Overview
- Headquarters
- Boston, MA
- Total Firm Assets
- $3.1 billion
- Average High-Net-Worth Client Portfolio Size
- $4.2 million
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (SVB WEALTH LLC)
| Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $1,000,000 | 1.25% |
| $1,000,001 | $2,500,000 | 1.15% |
| $2,500,001 | $10,000,000 | 0.90% |
| $10,000,001 | and above | 0.70% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
| Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $12,500 | 1.25% |
| $5 million | $52,250 | 1.04% |
| $10 million | $97,250 | 0.97% |
| $50 million | $377,250 | 0.75% |
| $100 million | $727,250 | 0.73% |
Clients
- High-Net-Worth Share of Firm Assets
- 72.30%
- Number of High-Net-Worth Clients
- 530
- Total Client Accounts
- 2,623
- Discretionary Accounts
- 2,552
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 71
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals, Portfolio Management for Institutional Clients, Pension Consulting, Investment Advisor Selection, Educational Seminars
Regulatory Filings
- SEC CRD Number
- 172832
Additional Brochure: SVB WEALTH LLC (2026-03-31)
View Document Text
ITEM 1 COVER PAGE
SVB WEALTH LLC
FIRM BROCHURE PART 2A OF FORM ADV
53 STATE STREET, 28TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02109
Phone: 617-912-4485
firstcitizens.com/wealth
Date of Brochure: March 30, 2026
This Form ADV, Part 2 is the SVB Wealth LLC Brochure (the “Brochure”), the disclosure brochure for
wealth clients utilizing SVB Wealth LLC’s advisory and portfolio management services. This Brochure
provides information about the qualifications and business practices of SVB Wealth LLC (“SVBW”). If
you have any questions about the contents of this Brochure, please contact us at 617-912-4485.
The information in this Brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or by any state securities authority. Registration with the SEC does not
imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about SVBW is also available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
You can view SVBW’s information on this website by searching for “SVB Wealth LLC.” SVBW’s SEC
number is 801-80480 and its CRD number is 172832.
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SVBW 2026 FORM ADV PART 2A FIRM BROCHURE
ITEM 2 MATERIAL CHANGES
This Brochure is dated March 30, 2026, and is the annual update to the Brochure. The following is a
summary of material and/or other updates made to the Brochure since it was last updated on March 30,
2025:
Item 4: SVBW no longer offers private investment funds to new clients.
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ITEM 3 – TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 1 COVER PAGE ................................................................................................................... 1
ITEM 2 MATERIAL CHANGES ...................................................................................................... 2
ITEM 3 – TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. 3
ITEM 4 - ADVISORY BUSINESS.................................................................................................... 4
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 4
Advisory Services......................................................................................................................... 5
Wrap Fee Program ........................................................................................................................ 5
Financial Planning Services ......................................................................................................... 5
Retirement Plan Advisory Services ............................................................................................. 6
Reasonable Investment Restrictions ........................................................................................... 6
ITEM 5 - FEES AND COMPENSATION.......................................................................................... 6
ITEM 6 - PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT……………... ....... 9
ITEM 7 - TYPES OF CLIENTS ....................................................................................................... 9
ITEM 8 - METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK OF LOSS.............. 9
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies ......................................................................... 9
Risk of Loss ................................................................................................................................ 10
ITEM 9 - DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION .................................................................................... 12
ITEM 10 - OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS ............................. 12
ITEM 11 - CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT TRANSACTIONS AND
PERSONAL TRADING................................................................................................................. 14
ITEM 12 - BROKERAGE PRACTICES ......................................................................................... 14
Best Execution – How We Choose Broker Dealers ................................................................... 15
Fixed-Income Securities Transactions ...................................................................................... 15
Client Directed Brokerage .......................................................................................................... 15
Trade Aggregation & Order Handling ........................................................................................ 15
ITEM 13 - REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS ............................................................................................ 16
Reports Provided to Clients ....................................................................................................... 16
ITEM 14 - CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION ............................................... 16
Cash Allocations or Balances and Cash Sweep ....................................................................... 16
Intra-Company Referrals ............................................................................................................ 16
Referral Arrangements with Unaffiliated Third Parties ............................................................. 17
ITEM 15 - CUSTODY ...................................................................................................................17
ITEM 16 - INVESTMENT DISCRETION ........................................................................................18
ITEM 17 - VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES ....................................................................................18
ITEM 18 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................19
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ITEM 4 - ADVISORY BUSINESS
Introduction
SVB Wealth LLC (“SVBW”, “we”, “us”, or “our/ours”), a Massachusetts limited liability company, is an
investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended
(the “Advisers Act”). SVBW is a wholly owned, non-bank subsidiary of First-Citizens Bank & Trust
Company (“FCB”), a North Carolina corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Citizens
BancShares, Inc., a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: FCNCA) and Delaware corporation.
Previously, SVBW was owned by Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, N.A. (“SVBB”), a full- service Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) -operated bridge bank chartered by the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency as a national bank. Before SVBB, SVBW was owned by Silicon Valley
Bank (“SVB”), which was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
Upon the closure of SVB, the FDIC, as the appointed receiver, transferred substantially all of the assets
of SVB, including SVBW, to SVBB on March 13, 2023.
This Brochure describes the investment advisory services offered by SVBW. SVBW’s advisory services
are made available to clients primarily through its investment adviser representatives (“IARs”). IARs are
individual employees of SVBW that provide investment advice to clients. Some IARs are also registered
representatives of First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. (“FCIS”), an SEC-registered broker-dealer and a
member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Information about our IARs is in the
Brochure Supplement, which is a separate document provided to clients along with this Brochure prior
to opening an account.
As of December 31, 2025, SVBW had the following regulatory assets under management:
Discretionary
$ 3,039,659,346
Non-Discretionary
$
55,571,576
$ 3,095,230,922
Total AUM
SVBW provides Wealth Management Services, Wrap Fee Program Services, Financial Planning
Services, and Retirement Services. The services include portfolio management, access to certain
investment strategies of affiliated and unaffiliated third-party investment managers, performance and
consolidated financial reporting, financial, wealth, retirement, and estate planning. Our investment
offerings include equities, fixed-income securities, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”),
private funds, and derivatives. Certain offerings are subject to investment minimums and/or specific
eligibility requirements.
When SVBW provides its services, the IAR will:
• develop an investment policy statement that guides the allocations and investment decisions
made for the client’s account using the information provided by the client;
• determine which, if any, third-party investment managers (“Third-Party Manager(s)”) are
appropriate given the client’s investment policy statement (Third-Party Managers may include
the IAR, a third party that is affiliated with SVBW, or an unaffiliated third-party manager); and
• monitor the Account and Third-Party Manager(s).
SVBW offers its services on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. Non-discretionary advisory
services are intended for clients who want to receive ongoing investment advice for a fee but wish to
retain ultimate decision-making authority over the trading activity in the accounts they maintain with
SVBW (“Account(s)”). SVBW provides ongoing and continuous investment advice and guidance to the
client, and the client decides whether to implement SVBW’s investment advice and recommendations.
Alternatively, discretionary services are intended for clients who want SVBW to make the investment
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decisions. The client grants SVBW authority to supervise and manage the Accounts with the ability and
authority to determine and make changes to the investment allocations in the Account(s) and assign
and monitor Third-Party Managers. Regardless of whether the Account is discretionary or non-
discretionary, our investment recommendations and/or decisions are based on the client’s investment
objectives, risk tolerance, financial circumstances, and other information provided by the client.
SVBW will recommend the allocation of a portion of a client’s investment assets among one or more
affiliated or unaffiliated Third-Party Managers. SVBW maintains a disciplined research and due
diligence process to identify Third-Party Managers that offer investment strategies that we believe
provide opportunities not available through, or more appropriate than, investment vehicles such as
ETFs or mutual funds. The Third-Party Manager shall have day-to-day responsibility for the
management of the Accounts. SVBW shall continue to render investment advisory services to the client
through the ongoing monitoring and review of account performance, asset allocation, and client
investment objectives. SVBW enters into sub-advisory agreements with the Third-Party Managers it
recommends for client Accounts. This means that SVBW has discretionary authority to hire and/or fire
the Investment Manager on behalf of clients and results in some operational efficiencies regarding the
opening and closing of accounts as well as communicating transaction details.
Some clients prefer the ability to access private investment funds. SVBW no longer offers eligible
clients access to certain unaffiliated private investment funds. For existing clients, SVBW shall not
exercise any discretion related to a client’s decision to invest in any private fund. Rather, the decision to
invest in any private fund is made by the client and is the client’s responsibility. SVBW’s role relative to
the private investment funds shall be limited to its initial and ongoing due diligence and investment
monitoring services. If a client decides to become a private fund investor, the amount of assets invested
in the fund(s) shall be included as part of “assets under management” for purposes of SVBW
calculating its investment advisory fee. Investments in private investment funds involve various risks,
including, but not limited to, potential for complete loss of principal, liquidity constraints, and lack of
transparency. Unlike liquid investments, private investment funds do not provide daily liquidity or
pricing.
Wealth Management Services
If a client selects the Wealth Management services, the IAR will manage the Account on a discretionary
or non-discretionary basis, as selected by the client. Fees for any Third-Party Manager(s), custodian(s)
and transactions will be charged to the client in addition to the Advisory Fee. Item 5 - Fees and
Compensation lists the fees charged for the Wealth Management Services.
Wrap Fee Program
SVBW no longer offers the Betterment wrap fee program. Existing clients are permitted to add
additional funds, and no new accounts are being accepted at this time. Item 5 - Fees and
Compensation lists the fees charged for the Wrap Fee Program Services.
Additional information about this program is contained in the Appendix 1 Wrap Brochure, which can be
obtained upon request from an IAR, or at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD.
However no new accounts are being accepted.
Financial Planning Services
SVBW offers financial planning to clients to formulate investment strategies and provide investment
advice and education more effectively. In some circumstances, SVBW will prepare and deliver to the
client a written financial plan to assist with achieving individual financial goals and investment
objectives. The preparation of such a plan necessitates that the client provides us with personal data
such as family records, budgeting, personal liability, estate information, and additional financial
information. Not all clients will engage in the financial planning process.
A written financial plan can generally include any or all of the following: asset protection, tax planning,
business succession, strategies for exercising stock options, cash flow, education planning, estate
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planning, wealth transfer, charitable gifting, long-term care, disability planning, retirement planning,
insurance planning, asset allocation comparisons, and risk management. The IAR may not include all
topics in developing their analysis and recommendations under a written financial plan. The
implementation of financial plan recommendations is entirely at the client’s discretion.
SVBW, at its discretion, offers some financial planning services without charge. Complex financial plans
are generally referred to FCB and will incur a fee that is negotiable in advance. Clients are under no
obligation to accept or implement a financial plan from FCB. These fees are in addition to any Fees
charged for other services.
SVBW does not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. SVBW suggests its clients work closely with
their attorneys, accountants, or other professionals should the client(s) choose to implement any or all
recommendations contained in the written plan. Implementation of the written plan may include persons
who, in certain circumstances, are also employees or affiliates of SVBW. In certain circumstances,
SVBW will be compensated by an affiliate or non-affiliated third-party for referrals made to address or
implement recommendations made from financial planning activities.
The client remains responsible for notifying SVBW of changes in financial circumstances, investment
objectives, or investment restrictions. Also, we will not independently verify any information we receive
from and will rely upon the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in performing our
services when creating a financial plan.
Item 5 - Fees and Compensation lists the fees charged for Financial Planning.
Retirement Plan Advisory Services
In addition, a team comprised of certain SVBW IARs known as the Retirement Plan Advisory Team (the
“RPA Team”) specializes in providing counseling and advice to businesses on effective plan
governance and delivery of employee retirement benefits subject to the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). The RPA Team provides services to assist plan sponsors,
plan trustees, and investment committees to meet their fiduciary responsibilities. The investment
advisory services provided by the RPA Team include preparation of investment policy statements,
evaluation, selection, and reporting of
investments, and advising clients on education and
communication with plan participants. The RPA Team counsels plan fiduciaries with its expertise in
plan governance, risk assessment, and expense analysis.
Item 5 - Fees and Compensation lists the fees charged for a Retirement Plan Advisory Services.
Reasonable Investment Restrictions
With respect to most advisory services described in this Brochure, clients may seek to impose
reasonable investment restrictions on the management of their Account, including requesting, in writing,
particular securities that should not be purchased for an Account.
ITEM 5 - FEES AND COMPENSATION
SVBW provides services to clients on a fee basis (the “Fee”). The Fee is either an asset-based, a fixed
annual fee, or a flat fee, depending on the particular services provided. In its discretion, and subject to
the Fee schedules included below, SVBW may negotiate the Fee and method of billing based on a
number of factors, including type and size of the Account, services provided, historical factors and/or
the client’s relationship with SVBW, subject to internal guidelines.
Wealth Management Services Fees
The Wealth Management Service Fees are generally asset-based, expressed as an annual percentage
of the assets in the account. The fees cover a range of available services including management,
consulting and administrative services provided by SVBW, ongoing monitoring of investment managers,
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and services provided by the IAR (including periodic reviews of the Account). The Fees are set forth
below in the Fee Schedules and represent the maximum standard annual rate.
Wealth Management Services Accounts are charged the Fee quarterly, in advance, based on the net
market value of the assets in the Account (including all cash and cash equivalents such as money
market mutual funds, cash sweep funds, or other short-term instruments) on the last day of the
previous quarter. In most cases, the Fee is automatically deducted from the Account. As circumstances
warrant, and pursuant to the specific terms of the Client Agreement, SVBW may instead charge an
asset-based fixed rate or fixed dollar investment management fee (see below). The services continue in
effect until terminated by either party (i.e., the client or SVBW) by providing written notice of termination
to the other party. Upon such notice, SVBW will cease making investment decisions for the client and
implement any reasonable written instructions. Client’s agreement will be terminated only after any
open trades have been settled. SVBW will refund any un-earned portion of its Fee to the client.
The tiered fee schedule below is assessed for each account, and SVBW does aggregate other
accounts for the client (Householding) when determining the fee.
Fee Schedules
Account Value
Annualized Fee
First $1,000,000
1.25%
Next $1,500,000
1.15%
Next $7,500,000
0.90%
Over $10,000,000
0.70%
Although SVBW does not have any stated account minimums, Accounts with a portfolio value of
$1,000,000 or less can pay effective fees greater than (or equal to) 1.25%.
In limited circumstances and in SVBW’s sole discretion, SVBW might agree upon an engagement for a
fixed annual dollar fee. The Fee is determined on a variety of factors which generally include the level
and scope of the services to be provided, the client’s overall relationship with SVBW and potential for
future business, and the professional providing the services. Certain legacy clients have agreements
that provide a fixed annual fee for services which may be more or less than other clients are paying or
will pay for receipt of the same services.
Clients are also responsible for any other fees and expenses related to their Accounts that are payable
to other entities, as applicable. Since SVBW is not a broker-dealer, SVBW does not charge for
brokerage commissions, transaction fees, exchange fees, SEC fees or other related trading costs and
expenses. Rather, such commissions, fees and costs will be charged directly to clients by the clients’
custodian and/or broker-dealer. Additional fees and expenses that may be directly billed or borne
proportionately by the client and third parties include brokerage fees, commissions, transaction fees,
custodial fees, transfer taxes, odd-lot differentials, margin interest, deferred sales charges (on mutual
funds or annuities), wire transfer and electronic fund processing fees, advisory fees, administrative fees
and expenses charged by mutual funds and ETFs, custody fees, administration fees and all other fees
charged by service providers providing services relating to client Accounts. Custodian statements may
display certain transaction fees per trade, but commissions on certain statements or for certain
transactions will be reflected in the net share price and not disclosed separately. In certain situations,
and for certain transactions, transaction fees may be charged by the custodian to SVBW. See Item 12
Brokerage Practices for more information.
For client Accounts invested with and managed by a Third-Party Manager, the client is responsible for
paying the fee(s) charged by each such Third-Party Manager for an Account, as applicable. Third-Party
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Manager fees are separate from, and in addition to, SVBW’s Fee. Fees vary by Third-Party Manager
range from approximately 0.25% - 1.00% per annum.
Wrap Fee Program Fees (No longer available to new clients)
The Wrap Fee Program charges clients an all-inclusive Fee equal to 0.40% of the value of the assets in
the Account calculated on an annualized basis. Of the 0.40%, 0.25% is received by Betterment and
0.15% is received by SVBW. Betterment calculates and automatically debits the Fee from client
accounts. SVBW does not charge its portion of the wrap fee directly to clients.
Additional information about Fee for the Wrap Fee Program is contained in the Appendix 1 Wrap
Brochure, which can be obtained upon request from an IAR, or at the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD.
Financial Planning Fees
The Financial Planning Fee is typically billed either as a fixed dollar or asset-based fee, or a
combination thereof, as negotiated with the client and reflected in the applicable Client Agreement.
Retirement Plan Advisory Fee
The Retirement Plan Advisory Fee is negotiated rate in advance of services. The Fee is either a fixed
dollar fee and/or an asset-based fee not to exceed 0.50%.
Additional Information Regarding Fees and Expenses
Automatic Fee Deduction/Billing. When the Account assets are held with certain custodians, we will
deduct the Fee directly from the Account. Otherwise, we will send an invoice to the client’s custodian,
who will be authorized to deduct fees directly from the Account(s). Account statements sent directly
from the custodian will show all transactions in the Account(s), including SVBW’s Fee. Clients should
review their statements to confirm the accuracy of transactions, values, and fees.
Mutual Fund and ETF Management Fees. Investments in mutual funds and ETFs include an embedded
investment management fee paid to the investment adviser of the mutual fund or ETF. As such, client
accounts with investments in mutual funds and/or ETFs will be subject to two layers of management
fees. The fees and expenses associated with each mutual fund or ETF are described in the prospectus
for each such fund; clients should read these documents in detail to understand the costs associated
with investments in mutual funds and/or ETFs.
Mutual Fund Transaction Fees. Depending on the custodian, SVBW may be able to purchase mutual
funds with no transaction fees. Note that clients who do not trade through specific custodians may not
be eligible for these waived transaction fees. Fees may be imposed upon early redemption if the fund
was owned prior to our management or if we sell the fund at our discretion. An explanation of the fees
and expenses associated with each mutual fund is contained in that fund’s prospectus.
Private Investment Fund Fees and Expenses. If client assets are allocated to an unaffiliated private
investment fund, clients generally bear all fees and expenses applicable to the investment in the funds,
including fixed fees, asset-based fees, performance-based fees, carried interest, incentive allocation,
and other compensation, fees, expenses and transaction charges payable to third-party fund managers
in consideration of their services to the funds. Additionally, clients will indirectly bear their pro rata share
of other expenses incurred by the fund, which typically include administrative, custodial, transaction and
organizational costs, accounting and audit, insurance, research, travel, and other costs necessary to
carrying out the business of the fund and production of the fund’s net asset values. Investors should
review the applicable fund governing documents to understand the nature and extent of fees to be paid
in addition to SVBW’s Fee.
Donor Advised Fund Fees. If client assets are allocated to a donor advised fund, the client will be
responsible for paying all fees charged by the fund on those assets in addition to SVBW’s Fee. The
fund will impose and arrange for the automatic deduction of its own fees from the liquidity account of
each affected client.
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SVBW believes that its Fee is reasonable considering: (1) services provided and (2) the fees charged
by other investment advisers offering similar services and programs. However, our Fee is higher than
some investment advisers providing similar services or programs.
ITEM 6 - PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT
SVBW and its IARs do not charge or accept performance-based fees. However, from time to time,
certain strategies of Third-Party Managers and/or private funds that SVBW make available to clients
may be subject to performance-based fees.
ITEM 7 - TYPES OF CLIENTS
SVBW’s clients include individuals, IRAs, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, foundations, family
offices, banks and thrift institutions, pension plans, and profit-sharing plans, including plans subject to
ERISA, participants in such plans, corporations and other business entities.
Certain investment offerings and/or strategies require the client to maintain a minimum amount of
assets to open and invest/enroll in an Account in that offering or strategy. Where applicable, SVBW
may, in its discretion, waive or reduce these minimum requirements for certain clients or Accounts.
These include certain proprietary separate account strategies of SVBW, strategies of Third-Party
Managers, and most private fund offerings. If an Account falls below a required minimum, SVBW can
terminate its services in accordance with the terms of the Client Agreement.
ITEM 8 - METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK OF LOSS
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
IARs may build custom allocations for clients, select from pre-built models provided by Third-Party
Manager(s), or select Third-Party Managers. Investment recommendations, including model selection
and Third-Party Manager selection, are based on an analysis of the Client's individual needs and are
drawn from research and analysis.
Our investment strategy begins with an understanding of the client's financial goals. The IAR uses
financial information provided by the client to assess the client's risk profile and investment objectives in
determining an appropriate allocation of securities for the client's assets.
SVBW uses fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis in evaluating securities. Fundamental
analysis involves looking at economic, financial, and other qualitative and quantitative factors to
measure a security’s value. We use various financial databases to screen publicly traded companies to
identify a smaller universe of candidates that meet our criteria for growth, value, equity, and income
(dividends). We rely on tools such as Bloomberg Professional, FactSet and BondEdge. We also use
commercially available technology, financial periodicals and other publications, SEC filings, and
financial statements to assist with our analysis. In certain instances, we also use outside consultants to
provide expertise in particular areas or for more in-depth analysis. These views and analyses received
from broker-dealers (“sell-side research”) are also considered as part of SVBW’s evaluation process.
Our investment selection process for fixed-income securities is based on the specific client’s goal for
liquidity and our view of the environments for interest rates and corporate and/or municipal credit.
SVBW may recommend certain affiliated and non-affiliated Third-Party Manager(s). When it does, the
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investment team employs a due diligence review process to select the Third-Party Managers. This
initial review includes quantitative and qualitative assessments of each Third-Party Manager. SVBW’s
Investment Committee monitors Third-Party Managers for adherence to their stated investment process
and regularly assesses whether risks are being responsibly managed.
This process is also applied to the selection of mutual funds, ETFs, and limited partnership
structures and funds.
Risk of Loss
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. Investment
performance cannot be predicted or guaranteed, and the value of a client’s assets will fluctuate due to
market conditions and other factors. Investments are subject to various risks, including, but not limited
to, economic, political, market, currency, liquidity, and cybersecurity risks and will not necessarily be
profitable. Past performance of investments is not indicative of future performance.
Depending on the type of service being provided, IARs can recommend different types of securities,
including, but not limited to, mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income securities, certain private funds,
options, and other investment vehicles. Described below are some risks associated with investing and
with some types of investments that the IARs can recommend. For a more complete summary of
material risk factors and conflicts of interest associated with the Third-Party Managers, please refer to
the applicable Third-Party Manager’s Form ADV Part 2A. Clients should also review the offering
materials and prospectuses produced by issuers and sponsors of investment products and other
disclosure available for each relevant investment, security, or transaction to understand associated
risks and costs.
Market Risk. The price of a security, bond, or mutual fund may drop in reaction to tangible and
intangible events and conditions. This type of risk is caused by external factors independent of a
security's particular underlying circumstances. For example, global, political, economic, and social
conditions may trigger market events. Either the stock market as a whole or the value of an individual
company could decrease in the value, resulting in a decrease in value of the investments, also referred
to as systematic risk.
Private Investment Funds. Clients who are qualified to invest in private funds must acknowledge and
accept the specific risk factors associated with investing in private funds. Private fund investments
involve various risk factors, including, but not limited to, potential for complete loss of principal,
illiquidity, and lack of transparency.
Company and Industry Risk. When purchasing stock positions, there is always a certain level of
company or industry-specific risk that is inherent in each investment and can be reduced through
appropriate diversification. There is the risk that the company will perform poorly or have its value
reduced based on factors specific to the company or its industry. For example, if a company’s
employees go on strike or the company receives unfavorable media attention for its actions, the value
of the company may be reduced.
Regulatory Risk. There have been legislative, tax, and regulatory changes and proposed changes that
may apply to the activities of SVBW that may require legal, tax, and regulatory changes, including
requirements to provide additional information pertaining to a client account to the Internal Revenue
Service or other taxing authorities. Regulatory changes and restrictions imposed by regulators, self-
regulatory organizations, and exchanges vary from country to country and may affect the value of client
investments and their ability to pursue their investment strategies. Any such rules, regulations and other
changes, and any uncertainty in respect of their implementation, may result in increased costs, reduced
profit margins and reduced investment and trading opportunities, all of which would negatively impact
performance.
Fixed Income Risk. When investing in bonds, there is the risk that the issuer will default on the bond
and be unable to make payments. Further, individuals who depend on set amounts of periodically paid
income face the risk that inflation will erode their spending power. Fixed income investors receive set,
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regular payments that face the same inflation risk, although inflation-protected products may also be
available.
Options Risk. Options on securities may be subject to more significant fluctuations in value than an
investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put, and call options are highly
specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.
ETF and Mutual Fund Risk. When investing in an ETF or mutual fund, the client will bear additional
expenses based on the pro-rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the
potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects
the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds.
Non-U.S. Securities. International investments involve special risks not typically associated with trading
in investments relating to markets and/or issuers solely in the U.S. These risks may include: changes in
exchange rates and exchange control regulations; downgrades in sovereign credit ratings; devaluations
or non- convertibility of non-U.S. currencies; failures or disruptions in central banks, banking systems,
markets or financial exchanges; changes in monetary policies, interest rates or interest rate policies;
political, social and economic instability; adverse diplomatic developments; investment and repatriation
restrictions; the nationalization and/or expropriation of assets; government intervention in the private
sector; default by public and private issuers on their financial obligations (and limited recourse in
connection with such defaults); the imposition of non-U.S. taxes; discrimination against foreign
investors; less liquid markets; less information; higher transaction costs; less information regarding
legal and regulatory risks; less uniform accounting and auditing standards; greater price volatility; less
reliable clearance and settlement procedures; and/or less government supervision of exchanges,
brokers, market intermediaries, issuers and other markets and market participants, than is generally the
case in the United States.
Liquidity Risk. Securities that are normally liquid may become difficult or impossible to sell at an
acceptable price during periods of economic instability or other emergency conditions. Some securities
may be infrequently or thinly traded even under normal market conditions. Certain investments
including private placement vehicles are inherently illiquid and therefore involve additional risks.
Derivative Instruments. Derivative instruments, such as futures, options, and swaps, are financial
contracts whose value is derived from the performance of underlying assets, rates, or indices. These
are widely used for hedging, speculation, and arbitrage purposes across various financial markets.
Investing and engaging in derivative instruments and transactions, including commodity funds and
commodity ETFs, may involve different types of risk and possibly greater levels of risk, like greater
responses to market events, counterparty credit risk, illiquidity, and valuation discrepancies.
Margin Accounts. Some of our investment strategies require that clients maintain a margin account.
Clients who purchase securities may pay for them in full (a “cash account”) or may borrow part of the
purchase price from the broker-dealer that holds his/her account (a “margin account”). Clients generally
use margin to leverage their investments and increase their purchasing power. At the same time,
clients who trade securities on margin incur the potential for higher losses. We will discuss the risks of
using margin with each client to determine if it is appropriate for their portfolio but, in general, we would
like clients to know about some of the major risks of trading on margin. Clients can lose more funds
than deposited in a margin account. The broker-dealer holding the client account can force the sale of
securities in the account. The broker-dealer can sell client securities without contacting the client.
Clients are not entitled to an extension of time on a margin call.
Reinvestment Risk. This is the risk that future proceeds from investments may have to be reinvested at
a potentially lower rate of return (i.e., interest rate). This primarily relates to fixed income securities.
Management Risk. The client’s investment with our firm varies with the success and failure of our
investment strategies, research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If our investment
strategies do not produce the expected returns, the value of the investment will decrease.
Cybersecurity Risk Due to the increased use of technology in our business and the financial services
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SVBW 2026 FORM ADV PART 2A FIRM BROCHURE
industry in general, SVBW is subject to cybersecurity risks potentially resulting in financial losses to
clients and/or violations of applicable privacy and other laws that adversely affect clients.
Client investments may also be subject to other risks specific to certain securities, which are further
described in the underlying prospectus or other disclosure statement from the issuer of those securities.
Clients should carefully review all available disclosures for any securities. Additionally, despite SVBW’s
affiliation with FCB, client assets managed by SVBW are not bank deposits and are not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency entity or person and may lose value.
ITEM 9 - DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all legal or disciplinary events that are material
to a client’s or prospective client’s evaluation of its advisory business or the integrity of its management.
As of the date of this Brochure, neither SVBW nor its management personnel have been subject to, or
involved in, any legal or disciplinary events required to be disclosed in this Brochure.
ITEM 10 - OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS
SVBW is owned by FCB and is under common ownership with the following entities:
• CIT Capital Securities LLC., a Broker/Dealer
• CIT Asset Management, a Registered Investment Adviser
• SVB Asset Management, a Registered Investment Adviser
• First Citizens Asset Management, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser
• First Citizens Investor Services Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Registered Investment Adviser and
Insurance Agency
• Neuse Title Services, an Insurance Agency
Some of SVBW’s affiliates are registered investment advisers, registered broker-dealers, and/or
licensed insurance agencies. Some, but not all, investment adviser representatives of SVBW are also
broker-dealer registered representatives of FCIS and/or insurance agents.
The IAR providing advice may implement recommendations as a registered investment adviser,
registered representative, or insurance agent when appropriately registered or licensed to do so. When
the IAR implements the recommendations, the IAR receives compensation for advice implemented as a
registered investment adviser, registered representative, or insurance agent. Each role has a different
duty to the client, for example, individuals acting as registered investment advisers have a fiduciary
duty to their clients, while registered representatives and insurance agents must comply with the
suitability requirements and regulation Best Interest standards. An inherent conflict of interest exists for
IARs who are dually registered and insurance licensed.
registered
In addition to being registered and/or licensed with SVBW, IARs, management, and support staff can
representatives of FCIS, an affiliated registered broker-dealer and
also be
investment adviser under common control with SVBW. When an IAR is dually registered he/she can
sell securities on a commission basis. An IAR may suggest that a client implement investment advice
by purchasing products through a commission-based brokerage account in addition to or in lieu of a
fee-based advisory account. This receipt of commissions creates an incentive to recommend those
products for which an IAR will receive a commission in his or her separate capacity as a registered
representative of a securities broker-dealer. Consequently, the objectivity of the advice rendered could
be biased. Additionally, when you open a brokerage account, we will use Pershing as our qualified
custodian through FCIS, an affiliated broker-dealer-dealer who introduces its transactions to Pershing
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SVBW 2026 FORM ADV PART 2A FIRM BROCHURE
as its clearing firm. Therefore, when you open a brokerage account, FCIS as an affiliated broker-
dealer derives economic benefit by keeping assets on the shared platform, which creates a conflict of
interest.
Clients are under no obligation to use the services of the IAR in this separate capacity.
In appropriate instances, IARs recommend First Citizens Asset Management (“FCAM) to serve as an
affiliated Third-Party Manager on certain model portfolios available to SVBW clients. In that regard,
SVBW has an arrangement with FCAM for the provision of FCAM model portfolios. This creates a
conflict of interest because these affiliated parties have an economic incentive to retain each other and
to recommend clients to each other. Clients are under no obligation to utilize FCAM, as a sub-adviser.
When an IAR is licensed as an insurance agent, the IAR may sell general disability insurance, life
insurance, annuities, and other insurance products to clients. Neither SVBW nor its IARs will receive
any commissions or additional income related to the sale of any insurance products.
Upon specific client request, IARs may introduce clients to personnel of FCB to discuss bank products
and other services. Such introductions are not part of the investment advisory services SVBW provides
to its clients.
including human resources,
technology,
facilities,
finance,
SVBW IARs and their management personnel receive a subjective annual bonus at the discretion of
their supervisors but not directly related to the sales of specific products/services. First Citizens may
also invest in or otherwise have an ownership interest in certain SVBW clients. Due to SVBW’s
relationship with First Citizens, SVBW has an indirect financial interest in making such introductions
and fostering relationships between FCB and its clients. FCB also provides a variety of support services
to SVBW,
legal, and
information
administrative support. SVBW does not believe such support services create a material conflict of
interest with clients.
A client referred to SVBW by FCB should be aware of the following about the securities generally
recommended and/or purchased/sold on behalf of a client by FCAM. Such securities:
• are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency;
• may lose value;
• are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any bank or bank affiliate; and
• are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amounts invested.
In appropriate circumstances, SVBW will recommend that a client roll over an account held in a former
employer’s retirement plan or an outside IRA to an IRA managed by SVBW. If the client elects an IRA
rollover or transfer subject to SVBW’s management, the account will be subject to SVBW’s Fee per the
Client Agreement. IAR’s recommendation to roll over retirement plan or IRA assets into an IRA
managed by SVBW presents a conflict of interest because such a recommendation creates an
incentive to recommend the rollover for the purpose of generating additional compensation rather than
solely based on the client’s needs. When SVBW provides investment advice or recommendations to a
client regarding their retirement plan assets, IRA account or rollover IRA, SVBW is acting as an
investment advice fiduciary within the meaning of Title I of ERISA. Further, when SVBW recommends a
rollover or transfer to an IRA, the client is never under any obligation to complete a rollover or transfer
or to have the rollover IRA assets managed by SVBW.
SVBW mitigates the above disclosed conflicts of interest by disclosing them to you, training the IARs,
reviewing transactions, and oversight of advisory services by management and compliance.
Neither SVBW nor any of its management persons are registered, or have an application pending to
register, as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, or a commodity trading advisor.
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ITEM 11 - CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT TRANSACTIONS AND
PERSONAL TRADING
SVBW has adopted an Investment Adviser Code of Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) in accordance with
Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act. The Code of Ethics applies to those SVBW personnel engaged in
offering and/or providing investment advisory services to clients (also known as supervised persons).
Among other things, the Code of Ethics requires supervised persons to comply with applicable
securities laws, exhibit high ethical standards and place clients’ interests first in accordance with
SVBW’s fiduciary duty to its clients. Supervised persons who fail to observe the Code of Ethics and
related policies and procedures risk serious sanctions, including dismissal.
The Code of Ethics also sets forth SVBW’s policies and procedures regarding personal securities
transactions. These policies and procedures are designed to identify and prevent or mitigate actual or
perceived conflicts of interest and to address such conflicts appropriately if they do occur. Supervised
persons are required to submit periodic reports regarding personal securities transactions, holdings,
and accounts. Compliance is responsible for reviewing such employee reports.
In certain instances, SVBW employees may invest in the same securities that SVBW recommends to
its clients. Such transactions are reviewed on a post-trade basis and if such transactions are permitted,
it is because SVBW believes that such transactions do not present a conflict of interest considering the
markets and liquidity for the securities traded.
The Code of Ethics also provides that supervised persons may not serve on the board of directors of
any public company, including mutual fund boards of trustees, without prior approval. Employees must
obtain prior written permission to serve as a trustee on a client account other than the account of a
family member or to serve as a trustee or a board member for any charity or not-for-profit entity. Our
employees do, in fact, serve in these capacities on various charitable, civic and community boards. If
such a service is approved, it is because we have determined it does not create any conflict of interest.
SVBW does not buy securities from, or sell securities to, its clients (i.e., SVBW does not engage in
“principal transactions” with its clients). SVBW is not a registered broker-dealer and does not engage in
“agency cross” trades between clients.
SVBW will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics free of charge to any client or prospective client upon
request.
ITEM 12 - BROKERAGE PRACTICES
Client assets are required to be maintained in an account with a “qualified custodian,” as defined under
the Advisers Act. Clients can request to custody their Account assets with any number of unaffiliated
custodians who are qualified custodians; generally, SVBW’s clients elect to use Fidelity Brokerage
Services LLC (“FBS”) and its affiliated custodian National Financial Services LLC (“NFS”) or Charles
Schwab & Co. (“Schwab”), each registered broker-dealers, as the qualified custodian. Clients enter into
a separate agreement with the custodian(s) for these brokerage and custody services. SVBW is not
affiliated with these broker dealers. These custodians hold client assets in a brokerage account and
buy/sell securities upon SVBW’s instruction. SVBW is also able to execute trades for client accounts
through other brokers that are not the custodian of a particular client’s Account assets. In certain
circumstances, clients can request to enter into an arrangement to custody their Account assets with
SVBW’s parent company, FCB. Any such client would enter into a separate agreement with FCB for
custody and brokerage services, and authorized SVBW personnel have the same access/limitations
with respect to client Accounts held with FCB as with an unaffiliated custodian. Although FCB is an
affiliate of SVBW, any potential conflict of interest has been minimized if clients choose to custody with
FCB. FCB does not charge any separate custodial fees and SVBW is not incentivized to direct clients
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SVBW 2026 FORM ADV PART 2A FIRM BROCHURE
to FCB.
Best Execution – How We Choose Broker Dealers
When it comes to executing transactions for client accounts, SVBW uses several different brokerage
firms. SVBW utilizes independent brokers and dealers to purchase and sell securities for client
accounts. In selecting brokers and dealers to effect client transactions, seek: (1) the prompt execution
of client transactions while market conditions still favor the transaction and (2) the most favorable net
prices reasonably obtainable taking into account the relevant circumstances. This is called “best
execution”.
In seeking best execution, the determinative factor is not the lowest possible cost, but whether the
transaction represents the best qualitative execution. In making this assessment, we consider the full
range of a broker-dealer’s services, including the value of research provided, execution capability,
commission rates, and responsiveness. SVBW does not consider participation in the Fidelity Wealth
Advisor Solutions® (“WAS”) program, (please see Item 14 Client Referrals and Other Compensation
below) in choosing brokers and dealers to execute client transactions.
Certain custodians have programs that allow us to transact in mutual fund shares and other securities
without transaction charges or at nominal transaction charges.
Fixed-Income Securities Transactions
Fixed-income securities (i.e., bonds) are generally traded in an over-the-counter market. In this market,
bond dealers place bids and make offers to buy and sell bonds on a net basis with no stated
commission plus accrued interest. Any commission or net markup is implied by the difference or
“spread” between the price the dealer purchases the bond for and the price the dealer sells the bond at.
A new issue bond is sold to purchasers at a net price with a fixed sales credit paid to the underwriter by
the issuers of the bond.
Dealers identified and approved as fixed-income trading partners are listed on SVBW’s “Fixed-income
Approved Dealer List.” On an ongoing basis, the fixed-income team monitors our relationships with
dealers on our “Fixed-income Approved Dealer List” and documents any issues involving a particular
dealer.
Client Directed Brokerage
Certain clients may direct SVBW to use a particular broker or dealer who has an existing relationship
with or provides custodial or other services to a client. SVBW requires any directed brokerage
instructions to be in writing. Directed brokerage may cost clients more money. Before choosing to enter
into a directed brokerage arrangement, clients should be aware of the following disadvantages:
• Directed brokerage clients may pay higher commission rates than those paid by other clients,
may receive less favorable trade executions and may not obtain best execution on their
transactions.
•
• Directed brokerage accounts may not be able to participate in aggregated or block transactions
with other clients. This may preclude directed brokerage accounts from obtaining more
favorable terms that might be available from aggregated transactions.
If SVBW is placing orders in the same security for both directed brokerage clients and clients
that do not direct, SVBW may place orders for directed brokerage clients after it has placed
orders for other clients.
As a registered investment adviser, we have a duty of best execution to our clients. Accordingly, we
retain the right to decline client requests for directed brokerage if, in our sole discretion, we determine it
would result in additional operational difficulties or violate restrictions imposed by other broker-dealers.
Trade Aggregation & Order Handling
SVBW can purchase or sell the same securities for several clients at approximately the same time.
Consolidation of orders referred to as “aggregating orders” or “block trading,” is used by firms if
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SVBW 2026 FORM ADV PART 2A FIRM BROCHURE
believed such actions may prove favorable for the clients. Under this procedure, transactions will be
averaged in price and allocated to the clients in proportion to the purchase or sale orders placed for
each client's account on any given day. When SVBW chooses to aggregate client orders, SVBW will do
so following the parameters of the SEC No Action Letter, SMC Capital Inc., dated September 5, 1995.
SVBW does not receive any additional compensation or remuneration because of aggregating orders.
ITEM 13 - REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS
We review client accounts on at least an annual basis as part of our standard advisory services, except
in the limited situations when we provide (1) non-discretionary advice for assets not under our
advisement, or (2) financial planning services on a one-time basis, i.e., not an ongoing investment
advisory relationship for which we provide continuing advice. These reviews will include, among other
things, a review of overall performance of investments compared to the client’s stated objectives, a
review of asset allocation changes in the portfolio, a determination of actual and expected liquidity
needs of the Account, a review for cash flow reinvestment planning, and/or a comprehensive review of
a client's overall asset allocation, liquidity position and performance that takes into account both client
assets managed by SVBW and client assets held in private or illiquid investments with third-party
custodians. Account reviews can be triggered based on certain events, including changes in a client’s
liquidity needs, security offerings in the marketplace, and/or certain market events, among others. A
review might also occur if the performance of a client’s Account drifts more than a certain percentage
from the chosen benchmark(s) for a given Account. Changes in a client’s financial circumstances,
investment objectives or other information may also trigger an investment review if IARs are apprised of
such changes by their clients. Accounts are reviewed by a client’s IAR(s) responsible for managing the
client’s portfolio.
Reports Provided to Clients
Upon request, SVBW will provide clients with quarterly reports for their Account(s) containing pertinent
information related to their managed assets and the services SVBW is providing. Such quarterly reports
will generally include a list of holdings and a summary of inflows and outflows, performance, and asset
allocation breakdown for each Account, in addition to other relevant data. This information is provided
as a courtesy and for informational purposes. It is not the official account statement. Clients should
compare and rely on the official account statements from qualified custodians or financial institutions as
the authoritative record of holdings and account activity.
ITEM 14 - CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION
Cash Allocations or Balances and Cash Sweep
Certain custodians offer access to certain sponsored cash sweep options per each client’s separate
custodial agreement. As discussed in Item 5, SVBW’s Fee is typically applied to all assets in a client’s
Account including allocations to cash and cash equivalents, which include funds allocated to cash
sweeps.
Intra-Company Referrals
FCB refers clients to SVBW and vice versa. SVBW ensures that its services are in the best interest of
clients referred by FCB. Although SVBW believes that value exists in the opportunity to have access to
FCB’s products and services, such referrals nevertheless present a conflict of interest because SVBW
IARs have a direct financial incentive to refer clients to FCB for such banking products and services.
That is, IARs receive indirect compensation for referring clients to FCB for banking, lending, and
deposit products which is calculated and paid strictly from internal sources. In no circumstance does a
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SVBW 2026 FORM ADV PART 2A FIRM BROCHURE
client pay additional fees or expenses beyond the customary charges for the services chosen. When
warranted by the totality of the client relationship, a client sometimes receives more favorable rates for
the banking products/services purchased. In addition to making referrals to FCB, IARs are eligible for
additional compensation based on other factors as well including, but not limited to, achieving certain
levels of production, sourcing new FCB relationships, and training new advisors.
SVBW mitigates the conflicts of interest that may arise from intra-company referrals through
transparency, by disclosing them to you, client consent, applying the Best Interest standard, providing
alternative options, training of the IARs, review of transactions, and oversight of advisory services by
management and compliance.
Referral Arrangements with Unaffiliated Third Parties
From time to time, SVBW has entered into agreements with certain unaffiliated third parties
(“Solicitors”) to refer prospective clients to us in accordance with Rule 206(4)-1 of the Advisers Act.
Under these arrangements, SVBW generally pays Solicitors when a referred prospective client
becomes an investment advisory client of SVBW. SVBW generally pays the Solicitor a specified portion
of the advisory fee it receives from each referred client relating to such client’s Account, pursuant to the
terms of the agreement between SVBW and any such Solicitor.
SVBW’s participation in the WAS Program, has changed as of March 27, 2023. Although SVBW retains
clients acquired through the program, SVBW has ceased active participation and no longer receives
new referrals.
ITEM 15 - CUSTODY
As described in Item 12, except as described below, SVBW generally does not act as custodian for
Account assets, meaning that it does not directly hold or have physical possession of client funds or
securities, with limited exception in trust accounts. All advisory client funds and securities are required
to be held with a “qualified custodian,” as defined under the Advisers Act. Clients enter into a separate
agreement with the qualified custodian for the assets in their Account(s) and are responsible for any
fees or costs charged by their custodian which are separate and apart from the Fee SVBW charges to
clients.
In certain circumstances, SVBW is deemed to have custody for purposes of amended Rule 206(4)-2 of
the Advisers Act for one or more of the following reasons:
• Assets managed by SVBW can be custodied with its banking affiliate, FCB;
• SVBW is authorized by its clients to debit our advisory fees directly from client Accounts;
• From time to time FCB enters into a control agreement with SVBWs clients where the assets in
an advisory account are held as collateral for a FCB loan. Under such circumstances, and as
per a properly executed control agreement, FCB would have the ability to direct SVBW to
liquidate securities in a pledged advisory account and transfer funds to the Bank, depending on
certain triggering events, including loan default. Under SEC rule 206 (4)-2 FCIS also has
custody of these pledged assets because SVBW is not operationally independent from FCB.
• SVBW has authorization to direct payments from client Accounts held by a certain custodian.
Because SVBW is deemed to have custody of the assets held in certain accounts, the SEC requires an
annual surprise exam to be conducted by an unaffiliated CPA firm. Where SVBW is deemed to have
custody of client Account assets, those clients receive custodial statements detailing all transactions in
their applicable Accounts (including contributions and withdrawals), fees and expenses charged to the
Accounts, and the value of the Accounts at both the beginning and the end of each reporting period.
Additionally, the custodian will produce a year-end summary and related tax reporting documents, as
applicable.
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SVBW 2026 FORM ADV PART 2A FIRM BROCHURE
Clients should always carefully review all custodial statements for accuracy.
ITEM 16 - INVESTMENT DISCRETION
With respect to certain investment advisory services, SVBW accepts discretionary investment authority
as delegated by clients via a limited power of attorney in the applicable Client Agreement. Discretionary
authority means that SVBW may exercise investment discretion over a client’s Account to effect
transactions for the client without first having to seek the client’s approval. The Client Agreement
provides a power-of-attorney for the limited purpose of providing SVBW with the full authority to
purchase, sell or otherwise effect transactions involving the assets in the client’s account. SVBW’s
Wealth Management Agreement allows clients, in writing, to direct SVBW to purchase or sell individual
securities. Additionally, clients may impose custom restrictions or limitations on their accounts, e.g.,
dictating certain securities or sectors to be excluded or specifying particular securities to hold. We
accommodate these personalized requests to the extent that they align with the client’s overall
investment strategy and SVBW’s investment capabilities. SVBW documents client-imposed restrictions
to better understand, and incorporate the restrictions into the investment management process,
maintaining regular communication with the client to review and adjust these constraints as necessary
to align with their evolving investment goals and market conditions.
Where SVBW has been delegated discretionary authority by a client, such discretionary authority
extends to the following responsibilities: the amount and type of securities to be purchased or sold for a
Client’s Account(s), the timing of transactions, and, as applicable, the Third-Party Manager(s) and
strategy or strategies to be utilized or discontinued for a client’s Account.
ITEM 17 - VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES
For those Accounts where clients have delegated, and SVBW has accepted, proxy voting authority,
SVBW is responsible for handling the voting of all proxies related to securities held in such client
Accounts. SVBW employs a third-party proxy voting service, Broadridge Investor Communication
Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), to vote client proxies in accordance with one of its two adopted standard
proxy voting guidelines of Glass Lewis. Clients may choose between U.S. Proxy Voting Policy
Guidelines or Socially Responsible Investing Proxy Voting Guidelines.
SVBW may, but is not required to, authorize Third-Party Managers to vote any proxies relating to the
sub-advised assets in accordance with the Third-Party Manager’s proxy voting policy.
Conflicts can arise when an external Third-Party Manager or any of their respective affiliates or
employees has any financial, business, or personal relationship with the issuer of a proxy proposal for a
security held in a client’s Account. In those limited instances, to avoid potential conflicts of interest,
SVBW would vote proxies in accordance with one of our predetermined guidelines. In limited situations,
we may consider voting under our own initiative for a particular issue, if we believe that it is in the best
interest of the client. Before we reclaim proxy voting authority from Broadridge, we will determine and
confirm that no potential conflict of interest exists.
To obtain information regarding proxy voting standard guidelines or how specific proxies were voted,
please call us at 617-912-4485.
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SVBW 2026 FORM ADV PART 2A FIRM BROCHURE
ITEM 18 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
SVBW is not required to include a balance sheet in this Brochure because SVBW does not require or
solicit prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per client, six months or more in advance.
SVBW is not aware of any financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to meet its
contractual commitments to its clients.
SVBW has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at any time during the past ten years.
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SVBW 2026 FORM ADV PART 2A FIRM BROCHURE
Additional Brochure: SVB WEALTH LLC WRAP BROCHURE (2026-03-31)
View Document Text
ITEM 1 COVER PAGE
SVB WEALTH LLC
WRAP FEE PROGRAM BROCHURE PART 2A OF FORM ADV, APPENDIX 1
53 STATE STREET, 28TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02109
Phone: 617-912-4485
firstcitizens.com/wealth
Date of Brochure: March 31, 2026
This Form ADV, Part 2, Appendix 1 is the SVB Wealth LLC Wrap Fee Program Brochure (the “Brochure”), the
disclosure brochure for wealth clients utilizing SVB Wealth LLC’s wrap fee program services. This Brochure
provides information about the qualifications and business practices of SVB Wealth LLC (“SVBW”). If you have
any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at 617-912-4485.
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. Registration with the SEC does not
imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about SVBW, also is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. You
can view SVBW’s information on this website by searching for “SVB Wealth LLC.” SVBW’s SEC number is
801-80480 and its CRD number is 172832.
SVBW FORM ADV PART 2A, APPENDIX 1 - WRAP PROGRAM BROCHURE
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ITEM 2 - SUMMARY OF MATERIAL CHANGES
This wrap fee program brochure, dated March 30, 2025, represents a material update to the wrap fee program
brochure filed by SVB Wealth LLC (“SVBW”) on March 29, 2025. The following material changes were made
since the most recent filing:
There have been no material changes made to this brochure as of March 29, 2025.
SVBW FORM ADV PART 2A, APPENDIX 1 - WRAP PROGRAM BROCHURE
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ITEM 3 - TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 1 COVER PAGE .................................................................................................................................... 1
ITEM 2 - SUMMARY OF MATERIAL CHANGES ............................................................................................ 2
ITEM 3 - TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................... 3
ITEM 4 - SERVICES, FEES AND COMPENSATION ....................................................................................... 4
ITEM 5 - ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS AND TYPES OF CLIENTS ................................................................ 8
ITEM 6 - PORTFOLIO MANAGER SELECTION AND EVALUATION ............................................................. 8
ITEM 7 - CLIENT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO PORTFOLIO MANAGERS ................................................ 9
ITEM 8 - CLIENT CONTACT WITH PORTFOLIO MANAGERS ...................................................................... 9
ITEM 9 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION .......................................................................................................... 9
SVBW FORM ADV PART 2A, APPENDIX 1 - WRAP PROGRAM BROCHURE
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ITEM 4 - SERVICES, FEES AND COMPENSATION
SVB Wealth LLC (“SVBW”, “we”, “us” or “our/ours”), a Massachusetts limited liability company, is an
investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the
“Advisers Act”). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
SVBW is a wholly owned, non-bank subsidiary of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (“First Citizens Bank”),
a North Carolina corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares, Inc., a publicly
traded company (NASDAQ: FCNCA) and Delaware corporation.
Previously, SVBW was owned by Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, N.A. (“SVBB”), a full-service Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”)-operated bridge bank chartered by the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency as a national bank Before SVBB, SVBW was owned by Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”), which was
closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Upon the closure of SVB, the
FDIC, as the appointed receiver, transferred substantially all of the assets of SVB, including SVBW, to SVBB
on March 13, 2023.
As part of its advisory services, SVBW sponsors a wrap fee program (the “Wrap Fee Program”). A wrap fee
program is a bundle of investment advisory services, which may include portfolio management, brokerage
transactions, advisory services, and portfolio administration for which the client pays a wrap fee. Currently,
SVBW is not enrolling new clients into its Wrap Fee Program. However, current clients in the Wrap Fee
Program are permitted to rely on the Program and may add assets to their Program Account(s).
Existing accounts will continue to be managed according to the stated investment objectives and risk
tolerance.
SVBW’s advisory services, including its Wrap Fee Program services, are made available to clients primarily
through its investment adviser representatives (“IARs”). Some IARs are also registered representatives of
SVBW’s affiliate, First Citizens Investor Services Inc. (“FCIS”), an SEC-registered broker-dealer and a member
of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Information about our IARs is in the Brochure
Supplement, which is a separate document provided to clients along with this Brochure prior to opening an
account.
SVBW sponsors its Wrap Fee Program in partnership with an unaffiliated third-party, Betterment LLC
(“Betterment”), an SEC-registered investment adviser. The Wrap Fee Program is offered to clients through an
online platform (“Betterment Platform”) managed by Betterment. In providing this program, we consider
potential conflicts of interest associated with client participation in the Wrap Fee Program and the broad
financial needs of our clients. We offer and tailor investment solutions for our clients taking into consideration a
client’s investment objectives, income, net worth, current financial information, investing time horizon, financial
and/or retirement goals and risk tolerance (“Client Information”). The Wrap Fee Program relies on certain
Client Information and uses Betterment’s proprietary asset allocation techniques to provide discretionary, goal-
based management of the client’s personal investment portfolio, together with ancillary custody and brokerage
services, for an all-inclusive wrap fee. SVBW recommends that certain eligible clients implement their
investment portfolios through the Wrap Fee Program. SVBW shall not exercise any direct, day-to-day
discretionary trading authority over the client’s account at Betterment but will maintain discretionary authority
over the client’s investment advisory relationship with our firm and have the authority to engage Betterment for
the management of the client’s account(s).
We want the client to make an informed investment decision regarding the client’s use of the Wrap Fee
Program. This Brochure provides important information and disclosure regarding the program, including
information regarding material arrangements and potential conflicts of interest that we think the client will find
informative. Each client should carefully and independently review all of the features and risks of the Wrap Fee
Program, along with all of the disclosures contained in this Brochure and on the Betterment Platform, before
opening an account and beginning to invest through the Wrap Fee Program, to ensure that the Wrap Fee
Program is a suitable and appropriate solution for the client’s current investment needs.
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The Wrap Fee Program
In the Wrap Fee Program, Betterment, as the sub-advisor/portfolio manager, uses strategic asset allocation
principles to invest client assets in various liquid asset classes using certain preferred ETFs as the investment
assets, and other liquid cash and cash-like accounts as secondary investment assets. MTG LLC, doing
business as Betterment Securities (“Betterment Securities”), is Betterment’s affiliated broker-dealer and acts as
broker-dealer and custodian for client accounts in connection with the Wrap Fee Program. Betterment and
Betterment Securities provide a suite of services in connection with the Wrap Fee Program, including sub-
advisory, custody, and brokerage services, together with access to the Betterment Platform. Through the
Betterment Platform, clients will establish, access, and manage their accounts. In addition, Betterment offers
clients additional services like checking accounts and high-yield cash accounts.
SVBW’s IAR will, among other things, assist the client in determining if the Wrap Fee Program is suitable and
appropriate for the client’s initial and ongoing investment needs, and, if warranted and considered to be in a
client’s best interest, select another sub-adviser to provide similar, automated investment advisory services to
the client. The clients will provide certain of their Client Information to Betterment, which Betterment will use to
generate an investment policy statement (“IPS”). Betterment’s algorithm will then recommend and build a
diversified portfolio of investment products based on this information for each of client’s financial goals and
account types. In general, Betterment’s asset allocations consist of varying proportions of fixed income and
equity asset classes selected by Betterment.
Betterment, then, manages clients’ investment portfolios on a discretionary basis, including by automatically
adjusting and rebalancing investment products back to targets based on certain “drift” parameters (although
clients can generally request rebalancing only in response to cash flows), while providing clients with ongoing
portfolio reporting. The Wrap Fee Program also offers clients tax loss harvesting and automated asset
allocation services and the option to donate appreciated securities holdings to certain qualified charities. The
value provided by these optional services will vary depending on each client’s personal circumstances.
Through the Betterment Platform, clients can adjust the IPS and aggregate outside financial account assets to
provide further input to Betterment’s discretionary management.
The Betterment Platform provides self-help tools to help clients understand their risks, access to information
related to transactions and the visibility to review account performance. Clients can impose certain permitted
and reasonable restrictions on Betterment’s ongoing management of Client’s assets. The Wrap Fee Program
provides opportunities for clients to review their accounts including access to a periodic review conducted by
the IAR assigned to their accounts, during which clients can alter their reasonable restrictions and update
certain client information. At all times, clients have sole authority to liquidate and withdraw securities and cash
from accounts, subject to the usual and customary settlement procedures, and except as otherwise be
required for payment of fees and expenses (as described below). Clients can also, at any time, transfer
additional eligible assets into accounts. SVBW initiates the closure of client accounts under a variety of
circumstances described in our advisory contract. If we do so, Betterment, in its discretion, offer clients the
ability to continue investing through Betterment’s direct-to-client offering under a new advisory contract.
SVBW can selectively terminate investment advisory agreements with respect to client accounts and not
others. As a condition of opening an account and beginning to invest through the Wrap Fee Program, clients
are generally required to enter into an investment advisory agreement with SVBW, a sub-advisory agreement
with Betterment and a brokerage and custody agreement with Betterment Securities. A client can stop
investing through the Wrap Fee Program at any time with notice to SVBW and Betterment. The clients’
agreements with Betterment, along with Betterment’s disclosure brochure, provide specific information on how
clients can terminate their advisory relationship with Betterment, along with other terms and conditions of the
engagement. Following closure of a client’s account and/or termination of a client’s advisory contract with
SVBW, a client will be solely responsible for monitoring all of the securities in an account and neither SVBW
nor Betterment will have any continuing obligation to act or offer advice with regard to those assets.
Clients should contact Betterment directly for questions regarding their sub-advisory agreement with
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Betterment or Betterment’s client disclosure documents.
Delegation of Authority
In this Wrap Fee Program, clients grant Betterment full discretion to manage their accounts without clients’
prior notice or consent. This discretionary authority is granted to Betterment pursuant to the sub-advisory
agreement with Betterment, which each client must execute as a condition of opening an account and
beginning to invest through the Wrap Fee Program. Under that agreement, Betterment is solely responsible for
placing all orders for purchases, sales, and redemptions in connection with investment of the assets in a
clients’ accounts. This discretionary authority includes, among other things, the authority to select and change
the composition of the investment products and invest and rebalance clients’ accounts consistent with their
target asset allocation under the IPS, to liquidate sufficient assets to pay Wrap Fees (as defined below) or any
costs or expenses of the Wrap Fee Program, and to carry out the actions necessary to fulfilling Betterment’s
fiduciary responsibilities under the Wrap Fee Program, in each case, without clients’ prior notice or consent.
Separately, pursuant to the SVBW investment advisory agreement, clients grant SVBW, among other things,
discretionary authority as client’s primary investment advisor and relationship contact for the Wrap Fee
Program, to add and terminate the sub- advisory relationship with Betterment and to reallocate clients’ assets
to another custodian and/or platform provider. While SVBW will in that capacity be available to answer ongoing
questions regarding the Wrap Fee Program or clients’ accounts, neither SVBW nor its IARs exercise
discretionary investment management authority over the assets held in client accounts under the Wrap Fee
Program.
Fiduciary Relationship; Impact on Other Client Agreements
Investment advisory services such as the Wrap Fee Program create a fiduciary relationship with clients under
applicable law. This means that we must act in our clients’ best interest, and carefully manage any perceived
or actual conflict of interest that arise in relation to our advisory services. Please note that although we act as
the client’s fiduciary investment adviser in providing the Wrap Fee Program to the client, this does not change
any other relationship the client has with SVBW.
Fees And Expenses
The Wrap Fee Program charges clients an all-inclusive wrap fee (the “Wrap Fee”) equal to 0.40% of the value
of the assets in a client’s account calculated on an annualized basis. Of the 0.40%, 0.25% of the Wrap Fee is
received by Betterment and 0.15% is received by SVBW. Betterment shall calculate and automatically debit
Wrap Fees from client accounts. SVBW does not charge its portion of the Wrap Fee directly to clients.
The Wrap Fee is assessed quarterly on the last business day of the quarter using the average portfolio value
of all assets of a client’s account (including cash) as of the close of each calendar day. Wrap Fee payments
will also be due immediately upon account termination and prior to a withdrawal that is equal to or greater than
98% of an account’s market value at that time less the amount of accrued but unpaid Wrap Fees due. Other
than as described above, Wrap Fees are not charged on the basis of a share of capital gains upon or capital
appreciation of a client’s account or any portion of a client’s assets. However, in certain circumstances, the
Wrap Fee Program can charge a client for special requests or other irregular services.
Betterment and/or Betterment Securities will value account assets for Wrap Fee calculation purposes in
accordance with its normal practices and procedures and will deduct the resulting Wrap Fees from client
accounts when they become due and payable. The obligation to pay Wrap Fees limit clients’ ability to sell or
otherwise liquidate securities in or to withdraw cash or securities from client accounts. It is each client’s
responsibility to verify the accuracy of Wrap Fee calculations.
There can be other negotiated fees for the provision of certain additional services provided by Betterment in
connection with the Wrap Fee Program and the Betterment Platform. Any such fees will be paid directly by
SVBW to Betterment, and clients will not separately be charged for any such fees, although the SVBW portion
of the Wrap Fee can reflect some or all of the fees paid to Betterment.
In determining the amount, if any, of incentive compensation for our IARs, we consider referrals to the Wrap
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Fee Program and the amount of Wrap Fee Program assets under management, attributed, in each case, to an
individual employee. This creates an incentive for our IARs that clients open an account and invest through the
Wrap Fee Program. (See “Client Referrals and Other Compensation” under Item 9 (Additional Information)
below.)
We do not share in any Wrap Fees earned by Betterment or receive any additional compensation from
Betterment or Betterment Securities in connection with the Wrap Fee Program. However, we and our affiliates
have other business relationships with Betterment or its affiliates that result in the receipt of other forms of
revenue. (See “Other Financial Industry Affiliations” under Item 9 (Additional Information) below.)
The Wrap Fee represents payment for the following advisory, custodial, brokerage, technology, and associated
services that SVBW and its service providers provide to you as part of the Wrap Fee Program:
identification of clients for whom the Wrap Fee Program is suitable and appropriate;
•
• services provided by Betterment, including generation of client’s IPS, discretionary account
management and maintenance of the Betterment Platform;
financial account aggregation services provided by a third-party vendor;
trading, execution and reconciliation services;
recordkeeping and performance reporting;
tax reporting; and
•
• market statistics, financial and other performance data;
• custody and clearing charges;
•
• custodial statements with account activity;
• account billing administration;
•
• periodic review of client accounts and assistance provided by SVBW IAR;
•
• other Betterment Platform technology.
We have decided to offer the Wrap Fee Program on a “wrap” fee basis because we believe it best allows us to
achieve our mission of simplifying the client’s automated investing for the client’s financial goals. For example,
the Wrap Fee provides the client with the flexibility to contribute or withdraw money or assets to or from the
client’s account and to make changes to the client’s IPS without incurring any additional fees.
Fees and expenses can have a profound impact on an investment portfolio. Clients should consider whether
the Wrap Fees are worth the services provided. The Wrap Fee can be more or less than the cost of the
services included in the Wrap Fee Program if they were provided separately or from another source. The Wrap
Fee is in addition to, and not in place of, any compensation that we receive from any other existing services
that we provide to the client outside of the Wrap Fee Program. The client may be able to obtain automated,
algorithmic investment management services that rely on an IPS similar to that used by the Wrap Fee Program
for a lower fee than the Wrap Fee. While custodial fees are generally included in the Wrap Fee, fees for special
requests or other irregular services, are charged separately and in addition to the Wrap Fee. All Wrap Fees
paid by clients are separate and distinct from the fees and expenses charged by ETFs and mutual funds.
The Wrap Fee creates an incentive for Betterment to design the asset allocation algorithms used by the Wrap
Fee Program in such a way as to limit trading in Wrap Fee Program accounts because the execution costs of
each trade will reduce the potential profit from the Wrap Fee.
Matters Related to Custody
SVBW does not have possession, or actual or constructive custody of any client assets invested through the
Wrap Fee Program. Client assets are held by Betterment Securities, a qualified custodian, under the brokerage
and custody agreement entered by clients directly. However, client assets for individual retirement accounts
(“IRAs”) are held by Millennium Trust Company, LLC (“Millennium Trust”), a self-directed IRA custodian,
pursuant to a separate custodial agreement. In either case, assets are held in clients’ names by the custodian.
If clients do not wish to place assets with Betterment Securities or Millenium Trust, then clients cannot invest
through the Wrap Fee Program.
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Since SVBW has the ability to direct Betterment Securities to debit Wrap Fees directly from client accounts
pursuant to clients’ investment advisory agreements, SVBW can be deemed by the SEC as having technical
custody solely with respect to the fees we receive as revenue. However, it is Betterment Securities, not SVBW,
which acts as custodian of client accounts and, in that capacity, has sole responsibility with respect to the
collection of income, physical acquisition and safekeeping of the assets, investments, funds and other property
held in those accounts.
At least quarterly, clients will receive account statements directly from Betterment Securities. It is important for
clients to carefully review their statements and to compare them to performance reports received from
Betterment in order to verify their accuracy. Clients should contact SVBW directly if they believe that there is
an error in any statement.
ITEM 5 - ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS AND TYPES OF CLIENTS
Account Requirements
The Wrap Fee Program was offered to new clients, typically to individuals, and certain entities with whom
SVBW or its affiliates have a preexisting business relationship. However, the Wrap Program is no longer being
offered.
ITEM 6 - PORTFOLIO MANAGER SELECTION AND EVALUATION
SVBW has advisory discretion to select the Wrap Fee Program’s sub-adviser, custodian, and other service
providers, and providing assistance to clients. SVBW has selected Betterment as the Wrap Fee Program’s sole
and exclusive sub-adviser. Betterment generates a client’s IPS based on certain Client Information, and
provides discretionary, ongoing management of client accounts based on the resulting asset allocation and
investment recommendations, subject to our oversight. Betterment also provides the Betterment Platform
through which Wrap Fee Program accounts are opened and the Wrap Fee Program is provided. We believe
that Betterment has the requisite expertise and capabilities to serve in these various capacities.
Betterment has been in business since 2010. It employs strategic asset allocation principles to invest client
assets on behalf of its direct advisory clients and third-party financial institutions (such as SVBW) with whom it
has entered into agreements to offer advisory, brokerage, custodial, consulting and/or technology services.
Those institutions provide input or exercise control over Betterment’s management of client accounts.
However, in the case of the Wrap Fee Program, neither SVBW nor its supervised persons will act as third-party
manager or otherwise exercise discretionary authority over client accounts. The performance of Wrap Fee
Program accounts would differ, potentially materially, if we were to manage or exercise control over them.
The client can obtain digital, goal-based investment advisory services from Betterment that are in many
respects similar to the Wrap Fee Program, but in certain other respects are different. While both the Wrap Fee
Program and Betterment’s direct-to-client services will rely on the same strategic asset allocation principles
and utilize Betterment Securities as broker-dealer and custodian, the fees and expenses clients will pay, along
with other terms and conditions applicable to accounts, can in fact differ substantially between those services.
As a result, the returns of those direct-to-client services can differ, potentially significantly, from the Wrap Fee
Program.
information about Betterment’s advisory
services
is available on
its website,
Additional
https://www.betterment.com, and on the SEC’s website, www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
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ITEM 7 - CLIENT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
When the client first opens a Wrap Fee Program account, the client will provide certain Client Information
through the Betterment Platform. Some of this information will be elicited through a series of questions. Based
on this information, the Betterment Platform will generate an IPS, which will be used to make ongoing
investment decisions for the client’s account. The client can review and update information anytime through the
Betterment Platform if it changes, and the Wrap Fee Program will provide the client with a formal opportunity to
do so through our designated IARs. Betterment provides certain Client Information to SVBW that clients
authorize via their sub-advisory agreement with Betterment. However, SVBW does not provide any Client
Information to Betterment regarding clients even if that information is in its possession or the possession of its
affiliates; clients must directly provide Betterment with all information to be used by the Wrap Fee Program
through the Betterment Platform.
ITEM 8 - CLIENT CONTACT WITH PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Although the algorithms that manage client accounts are overseen, monitored and updated by Betterment’s
investment advisory personnel, clients participating in the Wrap Fee Program will generally not interact directly
with such investment advisory personnel, except as otherwise noted in this Brochure. The client assistance
provided for the Wrap Fee Program is educational and information in nature only. However, the client can
contact a SVBW IAR for assistance related to the client’s account using the contact information provided on
the Betterment Platform. In addition, through the Wrap Fee Program’s periodic review process, the client can
indicate to a SVBW IAR on the client’s account if, as a result of changes to the client’s financial situation,
investment objectives or otherwise, the Wrap Fee Program should make changes to the client’s IPS. The client
can also update the client’s information through the Betterment Platform anytime the client wish, including
following the client’s review of one of the Wrap Fee Program’s periodic performance reports.
While a SVBW IAR is able to provide some assistance, the client should note that all support for the Wrap Fee
Program will generally be provided electronically through the Betterment Platform. The client also should be
aware that the Betterment Platform may not be available during market events, such as periods of significant
volatility or downturns. At all times, the client is responsible for taking action if the client wants to initiate
changes to the client’s account, including initiating its closure should the client determine that the Wrap Fee
Program no longer suits the client’s current investment needs.
ITEM 9 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Disciplinary Information
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all legal or disciplinary events that are material to a
client’s or prospective client’s evaluation of its advisory business or the integrity of its management. As of the
date of this Brochure, neither SVBW nor its management personnel have been subject to, or involved in, any
legal or disciplinary events required to be disclosed in this Brochure.
Other Financial Industry Affiliations
SVBW is owned by First Citizens Bank & Trust and is under common ownership with the following entities:
• CIT Capital Securities LLC., a Broker/Dealer
• CIT Asset Management, a Registered Investment Adviser
• SVB Asset Management, a Registered Investment Adviser
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• First Citizens Asset Management, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser
• First Citizens Investor Services Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Registered Investment Adviser and Insurance
Agency
• Neuse Title Services, an Insurance Agency
investment adviser representatives of SVBW are also broker-dealer registered
Some, but not all,
representatives of FCIS and/or insurance agents. The IAR providing advice may implement recommendations
as a registered investment adviser, registered representative, or insurance agent when appropriately
registered or licensed to do so. When the IAR implements the recommendations, SVBW and the IAR receive
compensation for advice implemented as a registered investment adviser, registered representative, or
insurance agent. Each role has a different duty to the client, for example, individuals acting as registered
investment advisers have a fiduciary duty to their clients, while registered representatives and insurance
agents must comply with the suitability requirements and regulation Best Interest standards. An inherent
conflict of interest exists for IARs who are dually registered and insurance licensed.
representatives of FCIS,
an affiliated registered
broker-dealer
and
we will use Pershing as
our qualified
custodian through FCIS,
an
affiliated
In addition to being registered and/or licensed with SVBW, IARs, management, and support staff can also be r
egistered
investment adviser
under common control with SVBW. When an IAR is dually registered he/she can sell securities on a
commission basis. An IAR may suggest that a client implement investment advice by purchasing products
through a commission-based brokerage account in addition to or in lieu of a fee-based advisory account. This
receipt of commissions creates an incentive to recommend those products for which an IAR will receive a
commission in his or her separate capacity as a registered representative of a securities broker-dealer.
Consequently, the objectivity of the advice rendered could be biased. Additionally, when you open a brokerage
account,
broker-
dealer who introduces its transactions to Pershing as its clearing firm. Therefore, when you open brokerage
account, FCIS as an affiliated broker-dealer derives economic benefit by keeping assets on the shared
platform, which creates a conflict of interest.
Clients are under no obligation to use the services of the IAR in this separate capacity.
In appropriate instances, IARs recommend First Citizens Asset Management (“FCAM) to serves as an
affiliated Third-Party Manager on certain model portfolios available to SVBW clients. In that regard, FCAM has
an arrangement with FCAM for the provision of FCAM model portfolios. This creates a conflict of interest
because these affiliated parties have an economic incentive to retain each other. Clients are under no
obligation to utilize FCAM, our affiliated sub-adviser.
When an IAR is licensed as an insurance agent, the IAR may sell, general disability insurance, life insurance,
annuities, and other insurance products to clients. Neither SVBW nor its IARs will receive any commissions or
additional income related to the sale of any insurance products.
Upon specific client request, IARs may introduce clients to personnel of First Citizens to discuss bank products
and other services. Such introductions are not part of the investment advisory services SVBW provides to its
clients. SVBW IARs and their management personnel receive a subjective annual bonus at the discretion of
their supervisors but not directly related to the sales of specific products/services. First Citizens may also
invest in or otherwise have an ownership interest in certain SVBW clients. Due to SVBW’s relationship with
First Citizens, SVBW has an indirect financial interest in making such introductions and fostering relationships
between First Citizens and its clients.1
In appropriate circumstances, SVBW will recommend that a client roll over an account held in a former
employer’s retirement plan or an outside IRA to an IRA managed by SVBW. If the client elects an IRA rollover
or transfer subject to SVBW’s management, the account will be subject to SVBW’s Fee per the Client
1 First Citizens also provides a variety of support services to SVBW, including human resources, information technology,
facilities, finance, legal, and administrative support. SVBW does not believe such support services create a material
conflict of interest with clients.
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Agreement. IAR’s recommendation to roll over retirement plan or IRA assets into an IRA managed by SVBW
presents a conflict of interest because such a recommendation creates an incentive to recommend the rollover
for the purpose of generating additional compensation rather than solely based on the client’s needs. When
SVBW provides investment advice or recommendations to a client regarding their retirement plan assets, IRA
account or rollover IRA, SVBW is acting as an investment advice fiduciary within the meaning of Title I of
ERISA. Further, when SVBW recommends a rollover or transfer to an IRA, the client is never under any
obligation to complete a rollover or transfer or to have the rollover IRA assets managed by SVBW.
Betterment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Betterment Holdings, Inc., which is also the parent company of
Betterment Securities. Neither Betterment nor Betterment Securities are affiliates of SVBW. However,
Betterment and/or one or more of its affiliates is currently a First CB client, and from time to time have other
financial relationships with First Citizens Bank or its affiliates. Because of its ownership by First Citizens Bank,
these relationships present a conflict of interest by creating an incentive for SVBW to recommend that clients
invest through the Wrap Fee Program, so as to induce Betterment to maintain (or expand) its relationship with
First Citizens Bank or its affiliates. This conflict is mitigated by the fact that SVBW personnel are not
compensated based on the amount of banking or related business generated by Betterment and the use of
objective eligibility criteria to determine if and when a client can be referred by SVBW to the Wrap Fee
Program. Even so, prospective clients should be aware of the relationship between Betterment and First
Citizens Bank and the conflicts this presents and should take this into consideration in making an independent
determination of whether the Wrap Fee Program is a suitable and appropriate solution for their investment
needs. Betterment Securities, a registered broker-dealer, member of the Securities Investor Protection
Corporation and affiliate of Betterment Securities serves as broker-dealer to the Wrap Fee Program, causing
the execution of securities transactions upon instruction by Betterment through Apex Clearing Corporation
(“Apex”), which Betterment Securities has entered into clearing and settlement agreements. As a result, the
Wrap Fee Program is subject to the trading policies and procedures established by Betterment Securities and
Apex. These trading policies are described in detail in the Betterment Wrap Fee Brochure, in particular, the
client should understand and consider that the appointment of Betterment Securities by Betterment as the sole
broker for the client’s account under the Wrap Fee Program can result in disadvantages to the client as a
possible result of less favorable trade executions than can be available through the use of a different broker-
dealer. In addition, the client should be aware that the Wrap Fee Program can use margin borrowing on an
interim basis, as provided in the Betterment Securities’ brokerage and custody agreement.
Betterment makes available to SVBW various support services that may not be available to Betterment’s
direct-to- client (i.e., retail) customers. Some of those services help us manage or administer our Wrap Fee
Program clients’ accounts, while others help us manage and grow our business. Betterment’s support services
are generally available on an unsolicited basis, meaning we do not have to request them, and at no charge to
us. The following is a more detailed description of Betterment’s support services.
SVBW mitigates the above disclosed conflicts of interest by disclosing them to you, training of the IARs, review
of transactions, and oversight of advisory services by management and compliance.
Neither SVBW nor any of its management persons are registered, or have an application pending to register,
as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, or a commodity trading advisor.
Code of Ethics
SVBW has adopted an Investment Adviser Code of Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) in accordance with Rule
204A-1 of the Advisers Act. The Code of Ethics applies to those SVBW personnel engaged in offering and/or
providing investment advisory services to clients (also known as supervised persons). Among other things, the
Code of Ethics requires supervised persons to comply with applicable securities laws, exhibit high ethical
standards and place clients’ interests first in accordance with SVBW’s fiduciary duty to its clients. Supervised
persons who fail to observe the Code of Ethics and related policies and procedures risk serious sanctions,
including dismissal.
The Code of Ethics also sets forth SVBW’s policies and procedures regarding personal securities transactions.
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These policies and procedures are designed to identify and prevent or mitigate actual or perceived conflicts of
interest and to address such conflicts appropriately if they do occur. Compliance is responsible for reviewing
such employee reports.
In certain instances, SVBW employees may invest in the same securities that SVBW recommends to its
clients. Such transactions are reviewed on a post-trade basis and if such transactions are permitted, it is
because SVBW believes that such transactions do not present a conflict of interest considering the markets
and liquidity for the securities traded.
The Code of Ethics also provides that supervised persons may not serve on the board of directors of any
public company, including mutual fund boards of trustees, without prior approval. Employees must obtain prior
written permission to serve as a trustee on a client account other than the account of a family member or to
serve as a trustee or a board member for any charity or not-for-profit entity. Our employees do, in fact, serve in
these capacities on various charitable, civic and community boards. If such service is approved, it is because
we have determined it does not create any conflict of interest.
SVBW does not buy securities from, or sell securities to, its clients (i.e., SVBW does not engage in “principal
transactions” with its clients). SVBW is not a registered broker-dealer and does not engage in “agency cross”
trades between clients.
SVBW will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics free of charge to any client or prospective client upon request.
Review of Accounts
As noted above, Betterment requests that clients review their accounts at least quarterly, while on a periodic
basis, clients are invited to have their account and the associated performance reports reviewed by a SVBW
IAR. Those reviews will evaluate the portfolio for consistency with the prevailing investment objectives and
restrictions, and with the account’s IPS. Outside of these reviews, clients can review and update Client
Information through the Betterment Platform, including any reasonable and permitted restrictions placed on
client accounts, at any time clients consider appropriate, and can contact a SVBW IAR with any such review or
update. Clients are encouraged to review their accounts if there are changes in their financial situation, large
withdrawals or significant deposits or changes in the IPS.
The Betterment Platform includes investment tools that are designed to help clients to better understand their
holdings and performance information. Pursuant to the terms of clients’ sub-advisory agreement with
Betterment, the Wrap Fee Program will also make available to clients periodic reports that detail account
holdings, transactions and performance, market commentary and tax reporting information. As a condition of
participating in the Wrap Fee Program, clients must consent to receive all such reports, account statements
and other communications electronically, either through the Betterment website or by e-mail. SVBW will
generally not provide reports to clients in connection with the Wrap Fee Program.
Betterment continuously reviews clients’ accounts to ensure they conform to clients’ IPS; however, individual
accounts are generally not actively monitored directly by investment advisory personnel. For more information
about Betterment’s review process and the impact on account adjustment and rebalancing, please refer to the
Betterment Wrap Fee Brochure.
Client Referrals and Other Compensation
First Citizens Bank refers clients to SVBW and vice-versa. SVBW ensures that its services are suitable for
clients referred to it by First Citizens Bank. Although SVBW believes that clients value the opportunity to have
access to First Citizens Bank’s products and services, such referrals nevertheless present a conflict of interest
because SVBW IARs have a direct financial incentive to refer clients to First Citizens Bank for such banking
products and services. That is, IARs receive indirect compensation for referring clients to First Citizens Bank
for banking, lending, and deposit products which is calculated and paid strictly from internal sources. In no
circumstance does a client pay additional fees or expenses beyond the customary charges for the services
chosen. When warranted by the totality of the client relationship, a client sometimes receives more favorable
rates for the banking products/services purchased. In addition to making referrals to First Citizens Bank, IARs
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are eligible for additional compensation based on other factors as well, including, but not limited to, achieving
certain levels of production, sourcing new First Citizens Bank relationships, and training new advisors.
SVBW mitigates the conflicts of interest that may arise from intra-company referrals with transparency, client
consent, by disclosing them to you, client consent, applying the Best Interest standard, providing alternative
options, training of the IARs, review of transactions, and oversight of advisory services by management and
compliance.
Separately, as noted in the section entitled “Fees and Compensation” within Item 4 (Services, Fees and
Compensation) above, we offer more favorable Wrap Fee arrangements, including reduced or waived fees for
certain clients. These arrangements create a conflict of interest for a client to maintain a certain advisory
account balance or continue to invest through the Wrap Fee Program altogether, if doing so would maintain
eligibility to qualify for a preferential fee arrangement.
Please refer to the section entitled “Betterment and Betterment Securities” above for disclosures on research
and other benefits we can receive as a result of our relationship with Betterment in connection with the Wrap
Fee Program.
Financial Information
SVBW is not required to include a balance sheet in this Brochure because SVBW does not require or solicit
prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per client, six months or more in advance. discretionary Account(s).
SVBW is not aware of any financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to meet its contractual
commitments to its clients.
SVBW has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at any time during the past ten years.
Wrap Fee Program Risk Factors and Related Considerations
While the Wrap Fee Program attempts to optimize investment returns for clients’ risk tolerance, SVBW makes
no representation or warranty that the Wrap Fee Program’s investment decisions will be successful and result
in profitable investing. Investing in securities involves risk of loss that the client should understand and be
prepared to bear. Further, the automated and algorithmic nature of the Wrap Fee Program and reliance on the
Betterment Platform present certain additional risks.
Investment performance can never be predicted or guaranteed, and the value of client accounts can fluctuate,
potentially significantly, due to market conditions and other factors. Past performance is no guarantee of future
results, and any historical returns, expected returns or probability projections provided by the Wrap Fee
Program do not reflect the actual future performance of client accounts. When evaluating investment risk,
financial loss can be viewed differently by each client and can depend on many different risk items, each of
which can affect the probability of adverse consequences and the magnitude of any potential losses. The
following risks are not all-inclusive, but the client should carefully consider them before opening a Wrap Fee
Program account and beginning to invest. They should be considered as possibilities, with additional regard to
their actual probability of occurring and the effect on the client if there is in fact an occurrence. Moreover, to the
extent the Wrap Fee Program changes over time, the client can be subject to additional and different risk
factors than those specified here.
Inherent Limitations of Wrap Fee Program. While the Wrap Fee Program has been designed to be broadly
applicable to many clients, it cannot be appropriate for all clients The Wrap Fee Program does not provide
exposure to alternative asset classes, nor does it pursue esoteric investment strategies using derivatives and
other financial instruments. Also, because the Wrap Fee Program is an online advisory service, it is not
appropriate if clients have limited or no access to technology.
Not Necessarily a Complete Investment Program. The Wrap Fee Program does not provide comprehensive
financial planning or tax advice. There can be additional relevant information or other financial circumstances
that the Wrap Fee Program does not consider (e.g., a client’s debt load or other financial obligations) that could
inform its advice if it were provided, even if that information is otherwise available to SVBW.
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Use of Algorithms. The Wrap Fee Program’s IPS and ongoing investment decisions are generated entirely by
proprietary algorithms developed, overseen, and monitored by Betterment’s investment advisory personnel.
Algorithms are automated systems and will only be customized by Betterment within their limitations. In
particular, algorithms rely on assumptions, including economic and transaction cost assumptions, that are
incorrect, that do not apply to clients’ specific financial situation or that do not change even as market
expectations shift, causing the resulting investment decisions to be flawed. Algorithms consider limited
investment options, to the exclusion of other investment types, including entire asset classes, and generally
pursue investment strategies that significantly emphasize passive investment products that are intended to
mirror the performance of the broader markets.
Accurate Performance of Algorithms. The Wrap Fee Program is highly reliant on the accurate operation of
Betterment’s algorithms and their underlying technology. A malfunction or failure in either can cause clients to
experience investment losses, some or all of which can be significant. Additionally, the algorithms employ a
number of quantitative models that involve assumptions based upon a limited number of variables that are
extracted from complex financial markets or instruments that they are intended to replicate. Any one or all of
these assumptions, whether supported by past experience, can prove over time to be incorrect, which can
result in significant losses to clients.
Modification of Wrap Fee Program and/or Betterment Platform. Betterment enhances or otherwise modifies the
algorithms or other elements of the Wrap Fee Program and/or the Betterment Platform at any time. These
changes, at times, have a material impact on the algorithms and/or the analysis and advice provided through
the Wrap Fee Program. While these changes are intended to improve or enhance the performance, reliability
or usefulness of one or more of the Wrap Fee Program or the Betterment Platform, there can be no guarantee
that such changes will result in the desired improvement or enhancement. In some cases, these
enhancements or modifications cause unforeseen consequences with the provision of the Wrap Fee Program
that can be detrimental to clients. Use of the Wrap Fee Program and the Betterment Platform is subject to such
risks.
Reliance on Data. The Wrap Fee Program is highly reliant on data from third-party and other external sources.
Betterment exercises discretion in determining what data to gather to implement the Wrap Fee Program’s
investment strategies. Due to the automated nature of such data gathering and the fact that much of this data
comes from third-party sources, not all desired and/or relevant data will be available to, or processed by, the
Wrap Fee Program at all times. There is no guarantee that any specific data or type of data will be utilized by
the Wrap Fee Program, nor is there any guarantee that the data actually utilized by the Wrap Fee Program will
be the most accurate data available or free of errors or contamination.
Tax Risks. Certain investments or investment strategies that the Wrap Fee Program deploys can result in
negative tax consequences, can involve tax treatment that is not clear or be subject to recharacterization by
the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). The Wrap Fee Program does not provide tax advice, and all clients
are advised to consult with their tax, accounting and legal advisors in this regard. In particular, tax loss
harvesting. and automated asset allocation services implemented by the Wrap Fee Program should not be
interpreted as tax advice, and no representation is made that the related discretionary investment decisions of
the Wrap Fee Program will result in any particular tax consequences for clients. The tax consequences of tax
loss harvesting, and related strategies are complex and can be challenged by the IRS, and investment
decisions associated with those strategies do not perform as expected. The Wrap Fee Program was not
developed to be used by, and it cannot be used by, clients to avoid tax penalties or interest.
Periodic Review; Negative Consent. The Wrap Fee Program relies on a periodic review conducted by SVBW
IARs to confirm that a client’s IPS or other information has not materially changed and that clients do not wish
to add or alter permitted restrictions on their accounts. If clients do not respond to IARs within the specified
period and/or supply updated information, the IARs will assume, under the principle of negative consent, that
there are no changes to the IPS and/or other Client Information and that, as a result, no changes to the
management of clients’ accounts should be made by the Wrap Fee Program.
Account Withdrawals. Client withdrawals from accounts can cause the Wrap Fee Program to execute trades at
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then- prevailing market prices or prevent the Wrap Fee Program from executing other trades intended to
rebalance clients’ investment portfolios. This can cause clients’ current asset allocation to deviate from the
Wrap Fee Program’s target asset allocation, result in taxable gains or losses and undermine clients’ progress
towards their goals.
Account Rebalancing. When clients deposit to or withdraw money from their accounts, they are requesting that
the Wrap Fee Program execute securities transactions within their account, in an amount that corresponds to
the target asset allocation prescribed by their IPS. Similarly, when clients make changes to their IPS, the Wrap
Fee Program will buy and sell securities to reach the desired target asset allocation. These transactions result
in tax consequences for clients. In addition, dividend and other income generated by securities held in clients’
accounts will automatically be used by the Wrap Fee Program to rebalance the account and will not
necessarily be reinvested in those same securities.
Market Risk. The price of a security, bond, or mutual fund may drop in reaction to tangible and intangible
events and conditions. This type of risk is caused by external factors independent of a security's particular
underlying circumstances. For example, global, political, economic, and social conditions may trigger market
events. Either the stock market as a whole or the value of an individual company could decrease in the value,
resulting in a decrease in value of the investments, also referred to as systematic risk.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk. High volatility and/or the lack of deep and active liquid markets for a security can
prevent the Wrap Fee Program from placing trades for clients at all, or at advantageous times or prices. Some
securities (including ETFs, as described below) that hold, or trade derivatives and other financial instruments
can be adversely affected by liquidity issues as they manage their portfolios. While the Wrap Fee Program
values the securities held in clients’ accounts based on reasonably available exchange-traded data, it can from
time to time receive or rely on inaccurate or erroneous data, which can adversely affect security valuations,
transaction sizes for purchases or sales and/or the resulting Wrap Fees paid by Client. Clients may not be able
to sell securities in a timely manner or at a desired price, or because of a lack of demand or a lack of market.
ETF and Mutual Fund Risk. The Wrap Fee Program’s investments will predominantly include ETFs but can
also include mutual fund shares or other index- and non-index-related securities. These investment products
are subject to the risk that they cannot effectively achieve the performance of the index, industry or other
market they are intended to track, if they do intend to achieve such tracking.
Securities Investment Risks. All securities and other account investments carry some level of risk, including the
risk that clients can lose their entire investment. Prices of securities can be volatile and a variety of risks,
including market, currency, economic, political, technological, regulatory, social and business risks, can
adversely affect the value of and return on any account investments.
Company and Industry Risk. When purchasing stock positions, there is always a certain level of company or
industry-specific risk that is inherent in each investment and can be reduced through appropriate
diversification. There is the risk that the company will perform poorly or have its value reduced based on
factors specific to the company or its industry. For example, if a company’s employees go on strike or the
company receives unfavorable media attention for its actions, the value of the company may be reduced.
Fixed Income Risk. Generally, the value of fixed income securities will change inversely with changes in
interest rates. As interest rates rise, the market value of such securities tends to decrease. Conversely, as
interest rates fall, the market value of such securities tends to increase. This risk will typically be greater for
securities based on longer-term interest rates than for securities based on shorter-term interest rates. Fixed
income securities can experience a decline in income when interest rates decrease. During periods of falling
interest rates, an issuer can repay principal prior to the security’s maturity (i.e., prepayment), causing the
vehicle to have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield, resulting in a decline in the vehicle’s income.
Additionally, fixed income securities are subject to liquidity risk, whereby a security is difficult to purchase or
sell or becomes difficult to sell after being purchased. This risk has been especially pronounced in recent times
due to disruptions in the global debt markets and is elevated for high-yield fixed income securities (sometimes
called “junk” bonds).
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Non-U.S. Securities. International investments involve special risks not typically associated with trading in
investments relating to markets and/or issuers solely in the U.S. Depending on the particular countries and
investments involved and on the nature of the particular transactions executed outside of the U.S., these
special risks include: changes in exchange rates and exchange control regulations; downgrades in sovereign
credit ratings; devaluations or non- convertibility of non-U.S. currencies; failures or disruptions in central banks,
banking systems, markets or financial exchanges; changes in monetary policies, interest rates or interest rate
policies; political, social and economic instability; adverse diplomatic developments; investment and
repatriation restrictions; the nationalization and/or expropriation of assets; government intervention in the
private sector; default by public and private issuers on their financial obligations (and limited recourse in
connection with such defaults); the imposition of non-U.S. taxes; discrimination against foreign investors; less
liquid markets; less information; higher transaction costs; less information regarding legal and regulatory risks;
less uniform accounting and auditing standards; greater price volatility; less reliable clearance and settlement
procedures; and/or less government supervision of exchanges, brokers, market intermediaries, issuers and
other markets and market participants, than is generally the case in the U.S.
Commodities. Commodity-linked securities (i.e., commodity- based ETFs) are adversely affected by changes
in the underlying commodity value, supply and demand and governmental regulatory policies, in addition to
overall market movements, taxation, terrorism, nationalization or expropriation, commodity index volatility,
changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.
Trade Timing. The Wrap Fee Program will determine the timing of purchases and sales of securities for clients’
accounts in accordance with its internal trading policies and procedures, which include procedures for
mitigating potential market risk. For various reasons, including market volatility, peak demand or systems
upgrades or maintenance, there can be delays in the amount of time it takes trades to be processed and
executed. Changes in trade timing can reduce, perhaps materially, the profit clients gain from the transaction
or can cause a material loss.
Management Risk. Each client portfolio is subject to management risk. This includes the risk that the Wrap Fee
Program can make investment decisions that result in losses to client portfolios. For example, in some cases,
certain investments are unavailable, or certain investments are not selected or sold prematurely because of
market conditions or other reason, when, in retrospect, those investments could have been beneficial to the
portfolio.
Regulatory Change Risk. It is possible that changes in applicable laws and regulations will affect the Wrap Fee
Program. These changes include; changes in investment adviser, broker-dealer or securities trading
regulation; a change in the U.S. government’s guarantee of ultimate payment of principal and interest on
certain government securities; and changes in the tax code that can affect interest income, income
characterization and/or tax reporting obligations. The consequences of such changes on the liquidity and the
efficient and orderly functioning of the markets in which client accounts invest cannot be predicted and can
materially diminish the profitability of account investments.
Reliance on Betterment and Betterment Securities. SVBW relies on Betterment and Betterment Securities for
provision of the Wrap Fee Program and the Betterment Platform, ongoing account management and
brokerage, custodial and technology services in connection with the Wrap Fee Program. Although SVBW
generally believes that Betterment and Betterment Securities are reliable, there can be errors that are beyond
SVBW ‘s control in the services they provide, and these errors can compromise the quality and integrity of the
Wrap Fee Program and the Betterment Platform. Moreover, the sub-advisory agreement between SVBW and
Betterment and Betterment Securities can be terminated for any reason or no reason at all with limited
advance notice. Additionally, Betterment and Betterment Securities can experience operational disruptions due
to unforeseen circumstances such as political events, natural disasters, or technological developments. In all of
these instances, SVBW’s offering of the Wrap Fee Program can be materially compromised.
Reliance on Technology. The Wrap Fee Program is dependent upon various computer and Internet-based
technologies, many of which are provided by or are dependent on third parties such as data feed, data center,
telecommunications, or utility providers. The successful operation of the Wrap Fee Program, and the
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in particular, can be severely compromised by system or component
failure,
Betterment Platform
telecommunication failure, power loss, a software-related system crash, unauthorized system access or use
(such as “hacking”), computer viruses, malware, worms and similar programs, fire or water damage, human
errors in using or accessing relevant systems or various other events or circumstances. It is not possible to
provide comprehensive protection against all such events, and no assurance can be given about the ability of
applicable third parties to continue providing their services. Any event that interrupts such computer and/or
telecommunication systems or operations can have a material adverse effect on the Wrap Fee Program for an
indefinite time period, including by preventing the Wrap Fee Program from trading, modifying, liquidating and/or
monitoring clients’ investments. Such a material adverse effect can have a heightened impact on clients’
accounts given the automated and algorithmic nature of the Wrap Fee Program.
Cybersecurity Risk. SVWB and Betterment are subject to cybersecurity risks, which could result in financial
losses to clients, the inability to access the Betterment Platform, and/or violations of applicable privacy and
other laws that adversely affect clients.
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