Orgel Wealth Management is an independent SEC-registered investment advisory firm that
provides advisory and wealth management services to individuals, families, high net worth
individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations,
corporations, and other business entities. Its services primarily include investment management,
financial planning and consulting, and retirement plan consulting.
Orgel Wealth Management was established in October 2013 as a limited liability company and,
together with its predecessor practices, has served clients since 1984. Orgel Wealth
Management is 100% owned by its principals with no employee owning 25% or more of the
firm.
Orgel Wealth Management offers a variety of wealth management services, including financial
planning, retirement plan consulting, and portfolio management. Prior to rendering services,
clients enter into a written agreement with Orgel Wealth Management that sets forth the terms
and conditions of the advisory relationship.
Investment Management Services
Orgel Wealth Management provides investment management services to clients primarily on a
discretionary basis under a wrap-fee program (also see Item 16, Investment Discretion). Orgel
Wealth Management individually tailors its services and works closely with the client upon
engagement to determine the client’s investment objectives, risk tolerance, investment time
horizon, and liquidity needs. Orgel Wealth Management then determines a portfolio investment
strategy for each client designed to achieve the client’s objectives. While Orgel Wealth
Management’s disciplined asset allocation strategies focus primarily on the long-term view, Orgel
Wealth Management also incorporates a pragmatic approach that makes provisions for events
along the way.
Client portfolios consist primarily of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, bonds, and cash, but
may also include individual stocks, privately placed investments, such as private debt, private
equity, and hedge funds, collective investment trusts, structured notes, annuities, alternative
investments, and real estate investment trusts. Investment decisions are not limited to any
specific security or product.
Clients may request, in writing, to impose reasonable restrictions or mandates on the
management of their accounts. Before agreeing to implement any requested restrictions or
mandates, Orgel Wealth Management, in its sole discretion, will determine if the requested
restrictions or mandates would materially affect the performance of a management strategy or
prove overly burdensome to the management efforts. Clients are responsible for notifying Orgel
Wealth Management if there are changes in their financial situation.
Orgel Wealth Management’s fee-based comprehensive wealth management services are
provided primarily through a wrap-fee program with a fee that is generally based on a percentage
of assets under management. A wrap-fee program is a type of investment program that provides
clients with investment management and brokerage services for one all-inclusive fee. As
described further below, Orgel Wealth Management generally imposes fees that are based on
the percent of assets under management and that typically cover the discretionary investment
management of client portfolios, execution services, custodial services, and the range of
consulting services provided by Orgel Wealth Management, which may include financial
planning, business consulting and transition services, and other services. Orgel Wealth
Management’s fee arrangement generally is designed to provide clients with the ability to trade
in certain investment products without incurring separate costs for execution services or
custodial services.
Orgel Wealth Management is both the sponsor and investment manager to the wrap-fee
program. Clients who participate in the wrap-fee program pay Orgel Wealth Management a single
fee, which covers Orgel Wealth Management’s advisory fees, certain transaction costs, and
custodial and administrative costs. Clients are not charged separate fees for the respective
components of the total services. Orgel Wealth Management receives a portion of the wrap fee
for our services after paying other service providers. The overall cost you will incur if you
participate in our wrap fee program may be higher or lower than you might incur by separately
purchasing the types of securities available in the program. Additionally, there are no material
differences between the investment or management strategies employed by Orgel Wealth
Management for clients who participate in the wrap-fee program and clients who do not
participate in the program. The terms and conditions of the wrap program engagement are more
fully discussed in Orgel Wealth Management’s Wrap Fee Program Brochure.
Because wrap program transaction fees and commissions are paid by Orgel Wealth Management
to the account custodian/broker-dealer, Orgel Wealth Management could have an economic
incentive to maximize its compensation by seeking to minimize the number of trades in a client's
account. In an attempt to mitigate or eliminate this conflict of interest, Orgel Wealth Management
has entered into an asset-based pricing arrangement with Pershing LLC (Pershing) to provide
custody and execution services. Under an asset-based pricing arrangement, the amount that
Orgel Wealth Management will pay to Pershing for transaction fees and commissions is based
upon a percentage of the market value of Orgel Wealth Management’s wrap fee client accounts.
This differs from transaction-based pricing, which assesses separate transaction fees and
commissions for each transaction. Such asset-based pricing arrangement was instituted in an
effort to mitigate Orgel Wealth Management’s economic incentive to minimize trading in client
wrap fee accounts by establishing a fixed cost for custody and execution services regardless of
the level of trading activity in wrap fee accounts.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
Either as part of its investment management services or on a stand-alone basis, Orgel Wealth
Management offers clients a range of financial planning and consulting services, which may
include any or all of the following:
Investment planning
Budget planning
Education expense planning
Tax planning
Retirement planning
Estate planning assistance
Business consulting and transition
services
Limitations on Financial Planning and Consulting Services. Financial planning and consulting
services are provided to the extent specifically requested by the client and may be provided either
as a part of the client’s ongoing investment management service or, in limited situations, for a
separate and additional fee per the terms and conditions of a separate agreement.
In performing financial planning and consulting services, Orgel Wealth Management may rely on
information obtained from the client or from the client’s other professionals. Orgel Wealth
Management is not required to verify any information received from the client or from the client’s
other professionals (e.g., attorneys or accountants) and fully relies on such information.
At the request of a client, Orgel Wealth Management may provide tax planning and advice,
including, for example, the creation of tax projections to facilitate tax estimates, assistance with
individual and corporate forward tax planning, searching for unused tax credits or deductions, and
identification of tax efficient charitable gifting strategies. Orgel Wealth Management is not an
accounting firm, does not prepare tax returns, and no portion of our services should be construed
as legal or accounting advice. At all times, clients should defer to their separately engaged
attorney or tax professional when making legal or tax decisions.
Orgel Wealth Management may also provide estate planning assistance at the request of a client.
For example, estate planning assistance services may include educating clients on estate
planning methods, collaborating with a client’s attorney in an effort to design estate plans that
efficiently transfer wealth, working with trustees regarding the management and distribution of
managed trust assets, and assisting with the formation of business succession strategies. Orgel
Wealth Management does not serve as an attorney for clients and does not prepare estate
planning documents. No portion of our services should be construed as legal advice and the
services are not a substitute for receiving legal advice from a qualified attorney; at all times,
clients should defer to their separately engaged attorney when making legal decisions.
In addition, at the request of a client, Orgel Wealth Management may also provide advice on
types and levels of insurance coverage or may review insurance products from unaffiliated
insurance companies. Orgel Wealth Management is not an insurance company and does not
maintain any affiliation with a licensed insurance provider. Clients remain responsible for seeking
insurance coverage from a licensed insurance professional.
Orgel Wealth Management may recommend the services of itself or other professionals to
implement its recommendations. Clients are advised that a conflict of interest exists if clients
engage Orgel Wealth Management to provide additional fee-based services. Clients retain full
discretion over all decisions regarding implementation and are under no obligation to act upon
any of the recommendations made by Orgel Wealth Management as part of the financial planning
or consulting services or to engage the services of any recommended professionals, including
Orgel Wealth Management itself. If the client engages any professional (e.g., attorney,
accountant, insurance agent, etc.), recommended or otherwise, and a dispute arises thereafter
relative to such engagement, the engaged professional shall remain exclusively responsible for
resolving any such dispute with the client. At all times, the engaged licensed professional (e.g.,
attorney, accountant, insurance agent, etc.), and not Orgel Wealth Management, shall be
responsible for the quality and competency of the services provided.
Clients are advised that it remains their responsibility to promptly notify Orgel Wealth
Management of any change in their financial situation or investment objectives in writing so that
Orgel Wealth Management may review, and if necessary, revise its previous recommendations
or services.
Retirement Plan Management and Consulting Services
Orgel Wealth Management provides various management and consulting services to qualified
employee benefit plans and their fiduciaries. This suite of institutional services is designed to
assist plan sponsors in structuring, managing, and optimizing their corporate retirement plans.
Each engagement is individually negotiated and customized and may include any or all of the
following services:
Plan design and strategy
Plan review and evaluation
Investment advice and review
Plan fee and cost analysis
Administrative/record keeping review
Fiduciary and compliance assistance
Fiduciary education
Participant education
Certain retirement plan services are provided by Orgel Wealth Management as a fiduciary under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). In accordance with ERISA
Section 408(b)(2), each plan sponsor is provided with a written description of Orgel Wealth
Management’s fiduciary status, the specific services to be rendered, and all direct and indirect
compensation Orgel Wealth Management reasonably expects under the engagement. In
addition, Orgel Wealth Management and its advisors act as fiduciaries under ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, with respect to investment advice provided to a retirement
plan, plan participant or beneficiary account, subject to any limitations included in the written
agreement with the client.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, Orgel Wealth Management had $7,104,580,359 regulatory assets
under management, of which $7,102,327,562 were managed on a discretionary basis and
$2,252,797 were managed on a non-discretionary basis.
Miscellaneous Disclosures
Retirement Rollovers Conflict of Interest. A client or prospective client leaving an employer
typically has four options regarding an existing retirement 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 another employer’s plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) roll over the
assets 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 Orgel Wealth
Management recommends that a client roll over their retirement plan assets into an account to
be managed by Orgel Wealth Management, such a recommendation creates a conflict of interest
if Orgel Wealth Management will earn new (or increase its current) compensation as a result of
the rollover. Whether Orgel Wealth Management provides a recommendation as to whether a
client should engage in a rollover or not, Orgel Wealth Management is acting as a fiduciary within
the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal
Revenue Code, as applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. No client is under
any obligation to roll over retirement plan assets to an account managed by Orgel Wealth
Management. Orgel Wealth Management’s Chief Compliance Officer, Troy Mertens, remains
available to address any questions that a client or prospective client may have regarding the
potential conflict of interest presented by such rollover recommendation.
Use of Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds. Orgel Wealth Management utilizes mutual
funds and exchange traded funds for its client portfolios. In addition to Orgel Wealth
Management’s investment advisory fee and any transaction and/or custodial fees discussed
below, clients will also incur charges imposed at the fund level (e.g., management fees and other
fund expenses) for investments in mutual funds and exchange traded funds.
Use of Collective Investment Trusts. Orgel Wealth Management utilizes collective investment
trusts when appropriate for its retirement plan clients. In addition to Orgel Wealth Management’s
investment advisory fee and any relevant custodial or record keeping fees applicable for the
retirement plan, investors will also incur charges imposed by the collective investment trust (e.g.,
management fees and other fund expenses).
Use of Alternative Investments. Where appropriate, Orgel Wealth Management may utilize
interval funds. An interval fund is a non-traditional type of closed-end mutual fund that periodically
offers to buy back a percentage
of outstanding shares from shareholders. Investments in an
interval fund involve additional risk, including lack of liquidity and restrictions on withdrawals.
During any time periods outside of the specified repurchase offer window(s), investors will be
unable to sell their shares of the interval fund. There is no assurance that an investor will be able
to tender shares when or in the amount desired. There can also be situations where an interval
fund has a limited amount of capacity to repurchase shares and may not be able to fulfill all
purchase orders. In addition, the eventual sale price for the interval fund could be less than the
interval fund value on the date that the sale was requested. While an internal fund periodically
offers to repurchase a portion of its securities, there is no guarantee that investors may sell their
shares at any given time or in the desired amount. As interval funds can expose investors to
liquidity risk, investors should consider interval fund shares to be an illiquid investment. Typically,
the interval funds are not listed on any securities exchange and are not publicly traded. Thus,
there is no secondary market for the fund’s shares. Because these types of investments involve
certain additional risk, these funds will only be utilized when consistent with a client’s investment
objectives, individual situation, suitability, tolerance for risk and liquidity needs. Investment
should be avoided where an investor has a short-term investing horizon and/or cannot bear the
loss of some, or all, of the investment. There can be no assurance that an interval fund
investment will prove profitable or successful. In light of the enhanced risks of interval funds,
a client retains the ability to separately direct Orgel Wealth Management, in writing, at any
time in the future not to purchase interval funds for the client’s account.
Annuities. Orgel Wealth Management may provide advice concerning annuity assets and may
manage annuity assets on a discretionary basis. In addition to Orgel Wealth Management’s
investment advisory fee, annuity assets are also subject to charges imposed by the annuity issuer
(e.g., management fees and other expenses associated with the annuity asset).
Structured Notes. Orgel Wealth Management may purchase structured notes for client accounts.
A structured note is generally a financial instrument that combines two elements, a debt security
component and a component that provides exposure to an underlying asset or assets. The debt
security component of a structured note can provide principal protection and carries counter party
risk based on the issuer. The component of a structured note that provides exposure to an
underlying asset or assets can link the return on the note to the return of an underlying asset or
assets (such as the S&P 500 Index or commodities) which can be used to provide some degree
of leveraged returns (but usually with some cap on the maximum return) and be tailored to a
specific market or economic view. With structured notes, investors may also receive long-term
capital gains tax treatment if certain underlying conditions are met, and the note is held for more
than one year. Finally, structured notes have liquidity constraints that limit the ability to sell the
note before maturity. In the event that the client seeks to prohibit or limit the purchase of
structured notes for the client’s account, the client can do so, in writing. In the event that a
client has any questions regarding structured notes, Orgel Wealth Management’s Chief
Compliance Officer, Troy Mertens, remains available to address them. See Risks Associated
with Structured Notes at Item 8 below.
Unaffiliated Private Investment Funds. Orgel Wealth Management provides investment advice
regarding private investment funds. Orgel Wealth Management, on a non-discretionary basis,
may recommend that certain qualified clients consider an investment in private investment funds,
the description of which, including the terms, conditions, risks, conflicts and fees (including
incentive compensation), is set forth in the fund’s offering documents. Orgel Wealth
Management’s role relative to unaffiliated private investment funds shall be limited to its initial
and ongoing due diligence and investment monitoring services. If a client determines to become
an unaffiliated private fund investor, the amount of assets invested in the fund(s) shall be included
as part of “assets under management” for purposes of Orgel Wealth Management calculating
its investment advisory fee. Orgel Wealth Management’s fee shall be in addition to the fund’s
fees. Orgel Wealth Management’s clients are under absolutely no obligation to consider or
make an investment in any private investment fund(s).
Please Note: Private investment funds generally involve various risk factors, including, but not
limited to, potential for complete loss of principal, liquidity constraints and lack of transparency,
a complete discussion of which is set forth in each fund’s offering documents, which will be
provided to each client for review and consideration. Unlike liquid investments that a client may
own, private investment funds do not provide daily liquidity or pricing. Each prospective investor
will be required to complete a Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which the client shall
establish that he/she is qualified for investment in the fund and acknowledges and accepts the
various risk factors that are associated with such an investment.
Please Also Note: Valuation. In the event that Orgel Wealth Management references private
investment funds owned by the client on any reports prepared by Orgel Wealth Management,
the value(s) for all private investment funds owned by the client shall reflect the most recent
valuation provided by the fund sponsor, if an updated valuation has been provided. The updated
value will continue to be reflected on the report until the fund provides a further updated value.
If subsequent to purchase, the fund has not provided an updated valuation, the valuation shall
reflect the initial purchase price. Please Also Note: As a result of the valuation process, if the
valuation reflects initial purchase price or an updated value subsequent to purchase price, the
current value(s) of an investor’s fund holding(s) could be significantly more or less than the value
reflected on the report. Unless otherwise indicated, Orgel Wealth Management shall calculate
its fee based upon the latest value provided by the fund sponsor.
Portfolio Activity. Orgel Wealth Management has a fiduciary duty to provide services consistent
with the client’s best interest. As part of its investment advisory services, Orgel Wealth
Management will review client portfolios on an ongoing basis to determine if any changes are
necessary based upon various factors, including but not limited to, investment performance, fund
manager tenure, style drift, account additions/withdrawals, the client’s financial circumstances,
and changes in the client’s investment objectives. Based upon these and other factors, there
may be extended periods of time when Orgel Wealth Management determines that changes to
a client’s portfolio are neither necessary nor prudent. Orgel Wealth Management remains entitled
to any advisory fees it earns regardless of trading activity within the client’s account. In addition,
there can be no assurance that investment decisions made by Orgel Wealth Management will
be profitable or equal any specific performance level(s).
Securities-Based Loans – Margin Accounts and Pledged Assets. A client who has a need to
borrow money could choose to do so by using:
Margin Loan: With a margin loan, the account custodian or broker-dealer lends money to
the client. The custodian charges the client interest for the right to borrow money, and uses
the assets in the client’s brokerage account as collateral; and,
Pledged Assets Loan: In consideration for a lender (e.g., a bank, etc.) making a loan to the
client, the client pledges investment assets held at the account custodian as collateral.
The above-described securities-based loans (collectively, SBLs) are generally utilized because the
loans typically provide more favorable terms (e.g., interest rates, flexible repayment, and minimal
paperwork) compared to standard commercial loans. SBLs can assist with a pending home
purchase, permit the retirement of more expensive debt, or enable borrowing in lieu of liquidating
existing account positions and incurring capital gains taxes. Such securities-based loans,
however, are not without potential material risk to a client’s investment assets. The lender (e.g.,
custodian, bank, etc.) will have recourse against the client’s investment assets in the event of
loan default or if the assets fall below a certain level. For this reason, Orgel Wealth Management
does not recommend such borrowing unless it is for specific short-term purposes (e.g., a bridge
loan to purchase a new residence). We also do not recommend such borrowing for investment
purposes (e.g., to invest borrowed funds in the market).
If a client chooses to utilize margin or a pledged assets loan, Orgel Wealth Management would
benefit in several ways. If a client takes a loan rather than liquidating assets in the client’s
account, Orgel Wealth Management continues to earn a fee on such account assets. In addition,
if a client invests any portion of the loan proceeds in an account to be managed by Orgel Wealth
Management, Orgel Wealth Management will receive an advisory fee on the invested amount.
Furthermore, because Orgel Wealth Management’s advisory fee is based upon the higher
margined account value, Orgel Wealth Management will earn a correspondingly higher advisory
fee, which could provide us with a disincentive to encourage the client to discontinue the use of
margin. Please Note: clients who choose to utilize securities-based loans must accept the above
risks and potential corresponding consequences.
Cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that can be used to buy goods and services
and uses an online ledger with strong cryptography (i.e., a method of protecting information and
communications through the use of codes) to secure online transactions. Unlike conventional
currencies issued by a monetary authority, cryptocurrencies are generally not controlled or
regulated and their price is determined by the supply and demand in their market. Because
cryptocurrency is currently considered to be a speculative investment, Orgel Wealth
Management will not exercise discretionary authority to purchase a cryptocurrency investment
for client accounts. Rather, a client must expressly authorize the purchase of the cryptocurrency
investment. Please Note: At this time, Orgel Wealth Management does not recommend or
advocate the purchase of, or investment in, cryptocurrencies. We consider such an investment
to be speculative. Please Also Note: Clients who authorize the purchase of a cryptocurrency
investment must be prepared for the potential for liquidity constraints, extreme price volatility,
and complete loss of principal.
Socially Responsible Investing Limitations. Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) involves the
incorporation of Environmental, Social and Governance considerations into the investment due
diligence process. There are potential limitations associated with allocating a portion of an
investment portfolio in SRI securities (e.g., securities that have a mandate to avoid, when
possible, investments in products such as alcohol, tobacco, firearms, oil drilling, gambling, etc.).
The number of SRI securities may be limited when compared to the universe of securities that
do not maintain such a mandate. SRI securities could underperform broad market indices.
Investors must accept these limitations, including the potential for underperformance.
Correspondingly, the number of SRI mutual funds and exchange-traded funds is significantly
limited compared to the universe of mutual funds that do not maintain such a mandate. As with
any type of investment (including any investment and/or investment strategies recommended
and/or undertaken by Orgel Wealth Management), there can be no assurance that investment in
SRI securities or funds will be profitable or prove successful.
Non-Discretionary Service Limitations. Clients who determine to engage Orgel Wealth
Management on a non-discretionary investment advisory basis must be willing to accept that
Orgel Wealth Management cannot effect any account transactions without obtaining prior
consent to any such transaction(s) from the client. Thus, in the event that Orgel Wealth
Management would like to make a transaction for a client’s account, and the client is unavailable,
Orgel Wealth Management will be unable to effect the account transaction (as it would for its
discretionary clients) without first obtaining the client’s consent.
Cash Positions. Orgel Wealth Management continues to treat cash as an asset class. As such,
unless determined to the contrary by Orgel Wealth Management, all cash positions (money
markets, etc.) shall continue to be included as part of assets under management for purposes of
calculating Orgel Wealth Management’s advisory fee. At any specific point in time, depending
upon perceived or anticipated market conditions/events (there being no guarantee that such
anticipated market conditions/events will occur), Orgel Wealth Management may maintain cash
positions for defensive purposes. In addition, while assets are maintained in cash, such amounts
could miss participating in market advances. Depending upon current yields, at any point in time
Orgel Wealth Management’s advisory fee could exceed the interest paid by the client’s money
market fund. ANY QUESTIONS: Orgel Wealth Management’s Chief Compliance Officer, Troy
Mertens, remains available to address any questions that a client or prospective may have
regarding the above billing practice.
Client Obligations. In performing its services, Orgel Wealth Management will not verify any
information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals and is expressly
authorized to rely thereon. It remains each client’s responsibility to promptly notify Orgel Wealth
Management if there is ever any change in their financial situation or investment objectives so
that Orgel Wealth Management can review, and if applicable, revise its previous
recommendations or services.
We mitigate each of the conflicts of interest identified above by disclosing them to clients and
prospective clients and maintaining policies and procedures designed to make sure our
employees render appropriate advice. In addition, our Chief Compliance Officer, Troy Mertens,
remains available to address any questions that a client or prospective client may have
regarding these disclosures and conflicts of interest.