Overview
- Headquarters
- New York, NY
- Average Client Assets
- $8.9 million
- Minimum Account Size
- $1,000,000
- SEC CRD Number
- 5845
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (ARS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC BROCHURE)
| Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | and above | 1.50% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
| Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $15,000 | 1.50% |
| $5 million | $75,000 | 1.50% |
| $10 million | $150,000 | 1.50% |
| $50 million | $750,000 | 1.50% |
| $100 million | $1,500,000 | 1.50% |
Clients
- HNW Share of Firm Assets
- 71.73%
- Total Client Accounts
- 937
- Discretionary Accounts
- 907
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 30
Services Offered
Services: Portfolio Management for Individuals, Portfolio Management for Companies, Portfolio Management for Pooled Investment Vehicles, Portfolio Management for Institutional Clients, Investment Advisor Selection, Educational Seminars
Regulatory Filings
Additional Brochure: ARS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC BROCHURE (2026-04-27)
View Document Text
Item 1: Cover Page
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Form ADV Part 2A
Firm Brochure
April 27, 2026
ARS Investment Partners, LLC
CRD #5845 / SEC #801-7566, 8-16566
529 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 687-9800
Fax: (646) 619-4460
www.arsinvest.com
www.arsinvestetfs.com
www.x.com/ARSInvestments
www.arsinvestmentpartners.com
www.linkedin.com/company/arsinvestmentpartnersllc
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of ARS Investment Partners,
LLC, an investment adviser registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. If you have
any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at T: (212) 687-9800 or email us at
compliance@arsinvest.com.
Nothing in this document is to be construed as a recommendation or an endorsement by the SEC or any state
securities authority or an offer of securities; please refer to the actual investment offering and related legal
documentation for complete disclosures. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of
skill or training. Investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. An adviser's written and oral
communications provide you with information to determine whether to retain their services. This brochure is on file
with the appropriate regulatory authorities as required by federal and state regulations.
Additional information about ARS Investment Partners, LLC is also available on the SEC's website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
1
Item 2: Material Changes
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ARS Investment Partners, LLC (“ARS” or “the Adviser”) reviews its Form ADV Part 2A brochure at least annually
to confirm it remains current. In this item, we are required to summarize only those material changes made to our
brochure since our last Annual Updating Amendment.
If you are receiving this document for the first time, this section may not be relevant to you.
Since our last Annual Updating Amendment on March 30, 2026, we have the following material changes to report:
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss
On April 1, 2026, we changed the name of the “ARS Focused All Cap Strategy” to the “ARS Focused
Opportunities Strategy.” This change reflects only a renaming of the strategy and has been updated
accordingly throughout this brochure; there have been no material changes to its investment objectives,
investment process, or risk profile.
Full Brochure Availability
We may amend this document at any time to reflect material changes to our business practices, policies, or
procedures, as required by securities regulators. Annually, within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year on
December 31st, and as needed for any material changes, we will provide ARS investment advisory Clients, either
electronically or in hard copy, with a new brochure or a summary of material changes from the previously supplied
document, along with an offer to deliver the full brochure upon request. Please retain this document for future
reference, as it contains essential information about our advisory services and business.
You may view our current disclosure documents at the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure ("IAPD")
website at http://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov by searching either by our firm name or CRD #5845. The SEC's website
also provides information about any affiliated person registered or required to be registered as an Investment
Advisor Representative of the firm. You may also request a free copy by contacting us directly at T: (212) 687-9800,
emailing us at compliance@arsinvest.com, or visiting our website at www.arsinvest.com.
2
Item 3: Table of Contents
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Item 1: Cover Page ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Item 2: Material Changes ............................................................................................................................. 2
Item 3: Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. 3
Item 4: Advisory Business ............................................................................................................................ 4
Item 5: Fees & Compensation ..................................................................................................................... 9
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management ..............................................................15
Item 7: Types of Clients .............................................................................................................................17
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss ..........................................................17
Item 9: Disciplinary Information ..................................................................................................................21
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations ..........................................................................21
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions & Personal Trading ...................22
Item 12: Brokerage Practices .....................................................................................................................23
Item 13: Review of Accounts......................................................................................................................27
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation.......................................................................................27
Item 15: Custody ........................................................................................................................................28
Item 16: Investment Discretion...................................................................................................................30
Item 17: Voting Client Securities ................................................................................................................31
Item 18: Financial Information ....................................................................................................................32
Item 19: Requirements for State Registered Advisers ..............................................................................32
Item 20: Additional Information .................................................................................................................32
Information Security Program ......................................................................................................33
Privacy Practices .........................................................................................................................33
3
Item 4: Advisory Business
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Description of Firm
ARS Investment Partners, LLC ("ARS,” “the Adviser” or “Firm”), the successor to and formerly known as A.R.
Schmeidler & Co., Inc., is a Delaware limited liability company that was originally founded in 1971 by Arnold
Schmeidler. ARS is an investment adviser registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"), as amended. Effective December 20th, 2016,
three of its affiliated registered investment advisers (Artemis Wealth LLC, Somerset Capital Advisers, LLC, and PS
Management, Inc.) (together, the "Predecessor RIAs") merged into and formed ARS Investment Partners, LLC.
Principal Owners
ARS is majority-owned by Artemis US Corporation. Artemis US Corporation is 100% owned by Artemis Investment
Management (2021) Corporation, a financial services firm headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Miles
Nadal is the controlling shareholder of Artemis Investment Management (2021) Corporation.
Advisory Business
In this Brochure, the terms “we,” “our,” or “us” refer to ARS, and the terms “you,” “your,” and “Client” refer to you,
whether a current or prospective Client of the firm. The term “Associate” refers to all ARS Supervised Persons, as
that term is defined under the Advisers Act, including the firm’s officers, directors, employees, and investment
professionals—namely, the firm’s Investment Advisor Representatives (“IARs”)—who are subject to the firm’s
supervision and control and authorized to provide investment advisory services on its behalf.
ARS owes a fiduciary duty to its Clients, as defined by applicable laws and regulations. As a fiduciary, ARS is
committed to acting with loyalty, care, fairness, and good faith toward each Client. This commitment includes
mitigating potential conflicts of interest that may arise during service provision. In delivering investment advice, we
endeavor to exercise the highest degree of care, skill, prudence, and diligence that a prudent person acting in a
fiduciary capacity would apply under similar circumstances.
Applicable regulations require our IARs to obtain the necessary licenses and complete required training to
recommend specific investment products and services. Clients should be aware that their IAR's ability to
recommend certain services, investments, or strategies may depend on the specific licenses or training they have
completed. Additionally, registered individuals can only transact business or respond to Client inquiries in the states
and locations where they are properly licensed. For additional information about the individuals providing advisory
services on our behalf, Clients should refer to their IAR's Form ADV 2B Brochure Supplement, a separate disclosure
document provided alongside this Brochure, prior to or at the time the advisory relationship begins. (If you did not
receive this document, please contact us directly at T: (212) 687-9800 or compliance@arsinvest.com to obtain a
copy.)
Non-Exclusive Relationship
Our relationship with each Client is non-exclusive. In other words, we provide advisory services to multiple Clients,
offering investment strategies tailored to each Client's specific financial situation. Accordingly, since investment
strategies and advice are custom-tailored to each Client's specific financial situation, the advice we provide to one
Client may differ from or conflict with that provided for the same security or investment for another Client. (See Item
8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss for additional information.)
Other Professional Service Provider Recommendations
ARS may refer clients to other professionals for implementation, such as lawyers, accountants, insurance agents,
and others. These professionals are engaged directly by the Client on an as-needed basis. Unless otherwise stated,
ARS does not receive referral fees for such recommendations, and Clients are under no obligation to use any
recommended services. If Clients choose to engage these professionals, they will enter into a separate agreement
directly with the selected professional(s).
Except where specifically indicated, ARS is not involved in the transaction and does not have the authority to accept
Clients on behalf of any referred professional. Each referred professional has the right to decline any Client or
prospective Client for any reason or without reason.
In selecting a referred professional, the Client is responsible for reviewing and understanding the referred provider's
separate contract, including any associated charges. The Client will be liable for these charges should they choose
to engage the referred professional. The Client retains full discretion over all such implementation decisions and is
under no obligation to accept or follow any recommendation from ARS.
4
If a Client engages any recommended professional and a dispute arises thereafter regarding such engagement,
the Client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from and against the engaged professional.
Should any conflicts of interest arise concerning the recommendation of other professionals in the future, ARS will
notify the Client accordingly. (See Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations for additional
information.)
Client Responsibilities
ARS’ advisory services rely on the information provided by Clients. ARS cannot adequately fulfill its obligations and
fiduciary duties to the Client unless the Client discloses an accurate and complete representation of their financial
position and investment needs and submits any requested data or documentation in a timely manner. The Client
will furnish, or cause to be furnished to ARS, such information as ARS may request from time to time in connection
with the services provided by ARS, including accurate purchase dates and transaction costs organized by tax lot,
for any securities in Client’s Separately Managed Accounts (“SMAs”) purchased before ARS management. ARS
will not be responsible for tax liabilities arising out of or associated with positions or holdings for which ARS has not
received accurate or complete tax lot or cost information. The Client will provide updates promptly upon changes
and otherwise fulfill their responsibilities under the Investment Management Agreement (“IMA”). ARS will rely on
the accuracy of the information supplied by the Client or on their behalf without further investigation; ARS is not
obligated to verify information obtained from Clients or other professional advisors, including accountants or
attorneys.
Clients will acknowledge and agree to their obligation to promptly notify ARS in writing if any information material
to the advisory services provided changes, if previously provided information that might affect the management of
their SMA(s) occurs, or if any earlier provided data becomes inaccurate. The Client or their successor shall also
promptly notify ARS in writing of the Client's dissolution, termination, merger, or bankruptcy if the Client is not a
natural person or of the occurrence of any other event that might affect the validity of their IMA or our authority
under the IMA.
ARS reserves the right to terminate any Client engagement where the Client has willfully concealed or failed to
provide pertinent information material to the advisory services to be rendered or to their individual or financial
situations when necessary and appropriate, in its judgment, to provide proper financial advice.
Advisory Agreement
ARS’ advisory services are designed to address the specific needs of each Client, as outlined in the applicable
written Client contract – the IMA. Each IMA will outline the scope of services, contract terms, advisory fees, the
formula for calculating such fees, and the type of investment management authority granted. The advisory fee
structure for the selected service will be clearly documented in the executed IMA.
IARs are limited to providing only the services specified in the respective IMA and must adhere to the Client's stated
objectives, limitations, and restrictions, as applicable.
To engage ARS’ advisory services, Clients must complete and execute the appropriate IMA for the selected service.
Clients may engage us for additional services at any time. Once established, an IMA may not be assigned, as
defined under the Advisers Act, without the Client's consent, as specified therein. (Note: Transactions that do not
result in a change of actual control or management of ARS within the meaning of the Advisers Act shall not be
considered an assignment.)
Clients should consult with their IAR (also referred to as “Portfolio Manager” herein) and the applicable IMA and
Fee Schedules for additional information regarding each service. (For further information regarding advisory service
fees and account management style, refer to Item 5: Fees & Compensation and Item 16: Investment Discretion.)
Investor Profile & Client Suitability
ARS is an investment advisory firm dedicated to Client engagement and personalized financial guidance. We
provide tailored investment advice, advisory services, and wealth management guidance to meet each Client's
unique needs.
At the outset of the advisory relationship, the Portfolio Manager will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the
Client's financial situation. This evaluation may involve personal discussions, diagnostic questionnaires, and other
tools utilized by ARS. Key factors such as investment goals, financial objectives, risk tolerance, liquidity, income
needs, time horizon, and investing experience will be evaluated. Additionally, the Client's income, expenses, and
5
existing investments will be reviewed to form a clear understanding of their overall financial landscape. Further
pertinent information will be gathered, including financial data such as assets, liabilities, and portfolio statements.
This data will serve as the foundation for crafting customized investment plans and recommendations tailored to
the Client's specific financial situation. Based on this comprehensive profile, the Portfolio Manager will recommend
what they believe to be the most appropriate advisory services for the Client.
Depending on the selected advisory service, an investment recommendation will be formulated, which includes the
development of an asset allocation strategy. This strategy will take into account the Client's financial objectives, risk
tolerance, and personal preferences. The goal is to establish realistic, measurable financial targets and create an
investment strategy that supports both short-term and long-term financial objectives. The executed IMA will describe
the advisory services to be provided, along with the agreed-upon fee structure, supporting transparency and mutual
understanding of the terms.
Types of Advisory Services
ARS provides the following advisory services:
1.
Investment Management Services
- Separately Managed Account Services
- Pooled Investment Vehicle Services
2. Third-Party Adviser Management Referral Services
3. Registered Investment Company Sponsorship & Sub-Advisory Services
4. Financial Planning Services
5. Educational Seminars & Workshop Services
Investment Management Services
Separately Managed Account Services
ARS' investment management services to separately managed accounts (“SMA’s” or “Accounts”) are managed
on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis as specified in the Client's IMA, with most of our accounts
managed on a discretionary basis. ARS develops an investment strategy and investment guidelines following a
review of the Client's investment objectives and financial circumstances. ARS may also engage one or more third-
party sub-advisers to manage all or a portion of a Client's portfolio, subject to the terms of the Client’s IMA.
Client may, from time to time, request that ARS purchase or hold securities positions that ARS does not currently
recommend for client accounts (“Unsupervised Assets”) as designated on Schedule A of their IMA. ARS is not
obligated to comply with Client’s request, and any activity ARS conducts relating to Unsupervised Assets is provided
solely as an accommodation to Client. ARS will have no responsibility or liability with respect to the determination
to purchase, hold, or sell Unsupervised Assets or for making any determination as to whether such Unsupervised
Assets are or continue to be suitable or appropriate for the Client. Clients will acknowledge that ARS’ treatment of
positions as Unsupervised Assets may or may not be reflected in the Firm’s books and records by any specific
mark, designation, or other indication, and the presence or absence of such designation will not affect ARS’
responsibility or liability for such Unsupervised Assets. ARS reserves the right to request that Unsupervised Assets
be transferred out of the SMA(s) at any time.
Unless otherwise directed by the Client and acknowledged in writing by ARS, ARS will only manage the assets held
in ARS SMA(s). The Client agrees that ARS neither is responsible for nor needs to consider in its management of
SMA(s) any securities or other property owned by Client outside of ARS SMA(s).
Pooled Investment Vehicle Services
ARS also provides pooled investment vehicle services. ARS is the investment manager to a pooled investment
vehicle (“Fund”) intended for sophisticated and institutional investors. The Fund is a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the State of Ohio. Interests in the Fund are offered to qualified investors solely on a
private placement basis in accordance with Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933.
The Fund is exempt from registration as an investment company in accordance with Section 3(c)(1 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
There are additional costs and expenses associated with the Fund, paid directly and indirectly by investors. The
Fund's offering memorandum contains disclosures on costs, expenses, carried interest calculations, withdrawal
options, and return-on-investment payments. No guarantees can be offered that the Fund’s investment goals or
6
objectives will be achieved. (See Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss for more
information about the Funds.)
Please Note: This brochure is provided to current and prospective Clients of ARS in accordance with the
requirements of the Advisers Act. It describes the advisory services offered by ARS and includes important
information regarding its business practices, fees, conflicts of interest, and other material disclosures. This
document is not an offering document for any Fund managed by ARS and should not be construed as an offer to
sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in such Fund. Any such offering will be made only pursuant to the
relevant offering documents, which are provided separately and include important information regarding the terms,
risks, and suitability of an investment in the Fund.
In the event of any inconsistency between the information contained in this brochure and the applicable offering
documents of the Fund, the offering documents shall govern with respect to the terms of the Fund.
Third-Party Adviser Management Referral Services
ARS also offers third-party adviser management referral services, where ARS will, after appropriate due
diligence, select or recommend independent and separate registered investment advisers (collectively, each
referred third-party manager a "TPM") to administer the Client's accounts. For this advisory service option, ARS
and its Portfolio Managers may act in a Promoter capacity, and the Clients are the potential investors we introduce
to each TPM, who may then subsequently decide to open an account, invest with the referred TPM, and become
the referred manager's Client if accepted. Through this option, ARS Clients can access unaffiliated third-party
traditional and alternative investment manager firms.
ARS will refer Clients only to investment advisers registered with the SEC or the applicable state(s). ARS will refer
only to individuals or entities suitable for the TPM's services.
ARS does not have the authority to accept Clients on behalf of any referred adviser, and referred TPMs are not
obligated to accept any referred prospective Clients. Each TPM has the right to reject any referred Client for any
reason or no reason at all. Our role is to verify that prospective Clients meet the suitability criteria to become TPM
Clients, assess whether they have investable assets, and ensure they have a basic understanding of financial
investing.
ARS conducts overall due diligence of recommended third-party investment managers and provides periodic
reports to Clients regarding their investments. As part of these services, ARS assists the Client in developing their
investment objectives and provides investment and manager recommendations based on the goals, investment
preferences, restrictions, and guidelines a Client may impose on their SMA(s). ARS can assist Clients in selecting
appropriate managers and allocation models based on their unique needs, help Clients understand the referred
manager's agreement, and support Clients in completing their profile and suitability information, as needed. This
process helps the referred manager determine an appropriate allocation strategy for the Client's account.
Clients will receive full disclosure of the details outlined above and the nature of the relationship at the time of
referral. This includes all required disclosure brochures, information regarding any referral compensation
arrangement with the TPM, the disclosure of any material conflicts of interest arising from the relationship and
compensation arrangement, and other general terms of the referred services. These documents will be provided in
accordance with relevant regulatory requirements.
Clients are encouraged to review and understand all disclosure documents carefully.
Under this advisory service, the Clients must execute two separate contracts:
1. The standard IMA with ARS includes authorization for the Client's IAR to monitor the TPM's
performance on the Client's behalf.
2. A separate agreement with the referred TPM detailing the third-party manager's services, fees, and
other relevant terms governing the management of the Client's relationship and separate account with
the TPM, in accordance with their stated investment objectives.
The TPM will assume responsibility for portfolio management, trade execution, reporting, and custody-related
functions for the assets under its management, as outlined in its IMA. Client assets will be held by the TPM's
independent Qualified Custodian, which will safeguard the Client's portfolio assets and execute transactions based
on the instructions of the referred TPM. Unless otherwise directed, the Client will also enter into a separate
7
agreement with the custodian to establish the custodial account. ARS will neither have access to nor maintain
physical custody of Client assets, nor will it maintain physical custody of income derived from the TPM custodial
account.
The Client is responsible for any custodial fees and expenses. ARS will not be liable for any actions or omissions
of the referred manager or custodian, nor for any fees, charges, or costs associated with the referred account,
including brokerage or custodial fees.
Clients are encouraged to thoroughly review the referred manager's agreement for details regarding fees, account
management, custody, and termination provisions. (See Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk
of Loss for more information about the strategies offered.)
Registered Investment Company Sponsorship & Sub‑Advisory Services
ARS has entered into a strategic relationship with ETF Architect(s) to sponsor and serve as investment sub‑adviser
to two exchange‑traded funds (each, an “ETF”) launched as separate series of ETF Architects’ EA Series Trust (the
“Trust”), an open‑end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
In this structure, ETF Architect(s) serve as the investment adviser to each ETF and receive a unitary management
fee from the ETF, while ARS provides discretionary portfolio management services to the ETFs pursuant to one or
more investment sub‑advisory agreements, subject to approval and oversight by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
These arrangements represent a new advisory service line for ARS and result in additional compensation at the
ETF level, as well as economic interests that present potential conflicts of interest, as further described in this
brochure. However, ARS does not charge clients an advisory fee on assets invested in the ETFs, or, where
applicable, rebates advisory fees attributable to ETF positions, to avoid duplicative compensation.
Financial Planning Services
ARS’ financial planning services are provided to advisory Clients at no additional charge. These services are
designed to assist Clients in evaluating and addressing a range of personal financial considerations. While the
nature and extent of the planning support may vary based on individual circumstances, topics can include but are
not limited to cash flow management, retirement readiness, education funding, and other areas relevant to a Client’s
overall financial situation.
Educational Seminars & Workshop Services
ARS hosts complimentary educational seminars & workshop services for various audiences, including Clients
and prospects, and is sometimes asked to provide speakers for financial education speaking engagements,
community events, and conferences on various investment topics, on an "as-announced" basis, for groups seeking
general instruction on investments and other personal finance areas. Content will vary depending on attendees'
needs, is intended solely for educational purposes, and will not involve the sale of any investment products. The
information presented will not be based on any individual’s needs. ARS will not provide personalized investment
advice to attendees during such events. ARS will only offer customized investment advice if engaged independently
and only where the attendee's individualized financial information, investment goals, and objectives are known. Any
materials provided are for general educational purposes and will not offer specific accounting, investment, legal,
tax, or professional advice. Further, attendees have no obligation to schedule a consultation, purchase services
from ARS, or become Clients.
Types of Investments
The types of securities that ARS offers advice on include equity and fixed-income securities (including exchange-
listed securities); securities traded over-the-counter, U.S.-listed depositary receipts of foreign issuers, corporate
and municipal debt, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities, mutual fund and exchange-traded fund
(“ETF”) shares, warrants and certain rights, and options contracts on securities. Further, ARS invests across
multiple asset classes to achieve the investment objectives of the portfolios it manages and sub-manages.
While focusing on these products, we reserve the right to offer advice on other suitable investments based on a
Client's specific goals and needs. We may also advise on existing holdings and, as needed, diversify portfolios. We
avoid market timing but may increase cash holdings when appropriate.
Tailored Advisory Services
ARS offers a broad suite of services to all Clients, though some may require only limited services based on the
nature of their investments. In such cases, limited services are offered at our discretion, as outlined in the Client's
8
written IMA, which will contain applicable terms and Fee Schedules. ARS reserves the right to advise on any
investment product deemed suitable for a Client's circumstances, needs, and objectives, including those already
held in a Client's portfolio at the outset of the advisory relationship. Additionally, when appropriate, we may
recommend other securities to help diversify a portfolio. (For further information, see Item 5: Fees & Compensation,
and Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss.)
Client-Imposed Restrictions
Clients have the right to impose restrictions on the types or specific securities in which they wish to invest, based
on personal preferences, values, or beliefs. Such restrictions must be provided to ARS in writing and accepted prior
to implementation. Clients may modify or amend these restrictions by submitting updated written instructions.
Restrictions will only take effect once formally accepted. ARS will make reasonable efforts to adhere to Client-
imposed investment guidelines, including any reasonable limitations consistent with standard industry practices.
However, Clients should be aware that such restrictions may influence the performance of their accounts, potentially
resulting in performance variations – both positive and negative – compared to similar accounts without such
limitations. Additionally, these restrictions could hinder the achievement of a Client's specific financial objectives.
Upon receipt of written restrictions, ARS will assess the feasibility of the request, ensure that the Client's
expectations are appropriately managed, and confirm that the Client understands the potential consequences of
the imposed restrictions. ARS reserves the right to reject specific restrictions or terminate the advisory relationship
if such restrictions cannot be reasonably accommodated.
In no event, irrespective of the advisory service provided, shall ARS be obligated to make any investment or engage
in any transaction that, in its reasonable and good faith judgment, would violate any applicable federal or state law
or regulation.
Wrap Fee Programs
A wrap fee program is defined as an investment account where you are charged a single, bundled, or “wrap” fee
for investment advice, brokerage services, administrative expenses, and other fees and expenses. The defining
feature is that they offer bundled investment management and brokerage services at a single fee.
ARS does not offer a wrap fee program as part of its advisory services.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2025, the firm manages approximately $2.71 billion in assets under management, allocated
between discretionary and non‑discretionary accounts, as summarized below:
Type of Account
Assets
Under Management
Discretionary
$ 2,467,820,209
Non-Discretionary
$ 237,905,854
Total
$ 2,705,726,063
Item 5: Fees & Compensation
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Advisory Services Fees & Compensation
ARS charges an asset-based advisory fee, calculated as a percentage of assets under management (“AUM”). The
specific fee schedule and billing terms are outlined in each client’s IMA and as described herein.
Fee Negotiation Availability
Advisory fees are negotiable up to the maximum annual rates listed herein, subject to certain limitations and ARS'
approval. ARS, in its sole discretion, can charge lesser fees or choose to reduce or waive minimum fees for services
based upon specific criteria such as pre-existing Client relationships, the number of related investment accounts,
inception date, total account assets under management, expected additional assets, anticipated future earning
capacity, account composition, and Client negotiations, among others.
At ARS’ discretion, certain accounts can be assessed fees based on the total balance of all related accounts.
9
While ARS seeks to facilitate advantageous agreements for Clients, to the extent fees are negotiable, some Clients
can pay higher (more) or lower (less) fees than other Clients for services than if they had contracted directly with
another provider. According to the selected advisory services, the final fee structures will be reflected in each
Client's written IMA. Lower fees for comparable services can sometimes be available from other sources.
In all cases, Clients are responsible for any tax liabilities arising from transactions.
Regardless of fee negotiation availability, under no circumstances will a Client be required to pre-
pay an ARS advisory fee more than six months in advance, in excess of $1,200.
Advisory Services Fees
Investment Management Services Fees
Investment management services clients will pay us an asset-based fee ranging from 0.35% to 1.50% of the net
assets in their accounts each year. Because we charge an asset-based fee, the more assets there are in your
advisory account, the more you will pay in fees. We, therefore, have an incentive to encourage you to increase the
assets in your account.
Further details on the fees for each of ARS’ advisory services are as follows:
Separately Managed Account Fees
The current Fee Schedule for each Separately Managed Account ("SMA") strategy is based on the following, with
the understanding that all account minimums are negotiable, and Fee Schedules typically are after reaching the
second tier:
Separately Managed Account
Advisory Fee Schedule
Strategy
Minimum
Advisory Fee Schedule
Per Annum
ARS Core Equity
$1MM
First $1MM - 1.25%
Next $20MM - 1.00%
ARS Focused Opportunities1
$1MM
First $1MM - 1.25%
Next $20MM - 1.00%
ARS Focused Small Cap
1.25% per annum
$1MM
ARS Tactical Asset Allocation
$1MM
First $1MM - 1.25%
Next $20MM - 1.00%
ARS Multi-Strategy
First $5MM - 1.00%
$5MM
ARS Institutional Account
$5MM
First $25MM - 0.80%
Next $25MM - 0.70%
$ 250,000
ARS Tactical Sector Allocation
ETF Strategy
First $5MM - 0.70%
Next $20MM - 0.50%
ARS-Focused ETF Strategy
$1MM
First $5MM - 0.70%
Next $20MM - 0.50%
ARS Core Fixed Income
$1MM
First $15MM - 0.50%
Next $15MM - 0.35%
Please Note: For certain Clients whose accounts were with the Firm before December 16, 2016, or any of ARS’ predecessor RIAs,
management fees may differ, either due to grandfathered fee arrangements, specific advisory relationships, or other account-related
differences. ARS reserves the right to amend its Fee Schedule upon prior notice to Clients. A Client's continued use of our advisory
services following the effective date of any amendment will be deemed as consent to the revised terms.
ARS does not charge investment advisory fees on Unsupervised Assets. However, ARS reserves the right to
impose fees on assets that were previously Unsupervised if ARS decides, at its discretion, to begin supervising
such securities.
1 This strategy was previously offered under the name “ARS Focused All Cap Strategy.” The change reflects a renaming of the strategy only
and does not involve any changes to the investment objectives, investment process, or associated risks.
10
Advisory fees are generally payable in advance at the commencement of each calendar quarter. They are typically
calculated based on the average daily market value of the assets under management in the Client’s Account(s)
during the preceding calendar quarter. If this Agreement is accepted on a day other than the first day of a calendar
quarter, the advisory fee will generally be prorated from the start date through the end of that quarter. Fees billed
in advance may also be prorated to reflect contributions or withdrawals during the billing period.
In certain circumstances, and subject to Client negotiation and ARS approval, advisory fees may be calculated or
billed using alternative methodologies, including billing in arrears or other mutually agreed‑upon arrangements, as
reflected in the Client’s written investment management agreement. ARS retains discretion to approve or deny any
such requests. (See “Fee Negotiation Availability” for additional information.)
If a Client authorizes the use of margin and margin is subsequently employed in the management of their portfolio,
the market value of the Client's account will increase, resulting in a corresponding increase in the advisory fee
payable to ARS. Clients are hereby notified of the inherent conflict of interest: the decision to employ margin will
increase the management fee due to the account's higher market value.
It is important for Clients to understand the impact of fees on their investment portfolio. Ongoing advisory fees,
when deducted from a Client's investment portfolio, will reduce the total assets available for generating returns. As
a result, Clients may experience a reduction in their portfolio’s growth over time. We encourage Clients to discuss
the impact of these fees with their Investment Professional.
Pooled Investment Vehicle Fees
As indicated herein, ARS charges fees for the advisory services it provides to the Funds. Generally, ARS is paid a
management fee based on assets under management and/or receives an incentive fee or allocation based on the
Fund's performance. The amount, structure, and timing of such fees and any expenses may vary between the
Funds and are set forth in the respective offering documents for each Fund. Fund investors may also be charged a
performance-based fee each year based on the appreciation of their fund interest. (See Item 6: Performance-Based
Fees & Side-by-Side Management for additional details.)
In certain cases, investors in the Funds may receive fee reductions of all or a portion of the management fee.
Consequently, investors in the Funds may pay higher or lower fees, or be subject to higher or lower incentive
allocations, than similarly situated investors in the Fund.
In addition, ARS may enter into side letter arrangements with certain investors, in which ARS grants them different
or preferential terms.
ARS may recommend that a Client invest in affiliated pooled investment vehicles and in pooled investment vehicles
managed by unaffiliated third-party investment managers. The investor will bear all fees and expenses applicable
to an investment in the pooled investment vehicles, including asset-based management fees, performance-based
fees, carried interest, incentive allocations, and other compensation payable to the managers for services provided
to such pooled investment vehicles. An investor in the Fund will also bear a proportionate share of the fees and the
expenses of each pooled investment vehicle in which the Fund invests, as applicable. Such fees and expenses for
the underlying pooled investment vehicle are in addition to the advisory fees and other expenses each Fund pays
to ARS. ARS deducts the AUM Clients hold in affiliated Funds from the balance upon which ARS’ advisory fees are
calculated.
The compensation received by ARS and its affiliates related to services provided to affiliated pooled investment
vehicles in which a Client invests will generally be retained by ARS and its affiliates. Except to the extent required
by applicable law, ARS and its affiliates are not required to offset such compensation against the fees and expenses
the Client pays to ARS and its affiliates.
361-OHIO Technology Fund, LLC - The 361-OHIO Technology Fund ("361") pays no management fee to
ARS or any affiliate thereof.
The Fund will pay or reimburse its Managing Member or ARS for:
• All reasonable expenses related to the Fund’s organization, including, but not limited to, legal and
accounting fees, government filing fees, printing and mailing expenses, and other expenses of the
offering of Fund interests/
• Any reasonable audit fees and expenses, including those associated with regulatory compliance
11
matters, investigating potential investments, or maximizing return on existing investments.
• Reasonable custodial fees, interest on borrowed funds, transfer taxes, brokerage commissions, finder's
fees, fees and expenses for consulting, research, and statistical services, and any extraordinary
expenses such as litigation expenses and any other ongoing operating expenses of the Fund as
determined by its Managing Member.
The Managing Member will pay all other expenses related to the administration of the Fund, including but not limited
to employees' salaries, supplies, office space, and administrative services.
Third-Party Adviser Management Referral Services
ARS does not receive referral fees or any separate compensation for providing this advisory referral service. Third-
party adviser management referral services clients will pay a percentage of assets under management in their
account with your referred third-party manager, ranging from 0.35% to 1.25% of the net assets in the account, with
a maximum of 1.25% (125 basis points).
Registered Investment Company Sponsorship & Sub‑Advisory Services Fees
In connection with its registered investment company sponsorship and sub‑advisory services, ARS receives
compensation from the ETF’s primary investment adviser at the fund level. ARS does not receive advisory fees
directly from the ETF or its shareholders. This compensation is separate from the advisory fees ARS receives from
its investment advisory clients.
Because ARS receives compensation in connection with these services, a conflict exists as ARS has an incentive
to recommend ARS‑sponsored ETFs to advisory clients. To address the potential for duplicative compensation,
ARS (1) rebates to each advisory client invested in an ARS‑sponsored ETF an amount intended to offset the portion
of ETF‑level management fees attributable to ARS, or (2) will not charge on the ETF position. Clients remain
responsible for other ETF fees and expenses, as disclosed in the applicable ETF prospectus.
Clients should review the ETF’s prospectus and related disclosure documents, as well as the relevant disclosures
contained in this brochure, for a complete description of the fees, expenses, and conflicts of interest associated
with an investment in an ETF.
Financial Planning Services
ARS’ financial planning services are provided to advisory Clients at no additional charge.
Educational Seminars & Workshop Services
Educational seminars and workshop services are offered at no charge.
Fee Billing
Clients may choose to receive a direct invoice or authorize ARS to instruct the qualified custodian to deduct advisory
fees directly from their account(s), as permitted by the IMA.
Clients with multiple accounts may be eligible to consolidate billing – the consolidation of assets for fee billing and
performance reporting purposes. This can result in a reduced management fee based on a tiered Fee Schedule,
which applies progressively lower percentage rates to higher asset amounts that exceed certain thresholds. For
Clients residing at the same primary address, the household accounts may be consolidated if the Clients share the
same program or fee schedule. The default billing method charges advisory fees to each individual account.
However, upon request, Clients may opt to have a consolidated management fee deducted from a single primary
account, provided that the primary account is not a retirement account, and the accounts share the same Fee
Schedules and advisors. In most cases, consolidating accounts (householding) can offer a financial benefit through
reduced overall management fees and should be considered where applicable.
Clients should note that consolidating fees into the primary account may result in lower returns for that account and
higher returns for the other accounts. To assess whether consolidating accounts is appropriate for their situation,
Clients are encouraged to discuss this option with their advisor to ensure an informed decision.
Account Contributions, Withdrawals & Terminations
Clients may make contributions to or withdraw funds from SMA(s) at any time. ARS reserves the right to require
that Clients make requests for any withdrawals from the SMA(s) in writing. Pro rata investment advisory fee
adjustments are calculated at the time of each capital contribution or withdrawal made during the applicable
calendar quarter. Any required adjustments will be made in the calendar quarter immediately following the quarter
12
in which SMA(s) contributions or withdrawals occurred. ARS may amend its fee schedule upon prior notice to the
Client. Client’s continued acceptance of ARS’s services after the effective date of the amendment shall be deemed
consent to the amendment.
Withdrawals and redemptions from the Fund are dictated by the terms set forth in the offering documents.
Withdrawals from third-party adviser management referral service accounts will be subject to the provisions of the
separate agreement between the Client and the referred adviser.
Generally, terminations of ARS’ advisory services may be made without penalty by providing written notice within
five (5) business days of the IMA's execution date. Thereafter, the IMA will continue in effect until either party
terminates it in accordance with the IMA’s terms by providing a similarly provided written notice. The following also
applies:
•
• This IMA may be terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party.
• The Client agrees that it will be deemed to have provided notice of termination of their IMA if ARS is
notified that the Client initiated an Automated Customer Account(s) Transfer Service (“ACATS”)
instruction or otherwise instructed the Custodian to transfer out all or substantially all of the assets in
the SMA.
If the IMA is terminated on other than the last day of a calendar quarter, the applicable fee due
hereunder will be prorated to the effective termination date, which generally is 30 days after ARS
receives notice of termination, and an appropriate refund will be issued as soon as practicable, but in
any event within 120 days from the effective termination date.
• The termination of the IMA shall not affect the liabilities or obligations of the parties to the IMA arising
from transactions initiated before such termination.
• Unless otherwise agreed to by ARS, the Client authorizes and directs the custodian to debit the SMA(s)
for any unpaid advisory fees as of the termination date and to pay such fees to ARS.
• Upon termination of the IMA, ARS shall be under no obligation whatsoever to recommend or take any
action with regard to the securities or other property held in the SMA(s). The provisions of the IMA that
survive termination are described within the Client’s IMA.
• Redemptions from the Funds are dictated by the terms set forth in the offering documents.
Termination of an ARS’ IMA will become effective on the business day 30 days after receipt of notice from the Client
and will not affect the following:
• The validity of any actions previously taken by ARS under the IMA.
• The Client's obligation to pay any management fees or other fees due is prorated through the
termination date.
Upon receiving a termination notice, ARS will initiate the transfer of cash and/or securities in accordance with the
Client's instructions. If securities are liquidated, the Client may incur liquidation fees or contingent deferred sales
charges. Additionally, market conditions at the time of liquidation may result in a loss, and the custodian or broker-
dealer involved in the liquidation may assess additional fees. If the Client holds alternative or illiquid investments,
these may be subject to specific redemption schedules, which could delay the process. Clients should be aware
that illiquid investments may not be immediately redeemable or transferable to other advisory firms.
The termination of investment-related services will not affect any investments in securities or insurance products
made by the Client based on ARS’ recommendations. These investments will remain subject to the terms of their
respective offering memoranda or IMAs. Following the termination of investment-related services, the Client’s funds
will remain in their positions as of the termination date. ARS will have no further responsibility for the account(s) or
positions held within those accounts. The Client may not be able to liquidate or redeem illiquid investments
immediately.
If the Client is a natural person, the Client’s death, disability, or incompetency will not automatically terminate or
alter the terms of the IMA. The IMA shall terminate immediately upon ARS’ receipt of proof of the Client’s death,
along with a written instruction from the Client’s authorized representative to terminate the IMA. In the case of
disability or incompetency, the IMA remains in effect, and the Client’s authorized representative may terminate the
IMA by providing written notice to ARS.
The termination of TPM services is governed by a separate agreement between the Client and the referred adviser.
13
The agreement remains in effect until terminated by either party in accordance with its terms. The referred adviser
is responsible for refunding any unearned service fees as outlined in the agreement.
Termination Fee Reconciliation Process
Upon termination, ARS will perform a fee reconciliation to determine if a net credit or net debit is owed to the Client.
The reconciliation will proceed as follows:
For Accounts Billed in Arrears - A final fee, if applicable, will be debited from the Client’s account. The fee
will be calculated by multiplying the number of calendar days advisory services were provided (defined as
the period between the first day of the termination month and the effective date of termination) by the
monthly AUM fee, converted into a daily rate, calculated based on the total number of days in the
termination month. (Note: TPMs may automatically assess pro-rata management fees upon account
termination.)
For Accounts Billed in Advance - A prorated refund will be credited to the Client’s account. The refund
amount will be calculated pro rata, equal to the portion of the quarter under which no advisory services
were provided.
Any prepaid, unearned fees will be refunded no later than the beginning of the next quarter following the termination
date. Any unpaid fees earned will remain due and payable in accordance with the terms outlined in the Client's IMA.
Binding Obligations Post-Termination
Prior to termination, all directions given or actions taken by ARS, or any omissions, will remain binding upon the
Client and any successor or legal representative. Upon termination, ARS will no longer be entitled to receive fees
from the termination date and will have no further obligation to recommend or act in relation to the Client’s securities,
cash, or other investments under the terminated IMA.
Other Fees & Expenses
Advisory fees are separate and distinct from other costs and expenses that clients may incur in connection with
their accounts. ARS' investment advisory fees do not include brokerage commissions, transaction fees, or other
related costs and expenses that the Client shall incur. Clients may incur certain charges imposed by the custodians,
brokers, third-party investment firms, and other third parties, such as fees charged by managers, custodial fees,
deferred sales charges, odd-lot differentials, transfer taxes, wire transfer and electronic funds fees, and other fees
and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds also charge
internal management fees and other fees and expenses that each Client bears as a shareholder or investor in those
funds. These fund fees and expenses are in addition to ARS' investment advisory fees. Please refer to the relevant
fund prospectus for details regarding the underlying fund fees and expenses.
ARS does not receive brokerage commissions or other transaction-based compensation, nor does ARS receive
any other compensation from Separately Managed Accounts for the sale of securities or other investment products,
other than compensation received at the ETF level in connection with ARS‑sponsored ETFs, which is rebated to
clients or not charged on ETF positions held in SMAs to avoid duplicative compensation, as described elsewhere
in this brochure.
Unless otherwise specified in the IMA, Clients will be subject to our advisory fees in addition to the fees and
expenses outlined above, based on the type of advisory service selected and the portfolio investments held, and
are responsible for paying all applicable third-party fees.
Fees & Compensation Evaluation
To fully understand the total costs associated with their account, Clients are responsible for reviewing and
comprehending not only this document and their IMA with ARS but also any offering documents, prospectuses,
disclosures, and other legal materials provided by their custodian or relevant securities products and any
agreements with third parties to understand all potential costs fully. These documents outline the fees, costs,
expenses, commissions, and other pertinent information regarding securities transactions in the Client’s investment
account, as well as all fees charged by ARS, the custodian, the broker-dealer, and other applicable parties based
on the type of account established.
When evaluating the overall costs and benefits of our advisory services, Clients should consider not only our
advisory fees but also both direct and indirect costs to fully understand the total expenses and assess the value of
our services and the recommended investment products. We do not represent that our products or services are
14
provided at the lowest cost. Our advisory fees and associated service expenses may be higher than those charged
by other advisers or financial services firms for similar services. Clients can obtain the same or similar products or
services at a lower cost from other providers and choose whether to act on our recommendations.
Clients may purchase recommended investment products through any broker or agent, including those not affiliated
with ARS. (See Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss, Item 10, Financial Industry
Activities and Affiliations, and Item 12: Brokerage Practices for additional information about the fees associated
with our advisory service offerings.)
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Performance-Based Fees
Separately Managed Accounts
In general, ARS does not charge or receive performance-based fees (fees based on a share of capital gains on or
capital appreciation of the Client's assets) for SMAs.
The Funds
The Fund's Managing Member is entitled to a performance reallocation. In addition to its proportionate share of the
Net Income and Net Losses based on its Capital Account balance, each Managing Member will receive an
allocation, generally annually, equal to a percentage of the Net Income allocated for the year to each respective
Member (the "Incentive Allocation"). The Incentive Allocation will be calculated differently for each Class of Interest.
The Managing Member may, in its sole discretion, waive all or a portion of its performance reallocation for certain
Members.
Incentive Allocations are subject to a "high water mark" provision under which the Managing Member receives an
Incentive Allocation from a Member only to the extent that the Net Income allocated to that Member's Capital
Amount exceeds any Net Losses previously assigned to it since the last date an Incentive Allocation was assessed
(or the original date of contribution if no Incentive Allocation has previously been assessed). If a Member makes a
partial withdrawal or receives a distribution at a time when they have unrecovered losses, for purposes of calculating
future Incentive Allocations, those unrecovered losses will be reduced in proportion to the withdrawal. The high-
water-mark provision prevents the Managing Member from receiving an Incentive Allocation on Net Income that
restores prior Net Losses.
The Managing Member, in its sole discretion, may waive or modify the Incentive Allocation for any Member.
Side by Side Management
ARS has adopted and implemented policies and procedures intended to address conflicts of interest arising from
the management of multiple Clients (including accounts with multiple fee arrangements) and the allocation of
investment opportunities between Clients. ARS reviews investment decisions to ensure that all Clients with
substantially similar investment objectives are treated fairly and equitably over time. It is ARS' policy to aggregate
Client orders where an opportunity to purchase or sell an investment is appropriate for more than one Client. In
addition, ARS' procedures for allocating investment opportunities require that similarly managed accounts
participate in investment opportunities pari passu based on asset size and that, to the extent orders are aggregated,
Client orders be price-averaged. (Also see Item 12: Brokerage Practices.)
If all investment orders placed for Client accounts cannot be fully executed under prevailing market conditions, then
the securities traded should be allocated among Client accounts in a manner ARS deems to be fair and equitable,
considering the size of the order placed for each account and any other relevant factors within the discretion of
ARS. Finally, ARS' procedures also require the objective allocation for limited opportunities (such as new issues or
other capacity-constrained investment opportunities) to ensure fair and equitable allocation among accounts over
time. The Investment Committee and/or the Chief Compliance Officer periodically review Client accounts for the
allocation of investment opportunities. Any conflicts between Client accounts that appear inappropriate will be
addressed accordingly. (Please refer to Item 12: Brokerage Practices for additional detailed information regarding
policies and procedures addressing aggregation.)
Investment Opportunity Allocations
ARS has adopted procedures governing the purchase and sale of securities for Client accounts, as well as
procedures for allocating expenses among Client accounts. These procedures supplement any contractual or
investment guidelines governing Client accounts as well as any legal or regulatory restrictions that may apply.
15
ARS will always allocate investments among its Clients' accounts in a manner it believes to be fair and equitable.
ARS policy prohibits any intentional allocation of trades in a manner that ARS proprietary accounts, affiliated
accounts, or any Client or group of Clients receive more favorable treatment than other Client accounts.
Further, allocations of investment opportunities should not be based on any of the following or similar reasons:
•
•
•
to generate higher fees paid by one account over another or to produce greater fees to ARS,
to develop a relationship with a Client or prospective Client, or
to compensate a Client for past services or benefits rendered to ARS or any Employee of ARS or to
induce future services or benefits to be rendered to ARS or any Employee of ARS.
ARS' policy, where an opportunity to purchase or sell an investment is appropriate for more than one Client, is to
aggregate Client orders. Each Client participating in an aggregated order participates at the average price, with all
transaction costs shared on a pro rata basis pursuant to these written procedures.
If all investment orders placed for Client accounts cannot be fully executed under prevailing market conditions, then
the securities traded should be allocated among Client accounts in a manner ARS deems to be equitable,
considering the size of the order placed for each account and any other relevant factors, including but not limited
to:
the size, nature, and type of investment or sale opportunity,
the investment guidelines and restrictions of the Client,
regulatory and contractual requirements,
the cash position of the Client,
liquidity needs/constraints of the Client,
•
•
•
• pre-determined tactical plan of the Client and corresponding capital commitments,
•
•
• asset/liability management,
• minimum trade denominations,
• a determination by the ARS Portfolio Manager that the investment or sale opportunity is inappropriate,
in whole or in part, for one or more of the Clients,
restrictions under ERISA or other applicable regulations,
tax issues,
the likelihood of current income,
the seniority of investment and other capital structure criteria,
•
•
• Client risk tolerance,
•
•
• with respect to an investment opportunity originated by a third party, the relationship of a Client to, or
with, such third party,
tax accounting,
supply or demand for an investment opportunity at a given price level,
•
•
• whether the investment opportunity is a follow-on investment or an upsize to an existing investment,
• whether the investment vehicle is in the process of fundraising or is open to redemptions,
• where an investment opportunity requires additional consents or authorizations from a Client or third
parties, and
such other factors as the Portfolio Manager deems relevant.
•
When limited offering amounts are available for securities, ARS determines which accounts could best utilize the
security based on duration/maturity and sector targets. Once this is determined, security will be allocated to these
accounts.
From time to time, ARS, on behalf of Clients, may invest in private investments or limited investment opportunities.
The allocation of these investments across portfolios is executed while considering investor suitability, account size,
risk tolerance, and other factors.
Our processes are designed to equitably and appropriately allocate these limited investment opportunities across
the Clients invested in the strategy, while balancing the additional risk with each Client's investment profile and
investor suitability.
In this regard, some limited investment opportunities may not be appropriate for smaller accounts, depending on
factors such as minimum investment size, account size, risk profiles, and diversification requirements, and
accordingly, may not be allocated investments.
16
Item 7: Types of Clients
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Types of Clients
ARS' SMA Clients consist primarily of individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans,
foundations and charitable organizations, trusts, estates, endowments, and pooled investment vehicles.
ARS also provides advisory, sponsorship, and sub-advisory services to registered investment companies, including
ETFs.
The Fund’s investors comprise high-net-worth individuals and a broad spectrum of institutional entities, including
trusts, IRAs, endowments, foundations, corporations, private funds, and similar vehicles, each meeting the specific
exemptions and eligibility criteria applicable to the Funds’ operations. All investors must qualify as 'accredited
investors' under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 or as 'knowledgeable employees' as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the related rules.
Account Minimums
Under ARS’ investment management services, the investment minimum for opening a discretionary SMA is
typically $1 million, subject to anti-money laundering due diligence review. ARS may, at its discretion, accept
accounts with amounts below the minimum, depending on the nature of the account, the potential for future
additions, and other factors.
The minimum subscription levels for both initial and additional investments in the pooled investment vehicles
(Funds) are disclosed in the offering documents. The Managing Member has the discretion to accept investments
for a lesser amount, and on occasion does so.
The minimum account size required to participate in our third-party adviser management referral services is
disclosed in each referred manager’s agreement. When selecting a referred manager, the Client is responsible for
understanding the account minimums, requirements, and fee agreement they are entering into with the referred
manager.
For ARS’ registered investment company sponsorship & sub‑advisory services, there is no minimum
investment required to purchase shares of a registered investment company (such as an exchange‑traded fund)
sponsored or sub‑advised by ARS. However, investors are subject to any applicable minimum investment or trading
requirements imposed by the ETF, broker‑dealer, or platform through which the ETF shares are purchased.
There is no account minimum requirement to participate in our educational seminars and workshop services.
Clients should note that certain investment products may have their own minimum fees or asset requirements,
which are separate from our account minimums. These requirements are determined by the product's
characteristics, not by our policies. Clients are advised to review relevant disclosure materials and consult with their
IAR to understand the applicable minimum requirements before and during the investment process.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Methods of Analysis
ARS’ Investment Committee is responsible for conducting all company research, which serves as the foundation
for ARS’ approved buy list. In addition, the Committee formulates the Firm’s perspective on current and projected
market conditions, which forms the basis for asset allocation decisions. Investment policy meetings are held
periodically to review strategic weightings, evaluate risk exposures, and disseminate relevant research updates.
The Investment Committee convenes regularly – generally daily – to review investment strategies, analyze portfolio
positions and weightings, assess prevailing market dynamics, and reevaluate the investment rationale for existing
holdings. The Firm’s investment process is structured around four core steps:
Identifying the sectors/industries that benefit
1. Defining the global environment
2.
3. Researching & selecting individual securities
4. Defining & managing risk
17
Further, ARS draws its investment ideas from global catalysts, sector/industry dynamics, and individual company
research. The global catalysts and industry dynamics provide the framework that shapes or reinforces views of
growth prospects. The fundamental research process provides ARS with an assessment of the enterprise value
(current and future) and the business's growth prospects. This view is then translated into a level of conviction
regarding company and industry weightings. Companies are evaluated on an enterprise value basis as if ARS were
purchasing the entire company.
ARS screens a narrow list of companies on three levels:
1. Value Screens
2. Growth Screens
3. Soft Screens
Valuation screens include price/earnings, price/cash flow, price/sales, market value/asset value, and market
value/reserve value. The growth screens target earnings growth, cash flow growth, free cash flow growth, and
product cycles. The soft screens identify factors such as institutional ownership, relative value to peers, insider
ownership, relative value to the appropriate benchmark, analyst coverage, relative historical valuation, and dividend
yield. The assessment of a company's management's ability to execute is a critical factor in the investment selection
process.
For certain strategies, ARS invests Client assets in unaffiliated pooled investment vehicles. ARS may consider a
variety of factors in selecting third-party advisers/sub-advisers and funds, including the experience of the
manager/fund's personnel, past performance during favorable and unfavorable market conditions, diversification
characteristics in relation to other similarly situated managers, amount of assets under management, conflicts of
interest, risk management practices, overall integrity and reputation, percentage of business time devoted to
investment activities, operational capabilities, fees charged, organization structure, trade operations, accounting
and valuation, counterparty management, legal and compliance, and disaster recovery plans.
ARS or its outside legal counsel will also review each fund's offering documents, and ARS may engage an
independent third-party background check firm to check on relevant key personnel associated with a third-party
adviser.
ARS monitors the ongoing performance of third-party advisers/sub-advisers and funds. ARS may increase its
ongoing monitoring of, or ultimately terminate, a relationship with third-party advisers/sub-advisers and/or
investment in a third-party fund due to, among others: investment drift, reduction in transparency, poor long-term
performance, unexplained strong or negative performance outside of expected ranges, organizational turnover
(both outgoing and incoming) particularly with respect to key personnel, and the third party advisers/sub-advisers
and funds' reliance on a non-reputable service provider.
Investment Strategies
ARS' investment strategies are as follows:
ARS Core Equity Strategy - invests in those companies we deem high-quality, with strong balance sheets
and reasonable earnings growth. At the initial point of purchase, companies must have a dividend yield at
or better than the S&P 500® dividend yield with the prospect of dividend growth. The strategy intends to be
well-diversified across sectors.
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy2 – invests across the capitalization spectrum. The strategy seeks to
identify the best-positioned and undervalued companies and includes investments oriented to growth
and/or value. The primary goal is to build and maintain the portfolio's purchasing power over time.
ARS Focused Small Cap Strategy – invests in companies with market capitalizations typically ranging from
$100 million to $2.5 billion, trading at discounts of 50% or more from intrinsic value. The portfolio seeks to
uncover undervalued businesses that offer attractive risk/return opportunities.
ARS Tactical Asset Allocation Strategy – is a blended portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities
designed to meet a Client's income and/or risk tolerance requirements. ARS uses the fixed-income
allocation in the portfolio to generate income and lower overall volatility.
2 This strategy was previously offered under the name “ARS Focused All Cap Strategy.” The change reflects a renaming of the strategy only
and does not involve any changes to the investment objectives, investment process, or associated risks
18
ARS Multi-Strategy – is a custom portfolio designed to meet a Client's specific needs, utilizing proprietary
and third-party managed investment strategies. The strategy allocations are tailored to a Client's profile and
focused on liquidity, income, growth, and risk tolerance. ARS may use traditional or alternative investment
strategies in constructing the portfolio.
ARS Tactical Sector Allocation ETF Strategy – leverages our macroeconomic outlook by constructing a
portfolio that utilizes ETFs to express our sector views. There are six distinct portfolios designed to meet
investment objectives across the risk spectrum, from growth to capital preservation. Each portfolio has
sector guidelines designed to provide risk controls and proper diversification.
ARS Focused ETF Strategy – leverages our macro-outlook by constructing a portfolio that utilizes ETFs to
express our views. The strategy is designed to concentrate our investments in ETFs that provide the
greatest exposure to our highest-conviction themes. This may lead to investments in "narrow" industry
ETFs. Typically, the portfolio will focus on 5-10 themes, resulting in 8-10 ETF investments.
ARS Core Fixed Income Strategy – invests primarily in high-grade corporate, U.S. Treasury, and municipal
debt securities. The portfolio is positioned to earn what we deem an appropriate level of income consistent
with the preservation of the principal. ARS does not lower credit quality standards in pursuit of extra yield,
given the increased risk associated with such an approach.
Material Risks for Each Significant Method of Analysis & Investment Strategy
Investments in SMAs entail substantial risks, and there can be no assurance that the account's investment
objectives will be achieved. All investments in securities and other financial instruments risk the loss of principal.
There are certain risks in investing, and investors could lose money. ARS believes its SMA investment strategies
will moderate this risk by carefully selecting securities and other financial instruments. No guarantee or
representation is made that the account will be successful. ARS cannot guarantee or provide any assurance that a
Client's investment objective will be achieved. ARS does not guarantee the future performance of any Client's
account or any specific level of performance, the success of any investment decision or strategy that it may use, or
the success of its overall management of any account.
The material risks associated with ARS' significant methods of analysis and investment strategy stem from the
specific risks of the securities in which ARS' Clients invest, as generally outlined below and as discussed in the
Investment Strategies section. These risks will vary depending on the investment products and strategies employed.
However, they may involve the use of aggressive trading and investment techniques, which carry substantial risks
to the Client's portfolio, including but not limited to the following:
The types of securities that ARS offers advice on include equity and fixed-income securities (including
exchange-listed securities), securities traded over-the-counter, and U.S.-listed depositary receipts of
foreign issuers, corporate and municipal debt, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities, mutual
fund and exchange-traded fund shares, warrants and certain rights, and options contracts on securities.
Further, ARS invests across multiple asset classes to achieve the investment objectives of the portfolios it
manages and sub-manages.
The investment decisions ARS makes for Client accounts are subject to various market, currency,
economic, political, and business risks, as well as the risk that investments will not always be profitable.
The securities selected may underperform the market or other securities or decline in value.
Separately Managed Accounts
ARS may utilize a range of investment strategies depending on the Client’s risk/return profile. The associated risks
will vary depending on which investment products and strategies are employed. Risks related to ARS' investment
strategies, as applicable, include but are not limited to the following:
American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") Risk – There may be limited material information available
regarding issuers of unsponsored ADRs. As a result, there may be no correlation between such information
and the market value of the depositary receipts. ADRs are generally subject to the same risks as foreign
securities.
Commodity Brokers May Fail – Under CFTC regulations, futures commission merchants ("FCMs"), such as
commodity brokers, are required to maintain customers' assets in segregated accounts. If ARS' commodity
broker fails to do so and becomes bankrupt, the Client may risk losing the overlay funds on deposit. In
certain cases, the Client could also be exposed to a risk of loss if another customer's account or the
commodity broker itself experiences deficiencies.
19
Commodity Futures & Options Risk – The prices of futures and options are highly volatile and influenced
by factors such as supply and demand, political and economic events, and interest rates. Commodity
futures prices may occasionally hit daily price fluctuation limits, hindering the ability to liquidate unfavorable
positions and potentially leading to substantial losses.
Counterparty & Custodial Risk – In cases where strategies invest in swaps, derivatives, or non-U.S.
securities, the portfolio is exposed to counterparty non-performance risk. This includes the risk of settlement
default, as transactions between two counterparties are not supported by clearing organizations or market
guarantees. Additionally, risks related to custodians or brokers settling trades, particularly for non-U.S.
investments, may arise.
Debt Securities & Interest Rate Risk – Debt securities are subject to varying levels of sensitivity to interest
rate changes. Generally, the price of debt securities falls as interest rates rise and rises as interest rates
fall. Securities with longer maturities are particularly sensitive to interest rate fluctuations. Economic
conditions impact the value of lower-rated debt securities, and a major recession or liquidity shortage could
severely disrupt the market, increasing the risk of default.
Electronic Trading & Order Routing Systems Risk – Trading through electronic systems exposes the
portfolio to potential risks associated with system or component failure. In the event of a failure, orders may
be lost, duplicated, or executed incorrectly, resulting in financial losses. Despite safeguards, there is no
guarantee that these issues will not occur, and exchanges limit their liability for system failures.
Equity Securities Risk – The risk that the prices of equity securities held by a portfolio may fall over short
or extended periods. Equity securities have greater price volatility than fixed-income instruments. The value
of a portfolio that invests principally in stocks will fluctuate as the market prices of its holdings rise or fall.
Futures Trading Risk – Futures and options prices are highly volatile and are influenced by various factors,
including changes in economic events, supply and demand, and government policies. Trading limits may
prevent the portfolio from executing trades beyond its daily limits, potentially causing significant losses if it
cannot liquidate unfavorable positions promptly.
Foreign Securities / Emerging Markets Risk – Investments in foreign securities are riskier than U.S.
securities due to unstable political and economic conditions, currency fluctuations, and other factors.
Emerging markets, in particular, can experience greater volatility, with risks exacerbated in less-developed
countries.
Inflation Risk – Inflation risk refers to the potential decrease in the value of assets or income from
investments over time, as inflation erodes the purchasing power of money. As inflation rises, the present
value of assets may decline.
In-Kind Distributions Risk – ARS generally expects to liquidate all portfolio investments prior to the
termination of an account, distributing only cash. However, if a significant withdrawal is requested, ARS
may be unable to liquidate assets at favorable prices, potentially resulting in in-kind distributions of illiquid
securities or instruments, which may have to be held by the Client or ARS for an indefinite period.
Interest Rate Changes – Debt securities react to interest rate changes, with longer-term securities being
more sensitive. Rising interest rates generally decrease the price of debt securities, while falling rates may
increase prices. The relationship between short-term and long-term interest rates may differ.
Illiquid Instruments Risk – Some instruments may lack a readily available market or third-party pricing,
resulting in reduced liquidity. This can adversely affect the market price and ARS' ability to sell securities
when needed, especially during adverse economic events.
Lack of Diversification Risk – Some strategies may not be sufficiently diversified, making them more
susceptible to significant changes in value. A concentrated portfolio can experience more rapid declines if
a loss occurs in a specific investment area, potentially resulting in substantial reductions in its value.
Leverage Risk – Certain strategies may borrow funds to employ leverage or use derivatives that inherently
involve leverage. The use of leverage increases exposure to risks, including greater potential losses, margin
calls, and amplified fluctuations in the portfolio's market value.
Municipal Market Volatility – Municipal securities can be affected by political changes, taxation issues,
legislative changes, and uncertainties regarding municipal security holders' rights. Additionally, changes in
a municipal insurer's financial condition can affect the municipal market. Certain municipal securities are
not backed by the state or municipality, introducing significant credit risk.
Options Risk – Certain strategies may involve options, which can carry greater potential for profit or loss
20
than the underlying asset. The value of an option may decline due to changes in the underlying asset's
value, the passage of time, or market perception. Uncovered options present the risk of unlimited loss, as
the seller may be obligated to deliver or take delivery of an asset at an unfavorable price.
Short Sales Risk – Certain strategies may involve short sales, which involve selling a security the portfolio
does not own in anticipation of buying it back at a lower price. If the price of the security rises instead, the
portfolio may incur a loss. Short sales carry the risk of unlimited losses if prices continue to rise.
Small- & Mid-Cap Securities Risk – Securities of small- and mid-sized companies often involve greater risks
than those of larger, better-known companies. These securities may be more volatile and less liquid, and
companies may have limited financial resources, product lines, and markets, which can lead to higher
transaction costs.
Tax Exempt Securities Risk – Some municipal securities may not be subject to federal income tax, but ARS
cannot guarantee that the IRS will agree with the bond counsel's opinion regarding tax-exempt status. If
covenants are violated or tax requirements are not met, interest payments may become subject to federal
taxation.
Valuation Risk – When market quotations are not readily available, the valuation of securities is determined
by ARS. ARS may face a conflict of interest in determining the market value, as the management fee and,
where applicable, incentive allocations are based on the portfolio's market value.
Pooled Investment Vehicles
361-OHIO Technology Fund, LLC (“361-OHIO”)
361-OHIO's purpose is to manage its investment and ownership position in Fund VI of Queen City Angels, which
ownership also provides Members with the opportunity to make selected sidecar investments in Queen City Angels
("QCA") portfolio companies with initial investment, sidecar investments, and follow-on investments as well as
investments in other companies identified by the Managing Member and the Advisory Committee. QCA is a
Cincinnati-based angel investment group founded in 2000 with 145 individual members.
In addition, the Company is permitted to engage in all other activities incidental or related to the foregoing.
Through 361-OHIO, investors will have an ownership position in Fund VI of Queen City Angels (QCA) and a Sidecar
Capital Pool (SCP) that will invest in selected Fund portfolio companies and related companies. QCA has been
investing Fund VI capital since March 2019 and has made investments in 39 start-ups and early-stage companies,
of which 33 are active, as four companies were sold and two were written off.
In no event should this brochure be considered an offer of interest in the funds or relied on to determine whether to
invest in the Fund. It is also not an offer of, or agreement to provide, advisory services directly to any recipient of
the Brochure. Rather, this Brochure is designed solely to provide information about ARS for compliance with certain
obligations under the Advisers Act and, as such, responds to relevant regulatory requirements under the Advisers
Act, which may differ from the information provided in the offering documents for the Fund.
To the extent there is any conflict between discussions in this Brochure and the Fund’s offering documents, the
Fund’s offering documents should govern the terms of the Fund.
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Legal or Disciplinary Events Disclosure
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or disciplinary events
that would be material to a Client's or prospective Client's evaluation of the investment adviser or the integrity of its
Management. ARS has no material legal or disciplinary events required to be disclosed in response to this item.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Broker-Dealer & Registered Representatives of a Broker-Dealer
ARS is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act with the SEC. Neither ARS nor any of its
management has any pending registrations as a broker-dealer or a registered representative of a broker-dealer.
Registration as a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, or Commodity Trading Advisor
Neither ARS nor any Management Persons are registered or intend to register as a futures commission merchant,
21
commodity pool operator, commodity trading adviser, or an Associated Person of the preceding entities. However,
ARS claims a 4.14(a)(8) exemption from the rules and regulations adopted by the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (“CFTC”) and National Futures Association (“NFA”).
Related Persons
ARS is a related person of Artemis Investment Management Limited, an Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”)
registered fund manager, portfolio manager, exempt market dealer, and commodity trading manager.
ARS is majority-owned by Artemis U.S Corporation, which is part of an ownership structure controlled by Mr. Miles
Nadal.
ARS is a sub-adviser to Vestcap Investment Management, Inc., a portfolio manager registered in Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, Canada, and receives a portion of the fees collected from Clients
for whom ARS provides sub-advisory services.
Registered Investment Company Sponsorship & Sub‑Advisory Services
ETF Platform & Trust Relationships
In connection with ARS’s ETF sponsorship and sub‑advisory activities, conflicts of interest may arise where ARS
recommends or manages investments in ETFs for which it serves as sponsor and investment sub‑adviser and
receives compensation at the fund level. These arrangements may provide ARS with an incentive to recommend
ARS‑sponsored ETFs over other investment options. In certain cases, ARS may implement advisory fee rebates or
offset arrangements for advisory Clients invested in such ETFs to mitigate these conflicts.
Conflicts of Interest
ARS acknowledges that certain financial activities, affiliations, relationships, and advisory services may give rise to
actual or potential conflicts of interest. These conflicts may result from, among other things, compensation
arrangements, business affiliations, referral relationships, service provider arrangements, or the manner in which
ARS or its Associates are compensated for providing advisory or related services. In certain circumstances, ARS
or its Associates may have financial incentives to recommend particular investments, strategies, products, or
services, or to recommend certain third‑party service providers, that may not be solely based on a Client’s
investment objectives or best interests.
As a fiduciary, ARS is required to act in the best interests of its Clients at all times and to provide advice that is fair,
balanced, and not misleading. Clients are under no obligation to act on any recommendation made by ARS or its
Associates, nor are Clients required to purchase any product or service offered by ARS or any affiliated or
unaffiliated third party. Where a Client elects to act on a recommendation, the Client is not required to execute
transactions through ARS and may direct brokerage, custodial, or other services to providers of their choosing. ARS
does not represent that products or services available through ARS or related parties are available at the lowest
possible cost, and Clients may be able to obtain similar products or services from other providers at lower prices.
ARS seeks to address and manage conflicts of interest through full and fair disclosure, the application of its fiduciary
duty to place Client interests first, and the implementation of policies and procedures reasonably designed to
identify, monitor, and mitigate conflicts of interest. These controls include, among other things, supervision of
Associate activities, reviews of compensation structures, and adherence to ARS’s Code of Ethics. Additional
information regarding specific conflicts, including those related to fees, compensation, affiliations, and investment
recommendations, is provided throughout this Brochure, including in Item 5: Fees & Compensation and Item 11:
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading. A copy of ARS’s Code of
Ethics is available to Clients and prospective Clients upon request, free of charge.
Outside of the relationships and affiliations disclosed herein, neither ARS nor its management persons have any
additional material relationships or conflicts of interest with other financial industry participants to disclose
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions, & Personal Trading
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
ARS has adopted a written Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act, which sets forth standards
of ethical and business conduct expected of its personnel and addresses conflicts that may arise from personal
trading by its personnel. ARS' Code of Ethics, among other things, requires compliance with the US federal
securities laws, reflects ARS' fiduciary responsibilities and those of its advisory personnel, prohibits certain personal
securities transactions, requires ARS' personnel to report their personal securities transactions periodically and to
obtain pre-approval for certain securities transactions, and addresses prevention of the misuse of material non-
22
public information.
All ARS personnel receive Code of Ethics training and are required to acknowledge the terms of the Code of Ethics
on an annual basis or as amended.
A copy of the Firm’s Code of Ethics will be provided, free of charge, to any client or prospective client upon request.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
ARS may invest Client accounts in or recommend investments in securities in which ARS and its Affiliated Persons
have a direct or indirect financial interest. Such financial interest could include, but is not limited to, having a
business relationship or serving as an investment adviser, general partner, or managing member for a particular
investment product. In such situations, the purchase or sale of a security as directed by ARS may affect its price,
which may indirectly benefit ARS or its Affiliated Persons.
In addition, Clients should not expect that ARS will implement the same investment decisions across all Client
accounts. ARS may give advice and act in the performance of its duties to one Client or group of Clients that may
differ from the advice given or the timing and nature of action taken for another Client or group of Clients. This is
particularly true for Clients for whom ARS is implementing an opportunistic investment approach. The accounts of
such Clients may be invested in different securities, or ARS may buy or hold these securities in more concentrated
or less concentrated positions than what ARS determines is appropriate to buy or hold for other Client accounts.
As a result, the performance of accounts for which ARS is implementing an opportunistic approach may be
materially different, either higher or lower, than that of other Client accounts.
Additionally, as described in this brochure, ARS receives compensation in connection with its sponsorship of and
service as an investment sub‑adviser to certain ETFs. As a result, ARS has a financial incentive to recommend
these ETFs to advisory clients, which presents a conflict of interest.
ARS addresses conflicts through full and fair disclosure, the application of its fiduciary duty to act in the best interests
of clients, and the implementation of policies and procedures designed to identify, monitor, and mitigate conflicts of
interest.
Personal Trading
ARS and its Affiliated Persons may buy and sell certain securities for their own accounts that ARS buys and sells
for its Clients, including buying or selling securities along with Clients in aggregate orders as described in Item 12,
so long as pre-clearance is obtained for any non-pre-approved securities before executing any personal trade. To
the extent not prohibited by its Code of Ethics or internal procedures, ARS and its Affiliated Persons may acquire,
increase, decrease, or dispose of securities in a manner that is, or may be deemed to be, inconsistent with the
actions taken by such persons on behalf of Clients. For example, Clients should understand that ARS and its
Affiliated Persons have in the past and may in the future buy or hold these securities in positions that are more or
less concentrated than what ARS determines is appropriate for Client accounts.
ARS and its Affiliated Persons also invest in securities that ARS evaluates for purposes of Client investment
opportunities but decides are not appropriate for Client accounts. As a result of this investment activity, the
performance of accounts for ARS and its Affiliated Persons may be materially different from that of Client accounts.
ARS has established internal policies, including the adoption of a Code of Ethics (discussed above), reasonably
designed to prevent ARS personnel from unfairly benefiting from personal trading at the expense of any of ARS'
Clients. A copy of the Firm’s Code of Ethics will be provided, free of charge, to any client or prospective client upon
request.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Selecting Brokerage Firms
When a Client has established a custody account with a financial institution willing to settle trades executed at
broker-dealers selected by ARS and ARS has been granted discretion to select broker-dealers to execute
transactions for the Client's account, ARS will do so consistent with its duty to seek best execution. ARS has adopted
best execution policies and procedures intended to serve as guidelines for achieving best execution for Client
transactions.
23
ARS maintains and periodically updates an "Approved Broker-Dealer List" based on an evaluation of several
quantitative and qualitative factors. In selecting broker-dealers to effect transactions for Client accounts, ARS,
subject to its written policies and procedures, has the authority to consider the full range and quality of the services
and products provided by various brokers.
ARS will consider, in addition to others, such relevant factors as:
• price,
• broker-dealer's facilities, reliability, and financial responsibility,
•
the ability of the broker-dealer to effect securities transactions, particularly regarding such aspects as
timing, order size, and execution of orders,
research, brokerage, and other services provided by such broker-dealers to ARS, and
•
• ancillary services such as capital introduction.
ARS will have no duty or obligation to seek in advance competitive bidding for the most favorable commission rate
or to select any broker-dealer based on its purported or "posted" commission rate. Transactions will not always be
executed at the lowest available price or at the lowest transaction cost.
Research & Other Soft Dollar Benefits
ARS may select broker-dealers that furnish brokerage and research services that provide appropriate assistance
in the investment decision-making process. Accordingly, ARS may cause a Client to pay a broker-dealer that offers
brokerage or research services (either directly or through third-party relationships) an amount of commission or
transaction cost in excess of that which another broker-dealer would have charged if ARS determines in good faith
that such commission or transaction cost is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage or research services
provided.
As a result, ARS may pay for such brokerage services with "soft" or commission dollars. ARS benefits from soft
dollars because it does not have to produce or pay for the research or services directly. However, when selecting
broker-dealers that provide brokerage and research services, ARS will determine whether the amount of Client
commissions paid is reasonable considering the value of products or services provided by the broker-dealer in
accordance with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The types of brokerage and research services that ARS acquired in the last calendar year included research reports
on companies, industries, and securities; global economic and market research; access to broker-dealer analysts,
corporate executives, and industry experts; and attendance at trade industry seminars and broker-organized
conferences and events. The brokerage and research services obtained using commissions arising from a Client's
portfolio transactions may be used by ARS in its other investment activities, including for the benefit of all Clients.
ARS does not attempt to allocate soft dollar benefits proportionally among Clients or to track the benefits of
brokerage and research services to the commissions associated with a particular account or group of accounts.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
ARS does not receive Client referrals from a broker-dealer or third party. ARS has no incentive to select or
recommend a broker-dealer, nor does ARS direct Client transactions to a particular broker-dealer in return for Client
referrals.
Directed Brokerage
Designated Broker
Unless the Client otherwise instructs ARS in writing to use a particular broker-dealer, the Client will authorize and
direct ARS to effect transactions in the SMA(s) through ARS’ chosen preferred broker-dealers (typically, Pershing
Advisor Solutions, LLC (“PAS”) or Fidelity, or such other broker-dealer as ARS shall from time to time designate
upon prior notice to Client (“Designated Broker”). Such trades will be executed at the Designated Broker’s current
commission rate.
The prices, commissions, other execution costs, and transaction charges for trades directed and executed through
Designated Brokers are negotiable and may not be as favorable as those available when trades are placed through
another broker-dealer. Further, the fact that a transaction may be executed, or be capable of being executed,
through another broker-dealer at prices, commissions, other execution costs, and transaction charges more
favorable than those available through a Designated Broker will not obligate ARS to match those terms or
Account(s) to the Client for the difference. Clients will direct ARS to trade through such Designated Brokers, even
if using a different broker-dealer may result in lower prices or commissions.
24
Clients may revoke their brokerage direction at any time, without penalty, upon written notice to ARS. Any such
revocation will be effective once ARS has received and had a reasonable time to act on it. Any ARS trade through
other broker-dealers may result in prices and commissions that may not be as favorable as those that could be
obtained through an ARS Designated Broker.
In deciding to instruct ARS to direct brokerage to Designated Brokers, Clients should understand that the
Designated Broker generally will also provide custody services for ARS Clients. ARS may receive economic benefits
associated with the conversion of the custody of Client accounts to the Designated Broker’s platform, as well as the
benefit of ongoing access to various products and services that Designated Brokers make available to ARS and
other independent investment advisers whose Clients elect to custody their accounts at the Designated Broker, as
discussed within this brochure. The benefits that ARS receives from Designated Brokers are not based on
investment recommendations or on the securities that ARS buys or sells for Client accounts, nor do they depend
on the number of brokerage transactions directed to Designated Brokers. However, ARS’s selection of a Designated
Broker is based in part on the benefit to ARS of the availability of the foregoing products and services and not solely
on the nature, cost, or quality of the custody and brokerage services provided by the Designated Broker. ARS
examines this conflict of interest when it chooses to enter into a relationship with a Designated Broker and
determines that the relationship is in its Clients' best interests.
Clients should understand that not all investment advisers recommend, request, or require their Clients to direct
brokerage. The prices, commissions, other execution costs, and transaction charges for trades directed through
PAS or Fidelity may not be as favorable as those that might be obtained if trades were placed through another
broker-dealer.
The value of the brokerage and other services provided through our agreements with PAS and Fidelity includes:
•
•
ticket charges imposed by PAS that will be limited to no more than $4 per transaction,
ticket charges imposed by Fidelity that will be limited to no more than $4.95 per transaction and, in
many instances, $0.00,
• access to margin at competitive rates
•
•
trade execution services provided by PAS or Fidelity,
various account services, including online access to account information and facilitation of asset
movement,
streamlined account consolidation capabilities,
loans, private banking, and retirement planning services for Clients,
•
•
• an enhanced user experience enabled through online and mobile account access, including an
interface with accounting and tax preparation software, and
• PAS' and Fidelity's responsiveness and financial stability.
Brokerage commissions may be negotiated or waived based on the circumstances of each Client and at the
discretion of the Custodian. Commissions and other execution charges paid by similar Clients may differ depending
on each Client's circumstances, including the size of the relationship or account, required service levels, and other
factors. ARS employees may maintain personal accounts with PAS and/or Fidelity.
PAS and Fidelity also make available to ARS other products and services that benefit ARS but may not benefit its
Client accounts. These include software and other technology that provide access to Client account data (such as
trade confirmations and account statements), facilitate trade execution (and allocation of aggregated trade orders
for multiple Client accounts), provide research, pricing information and other market data, facilitating payment of
ARS' advisory fees from Client accounts, and assisting with back-office functions, recordkeeping, and Client
reporting. Many of these services generally may be used to service all or a substantial number of ARS accounts,
including accounts not custodied at PAS or Fidelity.
PAS and Fidelity also offer other services intended to help independent investment advisers manage and further
develop their businesses. ARS may or may not take advantage of these services in the future. These services may
include consulting, publications, and conferences on practice management, information technology, business
succession, regulatory compliance, and marketing.
In addition, PAS and Fidelity may make these services available, arrange them, and/or pay for them when rendered
to ARS by independent third parties.
25
Without these arrangements with PAS and Fidelity, ARS might be compelled to purchase the same or similar
services at its own expense. As a result of receiving these services at no additional cost, ARS has an incentive to
continue using PAS and Fidelity services. While ARS endeavors to act in its Clients’ best interests, ARS' selection
of PAS and Fidelity is based in part on the benefit to ARS of the availability of the foregoing products and services
and not solely the nature, cost, or quality of custody and brokerage services provided by PAS and Fidelity.
ARS examined this conflict of interest when it entered into relationships with PAS and Fidelity and has determined
that the relationships are in the best interests of ARS' Clients. The benefits ARS receives through PAS and Fidelity
do not depend on the number of brokerage transactions directed to PAS or Fidelity for execution.
Client-Directed Brokerage Arrangements
Third-Party Brokerage Direction
ARS also acts as an investment adviser for Clients with accounts domiciled with other broker-dealers and banks,
where the Client may direct ARS to use a particular broker-dealer of their selection to execute all transactions for
their SMA(s), subject to the terms the Client negotiates directly with that broker-dealer. Any such direction must be
provided to ARS in writing.
If a Client directs ARS to use such broker-dealer: (1) ARS will not be responsible for negotiating commission rates
or for selecting broker-dealers based on best execution, (2) transactions for the Client’s Account(s) may not be
“bunched” (or aggregated) for purposes of best execution with orders for the same securities for other accounts
ARS manages, and (3) this directed brokerage arrangement may result in higher commissions or less favorable net
prices than might be the case if ARS were empowered to negotiate commission rates, or to select broker-dealers
based on best execution.
Order Aggregation & Best Execution
ARS may aggregate, or combine ("bunch"), sales and purchase orders of securities for orders made simultaneously
for more than one account managed by ARS. ARS has a fiduciary obligation to use its best efforts to ensure that
no Client is treated unfairly in relation to any other Client in the allocation of securities or investment opportunities
or in the order in which transactions are executed. ARS will seek to allocate orders and investment opportunities
among Clients in a manner that it believes is equitable and in the best interest of all its Clients.
Although such allocations may be pro rata among participating Clients, they will not necessarily be so where ARS'
allocation policies (e.g., considering differing objectives or other considerations) dictate a different result. There can
be no assurance that a particular order or investment opportunity will be allocated in a specific manner. The
foregoing policy does not require that each opportunity be made available to all accounts, leaving significant
discretion to ARS. For example, accounts with different objectives may have different transaction availability, so the
same transaction may not be available to all accounts.
Where ARS believes aggregation is appropriate and in the best interest of Clients, orders for multiple accounts,
including certain affiliated and insider accounts (i.e., accounts of employees or other Affiliated Persons of ARS),
may be aggregated when possible, to facilitate best execution and/or to allocate equitably among such Clients of
any market fluctuations that might have occurred had such orders been placed independently.
When evaluating the circumstances and needs for an SMA, ARS may deviate from the standard allocation method
for the account. The Portfolio Manager will consider particular circumstances such as cash limitations or excess
cash, account-specific investment suitability or restrictions, existing portfolio composition and applicable industry,
sector or capitalization weightings size of the account (allocation may be adjusted to minimize transaction fees for
smaller accounts or otherwise improve the overall efficiency of the transaction), undesirable position size (if a pro
rata allocation would create an undesirably small or large position), tax status, regulatory restrictions, and other
equitable adjustments that clearly led to meaningful cost savings or other transactional efficiencies.
Additionally, if a standard allocation would result in an SMA receiving a very small allocation (e.g., because of its
smaller asset size) or if ARS is unable to execute an aggregated order fully and determines that it would be
impractical to allocate a small number of securities to the account participating in the transaction on a pro rata basis
(partial fills), ARS may allocate such securities in a manner determined in good faith by ARS to be a fair and
equitable allocation over time.
Transactions may be averaged for price, but commission charges will be determined by the commission schedule
in effect for each Client. ARS will retain records of completed trade orders, specifying each participating account.
Partially filled trade orders will generally be allocated on a pro rata basis.
26
Any exceptions will be explained in the trade order.
When ARS intends to trade for multiple accounts held on different platforms, it may not be practicable to aggregate
all trades. In these cases, ARS has adopted a policy under which ARS aggregates orders for Clients generally
based on the custodian and then determines the order of execution based on a trade rotation. ARS rotates the
execution sequence in accordance with the trade rotation policy maintained by the trading desk.
Transactions for multiple accounts within a particular platform are aggregated. Accounts that trade later in the
rotation may suffer adverse effects depending on market conditions. However, the process is designed to be fair
and equitable over time.
Item 13: Review of Accounts
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Frequency & Nature of Account Reviews
Andrew Schmeidler, in concert with ARS' Portfolio Managers, is primarily responsible for ensuring that the portfolio
holdings are consistent with the terms of the IMAs (as applicable) and the Client's investment objectives and
financial circumstances.
Although the Partners and Portfolio Managers make the final investment decisions, the investment process is
generally organized as a team effort under the direction of the Investment Committee. Portfolio Managers review
each account's portfolio holdings periodically to determine that the securities and other financial instruments held
by each account remain consistent with the IMAs (as applicable), the Client's investment objectives, and the Client's
financial circumstances, and will generally review each account's performance on an annual basis.
The frequency, level, and triggering factors of an account review will depend on the arrangements made with Clients
based on their investment strategy, portfolio holdings, and other matters discussed with them. ARS provides
appraisal reports to Clients upon request. Appraisals may include the following categories of information:
transactions, including securities trades, fees, and taxes, and
valuation of the portfolio based on information deemed to be reliable at the time of delivery.
• portfolio holdings,
•
•
Upon request, SMA Clients will receive a report on the investment performance for such period. SMA Clients will
also receive at least quarterly a custodian statement of the assets held in their account that contains a complete
description of each asset, detailing cost and current market values, as well as all transaction activity within the
account, including management fee disbursements, where applicable. ARS generally meets with Clients annually
to review their investment strategy, performance, and administrative matters.
Investors in the Fund receive reports as described in the Fund's offering documents. Generally, they may receive
quarterly reports that include investment summaries and the Fund's performance relative to a particular benchmark.
Each investor also receives a Form K-1 for tax purposes. Annual audit reports are generally provided within 120
days following the Fund's fiscal year-end. A third-party service provider may send reports on behalf of ARS. The
Fund may, upon request, offer certain investors additional information and reporting that other investors may not
receive. Such information may affect an investor's investment decisions, including its decision to withdraw funds
from its capital account.
ARS urges Clients to promptly review any statements they receive directly from their Custodian or us upon receipt
to ensure the accuracy of account transactions and positions. Clients should also compare the account's investment
performance against the appropriate benchmark for the type of investments held in the account, as well as against
any periodic information we provide.
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Preferred Qualified Custodian Benefits
ARS will receive certain economic benefits associated with the custody of certain Client accounts at PAS or Fidelity.
ARS may or may not take advantage of the ongoing access to various products and services that PAS or Fidelity
makes available to ARS and other independent investment advisers whose Clients elect to have their assets held
in custody at PAS or Fidelity.
The benefits that ARS will receive from PAS and Fidelity are not based on the investment recommendations or
27
securities that ARS buys or sells for Client accounts, nor do they depend on the amount of brokerage transactions
directed to PAS or Fidelity for execution through PAS or Fidelity.
Clients are ultimately responsible for selecting the financial institution to serve as custodian of their assets. Clients
are not required to custody assets at PAS or Fidelity, nor are they required to designate PAS or Fidelity as an
introducing broker-dealer. Clients may select a different custodian for their account.
Promoter Relationships
ARS may use independent third-party Promoters to refer Clients to the Firm and pay a portion of its advisory fees
to such Promoters. We will disclose such relationship(s) to each Client to the extent required by applicable law and
comply with the requirements of Rule 206(4)-1 under the Advisers Act pertaining to compensated "endorsements."
ARS may engage underwriters, brokers, dealers, or finders to assist in the offering of interests in a Fund or in finding
other Clients. Except for commissions on brokerage transactions (which will be paid by Clients), ARS will pay (and
will not charge Clients) fees and commissions that may be payable to any such brokers or finders for assisting in
the offering or sale of interests in a Fund, or in finding other Clients.
Registered Investment Company Sponsorship & Sub‑Advisory Services
ETF‑Related Compensation
ARS serves as sponsor and investment sub‑adviser to certain exchange‑traded funds and receives compensation
for those services pursuant to applicable sub‑advisory and related agreements. This compensation is paid at the
fund level and is separate from the advisory fees ARS receives from its investment advisory clients. As a result,
ARS has a financial incentive to recommend these ETFs to clients, which presents a conflict of interest.
To mitigate the potential for duplicative compensation, ARS rebates to each advisory client invested in an
ARS‑sponsored ETF, to the extent applicable, an amount intended to offset the portion of ETF‑level management
fees attributable to ARS. Clients remain subject to other ETF operating expenses as described in the applicable
ETF prospectus. Other than the ETF‑related compensation described above, ARS does not receive referral fees,
solicitation fees, or other forms of compensation from third parties in connection with client referrals.
Conflicts of Interest
Referral arrangements inherently create potential conflicts of interest, particularly when the person recommending
an investment adviser receives an economic benefit, as the payment may incentivize the referral. ARS mitigates
this conflict of interest by fully disclosing its referral practices and any compensation or benefits earned in this
Brochure, and by making recommendations it believes are in the Client's best interests. Apart from the items
disclosed herein, ARS does not receive any additional economic benefits for Client referrals or compensation for
this topic. ARS has adopted and implemented compliance policies and procedures, as well as its Code, to mitigate
conflicts of interest. ARS’ Code of Ethics is available for review free of charge to any Client or prospective Client
upon request.
Item 15: Custody
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Custodial Practices
Client assets will be held by a “qualified custodian,” as defined under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended (the “Custodian). Each Client will enter into a separate custodial agreement governing the custody
relationship with the Custodian of their selection. All account assets, including cash and securities, will be
maintained in the client’s name with the Custodian. Account funds, checks, wire transfers, and securities will be
transferred directly between the client and the Custodian of record.
ARS is not authorized to withdraw any client funds, securities, or property except as expressly permitted under the
IMA for fee deduction or as described below.
Clients are solely responsible for selecting a Custodian and for any fees or charges imposed by the Custodian
related to their account(s). Clients will instruct the Custodian to:
• act on ARS’s instructions regarding assets in the account, to the extent permitted under the IMA,
• provide ARS with account statements at least quarterly, showing all holdings and transactions,
• grant electronic or other access to information reasonably required by ARS to reconcile its records with
those of the Custodian, and
furnish any additional periodic reports reasonably requested by ARS.
•
28
Clients will authorize the Custodian to deduct advisory fees directly from their account(s) in accordance with the
terms of their IMA. With the client’s written instruction and subject to ARS’s consent and applicable law, such fees
may instead be paid from another account managed by ARS. Clients are encouraged to request confirmation
notices of each advisory fee deduction from the Custodian via their preferred method of communication.
While ARS does not maintain physical custody of client funds or securities, the Adviser is deemed to have limited
custody under Rule 206(4)-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 when authorized to deduct fees directly from
client accounts.
Clients must notify ARS in writing prior to making any changes to their designated Custodian.
Standing Letters of Authorization (SLOAs) & Related Custody Practices
In certain cases, ARS or its associated persons may be authorized to transfer funds from a client’s account to third
parties pursuant to a Standing Letter of Authorization (“SLOA”).
Under SEC guidance, this authority is deemed to constitute custody; however, the SEC staff has stated it would not
recommend enforcement action for failure to obtain a surprise examination if the adviser complies with the
conditions set forth in applicable no‑action guidance.
This authority also constitutes custody under SEC rules; however, investment advisers are not subject to the
surprise audit requirement provided the following conditions are met:
1. The client provides a written instruction to the qualified custodian 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 the
custodian to which the transfer should be directed.
2. The client authorizes ARS, in writing, whether on the qualified custodian’s form or separately, to direct
transfers to the third party 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 another method to verify the client’s authorization, and promptly provides a transfer-of-funds
notice to the client 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 and is not 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.
As clarified in the SEC’s 2017 Investment Adviser Association No-Action Letter, these practices are consistent with
the Custody Rule and exempt the Firm from the surprise examination requirement.
Consistent with SEC no‑action guidance, an adviser may direct transfers pursuant to an SLOA only after the client
has authorized the arrangement directly with the qualified custodian, and the adviser’s authority is limited to the
timing and amount of the transfers and the maintenance of required records.
Any material variance should be brought to the attention of both the Custodian and ARS to determine a basis for
the variance.
ARS monitors regulatory developments related to custody and asset safeguarding and will update its policies and
disclosures as necessary to remain consistent with applicable SEC rules and guidance.
Custodial Statements
The Client’s selected Custodian will send the Client written account statements at least quarterly, itemizing activity
and account transactions, specific investments held in the account, the portfolio's value, deposits, withdrawals, and
advisory fees that occurred during the period covered by the statement. These statements will be delivered by
postal mail or electronically, as the Client selects.
ARS encourages clients to promptly and thoroughly review all account statements received directly from their
Custodians to verify the accuracy of transactions and holdings. Clients are also advised to compare these official
29
custodial records with any reports or information provided by ARS, and to assess investment performance relative
to appropriate benchmarks for the types of investments held. ARS’ statements may vary from custodial statements
based on accounting procedures, reporting dates, or valuation methodologies of certain securities.
ARS cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any report or other information provided to the Client by
the custodian or another service provider. ARS encourages Clients to question the custody, safety, and security of
their assets and to report any statements received and inconsistencies. If a Client believes there are any
inaccuracies or discrepancies in any reports received from their custodian, or if they do not understand the
information in any report, document, or statement received, they should promptly and in all cases before the next
statement cycle, report any items of concern to their Custodial contact or ARS directly.
Unless the Client indicates otherwise by promptly notifying us in writing of concerns regarding statements received,
investments we make at their direction and in line with their stated investment objectives, or on their behalf shall be
deemed to conform with the Client's investment objectives.
Any verbal communications, inquiries, or concerns about their account statements should be confirmed in writing.
If Clients are not receiving statements at least quarterly from their Custodian, they should promptly inform their
Custodian and ARS.
Item 16: Investment Discretion
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Account Management Style
While ARS’ advisory services can be offered either on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, ARS generally
has discretionary authority.
Details of the relationship are fully disclosed before any advisory relationship commences, and each Client's
executed IMA reflects complete information for account management style.
Discretionary Authority
Under discretionary account management authority, ARS will execute securities transactions for Clients without
obtaining specific Client consent before each transaction.
Discretionary authority includes the ability to do the following without contacting the Client:
• determine the security to buy or sell,
• determine the amount of security to buy or sell, and
• determine the timing for buying or selling.
For this type of management style, Clients will provide discretionary management authority through written
authorization, granting ARS complete and exclusive discretion to manage all investments, reinvestments, and other
transactions for their account as deemed appropriate by ARS, in accordance with the Client's investment risk profile
and Investment Policy Statement. ARS will then invest and reinvest the assets in the Account, the proceeds thereof,
and any contributions thereto in such securities and other property which ARS, in its discretion, may deem
advisable, taking into consideration Client’s investment objectives and financial circumstances. This authority may
be subject to modifications agreed upon by the Client and their IAR from time to time (collectively, the “Investment
Guidelines”). (Note: This authority excludes certain money movement transactions. ARS will not initiate wire
transfers or transfers of funds to third parties without the Client's explicit written approval.)
Discretionary authority is limited to investments within a Client's managed accounts. Clients will execute a “Limited
Power of Attorney,” either as a standalone document or as part of the account opening documentation provided by
their custodian designating ARS as its agent and attorney-in-fact having all power necessary to effect the intent of
the foregoing, including without limitation, the power to purchase and sell securities for the Account(s) and trade on
the Client’s behalf and at the Client’s risk.
ARS is only required to obtain or maintain Client consent for trades involving positions explicitly discussed during
the introductory meeting (such as inherited stock the Client wishes to retain for sentimental reasons) or as otherwise
specified. In all instances, discretionary authority will be exercised in alignment with the Client’s stated investment
objectives. This authority will remain in effect until the Client terminates it through written notice to ARS, even in the
30
event of the Client’s incapacity or disability.
Non-Discretionary Authority
Where specifically requested by a Client, ARS will manage the Client’s account on a non-discretionary basis. Under
this account management style, subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the IMA, ARS will review the assets
in the Client’s Account and recommend to the Client such purchases and sales of securities and other property as
ARS considers advisable, taking into consideration the Account’s investment purposes. All investment decisions
will be the sole responsibility of the Client. ARS will not take any action or execute transactions for the Account
without the Client’s prior consent. The Client will grant ARS the authority to purchase and sell securities for the
Account and trade on the Client’s behalf and at the Client’s risk, subject to the Client's prior consent. As a result,
until the Client’s IAR successfully communicates with the Client, no transactions will be placed in the Client's
account(s).
Clients may decide not to invest in securities or other securities and refuse to approve securities transactions.
Clients will execute all documents ARS or their custodian requires to establish the account trading authorization.
ARS will then recommend and direct the investment and reinvestment of securities, cash, and financial instruments
held in the Client's accounts as deemed appropriate to further the Client’s investment guidelines, with such changes
as the Client and their IAR may agree to from time to time.
Similar to discretionary authority, the non-discretionary authority will remain in full force and effect, notwithstanding
the incompetence or disability of the Client, until terminated in a written notice to ARS.
For both account management styles, if Clients object to any investment decision, a mutually agreed-upon decision
will be made and documented if necessary. It is preferred that the Client and ARS engage in discussions to resolve
any potential differences of opinion. However, if the Client repeatedly acts inconsistently with the jointly agreed-
upon investment objectives, ARS reserves the right to terminate the Client's IMA after appropriate written notice.
Similarly, the Client reserves the right to terminate their IMA with ARS in accordance with the IMA provisions if they
so desire.
Once an investment portfolio is constructed, ARS will provide ongoing supervision and rebalancing of the portfolio
as changes in market conditions and Client circumstances may require. ARS seeks to undertake minimal trading in
Client accounts to keep transaction fees, other expenses, and the associated tax consequences to nominal levels.
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Proxy Voting
ARS is subject to Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act, which places specific requirements on registered
investment advisers with proxy voting authority. To meet its obligations under the rule, ARS has adopted written
proxy voting policies and procedures, designed to ensure that ARS votes proxies in the best interests of its Clients
and to address how ARS will resolve any conflict of interest that may arise when voting proxies.
With respect to SMA Clients, except for certain legacy SMAs and those SMAs invested in the small-cap strategies,
ARS will neither vote nor give any advice on how to vote proxies for securities held in the Account. If an SMA is for
an employee benefit plan that ERISA governs, the Client will instruct ARS that ARS is not authorized to vote proxies.
The right to vote such proxies will be expressly reserved to Client or to another party (other than ARS) designated
by Client in writing on Schedule A of their IMA (“Proxy Designee”).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Client’s custodial agreement, the Client will arrange for the Custodian
to send proxy materials and other issuer communications relating to the securities held in their SMA(s) directly to
the Client or, in the case of an ERISA Account, to the Proxy Designee and authorize and direct ARS to provide the
Custodian with instructions to direct all proxy materials and other issuer communications directly to the Client or the
Client’s Proxy Designee.
In the limited circumstances where ARS is granted the authority to vote proxies for securities held in Client accounts
other than certain legacy accounts, and ARS accepts the responsibility to vote such proxies, ARS relies on a third-
party proxy research company (ProxyEdge) to provide voting recommendations and votes in accordance with such
recommendations. Using a third-party proxy research company's voting recommendations eliminates any potential
conflict of interest that ARS may have in determining how to vote proxies. If ProxyEdge's voting recommendations
cannot be accessed for a particular security, the proxy will be voted by ARS in accordance with the issuer's
management recommendations. A summary of ProxyEdge's current voting recommendations with respect to the
31
most common matters submitted for shareholder votes is available upon request to ARS.
With respect to certain legacy SMAs and those SMAs invested in the small-cap strategies, when ARS has the
discretion to vote for the proxies of its Clients, it will endeavor to vote for those proxies in their best interests and in
accordance with its proxy voting policies and procedures. Because ARS votes in what it believes to be the best
interests of each Client, voting results could differ for proxies for the same issuer.
Clients may request a copy of ARS' proxy voting policy and procedures, a record of all proxy votes cast by ARS,
and obtain answers to their questions about a particular solicitation by contacting ARS' Chief Compliance Officer at
compliance@arsinvest.com.
Class Action Suits, Claims, Bankruptcies, Other Legal Actions & Proceedings
ARS does not provide legal or tax advice, engage in the practice of law or accountancy, or represent clients in legal
proceedings involving securities held or previously held in their account or the issuers of such securities. ARS is
not obligated to forward any written or electronic notices related to legal actions, proceedings, or materials affecting
such securities.
Item 18: Financial Information
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Balance Sheet
ARS does not require or solicit prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per Client, more than six months in advance,
and therefore does not need to include a balance sheet with this Brochure.
Financial Conditions Reasonably Likely to Impair Ability to Meet Contractual Commitments to Clients
Neither ARS nor its management has any financial condition that is likely to impair its ability to meet contractual
commitments to investors. ARS has no additional financial circumstances to report.
Bankruptcy Petitions in the Previous Ten Years
ARS has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition.
Item 19: Requirements for State Registered Advisers
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
ARS is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Therefore, this section does not apply to the Adviser’s business
model.
Item 20: Additional Information
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Business Continuity Plan
Securities industry regulations require that financial firms inform their Clients of their plans to address the possibility
of a significant business disruption ("SBD") resulting from power outages, natural disasters, or other events.
Financial firms must be able to provide continuous, uninterrupted services to their Clients, and ARS critical systems
must operate during such interruptions so that ARS can resume operations as quickly as possible, given the SBD's
scope and severity. Firms must meet their obligations to Clients, counterparties, and other business relationships
during an emergency or SBD.
Since the timing and impact of disasters and disruptions are unpredictable, firms must also be flexible in responding
to actual events as they occur. Thoughtful, advanced preparations and effective procedures efficiently minimize
downtime in the face of a disaster or outage and enable ARS to meet existing Client obligations.
Firm Policy
To satisfy this requirement, ARS has developed a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan ("BCP"), which is
reviewed, tested, and updated as necessary, no less than annually, to detail how ARS responds to an SBD event
and to assist Clients in making informed decisions about whether to conduct business with us. ARS’ guiding
principle is that protecting Clients, employees, and family members always takes precedence over preserving
business assets. The firm's policy is to respond to an SBD by first ensuring the safety of Clients, employees, and
firm property, followed by conducting a financial and operational assessment, rapidly recovering and resuming
operations, enabling Clients to continue transacting business, and safeguarding ARS’ books and records. If it is
determined that ARS cannot continue its business, we will promptly advise our Clients and other business
32
relationships and assist them with the next steps as appropriate for our business model.
BCP Summary
While no contingency plan can eliminate all risks of service interruption, ARS’ BCP strives to mitigate all reasonable
risks in light of ARS operations, structure, business, and location (as applicable).
Our BCP addresses mission-critical systems, office-closing/relocation procedures, and alternative physical
locations for employees. Operational risk systems and assessment procedures are defined to ensure continued
communication with Clients and employees and our critical business constituents, banks, counterparties, and
regulators. A Succession Plan is in place in the event of key personnel absence, as are procedures for the safety
of data backups and the recovery of firm books and records. Further, ARS requests that its primary internal and
external application providers periodically test their backup capabilities to ensure they can promptly provide the
critical information and applications needed to continue or resume ARS business in an emergency or SBD
situation.
When a minor or significant event occurs or appears to be developing, ARS’ Incident Management Team (“IMT”)
will be notified. Upon notification or becoming aware of an SBD event, the IMT will implement BCP emergency
procedures, secure the physical location to the extent possible, refer to the actions outlined in ARS’ BCP, and
advise all employees to contact the IMT directly.
If a business disruption affects only ARS or a specific area within ARS, ARS will collectively transfer its operations
to each employee’s remote work location. In the event of a disruption affecting the ARS business district, city, or
region, operations will be transferred to each employee’s remote work location, provided it is outside the affected
area.
In either situation, ARS plans to continue conducting business and to notify its Clients how to contact ARS through
a voice message delivered via its main phone number, a notification on its website, and an email message.
Telephone service will continue at any alternate worksites, and regular work processes will resume at the alternate
location(s).
Recovery times may vary depending on the nature and severity of the disruption.
However, the recovery time objective for mission-critical operations is 0-72 hours.
If the significant business disruption is so severe that it prevents ARS from conducting business, ARS will update
its voice message and website accordingly, in accordance with the BCP's provisions.
Please contact us at (212) 687-9800 or compliance@arsinvest.com for additional information on our BCP or to
share any questions you may have.
Information Security Program
ARS maintains an Information Security Program designed to reduce the risk of breaches of Clients' personal and
confidential information. Please contact us directly at (212) 687-9800 or compliance@arsinvest.com with any
questions regarding this Program.
Privacy Practices
Your relationship with us is based on trust and confidence. ARS’ privacy policy ("Privacy Policy") describes the
ways ARS collects, stores, uses, discloses, and protects the privacy of the personally identifiable and non-
personally identifiable information we may collect from you or that you may provide. Our goal is to treat the
information you furnish us with the utmost respect, in accordance with our Privacy Policy, and to safeguard it
professionally and securely. We remain committed to this objective.
What is Personally Identifiable Information?
Personally identifiable information ("PII") describes the information associated with you. It can be used to identify
you and includes your name, address, phone number, zip code, e-mail address, and other similar data.
Non-personally identifiable information (“non-PII”) is information that does not identify a specific person or is publicly
available. Non-PII may include, for example, your IP address, browser type, domain names, access dates, and
similar information.
Categories of Information We Collect
The personal information we collect and share will depend on the product or service. Confidential personal data
33
collected about you can include, but not be limited to:
•
•
•
information we receive from you via applications or other forms, such as your name, address, phone,
or social security number, occupation, assets, income,
investment experience and other financial and family information, and
information about your transactions with us or the brokerages, banks, and custodians with whom you
hold investment or cash accounts, including account numbers, holdings, balances, transaction history,
and other financial and investment activities.
How We Collect Your Information
We collect your personal information, for example, when you seek investment advice, tell us about your investment
portfolio(s), open an account, make account deposits or withdrawals, or provide your income details. We also collect
your personal information from other sources, such as companies.
We do not knowingly solicit information from or market our products or services to children. (Note: For purposes
of this notice, "children" refers to individuals under the age of 13, consistent with the definition provided in the
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”).)
How We Use Your Information
We may use information that we collect about you or that you provide to us, including any personal information, for
any purpose, including but not limited to:
compare information for accuracy and record verification,
improve, modify, customize, and measure our services,
• personalize our contact with you, or verify your identity when accessing our services,
•
• provide information, materials, products, or the services you request,
•
• develop new products and services,
•
send you administrative messages, content, and other services and features in which we believe you
may be interested,
• provide you with information about our products and services, including while you are on our website,
online services, or after you visit such online services,
contact you for the potential purchase of insurance or other financial products,
•
• operate, provide, improve, and maintain our website to prevent abusive and fraudulent use of our
website or enforce our Terms of Use and any other agreements between you and our firm, and
for any other administrative and internal business purposes permitted by law.
•
Sharing Non-Public Personal & Financial Information
Financial companies must share customers' personal information to run their everyday business and provide
services. Even when required to do so, we are committed to protecting and maintaining the privacy of your personal
and financial information.
We will share your personal information with only those non-affiliated third-party service providers authorized to use
your data as necessary to support our business operations, such as:
• when necessary to complete an account transaction, such as with the clearing firm or account
custodians,
for marketing services,
to our attorneys, accountants, or compliance consultants,
to provide customer service or resolve customer disputes,
to provide data storage, payment, or technology support and services, or
for risk solution provisions, analytics, or fraud prevention,
in connection with a sale or merger of our business, or
in any circumstance that requires your instruction or consent.
• when required to maintain or service an account,
•
• when requested by a fiduciary or beneficiary on the account,
• when required by a regulatory agency or for other reasons required or permitted by law,
•
•
•
•
•
•
34
The personal information we share for business purposes may include any categories of personal information
identified in this Privacy Policy that we may collect.
Protection of Personal Information
We maintain various security measures to protect against the loss, misuse, and alteration of the information under
our control. We restrict access to personal and account information to only those employees who need it to provide
products or services to you. Physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards are in place to protect Client data,
including security measures that comply with federal law, such as computer protection, secure file storage, and
secure buildings.
Finally, although no business can wholly guarantee that information will remain free from unauthorized access, use,
disclosure, or alteration, we make consistent, diligent, and good-faith efforts to maintain information security,
utilizing safety measures designed to prevent unauthorized access or usage.
Internet Use
You can visit us on the Internet without telling us who you are or revealing any information about yourself, including
your e-mail address. In this case, our web servers may collect your IP address.
Sharing Information & Consumer Choice
When you provide information to us, we may share it, to the extent permitted by applicable law, with our affiliated
companies and third parties to fulfill your requests. Your information is not shared with any additional third party
unless you request it or it is permitted by law. Under no circumstances will we sell or transfer your information to
any individual or organization.
We require strict confidentiality in our agreements with unaffiliated third parties that need access to your personal
data, including financial service companies, consultants, examiners, and auditors. Federal and state securities
regulators may review ARS’ records and your records as the law permits.
Federal law allows you to limit sharing information about your creditworthiness for affiliates' everyday business
purposes, for affiliates to use your information to market to you, and for non-affiliates to market to you.
State and international laws, as well as individual companies, may provide additional rights to limit sharing. (Please
contact us directly for specific state and residence privacy requirements.)
Notification In the Event of a Data Breach
Although we make reasonable efforts to maintain your information securely, no firm or individual can guarantee that
shared information will remain free from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or alteration. If an unauthorized party
breaches your personally identifiable information, we will comply with applicable state laws in notifying you of the
breach.
Former Customers
Personally identifiable information about you will be maintained while you are a Client and for the crucial period
after that, as federal and state securities laws require, if you close your account(s) or become an inactive customer.
After that time, information may be destroyed.
Accessing or Correcting Your Information
You may view the data we have collected by sending a request to the address below or via email to
compliance@arsinvest.com.
If you believe that an error has been made in the accuracy of the information collected from you, we will correct
such error upon adequate verification of the error and the person's identity seeking the correction. If you wish to
access, remove, or correct any personally identifying information you have supplied to us or have any questions
about this Privacy Policy, you may contact us by sending a letter to the address below or via email to
compliance@arsinvest.com.
Changes to Our Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to modify or supplement our Privacy Policy statement at any time. If we make any material
changes, we will notify our existing Clients and update our website to reflect such changes, including disclosing the
last revised date of the privacy policy.
35
For additional information on our privacy practices or any other questions, please contact us using the information
that follows:
ARS Investment Partners
529 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 687-9800
Fax: (646) 619-4460
Website: www.arsinvest.com
Email: compliance@arsinvest.com
36