Firm Description
Estate & Trust Advisors was founded in 1997.
Estate & Trust Advisors, Inc. (hereinafter “ETA” or the “Firm”) offers personalized investment
advisory services to individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable
organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The Firm’s services and fee
arrangements are described in the following pages.
ETA is a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Illinois. This brochure provides
clients with information regarding ETA and the qualifications, business practices, and nature
of advisory services that should be considered before becoming an advisory client of the
Firm.
Please contact Mark J. Schwartz, President, if you have any questions about this brochure.
Additional information about ETA is available on the Internet at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Principal Owners
The individuals who own at least 25% of stock are Mark J. Schwartz at 39% stockholder and
Jordan M. Jacobs at 37%.
Types of Advisory Services
Directly Managed Accounts
ETA provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management services on a
continuous basis. The investment advice provided is custom tailored to meet the needs and
investment objectives of the client. Subject to any written guidelines, which the client may
provide, the Firm may be granted discretion and authority to manage the account.
Accordingly, ETA is authorized to perform various functions, at the client’s expense, without
further approval from the client. Such functions include the determination of the securities and
amount of securities to be purchased and/or sold, the broker/dealer to be used, and the
management fees to be paid. Once the portfolio is constructed, ETA provides continuous
supervision and re-balancing of the portfolio as changes in market conditions and client
circumstances may require. Where ETA enters into non-discretionary arrangements with
clients, the Firm will obtain client approval prior to the execution of a trade.
ETA does not hold itself out as a financial planner; however, the Firm may provide financial
planning related services incidental to its investment supervisory services. The Firm may or
may not be compensated separately for financial planning related services.
Selection of Sub-Advisers
Through Envestnet Portfolio Management Consultants (Envestnet), ETA will offer its clients
access to a network of institutional investment advisers (“sub-advisers”) to manage a portion
of, or their entire account.
ETA will utilize the research services provided through Envestnet to assist the client in
selection of one or more sub-advisers from among those sub-advisers who have been
approved and who have signed agreements with ETA. The client will receive information
concerning each recommended sub-adviser and will have the opportunity to approve the
selections. The client will also receive an Investment Policy Statement identifying all sub-
advisers selected to manage the client's investment portfolio and the amount of fees payable
to each sub-adviser and ETA. All sub-advisers to whom ETA refers its clients must be
registered with either the Securities and Exchange Commission or appropriate state
jurisdictions.
Based on information gathered from the client, ETA will make recommendations regarding
the suitability of a sub-adviser or investment style based on, but not limited to, the client’s
long-term goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, account profile, investment objectives, financial
situation, and/or other suitability factors. ETA then monitors the sub-adviser’s performance;
reviews reports provided to the client; contacts the client at least annually to review the
client’s financial situation and objectives, and assists the client in understanding and
evaluating the services provided by the sub-adviser. Clients are reminded to promptly notify
ETA of any material change in their financial situation and/or investment objectives.
The sub-adviser will actively manage the client’s equity and bond portfolio and may assume
investment discretionary and trading authority over the managed account. ETA will manage
or obtain investment discretion or trading authority over the assets in clients’ accounts
managed by sub-advisers. ETA will actively monitor the accounts on a continuous basis and
will make recommendations to hire and fire sub-advisers and reallocate the client’s assets to
other sub-advisers, where such action is deemed to be in the best interest of the client.
ETA will provide quarterly performance reports to the client identifying the securities held in
the account, along with an analysis of the performance of the account for the quarter. In the
event that ETA determines that one or more sub-advisers are not performing in accordance
with expectations or is no longer appropriate to a client based on the client's circumstances
and objectives, ETA will recommend that a sub-adviser be terminated and/or replaced with
another sub-adviser. ETA will review the recommendation with the client, and the client will
make the final determination whether to terminate or replace the sub-adviser.
Fees paid by the client to sub-advisers are separate and distinct from the fees the client pays
to ETA. Sub-adviser fees are established and payable in accordance with the Form ADV Part
II or other equivalent disclosure document provided by each sub-adviser to whom ETA refers
its clients, and may or may not be negotiable. These disclosures will be set forth in the
disclosure documents of relevant sub-advisers. Clients will never be charged an annual fee of
more than 3.0% of assets under management, which includes fees paid to ETA, sub-
advisers, and investment adviser representatives.
Clients who are referred to sub-advisers will receive full disclosure, including services
rendered, account minimums and fee schedules, at the time of the referral by delivery of a
copy of the sub-adviser’s relevant Form ADV Part II or equivalent disclosure document.
Clients are required to sign a management agreement with ETA and may be required to sign
a management agreement directly with sub-advisers. Under such arrangements, the client,
ETA, or sub-advisers, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant sub-adviser’s
agreement, may terminate the advisory relationship.
Tailored Relationships
The goals and objectives for each client are documented in our client relationship
management system. Investment policy statements are created that reflect the stated goals
and objective. Each ETA client receives a custom-built, individually managed investment
portfolio. Clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of
securities.
Types of Agreements
The following agreements define the typical client relationships.
Financial Planning Agreement
A financial plan is designed to help the client with all aspects of financial planning in
conjunction with ongoing investment management after the financial plan is completed.
The financial plan may include, but
is not limited to: a net worth statement; a cash flow
statement; a review of investment accounts, including reviewing asset allocation and
providing repositioning recommendations; strategic tax planning; a review of retirement
accounts and plans including recommendations; a review of insurance policies and
recommendations for changes, if necessary; one or more retirement scenarios; estate
planning review and recommendations; and education planning with funding
recommendations.
ETA’s fee for financial planning is generally included as part of our annual asset management
fee.
Wealth Management Planning Agreement
Most clients choose to have ETA manage their assets in order to obtain ongoing in-depth
advice and wealth management planning. All aspects of the client’s financial affairs are
reviewed. Realistic and measurable goals are set and objectives to reach those goals are
defined. As goals and objectives change over time, suggestions are made and implemented
on an ongoing basis.
The scope of work and fee for a Wealth Management Planning Agreement is provided to the
client in writing prior to the start of the relationship. A Wealth Management Planning
Agreement includes: cash flow management; insurance review; investment management
(including performance reporting); education planning; retirement planning; estate planning;
and tax preparation, as well as the implementation of recommendations within each area.
The annual Wealth Management Planning Agreement fee is based on a percentage of the
investable assets according to the following schedule:
1.50% on the first $500,000 ($500,000 account minimum)
1.25% on the next $500,000
1.00% on the assets above $1,000,000
0.80% on the assets above $10,000,000
The minimum annual fee is $3,750 and is not negotiable. Current client relationships may
exist where the fees are higher or lower than the fee schedule above.
Generally, the Firm requires a minimum of $500,000 in investable assets (or a minimum
annual advisory fee of $3,750) to open and maintain a management account. However, at its
discretion, the Firm may waive this minimum requirement based on the client’s individual
circumstances or relationship to another account. For example, the Firm may negotiate fees
and/or allow accounts of members of the same household to be aggregated for purposes of
meeting the minimum asset requirement or for determining the advisory fee. ETA may allow
such aggregation where the Firm services accounts on behalf of minor children of current
clients, individual and joint accounts for a spouse, and other types of related accounts.
Typically, payment of management fees will be made by the qualified custodian holding the
client’s funds and securities, if the client provides written authorization permitting the fees to
be paid directly from their account. The Firm will not have access to client funds for payment
of fees without client consent in writing. Further, the qualified custodian agrees to deliver an
account statement directly to the client, at least quarterly, showing all disbursements from the
client’s account. The client is encouraged to review their account statements for accuracy.
The Firm will receive a duplicate copy of the statement that was delivered to the client. In
limited circumstances, ETA may invoice the client directly for management fees.
ETA does not represent, warrant, or imply that the services or methods of analysis used by
the Firm can or will predict future results, successfully identify market tops or bottoms, or
insulate clients from losses due to market corrections. Advice offered by ETA may involve
investments in mutual funds and ETFs. Clients are hereby advised that all fees paid to ETA
for investment advisory services are separate and distinct from the fees and expenses
charged by mutual funds (described in each fund’s prospectus) and ETFs. These fees will
generally include a management fee and other fund expenses. Further, there may be
transaction charges involved with purchasing or selling securities. ETA does not share in any
portion of the brokerage fees/transaction charges imposed by the custodian holding the client
funds or securities. The client should review all fees charged by mutual funds, ETA, and
others to fully understand the total amount of fees to be paid by the client.
Although the Wealth Management Planning Agreement is an ongoing agreement and
constant adjustments are required, the length of service to the client is at the client’s
discretion. The client or the investment manager may terminate an Agreement by 30 days
written notice to the other party. At termination, fees will be billed on a pro rata basis for the
portion of the quarter completed.
The portfolio value at the completion of the prior full billing quarter is used as the basis for the
fee computation, adjusted for the number of days during the billing quarter prior to
termination.
ETA does not provide tax or legal advice.
Retainer Agreement
In some circumstances, a Retainer Agreement is executed in lieu of a Wealth Management
Planning Agreement when it is more appropriate to work on a fixed-fee basis. The annual fee
for a Retainer Agreement is based on the nature of client work and is negotiable.
Investment Management Agreement
Same as Wealth Management Planning Agreement.
Tax Preparation Agreement
ETA does not provide tax preparation.
Hourly Planning Engagements
Same as Wealth Management Planning Agreement.
Asset Management
Assets are invested primarily in no-load, institutional mutual funds and exchange-traded
funds and individual stocks and bonds, usually through Schwab Institutional. Fund companies
charge each fund shareholder an investment management fee that is disclosed in the fund
prospectus. Discount brokerages may charge a transaction fee for the purchase of some
funds.
Self-Directed 401(k) Plan Consulting/Asset Management Services Program
ETA will provide investment consulting and asset management services to self-directed
401(k) plan participants and/or beneficiaries of plans administered by John Hancock, an
independent insurance and financial services company. In general, these services generally
include asset allocation advice, money management services, communication and education
services, investment performance monitoring, and/or ongoing consulting. The fee for this
service is based on 1.00% of the underlying assets in the account. The agreement, fee, and
fee payment arrangement is between John Hancock and Mr. Schwartz. However, these
clients may otherwise contract with ETA for additional services (e.g. Investment Supervisory
Services, as disclosed in this Schedule F) that are separate and distinct from the services
and products provided through John Hancock.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
Total Regulatory Assets Under Management (RAUM) are $216,339,173 as of December 31,
2023, of which $190,169,107 of assets are discretionary and $26,170,066 of assets are non-
discretionary.
Termination Agreement
ETA or the client may terminate the management agreement within five days of the date of
acceptance without penalty to the client. After the five-day period, either party, upon 30
business days’ written notice to the other, may terminate the management agreement. The
management fee will be pro-rated for the quarter in which the cancellation notice was given
and any unearned prepaid fees will be returned to the client.