A. Providence Wealth Advisors, LLC
Providence Wealth Advisors, LLC ("Providence Wealth" or “the firm”), a Securities and Exchange
Commission registered investment advisor, is an Illinois limited liability company that provides
financial planning discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to high-net-
worth clients as more fully described below. Providence Wealth has been providing investment
advisory and financial planning services since April of 2010 and is principally owned by
Providence Bank & Trust Company.
B. Advisory Services Offered
Providence Wealth is an independent investment advisory and financial planning firm offering a
variety of financial services to individuals including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, retirement
plans, pension and profit sharing plans, and state or municipal government entities. Advisory
services may include investment strategy, portfolio management, financial planning, and estate
planning.
In addition to providing Providence Wealth with information regarding their personal financial
circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance for risk, clients are obligated to provide the
firm with any reasonable investment restrictions that should be imposed on the management of
their portfolio, and to promptly notify the firm in writing of any changes in such restrictions or in
their personal financial circumstances, investment objectives, goals and tolerance for risk. On a
quarterly basis, Providence Wealth's reports to clients will remind them of their obligation to
inform Providence Wealth of any such changes or any restrictions that should be imposed on
the management of their accounts. Providence Wealth will also contact clients at least annually
to determine whether there have been any changes in a client's personal financial circumstances,
investment objectives and tolerance for risk.
B.1. Portfolio Management Services
Providence Wealth provides discretionary asset management services to its clients. Providence
Wealth receives a limited power of attorney to effect securities, mutual fund, and exchange-
traded fund transactions on behalf of its clients that include securities and strategies as itemized
in Item 8 of this Brochure. In addition, Providence Wealth, pursuant to the terms of its
investment advisory agreement with clients, has discretionary authority to engage third-party
separate account managers to manage all or a portion of the client’s portfolio as more fully
described in Item 8 of this Brochure.
Providence Wealth’s discretionary asset management services are predicated on asset allocation
models to create diversified portfolios consisting of individual securities, mutual funds, exchange
traded funds and portfolios managed by separate account managers engaged by Providence
Wealth on the client’s behalf. The asset allocation methodology employed by Providence Wealth
relies on modern portfolio theory, which involves the application of certain mathematical
principles to the historical risk, return and correlation characteristics of asset classes to combine
asset classes in such a way that maximizes return potential for a targeted level of risk. The
resulting asset allocation chosen seeks a projected return potential consistent with the client's
investment objectives, goals, tolerance for risk, and other personal and financial circumstances.
In preparing the asset allocation, Providence Wealth will analyze each client's current
investments, investment objectives, goals, age, time horizon, financial circumstances, investment
experience, investment restrictions and limitations, and risk tolerance. Providence Wealth’s
objective is to review the client’s tax, financial, and estate planning objectives and goals in
connection with the client’s investment objectives, goals, tolerance for risk and other personal
and financial circumstances and make appropriate asset allocation recommendations and
implementation decisions. Providence Wealth may engage third-party service providers to assist
with the tax and estate planning portion of the services provided to clients. In addition,
Providence Wealth may utilize third-party software to analyze individual security holdings and
separate account managers utilized within the client’s portfolio.
Providence Wealth may prepare an investment policy statement based on the client’s
investment objectives, goals, tolerance for risk and such other factors unique to the client and
provide appropriate recommendations. On a quarterly basis, Providence Wealth, in connection
with a third-party service provider, will provide such clients with reports regarding the
performance of their portfolios. In addition, Providence Wealth will monitor those portfolios and
make additional recommendations from time to time to rebalance and/or reallocate each
client's investments.
Providence Wealth's investment advisory services to clients are based on asset allocation models
that, as noted above, take into account a client's personal financial circumstances, investment
objectives and tolerance for risk (e.g., cash-flow, tax and estate). Providence Wealth's
engagement with a client will include, as appropriate, the following:
Providing assistance in reviewing the client's current investment portfolio against the
client's personal and financial circumstances as disclosed to Providence Wealth in
response to a questionnaire and/or in discussions with the client and reviewed in
meetings with the firm.
Analyzing the client's financial circumstances, investment holdings and strategy, and
goals.
Providing assistance in identifying a targeted asset allocation and portfolio design based
on modern portfolio theory.
Implementing and/or recommending mutual funds, exchange traded funds, portfolios
managed by separate account managers and, in appropriate cases where clients are
qualified, alternative investments, each matched to the asset categories in the client's
targeted asset allocation for consideration by the client.
Reporting to the client on a quarterly basis or at some other interval agreed to with the
client, information on contributions and withdrawals in the client's investment portfolio
and the performance of the client's portfolio measured against appropriate benchmarks
(including benchmarks selected by the client).
Proposing changes in the client's targeted asset allocation in consideration of changes in
the client's personal circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance for risk, the
performance record of any of the client's investments, and/or the performance of any
fund or manager retained by the client.
If the client’s portfolio and personal circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance
for risk make such advice appropriate, providing recommendations to hedge a client’s
portfolio through the use of derivative
strategies, to generate additional income through
the use of covered call option writing strategies involving exchange listed or OTC
options, and/or to monetize or hedge concentrated stock positions.
When appropriate to the needs of and suitability for a client, Providence Wealth will assist in
developing a strategy for monetizing/hedging a portfolio or a concentrated stock position held
by the client. Monetizing a concentrated stock position allows a client to receive funds to
diversify the portfolio and limit its downside exposure while allowing for the continued potential
to participate, to a lesser extent, in any increase in the price of the concentrated stock. Hedging
a concentrated stock position allows a client to protect against losses below a certain stock price
while allowing for the potential to participate in any increase in the price of the stock.
Providence Wealth will also assist in the proper diversification of concentrated stock positions
through the use of exchange traded funds in certain situations.
B.2. Non-Discretionary Investment Advisory Services
For non-discretionary services, Providence Wealth will recommend a diversified asset allocation
structure utilizing one or more securities for each recommended asset class pursuant to the
client’s investment goals, objectives, risk tolerance and other financial circumstances. Clients
may also elect to engage a third-party investment manager to manage client portfolio assets
pursuant to their investment goals, objectives, risk tolerance and other financial circumstances.
Pursuant to a client’s request, Providence Wealth may recommend one or more investment
managers available on the client’s custodian platform. Please be advised that certain portfolio
managers may not be available on the client’s custodial platform, a factor that should be
considered in evaluating the investment manager. Providence Wealth’s primary focus will be on
publicly traded equities (common and preferred stocks), exchange traded funds, open end
mutual funds, and fixed income securities (taxable and tax-free). Please refer to Item 8 of this
Brochure for a complete listing of the types of securities for which Providence Wealth provides
advice.
For clients with less than $100,000 in portfolio assets, Providence Wealth will recommend a
diversified portfolio of no-load or load-waived mutual funds that serves as a proxy of its core
value philosophy with an overlay of non-correlated assets. Providence Wealth will deliver
performance reports to such clients and will be available to discuss the portfolio no less
frequently than annually or as otherwise mutually agreed upon with the client.
In certain instances, Providence Wealth may recommend one or more third-party separate
account managers to manage one or more asset classes for a client. Please be advised that in
such instances Providence Wealth acts in the capacity of an investment consultant and provides
advice as to the most appropriate separate account manager in light of the client’s personal and
financial circumstances. Providence Wealth’s fees for this service are the same as if it were
managing the portfolio assets on a discretionary basis. In addition to fees charged by
Providence Wealth, the client will incur charges from the separate account manager. Although
Providence Wealth places its clients’ interests first by recommending the most appropriate
separate account managers, there is the potential for conflicts in that Providence Wealth earns
the same fee whether it is managing the portfolio or outsourcing the management. As a result,
one could view Providence Wealth’s loyalties as being divided in that Providence Wealth is paid
to find the most appropriate separate account managers for asset classes outside of its core
management competency but will recommend itself for portfolio assets requiring the use of its
core management competency.
B.3. Financial Planning Services
Providence Wealth offer financial planning services solely to investment advisory clients, at no
additional charge. Clients may receive a written or oral report (depending on the client’s
preference) providing a detailed financial plan designed to help achieve the client’s stated
financial goals and objectives. Based on the client’s needs, financial planning services may
include (but are not limited to) the following:
Preparation of a recommended asset allocation that serves to diversify the client's
portfolio among different categories of investments such as domestic and international
small, medium and large capitalization securities; corporate and government fixed
income (short-, intermediate- and long-term maturities); emerging market securities (i.e.,
foreign issuers), real estate investment trusts, and such other alternative asset categories
that are suitable in light of the client's investment goals, objectives and risk tolerance.
Preparation of a retirement plan that serves to identify whether the client is saving
enough and investing in a way that meets retirement objectives in light of the client's
financial circumstances and risk tolerance.
Preparation of cash flow projections to ensure that the client can meet daily living
expenses and obligations.
Insurance planning to meet the needs of the client, taking into account family, business
and other financial objectives of the client.
Preparation of an estate plan to ensure that wealth transition, tax and related issues are
met in accordance with the client's wishes. In all instances, an estate attorney will need to
be hired to review estate plan structure, address specific legal issues, draft necessary
documents and assist Providence Wealth in the implementation of the estate plan.
Providence Wealth gathers required information through in-depth personal interviews and
questionnaires. Information gathered includes a client's current financial status, investment
objectives, future goals and attitudes towards risk. Related documents supplied by the client are
carefully reviewed, and a report is prepared covering one or more of the above-mentioned
topics as directed by the client.
C. Client-Tailored Services and Client-Imposed Restrictions
Clients’ accounts will be managed on the basis of their financial situation and investment
objectives, and in accordance with any reasonable restrictions they have imposed on the
management of their accounts—for example, restricting the type or amount of security to be
purchased in the portfolio.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
Providence Wealth does not participate in wrap fee programs. (Wrap fee programs offer services
for one all-inclusive fee.)
E. Client Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, Providence Wealth had approximately $571.6 million of discretionary
assets and $0 of non-discretionary assets under management.