Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors, Inc. (Financial Synergies) is an SEC-registered investment adviser with its
principal place of business located in Houston, Texas. Financial Synergies began conducting business as a
registered investment adviser in 1986. Financial Synergies also conducts business under the following names:
Financial Synergies and Financial Synergies Pathway. Michael Booker is President and majority shareholder.
Michael Minter, Heath Hightower and Bryan Zschiesche are minority shareholders. Financial Synergies offers
the following advisory services to clients:
Investment Management Services
We manage investment advisory accounts using a diversified asset allocation approach. Each portfolio is
designed to meet a particular investment goal. We manage these advisory accounts on a discretionary and non-
discretionary basis - with account supervision guided by the stated objectives of the client (e.g., capital
appreciation, growth, income, or growth and income).
Through discussions in which the client’s goals and objectives are established, we will determine which portfolio
allocation is best suited to the client's individual needs and circumstances. Once the appropriate allocation has
been determined, the Investment Plan will be presented to the client, after which the assets will be invested
accordingly. Clients will have the opportunity to place reasonable restrictions on the types of investments to be
held in the portfolio. Clients will retain individual ownership of all securities.
Each investment portfolio consists primarily of no-load mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). As
appropriate, portfolios may also include individual equities, bonds, variable annuities, variable life insurance
products and/or other investment products. Weighting among funds or other securities and asset classes is
determined by the appropriate allocation.
In order to ensure that our initial determination of an appropriate portfolio continues to be suitable, and that the
client's account continues to be managed in a manner fitting to the client's financial circumstances, we will seek
to maintain client suitability information current at all times. To assist us in these efforts, we ask that clients
notify us promptly of any change in their financial circumstances.
We monitor Investment Management Services accounts at least weekly and rebalance these accounts as
needed. If we believe that a particular investment is performing inadequately, or that a different investment has
become more suitable for the portfolio's goal, then we will recommend a different investment and reinvest the
client’s assets in accordance with the discretionary authority granted by the client. In the case of non-
discretionary accounts, the client will make the recommended changes. Clients may impose restrictions on
investing in certain securities or types of securities.
We also offer Pathway®, a financial goals-based investment program designed for people in the early stages of
building wealth.
Envestnet Platform: The Envestnet platform is a web-based managed account platform intended to assist financial
advisors and financial institutions in managing their business through the Envestnet Platform tools. Through the
Envestnet Platform, Financial Synergies can allocate an Advisory Client’s assets among the separately managed
account program (“SMA Program”), fund strategist portfolios program (“FSP Program”), and unified managed
account program (“UMA Program”) and determine the suitability of the asset allocation and investment options for
each Advisory Client. The proposal generation tool provided by Envestnet is solely for the use of Financial
Synergies in connection with Financial Synergies service to Advisory Clients.
Financial Planning Services
We provide a variety of Financial Planning Services to individuals, families, and other clients regarding the
management of their financial resources based upon
discovery and analysis of the Client’s current situation,
goals, and objectives. Advisor will prepare a written plan that may encompass one or more of the following
areas: Investment Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Charitable Planning, Education Planning,
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Personal Tax Planning,
The Advisor’s written financial plans rendered to the clients usually include general recommendations for a
course of activity or specific actions to be taken by the clients. For example, recommendations may be made
that the clients begin or revise investment programs, create or revise wills or trusts, obtain or revise insurance
coverage, commence or alter retirement savings, or establish education or charitable giving programs. (It
should also be noted that we may refer clients to an accountant, attorney, or other specialist as necessary for
non-advisory related services.) For written financial planning engagements, we provide our clients with a
written summary of their financial situation, and our firm’s observations and recommendations. Plans are
typically completed within six (6) months of the client signing this contract, if all the information and documents
we request from the Client are provided to us promptly. Implementation of the recommendations will be at the
discretion of the client. Once the financial plan is delivered, clients have the option to engage Financial
Synergies for Asset Management Services or updates as outlined in the General Consulting and Plan Update
Agreement Addendum.
We provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, We
are a fiduciary 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. The way we earn revenue creates
some conflicts with your interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest
and not put our interest ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
• Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give prudent advice);
• Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give loyal advice);
• Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
• Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your best interest;
• Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
Held Away Account Services
We provide an additional service for accounts not under our Investment Management Service where it is not
possible for us to enact trades through the normal custodian. These are primarily 401(k) accounts, 529 plans,
and variable annuities. We meet with clients regularly to review the current holdings in these accounts, suggest
and place appropriate trades, monitor the accounts, and provide statements and performance reporting on an
ongoing basis.
Clients must agree to the Account Aggregation and Online Credentials policy from the applicable platform to
enable these services. Clients must enter their credentials and or online account access information via the
applicable platform with respect to their financial accounts. Clients must consent for and authorize the provider
to connect directly to their financial accounts at the applicable Financial Institution in order to access data, as
applicable, and authorize Financial Synergies to communicate orders, as applicable.
We DO NOT participate in any wrap fee programs.
Amount of Managed Assets
We manage assets on either a discretionary basis or non-discretionary basis. As of December 2023, the values of
these assets are as follows:
Discretionary Assets:
$1,288,237,415
Non-Discretionary Assets: $0
Total Assets Under Management: $1,288,237,415
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