This Disclosure document is being offered to you by Custos Family Office, LLC (“Custos” or “Firm”)
about the investment advisory services we provide. It discloses information about our services
and the way those services are made available to you, the client.
We are an investment management firm located in Austin, TX. We specialize in investment
advisory services for individuals, high net worth individuals, charitable organizations, foundations,
trusts and estates. Our Firm became a registered investment adviser in the State of Colorado and
Texas in April 2018. JKG 121416, LLC and Custos Texas, LLC have ownership in the Firm. In July
2019, the firm Registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Audrey Soza
is the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer.
We are committed to helping clients build, manage, and preserve their wealth, and to provide
assistance that helps clients to achieve their stated financial goals. We will offer an initial
complimentary meeting upon our discretion; however, investment advisory services are initiated
only after you and Custos execute an Agreement with the Firm.
Investment Management Services
We manage advisory accounts on a discretionary basis and non-discretionary basis. For
discretionary accounts, once we have determined a profile and investment plan with a client, we
will execute the day-to-day transactions without seeking prior client consent. Account supervision
is guided by the written profile and investment plan of the client. We may accept accounts with
certain restrictions if circumstances warrant. We primarily allocate client assets among various
equities, Exchanged Traded Funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds and debt securities in accordance with
their stated investment objectives.
During personal discussions with clients, we determine the client’s objectives, time horizons, risk
tolerance and liquidity needs. As appropriate, we also review a client’s prior investment history,
as well as family composition and background. Based on client needs, we develop a client’s
personal profile and investment plan. We then create a Plan and manage the client’s portfolio
based on that policy and Plan. It is the client’s obligation to notify us immediately if circumstances
have changed with respect to their goals.
Once we have determined the appropriate strategy for you and your family and executed the
strategy, we will provide ongoing investment review and management services. This approach
requires us to periodically review your portfolio.
With our discretionary relationship, we will make changes to the portfolio, as we deem
appropriate, to meet your financial objectives. We trade these portfolios based on the
combination of our market views and your objectives, using our investment process. We tailor
our advisory services to meet the needs of our clients and seek to ensure that your portfolio is
managed in a manner consistent with those needs and objectives. You will have the ability to leave
standing instructions with us to refrain from investing in particular industries or invest in limited
amounts of securities.
We do have limited authority to direct the Custodian to deduct our investment advisory fees from
your accounts, but only with the appropriate written authorization from you.
You are advised and are expected to understand that our past performance is not a guarantee of
future results. Certain market and economic risks exist that adversely affect an account’s
performance. This could result in capital losses in your account.
Sub-Advisory Services
Custos may enter into agreements with unaffiliated registered investment advisors (hereafter
referred to as an “Independent RIA”) whereby Independent RIA will maintain discretionary
authority to manage the Client assets through Custos. Custos will provide non-discretionary
supervisory and management services to the Client, with respect to those Client assets specified
from time to time by Independent RIA (collectively, the “Accounts”) in accordance with
Independent RIA and Client executed Client Advisory Agreements. The Independent RIA is
responsible for the administrative paperwork and servicing the accounts. Custos facilitates the
advisory fee billing on behalf of the Independent RIA.
Financial Planning
Through the financial planning process, our team strives to engage our clients in conversations
around the family’s goals, objectives, priorities, vision, and legacy – both for the near term as well
as for future generations. With the unique goals and circumstances of each family in mind, our
team will offer financial planning ideas and strategies to address the client’s holistic financial
picture, including estate, income tax, charitable, cash flow, wealth transfer and family legacy
objectives. Our team partners with our client’s other advisors (CPA, estate attorney, insurance
broker, etc.) to ensure a coordinated effort of all parties toward the client’s stated goals. Such
services include various reports on specific goals and objectives or general investment and/or
planning recommendations, guidance to outside assets and periodic updates.
Our specific services in preparing your plan may include:
• Review and clarification of your financial goals;
• Assessment of your overall financial position including cash flow, balance sheet,
investment strategy, risk management and estate planning;
• Creation of a unique plan for each goal you have, including personal and business real
estate, education, retirement or financial independence, charitable giving, estate
planning, business succession and other personal goals;
• Development of a goal-oriented investment plan, with input from various advisors to
our clients around tax suggestions, asset allocation, expenses, risk and liquidity factors
for each goal. This includes IRA and qualified plans, taxable and trust accounts that
require special attention;
• Design of a risk management plan including risk tolerance, risk avoidance, mitigation
and transfer, including liquidity as well as various insurance and possible company
benefits; and
• Crafting and implementation of, in conjunction with your estate and/or corporate
attorneys as tax advisor, an estate plan to provide for you and/or your heirs in the event
of an incapacity or death.
A written evaluation of each client's initial situation or Financial Plan is provided to the client. The
recommendations will not be reviewed nor updated, unless requested by the client at which point
a new Agreement between Client and Adviser may be executed.
Third Party Money Managers (“TPMM”)
Our firm utilizes the services of a TPMM for the management of client accounts. Investment advice
and trading of securities will only be offered by or through the chosen TPMM. Our firm will not
offer advice on any specific securities or other investments in connection with this service. Prior
to referring clients, our firm will provide initial due diligence on third party money managers and
ongoing reviews of their management of client accounts. In order to assist in the selection of a
TPMM, our firm will gather client information pertaining to financial situation, investment
objectives, and reasonable restrictions to be imposed upon the management of the account.
Our firm will periodically review third party money manager reports provided to the client at least
annually. Our firm will contact clients from time to time in order to review their financial situation
and objectives; communicate information to third party money managers as warranted; and assist
the client in understanding and evaluating the services provided by the TPMM. Clients will be
expected to notify our firm of any changes in their financial situation, investment objectives, or
account restrictions that could affect their financial standing.
Consulting Services
We also provide clients investment advice on a more-limited basis on one-or-more isolated areas
of concern such as small business consulting, real estate, retirement planning, or any other
specific topic. Additionally, we provide advice on non-securities matters about the rendering of
estate planning, insurance, real estate, and/or annuity advice.
In these cases, you will be required to select your own investment managers, custodian and/or
insurance companies for the implementation of consulting recommendations. If your needs
include brokerage and/or other financial services, we will recommend the use of one of several
investment managers, brokers, banks, custodians, insurance companies or other financial
professionals. You must independently evaluate these firms before opening an account or
transacting business, and you have the right to effect business through any firm you choose. Also
note, you have the right to choose whether to follow the consulting advice that we provide.
Retirement Plan Advisory Services
Retirement Plan Advisory Services
consists of helping employer plan sponsors to establish,
monitor and review their company's retirement plan. As the needs of the plan sponsor dictate,
areas of advising could include investment selection and monitoring, plan structure, and
participant education.
Pursuant to Section 402(c)(3) of ERISA, the client may appoint us as the Plan’s “investment
manager” with respect to the Plan’s portfolio of investment options. We acknowledge that we
are registered as an investment adviser under the SEC. Our firm acts as a “fiduciary” within the
meaning of Section 3(21) and 3(38) of ERISA with respect to the Plan. We offer advisory services
to employer sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k), 457, & 403(b). On the plan level, we
manage the investment line-up making changes as necessary as well as providing risk-based
investment models for the participants. On the individual participant level, we manage risk-based
models using the current investment lineup based on risk tolerance of the individual investor. For
employer-sponsored retirement plans with participant-directed investments, our firm provides
its advisory services as an investment advisor as defined under Section 3(21) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
When serving as an ERISA 3(21) investment adviser, the Plan Sponsor and our Firm share fiduciary
responsibility. The Plan Sponsor retains ultimate decision-making authority for the investments
and may accept or reject the recommendations in accordance with the terms of a separate ERISA
3(21) Plan Sponsor Investment Management Agreement between our Firm and the Plan
Sponsor.
Under the 3(21) agreements, our Firm can provide the following services to the Plan Sponsor:
• Review or Development of an Investment Policy Statement
• Perform Due Diligence on Money Managers
• Provide Initial Investment and Management Selection - Our Firm typically uses mutual
funds/managed accounts/collective trusts/cash equivalents to structure portfolios
designed to meet client objectives and risk profiles.
• Provide ongoing Performance Evaluation and Monitoring of Money Mangers
• Make Investment Recommendations when necessary
• Retirement Plan Services Analysis - Our Firm will conduct an analysis of a client’s
retirement plan to evaluate the services currently provided to the client by third parties.
The areas of analysis may include asset management services, record keeping,
administration, customer service, participant education, etc. These services may also
include a cost/benefit analysis, recommendation of alternative vendors, facilitation of the
RFP process for solicitation of a new vendor, and/or assistance in fee negotiations with
proposed vendors.
• Provide Employee Education Services - Our Firm will provide enrollment and educational
services the content of the program will be generic in nature.
When servicing as in a 3(38) fiduciary capacity, our Firm is granted full trading authority
over the Plan and have the responsibility for the selection and monitoring of all investment
options offered under the Plan in accordance with the investment policy statement and its
underlying investment objectives and strategies for the Plan. Plan participants have the
ability to exercise control over the investment selection from the plans line up of
investments, and we have no authority or discretion to direct the investment of assets of
any participant’s account under the Plan.
Disclosure Regarding Rollover Recommendations
A client or prospect leaving an employer typically has four options regarding an existing
retirement plan (and may engage in a combination of these options): (i) leave the money in
the former employer’s plan, if permitted, (ii) roll over the assets to the new employer’s plan, if
one is available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) rollover to an Individual Retirement Account
(“IRA”), or (iv) cash out the account value (which could, depending upon the client’s age, result
in adverse tax consequences). Our Firm may recommend an investor roll over plan assets to
an IRA for which our Firm provides investment advisory services. As a result, our Firm and its
representatives may earn an asset-based fee. In contrast, a recommendation that a client or
prospective client leave their plan assets with their previous employer or roll over the assets
to a plan sponsored by a new employer will generally result in no compensation to our Firm.
Our Firm therefore has an economic incentive to encourage a client to roll plan assets into an
IRA that our Firm will manage, which presents a conflict of interest. To mitigate the conflict of
interest, there are various factors that our Firm will consider before recommending a rollover,
including but not limited to: (i) the investment options available in the plan versus the
investment options available in an IRA, (ii) fees and expenses in the plan versus the fees and
expenses in an IRA, (iii) the services and responsiveness of the plan’s investment professionals
versus those of our Firm, (iv) protection of assets from creditors and legal judgments, (v)
required minimum distributions and age considerations, and (vi) employer stock tax
consequences, if any. All rollover recommendations are also reviewed by our Firm’s Chief
Compliance Officer in a best effort to determine that the recommendation to a client was
reasonable or that the client has determined to make the rollover after being provided ample
information about their options. No client is under any obligation to roll over plan assets to an
IRA advised by our Firm or to engage our Firm to monitor and/or advise on the account while
maintained with the client's employer. Our Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer remains available
to address any questions that a client or prospective client has regarding this disclosure.
We are fiduciaries under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and when we provide investment
advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, we are
also 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. We have to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. At the
same time, the way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests.
Legacy Management Services
Our Firm may advise a Client about legacy positions or other investments in Client portfolios.
Clients can limit or restrict our trading in these positions.
Wrap Fee Program
We also provide services on a wrap fee basis as a wrap program sponsor. Under our wrap
program, you will receive investment advisory services, the execution of securities brokerage
transactions, custody and reporting services for a single specified fee. The benefits under a wrap
fee program depend, in part, upon the size of the account, the costs associated with managing
the account, and the frequency or type of securities transactions executed in the account. A wrap
fee program may not be suitable for all accounts, including but not limited to accounts holding
primarily, and for any substantial period of time, cash or cash equivalent investments, fixed
income securities or no-transaction-fee mutual funds, or any other type of security that can be
traded without commissions or other transaction fees. The terms and conditions of a wrap
program engagement are more fully discussed in our Wrap Fee Program Brochure.
We manage wrap accounts on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. When managing a
client’s account on a wrap fee basis, we receive as compensation for our investment advisory
services, the balance of the total wrap fee you pay after custodial, trading, and other management
costs (including execution and transaction fees) have been deducted. Accordingly, we have a
conflict of interest because we have a financial incentive to maximize our compensation by
seeking to reduce or minimize the total costs incurred in your account(s) subject to a wrap fee.
Our Custodians have eliminated commissions for online trades of U.S. equities, ETFs, and options
(subject to a $0.65 per contract fee). This means that, in most cases, when we buy and sell these
types of securities, we will not have to pay any commissions to the Custodian. We encourage you
to review the Custodian’s pricing to compare the total costs of entering into a wrap fee
arrangement versus a non-wrap fee arrangement. If you choose to enter into a wrap fee
arrangement, your total cost to invest could exceed the cost of paying for brokerage and advisory
services separately.
Assets
As of December 31, 2023, our total assets under management were $531,768,882. Our
discretionary assets under management totaled $494,822,622 and our non-discretionary assets
under management totaled $36,946,260.