A. General Description of BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions, LLC
BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions, LLC (“BWWS“ or “firm,” “we” or “us”) is a privately-owned SEC-
registered investment advisor, with its principal office located in Birmingham, Alabama. On
January 15, 2016, BMSS LLC, a full-service accounting firm headquartered in Birmingham,
Alabama, joined with certain of its principal owners and managers to form BWWS as an Alabama
limited liability company.
Ever since our formation, BMSS LLC has been the sole owner and parent company of BWWS. In
addition to being our sole member, BMSS LLC is also our manager (akin to a board of directors of
a corporation). In that role, BMSS LLC directs and oversees the business of BWWS; day-to-day
operations are managed by our officers, including Mark A. Wesson, our Chief Executive Officer.
BWWS offers a wide range of investment advisory, financial planning, and wealth management
services. In addition, BWWS has established a consulting referral relationship with our parent
company, BMSS LLC, to provide business consulting, tax, and estate planning services to meet the
needs of our clients.
B. Description of BWWS’s Advisory Services
BWWS provides the following private wealth advisory services to its clients:
▪ Investment Advisory and Wealth Management Services
▪ Financial Planning
▪ Life Impact® Stewardship Planning
▪ Trust Services
▪ Held-Away Account Management
▪ Consulting Services
In addition, for those clients who require more extensive consulting and technical planning,
BWWS may refer these clients to our parent company, BMSS LLC, for one or more of the
following:
▪ Estate Planning
▪ Tax Planning
▪ Business Consulting, Valuation and Succession Planning
▪ Management Consulting
▪ Foreign Tax Compliance
Details about each of these general service categories are provided below.
Form ADV Part 2A | March 13, 2024 Page 5
Investment Advisory and Wealth Management Services
We serve each client’s Investment Advisory and Wealth Management needs by taking them
through a comprehensive fact finding, discovery interview and planning meeting in order to fully
understand each client’s values, objectives, risk tolerance, investment time horizon and liquidity
needs. After interviewing our clients, we develop an investment policy tailored to each client’s
needs and characteristics. Based on the objectives, risk tolerance, and constraints identified and
documented in the client’s investment policy statement, BWWS’s advisors recommend
investment portfolios aligned with their needs, values and other characteristics. BWWS provides
investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services related to fee-based annuity and
insurance products and will generally charge a percent of contract market value fee for providing
advice and investment recommendations on these products.
Related registered investment advisor EverSource Wealth Advisors, LLC (“EverSource”) provides
administrative support, technology, compliance services, and investment office services. While
BWWS advisors are responsible for recommending and implementing investment advice, we rely
upon EverSource’s Investment Department for portfolio management including trading, model
management, and some investment due diligence functions. BWWS, in part because of its
relationship with EverSource, is able to design client portfolios utilizing exchange-traded funds,
mutual funds, separately managed accounts, unified managed accounts, private alternative
assets, and fee-based annuity and insurance products, where appropriate for the client and in
the client’s best interest.
BWWS contracts with third-party asset managers for unique equity and fixed income managed
account strategies, whether separately managed accounts (“SMA”) or unified managed accounts
(“UMA”). We may delegate investment discretion over clients’ account(s) to such third-party
asset managers who typically operate as a subadvisor to EverSource Wealth Advisors, LLC
(“EverSource”).
EverSource, acting as a subadvisor, conducts for BWWS investment and operational due diligence
on private equity funds, private credit funds, private real estate funds, and direct real estate
investment syndicates. We present such opportunities to eligible and interested clients and
facilitate the client subscription commitments. In the event a client expresses interest in a private
market investment opportunity which the firm’s Investment Committee has not reviewed or
approved, we will make it clear to the client that neither BWWS nor the IAR is recommending the
investment and that no advisory or other fee will be charged to the client by BWWS related to
such non-recommended investment.
Rollover Recommendations
For clients who are participants in a retirement plan, we will evaluate whether it is in their best
interest to “roll over” their plan account to an individual retirement account (“IRA”), move their
assets to a different retirement plan, leave the plan as is, or reallocate the assets in the plan
account. BWWS will generally earn a fee if the client elects to rollover the plan account or to
contract with BWWS for the provision of investment advice on the plan account assets. This can
Form ADV Part 2A | March 13, 2024 Page 6
create a conflict of interest and an incentive for BWWS to recommend a rollover rather than
leaving the account as is. BWWS discloses this conflict, advises the client of its fiduciary status
and documents the rationale for any rollover recommendation.
Held-Away Account Management
BWWS uses a third-party platform to facilitate management of held-away assets, such as defined
contribution plan participant accounts, where the client has granted BWWS discretion. Because
BWWS does not have access to or use client log-in credentials to effect trades on this platform,
BWWS is not considered to have custody of those client funds. Clients receive a link from the
platform provider which allows them to connect their account to the platform and to give the
BWWS advisor access for the limited purpose of managing the investments in the account. The
advisor will review the account allocations and, when deemed necessary, rebalance the account
in light of the client’s investment goals. Because it is generally not possible for BWWS to directly
debit its fees from these accounts, fees will be assigned to another client account or billed directly
to the client. BWWS is not affiliated with this platform provider in any way and does not receive
any compensation for using the platform.
Retirement Plan Services
For certain retirement plans, BWWS has agreed to provide advice to the plan sponsor, investment
manager oversight, plan participant education and ongoing administrative
support in partnership
with third-party administrators (“TPAs”), recordkeepers, and investment co-fiduciaries for 3(21)
ERISA advice.
Financial Planning Services
Our Financial Planning Services are founded on a comprehensive assessment of each client’s
current and projected financial situation and circumstances. In conducting our client evaluations,
we utilize information provided to us directly by our client, from our client’s other advisors, as
well as through our own research and analysis of publicly available information. We offer our
clients Financial Planning Services both on a standalone fee-basis and as a component of a
complete Investment Advisory or Consulting engagement. We believe that sound financial
planning is a critical step on the path to financial security and that such planning forms an
important part of our overall Investment Advisory, Wealth Management and Consulting Services.
Our approach to the financial planning process is founded upon interviewing our clients to
understand their current financial situation and life circumstances, financial goals, and objectives
for engaging our services in addition to their values and outlook. By doing this, we can design a
financial plan suited for each individual client. Based on the circumstances, objectives and needs
of each client, our financial planning may address one or more (or all) of the following: balance
sheet creation, net worth calculation, cash flow analysis, review and analysis of a client’s various
assets and liabilities, liability planning, key risks identification and mitigation planning, tax
Form ADV Part 2A | March 13, 2024 Page 7
analysis and planning, education funding planning, retirement planning, basic estate planning,
and resource stewardship planning. In addition, we develop scenarios for and stress test each
client’s situation to help them understand how different decisions can impact future outcomes.
Life Impact® Stewardship Planning Services
Life Impact Stewardship Planning is a planning and consulting service provided in addition to
financial planning services which focuses on the other aspects of a person or family’s life. The
process is used to assist clients with aligning their purpose, calling and values with all aspects of
their life.
Trust Services
In addition to serving Private Wealth clients, BWWS also provides Investment Advisory services
to Trusts and offers Trust Services to clients through various trust companies, including National
Advisors Trust Company (“NATC”). Through NATC, we can provide access to integrated trust
administration and consulting solutions for clients whose financial, family or business needs
require the services of a professional trust fiduciary.
Consulting Services
Our Consulting Services complement our Financial Planning Services through assisting clients with
unique projects, research and analysis. In addition to the professionals at BWWS, we have
established a consulting referral relationship with and are able to access the expertise of a
seasoned team of accounting and financial professionals at our parent company, BMSS LLC, and
at related registered investment advisor, EverSource. This team includes experienced Accredited
Estate Planners (AEP), Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and Certified Valuation Analysts (CVA).
Estate Planning Services
Estate planning is not a one-time event, but a continual process to ensure a family’s legacy. We
help clients develop their estate plan and work with the family and other key advisors to adapt
the plan as circumstances change. A strategic estate plan may involve:
▪ Analysis of assets
▪ Asset protection planning
▪ Asset valuation
▪ Business succession planning
▪ Charitable planning
▪ Consideration of life insurance
▪ Minimization of taxes, if possible
▪ Planning for family financial security, future education, and retirement
▪ Selection of beneficiaries, guardians, and personal representatives
Form ADV Part 2A | March 13, 2024 Page 8
▪ Special Needs considerations
▪ Wealth transfer to beneficiaries
▪ Will and Trust review and guidance
Tax Planning Services
Tax planning and consultation is optimally provided through proactive planning and timely service
– not just during tax season. BMSS LLC tax professionals are skilled and experienced in the
intricacies of individual, corporate, federal, state, and local taxation. Specialized tax services
include:
▪ Individual federal tax planning and compliance
▪ State and local taxes
▪ Estate and gift taxes
▪ International taxation
▪ IRS dispute resolution
▪ Stock options
▪ Employee Stock Ownership Plans (“ESOP”)
Business Consulting, Valuation and Succession Planning Services
Business consulting and valuation is a first step toward a wide range of strategic and long-term
planning decisions. BMSS LLC professionals have the knowledge, training and experience to serve
the needs of our clients related to each of the following:
▪ Business succession planning
▪ Buy-sell agreements
▪ Estate and gift taxes
▪ Financial modeling & benchmarking
▪ Management buyouts
▪ Mergers & acquisitions
▪ Transaction support
▪ Wealth transfer
C. Customized Services
BWWS tailors individualized plans and solutions for each client based on their Investment Policy
and unique fact set at the time. Our clients may establish restrictions and limitations on investing
in certain securities or security-types based on their unique objectives, tax considerations, and
values.
Form ADV Part 2A | March 13, 2024 Page 9
D. Wrap Fee Programs
Wrap fee programs are advisory programs under which a specified fee (not based directly upon
transactions in an account but instead on the aggregate value of assets in a client’s account) is
charged for investment advisory services and the execution of transactions. BWWS does not
sponsor a wrap fee program, but does recommend that some clients participate in the
Betterment for Advisors wrap fee program. Betterment for Advisors clients pay once a calendar
quarter (each “Wrap Fee Period”), a wrap fee generally equal to 0.25% per annum of the client’s
average daily account balance during the Wrap Fee Period for Betterment’s and Betterment
Securities’ services. The wrap fee is subject to waiver or reduction by Betterment in its sole
discretion. Accounts are not charged a wrap fee when they are unfunded.
E. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, our assets under management were as follows:
Assets Managed on Discretionary Basis $482,208,946
Assets Managed on Non-Discretionary Basis $ 11,270,352
Total Assets Under Management $493,479,298