{"url":"https://nivawealth.com/firms/people-make-the-difference-159443","iapdUrl":"https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/159443","regulatoryAum":111641308,"crd":"159443","adviserRoster":{"asOf":"2026-10-09","items":[{"crd":"5530226","suffix":null,"lastName":"DICKINSON","firstName":"MELANIE","middleName":"SHIRLEY"},{"crd":"4541624","suffix":"III","lastName":"MCCORMICK","firstName":"JAMES","middleName":"IRA"}],"total":2,"loadedAt":"2026-10-10T00:20:19.761928+00:00","sourceUrl":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/CompilationReports/IA_INDVL_Feed_10_09_2026.xml.zip"},"history":[{"filedOn":"2023-03-30","regulatoryAum":118182485,"clients":154,"employees":4,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2024-03-29","regulatoryAum":139334092,"clients":16665,"employees":4,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2025-04-17","regulatoryAum":104396804,"clients":156,"employees":6,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2026-03-31","regulatoryAum":111641308,"clients":147,"employees":7,"offices":1}],"secFileNumber":"801-127839","legalName":"People Make the Difference, Inc.","displayName":"People Make the Difference","slug":"people-make-the-difference-159443","website":null,"classification":{"segment":"institutions","segmentLabel":"Institutional","type":"institutional_wealth_manager","typeLabel":"OCIO / institutional wealth","feeDisclosure":"payment_only"},"founded":null,"organization":"Alabama corporation","fiscalYearEnd":"December","headquarters":{"street":"2032 Shady Crest Drive","city":"Hoover","state":"AL","stateName":"Alabama","country":"United States","postalCode":"35216"},"tradeNames":["People Make the Difference, Inc."],"registration":{"secApproved":"1 May 2023","noticeFilings":null,"latestNoticeFiling":null},"wealthAumPerClient":428703.1769230769,"staff":{"employees":7,"advisory":2,"brokerDealerReps":2,"insuranceAgents":2,"promoters":0},"aum":{"regulatory":111641308,"discretionary":90747297,"discretionaryAccounts":247,"nonDiscretionary":20894011,"nonDiscretionaryAccounts":7,"wrapProgram":null,"nonUsClientsPct":0,"nonAumClients":9},"clientTypes":[{"label":"Individuals (other than HNW)","clients":93,"regulatoryAum":14917142},{"label":"High-net-worth individuals","clients":37,"regulatoryAum":40814271},{"label":"Pension and profit-sharing plans","clients":17,"regulatoryAum":55909895}],"feePrograms":[],"brochureCoverage":{"scope":"known_documents","status":"not_processed","checkedAt":null,"documents":[]},"custodians":[{"name":"Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.","shortName":"Charles Schwab","location":"Omaha, FL","smaAssets":56000000}],"custodyNote":"People Make the Difference has custody of $55M in client assets for 138 clients.","leadership":[{"name":"Melanie Dickinson","title":"Chief Compliance Officer, President","crd":"5530226"}],"ownership":[{"label":"Melanie Dickinson","detail":"Chief compliance officer, president in the 75% or more ownership band and a control person, since April 2014."}],"filedOffices":{"otherThanPrincipal":0,"privateResidences":0},"listedOfficeAddresses":1,"foreignOffices":[],"officesByState":[{"state":"Alabama","offices":1,"addresses":[{"street":"2032 Shady Crest Drive","city":"Hoover","headquarters":true}]}],"advFacts":{"source":{"file":"ia100226.zip","asOf":"2 October 2026"},"telephone":"205-986-0060","stateRegisteredReps":2,"otherAdviserReps":0,"compensation":["A percentage of assets under management","Hourly charges","Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)","Other"],"activities":["Financial planning services","Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses","Pension consulting services","Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)","Educational seminars/workshops"],"financialPlanningClients":"0","assetMix":[{"label":"Exchange-traded equity securities","percent":5},{"label":"U.S. government/agency bonds","percent":3},{"label":"U.S. state and local bonds","percent":3},{"label":"Investment grade corporate bonds","percent":6},{"label":"Non-investment grade corporate bonds","percent":1},{"label":"Securities issued by registered investment companies or business development companies","percent":72},{"label":"Cash and cash equivalents","percent":10}],"privateFunds":0},"sources":{"adv1FilingDate":"31 March 2026","adv1Url":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/159443/PDF/159443.pdf","brochureDate":null,"brochureUrl":null,"iapdCompiledDate":null,"retrievedDate":"15 October 2026","retrievedOn":"2026-10-15","updatedOn":"2026-10-21","holdingsUpdatedOn":"2026-10-21","adv1Pages":{},"brochurePages":{}},"otherBusiness":[],"faq":[{"question":"How many clients does People Make the Difference have?","answer":"People Make the Difference has 147 clients and manages $112 million for them, as of March 2026. They include 93 individual clients, 37 high-net-worth individuals, and 17 pension and profit-sharing plans.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 31 March 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What services does People Make the Difference offer?","answer":"People Make the Difference provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, pension consulting, selecting other managers, and educational seminars.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Which custodians does People Make the Difference use?","answer":"People Make the Difference’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Omaha, FL), with $56M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 31 March 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"custodians"}},{"question":"How many financial advisors does People Make the Difference have?","answer":"People Make the Difference has 2 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 7 employees, and 2 perform investment advisory functions. 2 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 2 employees are licensed insurance agents.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What does People Make the Difference invest in?","answer":"At the end of its last fiscal year, People Make the Difference’s separately managed accounts held 72% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 10% cash and equivalents, 6% investment grade corporate bonds, 5% exchange-traded equities, 3% U.S. government and agency bonds, 3% state and local bonds and 1% high-yield corporate bonds.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Who owns People Make the Difference?","answer":"People Make the Difference’s direct owner is Melanie Dickinson (75% or more).","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 31 March 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"scheduleA"}},{"question":"How does People Make the Difference get paid?","answer":"People Make the Difference is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges, fixed fees and other compensation. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Is People Make the Difference registered with the SEC?","answer":"Yes, People Make the Difference has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 1 May 2023. Its CRD number is 159443 and its SEC file number is 801-127839.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 31 March 2026; IAPD firm record","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"identity"}},{"question":"How do I contact People Make the Difference?","answer":"People Make the Difference’s main office is at 2032 Shady Crest Drive, Hoover, AL 35216. Its phone number is 205-986-0060.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1.F, filed 31 March 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"offices"}}],"holdings":null,"notice":"Compiled from public SEC Form ADV filings on the dates in `sources`. Facts as filed; not a rating, ranking, or recommendation. Niva is not affiliated with this firm. Disciplinary history is deliberately not included here or on the page; the SEC publishes the complete record at the `iapdUrl` above."}