Ralicki & Company, PA is an SEC registered investme
nt advisor1 located in Stuart Florida.
Ralicki Wealth Management & Trust Services (RWM) is a DBA of Ralicki & Company P.A.
The principal owner of the firm is David A. Ralicki, CPA/PFS.
As of December 31, 2023, our assets under management consisted of:
Number of
Accounts
Assets Under
Management
Discretionary 254 $ 101,966,077
Non-Discretionary 4 $ 5,594,935
Total 258 $ 107,561,012
Services
When we act as your investment adviser, we must act in your best interest, and we do not put our
interest ahead of yours. At the same time, the method that we are compensated creates some
conflicts with your interests. The following items outline our activities and address conflicts
associated with those activities. You should understand and ask us about these potential conflicts
because they can affect the investment advice we provide you.
Investment Supervisory Services
Ralicki Wealth Management & Trust Services (hereinafter RWM) provides investment
supervisory services, defined as giving continuous advice to a client regarding security holdings
and performance of their account, based on the client’s stated needs and goals. Investment
supervisory services require clients grant our firm with discretionary authority (with respect to
the selection of an investment money manager [hereinafter “money manager”] and the assets
allocated to the chosen money manager) in order for our firm to provide ongoing supervisory
services for each account.
RWM works in partnership with the client to determine the client’s level of risk tolerance,
suitability concerns, current and future goals or objectives, based on the client's particular
circumstances. RWM’s financial professionals typically gather information concerning a client’s
time horizon, risk tolerance, experience with investments, tax considerations, and the need for
liquidity or future distributions.
As noted above, RWM and the client will jointly develop the client's personal client
questionnaire and a Statement of Investment Selection (SIS) to guide the strategic and tactical
management of the client's portfolio. Clients have the responsibility of promptly notifying
RWM should there be any change in their financial situation, objectives or goals.
The tactical decisions involved in managing RWM advisory accounts will be executed by
independent money managers selected by RWM after a management search and appropriate due
1 Registration does not imply in specific level of skill or training.
diligence. RWM will determine which money manager is appropriate for the client based on the
above noted client questionnaire and SIS. Factors considered in determining which investment
money manager is best suited for the client include, but are not limited to, the total dollar value
of the client's advisory portfolio, the client's stated risk tolerance, the client's prior experience
with investments, the client's opinion of the recommended money manager, and the investment
philosophy of the money manager.
Clients may request our firm to engage money managers whose portfolios include socially
responsible investment concerns or place restrictions in the client’s account. As RWM manages
the investment money manager and not the actual securities, clients should be aware that money
managers may or may not accept reasonable restrictions on certain types of investments. Clients
who choose to place restrictions may be limited to the investment money managers we choose.
Nonetheless, the client always retains individual ownership of all assets managed by money
managers and the decision to place restrictions is entirely up to the client.
RWM chooses money managers by researching and choosing the money manager or through the
use of a Separately Managed Account (aka “SMA”) platform (or “Platform”). SMA Platforms
provide a wide spectrum of money managers for our firm to choose and a consistent process of
deployment or pricing. When RWM chooses an investment money manager, the client receives
additional disclosures about that money manager directly from the money manager (we currently
utilize CPS Investment Advisors) or the SMA platform sponsor (in our case, we use AssetMark
and Pershing, LLC’s platform). Clients should refer to the platform and separate money
manager’s disclosure documents for information regarding the practices of the platform or
separate money manager. RWM will continuously monitor the money manager, on behalf of the
client. RWM will meet with the client at periodic intervals, as determined by the client and
RWM, to review the performance of the money manager.
Due to the nature of the relationship between RWM and the money manager, and the nature of
the relationship between RWM and the client, RWM will always have the discretion to hire/fire
the money manager, on behalf of the client, without prior specific notice to the client. If RWM
determines that the money manager is performing inadequately and/or is managing the client's
account in a manner inconsistent with the client's stated strategy, or if RWM determines that
another money manager may be more appropriate for the client, RWM may fire the first money
manager, determine an appropriate subsequent money manager, and hire a new money manager
on behalf of the client.
You should understand that the investment money managers RWM chooses to manage your
account are not affiliated with our firm, and we are not responsible for their services, actions,
omissions, or performance. Our responsibility is limited
to having the discretion to direct a
portion of the client’s account to/from the money manager. We will initially evaluate and choose
money managers based upon reasonably available information at the time and periodically report
on the money manager’s investment performance in conjunction with our standard reporting
process.
For our sophisticated and/or accredited investors, and when appropriate to the needs of the client,
RWM may recommend the use of a money manager who participates in managing a client’s
assets in short-term trading strategies (securities sold within 30 days), margin strategies, or
option writing. Because these investment strategies contain considerable risk, they are only
recommended for portfolios that can withstand the possibility of exposure to loss of the client’s
principal investment. RWM will only recommend these money manager strategies when
consistent with the client's stated tolerance for risk.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
Trust clients and Investment Supervisory clients are eligible to receive a financial plan as a
compliment to their service. Other clients may elect to separately contract for financial planning
or individualized consulting services. Consulting services may or may not include the
preparation of a report as the services are based on the client’s desires. Any financial planning or
consulting services for which we charge an additional fee will be agreed upon in writing, prior to
the execution of the service.
Financial planning and consulting services may be broad or tailored to perform an analysis for
subjects dealing with health care costs, choosing a strategy to maximize social security benefits,
planning for retirement, demonstrating the impact of risks and loss tolerance to a financial plan,
demonstrating the impact of market corrections, estate consideration reviews, early death or
unexpected costs and providing our clients with a plan to focus on their long-term goals.
RWM will also be available to work with our client’s tax attorneys and accountants to develop
and craft a tax strategy which seeks to accomplish a client’s tax minimization objectives. We will
provide our in-depth understanding of the client’s individual tax needs, along with our
knowledge of existing and proposed national and state tax policies related to each engagement.
*RWM has an affiliated tax preparation service. Please see important disclosures regarding this
service in Item 10 of this brochure.
RWM gathers relevant insight for the engagement through in-depth personal interviews and
documents supplied by clients. Information gathered depends on the type of engagement desired.
Related documents supplied by the client are carefully reviewed, which may include a
questionnaire completed by the client, and a written report (if contracted by client) is prepared.
Should a client choose to implement the recommendations contained in the plan, RWM suggests
the client work closely with his/her attorney, accountant, investment advisor, insurance agent,
and/or stockbroker. Implementation of financial plan recommendations is entirely at the client's
discretion. The client is not obliged to utilize our investment supervisory services for
implementation of their plans.
Financial plan recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered by a
broker dealer or insurance company. All recommendations are of a generic nature.
Trust Services
Should our client request and we agree to undertake the assignment, trust services, certain
designated individuals of RWM will serve as a personal trustee with regard to the accounts of the
trust beneficiaries of client(s). Trust services may or may not include bill paying services as well
as fiduciary investment management advice to the trust. Trust services are separate from
investment supervisory services. The Trustee will either receive trustee fees or investment
supervisory fees, but not both.
With this engagement, we may refer a client to an attorney or tax professional to prepare tax
returns and perform trust administration and estate settlement services for the trust. RWM will not
accept, nor will we pay referral fees when recommending professionals for additional services. As
RWM has an affiliated tax preparation entity, there is an incentive to recommend our affiliated
company over other firms. Clients are never obligated to accept our recommendations and may
use a professional of their own choosing.
Pension Consulting
Our firm provides consulting services to plan trustees of ERISA-based plans. RWM
acknowledges it is an ERISA investment fiduciary. RWM will only act as an ERISA section
3(21) Investment Advisor. A 3(21) investment advisor makes investment recommendations but
leaves the ultimate decision and execution to the ERISA plan sponsor or its participants. For
401-k plans, as requested by the trustees, RWM will assist in developing an Investment Policy
Statement for the Plan.
RWM assumes the responsibility for the following:
• Providing recommendations for professionally selected investment money managers
• Continuous manager due diligence;
• Conducting enrollment and educational meetings for plan participants; and
• Coordination between the money manager and plan sponsor.
RWM and the money manager look to the Plan’s third-party administrator (“TPA”) to perform
accounting and document preparation functions. The selected money manager is responsible for
the recommendation and execution of investment decisions. Neither RWM nor the money
manager provide reports to the participants of the Plans. Participants can view or obtain reports
through the Plan Administration website.