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Item 1. Cover Page
GC Wealth Management RIA, LLC
20 University Road, 4th Floor
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
(617) 362-3161
https://www.generalcatalyst.com/wealth
Part 2A of Form ADV: Firm Brochure
March 27, 2025
This brochure (“Brochure”) provides information about the qualifications and business
practices of GC Wealth Management RIA, LLC (“GC Wealth”). If you have any questions
about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at 617-362-3161 or
GCWcompliance@generalcatalyst.com. The information in this brochure has not been
approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) or by any state securities authority.
Additional information about GC Wealth is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
An investment adviser’s registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or
training.
Item 2. Material Changes
GC Wealth filed its most recent amendment to Form ADV Part 2 on November 11, 2024. This
annual amendment updates the description of the business practices of GC Wealth and its
affiliates under the following Items:
● Item 4 – Updated information regarding GC Wealth’s asset under management.
● Item 8 – Updated information and disclosure regarding methods of analysis, investment
strategies, business practices and the risks related to such activities.
● Item 11 – Updated information regarding the business practices of GC Wealth and its
affiliates and conflicts of interest that arise in the course of GC Wealth’s investment and
other activities, and related compliance policies and procedures developed by GC Wealth
to address such business practices and conflicts.
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Item 3. Table of Contents
Item 1. Cover Page
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Item 2. Material Changes ...............................................................................................................2
Item 3. Table of Contents ...............................................................................................................2
Item 4. Advisory Business .............................................................................................................3
Item 5. Fees and Compensation .....................................................................................................5
Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management .................................................7
Item 7. Types of Clients .................................................................................................................8
Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss .........................................8
Item 9. Disciplinary Information .................................................................................................21
Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .....................................................21
Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions, and Personal Trading
..........................................................................................................................................21
Item 12. Brokerage Practices .......................................................................................................25
Item 13. Review of Accounts .......................................................................................................27
Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation .....................................................................27
Item 15. Custody ..........................................................................................................................28
Item 16. Investment Discretion ....................................................................................................28
Item 17. Voting Client Securities .................................................................................................29
Item 18. Financial Information ....................................................................................................29
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Item 4. Advisory Business
Overview
GC Wealth is an asset management firm providing tailored financial advisory and wealth
management services. GC Wealth provides investment and advisory services to individuals and
institutions. GC Wealth, a Delaware limited liability company, was established in 2023 and is
wholly owned (indirectly through various intermediate entities) by General Catalyst Group
Management, LLC (“General Catalyst”), which is owned, directly and indirectly, including
through GC Management Partners, L.P. and GC Partners Holdings, LP, by General Catalyst
Group Management Holdings, L.P. and ultimately principally owned by David Fialkow,
Hemant Taneja, and Ken Chenault.
Investment Management Services
GC Wealth helps its clients steward their wealth and accomplish other life objectives by
managing their portfolios of liquid and illiquid investments, primarily on a discretionary basis.
GC Wealth’s client services are designed to provide personalized wealth management solutions
for ultra-high net worth and high net worth individuals, trusts, estates, families, foundations,
endowments, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities (each, a
“Client”). GC Wealth intends to provide these advisory services through various investment
practices, each of which has its own advisory focus and strategies, driven primarily by the types
of clients they service and team expertise. Typically, when providing investment advisory
services, GC Wealth has full discretion to select securities to buy and sell for a Client’s account.
Client accounts are tailored to address the specific goals, objectives, and constraints of each
Client. GC Wealth considers a range of factors that can impact the investment management
process, including risk tolerance, investment time horizon, current and future cash needs, and
such other circumstances deemed relevant.
Advisory services are provided pursuant to an investment management agreement (“IMA”)
between GC Wealth and each Client and include (i) an evaluation of the Client’s existing assets
and financial objectives and implementation of an investment program based on such evaluation
and objectives and (ii) ongoing monitoring of the Client’s portfolio including any of the Client’s
existing managers or funds that were not recommended by GC Wealth, but that the Client has
directed one of GC Wealth’s investment representatives (“Wealth Managers”) to keep as part
of the Client’s account(s). Clients can impose reasonable restrictions on investing in certain
securities or types of securities subject to the approval of GC Wealth. GC Wealth does not
provide legal, tax, or accounting advice.
In limited circumstances, GC Wealth offers non-discretionary advisory services; in such cases,
GC Wealth will not exercise discretion as described above but will instead make
recommendations and proposals and act upon Client instructions.
GC Wealth provides these advisory services, in more cases, in conjunction with an investment
in privately offered investment vehicles, funds, accounts, or other arrangements with third-party
managers, privately offered investment vehicles, funds, accounts, or other arrangements
managed by third parties and affiliated investment advisers of GC Wealth, including the private
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funds managed by General Catalyst (collectively, the “GC Funds”), and direct private
investments with the goal of maximizing expected returns on a risk-adjusted basis.
Depending on an individual Client’s objectives, GC Wealth may invest in a broad mix of U.S.
and foreign securities and financial instruments, in both traditional and alternative asset classes.
GC Wealth typically invests in: pooled vehicles (hedge funds, private equity funds, venture
capital funds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds) managed by other investment advisers
and by affiliated investment advisers (including affiliates of GC Wealth), accounts managed by
other investment advisers, public equities, fixed income securities, cash equivalent instruments,
currencies, real assets, natural resources, privately offered securities, private equity and co-
investments in private equity, private debt, sponsors or general partners of private investment
funds, options, futures, warrants, derivatives, swaps/forwards, and commodities, among other
public and private instruments.
Financial Planning Services
GC Wealth offers financial planning services to high net worth and ultra-high net worth Clients.
Financial planning services generally include an assessment of a Client’s financial situation as
well as the goals and objectives the Client would like to achieve. The financial planning services
are also generally a collaborative undertaking where Clients and GC Wealth Personnel (as
defined below) work together to develop a financial plan. Depending on the Client’s personal
situation, a number of relevant financial planning elements may be addressed. These elements
may include but are not limited to one or more of the following:
Insurance planning/risk management
- A review of the Client’s goals and objectives
- Retirement planning
- Education planning
- Estate and wealth transfer planning
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- Asset allocation review and recommendations
- Cash management and certain treasury services
- Philanthropic planning
- Business succession planning
- Equity compensation planning
- Tax education and considerations
Independent Managers
GC Wealth has entered into, and expects to enter into additional, sub-advisory agreements for
separately managed accounts with other investment advisers, and Clients can choose to enter
into agreements directly with these other investment advisers for separately managed accounts
(“Independent Managers”). These Independent Managers are not affiliated with GC Wealth.
They provide discretionary investment management services which incur additional fees as
described in Item 5.
GC Wealth selects and recommends Independent Managers that it believes are appropriate for
a Client’s needs and objectives. The Independent Managers buy and sell securities over time as
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they manage sub-advised accounts directly on a Client’s behalf. Certain Independent Managers
will utilize put writing strategies in sub-advised separately managed accounts with an objective
to generate option premium over time by selling and actively managing a portfolio of index put
options, including management of index put options or actively managing put options. GC
Wealth does not make individual security selection decisions for these accounts. GC Wealth
monitors the investments in the accounts, but not to the degree that it does in accounts that it
directly manages. GC Wealth reviews the Independent Managers’ investment returns and
performs periodic due diligence on the Independent Managers. Not all Clients utilize
Independent Managers. Clients are not required to utilize Independent Managers.
As of December 31, 2024, GC Wealth has $2,153,349,029 in assets under management.
Item 5. Fees and Compensation
Client Fees
GC Wealth offers its advisory services on a fee basis, as described in each Client’s IMA, which
can include an annual percentage rate charged on the total assets managed, an annual fee charged
on a percentage of the market value of the assets subject to the fee within incremental fee tiers
or tranches (i.e., on a tiered or tranche basis), or a flat fee. Fees will generally be charged on any
accrued dividends and interest. GC Wealth’s annual fee is prorated and generally billed quarterly
in advance, based upon the market value of the assets subject to the fee on the last business day
of the previous quarter (or, in the absence of a then-current known market value, the last known
market value); provided that GC Wealth shall have the ability to adjust previously billed
amounts in a subsequent quarter if any withdrawals or contributions by the Client during the
prior calendar quarter were equal to, or greater than, $100,000. The fees are deducted from
Clients’ assets or paid directly by the Client. The various fees described herein are collectively
referred to as “Advisory Fees”.
GC Wealth typically requires an annual Advisory Fee minimum for its separate account
investment management services in order to provide sufficiently individualized advisory
services, as set forth in the respective Client’s IMA. Under certain circumstances, GC Wealth
will provide advisory services for less or more than the annual minimum. The annual Advisory
Fee varies but will represent less than 1.5% of the assets under management. GC Wealth
reserves the right to adjust or waive the minimum annual Advisory Fee and to impose an initial
set-up fee.
GC Wealth, in its sole discretion, can waive or negotiate lower or higher Advisory Fees with
different Clients based upon a variety of criteria (i.e., unique Client circumstances and/or
requirements, level and frequency of services desired and provided, anticipated future earning
potential, anticipated future additional assets, dollar amount of assets to be managed, broader
business relationship between the Client and GC Wealth or its affiliates, discounts to employees
of GC Wealth or its affiliates, and the Client’s related accounts (including, if requested by Client
and at GC Wealth’s discretion, the “householding” of some or all accounts of a Client
individually or with their family members)). Mid- quarter changes to existing fee rates will be
effective at the start of the next billing quarter.
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Investments through an advisory account into private equity, venture capital, credit, hedge, or
real estate funds or other pooled investment vehicles (including, but not limited to, GC Funds)
involves payment of two or more levels of investment management fees: one to GC Wealth at
the advisory account level, and another charged at the fund level to the manager of the
investment fund with respect to its managers and service providers (which will include affiliates
of GC Wealth to the extent a Client invests in a GC Fund). To the extent Clients invest in GC
Funds through feeder funds managed by an unaffiliated investment adviser, Clients will bear
any fees and expenses incurred in the management of such feeder fund and indirectly bear the
fees and expenses of the GC Funds through its investments in the feeder fund. If the investment
fund in turn invests in other funds, there will be additional levels of fees, which in the aggregate
reduce net returns.
Clients will also pay fees and expenses, directly or indirectly, in addition to the Advisory Fees.
These other fees and expenses can include, among others, custodial fees, transaction fees,
mutual fund expenses, and fees for third-party managers. GC Wealth can also charge fees for
services that are not advisory in nature, such as charitable giving planning, that GC Wealth
offers to Clients that will be detailed in agreements regarding those non-advisory services.
GC Wealth has entered into, and expects to enter into in the future, referral agreements, thus
receiving referral fees, with various unaffiliated entities, including insurance providers. Wealth
Managers who refer Clients into these entities will also receive a portion of the fees received by
GC Wealth. This creates a conflict of interest because Wealth Managers have an incentive to
refer Clients to these unaffiliated service providers. GC Wealth addresses this conflict of interest
through disclosure in this Brochure and disclosure at the time the Client signs the engagement
letter.
For Client accounts implemented through a third-party manager, the relevant third-party
manager will be responsible for any trade executions in the Client’s account and such managers
may not select the lowest-cost share class of a mutual fund for which a Client is eligible at such
Client’s custodian.
For Client accounts implemented through a third-party manager that utilizes a put-writing
strategy, the third-party manager charges the Client an asset-based investment management fee,
in addition to GC Wealth’s Advisory Fees, on the mandate size for such strategy. Typically, the
mandate size may be expressed in dollar or number of contract-based terms. The value for
contract-based mandates is derived from the portfolio’s option strike price and is updated
quarterly. If a dollar based mandate size is chosen, the fee is calculated based on that value.
All non-investment management fees and expenses, as well as all investment management fees
charged by investment managers other than GC Wealth, are the Client’s responsibility and are
not covered by GC Wealth’s Advisory Fees described above. These fees and expenses include,
among other things, commissions, fees, and all other costs associated with the Client’s account
or with the purchase or sale of securities, mutual funds, investment funds, or other investment
instruments, including wire transfer fees, custodian fees, access fees, platform fees, investor
servicing fees, interest, taxes, and other expenses associated with a Client’s account.
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A portion of the fees payable to GC Wealth is allocated on an ongoing basis to a Client’s Wealth
Manager(s), and the percentage credited to a Wealth Manager initially and likely in the future
will be higher for accounts that are self-sourced than for accounts that are referred internally to
them. A Wealth Manager has discretion to charge a Client a fee lower or higher than the
Advisory Fees described herein. The fee a Client pays is a factor used to calculate the
compensation to the Wealth Manager. Therefore, the Wealth Manager has a financial incentive
not to reduce fees. A Wealth Manager receives less than the standard payout when discounting
too far below the standard fee schedule. This creates a financial incentive for Wealth Managers
to price at or above those levels. GC Wealth reserves the right, without prior notice, to change
the methods by which it compensates the Wealth Managers and employees, including reducing
or denying any production payout for any reason.
In calculating Advisory Fees, GC Wealth obtains certain valuations from GeoWealth, a financial
technology and turnkey asset management platform. GeoWealth obtains valuations from
external independent third-party pricing sources for all securities on the GeoWealth platform.
Those third-party sources include: qualified custodians holding client assets in custody, third-
party pricing vendors, and data aggregation vendors that obtain pricing from third-party sources
in a similar manner to pricing obtained directly from the primary pricing source. Additionally,
some assets will be fair-valued by GC Wealth’s, GeoWealth’s or one of their services providers’
respective internal valuation committee or marked-to-market, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”).
The information contained herein is a summary only, qualified in its entirety by various
governing documents, including a Client’s IMA, and does not preclude materially different fee
and expense terms for future Client arrangements.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
GC Wealth typically charges a fixed fee for financial planning and other consulting services.
These fees are negotiable depending upon the level and scope of the services as pre-determined
by the professional rendering the services. Amounts billed are typically payable before any work
can begin. In the event the agreement is terminated prior to the delivery of the plan, the Client
can request a refund. GC Wealth retains the right to deny the request or reduce the amount of
the refund to offset the time and expenses attributable to the work that has already been
performed by the professional rendering the services. GC Wealth can, at its discretion, waive
all or a portion of these fees.
Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
GC Wealth does not charge performance-based fees for its investment advisory services. In
certain accounts or strategies, third-party managers (which may include affiliates of GC Wealth)
earn performance-based compensation with respect to certain investments held by Clients.
Performance-based compensation creates a conflict of interest in that it could provide an
incentive for third-party managers to make more speculative investments than it might otherwise
make.
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Performance-based fee arrangements present a conflict of interest for the third-party manager
with respect to their investment funds that are not subject to performance-based fee
arrangements or subject to different performance-based fee arrangements because such
arrangements give the third-party manager an incentive to favor an investment fund subject to
performance-based fees (or subject to higher performance-based fees) over investment funds
that are not subject to performance-based fees by, for example, allocating their best investment
ideas to accounts from which they stand to earn additional compensation should the investment
fund perform well.
Item 7. Types of Clients
GC Wealth generally provides investment advice to: ultra-high net worth and high net worth
individuals, trusts, estates, families, foundations, endowments, charitable organizations,
corporations and other business entities. GC Wealth does not have a minimum account size for
Clients but anticipates that they typically will have greater than $1,000,000 in investable assets.
Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
Based on the investment objectives of each Client, GC Wealth uses a variety of methods,
including third-party adviser reputation, client service, investment philosophy, stability and
continuity of management, performance under varying market conditions, fees, and minimum
investment requirements, to analyze the investment strategies and asset allocations appropriate
for each Client. This information will be obtained from business publications, tracking
organizations, industry sources, and other sources. Client funds will be invested by the Wealth
Manager managing each Client account and are subject to the methods of analysis used by such
Wealth Managers.
GC Wealth seeks to analyze Clients’ financial situations that may take into account several
factors and considerations including, but not limited to, defined objectives, tax impact, risk
tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs and other suitability factors. Wealth Managers seek to
use their experience and judgment to construct the appropriate investment strategies and
allocations based on this analysis. It is important that Clients notify GC Wealth immediately
with respect to material changes to their financial circumstances including, for example, any
income expectation changes, tax status, or employment.
While GC Wealth seeks to maintain portfolio flexibility to react to changes in markets,
investment decisions and asset allocation recommendations are generally made with a long-term
outlook consistent with each Client’s long-term objectives. GC Wealth regularly monitors risk
levels in Client accounts and portfolios in an effort to ensure continuity with the mutually agreed
risk objectives and take advantage of the natural volatility of markets to rebalance portfolios
accordingly.
GC Wealth selects and monitors investments based on its ongoing operational and investment
due diligence. GC Wealth’s pragmatic approach to alternative investments and a constantly
expanding universe of potential solutions may dictate using certain strategies and approaches
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when GC Wealth believes it may offer improved risk-adjusted and cost-effective returns for
Clients.
The description above is neither a comprehensive list or description, and GC Wealth can utilize
additional or a combination of other methods or strategies in developing its advice and providing
advisory services. Additionally, a more comprehensive description of the risks of any specific
investment can be found in the corresponding offering documents.
General Risks
GC Wealth supports its investment strategies with risk management procedures intended to keep
portfolios in conformity with Client objectives. Prospective Clients should be aware that no
assurance can be given that risk frameworks employed by GC Wealth will achieve their
objectives and prevent or otherwise limit substantial losses. No assurance can be given that the
risk management techniques will accurately predict future trading patterns or the manner in
which investments are priced in financial markets in the future. Risks for relevant products are
more fully described in such products’ offering and/or governing documents.
Certain risks apply specifically to particular investment strategies or investments in different
types of securities or other investments that Clients should be prepared to bear. The risks
involved for different Client accounts or funds will vary based on a Client’s investment strategy
and the type of securities or other investments held in the Client’s account or the fund. The
following are descriptions of various primary risks related to the investment strategies used by
GC Wealth. Not all possible risks are described below. Investing in securities involves a risk of
loss that Clients should be prepared to bear, including loss of Clients’ original principal. Past
performance is not indicative of future results; therefore, Clients should not assume that future
performance of any specific investment or investment strategy will be profitable. GC Wealth
does not provide any representation or guarantee that Clients’ goals will be achieved. In addition
to general investment risks, there are additional material risks associated with the types of
strategies and private funds in which Clients invest from time to time.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Recent technological advances in artificial
intelligence and machine learning technologies (collectively, “AI Technologies”), as well as the
rapid growth and widespread use thereof, have the potential to pose risks to GC Wealth. AI
Technologies have the potential to result in significant and disruptive changes in companies,
sectors or industries, including those in which Clients invest, and any such changes could create
new and unpredictable operational, legal and/or regulatory risks. To the extent competitors of
GC Wealth make more efficient or extensive use of AI Technologies, there is a possibility that
such competitors will gain a competitive advantage. Many jurisdictions have passed or are
considering laws and regulations concerning AI Technologies, which could adversely affect GC
Wealth and its operations. Additionally, GC Wealth could be further exposed to the risks of AI
Technologies if third-party service providers or any counterparties, whether or not known to GC
Wealth, use AI Technologies in their business activities. GC Wealth will not be able to control
the use of AI Technologies in third-party products or services, including those provided by GC
Wealth’s and its affiliates’ service providers. Additionally, GC Wealth and GC Wealth
Personnel use AI Technologies in connection with GC Wealth’s business activities and reserves
the right to use such AI Technologies with respect to GC Wealth’s investment activities. AI
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Technologies are highly reliant on the accuracy, adequacy, completeness and objectivity of their
underlying data, and any inaccuracies, deficiencies or biases in this data could lead to errors
affecting GC Wealth’s decision-making and investment processes. AI Technologies and their
applications, including in the financial sector, continue to develop rapidly, and it is impossible
to predict the future risks that have the potential to arise from such developments. Any of the
foregoing factors could have a material and adverse effect on GC Wealth.
Asset Class Risk. Securities in an asset class in a portfolio have in the past and likely will in
the future underperform in comparison to the general securities markets, a particular securities
market, or other asset classes.
Changes in Environment. Clients’ investment programs are intended to extend over a long
period of time, during which the business, economic, political, regulatory, legal, and technology
environment within which Clients’ investments operate are expected to undergo substantial
changes, some of which may be adverse to Clients. There can be no assurance that investment
strategies developed and implemented in the current market will remain appropriate as market
conditions change. In addition, there is no guarantee that GC Wealth will be able to keep up
with developing market trends or other changes in the investment landscape. Returns to Clients
will depend upon the successful evolution of Clients’ investment strategies to address changes
in market conditions over time. GC Wealth (together with its affiliates, as applicable) will
potentially have the exclusive right and authority (within limitations set forth in the applicable
IMA) to determine the manner in which Clients shall respond to such changes. The investment
sourcing, selection, management and liquidation strategies and procedures exercised in the past
by members of GC Wealth with respect to Clients may not be successful, or even practicable,
during extended periods.
Commodity Risk. Negative changes in a commodity market could have an adverse impact on
the value of commodity-linked investments including companies that are susceptible to
fluctuations in commodity markets. The value of commodity-linked investments has in the past
and likely will in the future be affected by changes in overall market movements, taxation,
terrorism, nationalization or expropriation, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates,
or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as, weather (e.g., drought,
flooding), livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and
regulatory developments. The prices of sector commodities (e.g., energy, metals, agriculture
and livestock) have in the past and likely will in the future fluctuate widely due to factors such
as changes in value, supply and demand and governmental regulatory policies.
Counterparty Risk. Transactions, including certain derivative transactions, entered into
directly with a counterparty are subject to the risks that a counterparty will fail to perform its
obligations in accordance with the agreed terms and conditions of a transaction. A counterparty
could become bankrupt or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties,
resulting in significant delays in obtaining any recovery in a bankruptcy or other reorganization
proceeding or no recovery in such circumstances.
Credit/Default Risk. Debt issuers and other counterparties of fixed income securities or
instruments could default on their obligation to pay interest, repay principal or make a margin
payment, or default on any other obligation. Additionally, the credit quality of securities or
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instruments could deteriorate (e.g., be downgraded by ratings agencies), which could impair a
security’s or instrument’s liquidity and decrease its value.
Currency Risk. Currencies have in the past and likely will in the future be purchased or sold
for a portfolio through the use of forward contracts or other instruments. A portfolio that seeks
to trade in foreign currencies has in the past and likely will in the future have limited access to
certain currency markets due to a variety of factors including government regulations, adverse
tax treatment, exchange controls, and currency convertibility issues. A portfolio has in the past
and likely will in the future hold investments denominated in currencies other than the currency
in which the portfolio is denominated. Currency exchange rates can be volatile, particularly
during times of political or economic unrest or as a result of actions taken by central banks. A
change in the exchange rates has in the past and likely will in the future produce significant
losses to a portfolio.
Cyber Security Risk. With the increased use of technologies to conduct business, a portfolio is
susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cyber incidents can
result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events and are not limited to, gaining unauthorized
access to digital systems, and misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data,
or causing operational disruption, including the denial-of-service attacks on websites. A
successful penetration or circumvention of the security of GC Wealth’s systems by unauthorized
third parties could result in the loss or theft of an investor’s data or funds, the inability to access
electronic systems, loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage
to a computer or network system or costs associated with system repairs. Such incidents could
cause GC Wealth or its service providers to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage,
additional compliance costs or financial loss. In addition, GC Wealth may incur substantial costs
related to investigation of the origin and scope of a cybersecurity incident, increasing and
upgrading cybersecurity protections including its administrative, technical, organizational and
physical controls, acts of identity theft, unauthorized use or loss of proprietary information,
adverse investor reaction, increased insurance premiums or difficulties obtaining insurance
coverage, or litigation, regulatory actions or other legal risks.
Cyber security failures or breaches by a third-party service provider and the issuers of securities
in which the portfolio invests, have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business
operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, the inability to transact business, violations
of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage,
reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs, including the
cost to prevent cyber incidents. Third-party investment managers engaged to manage Client
assets are subject to and present cyber security risk. Similar types of operational and technology
risks are also present for the companies in which Clients invest, which could have material
adverse consequences for such companies, and may cause Clients’ investments to lose value.
Derivative Risk. Investments in derivatives, or similar instruments, including but not limited
to, options, futures, options on futures, forwards, participatory notes, swaps, structured
securities, tender-option bonds and derivatives relating to foreign currency transactions, which
can be used to hedge a portfolio’s investments or to seek to enhance returns, entail specific risks
relating to liquidity, leverage and credit that will reduce returns and/or increase volatility. Losses
in a portfolio from investments in derivative instruments can result from the potential illiquidity
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of the markets for derivative instruments, the failure of the counterparty to fulfill its contractual
obligations, the portfolio receiving cash collateral under the transactions and some or all of that
collateral being invested in the market, or the risks arising from margin posting requirements
and related leverage factors associated with such transactions. In addition, many jurisdictions
globally have proposed or adopted new regulations for derivatives transactions. New regulations
could make derivatives more costly, limit the availability of derivatives, or otherwise adversely
affect the value or performance of derivatives.
Distressed Securities. Investments in companies that are in poor financial condition, lack
sufficient capital or are involved in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings face the unique
risks of lack of information with respect to the issuer, the effects of bankruptcy laws and
regulations and greater market volatility than is typically found in other securities markets. As
a result, investments in securities of distressed companies involve significant risks that could
result in a portfolio incurring losses with respect to such investments.
Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in emerging markets are potentially subject to a greater
risk of loss than investments in more developed markets, as they are more likely to experience
inflation risk, political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions. Investing in the
securities of emerging markets involves certain considerations not typically associated with
investing in more developed markets, including but not limited to, the small size of such
securities markets and the low volume of trading (possibly resulting in potential lack of liquidity
and in price volatility), political risks of emerging markets including unstable governments,
government intervention in securities or currency markets, nationalization, restrictions on
foreign ownership and investment, laws preventing repatriation of assets and legal systems that
do not adequately protect property rights. Further, emerging markets can be adversely affected
by changes to the economic health of certain key trading partners, such as the U.S., regional and
global conflicts, terrorism and war. Emerging markets often have less uniformity in accounting
and reporting requirements, unreliable securities valuation and greater risk associated with
custody of securities. Economies in these regions may also be more susceptible to natural
disasters (including earthquakes and tsunamis), or adverse changes in climate or weather. In
addition, certain countries in this region with less established health care systems have
experienced outbreaks of pandemic or contagious diseases from time to time, including, but not
limited to, coronavirus, avian flu, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The risks of such
phenomena and resulting social, political, economic and environmental damage (including
nuclear pollution) cannot be quantified. Economies in which agriculture occupies a prominent
position, and countries with limited natural resources (such as oil and natural gas), may be
especially vulnerable to natural disasters and climatic changes.
Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities are subject to changes in value and their values can
be more volatile than other asset classes. The value of equity securities varies in response to
many factors. These factors include, without limitation, factors specific to an issuer and the
industry in which the issuer securities are subject to stock risk. Historically, U.S. and non-U.S.
stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility and will do so again in the
future.
Financial Institution Risk; Distress Events. An investment by a Client is subject to the risk
that one of the banks, brokers, hedging counterparties, lenders, or other custodians (each, a
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“Financial Institution”) of some or all of Clients’ assets fails to timely perform its obligations
or experiences insolvency, closure, receivership or other financial distress or difficulty (each, a
“Distress Event”). Distress Events can be caused by a variety of factors, including eroding
market sentiment, significant withdrawals, fraud, malfeasance, poor performance, or accounting
irregularities. If a Financial Institution experiences a Distress Event, GC Wealth, a Client or one
of its investments may not be able to access deposits, borrowing facilities or other services,
either permanently or for an extended period of time. Although assets held by regulated
Financial Institutions in the United States frequently are insured up to stated balance amounts
by organizations such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, in the case of banks, and
the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, in the case of certain broker-dealers, amounts in
excess of the relevant insurance are subject to risk of total loss, and any non-U.S. Financial
Institutions that are not subject to similar regimes pose increased risk of loss. While in recent
years governmental intervention has often resulted in additional protections for depositors and
counterparties during Distress Events, there can be no assurance that such intervention will
occur in a future Distress Event or that any such intervention undertaken will be successful or
avoid the risks of loss, substantial delays, or negative impact on banking or brokerage conditions
or markets.
Hedging Risk. Hedging techniques could involve a variety of derivatives, including futures
contracts, exchanged listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities, financial
indices, forward foreign currency contracts, and various interest rate transactions. A transaction
used as a hedge to reduce or eliminate losses associated with a portfolio holding or particular
market that a portfolio has exposure, including currency exposure, can also reduce or eliminate
gains. Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the hedging transaction
and its reference portfolio holding or market (correlation risk), and there can be no assurance
that a portfolio’s hedging transaction will be effective. In particular, the variable degree of
correlation between price movements of hedging instruments and price movements in the
position being hedged creates the possibility that losses on the hedge can be greater than gains
in the value of the positions of the portfolio. Increased volatility will generally reduce the
effectiveness of the portfolio’s currency hedging strategy. Hedging techniques involve costs,
which could be significant, whether or not the hedging strategy is successful. Hedging
transactions, to the extent they are implemented, have in the past and will likely in the future
not be completely effective in insulating portfolios from currency or other risks.
Income Risk. A portfolio’s income will likely decline when interest rates decrease. During
periods of falling interest rates an issuer can repay principal prior to the security’s maturity
(“prepayment”), causing the portfolio to have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield,
resulting in a decline in the portfolio’s income.
Index-Related Risk. Index strategies are passively managed and do not take defensive positions
in declining markets. There is no guarantee that a portfolio managed to an index strategy (“index
portfolio”) will achieve a high degree of correlation to its underlying index and therefore achieve
its investment objective. Market disruptions and regulatory restrictions could have an adverse
effect on the index portfolio’s ability to adjust its exposure to the required levels in order to track
its underlying index. Errors in index data occur from time to time and are sometimes not
identified and corrected for a period of time, and can have an adverse impact on a portfolio
managed to the index. The index provider does not provide any warranty or accept any liability
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in relation to the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in respect of their indices, and does
not guarantee that the index will be in line with its described index methodology. Errors and
rebalances carried out by the index provider to the underlying index has in the past and likely
will in the future increase the costs and market exposure risk of a portfolio.
Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will
be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of payments at future dates. As
inflation increases, the real value of a portfolio could decline. Inflation rates may change
frequently and drastically as a result of various factors and a portfolio’s investments may not
keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses. Inflation has recently increased, and it
cannot be predicted whether it may decline.
Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates increase, fixed income securities or instruments will
generally decline in value. Long-term fixed income securities or instruments will normally have
more price volatility because of this risk than short-term fixed income securities or instruments.
The United States is experiencing a rising market interest rate environment, which may increase
a portfolio’s exposure to risks associated with rising market interest rates. Rising market interest
rates have unpredictable effects on the markets and may expose fixed-income and related
markets to heightened volatility.
Issuer Risk. A portfolio’s performance depends on the performance of individual securities to
which the portfolio has exposure. Changes to the financial condition or credit rating of an issuer
of those securities can cause the value of the securities to decline or become worthless.
Legal and Regulatory Risk. Legal, tax, and regulatory changes may adversely affect Clients’
portfolios. New (or revised) laws or regulations or interpretations of existing law may be issued
by the IRS or U.S. Treasury, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”),
the SEC, the U.S. Federal Reserve or other banking regulators, or other governmental regulatory
authorities, or self-regulatory organizations that supervise the financial markets that could
adversely affect Clients’ portfolios. Clients’ portfolios also may be adversely affected by
changes in the enforcement or interpretation of existing statutes and rules by these governmental
regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations. It is impossible to predict what, if any,
changes in regulations may occur, but any regulation or change in enforcement or interpretation
that restricts the ability to trade in securities could have a material adverse impact on the
performance of a Client’s portfolio, and a regulation that imposes restrictions on banks (and
their affiliates) could have an adverse impact on GC Wealth. Clients have the potential to bear
significant increased costs as a result of such changes.
Leverage Risk. A portfolio utilizing leverage will be subject to heightened risk. Leverage
involves the use of various financial instruments or borrowed capital in an attempt to increase
the return on an investment and can be intrinsic to certain derivative instruments. Leverage takes
the form of borrowing funds, trading on margin, derivative instruments that are inherently
leveraged, including but not limited to, forward contracts, futures contracts, options, swaps
(including total return financing swaps and interest rate swaps), repurchase agreements and
reverse repurchase agreements, or other forms of direct and indirect borrowings and other
instruments and transactions that are inherently leveraged. Any such leverage, including
instruments and transactions that are inherently leveraged, can result in the portfolio’s market
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value exposure being in excess of the net asset value of the portfolio. A portfolio will often need
to liquidate positions when it is not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its borrowing obligations.
The use of leverage entails risks, including the potential for higher volatility and greater declines
of a portfolio’s value, and fluctuations of dividend and other distribution payments.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or
sell (e.g., not publicly traded and/or no market is currently available or becomes less liquid in
response to market developments). This can reduce a portfolio’s returns because the portfolio is
unable to transact at advantageous times or prices. Investments that are illiquid or that trade in
lower volumes can be more difficult to value.
Management Risk. A portfolio is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the
investment process, techniques and analyses applied will not produce the desired results, and
those securities or other financial instruments selected for a portfolio has in the past and likely
will in the future result in returns that are inconsistent with the portfolio’s investment objective.
In addition, legislative, regulatory, or tax developments will affect the investment techniques or
opportunities, available in connection with managing the portfolio and has in the past and likely
will in the future also adversely affect the ability of the portfolio to achieve its investment
objective.
Market Risk. The market value of the instruments in which a portfolio invests goes up or down
in response to the prospects of individual companies; particular sectors or governments;
political, regulatory, market and social developments; and/or general economic conditions
throughout the world due to increasingly interconnected global economies and financial
markets. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit
and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect
market value. Market risk may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely
interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect
companies world-wide. Examples include pandemic risks related to the coronavirus as well as
war, terrorism, extreme climate events and geopolitical events. The financial services industry
generally and investment activities are affected by general economic and market conditions,
including interest rates, availability of credit, lack of price transparency, inflation rates,
economic uncertainty, changes in tax and other applicable laws and regulations, trade barriers,
national and international and environmental and socioeconomic circumstances.
Mutual Funds and ETFs. Clients may invest in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds
(“ETFs”). Mutual funds and ETFs purchase and sell securities, such as stocks, commodities and
bonds (or have exposures to such securities through swaps and other derivative instruments) and
may also invest in crypto-currencies. Some of the mutual funds and ETFs that may be purchased
for a Client’s portfolio may concentrate heavily in a particular asset category or sector. These
categories could include, among others, sector funds, blue chip stock funds, small capitalization
stock funds, growth funds, bond funds and international funds or crypto-currency funds; such
funds may specialize even further on the basis of country or region of the world and engage in
the use of leverage and short selling or trade in crypto-currencies. Investors in mutual funds and
ETFs generally bear all of their expenses, including fees of the investment adviser and custodian,
brokerage commissions and legal and accounting fees. As a result, Clients will indirectly bear
two levels of advisory compensation -- the Advisory Fee and the advisory fee charged by the
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investment adviser of any mutual funds and ETFs in the Client’s portfolio. The foregoing fees
and expenses may be expected to result in a higher cost of investment than would be the case if
Clients were to invest directly in the mutual funds and ETFs on their own. As a result, the returns
realized by Clients will be lower, all else being equal, than the returns Clients would realize
from engaging in the same activities directly on their own.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk. Investments in the securities of non-U.S. issuers are subject to the
risks associated with non-U.S. markets in which those non-U.S. issuers are organized and
operate, including but not limited to, risks related to foreign currency, limited liquidity, less
government regulation, privatization, and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse
political, economic, geographic events, or other developments, differences in accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards, the possibility of repatriation, expropriation or
confiscatory taxation, adverse changes in investment or exchange controls or other regulations
and potential restrictions on the flow of international capital. These risks are often heightened
for investments in smaller capital markets, emerging markets, developing markets or frontier
markets.
Other Activities. GC Wealth Personnel will devote only such portion of their time to the affairs
of a Client as they consider appropriate in their respective judgment to manage such Client’s
account. Without limitation, GC Wealth Personnel currently manage, and expect in the future
to manage, several other accounts similar to a Client’s, and expect to direct certain relevant
investment opportunities or resources to those accounts. GC Wealth Personnel reserve the right
to manage their own personal investments and accounts, whether or not through a formal family
office or estate planning structure, to establish trusts, endowments, charitable programs,
foundations or similar arrangements, and to pay or receive compensation relating to the
foregoing. GC Wealth’s principals and investment staff will continue to manage and monitor
such investments or accounts until their realization. Such other investments or accounts that GC
Wealth’s principals expect from time to time to control or manage generally have the potential
to compete with Client accounts or companies acquired by a Client account.
GC Wealth’s principals reserve the right to, and likely will, focus their investment activities on
other opportunities and areas unrelated to such Client’s accounts. To the extent an investment
opportunity is received that is unsuitable for a Client, in GC Wealth’s sole discretion, GC Wealth
and GC Wealth Personnel reserve the right to refer such opportunity to third parties or to make
personal investments in the relevant opportunity. Unless restricted by the relevant IMA, GC
Wealth Personnel are permitted to serve on boards or act in other roles unaffiliated with GC
Wealth, Client accounts or their investments, including boards of charitable and educational
institutions, public companies and former account investments, and receive compensation in
connection with such services and roles, none of which will offset or otherwise reduce Advisory
Fees or Investment Management Fees (as defined below).
Public Health Emergencies; COVID-19. Pandemics and other widespread public health
emergencies, including outbreaks of infectious diseases such as SARS, H1N1/09 flu, avian flu,
Ebola and COVID-19, have and are resulting in market disruption, and future such emergencies
have the potential to materially and adversely impact economic production and activity in ways
that are impossible to predict, all of which may result in significant losses to Clients.
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The ultimate impact of any such health emergency — and any resulting decline in economic
and commercial activity — on global economic conditions, and on the operations, financial
condition and performance of any particular industry or business, is impossible to predict, but
could have a significant adverse impact and result in significant losses to Clients. The extent of
the impact on Clients’ and their investments’ operational and financial performance will depend
on many factors, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and this impact may
include significant reductions in revenue and growth, unexpected operational losses and
liabilities, impairments to credit quality and reductions in the availability of capital.
International Conflicts and Geopolitical Events. Wars and other international conflicts, such
as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine,
have caused disruption to global financial systems, trade and transport, among other things. In
response, multiple other countries have put in place sanctions and other severe restrictions or
prohibitions on certain of the countries involved, as well as related individuals and businesses.
The ultimate impact of these conflicts (and other geopolitical events, including national
referenda, elections, interest rates, political movements, humanitarian crises, national and
international policy changes, actual or perceived trade wars, import or export controls, executive
orders, laws, legal systems and regulatory regimes) and their effect on global economic and
commercial activity and conditions, and on the operations, financial condition and performance
of GC Wealth or any particular industry, business or investee country and the duration and
severity of those effects, is impossible to predict.
These matters may have a significant adverse impact and result in significant losses to Clients.
This impact may include reductions in revenue and growth, unexpected operational losses and
liabilities, supply chain disruptions and reductions in the availability of capital. Developing and
further governmental actions (military or otherwise) may cause additional disruption and
constrain or alter existing financial, legal and regulatory frameworks and systems in ways that
are adverse to the investment strategy which any Client intends to pursue, all of which could
adversely affect the Client’s ability to fulfill its investment objectives.
Private Investment Risk. Investments in private investments, including debt or equity
investments in operating and holding companies, investment funds, joint ventures, royalty
streams, commodities, physical assets and other similar types of investments are highly illiquid
and long-term. A portfolio’s ability to transfer and/or dispose of private investments is expected
to be highly restricted.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. Active and frequent trading of securities and financial instruments in
a portfolio can result in increased transaction costs, including potentially substantial brokerage
commissions, fees and other transaction costs. In addition, frequent trading is likely to result in
short- term capital gains tax treatment. As a result of portfolio turnover, the performance of a
portfolio can be adversely affected.
Real Estate Risk. Historically real estate has experienced significant fluctuations and cycles in
value and local market conditions which has in the past and likely will in the future result in
reductions in real estate opportunities, value of real property interests and, possibly, the amount
of income generated by real property. All real estate-related investments are subject to the risk
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attributable to, but not limited to: (i) inability to consummate investments on favorable terms;
(ii) inability to complete renovation, expansion or development on advantageous terms; (iii)
adverse government, environmental and tax regulations; (iv) leasing delays, tenant bankruptcies
and low occupancy levels and lease rates; and (v) changes in the liquidity of real estate markets.
Real estate investment strategies that employ leverage are subject to risks normally associated
with debt financing, including the risk that: (a) cash flow after debt service will be insufficient
to accumulate sufficient cash for distributions; (b) existing indebtedness (which is unlikely to
be fully amortized at maturity) will not be able to be refinanced; (c) terms of available
refinancing will not be as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness; or (d) the loan
covenants will not be complied with. It is possible that property could be foreclosed upon or
otherwise transferred to the mortgagee, with a consequent loss of income and asset value.
Reliance on Other Managers. GC Wealth is expected to invest a significant portion of Clients’
capital in private investment vehicles (e.g., funds and managed accounts) managed by third
parties. Finding, selecting, and investing with underlying managers is a complex process. In
determining how to invest Clients’ capital in other private investment vehicles, GC Wealth looks
for managers with investment strategies GC Wealth believes have the potential to offer strong
risk-adjusted returns, considering both objective information relating to such other managers
(such as historical performance data) and subjective information. There can be no guarantee,
however, that GC Wealth’s assessment of any manager will be accurate. In particular, there can
be no assurance that past performance data or other objective or subjective information relating
to such managers will provide any indication as to how private investment vehicles managed by
such managers will perform in the future. Further, GC Wealth may miss or misinterpret
information during its due diligence. An underlying manager could also be engaged in
wrongdoing that GC Wealth does not discover in its ordinary course due diligence and
monitoring processes. While GC Wealth will request information from each underlying
manager, the type of information provided is generally in the discretion of the underlying
manager, and GC Wealth will not always obtain all information requested, including as a result
of confidentiality or other legal restrictions. Inability to receive complete information makes it
more difficult to select, evaluate, allocate among, and assess the performance of underlying
managers.
As a result of GC Wealth’s selection criteria for managers, underlying managers are likely to be
dependent on the services of one or a limited number of key individuals. The loss of the services
of any such individual could result in the impairment or loss of a Client’s investment. Even if
GC Wealth is able to accurately identify managers whose vehicles have the potential to produce
attractive returns, there can be no assurance that Clients will be able to invest in such vehicles.
For example, taking into account the varying fundraising cycles of such vehicles, and the timing
of the GC Funds’ (or a fund in which GC Wealth or its affiliates acts as an adviser or sub-
adviser) own closings and other investments, the GC Funds or any other fund in which GC
Wealth or its affiliates acts as an adviser or sub-adviser may not have available capital during
any such other vehicle’s “open window” period. In addition, there can be no guarantee that a
Client’s offer to invest in any such vehicle will be accepted. Finally, it is anticipated that many
of the same risks that relate to GC Wealth’s management of the GC Funds or any other fund in
which GC Wealth or its affiliates acts as an adviser or sub-adviser, including conflicts of interest,
will apply in a corresponding, or even more significant, manner to investment vehicles of
underlying managers.
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Research Risk. Fundamental analysis entails attempting to measure the intrinsic value of a
security by examining related economic, financial and other qualitative and quantitative factors.
Fundamental analysis attempts to produce a value for a security which can be compared with
the current price. There are several weaknesses of fundamental analysis including; models are
time consuming and specific to industries or companies, models are based on assumptions which
introduce subjectivity, models are subject to biases of the analyst and the definition of fair value.
Fundamental analysis should be approached with caution. An inherent risk involved in the
analysis is the assumption that the market or security will reach an expected value. Qualitative
analysis is a non-statistical oriented analysis. It uses subjective judgment based on
unquantifiable information, for example; management expertise, industry cycles, strength of
research and development and labor relations. The risk involved with qualitative analysis is that
there are biases introduced by the analyst. Quantitative analysis is a method of analysis that
seeks to understand behavior by using complex mathematical and statistical modeling. The risk
involved with the analysis is that there is no guarantee that these models will accurately forecast
results or reduce risk. There can be no assurance that a model will achieve its objective.
Technical analysis is based on past market data including price and volume. The risks associated
with this model are the assumption that the market will follow a pattern. However, markets do
not always follow patterns or predictions of the pattern can be flawed.
Risk Management. Although managing risk is a principal element of GC Wealth’s overall
investment strategy, Clients are expected to make investments that, viewed in isolation, present
very substantial risks. Rather, GC Wealth will seek to manage risk across Clients via a broad
array of risk‐offsetting techniques. There can be no assurance that GC Wealth will be successful
in avoiding excessive risk exposure in connection with Clients’ investments. GC Wealth’s
ability to successfully manage risk will depend in significant part upon: (i) the ability of the
members of GC Wealth to accurately obtain and analyze relevant data to identify possible risks;
(ii) the ability of the members of GC Wealth to make appropriate adjustments to Clients’ asset
allocations; and (iii) the availability and affordability of market vehicles to reduce risk (e.g.,
swaps, hedges, puts and insurance). If GC Wealth is unable to identify the relevant risks or
adjust Clients’ asset allocations to mitigate risks, or if the cost of market vehicles to reduce risk
is prohibitive, Clients’ investment performance could suffer.
Short Selling Risk. Short sales in securities that it does not own exposes a portfolio to
speculative exposure risks. If a portfolio makes short sales in securities that increase in value,
the portfolio will lose value. Certain securities will not be available or eligible for short sales.
Short selling involves the risks of: increased leverage, and its accompanying potential for losses;
the potential inability to reacquire a security in a timely manner, or at an acceptable price; the
possibility of the lender terminating the loan at any time, forcing the portfolio to close the
transaction under unfavorable conditions; the additional costs that will be incurred; and the
potential loss of investment flexibility caused by the obligation to provide collateral to the lender
and set aside assets to cover the open position. There can be no assurance that a portfolio will
be able to close out a short sale position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Any
loss on short positions will not necessarily be offset by investing short-sale proceeds in other
investments.
Underlying Fund Risk. A portfolio investing in funds (underlying funds), including but not
limited to GC Funds, includes, but is not limited to the performance of the underlying fund and
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investment risk of the underlying funds’ investment, as the underlying funds could involve
highly speculative investment techniques, including extremely high leverage, highly
concentrated portfolios, workouts and startups, control positions and illiquid investments. In
particular, the risks for a portfolio operating under a fund of funds structure include, but are not
limited to, the following: the performance of the portfolio will depend on the performance of
the underlying funds’ investments; there can be no assurance that a multi-manager approach
will be successful or diversified, or that the collective performance of underlying fund
investments will be profitable; one or more underlying funds will be allocated a relatively large
percentage of the portfolio’s assets; there can be limited information about or influence
regarding the activities of the underlying fund’s investment advisors and underlying funds, like
any other asset, will be subject to trading restrictions or liquidity risk. Portfolio investments in
underlying funds will generally be charged the proportionate share of the expenses of investing
in the underlying fund(s).
Underlying managers are entitled to receive management fees, carried interest, performance-
based fees and/or other forms of compensation in respect of underlying funds or investment
vehicles, resulting in multiple layers of fees. A Client investing in an underlying fund (including
potentially a GC Fund) will generally be charged fees by both GC Wealth and the underlying
managers. In addition to paying fees at multiple levels, a Client will bear its share of the
transaction-related expenses and other operating costs of both the Client and its respective
investments (such as the underlying fund in which it invests).
As a result of the pooled nature of the GC Funds, even if a GC Fund’s overall performance is
negative, one or more of its investments may still have positive performance, and the GC Fund
(and therefore its investors, such as a Client) will still be charged an incentive fee by the
underlying manager, regardless of the overall performance of the GC Fund. There will generally
be no reduction in the Advisory Fees or Investment Management Fees, or any other potential
fees or compensation received by GC Wealth or one of its affiliates, with respect to the portion
of a Client’s capital that is invested in the underlying funds.
Use of Third-Party Managers. The use of third-party managers in investment programs
involves additional risks. The success of the third-party manager depends on the capabilities of
its investment management personnel and infrastructure, all of which may be adversely
impacted by the departure of key employees and other events. The future results of the third-
party manager may differ significantly from the third-party manager’s past performance. While
GC Wealth intends to employ reasonable diligence in evaluating and monitoring third-party
managers, no amount of diligence can eliminate the possibility that a third-party manager may
provide misleading, incomplete or false information or representations, or engage in improper
or fraudulent conduct, including unauthorized changes in investment strategy, insider trading,
misappropriation of assets and unsupportable valuations of portfolio securities.
Valuation Risk. The net asset value of a portfolio as of a particular date can be materially
greater than or less than its net asset value that would be determined if a portfolio’s investments
were to be liquidated as of such date. For example, if a portfolio was required to sell a certain
asset or all or a substantial portion of its assets on a particular date, the actual price that a
portfolio would realize upon the disposition of such asset or assets could be materially less than
the value of such asset or assets as reflected in the net asset value of a portfolio. Volatile market
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conditions could also cause reduced liquidity in the market for certain assets, which could result
in liquidation values that are materially less than the values of such assets as reflected in the net
asset value of a portfolio.
Volatility Risk. The prices of a portfolio’s investments can be highly volatile. Price movements
of assets are influenced by, among other things, interest rates, general economic conditions, the
condition of the financial markets, developments or trends in any particular industry, the
financial condition of the issuers of such assets, changing supply and demand relationships,
programs and policies of governments, and national and international political and economic
events and policies.
The foregoing is only a summary of the potential risks and is not a complete explanation
of the risks involved in investing in an investment strategy or engaging the assistance of
GC Wealth.
Item 9. Disciplinary Information
GC Wealth and its employees have not been involved in any legal or disciplinary events in the
past 10 years that would be material to a Client’s evaluation of GC Wealth or GC Wealth
Personnel.
Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
GC Wealth has certain financial industry affiliations that are material to its advisory business.
General Catalyst, an SEC-registered investment adviser is under common control with GC
Wealth through common ownership. Common ownership can create a conflict of interest. GC
Wealth believes that conflicts of interest between the two registered advisers as a result of
common ownership are mitigated as a result of several factors. For instance, GC Wealth’s
investment professionals are solely dedicated to GC Wealth. In addition, the advisers are not
direct or indirect competitors for investments or Clients. GC Wealth does have a conflict of
interest when (i) recommending or investing in private funds managed by General Catalyst (i.e.,
the GC Funds) or (ii) recommending or investing in portfolio companies of GC Funds; however,
GC Wealth believes those risks are partially mitigated as GC Wealth will only invest Client
assets in one or more GC Funds (or portfolio companies thereof) that it deems appropriate and
consistent with the Client’s investment plan and permitted by applicable law. GC Wealth has an
incentive to direct Client assets to its related person managed private funds or their portfolio
investments as a result of the compensation and fees paid to the related person for managing
private funds. See Item 11 for a discussion of conflicts of interest.
Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions, and Personal
Trading
Code of Ethics
GC Wealth maintains a written Code of Ethics that is applicable to all of its partners, officers
and employees, as well as certain part-time employees and certain independent contractors
(collectively, “GC Wealth Personnel”). The Code of Ethics, which is designed to comply with
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Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (as amended, the “Advisers Act”),
establishes guidelines for professional conduct and personal trading procedures, including
certain pre-clearance and reporting obligations. GC Wealth Personnel and their families and
households are permitted to purchase investments for their own accounts, including the same
investments as may be purchased or sold for Clients, subject to the terms of the Code of Ethics.
Under the Code of Ethics, GC Wealth Personnel are required to file certain periodic reports with
GC Wealth’s Chief Compliance Officer as required by Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act=.
The Code of Ethics helps GC Wealth detect and prevent conflicts of interest. GC Wealth
Personnel who violate the Code of Ethics may be subject to remedial actions, including, but not
limited to, profit disgorgement, fines, censure, demotion, suspension or dismissal. GC Wealth
Personnel are also required to promptly report any violation of the Code of Ethics of which they
become aware and are required to annually certify compliance with the Code of Ethics.
GC Wealth’s policies and procedures strictly prohibit engaging in insider trading and misuse of
confidential information. If GC Wealth Personnel come into possession of material non-public
information, GC Wealth may not be able to transact in a security or investment held on behalf
of a Client, even though such action would otherwise be in the best interest of a Client.
A copy of the Code of Ethics is available to any Client or prospective Client upon written request
to: GC Wealth Management RIA, LLC, 20 University Road, 4th Floor Cambridge,
Massachusetts 02138. GC Wealth reserves the right to refine and modify the Code of Ethics and
its other policies and procedures over time. No Client or prospective Client should invest with
GC Wealth on the basis of, or otherwise rely on, the provisions thereof, and any such refinements
or modifications have the potential materially to affect the investments available to Clients or
the expenses borne thereby.
Securities Recommendations
GC Wealth will invest its Clients, directly or indirectly, in one or more private funds managed
by its affiliate General Catalyst (i.e., the GC Funds) to the extent permitted by applicable law.
This relationship provides a financial incentive and other potential benefits for GC Wealth to
select GC Funds over private funds and similar accounts managed by unaffiliated investment
advisers. In addition, GC Wealth may invest in third-party funds and accounts, directly or
indirectly, that GC Wealth, its supervised persons, or related persons has a material financial
interest, which presents a conflict of interest in selecting one or more of those third-party funds
or accounts. GC Wealth will at all times make recommendations and investments that are in the
Client’s best interest and will mitigate and manage these, and other, conflicts of interest through
a variety of policies and practices, including the periodic review and assessment of Client
investments.
Conflicts of Interest
GC Wealth or a person affiliated with GC Wealth has, and in the future will likely have,
business, family or personal relationships with such private funds, third-party fund managers
and their managers, affiliated entities, or key principals. Similarly, affiliates of GC Wealth have,
and in the future will likely have, business relationships with Clients who invest in GC Funds.
These business relationships create conflicts of interest between GC Wealth and Clients. GC
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Wealth’s goal is to avoid conflicts of interest or address any identified conflict consistent with
the best interest of Clients. Addressing identified conflicts includes disclosing such conflicts or
mitigating the conflicts through internal controls and review processes.
While GC Wealth endeavors to resolve all conflicts in a fair and impartial manner, there can be
no assurance that its own interests will not influence its conduct and decisions.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
GC Wealth Personnel may invest in many of the same securities or assets as Clients in the same
or opposite direction. This practice will give rise to a variety of potential conflicts of interest.
To address these conflicts of interest, employees must obtain pre-clearance from the Chief
Compliance Officer prior to any reportable security transactions in their personal accounts.
Allocation of Investment Opportunities
In connection with its investment activities, GC Wealth will encounter situations in which it
must determine how to allocate investment opportunities, including private offerings, across and
among various Clients. GC Wealth maintains written policies and procedures relating to the
allocation of investment opportunities as well as adheres to investment limitations as described
in the IMAs.
Managed Fund Fees
Affiliates of GC Wealth receive Investment Management Fees and performance fees from the
GC Funds. A GC Fund will also from time to time make other payments to GC Wealth or its
affiliates.
Additionally, consistent with each GC Fund’s governing documents (which may include, but
are not limited to, the limited partnership agreement, subscription agreements, private placement
memorandum and side letters, collectively “Governing Documents”), the GC Funds bear certain
expenses incurred by GC Wealth and/or affiliates of GC Wealth in connection with the services
provided to the GC Funds. Investment management fees are compensation for investment
advisory services rendered to a GC Fund, calculated based on the GC Funds’ net asset value or
committed capital amounts, as described in the relevant GC Fund’s Governing Documents
(“Investment Management Fee”).
Principal Transactions
Section 206 under the Advisers Act regulates principal transactions among an investment
adviser and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the clients thereof, on the other hand. Generally,
if an investment adviser or an affiliate thereof proposes to purchase a security from, or sell a
security to, a client (what is commonly referred to as a “principal transaction”), the adviser must
make certain disclosures to the client of the terms of the proposed transaction and obtain the
client’s consent to the transaction. In connection with GC Wealth’s management of Clients, GC
Wealth and its affiliates may engage in principal transactions. GC Wealth maintains certain
policies and procedures to comply with the requirements of the Advisers Act as they relate to
principal transactions, including the disclosures required by Section 206 of the Advisers Act be
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made to the applicable Client(s) regarding any proposed principal transactions and that any
required prior consent to the transaction be received.
Cross-Transactions
In certain cases, GC Wealth may cause a Client to purchase investments from another Client or
may cause a Client to sell investments to another Client, although GC Wealth has not in the past
engaged in such transactions. Such transactions create conflicts of interest because, by not
exposing such buy and sell transactions to market forces, a Client may not receive the best price
otherwise possible, or GC Wealth might have an incentive to improve the performance of one
Client by selling underperforming assets to another Client in order, for example, to earn fees.
Additionally, in connection with such transactions, GC Wealth, its affiliates and/or their
professionals (i) may have significant investments, or intentions to invest, in a GC Fund or other
vehicle or account that is selling and/or purchasing such an investment or (ii) otherwise have a
direct or indirect interest in the investment (such as through certain other participations in the
investment). GC Wealth and its affiliates have the potential to receive advisory, management or
other fees and/or carried interest or performance-based compensation in connection with their
management of the relevant Clients involved in such a transaction and may also be entitled to
share in the investment profits of the relevant Clients. To address these conflicts of interest, in
connection with effecting such transactions, GC Wealth will follow the allocation procedures
of the relevant Clients (e.g., the IMAs may provide for the rebalancing of investments at certain
times and at a cost set forth in those IMAs so that these Clients’ resulting ownership of
investments is generally proportionate to the relative capital or capital commitment of the
Client). To the extent such matters are not addressed in the allocation procedures, GC Wealth’s
Chief Compliance Officer will be responsible for confirming that GC Wealth (i) considers its
respective duties to each Client, (ii) assesses whether the purchase or sale and price or other
terms are comparable to what could be obtained through an arm’s length transaction with a third
party on commercially reasonable terms, and (iii) obtains any required approvals of the
transaction’s terms and conditions.
Material, Nonpublic Information
GC Wealth could potentially (and its affiliates from time to time) receive material, non-public
information regarding issuers, including through its members who participate on the board of
directors of other entities, which in some cases may expose such persons to material non-public
information regarding other issuers that may fall within a Client’s investment objectives. Under
applicable law and policies, employees of GC Wealth are generally prohibited from disclosing
or using material non-public information for their own personal benefit or for the benefit of any
other person, regardless of whether that person is a Client. Accordingly, should an employee of
GC Wealth obtain material, non-public information with respect to an issuer, he or she is
generally prohibited from communicating that information to, or using that information for the
benefit of Clients. Accordingly, receipt of material non-public information by GC Wealth or its
employees may impact the ability of Clients to buy, sell or hold certain investments, which may
adversely impact Clients’ investment results. GC Wealth has no obligation or responsibility to
disclose the information to, or use such information for the benefit of, any person (including
Clients) even if requested of GC Wealth or its affiliates and even if failure to do so would be
detrimental to the interests of that person.
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Adviser Relationships with Service Providers
It is GC Wealth’s practice to select service providers for Clients that it believes are in the best
interests of the applicable Client based on their merits, and not based on the personal interests
of GC Wealth and its affiliates. GC Wealth generally may, in its discretion, recommend to a
Client that it contract for services with a service provider with which GC Wealth, its affiliates
or GC Wealth Personnel has a relationship or from which GC Wealth, its affiliates or GC Wealth
Personnel derives or could derive financial or other benefits. For example, GC Wealth will
generally recommend to Clients to use certain banking institutions where GC Wealth believes
the banking institution will provide favorable loan terms to Clients based on such banking
institution’s relationship with GC Wealth and/or GC Wealth’s affiliates (including General
Catalyst). Should the service provider no longer have a relationship with GC Wealth or its
affiliates, Clients may no longer benefit from such favorable terms. Such relationships with a
service provider may influence GC Wealth in determining whether to select or recommend such
service provider to Clients.
Item 12. Brokerage Practices
Best Execution
GC Wealth is not affiliated with any custodian or broker-dealer but is party to a services
agreement with an unaffiliated custodian and broker-dealer.
With limited exceptions, GC Wealth has sole discretion to select broker-dealers or other
execution facilities in executing Client trades. In selecting or recommending brokers, most often
with respect to trading in publicly-traded securities, GC Wealth seeks best execution, which
involves a number of qualitative and quantitative factors. In seeking best execution, GC Wealth
need not solicit competitive bids and does not have an obligation to seek or pay the lowest
available commission or execution cost. In selecting a broker, GC Wealth takes into account,
among other things, the broker’s commission rate, execution capabilities and costs, actual
experience, efficiency, promptness, financial stability, reputation, confidentiality, and research
or other services provided by the broker. Currently, GC Wealth generally recommends that
Clients utilize the custody and brokerage services of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
(“Fidelity”), an unaffiliated broker-dealer and custodian.
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
GC Wealth does not have any formal soft dollar arrangements; however, in the normal course
of business, GC Wealth receives research customarily made available by broker-dealers to their
customers. GC Wealth believes that it would obtain such research regardless of the amount of
commissions it generates throughout the year, and any receipt of such research will be in
accordance with the safe harbor provided by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. Certain brokers and custodians utilized by GC Wealth provide general
assistance to GC Wealth, including, but not limited to, technical support, consulting services,
waivers of fees, and consulting services related to staffing needs. In selecting a broker, GC
Wealth considers the scope of general assistance, waivers of fees, and consulting services
provided. To the extent GC Wealth would otherwise be obligated to pay for such assistance, GC
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Wealth would have a conflict of interest in considering those services when selecting a broker.
However, GC Wealth’s selection is supported by the scope, quality, and price of services to its
Clients and not the services that benefit GC Wealth.
Directed Brokerage
With limited exceptions, GC Wealth will not accept any Client’s directed brokerage instructions.
In the limited situations where a Client directs GC Wealth to use a specific broker and GC
Wealth has not negotiated the terms and conditions (including, but not limited to, commission
rates), GC Wealth does not have any responsibility for obtaining the best prices or particular
commission rates. GC Wealth will not seek better execution services or prices from other
broker-dealers or be able to aggregate the Client’s transactions, for execution through other
broker-dealers, with orders for other accounts advised or managed by GC Wealth. As a result,
in these cases of directed brokerage, GC Wealth may not obtain best execution on behalf of the
Client, who may pay materially disparate commissions, greater spreads or other transaction
costs, or receive less favorable net prices on transactions for the account than would otherwise
be the case. If a Client’s broker-dealer cannot execute a transaction on the Client’s behalf, or in
GC Wealth’s sole discretion, GC Wealth determines that the transaction should not be executed
by the Client’s broker- dealer, GC Wealth has a duty of best execution and may aggregate Client
transactions, as well as, effect the transaction through a different broker, dealer, or bank,
including those affiliated with GC Wealth. Other Clients who direct GC Wealth to use a specific
broker may pay higher commission rates or receive less favorable execution transactions than
non-directing Clients.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
GC Wealth does not consider, in selecting or recommending broker-dealers, Client referrals
from a broker-dealer.
Order Aggregation and Allocation of Trades
GC Wealth and its affiliates have several investment strategies and several types of Clients. At
times, there will be transactions executed to purchase or sell the same investment in more than
one strategy. When there are concurrent transactions across GC Wealth managed accounts, GC
Wealth’s objective is to allocate trades equitably and consistent with its duties to Clients. In
doing so, GC Wealth takes into consideration a number of factors, including, but not limited to,
Client objectives, capacity, availability of funds, and consideration of pro-rata allocations.
Where possible, GC Wealth will aggregate orders of Clients. In situations where aggregated
trades are executed in multiple lots at varying prices, each participating Client’s proportionate
share will reflect the average price paid or received with respect to the aggregate order.
Allocation decisions are made in conformance with basic fiduciary principles, so as to seek fair
and equitable treatment of each Client participating in the aggregated trade. Instances in which
Client trades will not be aggregated include, but are not limited to, the following:
● Clients whose account guidelines have certain requirements unique to that Client which
would make trade aggregation impractical or not in the best interest of all Clients;
● The timing of the trades entered during the trading day; and
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● Traders and/or Wealth Managers determine that aggregation is not appropriate due to
market conditions.
GC Wealth will rely on the judgment of trading personnel as to what course of action is likely
to be fair and in the best interests of the relevant accounts on an overall basis. Transactions
involving commingled orders will be allocated in a manner deemed equitable by GC Wealth to
each Client account. GC Wealth seeks to avoid putting any Client account at an advantage or
disadvantage compared to GC Wealth’s other Client accounts that are buying or selling the same
security. When a combined order is executed in a series of transactions at different prices, each
Client account participating in the order will typically be allocated an average price obtained
from the executing broker. To help ensure the equitable distribution of investment opportunities
among its Clients, GC Wealth has adopted written trade allocation guidelines for GC Wealth
Personnel.
Item 13. Review of Accounts
GC Wealth’s investment professionals routinely review portfolios to monitor performance,
liquidity, and suitability of investments as well as assess investment opportunities for Clients
and determine whether rebalancing or reallocations are warranted. Such reviews are typically
performed on a monthly basis. Similarly, the performance of third-party investment funds is
monitored on a regular basis and is subject to ongoing supervision and review by GC Wealth’s
investment professionals.
A Client’s custodian provides at least quarterly reports to the Client showing the assets held in
each Client account at the relevant custodian, the market value, and each account’s change in
value for the quarter. Certain assets, such as private investments, will not be held in a custodial
account and any valuations or reports related thereto shall be provided by GC Wealth or the
underlying manager of such private investments.
Moreover, Clients should be aware that it is possible that certain independent systems used by
GC Wealth or provided to, or used by, a Client may reflect slightly different values for certain
securities in a Client’s account as opposed to what the Client receives in its custodial statement,
which may come as a result of different accrual methodologies, for example. However, a
Client’s custodial statements shall serve as the official books and records for the Client’s
account, regardless of whether a lower valuation is provided.
Clients have periodic meetings with their respective Wealth Managers to discuss their portfolios,
and will receive reports, including balance and performance information, in connection with
these meetings.
Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation
GC Wealth does not receive any economic benefit from any third party for providing advisory
services. In certain instances, GC Wealth expects to refer Clients to other service providers,
including insurance providers, and will be paid a referral fee or percentage of revenue share for
such referral.
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GC Wealth expects to have arrangements in place with certain third-party promoters, under
which such promoters refer clients to GC Wealth in exchange for a percentage of the advisory
fees GC Wealth collects from such referred clients. Such compensation creates an incentive for
the promoters to refer clients to GC Wealth, which is a conflict of interest for the promoters.
Rule 206(4)-1 of the Advisers Act addresses this conflict of interest by, among other things,
requiring disclosure of whether the promoter is a client or a non-client and a description of the
material conflicts of interest and material terms of the compensation arrangement with the
promoter. GC Wealth requires promoters to disclose to referred clients in writing whether the
promoter is a client or a non-client; that the promoter will be compensated for the referral; the
material conflicts of interest arising from the relationship and/or compensation arrangement;
and the material terms of the compensation arrangement, including a description of the
compensation to be provided for the referral.
Item 15. Custody
While GC Wealth is not a qualified custodian and does not generally have physical custody of
Client assets, GC Wealth is deemed to have legal custody of some of its Clients’ assets in
accordance with Rule 206(4)-2 under the Advisers Act (“Custody Rule”) because GC Wealth
(i) has authority to deduct its advisory fees out of Client Accounts, (ii) in some cases may have
the ability to transfer funds through the use of a standing letter of authorization, and (iii) its
affiliate General Catalyst will have custody of assets invested in any GC Fund.
Clients’ funds and securities are maintained at all times in a separate account by a qualified
custodian. GC Wealth and Clients receive statements from the custodians and GC Wealth uses
those statements to create quarterly reports for its Clients. In cases where GC Wealth has custody
over Client accounts because it is given authority to move assets out of those accounts, GC
Wealth would follow the requirements of the Custody Rule, including obtaining independent
verification of the assets in the accounts and maintaining the assets at a qualified custodian that
sends statements directly to Clients at least quarterly. In those situations, Clients will receive
account statements directly from the broker-dealer or bank acting as custodian, and Clients
should carefully review those statements. Clients should compare the statements they receive
from the custodians to all statements, reports and information they receive from GC Wealth.
On occasion, GC Wealth provides Clients with separate reports or certain information about the
account. Clients should compare these carefully to the account statements received from the
custodian. If Clients discover any discrepancy between the account statement provided by GC
Wealth and the account statement provided by the custodian, they should contact GC Wealth
immediately.
GC Wealth’s Clients use their custodians to provide custody, trading and other services as it
relates to the terms of the IMA. Different custodians offer higher or lower trading costs and
overall service offerings differ from custodian to custodian.
Item 16. Investment Discretion
Each IMA generally authorizes GC Wealth to invest and trade the Client’s assets in a broad
range of investments, to be selected at GC Wealth’s sole discretion, with no specific limitations
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as to type, amount, or concentration. GC Wealth will enter into any type of investment
transaction and employ any investment methodology or strategy it deems appropriate, including,
in cases where it deems to be in the Client’s best interests, allocating to GC Funds. Each Client
authorizes GC Wealth to execute certain documents necessary to facilitate the Client’s
investments. In making investments on behalf of Clients, GC Wealth exercises its discretion in
a manner consistent with the Client’s stated goals and investment objectives.
In limited circumstances, GC Wealth may enter into an IMA that only grants it non-discretionary
authority whereby GC Wealth must obtain a Client’s approval before executing on an
investment recommendation.
Item 17. Voting Client Securities
GC Wealth will vote Client proxies where such responsibility has been properly delegated to
(via the IMA) and assumed by GC Wealth. GC Wealth casts proxy votes in a manner consistent
with the best interest of Clients. In the event that GC Wealth has authority to vote proxies for a
Client, GC Wealth expects to delegate the responsibility to review proxy proposals and make
voting recommendations to a non-affiliated third-party vendor. Proxies will be voted consistent
with GC Wealth’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures. GC Wealth will use reasonable efforts
to ensure that the third-party vendor has developed policies and procedures that ensure that
Client proxies are voted in the best interest of Clients. Clients may retain the authority to vote
all proxies in their account, but a Client may not otherwise direct GC Wealth’s vote for particular
solicitations.
If GC Wealth becomes aware of any type of potential or actual conflict of interest relating to a
particular proxy proposal, GC Wealth’s Chief Compliance Officer will be responsible for
resolving the conflict. GC Wealth can resolve the conflict in a number of ways depending on
the type and materiality. The method selected by GC Wealth will depend upon the facts and
circumstances of each situation and the requirements of applicable laws.
At any time, Clients may contact GC Wealth to request information about how proxies were
voted for such Client’s securities or to obtain a copy of GC Wealth’s Proxy Voting Policies and
Procedures.
Item 18. Financial Information
GC Wealth does not have any financial conditions that are likely to impair its ability to meet
contractual commitments to its Clients.
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