Information about the Firm
Mendel Money Management, Inc. (the “Firm,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) was formed to provide
comprehensive investment counseling services for individual and corporate investors. The
company has been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission since its founding in
1989.
The principal owner of the Firm is Bradley A. Mendel.
Advisory Services
The Firm, a registered investment adviser, provides investment supervisory services on a
discretionary basis for individuals, individual retirement plans, sponsors of employee benefit
plans (defined contribution and defined benefit), trusts, charitable organizations and
corporations or other business entities.
Investment counseling is a personalized service. The primary founding tenet of the Firm is
continuous maintenance and proper supervision of client assets with regular and close client
communication.
Clients differ in their specific investment attitudes, temperament, needs, objectives, and ability
to assume risk. Our portfolio management is tailored to the client rather than to a general
investment program or strategy. While establishing a client relationship, considerable attention
is given to these factors to develop a proper objective and method of operation.
The heart of the counseling job is to determine the most appropriate investment program for
each client and then to provide it in a consistent and clear manner.
In providing investment supervisory services, we will: (1) determine the client's investment
objectives; (2) buy or sell securities on behalf of the client or make recommendations to that
effect; and (3) periodically report to the client the current investment holdings, valuations,
transactions, capital gains or losses, and investment income of the client account.
The Firm relies primarily on its research activities in formulating investment programs for
clients and continually follows the progress of existing investments. The client's tax situation,
income needs, time horizon, and attitude toward risk are considered for all executed account
actions.
Asset Management Services
We provide continuous advice to clients regarding investment of client funds based on the
individual needs of the client. Through personal discussions in which goals and objectives based
on a client’s particular circumstances are established, we develop a client’s personal investment
strategy and create and manage a portfolio in accordance with that strategy. Account
supervision and ongoing investment counseling is guided by the stated objectives of the client
(i.e., maximum capital appreciation, growth, income, growth and income, etc.).
We create portfolios consisting of one or all of the following: individual equities, bonds, no-load
mutual funds, load-waived mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and/or other investment
products. We allocate the client’s assets among various investments taking into consideration
the overall management style selected by the client. Clients will have the opportunity to place
reasonable restrictions on the types of investments which will be made on the client’s behalf.
Clients will retain individual ownership of all securities.
Portfolios are managed either in a discretionary or non-discretionary manner, as selected by
the client. The method of operation varies in the degree of responsibility granted to the
company. In the non-discretionary account, we provide specific recommendations, but will not
take any action unless client approval is received. In the discretionary account, we have full
authority, under power of attorney, to invest portfolio assets in a manner consistent with the
client’s established objectives.
Financial Planning
We provide a variety of financial planning to individuals, families and other clients based upon
an analysis of the client’s current situation, goals, and objectives. Our services may encompass
one or more of the following: investment planning; retirement planning; estate planning;
charitable planning; education planning; corporate and personal tax planning; corporate
structure; real estate analysis; mortgage/debt analysis; insurance analysis; lines of credit
evaluation; and business and personal financial planning.
Our financial plans usually include general recommendations for a course of activity and may
include specific actions to be taken by the clients. For example, we may advise clients to begin
or revise investment programs, create or revise wills or trusts, obtain or revise insurance
coverage, commence or alter retirement savings rates, or establish education or charitable
giving programs. Specific areas of consideration may include some or all of the following items:
• Personal: Family records, budgeting, personal liability, estate information and financial
goals.
• Education: Education IRAs, financial aid, state savings plans (529 plans), grants and
general assistance in preparing to meet dependents continuing educational needs
through development of an education plan.
• Tax Cash Flow: Income tax and spending analysis and planning for past, current and
future years. We will illustrate the impact of various investments on a client’s current
income tax and future tax liability.
• Death and Disability: Cash needs at death, income needs of surviving dependents,
estate planning and disability income analysis.
• Retirement: Analysis of current strategies and investment plans to help the client
achieve his or her retirement goals.
• Investments: Analysis of investment alternatives and their effect on a client’s portfolio.
• Estate: Living trusts, wills, review estate tax, powers of attorney, asset protection plans,
nursing homes, Medicaid and elder law.
• Insurance: Review of existing policies to ensure proper coverage for life, health,
disability, long term care, liability, home and automobile.
We gather the pertinent information through in-depth personal and online
interviews.
Information gathered includes a client’s current financial status, future goals and attitudes
towards risk. Related documents may include a questionnaire completed by the client. The
questionnaire and information supplied by the client are carefully reviewed. If a client chooses
to implement the recommendations contained in the plan, we suggest the client work closely
with his/her attorney, accountant, insurance agent, and/or stockbroker. Implementation of
financial plan recommendations is entirely at the client’s discretion.
Once a financial plan is developed and agreed to by the client, we utilize the plan as a basis to
create individual investment portfolios, which may consist of individual stocks or bonds, mutual
funds and other public and private securities or investments. Each client’s portfolio is tailored
to an individual investment strategy and to specific goals and objectives and may include some
or all of the previously mentioned securities. Once the appropriate portfolio has been
determined, we review the portfolio at least annually and, as necessary, we rebalance the
portfolio based upon the client’s needs and stated goals and objectives. We may exercise
discretion over the investment of the portfolio, or a portfolio may be maintained on a
nondiscretionary basis. When granted discretionary authority, we will direct the investment
and reinvestment of the assets in the client account(s) in securities and/or cash or cash
equivalents. Alternatively, we may be granted non-discretionary authority, obtaining client
consent prior to placing investment transactions on behalf of the client.
Consulting
We also offer investment advice on a more limited basis, outside of a formal financial planning
agreement. This may include advice on only an isolated area(s) of concern such as estate
planning, retirement planning, reviewing a client’s existing portfolio, or any other specific topic.
Additionally, we may provide advice on non-securities matters; generally, in connection with
the rendering of estate planning, insurance, and/or annuity advice.
Tailored Relationships
All of our advice is based on an assessment of each client’s individual needs, which we identify
at the onset of each relationship using, as appropriate, client questionnaires and profiles, a
review of existing investments and financial status, and other means. We periodically review
each client’s individual investments and investment profile. When a client’s investment profile
or needs change and we receive notice or additional information, we modify our advice, as
appropriate.
If we manage a client’s portfolio, we permit a client to impose restrictions on the types of
investments that are acquired or held. These restrictions must be reasonable and practicable
and permit us to manage the account without undue difficulty. If we do not directly manage a
client’s portfolio, such as when a third-party manager is designated, individually imposed
restrictions on investments are generally not permitted.
Sub-Advisor
The Firm provides services to clients of another Investment Adviser; We provide a model
portfolio to the Adviser for use with their clients. We are paid 0.25% annually, or 0.0208%
monthly, based on the net asset value of any of the Adviser’s clients’ accounts that utilize the
Model Portfolio.
Fiduciary Statement
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,
(“ERISA”) and/or the Internal Revenue Code, (“IRC”), 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. We must take into
consideration each client’s objectives and act in the best interests of the client. We are
prohibited from engaging in any activity that is in conflict with the interests of the client. We
have the following responsibilities when working with a client:
• To render impartial advice;
• To make appropriate recommendations based on the client’s needs, financial
circumstances, and investment objectives;
• To exercise a high degree of care and diligence to ensure that information is presented
in an accurate manner and not in a way to mislead;
• To have a reasonable basis, information, and understanding of the facts in order to
provide appropriate recommendations and representations;
• Disclose any material conflict of interest in writing; and
• Treat clients fairly and equitably.
Regulations prohibit us from:
• Employing any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud a client;
• Making any untrue statement of a material fact to a client or omitting to state a material
fact when communicating with a client;
• Engaging in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as
fraud or deceit upon a client; or
• Engaging in any manipulative act or practice with a client.
We will act with competence, dignity, integrity, and in an ethical manner, when working with
clients. We will use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgement when
conducting investment analysis, making investment recommendations, trading, promoting our
services, and engaging in other professional activities.
Wrap Fee Program
A “wrap-fee” program is one that provides the client with advisory and brokerage execution
services for an all-inclusive fee. The client is not charged separate fees for the respective
components of the total service. We do not sponsor, manage or participate in a Wrap Fee
Program.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, we managed $ $296,477,891 in client assets on a discretionary basis.