Firm Description
Colton Wealth Management, (“CWM”) was founded in 2009.
CWM provides personalized financial planning, consulting and investment
management services to individuals, pension and profit sharing plans and
trusts. Advice is provided through consultation with the client and may
include: determination of financial objectives, identification of financial
problems, cash flow management, tax planning, insurance review, investment
management, education funding, retirement planning, and estate planning.
CWM is strictly a fee-only financial planning and investment management
firm. The firm does not sell annuities, insurance, stocks, bonds, mutual funds,
limited partnerships, or other commissioned products. The firm is not
affiliated with entities that sell financial products or securities. No
commissions in any form are accepted. No finder’s fees are accepted.
Investment advice is an integral part of financial planning. In addition, CWM
advises clients regarding cash flow, college planning, retirement planning, tax
planning and estate planning.
Investment advice is provided, with the client making the final decision on
investment selection. CWM does not act as a custodian of client assets. The
client always maintains asset control. CWM places trades for clients under a
limited power of attorney.
A written evaluation of each client's initial situation is provided to the client,
often in the form of an asset allocation plan. Periodic reviews are also
communicated to provide reminders of the specific courses of action that
need to be taken. More frequent reviews occur but are not necessarily
communicated to the client unless immediate changes are recommended.
To the extent requested by a client, CWM may recommend the services of
other professionals for certain non-investment implementation purposes (i.e.,
attorneys, accountants, insurance, etc.). The client retains absolute
discretion over all such implementation decisions and is free to accept or
reject any recommendation from CWM. Please note that if a client engages
any such recommended professional, and a dispute arises thereafter relative
to such engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from and
against the engaged professional.
The initial meeting, which may be by telephone, is free of charge and is
considered an exploratory interview to determine the extent to which financial
planning and investment management may be beneficial to the client.
Note: CWM’s services do not include the following:
• Legal Counsel
• Asset Custody Services
• Sales of any recommended financial or insurance product
Principal Owner
Scott Colton is a 100% stockholder.
Types of Advisory Services
CWM furnishes advice to clients on matters not involving securities, such as
financial planning matters, taxation issues, education funding and estate
planning. In addition, CWM provides investment supervisory services, also
known as investment management services.
As of January 31, 2024, CWM has approximately $107,158,518 in assets and
a total of 254 accounts under management on a discretionary basis.
Tailored Relationships
Asset allocations are created specific to each individual client’s facts and
circumstances. Clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain
securities or types of securities.
Agreements may not be assigned without client consent.
Type of Agreement
CWM enters into the following type of agreement with clients:
Financial Planning & Investment Advisory Agreement
To the extent specifically requested by a client, CWM may provide Financial
Planning and Investment Advisory services (including financial planning and
consulting advice on investment and non-investment related matters, estate
planning, insurance planning, etc.). Financial planning fees are not billed
separately but are part of the management fee as described in the “Fees and
Compensation” section below. Clients who engage CWM for Financial
Planning and Investment Advisory services are required to enter into a
Financial Planning & Investment Advisory Agreement setting forth the terms
and conditions of the agreement (including termination) as well as the scope
of the services to be provided.
Clients are under no obligation to act upon CWM’s recommendations
regarding any financial advice that the client may receive.
Financial planning and investment advisory services may include, but is not
limited to: a net worth statement; a cash flow statement; a review of
investment accounts, including reviewing asset allocation and providing
repositioning recommendations; strategic tax planning; a review of retirement
accounts and plans including recommendations;
a review of insurance
policies and recommendations for changes, if necessary; one or more
retirement scenarios; estate planning review and recommendations; and
education planning with funding recommendations.
With regards to the creation of a client's personal financial plan, the client and
CWM follow the process outlined below:
1. Data - Client provides CWM with comprehensive data on his or her
current and prospective financial and personal circumstances.
2. Objectives - CWM helps clients determine their own specific financial
objectives, taking into account such matters as current and anticipated
income and income tax levels, investment and non-investment
risk/reward tolerance, attitudes toward the future of the economy and
assumptions about the inflation rate.
3. Financial Plan Creation - On the basis of the data provided by the
client and the objectives the client has chosen, CWM constructs a
personal financial plan which can include, but is not limited to, wealth
accumulation, estate structure, risk management, income tax, cash
flow, retirement and education funding, portfolio evaluation and asset
repositioning.
4. Client Review - CWM reviews the financial plan with the client,
providing an opportunity for the client to suggest such modifications as
desired.
Responsibilities of the Client
Clients agree to provide complete information regarding income, investments,
income tax situation, estate plans and other matters requested by CWM.
Clients also agree to discuss their financial situation candidly and to keep
CWM informed of changes in their situation, needs and goals. Clients
acknowledge that CWM cannot adequately perform its services on their
behalf unless such information is provided, and that analysis and
recommendations are based on the information which they provide. Clients
agree to permit CWM to consult with and obtain information from their
attorney, accountant or other advisors and agree that CWM shall not be
required to verify the information obtained from such advisors.
Periodic Updating of Financial Plans
Because changes in external and personal circumstances can have major
planning implications, CWM strongly recommends that clients consider
updating their personal financial plan annually. If clients wish to update their
financial plan, client provides CWM with any new data concerning their
financial circumstances or objectives.
Investment Advisory
When providing investment advisory services, CWM will recommend and
implement specific investments. The client recognizes that specific
recommendations may include certain market risks. CWM makes no
performance guarantees. Any market losses resulting from the purchase,
sale or exchange of any security or product recommendation made by CWM
are normal market risks.
CWM primarily recommends portfolios consisting of no-load, institutional
class mutual funds offered by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), in addition
to exchange traded funds (ETFs), individual fixed income securities and
certificates of deposit. CWM manages all portfolios on a discretionary basis.
Termination of Agreement
Clients may cancel an agreement without penalty by providing written notice
of such cancellation to CWM within five (5) business days of the date of
signing the agreement. Thereafter, either party may terminate the agreement
without penalty upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing to the other party.
Upon termination of any account, any unearned fees will be promptly
refunded. Termination of an agreement will not affect (a) the validity of any
action previously taken by CWM under the agreement; (b) liabilities or
obligations of the parties from transactions initiated before termination of the
agreement; or (c) a client's obligation to pay advisor fees (prorated through
the date of termination). On the termination of the agreement, CWM will have
no obligation to recommend or take any action with regard to the securities,
cash or other investments in a client's account.
If, without proper notification as outlined above, a client transfers all assets to
another custodian or removes CWM as the designated investment advisor
with the current custodian, the management agreement in force will be
deemed terminated without proper notice and no refund of fees will be
required. CWM in its sole discretion may choose to refund fees as if proper
notice was given.
Clients are advised that they may keep any existing shares of DFA funds
already owned, but new shares may not be purchased without approval from
DFA. In addition, not all custodians will hold DFA funds so clients may
experience some limitation in managing these funds after terminating
investment management services with CWM.