Why Blue Bell
Independence you can trust
Blue Bell Private Wealth Management is a fee-only investment management firm located in suburban Philadelphia.
Why Blue Bell Private Wealth Management
Questions & Answers
Q: What distinguishes your investment management and advisory services from other?
A: As an employee-owned independent investment management company, we answer to our clientele not shareholders or quarterly earnings. Additionally, as a fiduciary we unbiasedly select investments for our clients using innovative, customized strategies tailored to a specific risk profile and investment objectives. Our independence allows us to search for and implement the best solutions regardless of source, provider or revenue sharing agreements as our income is derived solely from our clientele. BBPWM operates under the highest ethical, transparent and professional standards. We put our clients first in everything we do, as the success of our clients’ results in our success.
Q: How are you compensated?
A: Blue Bell Private Wealth Management is a fee-only investment advisor. This means that the only way we are compensated is through an annual fee on assets that we manage. Which allows us to act in your best interest 100% of the time.
Q: What is your investment management process?
A: We work closely with our clients to define their investment objectives, risk tolerance and goals, both short and long-term. An allocation will be constructed from the investment policy with a portfolio built over time. These are not set it and forget it portfolios, monitoring is performed daily not weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Changes to the allocation are continually monitored and adjusted according to market conditions and opportunity related to risk tolerance and goals. Our expertise is in exchange-traded funds and niche markets such as closed-end funds, equity-linked notes/certificates of deposit, and portfolio hedging overlays using listed covered options.
Q: Will you be accountable as a Fiduciary?
A: We will act as fiduciary for you. We act as Fiduciaries for all of our clients, 100% of the time and have done so since our inception. As a fiduciary we maintain a commitment to keep fees low. Your funds will not be commingled with other clients’ funds. We are not directed or forced to invest in any particular Mutual Fund or ETF fund family.
Q: What other services do you provide?
A: In addition to investment management our advisors provide the following services to our clients at no additional charge:
- Retirement and Financial Planning
- Social Security Planning
- 401 (k) advice
- Education Planning
- Tax/Estate Planning
Q: How often are you available for interaction with clients? What additional customer support do you offer?
A: We pride ourselves in our strong commitment to client service and education. We offer direct access to your investment advisor during regular business hours with after hour’s communication available when needed. Our highly motivated advisor team works closely together. No client is dependent on one individual but have access to our entire team. Comprehensive monthly reporting is provided by our custodian, Schwab Institutional, and quarterly reports provided by BBPWM. Additionally, clients are granted 24/7 access available through Schwab online and eMoney Advisor. We take pride in our continuing education for ourselves and our clients. Blogs, e-mails, presentations, and newsletters are available containing market insights, investment approach, philosophy, and updates that we feel are important. Our team is available for in person meetings or phone/web-based meetings and client education is one of our highest priorities.
Your Account Protection
Customer securities
Customer securities—such as stocks and bonds that are fully paid for or excess margin securities—are segregated from broker-dealer securities in compliance with the SEC’s Customer Protection Rule. This is a legal requirement for all broker-dealers. In the unlikely event of insolvency of a broker-dealer, these segregated assets are not available to general creditors and are protected against creditors’ claims. There are reporting and auditing requirements in place by government regulators to help ensure all broker-dealers comply with this rule.
SIPC® account protection
Protection for securities and cash by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC): Accounts of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (including those held by clients of investment advisors with Schwab Institutional®) are insured by SIPC for securities and cash in the event of broker-dealer failure.
SIPC provides up to $500,000 of protection for brokerage accounts held in each separate capacity (e.g., joint tenant or sole owner), with a limit of $250,000 for claims of uninvested cash balances.
More information about SIPC coverage is available at www.sipc.org.
Additional protection through Lloyd’s of London and other London insurers
Additional brokerage insurance—in addition to SIPC protection—is provided to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. accounts through underwriters in London. Schwab’s coverage with Lloyd’s of London and other London insurers, combined with SIPC coverage, provides protection of securities and cash up to an aggregate of $600 million, and is limited to a combined return to any customer from a Trustee, SIPC, and London insurers of $150 million, including cash of up to $1,150,000. This additional protection becomes available in the event that SIPC limits are exhausted.
*Please Note: The scope of any financial planning and consulting services depends upon the terms of the engagement, and the specific requests and needs of the client. Blue Bell does not serve as a law firm, a certified public accounting firm, nor an insurance agency. Blue Bell does not prepare legal documents or tax returns, nor does it sell insurance products. Please Also Note: The achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results or satisfaction if Blue Bell is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services.
