A. Ownership/Adviser History
Our History
Azzad Asset Management, Inc. (“Azzad”, “we” or the “firm”) has specialized in socially
responsible Islamic investing since our founding in 1997. Based in Northern Virginia, we have
earned a reputation for our ethical investment philosophy and our active equity strategies.
Azzad was formed as a Delaware corporation in 1997 and subsequently registered as an investment
adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 21, 2000.
Our Principles
We believe that sustainable companies operating responsibly and in ethical lines of business offer
the best opportunities for shareholder returns. We believe that such companies offer relatively less
business risk and are in a better position to thrive. We integrate our socially responsible Islamic
investment philosophy with our disciplined investment process to build portfolios that are in line
with our core values.
Our People
Azzad’s models, asset allocation strategies and managers are overseen by an Investment
Committee (the “Committee”) that meets regularly. The Committee reviews, analyzes and
discusses the various forces and factors that affect the financial markets and, in turn, the portfolios
we manage and oversee. The Committee’s review includes (but is not restricted to)
macroeconomic trends, risk/reward profiles for various markets, strategy allocations, portfolio
characteristics, and performance. The Investment Committee is assisted by Azzad’s independent
investment consulting firm.
Bashar Qasem, President & Senior Investment Adviser Representative
Mr. Qasem is the founder of our firm, the principal owner, the Chief Executive Officer and Senior
Investment Adviser Representative. Mr. Qasem has extensive experience in the financial
investment world, particularly in Islamic finance, having spent over 25 years managing Azzad
Asset Management, Inc. and serving as Chairman of the Azzad Funds since their inception. He
holds Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering, and previously held securities licenses
6, 63, & 26. He currently holds FINRA Series 65. He also earned the designation of Certified
Shari’ah Auditor & Adviser (C.S.A.A.) from Accounting and Auditing Organization of Islamic
Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) in 2009.
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B. Advisory Services Offered
Azzad offers the following services to its clients:
Ethical Wrap Program
We manage client accounts through a wrap program called the Azzad Ethical Wrap Program
(“Ethical Wrap Program” or “Program”) that we also sponsor. Prior to enrolling in the Ethical
Wrap Program, the client must execute a written Investment Advisory Agreement with Azzad that
defines the terms and conditions of a client participating in the Program. For a predetermined
“wrap” fee (based on a percentage of assets under management), the Program offers investment
management services (i.e., investment advisory, brokerage, custody) and financial planning. The
client will have access to an Azzad Investment Adviser Representative (“IAR”) whose fiduciary
duty is to assist in the overall management of the client’s account(s). The client’s IAR will assist
in determining his or her investor profile (this includes identifying their goals, objectives, risk
tolerance, and liquidity needs) and then selecting an appropriate asset allocation strategy. The IAR
is available for direct telephone conversations with clients at their request, and at least once a
quarter.
Specific services or features offered in the Ethical Wrap Program include an assessment of client
investment needs and objectives, account rebalancing, and continuing evaluation of investment
performance. Depending on market conditions, our views on the markets, and other factors, an
asset allocation model may change. Changes in our asset allocation models are conducted without
consulting our clients. Clients must notify their IAR of any changes to their financial situation.
Such changes may affect a client’s investor profile, which may necessitate a change in the strategy
assigned. For example, if a client anticipates retiring earlier than previously stated, he or she will
want to share that information with his or her advisor. An IAR may recommend changing a strategy
to reduce risk level (conversely, there may be other life situations where an advisor may
recommend increasing a client’s risk level to meet investment goals).
Under the Program, clients have access to a broad range of financial planning services which may
include tax-related and other non-investment related matters. The services provided by Azzad may
include developing a financial plan, tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, education
planning, insurance planning and charitable planning. To perform its services, Azzad is not
required to verify any information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals
(e.g., attorney, accountant, etc.) and is expressly authorized to rely on information provided by the
client.
Azzad does not serve as a law firm, accounting firm, charity administrator or insurance agency,
and no portion of Azzad’s services should be construed as legal, accounting, charitable
administrator, or insurance implementation services. Accordingly, Azzad does not prepare estate
planning documents, tax returns, or sell insurance products. To the extent requested by a client,
Azzad may recommend the services of other professionals for certain non-investment
implementation purposes (i.e., attorneys, accountants, insurance agents, charity administrators,
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etc.). Clients are under no obligation to engage in the services of any such recommended
professional. The client retains absolute discretion over all such implementation decisions and is
free to accept or reject any recommendation made by Azzad or its representatives. However, if the
client engages any unaffiliated recommended professional, and a dispute arises thereafter relative
to such engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from and against the engaged
professional.
Depending on the
allocation chosen, client assets will be allocated among various portfolios
consisting of individual securities that comply with our investment philosophy. Each portfolio is
managed by independent and affiliated portfolio managers. In addition, assets may be allocated
into the Azzad Funds, for which Azzad Asset Management serves as investment adviser. Clients
are not charged a wrap program fee on assets that are invested in the Azzad Funds. Independent
managers are compensated a portion of the wrap fee pursuant to an agreement. We conduct
ongoing monitoring, due diligence, and continuing evaluation of investment performance for each
of our independent portfolio managers to ensure that they are a right fit for our Program.
All wrap accounts are maintained by a qualified and unaffiliated custodian and broker-dealer that
provides custodial, clearing and brokerage duties. We generally recommend that clients utilize the
custody, brokerage and clearing services of Goldman Sachs & Company, Charles Schwab & Co.,
Inc., or Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC, members FINRA/SIPC. We do not have physical
custody of client assets. Custodial, brokerage and clearing services are included in your wrap fee.
Prior to becoming a client with our firm, clients must execute a written agreement with Azzad
which defines the terms and conditions of the program. Clients also must execute a separate
custodial/clearing/brokerage agreement with the custodian.
Advisory Services to the Azzad Funds
We provide investment management services as an adviser under an advisory agreement to the
following portfolios registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940: Azzad Ethical Fund
(ADJEX) and Azzad Wise Capital Fund (WISEX) (collectively, the “Funds”). These no-load
mutual funds are affiliated with Azzad, and their fees are based on assets under management.
The Funds are available through prospectus only; a prospectus is available free of charge by
calling the Funds’ transfer agent at 888-350-3369 or online at
https://azzadasset.com/azzad-
funds/.
Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement with the Funds, Azzad is responsible for
formulating the Funds’ investment program.
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES
Retirement Plan Rollovers – No Obligation/Potential for Conflict of Interest: A client or
prospective client leaving an employer typically has four options regarding an existing retirement
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plan (and may engage in a combination of these options): (i) leave the money in the former
employer’s plan, if permitted, (ii) roll over the assets to the new employer’s plan, if one is
available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) roll over to an Individual Retirement Account
(“IRA”), or (iv) cash out the account value (which could, depending upon the client’s age, result
in adverse tax consequences). If Azzad recommends that a client roll over their retirement plan
assets into an account to be managed by Azzad, such a recommendation creates a conflict of
interest if Azzad will earn an advisory fee on the rolled over assets. No client is under any
obligation to roll over retirement plan assets to an account managed by Azzad.
Azzad complies with the conflict mitigation provision by waiving program fees invested in the
Azzad Mutual Funds.
C. Tailored Services
All Ethical Wrap Program and Financial Planning Services are individualized or tailored to each
client’s needs, goals, risk appetite, and objectives. Clients complete a risk assessment
questionnaire, financial planning questionnaire and/or interview used to create an Investment
Policy Statement tailored to meet client’s current situation. Clients may impose reasonable trade
restrictions, subject to approval by the Firm. However, if the restrictions prevent Azzad or its
representatives from properly servicing the account, or if the restrictions require Azzad to deviate
from its standard services, Azzad reserves the right to terminate the relationship. Additionally, at
your request, Azzad will remove the Azzad Funds from your Ethical Wrap Program account.
Clients are advised that it remains their responsibility to promptly notify Azzad if there is ever any
change in their financial situation, investment objectives, or if they wish to impose reasonable
restrictions for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating, or revising Azzad’s previous
recommendations and/or services. In performing its services, Azzad shall not be required to verify
any information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals and is expressly
authorized to rely thereon.
D. Wrap Program
Azzad sponsors the Ethical Wrap Program that is described in Item 4.B, above. Additional
information about the Ethical Wrap Program can be found in Part 2A, Appendix 1 (the “Wrap Fee
Program Brochure”), which can be requested free of charge by calling 888.862.9923. Azzad does
not manage wrap accounts in a different fashion than non-wrap accounts. We manage all our
accounts according with our socially responsible Islamic investment philosophy. As further
described in the Wrap Fee Program Brochure, Azzad receives a portion of the wrap fee for its
services.
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E. Clients Assets Managed
As of March 24, 2024, the Firm manages approximately $1,484,555,612 in discretionary assets
and approximately $7,862,398 in nondiscretionary assets.
F. Administrative Services Provided by Orion Advisor Services, LLC.
Azzad has contracted with Orion Advisor Services, LLC (referred to as “Orion”) to utilize its
technology platforms to support data reconciliation, performance reporting, payable reports,
models, trading platforms, and other functions related to the administrative tasks of managing
client accounts. Due to this arrangement, Orion will have access to client accounts, but Orion will
not serve as an investment advisor to Azzad clients. Azzad and Orion are non-affiliated companies.