As its name indicates, Wilmington Trust Investment Management (WTIM) is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. The firm has additional offices spread across the country.
WTIM employs a large team of advisors, some of whom are also broker-dealer representatives. These advisors can earn additional compensation when recommending certain products and services, which means WTIM is considered a fee-based firm.
Wilmington Trust Investment Management Background
WTIM was founded in 2005. It’s a wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, which is owned by M&T Bank Corporation. (M&T, by the way, stands for Manufacturers and Traders.) The parent company is a publicly-traded bank holding company whose ticker symbol is MTB.
Being part of a large bank, WTIM is affiliated with a number other financial services companies. They include: Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, Inc.; M&T Securities, Inc.; Manufacturers and Traders and Trust Company (M&T Bank); Wilmington Funds Management Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company.
Wilmington Trust Investment Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
WTIM is open to working with individuals, IRAs, certain single-employer retirement plans, trusts, corporations and business entities. However, the firm's current client pool entirely comprises individuals below the high-net-worth threshold.
The minimum for separately managed accounts (SMAs) is $3,000,000.
Services Offered by Wilmington Trust Investment Management
WTIM focuses solely on portfolio management, and as a result, doesn't offer financial planning or consulting services. However, WTIM provides portfolio management through separately managed accounts (SMAs), which may appeal to potential clients looking for customized portfolios.
WTIM exclusively manages client accounts on a discretionary basis, meaning the firm has full control over investment decisions and individual transactions.
Wilmington Trust Investment Management Investing Philosophy
WTIM's investment strategy is built on asset allocation or finding a strategic mix of assets that aligns with a client's risk tolerance and goals. Generally, assets are invested in exchange-traded products, mutual funds, individual securities, closed-end funds and/or model portfolios.
To evaluate and select investments, the firm relies on fundamental, technical and quantitative methods of analysis.
Fees Under Wilmington Trust Investment Management
Management fees for SMAs are charged as a percentage of assets under management (AUM) according to this tiered schedule:
| Annual Wrap Fees for the Portfolio Architect Program | |
| AUM | Annual Fee |
| First $3,000,000 | 1.10% |
| Next $2,000,000 | 0.80% |
| Next $5,000,000 | 0.60% |
| Next $10,000,000 | 0.50% |
| Above $20,000,000 | 0.45% |
What to Watch Out For
Wilmington Trust Investment Management has one regulatory disclosure on its Form ADV stemming from Securities and Exchange allegations from 2020. To resolve the matter without admitting or denying the allegations, the firm paid over $1.3 million in disgorgement, civil penalty and prejudgement interest on Oct. 12, 2023.
As mentioned earlier, WTIM advisors do not offer financial planning. If you need help with estate planning or other non-securities-related advice, this firm may not be a good fit.
Additionally, some advisors are also brokers. If you are working with an advisor who has dual roles, make sure you know which hat they are wearing when making a recommendation. Additional compensation, like sales commissions, presents a conflict of interest for the advisor.
Opening an Account With Wilmington Trust Investment Management
If you're interested in working with Wilmington Trust Investment Management, go ahead and reach out over the phone to get in touch most easily. You can also visit the firm in person or reach out via its website.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
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