Overview
- Headquarters
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Average Client Assets
- $2.3 million
- SEC CRD Number
- 157968
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (2025-03-28 AMPHORA WEALTH MANAGEMENT FORM ADV PART 2A)
| Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $2,000,000 | 1.00% |
| $2,000,001 | $6,000,000 | 0.80% |
| $6,000,001 | $16,000,000 | 0.60% |
| $16,000,001 | and above | 0.50% |
Minimum Annual Fee: $8,000
Illustrative Fee Rates
| Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $10,000 | 1.00% |
| $5 million | $44,000 | 0.88% |
| $10 million | $76,000 | 0.76% |
| $50 million | $282,000 | 0.56% |
| $100 million | $532,000 | 0.53% |
Clients
- HNW Share of Firm Assets
- 89.11%
- Total Client Accounts
- 649
- Discretionary Accounts
- 642
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 7
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals, Pension Consulting, Investment Advisor Selection, Educational Seminars
Regulatory Filings
Additional Brochure: 2026-03-30 AMPHORA WEALTH MANAGEMENT FORM ADV PART 2A (2026-03-30)
View Document Text
Item 1: Cover Page
Amphora Wealth
Management, LLC
Form ADV Part 2A Brochure
Address:
100 Europa Drive
Suite 431
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Phone:
(919) 240-6111
Email:
eric@amphorawealth.com
Website:
https://www.amphorawealth.com/
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Amphora Wealth
Management, LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at
the telephone number or email address listed above. 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. Amphora Wealth Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser, but registration does not
imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Amphora Wealth Management, LLC is also available on the SEC’s website
at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov and by searching for CRD# 157968.
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Date of Brochure: March 30, 2026
Item 2: Material Changes
In this Item, Amphora Wealth Management, LLC is only required to identify and discuss material changes
since filing its last annual amendment. Since the firm’s last annual updating amendment filed on March
28, 2025, we have no material changes to report.
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Date of Brochure: March 30, 2026
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page
Item 2: Material Changes
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 4: Advisory Business
Item 5: Fees and Compensation
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management
Item 7: Types of Clients
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions & Personal Trading
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Item 13: Review of Accounts
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Item 15: Custody
Item 16: Investment Discretion
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Item 18: Financial Information
1
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27
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Date of Brochure: March 30, 2026
Item 4: Advisory Business
A. Amphora Wealth Management, LLC (the “Adviser,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is an investment adviser
founded in 2011, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and
principally owned by Eric Sobocinski. Our comprehensive wealth management process generally
involves the following steps:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Discovery: Exploration and identification of a client’s values and goals
Investment Planning: Preparation of an Investment Policy Statement outlining a client’s
current financial situation
Development of Investment Plan: Selecting a portfolio that will correspond with a client’s
specific situation
Implementation: Providing on-going services for the management of client accounts
in accordance with investment and wealth objectives
Regular Progress Meetings: Contact with clients to determine if financial circumstances
or investment and wealth objectives have changed requiring alternative strategy.
B. Adviser offers the following types of advisory services:
i.
Investment Management. Adviser provides Investment Management Services to
individuals and institutions. Adviser’s primary core investment philosophy is long-term
and focuses on tax and fee sensitivity. The investment management services provided to
a client are customized based on the personal needs of that client, including
understanding the client’s risk tolerance level, expected rate return requirements, and
liquidity needs. Adviser will allocate a client’s assets among various investments taking
into consideration the client’s unique ability, need, and willingness to take risk. This
information will then be used to make investment decisions and recommendations that
reflect clients’ individual needs and objectives on an initial and ongoing basis pursuant to
an Investment Policy Statement and Investment Plan. Investment management services
can include active or passive strategies. Adviser calls its approach to investment
management “enhanced open architecture.” In designing and implementing customized
strategies, Adviser can manage, on a discretionary and/or nondiscretionary basis, or
combination of both, a broad range of investment strategies and vehicles including:
• Equity (stock) and fixed income strategies
• Mutual fund and ETF strategies
• Alternative investments and strategies
• Third-party subadvisor/SAM (separate account manager) strategies
For certain clients, in addition to managing the client’s investment portfolio, Adviser provides
financial counseling services, which are more holistic services than investment management
alone (see below).
Adviser may provide investment advice on clients’ accounts and assets held away from
clients’ primary custodians. These held-away accounts and assets include but are not limited
to 401(k) accounts, 529 plans, private investments, annuities, etc. Clients may need to
arrange for Adviser’s access to such accounts in order for Adviser to trade the accounts
and/or provide investment advice (including but not limited to access and order management
through Pontera Solutions, Inc.). We review, monitor, and advise on these held-away
accounts in an integrated way with the clients’ brokerage accounts held at their primary
custodians.
If requested by a client, Adviser will help open and maintain a non-managed or
accommodation account for the client. By virtue of opening the account under Adviser,
Adviser may have a limited power of attorney authority on the account, but the client
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Date of Brochure: March 30, 2026
acknowledges that Adviser will not provide any investment advice on the account. Adviser
may, in its discretion, facilitate a client’s specific written request to facilitate a trade or other
instruction.
Adviser’s investment decisions and recommendations will allocate portions of clients’
account(s) to various asset classes classified according to historical and projected risks and
rates of return. For accounts in which Adviser has been granted discretionary authority,
Adviser will retain the discretion to buy, sell, or otherwise transact in securities and other
investments in a client’s accounts without first receiving the client’s specific approval for
each transaction. Such discretionary authority is granted by a client in his or her investment
management agreement with Adviser. For non-discretionary accounts, Adviser may only
buy, sell, or otherwise transact in securities and other investments in a client’s accounts
upon receiving the client’s specific approval for each transaction. Clients may impose
restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of securities so long as such
restrictions may reasonably be implemented by Adviser.
We may also recommend fixed income portfolios to clients, which consist of managed
accounts of individual bonds that are either directly managed by us or by a third-party fixed
income manager (who will also monitor the account for changes in credit ratings, security
call provisions, and tax loss harvesting opportunities (to the extent that the manager is
provided with cost basis information). We generally recommend customized, laddered bond
portfolios to clients for fixed income allocations. Complete customized, laddered fixed
income portfolios generally require a minimum level of assets allocated to fixed income.
Low-cost passively managed fixed income mutual funds may be used for smaller allocated
amounts.
Adviser will also be the named Investment Direction Adviser providing investment
advisory services to various trusts. The Investment Direction Adviser serves in a
fiduciary capacity to the trust and provides recommendations for investments to the
named Trustee of the trust.
ii.
Investment Consulting Services. Adviser provides investment consulting services on a
non-discretionary basis, which consist of reporting and review of assets held outside of
Adviser’s management. Such services include the provision of consolidated reports and
periodic meetings with clients to discuss their financial objectives, asset allocation,
portfolio performance, and liquidity needs, among other things.
iii. Financial Counseling Services. Adviser provides financial counseling services that are
geared toward integrating a client’s full financial circumstances as part of holistic wealth
services. In certain circumstances, financial counseling services can be standalone. In
general, financial counseling services will address any or all of the following areas:
• Investment Planning
• Retirement planning
• Tax planning
• Estate planning
• Cash flow planning
• Philanthropic planning
• Education planning
• Risk management and insurance planning
• Tax planning
• College planning
• Divorce financial planning
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iv. Family Office Services.
● Strategy: tax planning, wealth accumulation, estate and wealth transfer, lifestyle
planning
● Investment: portfolio strategy, manager selection, aggregation & coordination
● Legacy: family education, business & financial advice, philanthropy, fiduciary services
● Governance: tax, risk management, regulatory support, cash management & records.
v.
Integrated Wealth Management (“IWM”). For certain engagements, as a complement to
our investment management services, Adviser also provides financial planning services
to closely-held business owners that are geared toward integrating their personal and
professional lives and goals. IWM services generally include a financial plan, any or all of
the areas within the financial counseling services and may include analysis or planning
specific to a business, including cash flow strategies, equipment cost analysis, retirement
plan design, and business continuity and succession planning. Implementation of
Adviser’s recommendations will be at the discretion of the client.
When rendering financial planning services, a conflict exists between Adviser’s interests
and the interests of its clients; clients are under no obligation to act upon Adviser’s
financial planning recommendations. If a client elects to act on any of the
recommendations made by Adviser, the client is under no obligation to effect the
transaction through Adviser or any of its personnel.
Adviser acknowledges within the advisory contract with that client that it is held to a
fiduciary standard of care in the delivery and performance of its advisory services.
vi. Selection of other investment advisers. From time to time and when appropriate for a
particular client, Adviser will recommend or retain an independent and unaffiliated
third-party investment adviser (“Third-Party Adviser”) to manage all or a portion of a
client’s portfolio on a discretionary basis. Adviser may deem this appropriate based upon
individual client circumstances and objectives, including, but not limited to, client account
size, investment strategy, and tax circumstances. Third-Party Advisers are evaluated
based on a variety of factors, not the least of which include performance return history,
asset class specialization, management tenure, and risk profile. Adviser will conduct due
diligence as appropriate to confirm that such Third-Party Advisers are duly registered
and otherwise well-equipped to manage such clients’ accounts. Adviser generally retains
the discretionary authority to hire or fire such Third-Party Advisers with or without notice
to the client. As of the date of this brochure, Adviser generally recommends the
utilization of Focus Partners Advisor Solutions, LLC ("FPAS") as the Third-Party Adviser.
If appropriate for a client, Adviser may allocate a portion of a portfolio to an independent
third-party investment adviser (“separate account manager”) for separate account
management. Adviser generally recommends the utilization of Dimensional Fund
Advisors, LP (“DFA”), Vanguard Group Inc., and AQR Capital Management, LLC for
these services.
Through FPAS, Adviser offers access to an independent and unaffiliated cash
management aggregation platform named Flourish Cash (offered by Flourish Financial
LLC). A Flourish Cash account is a brokerage account opened directly by the client (and
not be Adviser) whereby the cash balance is swept from the brokerage account to
deposit accounts at one or more third-party banks that have agreed to accept deposits
from customers of Flourish Financial LLC and that offer competitive cash yields. Adviser
does not charge a fee on client assets held through Flourish Cash accounts, and does
not receive any compensation from Flourish Financial LLC in consideration of offering
clients access to Flourish Cash accounts. Please refer to the applicable disclosures
provided separately by Flourish Financial LLC upon account opening.
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vii. Pension Consulting Services. To the extent Adviser is retained by a defined contribution plan,
defined benefit plan, or other employee benefit plan (a “Plan”), Adviser shall review the Plan’s
investment objectives, risk tolerance, and goals, and shall work in partnership with applicable
third-parties (such as the Plan’s recordkeeper, third-party administrator, and/or discretionary
investment manager - such as FPAS) to establish an appropriate investment policy statement
and deploy applicable investment options into the Plan’s account. Adviser shall periodically
review the investment options available to the Plan and, if applicable, will make
recommendations to assist the Plan with respect to the selection of the Plan’s qualified
default investment alternative (“QDIA”). Adviser will provide reports, information and
recommendations, on a reasonably requested basis, to assist the Plan in monitoring the
selected investments. If elected by the Plan, Adviser may also provide various services
related to the Plan’s governance, the education of Plan participants, and the review of other
service providers to the Plan. In connection with Plans subject to the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) Adviser acknowledges that it is a fiduciary under
ERISA and the Code, shall render prudent investment advice that is in Plan’s best interest,
shall avoid making misleading statements, and shall receive no more than reasonable
compensation.
viii. Educational Seminars/Workshops. From time to time, Adviser will sponsor educational
seminars/workshops to help attendees organize their financial lives in the context of life
events such as divorce or loss of a family member. No specifically-tailored financial planning
or investment advice is intended to be rendered to attendees, and any attendees that wish to
receive such specifically-tailored financial planning or investment advice must separately
retain Adviser for such services.
ix. Special Projects. On occasion Adviser may charge clients additional fees for the following
projects:
• Cost Basis Determinations
• Variable Annuity and Equity/Fixed Index Annuity and Variable Life Insurance Reviews
• Estate Plan Design Involving Business Entities and Discount Valuation Techniques
• Closely Held Business Consulting
• Divorce Consulting
C. Adviser does not participate in any wrap fee programs.
D. While Eric Sobocinski may be a licensed attorney, Adviser does not provide any legal or accounting
advice. Clients should seek the counsel of an accountant and/or attorney when necessary.
E. When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual
retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act (“ERISA”) and/or the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), as applicable, which
are laws governing retirement accounts. The way we make money creates some conflicts with your
interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and not put
our interest ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
Meet a professional standard of care when making investment
recommendations (give prudent advice);
Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making
recommendations (give loyal advice);
Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that
is in your best interest;
Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
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F. Adviser manages the following amount of discretionary and non-discretionary client assets calculated
as of December 31, 2025:
i.
ii.
iii.
Discretionary:
Non-Discretionary:
Total:
$195,182,075
$1,023,359
$196,205,434
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Item 5: Fees and Compensation
A. Adviser is compensated for its advisory services primarily by fees charged based on a client’s
assets under management with Adviser. For clients that do not wish to engage Adviser to provide
ongoing portfolio management or advisory services, Adviser alternatively offers financial planning
services on a flat fee basis of $10,000 to $50,000 per plan, or an hourly basis at $50 to $800 per
hour. Fees are negotiable at Adviser’s sole discretion, and each client’s specific fee schedule is
included as part of the investment advisory agreement signed by Adviser and the client.
Adviser’s asset-based fee schedule for investment management services is set forth below, and
is inclusive of the fee charged by FPAS to Adviser (i.e., clients do not pay a separate fee to FPAS
for investment management services):
Client Assets Under Management
For the first $2,000,000
For the next $4,000,000
For the next $10,000,000
For all amounts above $16,000,000
Annual Fee Percentage
(paid quarterly)
1.00%
0.80%
0.60%
0.50%
The asset-based fee schedule set forth above is subject to a minimum annual fee of $10,000,
charged in quarterly increments.
Adviser’s asset-based fee schedule for pension consulting services is set forth below:
FPAS Annual
Client Assets Under
Management
Adviser Annual Fee
Percentage
Fee
Percentage
0.20%
0.70%
Total Annual Fee
Percentage
(paid quarterly)
0.90%
0.15%
0.45%
0.60%
0.08%
0.25%
0.33%
0.05%
0.15%
0.20%
For the first
$1,000,000
For the next
$4,000,000
For the next
$5,000,000
For all amounts above
$10,000,000
Adviser generally charges educational seminar/workshop attendees a one-time flat fee ranging
from $100 to $500 in advance of such seminar/workshop, and attendees will be provided a
receipt evidencing payment of the same.
If a client engages Adviser for one of the special projects outlined in Item 4 above (with the
exception of divorce consulting), the services will be undertaken on an hourly basis. Adviser’s
current hourly rates are set forth below. These fees may change from time to time.
Senior Wealth Manager
Wealth Manager
Financial Planner
Administrative Assistant
$800 per hour
$300 per hour
$200 per hour
$50 per hour
Adviser charges an hourly rate of $300 for divorce consulting services.
B. The asset-based fees set forth above are automatically deducted from Client’s account(s) and
payable quarterly in advance based on the gross value of the assets designated to be under
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Adviser’s management (inclusive of securities, cash, cash equivalents, and outstanding
margin balances) as of the last business day of the prior calendar quarter. Fees are prorated
based on the date that Client’s assets are first designated to be under Adviser’s management
through the effective date of termination. The pro rata fees for the remainder of the quarterly
billing period after the termination will be refunded to the client. Additional deposits of funds
and/or any other securities will be subject to the same fee procedures. The asset-based fees
set forth above are ‘tiered’ or ‘blended’ such that each listed range of assets under Adviser’s
management shall be charged at the listed corresponding annual fee. Client account
balances on which Adviser calculates fees may vary from account custodial statements
based on independent valuations and other accounting variances, including mechanisms for
including accrued interest in account statements.
C. In addition to the fees charged by Adviser, clients will incur brokerage and other transaction costs.
Please refer to Item 12: Brokerage Practices, for further information on such brokerage and other
transaction-related practices. Depending on the specific investment products held in a client’s
account and the services provided, a client may also incur additional fees and costs charged by
other independent and unaffiliated third-parties. Such additional fees and costs may include, but
are not necessarily limited to, the internal fees and costs of an investment product (like a mutual
fund or exchange traded fund), margin interest, account or asset transfer fees, subadvisory or
third-party investment manager fees, account type fees, early redemption charges, market-maker
or bid-ask spreads, retirement plan fees, fees for receiving paper copies of documents in lieu of
electronically-delivered documents, and other fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and
securities transactions. These additional charges are separate and apart from the fees charged
by Adviser. Lower fees for comparable services may be available from other sources.
D. Neither Adviser nor any of its supervised persons accepts compensation for the sale of
securities or other investment products.
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Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side
Management
Neither Adviser nor any of its supervised persons accepts performance-based fees (fees based on a
share of capital gains or capital appreciation of the assets of a client). Neither Adviser nor any of its
supervised persons engage in side-by-side management.
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Item 7: Types of Clients
Adviser generally provides its services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations,
and defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans, or other employee benefit plans. The minimum
annual fee required to open and maintain an account with Adviser is $10,000, subject to negotiation.
Please note that the Third-Party Advisers retained by Adviser may separately impose minimum account
value requirements.
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk
of Loss
A. The investment strategies used by Adviser when formulating investment advice or managing
assets include Modern Portfolio Theory. Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients
should be prepared to bear. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
B. Like any investment strategy, Modern Portfolio Theory involves material risks. Such material risks
are described in further detail below:
i.
Investing for the long term means that a client’s account will be exposed to short-term
fluctuations in the market and the behavioral impulse to make trading decisions based on
such short-term market fluctuations. Adviser does not condone short-term trading in an
attempt to “time” the market, and instead coaches clients to remain committed to their
financial goals. However, investing for the long term can expose clients to risks borne out
of changes to interest rates, inflation, general economic conditions, market cycles,
geopolitical shifts, and regulatory changes.
ii.
Inflation risk is the risk that the value of a client’s portfolio will not appreciate at least in an
amount equal to inflation over time. General micro- and macro-economic conditions may
also affect the value of the securities held in a client’s portfolio, and general economic
downturns can trigger corresponding losses across various asset classes and security
types. Market cycles may cause overall volatility and fluctuations in a portfolio’s value,
and may increase the likelihood that securities are purchased when values are
comparatively high and/or that securities are sold when values are comparatively low.
Geopolitical shifts may result in market uncertainty, lowered expected returns, and
general volatility in both domestic and international securities. Regulatory changes may
have a negative impact on capital formation and increase the costs of doing business,
and therefore result in decreased corporate profits and corresponding market values of
securities.
iii.
Investing in mutual funds does not guarantee a return on investment, and shareholders of
a mutual fund may lose the principal that they’ve invested into a particular mutual fund.
Mutual funds invest into underlying securities that comprise the mutual fund, and as such
clients are exposed to the risks arising from such underlying securities. Mutual funds
charge internal expenses to their shareholders (which can include management fees,
administration fees, shareholder servicing fees, sales loads, redemption fees, and other
fund fees and expenses, e.g.), and such internal expenses subtract from its potential for
market appreciation. Shares of mutual funds may only be traded at their stated net asset
value (“NAV”), calculated at the end of each day upon the market’s close.
Investing in ETFs bears similar risks and incurs similar costs to investing in mutual funds
as described above. However, shares of an ETF may be traded like stocks on the open
market and are not redeemable at an NAV. As such, the value of an ETF may fluctuate
throughout the day and investors will be subject to the cost associated with the bid-ask
spread (the difference between the price a buyer is willing to pay (bid) for an ETF and the
seller's offering (asking) price).
Clients are encouraged to carefully read the prospectus of any mutual fund or ETF to be
purchased for investment to obtain a full understanding of its respective risks and costs.
iv.
Investing in common stocks means that a client will be subject to the risks of the
overall market as well as risks associated with the particular company or companies
whose stock is owned. These risks can include, for example, changes in economic
conditions, growth rates, profits, interest rates and the market’s perception of these
securities. Common stocks tend to be more volatile and more risky than certain other
forms of investments, especially as compared to fixed income products like bonds.
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v.
Investing in fixed income securities issued by the U.S. Government, including Treasury
Bills, Treasury Notes, Treasury Bonds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”),
and Floating Rate Notes means that a client will be subject to the market prices of such
debt securities, which typically fluctuate depending on interest rates, credit quality, and
maturity. In general, market prices of debt securities decline when interest rates rise and
rise when interest rates fall. The longer the time to a security’s maturity, the greater its
interest rate risk. Fixed income securities issued by the U.S. Government are also subject
to inflation risk, reinvestment risk, redemption risk, and valuation risk.
vi.
Investing in municipal securities carries unique risks, depending on the type of bond
offered. General obligation bonds are issued by governmental entities and are not
backed by revenues from a specific project or source. In some instances, municipalities
may not have taxing authority to repay bondholders. Revenue bonds are backed by
revenues from a specific project or source and can vary greatly in terms of credit risk.
Some revenue bonds are “non-course” bonds, meaning that should the revenue stream
dry up or the conduit borrower fails to pay, the bondholder will not have a claim to the
underlying revenue or against the conduit borrower.
vii.
Investing in corporate debt, including corporate bonds, carries additional risks to those
noted above for fixed income securities. Corporate debt is also subject to credit risk - the
risk that the bond issuer may default on one or more payments before the bond reaches
maturity. In the event of a default, you may lose some or all of the income you were
entitled to, and even some or all of the principal amount invested. Some corporate
bonds may also be subject to early redemption risk, with the issuer having the principal
repaid prior to the maturity date of the bond.
viii.
Investing in REITs means that clients will be subject to the risks associated with
investments in mortgages and their related activities in addition to the general risk of
equity and financial markets. Among the factors that the REIT industry is vulnerable to
are: (1) change in government regulation, primarily the pass-through tax treatment of
REIT income, (2) the market for residential mortgage assets, (3) the general level and
term structure for interest rates. The common equity prices of REITs have historically
been more closely correlated with changes in interest rates than other non-REIT
equity securities. Additionally, REITs tend to be more illiquid in nature, may contain
additional fees, and may experience disruptions in distributions in comparison to other
types of securities.
ix.
An interval fund is a type of closed-end fund that periodically offers to repurchase its
shares from shareholders. Shareholders are not required to accept these offers and sell
their shares back to the fund. Shares typically do not trade on the secondary market.
Instead, their shares are subject to periodic repurchase offers by the fund at a price
based on net asset value. Interval funds are permitted to deduct a redemption fee from
the repurchase proceeds, not to exceed 2% of the proceeds. The fee is paid to the fund,
and generally is intended to compensate the fund for expenses directly related to the
repurchase. Interval funds may charge other fees as well. In addition to the risks
associated with pooled investment vehicles generally as described above, the specific
risk associated with interval funds is that it is less liquid than other open-end mutual funds
that can generally be redeemed at any time. Thus, a client may not be able to redeem his
or her investment until a redemption window is available.
x.
Investing in digital assets like bitcoin or ethereum, e.g., whether directly through an
exchange or indirectly through another product or platform, involves the general risks of
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Date of Brochure: March 30, 2026
investing in other investment vehicles. In addition, the value of digital assets are subject
to significant fluctuations, can be highly volatile, and can change dramatically even
intra-day. The price of digital assets could drop precipitously for a variety of reasons,
including, but not limited to, a crisis of confidence in the network or a change in user
preference to competing assets.
Digital assets represent an emerging asset class. As a result, the market infrastructure
through which it is exchanged and the regulatory foundation upon which it is regulated
are still in their respective infancy when compared to more traditional assets like
stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, or similar. Digital assets are not protected by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection
Corporation. Any exposure to digital assets can result in substantial losses and digital
asset investors should be able to withstand significant if not complete loss of invested
capital.
Digital assets facilitate decentralized, peer-to-peer financial exchange and value storage
that is used like money, without the oversight of a central authority or banks. The value
of digital assets are wholly derived from their monetary premium and is not backed by
any government, corporation, other identified body, or other physical assets. The
exchange and availability of digital assets are dependent on the availability and proper
functioning of the internet, the electronic platforms storing such digital assets, and the
owner’s control and possession of any needed password or digital key. Any downtime,
unavailability, cybersecurity breach, or loss of access is a risk that a digital asset investor
should be prepared to bear. The loss, destruction, or compromise of a private key may
result in a loss of the digital assets, typographical errors may lead to loss of the digital
assets, and digital asset trade errors cannot be unwound. Accordingly, the indirect
exposure to digital assets through securities of publicly listed companies is also
susceptible to these risks.
Once executed, a cryptocurrency transaction may be irreversible, and accordingly, losses
due to fraudulent or accidental transactions may not be recoverable. Some
cryptocurrency transactions shall be deemed to be made when recorded on a public
ledger (e.g., a blockchain), which is not necessarily the date or time that the customer
initiates the transaction. The value of cryptocurrency may be derived from the continued
willingness of market participants to exchange fiat currency for cryptocurrency, which
may result in the potential for permanent and total loss of value of a particular
cryptocurrency should the market for cryptocurrencies collapse. There is no assurance
that a person who accepts a cryptocurrency as a payment today will continue to do so in
the future.
The volatility and unpredictability of the price of cryptocurrency relative to fiat currency
may result in significant loss over a short period of time. The value of a particular
cryptocurrency may fall at any time, if, for example, a new, better cryptocurrency is
created or software developers make unexpected changes to how the cryptocurrency
works. Cryptocurrency is a digital currency and therefore intangible. This means that, like
any other digital system, cryptocurrencies are at risk of fraud, cyber-attacks, and being
affected by technical problems or difficulties which could result in you losing your crypto
assets or delaying or preventing your ability to access or use them.
xi.
Relying on the investment advisory or management services of an independent and
unaffiliated third-party adviser means that clients will be subject to such third-party
adviser’s continued ability to achieve its investment mandates, as well as specific client
investment objectives and restrictions. To the extent that a third-party adviser is
dependent on the services or intellectual capital of a select few individuals, the departure
or death of such individuals may have a material impact on the continued viability of such
third-party adviser and its ability to continue serving client accounts. There can be no
guarantee that a third-party adviser will meet its performance expectations, or that its
services will be free of trading or management-related errors.
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Item 9: Disciplinary Information
There are no legal or disciplinary events that are material to a client’s or prospective client’s evaluation of
Adviser’s advisory business or the integrity of Adviser’s management.
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Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
A. Neither Adviser nor any of its management persons are registered, or have an application
pending to register, as a broker-dealer or a registered representative of a broker-dealer.
B. Neither Adviser nor any of its management persons are registered, or have an application
pending to register, as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, a commodity
trading advisor, or an associated person of the foregoing entities.
C. Neither Adviser nor any of its management persons have any relationship or arrangement with
any related person below:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
broker-dealer, municipal securities dealer, or government securities dealer or broker
investment company or other pooled investment vehicle (including a mutual fund,
closed-end investment company, unit investment trust, private investment company or
“hedge fund,” and offshore fund)
other investment adviser or financial planner
futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, or commodity trading advisor
banking or thrift institution
accountant or accounting firm
pension consultant
sponsor or syndicator of limited partnerships
D. Although Eric Sobocinski is a licensed attorney, he does not provide any legal advice to clients
of Adviser through services provided at Amphora Wealth Management, LLC. Clients should
seek the counsel of a qualified attorney when necessary. Through his law firm and although
never required, Adviser clients may engage Eric Sobocinski as an attorney to provide legal
services as a separate and distinct agreement from services provided through Adviser. Eric
Sobocinski is of-counsel to the law firm Walker Lambe, PLLC in Durham, North Carolina. To the
extent Eric Sobocinski provides separate legal services to a client of Adviser, it presents a
conflict of interest due to the additional compensation that Eric Sobocinski will earn as a result.
This conflict of interest is addressed by disclosing it in this brochure, by transparently disclosing
the additional fees that Eric Sobocinski will charge for his legal services in a separate legal
engagement letter, and by reminding clients that they are under no obligation to retain Eric
Sobocinski for legal services.
E. Eric Sobocinski is a licensed insurance agent and the Owner and President of Kylix
Management, Inc., which provides management services to businesses and insurance sales
to individuals and businesses. Kylix Management, Inc. does not provide services or products
to individuals who are clients of Adviser, other than to Eric Sobocinski, its employees and
Adviser itself.
Although AmyJo Young McElfresh is a licensed insurance agent, she does not actively sell
insurance. She does, however, receive trailing commissions for insurance and annuity product
sales which occurred prior to her joining Adviser.
Eric Sobocinski’s son is a real estate agent and insurance agent, and Eric Sobocinski reserves
the right to refer clients to his son for their real estate and property/casualty insurance needs.
Because of this familial relationship and the additional real estate and/or insurance commissions
that his son stands to earn as a result of the referral, this presents a conflict of interest. This
conflict of interest is addressed by fully disclosing it in this brochure, by only making real estate
and/or insurance client referrals to his son when believed to be appropriate for a particular client,
by reminding clients that they are under no obligation to use his son for their real estate and/or
insurance needs, and by separately disclosing his familial relationship at the time of the referral.
Neither Adviser nor Eric Sobocinski individually receives compensation from his son in
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consideration of any client referrals.
F. Adviser may provide consulting services related to changes in financial situations resulting from a
divorce. In accordance with the terms of the written agreement with the client and based on the
information provided by the client, Adviser will prepare a financial analysis addressing the
financial issues resulting from a divorce. Compensation for this consulting service is described
above in Item 5.
G. As described earlier in Item 4 of this brochure, Adviser retains the authority to recommend or
retain one or more Third-Party Advisers (such as FPAS) to provide investment advisory,
administrative, and other back-office services to Adviser for the benefit of Adviser and its clients.
Adviser does not receive any compensation directly from such Third-Party Adviser, but they do
offer services that are intended to directly benefit Adviser, clients, or both. Such services include
(i) an online platform through which Adviser can monitor and review client accounts, create
model portfolios, and perform other client account maintenance matters, (ii) access to technology
that allows for client account aggregation, (iii) quarterly client statements, (iv) invitations to
educational conferences, (v) practice management consulting, (vi) full or partial sponsorship of
client appreciation or education events, and (vii) occasional business meals and entertainment.
The availability of such services from a Third-Party Adviser creates a conflict of interest, to the
extent Adviser may be motivated to retain a Third-Party Adviser as opposed to an alternative
Third-Party Adviser (or to not retain one at all). Adviser addresses this conflict of interest by
performing appropriate due diligence on Third-Party Advisers to confirm their respective services
are in the best interests of clients, periodically evaluating alternatives, and evaluating the merit of
Third-Party Advisers without consideration for the benefits received by Adviser.
H. Adviser maintains a Business Continuity and Succession Plan and seeks to avoid a disruption of
service to clients in the event of an unforeseen loss of key personnel, due to disability or death.
To that end, Adviser has entered into a succession agreement with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC
(“FPW”), effective October 3, 2013. Adviser can provide additional information to any current or
prospective client upon request. FPW and FPAS are affiliated companies.
I. Adviser receives software from DFA, which Adviser utilizes in forming asset allocation strategies
and producing performance reports. DFA also provides continuing education for Adviser
personnel. These services are designed to assist Adviser plan and design its services for
business growth. The receipt of such software and services creates a financial incentive to utilize
DFA funds, which is a conflict of interest. We address this conflict of interest by fully disclosing it
herein, by only utilizing DFA funds in client portfolios when believed to be appropriate for clients,
and by evaluating DFA funds independent of any software or services received by DFA.
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Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions & Personal Trading
A. Adviser has adopted a code of ethics that will be provided to any client or prospective client upon
request. Adviser’s code of ethics describes the standards of business conduct that Adviser
requires of its supervised persons, which is reflective of Adviser’s fiduciary obligations to act in
the best interests of its clients. The code of ethics also includes sections related to compliance
with securities laws, reporting of personal securities transactions and holdings, reporting of
violations of the code of ethics to Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer, pre-approval of certain
investments by access persons, and the distribution of the code of ethics and any amendments to
all supervised persons followed by a written acknowledgement of their receipt.
B. Neither Adviser nor any of its related persons recommends to clients, or buys or sells for client
accounts, securities in which Adviser or any of its related persons has a material financial
interest.
C. From time to time, Adviser or its related persons will invest in the same securities (or related
securities such as warrants, options or futures) that Adviser or a related person recommends to
clients. This has the potential to create a conflict of interest because it affords Adviser or its
related persons the opportunity to profit from the investment recommendations made to clients.
Adviser’s policies and procedures and code of ethics address this potential conflict of interest by
prohibiting such trading by Adviser or its related persons if it would be to the detriment of any
client and by monitoring for compliance through the reporting and review of personal securities
transactions. In all instances Adviser will act in the best interests of its clients.
D. From time to time, Adviser or its related persons will buy or sell securities for client accounts at or
about the same time that Adviser or a related person buys or sells the same securities for its own
(or the related person’s own) account. This has the potential to create a conflict of interest
because it affords Adviser or its related persons the opportunity to trade either before or after the
trade is made in client accounts, and profit as a result. Adviser’s policies and procedures and
code of ethics address this potential conflict of interest by prohibiting such trading by Adviser or
its related persons if it would be to the detriment of any client and by monitoring for compliance
through the reporting and review of personal securities transactions. In all instances Adviser will
act in the best interests of its clients.
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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
A. Adviser considers several factors when recommending a custodial broker-dealer for client
transactions and determining the reasonableness of such custodial broker-dealer’s
compensation. Such factors include the custodial broker-dealer’s industry reputation and financial
stability, service quality and responsiveness, execution price, speed and accuracy, reporting
abilities, and general expertise. Assessing these factors as a whole allows Adviser to fulfill its duty
to seek best execution for its clients’ securities transactions. However, Adviser does not
guarantee that the custodial broker-dealer recommended for client transactions will necessarily
provide the best possible price, as price is not the sole factor considered when seeking best
execution. After considering the factors above, Adviser recommends Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
("Schwab") and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC ("Fidelity") as the custodial broker-dealers for
client accounts. Adviser will also utilize Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
(“TIAA”) as a custodian, particularly for clients who have participated in the TIAA platform as part
of their employer’s retirement plan.
i.
Adviser does not receive research and other soft dollar benefits in connection with client
securities transactions, which are known as “soft dollar benefits”. However, the custodial
broker-dealer(s) recommended by Adviser do provide certain products and services that
are intended to directly benefit Adviser, clients, or both. Such products and services
include (a) an online platform through which Adviser can monitor and review client
accounts, (b) access to proprietary technology that allows for order entry, (c) duplicate
statements for client accounts and confirmations for client transactions, (d) invitations to
the custodial broker-dealer(s)’ educational conferences, (e) practice management
consulting, and (f) occasional business meals and entertainment.
The receipt of these products and services creates a conflict of interest to the extent it
causes Adviser to recommend Schwab and Fidelity as opposed to a comparable
custodial broker-dealer. Adviser addresses this conflict of interest by fully disclosing it in
this brochure, evaluating Schwab and Fidelity based on the value and quality of their
services as realized by clients, and by periodically evaluating alternative broker-dealers
to recommend.
ii.
Additionally, through FPAS, Adviser has access to mutual funds and interval
funds created and managed by Stone Ridge Asset Management LLC (“Stone
Ridge”) at reduced firm-wide minimums, for client investment. Stone Ridge is an
independent investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. As part of this relationship, Adviser also has access to other
resources and services offered by Stone Ridge, including research. Stone Ridge’s
reduced firm-wide account minimums create an incentive for Adviser to
recommend Stone Ridge funds.
iii.
Adviser does not consider, in selecting or recommending custodial broker-dealers,
whether Adviser or a related person receives client referrals from a custodial
broker-dealer.
iv.
Adviser does not routinely recommend, request, or require that a client direct Adviser to
execute transactions through a specified custodial broker-dealer other than Schwab and
Fidelity.
B. Adviser does not arrange for the execution of securities transactions for participant directed plans
utilizing Pension Consulting Services. Transactions are executed directly through employee plan
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Date of Brochure: March 30, 2026
participation.
C. Adviser (or a Third-Party Adviser) retains the ability to aggregate the purchase and sale of
securities for clients’ accounts with the goal of seeking more efficient execution and more
consistent results across accounts. Aggregated trading instructions will not be placed if it would
result in increased administrative and other costs, custodial burdens, or other disadvantages. If
client trades are aggregated by Adviser, such aggregation will be done so as not to disadvantage
any client and to treat all clients as fairly and equally as possible. Directing the purchase and sale
of securities for clients’ accounts on an individual basis, rather than in aggregate blocks, may
result in increased client transaction costs. To the extent the securities purchased and sold by
Adviser are mutual funds (each of which generally price at the same respective net asset value at
the end of each trading day), Adviser believes that the potential for increased client transaction
costs by not aggregating orders is substantially eliminated.
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Item 13: Review of Accounts
A. The Manager and Chief Compliance Officer of Adviser monitors client accounts on an ongoing
basis, and typically reviews client accounts on a quarterly basis. Such reviews are designed to
ensure that the client is still on track to achieve his or her financial goals, and that the investments
remain appropriate given the client’s risk tolerance, investment objectives, major life events, and
other factors. Clients are encouraged to proactively reach out to Adviser to discuss any changes
to their personal or financial situation.
B. Other factors that may trigger a review include, but are not limited to, material developments in
market conditions, material geopolitical events, and changes to a client’s personal or financial
situation (the birth of a child, preparing for a home purchase, plans to attend higher education, a
job transition, impending retirement, death or disability among family members, etc.).
C. The custodial broker-dealer will send account statements and reports directly to clients no less
frequently than quarterly. Such statements and reports will be mailed to clients at their address of
record or delivered electronically, depending on the client’s election. If agreed to by Adviser and
client, Adviser or a third-party report provider will also send clients reports to assist them in
understanding their account positions and performance, as well as the progress toward achieving
financial goals.
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Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
A. Only clients provide an economic benefit to Adviser for providing investment advice or other
advisory services to them, except as otherwise described in this brochure. However, as
described above in Item 12, the custodial broker-dealer(s) recommended for client accounts
provides certain products and services that are intended to directly benefit Adviser, clients, or
both.
B. Neither Adviser nor a related person directly or indirectly compensates a person who is
not Adviser’s supervised person for client referrals.
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Item 15: Custody
For clients that do not have their fees deducted directly from their account(s), and have not provided
Adviser with any standing letters of authorization (“SLOAs”) to distribute funds from their account(s) to
third parties, Adviser will not have any custody of client funds or securities.
For clients that have their fees deducted directly from their account(s), or that have provided Adviser with
discretion as to amount and timing of disbursements pursuant to an SLOA to disburse funds from their
account(s) to third parties, Adviser will generally be deemed to have custody over such clients’ funds
pursuant to applicable custody rules and guidance thereto. At no time will Adviser accept custody of client
funds or securities in the capacity of a custodial broker-dealer or other qualified custodian, and at all times
client accounts will be held by a third-party qualified custodian as described in Item 12, above.
With respect to custody that is triggered by third party SLOAs, Adviser endeavors to comply with the
following seven conditions as listed in the 2017 SEC No Action Letter to the Investment Adviser
Association:
1. The client provides an instruction to the qualified custodian, in writing, that includes the client’s
signature, the third party’s name, and either the third party’s address or the third party’s
account number at a custodian to which the transfer should be directed.
2. The client authorizes the investment adviser, in writing, either on the qualified custodian’s form or
separately, to direct transfers to the third party either on a specified schedule or from time to
time.
3. The client’s qualified custodian performs appropriate verification of the instruction, such as a
signature review or other method to verify the client’s authorization, and provides a transfer
of funds notice to the client promptly after each transfer.
4. The client has the ability to terminate or change the instruction to the client’s qualified custodian.
5. The investment adviser has no authority or ability to designate or change the identity of the third
party, the address, or any other information about the third party contained in the client’s
instruction.
6. The investment adviser maintains records showing that the third party is not a related party of the
investment adviser or located at the same address as the investment adviser.
7. The client’s qualified custodian sends the client, in writing, an initial notice confirming the
instruction and an annual notice reconfirming the instruction.
If a client receives account statements from both the custodial broker-dealer and Adviser or a third-party
report provider, client is urged to compare such account statements and advise Adviser of any
discrepancies between them.
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Item 16: Investment Discretion
Adviser accepts discretionary trading authority to manage securities accounts on behalf of clients only
pursuant to the mutual written agreement of Adviser and the client through a power-of-attorney, which is
typically contained in the advisory agreement signed by Adviser and the client. This includes the authority
to buy, sell, and otherwise transact in securities and other investment products in client’s account(s)
without necessarily consulting with clients in advance. Clients may place reasonable limitations on this
discretionary authority so long as it is contained in a written agreement and/or power-of-attorney.
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Item 17: Voting Client Securities
A. Adviser does not have and will not accept authority to vote client securities.
B. Clients will receive their proxies or other solicitations directly from their custodial broker-dealer or
a transfer agent, as applicable, and should direct any inquiries regarding such proxies or other
solicitations directly to the sender.
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Item 18: Financial Information
A. Adviser does not require or solicit prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per client, six months
or more in advance.
B. Adviser has no financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to meet contractual
commitments to clients.
C. Adviser has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at any time during the past ten years.
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