Firm Description
Wiser Wealth Management, Inc. (‘we,” “us,” “our,” or “Wiser Wealth”), a registered investment advisor
located in Marietta, Georgia and organized as a corporation under the laws of the State of Georgia, was
formed in 2001 and is 100% owned by Casey Tyler Smith. Mr. Smith is also the firm’s CEO.
Wiser Wealth offers both traditional investment management services (described in Wiser Wealth’s ADV
Part 2A Brochure), and a wrap fee program (Flightpath) described in this Wrap Brochure.
Wiser Wealth’s Flightpath Program
Services and Program Overview
Wiser Wealth’s Flightpath program is offered through an automated online platform (“Advisor Platform”)
sponsored by Betterment LLC (“Betterment”) that guides clients through the entire investment
management process and provides investment management implementation. Clients in the Flightpath
program authorize us to implement our proprietary portfolio models through the Advisor Platform and
through Betterment’s affiliated broker-dealer, MTG, LLC dba Betterment Securities (“Betterment
Securities”).
As part of the Flightpath program, clients complete a risk tolerance assessment and/or provide us with
information about their financial goals. Based on the information provided, the appropriate model
portfolio is selected for the client, but we don’t make changes to how the model is implemented in
response to individual client requests. We generally create diversified model portfolios of investments
consisting of low-cost exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), tailored to the client’s specific needs. For those
clients interested in an allocation to digital assets through an ETF, we have created models that include
this allocation. This is a wrap fee program. Generally, the portfolios in the Flightpath program have fewer
securities in them and we offer less individual consultation than we do when offering Wiser Wealth
advisory services to non-Flightpath clients. Flightpath is intended to leverage technology and limit the
need for one-on-one contact. Flightpath is not designed to provide clients with a comprehensive financial
plan and instead is built to advise clients on achieving discrete financial goals that the client selects. Our
use of technology and the questions asked through the Advisor Platform may not elicit important
information about an individual client’s circumstances. Clients should consider this limitation carefully,
because it is inherent in providing a more automated service.
Information about the client’s portfolio is available through Betterment’s online Advisor Platform. The
client can also submit or modify risk preferences, investment objectives, investment size and any other
restrictions for their accounts directly through the online platform. Client portfolios are periodically
rebalanced by Betterment in accordance with the Wiser Wealth models. The Flightpath program is
generally available to clients with assets under $400,000.
Our Flightpath program is discretionary. Once clients have established an account with Wiser Wealth and
with Betterment, and once a proprietary portfolio model is selected as described above, Betterment can
direct Betterment Securities to buy and sell investments on clients’ behalf when they determine it is
appropriate to do so. Betterment Securities provides clients with information about their Wiser Wealth
proprietary portfolio model(s) to inform their decision-making but does not make recommendations to
clients that they invest in any particular model. Betterment trades in response to the Wiser Wealth model
selected (and changes made by Wiser Wealth to that model), client actions (such as deposits or
withdrawals, allocation changes, or elections to exclude certain assets from your account), to rebalance
your portfolio, to reinvest dividends in connection with the program, or to otherwise further your
investment goals.
Wrap Fees Charged for the Flightpath Program
We charge a single asset-based wrap fee that covers Wiser Wealth’s investment advisory fees,
Betterment’s investment advisory services and platform access, as well as associated trading and custody
services provided by Betterment’s affiliated broker-dealer, Betterment Securities. See Trading and
Custody Practices that Apply to the Flightpath Program, below, for additional information.
The maximum total fee charged for the Flightpath program will not exceed 0.50% of assets under
management annually. The fee charged is split between Wiser Wealth and Betterment. Betterment then
shares the fees it receives with its broker-dealer affiliate, Betterment Securities, and other providers.
Further details about Betterment’s practices are described in their ADV 2A Appendix 1.
Wiser Wealth acts as the portfolio manager to the Flightpath program and, under our agreement with
Betterment, Betterment receives between 24% and 40% of the total fee charged, but Wiser Wealth
receives the remaining amount (between 60% and 76% of the total fee charged). Currently, Wiser Wealth
receives approximately 64%, while Betterment receives approximately 36%.
Fees for the Flightpath program are generally not negotiable, though in some cases we may lower the
portion of the fee we are entitled to. If we agree to negotiate fees, the portion we retain will be reduced
but Betterment’s portion will not change. Under our agreement with Betterment, as we bring more client
assets into the Flightpath program and onto the Advisor Platform, the amount of fees we retain increases,
though the total fee paid by the client remains the same. Similarly,
our ability to use the Advisor Platform
to manage the portfolios of smaller clients gives us operational efficiencies that contribute to our overall
profitability. Taken together, these factors create a financial incentive for us to encourage more clients to
use the Flightpath program.
Wrap fees are calculated as a prorated amount of a client’s average daily balance over a quarter and
charged as of the last business day of each quarter. On the last business day of the quarter, Betterment
arranges to sell securities in an amount that will generate cash proceeds to satisfy a client’s fee obligation.
The wrap fee for the Flightpath Program may cost clients more or less than paying for advisory services,
custody, and transaction charges separately. Often, it is difficult for clients with smaller accounts to obtain
investment advisory services at a relatively low cost, either because investment advisers prefer to service
larger accounts that pay higher overall fees or because fees charged by advisers are a significant
percentage of assets managed. At the same time, many custodians have reduced or eliminated transaction
charges, which means that smaller clients may often obtain custody, brokerage, and trade execution for
very low cost.
Other Fees
As noted above, the wrap fee covers Wiser Wealth’s advisory fees, Betterment’s advisory and platform
fees, and brokerage and execution charges through Betterment Securities. These fees are separate and
distinct from the fees and expenses charged by exchanged-traded funds to their shareholders. These fees
and expenses are described in ETF’s prospectus, which is available through the “Portfolio” tab of the online
platform. These fees and expenses, which generally include the ETF’s management fee plus other
expenses of administering the ETF, are embedded in the price of the security and expressed as an internal
expense ratio. They reduce returns over time. Neither Wiser Wealth nor Betterment receives any portion
of these ETF fees and expenses.
Important Information for Retirement Investors
When we recommend that you roll over retirement assets or transfer existing retirement assets (such as
a 401(k) or an IRA) to our management, we have a conflict of interest. This is because we will generally
earn additional revenue when we manage more assets. In making the recommendation, however, we do
so only after determining that the recommendation is in your best interest. Further, in making any
recommendation to transfer or rollover retirement assets, we do so as a “fiduciary,” as that term is defined
in ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code, or both. We also acknowledge we are a fiduciary under ERISA or
the Internal Revenue Code with respect to our ongoing investment advisory recommendations and
discretionary asset management services, as described in the advisory agreement we execute with you.
To the extent we provide non-fiduciary services to you, those will be described in the advisory agreement.
Trading and Custody Practices that Apply to the Flightpath Program
All assets in the Flightpath program are custodied with Betterment’s affiliate, Betterment Securities, which
in turn has an omnibus clearing arrangement with Apex Clearing Corporation (“Apex”), a broker-dealer
that is not affiliated with Betterment, Betterment Securities, or Wiser Wealth. When a client executes an
Investment Management Agreement with us, the client will also open an account with Betterment and
Betterment Securities by entering into an account agreement directly with them. While we do not open
the account for the client, we may assist the client in doing so. Betterment Securities is the only custodian
available to clients in the Flightpath program and Betterment Securities is selected by Betterment, not by
Wiser Wealth. See Item 9, Additional Information, for more information about our selection of
Betterment for the Flightpath program and the conflicts present in the relationship between Wiser Wealth
and Betterment.
Betterment Securities generally does not charge separately for custody services. It is instead compensated
by Betterment through receipt of a portion of the wrap fee discussed above in lieu of commissions. The
single wrap fee charged by Betterment wrap fee may be higher or lower than what clients would pay if
they contracted for advisory services, trading, and custody separately. We believe that the total charge is
competitive and reasonable for the services provided.
All transactions are executed through Betterment Securities at the direction of Betterment. Clients in the
Flightpath program are not permitted to direct brokerage to other firms.
Betterment places aggregated orders involving multiple Betterment accounts trading in the same
securities. In conducting these transactions no client is favored over any other client and each client that
participates in an aggregated transaction will participate at the average share price for transactions in the
aggregated order. Betterment or its affiliates do not charge separate fees for any trade execution or
custody service provided to clients. Orders for the purchase or sale of securities are routed by Betterment
Securities to Apex for managed execution. Apex is entitled to receive payments or rebates on orders from
Betterment Securities, but Apex does not pass on to Betterment Securities any portion of such payments.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, we managed approximately $303,948,000 of client assets on a discretionary
basis, and $1,589,900 on a non-discretionary basis. Of the totals listed, approximately $6,166,000 was
managed on a discretionary basis for clients in the Flightpath program.