GoKawiilA group of current and former SpaceX employees who joined forces to manage their post-IPO wealth has created a new, low-fee advisory option with Choreo, according to people familiar with the agreement.
The employee group has more than 100 members and represents potential wealth of between $1 billion and $5 billion, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential agreements. What began as an informal chat forum focused on philanthropy has grown into a broader effort to create more efficiencies and better access to financial advice using their combined wealth from their post-initial public offering windfalls, the people told CNBC.
A small team representing the group evaluated potential firms and created a new wealth management offering with Choreo that members can opt into. Choreo, a Chicago-based registered investment advisor, says on its website it has more than $28 billion in assets under management and advisement, 40-plus offices, and 200 wealth advisors.
Details and specific terms remain confidential, yet the sources told CNBC there will be a minimum annual fee or an annual management fee of under 0.5% of assets under management. Any fee below 0.5% could undercut the industry standard of between 0.5% and 1%. The Choreo fee structure is for a long-term agreement rather than a one-time promotional offer.
Choreo didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The deal marks a bold experiment in the wealth management industry that could shift the balance of power from advisory firms to wealthy groups of investors.
Wealth management firms have typically set their fees based on an individual's or family's wealth levels, offering a sliding scale based on investible assets. By joining forces, the SpaceX employees and alumni employees are proving they can use their collective financial scale to secure an option for better terms.