FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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General
Q: What does WealthForge do?
A: WealthForge provides technology solutions developed by regulatory experts to streamline investments into alternative securities. WealthForge was founded upon the idea that alternative capital markets are opaque, inefficient, and rife with barriers—and that needed to change. We set out to break these barriers, expand accessibility, and create a platform that connects advisors, sponsors, transfer agents and other participants across the entire process. Similar to what has been seen in other areas of financial services, from online banking to robo-advisors, technology has paved the way for efficiency and progress. You can learn more about WealthForge on our About page.
Q: What is Altigo?
A: Altigo, our straight through processing platform, reduces errors and results in time and cost savings for both sponsors and advisors. Learn more by watching our overview video.
Q: What types of companies benefit from WealthForge’s technology solutions? Who is not a good fit?
A: Altigo, our straight through processing technology platform, benefits registered investment advisors and broker-dealers who conduct alternative investment business by streamlining their transaction and administrative processes. Altigo also benefits established alternative investment sponsors with internal wholesaling teams and/or existing distribution to broker-dealers and RIAs.
Our Altigo technology is designed for offering types that rely on subscription-based order-entry and is not a fit for investments that require other methods of order-entry.
Q: What types of companies benefit from WealthForge’s financial services solutions? Who is not a good fit?
A: WealthForge’s managing broker-dealer services benefit established alternative investment sponsors with existing distribution to broker-dealers and RIAs who seek efficient syndicate administration, BD affiliation with an in house wholesaling team, and a more rapid and accurate subscription process utilizing Altigo; WealthForge's straight through processing platform.
We currently engage with sponsors of 1031 exchange Delaware statutory trusts (DST), private and non-traded real estate investment trusts (REIT), qualified opportunity zone funds, and syndicated Regulation D private placements, although we are not limited to those offering types.
We do not administer direct-to-investor offerings nor do we assist with wholesale establishment of a selling syndicate. WealthForge is not currently working with sponsors in the cannabis/marijuana industry or for conservation easements; offerings inclusive of EB-5 investors, offerings relying on Regulation A or Regulation CF exemptions, as well as capital formation relying on blockchain technology, such as cryptocurrency and ICOs.
Q: How long has WealthForge been in business?
A: WealthForge was founded in 2009 by Mat Dellorso and Fred Bryant while at the University of Richmond. Mat and Fred saw the need for greater transparency and efficiency in raising private capital and investing in alternative investments, specifically private placements. In 2012, WealthForge Securities, LLC became a member of FINRA as a first-of-its-kind broker-dealer focused on compliance services for online private placements. Since our founding, WealthForge has grown to a team of over 60 employees, supporting clients with technology and compliance needs. We have been recognized by Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 and two years in a row on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies.
Q: Is WealthForge hiring?
A: We are regularly looking for hard working and innovative people to join our fast-growing team. Current job listings can be found on our Careers page.
RIAs / Broker-Dealers
Q: What products or services does WealthForge offer to advisor firms?
A: WealthForge’s straight through processing platform, Altigo, provides an intuitive front-end for advisors to quickly initiate a subscription through an online intelligent interview.
Q: Does Altigo integrate with my CRM/approval workflow/custodian/etc.
A: Once both the advisor and investor have signed the subscription documents, the firm can follow their existing process for reviewing and processing the transaction.
Q: Does Altigo support manual/wet signatures?
A: Yes. Altigo has options for both electronic and manual signature of documents. In both cases, investor data is collected through the online intelligent interview process and the subscription document is pre-filled, which reduces NIGO errors. After that, the document can be sent for electronic signature, or printed for manual signatures and re-uploaded.
Q: Is Altigo secure?
We treat our clients’ data with care and take measures to ensure that our solutions are both trusted and compliant. Altigo utilizes security measures including end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, internal and external auditing, and monitored role-based access. Our technology also includes advanced firewalls, AES 256-bit encryption, SSAE 16 complaint hosting, data loss prevention, regular penetration testing, and other industry best practices. We take security seriously and embrace the need to provide the highest level of security for financial transactions. In order to ensure that client information is not used inappropriately, Altigo is designed to ensure that confidential and proprietary client, commission, capital raising and other information related to one sponsor or broker-dealer is never shared or available to another. More information about our Information Security Policy and protections can be found here.
Q: How do my advisors gain access to Altigo?
A: They can visit altigo.io to log in or request access.
Q: How does ongoing reporting / K1s work?
A: WealthForge does not administer reporting services. Sponsors communicate directly with investors and advisors after the primary sale of securities. These communication schedules vary, however many communicate on a quarterly or annual basis including through the dissemination of K1s and performance updates.
Sponsors
Q: What offering types/exemptions does the Altigo platform support?
A: Altigo currently supports offerings including 1031 Exchange DSTs, Non-Listed REITS, Non-Listed BDCs, Non-Listed Preferreds, Private Equity Funds and Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds.
Q: Does Altigo specialize in a particular industry?
A: Many of the offerings on our platform are real estate offerings, but we have also worked with offerings in other industries including technology, healthcare, energy, and litigation finance.
Q: What type of marketing does WealthForge do for my deal?
A: WealthForge does not market offerings.
Q: Will my advisors/investors be kept private or will WealthForge present other deals to them?
A: Your investor information will be kept completely private and secure. We present deals only to approved advisors and never to individual investors.
Q: Will I need to get a third party diligence report to work with WealthForge?
A: No, but a third party diligence report helps advisors and broker-dealers diligence your opportunity for their clients.
Q: What makes Altigo different from crowdfunding portals?
A: Crowdfunding portals primarily deal with retail offerings marketed directly to investors. Altigo is different because it is an advisor facing technology that relies on financial advisors and registered representatives allocating client funds to sponsors’ offerings. While crowdfunding platforms may make promises to expand reach to investors, Altigo requires sponsors to bring their own distribution partners, and serves to streamline the already established relationship between them.
Q: Does WealthForge prepare offering documents?
A: No, although we do work with many lawyers and law firms that have expertise in writing offering documents and we would be happy to refer you to them.
Q: Does WealthForge offer broker-dealer services?
A: Yes. There are 2 ways to engage us as a broker-dealer. Managing broker-dealer services include selling syndicate management, selling group member diligence and facilitates commission payments. Broker-dealer of record services include investor payment processing, AML monitoring, FinCEN and OFAC checks, Bad Actor checks, investor accreditation (if applicable), investor suitability and “know-your-client” diligence, as required.
Q: What are the requirements for the diligence process?
A: All issuers will need to provide substantive material information on their business including, but not limited to, formation documentation, background and bad actor checks on officers and directors, financial information, business plans, use of proceeds, and more. We provide new issuers with a checklist of documents we will be requesting and reviewing.
Q: How long does the diligence process usually take?
A: WealthForge usually conducts new client onboarding and due diligence for an issuer’s first offering within 2-4 weeks. Subsequent offerings from repeat sponsors usually happen more quickly.
Q: What happens if I fail your diligence process?
A: WealthForge is very thorough in the diligence process and devotes significant time and resources to offering review. We will provide comments and written feedback on deficiencies, however no refunds will be given on engagement fees.
Q: Who will help guide me through the process?
A: We will provide a dedicated client services manager who will help you navigate the diligence process and answer any questions you have along the way. Often, the client services manager will engage other compliance analysts and associates to ensure that you get a complete and well thought out answer to any question.
