Illumination Asset Management, LLC (Tarzana)


Illumination Asset Management, LLC is an adviser based in Tarzana. It manages $82.53 million of regulatory assets for 4 client accounts. It has been registered with the SEC as an adviser since 2012 and has operated in the jurisdiction of California.

Illumination Asset Management provides portfolio management for individuals and small businesses and portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles. It doesn't provide financial planning services to its clients. On top of advisory services, the firm doesn't engage in other business activities.

Illumination Asset Management: assets under management

The assets under management (AUM) of Illumination Asset Management, LLC is $82.53 million, all of which is managed in discretionary accounts. The firm's AUM has gone down by -45% since the beginning of its operation, and $35.05 million of the total AUM is attributable to clients outside of the United States.

The firm manages $82.53 million in discretionary accounts. On average, the discretionary accounts where all decisions are made on behalf of the client hold $20.63 million each.
Illumination Asset Management has custody of $36.7 million in cash and securities for 3 clients in total but doesn’t act as a qualified custodian.

Investments

The firm invests in government bonds the most. They account for 63% of the total AUM. The second-largest asset type is cash and cash equivalents, which make up 33% of the firm’s portfolio. Investments in derivatives form 4% of the total invested assets.

Fees & Commissions

The advisory firm has several streams of revenue. Clients pay Illumination Asset Management, LLC for their services and products based on a percentage of assets under management and performance-based fees. Compensation based on assets under management promotes a long-term relationship between a client and the adviser and helps align mutual interests. These fees don’t include brokerage commissions, interest, taxes, and other account expenses.

What kind of clients Christopher Michael Gaughan serves?

The only and largest group of clients of Christopher Michael Gaughan is pooled investment vehicles with 3 clients and $41.89 million of assets under management. Among the 4 most similar advisory firms, Illumination Asset Management has the 2nd highest percentage of pooled investment vehicles out of all clients.

The amount of regulatory assets under management is $41.89 million for 3 clients. None of the firm’s clients are foreign persons or businesses.

Illumination Asset Management also advises several private funds. Namely, two hedge funds. The minimum investment commitment required of non-related persons is $1,000,000 for each fund.

Careers at Illumination Asset Management, LLC

The company employs 4 people that are either part- or full-time employees. 25 percent of the employees work as investment advisers or researchers. No employees are registered as investment adviser representatives with the state securities authorities.

There isn’t anyone with the role of looking for and bringing in new clients on behalf of the firm. The firm doesn’t compensate employees in addition to the salary for bringing in new clients. Employees don’t receive compensation from other entities for client referrals.

Christopher Michael Gaughan has been acting as President since 1 Sep 2012. Natasha Rushidovna Guttman joined the executive team most recently as the Chief Compliance Officer And Chief Financial Officer.

Direct owners and executive officers


Name Entity Date acquired Ownership Employer ID
Todd Allen Sherer Ceo, managing member, and cio 1 Jun 2012 75% - 100% 4449462
Christopher Michael Gaughan President 1 Sep 2012 Other 2263186
Joseph William Sullivan Coo and cco 1 Nov 2012 Other 1129689
Natasha Rushidovna Guttman Chief compliance officer and chief financial officer 1 Oct 2014 Other 6414128
Greg Barry Jacobson Ceo 1 May 2015 Other 1524608
Inc. Wunderlich Investment Company Member 1 May 2015 50% - 75% 62-1720109
Inc. Bodi Advisors Member 1 May 2015 25% - 50% 26-4173686
Todd Allen Sherer Managing member, cio and ceo 1 Jan 2016 75% - 100% 4449462
Ian Clark Smith Chief compliance officer and chief financial officer 1 Jan 2016 Other 6050210
Natasha Rushidovna Guttman Chief compliance officer and chief financial officer 1 Jun 2016 Other 6414128

Indirect Owners

The SEC currently registers 7 indirect owners.

Name Entity Date acquired Ownership Employer ID
Coil Investment Group As Shareholder 1 Oct 2007 50% - 75% 9-9999999999
Alfred Ydsteb Owner 1 Oct 2007 50% - 75% 5489289
Inc. Coil U.S. Holdings Shareholder 1 Dec 2007 25% - 50% 26-1493068
Acp Bd Investments Llc Shareholder 1 Apr 2015 25% - 50% 80-0964953
Acp Bd Investments Holdings Lp Member 1 Apr 2015 75% - 100% 61-1734533
Acp Investment Fund Management Llp General partner 1 Apr 2015 Other 27-4740697
Acp Investment Fund Ii Lp General partner 1 Apr 2015 Other 98-1140723

Based in Tarzana

The principal office where Illumination Asset Management, LLC performs its advisory services is located at 18455 Burbank Blvd, Suite 204, Tarzana, CA 91356, which is also the mailing address of the firm. It doesn’t run an office outside of the United States.

You can reach the main office by calling the phone number 310-320-6300 or by fax 800-467-6028. The normal business hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm on Monday - Friday. You can find more information about the New York firm at illuminationam.com.