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Adviser Profile

Registration status Terminated
As of Date 12/22/2024
Adviser Type - Large advisory firm
Number of Employees 8
of those in investment advisory functions 7
AUM* 518,127,030
of that, discretionary 518,127,030
Private Fund GAV* 0 -100.00%
Avg Account Size 647,659
% High Net Worth 93.88%
SMA’s No
Private Funds 0
Contact Info (23 xxxxxxx
Websites

Client Types

- Individuals (other than high net worth individuals)
- High net worth individuals
- Pooled investment vehicles
- Charitable organizations
- Corporations or other businesses not listed above

Advisory Activities

- Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses
- Portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles
- Portfolio management for businesses
- Selection of other advisers
- Educational seminars/workshops

Compensation Arrangments

- A percentage of assets under your management
- Performance-based fees

Brochure Summary

Overview

Firm Description and Principal Owner First Trust Investment Solutions L.P. (formerly Gyroscope Capital Management Group, LLC) (“FTIS”, “we”, “our”, “the Firm” etc.) offers various portfolio advisory services (“Advisory Services”). As an SEC registered investment adviser, FTIS specializes in separately- managed accounts (“SMAs”) with option overlays for Custom Option Solutions, Tax- Managed and Large Capitalization equity and ETF portfolios FTIS also operates a private fund which utilizes call option overlay and put purchases. FTIS is headquartered in Naples, Florida with an office in Wheaton, Illinois. On August 31, 2023, CW Gyroscope, LLC, Robert Carr and Anthony Cirillo, sold all outstanding membership interests in the Firm to First Trust Investment Solutions L.P., an Illinois limited partnership. The general partner of FTIS is The Charger Corporation (“Charger”). FTIS has one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P. (“Grace”). The general partner of Grace is Charger. Grace has a number of limited partners. Effective August 31, 2023, Gyroscope Capital Management Group, LLC underwent a legal entity change and changed its name to First Trust Investment Solutions L.P. FTIS has partnerships with various independent broker/dealers to provide their Advisory Services and investing strategies to clients. Clients are provided an investment team with over 50 years of experience in the investment industry. The team meets weekly to review portfolios and discuss market strategies. Our approach to investing is to provide clients with quality investment advice utilizing our knowledge of the option market in seeking to enhance returns. Clients may impose restrictions regarding investing in certain securities or types of securities. Clients can inform the investment advisor of any restrictions by email, letter, or verbal instruction. Participation in Wrap Fee Programs SMAs are offered through programs operated by one or more RIAs, broker-dealers or other financial services firms (“Program Sponsors”) offering a package of financial services to participants (“Participants”) in the program (“Wrap Programs”) or in structures outside of Wrap Programs. In a Wrap Program, FTIS provides discretionary Advisory Services for a fee (“Advisory Fee” to Wrap Program Participants who select certain FTIS-advised investment strategies. Advisory agreements (“Advisory Agreements”) are entered into with Wrap Program Participants or Program Sponsors. When a Program Sponsor enters into an advisory agreement with FTIS to provide Advisory Services under one or more investment strategies to its Wrap Program Participants, it is referred to as a “single contract” relationship (“Single Contract”). When a Wrap Program Participant enters into an Advisory Agreement directly with FTIS to provide Advisory Services under one or more of its investment strategies, it is referred to as a “dual contract” (“Dual Contract”) relationship. Advisory Agreements in Single and Dual Contract relationships generally include the Advisory Fee paid to FTIS for its Advisory Services. These Advisory Agreements also include details regarding trade execution, custodian identification, proxy voting authority and directed brokerage instructions, if any. Information regarding a Participant’s investment objectives, restrictions and investing experience, financial situation, time horizon, risk tolerance, and other information needed to determine if an investment strategy is suitable for investment by such Participant’s account (“Suitability Information”) is generally provided by the Program Sponsor at account opening and when changes occur. FTIS participates as a portfolio manager in certain WP sponsored by Envestnet Asset Management, Inc. and Janney Montgomery Scott. Please refer to the Form ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 maintained and provided by the Program Sponsors to these Wrap Programs for additional information. Additional Wrap Programs may be added throughout the year. Types of Advisory Services Custom Options Solutions Covered Call Transition Strategy oThe Covered Call Transition Strategy provides a systematic way for clients with concentrated stock positions to diversify their holdings while setting time and price limits for the disposition of their stock. These limits allow the client to participate in stock gains and accrue up-front proceeds from the sale of call options. oFTIS establishes a customized plan for each client to deliver stock on a regular, disciplined basis using a ladder of covered calls at various strike prices and expirations.  Covered Call Income Strategy oThe Covered Call Income Strategy provides an option overlay for a client’s concentrated stock or existing portfolio to generate call option premium income. oFTIS establishes a customized plan for each client to target a specific option premium target in line with upside participation expectations. Cash-Secured Put Write Strategy oThe Cash-Secured Put Write Strategy provides an income strategy for clients that may wish to own a basket of stocks but at prices lower than the current market. Put Options can be sold out-of-the-money and clients can receive option premium until the underlying stocks fall to a target price. oFTIS establishes a customized plan for each client to target a specific basket of stocks and expectations for option premium targets in line with buy-in levels for stock positions.  Hedging Strategies oCustomized strategies for high net worth investors who are seeking to hedge exposure to a concentrated stock or market risk such as represented by an index such as the S&P 500. oPossible strategies include the purchase of puts, stock collars (zero- premium, credit, or debit), option spreads, Exchange Fund Replication, Covered Call Direct Indexing, etc. oFTIS drafts an account-specific Investment Policy Statement based on the client’s needs and specific strategy desired. This proposal will determine how FTIS will proceed at settlement and maintain the strategy on an ongoing basis. Portfolio Strategies FTIS’s specialized SMA strategies can be classified into one of four categories; Premium Income, Tax Advantaged Equity, Long Only Equity or Target Income. Below is a list of available investment strategies under each category available to clients for investment as follows: Premium Income Strategies First Trust Large Cap Core Premium Income Strategy oOur Large Cap Core Premium Income Strategy invests in the common stock of U.S.- based companies or ADRs of non-U.S.-based companies. Individual stock positions that comprise the strategy are weighted according to the in- verse of their GICS sector-relative volatility and are typically rounded to the nearest 100 shares to ensure efficient option coverage. Security selection is based on a combination of discounted cash flow and implied volatility analyses. The strategy entails an active covered call option overlay that “writes” or “sells” short-dated call options on the stock positions to generate additional income and provides limited downside protection. The short call option discipline also incorporates sector-relative volatility. Positions with higher relative volatility target higher premium generation and lower upside potential while the opposite is true for those with lower relative volatility.  First Trust Large Cap Value Premium Income Strategy oOur Large Cap Value Premium Income Strategy invests in the common stock of large capitalization U.S. based companies or ADRs of a non-U.S. companies with a historical dividend above the average of the S&P 500 index component companies. We analyze a company’s historical earnings growth, stock price, and dividend performance over a five to ten-year period to evaluate the likelihood of a stock outperforming the S&P 500 Index over the next six to twelve months. The client receives added value from a Covered Call Option Overlay which works to enhance account income and provide limited downside price protection. Call options are sold on stocks, when available, for two to six-months starting at 5% above the current price. Our proprietary evaluation method of options helps determines which call options are used within our strategy.
First Trust Large Cap Growth Premium Income Strategy oOur Large Cap Growth Premium Income Strategy Growth portfolio invests in the common stock of large capitalization U.S. based companies or ADRs of a non-U.S. company that we believe have higher than average growth potential as determined by an analysis of a company’s earnings growth, stock price performance over a five to ten-year period and the stock’s historical volatility. The client receives added value from a Covered Call Option Overlay which works to enhance account income and provides limited downside price protection. Call options are sold on stocks, when available, for two to six- months starting at 5% above the current price. Our proprietary evaluation method of options helps determines which call options are used within our strategy. First Trust Large Cap Sector Momentum Premium Income Strategy oOur Large Cap Sector Momentum Premium Income Strategy Optimal Weight portfolio invests in the 11 GICS sectors of the S&P 500 using ETFs. Using historical analysis, the strategy seeks to overweight/underweight each sector to provide outperformance to the S&P 500 Index. In addition, we opportunistically sell covered calls on the underlying ETFs to in seeking to generate additional income, provide limited downside protection, and reduce portfolio volatility. Tax Advantaged Equity Strategies First Trust Global Core Strategy oThis strategy seeks to maximize capital appreciation and income commensurate with the strategy’s global benchmark. The strategy invests in domestic and foreign equity securities based on fundamental research in accordance with FTIS’ macro- economic and thematic views while being mindful of benchmark sector weights. Security selection is a mosaic approach which considers valuation, balance sheet strength, growth prospects, income, and other factors. First Trust Large Cap Sector ETF Strategy oThis strategy seeks to replicate the S&P 500 Index using U.S. Sector ETFs while also employing a systematic tax loss harvesting discipline. oFirst, the strategy purchases a portfolio of U.S. Sector ETFs (the “Equity Portfolio”) to replicates the current sector weights of the S&P 500 Index (“Sector Neutral”). The Equity Portfolio may be rebalanced periodically, with a scheduled rebalance back to Sector Neutral at least on an annual basis. oSecond, the strategy will be monitored for potential tax-loss harvesting opportunities and replace existing U.S. Sector ETFs with a similar U.S. Sector ETF from a different ETF sponsor. The ETF switching approach will allow an account to maintain low tracking error to the S&P 500 Index, capture losses for potential tax alpha and
limit the potential for ‘wash-sale’ by replacing with a new ETF for that exposure. Long Only Equity Strategies First Trust Large Cap Low Volatility Strategy oOur Large Cap Low Volatility portfolio invests in the common stock of large capitalization U.S. based companies or ADRs of non-U.S. companies that display minimal 12-month volatility and a beta less than the market. Reduced volatility may limit the portfolio’s upside potential but we believe that the low down- capture ratio provides the opportunity for the portfolio to outperform over a long- term horizon. The Low Volatility portfolio is a buy and hold strategy that is reviewed and rebalanced quarterly for potential tax loss harvesting opportunities. First Trust SMID Cap Low Volatility Strategy oOur SMID Cap Low Volatility portfolio invests in the common stock of U.S. based companies or ADR of a non-U.S. companies with market capitalizations between $1 and $7 billion that display minimal 12-month volatility and a beta less than the market. Reduced volatility may limit the portfolio’s upside potential but the low down- capture ratio should enable the portfolio to outperform over a long-term horizon. The Low Volatility portfolio is a buy and hold strategy that is reviewed and rebalanced quarterly for potential tax loss harvesting opportunities. Target Income Strategies FT Vest Large Cap Sector ETF Target Income Strategy oFTIS has licensed the Target Income methodology from Vest Financial LLC. oProvides investors with a strategy that has a target income investment objective established on an annualized basis. This strategy seeks to replicate the S&P 500 Index using U.S. Sector ETFs in addition to generating enhanced income by writing (selling) call options on broad-based index options. oFirst, the strategy purchases a portfolio of U.S. Sector ETFs (the “Equity Portfolio”) to replicate the current sector weights of the S&P 500 Index. The Equity Portfolio may be rebalanced periodically, with a scheduled rebalance back to sector neutral at least on an annual basis. oSecond, the strategy will seek additional cash flow in the form of premiums from selling call options every Friday (the “Weekly Option Expiration Date”) based on a pre-established target income above the annualized dividend yield of the S&P 500 Index. At the Weekly Option Expiration date, the previously sold call options will be closed out and the next series of weekly call options will be sold.
oThird, the Equity Portfolio will be monitored for potential tax-loss harvesting opportunities and replace existing U.S. Sector ETFs with a similar U.S. Sector ETF from a different ETF sponsor. The ETF switching approach will allow an account to maintain low tracking error to the S&P 500 Index, capture losses for potential tax alpha and limit the potential for ‘wash-sale’ by replacing with a new ETF for that exposure. FT Vest Large Cap Equity Target Income Strategy oFTIS has licensed the Target Income methodology from Vest Financial LLC. oProvides investors with a strategy that has a target income investment objective established on an annualized basis. This strategy seeks to replicate the S&P 500 Index through stocks while allowing for greater tax efficiency through tax loss harvesting in addition to generating enhanced income by writing (selling) call options on broad-based index options. oFirst, the strategy purchases a portfolio of securities seeking to replicate the S&P 500 Index while allowing for greater tax efficiency and customization. The Equity Portfolio may be rebalanced periodically, with a scheduled rebalance back to sector neutral at least on an annual basis. oSecond, the strategy will seek additional cash flow in the form of premiums from selling call options every Friday (the “Weekly Option Expiration Date”) based on a pre-established target income above the annualized dividend yield of the S&P 500 Index. At the Weekly Option Expiration date, the previously sold call options will be closed out and the next series of weekly call options will be sold. oThird, the Equity Portfolio will be monitored for potential tax-loss harvesting opportunities. The strategy will seek to maintain low tracking error to the S&P 500 Index, while capturing losses for potential tax alpha. SMAs / Sub-Adviser Accounts FTIS’s Custom Options Solutions and Portfolio Strategies can also be accessed through SMA/sub-adviser programs. Under these programs, an adviser has a contract with its client to perform services as an investment manager and possibly custodian services. The adviser, in turn, establishes a contract with FTIS to provide Advisory Services to the adviser’s client. FTIS establishes a contract with the adviser on the client’s behalf. FTIS does from time-to-time establish other such relationships. The advisers/platforms that have contracted with FTIS include: Platforms: Platform Name Turnkey Asset Manager Platform (“TAMP” Separate Account Manager (“SMA” Sub- Advisor Agreement Separate Account Manager (“SMA” Dual Contract Model Manager Mount Yale Investment Advisors X X X Envestnet Asset Management X X X Schwab Managed Account Marketplace X X Fidelity Separate Account Network X X RBC FLEX Net X X Sawtooth Solutions, LLC X X SmartX Advisory Services, LLC X X Vestmark Advisory Solutions, LLC X X LPL Financial Services X X X Sub-Advisor/Dual Contract: Advisory Firm Firm CRD Sub-Advisor Agreement Dual Contract Agreement Capital Wealth Advisors 158940 X Moors & Cabot Inc 594 X IA Network, LLC 319096 X Janney Montgomery Scott 463 X X Kayne Anderson Rudnick 104599 X Congress Wealth Management 310873 X Zuraw Financial 164527 X Next Capital Management 110793 X Channel Wealth 323461 X Concentrum Wealth Management 167151 X Financial Enhancement Group 159017 X Prosperity Financial Group 145540 X Allen Capital Group 135879 X RMR Wealth Management 152266 X Francis Financial 128067 X Independent Financial Partners 125112 X Ferguson Shapiro, LLC 297555 X Claro Advisors LLC 160294 X Advisory Services Network 146051 X Harbour Investments, Inc. 19258 X Old Port Advisors 108228 X Private Wealth Asset Management 315819 X Enzi Wealth 315457 X Vaquero Private Wealth, Ltd 305266 X San Blas Securities, LLC 290605 X SB Advisory, LLC 154680 X Masso Torrence Wealth Management, Inc 311097 X Private Advisor Group, LLC 155216 X Cornerstone Wealth Management Group 313269 X Sanctuary Advisors, LLC 226606 X Redwood Private Wealth 312942 X Clearstead Advisors, LLC (Hartland & Co, LLC) 105674 X Falcon Wealth Planning, Inc 174092 X HBW Advisory Services LLC 143665 X Vivaldi Capital Management LP 160150 X FTIS acts as sub-advisor on these accounts and transactions are executed by FTIS as authorized by the program provider at their chosen custodian. Depending on client investment requirements or investment strategy, FTIS may engage one or more affiliated or unaffiliated third-party sub-advisers (“Sub-Advisers”) to manage portions of client assets if deemed in the best interest of a client, subject to the terms of the client’s Advisory Agreement, investment objectives and risk tolerance. FTIS will generally execute a Sub-Advisory Agreement with each Sub-Adviser. If deemed appropriate for a client’s investment strategy, FTIS may recommend an investment strategy managed by one of its affiliates such as First Trust Advisors L.P., First Trust Direct Indexing L.P., and Vest Financial LLC. First Trust Advisors L.P. is the Sub-Adviser for the First Trust Small-Cap Core and the Large Cap Opportunistic Value strategies. FTIS has licensed Vest Financial LLC’s target income methodology from Vest Financial LLC to manage the Target Income Strategies described above. Educational Seminars and Workshops FTIS does provide educational seminars and workshops for other financial professionals. Topics include, but are not limited to, financial advisor strategies, daily operations, and client management. FTIS’s seminars and workshops are educational in nature and do not involve the sale of insurance or investment products. Private Funds FTIS provides discretionary investment advisory services to the following private pooled investment vehicles (each a “Fund” or “Client” and collectively the “Funds” or the “Clients”):
•The FTIS Enhanced Liquid Income Master Fund, LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership the (“FELI Master”),
•The FTIS Enhanced Liquid Income Offshore Fund, LLC, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability the (“FELI Offshore Feeder”) which acts as a designated feeder into the FELI Master, and
•The FTIS Enhanced Liquid Income Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership the (“FELI Onshore Fund”), which acts as a designated feeder into the FELI Master, and together with the FELI Offshore Feeder and FELI Master, (the “FELI Funds”). The FTIS Enhanced Liquid Income Fund GP, LLC is the General Partner of FELI Master and FELI Onshore. The General Partner is Delaware a limited liability company. The Fund is managed in accordance with its own investment objective as set forth in the relevant governing and offering documents of the Fund (each, a “Governing Fund Document” and collectively, the “Governing Fund Documents”). Investment objectives are not tailored to any particular private fund investor (each, an "Investor" or “limited partner”). Interests in the Funds are only offered to certain “accredited investors” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 or “qualified purchasers” as defined in Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act. FTIS provides portfolio advisory and management services to the Funds based on the investment objectives of the Funds and not based on the criteria or investment objective of any individual Investor in the Funds. FTIS may launch additional funds in the future. FTIS may enter into side letters or other similar arrangements with certain Investors that have the effect of establishing rights under, supplementing or altering a Fund’s partnership agreement or an Investor’s subscription agreement. Such rights or alterations could be regarding economic terms, fee structures, excuse rights, information rights, and/or transfer rights. For the most part, any rights established, or any terms altered or supplemented will govern only the investment of the specific Investor and not the terms of a Fund as whole. Certain such additional rights but not all rights, terms or conditions may be elected by certain sizeable investors with “most favored nation” rights pursuant to a Fund’s limited partnership agreement. Assets Under Management As of December 31, 2023, FTIS had $518,127,030 in customer assets under management, all of which are managed on a discretionary basis.