cost clients more money. For example, in a directed brokerage account, the
client may pay higher brokerage commissions because you may not be able to aggregate
orders to reduce transaction costs, or the client may receive less favorable prices.
Page 12 of 15
Guardian will recommend other Registered Representatives if the client wishes someone else to transact
the securities trades. Any compensation or commission earned by Guardian personnel will be the usual and
customary commission for such a transaction. Guardian cannot control and does not warrant the client's
ability to receive the lowest brokerage commissions. Likewise, Guardian cannot control and does not
warrant that the client will be able to aggregate his/her order with others to reduce transaction costs.
Discuss whether and under what conditions you aggregate the purchase or sale of securities
for various client accounts. If you do not aggregate orders when you have the opportunity
to do so, explain your practice and describe the costs to clients of not aggregating.
Guardian aggregates trades when multiple clients are executing trades in the same security at the same
time, or when the security is held personally by a Guardian affiliated person who wishes to execute a trade
in the same security at the same time.
Transactions costs are assessed by transaction. By aggregating trade execution, the number of
transactions is reduced, and therefore the transaction costs are reduced.
Review of Accounts
Indicate whether you periodically review client accounts or financial plans. If you do,
describe the frequency and nature of the review, and the titles of the supervised persons who
conduct the review.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. reviews client accounts and holdings on a regular basis, but not less than
quarterly. The reviews are conducted to ensure that the information provided in the Investment Policy
Statement is being met by the client's account holdings. In the case of individual fund or stock holdings, if
news arises which affects an individual holding, Guardian will review accounts more frequently. The reviews
are conducted by Joshua Kirby- the firm's President and Chief Executive Officer and Darcie Phillips, our client
services manager. Devyn Farney, the firms executive assistant, does not provide investment advice to
clients but does have direct client contact with clients regarding the administration and servicing aspects
related to client accounts.
If you review client accounts on other than a periodic basis, describe the factors that
trigger a review.
In the case of individual fund or stock holdings, if news arises which affects an individual holding, Guardian will
review accounts more frequently. Such news could be specific to a security or general the markets as a whole.
Describe the content and indicate the frequency of regular reports you provide to clients
regarding their accounts. State whether these reports are written.
Guardian provides quarterly reports, in writing, to clients regarding the value or the client account as well
as its holdings.
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Client Referrals and Other Compensation
If someone who is not a client provides an economic benefit to you for providing investment
advice or other advisory services to your clients, generally describe the arrangement, explain
the conflicts of interest, and describe how you address the conflicts of interest. For purposes of
this Item, economic benefits include any sales awards or other prizes.
Guardian receives no economic benefit from others for providing investment advice to clients.
If you or a related person directly or indirectly compensates any person who is not your
supervised person for client referrals, describe the arrangement and the compensation.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. has the ability to contract with unaffiliated Investment Advisor
Representatives (Solicitors). Such Solicitors would be compensated by Guardian for the referral of new
clients based on the fees Guardian charges to advise such clients. Solicitors are not given access to or the
ability to transact business on behalf of clients. Any Solicitation arrangement and the associated
compensation arrangement would be disclosed to the referred client prior to execution of the Investment
Advisory Agreement.
Custody
If you have custody of client funds or securities and a qualified custodian sends quarterly, or
more frequent, account statements directly to your clients, explain that clients will receive
account statements from the broker-dealer, bank or other qualified custodian and that clients
should carefully review those statements. If your clients also receive account statements from
you, your explanation must include a statement urging clients to compare the account
statements they receive from the qualified custodian with those they receive from you.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. does not maintain custody of client funds or investments. At present,
Guardian uses Charles Schwab Institutional as the custodian of client funds and investments. Schwab
issues separate statements for all client accounts. Clients should compare the statements issued by the
custodian with those issued by Guardian to ensure that the holdings and values match.
Some clients may execute limited powers of attorney or other standing letters of authorization that
permit the firm to transfer money from their account with the client’s independent qualified Custodian to
third-parties. This authorization to direct the Custodian may be deemed to cause our firm to exercise
limited custody over your funds or securities and for regulatory reporting purposes, we are required to
keep track of the number of clients and accounts for which we may have this ability. We do not have
physical custody of any of your funds and/or securities. Your funds and securities will be held with a
bank, broker-dealer, or other independent, qualified custodian. You will receive account statements from
the independent, qualified custodian(s) holding your funds and securities at least quarterly. The account
statements from your custodian(s) will indicate any transfers that may have taken place within your
account(s) each billing period. You should carefully review account statements for accuracy.
Investment Discretion
If you accept discretionary authority to manage securities accounts on behalf of clients,
disclose this fact and describe any limitations clients may (or customarily do) place on this
authority. Describe the procedures you follow before you assume this authority (e.g., execution
of a power of attorney).
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Guardian Wealth Management, Inc., in some accounts, does maintain investment/trading authority.
Guardian directs execution of business in client accounts based on that discretion and in the best interests
of the client, and then such execution is accomplished by the custodian.
Voting Client Securities
If you have, or will accept, authority to vote client securities, briefly describe your voting
policies and procedures, including those adopted pursuant to SEC rule 206(4)-6. Describe
whether (and, if so, how) your clients can direct your vote in a particular solicitation. Describe
how you address conflicts of interest between you and your clients with respect to voting their
securities. Describe how clients may obtain information from you about how you voted their
securities. Explain to clients that they may obtain a copy of your proxy voting policies and
procedures upon request.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. does not seek nor exercise proxy voting authority on behalf of its clients.
Guardian believes clients should remain engaged and informed about the companies in which they own
shares of stock. Reviewing annual reports and voting in any corporate voting is a good way for clients to
remain educated and informed regarding the securities own within the account.
If you do not have authority to vote client securities, disclose this fact. Explain whether
clients will receive their proxies or other solicitations directly from their custodian or a
transfer agent or from you, and discuss whether (and, if so, how) clients can contact you
with questions about a particular solicitation.
As a policy and in accordance with the Firm’s client agreement, Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. does
not vote proxies related to securities held in client accounts. The custodian of the account will normally
provide proxy materials directly to the client. Clients may have proxy materials forwarded to the Firm by
indicating that request to the Firm in writing. This is only as a convenience to the Client, as Clients cannot
“opt out” of receiving proxy materials from the custodian, however the Firm will not vote them. Clients
may contact Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. with questions relating to proxy procedures and
proposals; however, the Firm generally does not research particular proxy proposals.
Clients will receive any proxies directly from the custodian or transfer agent. Clients should feel free to
contact Guardian to discuss any proxy they do not understand or questions regarding how or where to vote.
Financial Information
If you require or solicit prepayment of more than $500 in fees per client, six months or
more in advance, include a balance sheet for your most recent fiscal year.
Guardian Wealth Management, Inc. does not require the prepayment of fees. Fees are paid each
quarter for the quarter in which Investment Advisory Services are provided.
In the event that Guardian requires payment of fees in advance, in an amount of $500 and more than six
(6) months in advance of when services are rendered, financial information including a corporate
balance sheet shall be provided to clients.
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