ACORN FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.

Firm Brochure April 29, 2025 This Firm Brochure provides information relating to the qualifications and business practices of ACORN FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES, INC. If you have any questions about the contents of this Firm Brochure, please contact us at: (703) 293-3100, or by email at: (cont’d) acorn@acorn-financial.com. The information in this Firm Brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or by any state securities authority. Additional information about ACORN FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES, INC. is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Main Office: 1900 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 600, Reston, VA 20191/ 703.293.3100 Branch Office: Judiciary Place, 9300 W. Courthouse Road, Suite 307, Manassas, VA 20110 Branch Office: 1521 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Branch Office: 4701 Sangamore Rd, Suite 205-South, Bethesda, MD 20816 Branch Office: 3211 Peoples Drive, Suite 110, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Branch Office: 1897 Billingsgate Circle, Suite B, Henrico VA 23238 Branch Office: 1300 NW 13Th Street, Delray Beach, FL 33444 www.acorn-financial.com  Material Changes Annual Update Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. (AFAS) amends this brochure at least annually. Material Changes since the Last Update The material changes in this brochure from the last annual updating amendment of Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. (AFAS) on March 27, 2025 are described below. Material changes relate to Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. (AFAS)’s policies, practices or conflicts of interests. • The firm has updated its primary address & removed fax number. (Cover Page) We will ensure that you receive a summary of future material changes, if any, to this and subsequent disclosure brochures within 120 days after our fiscal year ends. Our fiscal year ends on December 31st of each year. You will receive the summary of material changes, if any, no later than April 30th of each year. We may also provide other ongoing disclosure information about material changes as necessary. Full Brochure Available To receive a copy of AFAS’ most recent brochure, please call (703) 293-3100 or e-mail acorn@acorn-financial.com and a copy will be sent to you without charge. You may also receive a copy of the most recent brochure and additional information regarding AFAS, from www.adviserinfo.sec.gov under Investment Adviser Search, or on our website www.acorn-financial.com under Disclosure. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Page i  Table of Contents Material Changes (i) Table of Contents 2 Advisory Business 3 Fees and Compensation 6 Performance-Based Fees 9 Types of Clients 10 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss 10 Disciplinary Information 11 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations 12 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading 12 Brokerage Practices 13 Review of Accounts 14 Client Referrals 14 Custody 15 Investment Discretion 15 Voting Client Securities 16 Financial Information 16 Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Advisory Business Firm Description Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. (AFAS) is a Registered Investment Adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). AFAS is a Virginia Corporation founded in 1996 whose principal office is located in Reston, VA. AFAS is affiliated with Acorn Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary Virginia Corporation. James M. Gambaccini, CFP® is 100% stockholder of AFAS. AFAS provides personalized confidential financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and small businesses. Investment advice is an integral part of financial planning. Advice is provided through consultation with the client and may include: determination of financial objectives, identification of financial challenges, budgeting, cash flow analysis and debt management, charitable planning, college planning, estate planning, estate wealth transfer, financial coaching, insurance planning and analysis, investment planning and analysis, long term care and analysis, real estate investment analysis, retirement needs analysis, tax planning, and various business studies (qualified and non-qualified employee/executive benefit planning). AFAS is a fee-for-service financial planning and investment management firm. AFAS does not charge commissions. Clients have full discretion to implement advisory recommendations through any firm. There is no obligation to effect transactions through the Investment Adviser in their capacity as a Registered Representative. However, should a client wish to use an Investment Adviser of AFAS for implementation services of commissionable holdings, the firm may recommend a broker dealer. AFAS does not warrant or represent those commissions for transactions implemented through said broker dealer will be lower than commissions available if the client used another brokerage firm. AFAS provides subadvisory investment management services to non-affiliated Registered Investment Advisers and their clients. AFAS may be engaged to build and run model portfolio strategies for investor accounts contracted through separate, appropriately registered advisers. Additionally, these same strategies may be made available to clients of AFAS and implemented through adviser representatives of AFAS. AFAS currently offers 3 platforms for investment management services to clients. AFAS builds and develops model strategies for clients and directly manages these portfolios utilizing Black Diamond for performance reporting and fee calculation. AFAS also engages Buckingham Strategic Partners, BSP, as a third party platform whereby BSP provides administrative and back-office support as well as model portfolios for clients to select from. AFAS also recommends clients consider portfolio management services and strategies available through Assetmark, a wrap fee program offering access to a variety of third party money managers. Investment advice is provided by the Investment Adviser. AFAS does not act as a custodian of client assets. The client always maintains asset control. Investment Advisers may make specific recommendations pursuant to a financial plan or portfolio. There may be potential conflicts of interest in recommending one investment alternative over another. As of December 31, 2024, AFAS manages approximately $1,234,541,815 in assets ($1.126.573.260 in discretionary accounts plus $107,968,555 in non-discretionary accounts) for approximately 2391 clients. Types of Agreements and Services Offered AFAS provides four services through its Investment Advisers under the following service names: Financial Planning and Analysis Contract ❖ ❖ Annual Maintenance Contract ❖ Portfolio Management Contract ❖ Subadvisory Contract *When contracted, Pension Planning Services are structured under one of the three agreements listed above and described in detail below. FINANCIAL PLANNING AND ANALYSIS CONTRACT Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  The AFAS Financial Planning and Analysis Contract is offered to discuss, design, and review specific financial planning issues within a stated time period. This service is focused on advice and consultation in one or more stated areas of concern, such as budgeting, cash flow analysis and debt management, charitable planning, college planning, estate planning, estate wealth transfer, financial coaching, insurance planning and analysis, investment planning and analysis, long term care and analysis, real estate investment analysis, retirement needs analysis, tax planning, and various business studies (qualified and non-qualified employee/executive benefit planning). The Investment Adviser may also provide specific consultation regarding investments and financial concerns. An Investment Adviser may present the tax aspects of certain investments or strategies in general terms. Within this context, the Investment Adviser does not provide specific tax advice and recommends that all tax questions or strategies should be discussed with the client’s tax professional. In the event a client wishes to retain a qualified Investment Adviser for legal and or tax service outside the scope of the planning agreement, those services must be provided in a separate agreement between the client and Investment Adviser. Financial planning and analysis contract services are provided for a fixed fee. This fee can be renewed annually at the firm and client’s discretion. AFAS provides clients flexibility and optionality around when payments for this fixed fee are made, be it annually, semi-annually or quarterly. MAINTENANCE CONTRACT The AFAS Maintenance Contract is for consultations with an Investment Adviser with a term period of 12 or 24 months. This service establishes an ongoing working relationship between the Investment Adviser and the client to provide regular planning meetings, telephone consultations, emails, participation in educational seminars, articles and information regarding market and economic conditions, and Internet access to investment accounts. The maintenance contract fee is a continuation of the financial planning and analysis contract and the ongoing charge for the service is in addition to any fees charged under a portfolio management agreement. PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT The AFAS Portfolio Management Contract is for clients needing a personalized approach to implementing an individually customized strategy designed to meet their investment goals and objectives through portfolio monitoring and quarterly reporting. The Investment Adviser develops and recommends a unique strategy based on their knowledge, experience, and understanding of the client’s needs. This individualized approach allows the Investment Adviser and client to work together to achieve the client’s investment goals. Additionally, the client is provided regular planning meetings, telephone consultations, emails, participation in educational seminars, articles and information regarding market and economic conditions, and Internet access to investment accounts. AFAS extends maximum latitude to Investment Adviser and client, within this individualized approach as to the method in which the account will be managed. Prior to rendering service, Investment Adviser reviews a client’s current investment portfolio, obtains necessary information regarding the client’s current and expected financial situation and makes recommendations to clients regarding their portfolios. Additionally, the Investment Adviser will access the client’s financial situation, including investment history, goals, and objectives, and special interests or concerns. AFAS offers several Portfolio Management programs. Within these programs, AFAS Investment Advisers assist clients in making investment decisions that are appropriate based on their unique goals and objectives. The different programs offer clients a personalized approach to implementing an investment strategy through asset allocation, portfolio monitoring and consolidated reporting. The clients will receive a contract from the Portfolio Management company describing their fees and services before any Accounts are opened by the AFAS Investment Adviser. These third-party management fees will be in addition to any fees paid to AFAS in conjunction with the client’s Portfolio Management program. AFAS offers the following Portfolio Management program platforms: Programs available directly through AFAS CUSTOM REPORT –AFAS offers investment advisory management providing customized personal accounts using individual securities, ETFs, bonds, unit trusts, and non-traded public offerings. A quarterly rebalancing service is available and is designed to assess the change in percentage holdings of each asset class within a portfolio in relation to the total account holdings. Sales are made from the expanded classes (best performing) and purchases are made in the under-performing classes. This serves to closely maintain the target asset class allocation for the overall portfolio. This allocation is determined at the onset of the investment management engagement, and it is reviewed periodically to confirm that it remains appropriate for the client. The quarterly rebalancing service does not require a pre-authorization agreement to trade the approved mutual funds and any individual securities that may be held in the account, consistent with the asset allocation approved by the client and any investment restrictions Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  requested. Investment Advisers may rebalance accounts quarterly to within several percent of the allocation in each asset class agreed upon by the client. In the Investment Adviser’s sole discretion, they may choose not to rebalance because the funds involved are economically insufficient, additional fees and expenses are anticipated, tax impact, account cash flows, or there may by other events pending that would impact the decision. A client may alternatively elect to implement their own asset allocation program by specifying alternative investments to be used in conjunction with their portfolio. In certain circumstances, clients of AFAS may have investments in existing non-AFAS accounts that such clients wish to transfer, without liquidating the investments, to a new or existing account. In this case, the Investment Adviser may or may not offer advice on the types of investment being transferred. The Investment Adviser in their own discretion may allow the client to transfer such investments to an account and adjust the account’s asset allocation program, in whole or in part, to approximate the Investment Adviser’s recommendation. The funds, securities, and percentages may vary somewhat from the regular asset allocation program, but the strategy and the fee structures are similar. Clients have no obligation to act upon the Investment Adviser’s recommendation. If a client elects Investment Adviser’s recommendations, the client is under no obligation to effect the transactions through AFAS, any of their affiliates, or any other company recommended by the Investment Adviser. If a client wishes to implement the plan through AFAS or any of its affiliates, the client will be required to sign an agreement with AFAS, or affiliated companies as appropriate. Certain Adviser Representatives also create and manage active portfolio models and strategies. Examples of these include the StrategicAlpha Core model and the StrategicAlpha Opportunities model. Descriptions of these models are available upon request. It is the job of AFAS and its adviser representatives to discuss with clients when an allocation to these strategies may be appropriate. SUBADVISORY AGREEMENTS – AFAS offers subadvisory investment management services to other non-affiliated, appropriately registered investment advisers. This service entails other registered investment advisers electing to have their clients participate and invest in certain investment model strategies developed by investment adviser representatives of AFAS. In these instances, non-affiliated investment advisers will enter into a Subadvisory Agreement with AFAS, thereby appointing AFAS and its representatives to be the investment manager for a designated portion of that Adviser’s designated client assets or accounts. Under this agreement, AFAS as Subadviser is responsible for the investment and reinvestment of assets of each account in accordance with the Portfolio Strategy selected by the Adviser for each designated account. Programs available through the Buckingham Strategic Partners 3 Party Platform STRUCTURED – Investment Asset Allocation platform is specifically designated to hold SA Funds in target allocations set upfront by the Investment Adviser and client. Asset Class Investing is a passive investment approach that draws on the research of some of the academic community’s most innovative and respected thinkers and economists. As its name suggests, rather than trying to pick stocks or industry sectors, asset class investing focuses on asset classes — which are simply any group of securities (such as U.S. Large Companies and Emerging Markets) that exhibit similar risk and return investment characteristics and perform similarly in any given market environment. Since asset allocation has a significant impact on investment returns, asset class investing carefully controls the investments included in each Asset Class, potentially giving investors truer market returns than similar strategies. While a number of investment vehicles can be employed to implement Asset Class Investing, using institutional mutual funds specifically designed for their asset class characteristics can greatly simplify the process. ADVANTAGE – Investment Asset Allocation platform may hold separate investment securities along with Asset Class Funds (as described above in “Structured”), and will be assigned to specific allocation classes and managed as part of an overall allocated account. SELECT – Investment Asset Allocation platform may hold separate investment securities, non-traditional investments along with the Asst Class Funds (as described above in “Structured”), and will be assigned to specific allocation classes and managed as part of an overall allocated account. It is important to note that within the Select Agreement, the use of SA Funds in these portfolios could have the potential to increase the net fee to the investment adviser. This could create a conflict of interest in the recommendation of SA funds within Select Agreement contracts managed and administered via the BSP platform. It is the intent of AFAS and its adviser representatives to avoid such conflicts of interest and to keep the best interests of the client at the forefront of all recommendations. AFAS reviews select agreement accounts for the presence of SA funds and works to make sure that the net fee to the firm is not increased by their utilization. Additionally, AFAS has created separate disclosure documents for clients in Select Agreements who own SA funds to acknowledge the potential for this conflict of interest. Programs available through Assetmark Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Assetmark is a company offering wrap fee programs. In a wrap fee account, clients invest in one or more strategies managed by 3rd party investment managers. The costs of this management, administrative expenses, trading expenses, and investment advisory fees are calculated and assessed as one comprehensive fee levied by Assetmark for the bundling of these services. Adviser representatives recommend Assetmark to clients and assist in selecting the investment managers to use on the platform. AFAS has developed policies and procedures to help educate and inform the client about the options outside of the wrap fee program structure that may provide similar options at potentially lower overall expenses. Termination of Agreements Any AFAS Agreements may be terminated at the client’s discretion at any time by giving written notice. Any AFAS agreement may terminated with no fee or penalty within the first 5 days after entering into the agreement. The Portfolio Management Agreement may be terminated by the client or the Investment Adviser by providing written notice to the other party. Termination will occur 30 days thereafter. Fees will be billed on a pro-rata basis in advance for the portion of the calendar quarter completed as of the date of termination. The portfolio value as of the last day of the immediately preceding full calendar quarter is used as the basis for the final fee computation, adjusted for the number of days during the current billing quarter prior to termination. AFAS reserves the right to stop work on any account that is more than 90 days overdue. In addition, AFAS reserves the right to terminate any financial planning engagement where a client has willfully concealed or has refused to provide pertinent information about financial situations when necessary and appropriate, in AFAS’s judgment, to providing proper financial advice. Any unused portion of fees collected in advance will be refunded within 90 days. Fees and Compensation Description The initial meeting with an Investment Adviser is complimentary and is considered an exploratory interview to determine the extent to which a financial planning engagement, investment management relationship, or pension planning service may be beneficial to the prospective client. Fee Billing FINANCIAL PLANNING AND ANALYSIS CONTRACT The fee for a Financial Planning and Analysis Contract is generally a flat fee and used to discuss, design, and construct an Investment Policy Statement outlining the goals and objectives, the time horizons and risk tolerances for the client engagement. The contract may be ongoing, but is usually limited to a specific time period. AFAS has a stated firm minimum financial planning fee of $2,400. AFAS has a stated firm maximum financial planning fee of $5,000,000. Clients may also engage AFAS on an hourly basis. Hourly rate for consultations with advisers is $595 - $1,095 and the hourly rate for staff time is $155. There is a minimum two-hour charge for all work billed hourly. MAINTENANCE CONTRACT The Annual Maintenance contracts provides the continuity following the initial Financial Planning and Analysis contract, usually for a lesser fee for ongoing consultations, meetings, annual updates and reviews with financial advisers. These contracts are used both for business and individual/family engagements where the Investment Policy Statement is already in place and continuous monitoring and updates are requested. No asset management services are offered through the maintenance contract. Fees for investment management are offered in addition to the maintenance contract and are structured under a separate portfolio management contract. PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT CONTRACT – INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM There are several different platforms available for client portfolios that are designated by contract as investment management. This means the portfolio will be managed to a target allocation that is agreed to by the client in writing. Depending on the client’s objectives, risk tolerances, Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  management style attitudes, goals, time horizons and client suitability, the financial adviser can help with recommendations to choose the appropriate portfolio options or management approach. All fees and expenses are disclosed to the client before engaging the management platform of choice. The following Fee Schedule applies to all contracts detailed below, unless otherwise noted: Fee Schedule Quarterly Annually For accounts valued up to $1,000,000 0.425% 1.70% For accounts valued from $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 0.250% 1.00% For accounts valued from $5,000,001 to $10,000,000 0.200% 0.80% $10,000,001 to $20,000,000 0.175% 0.70% For accounts valued from For accounts valued from $20,000,001 to $50,000,000 0.150% 0.60% For accounts valued from >$50,000,001 0.125% 0.50% The custodian of the account will provide all clearing, trading, and brokerage services for each account. The client may incur additional brokerage commissions, “ticket charges” and other similar expenses in connection with operating, maintenance and closing of brokerage account(s). Administrative and advisory expenses assessed for clients participating on the Buckingham Strategic Partners Platform STRUCTURED AFAS charges fees for the asset allocation and portfolio reporting service of STRUCTURED accounts based upon the value of assets held in each account on a negotiated percentage of the market value of such assets under management. Fees are computed and paid quarterly based upon the value of the account at the end of the quarter. The fee is paid in advance for the upcoming quarter from a designated investment account. The maximum fee to be received by AFAS is 1.7% per annum (0.425% per quarter). ADVANTAGE A client may elect to implement their own asset allocation program by specifying alternative investments to be used in conjunction with the DFA/SA Funds using the ADVANTAGE service. In certain circumstances, clients of AFAS may have investments in existing non-AFAS accounts that they wish to transfer, without liquidating the investments, to a new or existing ADVANTAGE account. In this case, the Investment Adviser may or may not offer advice on the types of investment being transferred. The Investment Adviser, in their own discretion, may allow the client to transfer such investments to ADVANTAGE account and adjust the account’s asset allocation program, in whole or in part, to approximate the Investment Adviser’s recommendation. The funds and percentages may vary somewhat from the STRUCTURED asset allocation program, but the strategy and fee structures are similar. AFAS charges fees for the asset allocation and portfolio reporting service of ADVANTAGE accounts based upon the value of assets held in each account. The maximum fee to be received by AFAS is 1.7% per annum (0.425% per quarter). In addition to the Investment Adviser fee shown above, there may be an administration fee charged by a third party based upon the value of assets held in each account, excluding any SA Funds holding, for the administration of ADVANTAGE accounts, on a percentage of the market value of such assets under management. The Administration Fee Schedule shown below is charged on a different class of assets and is in addition to the AFAS Fee Schedule shown above. Administration Fee Schedule* Quarterly Annually For accounts valued up to $500,000 0.100% 0.40% For accounts valued from $500,001 to $1,000,000 0.050% 0.20% $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 0.038% 0.15% For accounts valued from For accounts valued from >$5,000,001 0.025% 0.10% (*This fee is not applied to assets invested in shares of SA Funds, and only billed for Advantage accounts) Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  SELECT A client may elect to implement their own asset allocation program by specifying alternate investments to be used in conjunction with DFA/SA funds using the SELECT contract. In certain circumstances, clients of AFAS may have investments in existing non-AFAS accounts that such clients wish to transfer, without liquidating the investments, to a new or existing SELECT account. In this case, the Investment Adviser may or may not offer advice on the types of investment being transferred. The Investment Adviser in their own discretion may allow the client to transfer such investments to a SELECT account and adjust the account’s asset allocation program, in whole or in part, to approximate the Investment Adviser’s recommendation. The funds and percentages may vary somewhat from the regular asset allocation program, but the strategy and fee structures are similar. AFAS charges fees for the asset allocation and portfolio reporting service of SELECT accounts based upon the value of assets held in each account on a negotiated percentage of the market value of such assets under management. The maximum fee to be received by AFAS is 1.7% per annum (0.425% per quarter). The Administration Fee is deducted from the Adviser Fee. AFAS fees are assessed only on accounts through which it can advise and direct transactions on the client’s behalf. It is important to note that certain Investment Adviser Representatives of AFAS are also Registered Representatives of the Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. Certain of these Registered Representatives are also shareholders of the Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc (SFA). SFA and Buckingham Strategic Partners [BSP] have contractually engaged in a separate RIA platform agreement that AFAS is not party to. Via this agreement, SFA receives as compensation, 0.05% of total AFAS client assets on the BSP platform. Certain investment adviser representatives of AFAS may have a conflict of interest in recommending the BSP platform to clients if they are also Registered Representatives and shareholders of SFA. A similar disclosure can be found on your Investment Adviser Representatives ADV Part 2B Personal Bio if applicable. Advisory agreements for AFAS’s investment management services CUSTOM AFAS charges fees for the administration of portfolio management based upon the value of assets held in each account. Fees are computed and paid in advance quarterly based upon the value of the account at the end of the quarter. The fee is payment for the completed period. The maximum fee to be received by AFAS through the non-discretionary management program is 1.7% per annum (0.425% per quarter). COLLEGE ACCOUNTS AFAS charges fess for the administration of portfolio management based on the value of assets held in each account. Fees are computed and paid in the arrears based on the value of the account at the end of the quarter. Acorn does not conduct the billing, it is conducted by the 529 sponsor and set standard to the firm The maximum fees to be received by AFAS on college accounts is 1.0% per annum (0.25% per quarter). SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT FOR PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT SERVICES Subadvisory platform services for non-affiliated advisers and for clients of AFAS who elect to participate and invest in these model strategies are offered at a cost ranging from 0.25% to 1.50%. When these strategies are implemented in the accounts of clients of AFAS, the cost of allocating to the strategy will never result in the client’s overall fee with AFAS to exceed the maximum firm fee and/or the fee schedule previously detailed in the client’s portfolio management contract. When these strategies are implemented in accounts that are managed by non- affiliated Registered Investment Advisers, they are considered an expense of investing and it is the responsibility of the other firm to establish policies and procedures designed to make sure that their client’s all-in costs of investing are reasonable and in compliance with their own firm filings. Additional Information Additional deposits of funds and or any other securities into the client’s account will be subject to the same fees, prorated based on the number of days remaining in the quarter. If during a quarter any assets in a client’s account are sold and the proceeds used to purchase shares of one or more SA or DFA Funds, no reimbursement will be remitted for any administration fees already charged on those assets for the quarter. AFAS Investment Advisers via Buckingham Strategic Partners Advisor Services provide quarterly rebalancing for client accounts through the STRUCTURED, ADVANTAGE, and SELECT services. These services require a pre-authorization agreement in order to trade mutual funds, asset- Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  class funds and individual securities that may be held in these accounts, consistent with the asset allocation and any investment restrictions requested by the client. The Investment Adviser may rebalance accounts quarterly to within several percent of the target allocation in each asset class agreed upon by the client. In the Investment Adviser’s sole discretion, however, he or she may choose not to rebalance the accounts if the funds involved are economically insufficient, additional fees and expenses are anticipated, or other data suggests that a rebalancing is not advisable. DFA and SA Funds prospectuses are available for download at their websites: http://www.dfaus.com and http://www.safunds.com. Clients have no obligation to act upon the Investment Adviser’s recommendations. If a client elects to follow the Investment Adviser’s recommendations, the client is under no obligation to implement these recommendations through AFAS, a third-party money manager like Buckingham Strategic Partners, a wrap fee program like Assetmark, a broker-dealer or any other company recommended by the Investment Adviser. If a client wishes to implement the plan through AFAS or any of its affiliates or strategic partners, the client will be required to sign an agreement with AFAS, and/or affiliated companies as appropriate. Additional Information Regarding Commissions Some Investment Advisers may also be Registered Representatives or Registered Principals of The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc., a broker dealer located in Atlanta, GA or Great Point Capital LLC, a broker dealer located in Chicago, Il. As Registered Representative or Registered Principal, the Investment Adviser Representative may receive commissions for the purchase of mutual funds, direct participation programs, or security transactions on behalf of their clients. Commissions for mutual funds and direct participation programs are generally fixed and included in the purchase price. Commissions on security transactions are based on the exchanges or other applicable commission rates. Some Investment Adviser Representatives are also licensed Life and Health Insurance Agents. They may receive commissions on the purchase of insurance products. Other Fees The custodian of the account will provide all clearing, trading, and brokerage services for each account. The client may incur additional brokerage commissions, “ticket charges”, margin interest and other similar expenses in connection with operating, maintenance and closing of a brokerage account(s). AFAS, in its sole discretion, may waive its minimum fee and/or charge a lesser investment advisory fee based upon certain criteria (e.g., historical relationship, type of assets, anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future additional assets, dollar amounts of assets to be managed, related accounts, account composition, negotiations with clients, etc.). Expense Ratios Mutual funds and Exchange Traded fund (ETF) generally charge a management fee for their services as investment managers. The management fee is called an expense ratio. For example, an expense ratio of 0.20 means that the mutual fund company charges 0.2% for their services annually. These fees are in addition to the fees paid by the client to AFAS and are internal costs unique to the fund selected. Performance figures quoted by mutual fund companies in various publications are after mutual fund fees have been deducted. Termination of Agreements The Financial Planning Agreement may be terminated at the client’s discretion at any time by giving written notice. AFAS reserves the right to stop work on any account that is more than 90 days overdue. In addition, AFAS reserves the right to terminate any financial planning engagement where a client has willfully concealed or has refused to provide pertinent information about financial situations when necessary and appropriate, in AFAS’s judgment, to providing proper financial advice. Any unused portion of fees collected in advance will be refunded within 90 days. Any client may terminate a planning agreement at no cost within the first 5 days following the execution of the contract. The Financial Services and Financial Adviser Agreement may be terminated by the client or the Investment Adviser by providing written notice to the other party. Termination will occur 30 days thereafter. Fees will be billed on a pro-rata basis for the portion of the calendar quarter completed as of the date of termination. The portfolio value as of the last day of the immediately preceding full calendar quarter is used as the basis for the final fee computation, adjusted for the number of days during the current billing quarter prior to termination. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Performance-Based Fees Sharing of Capital Gains Fees are not based on sharing capital gains or capital appreciation of managed securities. AFAS does not permit performance-based fee structures because of the potential conflicts of interest. Performance-based compensation could create an incentive for the adviser to recommend an investment that may carry a higher degree of risk to the client. Types of Clients Description AFAS generally provides investment advice to individuals, families, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities. Client relationships vary in scope and length of service. Subadvisory Investment Management Services are offered to non-affiliated Registered Investment Advisers who are looking to allocate a portion of their client’s assets to a particular platform strategy. Account Minimums AFAS services are detailed in Fees and Compensation. Certain programs, including the portfolio management, STRUCTURED, ADVANTAGE, SELECT, and CUSTOM, require an initial minimum account asset level, currently $1,000,000, which equates to a minimum annual fee of $17,000. These minimum fees and minimum account asset level are subject to negotiation. Depending upon circumstances where assets values have diminished significantly below account minimums due to withdrawals or other circumstances, AFAS may substitute a Financial Planning and Analysis Contract on an hourly basis in place of the Portfolio Management Contract. This would only be considered on a temporary basis after discussion with the client. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss Methods of Analysis Security analysis methods may include charting, fundamental analysis, technical analysis, and cyclical analysis. The main sources of information include financial newspapers and magazines, research materials prepared by third parties, corporate rating services, annual reports, prospectuses, and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other sources of information may include Morningstar mutual fund information, Morningstar stock information, Ycharts, and various internet resources. Investment Strategies Unless otherwise instructed by the client, Investment Advisers will generally create portfolios that are globally diversified to control the risk associated with concentrated positions in markets. The investment strategy for a specific client is based upon the objectives stated by the client during consultations. The client may change these objectives at any time with written notice to the Investment Advisor Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Other strategies may include long-term purchases, short-term purchases, trading, short sales, margin transactions, and options writing. Subadvisory investment management services offer non-affiliated and affiliated investment advisers to allocate client assets to model strategies that are intended to be actively managed for the purpose of trying to outperform a given benchmark or index over both short and long time horizons. The STRUCTURED, ADVANTAGE, SELECT, programs through BSP and the CUSTOM portfolio management programs directly offered through AFAS are based on publicly available research and reports regarding individual securities, securities issuers, investment strategies, and performance of various asset classes. AFAS also uses asset allocation software, which is limited to use by Investment Advisers. As referenced earlier in this firm brochure, AFAS has also developed the StrategicAlpha Core portfolio model and the StrategicAlpha Opportunities portfolio model for consideration of its clients. Additional strategies may also be available and outlined in greater detail in materials that may accompany this brochure. For a complete list of available portfolio models provided directly through AFAS, please call 703-293-300 or submit in writing to 1875 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 100 Reston, VA 20191. Risk of Loss All investment programs have certain risks that are borne by the investor. Our investment policy periodically reviews and considers the risk of loss. Interest-rate Risk: Fluctuations in interest rates may cause investment prices to fluctuate. For example, when interest rates rise, yields on existing bonds become less attractive, causing their market values to decline. Market Risk: The price of a security, bond, or mutual fund may drop in reaction to tangible and intangible events and conditions. This type of risk is caused by external factors independent of a security’s particular underlying circumstances. For example, political, economic and social conditions may trigger market events. Inflation Risk: When any type of inflation is present, a dollar today will not buy as much as a dollar next year, because purchasing power erodes at the rate of inflation. Currency Risk: Overseas investments are subject to fluctuations in the value of the dollar against the currency of the investment’s originating country. This is also referred to as Exchange Rate Risk. Reinvestment Risk: Future proceeds from investments may have to be reinvested at a potentially lower rate of return (i.e. interest rate). This primarily relates to fixed income securities. Business Risk: These risks are associated with a particular industry or a particular company within an industry. For example, oil-drilling companies are dependent upon finding oil and then refining it. This is a lengthy process that must be completed prior to generating a profit. These companies inherently carry a higher risk of profitability than an electric company, which generates its income from a steady stream of customers who buy electricity regardless of the economic environment. Liquidity Risk: Liquidity is the ability to readily convert an investment into cash. Generally, assets are more liquid if many traders are interested in a standardized product. For example, Treasury Bills are highly liquid, while real estate properties are not. Financial Risk: Excessive borrowing to finance a business’ operations raises the risk of a decrease in profitability, because the company must meet the terms of its loan obligations in good times and bad before distributing profits. During periods of financial stress, the inability to meet loan obligations may result in bankruptcy and/or a declining market value. *This list may not be fully inclusive. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Disciplinary Information Legal and Disciplinary Neither AFAS nor any of its Investment Advisers have any legal or disciplinary filings involving current or former clients. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations Financial Industry Activities Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. (AFAS) is a Registered Investment Adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. AFAS is a Virginia Corporation whose principal office is located in Reston, VA. AFAS is affiliated with Acorn Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary Virginia Corporation. AFAS is not registered as a securities broker-dealer, an account custodian, a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator or commodity trading adviser. Certain investment adviser representatives are also registered representatives of various broker-dealers and certain investment adviser representatives are licensed insurance agents. Affiliations AFAS has arrangements that are material to its advisory and its clients: Acorn Financial Services, Inc. (AFS) is a payroll and bookkeeping entity owned by James M. Gambaccini, CFP®. AFS employs administrative personnel who directly and indirectly support advisory operations of AFAS. Acorn Financial Services is a marketing DBA used in certain advertising materials for AFAS as a way to describe the firm’s approach to comprehensive financial planning for its clients. Acorn Tax Planning, Inc. is a public accounting and tax firm owned by James M. Gambaccini, CFP®. Acorn Properties, Inc. is a management and investment entity in direct real estate owned by James M Gambaccini, CFP®. Acorn Capital, Inc. provides capital to private companies and is owned by James M Gambaccini, CFP®. Some Investment Advisors are also Registered Representatives of various Broker Dealers. As Registered Representatives or Registered Principals, Investment Advisers may receive commissions for the purchase of mutual funds, direct participation programs, private placements, or security transactions on behalf of their clients. Commissions for mutual funds, private placements and direct participation programs are generally fixed and included in the purchase price. Commissions on security transactions are based on the exchanges or other applicable commission rates. Some Investment Advisers are also licensed Life and Health Insurance Agents. They may receive commissions on the purchase of insurance products. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading Code of Ethics It is the policy of AFAS that its Investment Adviser Representatives shall at all times place the interest of clients before the interests of any other persons. All personal securities transactions of an Investment Adviser shall be conducted in a manner as to attempt to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest, any abuse of a position of trust and responsibility, or to operate as a deceit. AFAS must use responsible diligence and institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent violations of its Code of Ethics. Clients or prospective clients of AFAS may obtain a copy of AFAS's Code of Ethics without charge by submitting a request to the Reston, VA office. Participation or Interest in Client Transactions Investment Adviser Representatives may buy and sell securities that they also recommend to clients. Assuming similar investment strategies, client transactions are executed first and further measures may be taken to place clients’ interest ahead of that of AFAS Investment Advisers. Commensurate with its activities, every Investment Adviser Representative associated with AFAS must submit an initial holdings report within 10 days of the date he or she becomes associated with AFAS. Thereafter, every Investment Adviser Representative associated with AFAS must submit a quarterly holdings report identifying holdings and brokerage accounts maintained in the Investment Adviser Representative’s name, any family member, any Trust of which the Investment Adviser Representative or any family member is a Trustee or in which the Investment Adviser may have a direct or indirect beneficial interest or ownership. The Investment Adviser Representatives must also submit quarterly transaction reports and annual holdings reports as well as long as they remain affiliated with AFAS. Personal Trading The Chief Compliance Officer and Registered Principal of AFAS is James M. Gambaccini, CFP®. James M. Gambaccini reviews all Investment Adviser trades each calendar quarter. Personal trading reviews help to ensure that the personal trading of any Investment Adviser Representative does not affect the markets, and that clients of the firm receive priority and preferential treatment ahead of any Investment Adviser Representative. Brokerage Practices Brokerage Firm Affiliation Clients have full discretion to implement advisory recommendations through any firm. There is no obligation to effect commissionable transactions through the Investment Adviser in their capacity as a Registered Representative. However, should a client wish to use an Investment Adviser of AFAS for implementation services of commissionable holdings, the firm will recommend one of various broker dealers. AFAS does not warrant or represent those commissions for transactions implemented through said broker dealer will be lower than commissions available if the client used another brokerage firm. Investment Advisers acting as Registered Representatives of a broker dealer may recommend clients to invest in a wide range of industries through the purchase of limited partnerships, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), or other non-traded instruments. These industries include, without limitation, precious metals, real estate, non-trading real estate, investment trusts, alternative fuels, oil and gas, utilities, managed futures, equipment leasing, land development programs, business development corporations, and tax-advantage limited partnerships. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Best Execution It is the policy of AFAS that its Investment Adviser Representatives shall at all times place the interest of clients before the interests of any other persons. All personal securities transactions of an Investment Adviser shall be conducted in a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest, any abuse of a position of trust and responsibility, or to operate as a deceit. Marketing Dollars Investment Advisers may recommend that clients purchase one or more funds which are managed and administered by third-party money managers. Investment Advisers could have conflicts of interest in making these recommendations, because Investment Advisers may receive reimbursement of certain marketing expenses from third-party money managers. However, AFAS Investment Advisers are subject to, and intend to comply fully with, standards of fiduciary duty that require them to act in the best interests of the clients when making recommendations. Total marketing dollars received by AFAS equates to less than one half of one percent of annual gross revenues. Review of Accounts Periodic Reviews Investment Advisers review clients’ portfolios on a quarterly basis and have meetings with clients in person, by telephone video conference or email on an agreed upon basis, or at least annually. Investment Advisers determine each client’s target asset allocation schedule by calculating historical rates of return, investment horizons, and risk tolerances for each client’s expressed financial goals. The client should notify the Investment Adviser of any changes in the client’s financial situation, needs or investment objectives, or the suitability of the target asset allocation schedule developed for the client. The Investment Adviser will periodically confirm the appropriateness of the allocation in the context of regular review meetings. Transactions in accounts are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure they reflect the needs of the client. Investment Adviser Representatives also review client portfolios each calendar quarter and may reposition assets to bring the actual allocations closer to the stated target allocations. In addition, Investment Adviser Representatives conduct interim reviews upon a change in a client’s financial situation, general needs, personal situation, or investment objectives, in order to try and ensure the correct suitability of a client’s current financial plan or asset allocation. Review Triggers Account reviews may be performed more frequently when market conditions dictate or necessitate. Other conditions that may trigger a review are changes in the tax laws, new investment information, and/or changes in a client's own situation. AFAS Investment Advisers periodically ask clients to confirm personal circumstances that could trigger changes in their accounts (marriages, sudden illnesses, death, divorces, children’s needs, etc). Regular Reports Clients receive periodic communications on at least an annual basis. Portfolio Management clients receive written quarterly updates. The written updates may include a comprehensive portfolio analysis of current holdings and a summary of objectives and progress towards meeting those objectives. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Client Referrals Incoming Referrals AFAS has been fortunate to receive many client introductions over the years. The referrals come from clients, estate planning attorneys, accountants, employees, personal friends of employees and other similar sources. Other professionals (e.g., lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, insurance agents, etc.) may be engaged directly by the client on an as- needed basis. Conflicts of interest will be disclosed to the client in the event they occur. Neither AFAS, nor its Investment Advisers, receive fees from or share fees with outside professionals working with AFAS clients. AFAS may enter into solicitation agreements pursuant to which it compensates third-party intermediaries for client referrals that result in the provision of investment advisory services by AFAS. Solicitor will disclose these solicitation arrangements to affected investors. Solicitors introducing clients to AFAS may receive compensation from AFAS in the form of a flat fee. Such compensation will be paid pursuant to a written agreement with the solicitor and generally may be terminated by either party from time to time. The cost of any such fees will be borne entirely by AFAS and not by any affected client. All such referral activities will be conducted in accordance with Rule 206(4)-1 under the Advisers Act, where applicable. Referrals Out AFAS does not accept referral fees or any form of remuneration from other professionals when AFAS refers a prospect or client to them. Other professionals (e.g., lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, insurance agents, etc.) may be engaged directly by the client on an as- needed basis. Conflicts of interest will be disclosed to the client in the event they occur. Neither AFAS, nor its Investment Advisers, receive fees from or share fees with outside professionals working with AFAS clients. Custody Account Statements AFAS does not serve as custodian for client funds or securities. All assets are held at qualified custodians that provide account statements directly to clients at their address of record at least quarterly. Performance Reports Portfolio Management clients receive quarterly performance reports from AFAS. The reports may include a comprehensive portfolio analysis of current holdings and a summary of objectives and progress towards meeting those objectives. Trustee Services AFAS may be deemed to have custody over the funds and securities of trust accounts for which it or its related persons serve as trustee. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Investment Discretion Discretionary and Non-Discretionary Authority for Trading AFAS does accept discretionary authority to manage securities accounts on behalf of clients. When elected, the client is granting the investment adviser representative authority to select the security, the amount, and the price for either purchase or sale and at a time of their choosing. The majority of client portfolios are managed to previously agreed upon asset allocations. In these instances, clients have signed off on an agreed upon asset allocation and have been given a list of funds and ETFs that will be utilized to implement these allocations. These funds may change over time as reviewed by advisor to better meet the client’s goals. In these instances, AFAS is using discretion almost entirely to select the time of a given transaction, and often as part of regular, systematic rebalancing. Unless agreed to in writing, all other portfolios will be managed on a discretionary basis. Portfolios managed with the assistance of third-party money managers use a limited trading authority granted under contract, based on the client’s direct request to the Investment Adviser Representative, or based on the client’s acceptance of a recommendation provided by the Investment Adviser Representative. In these cases, the direction to implement trades is given by the Investment Adviser Representative and is still considered to be utilizing discretionary authority. It is the general policy of AFAS to accept investment advisory accounts to be managed on a non-discretionary basis as well. AFAS, in its sole discretion, will approve such arrangements when agreed to in writing and where the terms and understandings of this arrangement are clearly understood by the client and clearly adhered to by the investment adviser representative. Limited Power of Attorney A limited power of attorney is used with our third-party money managers to buy funds in client accounts and to maintain target allocation percentages set for each account. A client signs a limited power of attorney so that the third-party manager may execute trades on the client’s behalf to maintain the client’s pre-approved target allocation. The Investment Adviser reviews the portfolio allocations in comparison with the target allocations at least quarterly, and approves any re-balancing that may be necessary to bring the accounts back to the pre-approved target allocation percentages. Target allocation percentages are not changed without the client’s signed authorization. Voting Client Securities Proxy Votes AFAS does not automatically vote proxies on securities on behalf of clients. Clients are expected to vote their own proxies as received. When assistance on voting proxies is requested, AFAS will offer information to help the client make an informed decision. If a conflict of interest exists that would impact AFAS’s comments, it will be disclosed to the client. Clients of AFAS who have elected to allocate assets to the strategies that have been developed for the Subadvisory platform will have their proxies voted by the investment adviser representatives managing those assets. In these instances, representatives of AFAS that assume responsibility for voting proxies commit to doing so in a manner that is in line with the client’s objectives, presuming the shared objective of positively influencing and directing corporate management to act in the best interest of the shareholder. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A  Financial Information Financial Condition AFAS does not have any financial impairment that will preclude the firm from meeting contractual commitments to its clients. AFAS is not required to provide a balance sheet with this Firm Brochure because (1) AFAS does not serve as custodian for client funds or securities, and (2) AFAS does not require clients to prepay fees of more than $1200 for services that will not be provided within six months. Acorn Financial Advisory Services, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A