Risk Summary

• Most investments accessible through the Wealth Architects Programme are shares in private start-up or growth-stage businesses, fund interests in venture capital, or bonds issued by them. Investors in these instruments often lose 100% of the money they invest, as most early-stage businesses fail.
• Checks on the businesses you invest in — such as how well they are expected to perform — may not have been carried out by SWG or the platforms we surface. You should do your own research, and seek independent advice from a person authorised under FSMA 2000, before investing.

• Even if the business you invest in is successful, it will likely take several years to get your money back. The typical hold period for a venture capital investment is 7–10 years.
• The most likely way to get your money back is if the business is acquired by another business or lists on a public exchange such as the London Stock Exchange. These events are not common.
• Start-up and growth businesses very rarely pay dividends. You should not expect to get your money back that way.
• Some platforms may offer the opportunity to sell your investment early through a 'secondary market' or 'bulletin board', but there is no guarantee you will find a buyer at the price you are willing to sell.

• Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment, for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well.
• A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments. 5 questions to ask before you invest.

• If your investment is shares, the percentage of the business that you own will decrease if the business issues more shares. This could mean that the value of your investment reduces, depending on how much the business grows. Most start-ups issue multiple rounds of shares.
• These new shares could have additional rights that your shares don't have, such as the right to receive a fixed dividend, which could further reduce your chances of getting a return.

• Protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), in relation to claims against failed regulated firms, does not cover poor investment performance. Try the FSCS investment protection checker.
• Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated platform, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection.

The risks above apply universally. If you are accessing this platform from outside the UK, equivalent restrictions and protections may apply:

• United States — offerings are limited to Accredited Investors under SEC Rule 501(a) of Regulation D. Securities are sold in reliance on exemptions from registration and are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.
• European Union / EEA — access is restricted to Professional Clients or Elective Professionals as defined by MiFID II (Directive 2014/65/EU, Annex II). No prospectus has been approved under the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
• Australia — access is restricted to Sophisticated or Professional Investors under section 708(8) and 708(11) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). No product disclosure statement has been lodged with ASIC.

The content of this page should not be construed as financial advice. Any decision to invest should be made only on the basis of the relevant documentation for each investment. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The value of an investment may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Investments in small unquoted companies carry an above-average level of risk and are highly illiquid; there may not be a readily available market to sell such investments. Sustainable Wealth Group does not provide specific individual advice on the suitability of investments with regard to a potential investor's individual circumstances, risk tolerance or investment objectives. Investors should seek independent financial advice from a person authorised under FSMA 2000 if they are in any doubt whether a product is suitable for them.