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Item 1 Cover Page
Clear Creek Advisors
Firm CRD Number: 288335
Form ADV Part 2A – Disclosure Brochure
Effective: February 10, 2026
7900 E Union Ave, Ste. 150, Denver, CO 80237
Phone: (720) 642-8348
Fax: (720) 834-0441
www.ccaretirement.com
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Clear
Creek Advisors. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact
us at (720) 642-8348.
The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority. Registration as a
registered investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Clear Creek Advisors, CRD #288335 also is available on the
SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Item 2 Material Changes
We have the following material changes to report since our most recent annual update filing on
March 27, 2025:
• We do not have any material changes to report.
We have no other material changes to report.
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Item 3 Table of Contents
Item 3 Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... 3
Item 4 Advisory Business .................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5 Fees and Compensation ............................................................................................................ 6
Item 6 Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ........................................................ 7
Item 7 Types of Clients and Minimum Account Size .......................................................................... 7
Item 8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ................................................. 7
Item 9 Disciplinary Information ......................................................................................................... 14
Item 10 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ............................................................. 14
Item 11 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading ........ 15
Item 12 Brokerage Practices .............................................................................................................. 16
Item 13 Review of Accounts .............................................................................................................. 17
Item 14 Client Referrals and Other Compensation ............................................................................ 17
Item 15 Custody ................................................................................................................................. 17
Item 16 Investment Discretion ........................................................................................................... 18
Item 17 Voting Client Securities ........................................................................................................ 19
Item 18 Financial Information ........................................................................................................... 19
Item 1 Form ADV Part 2B Brochure Supplement – Erik Krom ........................................................ 19
Item 2 Educational Background/Business Experience ....................................................................... 21
Item 3 Disciplinary Information ......................................................................................................... 21
Item 4 Other Business Activities ........................................................................................................ 21
Item 5 Additional Compensation ....................................................................................................... 21
Item 6 Supervision ............................................................................................................................. 21
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Item 4 Advisory Business
Description of Advisor Firm.
Clear Creek Advisors was initially registered as an investment advisor firm with the state of
Colorado securities regulators, as April 18, 2017. As of December 3, 2018, the firm transitioned
its registration to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The principal owners and
Partners of the firm are Clear Creek Advisors, LLC and indirectly owned by Erik Krom and Steve
Osterink. The firm provides discretionary investment management services to individuals, trusts,
estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit sharing plans, corporations and business
entities. For more information about these services, see the response below.
Description of Advisory Services Offered
Investment Management Services/Selection of Other Advisors
At the start of the client relationship, Clear Creek Advisors (“CCA” or “Advisor”) will discuss
with the client their individual financial circumstances, current investments, goals, objectives, and
time horizon. The Advisor will ask the client to complete a Risk Tolerance Questionnaire which
will include an Investment Policy Statement. Once completed, the information provided by the
client will assist CCA in making a recommendation of a model portfolio that best meets the needs
of the client. The model portfolio recommended by CCA, is that of an unaffiliated registered
investment advisor (also referred to as “subadvisor”). The Advisor will assist the client with the
account opening documents of the custodian to establish the client’s account to be managed by the
subadvisor. If the client is in agreement with the recommendation, CCA will work with the
subadvisor for management of the client’s portfolio. CCA will continue to have oversight of the
client account and ongoing monitoring of the activities of the subadvisor.
The subadvisor will manage the model portfolio and rebalance the portfolio to maintain asset
allocation targets described in the Investment Policy Statement. In consideration of such services,
the subadvisor will charge a management fee that will be included within the management fee
charged by CCA to the client. For more information on our fee, see Item 5.
The client, at the time of entering into an agreement with CCA, will be provided with the
recommended subadvisor’s Brochure. In addition, CCA and the client will agree in writing that
the client’s account will be managed by that selected subadvisor on a discretionary basis.
Co-Advisory Services
CCA also has an engagement with Advisory Alpha, LLC (“Co-Adviser”) to make available to
Clients the Model Portfolios and Investment Tools and to serve as the exclusive discretionary Co-
Adviser, on a fully disclosed basis, to manage specific investable assets held by Clients in their
designated accounts (“Designated Accounts”) with a designated unaffiliated third-party broker-
dealer and custodian (“Custodian”). Co-Adviser will only advise and manage those specific assets
held in the Designated Accounts without regard to, or responsibility for, any other investable assets
that may be advised or managed by CCA for the same clients. CCA is solely responsible for
identifying, recommending, and/or selecting suitable Clients to participate in the Co-Advisory
program and for determining what Model Portfolios and Investment Tools are suitable for use with
a particular Client. CCA will provide initial and on-going primary contact and communication
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with all Clients and will provide continuous and regular investment supervisory services with
respect to the client-specific suitability of the investments held in the Designated Accounts based
on the Investment Tools and/or Investment Policy Statement, as may be applicable. CCA has
discretionary authority (without first consulting with you) to change the Model Portfolio utilized
by its clients. CCA will be and remain knowledgeable about the Client’s Designated Account and
be reasonably available to the Client for consultation.
CCA and Co-Advisor are affiliated by virtue of an indirect minority ownership interest in CCA
held by the owner of Co-Advisor, as further described in Item 10 Other Financial Industry
Activities and Affiliations.
Clients Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
As stated above, CCA utilizes subadvisors to manage client portfolios. Those subadvisors use
model portfolios that are established according to specific asset allocations and targets and cannot
be altered, with client imposed restrictions. Clients need to be aware that the subadvisor’s model
portfolio will not be tailored to the client specifically. Therefore, clients will not be able to impose
restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of securities. CCA invites clients to discuss
any concerns they may have with any of the holdings in the model portfolios.
When CCA recommends a Co-Advisor to a client, clients may impose reasonable restrictions on
the management of their account including the designation of particular securities or types of
securities that should not be held in the client’s account. Any limitation or restrictions applicable
to the investments or CCA’s services or that of the Co-Advisor should be included in or
accompanied by the Investor Assessment.
Department of Labor Fiduciary Status
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual
retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, which are laws governing
retirement accounts. The way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests, so we
operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and not put our interest
ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
• Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give
prudent advice);
• Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give
loyal advice);
• Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
• Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your best
interest;
• Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
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Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2025, the Advisor has the following assets under management:
$688,481,009
Discretionary:
Non-Discretionary: $ 33,996,170
Item 5 Fees and Compensation
Method of Compensation and Fee Schedule and Client Payment of Fees
Asset Management Fees
Pursuant to an investment advisory contract signed by each client, the client, generally, will pay
CCA a monthly management fee, payable in arrears, based upon the average daily market value
of the assets held in the client account over the preceding calendar month. The range of the annual
management fee is up to 1.50%.
These fees may be negotiated at the discretion of the advisor based on, but not limited to,
anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future additional assets, dollar amount of assets to
be managed, related accounts, account composition, negotiations with client, etc. The subadvisor
recommended by CCA to the client, will add CCA’s investment management fee to the
subadvisors fee and will deduct the overall fee from the client account monthly in arrears based on
the market value of the client account at the end of the month. Combined, CCA’s management
fee and the subadvisor’s fee will be deducted from the client account on a monthly basis by the
qualified custodian. The client will give written authorization permitting the Advisor to be paid
directly from the client’s account held by the custodian. The custodian will send a monthly
statement to the client. Clients need to be aware that it is their responsibility to verify the accuracy
of the fee calculation, and that the custodian will not determine whether the fee is properly
calculated. The fee deduction and payment as outlined above is the same process for clients when
CCA recommends a Co-Advisor.
CCA does not receive a referral fee from the subadvisor for referring the client.
Additional Client Fees Charged
All fees paid to CCA and the subadvisor or the Co-Advisor for investment advisory services are
separate and distinct from the internal expenses charged by ETFs and other mutual funds to their
shareholders. These fees and expenses are described in each fund’s prospectus. These fees will
generally include a management fee and other fund expenses.
At no time will the Advisor accept or maintain custody of a client’s funds or securities except for
authorized fee deductions. Client is responsible for all custodial, securities and brokerage
execution fees charged by the custodian. CCA’s fee is separate and distinct from the custodian
and execution fees. See Item 12 Brokerage Practices, for further information about brokerage and
transaction costs.
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Prepayment of Client Fees
CCA charges its fees in arrears therefore there is no prepayment of client fees.
External Compensation for the Sale of Securities to Clients
Neither CCA nor its supervised persons receive any compensation for the sale of securities.
Retirement Rollover Conflicts of Interest
When CCA recommends a client rollover a retirement account for it to manage, this creates a
financial incentive because CCA charges a fee for its services. CCA attempts to mitigate the
conflict of interest by acting in the client’s best interest and applying an impartial conduct standard
to all rollovers. Please note that the client is not under any obligation to roll over a retirement
account to an account managed by CCA.
Item 6 Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
CCA does not charge performance-based fees and therefore does not engage in side-by-side
management.
Item 7 Types of Clients and Minimum Account Size
CCA will offer its services to individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, or
charitable organizations, corporations or business entities.
CCA does not have any minimum requirements for opening or maintaining an account.
Item 8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
CCA’s clients are establishing an account with a custodian where the recommended subadvisor or
Co-Advisor has an established relationship and offers the subadvisors/Co-Advisor model
portfolios. Clients need to be aware that the subadvisor model portfolio will not be tailored to the
client specifically. The subadvisor will manage the model portfolio selected for the client’s
account. CCA will also monitor the client account and has the discretionary authority to select the
subadvisor to manage the client’s portfolio, select the model portfolio offered by the subadvisor,
change the model portfolio should it not meet the client’s needs and has the discretionary authority
to hire and fire the subadvisor. The methods of analysis and investment strategies utilized by the
subadvisor will be described within that subadvisor’s Brochure. CCA will provide clients with the
subadvisor’s Brochure and is encouraged to review it in its entirety and ask any questions. Clients
recommended to a Co-Advisor are allowed to place some restrictions on the particular securities
or types of securities as outlined in Item 4.
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Clients need to be aware that investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients need to be
prepared to bear.
Investment Strategy and Method of Analysis Material Risks
The subadvisors and Co-Advisor that CCA refers clients to have their own methods of analysis
and investment strategies for each of the model portfolios offered by those subadvisors/Co-
Advisors. Clients are encouraged to read the subadvisors/Co-Advisors Brochure carefully to fully
understand the subadvisor’s Investment Strategy and Method of Analysis as well as Material
Risks.
Risks Involved with Our Advisory Services
Active Management Risk - This process concentrates on factors that are believed to lead to the
quality and future success of particular money managers. The risk assumed is that the manager
will fail to perform as expected.
Asset Allocation Risk - The success of asset allocation depends upon the manager’s ability to make
decisions that will achieve an account’s objectives. Asset categories may not perform as expected
due to economic and market influences, both foreign and domestic and anticipated returns may not
be realized.
Commodities-Related Risks – Commodities may provide protection against inflation and/or the
inability of fiat currencies to maintain their store of real value as well as increased diversification
through reduced correlations relative to other asset classes. However, it is also important to
understand that commodity-related investments are often highly volatile and can be significantly
affected by commodity prices, world events, import controls, worldwide competition, government
regulations, and economic conditions.
Credit Risk - The value of a portfolio may change in response to changes in the credit ratings of
the portfolio’s securities. Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s
credit rating declines.
Default Risk - High Yield bonds are considered speculative and are susceptible to default or decline
in value due to adverse economic and business developments.
Dilution Risks - Issuers of private placements may be required to raise additional capital. Future
issuance of additional securities could dilute the ownership stakes of issuer’s then-existing owners,
and there can be no assurance that the effects of such dilution will not be substantial. Additionally,
any new class units that might be issued in the future may negatively impact the issuer’s then-
existing owners.
Emerging Markets Risk - Investments in emerging markets may be subject to a greater risk of loss
than investments in more developed markets. Emerging markets may be more likely to experience
inflation risk, political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions than more developed
markets. Emerging markets often have less consistency in accounting and reporting requirements,
unreliable securities valuation and greater risk associated with custody of securities.
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Equity Market Risk – Stocks have risk in that their returns and the principal invested in them is not
guaranteed and they are subject to changing market conditions. Small stocks are more volatile than
large stocks and are subject to significant price fluctuations.
Foreign Risk – Foreign investments are subject to the same risks as domestic investments and
additional risks, including international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks,
which may affect their value. Also, foreign securities are subject to the risk that their market price
may not reflect the issuer’s condition because there is not sufficient publicly available information
about the issuer.
Income Risk - An ETF or mutual fund’s income may decline when interest rates fall. This decline
can occur because: (1) the ETF or mutual fund must invest in lower-yielding bonds as bonds in its
portfolio mature, (2) bonds in the underlying index are substituted, or (3) the ETF or mutual fund
otherwise needs to purchase additional bonds.
Inflation Risk - The value of assets or income from investments may be worth less in the future as
inflation decreases the value of money.
Interest Rate Risk - Portfolios may change in response to the movement of interest rates. The price
of a fixed income security will generally fall when interest rates rise.
Liquidity Risk - Markets can also experience a decline in liquidity which can negatively impact
ETF, mutual fund or market linked certificate of deposit prices and increase the difficulty to sell a
position. The ability to purchase or sell large positions of these securities, due to possible low trade
volume, may take time.
to news and general economic conditions of domestic,
Market Index Risk – Many of the investments we utilize are largely influenced by the value of the
indices they track or the asset class they represent. As the index value or asset class changes in
international and
response
commodity/natural resource markets in general, so will the value of the ETF or mutual fund. This
can result in a loss of your initial investment.
Municipal Bond Risks – Income from municipal bonds may be subject to the Alternative Minimum
Tax (AMT), and capital appreciation from discounted bonds may be subject to state or local taxes.
Capital gains are not exempt from federal income tax.
Political Risk - Government decisions may damage the value of your investments. Changes to
social security, benefits law, and tax law may impact your financial decisions. Any foreign
investments may be impacted by the decisions of their local governments.
Portfolio Rebalancing Risk - Depending on the rebalancing strategy implemented, long-term or
short-term trading may be involved. Trading can affect investment performance, particularly
through increased brokerage and other transaction costs and taxes. Short-term trading generally
holds greater risk, and you should be aware that there is a material risk of loss using short-term
strategies.
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Privately Held (Non-publicly Traded) Investment Risks – Privately held companies typically hold
more risk to the investor than publicly traded companies since they do not fall under the same
regulatory requirements. As they are not publicly traded, an active market may not readily exist,
which means they lack liquidity. They also typically have substantial fees relative to other types
of investments. Additionally, investments in privately held companies or products have differing
tax ramifications which can be complex in nature.
Real Estate Risks - Investments in real estate are subject to varying degrees of risk, including,
among other things, local conditions such as an oversupply of space or reduced demand for
properties, an inability to collect rent, vacancies, inflation and other increases in operating costs,
adverse changes in laws and regulations applicable to owners of real estate and changing market
demographics.
Sector Risk - When a substantial portion of assets are devoted to a particular market sector or
industry, there is potentially greater volatility compared to broadly diversified strategies. A market
sector or industry may underperform the market as a whole for a variety of reasons.
Tax Risks - Some of the products offered are subject to tax law that is complex and subject to
varying interpretations. Moreover, the effect of existing income tax laws and possible changes in
such laws will vary with the particular circumstances of each investor. You should consult with
and rely on your own tax professional with respect to the possible tax consequences, including
risks and advantages, of an investment.
Timing Risk - While it is likely that stocks will gain over the next two decades, this may not be the
case over the short term. If you need to protect your principal investment over the short term,
timing is an important risk to consider.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared to bear.
Risks of Specific Securities Utilized through Our Advisory Services
Investing in securities involves risk. Seeking to obtain higher rates of return on investments
typically entails accepting higher levels of risk. We or your investment advisor representative will
work with you to identify the balance of risks and rewards that is appropriate and comfortable for
you. However, it is still your responsibility to ask questions if you do not fully understand the risks
associated with any investment or investment strategy. Also, while we strive to render our best
judgment on your behalf, many economic and market variables beyond our control can affect the
performance of your investments and we cannot assure you that your investments will be profitable
or that no losses will occur in your investment portfolio.
Past performance is one consideration with respect to any investment or investment advisor, but
it is not a predictor of future performance.
We or your investment advisor representative will discuss with you the investment risks of the
recommended securities to determine the investment objectives that will guide your portfolio
selection. We will explain and answer any questions you have about these kinds of investments,
which present special considerations.
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Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) - ETFs are registered investment companies that derive their value
from a basket of securities such as stocks, bonds, commodities or indices, and are traded on market
exchanges. ETFs are usually traded on a secondary market at a market price that may be higher or
lower than its net asset value and may not have liquidity under severe market conditions. There
may be brokerage commissions associated with buying and selling ETF shares. ETFs are generally
passively managed vehicles which are designed to seek investment results that correspond to the
price and yield of an index. Sometimes referred to as “tracking error,” expenses and other factors
may affect the performance of an ETF so that the ETF’s performance does not exactly match the
performance of their respective underlying indexes. However, certain ETFs are actively managed
and do not just seek to passively track an index; instead, they seek to achieve a specified investment
objective using an active investment strategy. The value of an ETF will fluctuate with the value of
its underlying securities. Equity-based ETFs have a similar risk profile to that of equities, while
fixed income-based ETFs have a risk profile that is similar to bonds.
Exchange-Traded Note (ETN) - ETNs are issued as senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt
obligations of an underlying bank or other financial institution. They are linked to the performance
of an index, underlying security, or commodity. Similar to ETFs, ETNs trade on a market
exchange. However, unlike ETFs, ETNs carry credit risk related to the issuer’s ability to pay back
the note. This means that the market value of ETNs can be adversely affected by downgrades in
the creditworthiness of the underlying issuing financial institution. In the extreme case that the
issuer of the ETN goes bankrupt, you may lose your entire investment. In contrast, if an ETF were
to suffer bankruptcy or close, you would usually receive cash for the market value of the basket of
securities or, in the case of larger positions, you may request to take distribution of the underlying
securities. While the performance of ETNs is linked to the performance of an underlying index,
security, or commodity, you do not own any underlying assets.
Open-End Mutual Fund - An open-end fund is a registered investment company that does not have
restrictions on the number of shares the fund can issue. Generally, open-ended funds are actively
managed, meaning that the portfolio manager buys and sells securities with the goal of
outperforming the fund’s stated benchmark. These funds may have significant tracking error or
active risk, which is the risk of fund returns deviating from the benchmark returns. Open-end fund
shares are bought and sold on demand at their net asset value (NAV), which is based on the value
of the fund’s underlying securities and is calculated at the end of the trading day. When a large
number of shares are redeemed, the fund may sell some of its investments to pay the investor. This
may lead to liquidity risk which is caused by a lack of ready cash to properly handle shareholder
transactions.
Closed-End Mutual Fund – A closed-end fund is a registered investment company that typically
makes one public offering of a fixed number of shares. Thereafter, shares are traded on a
secondary market. As a result, the secondary market price may be higher or lower than the closed-
end fund's net asset value (NAV). If these shares trade at a price above their NAV, they are said
to be trading at a premium. Conversely, if they are trading at a price below their NAV, they are
said to be trading at a discount. These securities frequently trade at a discount from net asset
value, which can create a risk of loss for those purchasing shares in, or shortly after, an initial
public offering. Further, the portfolio managers may use leverage which can magnify losses.
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Defined Outcome or Buffer Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) - Defined Outcome or Buffer ETFs are
designed to provide you with exposure to a specified index, up to a return cap, as well as a defined
level of downside buffer. The Outcome Period is the number of months remaining until the ETF’s
buffer and cap level reset. Outcome Periods are generally 1-year, and, after the conclusion of an
Outcome Period, another will begin. Purchases made after an outcome period has begun may result
in very different outcomes relative to the ETF’s stated investment objective. The ETFs are subject
to an upside return Cap that represents the maximum percentage return you can achieve from an
investment in the ETFs for the Outcome Period. If the Outcome Period has begun and the ETF has
increased in value to a level near to the Cap, you may have little or no ability to achieve gains but
remain vulnerable to downside risks. Additionally, the Cap may rise or fall from one Outcome
Period to the next. The Cap, and the ETF’s position relative to it, should be considered before
investing. The ETFs only seek to provide those holding shares for the entire Outcome Period with
the stated buffer level against index losses during the Outcome Period. You bear all losses
exceeding the stated buffer level. Depending upon market conditions at the time of purchase, if
you purchase shares after the Outcome Period has begun, you may lose your entire investment.
These ETFs are comprised of FLEX Options which are guaranteed for settlement by the Options
Clearing Corporation (OCC). In the unlikely event that the OCC becomes insolvent or is otherwise
unable to meet its settlement obligations, the ETF could suffer significant losses. FLEX Options
may be less liquid than standard options. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the ETFs
may have difficulty closing out certain FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices. The
values of FLEX Options do not increase or decrease at the same rate as the reference asset and
may vary due to factors other than the price of reference asset.
Structured Product - Structured products are unsecured debt securities of an issuer that are linked
to the performance of an underlying asset, such as a basket of securities or market index. As
unsecured debt securities, structured products are not backed by collateral, and they are subject to
the creditworthiness of the issuer to make interest payments and repay principal. Structured
products are typically the combination of a note (or other corporate bond) and a derivative (such
as an option). Structured products are complex and may use advanced trading techniques such as
leverage, options, futures, swaps, and other derivatives which lead to additional risks. Investing in
a structured product should not be compared to investing in the underlying asset, as the features
and risks may differ significantly. The structured product may not provide a return, may lose all
principal invested, and/or may provide a return significantly less than what you could have
received by investing directly in the underlying asset or other security. Structured products may
not be appropriate for those seeking current income, as they may not pay interest or the interest
they pay may vary in amount or timing. You should carefully read the documents offered and
make sure you fully understand the specific terms and conditions for that product. Structured
products may not be listed on a national securities exchange and a guaranteed secondary market
does not exist for structured products. Issuing banks and other parties may be willing to repurchase
them prior to maturity. This value appears in an account, represents an estimate of the current
repurchase value and may be at a substantial discount from your original investment. Therefore,
you may not be able to sell the structured product prior to maturity. Structured products are long-
term investments designed to be held to maturity, at which point the issuing bank is obligated to
provide a value consistent with the terms of the investment. Structured products have an uncertain
tax treatment due to limited guidance. You should consult with a tax advisor prior to investing in
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a structured product. Market-Linked CDs (MLCDs) and Principal Protected Notes (PPNs) are two
types of structured products. PPNs are not FDIC insured, whereas MLCDs are FDIC insured. FDIC
coverage generally applies to the amount of invested principal only. If you hold more than the
FDIC-insured limitations in deposits with the issuing bank, you will not receive the benefit of
FDIC insurance for any balance in excess of FDIC limits. For more information, please visit
www.fdic.gov.
Variable Annuity - Variable annuities are tax-deferred investments structured to convert a sum of
money into a series of payments over time. Variable annuity policies have limitations and are not
viewed as short-term liquid investments. An insurance company's fulfillment of a commitment to
pay a minimum death benefit, a schedule of payments, a fixed investment account, or another form
of guarantee depends on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. The financial
ratings quoted for an insurance company do not apply to the separate account and its subaccount.
The insurance company offering a variable annuity will charge several fees, including annual
contract charges that compensate the insurance company for the cost of maintaining and
administering the contract, mortality and expense risk (M&E Risk) charges based on a percentage
of a subaccount’s assets to cover costs associated with mortality and expense risk, and
administration fees that are based on a percentage of a subaccount’s assets to cover the costs
involved in offering and administering the subaccount. You will also be charged ongoing fees
related to the management of the fund and possibly be subject to surrender charges if you make a
withdrawal prior to a specified time. If the variable annuity subaccount is invested in a money-
market fund, the money market fund is not FDIC-insured, may lose money, and is not guaranteed
by a bank or other financial institution.
529 Program - A 529 program is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to help pay for education.
529 programs are intended to be used only to save for Qualified Education Expenses. These
programs are not intended to be used, nor should they be used, for the purpose of evading federal
or state taxes or tax penalties. You should seek tax advice from an independent tax advisor based
on your particular circumstances. Most 529 plans are invested in exchange-traded funds or open-
end mutual funds; however, other investment types are possible such as stable value funds,
certificates of deposit, and separate accounts. Before investing, you should consider whether you
or your designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as
financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for
investments in such state's 529 qualified tuition program.
1031 Exchange - 1031 Exchanges are governed by the IRS tax code associated with the deferral
of capital gains on the sale of an investment property when subsequently purchasing a “like kind”
property that is the same in nature and character. Substantial fees and expenses could be incurred
and there are strict timing limitations imposed on these transactions. For example, if the transaction
is not properly constructed and executed in a timely manner, all tax benefits associated with the
transaction may be lost while potentially incurring additional tax liability. As 1031 exchanges are
based on real estate investments for which there may be no readily available market, there is
liquidity risk. Additionally, the following real estate investment risks are possible: no guarantee
of cash distributions; operational risks associated with property management and ownership; risk
of the property being overleveraged; tax risks; interest rate risks; economic risks; risks of terrorism;
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environmental risks; liability risks; zoning, city ordinance, and or legal compliance risks; title and
escrow risks; credit risks; and risks of obsolescence.
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) - A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a company or
investment trust that retains diverse portfolios of real estate assets. Typically, these portfolios are
sector-specific and include real estate investments related to residential, commercial, healthcare,
office, and industrial property options. The risks involved with investing in REITs include the
potential for excessive fees, lack of liquidity, lack of share value transparency, distributions that
may come from the principal investment, and conflicts of interest related to REITs not having
employees and paying external managers high transaction fees/bonuses. It is important for you to
review all offering materials and discuss these products in order to have a strong understanding of
exactly what you are agreeing to in order to avoid these risks.
Private Placement - A Private Placement is an offering of unregistered securities to a limited pool
of investors. Private placements are regulated by a series of U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission rules under Regulation D and can issue varying amounts of securities based on the
type of investor they are selling them to (either accredited or non-accredited investors) without
registering those securities with the SEC. When non-accredited investors are involved, issuers of
private placements must disclose key information, such as financial statements, in addition to the
offering documents provided. You should review these documents carefully to understand the
risks, which could include but are not limited to a lack of liquidity, high transaction costs, and
potential tax ramifications. Private placements are generally considered riskier investments and
could expose you to the potential of full loss of principal.
Item 9 Disciplinary Information
Clients should be aware that neither CCA nor its management persons have had any legal or
disciplinary events, currently or in the past.
Item 10 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Material Relationships Maintained by this Advisory Business and Conflicts of Interest
Erik Krom and Steve Osterink are also partners of an affiliated entity, Clear Creek Insurance, LLC.
Erik Krom, Partner, is licensed and registered as an insurance agent to sell life and health insurance
for various insurance companies through the affiliated entity, Clear Creek Insurance, LLC.
Therefore, he will be able to purchase insurance products for any client in need of such services
and will receive separate, yet typical compensation in the form of commissions for the purchase
of insurance products. This creates a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists because Mr.
Krom can recommend products for which he can receive additional compensation, i.e. insurance.
Clients always have the right to decide whether to purchase insurance recommended by Mr. Krom
and if they do purchase insurance, clients have the right to decide from whom to purchase
insurance. In recommending an insurance product, Mr. Krom will always act in the client’s best
interest under his fiduciary duty. Clients are not obligated to use Clear Creek Insurance, LLC or
its representatives for insurance product services. However, in such instances, there is no advisory
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fee associated with these insurance products. Mr. Krom will spend approximately 15% of his time
on insurance related activities.
Various investment advisor representatives of our firm are also licensed insurance agents. From
time to time, they will offer clients advice or products from those activities. You should be aware
that these services pay a commission and involve a conflict of interest, as commissionable products
can conflict with the fiduciary duties of an investment advisor.
Recommendation or Selection of Other Investment Advisers and Conflicts of Interest
CCA screens and recommends subadvisors or co-advisors for its clients. Before recommending
a subadvisor or co-advisor CCA conducts due diligence to ensure that the subadvisor or co-advisor
is appropriately registered and/or notice-filed, or exempt from registration within your state of
residence. As referenced in Item 4 of this Brochure, each sub-advisory or co-advisory firm
receives a share of the advisory fees you pay. CCA has an incentive to recommend one subadvisor
or co-advisor over another based upon, among other things, the relative split of those advisory fees
as between the two firms.
CCA recommends that its client engage Advisory Alpha, LLC to act as CCA's Co-Advisor with
respect to managed accounts in order to access Advisory Alpha's investment models for their
managed accounts. CCA has an incentive to recommend Advisory Alpha because Advisory
Alpha’s owner holds an indirect, minority ownership interest in CCA. This minority ownership
relationship creates a conflict of interest because, indirectly, the owner of Advisory Alpha will
benefit from the advisory services performed and related fees received by Advisory Alpha, LLC
as a result of CCA's recommendation. CCA's clients could obtain comparable advisory services,
directly or indirectly, through unaffiliated investment advisory firms that are more or less
expensive than obtained through CCA’s co-advisory relationship with Advisory Alpha.
CCA has a fiduciary duty to act in our client’s best interest at all times and will do so when
recommending a subadvisor or co-advisor to our clients.
Clients are encouraged to review Advisory Alpha’s Brochure for a description of that firm, its
ownership, the co-advisory services related advisory fees. Clients are not required to use Advisory
Alpha for co-advisory investment management services and have the right to obtain similar
services through other third-party registered investment advisors for more or less than the advisory
fees charged by CCA and Advisory Alpha.
Item 11 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading
Code of Ethics Description
CCA is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and has adopted as an industry
best practice a Code of Ethics. The Advisor has adopted a Code of Ethics that sets forth the basic
policies of ethical conduct for all managers, officers, and employees of the adviser. In addition,
the Code of Ethics governs personal trading by each employee of CCA deemed to be an Access
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Person and is intended to ensure that securities transactions effected by Access Persons of the
Advisor are conducted in a manner that avoids any conflict of interest between such persons and
clients of the adviser or its affiliates. The Advisor collects and maintains records of securities
holdings and securities transactions effected by Access Persons. These records are reviewed to
identify and resolve conflicts of interest. CCA maintains a code of ethics and will provide a copy
to any client or prospective client upon request.
Advisory Firm Purchase of Same Securities Recommended to Clients and Conflicts of
Interest
CCA and/or its investment advisory representatives may from time-to-time purchase or sell
products that they may recommend to clients. This practice could present a conflict where, because
of the information the Adviser has, CCA or its related person are in a position to trade in a manner
that could adversely affect clients (e.g. place their own trades before or after client trades are
executed in order to benefit from any price movements due to the clients’ trades). In addition to
affecting the Adviser’s or its related person’s objectivity, these practices by the Adviser or its
related person may also harm clients by adversely affecting the price at which the clients’ trades
are executed. To mitigate this conflict, CCA and/or its investment advisory representatives have
a fiduciary duty to put the interests of their clients ahead of their own. The Adviser has adopted
the following procedures in an effort to mitigate such conflicts: The Adviser requires its related
persons/access persons to preclear all transactions in their personal accounts with the Chief
Compliance Officer, Amy Bratsch, who may deny permission to execute the transaction if such
transaction will have any adverse economic impact on one of its clients. All of the Adviser’s
related persons are required to disclose their securities transactions on a quarterly basis and
holdings on an annual basis. All of the Adviser’s related persons are also required to provide
broker confirmations of each transaction in which they engage and a monthly certification of such
transactions. Trading in employee accounts will be reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer and
compared with transactions in the client’s accounts. Also, the investment advisory representatives
are required to adhere to CCA’s Code of Ethics as outlined above in Item 11.
Item 12 Brokerage Practices
Factors Used to Select Broker-Dealers for Client Transactions
CCA does not recommend broker-dealers or custodians to clients. The subadvisor/Co-Advisor
that CCA refers clients to will have established custodial relationships in place for their model
portfolios.
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits.
CCA does not receive research or other products or services other than execution from a custodian
or third party as a result of client securities transactions.
Brokerage for Client Referrals.
CCA does not receive client referrals from any custodian or third party.
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Directed Brokerage.
The subadvisor/Co-Advisor that CCA refers clients to will have established custodial relationships
in place for their model portfolios. As such, the subadvisor/Co-Advisor will require that all clients
invested in their model portfolios utilize the custodian(s) where the subadvisor/Co-Advisor has the
established relationship. Clients will be allowed to direct brokerage to any of the custodial
relationships that the subadvisor/Co-Advisor has in place. Clients will not be allowed to direct
brokerage outside of those established custodial relationships.
Aggregating Securities Transactions for Client Accounts
CCA does not aggregate trades because client accounts are managed by the subadvisor/Co-
Advisor.
Item 13 Review of Accounts
The firm reviews client accounts on an annual basis, or when conditions would warrant a review
based on market conditions or changes in client circumstances. Triggering factors may include
CCA becoming aware of a change in client’s investment objective, a change in market conditions,
change of employment, or a change in recommended asset allocation weightings in the account
that exceeds a predefined guideline.
Each investment adviser representative reviews their assigned client accounts. The client must
notify the Advisor and Investment Advisor Representative if changes occur in his/her personal
financial situation that might materially affect his/her investment plan.
CCA does not provide written reports to clients.
The client will receive written statements no less than quarterly from the custodian. In addition,
the client will receive other supporting reports from mutual funds, asset managers, trust companies
or other custodians, insurance companies, broker-dealers and others who are involved with client
accounts.
Item 14 Client Referrals and Other Compensation
CCA does not currently have any client referral arrangements. CCA does not pay for client
referrals nor is CCA compensated for client referrals.
Item 15 Custody
CCA is deemed to have custody of client assets if the client authorizes us to instruct the qualified
custodian to deduct our advisory fees directly from the client account. The qualified custodian
utilized by CCA maintains actual custody of client assets. The client will receive written statements
no less than quarterly from the custodian. The custodian will send a quarterly statement to the
client including the amount of the advisory fees withdrawn from the client account. CCA
encourages clients to carefully review their account statements for any inaccuracies. Any
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discrepancies should be immediately brought to the firm’s attention. See the response to Item 5
above for fee information.
At times, CCA assists clients with the ability to move money from one account to another. In these
situations, clients will sign standing letter of instruction (“SLOAs”) with their custodian that grants
CCA the ability to facilitate the transfer. When the clients’ money is transferred between accounts
with different titles, this is considered a limited form of custody. In 2017, the SEC issued a no‐
action letter (“Letter”) with respect to the Rule 206(4)‐2 (“Custody Rule”) under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”). CCA and the custodian, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.,
follow the safeguards outlined in the letter. These safeguards include:
• 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 the investment adviser, in writing, either on the qualified custodian’s
form or separately, to direct transfers to the third party either on a specified schedule or
from time to time.
• The client’s qualified custodian performs appropriate verification of the instruction, such
as a signature review or other method to verify the client’s authorization and provides a
transfer of funds notice to the client promptly after each transfer.
• The client has the ability to terminate or change the instruction to the client’s qualified
custodian.
• The investment adviser has no authority or ability to designate or change the identity of the
third party, the address, or any other information about the third party contained in the
client’s instruction.
• The investment adviser maintains records showing that the third party is not a related party
of the investment adviser or located at the same address as the investment adviser.
• The client’s qualified custodian sends the client, in writing, an initial notice confirming the
instruction and an annual notice reconfirming the instruction.
Item 16 Investment Discretion
CCA is given the authority to exercise discretion on behalf of clients to:
• Select a subadvisor or Co-Advisor to manage the client’s portfolio;
• Select the model portfolio offered by the subadvisor or Co-Advisor;
• Change the model portfolio should it not meet the client’s needs;
• And, CCA has the discretionary authority to hire and fire the subadvisor.
The subadvisor or Co-Advisor will have discretionary authority to purchase, sell, exchange,
redeem, convert, or other disposition of investments, income, or proceeds deposited and held in
the client’s account. The subadvisor or Co-Advisor may periodically rebalance the asset allocation
in the client’s account on at least a quarterly basis based on the allocation targets described within
the client’s Investment Policy Statement.
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Item 17 Voting Client Securities
CCA will not vote, nor advise clients how to vote, proxies for securities held in client accounts.
The client clearly keeps the authority and responsibility for the voting of these proxies. Also, CCA
cannot give any advice or take any action with respect to the voting of these proxies. The client
and CCA agree to this by contract. Clients will receive proxy solicitations from their custodian
and/or transfer agent. In the event the client has a question about a proxy solicitation, the client
should feel free to contact us.
Item 18 Financial Information
Balance Sheet
CCA does not require or solicit prepayment of more than $1200 in fees per client, six months or
more in advance. Therefore, CCA is not required to provide a balance sheet.
Financial Condition
CCA is required in this Item to provide you with certain financial information or disclosures about
our financial condition if we have a financial commitment that impairs our ability to service you.
We do not have a financial commitment that impairs our ability to service our clients.
Bankruptcy
We have not been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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Item 1 Form ADV Part 2B Brochure Supplement – Erik Krom
Erik Krom, Partner
Personal CRD Number: 5998349
Clear Creek Advisors
Firm CRD Number: 288335
7900 E Union Ave, Ste. 150
Denver, CO 80237
Phone: (720) 642-8348
Fax: (720) 834-0441
February 10, 2026
This brochure supplement provides information about Erik Krom that supplements the
Clear Creek Advisors brochure. You should have received a copy of that brochure. Please
contact Amy Bratsch, Chief Compliance Officer if you have not received Clear Creek
Advisors’ brochure or if you have any questions about the contents of this supplement.
Additional information about Erik Krom, CRD #5998349 is available on the SEC’s website
at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Item 2 Educational Background/Business Experience
Erik Krom, born 1979, graduated from Linfield College with a B.S. in Business Administration,
2001. Mr. Krom is a Partner with Clear Creek Advisors as of May 2017 and a Partner with Clear
Creek Insurance, LLC as of March 2017. He was an Investment Advisor Representative with
TFO-TDC, LLC from January 2015 to July 2017. Mr. Krom was an Investment Advisor
Representative with Retirement Wealth Advisors, Inc. from April 2014 to March 2015; and he was
employed with Paradigm Group as a Wealth Advisor from June 2008 to January 2017.
Item 3 Disciplinary Information
There are no legal or disciplinary events or proceedings to report concerning Mr. Krom.
Item 4 Other Business Activities
Erik Krom is a Partner of an affiliated entity, Clear Creek Insurance, LLC. Erik Krom, Partner, is
licensed and registered as an insurance agent to sell life and health insurance for various insurance
companies through the affiliated entity, Clear Creek Insurance, LLC. Therefore, he will be able
to purchase insurance products for any client in need of such services and will receive separate,
yet typical compensation in the form of commissions for the purchase of insurance products. This
creates a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists because Mr. Krom can recommend
products for which he can receive additional compensation, i.e. insurance. Clients always have the
right to decide whether to purchase insurance recommended by Mr. Krom and if they do purchase
insurance, clients have the right to decide from whom to purchase insurance. In recommending an
insurance product, Mr. Krom will always act in the client’s best interest under his fiduciary duty.
Clients are not obligated to use Clear Creek Insurance, LLC or its representatives for insurance
product services. However, in such instances, there is no advisory fee associated with these
insurance products. Mr. Krom will spend approximately 15% of his time on insurance related
activities.
Item 5 Additional Compensation
Mr. Krom does not receive compensation or any other economic benefit from anyone for providing
advisory services to clients of CCA, other than what has been described in the CCA’s Brochure.
Item 6 Supervision
Amy Bratsch, Chief Compliance Officer, monitors the investment advisory activities, personal
investing activities, and adherence to the Advisor’s compliance program and code of ethics of
CCA’s supervised persons on a continuous basis using various methods, including periodic
inspection and review of client securities positions and transaction activity, obtaining certifications
of compliance with company policies and procedures from those supervised, and obtaining and
reviewing brokerage statements or transactions and holdings reports of the supervised persons. To
provide adequate oversight of CCA personnel, Erik Krom, Partner, will provide the same oversight
activities over the Chief Compliance officer. Amy Bratsch can be reached at (720) 642-8348.
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