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ROCKPORT WRAP FEE BROCHURE 2-12-24
Rockport Wealth Advisors (CRD 297122), brochure dated February 24, 2026. Text extracted from the firm's SEC Form ADV Part 2 brochure.
View firm on SEC ↗ · Current Form ADV (PDF) ↗
ROCKPORT WEALTH, LLC
doing business as
“Rockport Wealth Advisors”
FORM ADV 2A, APPENDIX 1
WRAP FEE PROGRAM BROCHURE
This wrap fee program Brochure provides information about the qualifications
and business practices of Rockport Wealth, LLC (doing business as
“Rockport Wealth Advisors”). If you
have any questions about the contents of this Brochure, please contact
us (216) 226-4560 or via email to compliance@rockportwealth.com.
The information in this Brochure has not been approved or verified by or the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any state
securities regulator. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or
training. Additional information about Rockport Wealth is available on the
SEC’s Advisor Search website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Rockport Wealth’s CRD number is: 297122
22730 Fairview Center Dr Suite# 150
Fairview Park, OH 44126
(216) 226-4560
7227 Glenwood Ave
Youngstown, OH 44512
Phone: (330) 965-9890
compliance@rockportwealth.com
https://www.rockportwealth.com
February 17, 2026
Item 1: Cover page
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ITEM 2: MATERIAL CHANGES
Rockport Wealth, LLC, dba “Rockport Wealth Advisors” (hereinafter referred to as
the “Advisor”) has the following material changes to report since its last
amendment to this Brochure filed September 10, 2025.
Our Youngstown, OH office address has since been updated. The office’s phone
number is unchanged:
7227 Glenwood Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44512
Phone: (330) 965-9890
Item 4: Services, Fees, and Compensation
The following information was added to the Services section regarding the
purchase of J Arnold Wealth Management:
In February of 2024, RWA purchased another registered investment advisor
firm, J Arnold Wealth Management (“JAWM”). As of that date, the owner of
JAWM, Jon Arnold, had no ownership role in RWA. A conflict of interest existed
because a portion of the compensation paid to Mr. Arnold for the sale of his firm
was dependent upon whether a significant number of the assets under
management by JAWM transferring to RWA as part of the purchase. Mr. Arnold
was to continue to work with RWA as an Investment Advisor Representative
under RWA’s supervision and as a consultant with RWA, participating in the
Investment Committee alongside Joseph Kovach and Adam Stalnaker.
Later, it was discovered that JAWM’s Form ADV Part 2A and Investment
Management Agreement stated that fees would be charged according to total
assets under management by household rather than by account. As part of our
standard onboarding and account transition process, we may review certain
historical account records relating to advisory services previously provided by
another investment adviser. Based solely on the documentation made available to
us, the fee calculations reflected in those records may not correspond in all respects
with the billing methodology described in the applicable written advisory agreement
between the client and the prior adviser.
Our firm was not involved in the prior adviser’s fee calculation or billing processes
and did not supervise or oversee such activities. Our review is limited in scope and
is not conducted as an audit, verification, or comprehensive analysis of the prior
adviser’s records or practices. Accordingly, we make no representation regarding
the accuracy, completeness, or appropriateness of any prior fee calculations.
Clients with questions regarding historical advisory fees should contact the prior
investment adviser directly for clarification regarding the billing methodology
applied.
This disclosure is provided for informational and transparency purposes only.
Mr. Arnold is no longer an Investment Advisor Representative of RWA, but he does
currently act as a promoter of the firm.
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Also, as Jon Arnold is no longer affiliated as an Investment Advisor Representative
of Rockport Wealth Advisors, all references to J Arnold Wealth Management and
Jon Arnold have been removed from this Brochure.
The following clarification was also added to the Services section regarding the
treatment of billing and fees incurred for private placements not recommended by
Rockport Wealth Advisors:
RWA will not hold outside private placements not recommended by the firm; RWA
will assist in the facilitation of redemptions of these assets as needed and upon
client request. For any legacy private placements not recommended by the Advisor
but being held by RWA, these assets are not included in the wrap program. The
Advisor will not bill the client on these assets, and the client is responsible for the
alternative asset maintenance fee.
The following information regarding RWA’s Strategic Models was added to the Services
section:
Strategic Models
Certain RWA investment management services, referred to as the Strategic Models,
provide for an alternative management style. The designed strategy utilized may
involve certain investments being held for short terms. This approach is similar to a
short-term market timing strategy and is not appropriate for every type of investor It
is also unlike a typical “style-box” strategy that remains fully invested in all market
environments regardless of the risk/reward potential. The asset allocation model
determines the percentage of assets that are appropriate to invest in equities,
exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), bonds and cash and/or fixed income at any given
time. From time to time, these management strategies may result in over-weighted
positions in particular market sectors and/or industries, which can be more volatile
and/or underperform relative to the market as a whole. Please refer to Item 8.A of
this Brochure for further investment strategy information.
The strategy of the Strategic Models is limited to the types of investments noted in
the previous page. While the firm attempts to accommodate certain reasonable
investment restrictions such as amounts invested in the types of investments, the
other investment strategies available through RWA may be more appropriate for
investors who would prefer an alternative to a more active risk on - risk off strategy
with limited classes of investments.
Performance results for this investment style are best analyzed over a market cycle
due to the fact that the strategies may not correlate to the broader market. As with
most investment strategies, it may be possible that the value of a managed account
may depreciate in value over periods of time when the overall market may (be up)
(appreciate in value). The strategies seek to obtain consistent returns in a bull or
bear market. There is no assurance that a model’s goal will be realized. Obviously
long-term or choppy markets can persist. As at Item 8 of this Brochure, no
investment strategy can guarantee profits, and all investors must be prepared for an
investment loss.
Investors should not expect to be fully invested at all times, as these strategies
maintain the ability to move into money market or defensive positions either partially
or fully (such as fixed income or money market funds). When in a money market,
the investor loses the potential for market appreciation within the account. Further,
after the application of advisory fees, the account will lose value. If during the
engagement a client directs the Advisor to move all or a portion of assets into a
money market fund, the Advisor takes no responsibility on timing the move out or
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back into the designed investment strategy as the client is electing to self-direct the
account during that time.
Frequent trading may impact investment performance and tax implications.
Investors should consult with their personal tax adviser in connection with securities
transactions and/or any particular investment(s) held in their account(s).
These strategies may not be appropriate for every type of investor. The strategies
may deploy short-term trading strategies in an effort to capitalize on shorter-term
market moves and as a result, a higher number of transactions may occur over a
relatively short period of time. More transactions could result in higher fees in
individual accounts which is why the Advisor’s wrap fee program is utilized, as
discussed below and at Item 5 of this Brochure. Some mutual funds / fund families
impose redemption charges on funds held for less than the required minimum
period, as determined by the fund (ref. prospectus). While best efforts are made to
avoid these charges, clients may incur them from time.
The following was updated in the Fees section, disclosing the fee schedule for all new
accounts, updating information regarding how fees are charged, and clarifying
agreement termination requirements.
The Advisor’s Program fees are calculated as a percentage of assets under
management by household and combines portfolio management, commissions,
trade execution costs, custody and other standard brokerage services within a
single investment management fee. The fee does not include separate
administrative costs that may be charged by sponsors of mutual funds or excluded
funds held in the account. The agreed upon annual fee is negotiable, based on
the nature, complexity, and scope of services as well as the amount and nature of
assets to be managed, pre-existing relationships, and other factors, at the discretion
of the Advisor as follows:
Account Value
$0 - $500.000
$500,001 and above
Standard Fee Schedule
1.25%
1.00% or negotiable
All fees are negotiable
The fees are charged based on a flat percentage using total account value
(including cash and cash equivalent positions such as money market funds), as
opposed to a tiered rate. The account value will be based upon the total value of all
accounts attributable to the same household, so the same fee rate will be applied to
each of those accounts. Different accounts within a household may have a different
fee structure based on the assets involved. The agreed upon fee schedule and
cadence will be established in the Advisor’s Client Agreement.
For all new accounts, fees are paid monthly in advance, and fees will not be billed
for the month in which the account was initiated.
RWA has had different fee schedules in place in the past and, as stated above, our
fees are negotiable at our discretion, which means that not all RWA clients are
paying the same fees. Should moving to the fee schedule stated above lower your
fees, we will automatically move you to the new, lower fee schedule. However, if
moving to the above listed fee schedule would raise your fees, your legacy agreed
upon fee will remain in place; if your fee was a negotiated fixed rate, your legacy
agreed upon fee will remain in place. Please refer to your Client Agreement or reach
out to RWA if you are unsure as to your agreed upon fee schedule. Your fees are
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paid monthly and according to the payment timing (arrears or advance) as specified
in your Client Agreement.
The investment management fee may be revised during the engagement,
particularly if different needs and/or complexities arise, or the scope of services
should change. In such cases, the Advisor will notify the client of its intention to
modify the fee with at least 30 days’ written notice. Should the client decide not to
accept the amended fee terms, the client is welcome to terminate services with 5
days’ written notice prior to the effective date of the fee modification.
Item 5: Account Requirements and Types of Clients
This section was updated to the following:
The Advisor offers investment advisory services to individuals and high net worth
individuals.
The suggested account minimum for investment management services is $250,000
but can be negotiated based upon individual circumstances.
A client seeking performance-based services, as discussed at Item 5.A of this
brochure, must meet the definition of a qualified client as established by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (assets under the Advisor’s
management of at least $1,100,000, or a minimum liquid net worth of $2,200,000).
Item 6: Portfolio Manager Selection and Evaluation
The following risks were added to the section:
Fixed Income Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s or a
guarantor’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations and to
price volatility. Fixed-income securities are generally subject to the following risks:
• Interest Rate Risk. The value of investments in fixed-income securities will
change based on changes in interest rates. If interest rates increase, the value of
these investments generally declines. Securities with greater interest rate
sensitivity and longer maturities generally are subject to greater fluctuations in
value.
• Extension Risk. If interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain fixed-
income securities may occur at a slower-than-expected rate and, as a result, the
expected maturity of such securities could lengthen which could cause their
value to decline.
• Credit Risk. Fixed income investments are subject to the risk that issuers
and/or counterparties will fail to make payments when they are due or default
completely. Prices of the investments may be adversely affected if any of the
issuers or counterparties are subject to an actual or perceived deterioration in
their credit quality. Credit spreads may increase, which may reduce the market
values of fixed income securities. Credit spread risk is the risk that economic and
market conditions or any actual or perceived credit deterioration may lead to an
increase in the credit spread (i.e., the difference in yield between two securities
of similar maturity but different credit quality) and a decline in price of the issuer’s
securities.
• Prepayment Risk. Issuers of certain fixed income securities may be able to
prepay principal due on these securities, particularly during periods of declining
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interest rates, and Villere may have to invest the proceeds in lower-yielding
securities.
Large-Sized Companies Risk: Larger, more established companies may be unable to
respond quickly to new competitive challenges like changes in consumer tastes or
innovative smaller competitors. In addition, large-cap companies are sometimes
unable to attain the high growth rates of successful, smaller companies, especially
during extended periods of economic expansion.
Market Capitalization Risk: Securities of companies with small and medium market
capitalizations are often more volatile and less liquid than investments in larger
companies. Small and medium-cap companies may face a greater risk of business
failure, which could increase the volatility of the clients’ portfolios.
Small- and Medium-Sized Companies Risk: Investing in securities of smaller
companies including micro-cap, small-cap, medium-cap and less seasoned
companies often involve greater volatility than investing in larger, more established
companies and these securities may be less liquid than other securities.
Sector/Industry Risk: In connection with Jon Arnold’s management strategy, from
time to time, client portfolios may have overweighted positions in particular market
sectors and/or industries, which can be more volatile and/or underperform relative to
the market as a whole.
Tax Considerations: The Advisor’s strategies and investments can have unique and
significant tax implications. However, unless we specifically agree otherwise, and in
writing, tax efficiency is not our primary consideration in the management of your
assets. Regardless of your account size or any other factors, we strongly
recommend that you continuously consult with a tax professional prior to and
throughout the investing of your assets.
Unaffiliated Money Managers: If a portion of your assets is managed by a third-party
money manager (such as Betterment), we will not determine the investments to be
made for your account, but we will monitor the investments in the accounts and
advise you on those holdings for so long as we are providing investment
management services.
Delaware Statutory Trusts. These investments have a unique set of risks and are
only appropriate for accredited investors. Risks may include but are not limited to:
Illiquidity risk (investment must be held for an extended period of time), loss of
control (no decision making over property, sponsor controls management and selling
of property), regulatory risk (change in tax rules which could result in tax liabilities),
execution risk (operator competence) and economic risk. There can be no assurance
that a property will perform as projected and Delaware Statutory Trusts are subject to
economic volatility, tenants not paying their rent as expected, and other traditional
risks of owning, selling, and operating real estate. The fees and expenses of each
offering should be carefully evaluated. Multiple owner offerings typically have
additional expenses versus owning real estate on your own and these fees should be
weighed against specific capital gains tax liability. All investors are encouraged to
have their tax and legal counsel advise them on taxes including any federal and state
capital gains taxes, depreciation recapture and any other tax issues, which could be
applicable.
Covered Call Options. While this strategy can provide income, it limits your ability to
participate in any increase in the price of the underlying security above the strike
price. Furthermore, a covered call strategy does not eliminate the risk of market-
based losses on the underlying stock. In fact, if the stock price declines, the premium
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received from the option may not be sufficient to offset the loss in the value of the
underlying security. Additionally, the option can be exercised at any time, requiring
you to sell the underlying security at the strike price, potentially below the market
price. Market conditions can negatively impact option values or the ability to close
positions favorably and the forced sale of shares upon assignment may trigger
taxable events.
Inverse ETFs. This strategy is used to hedge client portfolios against market
downturns or to seek returns that are the inverse of a specific benchmark on a daily
basis. They are designed to achieve their investments objectives on a daily basis.
They are not intended to track the underlying index over periods longer than a single
day. Due to the effect of daily compounding, performance over longer periods can
differ significantly from the inverse of the underlying index. In volatile markets, an
inverse ETF may lose money even if the underlying index decreases over time.
Holding inverse ETFs for longer than one trading session increases risk due to the
compounding of returns. As such, these investments are generally considered
unsuitable for long-term holding. These products may not achieve their stated
objectives. If the market rises, the inverse ETF will lose value, and you may lose a
significant portion or all of your principal investment.
The following update was made regarding the Advisor’s proxy voting policy:
As a matter of policy and practice, RWA will not vote proxies on behalf of clients.
Clients will retain voting authority and can expect to receive voting materials directly
from their custodian.
The Advisor is available to assist clients with questions and concerns relating to
proxies. The Advisor does not engage in proxy-related discussions with non-clients
and does not solicit proxies.
Item 9 Additional Information
The Other Financial Industry Affiliations section was updated to reflect the following:
Investment Advisor Representative, Andrew Smith, is the owner of an accounting
firm and receives separate and customary payment for delivering any accounting
related services. Some advisory clients may also be accounting clients of Mr. Smith.
This creates a conflict in that Mr. Smith has an incentive to recommend his
accounting firm to RWA clients and RWA to accounting clients. Clients are under no
obligation to utilize Mr. Smith for any accounting services.
Item 2: Material Changes
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ITEM 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Page
1
Item 2: Material Changes
2
Item 3: Table of Contents
8
Item 4: Services, Fees, and Compensation
9
Item 5: Account Requirements and Types of Clients
15
Item 6: Portfolio Manager Selection and Evaluation
15
Item 7: Client Information Provided to Portfolio Managers
23
Item 8: Client Contact with Portfolio Managers
23
Item 9: Additional Information
23
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ITEM 4: SERVICES, FEES, AND COMPENSATION
Services
Rockport Wealth, LLC, dba “Rockport Wealth Advisors” (hereinafter referred to as the
“Advisor”) offers The Rockport Wealth Wrap Fee Program. (the “Program”). The Program
combines a portfolio management fee as well as commission and trade execution costs within
a single, bundled fee.
In February of 2024, RWA purchased another registered investment advisor firm, J Arnold
Wealth Management (“JAWM”). As of that date, the owner of JAWM, Jon Arnold, had no
ownership role in RWA. A conflict of interest existed because a portion of the compensation
paid to Mr. Arnold for the sale of his firm was dependent upon whether a significant number of
the assets under management by JAWM transferring to RWA as part of the purchase. Mr.
Arnold was to continue to work with RWA as an Investment Advisor Representative under
RWA’s supervision and as a consultant with RWA, participating in the Investment Committee
alongside Joseph Kovach and Adam Stalnaker.
Later, it was discovered that JAWM’s Form ADV Part 2A and Investment Management
Agreement stated that fees would be charged according to total assets under management by
household rather than by account. As part of our standard onboarding and account transition
process, we may review certain historical account records relating to advisory services
previously provided by another investment adviser. Based solely on the documentation made
available to us, the fee calculations reflected in those records may not correspond in all
respects with the billing methodology described in the applicable written advisory agreement
between the client and the prior adviser.
Our firm was not involved in the prior adviser’s fee calculation or billing processes and did not
supervise or oversee such activities. Our review is limited in scope and is not conducted as an
audit, verification, or comprehensive analysis of the prior adviser’s records or practices.
Accordingly, we make no representation regarding the accuracy, completeness, or
appropriateness of any prior fee calculations.
Clients with questions regarding historical advisory fees should contact the prior investment
adviser directly for clarification regarding the billing methodology applied.
This disclosure is provided for informational and transparency purposes only.
Mr. Arnold is no longer an Investment Advisor Representative of RWA, but he does currently
act as a promoter of the firm.
In addition to “Advisor”, you will see the term, “Investment Advisor Representatives” used in
this Brochure. This term refers to those persons who are appropriately registered and
authorized by the Advisor to deliver investment advisory services on behalf of the Advisor.
The Advisor, as the Program’s manager, together with its investment adviser representatives,
are responsible for research, security selection, and implementation of transaction orders in
the Client's account. The Advisor receives a portion of the Program fee for its services.
The transactions in the Client's account will be executed by and custodied at Charles Schwab
& Co., Inc., a FINRA registered broker-dealer and Member SIPC. The Program pays Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc, a portion of its fee for commissions and trade execution expenses.
The Program’s investment management services are ongoing in nature, focus solely on
portfolio management, and include financial planning services. This service does not include
consultation services outside the scope of the managed investments. Investment
management services are ongoing until terminated in writing by either party. Services are
provided under this wrap fee program, which provides for portfolio management fees for all
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assets including private placements recommended by the Advisor as well as commission,
trade executions costs, custody, and other standard brokerage services within a single,
bundled fee.
RWA will not hold outside private placements not recommended by the firm; RWA will assist
in the facilitation of redemptions of these assets as needed and upon client request. For any
legacy private placements not recommended by the Advisor but being held by RWA, these
assets are not included in the wrap program. The Advisor will not bill the client on these
assets, and the client is responsible for the alternative asset maintenance fee.
Program services begin only after the Client and Advisor formalize the relationship with a
properly executed client agreement. After the formal engagement and depending upon the
scope of the engagement, the Advisor and client will share in a data gathering and discovery
process in an effort to determine the client’s stated needs, goals, intentions, time horizons,
risk tolerance and investment objectives, based upon information provided by the client and
the nature of services requested. The Advisor and its client will normally complete a risk
assessment, investment policy statement (“IPS”) or similar document, depending upon the
scope of services to be provided.
After an analysis and data-gathering process and depending upon the nature of services
requested, The Advisor may prepare reviews, analysis, asset allocation recommendations,
and may recommend specific investments. The Advisor utilizes the information provided by
the client to prepare portfolio recommendations or adjustments in an existing portfolio. The
Advisor can tailor services as desired by the client, however where Investment Management
Services or information are limited, clients must understand that comprehensive investment
needs and or objectives may not be fully considered due to the client’s option not to receive
limited services, the lack of information received, and/or client disclosure.
As the Program’s Manager, the Advisor is responsible for the research, security selection and
implementation of transactions in clients’ accounts. Recommended investments will normally
include (as appropriate for each client’s stated situation): exchange traded index funds,
mutual funds, other similar equity related index funds, stocks, bonds, real estate investment
trusts, master limited partnerships, money market funds, U.S. treasury funds, cash sweep
accounts, covered calls, inverse ETF derivatives and other liquid cash and cash-like vehicles.
Please refer to Item 6 of this Brochure for additional information.
Strategic Models
Certain RWA investment management services, referred to as the Strategic Models, provide
an alternative management style. The designed strategy utilized may involve certain
investments being held for short terms. This approach is similar to a short-term market timing
strategy and is not appropriate for every type of investor. It is also unlike a typical “style-box”
strategy that remains fully invested in all market environments regardless of the risk/reward
potential. The asset allocation model determines the percentage of assets that are
appropriate to invest in equities, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), bonds and cash and/or
fixed income at any given time. From time to time, these management strategies may result in
over-weighted positions in particular market sectors and/or industries, which can be more
volatile and/or underperform relative to the market as a whole. Please refer to Item 8.A of this
Brochure for further investment strategy information.
The strategy of the Strategic Models is limited to the types of investments noted in the
previous page. While the firm attempts to accommodate certain reasonable investment
restrictions such as amounts invested in the types of investments, the other investment
strategies available through RWA may be more appropriate for investors who would prefer an
alternative to a more active risk on - risk off strategy with limited classes of investments.
Performance results for this investment style are best analyzed over a market cycle due to the
fact that the strategies may not correlate to the broader market. As with most investment
10
strategies, it may be possible that the value of a managed account may depreciate in value
over periods of time when the overall market may (be up) (appreciate in value). The strategies
seek to obtain consistent returns in a bull or bear market. There is no assurance that a
model’s goal will be realized. Obviously long-term or choppy markets can persist. As at Item 8
of this Brochure, no investment strategy can guarantee profits, and all investors must be
prepared for an investment loss.
Investors should not expect to be fully invested at all times, as these strategies maintain the
ability to move into money market or defensive positions either partially or fully (such as fixed
income or money market funds). When in a money market, the investor loses the potential for
market appreciation within the account. Further, after the application of advisory fees, the
account will lose value. If during the engagement a client directs the Advisor to move all or a
portion of assets into a money market fund, the Advisor takes no responsibility on timing the
move out or back into the designed investment strategy as the client is electing to self-direct
the account during that time.
Frequent trading may impact investment performance and tax implications. Investors should
consult with their personal tax adviser in connection with securities transactions and/or any
particular investment(s) held in their account(s).
These strategies may not be appropriate for every type of investor. The strategies may deploy
short-term trading strategies in an effort to capitalize on shorter-term market moves and as a
result, a higher number of transactions may occur over a relatively short period of time. More
transactions could result in higher fees in individual accounts which is why the Advisor’s wrap
fee program is utilized, as discussed below and at Item 5 of this Brochure. Some mutual funds
/ fund families impose redemption charges on funds held for less than the required minimum
period, as determined by the fund (ref. prospectus). While best efforts are made to avoid
these charges, clients may incur them from time.
Limited Discretion
With the client’s authorization as provided in the custodial account forms and the Advisor’s
client agreement, the Advisor will maintain limited discretionary trading authority to execute
securities transactions in the investor’s portfolio within investor’s designated investment
objectives, to include the securities to be bought and sold, and the amount of securities to be
bought and sold. The Advisor will not hold full power of attorney, nor will the Advisor ever
have authority to withdraw funds or to take custody of investor funds or securities other than
the ability to deduct contractually agreed advisory fees via the client’s account held at Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc., with the client’s authorization.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
The Advisor focuses on providing individualized services. The Advisor can tailor services to
focus only on certain portfolio components, depending upon the client’s wishes and/or the
nature of the engagement. However, where client services or information are limited, clients
must understand that comprehensive investment needs and objectives may not be fully
considered due to the client’s option to receive limited services, the lack of information
received, and/or client disclosure. The Advisor and the client will share in a data gathering
and discovery process in an effort to determine the client’s stated needs, goals, intentions,
time horizons, risk tolerance and investment objectives, based upon information provided by
the client and the nature of services requested. The client and Advisor may complete a risk
assessment, investment policy statement (“IPS”) or similar documentation, depending upon
the nature of services to be provided.
Clients may impose reasonable restrictions pertaining to certain securities or types of
securities in accordance with their values or beliefs and such instructions will be agreed to in
writing between the client and the Advisor. The ongoing Investment Management Services
provided are based upon the client’s stated individual needs and objectives.
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Ongoing Services
Throughout its engagement, the Advisor will remain available for consultations pertaining to
the managed portfolio. The Advisor will provide ongoing monitoring of the portfolio in
accordance with the directives provided. The underlying portfolio assets will be reviewed
internally on a frequent basis (often daily), the client’s portfolio will be internally reviewed no
less than annually, but reviews may occur more frequently, depending upon the types of
investments, market conditions, when the client reports (actual or potential) changes in their
financial condition, at the discretion of the Advisor, and in conjunction with significant deposits
or withdrawals. The review process is discussed in Item 8 of this Brochure.
Clients must play an active role. The Advisor requires its client to participate in the formation
of the investment plan, the development of investment advice and recommendations and the
ongoing services provided. Clients may call the office during regular business hours to
discuss their portfolio or ask questions, but the Advisor recommends that clients initiate a
meeting with the Advisor no less than annually. However, clients are obligated to immediately
inform the Advisor of any changes in their financial situation to provide the Advisor with the
opportunity to review the new data to ensure it the portfolio continues to be structured to help
meet the client’s stated needs and objectives.
Performance Accounts and Side-by-Side Management
The Advisor may enter into performance-based fee arrangements with qualified clients. The
Advisor may receive incentive fees based on a share of capital gains on or capital
appreciation of the assets or any portion of the assets of an advisory Client, in accordance
with the investment management agreement executed between the client and Adviser, in
compliance with the requirements set forth in applicable laws and regulations. The
performance fees charged by the Advisor may be higher or lower than fees charged by other
advisers for comparable services.
Clients should be aware that a performance-based fee arrangement can create an incentive
for the Advisor to recommend investments that are riskier or more speculative than those
recommended under a different fee arrangement. The Advisor works to mitigate this conflict
by selecting investments that we believe are appropriate for clients in accordance with the
Advisor’s and the client’s investment strategies; The Advisor has established procedures
designed and implemented to (i) ensure that all clients are treated fairly and equally, and (ii)
prevent potential conflicts with respect to allocations of investment opportunities among
clients.
Other Important Program Considerations
Wrap fee programs are not suitable for all investment needs and any decision to
participate in a wrap fee program should be based on your financial situation,
investment objectives, tolerance for risk, and investment time horizon, among other
considerations. The designed strategies and any client-imposed restrictions /
guidelines may affect the composition and performance of a client’s portfolio. For
these reasons, portfolio performance may vary from that of other clients. Further,
based on the individualized nature of services, there may be extended periods of time
when the Advisor determines that changes to a client’s portfolio are neither necessary
nor producent. Notwithstanding, unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Advisor’s
Program fee will continue to apply during these periods.
The investment products available within the Program can be purchased by clients
outside of the wrap fee program account via unaffiliated financial services firms.
When utilizing another firm, the Advisor’s ongoing management services would not be
provided.
When managing a client's account on a wrap fee basis, we receive as compensation
for our investment advisory services, the balance of the total wrap [or program] fee
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you pay after custodial, trading, and other management costs (including execution
and transaction fees) have been deducted.
The Advisor does not charge clients higher advisory fees based on their trading
activity, but you should be aware that we have an incentive to limit our trading in your
account(s) because we are charged for executed trades.
We encourage you to review Schwab’s pricing to compare the total costs of entering
into a wrap fee arrangement versus a non-wrap fee arrangement. If you choose to
enter into a wrap fee arrangement, your total cost to invest could exceed the cost of
paying for brokerage and advisory services separately. To see what you would pay
for transactions in a non-wrap account please refer to Schwab’s most recent pricing
schedules available at https://www.schwab.com/aspricingguide.
Fees
Factors that impact the relative cost of the program include the trading activity in the managed
account as discussed herein. Participation in the wrap fee program may cost clients more or
less than engaging another Advisor separately (for non-wrap services). As discussed in this
section, the program fees are negotiable and agreed in the Advisor’s Wrap Fee Program
Agreement. The Advisor receives a portion of the wrap fee for portfolio management services
and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. receives a portion of the fee for trade execution and custodial
services.
1. The Advisor’s Program fees are calculated as a percentage of assets under management
by household and combines portfolio management, commissions, trade execution costs,
custody and other standard brokerage services within a single investment management fee.
The fee does not include separate administrative costs that may be charged by sponsors of
mutual funds or excluded funds held in the account. The agreed upon annual fee is
negotiable, based on the nature, complexity, and scope of services as well as the amount
and nature of assets to be managed, pre-existing relationships, and other factors, at the
discretion of the Advisor as follows:
Account Value
Standard Fee Schedule
$0 - $500.000
$500,001 and above
1.25%
1.00% or negotiable
All fees are negotiable
The fees are charged based on a flat percentage using total account value (including cash
and cash equivalent positions such as money market funds), as opposed to a tiered rate. The
account value will be based upon the total value of all accounts attributable to the same
household, so the same fee rate will be applied to each of those accounts. Different accounts
within a household may have a different fee structure based on the assets involved. The
agreed upon fee schedule and cadence will be established in the Advisor’s Client Agreement.
For all new accounts, fees are paid monthly in advance, and fees will not be billed for the
month in which the account was initiated.
RWA has had different fee schedules in place in the past and, as stated above, our fees are
negotiable at our discretion, which means that not all RWA clients are paying the same fees.
Should moving to the fee schedule stated above lower your fees, we will automatically move
you to the new, lower fee schedule. However, if moving to the above listed fee schedule would
raise your fees, your legacy agreed upon fee will remain in place; if your fee was a negotiated
fixed rate, your legacy agreed upon fee will remain in place. Please refer to your Client
Agreement or reach out to RWA if you are unsure as to your agreed upon fee schedule. Your
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fees are paid monthly and according to the payment timing (arrears or advance) as specified in
your Client Agreement.
The investment management fee may be revised during the engagement, particularly if
different needs and/or complexities arise, or the scope of services should change. In such
cases, the Advisor will notify the client of its intention to modify the fee with at least 30 days’
written notice. Should the client decide not to accept the amended fee terms, the client is
welcome to terminate services with 5 days’ written notice prior to the effective date of the fee
modification.
While the Advisor takes the position that its fees are competitive, fees may be higher or lower
than fees charged by other financial services providers for similar services.
2. Performance-Based Fee Arrangements
For Qualified clients, as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Advisor
may negotiate a fee based on a combination of a percentage of assets under management
and a performance fee. In such cases, the Advisor charges a maximum asset management
10% of the annual gross profits for the account in performance fees. The performance fee is
invoiced directly to the client and is payable annually, in arrears. No performance fee will be
charged, except to the extent that the amount of the capital increase exceeds the sum of any
cumulative loss in the account on a yearly basis. In the event the client makes a complete
withdrawal from the account on a date other than the end of the year, fees will be due at the
time of withdrawal. Annual gross profits are defined as the difference in the value of the
account for the previous 4 quarters, adjusted for deposits and withdrawals made during the
year. Clients are hereby advised that performance-based fees are higher than industry norm
and similar (but non-performance-based) advisory services can be obtained for less. Please
see important disclosures in Item 6 of this Brochure which discusses side-by-side
management.
Other Fees and Fees Associated with Investing
The Program fee does not include mark-ups. and mark-downs, dealer spreads or other costs
associated with the purchase or sale of securities, interest, taxes, or other costs, such as
national securities exchange fees, charges for transactions not executed through Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc., costs associated with exchanging currencies, wire transfer fees, or other
fees required by law or imposed by third parties. The investor’s account will be responsible for
these additional fees and expenses.
All fees paid to the Advisor for advisory services are separate from the fees and expenses
charged to shareholders of exchange traded funds (ETFs) or mutual fund shares offered by
mutual fund companies. A complete explanation of the expenses charged by a mutual fund or
ETF is contained in the respective fund prospectus. Clients are encouraged to read each
prospectus and securities offering document. If a mutual fund previously purchased by or
selected by a client should impose a sales charge, a client may pay an initial or deferred sales
charge. The Advisor does not receive any portion of these investment- related fees. Such
charges, fees and commissions are exclusive of and in addition to the Advisor’s fees.
However, in their separate capacities as registered representatives of an unaffiliated
broker/dealer, the investment adviser representatives of the Advisor do accept commissions
for securities recommendations.
Compensation Matters
The Advisor’s investment adviser representatives do not receive referral-based incentives
associated with recommending the Advisor’s wrap fee program. Obviously, a higher
management fee has the potential to increase the Advisor’s and the investment adviser
representative’s compensation and thus there exists an incentive to recommend the Program
over other services. However, such compensation is impacted by the costs associated with
the managed account(s) since the Program pays for various account charges as described
above. The investment management fee associated with the Program may be higher or lower
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than non-wrap services or similar services offered by other firms. Program fees are negotiable
as described in this section.
Payment of Fees
The Advisor’s contractually agreed fees will be deducted from clients’ custodial accounts with
our client’s authorization. The Advisor adheres to the following required criteria when payment
is deducted from the client’s account via a qualified custodian, as required by the SEC as
follows: 1) The client provides written authorization permitting the fees to be paid directly from
the client’s account held by the independent qualified custodian and the authorization is limited
to withdrawing contractually agreed upon investment advisor fees; (2) The client will directly
receive regular account statements directly from the qualified custodian which reflect the
Advisor’s fee deduction; (3) The frequency of fee withdrawal shall be specified in the written
authorization/client agreement; 4) The custodian of the account shall be advised in writing of
the limitation on the Advisor’s access to the account and; (5) The client shall be able to
terminate the written billing authorization or agreement at any time.
It is important to note that custodial firms do not verify advisory fees. Therefore, clients should
review their custodial statements carefully. If a client should have any questions or concerns in
connection with an advisory fee deduction, they should promptly contact the Advisor and
Betterment. If at any time during the engagement, the client fails to receive the regular
statements produced by the custodian or they have new address information to report, it is
important for the client to promptly notify the Advisor and their custodian.
Termination of Services
The client may terminate services within five business days of signing the investment
management agreement and without penalty or fees due if the Advisor’s Form ADV 2 Brochure
(and Betterment’s Brochure, if applicable) was not delivered at least 48 hours prior to
engagement. Alternatively, either party may terminate services with 5 days’ notice. Since fees
are invoiced in arrears, no refund applies.
Clients who contracted investment management services prior to December 19, 2023, may
terminate services at any time by written notice to the other(s). Where services are terminated
prior to the end of the billing period, the Advisor will return a pro-rated refund (where fees are
invoiced in advance of services).
ITEM 5: ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS AND TYPES OF CLIENTS
The Advisor offers investment advisory services to individuals and high net worth individuals.
The suggested account minimum for investment management services is $250,000 but can be
negotiated based upon individual circumstances.
A client seeking performance-based services, as discussed at Item 5.A of this brochure, must
meet the definition of a qualified client as established by the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (assets under the Advisor’s management of at least $1,100,000, or a
minimum liquid net worth of $2,200,000).
Since ongoing investment management services and participation in the wrap fee program
may not be appropriate for some investors, the Advisor reserves the right to decline to provide
services to any person or firm and for any reason.
ITEM 6: PORTFOLIO MANAGER SELECTION AND EVALUATION
The Advisor is the Wrap Fee Program’s Sponsor and Manager.
The Advisor’s services and fees are discussed at Item 4 of this Program Brochure.
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Additional Information – Internal Reviews
Investment Management Services involve frequent monitoring of portfolios. Portfolios are
reviewed no less than quarterly and underlying securities are generally reviewed daily.
Reviews are performed by The Advisor’s Investment Advisor Representatives. Portfolios are
analyzed in relation to the client’s stated investment objectives, risk profile, tax situation and
market conditions.
Individual client reviews are conducted no less than annually in order to provide the client with
the opportunity to review their profile data and investment strategies. Investment Advisor
Representatives conduct periodic client meetings and have frequent telephonic contacts in
which investment objectives, market conditions and other factors are discussed with clients.
Clients are welcome to initiate meetings (telephonically, electronically or in person) throughout
the year. However, clients are obligated to promptly contact the Advisor when there exists a
real or potential change in the clients’ financial condition or if a change in strategy may be
contemplated. This prompt notification gives the Advisor the opportunity to review the clients’
new information and determine if it impacts the advice and recommendations prepared for the
client.
Performance-Based Accounts and Side-by-Side Management
As previously disclosed in Item 5 of this Brochure, the Advisor may enter into performance-
based fee arrangements with qualified clients. The Advisor may receive incentive fees based
on a share of capital gains on or capital appreciation of the assets or any portion of the assets
of an advisory Client, in accordance with the investment management agreement executed
between the client and Adviser, in compliance with the requirements set forth in applicable
laws and regulations. The performance fees charged by the Advisor may be higher or lower
than fees charged by other advisers for comparable services.
Clients should be aware that a performance-based fee arrangement can create an incentive for
the Advisor to recommend investments that are riskier or more speculative than those
recommended under a different fee arrangement. The Advisor works to mitigate this conflict by
selecting investments that we believe are appropriate for clients in accordance with the
Advisor’s and the client’s investment strategies; The Advisor has established procedures
designed and implemented to (i) ensure that all clients are treated fairly and equally, and (ii)
prevent potential conflicts with respect to allocations of investment opportunities among clients.
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
The Program provides personalized investment management services to its clients and
portfolio advice is available for clients interested in conservative to moderately aggressive
strategies; with advice designed to meet varying needs of and within the direction set forth by
the investors. The Advisor seeks to design advice that is best suited to a client’s stated unique
needs after clients have defined their objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizons and the
selection is approved by the client.
Based on information provided by the client, the Advisor seeks to evaluate an investor’s risk
tolerance, time horizon, goals and objectives through an interview and data-gathering process
in an effort to determine an investment strategy and portfolio design to best fit the investor’s
profile. Client participation and the client’s delivery of accurate and complete information are
critical to the Advisor’s process. In performing its services, the Advisor is not required to verify
any information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals (e.g., attorney,
accountant, etc.) and is expressly authorized to rely on such information.
The Advisor considers securities investments based on its professional judgment and the
experience of its investment advisor representatives coupled with publicly available research
and analysis. Asset allocation software and historical performance modeling software may also
be utilized. Of course, no method of analysis can guarantee success. The Advisor’s
recommended investment strategies may be based upon a number of concepts and
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determined by the type of investor. This process attempts to coordinate the client’s objectives
for risk vs. return with the Advisor’s analysis of the macro environment. Registered funds are
researched and monitored internally by the Advisor with a process that emphasizes investment
philosophy, management quality, and overall expense ratios. Portfolio holdings or
recommendations are generally judged by track record and performance of like-kind
investments. While pure market timing strategies are generally not used, Selected Models from
RWA may employ risk on strategies when indicators and market conditions warrant as well as
risk reduction strategies during times of heightened market volatility.
Changing conditions in the client’s financial life or significant changes in market conditions may
warrant a collaborative effort with the client to modify their strategic investment framework,
which consequently may also trigger changes to investment holdings within the portfolio.
The Advisor may recommend its Program, the services of itself as Investment Advisor, its
Investment Advisor Representatives in their individual capacities as investment managers, and
the services of other industry entities to implement recommendations. Any other professional
referrals (i.e., accounting professionals, tax preparers, legal professionals, etc.) may be
provided but solely as a courtesy and the Advisor and its personnel receive no direct or indirect
compensation as a result of referrals. Clients are welcome but are never under any obligation
to act upon any of the recommendations made by the Advisor or to engage the services of any
recommended service firm or professional including the Advisor itself. Clients should
appropriately research other service providers before engaging those services.
Investors may prefer to utilize the investment management styles offered via the
Strategic Models. These strategies fall within one of 3 general categories: conservative,
moderate/balanced and growth. Each model generally holds the same positions but with
different percentages based on the amount of risk involved. These positions may include the
use of stocks, exchange traded funds, and mutual funds. The tactical nature of the strategy
allows the flexibility to move away from equity positions to cash or bonds when risk is deemed
high. Please reference Item 4 of this Brochure for additional information provides about these
strategies.
It is important to understand that investing in securities involves a risk of loss that a client
should be prepared to bear.
Material Risks Involved
The Advisor takes the general position that investors with diverse portfolios have a better
chance of making a profit because it is difficult to accurately predict the movement of the
economy. However, no single strategy can be relied upon to outperform the market. The
Advisor does not attempt to time the market. Frequent trading is not recommended as it can
affect investment performance, particularly through increased brokerage and other transaction
costs and taxes. The Advisor does not generally recommend short sales, margin transactions
and options writing as they are generally associated with greater risk. In contrast, the
Strategic Models, as discussed at Items 4 and 6 of this Brochure, do seek to time
investments. Please refer to these sections for important information concerning this
manager’s strategies.
Clients may make additions to and withdrawals from the account at any time, subject to
customary securities settlement procedures and the Advisor’s right to terminate services (such
as when assets dip so low as to make investment management inappropriate for the client).
Asset withdrawals may impair the achievement of a client’s investment objectives.
All investment strategies involve risk and may result in a loss of an investor’s original
investment. Many of these risks apply equally to stocks, bonds and any other investment or
security. Identified material risks associated with the Advisor’s investment strategies include:
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Defensive Risk: To the extent that the strategy attempts to hedge or take defensive measures
such as holding a significant portion of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, the objective
may not be achieved.
External Events: As we know from recent events, the market can be impacted by external
events such as pandemic, supply chain issues, natural disasters, terrorism, war, etc.
Fixed Income Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s or a
guarantor’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations and to price
volatility. Fixed-income securities are generally subject to the following risks:
• Interest Rate Risk. The value of investments in fixed-income securities will change based
on changes in interest rates. If interest rates increase, the value of these investments
generally decline. Securities with greater interest rate sensitivity and longer maturities
generally are subject to greater fluctuations in value.
• Extension Risk. If interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain fixed-income
securities may occur at a slower-than-expected rate and, as a result, the expected maturity
of such securities could lengthen which could cause their value to decline.
• Credit Risk. Fixed income investments are subject to the risk that issuers and/or
counterparties will fail to make payments when they are due or default completely. Prices of
the investments may be adversely affected if any of the issuers or counterparties are subject
to an actual or perceived deterioration in their credit quality. Credit spreads may increase,
which may reduce the market values of fixed income securities. Credit spread risk is the risk
that economic and market conditions or any actual or perceived credit deterioration may
lead to an increase in the credit spread (i.e., the difference in yield between two securities of
similar maturity but different credit quality) and a decline in price of the issuer’s securities.
• Prepayment Risk. Issuers of certain fixed income securities may be able to prepay
principal due on these securities, particularly during periods of declining interest rates, and
Villere may have to invest the proceeds in lower-yielding securities.
Inflation: Inflation may erode the buying-power of your investment portfolio, even if the dollar
value of your investments remains the same.
International Investing Risk: Investing in the securities of non-U.S. companies involves special
risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. Foreign securities tend to be
more volatile and less liquid than investments in U.S. securities, and may lose value because
of adverse political, social, or economic developments overseas or due to changes in the
exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. In addition, foreign
investments are subject to settlement practices, and regulatory and financial reporting
standards, which differ from those of the U.S.
Investment Strategy Risk: This risk exists when an Advisor’s strategy may fail to produce the
intended results.
Large-Sized Companies Risk: Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond
quickly to new competitive challenges like changes in consumer tastes or innovative smaller
competitors. In addition, large-cap companies are sometimes unable to attain the high growth
rates of successful, smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic
expansion.
Legal or Legislative Risk: Legislative changes or court rulings may impact the value of
investments, or the securities’ claim on the issuer’s assets and finances.
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Margin Transactions: Investors utilizing margin accounts must carefully review the margin
agreement provided by the selected brokerage firm. These firms charge interest on the funds
loaned to purchase securities on margin and an investor needs to understand the additional
charges he or she may incur by opening a margin account. Additionally, risks associated with
margin accounts include: The loss of more funds that an investor deposits into the margin
which may require the investor to deposit additional funds to avoid the forced sale of securities
in the account. Additionally, if the equity in the account falls below the maintenance margin
requirements under the law or the firm’s higher "house" requirements, the firm can sell the
securities in the account to cover the margin deficiency. Investors are also responsible for any
short fall in the account after such a sale. Additionally, the selected firm can sell the securities
in the account without contacting the investor (although as a courtesy many firms do attempt
contact). Investors are not entitled to a time extension on margin calls. While extensions are
sometimes given under certain conditions, investors do not automatically have a right to time
extensions. An investor does not have a right to an extension of time to meet a maintenance
margin call.
Market Risk: Market risk involves the possibility that an investment’s current market value will
decline due to general market decline, thus reducing the value of the investment regardless of
the operational success of the issuer’s operations or its financial condition.
Market Capitalization Risk: Securities of companies with small and medium market
capitalizations are often more volatile and less liquid than investments in larger companies.
Small and medium-cap companies may face a greater risk of business failure, which could
increase the volatility of the clients’ portfolios.
Small- and Medium-Sized Companies Risk: Investing in securities of smaller companies
including micro-cap, small-cap, medium-cap and less seasoned companies often involve
greater volatility than investing in larger, more established companies and these securities may
be less liquid than other securities.
Political Risk: The chance that a change in government may affect stock prices of domestic or
international stocks.
Sector/Industry Risk: In connection with Jon Arnold’s management strategy, from time to time,
client portfolios may have overweighted positions in particular market sectors and/or industries,
which can be more volatile and/or underperform relative to the market as a whole.
Style Risk: The Advisor’s strategy may consist of “value” and or “growth” investments. With
respect to securities and investments considered undervalued by the Advisor, market prices
may not reflect our determination that the security is undervalued, and its price may not
increase to what we believe to be its full value and may even decrease in value. With respect
to “growth” investments, the underlying earnings or operational growth anticipated may not
occur, or the market price of the security may not increase as anticipated.
Tax Considerations: The Advisor’s strategies and investments can have unique and significant
tax implications. However, unless we specifically agree otherwise, and in writing, tax efficiency
is not our primary consideration in the management of your assets. Regardless of your account
size or any other factors, we strongly recommend that you continuously consult with a tax
professional prior to and throughout the investing of your assets.
Unaffiliated Money Managers: If a portion of your assets is managed by a third-party money
manager (such as Betterment), we will not determine the investments to be made for your
account, but we will monitor the investments in the accounts and advise you on those holdings
for so long as we are providing investment management services.
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Other (non-securities)
Annuities are retirement products 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.
Clients are hereby advised to read each offering document carefully before investing. Past
performance is not a guarantee of future returns.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that all clients should be prepared to bear.
Risks of Specific Securities Utilized
The Advisor generally seeks investment management strategies that do not involve significant
or unusual risk beyond that of the general domestic and / or international equity markets.
Investing in the financial markets, including the securities The Advisor recommends to clients,
involves the risk of loss—including loss of principal. While the Advisor attempts to manage
risks associated with the financial markets and the securities it recommends to clients, the
Advisor makes no guarantee or promise that advice given will not result in losses. Past
investment performance of any investment is not a guarantee of future results.
Investments in mutual funds may bear a risk of investment loss. Clients who invest should also
be prepared to bear a loss of investment proceeds. While the Adviser monitors underlying fund
investments, it is possible that a fund manager’s strategy will not provide desired results.
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) - ETF Risks, including Net Asset Valuations and Tracking Error:
ETF performance may not exactly match the performance of the index or market benchmark
that the ETF is designed to track because 1) the ETF will incur expenses and transaction costs
not incurred by any applicable index or market benchmark; 2) certain securities comprising the
index or market benchmark tracked by the ETF may, from time to time, temporarily be
unavailable; and 3) supply and demand in the market for either the ETF and/or for the
securities held by the ETF may cause the ETF shares to trade at a premium or discount to the
actual net asset value of the securities owned by the ETF. Certain ETF strategies may from
time to time include the purchase of fixed income, commodities, foreign securities, American
Depositary Receipts, or other securities for which expenses and commission rates could be
higher than normally charged for exchange-traded equity securities, and for which market
quotations or valuation may be limited or inaccurate. Clients should be aware that to the extent
they invest in ETF securities they will pay two levels of advisory compensation – advisory fees
charged by the Advisor plus any management fees charged by the issuer of the ETF. This
scenario may cause a higher advisory cost (and potentially lower investment returns) than if a
client purchased the ETF directly. An ETF typically includes embedded expenses that may
reduce the fund's net asset value, and therefore directly affect the fund's performance and
indirectly affect a client’s portfolio performance or an index benchmark comparison. Expenses
of the fund may include investment adviser management fees, custodian fees, brokerage
commissions, and legal and accounting fees. ETF expenses may change from time to time at
the sole discretion of the ETF issuer. ETF tracking error and expenses may vary.
Investments in individual stocks can be risky. Some risks can be controlled, and some risks
can be guarded against, but no investment strategy can carry guarantees from loss. Certain
market risks cannot be controlled, such as market or economic conditions. Certain strategies
may be employed to adjust portfolios, or the Adviser and client may agree to hold the
portfolio’s course. The Advisor designs portfolio strategies for the long-term, unless otherwise
specifically requested in writing. Therefore, the Adviser does not attempt to time the market.
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Fixed income investments generally are utilized as a portfolio diversification element as well as
for income-deriving investments outside of equity exposure.
There are certain risks involved in investing in bonds: Government, Municipal, and Corporate
and the following is an overview of the types of risks that one should consider: Interest rate
risk; reinvestment risk; inflation risk; mark risk, selection risk, timing risk, and price risk.
Additional risks for some government agency, corporate and municipal bonds may include
Legislative risk (a change in the tax code could affect the value of taxable/tax-exempt interest
income); Call risk (some corporate, municipal and agency bonds have a “call provision”
entitling their issuers to redeem them at a specified price on a date prior to maturity. Declining
interest rates may accelerate the redemption of a callable bond, causing an investor’s principal
to be returned sooner than expected. In that scenario, investors have to reinvest the principal
at the lower interest rates. If the bond is called at or close to par value, as is usually the case,
investors who paid a premium for their bond also risk a loss of principal. In reality, prices of
callable bonds are unlikely to move much above the call price if lower interest rates make the
bond likely to be called. Additionally, there may be a liquidity risk involved if investors have
difficulty finding a buyer when they want to sell and may be forced to sell at a significant
discount to market value. Liquidity risk is greater for thinly traded securities such as lower-rated
bonds, bonds that were part of a small issue, bonds that have recently had their credit rating
downgraded or bonds sold by an infrequent issuer. Bonds are generally the most liquid during
the period right after issuance when the typical bond has the highest trading volume. Additional
risks for corporate and municipal bonds may include Credit risk; default risk; event risk and
duration risk.
Bank obligations, including bonds and certificates of deposit, may be vulnerable to setbacks or
panics in the banking industry. Banks and other financial institutions are highly dependent
upon short-term interest rates and may be adversely affected by downturns in the U.S. and
foreign economies and/or changes in regulations.
Delaware Statutory Trusts. These investments have a unique set of risks and are only
appropriate for accredited investors. Risks may include but are not limited to: Illiquidity risk
(investment must be held for an extended period of time), loss of control (no decision making
over property, sponsor controls management and selling of property), regulatory risk (change
in tax rules which could result in tax liabilities), execution risk (operator competence) and
economic risk. There can be no assurance that a property will perform as projected and
Delaware Statutory Trusts are subject to economic volatility, tenants not paying their rent as
expected, and other traditional risks of owning, selling, and operating real estate. The fees and
expenses of each offering should be carefully evaluated. Multiple owner offerings typically
have additional expenses versus owning real estate on your own and these fees should be
weighed against specific capital gains tax liability. All investors are encouraged to have their
tax and legal counsel advise them on taxes including any federal and state capital gains taxes,
depreciation recapture and any other tax issues, which could be applicable.
Covered Call Options. While this strategy can provide income, it limits your ability to
participate in any increase in the price of the underlying security above the strike price.
Furthermore, a covered call strategy does not eliminate the risk of market-based losses on the
underlying stock. In fact, if the stock price declines, the premium received from the option may
not be sufficient to offset the loss in the value of the underlying security. Additionally, the
option can be exercised at any time, requiring you to sell the underlying security at the strike
price, potentially below the market price. Market conditions can negatively impact option
values or the ability to close positions favorably and the forced sale of shares upon assignment
may trigger taxable events.
Inverse ETFs. This strategy is used to hedge client portfolios against market downturns or to
seek returns that are the inverse of a specific benchmark on a daily basis. They are designed
to achieve their investments objectives on a daily basis. They are not intended to track the
underlying index over periods longer than a single day. Due to the effect of daily
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compounding, performance over longer periods can differ significantly from the inverse of the
underlying index. In volatile markets, an inverse ETF may lose money even if the underlying
index decreases over time. Holding inverse ETFs for longer than one trading session
increases risk due to the compounding of returns. As such, these investments are generally
considered unsuitable for long-term holding. These products may not achieve their stated
objectives. If the market rises, the inverse ETF will lose value, and you may lose a significant
portion or all of your principal investment.
It is important to understand that investing in securities involves a risk of loss that a client
should be prepared to bear.
Voting Client Securities (Proxies)
As a matter of policy and practice, RWA will not vote proxies on behalf of clients. Clients will
retain voting authority and can expect to receive voting materials directly from their custodian.
The Advisor is available to assist clients with questions and concerns relating to proxies. The
Advisor does not engage in proxy-related discussions with non-clients and does not solicit
proxies.
For any legacy clients who engaged RWA to vote proxies on their behalf, the Advisor
may be authorized by the client to vote proxies on behalf of managed accounts where it holds
discretionary authority as stated per the currently in effect client agreement. Joe Kovach votes
proxies on behalf of clients, under the supervision of the Advisor's chief compliance officer. In
connection with its voting services:
It is the Advisor's policy to 1) votes proxies in the best interests of clients, 2) disclose
information about its proxy voting policies and procedures, 3) disclose how clients may obtain
information regarding individual security proxy votes cast on their behalf, and 4) maintain
appropriate records relating to actual proxy voting.
The Advisor’s policies and procedures are reasonably designed to enable the Advisor to
ethically and effectively discharge its fiduciary obligation to vote all applicable proxies on behalf
of all discretionary client accounts and ensure compliance with all of the requirements. At least
annually, the Advisor's members and chief compliance officer will review, reaffirm and/or
amend guidelines, strategies, and proxy policies for all client accounts.
The Advisor will vote proxies in a manner deemed to be in the best economic interest of its
clients, as a whole, as shareholders and beneficiaries of those actions. Mr. Kovach recognizes
that each proxy vote must be evaluated on its own merits. Factors such as a company’s
organizational structure, executive and operational management, Board of Directors structure,
corporate culture and governance process, and the impact of economic, environmental, and
social implications remain key elements in all voting decisions. However, in most cases, the
Advisor will vote with management. If there were material disagreements with management,
the Advisor would not be likely to continue to recommend holding the investment in client
portfolios.
Exceptions:
Outside of the Wrap Program Only - The Advisor's proxy policies will not be applied where the
Advisor has further delegated discretionary investment management and the authority to vote
shares to a client's properly appointed third-party manager, if applicable. In those situations,
proxy votes cast by the unaffiliated third-party manager may be governed by the manager's
proxy voting policies and procedures.
The Advisor may choose not to vote proxies in certain situations, or for certain accounts, such
as, but not limited to, when the cost of voting would exceed any anticipated benefit to the
respective client(s); when a proxy is received for a client account that has been terminated;
when a proxy is received for a security no longer managed; and/or when the exercise of voting
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rights could restrict the ability of an account’s portfolio manager to freely trade the security in
question (for example, in certain foreign jurisdictions known as “blocking markets”).
Conflicts of Interest: Due to its diversified client base, the Advisor may determine whether a
potential conflict exists in connection with a proxy vote. The Advisors members and its chief
compliance officer will determine how to address the conflict and that may include voting
strictly in accordance with policy, and/or returning proxy voting authority to the client(s)
involved. Although the Advisor does its best to alleviate or diffuse known conflicts, there is no
guarantee that all situations have been or will be mitigated through proxy policy incorporation.
Clients may request to receive a copy of The Advisor’s proxy voting policies and procedures as
well as information concerning votes cast, by submitting a request to the Advisor's Chief
Compliance Officer at the address, email, or telephone number indicated on the cover page of
this Brochure.
The Advisor does not use a third-party proxy service provider and will maintain records relating
to how proxies were voted.
Deviations from these policies will result in a prompt amendment of this Form ADV 2A
Brochure and may require the Advisor to comply with SEC Proxy Registration Rules.
ITEM 7: CLIENT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
The Advisor is the Program’s Sponsor and Manager and therefore, the Program does not
utilize other portfolio managers.
ITEM 8: CLIENT CONTACT WITH PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
The Advisor is the Program’s Sponsor and Manager and therefore, as with our non-wrapped
investment management services, the Advisor welcomes communications with our clients.
Clients are welcome to contact the Advisor at any time during our normal office hours.
Individual client reviews are conducted no less than annually in order to provide the client with
the opportunity to review their profile data and investment strategies. Investment Advisor
Representatives conduct periodic client meetings and have frequent telephonic contacts in
which investment objectives, market conditions and other factors are discussed with clients.
Clients are welcome to initiate meetings (telephonically, electronically or in person) throughout
the year. However, clients are obligated to promptly contact the Advisor when there exists a
real or potential change in the clients’ financial condition or if a change in strategy may be
contemplated. This prompt notification gives the Advisor the opportunity to review the clients’
new information and determine if it impacts the advice and recommendations prepared for the
client.
ITEM 9: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Disclosure-Disciplinary Information
Registered Investment Advisors are required to disclose legal and disciplinary events that may
be material to a client’s or prospective client’s evaluation of the Advisor’s practice or the
integrity of its management. The Advisor has responded to each item below:
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A. A criminal or civil action in a domestic, foreign, or military court of competent
jurisdiction in which your firm or a management person:
1.was convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere (“no contest”) to (a) any felony;
(b) a misdemeanor that involved investments or an investment-related business, fraud, false
statements, or omissions, wrongful taking of property, bribery, perjury, forgery, counterfeiting,
or extortion; or (c) a conspiracy to commit any of these offenses. 2. is the named subject of a
pending criminal proceeding that involves an investment-related business, fraud, false
statements or omissions, wrongful taking of property, bribery, perjury, forgery, counterfeiting,
extortion, or a conspiracy to commit any of these offenses. 3. was found to have been involved
in a violation of an investment-related statute or regulation; or 4. was the subject of any order,
judgment, or decree permanently or temporarily enjoining, or otherwise limiting, your firm or a
management person from engaging in any investment- related activity, or from violating any
investment-related statute, rule, or order.
Neither the Advisor nor its management persons have any disclosure information to
report for Item 9.A.1., Item 9.A.2, Item 9.A.3, and Item 9.A.4.
B. An administrative proceeding before the SEC, any other federal regulatory agency,
any state regulatory agency, or any foreign financial regulatory authority in which your
firm or a management person:
1. was found to have caused an investment-related business to lose its authorization to
do business; or 2. was found to have been involved in a violation of an investment-
related statute or regulation and was the subject of an order by the agency or authority
(a) denying, suspending, or revoking the authorization of your firm or a management
person to act in an investment-related business (b) barring or suspending your firm’s
or a management person's association with an investment related business (c)
otherwise significantly limiting your firm’s or a management person's investment-
related activities; or (d) imposing a civil money penalty of more than $2,500 on your
firm or a management person.
Neither the Advisor nor its management persons have any information to report for
Items 9.B.1 and 9.B 2(a-d).
C. A self-regulatory organization (SRO) proceeding in which your firm or a management
person:
1. was found to have caused an investment-related business to lose its authorization to
do business; or 2. was found to have been involved in a violation of the SRO’s rules
and was:(i) barred or suspended from membership or from association with other
members or was expelled from membership; (ii) otherwise significantly limited from
investment-related activities; or (iii) fined more than $2,500.
Neither the Advisor nor its management persons have any information to report for
Items 9.C.1 and 9.C.2.
Note: Individual information about The Advisor’s management persons and investment advisor
representatives is contained in their Form ADV Part 2B Brochures which are attached directly
behind this firm Brochure. One investment adviser representative (Mr. Curly) has a reportable
event from 1972 when he was a college student. Mr. Arnold has a reportable event from 2012.
If you did not receive these Brochures, please contact the Advisor via the contact information
contained on the cover page of this Brochure.
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Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Registration as a broker/dealer or broker/dealer representative
The Advisor is not registered as a broker/dealer and no such registration is pending.
As disclosed in Item 10.C below, Adam Stalnaker, Joseph Kovach, and Michael Curley are
separately registered as registered representatives of Private Client Services and in this
capacity, they accept commissions for the sale of securities.
Registration as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator or a
commodity trading adviser
Neither the Advisor nor its Investment Advisor Representatives are registered as a Futures
Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, or a Commodity Trading Advisor and no
such registrations are pending.
Registration relationships material to this advisory business and conflicts of interest
Neither the Advisor nor its Investment Advisor Representatives have any registration
relationships, legal affiliations or any association with the following businesses that would
present a possible conflict of interest and no such relationships are pending.
broker-dealer, municipal securities dealer, government securities dealer or broker
investment company or other pooled investment vehicle (including a mutual fund,
closed- end investment company, unit investment trust, private investment company
or “hedge fund,” and offshore fund)
futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator or trading advisor
banking or thrift institution
lawyer or law firm
insurance company or agency*
pension consultant
real estate broker or dealer
sponsor or syndicator of limited partnerships.
The Advisor does not operate and does not have a material relationship with a hedge fund or
other type of private pooled investment vehicle.
Adam Richard Stalnaker, Joseph J. Kovach and Michael A. Curley are separately engaged
and dually registered as registered representatives of an unaffiliated broker/dealer (Private
Client Services LLC) and receive commissions for securities transactions placed with this
broker/dealer.
*Adam R. Stalnaker, Joseph J. Kovach, and Michael A. Curley are separately engaged as
independently licensed insurance agents and receive normal commissions paid by insurance
companies when clients purchase insurance through them.
Investment Advisor Representative, Andrew Smith, is the owner of an accounting firm and
receives separate and customary payment for delivering any accounting related services.
Some advisory clients may also be accounting clients of Mr. Smith. This creates a conflict in
that Mr. Smith has an incentive to recommend his accounting firm to RWA clients and RWA to
accounting clients. Clients are under no obligation to utilize Mr. Smith for any accounting
services.
The Advisor is a fiduciary to each of its clients. The receipt of commissions by its registrants
poses a conflict of interest between the Adviser and its clients. Please refer to the important
disclosure at Item 5.E of this Brochure as it addresses the conflicts of interest, The Advisor’s
fiduciary duty to its clients and how the conflicts are managed.
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Selection of Other Advisers or Managers and How this Adviser is Compensated for
Those Selections
Outside of the Program and as discussed in the Adviser’s Form ADV 2A Brochure at Item 4.B,
the Advisor has entered into an agreement with Betterment, LLC (“Betterment”) to utilize
among other things, Betterment’s software, advice, and digital services on a sub-advisory
basis.
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions, and Personal Trading
The Advisor takes the issues of fiduciary duty and regulatory compliance seriously and is
committed to maintain compliance with state and applicable federal securities laws. The
Advisor has a position of public trust, and it is our goal to maintain that trust; provide excellent
service, good investment performance; and advice that is suitable.
The Advisor places great value on ethical conduct. Therefore, the ultimate goal of our internal
policies is to challenge our staff to live up not only to the letter of the law, but also to the ideals
set forth by the Advisor. Clients may be familiar with the roles fiduciaries play in various legal
situations and in certain industries. As a Registered Investment Advisor, the Advisor is a
fiduciary to each and every client. As fiduciaries, Registered Investment Advisors owe their
clients several specific duties. In accordance with the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest, an
Investment Advisor’s fiduciary duties include:
Providing advice that is suitable based on information gathered from the client
Providing full disclosure of material facts and potential conflicts of interest (such that
the client has complete and accurate disclosure in order to make an informed
decision about services of the Advisor and about investment recommendations)
The utmost and exclusive loyalty and good faith
Best execution of transactions under the available circumstances
The Advisor’s reasonable care to avoid ever misleading clients
Only acting in the best interests of clients.
It is The Advisor’s policy to protect the interests of each of our clients and to place clients’
interests first and foremost. The Advisor will abide by honest and ethical business practices to
include, but not limited to:
The Advisor will not induce trading in a client’s account that is excessive in size or
frequency in view of the financial resources and character of the account.
The Advisor will make investment decisions with reasonable grounds to believe that
the decisions are suitable for the client on the basis of information furnished by the
client and we will document suitability.
The Advisor and its Investment Advisor Representatives will not borrow money from
clients, nor will they lend money to clients.
The Advisor will not recommend the purchase of a security without the reasonable
belief that the security is registered, or the security or transaction is exempt from
registration in states where we provide investment advice and based upon
information the Advisor receives.
The Advisor will not recommend that a client place an order to purchase or sell a
security through a broker/dealer or agent, or engage the services of an unlicensed
brokerage firm, based upon information available to the Advisor.
The Advisor’s Member and staff (if applicable) will report all required personal
securities transactions to Thomas V. David, Chief Compliance Officer as required by
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securities rules and regulations. Reportable trades for the Advisor include all but the
following exceptions:
Transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan
Securities held in accounts over which the access person has no direct or
indirect influence or control
Transactions/holdings in direct obligations of the US Government
Money market instruments — bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of
deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements and other high- quality
short-term debt instruments
Shares of money market funds
Transactions and holdings in shares of mutual funds, since the Advisor does
not have a material relationship with an investment company
Transactions in units of a unit investment trust are not reportable if the UIT is
invested exclusively in unaffiliated mutual funds.
All applicable securities rules and regulations will be strictly enforced. The Advisor will not
permit and has instituted controls against insider trading. Investment Advisor Representatives
and administrative personnel who do not follow the Advisor’s Code of Ethics or who in any way
violate securities rules and regulations, or who fail to report known or suspected violations will
be disciplined or terminated, depending upon severity. Such persons could also face action by
the SEC and/or state securities regulators.
Clients are welcome to request a copy of the Advisor’s Code of Ethics by contacting the
Advisor’s office.
Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests
The Advisor does not recommend that clients buy or sell any security in which any of The
Advisor or its related persons have a material financial interest.
Investing Personal Monies in the Same Securities as Clients
The Advisor and/or individuals associated with the Advisor may have similar investment goals
and objectives and as a result may buy or sell securities for their personal accounts that may
be identical to or different from those recommended to clients. Thus, at times the interests of
staff members’ accounts may coincide with the interests of clients’ accounts. However, at no
time will the Advisor or its related persons receive an added benefit or advantage over clients
with respect to these transactions nor will the Advisor or its staff ever place themselves in a
position to have added benefit as a result of advice given to clients. The Advisor’s Chief
Compliance Officer monitors access person’s personal trading activities.
Trading Securities at / around the Same Time as Clients
The Advisor acknowledges the Advisor’s fiduciary responsibility to place the investment needs
of clients ahead of the Advisor and its staff. The interests of clients are held in the highest
regard. At no time will the Advisor or its personnel receive an added benefit or advantage over
clients with respect to these transactions. The Advisor and its personnel will not place itself in a
position to have added benefit as a result of advice given to clients. The Advisor and its
personnel will not buy or sell securities for their personal portfolio(s) where their decision is
substantially derived, in whole or in part, by reason of his or her employment unless the
information is also available to the investing public on reasonable inquiry. The Advisor has
established trading policies for its access persons. The Advisor’s Chief Compliance Officer is
responsible for the monitoring of personal trading conducted by staff.
Financial Information
Balance sheet
The Advisor does not accept fees for services that involve $500 or more for services to be
performed six or more months in advance. The Advisor does not maintain custody of client
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funds and securities and therefore is not required to include a balance sheet with this
Brochure.
Financial conditions reasonably likely to impair the adviser’s ability to meet contractual
commitments to clients
Neither the Advisor nor its management have a financial condition that is reasonably likely to
impair the Advisor’s ability to meet contractual commitments to clients.
Bankruptcy petitions in previous ten years
The Advisor, its owners and its investment adviser representatives have not been party to a
bankruptcy petition during the previous 10 years.
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