Firm Description
Darwin Asset Management, LLC (“DAM”, “we”) is a registered investment adviser based in Tampa,
Florida. We are organized as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Florida. We
have been providing investment advisory services since 2021. We are owned by Darwin Partners,
LLC.
We are indirectly owned by Michael Bartolotta, Jeremy Bartolotta, and Michael Sorrentino through
MRM Equity Group Holdings, LLC. MRM Equity Group Holdings, LLC is the direct owner of Darwin
Partners, LLC.
Sub-advisory Services
DAM is a sub-adviser who offers traditional asset management services directly to other registered
investment advisers (“primary investment advisers”) in the form of an investment model platform. We
design and manage our own proprietary investment models and offer them to primary investment
advisers for a fee (discussed in Item 5 below).
DAM performs its asset management services on a non-discretionary basis. We provide investment
recommendations to the primary investment adviser related to any changes we believe should take
place within a model’s internal holdings based upon our ongoing review, research, and analysis. The
primary investment adviser makes the ultimate decision on whether to implement some, none, or all
of changes we recommend related to the holdings within our models. The primary investment
adviser executes any necessary trades via their brokers and platforms. We do not place orders and
issue instructions to effect portfolio transactions when providing asset management services on a
non-discretionary basis.
Outsourced Chief Investment Officer Services
In addition to the services mentioned above, DAM also provides various outsourced Chief
Investment Officer services to primary investment advisers for a fee based (discussed in Item 5
below). As an outsourced Chief Investment Officer (“OCIO”), DAM may perform some or all of the
following to primary investment advisers and the primary investment adviser’s choosing:
• Model Selection – provide guidance by reviewing and evaluating the investment models the
primary investment adviser utilizes on their platform(s). DAM may make recommendations to
the primary investment adviser to add or remove models from their platforms based on our
analysis. DAM may recommend using models created by DAM and this creates a conflict of
interest as DAM financially benefits from recommending its own models.
• Communications and Whitepapers – DAM creates client-directed communications content
that the primary investment adviser may choose to adopt and utilize and their own discretion.
These communications
may cover numerous topics from investing, geo-political news,
performance of the markets, investment strategies, among other things. The primary
investment adviser is responsible for reviewing, approving, and distributing all
communications/whitepapers to their clients in accordance with their own policies,
procedures and/or guidelines. DAM does not distribute any client-directed communications to
clients, nor does DAM perform any compliance reviews or offer compliance guidance to
primary investment advisers. Primary investment advisers use their own branding on any
client directed communications DAM produces.
• Onsite Meetings and Presentations – a member of DAM, generally DAM’s CIO, may be
utilized by the primary investment adviser to assist with client and company meetings held by
the primary investment adviser on an as needed basis. The OCIO would be used as a
subject matter expert and may provide informational/educational support to the primary
investment adviser. These meetings will typically involve discussions concerning the
functions and strategy of certain investments and/or investment models. Additionally, these
meetings may also cover subject matter covered in the “Communications” bullet above. It is
important to note that DAM does not make any recommendations or provide any investment
advice to clients. The primary investment adviser is solely responsible for making
recommendations to their customers that fit their customers’ needs and objective by taking
into full account, at a minimum, the client’s financial background and suitability information.
DAM does not provide investment advisory services to retail clients; thus, we are not required to
maintain or distribute a Form ADV Part 3 (or also known as Form CRS). We do not hold ourselves
out to the public as a manager of individual portfolios, provider of financial planning, provider of
research, or a firm that provides financial guidance to retail clients.
Darwin Wealth Management, LLC (“DWM”) is a commonly owned registered investment advisory
affiliate of DAM. DWM provides investment advisory services directly to retail clients (also discussed
in Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations).
Wrap Fee Programs
A wrap fee program is an investment program where an investor pays one state fee that includes
management fees, transactions costs, fund expenses, and other administrative fees. DAM does not
participate in any wrap fee programs.
Assets Under Management
As of July 31, 2023, we provide continuous management services for $1,007,166,261 in assets
under management on a non-discretionary basis.