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The Institute for Wealth Management, LLC
9878 W. Belleview Ave. #2306, Denver Colorado 80123
(303) 572-3500
www.instituteforwealth.com
March 22, 2025
This brochure (hereinafter referred to as the “Brochure”) provides information about the qualifications and
business practices of The Institute for Wealth Management, LLC. If you have any questions about the contents
of this Brochure, please contact us at (303) 572-3500 or info@instituteforwealth.com. The information in this
Brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) or by any state securities authority.
The Institute for Wealth Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC or any
state securities authority does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about The Institute for Wealth Management, LLC is also available on the SEC’s website
at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. The searchable Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD)/Central
Registration Depository (CRD) number for The Institute for Wealth Management, LLC is 127207.
Item 2–Material Changes
The material changes in this brochure from the last annual updating amendment of Institute for Wealth
Management, LLC (“IWM”) on 03/25/2024 and an other than annual amendment filed May 28, 2024are
described below, material changes relate to IWM’s policies, practices or conflicts of interests only.
We will provide prospective and current clients with our current Brochure at any time without charge, upon
request.
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Institute for Wealth Management has updated other activities in Item 10.
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Institute for Wealth Management has added a Private Fund (Item 4) (May 2024).
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Institute for Wealth Management has added new services (Item 4) (May 2024).
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Item 3–Table of Contents
Item 1 – Cover Page ……………………………………………………………………………………
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Item 2 – Material Changes
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Item 3 – Table of Contents
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Item 4 – Advisory Business
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Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
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Item 6 – Performance- Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management ……………………………………
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Item 7 – Types of Clients ……………………………………………………………………………
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Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ……………………………
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Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
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Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ……………………………………
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Item 11 – Code of Ethics ……………………………………………………………………………
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Item 12 – Brokerage Practices ……………………………………………………………………
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Item 13 – Review of Accounts ……………………………………………………………………
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Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation ……………………………………………………
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Item 15 – Custody
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Item 16 – Investment Discretion ……………………………………………………………………
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Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
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Item 18 – Financial Information ……………………………………………………………………
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Item 4–Advisory Business
A. Firm Advisory Services
IWM is an SEC-registered investment adviser. IWM is a privately held Delaware limited liability company, which
was founded in 2003. IWM is wholly owned by The Institute for Wealth Holdings, Inc. (“IWH”), which is
principally owned by Mr. Matthew Medeiros. IWM is referred to as “The Institute”. Mr. Medeiros is the
President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of IWM and IWH.
IWM has individuals registered as Investment Adviser Representatives (“IARs”), all of whom offer IWM’s
services to clients and prospective clients. IARs registered with IWM are referred to herein as “IARs”. IARs
remain subject to oversight and supervision by IWM with respect to the services that they provide to IWM’s
clients.
Certain IARs are independent contractors of IWM, and they may operate under a separate business name or
Doing Business As (“DBA”) name. The DBA name of an IAR can be found in the Form ADV Part 1, Schedule D,
Section 1.B, “Other Business Names” of IWM. Account statements and marketing materials provided to IWM’s
clients may include the DBA name and logo associated with the DBA name of the IAR or group of IARs that
services the relevant client.
In client written investment advisory agreements with IWM (the “Client Agreements”), clients acknowledge
that their accounts will be serviced by IWM and a specific IAR, if applicable.
When properly disclosed to The Institute as outside business activities, IARs may themselves provide other
products and services through their DBAs to third parties and individuals that are not clients of, or affiliated
with, The Institute. Those products and services are unrelated to The Institute and are not associated with or
supervised by The Institute.
B. Advisory Services via Managed Accounts
Each client enters into a Client Agreement whereby the client engages IWM and a specific IAR to provide
investment advisory services to the client. Within its Client Agreement, each client chooses whether to (1) have
IWM provide all investment advisory services, with the IAR providing only client servicing and not having
authority to make investment decisions or trade on behalf of the client’s account (this option (1) is referred to
below as “IWM as PM”); or (2) have the IAR serve as the portfolio manager for the client’s account, with full
investment discretion of the client’s account, implementing a version of IWM’s proprietary investment
program that is tailored to the specific investment objectives chosen by the client (this option (2) is referred to
below as the “Rep as PM”).
Item 8 below (“Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss”) describes IWM’s investment
program, including a full list of strategies along with certain risks associated with those strategies. IWM’s Global
Capital Markets Committee (the “Investment Committee”) utilizes a team approach to build a model portfolio
for each strategy. The Investment Committee is led by Mr. Medeiros and consists of employees of the Institute,
certain IARs, and individuals selected to act as outside consultants to the Investment Committee due to specific
knowledge or skills that the Investment Committee believes add value to the investment selection process.
IWM may also engage from time to time unaffiliated investment managers to help advise on, and construct,
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the models and portfolios for certain strategies, including advising on specific client accounts. IWM pays any
such unaffiliated investment manager directly, without increasing clients’ fees. IWM relies on a combination
of both fundamental and technical indicators when making decisions regarding any of its strategies. Please see
Item 8 (“Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss”) for additional details regarding the
Investment Committee and Item 10 (“Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations”) regarding potential
conflicts with certain members of the Investment Committee.
When a client selects IWM as PM, IWM will have full discretion to trade the client’s account and will do so in
accordance with the models approved by the Investment Committee, as described above. When a client selects
the Rep as PM, IWM and the IAR will both have authority to trade the client’s account, but the IAR will be
responsible for all investment decisions and will have significant flexibility in providing tailored individualized
investment advice to clients. Reps as PMs may invest in accordance with the models developed by IWM’s
Investment Committee, choose a combination of assets and investments from within IWM’s models, or choose
investments outside of IWM’s models and strategies, as disclosed by the IAR to the relevant client. IWM may
provide Reps as PMs with operational and back office support, including trade execution, in connection with the
execution of a client’s investment program. IARs are required by applicable rules and policies to obtain licenses
and complete training to recommend certain investment products and services. Therefore, certain IARs may be
unable to recommend investments, models or services that are otherwise approved and available from IWM.
Clients should ask their IAR about the investments, models, and services as they are licensed to sell prior to
engaging the IAR. For more information on the IARs and the Rep as PM services, clients should refer to the
Brochure Supplement for each IAR. The Brochure Supplement is a separate document that is provided by each
IAR along with this Brochure before or at the time a client engages the IAR and IWM. Clients may contact IWM,
at info@instituteforwealth.com, to get copies of the most recent Brochure Supplement for any or all IARs any
time without charge.
C. Financial Planning Services
Through IARs, IWM offers financial planning services to clients of IWM. Financial planning services generally
include an analysis of a client’s overall financial condition and investment needs; an analysis of net worth, asset
distribution, asset growth and cash flow; and estate planning, retirement and other funding needs. IARs may also
provide limited scope and consultation services focusing on specific areas of client concerns (i.e. portfolio review
and evaluations or education funding planning). Limited scope and consultation services may not take all important
financial issues into consideration.
IWM’s financial planning services are tailored to the needs of the client and may vary from informal advice in
connection with IWM’s investment advisory services (for clients that have entered into Client Agreements) to a
formal written financial plan developed by the IAR, in consultation with the client, and used for the term of the
engagement. It should be understood by clients that proper financial planning is not a one-time event, and that
as their circumstances change, their investment goals and opportunities may change as well.
As part of the financial planning services offered, certain conflicts exist (as discussed throughout this Brochure)
between the interests of IWM and the interests of clients because the financial plans may recommend
investments that can be affected through IWM’s investment advisory services. However, clients are under no
obligation to act upon any financial planning recommendation made, to implement any recommendations
through IWM, or engage IWM for overall investment advisory services. If a financial planning client chooses to
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implement a recommendation through IWM pursuant to a Client Agreement, the IAR, in its discretion, may elect
to waive or reduce the financial planning or consultation fees by the amount of the fees received for investment
advisory services under the Client Agreement.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
IWM no longer offers a wrap fee program.
E. Private Fund Investments
Clients may be eligible to invest in IWM’s Madison Park Harbor Fund, L.P. or other opportunities offered by third party fund
managers. These types of investments are usually only offered to “accredited investors.”
Advisory Services to Private Funds:
IWM serves as investment adviser for Madison Park Harbor Fund LP (the “Fund”). The Fund is a private
investment fund, operated by Madison Park Fund Advisors, LLC (“Madison Park”) as general partner. The
principals of Madison Park are Mr. Randall Buck and Mr. Patrick Donnelly. Mr. Buck also serves as portfolio
manager of the Fund. Mr. Buck and Mr. Donnelly are IARs and independent contractors of IWM. As portfolio
manager of the Fund, Mr. Buck exercises primary investment advisory responsibility over the Fund, pursuant to
the investment program disclosed to investors in the Fund’s offering documents.
IWM serves as investment adviser for the MPWM Leonard Green Equity Fund IX LP (“Access Fund”). Madison
Private Wealth Management Fund Advisors LLC (“MPWM”) serves as General Manager. The principal of MPWM
is Connor Donnelly. Mr. Donnelly also serves as investment adviser representative (IAR), and independent
contractor of IWM. The Access Fund expects to invest substantially all of its assets in Leonard Green Equity
Investors IX, LP, a Washington limited liability partnership. All details are provided to accredited investors
through a Private Placement Memorandum. The General Manager of the Fund will be primarily responsible for
initial and ongoing due diligence related to the investors and the investment Neither IWM nor MPWM will
receive fees from the Access Fund but will be compensated on the based on total client assets under
management inclusive of investments in the Access Fund.
F. Client Imposed Restrictions
Investment selections for a client account are determined by IWM as PM or the Rep as PM (depending on the
option chosen by the client). A client may impose reasonable restrictions on investing in certain securities or
groups of securities for the client’s account, in accordance with the relevant Client Agreement. Most clients do
not restrict the types of investments that IWM or the IAR, as applicable, can make on their behalf. In general,
investments held in client accounts may include, and are not limited to, exchange-traded funds (“ETF”), exchange-
traded notes (“ETN”), mutual funds, structured notes, single-stock equities, bonds, options, other fixed income
securities, variable annuity sub-accounts, REITs, and other private offerings. The actual assets held in client
accounts are reported to them in the account statements they receive.
G. Sub-Advisor and Signal Services
IWM may also act as a sub-advisor (assisting a third-party investment adviser with the management of such
adviser’s client portfolios) and signal provider (providing proprietary trading information, called signals, to third-
party investment advisers). These third-party advisers outsource portfolio management and/or portfolio
strategist services to IWM. Each such relationship will be memorialized in a contract between IWM and the third-
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party adviser. Such contracts are usually terminable with or without cause at any time upon written notice to
IWM at least 24 hours in advance of the next trading session. The termination of the third-party adviser by its
client will automatically terminate IWM’s role as the sub-advisor. IWM does not contract directly with any of the
clients of the unaffiliated investment advisers for which IWM serves as sub-adviser or signal provider.
The Institute may also retain sub-advisors or third-party managers to assist with managing portfolios. Sub-
advisors provide investment allocations and securities selections and may execute security transactions in your
accounts pursuant to the agreement between The Institute and the subadvisor. This relationship will be fully
disclosed with those sub-advisors in your Client Agreement. Certain sub-advisors use ETFs and or mutual funds
in Client portfolios to which they are manager or sub-advisor. In these cases, the selection of these investments
creates conflicts of interest for the sub-advisor. The sub-advisors disclose conflicts of interests including their
selection of such investments, in their Form ADV 2. We advise you in establishing investment objectives, and work
with the sub-advisors to ensure an appropriate investment strategy for you. You are provided with the sub-
advisor’s Form ADV Part 2, to understand their business.
H. Cash Management
Upon client request or through our financial planning results, we will make available cash management services.
These services are outside of our portfolio management but made available through our firm.
Currently, IWM makes available to clients the FICA For Advisors cash management program (“FICA Program”)
offered by StoneCastle Network, LLC (“StoneCastle”), an affiliate of StoneCastle Cash Management, LLC. The FICA
Program allows clients the ability to protect their money by placing it in deposit accounts at banks, savings
institutions, and credit unions (collectively, “Insured Depositories”) in a manner that maintains full insurance of
the funds by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or National Credit Union Administration
(“NCUA”), whichever is applicable. Funds will be deposited within StoneCastle’s network of Insured Depositories
(“Deposit Network”). StoneCastle requires no minimum deposit to open a FICA Program account. IWM may earn
a fee from StoneCastle if clients participate in this program. IWM will assist clients in signing up for this program
and facilitating the transfer of funds between the client’s like-named accounts. (See fees for Cash Management
in Item 5.)
I. Client Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, IWM managed $1,145,433,475.00 in discretionary assets and $9,210,000.00 in non-
discretionary assets. Certain assets are included as non-discretionary assets as The Institute believes it arranges
for the purchase or sale by inputting trade information directly onto each platform's online trade system. The
aggregate of the above numbers reflects IWM’s total Regulatory Assets Under Management of $
1,154,643,475.00
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Item 5–Fees and Compensation
A. Compensation and Fee Schedule
Investment Advisory Services – Fees are negotiable from client to client and are tailored to the specific services
that IWM and the IAR, as applicable, will provide to the client. The fee is negotiated between the IAR and the
client, and the amount of the fee, as well as how IWM and the IAR may share the fee, is stated in the Client
Agreement. In general, the maximum total fee that IWM may charge its advisory clients is 2.00% per annum of
a client’s assets under management, although certain clients may agree to a higher fee in certain limited
circumstances. IWM or an IAR, if applicable, may choose, in their discretion, to waive all or portions of their fee
for a specific client. It should be expected that advisory fees will vary, materially and substantially, among IWM’s
clients based on a variety of factors.
Investment Advisory Services for the Fund – IWM charges the Fund an annual fee of 0.80% of the Fund’s total
average annual net assets, calculated and paid quarterly.
Financial Planning Services – IWM charges a flat fee between $1,000 and $10,000 per engagement or an hourly
fee depending on the level of service agreed to by the client. The financial planning consulting services may be
complimentary and at no cost for certain clients with a broader relationship with IWM, including those who are
or become investment advisory clients. Any such fee waivers will be determined on a case-by-case basis at IWM’s
sole discretion. For financial planning clients who do not have an advisory agreement with IWM, the financial
planning consulting services fee is collected upon execution of the financial planning consulting agreement, which
is before the financial plan is delivered to the client. IWM generally seeks to provide the financial plan to its
clients within weeks of receiving all required documents. IWM may provide the financial planning consulting
service to unaffiliated advisors, rather than to clients directly, and such advisors may pay the applicable fees.
B. Deduction of Advisory Fees
Client fees are most often directly-debited from client accounts by assigned custodians. Fees are calculated and
assessed either monthly or quarterly, in advance, based on the market value of the assets in client accounts as
of the last business day of the preceding month or calendar quarter, as applicable. The investment advisory fee
assessed on contributions into a client account during a calendar month or quarter, as applicable, will be prorated
based on the number of days remaining in the month/quarter at the time of contribution. Fees are assessed on
all assets under management, including securities, cash, and money market balances.
C. Advanced Billing of Fees and Client Refunds
Clients may be billed monthly or quarterly in advance, as set forth in the relevant Client Agreement. If a client
has prepaid advisory fees and then chooses to terminate IWM’s management of the account prior to the month-
or quarter-end, the client is entitled to receive a prorated refund of the fees for the days remaining in the month
or quarter. A client may terminate the account by notifying IWM or the IAR, or by notifying the custodian and
delinking the account from IWM, but subject to any notice provisions or requirements in the Client Agreement.
The reimbursement due will be calculated by multiplying the advisory fee that was debited at the beginning of
the month or quarter by the number of days remaining in the month or quarter from the date the account was
transferred or distributed divided by the total number of days in the month or quarter. Such refunds are
calculated and submitted on a monthly or quarterly basis depending on the fee arrangement with the client.
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Other Fees
Custodian fees are independent of our fees and should be disclosed to you by your custodian.
Unless stated in the Client Agreement, IWM’s investment advisory fees do not cover any applicable trading costs.
Clients will incur brokerage and other transaction costs, and those fees will be reflected in the custodian
statements. Please refer to Item 12 of this Brochure for a description of IWM’s brokerage practices.
In addition, fees paid to IWM by clients are separate from any fees and expenses charged by the individual
investments, such as the ETFs, ETNs, Mutual Funds, Structured Notes, or Private Placements held in client
accounts. Clients may also incur certain charges imposed by other third parties, such as broker-dealers, custodians,
trust companies, banks and other financial institutions. These additional charges may include: securities
brokerage commissions, redemption fees, transaction fees, custodial fees, management fees charged by the
managers of private placement or other underlying assets, margin costs, deferred sales charges, charges imposed
directly by a mutual fund or ETF in a client’s account, as disclosed in the fund’s prospectus (e.g., fund
management fees and other fund expenses), odd-lot differentials, transfer taxes, wire transfer and electronic fund
fees, and other fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. A complete explanation of the
fees and expenses charged by each individual investment is available in the prospectus or offering document for
that investment. Clients should contact their custodians to obtain copies of these documents.
D. Sub-Advisor and Signal Service Fees
When acting as sub-advisor or signal provider to unaffiliated investment advisers, IWM receives a fixed asset-
based fee according to assets under advisement. These fees are payable to IWM by the third-party adviser, not
directly by the clients of the third-party adviser. The fees charged are negotiable. These fees vary based on the
amount of assets under advisement and the complexity of selected trading programs. Sub-advisory service fees
range from 20-30 basis points annually of assets under advisement. Signal service fees range from 10-15 basis
points annually of signal applied assets. The Institute does not directly contract with and/or bill third-party
advisor/signal clients. IWM will invoice third-party advisers for such fees, as provided by contract between IWM
and the applicable third-party adviser. If the agreement between IWM and the third-party adviser terminates,
the unaffiliated third-party advisor will pay the prorated portion of the fees as of the termination date.
When engaging a Sub-advisor, The Institute will be compensated a percentage of the fee paid to the Sub-Advisor,
this fee will be disclosed within the Client Agreement.
E. Cash Management Fees
Cash Management can be provided as an additional service as needed. Upon client request, advisor provides
cash management services, including maintaining cash reserves or systematic withdrawals more frequently than
semi-annually. In order to make a clear distinction between invested assets and short-term reserves, and in order
not to distort the investment performance of the investment portfolio, these services will be provided through
the means of a separate Stone Castle account registered in the client's name. For these services, these client
accounts will be billed a flat rate of 0.10% per annum on the total market value of the account based on data
provided by the account custodian and usually deducted directly from the account. This fee is separate from any
fees assessed on the investment portfolio. Assets within the StoneCastle account are not included as assets under
management with IWM nor assessed an asset management fee.
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Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
IWM does not charge its clients any performance-based fees. The Fund does not pay IWM any performance-based
compensation, although the Fund does pay its general partner an incentive fee. Mr. Randall Buck, a principal of the
general partner and portfolio manager of the Fund, is an IAR with IWM. Therefore, although IWM does not directly
receive the incentive fee, there could be a conflict of interest between the side-by-side management by Mr. Buck of
the Fund and the IWM clients that do not pay performance-based compensation. Performance-based fees and
allocation arrangements may create an incentive for an investment adviser to recommend investments that may be
riskier or more speculative than those that are recommended under a different fee arrangement. Such fee
arrangements also create an incentive to favor higher fee-paying accounts over other accounts that use the same
investment strategy but charge only an asset-based fee. This incentive could cause an investment adviser to allocate
the “best” investment opportunities only to the higher-fee account and the better-executed trades to the higher fee
account.
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Item 7– Types of Clients
IWM generally provides investment advice to individuals, trusts, estates, 401(k) plans, pension and profit sharing
plans, charitable organizations, corporations, state and municipal entities, and other business entities. IWM also
provides sub-advisory services to unaffiliated investment advisers and serves as the investment adviser of the
Fund.
In general, IWM requires a minimum initial account value of $100,000; however, IWM may accept accounts for
less than the minimum. When IWM elects to accept accounts for less than the minimum, there may be a fee
increase but not to exceed the maximum fee of 2.00%.
IWM does not set, nor can it waive, the minimum investment size with respect to the Fund.
Item 8–Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
A. General
As described in Item 4 (“Advisory Business”), IWM’s clients, in their Client Agreements, elect IWM as PM or a
Rep as PM. When a client selects IWM as PM, IWM invests the client’s account in accordance with the models
and strategies approved by the Investment Committee. When a client selects the Rep as PM, the IAR is
responsible for all investment decisions and will have significant flexibility in providing tailored individualized
investment advice to clients. Reps as PMs may invest in accordance with the models developed by IWM’s
Investment Committee, may choose a combination of assets and investments from within IWM’s models, or
may choose investments outside of IWM’s models and strategies, as disclosed by the IAR to the relevant client.
The Investment Committee utilizes a team approach to build a model portfolio for each strategy and relies on a
combination of both fundamental and technical indicators when making decisions regarding these strategies.
B. Investment Strategies
IWM’s strategies and sub-strategies as of the date of this Brochure are summarized below. The descriptions of
IWM’s strategies should not be understood to limit in any way the potential scope of IWM’s or the Rep as PM’s
investment activities or the securities, instruments or other assets in which client accounts may invest. Strategies
and sub-strategies may be recategorized from time to time. Clients may obtain an updated list of all available
strategies or sub-strategies at any time, upon request. Investors in the Fund should review fully the description
of the Fund’s investment program described in the Fund’s offering documents, as it may be materially different
from the strategies described below.
The Institute’s investment methodology begins with clients’ specific needs and risk tolerances. Careful attention
is paid to individual goals to balance capital preservation with growth potential. Our unique portfolio design
approach utilizes a macro view that incorporates both in-house and external portfolio managers. In sum, we
strive to produce portfolios appropriate for each individual client via effective and easy to adopt investing
strategies.
I. Complete Portfolios Global Impact:
Our flagship total portfolio solution incorporates the best of our strategic and tactical methodologies. Core
holdings feature Environmental, Social and Governances-focused Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), that are
strategically allocated using the well-proven tenants of diversified market portfolio theory across global equities,
fixed income, and alternative asset classes to maximize the reward versus risk ratio of each portfolio component.
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Trading more tactically are the program’s satellite positions, where only the strongest ETF candidates among
stock sectors, styles, countries, and fixed income are held according to our selection algorithms. Each of the
satellites may incorporate cash-like holdings in the event no ETFs meet our stringent criterion, potentially
preserving capital during unfavorable market environments. Global Impact allocates 60% to core positions, and
40% to tactical satellites. It is appropriate for accounts $100,000 and larger, and is available for Conservative-,
Moderate- and Growth-oriented client goals.
Global Strategic Strategy:
As of May 15, 2021, IWM no longer offers the Global Strategic Strategy. Although current client’s may still be
invested in this passive, low-cost strategic asset allocation constructed from the Vanguard family of funds,
managed on a discretionary basis. Global Strategic combines enhanced portfolio construction concepts with low-
cost securities to capture the long-term performance of a globally diversified portfolio with exposure to domestic
equities, international equities, emerging market equities, fixed income, real estate, commodities, and
cash/money market. (Global Impact is replacing Global Strategies Strategy).
Global ESG Core:
Provides balanced strategic solutions for investors focused on socially responsible ETFs that apply Environmental,
Social and Governance screens in their individual construction. We believe that companies can increase
profitability and long-term growth by utilizing sustainable efforts, investing and maintaining talented people and
implementing good corporate governance. IWM applies institutional-style market portfolio theory to allocate
among these ETFs targeted within domestic, international, and emerging nation stock, bond, and alternative
‘green’ asset classes. This management style typically conducts semi-annual rebalances to keep portfolios in-line
with desired investment objectives in a manner that maximizes the anticipated reward to risk ratio. Global ESG
Core is appropriate for accounts $50,000 and larger, and is available for Conservative-, Moderate- and Growth-
oriented client goals. (fka; Impact Investment Strategy (SRI).
II. TACTICAL STRATEGIES
Sector Rotation: A rules-based strategy that seeks to preserve capital by closely observing sector behavior and
adjusting market exposure accordingly. The program is an active, tactical strategy designed to capture a
proportionate share of market upside in bull markets, while reducing participation in bear markets by holding
above-average cash or money market-like balances when any of the eleven tracked sectors is underperforming.
In addition, it may emphasize core exposure to either the S&P 500 or the Nasdaq 100 depending on prevailing
market dynamics.
Proprietary quantitative entry and exit criteria are used to manage risk, determine sector weightings, and when
to increase or decrease cash/money market balances using ETFs. The strategy may be appropriate for investors
with a Growth objective and a 3–5-year horizon, although other objectives may be addressed by blending Sector
Rotation with IWM’s MoneyPlus Strategy. MoneyPlus invests in cash and fixed income mutual funds and ETFs,
featuring a lower duration than traditional bond benchmarks.
Alternative Income: Provides exposure to a variety of asset classes that feature reduced correlation to equities.
The portfolio is designed to provide the potential for income across a breadth of interest rate environments, and
may include tactical bond and buffered note funds, precious metal, treasury inflation protected security, and
other ETFs along the credit and duration spectrum as a stand-alone, liquid alternative to traditional bond
portfolios placing a premium on downside protection.
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The approach may be blended with more stock-centric holdings, providing income while offsetting equity risk
with reduced interest rate-sensitivity as compared to traditional bond-only portfolios. Alternative Income is most
appropriate for accounts $50,000 and higher and can be used in conjunction with other strategies for added
diversification.
III. Targeted Approaches:
Dynamic Equity Growth invests in portfolio of twenty-five growth stocks based on a combination of tested
fundamental and technical screens. Although the approach filters for growth companies among diversified
industries and capitalizations, the final selection focuses on lower volatility candidates, reducing the daily noise
often associated with this category of high-flying stocks. Equally important, a robust sell-discipline helps to
manage the potential for downside risk in today’s fast-moving markets. Holdings are reassessed quarterly,
making this an active strategy for the growth portion of an overall diversified portfolio design for accounts
$100,000 and larger.
Dynamic Equity Income invests in portfolio of twenty-five high income stocks based on a combination of tested
fundamental and technical screens. While higher than average yield is a goal, the approach also ranks on total
return to avoid value traps and companies that offer yields that enticing, but otherwise ‘too good to be true’.
Equally important, robust sell-discipline helps to manage the potential for downside risk in today’s fast-moving
markets. Holdings are reassessed quarterly, making this an active strategy for the growth portion of an overall
diversified portfolio design for accounts $100,000 and larger.
MoneyPlus seeks to manage duration while maximizing income. It incorporates a diversified set of varying
maturities and credit qualities, striving to enhance yield within a risk-managed framework. In addition to serving
as a standalone strategy for Defensive and Conservative investors with a short-term investing horizon, the
strategy may also act to reduce total risk as a component within a portfolio containing riskier assets, such as
stocks, while also producing yield.
Signature Portfolios: As markets bound ever higher in our current low interest rate environment, many investors
are acutely aware that forward gains could become increasingly challenging to come by for both stocks and bonds
alike. Similarly, traditional stock and bond combinations may be less effective than they have been in the past at
reducing portfolio risk (Signature 5 Series Strategy).
At IWM, we’ve found our more conservative, sophisticated investors are particularly concerned about the timing
of their spending needs in addition to the production of income. Our Signature Portfolios are designed to address
both these concerns, allowing clients to remain fully invested while being proactive in protecting capital while
producing income by using diversified structured products in combination with our time-tested Sector Rotation
program.
The Seigel-Wisdom Tree Longevity Model Portfolio
The collaboration with Professor Siegel brings a unique solution to investors with mid-to long-range time horizons
who are trying to balance current income needs with longevity risk. The Siegel-WisdomTree Longevity Model
Portfolio was designed to outperform the traditional 60/40 portfolio in a risk-conscious manner by structurally
allocating more toward equities over fixed income and tilting toward factors such as dividend yield and low P/E ratios
to seek higher income generation and outperformance potential. This model is strategic in nature, but also reflects
tactical tilts based on market conditions. The strategy may include both WisdomTree and non-WisdomTree ETFs.
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C. Risk of Loss
Described below are what IWM believes are the material risks of its investment program, but this section does
not attempt to identify every risk or to describe completely those risks it does identify. In particular, this Brochure
does not include a description of any strategies employed, or investment made, by Reps as PMs that are outside
of IWM’s stated investment program. Reps as PMs may pursue different strategies, with different risks, than
those described below. The risks described below or others could result in significant losses or even a complete
loss of clients’ investments. Clients should be prepared to bear all of the risks described below and others if they
invest with IWM. Clients should discuss with their IARs any questions regarding the investment strategies
employed for their particular accounts and their applicable risks.
An understanding of risk in different forms can help clients to understand the opportunities, trade-offs and costs
involved with different investment approaches. The principal risk of any investment is that, despite any
comprehensive analysis, the security will not perform as expected. This can be due to, among other things:
Market Risk: The success of investment activities will be affected by general economic and market conditions,
such as interest rates, availability of credit, inflation rates, commodity prices, economic uncertainty, changes in
laws, trade barriers, currency fluctuations and controls, and national and international political circumstances.
These factors may affect the level of volatility of securities prices and the liquidity of investments in client
portfolios. Such volatility or illiquidity could impair profitability or result in losses.
Management Risk: Certain strategies are actively managed, and their performance therefore will reflect in part
IWM’s and the Rep as PM’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving an account’s
investment objective. Due to its active management, an account could underperform investments with similar
investment objectives.
Investment Selection: The investments chosen for clients may decline in value. Investment selection risk may
cause an account to underperform other accounts with a similar investment objective. Investments are selected
in part on the basis of criteria developed and implemented from time to time. Those selection criteria do not
include all of the information available regarding a particular security. In addition, investment decisions rely on
information obtained from others regarding financial, economic, business and market conditions, factors and
trends, and IWM and Reps and PMs will not be in a position to confirm the completeness, genuineness or accuracy
of such information and data.
Volatility of Securities Markets: The value of securities held in client accounts that are traded on exchanges, and
the risks associated with holding these positions, vary in response to events that affect asset markets in general.
Market disruptions could lead to dramatic price swings in securities held within client portfolios and could result
in substantial losses.
Liquidity: Some investments may lack liquidity or be thinly traded. This could present a problem in realizing the
prices quoted and in effectively trading the position(s). Certain portfolios may invest in illiquid investments, which
will reduce an account’s overall liquidity and could result in significant losses. In addition, an account could be
exposed to substantial losses should we find it necessary to liquidate positions during periods of illiquidity.
Price and Interest Rate Risk: When interest rates change, the price of a bond is likely to adjust up or down so that
its yield, based on the new price, is in line with the new level of interest rates. Interest rate risk is probably the
most significant risk facing clients in fixed income securities because it affects all bonds similarly.
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Tax Risk: Investment may be made without considering a client’s specific tax consequences. Some strategies,
including transactions in options, can be subject to special tax rules, which may have adverse tax consequences
for the account holder.
Extraordinary Events: Global terrorist activity and U.S. involvement in armed conflict may negatively affect
general economic fortunes, including sales, profits, and production, and may lead to depressed securities prices
and problems with trading facilities and infrastructure.
Concentration Risk: Client portfolios may have highly concentrated positions in issuers engaged in one or a few
industries. This increases the risk of loss relative to the market as a whole.
ETF and ETN Risks: While the prospectus for each underlying ETF or ETN contains detailed descriptions of the
risks associated with these investments, in particular, they include the potential for: (1) tracking error (in which
the ETF/ETN does not accurately track its index as a result of factors such as transaction fees and expenses, or
changes in the composition of the underlying index); (2) pricing error (in which the ETF/ETN trades at a discount
or premium to its inherent net asset value); (3) liquidity risk (which may occur if an ETF/ETN fails to attract a
sufficient number of market makers); and (4) counterparty risk specific to ETNs (a risk regarding the
creditworthiness of a party that assists in the replication of the underlying index).
Leveraged and/or Inverse ETFs and Mutual Funds Risks: Holding a levered and/or inverse single-stock ETF is not
the same as holding the underlying stock, a traditional ETF, or even a non-single stock levered and/or inverse
ETF. It is riskier for several reasons. Importantly, like many other complex exchange-traded products, levered
and/or inverse single-stock ETFs aim to provide returns over extremely short time periods (in some cases even a
single day). New risks may emerge for investors who hold these products for longer than that. Investors should
be aware that if they were to hold these funds for longer than a day, the performance of these funds may differ
significantly from the levered and/or inverse performance of the underlying stock during the same period of
time.
Equity Risk: Investments in equity securities generally involve a high degree of risk. Prices are volatile and market
movements are difficult to predict. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies
or industries. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended periods. In addition to, or in spite of, the impact
of movements in the overall stock market, the value of investments may decline if the particular investments within
the portfolio do not perform well in the market. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current
or expected earnings than prices of other stocks. Prices of stocks may fall or fail to appreciate regardless of
movements in securities markets. A higher turnover rate, or increased trading may result in higher transactions
costs and higher taxes in taxable accounts and may also affect the strategies’ overall performance.
Fixed Income Risks: Investments in fixed income securities represent numerous risks such as credit, interest rate,
reinvestment, and prepayment risk, all of which affect their price/value. These risks represent the potential for
a large amount of price volatility. In general, securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to price changes.
Additionally, the prices of high-yield fixed income securities fluctuate more than high quality debt issues. Prices
are especially sensitive to developments affecting the company’s business and to changes in the ratings assigned
by rating agencies. Prices are often closely linked with the company’s stock prices. High-yield securities can
experience sudden and sharp price swings due to changes in economic conditions, stock market activity, large
sales by major investors, default, or other factors. In the event of a default, the investment may suffer a partial
or total loss.
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Options Risk: Options involve the risk that the counterparty who wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to
perform its obligations under the option contract, or the option may become illiquid and difficult to close. An
option derives its value from the price of the underlying stock. Therefore, their value is heavily dependent on
underlying stock price. Structured notes often have a derivative component imbedded within.
Foreign Security Risk: The special risks associated with investing in foreign securities include fluctuating
currencies, political risk, social or economic instability, trade imbalances, imposition of exchange control
regulation, withholding taxes, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets, and possible nationalization of
assets or industries.
Leverage/Margin Risk: The use of borrowed capital, such as margin, to increase the potential return of an
investment may increase the risk of an investment and can magnify the effect of any losses. The use of leverage
is a speculative technique and may not be suitable for all investors. Using borrowed money (whether through
trading on margin or any other method of borrowing) to finance the purchase of securities involves interest
charges and entails greater risk than using cash resources only.
Cybersecurity Breaches: IWM, the IARs, clients and their service providers are subject to a possible cybersecurity
attack or breach. Cybersecurity is a broad term referring to the body of technologies, processes and practices
designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access. If a
cybersecurity breach were to occur, substantial costs could be incurred, including without limitation those
associated with forensic analysis of the origin and scope of the breach; increased and upgraded cybersecurity;
investment or other losses; identity theft; unauthorized use of proprietary information; litigation; adverse
investor or client reaction; the dissemination of confidential and proprietary information; and reputational
damage. Any such breach could expose IWM and the IARs to liability as well as regulatory inquiry and/or action.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
Registered Investment Advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or disciplinary
events that would be material to the evaluation of the adviser or the integrity of its management and individuals
associated with the firm. IWM has the following reportable disclosures. Mr. Douglas Donnelly has the following
disciplinary events: On or about 1/26/2015, the State of Washington and Mr. Donnelly entered into a Consent
Order, paid an individual fine of $100,000, disclosure is related to a Regulation D offering made to clients without
written approval by employer. On or about 8/7/2013, the State of Michigan filed a Denial of registration regarding
Mr. Donnelly, based on events giving rise to termination from Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. On or about 3/25/2013,
Mr. Donnelly was terminated from Northwest Asset Management, related to breach of customer authorization
policies. 3/1/2012, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, termination, discharge related to regulation D offering without
written approval by the firm. Details can be found through Broker Check or the Investment Adviser Public
Disclosure site by performing name searches.
For more information about disciplinary events involving IARs, and which provide services to clients of IWM,
please refer to Investment Advisor Public Disclosure at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov or FINRA BrokerCheck at
www.finra.org.
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Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
As discussed in Item 4 (“Advisory Business”), IWM is controlled and managed by IWH. None of The Institute or
any of its management persons are registered as broker-dealers, futures commission merchants, commodity
pool operators, commodity trading advisors, or associated persons of the foregoing entities.
Mr. Matthew Medeiros, President & CEO of The Institute, serves on an advisory board for a New York-based
mutual fund company, Exceed Investments LLC (“Exceed”), for which he is eligible to receive equity in the
company. Exceed offers a collection of index-based investment solutions and is affiliated with a Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) registered broker-dealer (Exceed Securities LLC), a registered investment
advisor that seeks to offer investment services and products (Exceed Advisory LLC), and a non-registered entity
which publishes and licenses financial indexes (Exceed Indexes LLC). Mr. Medeiros may benefit based on his
position on the Exceed board because the IWM’s models/strategies, or other Rep as PM investments, may include
shares of mutual funds and other investment products offered by Exceed. IWM believes that this conflict is
mitigated by the fact that investment decisions for IWM’s client accounts, including any investment in an Exceed-
affiliated entity, are made by the Investment Committee or the Reps as PM, as applicable, rather than by Mr.
Medeiros individually. The Investment Committee is permitted to engage non-affiliated outside consultants as
members of the committee, and each outside consultant may have outside business interests.
Matthew Medeiros is the Chairman of the Board of Eagle County (Colorado), Emergency Responder’s Fund
(ECERF).
Matthew Medeiros is a board member of the Brain Injury Association of Colorado (BIAC).
Matthew Medeiros serves on an advisory panel for Goldman Sachs Advisory Solutions.
Jeff Jorgensen serves on an advisory panel for Goldman Sachs Advisory Solutions
These activities do not create a conflict of interest that would affect the advisory activities of IWM.
Creg V Shaffer is a contract manager/officer at Organic Waste Recovery and Recycling Startup.
Creg V Shaffer is the president at Sustainable Alternative Feed Enterprises, Inc.
IWM permits IARs, including Reps as PMs, to engage in outside business activities. In certain cases, an IAR could
receive greater compensation through the outside business than through The Institute. For example, an IAR could
also be an accountant, real estate agent, tax preparer, lawyer or refer customers to other service providers and
receive referral fees. Similarly, an IAR could provide advisory or financial planning services through an
unaffiliated investment advisory firm, sell insurance through a separate business, or provide third-party
administration to retirement plans through a separate firm. If an IAR provides investment services to an IWM
client as a representative of IWM, and also provides other services to such client directly or through a separate
firm, this typically means the IAR is compensated for the two services, as agreed to with the specific client.
Anyone who engages with an IAR for services outside of The Institute should specifically discuss with the IAR the
compensation that he or she receives from the engagement.
None of the entities within The Institute are broker-dealers. If an IAR is required to be registered with a broker-
dealer due to an outside business activity not associated with their services with The Institute, the IAR is permitted
to register with a broker dealer with the Institute’s approval.
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Item 11 – Code of Ethics
Ensuring an ethical culture is of critical importance to The Institute. As such, The Institute has adopted a Code
of Ethics that sets forth standards of conduct expected of its personnel. The Code of Ethics addresses, among
other things, personal trading, outside business activities, gifts, the prohibition against the use of inside
information, and other situations where there is a possibility for conflicts of interest. The Code of Ethics is
reasonably designed to protect The Institute’s clients by deterring misconduct, educating personnel regarding
expectations and laws governing their conduct, reminding personnel that they are in a position of trust and
must act with complete propriety at all times, guarding against violations of the securities laws, and establishing
procedures for personnel to follow so that the Institute may determine whether personnel are complying with
ethical principles. All supervised persons must acknowledge the terms of the Code of Ethics annually, and as
amended.
The Institute’s officers, directors and employees may trade for their own accounts in securities which are
recommended to or purchased for clients. The Code of Ethics is reasonably designed to ensure that the personal
securities transactions, activities and interests of the employees will not interfere with (i) making decisions in the
best interest of advisory clients and (ii) implementing such decisions while, at the same time, allowing employees
to invest for their own accounts. In addition, the Code of Ethics requires pre-clearance of certain transactions
and restricts trading in close proximity to client trading activity. Nonetheless, because The Institute permits
employees to invest in the same securities as clients, there is a possibility that employees might benefit from
market activity by a client in a security held by an employee.
The Institute will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics to any client or prospective client upon request. Please
call (303) 572-3500, or email info@instituteforwealth.com.
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Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
As a fiduciary, IWM’s policy is to seek to execute client securities transactions in a manner that a client’s total
cost or proceeds in each transaction are most favorable under the circumstances. Whenever possible, IWM will
seek to aggregate securities transactions for execution and then allocate the appropriate shares to client
accounts. The determining factor in the selection of a broker-dealer to execute transactions for client accounts is
not simply the lowest possible transaction cost but whether the broker-dealer can provide what is, in IWM’s
view, the best qualitative execution for a client account (i.e., best execution).
Unless otherwise specified in a Client Agreement, IWM and/or the Rep as PM, as applicable, has authority to
select brokers on behalf of client accounts and to determine the commissions and other fees that the clients will
pay to those brokers. Generally, clients do not direct IWM or the IAR to utilize a particular broker-dealer to
execute some or all transactions for the client’s account. However, clients do choose their custodians, generally
from a list provided by IWM of custodians with whom it has an existing relationship. Once a client selects its
custodian of choice, the client directs IWM and/or the IAR, as applicable, to transmit trading instructions to such
custodian. Custodians execute client trades or transmit orders for the execution of trades to other broker-
dealers. IWM and the IARs do not execute trades or monitor the quality of execution in client accounts by the
custodian or its selected broker-dealers on a trade-by-trade basis. IWM and the IARs do review holdings in client
accounts and the general performance and reliability of client custodians and the trade execution process.
However, in these circumstances, IWM and the IAR are unable to influence the transaction costs charged by the
custodian to settle trades for clients. Clients should be aware that if they, or their custodians, direct trading to a
particular broker or dealer, clients may pay higher transaction costs or execution prices as neither IWM nor the
IARs will have authority to obtain volume discounts, lower commissions, or narrower spreads. Consequently,
clients directing the use of a particular broker or dealer may not receive best execution, and may incur higher
trading costs.
When IWM or an IAR does select brokers and dealers for client accounts, it does so based on factors that it deems
relevant at the time of determining whether the broker can provide best execution. These factors may include,
without limitation, whether the broker provides a 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 the client account); 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
IWM or the IAR in making investment decisions; quality of services; competitiveness of the price of services
(commission rates, margin interest rates, other fees, etc.) and willingness to negotiate them; reputation, financial
strength and stability of the provider; and their prior service to The Institute or the IAR and their other clients.
IWM recommends Charles Schwab & Co., Member FINRA/SIPC (Schwab). Schwab is an independent and
unaffiliated SEC-registered broker-dealer.
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Item 13 – Review of Accounts
IWM, through the Investment Committee, and/or the Reps as PMs, as applicable, monitor and review client
portfolios on a periodic basis. The frequency of reviews is at the discretion of IWM and, if applicable, the Rep as
PM, but accounts are typically reviewed not less than annually. Accounts are reviewed for performance,
consistency with the targeted investment strategy or model, and other account parameters to determine if any
adjustments are necessary. Results are often compared to the performance of an applicable benchmark. In cases
where material deviations appear between client account performance and composite account performance,
IWM or the Rep as PM, as applicable, may take steps to rebalance accounts to bring them more closely aligned
with the respective models.
Clients receive written monthly statements from their account custodians. These statements will include the
account balances, positions held and transactions that were made throughout the period, and will reflect a
deduction for the monthly or quarterly advisory fee, as applicable. In addition, IWM may produce a written
monthly or quarterly performance report for certain clients. These reports may include transactions made in
the account, account positions, time-weighted returns, a summary of investment advisory fees, market
commentary, and such other information as IWM elects to provide to clients from time to time. Clients who
receive this additional report are urged to carefully review and compare the official custodial statements to the
monthly/quarterly performance report. The monthly/quarterly performance reports may vary from custodial
statements based on accounting procedures, reporting dates, or valuation methodologies of certain securities.
Clients should notify IWM or the applicable IAR immediately if there is ever a material difference between the
two documents.
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Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
IWM shares its investment advisory and financial planning fees with the IARs that service the relevant client
accounts, as disclosed to clients in their Client Agreements.
In addition, unaffiliated IARs, RIAs or broker-dealers may recommend to their clients IWM’s investment advisory
services. In such instances, IWM will share a portion of its investment advisory fee with such third parties, as
documented in writing and disclosed to clients in accordance with applicable law. The fee percentage shared
varies and is negotiated by IWM and such third parties. As disclosed in Item 5 (“Fees and Compensation”), in no
event will clients’ annual advisory fee to IWM exceed 2.25%, even when IWM shares its fee with third- parties.
The following program has been adopted by Charles Schwab through the acquisition of TD Ameritrade. IWM
participates in TD Ameritrade’s institutional advisor program, AdvisorDirect (the “Program”), through which
IWM compensated TD Ameritrade for client referrals. TD Ameritrade Institutional was a division of TD
Ameritrade Inc., member FINRA/Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), and an SEC- registered
broker-dealer (collectively, “TD Ameritrade”). TD Ameritrade offered independent investment advisors services
which include custody of securities, trade execution, clearance, and settlement of transactions. TD Ameritrade
was a discount broker-dealer independent of and unaffiliated with the Institute, and there was no employee or
agency relationship between The Institute and TD Ameritrade. The Institute participated in the Program, which
provided certain benefits to IWM, while at the same time IWM may have recommended TD Ameritrade to clients
for custody services. In addition to meeting the minimum eligibility criteria for participation in the Program,
IWM may have been selected to participate in the Program based on the amount and profitability to TD
Ameritrade of the assets in, and trades placed for, IWM client accounts that were maintained with TD
Ameritrade. Some of the products and services made available by TD Ameritrade through the Program may have
benefited the Institute but may not have directly benefited client accounts. As part of its fiduciary duties to
clients, IWM endeavors always to put the interests of its clients first. Clients should be aware, however, that the
receipt of these benefits by the Institute created a potential conflict of interest for and may have influenced
IWM when it recommends a custodian to clients. The benefits that The Institute may have received from TD
Ameritrade are described below.
Client Referrals
IWM received client referrals from TD Ameritrade through its participation in the Program. TD Ameritrade
established the referral program as a means of referring its brokerage customers and other investors seeking
fee- based personal investment management services or financial planning services to independent investment
advisers. TD Ameritrade does not supervise IWM or the Reps as PMs and has no responsibility for the
management of client portfolios or IWM’s other services.
IWM pays Charles Schwab as they acquired TD Ameritrade an on-going fee for each successful client referral.
This fee is usually a percentage of the advisory fee (not to exceed 0.25%) that the clients pay to IWM for the life
of IWM’s relationship with the referred client (“Solicitation Fee”). IWM also pays Charles Schwab as they
acquired TD Ameritrade the Solicitation Fee on any advisory fees received from any family members of a
referred client, including a spouse, child, or any other immediate family member who resides with the referred
client and hires IWM on the recommendation of such referred client. IWM does not charge clients referred
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through the Program any fees or costs higher than its standard fees. For information regarding additional or
other fees paid directly or indirectly to Charles Schwab as they acquired TD Ameritrade, please refer to the TD
Ameritrade Advisor Direct Disclosure and Acknowledgement Form which was provided prior to establishing an
account.
For (i) referred client relationships initiated on or after April 10, 2017; or (ii) any referred client relationship
initiated before April 10, 2017, or such later date as the Conflict of Interest Rule, Retirement Investment Advice,
29 CFR 2509 & 2510 (“Conflict of Interest Rule”) becomes applicable, that receives additional Program referral
services provided by TD Ameritrade; or (iii) at our one-time election to move all existing and new client
relationships to the new referral fee set forth in our agreement with TD Ameritrade, the following referral fee
applies:
Referred Client Assets
Referral Fee
on Assets
Assets up to $2 million
0.25%
0.10%
Assets over $2 million up
to $10 million
Assets over $10 million
0.05%
TD Ameritrade most likely referred clients through the Program to investment advisers that encourage their
clients to custody their assets at TD Ameritrade and whose client accounts are profitable to TD Ameritrade.
Consequently, in order to obtain client referrals from TD Ameritrade, IWM had incentive to (i) recommend to
clients that the assets under management be held in custody with TD Ameritrade, (ii) to provide trading
instructions to TD Ameritrade for clients whose accounts were custodied at TD Ameritrade, and (iii) to the
extent trading in a client account may have caused TD Ameritrade to absorb additional trading expenses, to
reduce trading in such client accounts. In addition, IWM agreed not to solicit clients referred to through the
Program to transfer their accounts from TD Ameritrade or to establish brokerage or custody accounts at other
custodians, except when our fiduciary duties require doing so.
Other Benefits
IWM may have received other benefits through the Program. These benefits include the following products
and services (provided without cost or at a discount): receipt of duplicate client statements and confirmations;
research-related products and tools; consulting services; access to a trading desk; access to block trading (which
provides the ability to aggregate securities transactions for execution and then allocate the appropriate shares
to client accounts); the ability to have advisory fees deducted directly from client accounts; access to an
electronic communications network for client order entry and account information; access to mutual funds
with no transaction fees and to certain institutional money managers; and discounts on compliance, marketing,
research, technology, and practice management products or services provided by third party vendors. TD
Ameritrade may have also paid for business consulting and professional services received by The Institute.
These products or services may have assisted IWM in managing and administering client accounts, including
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accounts not maintained at TD Ameritrade. Other services that were made available by TD Ameritrade were
intended to help us manage and further develop the Institute’s business. The benefits received by The Institute
through participation in the Program do not depend on the amount of brokerage transactions that were directed
to TD Ameritrade.
The prior Institute’s relationship with TD Ameritrade posed a number of conflicts of interest. It is IWM’s goal to
ensure that all clients receive the full benefit of its investment advice. In order to address potential conflicts of
interest with TD Ameritrade, IWM monitored client account performance to identify situations in which the
performance of any group of client accounts lags that of other, substantially similar client accounts, and will take
steps, when practicable, to ensure comparable performance among similarly situated client accounts. The
Institute’s participation in the Program does not diminish IWM’s duty to seek best execution of trades for client
accounts.
Charles Schwab & Co.
IWM may recommend/require that clients establish brokerage accounts with the Schwab Advisor Services
division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab), a registered broker-dealer, member SIPC, to maintain custody
of clients’ assets and to effect trades for their accounts. The final decision to custody assets with Schwab is at
the discretion of the Advisor’s clients, including those accounts under ERISA or IRA rules and regulations, in
which case the client is acting as either the plan sponsor or IRA accountholder. IWM is independently owned
and operated and not affiliated with Schwab. Schwab provides IWM with access to its institutional trading and
custody services, which are typically not available to Schwab retail investors. These services generally are
available to independent investment advisors on an unsolicited basis, at no charge to them so long as a total of
at least $10 million of the advisor’s clients’ assets are maintained in accounts at Schwab Advisor Services.
Schwab’s services include brokerage services that are related to the execution of securities transactions,
custody, research, including that in the form of advice, analyses and reports, and access to mutual funds and
other investments that are otherwise generally available only to institutional investors or would require a
significantly higher minimum initial investment.
For IWM client accounts maintained in its custody, Schwab generally does not charge separately for custody
services but is compensated by account holders through commissions or other transaction-related or asset-
based fees for securities trades that are executed through Schwab or that settle into Schwab accounts.
Schwab also makes available to IWM other products and services that benefit IWM but may not benefit its
clients’ accounts. These benefits may include national, regional or IWM specific educational events organized
and/or sponsored by Schwab Advisor Services. Other potential benefits may include occasional business
entertainment of personnel of IWM by Schwab Advisor Services personnel, including meals, invitations to
sporting events, including golf tournaments, and other forms of entertainment, some of which may accompany
educational opportunities. Other of these products and services assist IWM in managing and administering
clients’ accounts. These include software and other technology (and related technological training) that provide
access to client account data (such as trade confirmations and account statements), facilitate trade execution
(and allocation of aggregated trade orders for multiple client accounts), provide research, pricing information
and other market data, facilitate payment of IWM’s fees from its clients’ accounts, and assist with back-office
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training and support functions, recordkeeping and client reporting. Many of these services generally may be
used to service all or some substantial number of IWM’s accounts, including accounts not maintained at Schwab
Advisor Services. Schwab Advisor Services also makes available to IWM other services intended to help IWM
manage and further develop its business enterprise. These services may include professional compliance, legal
and business consulting, publications and conferences on practice management, information technology,
business succession, regulatory compliance, employee benefits providers, human capital consultants,
insurance and marketing. In addition, Schwab may make available, arrange and/or pay vendors for these types
of services rendered to IWM by independent third parties. Schwab Advisor Services may discount or waive fees
it would otherwise charge for some of these services or pay all or a part of the fees of a third-party providing
these services to IWM. While, as a fiduciary, IWM endeavors to act in its clients’ best interests, IWM’s
recommendation/requirement that clients maintain their assets in accounts at Schwab may be based in part
on the benefit to IWM of the availability of some of the foregoing products and services and other
arrangements and not solely on the nature, cost or quality of custody and brokerage services provided by
Schwab, which may create a potential conflict of interest.
Products & Services Available to Us From Schwab
Schwab Advisor Services (formerly called Schwab Institutional) is Schwab’s business serving independent
investment advisory firms like ours. They provide us and our clients with access to its institutional brokerage –
trading, custody, reporting and related services – many of which are not typically available to Schwab retail
customers. Schwab also makes available various support services. Some of those services help us manage or
administer our clients’ accounts while others help us manage and grow our business. Schwab’s support services
are generally available on an unsolicited basis and at no charge to us as long as we maintain a total of at least
$10 million of our clients’ assets in accounts at Schwab.
Services that Benefit Client
Schwab’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 we might not otherwise have access or that would require a significantly higher minimum initial
investment by our clients. Schwab’s services described in this paragraph generally benefit clients or their
account(s).
Services that May Not Directly Benefit Clients
Schwab also makes available to us other products and services that benefit us but may not directly benefit the
client or their account(s). These products and services assist us in managing and administering our clients’
accounts. They include investment research, both Schwab’s own and that of third parties. We may use this
research to service all or some substantial number of our clients’ accounts, including accounts not maintained
at Schwab. 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; provides pricing
and other market data; facilitates payment of our fees from our clients’ accounts; and assists with back-office
functions, recordkeeping and client reporting.
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Schwab also offers other services intended to help us manage and further develop our business enterprise.
These services include educational conferences and events; technology, compliance, legal, and business
consulting; publications and conferences on practice management and business succession; and access to
employee benefits providers, human capital consultants and insurance providers.
Schwab may provide some of these services itself. In other cases, it will arrange for third-party vendors to
provide the services to us. Schwab may also discount or waive its fees for some of these services or pay all or a
part of a third party’s fees.
Irrespective of direct or indirect benefits to our client through Schwab, we strive to enhance the client’s
experience, help reach their goals and put their interests before that of our firm or its associated persons.
Item 15 – Custody
Asset Management accounts: IWM does not take physical custody of client funds nor constructive custody of
client assets other than to deduct fees for advisory services. Clients receive monthly account statements from
their respective custodians. These statements will include the account balances, positions held and
transactions that were made throughout the period and will reflect a deduction for the monthly or quarterly
advisory fee, as applicable.
Private Funds: IWM does claim custody of client funds held within the Madison Park Harbor Fund. IWM
adheres to the regulatory requirements of claiming custody by engaging in an annual surprise audit of the
Fund, and quarterly distribution of account statements to Fund Investors.
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
IWM and each Rep as PM, if applicable, receive discretionary authority from a client at the outset of an advisory
relationship through the Client Agreement and the applicable custodian’s paperwork. These agreements
provide IWM and the Rep as PM, if applicable, with the discretionary authority (e.g., through a limited power of
attorney) to select the identity and amount of securities or other assets to be bought or sold for the relevant
client account. For customized advisory services, a client may engage IWM and the Rep as PM, if applicable, on
a non- discretionary basis as stated in the Client Agreement. In all cases, investment selections and
recommendations are made in a manner consistent with the clients’ stated investment objectives. IWM and
the Rep as PM, as applicable, will use their best efforts to ascertain the suitability of investment strategies and
products to be implemented in the management of a client’s accounts.
Item 17–Voting Client Securities
As a matter of policy and practice, IWM and the IARs do not have the authority to vote, and do not vote,
proxies on behalf of advisory clients. Clients retain the responsibility for receiving and voting proxies for all
securities maintained in client portfolios. Clients should contact their custodians if they have questions about
proxy voting. Clients may also contact IWM by phone at 303-572-3500 if they have questions about a particular
proxy solicitation.
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Item 18–Financial Information
Neither IWM, nor its management, have any adverse financial situations that would reasonably impair the
ability of IWM to meet all obligations to its clients. Neither IWM, nor any of its advisory persons, has been
subject to bankruptcy or financial compromise. IWM is not required to deliver a balance sheet along with
this Disclosure Brochure as the Advisor does not collect fees of $1,200 or more for services to be performed
six months or more in advance.
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