Advisory Firm Sterling Wealth Management, Inc. ("Sterling") is a fee-only private wealth management firm that utilizes a consultative approach to financial and investment planning. Sterling has been providing investment advisory services since 2004. Sharon C. Allen is the founder and CEO of Sterling and has been in the financial services industry since 1994.
Advisory Services 1. Sterling provides private wealth management services that fall into two different categories: "Wealth Management Services" or "Asset Management Services". These services may include investment consulting, asset management, financial planning, relationship management, and concierge services. We also provide Asset Management Services for certain qualified retirement plans.
Our "Wealth Management Services" include ongoing investment consulting, asset management, financial planning, relationship management, and concierge services.
Our "Asset Management Services" include ongoing investment consulting, asset management, relationship management, and limited financial planning.
Specific Descriptions of Services Provided The subcategories of services within our two main services are described as follows: Investment Consulting includes the rendering of advice with respect to equity securities, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, municipal securities, mutual fund shares, exchange traded funds ("ETFs"), Unites States government securities, and other financial products.
Asset Management refers to the rendering of advice about equity securities, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, municipal securities, mutual fund shares, exchange traded funds, Unites States government securities, and other financial products. Clients typically grant Sterling discretionary authority to direct investments on their behalf, but Sterling does not take custody of client assets.
Financial Planning includes the identification of goals, value and objectives, collection and assessment of client data, identification of client challenges and possible solutions, preparation of a written wealth plan, monitoring implementation of any recommendations, and regular progress meetings to review and update the wealth plan. The limited financial planning available as part of our "Asset Management Services" includes only the identification of financial goals, values and objectives, collection, and assessment of client data as it relates to the investment portfolio, providing general financial planning advice as needed, and regular progress meetings with the client. Planning may be comprehensive, or segmented and focus on items such as investments, insurance, taxes, and/or estate plans.
Relationship Management includes maintaining contact with our clients to ensure their needs are being met, as well as coordinating efforts of the client's other professional advisors as requested by the client.
Concierge Services includes services not directly related to asset management but provide clients with assistance in lifestyle matters.
4 Our Asset Management Services for certain qualified plans are of a discretionary nature. These accounts are custodied with independent qualified custodians. We have no authority about the custody but will make trading decisions according to the overall investment plan for qualified plan accounts, advising the plan sponsor and participants about the investment of assets within the qualified plan. Sub- services may include the selection

of mutual fund or other investment options to made available to participants or beneficiaries of the plan, replacement of such investments from time to time, meeting with the plan sponsor annually to review the investment options, prepare/develop an investment policy statement with the client, provide investment education for the plan participants, enroll employees who are eligible to participants in the plan, and provide client with other materials for the plan sponsor.
IRA Rollover Recommendations 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 Assets Under Management As of December 31, 2023, we provide continuous management services for $360,592,012 in client assets managed on a discretionary basis. We also manage $5,227,360 in client assets on a non- continuous basis.
Investment Process Services are based on the individual needs of the client. An initial discovery process is undertaken to determine the client's financial situation, their goals, investment objectives, and any gaps and challenges in their financial lives. A Sterling adviser (a "Financial Advisor") will meet with the client for regular progress meetings at the client's preferred meeting frequency but generally not less than annually. It is the client's responsibility to notify the Financial Advisor at any time there are changes to their financial situation. The client is free to accept or reject any recommendation made by Sterling.
Clients may call in at any time during normal business hours to discuss directly with the Financial Advisor about the client's account, financial situation, or investment needs.
Clients will receive from their custodian timely trading confirmations and at least quarterly statements containing a description of all transactions and all account activity. The client will retain rights of ownership of all securities and funds in the account to the same extent as if the client held the securities and funds outside the program. In addition to custodial statements, Sterling sends reports to the client at least quarterly.
5 2. On occasion we provide "Financial Consulting" on investment matters and limited financial planning concerns. This type of consultation is non-discretionary in nature and the client is free to accept or reject any recommendation made by Sterling. Sterling charges an hourly rate for this service which is invoiced after completion of the project. Individualized plans are created based upon the Client's need and may encompass one or more of the following areas: Estate Planning, Investment Planning, Retirement Planning, and Business Succession Planning.