A. Description of the Advisory Firm
Elwood & Goetz Wealth Advisory Group, LLC (hereinafter “Elwood & Goetz,” “E&G,” or “the
firm”) is an independent, fee-only investment management and comprehensive financial
planning firm serving primarily affluent and emerging affluent individuals, families, and their
related entities, trusts, estates, and family businesses. Elwood & Goetz also manages
endowments and company retirement plans (e.g., 401(k)). Elwood & Goetz has been in
business since August 30th, 2010, and the founding principals are Ms. Lindsay Shae Elwood
and Dr. Joseph William Goetz. Before August 30th, 2010, and since August 15th, 2006, the
principals operated under the firm name Amicus Financial Advisors in Athens, Georgia. Thus,
the firm principals have been bringing fiduciary-based, comprehensive financial planning to the
greater Athens/Atlanta community for more than 15 years. The firm is registered with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and currently serves clients across the state of
Georgia as well as 32 other states across the country. This client brochure is regularly updated
and always available through the SEC. Updated versions of the client brochure are periodically
provided to clients of the firm and available upon request at any time.
The firm works with clients to develop financial and life goals and strategies to reach those
goals. These strategies typically involve: retirement planning, retirement income-distribution
planning, investment management, tax planning, wealth preservation and asset protection,
budget and cash flow management, risk management and insurance planning, human capital
and education planning, estate and legacy planning, business succession planning, and other
strategies that may be specific to the client.
The firm’s compensation is solely from fees paid directly by clients. No commissions in any
form are accepted. No referral fees are paid or accepted. No benefits are received from
custodians based on client securities transactions (“soft dollar benefits”). Based on their fee-
only compensation model, Elwood & Goetz is a registered firm with the National Association of
Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).
B. Types of Advisory Services
Elwood & Goetz Wealth Advisory Group, LLC offers the following services to clients:
Investment Supervisory Services
Elwood & Goetz offers ongoing portfolio management services based on the individual goals,
objectives, time horizon, risk capacity, risk needed, and risk tolerance of each client. E&G
creates an Investment Policy Statement that outlines the client’s current financial situation and
the investment portfolio recommended for the client.
Investment Supervisory Services include:
• Evaluation of Clients’ Current Investments and Investment Strategy
• Assessment of Risk Tolerance, Capacity, Requirements to Meet Goals
• Development of a Recommended Investment Strategy, including Investment Selection,
Asset Allocation, and Asset Location Decisions
• Construction of a Personalized Investment Policy Statement (IPS) & Strategy
• Investment Education for the Benefit of the Client
• Regular Investment Portfolio Rebalancing & Tax Loss/Gain Harvesting
• Ongoing Monitoring of the Investment Portfolio
Elwood & Goetz will request discretionary authority from clients. Discretionary authority
means that the client grants E&G a standing authorization to select investments and execute
trades on the client's behalf without obtaining permission prior to each individual action.
Elwood & Goetz uses third-party platforms to facilitate management of held away assets such
as defined contribution plan participant accounts, with discretion. These platforms allow us to
avoid being deemed to have custody of client funds since we do not have direct access to client
log-in credentials. We are not affiliated with these platforms in any way and receive no
compensation from them for using their platform.
Cash Management Services
Cash Management Services are designed for clients
who want a separate portfolio solely in
cash equivalents and short-term fixed-income.
Financial Planning
Comprehensive and Project-Based Financial Plans are tailored to each client and may include:
• Goal Development
• Retirement Planning
• Employee Benefits Review
• Risk Management & Insurance
Review
• Tax Planning
• Saving and Investment Planning
• Human Capital Planning
• Cash Flow Planning
• Debt Management
• Estate & Legacy Planning
• Education Funding
• Business Planning
These services are based on fixed or hourly fees and the final fee structure is documented in
Exhibit I of the Advisory Agreement.
Corporate Retirement Plan Services
Elwood & Goetz offers consulting services as a 3(38)-investment fiduciary for 401(k), pension,
profit sharing plans and other employee benefit plans. These pension consulting services may
include, but are not limited to:
• Identifying investment objectives and restrictions
• Providing guidance on various assets classes and investment options
• Recommending money managers to manage plan assets in ways designed to achieve
objectives
• Monitoring performance of money managers and investment options and making
recommendations for changes
• Recommending other service providers, such as custodians, administrators, and broker-
dealers
• Creating a written pension consulting plan
These services are based on the goals, objectives, demographics, time horizon, and/or risk
tolerance of the plan and its participants.
Services Limited to Specific Types of Investments
E&G generally limits its investment advice and/or investment management to mutual funds,
exchange traded funds (ETFs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), stocks, bonds, debt
securities, and insurance contracts.
Written Acknowledgement of Fiduciary Status
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or
individual retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, which are
laws governing retirement accounts. The way we make money creates some conflicts with
your interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest
and not put our interest ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
• Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give
prudent advice);
• Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give
loyal advice);
• Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
• Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your
best interest;
• Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
C. Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
Elwood & Goetz offers the same suite of services to all its clients. However, client financial
plans and the implementation of the plans are dependent upon each client’s specific and
current financial situation. Investment portfolios are recommended to match the restrictions,
needs, and targets of each client.
Clients may impose restrictions in investing in certain securities or types of securities in
accordance with their values or beliefs. However, if the restrictions prevent E&G from properly
servicing the client account, or if the restrictions would require E&G to deviate from its
standard suite of services, E&G reserves the right to end the relationship.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
E&G does not participate in wrap fee programs.
E. Managed Assets
As of December 31, 2023, Elwood & Goetz has approximately $682,112,414 in assets under
management, all of which is managed on a discretionary basis. Elwood & Goetz does not
currently manage any assets on a non-discretionary basis.