Colony Family Offices, LLC (“Colony”, we, us, our, ours, or the firm) is a registered
investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission since March 2013 and
began operations in May 2013. Colony’s principal place of business is located in Charlotte,
North Carolina. Eric D. Ridenour is Managing Director, Chief Compliance Officer and
principal owner of the firm.
Colony was founded to serve a select group of ultra-high net worth families with objective,
comprehensive and integrated wealth management advice. We focus on the entire wealth
enterprise of each family with customized service which enables our families to make
informed decisions.
Colony tailors its service offering to meet the needs of each family it serves. Based upon
the direction of the family, we help coordinate and implement strategy across the following
wealth management areas: financial planning, investment advisory, tax planning, education,
philanthropic, operations and risk management.
When working with families, we utilize a priorities-based approach that enables the family
to make informed decisions and work towards agreed-upon goals and objectives.
Wealth Management Services
Colony offers wealth management on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. Through
discussions, interviews and questionnaires, we will assist you in determining your investment
objectives. This may include creating an Investment Policy Statement (“IPS”) based on your
objectives, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, tax considerations and any other issues related to
your financial situation. We will design customized strategic asset allocations and provide a
framework for the management and oversight of the portfolio.
We will implement your investment strategy through a diversified portfolio comprised of
both passive and active strategies. We will likely recommend and implement tactical
allocations in order to seek to capitalize on short-term investment opportunities or defend
against market risks or dislocations. We will engage third party investment managers whose
approaches and history facilitate your strategy. We analyze investment managers based upon
their investment strategies, experience, performance track record, reputations, and fee
arrangements.
Portfolios may include domestic and foreign equities, fixed income, mutual and exchange
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traded funds, and private funds which include hedge funds and funds of funds.
We will provide ongoing (monthly or quarterly, based upon client request) consolidated
reporting and meet with you periodically to discuss the performance of your investments
and update your financial information. Smaller accounts may not receive consolidated
reports. The Master Advisory Agreement “MAA” will document whether smaller accounts
may not receive performance reporting or have a documented IPS. Any documented IPS
will be updated and revised as needed.
You should notify us promptly if there are any changes in your financial situation
or
investment objectives or if you wish to impose any reasonable restrictions upon the
management of your account.
As part of our asset management services, we may provide the following component
services separately, as requested by our clients:
• Investment Policy Statement Creation and Maintenance
• Asset Allocation Strategies
• Ad hoc Investment Research
• Consolidated Performance Reporting
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, Colony managed $2,547,437,524 in assets on a discretionary
basis where Colony made the investment decisions; and $53,201,431 in assets on a non-
discretionary basis where our client(s) made investment decisions based on our
recommendations.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
For financial planning to be successful, all facets of your family’s wealth enterprise must be
coordinated, integrated and focused on to help achieve your ultimate goals. Our financial
planning process is grounded on the discovery of the goals and objectives of your family and
thorough review of your family’s current situation and structures.
While the development of a comprehensive financial plan is important, we understand that
the implementation and monitoring of your plan is critical to achieving your goals. Our
service offering allows us to proactively monitor, administer and enhance various aspects of
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the overall plan. The Master Advisory Agreement “MAA” will document whether you receive
Financial Planning Services.
Colony will provide ongoing services and written reports related to the following financial
planning areas:
• Estate/trust/gift planning and review
• Life insurance summary and review
• Property and casualty insurance summary and review
• Debt review
• Cash projections and net worth planning
• Tax Planning
These services are based on you providing personal data such as family records,
employment records, budgeting, assets, liabilities, estate information, and tax information.
We will work closely with your attorney, accountant, insurance agent, and other advisers.
Colony will also provide financial planning services and customized reporting on an ad hoc
basis, separate from its wealth management services.
Corporate Trustee and Estate Administration
To the extent requested by the client, Colony may recommend the services of other
professionals for certain non-investment implementation purposes including its affiliated
trust company, Colony Trust Company, LLC (“CTC”). The client is under no obligation to
engage the services of CTC. Although CTC is commonly owned by certain employee
owners of Colony, no corresponding CTC-client relationship is established unless the client
separately determines to engage CTC for corporate trustee services or estate administration
services. Please reference the disclosure in the section titled “Other Financial Industry
Activities and Affiliations” below.