This Disclosure document is being offered to you by Michels Family Financial (“Michels Family
Financial ” 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.
Our Firm became a registered investment adviser in June 2022 and is owned by Nicholas and
Chelsea Michels. Nicholas Michels is the Chief Compliance Officer.
We are committed to helping clients build, manage and preserve their wealth. Our Firm provides
services that help 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 Michels Family Financial execute an Investment Management Agreement.
INVESTMENT AND WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION SERVICES
We manage advisory accounts on a discretionary 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 but within the expected
investment guidelines. We may accept accounts with certain restrictions, if circumstances
warrant. We primarily allocate client assets among cash, individual stocks, bonds, exchange
traded funds (“ETFs”), equities, mutual funds, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, U.S.
Government Treasuries and cash in accordance with their stated investment objectives. We
generally invest Client’s cash balances in money market funds, FDIC Insured Certificates of
Deposit, high-grade commercial paper and/or government backed debt instruments. Ultimately,
we try to achieve the highest return on our client’s cash balances through relatively low-risk and
conservative investments. In most cases, at least a partial cash balance will be maintained in a
money market account so that our firm may debit advisory fees for our services related to this
service.
Portfolios will be designed to meet a particular investment goal, determined to be suitable to the
client’s circumstances. Once the appropriate portfolio has been determined, portfolios are
continuously and regularly monitored, and if necessary, rebalanced based upon the client’s
individual needs, stated goals and 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 and manage the client’s investments 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 types of investments to be included in a client’s portfolio and have
allocated the assets, we provide ongoing investment review and management services.
With our discretionary relationship, we will make changes to the portfolio, as we deem
appropriate, to meet client financial objectives. We trade these portfolios based on the
combination of our market views and client 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. Clients have the ability to leave
standing instructions with us to refrain from investing in particular industries or invest in limited
amounts of securities.
If a non-discretionary relationship is in place, calls will be placed presenting the recommendation
made and only upon your authorization will any action be taken on your behalf.
In all cases, clients have a direct and beneficial interest in their securities, rather than an undivided
interest in a pool 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 clients.
Where appropriate, we provide advice about any type of legacy position held in client portfolios.
Typically, these are assets that are ineligible to be custodied at our primary custodian. Clients will
engage us to advise on certain investment products that are not maintained at their primary
custodian, such as variable life insurance, annuity contracts, and assets held in employer
sponsored retirement plans and qualified tuition plans (i.e., 529 plans).
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.
CONSULTING SERVICES
We also provide clients with investment advice on a more-limited basis on one or more isolated
areas of concern such as estate planning, 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 or any other business advisory / consulting
services for equity or debt investments in privately held businesses. In these cases, clients will be
required to select their own investment managers, custodian, and/or insurance companies for
the implementation of consulting recommendations.
Financial Institution Consulting Services
We provide investment consulting services to certain broker dealer customers who provide a
written consent requesting to receive the firm’s consulting services. The broker dealer customers
have entered into a written advisory agreement with Michels Family Financial.
FINANCIAL PLANNING
Through the financial planning process, our team strives to engage our clients in conversations
around the client’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 client 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 client legacy
objectives. Our team partners with our client’s other advisors (CPAs, Enrolled Agents, Estate
Attorneys, Insurance Brokers, 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 adviser, an estate plan to provide for you and/or your heirs in the event
of an incapacity or death
An annual review will be provided by the Adviser, if indicated by the Client and Adviser per the
Agreement. More frequent reviews occur but are not necessarily communicated to the client
unless immediate changes are recommended. The Financial Planning Service is typically included
as a part of our investment management.
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 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.
RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES
For employer-sponsored retirement plans with participant-directed investments, our firm
provides its advisory services as an investment adviser 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) agreement, Our Firm provides the following services to the Plan
Sponsor:
• Screen investments and make recommendations.
• Monitor the investments and suggests replacement investments when appropriate.
• Provide a quarterly monitoring report.
• Assist the plan sponsor in developing an Investment Policy Statement (“IPS”).
• Recommend QDIA alternatives.
• Recommend non-discretionary model portfolios.
We can also be engaged to provide Plan Consulting Services. Plan Consulting Services include
financial education to Plan participants, benchmarking the Plan services, education to fiduciary
committee members, and monitoring the service provider. The scope of education provided to
participants will not constitute “investment advice” within the meaning of ERISA and participant
education will relate to general principles for investing and information about the investment
options currently in the Plan. We may also participate in initial enrollment meetings and periodic
workshops and enrollment meetings for new participants.
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 reviewed by our Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer and he remains available to address any
questions that a client or prospective client has regarding the oversight.
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.
WRAP FEE PROGRAM
Our Firm does not sponsor a Wrap Fee Program.
ASSETS
As of December 31, 2022, our Firm manages $138,795,546 under discretionary management.
There are no non-discretionary assets.
BRANCH OFFICE
4800 Action Hwy, Granbury, TX 76049