NWF Advisory Services, Inc. (“we”, “our”, “us”) has been an independent registered
investment advisor since 1986. We have built a strong reputation within the Financial Services
Industry through our open-architecture model and commitment to technology and service.
We are registered as an Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”), SEC File No. 801-55681, in order to offer investment advisory products
and services to our advisory clients (“you”). Such services are offered through certain Financial
Advisers (“FAs”) who have registered as our Investment Adviser Representatives (“Advisory
Representative”). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
We have been an SEC registered Investment Adviser since 1998 and manage, as of
12/31/23 $1,745,268,328 of assets on a discretionary basis and $1,968,068,540 on a
nondiscretionary basis.
NWF Advisory Services, Inc. is a stand alone corporation owned by Shehab Mohammad,
President. NWF Advisory Group Inc. NWF Advisory Group is a separate LLC, and Marketing
name.
Each of our Advisory Representatives may offer all or any combination of the advisory
programs described below to our clients (“you”).
VISION2020 WEALTH MANAGEMENT PLATFORM – ADVISOR MANAGED PORTFOLOS
PROGRAM
The Wealth Management Platform – Advisor Managed Portfolios Program (“Advisor
Managed Portfolios”) provides comprehensive investment management of your assets through
the application of asset allocation planning software as well as the provision of execution,
clearing and custodial services through Pershing, LLC (“Pershing”).
Advisor Managed Portfolios provides risk tolerance assessment, efficient frontier plotting,
fund profiling and performance data, and portfolio optimization and re-balancing tools. Utilizing
these tools, and based on your responses to a risk tolerance questionnaire (“Questionnaire”) and
discussions that we have together regarding, among other things, investment objective, risk
tolerance, investment time horizon, account restrictions, and overall financial situation, we
construct a portfolio of investments for you. This portfolio may consist of mutual funds, exchange
traded funds, equities, options, debt securities, variable life, variable annuity sub-accounts
(certain restrictions may apply) and other investments.
Each portfolio is designed to meet your individual needs, stated goals and objectives.
Additionally, you have the opportunity to place reasonable restrictions on the types of
investments to be held in the portfolio.
For further Advisor Managed Portfolios details, please see the Advisor Managed
Portfolios Wrap Fee Program Brochure. We provide this brochure to you prior to or
concurrent with your enrollment in Advisor Managed Portfolios. Please read it thoroughly
before investing.”
VISION2020 WEALTH MANAGEMENT PLATFORM – MODEL PORTFOLIOS PROGRAM
The Wealth Management Platform - Model Portfolios Program (“Model Program”) offers
Clients managed asset allocation models (“Asset Allocation Models”) of mutual funds or
exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) diversified across various investment styles and strategies. The
Asset Allocation Models are constructed by managers (“Program Managers”) such as Russell
Investment Management Company, ICON Advisers, Inc. and Morningstar Associates, LLC.
Based upon the risk tolerance of each Client, the Model Program utilizes a system that
selects a specific Asset Allocation Model which may contain either 1) a combination of mutual
funds or 2) a combination of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) depending on which Program
Manager is used. Together, we will select a recommended Asset Allocation Model. After the
Asset Allocation Model is chosen, we, with the assistance of the Model Program sponsor, will
open a Model Program account. Your assets will be invested in the specific investments
contained within the recommended Asset Allocation Model. You have the opportunity to place
reasonable restrictions on investments held within the Model Program account.
For further Model Program details, including a full list of Program Managers, please see
the Model Program Wrap Fee Program Brochure. We provide this brochure to you prior
to or concurrent with your enrollment in the Model Program. Please read it thoroughly
before investing.
VISION2020 WEALTH MANAGEMENT PLATFORM – SMA AND UMA PROGRAM
The Wealth Management Platform – SMA and UMA Account Program (“Wealth Managed
Account Program” or “WMAP”) provides you with the opportunity to invest your assets across
multiple investment strategies and asset classes by implementing an asset allocation strategy.
WMAP is a Wrap Account program that offers these advisory services along with brokerage and
custodial services for a single, asset-based, advisory fee.
We will present you with a WMAP asset allocation model (“WMAP Model”) for your
approval which will consist of: 1) third party money managers (“WMAP Managers”) who will
manage your WMAP account according to a particular equity or fixed income model or strategy,
or 2) no-load mutual funds (“Funds”), or 3) exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) or any combination
thereof (individually or collectively, “WMAP Investments”). WMAP Investments will be managed
according to the selected WMAP Model. WMAP Investments are held within a separately
managed account or a series of separately managed accounts (collectively, “SMA Account”) or
in one, unified managed account (“UMA Account”).
We will suggest a WMAP Model to you based on your responses to a risk tolerance
questionnaire (“Questionnaire”) and discussion that we have together regarding among other
things, investment objective, risk tolerance, investment time horizon, account restrictions, and
overall financial situation. In addition, you have the opportunity to place reasonable restrictions
on investments held within your WMAP account.
For further WMAP details please see the WMAP Wrap Fee Program Brochure. We provide
this brochure to you prior to or concurrent with your enrollment in WMAP. Please read it
thoroughly before investing.
THIRD PARTY ADVISORY SERVICES
We offer our clients the services of various third-party investment advisors (“Third-Party
Advisory Services”) for the provision of certain investment advisory programs including mutual
fund wrap and separately managed account programs.
If you are interested in learning more about any of these services, please note that a
complete description of the programs, services, fees and payment structure, and termination
features is available via the applicable Third-Party Advisory Service’s disclosure brochures,
investment advisory contracts, and account opening documents.
In connection with these arrangements, we will provide assistance in the selection and
ongoing monitoring of a particular Third-Party Advisory Service. Factors that we consider in the
selection of a particular third-party advisor may include but may not be limited to: i) our
assessment of a particular Third-Party Advisory Service; ii) your risk tolerance, goals, objectives
and restrictions, as well as investment experience; and, iii) the assets you have available for
investment.
You should know that the services provided by us through the use of Third-Party Advisory
Services are under certain conditions directly offered by them to you. The fees charged by Third-
Party Advisory Services who offer their programs directly to you may be more or less than the
combined fees charged by the Third-Party Advisory Service and us for our participation in the
investment programs. However, when using the services of Third-Party Advisory Services
directly, you do not receive our expertise in developing an investment strategy, selecting a Third-
Party Advisory Service, monitoring the performance of your account and changing a Third-Party
Advisory Service provider when appropriate.
RETIREMENT PLAN CONSULTING SERVICES
We offer retirement consulting services to employee benefit plans and their fiduciaries.
The services are designed to assist the plan sponsor (the “Company”) in meeting its
management and fiduciary obligations to the plan under ERISA. Retirement consulting services
will consist of general or specific advice, and may include any one or all of the following:
1. Platform Provider Search and Plan Set-up
2. Strategic Planning and Investment Policy
Development/Review.
3. Plan Review.
4. Plan Fee and Cost Review.
5. Acting as Third Party Service Provider Liaison.
6. Assessment of Plan Investments and Investment Options.
7. Plan Participant Education and Communication.
8. Investment Advice to Participants.
9. Plan Benchmarking
10. Plan Conversion to New Vendor Platform
11. Assistance in Plan Merger
12. Legislative and Regulatory Updates; Plan Corrections
The Company may also engage us to provide a review of executive benefits, for separate
compensation.
We will determine with the Company in advance the scope of services to be performed
and the fees for all requested services. Prior to engaging us to provide pension consulting
services, the Company will be required to enter into a written agreement with us setting forth the
terms and conditions of the engagement, describing the scope of the services to be provided,
and the relevant fees and fee-paying arrangements. The services outlined above that we provide
are explained in more detail in the written agreement. We will also provide additional disclosures
about our services and fees, where required by ERISA.
When we perform our agreed upon services, we will not be required to verify the accuracy
or consistency of any information received from the Company.
We will serve in a nondiscretionary ERISA fiduciary capacity with respect to some but not
all of the services that we provide which will be further explained in the written agreement we
sign with the Company. The Company is always free to seek independent advice about the
appropriateness of any recommendations made by us.
Retirement Plan Investment Management Services
NWF Advisory, under the operating name Next Step Retirement, provides services to
assist plan sponsors, plan trustees and investment committees to meet their ERISA fiduciary
responsibilities. NWF Advisory provides these services under ERISA § 3(38). Under these
sections, clients can engage NWF Advisory to provide investment advisory services. By doing so,
NWF Advisory shares fiduciary responsibility with plan trustees and investment committees as it
relates to the assets NWF Advisory is under agreement to provide investment management or
advisory services. As a part of a client’s fiduciary team, NWF Advisory provides the investment
expertise to implement the plans’ investment policies and objectives.
For the purposes of ERISA § 3(38), NWF Advisory serves as the investment manager, who
exercises discretionary authority with regard to the model portfolios it develops and with regard
to the mutual funds and other investment vehicles that it selects for investment under the Plan.
Therefore, NWF Advisory is not a “fiduciary” pursuant to ERISA except to the extent it renders
“investment advice” to the plan within the meaning of section 3(38) of ERISA and Department of
Labor regulations there under. The participants are responsible for any individual investment
selections made under the plan. Under ERISA § 3(38), NWF Advisory acts as the advisor with
discretionary authority with regard to the investments managed for the plan, allowing the plan
sponsor to transfer liability for selecting‚ monitoring‚ and replacing the investment options to NWF
Advisory, the investment manager. Furthermore, under ERISA §3(38), the participants are
responsible for any individual investment selections made under the plan.
FINANCIAL PLANNING
We provide a variety of financial planning services to you regarding the management of
your financial resources, based upon an analysis of your needs. Generally, such financial
planning services will involve preparing a financial program for you based on your financial
circumstances and objectives. This information typically covers present and anticipated assets
and liabilities, including insurance, savings, investments and anticipated retirement or other
employee benefits.
In addition to modular planning, we offer three (3) levels of financial plan designs to you.
These levels are differentiated according to the scope of study and analyses contained therein
and are intended to effectively address your situation. The BASIC design is a computerized
study focusing on strategies for saving, asset accumulation and risk management planning in
the early and/or intermediate stages of financial growth. The INTERMEDIATE design is broader
in scope and includes more extensive analysis and recommendations in the areas of estate,
insurance, tax, and investment planning. The ADVANCED design, which is suitable for the most
complex situations, enlarges the scope of the INTERMEDIATE study to include planning for
business interests as well as tax and investment planning for clients with higher income and/or
more substantial holdings.
Our financial planning typically includes general recommendations for a course of activity
or specific actions that you should take. For example, recommendations may be made that the
Clients obtain insurance or revise existing coverage, establish an individual retirement account,
increase or decrease funds held in savings accounts or to invest funds in certain securities.
Other financial planning services that we may provide include ongoing financial
counseling, account review, securities research and other advisory services related to
investments.
Financial planning services to be provided to you will be outlined on the client agreement
that you sign with us.
LIMITATIONS OF RECOMMENDATIONS: As individuals of NWF are registered as
representatives of Osaic wealth Inc. , an unaffiliated Broker Dealer, recommendations made to
NWF advisory clients are limited to only those products and securities approved by Osaic Wealth
Inc.
Doing Business As (“D/B/A”)
As disclosed above, our Advisory Representatives are a collection of FAs operating from
different locations, to better serve the Advisory Representative’s clients. While all Advisory
Representatives are registered with, and subject to oversight by NWF Advisory Services, many
Advisory Representatives use a D/B/A name. These names may be used in marketing materials,
which are reviewed by NWF Advisory Services. The following is a list of D/B/A titles for our
Advisory Representatives:
• Managed Mutuals
• Financially Yours Advisory Services
• Abacus Advisory Services
• Boatright Capital Management
• Cole and Company Inc.
• Associated Financial Advisors Ltd.
• Hagler Financial
• Petersen Investment Planning
• Takagi and Takagi
• August Financial Alliance
• Next Step Retirement
• Monolithe Wealth Planning Group
• Bond Wealth Management
• Resilient Wealth Management
• LAP Wealth Management
• Mc Roberts and Associates
• C&T Financial Services Group,Inc.
• Accounting Pros
• Floria Financial Services
• Uptick Wealth Management
• Silverberg Wealth Management
ENDOWMENT/FOUNDATION INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
We offer investment advisory services tailored to the needs of endowments, foundations, and
charitable organizations. Through NWF Advisory Services, we seek to assist you and your
foundation or endowment in addressing needs unique to these sorts of organizations. The
specific services offered to you will be outlined in the investment services agreement. We will
assist you in developing an investment policy which is suitable to your endowment or foundation’s
objective, and will provide educational services to your board or operating committee.
You may choose to have your assets managed through any of the platforms we offer to individual
clients, including our advisor managed portfolios program, our model portfolios program, a
separately managed account program, or by third-party advisory services. If you choose to have
your assets managed by NWF through one of our platforms, we can also provide performance
monitoring and reporting. For additional information regarding the different asset management
services we provide, please review the sections specific to those programs above.
• the development and/or refinement of investment policies, objectives and guidelines
and their periodic review, thereafter;
• asset-based asset allocation studies;
• manager and custodian searches;
• quarterly investment performance reports and accompanying executive summaries;*
• monthly flash reports;*
• educational seminars; and
• our annual investment conference.