HT Partners is a fee-based SEC-registered investment adviser with its principal place of business in
Centerbrook, Connecticut. The firm has been in business since 2008, with Peter J. Decker and
Christopher J. Koehm as direct owners and Managing Members of the firm. Discretionary assets under
the firm's management were approximately $483,353,885, and non-discretionary assets under the
firm's management were approximately $2,167,788 as of December 31, 2023.
Portfolio Management Services
HT Partners provides continuous advice to the Client regarding the investment of Client funds based
on the Client's individual needs. Through personal discussions, goals and objectives based on a Client's
particular circumstances are established, and the firm develops a Client's investment policy statement
(IPS). It creates and manages a portfolio based on that policy. During the data-gathering process, the
firm will determine the Client objectives, time horizons, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs. The firm
may also review and discuss a Client's prior investment history, family composition, and background.
The firm will manage advisory accounts on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, as agreed with
each Client. Account supervision is guided by the stated objectives of the Client as well as the overall
financial situation. Clients may impose reasonable restrictions on investing in specific securities, types
of securities, or industry sectors. When the Client imposes restrictions on holding legacy positions,
the firm may also ask Client to indemnify the firm, especially when holding concentrated legacy
positions.
The firm's investment recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered by a
broker-dealer or insurance company. They will primarily include advice regarding no-load or load-
waived mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Client portfolio holdings may include
exchange-listed and over-the-counter securities, options contracts on securities, no-load or load-waived
mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, corporate debt securities, United States governmental securities,
certificates of deposit, warrants, commercial paper, and municipal securities. In addition, the firm may
recommend to the Client illiquid direct investments in private placement offerings and limited
investment partnerships. Additional information about the fees related to such investments is included
in the offering documents provided to prospective investors. These types of investments involve
certain additional degrees of risk. They will only be recommended when consistent with the Client's
stated investment objectives, tolerance for risk, liquidity, and suitability.
HTIQ Portfolios
HT Partners provides portfolio management services through Institutional Intelligent Portfolios™, an
automated, online investment management platform for use by independent investment advisors and
made available by Schwab Performance Technologies (the Platform and SPT, respectively). HT
Partners has branded the Platform as HTIQ Portfolios. Through the Platform, HT Partners offers
Client’s a range of investment strategies we have constructed and managed, each consisting of a
portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a cash allocation. The Client's portfolio is held in a
brokerage account opened by the Client at SPT's affiliate, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co). HT
Partners is independent of and not owned by, affiliated with, sponsored, or supervised by SPT,
CS&Co, or their affiliates (together, Schwab).
The Platform, described in the SPT Institutional Intelligent Portfolios™ Disclosure Brochure (the
Platform Disclosure Brochure), is delivered to the Client by CS&Co during the online enrollment.
HT Partners, and not Schwab, are the Client investment advisor and primary point of contact with
respect to the Platform. HT Partners is solely responsible, and Schwab is not responsible for
determining the appropriateness of the Platform for the Client, choosing a suitable investment strategy
and portfolio for the Client's investment needs and goals, and managing that portfolio on an ongoing
basis. CS&Co role is limited to delivering the Platform Disclosure Brochure to Client and
administering the Platform so that it operates as described in the Platform Disclosure Brochure.
HT Partners has contracted with CS&Co to provide it with the technology platform and related trading
and account management services for the Platform. This enables HT Partners to make the Platform
available to Clients online and includes a system that automates certain critical parts of the HT Partners
investment process. This includes an online questionnaire that helps HT Partners determine the Client's
investment objectives and risk tolerance and select an appropriate investment strategy and portfolio.
Clients should note that HT Partners will recommend a portfolio in response to the Client's answers to
the online questionnaire. While the Client may choose a portfolio, HT Partners makes the final
decision and selects a portfolio based on all the information HT Partners has about the Client. The
Platform also includes an automated investment engine through which HT Partners manages the Client
portfolio on an ongoing basis through automatic rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting (if the Client is
eligible and elects). HT Partners does not receive a portion of a wrap fee for our services to Clients
through the Platform. Clients do not pay fees to CS&Co in connection with the Platform, but HT
Partners does charge Client a fee for its services as described below under Item 5, Fees and
Compensation. HT Partners fees are not set or supervised by Schwab. Clients do not pay brokerage
commissions or any other fees to CS&Co as part of the Platform. Schwab does receive other revenues
in connection with the Platform, as described in the Platform Disclosure Brochure. HT Partners does
not pay CS&Co fees for its services in the Platform so long as HT Partners maintains a specified
amount in Client assets in accounts at CS&Co that are not enrolled in the Platform. If HT Partners does
not meet this condition, then HT Partners must pay CS&Co an annual fee on the value of HT Partners'
Client's assets in the Platform. This fee arrangement incentivizes us to recommend or require that our
Clients with accounts not enrolled in the Platform
be maintained with CS&Co.
The Platform Disclosure Brochure includes a discussion of various risks associated with the Platform,
including the risks of investing in ETFs, as well as risks related to the underlying securities in which
ETFs invest. In addition, the Platform Disclosure Brochure also discusses market/systemic risks, asset
allocation/strategy/diversification risks, investment strategy risks, trading/liquidity risks, and
significant investment risks.
Family Wealth Counseling /Wealth Management/Financial Planning/Consulting Services
HT Partners strives to employ various financial planning processes. This involves a cycle of identifying
and prioritizing financial goals and planning. Depending on the Client's desire or level of sophistication,
the financial planning process can be simple or, in some cases, take many years to develop. The firm
may advise its Client in the areas of
retirement planning, investment planning, financial risk
management, insurance planning, tax planning,
estate planning, family governance, family office
structures, trust administration, and
business planning, as well as being a sounding board for its Client’s
to help them address life events. It is incumbent on the Client to implement the resulting plans or advice,
and they should do so after consulting with their legal and tax advisors.
HT Partners will begin by assessing your financial situation, which includes analyzing your balance
sheet, cash flow, and income statement. We may also review your financial structures, such as banking
services. Additionally, we can assist you in assembling an advisory team encompassing legal, risk,
accounting, business advisory, and document and records management professionals. Subsequently,
we will evaluate your investment management arrangements and work on developing an investment
policy statement and asset allocation strategies tailored to your needs. We'll pay particular attention to
wealth transfer objectives, enabling you to explore various estate planning strategies, including
succession planning for closely held businesses.
HT Partners gathers information through in-person, teleconference, or video interviews. This
information encompasses your current financial status, future goals, and risk preferences. We also
review relevant documents provided by you. Our financial planning recommendations are not
restricted to any particular product or service offered by a broker-dealer or insurance company.
Recommendations are made to your unique financial situation. Clients who are charged based on their
assets under management with us will receive periodic financial plan reviews tailored to their situation.
Additionally, they are entitled to 12 hours of ad-hoc consulting time at no extra cost. Please note that
HT Partners reserves the right to apply additional hourly fees to Clients who exceed the allocated 12
hours of annual planning time. Financial planning and consulting recommendations are customized to
meet each Client's unique needs.
HT Partners offers a suite of non-advisory services designed to complement our Client’s'
comprehensive financial strategy. These services include insurance consulting, business consulting,
succession planning, trust administration, tax consulting/preparation, and estate settlement. Members
of the firm may serve as Trustees and or Executors subject to a separate engagement. The Executor or
Trustee may offer to have HT Partners provide support services at a separate fee as agreed to by the
Client. Furthermore, we facilitate access to estate planning services through a third-party provider.
While these services are distinct from our wealth management and investment advisory offerings, they
are integral to achieving a holistic financial plan.
Third-Party Estate Planning Services
HT Partners collaborates with an unaffiliated third-party service provider to offer estate planning
services under a separate consulting agreement. Our role in this process is to assist Clients with
gathering the necessary information and interpreting estate plans. It is important to note that HT
Partners does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or legal validity of the estate planning
documents produced by the third-party platform provider. We encourage the Client to seek separate
legal advice for complex estate planning needs. This can be accessed through the service provider's
network of legal advisors or their legal advisors, incurring additional costs based on an hourly rate or a
fixed fee, as agreed upon separately with the provider.
Continuing fees and payment options: After the initial consulting agreement, the Client will be granted
two options to maintain access to the estate planning platform portal. Option 1, the third-party provider
will charge the Client a monthly platform access fee, subject to changes outlined in the third-party
provider's terms of service. Option 2, HT Partners offers an annual flat fee option per Client for
continued platform portal access. This ongoing fee will be outlined in our consulting agreement
between HT Partners and the Client. HT Partners may waive the platform fee if a Client has an
ongoing relationship with the firm. Either party can terminate this agreement at any time. Clients must
understand that failure to remit the platform fee to the third-party provider or HT Partners will
terminate platform access. Regardless, we strongly advise the Client to back up and secure their estate
planning documents to ensure continued access if the Platform is no longer utilized or available.
HT Partners does not warranty the completeness or accuracy of the documents generated through the
third-party Platform. The decision to utilize these non-advisory services is entirely at our Client's
discretion. HT Partners does not obligate any Client to engage with these services and encourages
Clients to consider their unique circumstances and possibly consult independent advisors to address
complex estate planning issues.