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Discretionary Management Agreement Template for the United States

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What is a Discretionary Management Agreement?

The Discretionary Management Agreement serves as the foundational document for professional investment management relationships in the United States. It is used when clients wish to delegate investment decision-making authority to professional managers while maintaining specific investment guidelines and restrictions. The agreement must comply with SEC regulations, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and other applicable federal and state securities laws. It typically includes detailed provisions on investment strategy, risk management, fees, reporting requirements, and termination conditions, while establishing clear fiduciary responsibilities for the investment manager.

Reviewed by

Legal Engineer, GenieAI

A lawyer, legal researcher and legal tech founder, Swetha has built AI products deployed inside Tier 1 firms and enterprises. She ensures GenieAI's alignment with the latest regulation and executes testing on the legal robustness of Genie output.

Reviewed by

Legal Engineer, GenieAI

A Skadden-trained M&A lawyer, Imad advised on cross-border transactions and contractual risk before moving into legal AI. He reviews GenieAI's output for compliance and enforceability across our 150+ supported jurisdictions, as well as facilitating external benchmarking.

Jurisdiction

United States

Reviewed by

&

Publisher

GenieAI

Sector

Business

Cost

Free to use

Last updated

About the Discretionary Management Agreement

A Discretionary Management Agreement is a critical legal document that formalizes the relationship between you and a professional investment manager, granting them authority to make investment decisions on your behalf without requiring prior approval for each transaction. Under United States law, this agreement must comply with strict federal securities regulations to protect your interests while enabling efficient portfolio management.

When do you need this document?

You need a Discretionary Management Agreement when engaging a professional investment manager to handle your portfolio with full decision-making authority. This is essential for high-net-worth individuals seeking sophisticated investment strategies, institutional investors requiring active portfolio management, or anyone wanting professional oversight without the burden of approving every trade. The agreement is particularly important when you lack the time, expertise, or desire to make day-to-day investment decisions while maintaining specific investment objectives and risk parameters.

Key legal considerations

The agreement must clearly define the scope of discretionary authority, including which assets the manager can trade and any prohibited investments or strategies. Fee structures require detailed disclosure, covering management fees, performance-based compensation, and expense allocations. Risk management provisions should outline acceptable risk levels, diversification requirements, and loss limitations. The document must establish clear reporting obligations, specifying how frequently you'll receive performance updates and account statements. Termination clauses should address notice periods, asset transfer procedures, and final fee calculations to protect both parties' interests.

Legal requirements in United States

Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, investment managers must register with the SEC or state regulators and maintain fiduciary duties to clients. The agreement must include mandatory disclosures about the manager's background, potential conflicts of interest, and compensation structure as required by Form ADV. Securities Exchange Act provisions mandate proper custody arrangements and regular account reconciliation. The Dodd-Frank Act introduced enhanced oversight requirements for larger investment advisers, including additional reporting obligations and compliance monitoring. State laws may impose additional requirements, particularly regarding notice periods for termination and specific disclosure obligations that vary by jurisdiction.

GOVERNING LAW

Applicable law

This Discretionary Management Agreement is drafted to comply with United States law. Key legislation includes:

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