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Item 1 – Cover Page
Addison Advisors LLC
doing business as (dba)
Marble Trail Advisors
88 Main St
P.O Box 30
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802) 388-6300
www.marbletrail.com
July 2025
Form ADV Part 2 Brochure
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Addison
Advisors LLC dba Marble Trail Advisors. If you have any questions about the contents of this
Brochure, please contact us at (802) 388-6300. The information in this Brochure has not been
approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state
securities authority.
Marble Trail Advisors is a registered investment adviser. Registration of an Investment Adviser
does not imply any level of skill or training. The oral and written communications of an Adviser
provide you with information about which you determine to hire or retain an Adviser.
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Additional information about Marble Trail Advisors also is available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Item 2 – Material Changes
Since our last required annual amendment to this brochure filed in February 2025 the following
material change has been made to this disclosure brochure:
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In July 2025 the firm moved its office location to the addressed listed on the cover page of
this brochure.
•
Item 15 – Custody
for more specific
In March 2024 the firm entered into a relationship with a client that established a “custody
relationship” over the client assets. Please refer to
information.
Pursuant to SEC Rules, we will ensure that you receive a summary of any material changes to this
and subsequent Brochures within 120 days of the close of our business’ fiscal year. We may
further provide other ongoing disclosure information about material changes as necessary.
We will further provide you with a new Brochure as necessary based on changes or new
information, at any time, without charge.
Currently, our Brochure may be requested by contacting Don Devost, Principal of Marble Trail
Advisors at (802) 388-6300 or don@marbletrail.com. Our Brochure is also available on our
website www.marbletrail.com, also free of charge.
Additional information about Marble Trail Advisors is also available via the SEC’s web site
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. The SEC’s web site also provides information about any persons
affiliated with Marble Trail Advisors who are registered, or are required to be registered, as
investment adviser representatives of Marble Trail Advisors.
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Item 3 – Table of Contents
Item 1 – Cover Page ................................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Item 2 – Material Changes ................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Item 3 – Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Item 4 – Our Firm .................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management .................................................................................... 6
Item 7 – Types of Clients ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ............................................................................ 7
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information .................................................................................................................................................... 7
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ............................................................................................. 7
Item 11 – Code of Ethics ....................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices ........................................................................................................................................................... 9
Item 13 – Review of Accounts .......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation .............................................................................................................. 10
Item 15 – Custody .................................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Item 16 – Investment Discretion..................................................................................................................................................... 11
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities .................................................................................................................................................. 11
Item 18 – Financial Information ...................................................................................................................................................... 12
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Item 4 – Our Firm
Marble Trail Advisors is a registered investment adviser based in Middlebury, VT. The firm was
founded as Addison Advisors LLC in 2010 by Donald Devost. Matthew Wootten joined the firm in
2014. Donald and Matthew are the controlling owners and managers of the firm.
INVESTMENT SERVICES
Marble Trail Advisors is a fee-only investment advisory firm providing comprehensive wealth
management services to individuals, families, and trusts who desire a deep long-term relationship
with trusted financial professionals. Our holistic approach integrates financial planning and
investment management.
Financial Planning
Our investment advisory services frequently begin with the preparation of a financial plan that
identifies client goals and financial resources, analyzes the impact of client choices on the
attainment of those goals, and identifies actions to achieve them. A typical financial plan will
articulate savings, investment, and tax strategies to address retirement, education, and estate
planning goals. When appropriate, Marble Trail will coordinate efforts with a client’s attorney, tax
accountant, or insurance professional.
Our services do not include legal counsel, asset custody, or the sale of any investment or insurance
products.
We view the financial plan as integral to the relationship and something we will update once a
year, or whenever a client’s material financial circumstances or goals change.
Investment Management
Our investment advice is tailored to meet our clients’ needs and objectives. We document these in
the Investment Policy Statement along with each client’s unique financial circumstances, risk
tolerance and time horizon. Together these elements inform the investment approach that will
maximize the client’s likelihood of attaining their goals.
Our firm mainly uses equity securities, exchange traded funds, no-load mutual funds, corporate
securities, municipal securities, and U.S. government securities in its portfolio management
programs. We will monitor your portfolio’s performance on an ongoing basis and rebalance the
portfolio whenever necessary, as changes occur in market conditions, your financial
circumstances, or both.
Our firm primarily offers discretionary portfolio management services, which means we make
investment decisions and place buy or sell orders in client accounts without explicit prior
approval. Any actions taken will be based upon stated investment objectives as documented in the
investment policy statement.
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Referral of Third-Party Money Managers
For a portion of client accounts Marble Trail Advisors refers clients to a third-party money
manager offering asset management and other investment advisory services. The third-party
managers are responsible for continuously monitoring client accounts and making trades in client
accounts when necessary.
Under this program, we assist you with identifying your risk tolerance and investment objectives.
We recommend third-party money managers in relation to your stated investment objectives and
risk tolerance, and you may select a recommended third-party money manager or model portfolio
based upon your needs. You must approve in writing use of the third-party money manager who
provides your designated account with asset management services.
We are available to answer questions that you may have regarding your account and act as the
communication conduit between you and the third-party money manager. The third-party money
manager may take discretionary authority to determine the securities to be purchased and sold
for your account. We do not have any trading authority with respect to your designated account
managed by the third-party money manager.
Clients are advised that there may be other third-party managed programs not recommended by
our firm, that are suitable for the client and that may be more or less costly than arrangements
recommended by our firm. No guarantees can be made that a client’s financial goals or objectives
(Please refer to Item 8 – Methods of
will be achieved by a third-party investment adviser recommended by our firm. Further, no
Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss for more details.)
guarantees of performance can ever be offered by our firm
Assets Under Management
As of December 31. 2024, Marble Trail Advisors managed $490,221,306 of client assets,
$486,840,223 are managed on a discretionary basis and $3,381,083 and managed on a non-
discretionary basis.
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
Marble Trail Advisors’ fee for comprehensive wealth management services includes a fixed fee for
financial planning and an asset-based fee for investment management. The fee for financial
planning depends on several factors including the scope, complexity and frequency of services
provided. Marble Trail has established a minimum annual planning fee of $2,500 per household,
but may negotiate a fee below the annual minimum where circumstances warrant. Our fees for
investment management services range from an annualized rate of 0.30% to 1.00% based on total
assets under Marble Trail management. The specific level of fees that will be paid is established in
the investment advisory contract of each client. The fee schedule is subject to change upon prior
written notice to the client.
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Fees are paid quarterly in advance, and clients may terminate their contracts with written notice.
At the point of termination, fees will be refunded on a prorated basis, based on the number of days
remaining in a quarter. Clients may terminate their contracts without penalty, for full refund,
within 5 business days of signing the advisory contract.
Fees charged by Marble Trail may vary among its clients based upon the type of client, the services
requested, the complexity of the client's situation, the composition of the client's account, other
advisory services provided and the relationship of the client and the investment adviser
representative. Marble Trail may waive or reduce a portion of the investment advisory fees. Any
reduction will be at the discretion of Marble Trail and disclosed to client prior to contracting for
investment advisory services. Marble Trail believes that its annual fee is reasonable in relation to
services provided and the fees charged by other investment advisers offering similar services.
Marble Trail’s annual wealth management fee may, however, be higher than that charged by other
investment advisers offering similar services.
Marble Trail’s fees are exclusive of brokerage commissions, transaction fees, and other related
costs and expenses which may be incurred by the client. Clients may also incur certain charges
imposed by custodians, brokers, and third-party investment managers such as fees charged by
managers, custodial fees, deferred sales charges, wire transfer and electronic fund fees, and other
fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Mutual funds and exchange
traded funds also charge internal management fees, which are disclosed in a fund’s prospectus.
Such charges, fees and commissions are exclusive of and in addition to Marble Trail Advisors' fee,
and Marble Trail Advisors shall not receive any portion of these commissions, fees, or costs.
Third-Party Money Managers
A complete description of the third-party money manager’s services, fee schedules and account
minimums will be disclosed in the third-party money manager’s disclosure brochure which will be
provided to you prior to or at the time an agreement for services is executed and the account is
established. The actual fee charged to you will vary depending on the third-party money manager.
Marble Trail and the third-party managers are individually responsible for the calculation and
collection of the investment management fees that they will charge. Marble Trails asset
management fees will be based upon the fee schedule referenced above. Fees charged by Third
Party Managers will be disclosed at the time the client signs an agreement with that firm.
Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
Marble Trail Advisors does not charge any performance-based fees (fees based on a share of
capital gains or capital appreciation of client assets).
Item 7 – Types of Clients
Marble Trail Advisors offers investment advisory services to individuals, high net worth
individuals, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable institutions, foundations,
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endowments, and trust programs. Some of our services may not be suitable to certain clients and
clients will only be provided and billed for appropriate services.
Third-party money managers may have minimum account and minimum fee requirements in
order to participate in their programs. Each-third party money manager will disclose its
minimum account size and fees in its Form ADV Part 2A Disclosure Brochure.
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. Marble Trail
Advisors employs a fundamental, value-based approach that seeks to determine whether the
potential returns of an investment are proportionate to its risks. In addition to assessing the
merits of individual securities, the risk and return characteristics of the entire portfolio of a
client’s investments are analyzed to ensure they are consistent with the client’s goals and risk
tolerance, as described in the Investment Policy Statement.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or
disciplinary events that would be material to your evaluation of Marble Trail Advisors or the
integrity of Marble Trail Advisors’ management. Marble Trail Advisors has no information
applicable to this Item.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Marble Trail Advisors is a fully owned subsidiary of Marble Trail Financial LLC. Marble Trail
Financial is a tax, accounting, and business consulting firm. Donald Devost and Matthew Wootten
are advisory representatives of Marble Trail Advisors as well as owners of Marble Trail Financial.
Clients may be referred between these two firms; however, clients are under no obligation to use
any services provided by the other firm. While employees of Marble Trail Financial are not paid a
direct fee based on the actual referrals made to Marble Trail Advisors, Marble Trail Financial LLC
benefits from the referral arrangement due to its direct ownership of Marble Trail Advisors.
While employees of Marble Trail Advisors are not paid a direct fee based on the actual referrals
made to Marble Trail Financial, Marble Trail Advisors benefits from the referral arrangement due
to its managers’ direct ownership in Marble Trail Financial.
The aforementioned relationship creates a conflict of interest that may affect the independent
judgment of Marble Trail Advisors in its recommendation of accounting providers to clients.
Material conflicts of interest will be disclosed to clients up front and all efforts will be made to put
the interests of the client first.
Third-Party Money Managers
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Item 5
of this
Items 4 and 5
for full details regarding the programs, fees, conflicts of
Marble Trail Advisors has developed several programs, previously described in
disclosure brochure, designed to allow us to recommend and select third-party money managers
for you. Please refer to
interest and materials arrangements when Marble Trail Advisors selects other investment
advisers.
Item 11 – Code of Ethics
Marble Trail Advisors has a written Code of Ethics that covers the following areas: Prohibited
Purchases and Sales, Insider Trading, Personal Securities Transactions, Exempted Transactions,
Prohibited Activities, Conflicts of Interest, Gifts and Entertainment, Confidentiality, Service on a
Board of Directors, Compliance Procedures, Compliance with Laws and Regulations, Procedures
and Reporting, Certification of Compliance, Reporting Violations, Compliance Officer Duties,
Training and Education, Recordkeeping, Annual Review, and Sanctions.
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SEE OUR CODE OF ETHICS. FOR A COPY OF THE CODE OF ETHICS, PLEASE
ASK YOUR ADVISER AT MARBLE TRAIL ADVISORS AT ANY TIME.
From time to time, representatives of Marble Trail Advisors may buy or sell securities for
themselves that they also recommend to clients. (See Employee Trading) Marble Trail Advisors
always documents any transactions that could be construed as a conflict of interest and transacts
client business before their own when similar securities are being bought or sold. Marble Trail
Advisors does everything possible to mitigate these conflicts by disclosing to the client any
possible conflict of interest. Marble Trail Advisors acts in a fiduciary manner, and always acts in
the client’s best interest.
Employee Trading
Marble Trail Advisors’ employee trading policy stipulates that client trades take priority over
employee trades.
The following procedures have been put into place:
•
•
If Marble Trail Advisors is purchasing or considering for purchase any security on behalf of
Marble Trail Advisors’ clients, none of Marble Trail Advisors’ employees or officers may effect
for himself or herself or for his or her immediate family transactions in that security prior to
the completion of client purchases, or until a decision has been made not to purchase the
security on behalf of clients; and
If Marble Trail Advisors is selling or considering the sale of any security on behalf of Marble
Trail Advisors’ clients, no employees may trade in that security prior to the completion of the
sales on behalf of the clients.
The following exceptions have been identified:
•
Some securities purchased or sold on behalf of Marble Trail Advisors’ clients trade in
sufficiently broad markets to permit transactions to be completed without any appreciable
impact on the markets of the securities.
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•
Open-end mutual funds are purchased or redeemed at a fixed net asset value price per share
specific to the date of purchase or redemption. Transactions in mutual funds by employees are
not likely to have an impact on share prices of the funds and are not restricted by Marble Trail
Advisors’ Compliance Policies and Procedures.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
Marble Trail Advisors does not maintain custody of the assets that we manage on our clients’
behalf, though we may be deemed to have custody of those assets when clients grant us authority
to withdraw our management fee from their accounts. Client assets must be maintained in an
account at a “qualified custodian,” generally a broker or bank. We request that our clients use as
the qualified custodian either Pershing Advisor Solutions, LLC (Pershing) or Charles Schwab & Co.,
Inc. (Schwab). Both are FINRA-registered broker-dealers, members SIPC. We are independently
owned and operated and not affiliated with either Pershing or Schwab. Either will hold your assets
in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities when we instruct them to. While we request
that you use either Pershing or Schwab as custodian/broker, you will decide whether to do so by
entering into an account agreement directly with them.
When recommending a custodian who will hold your assets, Marble Trail Advisors considers a
range of factors including breadth of investment products, transaction fees, trade execution,
reputation and financial strength, and quality of service to our clients.
For our clients’ accounts they maintain, neither Pershing nor Schwab charge you separately for
custody services but may be compensated by charging you commissions or other fees on trades
that it executes or that settle into your brokerage account. Marble Trail Advisors never charges a
premium or commission on transactions beyond the actual cost imposed by the Custodian. In
addition to commissions, Pershing and Schwab charge you a flat dollar amount as a “prime
broker” or “trade away” fee for each trade that we have executed by a different broker-dealer but
where the securities bought or the funds from the securities sold are deposited (settled) into your
brokerage account. These fees are in addition to the commissions or other compensation you pay
the executing broker-dealer. Because of this, in order to minimize your trading costs, we have your
chosen Custodian execute most trades for your account.
Schwab Advisor Services is Schwab’s business serving independent investment advisory firms like
us. They provide us and our clients with access to its institutional brokerage – trading, custody,
reporting and related services – many of which are not typically available to Schwab retail
customers. Schwab also makes available various support services. Some of those services help us
manage or administer our clients’ accounts while others help us manage and grow our business.
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Pershing Advisor Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of New York Mellon. Pershing
serves independent investment advisory firms like us, providing us and our clients with access to
its institutional brokerage – trading, custody, reporting and related services. These services are
not available directly to retail customers. We have entered into a Support Services Agreement
with Pershing. Under the terms of the agreement, Pershing will provide certain support services
as well as monetary payments that are intended to support us in managing and servicing client
accounts on the Pershing platform. To be eligible for this support, assets on the platform must
reach certain levels. While we endeavor at all times to put client interests first, the receipt of
economic benefits by Marble Trail Advisors creates a potential conflict of interest and may
indirectly influence our recommendation of Pershing for custody and brokerage services.
Item 13 – Review of Accounts
Client accounts are reviewed at least quarterly by the firm’s principals and/or representatives. All
accounts at Marble Trail Advisors are assigned to one of the principals or representatives as the
primary reviewer of the account, although in practice both principals and representatives will
occasionally review each other’s accounts. Reviews may be triggered by material market,
economic or political events, or by changes in client's financial situations (such as retirement,
termination of employment, physical move, or inheritance). Each client receives a quarterly
report from Marble Trail Advisors detailing that client’s account performance.
Accounts established and maintained with other third-party money managers are reviewed at
least quarterly, usually when statements and/or reports are received from the money manager.
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
As referenced in Item 10 above, advisory representatives of Marble Trail Advisors may receive an
economic benefit from referring clients to Marble Trail Financial for accounting and tax
preparation services. Furthermore, owners of Marble Trail Financial may receive an economic
benefit from referring clients to Marble Trail Advisors for investment advisory services. Clients,
however, are under no obligation to use any services provided by either firm.
Marble Trail Advisors does not directly or indirectly compensate any person for client referrals
other than the owners of Marble Trail Financial.
Marble Trail Advisors has no arrangements, either oral or in writing, where it is paid cash by or
receives some economic benefit (including commissions, equipment, or non-research services)
from a non-client in connection with giving investment advice to clients.
Marble Trail Advisors’ Chief Compliance Officer, Donald H. Devost, is available to address any
questions that a client or prospective client may have regarding the above arrangements and any
perceived conflict of interest any such arrangements may create.
Item 15 – Custody
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Custody, as it applies to investment advisors, has been defined by regulators as having access or
control over client funds and/or securities. In other words, custody is not limited to physically
holding client funds and securities. If an investment adviser has the ability to access or control
client funds or securities, the investment adviser is deemed to have custody and must ensure
proper procedures are implemented.
When fees are deducted from an account, Marble Trail Advisors is responsible for calculating the
fee and delivering instructions to the custodian. At the same time Marble Trail Advisors instructs
the custodian to deduct fees from your account; Marble Trail Advisors will send you an invoice
itemizing the fee. Itemization will include the formula used to calculate the fee, the amount of
assets under management the fee is based on, and the time period covered by the fee.
Marble Trail Advisors is deemed to have custody of client funds and securities whenever it is given
the authority to have fees deducted directly from client accounts. In addition, there are a small
number of Marble Trail Advisors client arrangements where representatives of Marble Trail
Advisors serve as trustee for the client. The role of trustee is imputed (or “assigned”) to Marble
Trail Advisors and therefore we are deemed to have custody of those client funds and securities.
The firm has established procedures to ensure all client funds and securities are held at a qualified
custodian in a separate account for each client under that client’s name. Clients or an independent
representative of the client (other than the Marble Trail Advisors affiliated trustee) are also
notified, in writing of the qualified custodian’s name, address and the manner in which the funds
or securities are maintained, promptly when the account is opened and following any
changes. Account statements are delivered directly from the qualified custodian to each client, or
the client’s independent representative (other than the Adviser affiliated trustee), at least
quarterly. Finally, affiliated trustee accounts managed by us are subject to an annual surprise
verification examination conducted by a third-party, independent accounting firm.
Marble Trail Advisors is deemed to have custody of client funds and securities when Marble Trail
Advisors has standing authority (also known as a standing letter of authorization or “SLOA”) to
move money from a client’s account to a third-party account.
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
It is Marble Trail Advisors’ belief that clients should be informed and understand each of the
investments made on their behalf. For the sake of convenience, however, certain clients grant
Marble Trail Advisors discretionary trading authority. When granted, this is established in the
client’s Investment Advisory Contract with Marble Trail Advisors. Under this arrangement, Marble
Trail Advisors has the authority to determine which securities are bought or sold and the quantity
of securities bought and sold. For clients with non-discretionary accounts, Marble Trail Advisors
proposes trades to the client. These are reviewed with the client and the client’s approval of the
trade is given before being executed by Marble Trail Advisors.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
As a matter of firm policy and practice, Marble Trail Advisors does not vote proxies on behalf of
advisory clients unless explicitly authorized by clients to do so. All other clients retain the
responsibility for receiving and voting proxies for any and all securities maintained in client
portfolios. Marble Trail Advisors may provide advice to clients regarding the clients’ voting of
proxies.
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With respect to assets managed by a third-party money manager, we will not vote the proxies
associated with these assets. You will need to refer to each third-party money manager’s
disclosure brochure to determine whether the third-party money manager will vote proxies on
your behalf. You may request a complete copy of third-party money manager’s proxy voting
policies and procedures as well as information on how your proxies were voted by contacting the
third-party money manager or by contacting Marble Trail Advisors at the address or phone
number indicated on Page 1 of this disclosure document.
Item 18 – Financial Information
Registered investment advisers are required in this Item to provide you with certain financial
information or disclosures about Marble Trail Advisors’ financial condition. Marble Trail Advisors
has no financial commitment that impairs its ability to meet contractual and fiduciary
commitments to clients and has not been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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