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Moller Wealth Partners
One Northfield Plaza, Suite 200
Northfield, Illinois 60093
847-441-7575
www.mollerwealthpartners.com
March 2025
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of
Moller Wealth Partners. If you have any questions about the contents of this Brochure,
please contact us at 847-441-7575 or info@mollerwealth.com. The information in this
Brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission or by any state securities authority.
Moller Wealth Partners is a registered investment adviser. Registration of an Investment
Adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. The oral and written communications
of an Adviser provide you with information about which you determine to hire or retain an
Adviser.
Additional information about Moller Wealth Partners also is available on the SEC’s website
at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Click on the “Investment Adviser Search” link and then search
for “Investment Adviser Firm” using the firm’s IARD number, which is 110493.
Moller Wealth Partners
Material Changes
Types of Advisory Services
There have been the following material changes since the last annual update to the firm’s
brochure (January 2024):
John Moller has retired from Moller Wealth Partners as of August 1, 2024. Also, as of June 5,
2024, John Moller no longer holds any ownership in the company.
Moller Wealth Partners
Table of Contents
Moller Wealth Partners ............................................................................................................................. i
Material Changes ........................................................................................................................................ ii
Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... iii
Advisory Business ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Fees and Compensation .......................................................................................................................... 3
Performance-Based Fees ........................................................................................................................ 4
Types of Clients .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ................................................ 5
Disciplinary Information ........................................................................................................................ 5
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ................................................................... 6
Code of Ethics .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Brokerage Practices .................................................................................................................................. 6
Review of Accounts ................................................................................................................................... 9
Client Referrals and Other Compensation .................................................................................... 10
Custody ......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Investment Discretion ........................................................................................................................... 11
Voting Client Securities ......................................................................................................................... 12
Financial Information ............................................................................................................................ 12
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Moller Wealth Partners
Advisory Business
Firm Description
Moller Wealth Partners fka Moller Financial Services was founded in 1991 by John (Jack)
Moller. The company employs six people including two CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
professionals – Nate Eads, CFP®, and Brian Fritzsche, CFP®, CFA. The firm is owned by Nate
Eads, Faith Charles, and Brian Fritzsche. The firm is federally registered with the SEC
(Securities and Exchange Commission) as a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration
does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Moller Wealth Partners offers personal financial planning and investment management
services to individuals, families, and trusts. We work with clients to define financial
objectives and to develop strategies for reaching those objectives. Areas of focus may
include:
•
Investment management
• Tax planning
• Charitable giving
• Estate planning
• Education funding
• Retirement planning
•
Insurance risk review
• Special needs planning
• Other issues important to the client
Types of Advisory Services
Our services begin with a personalized financial plan including strategies and
recommendations to achieve the client’s objectives.
Financial Plan
•
Identify and quantify important financial objectives
• Recommend investment strategy to achieve objectives
•
Suggest actions to reduce income and estate taxes
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• Review estate documents and net worth for changes or updates to consider
• Determine need for life, disability, and long-term care insurance
• Address additional items identified by the client
After reviewing and discussing the financial plan, the client and Moller Wealth Partners
may begin a client – advisor relationship. Moller Wealth Partners will work in partnership
with the client to implement the recommendations, manage the investments, and monitor
the plan. Moller Wealth Partners offers two types of advisor services.
Comprehensive Wealth Management
•
Investment management
• Quarterly reports
• Quarterly review of financial plan
Asset Management
•
Investment management
• Quarterly reports
• Biennial review of financial goals (every other year)
See the Review of Accounts section for more details on our management process.
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or
individual retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable,
which are laws governing retirement accounts. The way we make money creates some
conflicts with your interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in
your best interest and not put our interests ahead of yours.
Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
• Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations
(give prudent advice);
• Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations
(give loyal advice);
• Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
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• Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in
your best interest;
• Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
Managed Assets
Moller Wealth Partners manages $649,551,643 of client assets on a discretionary basis and
$938,870 on a non-discretionary basis as of December 31, 2024. Discretion refers to an
investment manager’s ability to decide which securities to purchase and sell for their client.
Fees and Compensation
Compensation Schedule
Moller Wealth Partners is a fee-only advisory firm. Clients pay the company directly for
financial advice and services. Moller Wealth Partners does not accept commissions or
compensation from third parties. Below is a schedule of fees for our services. All fees are
billed quarterly, in arrears.
The annual fee for investment management services provided are based upon a percentage
(%) of the market value of the Assets under management in accordance with the fee
schedule in the Agreement signed by the Client. Moller Wealth Partners considers cash to
be an asset class and part of Assets under management and subject to the same fee
calculation as the Client’s non-cash investments.
Financial Plan
• $2,000
Investment Management
• 1.00% per annum of first $1,000,000 of assets;
• 0.50% per annum of next $4,000,000 of assets;
• 0.35% per annum on all assets above $5,000,000
Minimum Fee (Quarterly)
• Comprehensive Wealth Management: $2,000
• Asset Management: $750
Moller Wealth Partners may make other service and fee arrangements at our discretion.
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Moller Wealth Partners
Billing
Clients may pay by check or authorize Moller Wealth Partners to directly debit their
Schwab account. The invoice amount is based on the account value at the end of each
calendar quarter. If you begin or end management services during a calendar quarter, we
will charge a prorated fee.
Billing Other Costs
The client may incur expenses in addition to Moller Wealth Partners’ fees including:
• mutual fund and exchange traded fund expenses
•
brokerage commissions
•
transaction fees
•
custodial fees
• wire transfer and electronic fund fees
•
taxes
Moller Wealth Partners does not receive any portion of these expenses.
The Brokerage Practices section describes the factors that Moller Wealth Partners
considers in selecting broker-dealers, such as Charles Schwab, for client transactions and
determining the reasonableness of their expenses.
Clients are also responsible for compensation paid to attorneys, accountants, agents, and
brokers whom they choose to implement legal, tax, or insurance parts of their plan.
Performance-Based Fees
Moller Wealth Partners does not charge performance-based fees (fees based on a share of
capital gains or on capital appreciation).
Types of Clients
Moller Wealth Partners generally provides investment advice to individuals, families, and
trusts. Client relationships vary in scope and length of service. We do not impose a
minimum dollar value of assets or other conditions for opening or maintaining an account,
but do have a minimum quarterly fee (see Fees and Compensation section).
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Moller Wealth Partners
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Investment Strategy
Moller Wealth Partners considers a client’s financial resources, objectives, and tax situation
when developing and managing an investment strategy. We discuss the recommended
strategy with the client during the Financial Plan meeting and provide updates with our
quarterly reports.
We generally use low-cost mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The
investments we select may be limited to available choices within a client’s retirement plan.
We use these funds to invest in stock, bond and commodity asset classes, domestic and
international regions, and business sectors.
Moller Wealth Partners uses the following investment strategy. We may manage a client’s
portfolio with a single approach or a combination of multiple strategies.
1. Strategic Asset Allocation allocates a targeted percentage to asset classes such as
stocks, bonds, and cash. We regularly monitor the portfolio for opportunities to
rebalance. When an asset class declines in price relative to the portfolio, we purchase
more shares. When an asset class increases in value, we sell some shares. By
maintaining a fully invested asset allocation, we are able to diversify and keep
transaction costs low. However, the portfolio may experience declines similar to that
of the stock market.
Method of Analysis
Moller Wealth Partners analyzes different characteristics when selecting investments
including: asset class, cost, performance, strategy, and size. The main sources of
information include Morningstar, investment companies, fund prospectuses, financial
publications, websites, and research materials prepared by others. Employees of Moller
Wealth Partners also attend conferences and visit with investment company personnel.
Certain investments apply fundamental analysis. These mutual funds and ETFs use
financial information such as sales, cash flow, dividends, and buybacks to determine how
much to invest in a company.
Risk of Loss
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear.
Disciplinary Information
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any
legal or disciplinary events that would be material to your evaluation of the firm or the
integrity of management. Moller Wealth Partners has no applicable events to report.
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Moller Wealth Partners
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Activities
Moller Wealth Partners does not participate in any other industry business activities.
Affiliations
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose material affiliations or
arrangements that may create a conflict of interest for clients. Moller Wealth Partners has
no relationships to report.
Code of Ethics
Policy
The employees of Moller Wealth Partners have committed to a Code of Ethics. The Code of
Ethics includes provisions relating to:
• Confidentiality of client information
• Personal security transactions
•
Insider trading
• Gifts and entertainment
• Whistleblower protection
The firm will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics to any client or prospective client upon
request.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Moller Wealth Partners’ employees may at times buy or sell securities that are also owned
by clients. Employees may not prioritize their own trades ahead of client trades.
The Chief Compliance Officer is Faith Charles. Faith reviews all employee trades each
quarter. Her personal trades are reviewed by Nate Eads, President. The personal trading
reviews ensure that the personal trading of employees was not based on inside information
and not to the detriment of clients. The employee trades are not of a significant enough
value to affect the securities markets.
Brokerage Practices
The Custodian and Brokers We Use
Moller Wealth Partners does not maintain custody of your assets that we manage, although
we may be deemed to have custody of your assets if you give us authority to withdraw
assets from your account (see Custody, below). Your assets must be maintained in an
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account at a “qualified custodian”. We recommend that clients use Charles Schwab & Co.,
Inc. (Schwab), a registered broker-dealer, member SIPC, as the qualified custodian. Moller
Wealth Partners is independently owned and operated and is not affiliated with Schwab.
Schwab holds your assets in a brokerage account and buys and sells securities when we
instruct them to. While we recommend that you use Schwab as custodian, you will decide
whether to do so and will open your account with Schwab by entering into an account
agreement directly with them. We do not open the account for you, although, we may assist
you in doing so. Even though Schwab maintains your account, we can still use other
brokers to execute trades for your account.
How We Select Brokers/Custodians
We seek to use a custodian/broker that will hold your assets and execute transactions on
terms that are, overall, most advantageous when compared with other available providers
and their services. We consider a wide range of factors, including:
• Capability to buy and sell securities for your account
• Capability to facilitate transfers and payments
• Breadth of available investment products
• Quality of services
• Competitiveness of the price of those services
• Reputation, financial strength, and stability
• Prior service to us and our clients
• Availability of other products and services
Your Brokerage and Custody Costs
For our clients’ accounts that Schwab maintains, Schwab generally does not charge you
separately for custody services but is compensated by charging you commissions or other
fees on trades that it executes or that settle into your Schwab account. In addition to
commissions, Schwab charges you a flat dollar amount as a “prime broker” or “trade away”
fee for each trade that we have executed by a different broker-dealer but where the
securities bought or the funds from the securities sold are deposited (settled) into your
Schwab account. These fees are in addition to the commissions or other compensation you
pay the executing broker-dealer. Because of this, in order to minimize your trading costs,
we have Schwab execute most trades for your account. We have determined that having
Schwab execute most trades is consistent with our duty to seek “best execution” of your
trades. Best execution means the most favorable terms for a transaction based on all
relevant factors, including those listed above (see “How we select brokers/custodians”).
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Moller Wealth Partners
Products and Services Available to Us from Schwab
Schwab Advisor Services™ serves independent investment advisory firms like Moller
Wealth Partners. Schwab Advisor Services provides us and our clients with access to its
institutional brokerage services— trading, custody, reporting, and related services—many
of which are not typically available to Schwab retail customers. Schwab also makes available
various support services. Some of those services help us manage or administer our clients’
accounts, while others help us manage and grow our business. Schwab’s support services
described below are generally available on an unsolicited basis (we don’t have to request
them) and at no charge to us. The availability to us of Schwab’s products and services is not
based on us giving particular investment advice, such as buying particular securities for our
clients. Following is a more detailed description of Schwab’s support services:
Services That Benefit You
Schwab’s institutional brokerage services include access to a broad range of investment
products, execution of securities transactions, and custody of client assets. The investment
products available through Schwab include some to which we might not otherwise have
access or that would require a significantly higher minimum initial investment by our
clients. Schwab’s services described in this paragraph generally benefit you and your
account.
Services That May Not Directly Benefit You
Schwab also makes available to us other products and services that benefit us but may not
directly benefit you or your account. These products and services assist us in managing and
administering our clients’ accounts. They include investment research, both Schwab’s own
and that of third parties. We may use this research to service all or a substantial number of
our clients’ accounts, including accounts not maintained at Schwab. In addition to
investment research, Schwab also makes available software and other technology that:
• Provide access to client account information
• Facilitate trades and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client accounts
• Provide pricing and other market data
• Facilitate payment of our fees from our clients’ accounts
• Assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping, and client reporting
Services That Generally Benefit Only Us
Schwab also offers other services intended to help us manage and further develop our
business enterprise. These services include:
• Educational conferences and events
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• Consulting on technology, compliance, legal, and business needs
• Publications on practice management and business succession
Schwab may provide some of these services itself. In other cases, it will arrange for third-
party vendors to provide the services to us. Schwab may also discount or waive its fees for
some of these services or pay all or a part of a third party’s fees. Schwab may also provide
us with other benefits, such as occasional business entertainment of our personnel.
How We Use These Services
We use most of the previously mentioned services from Schwab. These services allow us to
focus on what is most important to our clients: providing financial planning advice and
managing their investments.
Our Interest in Schwab’s Services
The availability of these services from Schwab benefits us because we do not have to
produce or purchase them. We don’t have to pay for Schwab’s services. These services are
not contingent upon us committing any specific amount of business to Schwab in trading
commissions or assets in custody. We may have an incentive to recommend that you
maintain your account with Schwab, based on our interest in receiving Schwab’s services
that benefit our business rather than based on your interest in receiving the best value in
custody services and the most favorable execution of your transactions. This is a potential
conflict of interest. We believe, however, that our selection of Schwab as custodian and
broker is in the best interests of our clients. Our selection is primarily supported by the
scope, quality, and price of Schwab’s services (see “How we select brokers/custodians”)
and not Schwab’s services that benefit only us.
Aggregate Orders
Moller Wealth Partners generally places trade orders individually for each client account. If
we have a similar trade order for many clients, we will aggregate the order and allocate
shares to each client account. Aggregate trades result in an average price for each client.
The execution price may be lower or higher than an individually placed trade.
Aggregate orders do not apply to mutual fund orders because prices are determined at the
end of day.
Review of Accounts
Investment Review
Clients may have several accounts that we manage as one household portfolio. A Financial
Planner reviews the portfolio periodically to determine if trades are necessary. For the
Strategic Asset Allocation investment strategy, we monitor the client’s portfolio
approximately every two weeks.
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Regular Reports
We provide written reports to clients on a quarterly basis.
Contents
•
Investing narrative
• Portfolio recommendations
• Comprehensive Wealth Management (if applicable)
o Quarter 1 – Goal Planning
o Quarter 2 – Estate Planning
o Quarter 3 – Insurance Planning
o Quarter 4 – Tax Planning
• Portfolio holdings
• Portfolio performance
• Trades since last report
Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Incoming Referrals
We have been fortunate to receive many client referrals over the years. The referrals have
come from clients, attorneys, accountants, insurance agents and brokers, employees, and
other sources. We do not engage any independent solicitors to provide client referrals.
Referrals to Other Professionals
We do not accept referral fees or any form of remuneration from other professionals when
a client is referred to them.
Schwab Benefits
We receive an economic benefit from Schwab in the form of the support products and
services it makes available to us and other independent investment advisors whose clients
maintain their accounts at Schwab. These products and services, how they benefit us, and
the related conflicts of interest are described above (see Brokerage Practices). The
availability to us of Schwab’s products and services is not based on us giving particular
investment advice, such as buying particular securities for our clients.
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Custody
Under government regulations, Moller Wealth Partners is deemed to have custody of assets
if you authorize us to instruct Schwab to deduct advisory fees directly from your account or
if you grant us authority to move your money to another person’s account. Schwab
maintains physical custody of your assets. You will receive account statements directly
from Schwab at least quarterly. They will be sent to the email or postal mailing address you
provided to Schwab. You should carefully review those statements promptly when you
receive them. We also urge you to compare Schwab’s account statements to the periodic
portfolio reports you will receive from us.
Moller Wealth Partners may also have custody if we can access your account using your
personal online username and password and are able to withdraw funds. This situation
most frequently happens with accounts such as company retirement plans and qualified
education plans. The plan/custodian should send you statements at least quarterly. We
urge you to compare your plan/custodian’s account statements to the periodic portfolio
reports you will receive from us.
Government regulations require an annual surprise audit of deemed custody accounts by
an independent CPA firm. Moller Wealth Partners complies with this requirement.
Investment Discretion
Discretionary Authority for Trading
Moller Wealth Partners accepts discretionary authority to manage investment accounts on
behalf of clients. Discretionary trading authority facilitates placing trades in clients’
accounts to promptly implement and follow the investment plan. In most cases, we provide
clients with an opportunity for review and discussion before implementing our
recommendations.
Clients may place trading restrictions on the account such as:
• Exclude a security from management
• Hold a minimum amount of a security
• Sell or purchase a particular security over time
Limited Power of Attorney
Clients must sign a limited power of attorney before Moller Wealth Partners is given
discretionary authority. The limited power of attorney is included in Schwab’s account
application. For accounts not held at Schwab, clients may sign a separate limited power of
attorney document.
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Voting Client Securities
Guidelines
In the absence of specific voting guidelines from the client, Moller Wealth Partners will vote
all proxies from a specific issuer the same way for each client. Clients may place reasonable
restrictions on Moller Wealth Partners' voting authority.
Moller Wealth Partners will generally vote in favor of routine corporate housekeeping
proposals such as the election of directors and selection of auditors absent conflicts of
interest raised by an auditor’s non-audit services and poor director attendance.
Moller Wealth Partners will generally vote against proposals that cause board members to
become entrenched or cause unequal voting rights.
In reviewing proposals, Moller Wealth Partners will further consider the opinion of
management, the effect on shareholder value, and the issuer’s business practices.
Conflicts of Interest
Moller Wealth Partners will identify any conflicts that exist between the interests of the
adviser and the client by reviewing the relationship of Moller Wealth Partners with the
issuer of each security to determine if Moller Wealth Partners or any of its employees has
any financial, business or personal relationship with the issuer.
If a material conflict of interest exists, Faith Charles, Chief Compliance Officer, will disclose
the conflict to the affected clients. Clients may have the opportunity to vote the proxies
themselves, or have their proxies voted according to Moller Wealth Partners’ policy.
Recordkeeping
Moller Wealth Partners maintains a separate file recording the history of all proxy votes.
Clients may obtain a record of how the company voted proxy issues on their behalf by
submitting a written request or calling us.
Financial Information
Moller Wealth Partners does not have any financial impairment that will preclude the firm
from serving its clients and has not been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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