Overview
- Headquarters
- Flagstaff, AZ
- Total Firm Assets
- $209 million
- Average High-Net-Worth Client Portfolio Size
- $0.9 million
Fee Disclosure
ADV PART 2A-BABB WEALTH ADVISORS LLC
| Min | Max | Disclosed Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $1,000,000 | 1.00% |
| $1,000,001 | $2,000,000 | 0.90% |
| $2,000,001 | $3,000,000 | 0.80% |
| $3,000,001 | $4,000,000 | 0.75% |
| $4,000,001 | $5,000,000 | 0.65% |
| $5,000,001 | and above | 0.50% |
Stated Minimum Annual Fee: $2,500
Estimated Annual Fees (Based on ADV disclosures. Where a range is given, we use the upper rate)
| Portfolio Value | Estimated Annual Fee | Effective Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $10,000 | 1.00% |
| $5 million | $41,000 | 0.82% |
| $10 million | $66,000 | 0.66% |
| $50 million | $266,000 | 0.53% |
| $100 million | $516,000 | 0.52% |
Clients
- High-Net-Worth Share of Firm Assets
- 35.47%
- Number of High-Net-Worth Clients
- 81
- Total Client Accounts
- 927
- Discretionary Accounts
- 924
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 3
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals, Pension Consulting, Investment Advisor Selection
Regulatory Filings
- SEC CRD Number
- 298347
Primary Brochure: ADV PART 2A-BABB WEALTH ADVISORS LLC (2026-09-24)
View Document Text
Babb Wealth Advisors LLC
Firm Brochure - Form ADV Part 2A
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Babb Wealth Advisors LLC.
If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at (928) 526-2911 or by email at:
clientservice@babbgroup.com. The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.
Additional information about Babb Wealth Advisors LLC is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Babb Wealth Advisors LLC’s CRD number is: 298347.
1117 W. Route 66
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 526-2911
clientservice@babbgroup.com
https://www. babbgroup.com
Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Version Date: 09/24/2026
i
Item 2: Material Changes
There are no material changes since our last brochure dated 03/19/2026.
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Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page
Item 2: Material Changes ....................................................................................................................................... ii
Item 3: Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... iii
Item 4: Advisory Business ......................................................................................................................................2
Item 5: Fees and Compensation .............................................................................................................................4
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management ....................................................................7
Item 7: Types of Clients ..........................................................................................................................................7
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, & Risk of Loss ...............................................................7
Item 9: Disciplinary Information .........................................................................................................................10
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .........................................................................11
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading ...............12
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ................................................................................................................................13
Item 13: Review of Accounts ................................................................................................................................14
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation ..........................................................................................15
Item 15: Custody ....................................................................................................................................................16
Item 16: Investment Discretion ............................................................................................................................16
Item 17: Voting Client Securities (Proxy Voting) ..............................................................................................17
Item 18: Financial Information .............................................................................................................................17
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Item 4: Advisory Business
A. Description of the Advisory Firm
Babb Wealth Advisors LLC (hereinafter “BWA”) is a Limited Liability Company
organized in the State of Arizona. The firm was formed in July 2018, and the principal
owner is Babb Holdings, LLC, which is owned by Travis Christopher Babb. Kathleen
Schroeder is the chief compliance officer.
B. Types of Advisory Services
Financial Planning Services
BWA offers ongoing financial planning services, including some or all of the following
areas, including but not limited to: Estate, Insurance, Income, Tax, Investment, Goal &
Objective Prioritization, and ongoing monitoring and updating of plan. Services may also
include access to estate planning software and client-based pricing for tax preparation
services from our affiliated firm. Services provided are based on the individual goals,
objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance of each client.
BWA creates an Investment Policy Statement for each client, which outlines the client’s
current situation (income, tax levels, and risk tolerance levels) and then constructs a plan
to aid in the selection of a portfolio that matches each client's specific situation.
BWA evaluates the current investments of each client with respect to their risk tolerance
levels and time horizon. BWA will require discretionary authority from clients in order to
select securities and execute transactions without permission from the client prior to each
transaction. BWA will also accept non-discretionary accounts. Risk tolerance levels are
documented in the Investment Policy Statement, which is given to each client.
The level of services BWA offers are depending upon the total assets under management
with BWA of which are clearly outlined in the agreement with the client.
BWA seeks to provide that investment decisions are made in accordance with the
fiduciary duties owed to its accounts and without consideration of BWA’s economic,
investment or other financial interests. To meet its fiduciary obligations, BWA attempts
to avoid, among other things, investment or trading practices that systematically
advantage or disadvantage certain client portfolios, and accordingly, BWA’s policy is to
seek fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities/transactions among its
clients to avoid favoring one client over another over time. It is BWA’s policy to allocate
investment opportunities and transactions it identifies as being appropriate and prudent,
including initial public offerings ("IPOs") and other investment opportunities that might
have a limited supply among its clients on a fair and equitable basis over time.
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Selection of Other Advisers
BWA may direct clients to Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), a third-party investment
adviser, for Unified Managed Account (UMA) services. Before selecting DFA for clients,
BWA will verify that the firm is properly registered. BWA also utilizes Dimensional Funds
Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds within their clients’ non-UMA portfolios and
DFA does not act as a third-party advisor in these cases.
ERISA Written Acknowledgement of Fiduciary Status
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or
individual retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as
applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. The way we make money
creates some conflicts with your interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires
us to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. Under this special
rule’s provisions, we must:
• Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations
(give prudent advice);
• Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations
(give loyal advice);
• Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
• Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in
your best interest;
• Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
Services to Specific Types of Investments
BWA provides investment advice primarily to mutual funds, fixed income securities, real
estate funds, treasuries, insurance products including annuities, equities, ETFs (including
ETFs in the gold and precious metal sectors), treasury inflation protected/inflation linked
bonds, and non-U.S. securities although BWA primarily recommends diversified
investment-based investing strategies. BWA may use other securities as well to help
diversify a portfolio when applicable.
C. Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
BWA will tailor a program for each individual client. This will include an interview
session to get to know the client’s specific needs and requirements as well as an
investment plan that will be signed and executed by BWA on behalf of the client. BWA
may use model allocations together with a specific set of recommendations for each client
based on their personal restrictions, needs, and targets. Clients may impose restrictions in
investing in certain securities or types of securities in accordance with their values or
beliefs. However, if the restrictions prevent BWA from properly servicing the client
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account, or if the restrictions would require BWA to deviate from its standard suite of
services, BWA reserves the right to end the relationship.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
BWA acts as portfolio manager for and sponsor of a wrap fee program, which is an
investment program where the client pays one stated fee that includes management fees,
transaction costs, and certain other administrative fees. However, this brochure describes
BWA’s non-wrap fee advisory services; clients utilizing BWA’s wrap fee portfolio
management should see the separate Wrap Fee Program Brochure. BWA manages the
investments in the wrap fee program but does not manage those wrap fee accounts any
differently than it would manage non-wrap fee accounts. BWA receives the financial
planning fee set forth in Item 5 below as a management fee under the wrap fee program.
Please also see Item 5 and Item 12 of this brochure.
E. Assets Under Management
BWA has the following assets under management:
Discretionary Amounts:
Non-discretionary Amounts: Date Calculated:
$ 209,100,827
$332,500
December 31, 2025
Item 5: Fees and Compensation
A. Fee Schedule
Financial Planning Services Fees
Total Assets Under Management Annual Fees
$0 - $250,000
$2,500
$250,001 - $1,000,000
1.00%
$1,000,001 - $2,000,000
0.90%
$2,000,001 - $3,000,000
0.80%
$3,000,001 - $4,000,000
0.75%
$4,000,001 - $5,000,000
0.65%
$5,000,001 and Up
0.50%
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Financial Planning Services Fees are paid quarterly in advance and the fee schedule is
tiered. The financial planning fee is calculated using the value of the assets in the Account
on the last business day of the prior quarter. For the first $250,000 in assets under
management the annual fee charged is a fixed $2,500, billed quarterly in advance.
Upon termination, for any unearned asset-based fees paid in advance, the fee refunded
will be equal to the balance of the fees collected in advance minus the daily rate* times the
number of days elapsed in the quarter, up to and including the day of termination. (*The
daily rate is calculated by dividing the annual asset-based fee rate by 365). Fees are
negotiable.
If a client relationship begins on a date other than the first day of a calendar quarter, the
financial planning fee for that initial partial period will be pro-rated based on the number
of days services were provided during the quarter. The pro-rated fee for that initial period
will be included in the invoice for the subsequent full quarter, unless the start date for the
initial period is within 15 days of the existing quarter, in which the invoice may be billed
for that period.
Additionally, for existing accounts, the financial planning fee for each quarter will reflect
a pro-rata adjustment for any cash flows (additions or withdrawals) that occurred during
the prior quarter. These adjustments will be calculated using a time-weighted method to
account for the number of days each cash flow was in or out of the account during the
billing period.
When financial planning fees are deducted directly from client accounts at client's
custodian, BWA will be deemed to have limited custody of client's assets and must have
written authorization from the client to do so. Clients will receive all account statements
from the custodian, and they should carefully review those statements for accuracy.
Selection of Other Advisers Fees
For the clients directed to DFA for UMA services, the client is responsible for the fees
charged directly by DFA which are separate and distinct from the fees charged by BWA.
Plan Level Advising and American Funds Account Asset Fees
For accounts held at the plan trust level through a third-party custodian or recordkeeper,
as well as accounts held at American Funds, fees are calculated by the third party and
deducted directly from the client's account. BWA receives a portion of these fees.
If the client also maintains other accounts directly managed by BWA, the value of the
held-away accounts is included when determining the total household assets for purposes
of applying BWA’s tiered financial planning fee schedule. This may result in a lower
effective rate due to applicable breakpoints.
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However, the fees charged on the held-away accounts are not adjusted to reflect this lower
rate. They continue to be billed separately according to the arrangement and fee schedule
established with the third-party custodian or recordkeeper.
B. Payment of Fees
Payment of Financial Planning Services Fees
Asset-based portfolio management fees are withdrawn directly from the client's accounts
with client's written authorization on a quarterly basis. Please see item 15 for more
information regarding this direct deduction authority. Fees are paid in advance.
Payment of Selection of Other Advisers Fees
Fees for selection of DFA for UMA services, as stated in the client agreement, are billed
separately through the third-party.
Payment of Plan Level Advising and American Funds Account Asset Fees
BWA
then receives
its portion of
the
fees
from
the
Fees for accounts held at the plan trust level through a third-party custodian or
recordkeeper, as well as accounts held at American Funds, are withdrawn by the third
party recordkeeper/custodian directly, per the arrangement specified on the custodian’s
forms.
third party
recordkeeper/custodian; BWA does not directly deduct the fees.
C. Client Responsibility for Third Party Fees
This brochure describes BWA’s non-wrap fee advisory services; clients utilizing BWA’s
wrap fee portfolio management should see the separate Wrap Fee Program Brochure for
additional details regarding third party fees. Client accounts not participating in the wrap
fee program are responsible for the payment of all third-party fees (i.e., custodian fees,
commissions, brokerage fees, mutual fund fees, transaction fees, etc.). Those fees are
separate and distinct from the fees and expenses charged by BWA. Please see Item 12 of
this brochure regarding broker/custodian.
D. Prepayment of Fees
BWA collects fees in advance. Refunds for fees paid in advance, but not yet earned will
be refunded on a prorated basis and returned as soon as possible to the client via return
deposit back into the client’s account or a fee reduction to another one of the client’s
accounts.
For all asset-based fees paid in advance, the fee refunded will be equal to the balance of
the fees collected in advance minus the daily rate* times the number of days elapsed in
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the billing period up to and including the day of termination. (*The daily rate is calculated
by dividing the annual asset-based fee rate by 365.)
E. Outside Compensation for the Sale of Securities to Clients
Neither BWA nor its supervised persons accept any compensation for the sale of
investment products, including asset-based sales charges or service fees from the sale of
mutual funds. Please see Item 10 for more information regarding this license and related
conflict of interest.
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
BWA does not accept performance-based fees or other fees based on a share of capital gains on,
or capital appreciation of, the assets of a client and therefore does not engage in side by side
management.
Item 7: Types of Clients
BWA generally provides advisory services to the following types of clients:
Individuals
High-Net-Worth Individuals
Corporations & Businesses
Charitable Organizations
Pension & Profit Sharing Plans
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, & Risk of
Loss
A. Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
Methods of Analysis
BWA’s methods of analysis include Fundamental analysis and Modern portfolio theory.
Fundamental analysis involves the analysis of financial statements, the general financial
health of companies, and/or the analysis of management or competitive advantages.
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Modern portfolio theory is a theory of investment that attempts to maximize portfolio
expected return for a given amount of portfolio risk, or equivalently minimize risk for a
given level of expected return, each by carefully choosing the proportions of various asset.
Investment Strategies
BWA uses a passive, diversified, long term approach, overweighting value, small, and
profitable companies relative to market weights. BWA primarily recommends diversified
factor-based investing. BWA also uses selection of other advisers.
BWA may also recommend Unified Managed Accounts (UMA) offered by Dimensional
Fund Advisors (DFA). This offering encompasses the above approach, with added
customizations and tax management strategies. All clients that engage in UMAs with DFA
through (Firm) will be given the DFA ADV 2A or Firm Brochure.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared
to bear.
B. Material Risks Involved
Methods of Analysis
Fundamental analysis concentrates on factors that determine a company’s value and
expected future earnings. This strategy would normally encourage equity purchases in
stocks that are undervalued or priced below their perceived value. The risk assumed is
that the market will fail to reach expectations of perceived value.
Modern portfolio theory assumes that investors are risk averse, meaning that given two
portfolios that offer the same expected return, investors will prefer the less risky one.
Thus, an investor will take on increased risk only if compensated by higher expected
returns. Conversely, an investor who wants higher expected returns must accept more
risk. The exact trade-off will be the same for all investors, but different investors will
evaluate the trade-off differently based on individual risk aversion characteristics. The
implication is that a rational investor will not invest in a portfolio if a second portfolio
exists with a more favorable risk-expected return profile – i.e., if for that level of risk an
alternative portfolio exists which has better expected returns.
Investment Strategies
BWA's use of margin transactions generally holds greater risk, and clients should be
aware that there is a material risk of loss using any of those strategies.
Long term trading is designed to capture market rates of both return and risk. Due to its
nature, the long-term investment strategy can expose clients to various types of risk that
will typically surface at various intervals during the time the client owns the investments.
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These risks include but are not limited to inflation (purchasing power) risk, interest rate
risk, economic risk, market risk, and political/regulatory risk.
Solicitor Services / Selection of Other Advisers: Although BWA will seek to select only
money managers who will invest clients' assets with the highest level of integrity, BWA's
selection process cannot ensure that money managers will perform as desired and BWA
will have no control over the day-to-day operations of any of its selected money managers.
BWA would not necessarily be aware of certain activities at the underlying money
manager level, including without limitation a money manager's engaging in unreported
risks, investment “style drift” or even regulator breach or fraud.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared
to bear.
C. Risks of Specific Securities Utilized
BWA's use of margin transactions generally holds greater risk of capital loss. Clients
should be aware that there is a material risk of loss using any investment strategy. The
investment types listed below (leaving aside Treasury Inflation Protected/Inflation
Linked Bonds) are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government
agency.
Mutual Funds: Investing in mutual funds carries the risk of capital loss and thus you may
lose money investing in mutual funds. All mutual funds have internal costs that lower
investment returns and are disclosed in each fund’s prospectus. The funds can be of bond
“fixed income” nature (lower risk) or stock “equity” nature.
Equity investment generally refers to buying shares of stocks in return for receiving a
future payment of dividends and/or capital gains if the value of the stock increases. The
value of equity securities may fluctuate in response to specific situations for each
company, industry conditions and the general economic environments.
issuers and counterparties.
The risk of default on
treasury
Fixed income investments generally pay a return on a fixed schedule, though the amount
of the payments can vary. This type of investment can include corporate and government
debt securities, leveraged loans, and investment grade debt and, such as mortgage and
other asset-backed securities, although individual bonds may be the best known type of
fixed income security. In general, the fixed income market is volatile and fixed income
securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice
versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income
securities also carry inflation risk, liquidity risk, call risk, and credit and default risks for
inflation
both
protected/inflation linked bonds is dependent upon the U.S. Treasury defaulting
(extremely unlikely); however, they carry a potential risk of losing share price value, albeit
rather minimal. Risks of investing in foreign fixed income securities also include the
general risk of non-U.S. investing described below.
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Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): An ETF is an investment fund traded on stock exchanges,
similar to stocks. Investing in ETFs carries the risk of capital loss (sometimes up to a 100%
loss in the case of a stock holding bankruptcy). Areas of concern include the lack of
transparency in products and increasing complexity, conflicts of interest and the
possibility of inadequate regulatory compliance. Precious Metal ETFs (e.g., Gold, Silver,
or Palladium Bullion backed “electronic shares” not physical metal) specifically may be
negatively impacted by several unique factors, among them (1) large sales by the official
sector which own a significant portion of aggregate world holdings in gold and other
precious metals, (2) a significant increase in hedging activities by producers of gold or
other precious metals, (3) a significant change in the attitude of speculators and investors.
ETFs may trade above or below net asset value.
Exchange Traded Real Estate funds face several kinds of risk that are inherent in the real
estate sector, which historically has experienced significant fluctuations and cycles in
performance. Revenues and cash flows may be adversely affected by: changes in local real
estate market conditions due to changes in national or local economic conditions or
changes in local property market characteristics; competition from other properties
offering the same or similar services; changes in interest rates and in the state of the debt
and equity credit markets; the ongoing need for capital improvements; changes in real
estate tax rates and other operating expenses; adverse changes in governmental rules and
fiscal policies; adverse changes in zoning laws; the impact of present or future
environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws.
Annuities are a retirement product for those who may have the ability to pay a premium
now and want to guarantee they receive certain monthly payments or a return on
investment later in the future. Annuities are contracts issued by a life insurance company
designed to meet requirements or other long-term goals. An annuity is not a life insurance
policy. Variable annuities are designed to be long-term investments, to meet retirement
and other long-range goals. Variable annuities are not suitable for meeting short-term
goals because substantial taxes and insurance company charges may apply if you
withdraw your money early. Variable annuities also involve investment risks, just as
mutual funds do.
Non-U.S. securities present certain risks such as currency fluctuation, political and
economic change, social unrest, changes in government regulation, differences in
accounting and the lesser degree of accurate public information available.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing in securities involves a
risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared to bear.
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
A. Criminal or Civil Actions
There are no criminal or civil actions to report.
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B. Administrative Proceedings
There are no administrative proceedings to report.
C. Self-regulatory Organization (SRO) Proceedings
There are no self-regulatory organization proceedings to report.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Registration as a Broker/Dealer or Broker/Dealer Representative
Neither BWA nor its representatives are registered as, or have pending applications to
become, a broker/dealer or a representative of a broker/dealer.
B. Registration as a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity
Pool Operator, or a Commodity Trading Advisor
Neither BWA nor its representatives are registered as or have pending applications to
become either a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, or
Commodity Trading Advisor or an associated person of the foregoing entities.
C. Registration Relationships Material to this Advisory Business
and Possible Conflicts of Interests
BWA’s owner, Babb Holdings, LLC owns Babb Financial Group, LLC, an insurance
company. Clients should be aware that this creates a conflict of interest and incentivizes
Travis Babb, the owner of Babb Holdings, LLC, to recommend that Clients utilize the
services of Babb Financial Group, LLC. In addition, various individuals with BWA are
independent licensed insurance agents, and from time to time, will offer clients advice or
products from those activities. Clients should be aware that these services pay a
commission or other compensation and involve a conflict of interest, as commissionable
products conflict with the fiduciary duties of a registered investment adviser.
Fees are not charged on assets held in insurance vehicles, and the value of the assets is not
included in assets under management for fee calculation purposes. Clients are in no way
required to utilize the services of any representative of BWA in connection with such
individual's activities outside of BWA. To address this conflict of interest, BWA will act
in the Client’s best interest.
In addition to commissions, insurance companies and field marketing affiliates may
provide additional incentives such as conventions, conferences, or trips, marketing
11
support, and other monetary benefits. Earned incentive trips, conventions, or conferences
will not be permitted unless they are educational in manner.
BWA’s owner, Babb Holdings, LLC, owns Babb Tax Advisors, LLC (“Babb Tax”) which
provides tax preparation and tax filing services. These services will be offered to clients
of BWA and fees paid to Babb Tax are separate and distinct from the fees paid to BWA.
Clients are in no way required to utilize the services of Babb Tax.
Employees of Babb Tax also work with BWA, provide tax planning advice to BWA clients,
and share office space with BWA. This presents potential conflicts around the sharing of
client’s personal information, fair trade practices, and supervision. To mitigate these
conflicts, BWA has put policies in place to supervise and monitor the activities of these
shared employees.
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading
A. Code of Ethics
BWA has a written Code of Ethics that covers the following areas: Prohibited Purchases
and Sales, Insider Trading, Personal Securities Transactions, Exempted Transactions,
Prohibited Activities, Conflicts of Interest, Gifts and Entertainment, Confidentiality,
Service on a Board of Directors, Compliance Procedures, Compliance with Laws and
Regulations, Procedures and Reporting, Certification of Compliance, Reporting
Violations, Compliance Officer Duties, Training and Education, Recordkeeping, Annual
Review, and Sanctions. BWA's Code of Ethics is available free upon request to any client
or prospective client.
B. Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests
BWA does not recommend that clients buy or sell any security in which a related person
to BWA or BWA has a material financial interest.
C. Investing Personal Money in the Same Securities as Clients
From time to time, representatives of BWA may buy or sell securities for themselves that
they also recommend to clients. This may provide an opportunity for representatives of
BWA to buy or sell the same securities before or after recommending the same securities
to clients resulting in representatives profiting off the recommendations they provide to
clients. Such transactions create a conflict of interest. To address this conflict of interest,
BWA will act in the Client’s best interest.
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D. Trading Securities At/Around the Same Time as Clients’
Securities
From time to time, representatives of BWA may buy or sell securities for themselves at or
around the same time as clients. This may provide an opportunity for representatives of
BWA to buy or sell securities before or after recommending securities to clients resulting
in representatives profiting off the recommendations they provide to clients. Such
transactions may create a conflict of interest. To address this conflict of interest, BWA will
act in the Client’s best interest.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
A. Factors Used to Select Custodians
BWA will require clients to use a particular custodian. It is BWA’s duty to seek “best
execution,” which is the obligation to seek execution of securities transactions for a client
on the most favorable terms for the client under the circumstances. Clients will not
necessarily pay the lowest commission or commission equivalent, and BWA may also
the broker-
consider the market expertise and research access provided by
dealer/custodian, including but not limited to access to written research, oral
communication with analysts, admittance to research conferences and other resources
provided by the brokers that may aid in BWA's research efforts. BWA will never charge a
premium or commission on transactions, beyond the actual cost imposed by the
custodian.
BWA will require clients to use American Funds Service Company, Alerus Invesco
Distributors, Inc., Nationwide Advisory Solutions, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor
Services or Altruist.
1. Research and Other Soft-Dollar Benefits
While BWA has no formal soft dollar program in which soft dollars are used to pay
for third party services, BWA may receive research, products, or other services from
custodians and broker-dealers in connection with client securities transactions (“soft
dollar benefits”). BWA may enter into soft-dollar arrangements consistent with (and
not outside of) the safe harbor contained in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. There can be no assurance that any particular client will
benefit from soft dollar research, whether or not the client’s transactions paid for it,
and BWA does not seek to allocate benefits to client accounts proportionate to any soft
dollar credits generated by the accounts. BWA benefits by not having to produce or
pay for the research, products or services, and BWA will have an incentive to
recommend a broker-dealer based on receiving research or services. Clients should be
13
aware that BWA’s acceptance of soft dollar benefits may result in higher commissions
charged to the client.
2. Brokerage for Client Referrals
BWA receives no referrals from a broker-dealer or third party in exchange for using
that broker-dealer or third party.
B. Aggregating (Block) Trading for Multiple Client Accounts
If BWA buys or sells the same securities on behalf of more than one client, then it may
(but would be under no obligation to) aggregate or bunch such securities in a single
transaction for multiple clients in order to seek more favorable prices, lower brokerage
commissions, or more efficient execution. In such case, BWA would place an aggregate
order with the custodian on behalf of all such clients in order to ensure fairness for all
clients; provided, however, that trades would be reviewed periodically to ensure that
accounts are not systematically disadvantaged by this policy. BWA would determine the
appropriate number of shares and select the appropriate custodian consistent with its
duty to seek best execution, except for those accounts with specific brokerage direction (if
any).
Item 13: Review of Accounts
A. Frequency and Nature of Periodic Reviews and Who Makes
Those Reviews
All client accounts for BWA's advisory services provided on an ongoing basis are
reviewed at least Annually by BWA, with regard to clients’ respective investment policies
and risk tolerance levels. All accounts at BWA are assigned to this reviewer and will be
reviewed with the client.
B. Factors That Will Trigger a Non-Periodic Review of Client
Accounts
Reviews may be triggered by material market, economic, or political events, or by changes
in client's financial situations (such as retirement, termination of employment, physical
move, or inheritance).
C. Content and Frequency of Regular Reports Provided to Clients
Each client of BWA's advisory services provided on an ongoing basis will receive a
quarterly report detailing the client’s account, including assets held, asset value, and
amount of fees. This written statement will come from the custodian.
14
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
A. Economic Benefits Provided by Third Parties for Advice
Rendered to Clients (Includes Sales Awards or Other Prizes)
BWA receives compensation from third-party advisers to which it directs clients.
Other than soft dollars described above BWA does not receive any compensation from
third party advisory services it provided to clients.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services provides BWA with access to Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services’ institutional trading and custody services, which are
typically not available to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services retail investors.
These services generally are available to independent investment advisers on an
unsolicited basis, at no charge to them so long as a total of at least $10 million of the
adviser’s clients’ assets are maintained in accounts at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor
Services. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services includes brokerage services that are
related to the execution of securities transactions, custody, research, including that in the
form of advice, analyses and reports, and access to mutual funds and other investments
that are otherwise generally available only to institutional investors or would require a
significantly higher minimum initial investment. For BWA client accounts maintained in
its custody, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services generally does not charge
separately for custody services but is compensated by account holders through
commissions or other transaction-related or asset-based fees for securities trades that are
executed through Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services or that settle into Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services accounts.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services also makes available to BWA other products
and services that benefit BWA but may not benefit its clients’ accounts. These benefits may
include national, regional or BWA specific educational events organized and/or
sponsored by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services. Other potential benefits may
include occasional business entertainment of personnel of BWA by Charles Schwab & Co.,
Inc. Advisor Services personnel, including meals, invitations to sporting events, including
golf tournaments, and other forms of entertainment, some of which may accompany
educational opportunities. Other of these products and services assist BWA in managing
and administering clients’ accounts. These include software and other technology (and
related technological training) 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, if applicable), provide research,
pricing information and other market data, facilitate payment of BWA’s fees from its
clients’ accounts (if applicable), and assist with back-office training and support functions,
recordkeeping and client reporting. Many of these services generally may be used to
service all or some substantial number of BWA’s accounts. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Advisor Services also makes available to BWA other services intended to help BWA
manage and further develop its business enterprise. These services may include
15
information
professional compliance, legal and business consulting, publications and conferences on
practice management,
technology, business succession, regulatory
compliance, employee benefits providers, and human capital consultants, insurance and
marketing. In addition, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services may make available,
arrange and/or pay vendors for these types of services rendered to BWA by independent
third parties. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services may discount or waive fees it
would otherwise charge for some of these services or pay all or a part of the fees of a third-
party providing these services to BWA. BWA is independently owned and operated and
not affiliated with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services.
B. Compensation to Non – Advisory Personnel for Client Referrals
From time to time, BWA compensates clients or non-clients for referring prospective
clients to BWA with small gifts of cash or non-cash compensation such as a
complimentary meal or a client appreciation event. Clients referred to BWA pursuant to
these arrangements receive a separate disclosure document that describes this type of
arrangement and the type of compensation they are provided.
Item 15: Custody
BWA does not accept or maintain physical custody of client funds or securities. When financial
planning fees are deducted directly from client accounts at client's custodian, BWA will be
deemed to have limited custody of client's assets and must have written authorization from the
client to do so. Clients will receive all account statements from the custodian and billing invoices
for BWA that are required in each jurisdiction, and they should carefully review those statements
for accuracy.
Custody is also disclosed in Form ADV because BWA has authority to transfer money from client
account(s), which constitutes a standing letter of authorization (SLOA). Accordingly, BWA will
follow the safeguards specified by the SEC rather than undergo an annual audit.
Item 16: Investment Discretion
BWA provides discretionary investment advisory services to clients. The advisory contract
established with each client sets forth the discretionary authority for trading. Where investment
discretion has been granted, BWA generally manages the client’s account and makes investment
decisions without consultation with the client as to when the securities are to be bought or sold
for the account, the total amount of the securities to be bought/sold, what securities to buy or
sell, or the price per share. In some instances, BWA’s discretionary authority in making these
determinations may be limited by conditions imposed by a client (in investment guidelines or
objectives, or client instructions otherwise provided to BWA.
16
Item 17: Voting Client Securities (Proxy Voting)
BWA will not ask for, nor accept voting authority for client securities. Clients will receive proxies
directly from the issuer of the security or the custodian. The firm is available to answer any
questions about any proxies the client may have.
Item 18: Financial Information
A. Balance Sheet
BWA neither requires nor solicits prepayment of more than $1200 in fees per client, six
months or more in advance, and therefore is not required to include a balance sheet with
this brochure.
B. Financial Conditions Reasonably Likely to Impair Ability to
Meet Contractual Commitments to Clients
Neither BWA nor its management has any financial condition that is likely to reasonably
impair BWA’s ability to meet contractual commitments to clients.
C. Bankruptcy Petitions in Previous Ten Years
BWA has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition in the last ten years.
17
Additional Brochure: BABB WEALTH ADVISORS LLC WRAP FEE PROGRAM (2026-09-24)
View Document Text
Babb Wealth Advisors LLC
Wrap Fee Program Brochure
This wrap brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Babb Wealth Advisors
LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at (928) 526-2911 or by email
at: clientservice@babbgroup.com. The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.
Additional information about Babb Wealth Advisors LLC is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Babb Wealth Advisors LLC’s CRD number is: 298347.
1117 W. Route 66
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 526-2911
clientservice@babbgroup.com
https://www. babbgroup.com
Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Version Date: 09/24/2026
Item 2: Material Changes
There are no material changes since our last brochure dated 03/19/2026.
i
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page ....................................................................................................................................................
Item 2: Material Changes ........................................................................................................................................ i
Item 3: Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................... ii
Item 4: Services Fees and Compensation .............................................................................................................4
A. Description of Services ..................................................................................................................................4
B. Contribution Cost Factors ..............................................................................................................................5
C. Additional Fees ...............................................................................................................................................5
D. Compensation of Client Participation .........................................................................................................5
Item 5: Account Requirements and Types of Clients .........................................................................................6
Item 6: Portfolio Manager Selection and Evaluation ..........................................................................................6
A.
Selecting/Reviewing Portfolio Managers .............................................................................................6
Standards Used to Calculate Portfolio Manager Performance .................................................................6
Review of Performance Information .............................................................................................................6
B. Related Persons ...............................................................................................................................................6
C. Advisory Business ..........................................................................................................................................6
Wrap Fee Portfolio Management ..................................................................................................................7
Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management..........................................................................8
Services Limited to Specific Types of Investments .....................................................................................8
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions .........................................................................8
Wrap Fee Programs .........................................................................................................................................8
Amounts Under Management .......................................................................................................................8
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies .........................................................................................9
Material Risks Involved ..................................................................................................................................9
Risks of Specific Securities Utilized ............................................................................................................10
Voting Client Proxies ....................................................................................................................................11
Item 7: Client Information Provided to Portfolio Managers ...........................................................................11
Item 8: Client Contact with Portfolio Managers ................................................................................................12
Item 9: Additional Information ...........................................................................................................................12
A. Disciplinary Action and Other Financial Industry Activities ...........................................................12
ii
Criminal or Civil Actions .............................................................................................................................12
Administrative Proceedings .........................................................................................................................12
Self-regulatory Organization Proceedings .................................................................................................12
Registration as a Broker/Dealer or Broker/Dealer Representative .......................................................12
Registration as a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, or Commodity
Trading Advisor ............................................................................................................................................12
Registration Relationships Material to this Advisory Business and Possible Conflicts of Interests..12
Selection of Other Advisors or Managers and How This Adviser is Compensated for Those
Selections.........................................................................................................................................................13
B.
Code of Ethics, Client Referrals, and Financial Information ............................................................13
Code of Ethics ................................................................................................................................................13
Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests ......................................................................14
Investing Personal Money in the Same Securities as Clients ..................................................................14
Trading Securities At/Around the Same Time as Clients’ Securities ....................................................14
Frequency and Nature of Periodic Reviews and Who Makes Those Reviews .....................................14
Factors That Will Trigger a Non-Periodic Review of Client Accounts ..................................................14
Content and Frequency of Regular Reports Provided to Clients ...........................................................14
Economic Benefits Provided by Third Parties for Advice Rendered to Clients (Includes Sales
Awards or Other Prizes) ...............................................................................................................................15
Research and Other Soft-Dollar Benefits ....................................................................................................16
Compensation to Non – Advisory Personnel for Client Referrals .........................................................16
Balance Sheet ..................................................................................................................................................16
Financial Conditions Reasonably Likely to Impair Ability to Meet Contractual Commitments to
Clients ..............................................................................................................................................................16
Bankruptcy Petitions in Previous Ten Years .............................................................................................16
iii
Item 4: Services, Fees and Compensation
Babb Wealth Advisors LLC (hereinafter “BWA”) offers the following services to advisory
clients:
A. Description of Services
BWA participates in and sponsors wrap fee programs, which means BWA will wrap in
third party fees (i.e., custodian fees, brokerage fees, mutual fund fees, transaction fees,
etc.) for accounts participating in the wrap fee program. BWA will charge clients one fee
and pay all transaction fees using the fee collected from the client. Accounts participating
in the wrap fee program are not charged higher financial planning fees based on trading
activity, but clients should be aware that BWA has an incentive to limit trading activities
for those accounts since the firm absorbs those transaction costs.
Certain other fees are not included in the wrap fee and are paid for separately by the client.
These include, but are not limited to, margin costs, charges imposed directly by a mutual
fund or exchange traded fund, deferred sales charges, odd-lot differentials, transfer taxes,
wire transfer and electronic fund fees, fees for trades executed away from the custodian,
and other fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions.
The fee schedule is set forth below:
Total Assets Under Management Annual Fees
$0 - $250,000
$2,500
$250,001 - $1,000,000
1.00%
$1,000,001 - $2,000,000
0.90%
$2,000,001 - $3,000,000
0.80%
$3,000,001 - $4,000,000
0.75%
$4,000,001 - $5,000,000
0.65%
$5,000,001 and Up
0.50%
The fee schedule is tiered. These fees are negotiable depending upon the needs of the
client and complexity of the situation and the final fee schedule is attached as Exhibit II of
the client contract. BWA uses the last day of the previous quarter for purposes of
determining the market value of the assets upon which the financial planning fee is based.
Fees are paid quarterly in advance.
When financial planning fees are deducted directly from client accounts at client's
custodian, BWA will be deemed to have limited custody of client's assets and must have
4
written authorization from the client to do so. Clients will receive all account statements
from the custodian, and they should carefully review those statements for accuracy.
If a client relationship begins on a date other than the first day of a calendar quarter, the
financial planning fee for that initial partial period will be pro-rated based on the number
of days services were provided during the quarter. The pro-rated fee for that initial period
will be included in the invoice for the subsequent full quarter, unless the start date for the
initial period is within 15 days of the existing quarter, in which the invoice may be billed
for that period.
Additionally, for existing accounts, the fee for each quarter will reflect a pro-rata
adjustment for any cash flows (additions or withdrawals) that occurred during the prior
quarter. These adjustments will be calculated using a time-weighted method to account
for the number of days each cash flow was in or out of the account during the billing
period.
Refunds are given on a prorated basis, based on the number of days remaining in the
billing period on the effective date of termination. The fee refunded will be the balance of
the fees collected in advance minus the daily rate* times the number of days in the billing
period up to and including the effective date of termination. (*The daily rate is calculated
by dividing the annual fee by 365).
B. Contribution Cost Factors
The program may cost the client more or less than purchasing such services separately.
There are several factors that bear upon the relative cost of the program, including the
trading activity in the client’s account, the adviser’s ability to aggregate trades, and the
cost of the services if provided separately (which in turn depends on the prices and
specific services offered by different providers).
C. Additional Fees
Clients who participate in the wrap fee program will not have to pay for transaction or
trading fees. However, clients are still responsible for all other account fees, such as
annual IRA fees to the custodian, transition fees if the account is moved to another broker,
or mutual fund fees.
D. Compensation of Client Participation
Neither BWA, nor any representatives of BWA receive any additional compensation
beyond the financial planning fees for the participation of client’s in the wrap fee program.
However, compensation received may be more or less than what would have been
received if the client paid separately for investment advice, brokerage, and other services.
Therefore, BWA may have a financial incentive to recommend the wrap fee program to
clients.
5
Item 5: Account Requirements and Types of Clients
BWA generally provides advisory services to the following types of clients:
Individuals
High-Net-Worth Individuals
Businesses & Corporations
Charitable Organizations
Pension & Profit Sharing Plans
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❖
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Item 6: Portfolio Manager Selection and Evaluation
A. Selecting/Reviewing Portfolio Managers
BWA will not select any outside portfolio managers for management of this wrap fee
program. BWA will be the sole portfolio manager for this wrap fee program.
Standards Used to Calculate Portfolio Manager Performance
BWA will use industry standards to calculate portfolio manager performance.
Review of Performance Information
BWA reviews the performance information to determine and verify its accuracy and
compliance with presentation standards. The performance information is reviewed
quarterly and is reviewed by BWA.
B. Related Persons
BWA and its personnel serve as the portfolio managers for all wrap fee program accounts.
This is a conflict of interest in that no outside adviser assesses BWA’s management of the
wrap fee program. However, BWA addresses this conflict by acting in its clients’ best
interest consistent with its fiduciary duty as sponsor and portfolio manager of the wrap
fee program.
C. Advisory Business
BWA offers portfolio management services to its wrap fee program participants as
discussed in Section 4 above.
6
Wrap Fee Financial Planning
BWA offers ongoing financial planning services, including some or all of the following
areas, including but not limited to: Estate, Insurance, Income, Tax, Investment, Goal &
Objective Prioritization, and ongoing monitoring and updating of plan. Services may also
include access to estate planning software and client-based pricing for tax preparation
services from our affiliated firm. Services provided are based on the individual goals,
objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance of each client. The level of services BWA offers
is dependent upon the total assets under management with BWA.
BWA creates an Investment Policy Statement for each client, which outlines the client’s
current situation (income, tax levels, and risk tolerance levels) and then constructs a plan
to aid in the selection of a portfolio that matches each client's specific situation.
BWA evaluates the current investments of each client with respect to their risk tolerance
levels and time horizon. BWA will require discretionary authority from clients in order to
select securities and execute transactions without permission from the client prior to each
transaction. BWA will also accept non-discretionary accounts. Risk tolerance levels are
documented in the Investment Policy Statement, which is given to each client.
BWA seeks to provide that investment decisions are made in accordance with the
fiduciary duties owed to its accounts and without consideration of BWA’s economic,
investment or other financial interests. To meet its fiduciary obligations, BWA attempts
to avoid, among other things, investment or trading practices that systematically
advantage or disadvantage certain client portfolios, and accordingly, BWA’s policy is to
seek fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities/transactions among its
clients to avoid favoring one client over another over time. It is BWA’s policy to allocate
investment opportunities and transactions it identifies as being appropriate and prudent,
including initial public offerings ("IPOs") and other investment opportunities that might
have a limited supply among its clients on a fair and equitable basis over time.
Accounts participating in the wrap fee program will not have to pay for transaction or
trading fees. BWA will charge clients one fee and pay transaction fees using the financial
planning fee collected from the client. Accounts participating in the wrap fee program are
not charged higher advisory fees based on trading activity, but clients should be aware
that BWA has an incentive to limit trading activities for those accounts since the firm
absorbs those transaction costs. To address this conflict, BWA will always act in the best
interest of its clients, consistent with its fiduciary duty as an investment adviser.
Certain other fees are not included in the wrap fee and are paid for separately by the client.
These include, but are not limited to, margin costs, charges imposed directly by a mutual
fund or exchange traded fund, deferred sales charges, odd-lot differentials, transfer taxes,
wire transfer and electronic fund fees, and other fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and
securities transactions.
7
Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
BWA does not accept performance-based fees or other fees based on a share of capital
gains on or capital appreciation of the assets of a client and therefore does not engage in
side-by-side management.
Services Limited to Specific Types of Investments
BWA provides investment advice primarily to mutual funds, fixed income securities, real
estate funds, treasuries, insurance products including annuities, equities, ETFs (including
ETFs in the gold and precious metal sectors), treasury inflation protected/inflation linked
bonds, and non-U.S. securities although BWA primarily recommends diversified
investment-based investing strategies. BWA may use other securities as well to help
diversify a portfolio when applicable.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
BWA will tailor a program for each individual client. This will include an interview
session to get to know the client’s specific needs and requirements as well as an
investment plan that will be executed by BWA on behalf of the client. BWA utilizes
“model portfolios” but tailors the set of recommendations for each client based on their
personal restrictions, needs, and targets.
Clients may impose restrictions in investing in certain securities or types of securities in
accordance with their values or beliefs. However, if the restrictions prevent BWA from
properly servicing the client account, or if the restrictions would require BWA to deviate
from its standard suite of services, BWA reserves the right to end the relationship.
Wrap Fee Programs
BWA sponsors and acts as portfolio manager for this wrap fee program. BWA manages
the investments in the wrap fee program, but does not manage those wrap fee accounts
any differently than non-wrap fee accounts. The fees paid to the wrap account program
will be given to BWA as a financial planning fee.
Amounts Under Management
BWA has the following assets under management:
Discretionary Amounts:
Non-discretionary Amounts: Date Calculated:
$332,500
$209,100,827
December 31,
2025
8
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
BWA’s methods of analysis include Fundamental analysis and Modern portfolio theory.
Fundamental analysis involves the analysis of financial statements, the general financial
health of companies, and/or the analysis of management or competitive advantages.
Modern portfolio theory is a theory of investment that attempts to maximize portfolio
expected return for a given amount of portfolio risk, or equivalently minimize risk for a
given level of expected return, each by carefully choosing the proportions of various asset.
Investment Strategies
BWA uses a passive, diversified, long term approach, overweighting value, small, and
profitable companies relative to market weights. BWA primarily recommends diversified
factor-based investing.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared
to bear.
Material Risks Involved
Fundamental analysis concentrates on factors that determine a company’s value and
expected future earnings. This strategy would normally encourage equity purchases in
stocks that are undervalued or priced below their perceived value. The risk assumed is
that the market will fail to reach expectations of perceived value.
Modern portfolio theory assumes that investors are risk averse, meaning that given two
portfolios that offer the same expected return, investors will prefer the less risky one.
Thus, an investor will take on increased risk only if compensated by higher expected
returns. Conversely, an investor who wants higher expected returns must accept more
risk. The exact trade-off will be the same for all investors, but different investors will
evaluate the trade-off differently based on individual risk aversion characteristics. The
implication is that a rational investor will not invest in a portfolio if a second portfolio
exists with a more favorable risk-expected return profile – i.e., if for that level of risk an
alternative portfolio exists which has better expected returns.
Investment Strategies
BWA's use of margin transactions generally holds greater risk, and clients should be
aware that there is a material risk of loss using any of those strategies.
Long term trading is designed to capture market rates of both return and risk. Due to its
nature, the long-term investment strategy can expose clients to various types of risk that
will typically surface at various intervals during the time the client owns the investments.
9
These risks include but are not limited to inflation (purchasing power) risk, interest rate
risk, economic risk, market risk, and political/regulatory risk.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared
to bear.
Risks of Specific Securities Utilized
BWA's use of margin transactions generally holds greater risk of capital loss. Clients
should be aware that there is a material risk of loss using any investment strategy. The
investment types listed below (leaving aside Treasury Inflation Protected/Inflation
Linked Bonds) are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government
agency.
Mutual Funds: Investing in mutual funds carries the risk of capital loss and thus you may
lose money investing in mutual funds. All mutual funds have internal costs that lower
investment returns and are disclosed in each fund’s prospectus. The funds can be of bond
“fixed income” nature (lower risk) or stock “equity” nature.
Equity investment generally refers to buying shares of stocks in return for receiving a
future payment of dividends and/or capital gains if the value of the stock increases. The
value of equity securities may fluctuate in response to specific situations for each
company, industry conditions and the general economic environments.
issuers and counterparties.
The risk of default on
treasury
Fixed income investments generally pay a return on a fixed schedule, though the amount
of the payments can vary. This type of investment can include corporate and government
debt securities, leveraged loans, and investment grade debt and, such as mortgage and
other asset-backed securities, although individual bonds may be the best known type of
fixed income security. In general, the fixed income market is volatile and fixed income
securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice
versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income
securities also carry inflation risk, liquidity risk, call risk, and credit and default risks for
inflation
both
protected/inflation linked bonds is dependent upon the U.S. Treasury defaulting
(extremely unlikely); however, they carry a potential risk of losing share price value, albeit
rather minimal. Risks of investing in foreign fixed income securities also include the
general risk of non-U.S. investing described below.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): An ETF is an investment fund traded on stock exchanges,
similar to stocks. Investing in ETFs carries the risk of capital loss (sometimes up to a 100%
loss in the case of a stock holding bankruptcy). Areas of concern include the lack of
transparency in products and increasing complexity, conflicts of interest and the
possibility of inadequate regulatory compliance. Precious Metal ETFs (e.g., Gold, Silver,
or Palladium Bullion backed “electronic shares” not physical metal) specifically may be
negatively impacted by several unique factors, among them (1) large sales by the official
sector which own a significant portion of aggregate world holdings in gold and other
10
precious metals, (2) a significant increase in hedging activities by producers of gold or
other precious metals, (3) a significant change in the attitude of speculators and investors.
ETFs may trade above or below net asset value.
Exchange Traded Real Estate funds face several kinds of risk that are inherent in the real
estate sector, which historically has experienced significant fluctuations and cycles in
performance. Revenues and cash flows may be adversely affected by: changes in local real
estate market conditions due to changes in national or local economic conditions or
changes in local property market characteristics; competition from other properties
offering the same or similar services; changes in interest rates and in the state of the debt
and equity credit markets; the ongoing need for capital improvements; changes in real
estate tax rates and other operating expenses; adverse changes in governmental rules and
fiscal policies; adverse changes in zoning laws; the impact of present or future
environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws.
Annuities are a retirement product for those who may have the ability to pay a premium
now and want to guarantee they receive certain monthly payments or a return on
investment later in the future. Annuities are contracts issued by a life insurance company
designed to meet requirements or other long-term goals. An annuity is not a life insurance
policy. Variable annuities are designed to be long-term investments, to meet retirement
and other long-range goals. Variable annuities are not suitable for meeting short-term
goals because substantial taxes and insurance company charges may apply if you
withdraw your money early. Variable annuities also involve investment risks, just as
mutual funds do.
Non-U.S. securities present certain risks such as currency fluctuation, political and
economic change, social unrest, changes in government regulation, differences in
accounting and the lesser degree of accurate public information available.
Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Investing in securities involves
a risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared to bear.
Voting Client Proxies
BWA will not ask for, nor accept voting authority for client securities. Clients will receive
proxies directly from the issuer of the security or the custodian. Clients may direct any
questions to the firm.
Item 7: Client Information Provided to Portfolio Managers
All client information material to managing the portfolio (including basic information, risk
tolerance, sophistication level, and income level) is provided to the portfolio manager. The
portfolio manager will also have access to that information as it changes and is updated.
11
Item 8: Client Contact with Portfolio Managers
BWA places no restrictions on client ability to contact its portfolio managers. BWA can be
contacted during regular business hours and contact information is on the cover page of this
brochure.
Item 9: Additional Information
A. Disciplinary Action and Other Financial Industry Activities
Criminal or Civil Actions
There are no criminal or civil actions to report.
Administrative Proceedings
There are no administrative proceedings to report.
Self-regulatory Organization Proceedings
There are no self-regulatory organization proceedings to report.
Registration as a Broker/Dealer or Broker/Dealer Representative
Neither BWA nor its representatives are registered as or have pending applications to
become a broker/dealer or as representatives of a broker/dealer.
Registration as a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, or
Commodity Trading Advisor
Neither BWA nor its representatives are registered as or have pending applications to
become a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, or Commodity
Trading Advisor.
Registration Relationships Material to this Advisory Business and Possible
Conflicts of Interests
BWA’s owner, Babb Holdings, LLC, also owns Babb Financial Group, LLC, an insurance
company. Clients should be aware that this creates a conflict of interest and incentivizes
Travis Babb, the owner of Babb Holdings, LLC, to recommend that Clients utilize the
services of Babb Financial Group, LLC.
In addition, various individuals with BWA are independent licensed insurance agents,
and from time to time, will offer clients advice or products from those activities. Clients
should be aware that these services pay a commission or other compensation and
12
involve a conflict of interest, as commissionable products conflict with the fiduciary
duties of a registered investment adviser.
Fees are not charged on assets held in insurance vehicles, and the value of the assets is
not included in assets under management for fee calculation purposes. Clients are in no
way required to utilize the services of any representative of BWA in connection with
such individual's activities outside of BWA. To address this conflict of interest, BWA
will act in the Client’s best interest.
In addition to commissions, insurance companies and field marketing affiliates may
provide additional incentives such as conventions, conferences, or trips, marketing
support, and other monetary benefits. Earned incentive trips, conventions, or
conferences will not be permitted unless they are educational in manner.
BWA’s owner, Babb Holdings, LLC, owns Babb Tax Advisors, LLC (“Babb Tax”) which
provides tax preparation and tax filing services. These services will be offered to clients
of BWA and fees paid to Babb Tax are separate and distinct from the fees paid to BWA.
Clients are in no way required to utilize the services of Babb Tax.
Employees of Babb Tax also work with BWA, provide tax planning advice to BWA clients,
and share office space with BWA. This presents potential conflicts around the sharing of
client’s personal information, fair trade practices, and supervision. To mitigate these
conflicts, BWA has put policies in place to supervise and monitor the activities of these
shared employees.
Selection of Other Advisors or Managers and How This Adviser is Compensated
for Those Selections
BWA does not direct clients to other Advisors or Manager for accounts participating in
the wrap fee program.
Code of Ethics, Client Referrals, and Financial Information
B.
Code of Ethics
We have a written Code of Ethics that covers the following areas: Prohibited Purchases
and Sales, Insider Trading, Personal Securities Transactions, Exempted Transactions,
Prohibited Activities, Conflicts of Interest, Gifts and Entertainment, Confidentiality,
Service on a Board of Directors, Compliance Procedures, Compliance with Laws and
Regulations, Procedures and Reporting, Certification of Compliance, Reporting
Violations, Compliance Officer Duties, Training and Education, Recordkeeping, Annual
Review, and Sanctions. Our Code of Ethics is available free upon request to any client or
prospective client.
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Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests
BWA does not recommend that clients buy or sell any security in which a related person
to BWA or BWA has a material financial interest.
Investing Personal Money in the Same Securities as Clients
From time to time, representatives of BWA may buy or sell securities for themselves that
they also recommend to clients. This may provide an opportunity for representatives of
BWA to buy or sell the same securities before or after recommending the same securities
to clients resulting in representatives profiting off the recommendations they provide to
clients. Such transactions create a conflict of interest. To address this conflict of interest,
BWA will act in the Client’s best interest.
Trading Securities At/Around the Same Time as Clients’ Securities
From time to time, representatives of BWA may buy or sell securities for themselves at or
around the same time as clients. This may provide an opportunity for representatives of
BWA to buy or sell securities before or after recommending securities to clients resulting
in representatives profiting off the recommendations they provide to clients. Such
transactions may create a conflict of interest. To address this conflict of interest, BWA will
act in the Client’s best interest.
Frequency and Nature of Periodic Reviews and Who Makes Those Reviews
All client accounts for BWA's advisory services provided on an ongoing basis are
reviewed at least Annually by BWA, with regard to clients’ respective investment policies
and risk tolerance levels. All accounts at BWA are assigned to this reviewer and will be
reviewed with the client.
Factors That Will Trigger a Non-Periodic Review of Client Accounts
Reviews may be triggered by material market, economic, or political events, or by changes
in client's financial situations (such as retirement, termination of employment, physical
move, or inheritance).
Content and Frequency of Regular Reports Provided to Clients
Each client will receive at least quarterly from the custodian a written report that details
the client’s account including assets held and asset value which will come from the
custodian.
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Economic Benefits Provided by Third Parties for Advice Rendered to Clients
(Includes Sales Awards or Other Prizes)
BWA does not receive any economic benefit, directly or indirectly from any third party
for advice rendered to BWA clients.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services provides BWA with access to Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services’ institutional trading and custody services, which are
typically not available to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services retail investors.
These services generally are available to independent investment advisers on an
unsolicited basis, at no charge to them so long as a total of at least $10 million of the
adviser’s clients’ assets are maintained in accounts at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor
Services. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services includes brokerage services that are
related to the execution of securities transactions, custody, research, including that in the
form of advice, analyses and reports, and access to mutual funds and other investments
that are otherwise generally available only to institutional investors or would require a
significantly higher minimum initial investment. For BWA client accounts maintained in
its custody, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services generally does not charge
separately for custody services but is compensated by account holders through
commissions or other transaction-related or asset-based fees for securities trades that are
executed through Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services or that settle into Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services accounts.
information
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services also makes available to BWA other products
and services that benefit BWA but may not benefit its clients’ accounts. These benefits may
include national, regional or BWA specific educational events organized and/or
sponsored by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services. Other potential benefits may
include occasional business entertainment of personnel of BWA by Charles Schwab & Co.,
Inc. Advisor Services personnel, including meals, invitations to sporting events, including
golf tournaments, and other forms of entertainment, some of which may accompany
educational opportunities. Other of these products and services assist BWA in managing
and administering clients’ accounts. These include software and other technology (and
related technological training) 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, if applicable), provide research,
pricing information and other market data, facilitate payment of BWA’s fees from its
clients’ accounts (if applicable), and assist with back-office training and support functions,
recordkeeping and client reporting. Many of these services generally may be used to
service all or some substantial number of BWA’s accounts. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Advisor Services also makes available to BWA other services intended to help BWA
manage and further develop its business enterprise. These services may include
professional compliance, legal and business consulting, publications and conferences on
practice management,
technology, business succession, regulatory
compliance, employee benefits providers, and human capital consultants, insurance and
marketing. In addition, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services may make available,
arrange and/or pay vendors for these types of services rendered to BWA by independent
third parties. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services may discount or waive fees it
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would otherwise charge for some of these services or pay all or a part of the fees of a third-
party providing these services to BWA. BWA is independently owned and operated and
not affiliated with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services.
Research and Other Soft-Dollar Benefits
While BWA has no formal soft dollar program in which soft dollars are used to pay for
third party services, BWA may receive research, products, or other services from
custodians and broker-dealers in connection with client securities transactions (“soft
dollar benefits”). BWA may enter into soft-dollar arrangements consistent with (and not
outside of) the safe harbor contained in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. There can be no assurance that any particular client will benefit from
soft dollar research, whether or not the client’s transactions paid for it, and BWA does not
seek to allocate benefits to client accounts proportionate to any soft dollar credits
generated by the accounts. BWA benefits by not having to produce or pay for the research,
products or services, and BWA will have an incentive to recommend a broker-dealer
based on receiving research or services. Clients should be aware that BWA’s acceptance
of soft dollar benefits may result in higher commissions charged to the client.
Compensation to Non – Advisory Personnel for Client Referrals
From time to time, BWA compensates clients or non-clients for referring prospective
clients to BWA with small gifts of cash or non-cash compensation such as a
complimentary meal or a client appreciation event. Clients referred to BWA pursuant to
these arrangements receive a separate disclosure document that describes this type of
arrangement and the type of compensation they are provided.
Balance Sheet
BWA does not require, nor solicit, prepayment of more than $1200 in fees per client, six
months or more 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 BWA nor its management have any financial conditions that are likely to
reasonably impair our ability to meet contractual commitments to clients.
Bankruptcy Petitions in Previous Ten Years
BWA has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition in the last ten years.
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