Waypoint Wealth Counsel, LLC (“Waypoint”) is an independently owned registered investment advisory
firm. Waypoint was established by Bradley S. McGrew and Matthew T. Woods in 2014 and is headquartered
in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm is focused on primarily providing wealth management and financial planning
services to individual investors. The principal owners of the firm are Mr. McGrew, Mr. Woods, and Michael
Rollauer.
As of December 31, 2023, Waypoint had a total of $573,067,077 in assets under management,
$556,974,521 of which were managed on a discretionary basis, and $16,092,556 on a non-discretionary
basis. Waypoint also has $64,833,011 of assets under advisement.
Services Provided
Portfolio Management
Waypoint is a wealth management firm dedicated to serving the specific needs of our clients through
individually tailored portfolios. Investment portfolios are designed in accordance with each client’s
objectives and requirements. We select positions for each portfolio, with a focus on a disciplined process
designed to manage risk for the client.
To implement the client’s portfolio, Waypoint will primarily manage clients’ investment portfolios on a
discretionary basis. As a discretionary investment adviser, Waypoint will have the authority to supervise and
direct the portfolio without prior consultation with the client. In limited instances, Waypoint does manage
portfolios under a non-discretionary arrangement in which the client retains the responsibility for the final
decision on all actions taken with respect to the portfolio. Obtaining client consent before a transaction can
result in a delay in executing recommended trades, which could limit participation in client grouped trades
and adversely affect the performance of the portfolio.
Separate Account Managers
When factors are appropriate for a client, Waypoint will recommend the use of one or more Separate
Account Managers, each a “Manager.” Having access to various Managers offers a wide variety of manager
styles and offers clients the opportunity to utilize more than one Manager if necessary to meet the needs
and investment objectives of the client. Waypoint will select or recommend the Manager(s) it deems most
appropriate for the client. Factors that Waypoint considers in recommending/selecting Managers generally
include the client’s stated investment objective(s), management style, performance, risk level, reputation,
financial strength, reporting, pricing, and research.
The Manager(s) will generally be granted discretionary trading authority to provide investment
supervisory services for the portfolio. Under certain circumstances, Waypoint retains the authority to
terminate the Manager’s relationship or to add new Managers without specific client consent. In other cases,
the client will ultimately select one or more Managers recommended by Waypoint. Fees paid to such
Manager(s) are separate from and in addition to the fee assessed by Waypoint.
In any case, with respect to assets managed by a Manager, Waypoint’s role will be to monitor the overall
financial situation of the client, to monitor the investment approach and performance of the Manager(s), and
to assist the client in understanding the investments of the portfolio.
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios™
On a limited basis we provide investment management services utilizing Charles Schwab’s Institutional
Intelligent Portfolios™ Program, an automated, online investment management platform for use by
independent investment advisors and sponsored by Schwab Wealth Investment Advisory, Inc. (SWIA).
Through this program, we offer clients a range of investment strategies we have constructed and manage,
each consisting of a portfolio of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) and a cash allocation. The client’s portfolio
is held in a brokerage account opened by the client at SWIA’s affiliate, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”).
This program is described in the SWIA Institutional Intelligent Portfolios™ Disclosure Brochure (the
“Program Disclosure Brochure”), which is delivered to clients by SWIA during the online enrollment
process. Waypoint is solely responsible for determining the appropriateness of the program for the client,
choosing a suitable investment strategy and portfolio for the client’s investment needs and goals, and
managing that portfolio on an ongoing basis. SWIA’s role is limited to delivering Schwab’s Program
Disclosure Brochure to clients and administering the program so that it operates as described in the
Program Disclosure Brochure. We have contracted with Schwab to provide us with the technology platform
and related trading and account management services for the program. This platform enables us to make
the Program available to clients online and includes a system that automates certain key parts of our
investment process. Clients do not pay fees to SWIA in connection with the Program, but we charge clients a
fee for our portfolio management services as described below under Item 5 - Fees and Compensation.
Private Fund Adviser
Waypoint also serves as a co-Investment Manager to the Waypoint Private Access Fund, LP. This service is
detailed in the offering document for the Fund, which include, as applicable, the operating agreement,
private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and/or term sheets, separate disclosure
documents, and amendments thereto (“Offering Documents”).
Waypoint co-manages the Fund based on the investment strategy, policies, and guidelines as set forth in
the Offering Documents and not in accordance with the individual needs or objectives of any particular
investor. Each prospective investor interested in investing in the Fund is required to complete a
subscription agreement in which the prospective investor attests as to whether such prospective investor
meets the qualifications to invest in the Fund and further acknowledges and accepts the various risk factors
associated with such an investment.
Waypoint may recommend that certain Clients who meet the applicable qualifications invest in the Fund.
Waypoint does not receive a separate advisory fee for its Investment Advisory services to the Fund for
current Waypoint Advisory Clients (advisory). Waypoint does receive a portion of the Fund investment
management fee for non-Waypoint advisory fund investors (non-advisory) as discussed in Item 14 below.
Referrals to Other Investment Advisers
As part of our services, we recommend to certain clients with particular investment objectives the use of
services provided by other investment advisers to manage all, or a portion, of their portfolio. These referrals
depend on the needs of the client and our ability to provide the investment strategy. When we are unable
to provide a specific strategy, we recommend other advisers that can. Factors we take into consideration
when making a referral include, but are not limited to, the investment advisers’ strategy, performance,
method of analysis, fees, your financial needs, investment goals, risk tolerance, and investment objectives.
Referred clients will engage directly with the recommended investment adviser at the client’s discretion.
Insurance Carrier Variable Product Separate Account Portfolio
On a limited basis we provide investment management services to clients in connection with the selection and
monitoring of a model portfolio or a custom designed individual portfolio consisting of sub-accounts held
within a variable insurance product. Typically, these variable insurance products are no load fee- based
annuities offered through life insurance companies. There are no surrender charges, and the policy can be
liquidated at any time. We manage the sub-accounts within the insurance product with authorization
provided by the client on the client’s product application or insurance company provided form.
Financial Planning
Waypoint offers limited financial planning services to those clients in need of such assistance in conjunction
with our Portfolio Management services. Waypoint’s financial planning services normally address areas
such as general cash flow planning, retirement planning, estate planning and insurance analysis. The goal
of this service is to assess the financial circumstances of the client to develop the client’s investment plan
more effectively. Financial Planning is not offered as a stand-alone service or for a separate fee but is
typically provided in conjunction with the management of the portfolio.
Retirement Plan Advisory Services
Establishing a sound fiduciary governance process is vital to good decision-making and to ensuring that
prudent procedural steps are followed in making investment decisions. Waypoint will provide Retirement
Plan consulting services to Plans and Plan Fiduciaries as described below. The particular services provided
will be detailed in the consulting agreement. The appropriate Plan Fiduciary(ies) designated in the Plan
documents (e.g., the Plan sponsor or named fiduciary) will (i) make the decision to retain our firm; (ii) agree
to the scope of the services that we will provide; and (iii) make the ultimate decision as to accepting any of
the recommendations that we may provide. The Plan Fiduciaries are free to seek independent advice about
the appropriateness of any recommended services for the Plan. Retirement Plan consulting services may
be offered individually or as part of a comprehensive suite of services.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) sets forth rules under which Plan
Fiduciaries may retain investment advisers for various types of services with respect to Plan assets. For
certain services, Waypoint will be considered a fiduciary under ERISA. For example, Waypoint will act as
an ERISA § 3(21) fiduciary when providing non-discretionary investment advice to Plan Fiduciaries by
recommending a suite of investment choices for selection by plan Participants. If Plan Fiduciaries retain
Waypoint to act as an investment manager providing the plan with discretionary investment management
services, Waypoint will act as an ERISA § 3(38) fiduciary.
With respect to any account for which Waypoint meets the definition of a fiduciary under Department of
Labor rules, Waypoint acknowledges that both Waypoint and its Related Persons are acting as fiduciaries.
Additional disclosure may be found elsewhere in this Brochure or in the written agreement between
Waypoint and Client.
In some instances, Waypoint assists clients with their retirement plan accounts. When an employee leaves an
employer there are generally four options regarding an existing retirement plan account and an employee’s
options, or combination thereof, such as; 1) if permitted, leaving the funds in the former employer’s plan, 2) if
rollovers are permitted and the employee has a new employer with an available plan, the employee could
rollover the funds to the new employer plan, 3) rollover the funds to an Individual Retirement Account
(“IRA”), or 4) withdraw or cash out the employee’s funds from the plan which could have adverse tax
consequences depending on certain factors. If a client chooses to rollover retirement plan assets into an IRA
account managed by Waypoint, we will receive an asset management fee. Clients are under no obligation to
roll retirement plan assets to an account managed by us.
Fiduciary Management Services
• Discretionary Management Services
When retained as an investment manager within the meaning of ERISA § 3(38), Waypoint provides
continuous and ongoing supervision over the designated retirement plan assets. Waypoint will actively
monitor the designated retirement plan assets and provide ongoing management of the assets. When
applicable, Waypoint will have discretionary authority to make all decisions to buy, sell or hold securities,
cash, or other investments for the designated retirement plan assets in our sole discretion without first
consulting with the Plan Fiduciaries. We also have the power and authority to carry out these decisions by
giving instructions, on your behalf, to brokers and dealers and the qualified custodian(s) of the Plan for our
management of the designated retirement plan assets.
• Discretionary Investment Selection Services
Waypoint will monitor the investment options of the Plan and add or remove investment options for the Plan
without prior consultation with the Plan Fiduciaries. Waypoint will have discretionary authority to make
and implement all decisions regarding the investment options that are available to Plan Participants.