A. Stonebridge Wealth Management, LLC (“Stonebridge” and/or “the firm”) is an Illinois limited liability company. The firm is jointly owned by William Laipple and Christopher Plahm.
Stonebridge offers investment advisory and financial planning services to its clients.
B. Adviser Stonebridge is an independent asset management and financial planning firm offering a variety of financial services to individuals including high-net worth individuals, trusts, corporations, partnerships, tax exempt, and other legal entities.
i.For its investment management services, Stonebridge receives a limited power of attorney to effect securities transactions on behalf of its clients that include securities and strategies described in Item 8 of this brochure.
Stonebridge’s investment management services are predicated on the client’s investment objectives, goals, tolerance for risk, and other personal and financial circumstances.
Stonebridge will analyze each client’s current investments, investment objectives, goals, age, time horizon, financial circumstances, investment experience, investment restrictions and limitations, and risk tolerance and implement a portfolio consistent with such investment objectives, goals, risk tolerance and related financial circumstances.
Stonebridge’s objective is to review the client’s tax, financial, and estate planning objectives and goals in connection with the client’s investment objectives, goals, tolerance for risk, and other personal and financial circumstances and make appropriate recommendations and implementations decisions. Stonebridge may engage third-party service providers to assist with the tax and estate planning portion of the services provided to clients. In addition, Stonebridge may utilize third-party software to analyze individual security holdings and separate account managers utilized within the client’s portfolio.
Stonebridge’s investment advisory services to clients take into account a client’s personal financial circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance for risk (e.g., cash-flow, tax and estate.) Stonebridge’s engagement with a client will include, as appropriate, the following: ▪Providing assistance in reviewing the client’s current investment portfolio against the client’s personal and financial circumstances as disclosed to Stonebridge in response to a questionnaire and/or in discussions with the client and reviewed in meetings with Stonebridge.
▪Analyzing the client’s financial circumstances, investment holdings and strategy, and goals.
▪Providing assistance in identifying a targeted asset allocation and portfolio design.
▪Implementing and/or recommending individual equity and fixed income securities, ETFs, and independent third-party investment managers.
▪Proposing changes in the client’s investment portfolio in consideration of changes in the client’s personal circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance for risk, the performance record of any of the clients’ investments, and/or the performance of any fund retained by the client.
In addition to providing Stonebridge with information regarding their personal financial circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance for risk, clients are required to provide the firm with any reasonable investment restrictions that should be imposed on the management of their portfolio, and to promptly notify the firm of any changes in such restrictions or in the client’s personal financial circumstances, investment objectives, goals and tolerance for risk. Stonebridge will remind clients of their obligation to inform the firm of any such changes or any restrictions that should be imposed on the management of the client’s account. Stonebridge will also contact clients at least annually to determine whether there have been any changes in a client’s personal financial circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance for risk.
ii.Clients

will receive a written or oral report (depending on the client’s preference) providing a basic financial plan designed to help achieve their stated financial goals and objectives. Based on the client’s needs, financial planning services may include (but are not limited to) the following: ▪Preparation of a recommended asset allocation that serves to diversify the client’s portfolio among different categories of investments, such as domestic and international small, medium, and large capitalization securities; corporate and government fixed income (short-, intermediate-, and long-term maturities); emerging market securities (i.e., foreign issuers); real estate investment trusts; and such other alternative asset categories that are suitable in light of the client’s investment goals, objectives, and risk tolerance.
▪Preparation of an investment policy statement setting forth the client’s investment plan, with specific direction in terms of diversification requirements, tax issues, estate planning issues, risk tolerance, retirement, and other identified objectives of the client, including a targeted rate-of-return objective.
▪Preparation of a retirement plan that serves to identify whether the client is saving enough and investing in a way that meets retirement objectives in light of the client’s financial circumstances and risk tolerance.
▪Preparation of cash flow projections to ensure that the client can meet daily living expenses and obligations.
▪Insurance planning to meet the needs of the client, taking into account family, business, and other financial objectives of the client.
▪General family office and business consulting: ●Retirement objectives ●Philanthropy ●Estate planning ●Wealth transition ●Business succession and related issues ●Recommendation of third-party managers for use by the client Stonebridge gathers required information through in-depth personal interviews and questionnaires. Information gathered includes a client’s current financial status, investment objectives, future goals, and attitudes toward risk. Related documents supplied by the client are carefully reviewed, and a report is prepared covering one or more of the above-mentioned topics as directed by the client.
C. Each client’s account will be managed on the basis of the client’s financial situation and investment objectives and in accordance with any reasonable restrictions imposed by the client on the management of the account – for example, restricting the type or amount of security to be purchased in the portfolio.
D. Stonebridge offers a wrap fee in which its investment management services are offered for one all-inclusive fee. Please refer to Appendix 1 of Part 2A: Stonebridge Wrap Fee Program Brochure.
E. 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 (“ERISA”) and/or the Internal Revenue Code (the “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: i.Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give prudent advice); ii.Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give loyal advice); iii.Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments; iv.Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your best interest; v.Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and vi.Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
F. As of December 31, 2023, Stonebridge has $213,741,113 in discretionary assets under management.