Wahed Invest LLC (“Wahed” or the “Firm”) provides three primary types of services. It advises
clients in a wrap fee program, advises exchange-traded funds, and provides financial planning
services.
Wrap Fee Program
Wahed charges a wrap fee to manage assets. A Wrap Fee (“Wrap Fee” or “Program Fee”)
account is a professionally managed investment account in which expenses, including brokerage
commissions, management fees, and administrative costs, are “wrapped” into a single charge.
Clients will pay Wahed a management fee, from which Wahed will pay transaction and other
charges to third party service providers such as the account custodian. This arrangement creates
a conflict of interest in that Wahed has an incentive to avoid transactions in the wrap account in
order to avoid transaction charges. We mitigate this risk by assuring that appropriate transactions
for rebalancing and other purposes are undertaken, regardless of costs to us.
Wahed’s Wrap Fee program provides clients portfolio management and brokerage services for
one comprehensive fee based on a percentage of individual account assets. Wahed may buy or
sell securities consistent with analysis designed to seek an investment return suitable to the
investment objectives and goals of each distinct client. Each account is managed based upon the
individual needs of the client. Wahed manages the accounts on a discretionary basis, which
means that transactions are implemented by us without first contacting the client. Wahed’s Wrap
Fee program is provided online through an interactive website at
www.wahedinvest.com or the
downloadable interactive mobile digital application (the “Website”).
Wahed determines a suitable proposed investment plan by performing a review of each client’s
individual account and suitability parameters. This review may include type of account,
investment objectives, overall financial condition, income and tax status, personal and business
assets, risk tolerance, and other factors unique to the individual client’s situation. Based on client
suitability parameters, Wahed will design, revise, and reallocate a client’s custom portfolio.
When a client enrolls in Wahed’s Wrap Fee program, they grant trading authority over their
accounts to Wahed as described herein. Clients are not allowed to make trades in their accounts
except as described herein. Clients authorize Wahed to suspend trading in their accounts if
Wahed believes it necessary due to market conditions or other reasons and to reactivate trading
when Wahed decides it is appropriate to do so. Clients also authorize Wahed to suspend trading
in their accounts and/or access to the Website if Wahed believes it is necessary for reasons
related to the Website or Wahed’s Wrap Fee program and to reactivate access and trading when
Wahed decides it is appropriate to do so.
To invest with Wahed, a client must:
1.Complete an investor profile on the Website that describes the client’s financial needs,
investment objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance, as well as any other factors
relevant to the client’s specific financial situation and any other supporting
documentation the Program requires;
2.Complete the investment advisory wrap fee agreement (the “Agreement”) with Wahed;
3.Complete a new account agreement with Apex Clearing Corporation (“Apex”), or
another broker-dealer Wahed approves for participation in the Program (Apex or such
other participating broker-dealer, the “Participating Broker-Dealer”); and
4.Open a securities brokerage account (the client’s “Account”) with the Participating
Broker-Dealer and deposit those assets designated for participation in the Program
into the account.
Thereafter, all clients are encouraged to discuss their needs, goals, and objectives with Wahed
and to keep Wahed informed of any changes thereto. Wahed will contact clients quarterly to
determine whether their financial situation or investment objectives have changed, or whether
they want to reasonably modify their Account. The Website allows clients to review information
about Wahed’s Wrap Fee Program and monitor their portfolio’s allocation, activity, and
performance
The Participating Broker-Dealer acts as the qualified custodian and provides trade execution,
clearing and related services for accounts. Each client’s investment plan will include a cash
allocation at the Participating Broker-Dealer, which cash allocation will not earn interest.
As of March 20, 2024, Wahed had $125,344,606.83 assets under management in its Wrap Fee
program.
Exchange-Traded Funds
In addition to the Wrap Fee program described above, Wahed serves as the investment adviser to
the Wahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF and Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF, which is a
passively managed fund that seeks to track the total return performance of the FTSE USA Shariah
Index, and the Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF, which is an actively managed fund that
seeks long-term capital appreciation, each a series of a registered investment company and
managed by Wahed (the “Wahed Funds”). Wahed will allocate the equity portion of client
portfolios between the two Wahed Funds based upon its own discretion and evaluation of market
conditions affecting the constituent securities in each of the related indices. Wrap Fee program
clients generally are directed by Wahed to invest a portion of their account into securities of one
or both of the Wahed Funds. Wahed will use an investment in the Wahed Funds for the portion of
each Wrap Fee program account allocated to equities. The amount of each Wrap Fee program
account invested in equities (which will be represented by interests in the Wahed Funds) will
differ based upon the risk profile of each such account. For example, “Very Aggressive” Wrap
Fee program accounts will have a greater interest in the Wahed Funds than “Very Conservative”
Wrap Fee program accounts.
Wrap Fee program accounts with allocations to a Wahed Fund will not be charged a Program Fee
with respect to the portion of their portfolio that is allocated to the Wahed Funds; provided,
however, that the Firm reserves the right to charge a Program Fee to allocations made to the
Wahed Funds in the future. Under certain instances, based on the fee structure of the Wrap Fee
program account and the Wahed Funds, the management fee for the Wahed Funds is greater than
the Wrap Fee otherwise charged to the client.
Financial Planning
Wahed offers financial planning services to clients with at least $100,000 in
investable cash and
securities. The financial planning services provided by Wahed consist of providing, or having
client provide, detailed financial data of the client to a third-party web-based technology platform,
which will generate a financial plan based on that data (the “Financial Plan”). Wahed will then
discuss the Financial Plan with the client including recommendations with respect to the
advisability of the allocations set forth in the Financial Plan and suggestions of specific
investments within those allocations that may help the client achieve their stated investment
objectives and goals (the “Wahed Recommendations”). The Wahed Recommendations may
include recommendations to invest in the Wahed Funds. A client is under no obligation to
implement the Financial Plan or the Wahed Recommendations and is free to invest in securities
not offered by, or affiliated with, Wahed.
Financial planning services and related investment recommendations end with the delivery of the
Financial Plan and, as such, do not include ongoing monitoring.
Fees
Wrap Fee Program Fees
Accounts are custodied at the Participating Broker-Dealer and charged a Wrap Fee. This Wrap
Fee includes all portfolio management costs, trading costs, custodial costs, and operational costs.
There are no sales charges or commissions paid by the client. All portfolio management services
offered in the program are provided by Wahed. Therefore, no portion of the annual fee is paid to
outside portfolio managers. The Firm’s fee schedule is listed below. Fees are charged on a daily
basis in arrears based on a percent (listed below) of the greater of the (i) current portfolio value
or (ii) net liquidation value of the account. Our fees are payable daily on each date on which the
qualified custodian is open for business. Fees are charged on the client level, meaning the sum of
all accounts managed under a unique Social Security or Employer Identification Number is
considered when calculating fees. Fees may be negotiable. Other than as described above,
Wahed does not allow clients to prepay fees.
Wahed Wrap Fee Schedule
Assets under mgmt.
Wahed Fee
$100 - $99,999.79%
$100,000 and over.49%
Fee Comparison
Under the Program, clients receive both investment advisory services and the execution of
transactions for a single, combined annualized fee, the Program Fee. Participation in the Program
may cost the client more or less than purchasing such services separately. The number of
transactions made in the client’s accounts, as well as the commissions charged for each
transaction, determines the relative cost of the Program versus paying for execution on a per
transaction basis and paying a separate fee for advisory services. The Program Fee may be higher
or lower than fees charged by other sponsors of comparable investment advisory programs.
Financial Planning Fee
There is no fee for the financial planning services described above for clients with investable cash
and securities of $100,000 or more.
Other Charges
Other than its advisory fee described above and advisory fees with respect to the Wahed Funds,
neither the Firm nor its employees receive or accept any direct or indirect compensation related
to investments that are purchased or sold for Accounts. Wahed’s Wrap Fee is inclusive of all
management fees, custodian fees, and transaction fees, except for any wiring, IRA, withdrawal
or other miscellaneous Fees that are charged by the custodian, as more fully explained in the
separate agreement between client and the custodian. Expenses charged by third-party ETF
sponsors or mutual fund companies (including, without limitation, the Wahed Funds, except as
otherwise expressly stated herein) are not included in the Wrap Fee. The broker-dealers, mutual
fund companies, and other custodians who provide services for your account charge these fees
(“third party fees”), and clients are responsible for payment of all third-party fees and expenses.
For these clients, it is important to note that the advisory fees paid to Wahed are separate and
distinct from the maintenance fees and transaction expenses charged by these third parties
(except with respect to the Wahed Funds, as expressly stated herein).
In addition, IRA customers will be responsible for paying a $7.50 quarterly fee charged by the
trustee. This fee is charged to the account quarterly at the beginning of each calendar quarter.
Compensation of Persons Recommending the Wrap Fee Program
Wahed performs advertising campaigns to attract Clients to open accounts on the site. These
campaigns may include promotions such as additional account services or products, more
favorable fee arrangements or waived advisory fees. In addition, Wahed may offer advisory
Clients a reduction or waiver of advisory fees, or a cash payment, for referrals of friends, family
or other members of their social circle. Wahed may also enter into referral agreements with third
party investment advisers whereby Wahed pays a portion of the wrap fees paid by the referred
Clients to such third-party investment advisers. As a result of this referral fee, such third party
investment advisers have a financial incentive to recommend Wahed’s wrap fee program over
other programs or services. In addition to the foregoing, Wahed has or expects to have referral
arrangements in place with certain unaffiliated third parties that may act as solicitors and may
from time-to-time refer potential Clients to Wahed. Each arrangement must be in compliance
with Rule 206(4)-3 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. For each successful referral, Wahed
will generally pay a commission based upon a percentage of the investment management
revenue that Wahed charges and collects from the Client (and/or another payment upon certain
growth goals being reached). The length of each arrangement may vary. Wahed also engages
solicitors who are supervised persons from amongst its own personnel. In all cases, an affected
potential Client is provided a copy of this brochure as well as the terms of the specific referral
arrangement. As a result of such arrangements, such third parties may have a financial incentive
to recommend Wahed’s wrap fee program over other programs or services. Clients are not
charged any fee nor do they incur any additional costs for being referred to Wahed by a current
Client or any other person. Other than as stated above, Wahed, or any related person, does not
otherwise directly or indirectly compensate any person who is not our supervised person for
Client referrals.