Rooted Wealth Advisors

1521 N. Convent, Suite 800
Bourbonnais, IL 60914

Form ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure

Phone: (815) 918-4727
Toll Fee: (866) 766-8332

Website: https://rootedretirement.com/

Dated February 1, 2023

This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Rooted Wealth Advisors, “Rooted”. If you have any questions about the contents of this Brochure, please contact us at (815) 918-4727. The information in this Brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.

Rooted Wealth Advisors is registered as an Investment Adviser with the United States Security Commission (SEC). Registration of an Investment Adviser does not imply any level of skill or training.

Additional information about Rooted is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov which can be found using the firm’s identification number 313759.

Material Changes

Since this the last annual filing of this Form ADV Part 2A, dated March 14, 2022, there have been no material changes.

Advisory Business

Description of Advisory Firm

Rooted Wealth Advisors is registered as an Investment Adviser with the United States Security Commission (SEC). We were founded in October 2016. Zachary B. Gray is the principal owner of Rooted. As of December 31, 2022, Rooted manages $163,317,397.00 on a discretionary basis and $0.00 on a non-discretionary basis.

Types of Advisory Services

Investment Management Services

Rooted Wealth Advisors is registered as an Investment Adviser with the United States Security Commission (SEC). We were founded in October 2016. Zachary B. Gray is the principal owner of Rooted. As of December 31, 2022, Rooted manages $163,317,397.00 on a discretionary basis and $0.00 on a non-discretionary basis.

Financial Planning

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. The key defining aspect of financial planning is that through the financial planning process, all questions, information and analysis will be considered as they impact and are impacted by the entire financial and life situation of the client. Clients purchasing this service will receive a written or an electronic report, providing the client with a detailed financial plan designed to achieve his or her stated financial goals and objectives.

The client always has the right to decide whether or not to act upon our recommendations. If the client elects to act on any of the recommendations, the client always has the right to affect the transactions through anyone of their choosing.

In general, the financial plan will address any or all of the following areas of concern. The client and advisor will work together to select the specific areas to cover. These areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Estate Planning: This usually includes an analysis of your exposure to estate taxes and your current estate plan, which may include whether you have a will, powers of attorney, trusts and other related documents. Our advice also typically includes ways for you to minimize or avoid future estate taxes by implementing appropriate estate planning strategies such as the use of applicable trusts. We always recommend that you consult with a qualified attorney when you initiate, update, or complete estate planning activities. We may provide you with contact information for attorneys who specialize in estate planning when you wish to hire an attorney for such purposes. From time-to-time, we will participate in meetings or phone calls between you and your attorney with your approval or request.

 

  • Financial Goals: We will help clients identify financial goals and develop a plan to reach them. We will identify what you plan to accomplish, what resources you will need to make it happen, how much time you will need to reach the goal, and how much you should budget for your goal.

 

  • Insurance: Review of existing policies to ensure proper coverage for life, health, disability, long-term care, liability, home and automobile.

 

  • Investment Analysis: This may involve developing an asset allocation strategy to meet clients’ financial goals and risk tolerance, providing information on investment vehicles and strategies, reviewing employee stock options, as well as assisting you in establishing your own investment account at a selected broker/dealer or custodian. The strategies and types of investments we may recommend are further discussed in Item 8 of this brochure.

 

  • Retirement Planning: Our retirement planning services typically include projections of your likelihood of achieving your financial goals, typically focusing on financial independence as the primary objective. For situations where projections show less than the desired results, we may make recommendations, including those that may impact the original projections by adjusting certain variables (e.g., working longer, saving more, spending less, taking more risk with investments). If you are near retirement or already retired, advice may be given on appropriate distribution strategies to minimize the likelihood of running out of money or having to adversely alter spending during your retirement years.

 

  • Risk Management: A risk management review includes an analysis of your exposure to major risks that could have a significantly adverse effect on your financial picture, such as premature death, disability, property and casualty losses, or the need for long‐term care planning. Advice may be provided on ways to minimize such risks and about weighing the costs of purchasing insurance versus the benefits of doing so and, likewise, the potential cost of not purchasing insurance (“self‐insuring”).

 

  • Tax Planning Strategies: Advice may include ways to minimize current and future income taxes as a part of your overall financial planning picture. For example, we may make recommendations on which type of account(s) or specific investments should be owned based in part on their “tax efficiency,” with consideration that there is always a possibility of future changes to federal, state or local tax laws and rates that may affect your situation. We recommend that you consult with a qualified tax professional before initiating any tax planning strategy, and we may provide you with contact information for accountants or attorneys who specialize in this area if you wish to hire someone for such purposes. We will participate in meetings or phone calls between you and your tax professional with your approval.

Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions

We offer the same suite of services to all of our clients. However, specific client financial plans and their implementation are dependent upon a client’s current situation (income, tax levels, and risk tolerance levels) and is used to construct a client specific plan to aid in the selection of a portfolio that matches restrictions, needs, and targets.

Wrap Fee Programs

We do not participate in wrap fee programs.

Fees and Compensation

Please note, unless a client has received the firm’s disclosure brochure at least 48 hours prior to signing the investment advisory contract, the investment advisory contract may be terminated by the client within five (5) business days of signing the contract without incurring any advisory fees and without penalty. How we are paid depends on the type of advisory service we are performing. Please review the fee and compensation information below.

Investment Management Services

Our standard advisory fee is a maximum fee of 1.80% and is based on the average daily fair market value of the assets under management for the billing period.

The annual fees are negotiable and are pro-rated and paid in arrears on a monthly basis. No increase in the annual fee shall be effective without agreement from the client by signing a new agreement or amendment to their current advisory agreement.

Advisory fees are directly debited from client accounts, or the client may choose to pay by check. Accounts initiated or terminated during a billing period will be charged a pro-rated fee based on the amount of time remaining in the billing period. An account may be terminated with written notice at least 15 calendar days in advance. Since fees are paid in arrears, no rebate will be needed upon termination of the account.

Other Types of Fees and Expenses

Our fees are exclusive of brokerage commissions, transaction fees, and other related costs and expenses that may be incurred by the client. Clients may incur certain charges imposed by custodians, brokers, and other third parties such as custodial fees, deferred sales charges, odd-lot differentials, transfer taxes, wire transfer and electronic fund fees, and other fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Mutual fund and exchange traded funds also charge internal management fees, which are disclosed in a fund’s prospectus. Such charges, fees and commissions are exclusive of and in addition to our fee, and we shall not receive any portion of these commissions, fees, and costs.

Item 12 further describes the factors that we consider in selecting or recommending broker-dealers for client’s transactions and determining the reasonableness of their compensation (e.g., commissions).

We do not accept compensation for the sale of securities or other investment products including asset-based sales charges or service fees from the sale of mutual funds.