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Part 2A Appendix 1 of Form ADV: Wrap Fee Program Brochure
WrapManager, Inc. dba
Assembly Wealth
319 Miller Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-541-7774
www.letsassemble.com
March 27, 2025
This wrap fee program brochure provides information about the qualifications
and business practices of Assembly Wealth. If you have any questions about
the contents of this brochure, please contact us at 415-541-7774 or
compliance@letsassemble.com. The information in this brochure has not been
approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
or by any state securities authority.
Registration with the SEC or with any state securities authority does not imply a
certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Assembly Wealth also is available on the SEC's
website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. You can search this site by a unique
identifying number, known as a CRD number. Our firm's CRD number is
108834.
Item 2
Material Changes
The following summarizes new or revised disclosures based on information previously provided in
our Wrap Fee Program Brochure dated March 26, 2024:
Item 4: Assembly added details around the use of sub-advisors for certain client accounts and
updated its Financial Planning fees.
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Item 3 Table of Contents
Item 1
Cover Page
1
Item 2 Material Changes
2
Item 3
Table of Contents
3
Item 4
Services Fees and Compensation
4
Item 5
Account Requirements and Types of Client
13
Item 6
Portfolio Manager Selection and Evaluation
14
Item 7
Client Information Provided to Portfolio Managers
19
Item 8
Client Contact With Portfolio Managers
19
Item 9
Additional Information
20
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Item 4 Services Fees and Compensation
The Program Sponsored by Assembly Wealth:
Through the Assembly Wealth Wrap Fee Program (referred to as the “Program”) clients will receive
investment supervisory services through continuous investment advice that is based upon the
individual needs of the client. Various investment strategies are provided under the Program, and an
investment strategy is crafted for each client tailored to their goals and objectives. Clients are given
the ability to impose reasonable restrictions on their accounts including specific investment
selections and sectors subject to approval. We will obtain information from clients in order to
determine their financial situation and investment objectives and will manage the accounts
accordingly. Clients are always responsible for notifying Assembly Wealth of any changes to their
financial situation or investment objectives or if they want to impose and/or modify any reasonable
restrictions on the management of accounts managed under the Program. At least annually, we will
attempt to contact each client for the specific purpose of determining whether there have been any
changes to their financial situation, investment objectives, or if they would like to impose and/or
modify any reasonable restrictions on the management of their accounts. We are always reasonably
available to consult with clients relative to the status of their accounts. A client’s beneficial interest in
a security does not represent an undivided interest in all the securities held by the custodian, but
rather represents a direct and beneficial interest in the securities which comprise the accounts. A
separate account is always maintained for each client with the broker-dealer/custodian and the
client retains all rights of ownership to their accounts (e. g. right to withdraw securities or cash,
exercise or delegate proxy voting, and receive transaction confirmations). The Assembly Wealth
Investment Policy Committee is responsible for choosing the investment options approved for use
with clients. Depending on the objectives and situation of each client, the allocation may include a
combination of third-party manager strategies implemented by Assembly Wealth and internal
strategies designed by Assembly Wealth or an entire account may be managed entirely using third-
party manager strategies or strategies designed by Assembly Wealth. The account may also be
allocated to an investment objective driven model designed and managed by the Assembly Wealth
Investment Policy Committee. Assembly Wealth will have discretion to change the investments and
individual securities within the model in line with the investment objective. We are given
discretionary authority to implement securities transactions in program account(s). As program
sponsor, Assembly Wealth serves as investment manager, monitors the performance of the
strategies in use, provides administration for the accounts, implements client restrictions and other
requests, and provides a copy of this Wrap Fee Brochure at the time the client enters into an
investment advisory agreement with Assembly Wealth. Portfolio Strategist’s Form ADV Disclosure
Brochure or other written information about the Portfolio Strategist is made available upon request.
Assembly Wealth or a related person does not act as a principal (buys securities for itself or sells
securities it owns to any client) in the Program. Assembly Wealth or a related person does not affect
transactions in which client securities are sold to or bought from a brokerage (commission-only)
client.
Investment Management and Portfolio Strategists
Assembly Wealth provides Investment Management services to accounts. Our Investment Policy
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Committee selects various portfolio strategies developed by third-party money managers and
develops internal portfolio strategies for clients. We refer to third-party money managers as Portfolio
Strategists throughout this brochure. Portfolio Strategists have not been granted trading authority
over client accounts and do not have access to our client accounts. Instead, Portfolio Strategists
develop model portfolio strategies and provide trade signals to Assembly Wealth. After we have
selected a strategy or strategies for an account, we will receive ongoing updates and
recommendations from the Portfolio Strategist. We are then responsible for implementing changes
to the allocation in your account and are therefore granted discretionary authority on your account.
The investment strategies offered by Assembly Wealth are identified by our Investment Policy
Committee. Members of this Committee develop internal strategies and select from third party
Portfolio Strategists to fulfill designated investment objectives. We perform due diligence as part of
our selection of Portfolio Strategists used to implement investment strategies. Clients will work with
their Investment Advisor Representative to determine the amount of assets to be managed using
one or more strategies. Assembly Wealth directs the investment and reinvestment of the assets
allocated to that Portfolio Strategist on a discretionary basis.
We have discretionary authority to add, adjust allocation or terminate Portfolio Strategists from the
client’s account or to replace a Portfolio Strategist with a Assembly Wealth directed strategy which
allows us to direct the investment and reinvestment of the client’s assets. Please refer to Item 6 for
more details.
Assembly has contracted with select third-party subadvisors to assist in managing certain client
accounts or a portion of the account in order to access certain investment portfolios or strategies.
Client will sign an application with the custodian to authorize the sub-advisor to access and trade the
account. The sub-advisor is responsible for all investment-related decisions and trading in the client
account or account portion allocated to them. Any fee due to a sub-advisor is paid out of the
program fee Assembly receives from the client and is not charged to the client account directly.
Assembly retains the authority to hire and fire sub-advisors at our discretion.
Additional Fees for Stand-Alone Services
Financial Planning Services Fees (Stand-Alone)
For client’s engaging Assembly Wealth for stand-alone financial planning, fees are
negotiable, but generally range from $2,500 to $5,000 on a fixed fee basis, and from $125 to
$1,200 on an hourly rate basis, depending upon the level and scope of the service(s)
required and the professional(s) rendering the service(s).
Administrative Services Provided by ORION Advisor Services, LLC
Assembly Wealth has engaged ORION Advisor Services, LLC (referred to as “ORION”) to utilize
its technology platforms for support in administering the Program. Specifically, ORION helps to
support data reconciliation, performance reporting, fee calculation and billing, research, client
database maintenance, quarterly performance evaluations, payable reports, model and trading
management, and other functions related to the administrative tasks of managing client accounts.
Due to this arrangement, ORION will have access to client accounts, but ORION will not serve as
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an investment advisor to Assembly Wealth clients. Assembly Wealth and ORION are non-affiliated
companies. ORION charges an annual fee, payable quarterly, for each account administered by
ORION. The annual fee is paid from a portion of the overall management fee charged by
Assembly Wealth.
Securities Class Action Filing and Recovery Services Provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions
Assembly Wealth has contracted with Broadridge Financial Solutions as service provider for
Securities Class Actions Filing and Recovery. They will assist with identifying eligible accounts and
submitting claims on behalf of clients for class action lawsuits involving securities held in or
formerly held in the Account. We will provide Broadridge with purchase and sale transaction
information to identify accounts and file claims for all to which they are entitled. For successful
claims resulting in payment, Broadridge will charge a contingency fee of 17.5% of the total claim
payment.
Brokerage, Clearing and Custody
Charles Schwab Advisor Services
Program accounts must be established directly through Charles Schwab Advisor Services as a
result of Assembly Wealth’s participation in their Institutional advisor program.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. ("Schwab"), a FINRA registered broker-dealer, member SIPC, will
serve as the client’s qualified custodian and maintain physical custody of all client funds and
securities held in the Program. Clients must designate Assembly Wealth as the investment advisor
on the accounts Assembly Wealth is to manage. Assembly Wealth will be granted limited power-
of- attorney on the account to implement trades within the account.
Assembly Wealth has established an institutional relationship with Charles Schwab & Co.,
(“Schwab”) through its Advisor Services unit, a division of Schwab dedicated to serving
independent advisory firms. As a registered investment advisor participating on the Schwab
Advisor Services platform, we receive access to software and related support without cost because
the Advisor renders investment management services to clients that maintain assets at Schwab.
Services provided by Schwab Advisor Services benefit the Advisor and many, but not all services
provided by Schwab will benefit clients. In
fulfilling its duties to its clients, the Advisor endeavors at all times to put the interests of its clients
first. Clients should be aware, however, that the receipt of economic benefits from a custodian
creates a conflict of interest since these benefits may influence the Advisor's recommendation of
this Custodian over one that does not furnish similar software, systems support, or services.
Services that Benefit the client – Schwab’s institutional brokerage services include access to a
broad range of investment products, execution of securities transactions, and custody of the
client’s funds and securities.
Services that May Indirectly Benefit the Client – Schwab provides participating advisors with
access to technology, research, discounts, and other services. In addition, the Advisor receives
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duplicate statements for client accounts, the ability to deduct advisory fees, trading tools, and back-
office support services as part of its relationship with Schwab. These services are intended to
assist the Advisor in effectively managing accounts for its clients but may not directly benefit all
clients.
Services that May Only Benefit the Advisor – Schwab also offers other services to that may not
benefit the client, including educational conferences and events, consulting services, and discounts
for various service providers. Access to these services creates a financial incentive for the Advisor
to recommend Schwab, which results in a conflict of interest. Assembly Wealth believes, however,
that the selection of Schwab as Custodian is in the best interests of its clients.
Schwab’s Brokerage Services
In addition to advisory services, the wrap fee program includes certain brokerage services of
Charles Schwab & Co., (“Schwab”) a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and a member of FINRA and SIPC. We are independently owned and operated and
not affiliated with Schwab. Schwab will act solely as a broker-dealer and not as an investment
advisor to you. It will have no discretion over your account and will act solely on instructions it
receives from us or you. Schwab has no responsibility for our services and undertakes no duty to
you to monitor our management of your account or other services we provide to you. Schwab will
hold your assets in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities and execute other transactions
when we or you instruct them to. We do not open the account for you.
Aggregation of Client Orders
Transactions implemented by Assembly Wealth for client accounts are generally affected
independently, unless we decide to purchase or sell the same securities for several clients at
approximately the same time. This process is referred to as aggregating orders, batch trading or
block trading and is used by our Firm when Assembly Wealth believes such action may prove
advantageous to clients. When Assembly Wealth aggregates client orders, the allocation of
securities among client accounts will be done on a fair and equitable basis. Typically, the process
of aggregating client orders is done in order to achieve better execution, to negotiate more
favorable commission rates or to allocate orders among clients on a more equitable basis in order
to avoid differences in prices and transaction fees or other transaction costs that might be obtained
when orders are placed independently. Under this procedure, transactions will be averaged as to
price and will be allocated among our Firm’s clients in proportion to the purchase and sale orders
placed for each client account on any given day. It should be noted, Assembly Wealth does not
receive any additional compensation or remuneration as a result of aggregation.
Custody
Custody, as it applies to investment advisors has been defined by regulators as having access or
control over client funds and/ or securities. In other words, custody is not limited to physically
holding client funds and securities. If an investment advisor has the ability to access or control
client funds or securities, the investment advisor is deemed to have custody and must ensure
proper procedures are implemented. It should be noted that our Firm does have limited
discretionary authority to transfer funds between a client’s accounts with similar registrations held
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with a qualified custodian and may send funds to the client’s address on record if requested by the
client. However, regulators have provided guidance stating that transfers between accounts owned
by the same client and trading authorization over a client’s account does not constitute custody.
Although the Firm does not have custody under the above circumstances, Assembly Wealth has
established procedures to (1) ensure all client funds and securities are held at a qualified
custodian, in a separate account for each client under that client’s name; (2) each client or an
independent representative of the client will direct, in writing, the establishment of all accounts and
therefore are aware of the qualified custodian’s name, address and the manner in which the funds
or securities are maintained; and finally (3) account statements are delivered directly from the
qualified custodian to each client, or the client’s independent representative, at least quarterly.
Clients should carefully review these statements and are urged to compare the statements against
any reports received directly from Assembly Wealth. When clients have questions about their
account statements, they should contact Assembly Wealth or the qualified custodian preparing the
statement.
Custody Resulting from Standing Letters of Authorization (SLOA)
The Investment Advisor Association (IAA) submitted a request to the SEC’s Division of Investment
Management for interpretive guidance or no-action relief relating to Rule 206(4)-2 under the
Advisers Act (the “Custody Rule”) with respect to certain standing letter of authorization (SLOA)
arrangements.
SLOA arrangements are put in place whereby the client instructs the qualified custodian
maintaining the client’s account to transfer assets to a designated third party pursuant to future
requests by the client’s adviser in accordance with the limited authority the client grants to the
adviser.
In its letter, the IAA stated that it is common for an advisory client to grant its registered investment
advisor the power, through a SLOA, to disburse funds to specifically designated third parties.
Granting this power to an investment adviser is helpful in situations where the. client owns multiple
accounts with different purposes across multiple custodians. Typically, under such an
arrangement, the client grants authority to the adviser, then the client instructs the custodian to
transfer assets to the designated third parties on the adviser’s command. After issuing a SLOA, the
client retains power to change or revoke the arrangement, and the adviser’s authority is limited by
the specific terms of the SLOA. The IAA letter sets forth the staff’s position that a SLOA, as
described above, imputes “custody” to an advisor under the Custody Rule. The SEC staff noted
that this type of SLOA “would constitute an arrangement under which an investment adviser is
authorized to withdraw client funds or securities maintained with a qualified custodian upon its
instruction to the qualified custodian.” The staff
recognized that the scope and content of SLOA’s may vary. However, a SLOA that is structured in
a way that the advisor does not have discretion as to the amount, payee and timing of transfers
would not implicate the Custody Rule. On the other hand, the staff took the position that a SLOA
that authorizes the adviser to make determinations as to the amount and timing of payments, but
not the identity of the payee, represents sufficient authority to result in the advisor having “custody”
under the rule. In response to the IAA, the SEC staff agreed that it would not recommend
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enforcement action against an investment adviser if that advisor does not obtain a surprise
examination, as otherwise required under the Custody Rule, if the advisor acts pursuant to a SLOA
if the following conditions are met:
1. The client provides instructions to the qualified custodian, in writing, that includes the
client’s signature, the third party’s name, and either the third party’s address or the third
party’s account number at a custodian to which the transfer should be directed.
2. The client authorizes the investment advisor, in writing, either on the qualified custodian’s
form or separately, to direct transfers to a third party either on a specified schedule or from
time to time.
3. The client’s qualified custodian performs appropriate verification of the instructions, as a
signature review or other method to verify the client’s authorization and provides a transfer
of funds notice to the client promptly after each transfer.
4. The client has the ability to terminate or modify the instructions to the client’s qualified
custodian at any time.
5. The investment adviser has no authority to designate or change the identity of the third
party, the address, or any other information about the third party contained in the client’s
instruction.
6. The investment adviser maintains records evidencing that the third party is not a related
party of the investment adviser or located at the same address as the investment adviser.
7. The client’s qualified custodian sends the client, in writing, an initial notice confirming the
instructions and an annual notice reconfirming the instruction.
In conjunction with the guidance above, Assembly Wealth will be deemed to have custody over
some client funds in certain situations due to SLOAs. Assembly Wealth works with a qualified
custodian to meet the seven conditions listed above.
Fees
Program Fees
Management fees for Program accounts are calculated and billed quarterly in advance based on
the total value of the client’s assets under management in the Program at the end of the prior
quarter. Please note that Assembly Wealth continues to treat cash as an asset class. As such,
unless determined to the contrary by Assembly Wealth, all cash positions (money markets, etc.)
shall continue to be included as part of assets under management for purposes of calculating
Assembly Wealth’s advisory fee. At any specific point in time, depending upon perceived or
anticipated market conditions/events (there being no guarantee that such anticipated market
conditions/events will occur), or upon specific client request, Assembly Wealth may maintain cash
positions for defensive purposes. In addition, while assets are maintained in cash, such amounts
could miss market advances. Depending upon current yields, at any point in time, Assembly
Wealth’s advisory fee could exceed the interest paid by the client’s money market fund.
The annual management fee charged for the Program may be negotiated with each client. The
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maximum annual fee charged in the Program is 2.00%. Subject to this maximum, the fee may
be a fixed rate applicable to all assets in the account or a schedule of rates applicable to different
breakpoints. The Program fees set forth in this Wrap Fee Program Brochure are the maximum
annual rates for each Program. Fees are negotiated and may differ from client to client based on a
number of factors, including the type and size of the account, and the selected investment
manager(s), among other possible criteria. The actual rates agreed upon between the client and
our firm with respect to a Program account are set forth in the related client agreement signed by
both Assembly Wealth and the client. Fees are deducted directly from a client’s brokerage
account. The qualified custodian, i.e. Schwab, will send client brokerage account statements, at
least quarterly, showing all disbursements for the account including the amount of the advisory fee,
when deducted directly from the account. Additionally, if a client has multiple managed accounts,
they may choose to aggregate the fees charged in accounts to be deducted from a specified
account. When fees are paid from other accounts, management fee debits will be noted on the
account from which they are deducted.
The program fee covers Assembly Wealth’s advisory services, ORION and Portfolio Strategists.
Portfolio Strategist expenses vary by portfolio and are included in the overall fee paid by the client.
When Assembly Wealth acts as portfolio strategist, Assembly Wealth will retain a larger portion of
the program fee than when a third-party portfolio strategist is chosen. Further, the program fee
covers trade execution fees and custodial fees charged by Charles Schwab. Custodial fees vary
depending on the underlying investments chosen and therefore Assembly Wealth may retain a
larger portion of the overall program fee when the underlying investments do not trigger a custodial
fee or transaction fee. Clients are not charged transaction fees separately from the program fee.
Program may cost the client more or less than purchasing such advisory and execution services
separately. A wrap fee is not based directly on the number of transactions in your account. Various
factors influence the relative cost of our wrap fee program to you, including the cost of our
investment advice, custody and brokerage services if you purchased them separately, the types of
investments held in your account, and the frequency, type and size of trades in your account. As
disclosed in this section, Assembly Wealth receives compensation because of a client’s
participation in Program. Assembly Wealth therefore has a financial incentive to recommend
Program over other programs or services. The amount of Assembly Wealth’s compensation may
be more than what a client would receive if the client participated in programs sponsored by other
financial firms or paid separately for investment advice, brokerage, and other services. For
securities purchased in Schwab accounts, Assembly Wealth is not eligible to receive any
compensation (e.g. commissions or ticket charges) for the sale of securities products or other
investment products.
When managing a client's account on a wrap fee basis, we receive as compensation for our
investment advisory services, the balance of the total program fee you pay after custodial, trading
and other management costs (including execution and transaction fees) have been deducted.
Accordingly, we have a conflict of interest because we have a financial incentive to maximize our
compensation by seeking to reduce or minimize the total costs incurred in your account(s) subject
to a wrap fee. Schwab and other custodians have eliminated transaction fees for online trades of
U.S. equities, ETFs and options (subject to a per contract fee). This means that, in most cases,
when we buy and sell these types of securities, we will not have to pay any commissions to
Schwab. We do not charge our clients higher advisory fees based on their trading activity, but you
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should be aware that we have an incentive to limit our trading in your account(s) in securities for
which Schwab charges transactions fees because we are charged for those executed trades. We
encourage you to review Schwab’s pricing to compare the total costs of entering into a wrap fee
arrangement versus a non- wrap fee arrangement. If you choose to enter into a wrap fee
arrangement, your total cost to invest could exceed the cost of paying for brokerage and advisory
services separately.
Adjustments for deposits/withdrawals
In addition, a pro-rated monthly fee adjustment is made in arrears for deposits or withdrawals
made to the account during the quarter. For example, if you deposit money to your account after
the advanced quarterly fee is assessed, the net value of the deposit minus any withdrawals will be
calculated on a pro- rated basis for the days left remaining in the quarter and will be charged to the
account the following month. The ORION system is utilized for the calculation and billing of
management fees which are then debited by the custodian. Clients should check the accuracy of
fees billed on their accounts. Program fees will be noted on the Client’s statements of the account
debited.
Other Fees
Our wrap fee does not cover all fees and costs. Fees not included in the wrap fee include charges
imposed directly by a mutual fund, index fund, or exchange traded fund which shall be disclosed in
the fund’s prospectus (i.e., fund management fees and other fund expenses), mark-ups and mark-
downs, spreads paid to market makers, fees (such as a commission or markup) for trades
executed away from Custodian at another broker-dealer, wire transfer fees and other fees and
taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Costs imposed by third parties, such as
transfer taxes, odd-lot differentials, certificate delivery fees, reorganization fees, and any other fees
required by law. Custodian also charges for additional services such wire transfer fees and fees for
alternative investments.
Securities Class Actions Filing and Recovery Contingency Fee
Assembly Wealth has contracted with Broadridge Financial Solutions as service provider for
Securities Class Actions Filing and Recovery. They will assist with identifying eligible accounts and
submitting claims on behalf of clients for class action lawsuits involving securities held in or
formerly held in the Account. We will provide Broadridge with purchase and sale transaction
information to identify accounts and file claims for all to which they are entitled. For successful
claims resulting in payment, Broadridge will charge a contingency fee of 17.5% of the total claim
payment.
Referral Fee
If a client is introduced to Assembly Wealth by a promoter, Assembly Wealth will pay that promoter
a referral fee in accordance with the requirements of Rule 206(4)-3 of the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940, and any corresponding state securities law requirements. Any such promoter fee shall be
paid solely from Assembly Wealth’s investment management fee and shall not result in any
additional charge to the client. At the time of the introduction, the promoter shall disclose the nature
of his/her/its promoter relationship and shall provide each prospective client with disclosure of the
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terms of the arrangement between Assembly Wealth and the promoter, including the
compensation to be received from Assembly Wealth.
Termination of Services
Program services may be canceled at any time, by any of the parties, for any reason upon receipt
of written notice to the other party. Services will be terminated without penalty and the client shall
receive a pro-rated refund based on the amount of time remaining in the period. Assembly Wealth
will cooperate fully in any requests to deliver funds and securities held in the account to another
custodian. Custodian may charge an Account Transfer fee, which is detailed in the respective
custodian fee schedule.
Information for ERISA Covered Retirement Plans
We are available to provide the services detailed above to companies that sponsor retirement
plans (the “Plan”). We acknowledge that Assembly Wealth is a covered service provided under the
U.S. Department of Labor Rule 408(b)(2) when providing investment advisory services to Plans
covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and receiving $1,000
or more in compensation directly or indirectly from the Plan. This disclosure, along with the
investment management agreements and any amendments thereto, is intended to provide certain
disclosures as required under Section 408(b)(2) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder. The
disclosure is intended to be and will be provided to the Plan’s “responsible plan fiduciary” in
advance of the date of Assembly Wealth providing any services to the Plan. When working with a
Plan to select one or more Portfolio Strategists please understand we will be acting as a “fiduciary”
if our activities meets the definition of “investment advice” as such term is defined under Section
3(21)(A)(ii) of ERISA and published regulations by the Department of Labor. We will act in a
manner consistent with the requirements of a fiduciary under ERISA for all services for which we
are considered a fiduciary under ERISA. However, we have no responsibility and will not exercise
any authority or control respecting management or disposition of assets of the main retirement
plan or have any discretionary authority or discretionary responsibility in the administration of the
main retirement plan or the interpretation of Plan’s retirement plan documents. For some Plans, we
may serve as ERISA3(38) investment manager when providing management services for the
portion of the plan assets for which we have been retained to be solely responsible for all
investment decisions. Under this scenario, we are responsible for monitoring the investment
options of the Plan to add or remove investment options for the Plan and actively manage all
assets for the Plan. As a result, we act as an Investment Manager to the Plan, as defined by
ERISA section 3(38) and will acknowledge that we are a fiduciary with respect to the management
of the Plan. Assembly Wealth does not have the power to acquire or dispose of any plan assets
and is not the “Administrator” of the Plan as defined in ERISA. The compensation we receive for
the services provided to the Plan is disclosed in the investment management agreement executed
between Assembly Wealth and the Plan. Assembly Wealth will not receive any direct or indirect
compensation that is not disclosed in the investment management agreement. It is the
responsibility of the Plan’s “responsible plan fiduciary” to determine that the fees paid to Assembly
Wealth are reasonable, that the services provided to the Plan are necessary, and that the Plan
complies with ERISA Regulation Section 2550.408b-2 in all other respects. We will disclose, to the
extent required by ERISA Regulation Section 2550.408b-2(c), to ERISA covered Plans any
change to the information that we are required to disclose under ERISA Regulation Section
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2550.408b-2(c)(1)(iv) as soon as practicable, but no later than sixty (60) days from the date on
which we are informed of the change (unless such disclosure is precluded due to extraordinary
circumstances beyond our control, in which case the information will be disclosed as soon as
practicable).In accordance with ERISA Regulation Section 2550.408b-2(c)(vi)(A), we will disclose
within thirty (30) days following receipt of a written request from the responsible plan fiduciary or
Plan Administrator (unless such disclosure is precluded due to extraordinary circumstances
beyond our control, in which case the information will be disclosed as soon as practicable) all
information related to the Plan Agreement and any compensation or fees received in connection
with the Agreement that is required for the Plan to comply with the reporting and disclosure
requirements of Title 1 of ERISA and the regulations, forms and schedules issued thereunder. If
we make an unintentional error or omission in disclosing the information required under ERISA
Regulation Section 2550.408b-2(c)(1)(iv) or (vi), we will disclose to you the correct information as
soon as practicable, but no later than thirty (30) days from the date on which we learn of such error
or omission.
Retirement Rollovers
A client or prospective client leaving an employer typically has four options regarding an existing
retirement plan (and may engage in a combination of these options): (i) leave the money in the
former employer’s plan, if permitted, (ii) roll over the assets to the new employer’s plan, if one is
available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) roll over to an Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”), or
(iv) cash out the account value (which could, depending upon the client’s age, result in adverse tax
consequences). If Assembly Wealth recommends that a client roll over their retirement plan assets
into an account to be managed by Assembly Wealth, such a recommendation creates a conflict of
interest if Assembly Wealth will earn new (or increase its current) compensation as a result of the
rollover. If Assembly Wealth provides a recommendation as to whether a client should engage in a
rollover or not (whether it is from an employer’s plan or an existing IRA), Assembly Wealth is acting
as a fiduciary within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or
the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. No client
is under any obligation to roll over retirement plan assets to an account managed by Assembly
Wealth, whether it is from an employer’s plan or an existing IRA. Assembly Wealth’s Chief
Compliance Officer, Valerie De Vol, remains available to address any questions that a client or
prospective client may have regarding the potential for conflict of interest presented by such
rollover recommendation.
Item 5 Account Requirements and Types of Client
Opening an Account
To become a Program participant, an agreement between the client and Assembly Wealth must
be executed. In addition, the client will be required to establish a brokerage account through
Charles Schwab.
Types of Clients
We generally provide investment advice to the following types of clients:
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Individuals
•
• High-Net Worth Individuals
• Pension and profit-sharing plans
• Trusts, estates, or charitable organizations
• Corporations or business entities other than those listed above
Item 6 Portfolio Manager Selection and Evaluation
Assembly Wealth serves as portfolio and investment manager of the Program. There could be a
conflict of interest in that we could prefer our internal strategies when selecting portfolio managers.
Currently, we use a combination of strategies developed by Portfolio Strategists and strategies
developed by our internal Investment Policy Committee.
Standing members of our Investment Policy Committee include the following:
• Douglas F. Hutchinson, Chartered Financial Analyst®
• Gabriel Burczyk
Generally, Portfolio Strategist Allocations are recommended to suitable high net worth clients with
investable assets exceeding $500,000 and whose investment objectives make the use of a
Portfolio Strategist an appropriate option for the client, though we reserve the right to make
exceptions to our minimum investment if deemed appropriate. We have discretion over the
management of the client’s assets and may allocate all or a portion of the assets to be managed
by the selected Portfolio Strategist according to trade signals provided. Assembly Wealth directs
the investment and reinvestment of the assets allocated to that Portfolio Strategist on a
discretionary basis. We have discretionary authority to add or terminate the services of a Portfolio
Strategist from the client’s account. Assembly Wealth can replace a Portfolio Strategist with a
different Portfolio Strategist or replace a Portfolio Strategist with a Assembly Wealth directed
strategy to direct the investment and reinvestment of the client’s assets.
We select Portfolio Strategists based on information obtained by us from various sources and
reviewed by our Investment Policy Committee. It is our goal to have a diversified group of manager
strategies available, representing different asset classes and investment styles and philosophies.
To be included in this group of available managers, all must go through our due diligence process.
Managers are screened and selected using several criteria which include:
• Manager or management team tenure and experience
• Core tenets of the investment strategy and investment process
• Performance relative to their peer group or benchmark
• Expenses and costs of the manager
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• Factors that determine the change of a portfolio manager may include:
• Performance relative to applicable benchmark and/or relative to peers
• Change of manager or management team
• The closing of the strategy to new investments
• Availability of portfolio
• Material change in investment process, research process, and/or trading process
• Administrative action filed by a regulatory body
• Material change in ownership structure
Advice on Certain Types of Investments.
The following is a list of the general types of investments utilized in client accounts:
• Exchange-listed securities (i.e. stocks)
• Securities traded over-the-counter (i.e. stocks)
• Fixed income securities (i.e. bonds)
• Closed-End Funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
• Warrants
• Corporate debt securities (other than commercial paper)
• Commercial paper
• Certificates of deposit
• Municipal securities
• Mutual fund shares
• United States government securities
• 529 Plans
• Annuities
When we are responsible for making all investment recommendations, we typically construct each
client’s account holdings using stocks and Exchange Traded Funds (ETF’s) and cash equivalents.
Some portfolios may utilize ETFs or other securities that use leverage in an attempt to improve
long term returns. Leveraged products are considered risky. Some portfolios may utilize inverse
ETFs or other securities. Inverse ETFs and mutual funds are designed to replicate the opposite
direction of an index, often at a multiple. These ETFs often use a combination of futures, swaps,
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short sales, and other derivatives to achieve these objectives. This increases the likelihood that a
client may lose substantial amounts of money up to and including the entire account value. Mutual
funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are offered by prospectus only. Investors should
consider a fund’s investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing.
The prospectus, which contains this and other important information, is available from your Advisor
and should be read carefully before investing. We do not provide advice on options contracts on
commodities, futures contracts on tangibles or intangibles.
Participation in Wrap Fee Programs
Assembly Wealth provides asset management services through our Assembly Wealth Wrap Fee
Program. Under a wrap-fee program, Advisory services and transaction services are provided for
one fee. This is different from non-wrap fee management programs whereby an investment firm’s
services are provided for a fee, but transaction services are billed separately on a per-transaction
basis. Currently, we only offer wrap-fee asset management services.
Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
Assembly Wealth does not charge or accept performance-based fees. Regulators have defined
performance-based fees as charging fees based on a share of capital gains on or capital
appreciation of the assets held within a client’s account.
Client Assets Managed
• The amount of client assets managed by Assembly Wealth on a discretionary basis totaled
$432,943,158 as of December 31, 2024.
• The amount of client assets managed by Assembly Wealth on a non-discretionary basis
totaled $0 as of December 31, 2024.
Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Investment Strategies
Assembly Wealth uses the following investment strategies when managing client assets and/or
providing investment advice:
• Long term purchases. Investments held at least a year.
• Short term purchases. Investments sold within a year.
• Trading. Investments sold within 30 days.
Risk of Loss
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Therefore, you should never assume that future
performance of any specific investment or investment strategy will be profitable. Investing in
securities (including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds) involves risk of loss. Further,
depending on the different types of investments there may be varying degrees of risk. You should
be prepared to bear investment loss including loss of original principal. Because of the inherent risk
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of loss associated with investing, our Firm is unable to represent, guarantee, or even imply that our
services and methods of analysis can or will predict future results, successfully identify market tops
or bottoms, or insulate you from losses due to market corrections or declines.
There are certain additional risks associated when investing in securities through our investment
management program:
• Selection of Money Manager Strategies - When we are responsible for recommending the
third- party investment advisor strategy signals to be used to manage your accounts, your
investment with our Firm varies with the success and failure of our research, analysis and
determination of which money manager portfolios to implement for our clients. If selected
money manager strategies do not produce expected returns, the value of your account will
decrease.
• Management Risk - When we are responsible for selecting individual securities held in your
account, your investment with our Firm varies with the success and failure of our
investment strategies, research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If
investment strategies do not produce the expected returns, the value of your account will
decrease.
• Market Risk - The stock market may go down resulting in a decrease in the value of overall
investments. This is also referred to as systemic risk
• Equity (Stock) Market Risk - Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market
fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and
perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock
equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you
held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.
• Company Risk - When investing in stock positions, there is always a certain level of
company or industry specific risk that is inherent in each investment. This is also referred to
as unsystematic risk and can be reduced through appropriate diversification. There is the
risk that the company will perform poorly or have its value reduced based on factors
specific to the company or its industry. For example, if a company’s employees go on strike
or the company receives unfavorable media attention for its actions, the value of the
company may be reduced.
• Fixed Income Risk - When investing in bonds, there is the risk that issuer will default on the
bond and be unable to make payments. Further, individuals who depend on set amounts of
periodically paid income face the risk that inflation will erode their spending power. Fixed-
income investors receive set, regular payments that face the same inflation risk. Interest
rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the fixed income securities held by
an account.
• ETF and Mutual Fund Risk - When investing in an ETF or mutual fund, you will bear
additional expenses based on your pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating
expenses. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning
the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. Clients will also incur brokerage
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costs when purchasing ETFs.
•
International Investing Risk - International opportunities can present risk and unique
concerns. Although emerging markets can offer stronger growth opportunities, they are
often more volatile than developed markets.
• Political Risk - Many parts of the world are undergoing immense changes, including the
Middle East, parts of Asia, and Latin America. Some countries within these regions are not
only new to capitalism, they are also new to democracy and the rights of workers as well as
investors. Investors in developed countries must also be aware of potential political risks.
Information Risk - Foreign countries have different views on the flow of news and
information. Some nations embrace an open press, while others curb social media such as
Twitter and Facebook. If you are investing in a country or region where the dissemination
of information is curtailed by a political, military, or cultural leader, you may want to proceed
with caution.
• Currency / Liquidity Risk - Different parts of the globe may experience trouble with their
currencies as a result of events investors can’t foresee or control. Investing overseas
requires you to closely follow news and trends from various regions and keep a keen eye
on potential currency fluctuations.
• Cybersecurity Risk - Assembly and its service providers on whom it relies depend on
complex information technology and communications systems to conduct business
functions. These systems are subject to a number of different threats or risks that could
adversely affect clients and their managed assets, despite the effort Assembly and its
service providers adopt in technologies, processes, and practices intended to mitigate
these risks and protect the security of their computer systems, software, networks, and
other technology assets, as well the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information
belonging to the clients and/or their investors. For example, unauthorized third parties may
attempt to access, modify, disrupt the operations of or prevent access to these systems of
Assembly and/or its service providers on whom Assembly relies for data within these
systems. Third parties may also attempt to fraudulently induce employees, customers,
third-party service providers, or other users of systems to disclose sensitive information
and gain access to Assembly’s data or that of its clients. A successful penetration of the
security of Assembly’s systems or its service providers on whom Assembly relies on could
result in the loss or theft of a client’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 an incidence
could cause Assembly or its service providers on whom it relies on to incur regulatory
penalties, reputational damage additional compliance costs, or financial loss.
• Business Continuity Risk - Assembly has adopted a business continuation strategy to
maintain critical functions in the event of a partial or total building outage affecting our
offices or a technical problem affecting applications, data centers, or networks. The
recovery strategies are designed to limit the impact on clients from any business
interruption or disaster. Nevertheless, our ability to conduct business can be curtailed by a
disruption in the infrastructure that supports our operations.
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• Public Health Risk - Assembly could be materially adversely affected by the widespread
outbreak of infectious disease or other public health crises, including the COVID-19
pandemic. Public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, together with any
containment or other remedial measures undertaken or imposed, could cause significant
interruptions in the operations of Assembly.
• Market Disruptions; Government Intervention - In the recent past, the global financial
markets have gone through fundamental disruptions that have led to extensive and
unprecedented governmental intervention. These interventions have in certain cases been
implemented on an emergency basis, suddenly and substantially eliminating market
participants’ ability to implement certain strategies or manage the risk of their outstanding
positions. In addition, these interventions have typically been unclear in scope and
application, resulting in confusion and uncertainty, which has been detrimental to the
efficient functioning of the markets as well as previously successful investment strategies.
Managed assets may incur major losses in the event of disrupted markets and other
extraordinary events which could negatively affect underlying investment exit strategies.
Voting Client Securities
Assembly Wealth will vote proxies on behalf of the client, unless voting rights are requested by the
client in writing. To assist in the proxy voting process, Assembly Wealth engages the services of
third- party vendor(s) (currently Broadridge) to vote shares. When voting proxy issues, Assembly
Wealth will generally follow the guidelines and recommendations outlined in the Investment
Manager Policy proxy guidelines from Glass Lewis. Assembly Wealth can vote differently than the
recommendations of Glass Lewis if it is determined that doing so is in the best interest of clients
Item 7 Client Information Provided to Portfolio Managers
The Investment Advisor Representatives of Assembly Wealth are responsible for gathering
information from clients. Investment Advisor Representatives will interview and work with clients to
gather information needed relative to their investment objectives and needs in order to provide
management services through the program. Clients need to contact their Investment Advisor
Representative whenever there are changes to their financial situation that will impact or materially
influence the way Assembly Wealth manages accounts. It is important for clients to reply and
correspond in a timely manner with Assembly Wealth in order to provide updated financial
information so that Assembly Wealth can make appropriate investment decisions.
Item 8 Client Contact With Portfolio Managers
There are no restrictions placed on clients’ ability to contact and consult with their Assembly
Wealth Investment Advisor Representative. It is the policy of Assembly Wealth to provide an “open
channel” of communication between Assembly Wealth Investment Advisor Representatives and
their clients. Clients are encouraged to contact their Investment Advisor Representative whenever
they have questions about the management of their account. When a Portfolio Strategist is
selected for a client, the client does not typically communicate or interact with the Portfolio
Strategist. Instead, Assembly Wealth, through our Investment Advisor Representatives, will serve
as communication conduit between the Portfolio Strategist and the client if needed.
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Item 9 Additional Information
Disciplinary Information
We are required to disclose any legal or disciplinary events that are material to a client's or
prospective client's evaluation of our advisory business or the integrity of our management.
Our firm and our management personnel have no reportable disciplinary events to disclose.
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Assembly Wealth is not and does not have a related company that is a (1) broker/dealer, municipal
securities dealer, government securities dealer or broker, (2) investment company or other pooled
investment vehicle (including a mutual fund, closed-end investment company, unit investment
trust, private investment company or “hedge fund,” and offshore fund), (3) other investment advisor
or financial planner, (4) futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, or commodity
trading advisor, (5) banking or thrift institution, (6) accountant or accounting firm, (7) lawyer or law
firm, (8) insurance company or agency, (9) pension consultant, (10) real estate broker or dealer, or
(11) sponsor or syndicator of limited partnerships.
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
Assembly Wealth and its supervised persons may buy or sell, for their personal accounts,
investment products identical to those recommended to clients. Rule 204A-1 under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 requires all investment advisors to establish, maintain and enforce a Code of
Ethics. Assembly Wealth has established a Code of Ethics that will apply to all associated persons.
An investment advisor is considered a fiduciary according to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
As a fiduciary, it is an investment advisor’s responsibility to provide fair and full disclosure of all
material facts and to act solely in the best interest of each of our clients at all times. Assembly
Wealth has a fiduciary duty to all clients.
This fiduciary duty is considered the core underlying principle of the advisor’s Code of Ethics which
also covers Insider Trading and Personal Securities Transactions Policies and Procedures.
Assembly Wealth requires all of its supervised persons to conduct business with the highest level
of ethical standards and to comply with all federal and state securities laws at all times. Upon
employment or affiliation and at least annually thereafter, all supervised persons will sign an
acknowledgement that they have read, understand and agree to comply with Assembly Wealth’s
Code of Ethics. Assembly Wealth has the responsibility to make sure that the interests of all clients
are placed ahead of Assembly Wealth’s or its supervised person’s own investment interest. Full
disclosure of all material facts and potential conflicts of interest will be provided to clients prior to
any services being conducted. Assembly Wealth and its supervised persons must conduct
business in an honest, ethical and fair manner and avoid all circumstances that might negatively
affect or appear to affect our duty of complete loyalty to all clients. This disclosure is provided to
give all clients a summary of Assembly Wealth’s Code of Ethics. However, if a client or a potential
client wishes to review Assembly Wealth’s Code of Ethics in its entirety, a copy will be provided
promptly upon request.
Assembly Wealth or our associated persons may buy or sell for their personal accounts,
investment products identical to those recommended to clients. This creates a potential conflict of
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interest. It is our express policy that all persons associated in any manner with our Firm must place
the interests of our clients ahead of their own when implementing personal investments. Assembly
Wealth and its associated persons shall not buy or sell securities for their personal account(s)
where their decision is derived, in whole or in part, by information obtained as a result of
employment or association with our Firm unless the information is also available to the investing
public upon reasonable inquiry. In order to minimize this conflict of interest, securities
recommended by Assembly Wealth are widely held and publicly traded. In accordance with our
Code of Ethics (summarized above) our personnel are required to report holdings and transactions
of certain reportable securities to the Firm for review and monitoring.
Review of Accounts
Accounts or the underlying investments held in client accounts managed directly by Assembly
Wealth are reviewed no less often than quarterly. Assembly Wealth representatives will be
available to discuss the management and performance of the client’s account and changes in the
client’s situation which may have an impact on the management of the client’s account.
Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Client Referrals
Assembly Wealth has entered into an agreement in which it compensates third-party
intermediaries referred to as "promoters" for potential client referrals. Promoters introducing
potential clients to Assembly Wealth will receive compensation in the form of a flat fee per referral
that will be disclosed to referred investors by the promoter at the time of the introduction. Paid
promoters used by Assembly Wealth are not clients of Assembly Wealth. Such compensation will
be paid pursuant to a written agreement with the promoter and generally may be terminated by
either party. The cost of any such fees will be borne entirely by advisor and not by any referred
client. A paid promoter has an inherent incentive to refer potential clients to Assembly Wealth due
to the compensation received for doing so.
Other Compensation
Please refer to Item 4 for a description of the economic benefits received from Charles Schwab.
We may from time to time receive gifts, entertainment, expense reimbursement for travel and/or
marketing expenses from (1) third-party investment advisors providing money manager services,
(2) distributors of investment products and (3) insurance companies. Travel expense
reimbursements are typically a result of attendance at due diligence and/or investment training
events hosted by product sponsors.
Marketing expense reimbursements are typically the result of informal expense sharing
arrangements in which product sponsors may underwrite costs incurred for marketing such as
advertising, publishing, and seminar expenses. Although receipt of gifts, entertainment, travel, and
marketing expense reimbursements are not predicated upon specific sales quotas or based on a
recommendation of their products to our clients or in anticipation of us recommending their
products to clients. Our receipt of such benefits creates a conflict of interest in that there is an
incentive to recommend certain money manager programs, products and investments based on
the receipt of this compensation. We attempt to control for this conflict by always basing
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investment decisions on the individual needs of our clients.
Financial Information
This item is not applicable to this brochure. Assembly Wealth does not require or solicit
prepayment of more than $1200 in fees per client, six months or more in advance. Therefore, we
are not required to include a balance sheet for our most recent fiscal year. Assembly Wealth is not
subject to a financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair our ability to meet contractual
commitments to clients. Finally, Assembly Wealth has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition
at any time.
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