This information is an integral part of the Client Advisory Agreement. Please review it carefully.
Protocol Wealth, LLC ("Protocol Wealth") is an Investment Adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Our registration information can be verified through the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website at adviserinfo.sec.gov.
As a registered investment adviser, we operate under a fiduciary standard of care. This is a legal obligation to act in the client's best interest at all times, providing full and fair disclosure of all material facts and any potential conflicts of interest.
What this means for you: We are legally required to put your interests ahead of our own. We must provide advice that is in your best interest, disclose all material facts, and avoid or disclose any conflicts of interest.
Our Form ADV Part 2A (the "Brochure") contains important information about our services, fees, investment strategies, and potential conflicts of interest. Clients and prospective clients are encouraged to review these documents, which are available upon request or at adviserinfo.sec.gov.
The services outlined in client agreements and proposals are advisory and strategic in nature. Protocol Wealth provides high-level coordination for treasury management, Investment Policy Statement (IPS) development, and custody architecture. While we provide strategic recommendations for liquidity and digital asset management, certain services require specialized expertise outside our scope.
Protocol Wealth does not provide:
Clients should consult with their respective legal, tax, and accounting professionals before implementing specific structures or agreements. We can coordinate with your professional advisors to ensure alignment of strategies.
Investing in securities and digital assets involves a high degree of risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Digital assets, in particular, are subject to significant volatility and regulatory uncertainty.
Market Risk: The value of your investments may decrease due to market conditions, economic factors, or changes in investor sentiment.
Liquidity Risk: Some investments may be difficult to sell quickly without accepting a lower price than expected.
Concentration Risk: Portfolios concentrated in specific sectors, asset classes, or securities may experience greater volatility.
Interest Rate Risk: Changes in interest rates may affect the value of fixed-income investments.
Inflation Risk: The purchasing power of your investments may decline over time due to inflation.
There can be no assurance that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives or that clients will not suffer losses. Investment performance may vary substantially over time. Past performance of any investment is not indicative of future results.
Any specific compensation arrangements—including retainer fees, AUM-based fees, or potential equity/token allocations—will be explicitly documented in a formal Investment Advisory Agreement. Protocol Wealth discloses all such arrangements in accordance with SEC requirements to ensure transparency and alignment with client objectives.
Fee-Based Compensation: Our fees may create an incentive to recommend investment strategies that result in higher fees. We mitigate this by clearly disclosing all fee structures and maintaining our fiduciary duty.
Broker-Dealer Affiliation: Certain personnel are affiliated with a broker-dealer but are not yet fully registered as representatives pending completion of required examinations. Upon completion, they may receive transaction-based compensation. See our Broker-Dealer Affiliation disclosure below.
Third-Party Solicitors: We compensate third parties for client referrals. This does not increase your costs, but creates an incentive for solicitors to refer you to us.
Personal Trading: Our personnel may invest in the same securities recommended to clients. We maintain a Code of Ethics that addresses personal trading and requires disclosure of personal securities transactions.
We have implemented policies and procedures designed to identify, disclose, and mitigate conflicts of interest. Our Code of Ethics, available upon request, addresses potential conflicts and sets standards of conduct for all supervised persons. Full details of potential conflicts are disclosed in our Form ADV Part 2A.
Protocol Wealth may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools to assist in research, data analysis, portfolio monitoring, and content generation. All AI-assisted outputs are subject to human review and oversight by our investment professionals.
While we leverage AI technology to enhance efficiency and analysis capabilities, all investment decisions and recommendations remain subject to human judgment and our fiduciary duty to act in your best interest. AI tools supplement, but do not replace, professional human expertise.
Data Quality: AI models are dependent on the quality, accuracy, and completeness of input data, which may contain errors or biases.
Historical Limitations: AI models trained on historical data may not predict future outcomes, especially during unprecedented market conditions.
No Guarantee: Use of AI tools does not guarantee investment performance or outcomes. All investments carry risk.
When AI tools process client data, we implement appropriate safeguards to protect confidentiality and security. We do not share personally identifiable client information with third-party AI providers without appropriate data protection agreements. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
Protocol Wealth maintains cybersecurity policies and procedures designed to protect client information and assets. Our program includes:
Multi-factor authentication requirements for all account access
Encrypted data transmission and storage using industry-standard protocols
Regular security audits and penetration testing
Employee training on cybersecurity best practices and social engineering threats
Incident response procedures and breach notification protocols
Clients play a critical role in maintaining security. We strongly recommend:
Using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication
Being vigilant against phishing attempts and social engineering
Securing devices used to access account information
Reporting suspicious communications immediately to info@protocolwealthllc.com
In accordance with Regulation S-P, we will notify affected clients as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days following discovery of a breach involving unauthorized access to customer information.
Despite our security measures, no system is completely immune to cyber threats. Clients acknowledge that cyber attacks and data breaches pose inherent risks in today's digital environment.
All Protocol Wealth web properties maintain strong encryption standards:
TLS 1.2/1.3 encryption on all connections
HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) enforced
Forward Secrecy enabled to protect past communications
Regular security assessments via Qualys SSL Labs
Security configurations are managed through our infrastructure providers (Vercel, Render, Cloudflare) with automated certificate renewal.
Digital assets are not suitable for everyone. Before recommending any alternative investments, we take time to understand your personal or company's financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Protocol Wealth does not maintain custody of client assets.
Client understands and accepts the following risks, which are not exhaustive:
The value of digital assets can fluctuate significantly and unpredictably.
Digital assets are targets for cybercriminals. Loss, theft, or compromise of your private keys will result in permanent and irreversible loss of your assets.
The regulatory framework for digital assets is evolving and subject to change, which could materially affect the value, liquidity, and legality of certain assets.
DeFi protocols involve complex smart contracts subject to flaws, bugs, or exploits that could result in loss of deposited funds.
Third-party platforms carry risks of insolvency, hacking, and operational failure.
Blockchain transactions are immutable and cannot be reversed once confirmed.
Client represents and agrees that:
TRADING IN DERIVATIVES PRODUCTS IS HIGHLY SPECULATIVE AND INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. IT IS SUITABLE ONLY FOR FINANCIALLY SOPHISTICATED CLIENTS WHO HAVE A HIGH RISK TOLERANCE AND ARE PREPARED TO SUSTAIN SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES, POTENTIALLY EXCEEDING THEIR ENTIRE INVESTMENT. YOU MAY LOSE MORE THAN YOU INVEST.
Derivatives are leveraged instruments. Small adverse movements in the underlying asset can result in substantial, magnified losses.
When purchasing an option, your maximum loss is typically the premium paid. However, you can lose this entire amount if the option expires worthless.
Certain strategies, such as uncovered call options or short futures positions, expose you to theoretically unlimited losses.
Options lose time value as expiration approaches, potentially to zero, even if the underlying asset's price remains unchanged.
Futures contracts require margin. Adverse market movements may trigger margin calls requiring immediate additional funds.
Cryptocurrency derivatives carry amplified risks due to less regulated, highly volatile underlying markets.
Official Disclosures: Clients are encouraged to read the official "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options" disclosure document from the Options Clearing Corporation, available at theocc.com
Client assets are held at qualified custodians—including Charles Schwab, Altruist, Interactive Brokers, and qualified digital asset custodians (Anchorage Digital Bank, BitGo Trust Company, Fordefi)—or in MPC wallets with client-controlled disaster recovery keys. Protocol Wealth does not maintain custody of client assets.
Jason Leupold (Chief Investment Officer) and Nicholas Rygiel (Managing Partner) are affiliated with Silicon Valley Highpoint Capital, LLC, a FINRA member broker-dealer (CRD #317576), but are not yet fully registered as representatives pending completion of required examinations. Upon completion of registration, they may receive transaction-based compensation for securities sales conducted through Silicon Valley Highpoint Capital, which creates an incentive to recommend products that generate commissions.
You are not required to purchase any products through this broker-dealer.
For more information, visit FINRA BrokerCheck at brokercheck.finra.org.
Protocol Wealth does not vote proxies on behalf of clients. Clients retain full authority to vote proxies for securities held in their accounts.
Protocol Wealth maintains business continuity procedures with team members located across multiple U.S. geographic regions. We utilize cloud-based systems and redundant infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted client service in the event of a localized disruption.
Social Media & Online Communications Disclaimer
General Disclaimer
Information shared on social media platforms (LinkedIn, X/Twitter, etc.), blogs, podcasts, or other online channels by Protocol Wealth or its representatives is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute personalized investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
Not Investment Advice
Social media posts, articles, and online content are general in nature and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for investment decisions. Before making any investment, consider your individual circumstances, risk tolerance, and consult with a qualified financial advisor.
Third-Party Content
We may share or link to third-party content for convenience or reference. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy of such content. Third-party opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Protocol Wealth.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any forward-looking statements or market predictions are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially.
Confidential Communications
Do not send confidential, account-specific information via social media or public online channels. For secure communications, please use our official contact form or email info@protocolwealthllc.com
Testimonials and Reviews
Client testimonials or reviews, where permitted, represent individual experiences and may not be representative of all client experiences. Past performance does not guarantee future results.