Overview
Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors, Inc. (referred to as “Stoker Ostler,” “our,” “us,” “we”) was
formed as Private Wealth Management Inc., in June 1997. Our principal place of business is
in Scottsdale, Arizona. We are a wholly‐owned subsidiary of BMO Financial Corp., a wholly‐
owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal (“BMO”).
We operate under our legal name, Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors, Inc., as well as under the
brand name “BMO Wealth Management.” This brand is discussed more fully in Item 10
“Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations.”
We offer investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to high net-
worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and other entities.
Investment Management
We provide discretionary and non-discretionary investment management services based on
the individual needs of our clients. We develop a personalized Investment Policy Statement
(“IPS”) based on data that we gather through personal discussions with our clients. During
these discussions, we determine clients’ individual goals and objectives, investment time
horizon, risk tolerance, asset allocation targets, investment guidelines, and liquidity needs.
Clients may also impose reasonable restrictions for investing in certain securities or types
of securities. We then build a customized and diversified portfolio that meets the
parameters outlined in the IPS.
We generally recommend that clients allocate investments among various asset classes.
Asset classes include equities, fixed income securities, real estate investment trusts, and
various types of alternative investments. Within
these asset classes, we generally
recommend that clients allocate investments among various issuers and types of issuers.
Client funds are deposited with a custodian. Depending on the breadth of our investment
management authority, we select investment funds and purchase and sell securities.
When we provide investment advice to clients regarding client retirement plan accounts or
individual retirement accounts (IRAs or Roth IRAs), we are 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. The way we make
money creates some conflicts with clients’ interests, so we operate under a special rule that
requires us to act in clients’ best interest and not put our interests ahead of clients’
interests.
As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $2.47 billion of discretionary assets under
management and approximately $83.3 million of non-discretionary assets under
management.
Financial Planning and Consulting
We also provide financial planning and consulting services to clients. We gather
information about clients’ current financial status and tax status, future goals, return
objectives, and risk tolerance. We carefully review documents supplied by clients, and
prepare financial reports designed to help clients achieve their financial goals and
objectives. When requested we can recommend the services of other professionals, such as
attorneys or accountants. Our clients retain discretion over any implementation decisions
and are free to accept or reject any of our recommendations.