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Item 1: Cover Page
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CANTER STRATEGIC WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC
D/B/A CANTER WEALTH
(Firm CRD # 167828)
7825 Fay Avenue, Suite 140
La Jolla, California 92037
Telephone: 858.812.7550
Fax: 858.923.5815
www.canterwealth.com
www.taxesandretirement.com
www.facebook.com/canterwealth
www.facebook.com/taxesandretirement
www.linkedin.com/company/canter-wealth
www.youtube.com/channel/UC5zeT2FZSJ8-hkM7nUsNpEA
March 24, 2026
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Canter Strategic
Wealth Management, LLC DBA Canter Wealth. If you have any questions about the contents of this
brochure, please contact us at T: 858.812.7550.
The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission or any state securities authority. Registration does not imply any level of skill or
training. Investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Additional information about Canter Wealth is available on the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
(Click on the link, select "Investment Adviser Firm," and type in our firm name or CRD # 167828.
The search results will display all available disclosure brochures.)
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Item 2: Summary of Material Changes
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Canter Wealth reviews its Form ADV Part 2A Brochure at least annually to confirm it remains current. In
this item, we are required to summarize only those material changes made to our Brochure since our last
annual updating amendment. If you are receiving this document for the first time, this section may not be
relevant to you.
Since our last annual updating amendment on March 28, 2025, we have made the following material changes:
Item 4: Advisory Business
Assets Under Management
Canter Wealth’s advisory services are provided on a discretionary basis. The following represents
client assets under management as of February 28, 2026:
Type of Account
Discretionary
Assets
Under Management
$ 386,473,556
Non-Discretionary
$ 0
Total
$ 386,473,556
Principal Ownership
We updated this section to clarify Canter's ownership and control structure, including identifying the
firm's ultimate control person and conforming the description of ownership interests to current
organizational and capital structures.
Full Brochure Availability
This Form ADV Part 2A Brochure applies to all Canter Wealth advisory accounts, including any accounts a
client may open. At any time, we may amend this document to reflect material changes in the Adviser's
business practices, policies, or procedures, or to reflect updates mandated by securities regulators. Annually,
within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year-end of December 31st, and as necessary due to material changes,
we will provide clients either by electronic means or hard copy with a new Brochure or a summary of
material changes from the document previously supplied with an offer to deliver a full Brochure upon
request. Please retain this document for future reference, as it contains essential information concerning
our advisory services and business.
You may view our current disclosure documents at the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure ("IAPD")
website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov by searching for our firm name or CRD #167828. The SEC's website also
provides information about any affiliated person registered or required to be registered as an Investment
Advisor Representative of the firm. You may also obtain a copy of this Brochure free of charge by contacting
Canter Wealth’s Chief Compliance Officer, Joseph P. Kalmanovitz, directly at T: 858.812.7550.
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Item 3: Table of Contents
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Item 1: Cover Page ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2: Summary of Material Changes ............................................................................................................................... 2
Item 3: Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
Item 4: Advisory Business ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5: Fees & Compensation ............................................................................................................................................. 11
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-by-Side Management ........................................................................... 17
Item 7: Types of Clients ......................................................................................................................................................... 17
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss ................................................................... 18
Item 9: Disciplinary Information ....................................................................................................................................... 30
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations .................................................................................... 30
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation, or Interest In Client Transactions & Personal Trading .............. 33
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ............................................................................................................................................. 33
Item 13: Review of Accounts .............................................................................................................................................. 38
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation ....................................................................................................... 39
Item 15: Custody ...................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Item 16: Investment Discretion ......................................................................................................................................... 41
Item 17: Voting Client Securities ....................................................................................................................................... 42
Item 18: Financial Information .......................................................................................................................................... 43
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Item 4: Advisory Business
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Description of Advisory Firm
Canter Strategic Wealth Management, LLC DBA Canter Wealth is an SEC-registered investment adviser
located at 7825 Fay Avenue, Suite 140, in La Jolla, CA. Canter Wealth was formed on May 20, 2013, as a
California limited liability company.
Principal Owners
Canter Wealth's principal owner is Canter Wealth HoldCo, LLC, which holds a controlling ownership interest
in the firm. Canter Wealth HoldCo, LLC is controlled by The Canter Group, LLC, which is wholly owned by
Canter Holdings, LLC. Canter Holdings, LLC is wholly owned by Andrew E. Canter through the Andrew Canter
Trust UDT dated December 18, 2015, making Andrew E. Canter the firm's ultimate control person, Principal,
and President.
In addition to the controlling ownership interests described above, certain partners, employees, trusts, and
third-party investors hold minority, non-controlling equity interests in Canter Wealth HoldCo, LLC, either
directly or indirectly. No minority owner, other than the controlling entities described above, exercises
control over the firm, and such minority ownership interests are collectively non-controlling.
Ownership interests may change from time to time due to employee compensation arrangements, equity
issuances or repurchases, debt-related transactions, or other capital activities. Any material changes to the
firm's ownership or control structure will be disclosed in future amendments to this Brochure. (Please refer
to Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations for additional information regarding affiliated
entities.)
As used in this Brochure, the words "we," "our," and "us" refer to Canter Wealth, and the words "you," "your,"
and "client" refer to you, whether a client or prospective client of our firm.
Types of Advisory Services
Canter Wealth is a fee-only investment management and financial planning firm; it does not sell securities
on a commission basis. Our investment professionals emphasize continuous personal client contact and
interaction in providing the following types of investment advice, advisory, and portfolio management
services:
Individual Client Asset Management Services
•
• ERISA, Retirement & Employee Benefit Plan Services
• Financial Planning & Consulting Services
• Selection of Other Advisers' Services
• Educational Seminars & Workshop Services
Canter Wealth's advisory services are designed and aimed to complement each client's specific needs, as
described within its written services contracts (the "Investment Advisory Agreement" or "Financial Planning
Agreement," depending on the services selected, collectively, the "Agreement") that disclose, in substance,
the scope of service, contract term, advisory fee - or formula for computing the fee, amount or manner of
calculation of any pre-paid fee to be returned to the client in the event of non-performance or contract
termination, and type of discretionary power granted. Final fee structures are documented within the
client’s written Agreement.
Advisor Representatives are restricted to providing the services and fees specified within each Agreement,
subject to the client's listed objectives, limitations, and restrictions. Contracts must be completed and
executed to engage in Canter Wealth's advisory services. Clients may engage Canter Wealth for additional
services at any time. (Please refer to Item 5: Fees & Compensation and Item 16: Investment Discretion for
further details on advisory services fees and account management styles.)
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Canter Wealth's advisory services are made available to clients primarily through its investment
professionals - individuals associated with the firm as Investment Advisor Representatives ("Advisor
Representatives"). Advisor Representatives are required by applicable rules and policies to obtain licenses
and complete training to recommend specific investment products and services. Clients should be aware that
their Advisor Representative may or may not recommend certain services, investments, or models
depending on the licenses or training obtained; they may transact business or respond to inquiries only in
the state(s) in which they are appropriately qualified. (For more information about the investment
professionals providing advisory services, clients should refer to their Advisor Representative's Form ADV 2B
Brochure supplement, a separate disclosure document delivered to them, along with this Brochure, before or at
the relationship inception. If the client did not receive an ADV 2B Brochure supplement, they should contact
their Advisor Representative or Canter Wealth directly at T: 858.812.7550.)
Canter Wealth's relationship with each client is non-exclusive; in other words, we provide advisory services
to multiple clients. Since our investment strategies and advice are based on each client’s specific financial
situation, the investment advice we provide to you may differ from or conflict with the advice we give to
other clients regarding the same security or investment. Canter Wealth seeks to avoid situations in which
one client's interests conflict with another client's interests.
If requested by the client, we may recommend the services of other professionals for implementation
purposes. Clients are under no obligation to engage in any recommended professional services. The client
retains absolute discretion over all such implementation decisions and can accept or reject any
recommendation. If a client engages any recommended professional, and a dispute arises relative to such
engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from and against the engaged professional.
Client Responsibilities
Canter Wealth's advisory services depend on the information clients provide. We cannot adequately perform
our obligations and fiduciary duties to our clients unless they disclose an accurate and complete
representation of their financial position and investment needs, timely remit requested data or paperwork,
provide updates promptly upon changes, and otherwise fulfill their responsibilities under their Agreement.
Clients will acknowledge and agree to their obligation to promptly notify us in writing if any information
material to the advisory services to be provided changes, if data previously provided might affect how their
account should be managed, or if earlier-disclosed details become inaccurate. The client or their authorized
representative or successor shall also promptly notify us in writing of the client's dissolution, termination,
merger, or bankruptcy if the client is other than a natural person, and of any other event that might affect the
validity of their Agreement or our authority thereunder.
Canter Wealth reserves the right to terminate any client engagement where a client has willfully concealed
or refused to provide pertinent information material to the advisory services to be provided, or to
individual/financial situations, when, in its judgment, it is necessary and appropriate to provide proper
financial advice.
The following is a summary description of advisory services covered by this Brochure. Clients should consult
with their Advisor Representative and the applicable client Agreement and fee schedules for further
information regarding each service.
Individual Client Asset Management Services
Canter Wealth provides individual client asset management services using asset allocation models
designed for diversification while targeting risk and return profiles. Advisory accounts are managed on a
discretionary basis aimed at meeting client needs for risk tolerance, investment goals, cash flow, liquidity,
stated objectives, and potential tax considerations.
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Canter Wealth's recommendations are not limited to any specific investments offered by a custodian or fund
family but include mutual funds and exchange-listed securities.
The client and their Advisor Representative will agree upon a portfolio allocation outlined in an Investment
Policy Statement ("IPS") signed by both parties. At that point, the client's account will maintain the IPS
allocation, which can only be changed by receipt of a revised IPS signed by both parties. Rebalancing, tax-
loss harvesting, and other portfolio trading requirements will be executed to maintain the integrity of the
IPS's account allocation guidelines.
An IPS is not a contract; an IPS is an investment philosophy summary intended to guide the client and the
adviser; it is not to be construed as offering any guarantees. Clients are ultimately responsible for establishing
their investment policy.
Canter Wealth will have investment authority when offering individual client asset management services and
will supervise and direct the account's investments, subject to the objectives, limitations, and restrictions
listed in the client's written Agreement and IPS. As account goals and objectives will often change over time,
suggestions will be made and applied on an ongoing basis as the client and their Advisor Representative
review their financial situation and portfolio through regular contact and annual meetings to determine
changes in their financial situation or investment objectives, confirm realistic restrictions on account
management, and verify if the client wishes to modify any existing conditions reasonably.
Canter Wealth does not maintain physical custody of client funds or securities, except for the standard
business practice of deducting management fees from client accounts. According to the client's Agreement,
their portfolio account assets will be controlled by an independent, separate qualified custodian, who will
take possession of the cash, securities, and other assets in the client's portfolio account. Canter Wealth
recommends that its clients maintain all investment management accounts at their preferred custodian
unless the client directs otherwise. (See Item 15: Custody.)
Clients should consult their Agreement for complete details.
ERISA, Retirement & Employee Benefit Plan Services
Canter Wealth provides ERISA, retirement, and employee benefit plan services, investment due
diligence, education, and other advisory services to clients with employee benefit plans or other retirement
accounts (i.e., IRAs) for an advisory fee. As such, the firm is considered a fiduciary under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA") and the regulations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and
is required to abide by the Impartial Conduct Standards as defined by ERISA.
For purposes of complying with the DOL's Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2020-02 ("PTE 2020-02"),
where applicable, clients should be aware of the following:
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan or individual retirement
account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable laws governing retirement accounts. The way
we are compensated conflicts with your interests, so Canter Wealth operates under a special rule
requiring us to act in your best interest and not put our interests ahead of yours. Under this special
rule’s provisions, we must:
- meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give
prudent advice),
- never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give
-
-
loyal advice),
avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments,
follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we provide advice that is in your
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-
-
best interest,
charge no more than is reasonable for our services, and
give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
Canter Wealth benefits financially from the rollover of a client’s assets from a retirement account
into an account we manage or provide investment advice, as the assets increase our assets under
management and, in turn, our advisory fees. Canter Wealth’s fiduciary policy is to recommend a
client rollover of retirement assets only if we believe it is in the client's best interest.
If clients elect to roll their retirement assets to an IRA subject to our management, they will be charged an
asset-based fee as outlined in the Agreement they executed with our firm. Clients are not contractually or
otherwise obligated to complete a rollover. If they elect to complete a rollover, they are not obligated to have
their retirement assets managed by Canter Wealth.
Finally, we will receive no compensation if a client or a prospective client receives a recommendation to leave
their plan assets with their old employer.
IRA Rollover Considerations
In determining whether to make an IRA rollover to Canter Wealth, clients must understand the differences
between accounts to decide whether a rollover is best for them. Many employers permit former employees
to maintain their retirement assets in their company plans. Further, current employees can sometimes move
assets from their company plan before retiring or changing jobs.
There are various factors Canter Wealth will consider before recommending retirement plan rollovers,
including but not limited to the investment options available in the plan versus the other investment options
available, plan fees and expenses versus those of alternative account types, the services and responsiveness
of the plan's investment professionals versus those of Canter Wealth, required minimum distributions and
age considerations, and employer stock tax consequences if any.
To the extent the following options are available, clients should carefully consider the costs and benefits:
1. Leaving the funds in the employer's/former employer's plan.
2. Moving the funds to a new employer's retirement plan.
3. Cashing out and taking a taxable distribution from the plan.
4. Rolling the funds into an IRA rollover account.
Each of the above options has advantages and disadvantages. If you are considering rolling over retirement
funds into an IRA for us to manage, we encourage you to speak with your CPA or tax attorney before making
a change. The following are additional points for consideration before making any changes:
1. Determine whether the investment options in your employer's retirement plan address your
needs or whether you might wish to consider other investment types:
- Employer retirement plans generally have a more limited investment menu than
IRAs.
- Employer retirement plans may have unique investment options not available to the
public, such as employer securities or previously closed funds.
2. Consider plan fees - your current plan may have lower costs than Canter Wealth’s fees:
-
If you are interested in investing only in mutual funds, you should understand the
cost structures of the share classes available in your employer's retirement plan and
how they compare with those in an IRA.
- You should understand the various products and services you might use with an IRA
provider, along with their potential costs.
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3. Our strategy may have a higher risk than your plan's option(s).
4. Your current plan may also offer financial advice.
5. If you keep your assets in a 401(k) or retirement account, you could potentially delay your
required minimum distribution beyond age 73, r
6. Your 401(k) may offer more liability protection than a rollover IRA; this may vary by state.
- Generally, federal law protects assets in qualified plans from creditors. Since 2005,
IRA assets have been largely protected from creditors in bankruptcy proceedings.
However, there can be some exceptions to the usual rules, so you should consult an
attorney if you are concerned about protecting your retirement plan assets from
creditors.
7. You may be able to take out a loan on your 401(k), but not from an IRA.
8. IRA assets can be accessed at any time; however, distributions are subject to ordinary income tax
and may be subject to a 10% early distribution penalty unless they qualify for an exception, such
as disability, higher education expenses, or a home purchase.
9. If you own company stock in your plan, you may be able to liquidate those shares at a lower
capital gains tax rate.
10. Your plan may allow you to hire Canter Wealth as the manager and keep the assets titled in the
plan name.
Financial Planning & Consulting Services
At the adviser’s discretion, the firm may waive asset, option, and/or fee minimums under certain
circumstances where traditional asset management services are not applicable. Clients may also engage
Canter Wealth solely for fee-only financial planning services, with a tailored approach based on their
specific needs. The scope and depth of these services will vary depending on the complexity of the analysis,
the recommendations provided, the deliverables created, and the nature of the presentation. Services can
range from comprehensive financial planning to consultative or single-topic planning and may be offered as
either one-time or ongoing engagements at the firm’s discretion. (See Item 5: Fees & Compensation, “Fee
Negotiation Availability.”)
Financial planning and consulting will typically involve providing several services to clients, principally
advisory services to manage their financial resources based on an analysis of their unique needs. To the
extent requested by the client, financial planning advice may be rendered in the following:
cash flow projections,
investment portfolio analysis,
real estate planning,
risk management & insurance planning,
retirement planning,
•
•
•
•
•
• Social Security & pension planning,
• estate planning,
tax strategy, and
•
• business planning.
To participate in this service, a total time/cost estimate will be determined during or after the initial
consultation, before any services commence, and the client will execute a Financial Planning Agreement
setting forth the terms and conditions of the engagement, the scope of services to be provided, and the fees
due. The final fee structure will be documented within the executed client Agreement.
The process typically begins with an initial complimentary consultation to gather pertinent information
about the client's personal and financial circumstances and objectives. Financial planning clients may also be
required to complete an investment-related questionnaire as part of the information-gathering process.
Once all information has been gathered, studied, and analyzed, a written financial plan – designed to strive
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to achieve the client's expressed financial goals and objectives – will be produced and presented. Depending
on the scope of the assignment and the complexity of the planning to be performed or the advice to be given,
financial planning services can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 12 months.
Financial plans are based on the client's financial situation at the time the plan is presented and on the
financial information the client has disclosed to Canter Wealth.
Since financial planning is a discovery process, situations arise in which the client is unaware of specific
financial exposures or predicaments. If the client's case is substantially different from what was disclosed at
the initial meeting, a revised fee will be provided for agreement. When a fee increase is necessary, the client
must approve and agree to the scope change before any additional work is performed. In such cases, we will
notify the client to obtain this approval.
Financial planning engagements terminate upon delivery of the written plan unless the client has engaged
Canter Wealth for ongoing planning services. Additional reviews may be conducted upon request, and
written updates to the financial plan may be provided in conjunction with the review. Updates to financial
plans may be subject to our then-current hourly rate, which the client must approve in writing and in advance
of the update.
As with all our advisory services, clients are expected to promptly notify us in writing of any material
differences that we would not otherwise know that might affect the validity of their Agreement. Advisor
Representatives will conduct follow-up interviews to review and collect financial data as needed.
Financial planning services may be the only service provided to the client. Executing an Agreement neither
constitutes an agreement for nor requires that the client use or purchase investment advisory or other
services offered.
Canter Wealth will not have investment authority when offering financial planning consulting services, and
the services do not include implementing or monitoring any recommendations provided. Specific investment
recommendations are part of the relationship implementation phase and are only available through ongoing
individual client asset management services advisory relationships. If tax or legal services are necessary, the
client is responsible for obtaining them from one or more third parties.
Clients are under no obligation to act on our financial planning recommendations. Should they choose to act
on any of our recommendations, they are not obligated to implement the financial plan through any of our
other investment advisory services. Moreover, they may act on our recommendations by placing securities
transactions with any brokerage firm. The client retains absolute discretion over implementation decisions
and can accept or reject Canter Wealth's recommendations. Canter Wealth does not represent that these
products or services are offered at the lowest available cost - clients may be able to obtain the same products
or services at a lower price from other providers. Clients should consult their Agreement for complete details.
(See Item 12: Directed Brokerage.)
Selection of Other Advisers' Services
Canter Wealth retains the ability to select or recommend and provide access – after appropriate due diligence
– to independent third-party investment advisers (the "independent advisers" or “referred managers”) from
the group of sub-advisers participating in its selection of other advisers’ services, with whom it has
entered an agreement to make their services available, to guide, administer, and/or manage a portion of
client accounts on a discretionary basis. These sub-advisers may use one or more of their model portfolios
to manage your account, which we will regularly monitor for performance.
We will refer only to those individuals or entities suitable for such accounts. In making referrals, our role is
to verify that clients are appropriate for independent advisers, determine whether the potential referred
client has assets to invest, and confirm they have a minimum understanding of financial investing. We will
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assist clients in understanding the referred manager’s contract (the "Program Agreement"), help them
complete their investor profile to aid the manager in determining the appropriate allocation strategy for
their account, and assist with any questions they may have about the referred manager or its services.
Clients will receive full disclosure at the time of referral, including detailed information on the referred
manager’s services, fees to be charged, and other pertinent disclosures by delivering a copy of the relevant
independent adviser’s Form ADV Part 2 or equivalent disclosure documents. We may pay a portion of our
advisory fee to the sub-adviser(s) we use; however, clients will not pay our firm a higher advisory fee due to
any sub-advisory relationships.
The client will sign an acknowledgment confirming their receipt of copies of all material operative
documentation and disclosures detailing the nature of the relationship, compensation to Canter Wealth, and
other general terms of the referred services.
Educational Seminars & Workshop Services
Canter Wealth may provide educational seminars and workshop services on an "as announced" basis for
groups seeking general education on investments and other areas of personal finance. The content of these
seminars will vary depending on the needs of the attendees. Topics may include asset/wealth management
services, such as financial planning, investment planning, retirement planning, and other economic and
investment topics. These seminars are purely educational and do not involve the sale of any investment
products. The information presented will not be tailored to a person's needs, and we will not provide
individualized investment advice to attendees during these events. We do not offer investment advice to
attendees unless engaged independently and only where the attendee's individualized financial information,
investment goals, and objectives are provided.
Types of Investments
Canter Wealth will generally provide investment advice and money management regarding:
• Exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)
• Mutual fund shares, and
• Fixed-income securities.
As a fiduciary, an investment adviser must provide investment advice in the client's best interest. When
recommending mutual fund investments, our policy is to consider all available share classes and select the
most appropriate ones based on factors such as minimum investment requirements, trading restrictions,
internal expense structure, transaction charges, availability, and others. Institutional share class mutual
funds typically cost less than other share classes. Generally, they do not have an associated 12b-1 fee,
resulting in a lower overall expense ratio than other classes of the same mutual fund. Therefore, in most
cases, it will be in the client's best interest to recommend or purchase the lowest-cost share class - the
institutional share class.
Canter Wealth avoids market timing but will increase cash holdings when necessary. Although we primarily
offer advice on mutual funds and ETFs, we may advise on various investments based on your stated goals
and objectives. We may also advise on any investment held in your portfolio at the inception of our advisory
relationship. We reserve the right to offer advice on any investment product we deem suitable for a client's
specific circumstances, needs, and goals. We will also use other securities to help diversify a portfolio when
appropriate.
Client Tailored Services
Canter Wealth offers the same suite of services to all its clients. All portfolios are customized to each client's
needs, depending on the advisory services performed under each client's IPS. However, some clients will
require only limited services due to the nature of their investments. Limited services are discounted at our
discretion, as detailed herein and defined in each client's written Agreement.
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Client Imposed Restrictions
According to their preferences, values, or beliefs, individual client asset management services clients who
engage Canter Wealth on a discretionary basis may, at any time, impose restrictions on Canter Wealth's
discretionary authority for investments in particular securities or security types, including but not limited to
restricting the types or amounts of securities purchased for their account, excluding the ability to buy
securities with an inverse relationship to the market, limiting the use of margin, etc.
All restriction requests must be submitted in writing.
Reasonable efforts are used to comply with client investment guidelines by standard industry practices.
When imposing restrictions, it is essential to note that these conditions can affect a client's account
performance and result in differences compared to a similarly managed account without restrictions.
Variations could also result in positive or negative performance differences between a client’s portfolio and
the investment program's performance composite. Further, recommended investment structures could
prevent the client from controlling their specific outcome.
Upon receiving a client's written restrictions, we will discuss the request's feasibility to ensure expectations
are met and confirm the client's acknowledgment and understanding of the possible outcomes of the
imposed restrictions. If client-imposed restrictions prevent proper servicing of a client's account or require
substantial deviations from recommendations, Canter Wealth reserves the right to end the client
relationship. In no event and regardless of the advisory service provided, is the adviser obligated to make
any investment or enter any transaction it believes in good faith would violate any federal or state law or
regulation.
Wrap Fee Programs
A wrap fee program is defined as any advisory program under which a specified fee or fees, not based directly
on transactions in a client's account, are charged for investment supervisory services, which may include
portfolio management or advice concerning the selection of other investment advisers and the execution of
client transactions. Canter Wealth does not participate in wrap fee programs or receive any portion of wrap
fees for its services.
Assets Under Management
Canter Wealth’s advisory services are provided on a discretionary basis. The following represents client
assets under management as of February 28, 2026:
Type of Account
Discretionary
Assets
Under Management
$ 386,473,556
Non-Discretionary
$ 0
Total
$ 386,473,556
Item 5: Fees & Compensation
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Description of Advisory Fees
Under the Advisers Act’s "Brochure Rule," investment advisors are required to provide a written disclosure
statement to their clients. A copy of Canter Wealth’s Form CRS, Form ADV Part 2A, and the applicable Advisor
Representative’s Part 2B Brochure will be provided to clients before executing a client Agreement. Unless a
client has received these Disclosure Brochures at least 48 hours before signing their Advisory Agreement,
they may terminate their Advisory Agreement within five (5) business days of Agreement execution without
incurring any advisory fees.
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Fee Negotiation Availability
Canter Wealth advisory clients agree to pay an asset-based advisory fee calculated in accordance with the
indicated fee schedules. Advisory fees are negotiable. At its discretion, we may negotiate fees based on
particular client account criteria, including, but not limited to, anticipated future assets, a client's unique
circumstances, and additional services performed, up to the maximum annual rates listed herein. Assets of
related accounts, such as family or business relationships, may also be aggregated to calculate the applicable
advisory fee. Further, some clients will require only limited services due to the nature of their investments.
Limited services are offered at a discounted rate. As outlined in each client's Agreement, final advisory fee
structures are established on a client-by-client basis.
While we believe the fees presented are competitive with alternative programs available through other firms
that may provide a similar range of services, lower fees for comparable services are sometimes available
from other sources. Although Canter Wealth seeks to facilitate advantageous agreements for clients, to the
extent fees are negotiable, some clients may pay higher (more) or lower fees (less) than other clients for
services depending on factors such as account total assets under management, the number of related
investment accounts, inception date, or other considerations, than if they had contracted directly with
another provider.
In all cases, clients are responsible for any tax liabilities arising from transactions.
Regardless of fee negotiation availability, a client will not be required to prepay a Canter Wealth advisory fee
in excess of $1,200 more than six months in advance. (See Item 18: Financial Information for additional
details.)
The following describes how Canter Wealth is compensated for each of its advisory services:
Individual Client Asset Management Services
Canter Wealth provides individual client asset management services on a fee-only basis, based on the
value of the assets to be managed, the work to be provided, and the complexity of the client's situation.
Individual client asset management services require a minimum portfolio value of $750,000. While client
accounts falling below $750,000 may be subject to a minimum quarterly fee of $1,875, Canter Wealth may
accept clients with less than the minimum portfolio size at the adviser’s discretion, based on the particular
client account criteria, including but not limited to considerations such as anticipated future assets, a client's
unique circumstances, and additional services performed.
If engaged, Canter Wealth will charge an annual fee according to the following fee schedule:
Management Services Annual Fee Schedule
Annual Fee
Total Assets Under Management
First $1,000,000
Next $1,000,000
Next $1,000,000
Next $2,000,000
Next $2,000,000
Next $3,000,000
Next $5,000,000
Next $5,000,000 +
1.00%
0.95%
0.90%
0.85%
0.80%
0.70%
0.60%
0.50%
Note: Lower fees for comparable services may be available from other sources.
For accounts falling below $750,000, we reserve the right to assess a minimum quarterly fee of $1,875.
Clients who engaged the Registrant's services before July 1, 2021, remain grandfathered under a previous schedule.
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Fee Billing & Payment
Fees for individual client asset management services will be calculated and paid quarterly in advance
based on the client's asset value as of the last business day of the prior calendar quarter, in accordance with
the client’s Agreement terms. If the client executes their Agreement after the first day of the calendar quarter,
the advisory fee will be prorated for the remainder of the quarter.
Clients will indicate their fee billing and payment preference in their Agreement. Fees will be debited directly
from the client’s account held with their custodian of record. Canter Wealth will not access client funds for
fees without the client's written consent.
Clients who wish to have their fees debited directly will provide written limited authorization instructions
to their custodian, directing their custodian to allow Canter Wealth to withdraw any advisory fees due. The
limited authorization will allow the adviser to invoice the custodian directly for the client's advisory fees and
to instruct the custodian to debit any fees from the client's custodial account automatically. After each
advisory fee payment transfer, the written instructions will also request that the custodian provide a
"transfer of funds" notice to the client at their custodial address of record. The client may provide these
instructions on the qualified custodian's form or separately. The custodian will maintain actual custody of the
client's assets.
Clients may elect to have their quarterly fees charged to a single account or split among their other custodial
accounts.
Upon receiving Canter Wealth’s instructions, the qualified custodian will automatically deduct and pay us
the fee amount due at quarter’s end from the client's custodial account, regardless of the portfolio’s market
performance during the preceding quarter. The account custodian does not verify the accuracy of our
advisory fee calculation. Clients will receive custodial statements reflecting the advisory fees debited from
their designated custodial account(s).
Clients are encouraged to reconcile the information provided by Canter Wealth with the statement(s)
received from their qualified custodian. Any inconsistencies between our invoices or documents and
the custodian’s statement(s) should be promptly reported to our main office at 858.812.7550.
Please note that when authorized by the client to debit advisory fees from client accounts, Canter Wealth is
deemed to have custody of client assets to the extent that the adviser can instruct custodians to deduct
advisory fees due. (See Item 15: Custody for additional details.)
Under limited circumstances and at their discretion, Canter Wealth may approve a client for direct billing. In
this situation, the client will authorize the payment in writing on their Agreement and request that the
adviser invoice them quarterly for any amounts due. Clients will then remit their fee payments to the adviser
by separate check or credit card within 30 days of invoice receipt.
Under no circumstances will any Canter Wealth advisory fees be deducted from any amounts they hold
within their custodial account(s) unless the client has provided us with written authorization to do so at their
request.
Additions, Withdrawals & Terminations
Additions, withdrawals, and terminations to individual client asset management services client accounts are
governed by the Agreement that the client signs directly with Canter Wealth.
Clients may make cash or securities additions to their accounts at any time. Fees will be adjusted in the
subsequent quarterly billing cycle for intra-quarter asset flows, incoming or outgoing, exceeding $10,000.
Transfers and deposits received for clients new to the firm by the 10th of the month for a new quarterly billing
cycle will be billed in advance on a pro rata basis.
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Canter Wealth reserves the right to liquidate any transferred securities or decline to accept particular
securities into the client's account. Clients may be subject to additional transaction fees, mutual fund level
fees, contingent deferred sales charges, and tax ramifications if transferred securities are liquidated.
Clients may withdraw funds from their accounts at any time, in cash or securities. Withdrawals are subject
to the usual and customary securities settlement procedures. Additionally, if the client transfers their
account to another firm, they may pay an outgoing account transfer fee. (Please note that the client’s
custodian assesses this fee; it is not a fee charged by Canter Wealth.)
Terminations can be made to Canter Wealth Agreements by written notice without penalty within five (5)
business days after the Agreement execution date. After that, the contracts between Canter Wealth and the
client will continue to be terminated according to the Agreement’s provisions, which state that either party
may terminate the Agreement without penalty upon 30 days of written notice to the other party.
Terminations become effective on receipt of such notice and will not affect:
•
•
•
the validity of any action previously taken by the Adviser under the Agreement,
liabilities or obligations of the parties from transactions initiated before termination of the
Agreement, or
the client's responsibility to pay management and other fees due, pro-rated through the
termination date.
Upon termination, the annual services fee will be prorated through the termination date. At termination,
after the prior full billing quarter, the portfolio value will serve as the basis for fee computation, adjusted for
the number of days in the billing quarter before termination. Based on the termination date, any prepaid,
unearned fees will be promptly refunded to the client on a pro rata basis.
If the client is a natural person, the client's death, disability, or incompetency will not terminate or change
the terms of an Agreement. However, the client's executor, guardian, attorney-in-fact, or another authorized
representative may terminate the client's Agreement by providing written notice to us. Before termination,
all directions given, actions taken, or omitted by Canter Wealth prior to the effective termination of the
Agreement shall be binding upon the client and any successor or legal representative.
Upon the termination of the agreement, we will not be obligated to recommend or take any action concerning
the securities, cash, or other investments in a client's account. We will no longer be entitled to receive fees
from the termination date. Clients should refer to their Agreement for complete details.
ERISA, Retirement & Employee Benefit Plan Services Fees
ERISA, retirement, and employee benefit plan services fees are billed and payable in accordance with the
preceding individual client asset management services fee schedule. Account additions, withdrawals, and
terminations will follow the same procedures. Clients should refer to their Agreement for complete details.
Financial Planning & Consulting Services Fees
Financial planning and consulting services fees, including investment- and non-investment-related
matters, are predicated on the facts known at the start of the engagement. Canter Wealth charges a fixed
and/or hourly fee for these services, with a minimum annual fee of $7,500, amortized and billed quarterly.
Typically, personalized financial planning and consulting services are available on a stand-alone, separate-
fee basis, with a fixed project fee of $7,500-$20,000, based on the engagement's complexity and scope, and
agreed upon before services are provided.
To engage in financial planning and consulting services, clients are generally required to enter into a
Financial Planning Agreement between the parties, setting forth the terms and conditions of the engagement
(including termination), the scope of services to be provided, and the fee due from the client.
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Financial planning fees are due upon engagement before commencing services.
Since financial planning is a discovery process, situations arise in which the client is unaware of certain
financial exposures or predicaments. If the client's situation is substantially different from what was
disclosed at the initial meeting, a revised fee will be provided for agreement. When a fee increase is
necessary, the client must approve and agree to the scope change before any additional work is performed.
However, a client will not be required to pre-pay a fee more than six months in advance in excess of $1,200.
The adviser reserves the right to terminate any financial planning engagement where a client has willfully
concealed or refused to provide pertinent information about a client's financial situation when, in the
adviser's judgment, it is necessary and appropriate to provide proper financial advice.
Fee Billing & Payment
Generally, our practice is to bill clients quarterly, as most financial planning services clients engage in annual
services rather than one-time plan delivery. Billing is calculated using the agreement date as the inception
date and is prorated accordingly. Should an engagement last longer than six months between acceptance
and delivery of the Agreement, the adviser will promptly return any prepaid, unearned fees, less a pro rata
charge for bona fide financial planning services.
Agreement Terminations
Either party may terminate the Agreement by written notice to the other. If the client terminates these
services, the unearned fees will be promptly refunded. If termination occurs within five business days of
agreeing to such services, the client shall be entitled to a full refund.
Selection of Other Advisers' Fees
Canter Wealth’s fees for its selection of other adviser services are based on a percentage of assets managed
within the client’s referred advisory account. Assets managed by our referred advisers will be included in
the calculation of our advisory fee, as outlined in Item 5: Fees & Compensation, Individual Client Asset
Management Services. Compensation will be paid via a fee share from such third-party advisers. The
selection of other advisers' fees and relationships will be disclosed in each contract between Canter Wealth
and each independent third-party adviser to whom it introduces clients. It will not exceed the limits imposed
by any regulatory agency. Canter Wealth’s portion of the total management fee represents the maximum it
may earn under the referred advisor’s program, billed and deducted in accordance with the client's asset
management services above. Final fee structures will be designated within the client’s referred advisor’s
Agreement.
Fee Billing & Payment
Referred advisor fees will be billed and payable quarterly, either in advance or in arrears, as specified in the
Agreement that the client separately signs with their referred adviser. Canter Wealth does not participate in
the referred adviser’s fee calculation or deduction process.
It is important to note that referred advisors can charge fees in addition to the fee schedule disclosed herein
and typically reserve the right to reduce or waive their fees at their sole discretion. The advisory fees you
pay to a referred adviser are established and payable in accordance with the brochure provided by each
adviser to whom you are referred. These fees may or may not be negotiable. You should review the
recommended adviser’s brochure and consider their fees with ours to determine the total fees associated
with this program before participating in any referred manager’s program. Fees and similar charges can also
be incurred in client account transactions and investments within the portfolio's model(s). Such fees will be
paid out of the client's account assets, in addition to the fees clients pay to Canter Wealth and to any third-
party-referred adviser. We do not receive any portion of the commission fees or costs associated with
referred client accounts.
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As the services offered by Canter Wealth and the referred advisor are provided through other companies at
varying prices, clients are encouraged to review the components that determine charges and service
calculations. Factors for consideration should include, but are not limited to, account size, type(s) of
account(s), transaction charges, the range of advisory services, and each service's ancillary charges.
Additions, Withdrawals & Terminations
Additions, withdrawals, and terminations to referred advisory accounts are governed by the separate
services Agreement the client signs directly with the referred adviser. Referred-advisor Agreements will
continue until the client or the referred advisor terminates the relationship by written notice to the other.
The referred advisor is responsible for refunding unearned service fees in accordance with the terms of their
Agreement. If the total value of the client's account or aggregated accounts falls below the minimum account
size for a withdrawal or other reason, the referred adviser may terminate their Agreement.
Before participating, clients should review all applicable Disclosure Brochures, investor profiles, and
referred adviser Agreements. Clients should refer to their respective Agreements for more details and
contact their referred adviser directly with any questions regarding their advisory agreement with that
adviser.
Educational Seminars & Workshops Services Fees
Fees for educational seminars and workshop services may be charged to participants through a pre-
determined ticket price (typically $25-100) or a sponsoring company via a flat fee. In limited circumstances,
the fees may be waived.
Other Fees & Expenses
Clients should note that Canter Wealth's fees exclude bank or custodial fees, brokerage commissions,
transaction fees, and other related costs and expenses a client may incur. Some examples of these fees can
include but are not limited to custodial fees, trading charges for odd-lot differentials, fixed income, or other
transactional costs, including mark-ups, mark-downs, commissions, and dealer profits, charges imposed
directly by exchange-traded funds in the account - which will be disclosed in the applicable fund's prospectus,
wire transfer and electronic fund fees, or other costs and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities
transactions. A third party can also impose fees for services elected by their clients, such as certificate
delivery, American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), and transfer taxes mandated by law. Specific managed
portfolios can also include transactions in foreign securities and execution on foreign stock exchanges,
resulting in other transaction expenses.
ETFs and other managed products or partnerships can also be in clients' portfolios. Clients can be charged
for the services by the providers/managers of these products, and the advisory management fee paid to us.
Charges can be imposed directly by mutual funds, and mutual fund shares held in client accounts may be
subject to 12b-1 fees, short-term redemption fees, and other annual fund expenses. No-load or load-waived
mutual funds used in client portfolios would not have initial or deferred sales charges; however, if a fund that
imposes sales charges is selected, the client may pay an initial or deferred sales charge. Mutual funds pay
advisory fees to their managers, which all mutual fund shareholders ultimately bear. Clients with mutual
funds in their portfolios effectively pay the adviser, any third-party manager, custodian, and mutual fund
manager to manage their assets. Each fund's prospectus fully describes fees and costs, which clients must
carefully consider.
The fees we charge are separate from the fees and expenses charged by mutual funds. As a client could invest
in a mutual fund or investment partnership directly, without the services of Canter Wealth, they should
review both the fees charged by the funds and the applicable program fee charged by the adviser to evaluate
the advisory services being provided fully and understand the total amount of fees to be paid by them. (Please
note that Canter Wealth does not accept commission-based compensation of any nature, nor does it receive
mutual fund 12b-1 fees.)
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Clients may also incur "account termination fees" upon transferring an account from one brokerage firm
(broker-dealer/custodian) to another. These account termination fees can range from a nominal fee to
several hundred dollars, though they can be much higher at times.
Clients should contact their account custodians to determine the amount of account termination fees charged
and deducted from their accounts for any accounts that may be transferred. (Please also see Item 12:
Brokerage Practices for additional details.)
Third parties can also impose charges for special services elected by their clients, such as certificate delivery,
American Depositary Receipt (ADR), and transfer taxes mandated by law. Certain portfolios managed by
Canter Wealth can include transactions in foreign securities. These transactions can require execution on
foreign stock exchanges, resulting in additional transaction expenses. Such charges, fees, and commissions
are exclusive of and in addition to Canter Wealth's advisory fees. We do not receive any portion of these
commissions, fees, or costs.
Canter Wealth believes that the charges and fees offered in its program are competitive with those of
alternative programs from other firms offering a similar range of services; however, lower fees for
comparable services may be available from other sources. For example, a client could invest directly in
mutual funds. In that case, the client would not receive the services provided by Canter Wealth, which are
designed, among other things, to assist them in determining which investments are most appropriate for
their financial condition and objectives, the ability to undertake a disciplined approach to portfolio
rebalancing while taking into account the tax ramifications of same and the avoidance of ad hoc emotional
reactions to shorter-term market events. Further, some of the funds may not be available to the client
directly without the use of an investment adviser granted access to such investments.
Clients are encouraged to speak directly with their Advisor Representative about any questions regarding
the firm’s fees and compensation.
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-by-Side Management
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Performance-based fees are fees based on a client's account's share of capital gains or capital appreciation.
Side-by-side management refers to the practice of managing accounts that are charged performance-based
fees alongside those that are not.
Canter Wealth does not accept performance-based fees or participate in side-by-side management. Such
acceptance or management would pose a significant conflict of interest for our clients, as accepting
performance-based fees may incentivize favoring such accounts over clients' accounts under our other
advisory programs.
Item 7: Types of Clients
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Canter Wealth provides supervisory management services to individuals and institutions. Individual clients
include high-net-worth individuals, families, and/or trust accounts. Institutional clients include other
registered investment advisers, endowments, foundations, non-profits, and retirement plans.
Minimum Account Size
Individual Client Asset Management Services and ERISA, Retirement & Employee Benefit Plan
Services require a minimum account size of $750,000. However, the adviser may make an exception to its
minimum asset requirement at its sole discretion.
There are no ongoing contribution requirements for client accounts, although this practice is highly
recommended for continuing savings, asset allocation, and tax efficiency.
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Canter Wealth usually imposes a minimum fee of $7,500 as a condition for starting and maintaining a
financial planning and consulting services relationship. The adviser may waive the above minimums at its
sole discretion, subject to specific criteria.
Clients who participate in Canter Wealth’s selection of other advisers’ services will also be subject to the
independent referred adviser’s account minimums, as disclosed in the referred adviser’s Program
Agreement. The client is responsible for understanding the account minimums, requirements, and fee
agreement executed with the referred adviser.
No account minimums are required to participate in educational seminars and workshop services.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Methods of Analysis
Canter Wealth uses fundamental analysis to formulate investment advice or manage assets. Canter Wealth
provides customized investment recommendations and assists clients in creating an IPS tailored to each
client's specific circumstances, including, but not limited to, risk tolerance, investment goals, cash flow needs,
liquidity requirements, stated objectives, and potential tax considerations.
Once a client's IPS and investment strategy or asset allocation are determined, the client’s Advisor
Representative will select asset fund managers within each asset class that meet the specific criteria set by
the client's Investment Committee.
Canter Wealth's Investment Committee comprises Babak Gahvari, Managing Partner; Michael Bernier, Senior
Wealth Advisor; and Joseph Kalmanovitz, Head of Financial Planning and Chief Compliance Officer. The
Investment Committee evaluates potential asset managers by employing qualitative and quantitative
analysis. Our qualitative and quantitative research evaluates performance, fees, investment process,
portfolio management team, research capabilities, trade execution, business operations, compliance, and risk
management. It is expected and understood that not all investments in a given portfolio will perform in
unison with the other assets in that portfolio.
Investment Strategies
Canter Wealth's investment strategy involves using factor-based investment vehicles to design low-cost, tax-
efficient, globally diversified portfolios. We will typically use one or more of the following methods of analysis
or investment strategies when providing investment advice to you:
Modern Portfolio Theory - A theory of investment that attempts to maximize portfolio expected return
for a given amount of portfolio risk, or equivalently, minimize risk for a given level of expected return
by carefully diversifying the proportions of various assets. Market risk is that part of a security's risk
common to all securities of the same general class (stocks and bonds) and thus cannot be eliminated
by diversification.
Long-Term Purchases - Securities purchased with the expectation that the value of those securities
will grow over a relatively long period, generally greater than one year. A long-term purchase
strategy generally assumes that financial markets will rise over the long term, which may not be the
case. There is also the risk that the segment of the market you are invested in, or perhaps your
particular investment, will decline over time, even as the overall financial markets advance.
Purchasing investments long-term may create an opportunity cost - "locking up" assets that may be
better utilized in the short term in other investments.
Short-Term Purchases - Securities purchased with the expectation that they will be sold within a
relatively short period, generally less than one year, to take advantage of the securities' short-term
price fluctuations. Using a short-term purchase strategy generally assumes that we can predict how
financial markets will perform in the short term, which may be very difficult and incur
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disproportionately higher transaction costs than long-term trading. Many factors can affect financial
market performance in the short term (such as short-term interest rate changes, cyclical earnings
announcements, etc.). Still, they may have a smaller impact over more extended periods.
Environmental, Social & Governance Criteria - An additional level of scrutiny is added to
Environmental, Social & Governance ("ESG") products. All investments are screened using ESG
criteria sourced from multiple internal and external providers (e.g., Morningstar, Bloomberg Sustain,
among others). The purpose is to seek additional risk management and long-term value by investing
in companies that positively impact the world and avoid those that don't take responsibility for and
care for all stakeholders, including shareholders, communities, the environment, and the supply
chain. ESG screening has risks, including the possibility that it may not encompass all environmental,
social, or governance issues or improve portfolio performance.
Our investment strategies and advice may vary depending on each client's financial situation. As such, we
determine investments and allocations based on your predefined objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon,
financial information, liquidity needs, and other suitability factors. Your restrictions and guidelines may
affect the composition of your portfolio. It is essential that clients notify us immediately of any material
changes to their financial circumstances, including current or expected income levels, tax
circumstances, or employment status.
We will not perform a quantitative or qualitative analysis of individual securities. Instead, we will advise you
on how to allocate your assets among various classes of securities or third-party money managers. We
primarily rely on investment model portfolios and strategies developed internally and by third-party money
managers and their portfolio managers. We may replace/recommend replacing a third-party money
manager if there is a significant deviation in characteristics or performance from the stated strategy and/or
benchmark.
Cash Management
Canter Wealth usually invests clients' cash balances in FDIC-insured deposit accounts, money market funds,
or FDIC-insured certificates of deposit. In managing the cash in your account, we use the sole cash vehicle (a
money market) made available by the custodian. Other cash management options may be available from the
custodian with higher yields or safer underlying investments. In most cases, at least a partial cash balance
will be maintained in a money market or FDIC-insured deposit account to allow for the debit of advisory fees
or anticipated cash distributions to clients. We will manage client account cash balances based on the yield
and the financial soundness of money markets and other short-term instruments. (Please Note: Investment
products are usually not FDIC insured, insured by any federal government agency, a deposit, other obligation,
or guaranteed by the adviser.)
Tax Considerations
Our strategies and investments may have unique and significant tax implications. However, unless we
expressly agree otherwise and in writing, tax efficiency is not our primary consideration in managing your
assets. Regardless of your account size or other factors, we strongly recommend that you consult a tax
professional before investing your assets.
Custodians and broker-dealers must report the cost basis of securities acquired in client accounts. Your
custodian will default to the Tax Lot Optimizer ™ accounting method for calculating the cost basis of your
investments. Lots are selected and sold with the objective of taking losses first (short-term, then long-term)
and gains last (long-term, then short-term). You are responsible for contacting your tax advisor to determine
if this accounting method suits you. If your tax advisor believes another accounting method is more
advantageous, provide written notice to our firm immediately, and we will alert the account custodian of
your individually selected accounting method. Decisions about cost-basis accounting methods must be made
before trades settle, as the method cannot be changed after settlement.
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Risk of Investment Loss
Investing in securities involves the risk of loss that you should be prepared to bear. Canter Wealth does not
represent or guarantee that our services or analysis methods can or will predict future results, successfully
identify market tops or bottoms, or insulate clients from losses due to market corrections or declines. We
cannot guarantee or promise that your financial goals and objectives will be met. Past performance is not
indicative of future results. Investing in securities, including stocks, mutual funds, and bonds, involves the
risk of loss.
Further, varying degrees of risk exist depending on the distinct types of investments. Global, national, and
local economic and market conditions will affect the success of our investment activities.
All investments present the risk of loss of principal – the risk that the value of securities may be less than the
price paid for the securities when disposed of/sold.
Clients should be aware that there could be a loss or depreciation of the value of their account, which
they should be prepared to bear.
There can be no assurance that the client's investment objectives will be obtained, and no inference to the
contrary should be made. There can be no guarantee of the success of the strategies offered by Canter
Wealth. Clients are advised to commit assets for long-term management, that volatility can occur when
investing, and that all investing is subject to risk. Consequently, the value of the client's account can, at any
time, be worth more or less than the amount invested. Even when the value of the securities upon sale
exceeds the price paid, there is the risk that the appreciation will be less than inflation. In other words, the
purchasing power of the proceeds may be lower than that of the original investment.
Types of Risk
Depending on the type of investment, varying risks will exist. When evaluating risk, financial loss may be
viewed differently by each client and may depend on various risks, each of which may affect the probability
and magnitude of potential losses. The following list of investment risks, which is not all-inclusive, is
provided for careful consideration by a prospective client before retaining our services or contemplating
investments in general. Certain risks described below apply only in limited circumstances and may not apply
to all client portfolios.
Note: The items below are presented alphabetically for ease of reading, not in order of importance.
Adviser's Investment Activities Risk - The adviser's investment activities involve significant risk. The
performance of any investment is subject to numerous factors beyond Canter Wealth's control and
beyond its predictive ability. The securities markets may be volatile, and market conditions may
move unpredictably or deviate from expectations, adversely affecting a client's ability to realize
profits or resulting in material losses. Client and firm investment decisions will not always be
profitable.
Artificial Intelligence Risk - We may utilize artificial intelligence ("AI") in certain aspects of our
business operations to enhance operational efficiency and support client services. However, we
currently do not use AI in our investment selection process or formulate the specific investment
advice provided to clients. Our use of AI primarily focuses on automating administrative and client
service tasks, including meeting preparation, meeting notes, CRM updates, task management, and
meeting recap notes. We believe this technology helps reduce administrative time, streamline client
engagement, and improve the overall client experience. It is important to note that AI models are
highly complex, and their outputs may be incomplete, incorrect, or biased. While AI is intended to
enhance our operations, its use presents risks, including inaccuracies, decision-making errors, and
challenges in implementing the technology effectively. Additionally, using AI could pose risks to
client protection or to the protection of proprietary information. These risks include the potential
exposure of confidential information to unauthorized recipients, violations of data privacy rights, or
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to our approach
to adopting and
other data leakage events. For example, in the case of generative AI, confidential information, such
as material non-public information or personally identifiable information, entered into an AI
application could become part of a dataset accessible to other users or AI applications, potentially
compromising confidentiality. Further, the regulatory landscape surrounding AI is rapidly evolving,
which may require adjustments
implementing AI
technologies. Moreover, the use of AI could lead to litigation and regulatory risk exposure. To
mitigate these risks, our firm implements stringent data protection protocols, including encryption
and access controls, to safeguard client and proprietary information. We continually assess and
monitor the performance of AI technologies, ensuring that they are used in a manner consistent with
our fiduciary duties and regulatory requirements. Our Staff is trained to handle sensitive data
responsibly, and we engage with trusted third-party vendors who adhere to industry best practices
for data security and compliance.
Bank Obligation Risks - These risks, including bonds and certificates of deposit, may be vulnerable to
setbacks or panics in the banking industry. Banks and other financial institutions are affected by
interest rates. They may be adversely affected by downturns in the US and foreign economies, as well
as by changes in banking regulations.
Bond Risks - Corporate debt securities (or "bonds") are typically safer investments than equity
securities, but their risk can also vary widely based on the financial health of the issuer, the risk that
the issuer might default, when the bond is set to mature, and whether or not the bond can be "called"
before maturity. When a bond is called, it may be impossible to replace it with a bond of equal
character that pays the same rate of return.
Bond Fund Risks - Bond funds carry higher risk than money market funds, primarily because they
typically pursue strategies to generate higher yields. Unlike money market funds, the SEC's rules do
not restrict bond funds to high-quality or short-term investments. Because there are many different
bonds, these funds can vary dramatically in risk and reward. Some risks associated with bond funds
include credit risk, interest rate risk, and prepayment risk.
Business Risk - Refers to the risks associated with a specific industry or company.
Certificates of Deposit Risk - Certificates of deposit (“CDs”) are generally a safe investment, as they
are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to a certain amount. However,
because the returns are generally low, there is a risk that inflation outpaces the CD’s return. Certain
CDs are traded in the marketplace and not purchased directly from a banking institution. In addition
to trading risk, the FDIC does not cover the price when CDs are purchased at a premium.
Competition Risk - The securities industry and advisers' varied strategies and techniques are
incredibly competitive. Advisory firms, including many larger securities and investment banking
firms, may have more significant financial resources and research staff than this firm.
Conflicts of Interest Risks - Advisers face inherent conflicts when administering client portfolios and
when preparing financial reports. They mitigate these conflicts through comprehensive written
supervisory compliance policies and procedures, and a Code of Ethics that requires the client's
interests to be held above those of the firm and its Associates.
Corporate Bond Risk - Corporate bonds are debt securities issued by companies to raise capital.
Issuers pay investors periodic interest and repay the amount borrowed periodically during the life
of the security and/or at maturity. Alternatively, investors can purchase other debt securities, such
as zero-coupon bonds, which do not pay current interest but are priced at a discount from their face
values, and their values accrue over time to face value at maturity. The market prices of debt
securities fluctuate depending on interest rates, credit quality, and maturity. In general, market
prices of debt securities decline when interest rates rise and increase when interest rates fall. The
longer the time to a bond's maturity, the higher its interest rate risk.
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Credit Risk - Credit risk typically applies to debt investments, such as corporate, municipal, and
sovereign fixed-income or bonds. A bond-issuing entity can experience a credit event that could
impair or erase the value of an issuer's securities held by a client.
Currency/Exchange Risk - Overseas investments are subject to fluctuations in the dollar's value
relative to the currency of the investment's originating country.
Diversification Risk - A portfolio may not be sufficiently diversified across sectors, industries,
geographic areas, security types, or issuers. These portfolios might be subject to more rapid changes
in value than would be the case if the investment vehicles were required to maintain broad
diversification across companies or industry groups.
Equity Investment Risk - Generally refers to buying shares of stocks by an individual or firm in return
for receiving a future payment of dividends and capital gains if the stock's value increases. An
inherent risk is involved when purchasing a stock that may decrease in value; the investment may
incur a loss.
Financial Risk - The possibility that shareholders will lose money when they invest in a company with
debt if its cash flow proves inadequate to meet its financial obligations. When a company uses debt
financing, its creditors will be repaid before its shareholders in the event of insolvency. Financial risk
also refers to the possibility that a corporation or government will default on its bonds, resulting in
bondholders losing money.
Fixed Income Call Option Risk - Agency, corporate, and municipal bonds, and all mortgage-backed
securities, contain a provision that allows the issuer to "call" all or part of the issue before the bond's
maturity date. The issuer usually retains this right to refinance the bond in the future if market
interest rates decline below the coupon rate. There are disadvantages to the call provision: the cash
flow pattern of a callable bond is not known with certainty because the issuer will call the bonds
when interest rates have dropped. There is exposure to reinvestment rate risk: investors will have to
reinvest the proceeds received when the bond is called at lower interest rates. The capital
appreciation potential of a bond will be reduced because the price of a callable bond may not rise
much above the price at which the issuer may call the bond.
Foreign/Non-U.S. Investment Risk - Non-U.S. securities and other assets (through ADRs and
otherwise) may give rise to risks related to political, social, and economic developments abroad, as
well as to differences in the regulations of U.S. and foreign issuers and markets. Such risks may
include political or social instability, the seizure by foreign governments of company assets, acts of
war or terrorism, withholding taxes on dividends and interest, high or confiscatory tax levels,
limitations on the use or transfer of portfolio assets, and enforcing legal rights in some foreign
countries is difficult, costly, and slow. There are sometimes unique problems enforcing claims against
foreign governments, and foreign securities and other assets often trade in currencies other than the
U.S. dollar. Advisers may hold foreign currencies directly and purchase and sell them through
forward exchange contracts. Changes in currency exchange rates will affect an investment's net asset
value, the value of dividends and interest earned, and gains and losses realized on the sale of
investments. An increase in the U.S. dollar's strength relative to these other currencies may cause the
value of an investment to decline. Some foreign currencies are particularly volatile. Foreign
governments may intervene in the currency markets, causing a decline in the value or liquidity of an
investor's foreign currency holdings. If an investor enters forward foreign currency exchange
contracts for hedging purposes, it may miss the benefits of favorable exchange rate movements. On
the other hand, if an investor enters forward contracts to increase return, it may sustain losses. Non-
U.S. securities, commodities, and other markets may be less liquid, more volatile, and less closely
supervised by the government than in the United States. Foreign countries often lack uniform
accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards, and there may be less public information
about issuers' operations in such markets.
Hedging Transaction Risk - Investments in financial instruments such as forward contracts, options,
commodities, and interest rate swaps, caps and floors, other derivatives, and other investment
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techniques are commonly utilized by investment funds to hedge against fluctuations in the relative
values of their portfolio positions because of changes in currency exchange rates, interest rates, and
the equity markets or sectors thereof. Any hedging against a decline in portfolio positions' values
does not eliminate fluctuations in those positions' values or prevent losses if they decline, but
establishes other positions designed to gain from the same developments, thus moderating the
decline in those positions' values. Such hedging transactions also limit the opportunity for gain if the
value of the portfolio positions increases.
Horizon & Longevity Risk - The risk that an investment horizon is shortened because of an unforeseen
event, for example, the loss of a job, which may force you to sell investments that you were expecting
to hold for the long term. Investors may lose money if they must sell when the markets are down.
Longevity Risk is the risk of outliving your savings. This risk is particularly relevant for retired people
or those nearing retirement.
Inflation & Interest Rate Risk - Security prices and portfolio returns will likely vary in response to
inflation and interest rate changes. Inflation causes future dollars to be worth less and may reduce
the purchasing power of a client's future interest payments and principal. Inflation also generally
leads to higher interest rates, which may cause the value of many fixed-income investments to
decline.
Lack of Registration Risk - Funds, private placements, or LP interests have neither been registered
under the Securities Act, securities, or "blue sky" laws of any state, and, therefore, are subject to
transfer restrictions, and legislative changes or court rulings may impact the value of investments or
the securities' claim on the issuer's assets and finances.
Leverage Risk - Leverage requires the pledging of assets as collateral, and margin calls or changes in
margin requirements may require the pledging of additional collateral or the liquidation of account
holdings, forcing the account to close positions at substantial losses not otherwise realized. There
can be an increase in the risk of loss and volatility for accounts that use leverage by engaging in short
sales, entering swaps and other derivatives contracts, or using different leveraging strategies.
Limited Partnerships Risk - A limited partnership is a financial affiliation with at least one general
partner and several limited partners. The partnership invests in a venture, such as real estate
development or oil exploration, for financial gain. The general partner runs the business, has
management authority, and is personally liable for the business's debts. And in the event of
bankruptcy, it is responsible for all debts that remain unpaid or undischarged. The limited partners
have no management authority and are liable only for their capital commitment. Profits are divided
between general and limited partners according to an arrangement made at the partnership's
creation. The range of risks depends on the nature of the partnership and is disclosed in the offering
documents for privately placed offerings. Publicly traded limited partnerships share risk
characteristics with equities. However, like privately placed limited partnerships, they are subject to
a different tax regime than equities. Investors should consult with their tax adviser regarding their
tax treatment.
Liquidity Risk - The risk of being unable to sell your investment at a fair price at a given time due to
high volatility or lack of active liquid markets. You may receive a lower price, or selling the
investment may not be possible.
Long-Term Trading Risk - Long-term trading is designed to capture returns and market risk. By its
nature, the long-term investment strategy can expose clients to risks that typically surface at multiple
points over time as they hold the investments. These risks include, but are not limited to, inflation
(purchasing power), interest rate, and economic, market, and political/regulatory risks.
Managed Futures Funds Risk - A managed futures mutual fund invests in other funds. The underlying
funds will typically employ various actively managed futures strategies that will trade multiple
derivative instruments, including (1) options, (2) futures, (3) forwards, or (4) spot contracts, each of
which may be tied to commodities, financial indices and instruments, foreign currencies, or equity
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indices. Managed futures strategies involve substantial risks that differ from traditional mutual
funds. Each underlying fund is subject to specific risks depending on its nature. These risks could
include liquidity, sector, foreign currency, fixed-income, commodity, and other derivative risks.
Investing in underlying funds could affect the timing, amount, and character of distributions to you
and, therefore, increase the amount of taxes you pay. Each underlying fund is subject to investment
advisory and other expenses, including potential performance fees. An investor's cost of investing in
a managed futures fund will be higher than investing directly in the underlying funds. It may be
higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds. Investors will indirectly bear
fees and expenses charged by the underlying funds, as well as the fund's direct fees and costs. Each
underlying fund will operate independently and pay management and performance-based fees to
each manager. The underlying funds will pay various management fees from assets and performance
fees on each underlying fund's returns. There may be periods when fees are paid to one or more
underlying fund managers even though the fund has lost money during that period.
Margin Risk - Securities purchased on margin in a client's account serve as the firm's collateral for
the client's loan. If the account securities decline in value, so does the value of the collateral
supporting the loan, and, as a result, the firm can act by issuing a margin call or selling securities or
other assets in any of the accounts the investor may hold with the member to maintain the required
equity in the account. Understanding the risks involved in trading securities on margin is essential.
These risks include but are not limited to losing more funds than deposited in the margin account,
the firm forcing the sale of securities or other assets in the account(s) or selling securities or other
assets without contacting the investor, or the investor not being entitled to choose which securities
or other assets in their account(s) can be liquidated or sold to meet a margin call. Further, a firm can
increase its "house" maintenance margin requirements without providing advance written notice or
entitlement to an extension of time on the margin call.
Market Risk - Market risk is the possibility that an investment's current market value will decline due
to a general market decline, regardless of the issuer's operational success or financial condition. The
price of a security, option, bond, or mutual fund can drop due to tangible and intangible events.
External factors cause this risk, independent of a security's underlying circumstances. The adviser
cannot guarantee that it will accurately predict market, price, interest rate, or risk movements.
Material Non-Public Information Risk - Because of their responsibilities in connection with other
adviser activities, individual advisory Associates may occasionally acquire confidential or material
non-public information or be restricted from initiating transactions in specific securities. Canter
Wealth will not be free to act upon any such information. Due to these restrictions, the adviser may
be unable to initiate a transaction that otherwise might have started or sold an investment.
Money Market Funds Risk - A money market fund is technically a security. The fund managers attempt
to keep the share price constant at $1/share. However, the share price is not guaranteed to stay at
$1/share. You can lose some or all of your principal if the share price decreases. The U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission notes, "While investor losses in money market funds have been rare, they
are possible." In return for this risk, you should earn a greater return on your cash than you would
expect from an FDIC-insured savings account. Money market funds are not FDIC-insured. Next,
money market fund rates are variable- the rate could go up or down. If it goes up, that may result in
a positive outcome. However, if it goes down and you earn less than expected, you may need more
cash. Because money market funds are considered safer than other investments, such as stocks, their
long-term average returns tend to be lower than those of riskier investments. Over long periods,
inflation can eat away at your returns.
Municipal Securities Risks - Municipal securities, while generally thought of as safe, can have
significant risks associated with them, including, but not limited to, the creditworthiness of the
governmental entity that issues the bond, the stability of the revenue stream that is used to pay the
interest to the bondholders, when the bond is due to mature, and, whether or not the bond can be
"called" before maturity. When a bond is called, it may not be possible to replace it with one of equal
character paying the same amount of interest or yield to maturity. Municipal securities are backed
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by either the full faith and credit of the issuer or by revenue generated by a specific project, like a toll
road or parking garage for which the securities were issued. The latter type of securities could quickly
lose value or become virtually worthless if the expected project revenue does not meet expectations.
Mutual & Exchange Traded Fund Risks - Mutual and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") are
professionally managed collective investment systems that pool money from many investors and
invest in stocks, bonds, short-term money market instruments, other mutual funds, other securities,
or any combination thereof. The fund will have a manager who trades its investments in accordance
with the fund's investment objective. While mutual funds and ETFs generally provide diversification,
risks can be significantly increased if the fund is concentrated in a particular sector of the market,
primarily invests in small-cap or speculative companies, uses leverage - borrows money to a
significant degree, or concentrates in a specific type of security rather than balancing the fund with
different security types. ETFs differ from mutual funds because they can be bought and sold
throughout the day like stocks, and their prices can fluctuate. The costs of managing the funds can
reduce the returns on mutual funds and ETFs. Further, while some mutual funds are "no-load" and
charge no fee to buy into or sell out of the fund, other mutual funds charge such fees, which can also
reduce returns. Mutual funds can also be "closed-end" or "open-end." So-called "open-end" mutual
funds allow new investors to invest indefinitely, whereas "closed-end" funds have a fixed number of
shares to sell, limiting their availability to new investors. ETFs may have tracking error risks. For
example, the ETF investment adviser may not be able to ensure the ETF's performance matches its
Underlying Index or another benchmark, which may negatively affect the ETF's performance. In
addition, for leveraged and inverse ETFs that seek to track their Underlying Indices or benchmarks
daily, mathematical compounding may cause the ETF to deviate from its benchmark. In addition, an
ETF may not have investment exposure to all of the securities included in its Underlying Index, or its
weighting of such exposure may differ from that of the Underlying Index. Some ETFs may invest in
securities or financial instruments not included in the Underlying Index but expected to yield
performance similar to that of the Underlying Index.
Non-U.S.Investment Risk - Investments in non-U.S. issuers or securities principally traded outside the
United States may involve certain unique risks due to economic, political, and legal developments,
including but not limited to favorable or unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates, exchange
control regulations, expropriation of assets or nationalization, risks relating to political, social and
economic developments abroad, as well as risks resulting from the differences between the
regulations to which U.S. and foreign issuers and markets are subject and the imposition of
withholding taxes on dividend or interest payments.
Political & Legislative Risk - Companies face a complex set of laws and circumstances in each country
in which they operate. The political and legal environment can change rapidly and without warning,
with significant impact, especially for companies operating outside of the U.S. or those conducting a
substantial amount of their business outside the U.S.
Portfolio Turnover Risk - An account's investment strategy may require active portfolio trading. As a
result, turnover and brokerage commission expenses may significantly exceed those of comparable-
sized investment entities.
Private Investment Risk - Investments in private funds, including debt or equity investments in
operating and holding companies, investment funds, joint ventures, royalty streams, commodities,
physical assets, and other similar types of investments, are highly illiquid and long-term. A portfolio's
ability to transfer or dispose of private investments is expected to be highly restricted. The ability to
withdraw funds from LP interests is usually restricted following the withdrawal provisions contained
in an Offering Memorandum. In addition, substantial withdrawals by investors over a short period
could require a fund to liquidate its securities positions and other investments more rapidly than
would otherwise be desirable, possibly reducing the value of the fund's assets or disrupting its
investment strategy.
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Private Placement Risks - A private placement (non-public offering) is an illiquid security sold to
qualified investors and not publicly traded or registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Private placements generally carry a higher degree of risk due to this illiquidity. Most
securities acquired in a private placement will be restricted and must be held for an extended period,
making them difficult to sell. The range of risks depends on the nature of the partnership and is
disclosed in the offering documents.
Public Information Accuracy Risk - An adviser can select investments, in part, based on information
and data filed by issuers with various government regulators or other sources. Even if they evaluate
all such information and data or seek independent corroboration when it's considered appropriate
and reasonably available, the adviser is not in a position to confirm the completeness, genuineness,
or accuracy of such information and data. In some cases, complete and accurate information is not
available.
Real Estate Risks - Real estate is increasingly used as part of a long-term core strategy due to greater
market efficiency and growing concerns about the long-term variability of stock and bond returns.
Real estate is known for its ability to serve as a portfolio diversifier and inflation hedge. However, the
asset class still carries considerable market risk. Real estate has proven highly cyclical, mirroring the
ups and downs of the overall economy. In addition to employment and demographic changes, real
estate is also influenced by changes in interest rates and the credit markets, which affect the demand
and supply of capital and, thus, real estate values. Along with changes in market fundamentals,
investors who wish to add real estate to their core investment portfolios need to consider property
concentrations by area or property type. Because property returns are directly affected by local
market fundamentals, real estate portfolios that are too heavily concentrated in one area or property
type can lose their risk-mitigating attributes and bear additional risk when overly influenced by local
or sector market changes.
Real Estate Investment Trusts Risk - A real estate investment trust ("REIT") is a corporate entity that
invests in real estate and/or engages in real estate financing. A REIT reduces or eliminates corporate
income taxes. REITs can be publicly or privately held. Public REITs may be listed on public stock
exchanges. REITs must declare 90% of their taxable income as dividends, but they actually pay
dividends out of funds from operations. Hence, cash flow must be strong, or the REIT must either dip
into reserves, borrow to pay dividends, or distribute them in stock (which causes dilution). After
2012, the IRS stopped permitting stock dividends. Most REITs must refinance or erase large balloon
debts periodically. The credit markets are no longer frozen, but banks are demanding and getting
harsher terms to re-extend REIT debt. Some REITs may be forced to make secondary stock offerings
to repay debt, leading to additional dilution of the stockholders. Fluctuations in the real estate market
can affect the REIT's value and dividends. REITs have specific risks, including valuation risks due to
cash flows, dividends paid in stock rather than cash, and debt payments that dilute shares.
Real Estate Funds Risk - Real estate funds face several risks inherent in this market sector. Liquidity,
market, and interest-rate risks can influence the gains or losses passed on to the investor. Liquidity
and market risk significantly affect more growth-oriented funds, as the sale of appreciated properties
depends upon market demand. Conversely, interest rate risk affects the dividends that income-
oriented funds pay. Clients considering private real estate products should review complete risk
disclosures in any recommended product offering documents.
Reinvestment Risk - Reinvestment risk refers to the risk that future investment proceeds must be
reinvested at a potentially lower return rate. Reinvestment Risk primarily relates to fixed-income
securities.
Recommendation of Particular Types of Securities Risk - we may advise on other investments as
appropriate for each client’s customized needs and risk tolerance. Each security type has its own
unique set of risks, and it would be impossible to list all the specific risks of every investment type
here. Even within the same kind of investment, risks can vary widely. However, generally, the higher
the anticipated investment return, the greater the risk of associated loss.
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Reliance on Management & Key Personnel Risk - This risk arises when investors lack the right or power
to participate in a firm's management. Investors must be willing to entrust all management aspects
to the company's management and key personnel. The investment performance of individual
portfolios depends mainly on the skill of a firm's key personnel, including its sub-advisors, as
applicable. If key staff were to leave the firm, the firm might not be able to find equally desirable
replacements, and the accounts' performance could be adversely affected.
Securities Futures Contract Risks (On Tangibles & Intangibles) – A futures contract is a standardized,
transferable, exchange-traded contract that requires delivery of a commodity, bond, currency, or
stock index at a specified price on a specified future date. Unlike options, the holder of a futures
contract may or may not choose to exercise; it conveys an obligation to purchase the underlying asset
at a set future date. The holder of a futures contract must have sold it by that date or be prepared to
pay for and take delivery of the underlying asset. Material risks can include, but are not limited to,
futures contracts that have a margin requirement that must be settled daily, there is a risk that the
market for a particular futures contract may become illiquid, and the market price for a specific
commodity or underlying asset might move against the investor, requiring that the investor sell
futures contracts at a loss.
Short-Sales Risk - Short sales can, in certain circumstances, increase the impact of adverse price
movements on the portfolios. A short sale involves the risk of an unlimited increase in the market
price of the investment sold short, resulting in an inability to cover the short position and an
unlimited loss. There can be no assurance that securities necessary to cover a short position will be
available for purchase.
Small & Medium Cap Company Risk - Securities of companies with small and medium market
capitalizations are often more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Small- and
medium-cap companies may face a higher risk of business failure, thereby increasing the volatility of
the client's portfolio. While smaller companies generally have the potential for rapid growth, they
often involve higher risks because they may lack the management experience, financial resources,
product diversification, and competitive strength of larger companies. In addition, in many instances,
trading frequency and volume may be substantially lower than those of larger companies. As a result,
the securities of smaller companies may be subject to broader price fluctuations.
Stock Risks - There are numerous ways of measuring the risk of equity securities ("equities" or
"stock"). In very broad terms, the value of a stock depends on the financial health of the company
that issues it. However, stock prices can be affected by many other factors, including, but not limited
to, the class of stock (e.g., preferred or common), the health of the issuing company's market sector,
and the overall health of the economy. In general, larger, better-established companies ("large-cap")
tend to be safer than smaller start-up companies ("small-cap"). The sheer size of an issuer is not, by
itself, an indicator of investment safety.
Stock Fund Risks - Although a stock fund’s value can rise and fall quickly (and dramatically) over the
short term, historically, stocks have performed better over the long term than other types of
investments - including corporate bonds, government bonds, and treasury securities. Overall,
“market risk” poses the greatest potential danger to investors in stock funds. Stock prices can
fluctuate for various reasons, such as the overall strength of the economy and demand for products
or services.
Stock Market Risk - Stocks' market value will fluctuate with market conditions. While stocks have
historically outperformed other asset classes over the long term, they tend to fluctuate in the short
term due to factors affecting individual companies, industries, or the broader securities market. The
past performance of investments is no guarantee of future results.
Strategy Restrictions Risk - Individual institutions may be restricted from directly utilizing some
investment strategies in which the adviser may engage. Such institutions, including entities subject
to ERISA, should consult their advisors, counsel, and accountants to determine what restrictions
apply and whether certain investments are appropriate.
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Strategy Risk - An adviser's investment strategies and techniques may not work as intended.
Structured Products Risk - A structured product (also known as a “market-linked” product) is
generally a pre-packaged investment strategy based on derivatives, such as a single security, a basket
of securities, options, indices, commodities, debt issuances, and/or foreign currencies, and to a lesser
extent, swaps. Structured products are usually issued by investment banks or affiliates thereof. They
have a fixed maturity and have two components: a note and a derivative. A derivative component is
often an option. The note provides periodic interest payments to the investor at a predetermined
rate, and the derivative component provides for the payment at maturity. Some products use a
derivative component as a put option written by the investor, giving the buyer the right to sell the
security or securities at a predetermined price to the investor. Other products use the derivative
component to provide a call option written by the investor, giving the buyer the right to buy the
security or securities from the investor at a predetermined price. A feature of some structured
products is a "principal guarantee" function that protects the principal if held to maturity. However,
these products are not always insured by the FDIC; the issuer may insure them, leaving the potential
for principal loss in the event of a liquidity crisis or other solvency problems with the issuing
company. Investing in structured products involves many risks, including but not limited to
fluctuations in the price, level or yield of underlying instruments, interest rates, currency values and
credit quality; substantial loss of principal; limits on participation in any appreciation of the
underlying instrument; limited liquidity; credit risk of the issuer; conflicts of interest; and, other
events that are difficult to predict.
Supervision of Trading Operations Risk - An adviser, with assistance from its brokerage and clearing
firms, intends to supervise and monitor trading activity in the portfolio accounts to ensure
compliance with firm and client objectives. However, despite their efforts, there is a risk of
unauthorized or otherwise inappropriate trading activity in portfolio accounts. Depending on the
nature of the investment management service selected by a client and the securities used to
implement the investment strategy, clients can be exposed to risks specific to the securities in their
respective investment portfolios.
Systematic Risk - Risks related to a broad universe of investments. These risks are also known as non-
diversifiable, as diversification within the system will not reduce risk if the entire system loses value.
Trading Limitation Risk - For all securities, instruments, or assets listed on an exchange, including
options listed on a public exchange, the exchange has the right to suspend or limit trading under
certain circumstances. Such suspensions or limits could render specific strategies challenging to
complete or continue, subjecting the adviser to loss. Such a suspension could make it impossible for
an adviser to liquidate positions, thereby exposing the adviser to potential losses.
Turnover Risk - At times, the strategy may have a higher portfolio turnover rate than other strategies.
A high portfolio turnover would correspondingly increase brokerage commission expenses and may
result in additional capital gains being distributed for tax purposes. These factors may negatively
affect an account's performance.
Undervalued Securities Risk - Identifying investment opportunities in undervalued securities is
complex, and there are no assurances that such opportunities will be successfully recognized or
acquired. While undervalued securities can sometimes offer above-average capital appreciation,
these investments involve significant financial risk and can result in substantial losses. Returns
generated may not compensate for the business and financial risks assumed.
Unsystematic Risk – These risks (also known as “diversifiable risks”) are uniquely related to a specific
investment. Theoretically, diversifying investments may significantly reduce unsystematic risk.
Variable Annuity Risk- A variable annuity is a form of insurance where the seller or issuer (typically
an insurance company) makes a series of future payments to a buyer (annuitant) in exchange for the
immediate payment of a lump sum (single-payment annuity) or a series of regular payments
(regular-payment annuity). The payment stream from the issuer to the annuitant has an unknown
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duration based principally upon the annuitant's date of death. At this point, the contract will
terminate, and the remaining accumulated funds will be forfeited unless other annuitants or
beneficiaries are in the contract. Annuities can be purchased to provide income during retirement.
Unlike fixed annuities, which pay fixed amounts or amounts that increase by a fixed percentage,
variable annuities pay amounts that vary with the performance of a specified set of investments,
typically bond and equity mutual funds. Many variable annuities normally impose asset-based sales
or surrender withdrawal charges within a specified period. Variable annuities may impose a variety
of fees and expenses, in addition to sales and surrender charges, such as mortality and expense risk
charges, administrative fees, underlying fund expenses, and charges for special features, all of which
can reduce the return. Earnings in a variable annuity do not provide all the tax advantages of 401(k)s
and other before-tax retirement plans. Once the investor starts withdrawing money from their
variable annuity, earnings are taxed at the ordinary income rate rather than at the lower capital gains
rates applied to other non-tax-deferred vehicles held for more than one year. Proceeds of most
variable annuities do not receive a "step-up" on a cost basis when the owner dies, as stocks, bonds,
and mutual funds do. Some variable annuities offer "bonus credits." These are usually not free.
Insurance companies typically impose mortality and expense charges and surrender charge periods
to fund them. In an exchange of an existing annuity for a new annuity (so-called 1035 exchanges), the
new variable annuity may have a lower contract value and a smaller death benefit; may impose new
surrender charges or increase the period for which the surrender charge applies; may have higher
annual fees; and provide another commission for the broker.
Warrants - A warrant is a derivative (a security that derives its price from one or more underlying
assets) that confers the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a security – typically an equity – at
a specific price before the expiration. The price at which the underlying security can be bought or
sold is the exercise or strike price. Warrants that confer the right to buy a security are called
warrants; those that confer the right to sell are known as put warrants. Warrants are in many ways
similar to options. The main difference between warrants and options is that warrants are issued and
guaranteed by the issuing company. In contrast, options are traded on an exchange and are not issued
by the company. Also, the lifetime of a warrant is often measured in years, while the lifetime of a
typical option is measured in months. Warrants do not pay dividends or come with voting rights.
Withdrawal of Capital Risks - An Offering Memorandum's withdrawal provisions usually restrict the
ability to withdraw funds from the funds, private placement, or LP interests. Investors' substantial
withdrawals over a short period could require a fund to liquidate its securities and other investments
more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, thereby reducing the value of its assets and
disrupting its investment strategy.
Risks of Specific Securities Utilized
Canter Wealth seeks investment strategies that do not involve significant or unusual risk beyond those
inherent in general domestic and international equity and fixed-income markets. In addition to the above,
there is a risk of missing out on more favorable returns that could be achieved by investing in other securities
or commodities.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. The investment decisions made for client accounts are
subject to various risks, including many of those listed above, and may not be profitable. The outcomes
described and any strategies or investments discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Further, there
can be no assurance that advisory services will result in any particular result, tax, or legal consequence.
While Canter Wealth seeks investment strategies that do not involve significant or unusual risk beyond the
general domestic and international equity and fixed-income markets, in some instances, any of the above
investment strategies may result in losses, especially if markets move against the client. Clients should
expect their account value and returns to fluctuate widely, mirroring the overall stock and bond market.
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Clients are advised that investors could lose money over short or even long periods, and investing in
securities involves the risk of losing the entire principal amount invested, including any gains. Clients
should not invest unless they can bear these losses.
Before acting on Canter Wealth’s analysis, advice, or recommendation, clients should consult with their legal
counsel, tax, or other investment professionals, as necessary, to aid in due diligence as proper for their
situation and decide the suitability of the risk associated with any investment. Clients are encouraged to
direct questions regarding risks, fees, and costs to their Advisor Representative.
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Registered investment advisers, such as Canter Wealth, must disclose all material facts regarding any legal
or disciplinary events that would be material to a client's or prospective client's evaluation of the investment
adviser or its management.
Neither Canter Wealth nor any of its Advisor Representatives has been involved in a disciplinary proceeding,
nor have they been involved in any legal proceeding that might reasonably be considered material to a
client's evaluation of the firm's advisory business or the integrity of its management.
Visit www.investor.gov for a free and simple search tool to research Canter Wealth and its financial
professionals.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Canter Wealth is an independent registered investment adviser. The firm offers no other services except
those described herein. It does not have any relationship or arrangement material to its advisory business
or clients with respect to the following entities:
• broker-dealer, municipal securities dealer, or government securities dealer or broker,
• an 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 commodity trading advisor,
lawyer or law firm,
insurance company or agency,
• other investment adviser or financial planner,
•
• banking or thrift institution,
• accountant or accounting firm,
•
•
• pension consultant,
•
•
real estate broker or dealer
sponsor or syndicator of limited partnerships.
Canter Companies
Canter Wealth HoldCo, LLC, is the owner of Canter Wealth. Canter Wealth HoldCo, LLC is controlled by The
Canter Group, LLC, which holds a controlling ownership interest. The Canter Group, LLC is wholly owned by
Canter Holdings, LLC, which is wholly owned by Andrew E. Canter, through the Andrew Canter Trust UDT
dated December 18, 2015.
The Canter Group operates a range of businesses through controlled entities, collectively referred to as the
"Canter Companies," described below. To the extent that clients of Canter Wealth use one or more of Canter
Companies' services, the activities and fees of the Canter Companies will be important to understand. Canter
Wealth advisory clients should be aware that when using the services of affiliated entities of Canter Wealth,
such services are (1) not provided by Canter Wealth, (2) subject to separate contractual arrangements, and
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(3) not part of the advisory services offered by Canter Wealth. Moreover, the protections afforded to a client
under applicable investment advisory laws and regulations generally do not apply to the services provided
by non-advisory affiliates.
From time to time, and when appropriate for a client, Advisor Representatives of Canter Wealth will
recommend that such clients consider other affiliated Canter Companies' services. Personnel of other Canter
Companies also retain the discretion to introduce non-advisory clients to Canter Wealth. This presents a
conflict of interest, as the Canter Group, LLC, will receive additional compensation if a Canter Wealth advisory
client elects to use another Canter Company's services.
The following are affiliated businesses owned and operated by Canter Companies:
Canter Management, LLC, manages real estate holdings.
Canter Capital, LLC seeks private investment opportunities in Venture Capital, Private Equity, and
Private Real Estate.
Canter Development, LLC is a real estate developer currently active in the San Diego market.
Iconic Property Management, Inc. is a property manager of long-term rentals in the San Diego market.
Canter Real Estate Group, Inc. (a Compass Real Estate Team) is a pass-through entity partnered with
an independent, unaffiliated real estate brokerage firm.
NXT Vacation Management, LLC and La Jolla Vacation Rentals, LLC are property managers of short-term
vacation rentals in the San Diego market.
NXT Extended Stay, Inc. is a property manager of mid and long-term vacation rentals in the San Diego
market.
Certain Canter Wealth Associates are licensed real estate agents of affiliated/unaffiliated real estate
brokerage agencies. Advisor Representatives offer clients advice or services from Canter Companies or other
non-related parties from time to time. The ultimate decision to retain these particular services remains
within the client's sole discretion. Clients should be aware that these services involve a conflict of interest
due to the additional compensation from the transaction.
Canter Wealth addresses this conflict of interest by requiring Associates to always act in each client's best
interests and fully disclose such relationships when making recommendations. Associates satisfy this
requirement by advising clients of the nature of the transaction or relationship, noting their role in the
transaction, and disclosing any compensation to be received in connection with the transaction, including
commissions and trails. Clients are never required to use any affiliated entity as a condition of receiving
advisory services.
Designations
Particular Canter Wealth Associates can hold various other designations in connection with the approved
outside business activities they conduct, separate from their role with the adviser. Any recommendations or
compensation received by Associates in connection with such designation services are separate and in
addition to our advisory services/fees.
Third-Party Money Managers & Recommendations of Other Advisers
Canter Wealth reserves the right to refer prospective clients to outside third-party money managers based
on their needs and suitability. We will not receive separate compensation, directly or indirectly, from the
referred adviser for recommending you use their services, and we do not have any other business
relationships with the recommended managers. We will be compensated via a fee share from the advisers
to whom we refer clients, and the relationship will be disclosed in the contract between each third-party
adviser and us. Before selecting an unaffiliated third-party investment adviser or money manager to
participate in this service offering, we will review the manager to ensure they fit the Adviser’s models'
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criteria and confirm that they are appropriately licensed and registered as investment advisers. Shared fees
will not exceed any limit imposed by any regulatory agency.
Canter Wealth will disclose any conflicts of interest related to the advice or services provided. Referred
investors will enter a separate IMA with the third-party asset manager and receive the manager's disclosure
documents. The relationship will be disclosed in each contract between Canter Wealth and the third-party
money managers, as well as to the client via additional disclosure documents.
Neither Canter Wealth nor its Advisor Representatives will exercise discretion or make investment choices
or recommendations for accounts held with third-party money managers referred by Canter Wealth.
Third-Party Platform Providers
Pontera
Canter Wealth added Pontera (www.pontera.com), a third-party platform, to facilitate the management of
held-away assets for accounts not held directly within our custody but for which we maintain discretion
(primarily defined contribution plan participant accounts, such as 401(k) accounts, HSAs, and other assets
we do not custody). The platform allows Canter to avoid being deemed to have custody of client funds, as
we do not have direct access to client log-in credentials to effect trades. At no time does Canter Wealth
receive, store, or have access to client usernames or passwords. Once the client accounts are connected to
the platform, we will review the client’s current account allocations, regularly assess the available
investment options in these accounts, monitor them, rebalance them, and implement our strategies in the
same way we do for other accounts, though using different tools. As necessary, we may leverage an Order
Management System (“OMS”) to implement tax-efficient asset location and opportunistic rebalancing
strategies on the client’s behalf. Canter Wealth is not affiliated with the platform and receives no
compensation from Pontera for using the platform services.
Other Business Relationships
Canter Wealth uses third-party resources to help run its business and provide services to its clients, primarily
for back-office functions. The adviser sources professionals who act in a client’s best interest, with fiduciary
responsibility, while focusing on finding the highest-value-added providers to serve clients.
While the firm has developed a network of professionals - accountants, lawyers, and otherwise- neither
Canter Wealth nor its Associates receive compensation for such use or referrals.
Outside of the relationship referenced herein, neither the adviser nor its management persons have any
other material relationships or conflicts of interest with financial industry participants. We do not assure
you that another entity's products will be offered at the lowest cost. Clients are not obligated to implement
any recommended transaction(s) through any other recommended entity or utilize any of Canter Companies'
services.
Conflicts of Interest
Referral arrangements with an affiliated entity present a conflict of interest because we may have a direct or
indirect financial incentive to recommend an affiliated firm’s services. While we believe the compensation
charged by affiliated firms is competitive, it may be higher than the fees charged by other firms providing the
same or similar services. Clients are not obligated to use the services of any firm we recommend, whether
affiliated or otherwise, and may obtain comparable services and/or lower fees through other firms.
Additional details of how Canter Wealth mitigates conflicts of interest can be found in the firm's
comprehensive written supervisory Compliance Policies & Procedures Manual and Code of Ethics. Our Code
is available and free to review upon request to any client or prospective client.
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Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation, or Interest in Client Transactions & Personal Trading
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Code of Ethics
Canter Wealth has adopted a Code of Ethics ("Code" or "COE") under Rule 204A-1 that sets forth the
standards of business conduct required of its Supervised Covered Persons ("Associates") and requires an
affirmative commitment to comply with federal securities laws. The Code addresses and avoids potential
conflicts of interest and applies to all Covered Persons. The Code may also be applied to any other person
our Chief Compliance Officer designates. Canter Wealth's Code includes provisions relating to the
confidentiality of client information, a prohibition on insider trading, restrictions on the acceptance of
significant gifts, the reporting of certain outside activities, and personal securities trading procedures for
Covered Persons, among other things.
Additional details on how Canter Wealth mitigates conflicts of interest can be found in the firm's
comprehensive written compliance, supervisory policies and procedures, and Code of Ethics. A free copy of
our Code of Ethics is available for review to clients and prospective clients upon request.
Recommending Securities With Material Financial Interest
Canter Wealth does not currently recommend securities with a material financial interest.
Investing In The Same Securities Recommended To Clients
From time to time, the adviser or its related persons will invest in the same securities (or related securities
such as warrants, options, or futures) that the firm or a related person recommends to clients, which may be
at or around the same time as such recommendation is made to clients. This activity can create a conflict of
interest because it allows Canter Wealth or its related persons to profit from client investment
recommendations. The adviser's policies and procedures and Code of Ethics address this potential conflict
of interest by prohibiting such trading by the firm or its related persons when detrimental to any client, and
by monitoring compliance through the reporting and review of personal securities transactions.
Furthermore, this conflict of interest is mitigated because Canter Wealth primarily recommends mutual
funds and ETFs. In all instances, the adviser will act in its clients' best interests.
Neither our firm nor any persons associated with our firm have any material financial interest in client
transactions beyond the provision of investment advisory services as disclosed in this Brochure.
Personal Trading Policies
Canter Wealth requires that all Associates report their personal securities holdings annually and personal
securities transactions quarterly. Every quarter, the adviser conducts an Associate Trading Review,
reviewing every trade made by the firm. The review is evaluated against all Covered Persons of the firm to
ensure full compliance with trading policies and procedures, and that no conflicts have occurred. Canter
Wealth's process immediately alerts the firm's Chief Compliance Officer if a conflict is discovered.
The CCO is responsible for dealing with such situations.
Canter Wealth mitigates conflicts by placing client interests ahead of its own, its Advisor Representatives,
and its other Associates. Additional details of how the firm mitigates conflicts are in our comprehensive
written supervisory Compliance Policies & Procedures Manual and its Code of Ethics.
A free copy of our Code of Ethics is available for review to clients and prospective clients upon request.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Factors Used To Select Custodians & Broker-Dealers
Canter Wealth seeks to select and recommend custodians and broker-dealers that will hold client assets and
execute transactions on the most advantageous terms available among other providers and their services.
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While Canter Wealth has designated preferred custodians, it will periodically review alternative custodians
in the marketplace to compare them with the currently used custodians. In evaluating and selecting a
preferred custodian, it will consider a range of factors, including:
•
•
•
the variety of transaction execution and asset custody services (generally without a separate fee
for custody),
capability to execute, clear, and settle trades (buy and sell securities for client accounts),
capabilities to facilitate transfers and payments to and from accounts (wire transfers, check
requests, bill payments, etc.),
competitive trading commission costs,
reporting tools, including cost basis and 1099 reports, facilitating tax management strategies,
•
•
• personal money management tools such as:
-
electronic fund transfer capabilities,
- dividend reinvestment programs, or
-
electronic communication delivery capabilities,
•
financial stability to ensure individual accounts, including primary and backup account
insurance,
the breadth of investment products made available,
•
• availability of investment research and tools that assist us in making investment decisions,
•
•
customer service levels and quality of services,
competitiveness of the price of services such as commission rates, margin interest rates, other
fees, etc., and willingness to negotiate them,
reputation, financial strength, and stability of the provider,
•
custodian & broker-dealers' prior service to our other clients and us, and
•
• availability of other products and services that benefit us, as discussed below.
Clients should receive at least quarterly statements from their custodians, broker-dealers, or banks that hold
and maintain their investment assets. We urge clients to carefully review such statements and compare them
with the official custodial records and the account statements or reports we may provide. (Please Note:
Canter Wealth statements or reports may vary from custodial statements based on accounting procedures,
reporting dates, or securities valuation methodologies.)
Preferred Custodians & Brokers-Dealers
Canter Wealth does not maintain custody of the assets we manage on your behalf. Client assets must be held
in an account at a "qualified custodian," generally a broker-dealer or bank. Canter Wealth primarily
recommends that its clients use Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab"), our "preferred custodian,” a FINRA-
registered broker-dealer and member of SIPC. Canter Wealth is independently owned and operated and not
affiliated with Schwab.
Our preferred custodian will hold our clients' assets in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities upon
Canter Wealth's instructions. While not all investment advisers require their clients to use directed
brokerage, Canter Wealth primarily recommends using its preferred custodian. Clients will enter into an
account agreement directly with their chosen custodian; we do not open custodial accounts on their behalf.
Even so, Canter Wealth can be deemed to have limited custody of client assets, as clients grant it the authority
to withdraw its fees from their accounts. (See Item 15: Custody.)
Our preferred custodian specializes in serving independent investment advisory firms like ours. They
provide an adviser and its clients with access to institutional brokerage – trading, custody, reporting, and
related services – many of which are not typically available to retail customers. They also make available
various support services. Some of those services help us manage or administer our clients' accounts, while
others help us manage and grow our business.
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Custodial support services are generally available on an unsolicited basis and at no charge if we keep a
qualifying number of clients' assets with each firm. (Please contact us directly for the most current qualifying
amount of client assets.)
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
The following is a summary of the services we receive from Schwab:
Services That Benefit You - Custodial services include access to a broad range of institutional
investment products, execution of securities transactions, and custody of client assets. The
investment products available include some we might not otherwise have access to, or that would
require a significantly higher minimum initial investment from our clients.
Services That Will Not Always Directly Benefit You - Schwab makes available other products and
services that benefit us but may not directly benefit you or your account. These products and services
assist us in managing and administering our clients' accounts and include investment research, both
from the custodian and third parties, which we can use to service all, some, or a substantial number
of our clients' accounts. In addition to investment research, specific software and other technology
are made available that:
- provides access to client account data, such as duplicate trade confirmations and account
-
statements,
facilitates trade execution and allocates aggregated trade orders for multiple client
accounts,
- provides pricing and other market data,
-
-
facilitates the payment of our fees from our clients' accounts, and
assists with back-office functions, recordkeeping, and client reporting.
Services that Generally Benefit Only Us - Schwab offers other services to help us further manage and
grow our business. These services can include:
educational conferences and events,
technology, compliance, legal, and business consulting,
-
-
- publications and conferences on practice management and business succession, and
-
access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants, and insurance
providers.
Custodians provide some of the above services themselves. In other cases, they will arrange for third-party
vendors to provide services to us. Custodians can also discount or waive their fees for some of these services
or pay all or part of a third party's fees. They can also provide us with other benefits, such as occasional
business entertainment for our personnel.
Stifel
Effective March 2019, Canter Wealth partnered with Stifel, a registered broker-dealer and self-clearing firm
(member with the NYSE, FINRA, and SIPC). Stifel will serve as a clearing broker for select securities. Client
transactions in these securities will be executed in custodial accounts for the benefit of Canter Wealth and
delivered on the settlement date to the custodian, against payment in full by the custodian on behalf of Canter
Wealth's client.
Directed Brokerage
A client may direct Canter Wealth in writing to use a particular custodian to execute some or all of the client's
transactions. In such cases, the client will be responsible for negotiating terms and arrangements for the
account with the custodian of their choice, and we will not seek better execution services or prices, nor will
we be able to aggregate client transactions for execution through other custodians with orders for different
accounts managed by us. As a result, the client may be unable to achieve the most favorable execution of
client transactions; this directed brokerage may cost the client money.
35
The client may pay higher commissions or other transaction costs, or face greater spreads, be unable to
aggregate orders to reduce transaction costs, or receive less favorable prices on transactions for the account,
which would otherwise be the case.
Subject to its duty to seek best execution, Canter Wealth may decline a client's request to direct brokerage if,
in our discretion, such arrangements result in additional operational difficulties.
Custody & Brokerage Costs
Our custodian generally does not charge our clients' accounts separately for its services. Schwab is
compensated by charging clients commissions or other fees on the trades it executes or settles into client
custodian accounts. Some custodians will charge clients a percentage of the account balance instead of
commissions.
Custodian commission rates and asset-based fees applicable to our client accounts are/were negotiated
based on our commitment to maintaining our client assets in accounts at their firms. This commitment
benefits our clients because the overall commission rates and asset-based fees are lower than they would be
if the adviser had not committed.
In addition to commissions or asset-based fees, our custodians can charge fees or other compensation that
the client pays to the executing broker-dealer. (Please refer to each custodian's specific fee schedule.)
Soft Dollar Benefits
An investment adviser receives a custodian's soft-dollar benefits when the firm receives research or other
products and services in exchange for client securities transactions or for maintaining an account balance
with the custodian. These services primarily benefit Canter Wealth by supplementing the firm’s research
and operational resources.
The custodian we use offers various services to us, including custody of client securities; trade execution;
clearance and settlement of transactions; access to platform systems; duplicate client statements; research-
related products and tools; access to trading desks; access to block trading - which provides the ability to
aggregate securities transactions for execution and then allocate the appropriate shares to client accounts;
the ability to have advisory fees deducted directly from client accounts; access to an electronic
communications network for client order entry and account information; access to mutual funds with no
transaction fees and certain institutional money managers; and use of overnight courier services. Some of
these services may benefit us but not our clients, and receiving these economic benefits creates a conflict of
interest. It could directly or indirectly influence our recommendation of our preferred custodians to clients
for custody and brokerage services. These custody services are included in the client's fee.
Client transactions and the compensation charged by our custodians might not be the lowest the adviser
could otherwise negotiate. Only a few custodians meet our sourcing criteria to provide Canter Wealth clients
with a reliable, satisfactory custodial platform. These custodians offer similar soft dollar programs, leveling
the playing field. We mitigate conflicts of interest by not considering this factor when selecting an
appropriate custodian. Also, the firm could be incentivized to cause clients to engage in more securities
transactions that would otherwise be optimal to generate brokerage compensation to acquire products and
services.
Canter Wealth eliminates this conflict by using a quantitative investment process that executes trades only
when the investment model signals their appropriateness and does not make additional trades.
Furthermore, the client benefits from Canter Wealth, gaining greater access to advanced research and
portfolio management tools that enhance the service.
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Beneficial Interest In Custodial Services
Canter Wealth's custodian’s availability of these services benefits us because Canter Wealth does not have to
produce or purchase them. Canter Wealth does not have to pay custodial services if we keep a required
minimum of client assets in custodial accounts. The minimum necessary can give us the incentive to
recommend that our clients maintain their accounts with our preferred custodians based on our interest in
receiving custodial services that benefit our business rather than based on a client's interest in receiving the
best value in custody services and the most favorable execution of their transactions. Our custodian’s
availability of these services is a potential conflict of interest. Canter Wealth, however, believes that our
selected custodian is in our clients' best interests. Based on the above factors, the scope, quality, and price
of the services we receive support the belief that our custodian’s services benefit us and others.
Given our client assets under management, we do not believe that maintaining at least the required minimum
of those assets per custodian to avoid paying each quarterly service fee presents a material conflict of
interest.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
We do not receive client referrals from broker-dealers in exchange for cash or other compensation, such as
brokerage services or research.
Best Execution
Canter Wealth conducts initial and ongoing due diligence on soft dollars, best execution, and directed
brokerage, as a matter of policy and practice. Canter Wealth seeks to comply with clients' IPS, observe best
practices, and act on its duty to seek best execution. However, a client may pay a higher commission than
another qualified custodian might charge to effect the same transaction when it is determined, in good faith,
that the commission is reasonable based on the value of the brokerage and research services received. In
seeking best execution, the determinative factor is not the lowest cost possible but whether the transaction
represents the best qualitative execution, taking into consideration the full range of services available,
including, among others, the value of research provided, execution capability, financial strength, commission
rates, and responsiveness. While we will seek competitive rates, they may not obtain the lowest commission
rates for client transactions.
Investment Allocation & Trade Aggregation Policy
To the extent that Canter Wealth provides investment management services to its clients, the transactions
for each client account will generally be executed independently unless we decide to purchase or sell the
same securities for several clients at approximately the same time. Canter Wealth does not typically
aggregate (also known as a "block trade"), but may do so on occasion. In such circumstances, the adviser
may, but is not obligated to, combine such orders to obtain best execution, negotiate more favorable
commission rates, or allocate equitably among advisory clients differences in prices and commissions or
other transaction costs that might have been obtained had such orders been placed independently.
Under this procedure, transactions will be averaged by price and allocated to clients in proportion to the
purchase and sale orders placed for each client account on any given day. We shall not receive any additional
compensation or remuneration as a result of such aggregation. Accordingly, you may pay different prices for
securities transactions than other clients. Furthermore, we may be unable to buy and sell the exact quantities
of securities for you, and you may pay higher commissions, fees, and/or transaction costs than other clients.
The aggregation has no value when trading non-ETF mutual funds, as each trade receives the same price.
Mutual Fund Share Classes
Mutual funds are sold in different share classes and at different cost structures. Each available share class is
described in the mutual fund's prospectus. If we purchase or recommend the purchase of mutual funds for a
client, we select the share class that is deemed to be in the client’s best interest, taking into consideration the
availability of advisory, institutional, or retirement plan share classes, initial and ongoing share class costs,
transaction costs (if any), tax implications, cost basis and other factors. We also review the mutual funds held
37
in accounts under our management to determine whether a more beneficial share class is available, taking
into account costs, tax implications, and the impact of contingent or deferred sales charges.
Client Participation In Transactions
We generally make investment decisions and trade accounts in aggregation, particularly when clients have
similar objectives. We will seek consistency in our investment approach for all accounts with similar
investment goals, strategies, and restrictions.
Trading Errors
Even with our best efforts and controls, trade errors may happen. All trade errors will be brought to the
attention of our custodians immediately upon discovery, and we will work to formulate the best resolution
for the client. In the event of a trade error, errors will be corrected before the current market close, if
possible, and no later than the next market close date or as soon as practicable to make the client whole.
Ideally, trade errors are moved from the client's account to either our trade error account with the
appropriate custodian that executed the trade or to that custodian's account, depending on which party is
responsible for the error. If we are responsible for the mistake, we will pay all losses, and the custodian will
retain all gains.
In cases where the custodian is responsible for the error, we will follow the custodian's procedures on any
gains or losses in the trade error account.
Any trade errors resulting from the client's inaccurate instructions remain the client's financial
responsibility.
Client interests are placed ahead of Canter Wealth, its Advisor Representatives, other Associates, and Control
Persons. Clients are not required to effect transactions through any custodian recommended by Canter
Wealth. The adviser may, but is not required to, accept clients who instruct us to execute all transactions
through a particular custodian. While a conflict of interest exists in that the adviser may have the incentive
to select or recommend a custodian based on its interest in receiving client referrals rather than on client
interests in obtaining the most favorable execution, our preferred custodians meet the firm's sourcing
criteria for providing a stable and satisfactory custodial platform for its clients.
Additional details of how we mitigate conflicts of interest in brokerage practices can be found in our
comprehensive written supervisory compliance Policies & Procedures Manual and Code of Ethics document.
A free copy of our Code of Ethics is available upon request for any client or prospective client.
Item 13: Review of Accounts
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Periodic Reviews
Each Advisor Representative monitors their client’s investment accounts at least quarterly as part of the
reporting process. Canter Wealth's Investment Committee members will review each account periodically
and at least annually. The Investment Committee will also formally conduct asset manager due diligence
meetings and review portfolio exposures annually and as needed.
For clients who have engaged Canter Wealth for financial planning services, we will periodically review your
financial plan to determine if the investment advice is consistent with your investment needs and objectives.
We will also update the financial plan at your request. At our sole discretion, reviews and updates may be
subject to our then-current hourly rate. If you implement the financial planning advice provided by our firm,
you will receive trade confirmations and monthly or quarterly statements from relevant custodians.
38
Review Triggers
More frequent reviews are triggered by client requests, material market changes, economic or political
events, or changes in the client's financial situation, such as retirement, termination of employment, a
physical move, or an inheritance.
Regular Reports
Each client will receive monthly or quarterly account statements and trade confirmations from the custodian
showing all activity during the reporting period, including transactions and account holdings, and deducting
any fees, expenses, or other charges from the account. Canter Wealth can provide additional written reports,
upon request, quarterly to clients. This report package can include such items as:
transactions,
• performance,
• holdings,
•
• other pertinent information as deemed appropriate, and
• documents necessary for tax preparation.
Canter Wealth urges clients to promptly review any statements they receive from their custodian,
upon receipt, to ensure the accuracy of account transactions. Clients should also compare their
account(s)' investment performance against the appropriate benchmark, as applicable to the type of
investments held in the account, and any periodic report or information from us.
The reports from Canter Wealth may differ from custodial statements due to accounting procedures,
reporting dates, or valuation methodologies for particular securities.
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Economic Benefits
Canter Wealth does not receive any economic benefit, directly or indirectly, from any third party for
investment advice or other advisory services that the adviser renders to clients other than those indicated
herein. (Refer to the Brokerage Practices section above for disclosures on research and other benefits we may
receive resulting from our relationship with your account custodian.)
Third-Party Promoters
Canter Wealth currently has agreements with Promoters who are compensated for referring qualified clients
to the Adviser, potentially resulting in the provision of investment advisory services. Promoters are generally
non-advisory personnel. Canter Wealth ensures that any Promoters used are licensed when required and
otherwise qualified to provide investment advice. Unlicensed Promoters may only provide impersonal
investment advice by recommending our services, and not by commenting on the Adviser's services or
portfolio construction.
Promoters solicit and refer clients to Canter Wealth, those individuals or entities that are suitable and
appropriate for our investment advisory services. Promoters do not have the authority to accept any client(s)
on our behalf, and we are not responsible for accepting any prospective client referred by a Promoter.
Promoter services may also include impersonal advisory services, which include written materials or oral
statements that do not purport to meet the objectives or needs of the specific client, statistical information
containing no expressions of opinions as to the investment merits of particular securities, and periodic
contact, if requested or appropriate, to assist the solicited client in understanding our advisory services
and/or obtaining or updating client information on behalf of Canter Wealth. We will deliver any specific
client advice to a solicited client and provide any formal financial planning for them.
Promoters serve as consultants and independent contractors, not as Canter Wealth employees. The terms
of all Promoter arrangements are defined by a contract between the Promoter and Canter Wealth, which sets
39
forth the Agreement and the form of compensation to the Promoter: a percentage of the advisory fees
received from referred clients. Promoter payouts come from client fees. They are not in addition to a client's
fee. Clients do not pay a higher fee than those contracted directly with us. Promoter payouts range from 0 –
50% of collected client fees.
Referral arrangements inherently create potential conflicts of interest, particularly when the person
recommending an advisor receives an economic benefit, as the payment may incentivize the Promoter's
referral. Accordingly, any Promoters we may retain are required to disclose to referred clients, in writing,
(1) whether they are a client or a non-client, (2) that they will be compensated for the referral, (3) the
material conflicts of interest arising from the relationship and/or compensation arrangement, and (4) all
material terms of the arrangement, including a description of the compensation to be provided for the
referral.
Additional Compensation
Non-Advisory Business – Real Estate Agents
Certain Associates are also licensed real estate agents. They will receive additional compensation from time
to time upon the consummation of applicable real estate transactions or other property management
services. To the extent a client of Canter Wealth also receives separate real estate services through an affiliate
or third-party partner of a Canter affiliate, such client will generally pay separate compensation to the
affiliate or third-party partner of a Canter affiliate, which in turn would be passed down to the licensed real
estate agents that are also associates of Canter Wealth. Such compensation would be in addition to the
advisory fees paid to Canter Wealth. Such compensation incentivizes licensed real estate agents to
recommend separate real estate services based on their compensation.
Canter Wealth mitigates this conflict of interest by fully disclosing this practice in this brochure, making only
real estate recommendations believed to be in the client's best interests, and completely disclosing any
additional compensation earned.
Advisor Representatives also provide this information in their Form ADV 2B Brochure Supplement. Canter
Wealth has implemented supervisory controls to identify and oversee potential conflicts of interest.
Additional details on how Canter Wealth mitigates conflicts of interest in its brokerage practices can be found
in its comprehensive written supervisory Compliance Policies & Procedures Manual and its Code of Ethics.
The Code is available for free review upon request by any client or prospective client.
Item 15: Custody
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Canter Wealth does not accept or permit the firm or any of its supervised persons to obtain custody of client
assets. The firm does not act as a trustee, provide bill‑paying services, maintain password access to client
accounts, take title to client assets, or otherwise exercise control over client funds or securities.
The firm’s authority with respect to client assets is strictly limited to the standard business practice of
deducting advisory fees directly from client custodial accounts, provided the client has authorized such fee
deduction in writing in the Advisory Services Agreement.
Other than the deduction of agreed‑upon advisory management fees, Canter Wealth does not have the
authority to withdraw or transfer funds from a client’s account except at the client’s specific and written
direction. All checks or wire transfers used to fund client accounts must be made payable to, or sent directly
to, the client’s qualified custodian. Under no circumstances are client funds or securities made payable to or
delivered to Canter Wealth.
Under federal regulations, an adviser is deemed to have limited custody of client assets when it is authorized
to deduct advisory fees directly from a client’s account. Accordingly, although we do not otherwise maintain
custody, it is considered to have limited custody solely as a result of this fee‑deduction authority.
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Clients’ assets are maintained by qualified custodians that provide account statements directly to clients at
the email or postal address of record established by the client with the custodian. The client will provide
written limited authorization instructions directly to their custodian and request that the custodian provide
a "transfer of funds" notice at the client's address of record after each advisory fee payment is transferred.
The client will give these instructions on the qualified custodian's form or separately.
Clients will receive account statements from their custodian at least quarterly that reflect all account activity,
including any advisory fees deducted. Clients should review these statements promptly upon receipt and
compare them to any reports provided by Canter Wealth.
Canter Wealth urges clients to compare the statements they receive directly from their custodian with
the information outlined in any reports or periodic portfolio statements received from the adviser to
ensure the accuracy of all account transactions.
Canter Wealth reports may differ from custodial statements due to accounting procedures, reporting dates,
or valuation methodologies for particular securities. Canter Wealth encourages our clients to promptly raise
any questions with us about the custody, safety, or security of their assets.
Third-Party Transfers
Canter Wealth complies with SEC staff guidance on standing letters of authorization, intended to protect
client assets in such situations. The adviser, therefore, is not subject to an annual surprise audit. For standing
letters of authorization (“SLOAs”), we ensure:
• The client provides an instruction to the qualified custodian, in writing, that includes the client's
signature, the third-party's name, and either the third-party's address or the third-party's
account number at a custodian to which the transfer should be directed.
• The client authorizes Canter Wealth, in writing, either on the qualified custodian's form or
separately, to direct transfers to the third party either on a specified schedule or from time to
time.
• The client's custodian performs appropriate verification of the instruction, such as a signature
review or another method to verify the client's authorization, and promptly provides a transfer-
of-funds notice to the client after each transfer.
• The client has the ability to terminate or change the instruction to the client's custodian.
• Canter Wealth has no authority or ability to designate or change the identity of the third party,
the address, or any other information about the third party contained in the client's instruction.
• Canter Wealth maintains records showing that the third party is not a related party of the adviser
and is not located at the same address as the adviser.
• The client's custodian sends the client an initial written notice confirming the instruction and an
annual notice reconfirming it.
Item 16: Investment Discretion
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Canter Wealth provides individually tailored investment strategies and discretionary recommendation
services to its clients. Clients will grant Canter Wealth discretionary authority over their accounts via a
limited power of attorney in their Advisory Agreement and in the contract between the client and their
chosen custodian. Details of this relationship are disclosed fully to the client before any advisory relationship
commences.
Discretionary Authorization
Canter Wealth executes securities transactions for clients under discretionary authorization without
obtaining specific client consent before each transaction. Discretionary authority is limited to investments
within a client's managed accounts, and clients may impose restrictions on investing in particular securities
or types of securities.
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Clients may limit this authority by giving us written instructions. Clients may also change/amend such
limitations by providing us with written instructions. Our clients sign a full trading authorization agreement
through their custodians.
We are only required to obtain or maintain clients' consent for trades on positions explicitly discussed during
the introductory interview, such as inherited stock the client would like to hold for sentimental reasons.
Our discretionary authority includes the ability to do the following without contacting the client:
• determine the security to buy or sell,
• determine the amount of security to buy or sell, and
• determine the timing for buying or selling.
If clients object to any investment decision, they may discuss this with Canter Wealth, and a mutually agreed-
upon decision will be made and documented if necessary. It is always preferred that the client and Canter
Wealth engage in discussions to resolve potential differences of opinion. However, if the client repeatedly
fails to act in accordance with the mutually agreed-upon investment objectives, we reserve the right to cancel
the client's Agreement after providing written notice.
Similarly, the client reserves the right to cancel their contract with us at any time.
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
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Proxies
Canter Wealth will not, as a matter of policy, request or accept voting authority over client securities. Clients
will receive proxy material directly from the security issuer or the custodian. If Canter Wealth receives proxy
material on behalf of a client that involves any security held in the client's account, it will promptly forward
the material to the client's attention.
Proxy voting for plans governed by ERISA must conform to the plan document in effect. If the investment
manager is listed as the fiduciary responsible for voting proxies, the responsibility will be designated to
another fiduciary and reflected in the Plan document. Clients are responsible for exercising their right to
vote proxies. However, while we are happy to answer any proxy questions a client may have, we shall not
be deemed to have proxy voting authority solely because we provide advice or information about a particular
proxy vote to a client in the above situations.
The client is responsible for voting on their proxy and should direct all proxy questions to the security issuer.
Class Action Suits, Claims, Bankruptcies & Other Legal Actions & Proceedings
A class action is a procedural device used in litigation to determine the rights and remedies for many people
whose cases involve common questions of law and fact. Class action suits often arise against companies that
publicly issue securities, including those recommended by investment advisors to clients.
Canter Wealth has no obligation to advise or determine if securities held by the client are subject to a pending
or resolved class-action lawsuit or act for the client in these legal proceedings involving securities currently
or previously held by the account or securities issuers. The adviser has no duty to evaluate a client's
eligibility to participate in a securities class action settlement, to submit a claim to participate in the proceeds
of a securities class action settlement or verdict, or to forward copies of notices received to clients or their
agents. It is the client’s responsibility to respond to class action suits, claims, bankruptcies, and other legal
actions/proceedings involving securities purchased or held in their account and/or to initiate litigation to
recover damages on behalf of clients who may have been injured as a result of actions, misconduct, or
negligence by the corporate management of issuers whose securities they hold.
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Canter Wealth does not provide legal advice or engage in any activity that might be deemed to constitute the
practice of law or accountancy. The client is responsible for this obligation.
Item 18: Financial Information
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Canter Wealth does not require or solicit prepayment of fees in excess of $1,200 per client more than six
months in advance and, accordingly, is not required to provide a balance sheet with this Brochure. The
adviser has no financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to meet contractual
commitments to clients and has not been the subject of any bankruptcy proceeding during the past ten years.
In addition, no member of management, officer, or principal of the firm has been involved in or found liable
in any arbitration, civil, administrative, or self‑regulatory proceeding involving investment‑related activities,
fraud, false statements or omissions, or other dishonest or unethical conduct.
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