Colorado Capital Management (CCM) offers this Disclosure document in connection with the investment
advisory services we provide. It discloses information about the services we provide and the manner in which
those services are made available to you, the client.
We are an investment management firm located in Boulder, Colorado, specializing in investment advisory
services for individuals, high net worth individuals, families, trusts, corporations, foundations, and other
charitable organizations. Steven Ellis and Lee Strongwater are the majority owners of CCM.
We are committed to helping clients build, manage, and preserve their wealth, and to provide assistance to
clients to help achieve their stated financial goals. We may offer an initial complimentary meeting upon our
discretion; however, investment advisory services are initiated only after you and CCM execute an engagement
letter or client agreement.
Investment Management and Supervision Services
We offer discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and investment supervisory services
for a fee based on a percentage of your assets under management. These services include investment analysis,
allocation of investments, quarterly portfolio statements and ongoing monitoring services for the portfolio. In
almost all cases, a written investment policy statement is developed for and agreed to by each new client
before any trading is undertaken. This policy statement (and any subsequent direction by Client) guides all
asset allocation and investment selection decisions. Discretionary and non-discretionary transactions are
limited to cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, certificates of deposit, government
securities, options, and other publicly traded marketable securities of a similar nature. Private or non-traded
investments may be purchased only by clients signing the appropriate subscription documents at the time of
purchase.
Our advisory services are tailored to meet your individual needs. You will have the ability to leave standing
instructions with us to refrain from investing in particular industries or invest in limited amounts of securities.
However, when using mutual funds or Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) this multi-fund manager approach
makes it difficult for us to ensure that your portfolio will not invest in a particular industry or security. We are
happy to discuss your preferences regarding socially conscious investment concerns and will try to
accommodate them if possible.
Where we deem appropriate, or requested by our client, we will consider incorporating socially responsible
investing (Sustainable Investing Strategies and/or Environment, Social, and Governance Strategies (“ESG”)) for
those clients who wish to align their portfolios with their personal preference for Impact Investing. This may
include investing in both public and private markets. A client’s investment allocation, along with our strategy,
will depend on client responses in review meetings, written questionnaires, stated goals, risk tolerance,
objectives, and personal preference for Impact Investing.
Once we have determined the types of investments to be included in your portfolio, and allocated them, we
will provide ongoing portfolio review and management services. This approach requires us to review your
portfolio at least quarterly.
With our discretionary relationship, we will make changes to the portfolio, as we deem appropriate, to meet
client financial objectives. We trade these portfolios based on the combination of our market views and client
objectives, using our investment process. We tailor our advisory services to meet the needs of our clients and
seek to ensure that your portfolio is managed in a manner consistent with those needs and objectives. Clients
have the ability to leave standing instructions with us to refrain from investing in particular industries or invest
in limited amounts of securities.
We will rebalance the portfolio, as we deem appropriate, to meet your financial objectives. We will trade these
portfolios and rebalance them on a discretionary basis.
If a non-discretionary relationship is in place, calls will be placed presenting the recommendation made and
only upon your authorization will any action be taken on your behalf.
In all cases, clients have a direct and beneficial interest in their securities, rather than an undivided interest in
a pool of securities. We do have limited authority to direct the Custodian to deduct our investment advisory
fees from your accounts, but only with the appropriate written authorization from clients.
Where appropriate, we provide advice about any type of legacy position held in client portfolios. Typically,
these are assets that are ineligible to be custodied at our primary custodian. Clients will engage us to advise on
certain investment products that are not maintained at their primary custodian, such as variable life insurance,
annuity contracts, and assets held in employer sponsored retirement plans and qualified tuition plans (i.e., 529
plans).
You are advised and are expected to understand that our past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Certain market and economic risks exist that adversely affect an account’s performance. This could result in
capital losses in your account.
Referrals to Third Party Money Managers
Our firm utilizes the services of third-party money managers (TPMM’s) for the management of client assets.
Examples include mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and separately managed accounts (which may involve
entering into a sub-advisory agreement). The cost of these third-party money managers is paid by the client,
and that cost is in addition to any fees paid by the client to CCM. While we actively seek to limit these third-
party expenses, cost is only one of many factors that are considered when selecting a manager. CCM does not
receive any compensation from these managers, although they may provide CCM with information and
research. (For more on TPMM fees, see item 5: Fees and Compensation).
When third party money managers are utilized, they are responsible for the investment selection and trading
of the assets they manage. CCM does not provide advice or direction on the specific securities chosen by each
manager. However, in the case of separately managed accounts, clients will typically have the opportunity to
provide specific guidelines as to what they would like included or excluded from the account.
Prior to recommending or selecting a TPMM, our firm will conduct due diligence. CCM will also monitor the
performance and approach of such managers on an ongoing basis. We are happy to provide you with detailed
information about recommended TPMM’s.
Financial Planning Services
Through our Financial Planning process, we strive to engage our clients in conversations around the family’s
goals, objectives, priorities, vision, and legacy – both for the near term as well as for future generations. With
the unique goals and circumstances of each family in mind, we offer financial planning ideas and strategies to
address the client’s holistic financial picture, including estate, income tax, charitable, cash flow, wealth transfer
and family legacy objectives. Our team partners with our client’s other advisors (CPA, Estate Attorney,
Insurance broker, etc.) to ensure a coordinated effort of all parties toward the client’s stated goals. Such
services include various reports on specific goals and objectives or general investment and/or planning
recommendations, guidance on outside assets and periodic updates.
A written evaluation of each client's initial situation or Financial Plan is provided to the client. An annual review
will be provided by the Adviser, if indicated by the Client and Advisor per the Financial Planning Agreement.
More frequent reviews occur but are not necessarily communicated to the client unless immediate changes
are recommended.
Pontera (formerly FeeX)
Our firm is engaged with Pontera (formerly FeeX), an unaffiliated entity, to offer service to our clients. Pontera
is the third-party service provider whereby Colorado Capital Management provides an additional service for
accounts not directly held with our recommended custodian; but where our team has discretion and leverages
an Order Management System to implement asset allocation or rebalancing strategies on behalf of the client.
These are primarily 401(k) accounts, 403(b) accounts, 529 plans, variable annuities, and other assets not held
with the recommended custodian. Colorado Capital Management and its Financial Advisors regularly review
the current holdings and available investment options in these accounts, monitors the account, rebalances,
and implements our firm’s strategies, as necessary.
The platform allows us to avoid being considered to have custody of Client funds since we do not have direct
access to Client log-in credentials to affect trades. We are not affiliated with the platform in any way and
receive no compensation from them for using
their platform. A link will be provided to the Client allowing them
to connect an account(s) to the platform. Once Client account(s) is connected to the platform, Adviser will
review the current account allocations and investment options. When deemed necessary, we will rebalance
the account considering client investment goals and risk tolerance, and any change in allocations will consider
current economic and market trends. The goal is to improve account performance over time, minimize loss
during difficult markets, and manage internal fees that harm account performance. Client account(s) will be
reviewed at least quarterly, and allocation changes will be made as deemed necessary.
Retirement Plan Advisory Services
For employer-sponsored retirement plans with participant-directed investments, we provide advisory services
as an investment advisor as defined under Section 3(21) and 3(38) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
When serving as an ERISA 3(21) investment advisor, the plan sponsor and our firm share fiduciary
responsibility. The plan sponsor retains ultimate decision-making authority for the investments and may
accept or reject the recommendations in accordance with the terms of a separate ERISA 3(21) Investment
Advisor Agreement between our firm and the plan sponsor.
We provide the following services to the plan sponsor:
• Screen investments and make recommendations.
• Monitor the investments and suggests replacement investments when appropriate.
• Provide a quarterly monitoring report.
When serving as an ERISA 3(38) investment manager, the plan sponsor is relieved of all fiduciary responsibility
for the investment decisions made by our firm. We are the discretionary investment manager in accordance
with the terms of a separate ERISA 3(38) Investment Management Agreement between our firm and the plan
sponsor. Our investment management is limited in that it has the discretion solely to replace funds in plan fund
lineups and initiate the transfer of existing balances to the replacements without prior approval from the client.
We provide the following services to the plan sponsor:
• Select the investments.
• Monitor the investments and replace investments when appropriate.
• Provide a quarterly monitoring report.
• Develop a customized IPS.
Our goal in identifying the plan’s investment options is to provide a range of options that will enable plan
participants to invest according to varying risk tolerances, savings time horizons or other financial goals. The
plan's investment options may consist of ETFs, CITs, mutual funds, model portfolios, or other similar investment
funds. The investment funds from which our Firm will select from will be those that are available on the plan
record-keeper’s investment platform.
Retirement Plan Advisory Services consists of helping employer plan sponsors to establish, monitor and review
their company's retirement plan. As the needs of the plan sponsor dictate, areas of advising could include:
investment selection and monitoring, plan structure, and participant education.
We will provide quarterly recommendations for the plan’s investment allocation. Upon receipt we will review
the investment options and provide positions for accounts in accordance with the management style chosen
by the client. Analysis is provided for each fund held by the Plan. A report shows historical performance, asset
allocation, and the performance of each fund, including its performance in comparison to its appropriate
benchmark. The report also contains information regarding each Fund’s managers, capitalization, investment
style, expenses, portfolio composition and other qualitative factors relevant to the Fund’s performance and
adherence to the Plan’s Investment Policy Statement. Clients are responsible for making the fund changes
within the account.
Participant Level Education
We can also be engaged to provide financial education to plan participants. The scope of education provided
to participants will not constitute “investment advice” within the meaning of ERISA and participant education
will relate to general principles for investing and information about the investment options currently in the
plan. We may also participate in initial enrollment meetings and periodic workshops and enrollment meetings
for new participants. We may meet with plan participants on a regular basis (quarterly, semi-annually, or
annually) as agreed upon at the Client’s discretion to discuss the reports and investment recommendations.
We provide Plan consulting services separately or combined with our Investment Management services. Clients
may choose to use any or all of these services as indicated on the Plan Sponsor Investment Advisory Agreement
with our Firm.
Disclosure Regarding Rollover Recommendations
We are fiduciaries under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and when we provide investment advice to you
regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, we are also fiduciaries 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. We must act in your best interest and not put our
interest ahead of yours. At the same time, the way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests.
A client or prospect 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 the new employer’s plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) rollover
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). Our Firm may recommend an investor roll over plan
assets to an IRA for which our Firm provides investment advisory services. As a result, our Firm and its
representatives may earn an asset-based fee. In contrast, a recommendation that a client or prospective client
leave their plan assets with their previous employer or roll over the assets to a plan sponsored by a new
employer will generally result in no compensation to our Firm. Our Firm therefore has an economic incentive
to encourage a client to roll plan assets into an IRA that our Firm will manage, which presents a conflict of
interest. To mitigate the conflict of interest, there are various factors that our Firm will consider before
recommending a rollover, including but not limited to: (i) the investment options available in the plan versus
the investment options available in an IRA, (ii) fees and expenses in the plan versus the fees and expenses in
an IRA, (iii) the services and responsiveness of the plan’s investment professionals versus those of our Firm,
(iv) protection of assets from creditors and legal judgments, (v) required minimum distributions and age
considerations, and (vi) employer stock tax consequences, if any. Our Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer remains
available to address any questions that a client or prospective client has regarding the oversight.
Use of Alternative Investments
Where determined suitable for a client, we will utilize or otherwise recommend alternative investments.
Alternative Investments represent asset classes outside the realm of traditional stocks, bonds, mutual funds,
ETFS and cash equivalents and include, among other things,. hedge funds, private equity, venture capital,
private debt instruments, private real estate, infrastructure funds, and registered, publicly traded securities.
Consulting Services
We also provide clients investment advice on a more limited basis on one or more isolated areas of concern
such as estate planning, real estate, retirement planning, or any other specific topic. Additionally, we may
provide advice on non-securities matters in connection with the rendering of estate planning, insurance, real
estate, and/or annuity advice.
In these cases, you will be required to select your own investment managers, custodian and/or insurance
companies for the implementation of consulting recommendations. If your needs include brokerage and/or
other financial services, we will recommend the use of one of several investment managers, brokers, banks,
custodians, insurance companies or other financial professionals. You must independently evaluate these
firms before opening an account or transacting business, and you have the right to effect business through any
firm you choose.
Wrap Fee Programs
We do not place Client assets into a wrap fee program.
Assets
As of December 31, 2022, we managed a total of $439,959,198 in client assets; $386,362,747 in client assets
on a discretionary basis and $53,596,451 in client assets on a non-discretionary basis.