Know Your Options, LLC DBA RCM Wealth Advisors is an S E C - registered investment adviser.
Our principal office and place of business is located in Chicago, Illinois.
Know Your Options Inc., an Illinois corporation, was first registered as an Illinois RIA in May
of 2010. Know Your Options Inc. was closed in December of 2012 and Know Your Options
LLC, an Illinois limited liability company was formed in December 2012 d/b/a RCM Wealth
Advisors.
Listed below are the firm's principal shareholders (i.e., those individuals and/or entities
controlling 25% or more of this company).
• Robert Schwartz, Member
• Tim Webb, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Compliance Officer
RCM Wealth Advisors offers the following advisory services to our clients:
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Our firm provides continuous advice to a client regarding the investment of client funds
based on the individual needs of the client. Through personal discussions in which goals and
objectives based on a client's particular circumstances are established, we develop a client's
personal investment policy and create and manage a portfolio based on that policy. During
our data-gathering process, we determine the client's individual objectives, time horizons,
risk tolerance, and liquidity needs. As appropriate, we also review and discuss a client's prior
investment history, as well as family composition and background.
We manage these advisory accounts on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis. Account
supervision is guided by the client's stated objectives (i.e., capital appreciation, growth,
income, or growth and income), as well as tax considerations. Clients may impose
reasonable restrictions on investing in certain securities, types of securities, or industry
sectors.
Our investment recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered
by a broker-dealer or insurance company and will generally include advice regarding the
following securities:
• Exchange-listed securities
• Securities traded over-the-counter
• Corporate debt securities (other than commercial paper)
• Certificates of deposit
• Municipal securities
• United States governmental securities
• Options contracts on securities
• Options contracts on commodities
Because some types of investments involve certain additional degrees of risk, they will only
be implemented/recommended when consistent with the client's stated investment
objectives, tolerance for risk, liquidity and suitability.
RCM Wealth Advisors does not participate in wrap fee programs.
FINANCIAL PLANNING
RCM Wealth Advisors is available to provide Financial Planning Services. We can tailor our
services as desired by the client. These services are available to all clients but RCM
Wealth Advisors does not require clients to engage in these services. Financial Planning
Services may be comprehensive in nature or may only focus on certain components of
planning needs as directed by the client.
Financial Planning and advice may be provided on general investment information,
investment research, investment planning and asset allocation, risk management,
employment severance, general estate planning, retirement planning, educational funding,
goal setting and budgetary planning, or other needs as identified by the client. Where
Financial Planning Services only focus on certain areas of client interests, needs or are
otherwise limited, clients must understand that a client's overall financial and investment
needs and objectives may not be considered as a result of time and/or service restraints
placed on the Adviser's services.
Financial planning is a comprehensive evaluation of a client's current and future financial
state by using currently known variables to predict future cash flows, asset values and
withdrawal plans. Through the financial planning process, all questions, information , and
analyses are considered as they impact and are impacted by the financial and life
situation of the client. Clients purchasing this service receive a written report which
provides the client with a detailed financial plan designed to assist the client achieve his or
her financial goals and objectives.
We gather required information through in-depth personal interviews. Information gathered
includes the client's current financial status, tax status, future goals, returns objectives and
attitudes towards risk. We carefully review documents supplied by the client, including a
questionnaire completed by the client, and prepare a written report. Implementation of
financial plan recommendations is entirely at the client's discretion.
Financial Planning recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service
offered by a broker-dealer or insurance company. All recommendations are of a generic
nature.
Plan documents will be delivered to clients within six months of the receipt of all
required
information by the client, provided that all information needed to prepare the
financial plan has been promptly provided.
The advice given on general investment information may include any one or all of the
following mentioned in the previous paragraph:
1. Gathering and drafting of general investment information: This service involves
spreadsheet analysis, reports, and consultations. This includes the formation of
financial statements which may include a financial summary and cash flow
statement as well as an analysis of these items to evaluate the client's current
situation and to help build a financial roadmap for the future. The Firm also may
consolidate account information such as account titling, account numbers, cost
basis, inception dates, market values, and interest/dividend earnings where such
information is available.
2. Investment Research: This service involves providing clients with spreadsheets,
analysis, and reports on prior investments and their current financial state. This also
involves an analysis of the investment options available to the client and a report of
those options that is informative to the client. The Firm has an Investment Policy
Committee that conducts research on the market and the investment opportunities.
This Committee meets once per week and determines the investment opportunities
that are in the best interests of The Firm's clients. This service is on-going and the
advisor will discuss investment research internally and will communicate this research
to clients periodically.
3. Financial and Asset Allocation: This involves advice with respect to asset allocation
and investment income accumulation techniques. Evaluations are made of existing
and, when applicable, potential investments in terms of their economic and tax
characteristics as well as their suitability for meeting client's objectives. Tax
consequences and their implications are identified and evaluated in general terms.
4. Risk Management/Insurance Planning: This includes risk management associated
with advisory recommendations based on the combination of insurance types that
best meet a client's specific needs (i.e., life, health, disability, home, auto, long-term
care, and others as appropriate).
5. Employment Severance: This service involved rendering advice with respect to
insurance options available for key personnel in an organization or with respect to a
client's severance package from employment. The Firm evaluates severance offers
and assists corporate clients with risk management for employee severance. Legal,
economic, and tax consequences are considered and evaluated in general terms
when providing advice on employment severance.
6. General Estate Planning: This service generally involves a review of assets and
liabilities, the titling of assets and the consideration of trusts. However, the Firm may
provide advice with respect to property ownership, distribution strategies, estate tax
reduction, and tax payment techniques as well as a discussion of gifts, trusts, etc. and
the disposition of business interests. Tax consequences and their implications are
identified and evaluated in general terms. The client's chosen licensed attorney must
be used for evaluation and document creation.
7. Retirement Planning: This involves advice with respect to alternatives and
techniques for accumulating wealth for retirement income or advice relative to
appropriate distribution of assets following retirement. Additionally, self-directed
retirement assets are evaluated and, where appropriate, recommendations and
assistance are provided. Tax consequences and their implications are identified and
evaluated in general terms. The Firm is not engaged in rendering legal or accounting
advice, has no lawyers or accountants on staff, and therefore refers all matters
requirement legal or tax advice to the client's chosen and properly licensed
professionals in these areas.
8. Educational Funding: This includes alternatives and strategies with respect to the
complete or partial funding of college or other post-secondary education experience.
Tax consequences and their implications are identified and evaluated in general terms.
9. Goal Setting and Budgetary Planning: As a result of performing some or all of the
services listed in bullets 1 through 8, the Firm may be able to recommend strategies or
methods for consolidating the client's financial situation in order for the client to
manage their financial situation more easily and to obtain efficiency, cost savings, and
diversification.
OTHER OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES
Investment Adviser Representatives and other related persons of our firm are licensed with
the NFA and/or licensed agents for an insurance agency.
AMOUNT OF MANAGED ASSETS
As of 2/21/2024, we are actively managing $96,900,000 of clients' assets on a discretionary basis
plus $157,920,000 of clients' assets on a non-discretionary basis.