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DISCLOSURE BROCHURE
Form ADV Part 2A
September 25, 2025
501 Corporate Circle
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
717.652.5633
999 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 200
Naples, Florida 34108
239.325.1866
201 Granite Run Drive, Suite 130
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601
717.727.7500
www.ConradSiegel.com
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Conrad
Siegel Investment Advisors, Inc. (hereinafter “CSIA” or the “Firm”), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Conrad M. Siegel, Inc. (the “Parent Company”). If you have any questions about the contents of
this brochure, please contact the Firm at the number listed above. The information in this brochure
has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) or by any state securities authority. Additional information about CSIA is available on the
SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. CSIA is an independent, federally registered investment
adviser. Registration does not imply any level of skill or training.
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Item 2. Material Changes
In this Item, CSIA is required to discuss any material changes which have been made to the
brochure since the last annual amendment filed September 25, 2024. This brochure contains no
material changes thereto.
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Item 3. Table of Contents
Item 2. Material Changes ................................................................................................................................. 2
Item 3. Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................ 3
Item 4. Advisory Business ................................................................................................................................ 4
Item 5. Fees and Compensation ................................................................................................................... 7
Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ............................................... 10
Item 7. Types of Clients .................................................................................................................................. 11
Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ........................................ 12
Item 9. Disciplinary Information ................................................................................................................. 15
Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ........................................................... 16
Item 11. Code of Ethics .................................................................................................................................. 17
Item 12. Brokerage Practices ........................................................................................................................ 18
Item 13. Review of Accounts ........................................................................................................................ 21
Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation ............................................................................ 22
Item 15. Custody .............................................................................................................................................. 23
Item 16. Investment Discretion ................................................................................................................... 24
Item 17. Voting Client Securities ................................................................................................................ 25
Item 18. Financial Information ..................................................................................................................... 26
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Item 4. Advisory Business
Description of the Firm
This brochure describes the business of CSIA. Certain sections will also describe the activities of
Supervised Persons. Supervised Persons are any of CSIA’s officers, partners, directors (or other
persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), or employees, or any other
person who provides investment advice on CSIA’s behalf and is subject to CSIA’s supervision or
control. CSIA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Conrad M. Siegel, Inc. was founded in July 2002 and
currently provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management services. The Firm
is principally owned by the Parent Company.
Prior to engaging CSIA to provide any of the foregoing investment advisory services, the client is
required to enter into one or more written agreements with CSIA setting forth the terms and
conditions under which CSIA renders its services (collectively the “Agreement”).
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
CSIA provides its clients with a broad range of comprehensive financial planning and consulting
services. These services are customized for the individual client, but generally include retirement
planning, investment planning, risk management, education planning (i.e., college savings), and
estate planning. Financial planning services may be offered to retirement plan participants where
the retirement plan sponsor client agrees to include financial planning as a retirement plan service.
In performing its services, CSIA is not required to verify any information received from the client or
from the client’s other professionals (e.g., attorney, accountant, etc.) and is expressly authorized
to rely on such information. CSIA may recommend the services of itself, and/or other professionals
to implement its recommendations. Clients are advised that a conflict of interest exists if CSIA
recommends its own services. The client is under no obligation to act upon any of the
recommendations made by CSIA under a financial planning or consulting engagement or to
engage the services of any such recommended professional, including CSIA itself. The client
retains absolute discretion over all such implementation decisions and is free to accept or reject
any of CSIA’s recommendations. Clients are advised that it remains their responsibility to promptly
notify CSIA if there is ever any change in their financial situation or investment objectives for the
purpose of reviewing, evaluating, or revising CSIA’s previous recommendations and/or services.
Educational Services
CSIA provides personalized and/or non-personalized investment-related educational training to
certain clients. These services generally address issues involving employee participation in
employer- sponsored retirement plans.
CSIA holds employee educational meetings for many of its 401(k) clients and can provide
participants with personalized education. The Firm does not contract with participants or charge
a fee to participants for educational services but can include these educational services as part of
the overall services it provides to its 401(k) clients.
Fiduciary Oversight Services
As a 3(21) fiduciary or 3(38) fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(“ERISA”), CSIA provides guidance for clients by managing some or all of their fiduciary
responsibilities. CSIA offers an array of oversight services to ensure compliance with the ERISA
Fiduciary Rule. CSIA drafts Investment Policy Statements (“IPS”) and monitors them on a quarterly
basis while providing notification and a recommended course of action if a client’s fund falls below
the criteria set forth in the IPS. CSIA also meets with retirement plan sponsors to discuss the total
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cost associated of administering the plan. Similarly, CSIA also analyzes sponsors’ mutual fund
usage, performances vs. benchmarks comparison and qualified default investment alternatives.
Investment Management Services
Clients can engage CSIA to manage all or a portion of their assets on a discretionary or non-
discretionary basis. As further discussed in Item 8 (below), CSIA primarily allocates clients’
investment management assets among mutual funds, ETFs (as defined below) and collective
investment trusts, in accordance with the investment objectives of the client. CSIA also provides
advice about any type of investment held in clients' portfolios with the exception, in certain
circumstances, of company stock.
CSIA also renders non-discretionary investment management services to clients relative to
variable life/annuity products that they may own, their individual employer-sponsored retirement
plans, and/or 529 plans or other products that may not be held by the client’s primary custodian.
In so doing, CSIA either directs or recommends the allocation of client assets among the various
investment options that are available with the product. Client assets are maintained at the specific
insurance company or custodian designated by the product.
Additionally, CSIA serves as an ERISA 3(38) investment manager for a Pooled Employer Plan (“PEP”)
whereas Conrad M. Siegel, Inc. serves as the Pooled Plan Provider. Conrad Siegel’s PEP program
allows unrelated employers to join the same qualified retirement plan, providing benefits such as
reduced plan expenses and reduced fiduciary liabilities.
Client Tailored Engagements
CSIA tailors its advisory services to the individual needs of clients. CSIA consults with clients initially
and on an ongoing basis to determine risk tolerance, time horizon and other factors that may
impact the clients’ investment needs. CSIA ensures that clients’ investments are suitable for their
investment needs, goals, objectives and risk tolerance.
Clients are advised to promptly notify CSIA if there are changes in their financial situation or
investment objectives or if they wish to impose any reasonable restrictions upon CSIA’s
management services. Clients may impose reasonable restrictions or mandates on the
management of their account (e.g., require that a portion of their assets be invested in socially
responsible funds) if, in CSIA’s sole discretion, the conditions will not materially impact the
performance of a portfolio strategy or prove overly burdensome to its management efforts.
Siegel Select Portfolios
Where deemed appropriate, certain investment management and financial planning services are
provided by the Firm through the Siegel Select Portfolios (“SSP” or “Siegel Select Portfolios”)
Program. Through SSP, CSIA offer clients a range of investment strategies the Firm has constructed
and manages. Each strategy consists of a portfolio of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and a cash
allocation in accordance with the investment objectives of the client.
SSP portfolios are held in a brokerage account opened by the clients at MTG LLC, dba Betterment
Securities (“Betterment Securities”).
CSIA uses Betterment for Advisors, a software provider to independent investment advisors and an
affiliate of Betterment LLC ("Betterment"), to make SSP available to clients online and includes a
system that automates certain key parts of the Firm’s investment process (the “System”). The
System includes an online goal setting process that helps CSIA determine the client’s investment
objectives and risk tolerance and select an appropriate investment strategy and portfolio. Clients
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should note that the Firm will recommend a portfolio via the System in response to the client’s
answers to the online goal setting process. CSIA will make the final decision and select a portfolio
based on all the information the Firm has about the client. The System also includes an automated
investment engine through which CSIA manages the client’s portfolio on an ongoing basis through
automatic rebalancing, unless it's in the client's best interest to not rebalance, and tax-loss
harvesting (if the client is eligible and elects).
The Firm charges clients a fee for its services as described below in Item 5. Clients whose portfolios
are managed through SSP pay Betterment an asset-based wrap fee as described below in Item 5.
CSIA currently does not pay Betterment fees for its services in SSP.
Wrap Fee Programs
Except to the extent described above, CSIA does not sponsor or participate in any wrap fee
programs.
DOL PTE 2020-02 Compliance
CSIA is also a fiduciary within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, which are the laws governing retirement
accounts when CSIA provides investment advice to individual clients regarding individual
retirement accounts. The way CSIA makes money creates some conflicts of interests, so CSIA
ensures to operate under a special rule which requires the Firm to act in the individual clients’ best
interest and not put CSIA’s interest ahead of the individual clients.
Pursuant to this special rule’s provisions, CSIA must:
- Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give
prudent advice);
- Never put the Firm’s financial interests ahead of individual clients when making
recommendations (give loyal advice);
- Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
- Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that CSIA gives advice that in the best
interest of individual clients;
- Charge no more than is reasonable for services; and
- Provide basic information about conflicts of interest (which is further discussed throughout
this Brochure).
Assets Under Management
As of June 30, 2025, the Firm had approximately $10,118,593,493 in assets under management,
of which $3,438,100,429 was managed on a discretionary basis. Additionally, $6,680,493,064 was
managed on a non-discretionary basis.
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Item 5. Fees and Compensation
CSIA offers its services on a fee basis, which may include hourly and/or fixed fees, as well as fees
based upon assets under management.
Fees for Financial Planning, Consulting, Educational and Fiduciary Oversight Services
CSIA typically charges a fixed fee and/or hourly fee for financial planning, consulting, educational
and fiduciary oversight services. These fees are negotiable, but generally range from $1,000 to
$100,000 on a fixed fee basis and/or from $100 to $415 on an hourly rate basis, depending upon
the level and scope of the services and the professional rendering the services. A fee of $500 is
generally charged for one-time financial planning services offered to retirement plan participants.
For its educational services where the retirement plan is an advisory client of CSIA, the Firm typically
will not charge an additional fee for the first eight (8) hours of educational services and meeting
time provided to the retirement plan’s participants. Thereafter, CSIA typically bills the plan sponsor
for any additional time at the same hourly rate as its financial planning and consulting services.
Prior to engaging CSIA to provide any of the above services, the client is required to enter into a
written agreement with CSIA setting forth the terms and conditions of the engagement.
Investment Management Fees
CSIA provides investment management services for an annual fee based upon a percentage of
the market value of the assets being managed by CSIA. CSIA’s annual fee is exclusive of, and in
addition to brokerage commissions, transaction fees, and other related costs and expenses which
are incurred by the client. CSIA does not, however, receive any portion of these commissions, fees,
and costs.
CSIA’s annual fee is prorated and charged quarterly, in arrears, based upon the market value of
the assets being managed by CSIA on the last day of the previous quarter. For certain clients,
CSIA’s annual fee is prorated and paid either annually or semi-annually in arrears, based upon the
market value of the assets on the last day of the year or the semi-annual period, as applicable.
The annual fee varies depending upon the market value of the assets under management and the
type of investment management services to be rendered. For individual clients, the fee ranges up
to 90 basis points (0.90%). For the Pooled Employer Plan the fee is 35 basis points (0.35%). For all
other clients, the fee schedule is as follows:
Defined Benefit Plan Clients:
First $5,000,000 ................................................................... 0.30%
Next $10,000,000 ................................................................ 0.15%
Next $35,000,000 ................................................................ 0.10%
Remaining assets above $50,000,000 ........................... 0.05%
Defined Contribution Plan Clients:
First $5,000,000 ................................................................... 0.40%
Remaining assets above $5,000,000 ............................ 0.10%
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Corporate and Endowments Clients:
First $1,000,000 ................................................................... 0.60%
Next $2,000,000 .................................................................. 0.40%
Next $2,000,000 .................................................................. 0.20%
Next $5,000,000 …………………………………………………..0.15%
Remaining assets above $10,000,000 ......................... 0.10%
In addition, CSIA may charge an additional fee of up to $3,000 to provide investment management
services and/or advice regarding securities that are not on the Firm’s recommended list of
investments. The Firm also charges an additional hourly or flat fee should the client request
additional services, such as (but not limited to) specialized investment research, preparation of
participant retirement kits, and additional meetings or portfolio reviews with the client. The fees
for these services are set forth in the Agreement with the client.
Where the Parent Company, an affiliated pension consulting firm in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
provides actuarial services to defined benefit plans, CSIA will assess a flat fee with annual increases
in CPI rather than an asset-based fee. This serves to mitigate a potential conflict of interest where
CSIA benefits from increased plan contributions which increases the underlying assets and
therefore the asset-based fee received by CSIA.
Fee Discretion
CSIA, in its sole discretion, may negotiate to charge a lesser management fee based upon certain
criteria (i.e., anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future additional assets, dollar amount
of assets to be managed, related accounts, account composition, pre-existing client, account
retention, pro bono activities, etc.).
Siegel Select Portfolios Fees
CSIA offers investment management services through SSP for an annual asset-based management
fee. This management fee is 25 basis points (0.25%), subject to a minimum annual fee of $240 per
account. The annual fees are charged quarterly, in advance, based upon the market value of the
assets being managed by CSIA on the last day of the previous billing period. If SSP clients want
additional services, they can engage CSIA for financial planning services. These fees would be
quoted to cover time charges. If SSP clients want regular meetings (1-2 times a year, for example)
to review portfolios, the Firm will charge a retainer-type flat fee. Betterment charges an asset-
based wrap fee on amounts invested via the Betterment for Advisors platform that ranges from
0.12% to 0.25% based on the aggregate balance of all CSIA client accounts at Betterment (not
including funds held in Betterment Cash Reserve). Brokerage arrangements with respect to Siegel
Select Portfolios are further described below in Item 12.
Fees Charged by Financial Institutions
As further discussed in response to Item 12 (below), CSIA generally recommends that institutional
clients utilize the custody, brokerage and clearing services of Schwab for investment management
accounts. Further, CSIA generally recommends that individual clients utilize the custody, trading
and support services of Schwab through Its registered investment advisor division, Schwab
Advisor Services.
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CSIA may only implement its investment management recommendations after the client has
arranged for and furnished CSIA with all information and authorization regarding accounts with
appropriate financial institutions. Financial institutions include, but are not limited to, Schwab, any
other broker-dealer recommended by CSIA, broker-dealer directed by the client, trust companies,
banks etc. (collectively referred to herein as the “Financial Institutions”). Clients also have the
option to purchase investment products recommended by CSIA through other, unaffiliated
brokers or agents.
Clients typically incur certain charges imposed by the Financial Institutions and other third parties
such as custodial fees, charges imposed directly by a mutual fund or ETF in the account, which are
disclosed in the fund’s prospectus (e.g., fund management fees and other fund expenses),
deferred sales charges, odd-lot differentials, transfer taxes, wire transfer and electronic fund fees,
and other fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Additionally, for
assets outside of any wrap fee programs, clients can incur brokerage commissions and transaction
fees. Such charges, fees and commissions are exclusive of and in addition to CSIA’s fee.
Fee Debit
CSIA’s Agreement and the separate agreement with any Financial Institutions may authorize CSIA
to debit the client’s account for the amount of CSIA’s fee and to directly remit that management
fee to CSIA. Any Financial Institutions recommended by CSIA have agreed to send a statement to
the client, at least quarterly, indicating all amounts disbursed from the account including the
amount of management fees paid directly to CSIA. Alternatively, clients may elect to have CSIA
send an invoice for payment.
Fees for Management During Partial Periods of Service
For the initial period of investment management services, the fees are calculated on a pro rata
basis. If assets are deposited into or withdrawn from an account after the inception of a billing
period, the fee payable with respect to such assets will not be adjusted or prorated based on the
number of days remaining in the period.
The Agreement between CSIA and the client will continue in effect until terminated by either party
pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. CSIA’s fees are prorated through the date of termination
and any remaining balance is charged or refunded to the client, as appropriate.
Clients can make additions to and withdrawals from their account at any time, subject to CSIA’s
right to terminate an account. Additions can be in cash or securities provided that CSIA reserves
the right to liquidate any transferred securities or decline to accept particular securities into a
client’s account. Clients may withdraw account assets on notice to CSIA, subject to the usual and
customary securities settlement procedures. However, CSIA designs its portfolios as long-term
investments and the withdrawal of assets may impair the achievement of a client’s investment
objectives. CSIA will consult with its clients about the options and ramifications of transferring
securities. However, clients are advised that when transferred securities are liquidated, they are
subject to transaction fees, fees assessed at the mutual fund level (i.e. contingent deferred sales
charge) and/or tax ramifications.
Commissions or Sales Charges for Recommendations of Securities
CSIA does not receive any commissions or transaction fees associated with its investment
management services. No Supervised Persons of CSIA are registered representatives of a broker-
dealer.
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Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
CSIA does not provide services for performance-based fees, which are considered those based on
a share of capital gains or capital appreciation of client assets. As such, the Firm does not engage
in side-by-side management, as it relates to this Item.
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Item 7. Types of Clients
CSIA provides its services to individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable
organizations, corporations, endowments, business entities, and state or municipal government
entities.
Minimum Fee
As a condition for starting and maintaining a relationship, CSIA generally imposes a minimum
annual fee based on the type of client, as follows: $6,000 to $9,000 for individual clients, $4,500
for defined benefit plans, $6,000 for corporations and endowments, and $9,000 for defined
contribution plans. This minimum fee can have the effect of making CSIA’s service impractical for
certain clients, particularly those individuals with portfolios less than $600,000, defined benefit
plans with portfolios less than $450,000, corporations and endowments with portfolios less than
$600,000 and defined contribution plans with portfolios less than $900,000.
CSIA, in its sole discretion, may waive its minimum annual fee based upon certain criteria including
anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future additional assets, dollar amount of assets to
be managed, related accounts, account composition, pre-existing client, account retention, and
pro bono activities. The Firm only accepts clients with less than the minimum portfolio size if, in
the Firm’s sole opinion, the smaller portfolio size will not cause a substantial increase of investment
risk beyond the client’s identified risk tolerance. In certain cases, CSIA has aggregated the
portfolios of clients and their affiliates to meet the minimum annual fee.
The foregoing minimum requirements do not apply to Siegel Select Portfolios (“SSP”). All accounts
under management through SSP are subject to a minimum annual fee of $240.
There is no minimum annual fee for the Pooled Employer Plan (PEP).
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Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
CSIA employs a core approach of market weighted or fundamentally weighted mutual funds or
ETFs as investment vehicles in an attempt to deliver broad diversification and minimize specific
issue risk. For retirement plan clients, the Firm may incorporate collective investment trusts. In
addition, for investors desiring added risk, the Firm may incorporate more actively managed
mutual funds or ETFs.
The Firm utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis. The Firm begins by
researching the Morningstar database that contains thousands of share classes of mutual funds
and ETFs. The Firm analyzes select funds based on fundamental factors such as degree of size/style
overweighting, liquidity, diversification, specific investment concentration, risks to unit return. The
Firm then employs discussions with the fund company and/or some quantitative analysis with
regards to management, length of tenure, and consistency to determine its final selections for its
recommend funds list. The primary risk in using this type of analysis is that spotting historical
trends and analyzing historical factors may not help to predict such trends in the future. While the
Firm typically recommends starting with a core portfolio of index/passive funds, it also offers
actively managed funds for the client to explore.
CSIA believes in a low cost and passive style of investment management based on the belief that
asset allocation is the most important decision an investor will make. The Firm believes that
financial forecasting is not useful and can be counterproductive, and as such prefers strategic
asset allocation to tactical asset allocation. The Firm believes that free and open markets are
generally efficient. CSIA also believes that human nature, fear, and greed can cause market
valuations, at times, to be different than their true or intrinsic values. While returns for any one
year are random, over market cycles and the long-term, different segments of the market will
outperform others, with no one segment consistently outperforming. CSIA advocates broad
diversification which often includes a mix of fixed income, domestic equity (including large, mid,
and small asset classes), foreign equity (including emerging markets), and possibly sector funds.
The Firm utilizes mutual funds and ETFs with low turnover over individual securities to achieve this
diversification. For investors desiring added risk, the Firm may incorporate more actively managed
mutual funds and ETFs.
For the Firm’s clients with participant directed investments, including the Pooled Employer Plan
(PEP), CSIA’s intent is to keep the “plan menu” concise as to not confuse the average participant.
In most cases, CSIA offers a menu of underlying investment options so that a do-it-yourself
investor can create a properly diversified investment portfolio. However, the Firm recognizes that
many participants are the do-it-for-me type. Therefore, the Firm believes in providing those
participants a straightforward investment option which can come in the form of a target risk fund,
a target retirement date fund, or proprietary investment portfolios. CSIA’s investment portfolios
are pre-packaged mixes of the same mutual funds offered to the do-it-yourself participant. The
Firm then rebalances these portfolios at pre-determined times.
For clients where CSIA is selecting the level of diversification within their portfolio and when
developing investment portfolios for our 401k participants, the Firm uses computer modeling to
arrive at what it believes to be appropriate risk return levels. CSIA invests with the long-term in
mind and makes recommendations for change when the Firm believes it can either increase the
long-term return or lower volatility in a portfolio. The Firm does not make short term shifts in a
portfolio.
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Siegel Select Portfolios (SSP)
SSP allows CSIA to provide its investment strategies to individual investors who are 1) retirement
plan participants as an IRA rollover option; or 2) CSIA individual prospects who ordinarily would
not be good candidates for the Firm’s reduced or full individual advisory services due to their
investable assets. Both sets of investors often end up putting their money in high-expense, low-
performing products sold to them by a broker. CSIA will manage the portfolios, recommend an
initial allocation to clients and periodically update that allocation recommendation. In addition,
CSIA will send regular email communications to SSP clients. This will include value-added
information as well as regular communication to remind clients to re- evaluate their risk level at
certain stages.
Below is a brief summary of some of the material risks that potential clients should consider before
engaging with CSIA. These risks may materially and adversely affect investment performance and
could cause investors to lose substantial amounts of money. A potential client should discuss with
our advisors any questions they have prior to opening an account.
Risks of Loss
Investing in securities involves the risk of loss, including the potential loss of principal, and Clients
should be prepared to bear such loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, which
may be impacted by shifting market trends and changing economic conditions. There can be no
assurance that any investment or strategy will prove profitable.
Mutual Funds and ETFs
An investment in a mutual fund involves risk, including the loss of principal. Mutual fund
shareholders are subject to the risks stemming from the individual issuers of the fund’s
underlying portfolio securities. Such shareholders are also liable for taxes on any fund level
capital gains, as mutual funds are required by law to distribute capital gains in the event they sell
securities for a profit that cannot be offset by a corresponding loss. Shares of mutual funds are
generally distributed and redeemed on an ongoing basis by the fund itself or a broker acting on
its behalf. The trading price at which a share is transacted is equal to a fund’s stated daily per
share net asset value (“NAV”). However, the total amount of the trade is effected by any sales
loads, transaction costs, and sales/purchase fees. The per share NAV of a mutual fund is
calculated at the end of each business day.
Shares of ETFs are listed on securities exchanges and transacted at negotiated prices in the
secondary market. Generally, ETF shares trade at or near their most recent NAV, which is generally
calculated at least once daily for indexed-based ETFs and more frequently for actively managed
ETFs. However, certain inefficiencies and/or periods of market stress may cause the shares to
trade at a premium or discount to their pro rata NAV. There is also no guarantee that an active
secondary market for such shares will develop or continue to exist. Generally, an ETF only
redeems shares when aggregated as creation units (usually 50,000 shares or more). Therefore, if a
liquid secondary market ceases to exist for shares of a particular ETF, a shareholder may have no
way to dispose of such shares.
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With respect to cash positions, the principal concern for individuals investing in cash or cash
equivalents is inflation risk, which is the risk that inflation will outpace and erode returns over
time.
Investing in cash involves the risk of opportunity loss in higher return investments. In a low
interest rate environment, Client money may have negative real returns.
Management through Similarly Managed Accounts
For certain clients, CSIA manages portfolios by allocating portfolio assets among various mutual
funds and ETFs on a discretionary basis using one or more of its proprietary investment strategies
(collectively referred to as “investment strategy”). In so doing, CSIA buys, sells, exchanges and/or
transfers shares of mutual funds and ETFs based upon the investment strategy. CSIA’s
management using the investment strategy complies with the requirements of Rule 3a-4 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Rule 3a-4 provides similarly managed accounts,
such as the investment strategy, with a safe harbor from the definition of an investment company.
Securities in the investment strategy may be exchanged and/or transferred without regard to a
client’s individual tax ramifications. However, CSIA strives to take taxes into consideration when
buying and selling securities in client portfolios where applicable. Certain investment
opportunities that become available to CSIA’s clients may be limited. As further discussed in
response to Item 12B (below), CSIA allocates investment opportunities among its clients on a fair
and equitable basis.
Management through Siegel Select Portfolios
Investing in securities, whether through SSP or otherwise, involves the risk of loss that Clients
should be prepared to bear. When Clients enroll in SSP, they give CSIA the authority to choose
their investment strategies for them based on, among other things, a Client’s risk tolerance. There
is no limitation in the SSP’s platform on which investment strategy CSIA may choose for its
Clients. For whichever strategy is chosen, there can be no guarantee that the strategy will
produce the desired results.
Management through Automated Advisers
CSIA can allocate all of a portion of a client’s assets through the use of one or more automated
advisers, commonly referred to as “Robo-Advisers,” which invest and rebalance portfolios using
algorithms based on a client’s financial situation and objectives. The algorithm might rebalance
client accounts without regard to market conditions and may not address prolonged changes in
market conditions. The degree of manual oversight of the algorithms varies by platform and the
staff of an automated adviser may override an algorithm manually at any time without notice to
CSIA or the client.
Public Health Risk
Certain countries have been susceptible to epidemics, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome,
avian flu, H1N1/09 flu and most recently, the coronavirus. The outbreak of an infectious disease
or any other serious public health concern, together with any resulting restrictions on travel or
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quarantines imposed, could have a negative impact on the economy, and business activity in any
of the countries in which a client may invest and thereby adversely affect the performance of a
client’s investments.
Cybersecurity Risk.
The information and technology systems of CSIA and of key service providers to the Firm and its
Clients, including banks, broker-dealers, custodians and their affiliates, may be vulnerable to
potential damage or interruption from computer viruses, network failures, computer and
telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and security breaches, usage
errors by their respective professionals, power outages and catastrophic events such as fires,
tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with the
processing or execution of the Firm’s transactions, cause the release of confidential information,
including private information about Clients, subject the Firm or its affiliates to regulatory fines or
financial losses, or cause reputational damage. Additionally, cyberattacks or security breaches
(e.g., hacking or the unlawful withdrawal or transfer of funds), affecting any of CSIA’s key service
providers, may cause significant harm to the Firm, including the loss of capital. Similar types of
cybersecurity risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Firm may invest. These
risks could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Firm’s
investments in such issuers to lose value. Although the Firm has implemented various measures
designed to manage risks relating to these types of events, if these systems are compromised,
become inoperable for extended periods of time or cease to function properly, it may be
necessary for the Firm to make a significant investment to fix or replace them and to seek to
remedy the effect of these issues. The failure of these systems and/or of disaster recovery plans
for any reason could cause significant interruptions in the operations of the Firm or its Client
accounts and result in a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive
data, including personal information, which may result in identity theft.
Item 9. Disciplinary Information
CSIA is required to disclose the facts of any legal or disciplinary events that are material to a
client’s evaluation of its advisory business or the integrity of management. CSIA does not have
any required disclosures to this Item.
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Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
CSIA is required to disclose any relationship or arrangement that is material to its advisory
business or to its clients with certain related persons. CSIA has described such relationships and
arrangements below.
Related Employee Benefit Consultants
CSIA does not render employee benefit consulting services to its clients. However, certain of the
Firm’s Supervised Persons also serve a similar capacity for the Parent Company, an employee
benefit consulting firm located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. From time to time, CSIA recommends
certain of its clients to the Parent Company for various employee benefit consulting services. The
Parent Company renders these services independently of CSIA. CSIA does not receive any
portion of the fees charged (referral or otherwise) by the Parent Company for the services
rendered. The place of business of the Parent Company is the same as that of CSIA.
It is also expected that these Principals of CSIA who are also Principals of the Parent Company,
solely incidental to their respective practices as employee benefit consultants with the Parent
Company, will recommend CSIA’s services to certain of the Parent Company’s clients. Although
the Parent Company does not receive referral fees from CSIA, these individual members of CSIA
may be entitled to receive distributions relative to their respective ownership interests in CSIA.
The Parent Company is not involved in providing investment advice on behalf of the CSIA.
There may be a conflict of interest where the Parent Company acts as an independent third party
recordkeeper and as such may be eligible to receive a Plan Expense Payment from Schwab. Any
plan expense payment is credited to the client as disclosed in more detail in Item 12.
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Item 11. Code of Ethics
CSIA has adopted a code of ethics in compliance with applicable securities laws (“Code of Ethics”)
that sets forth the standards of conduct expected of its Supervised Persons. CSIA’s Code of Ethics
contains written policies reasonably designed to prevent certain unlawful practices such as the use
of material non-public information by the Firm or any of its Supervised Persons and the trading
by the same of securities ahead of clients in order to take advantage of pending orders.
The Code of Ethics also requires certain of CSIA’s personnel (called “Access Persons”) to report
their personal securities holdings and transactions and obtain pre-approval of certain investments
(e.g., initial public offerings, limited offerings). However, CSIA Supervised Persons are permitted
to buy or sell securities that it also recommends to clients if done in a manner consistent with the
Firm’s policies and procedures. This Code of Ethics has been established recognizing that some
securities trade in sufficiently broad markets to permit transactions by Access Persons to be
completed without any appreciable impact on the markets of such securities. Therefore, under
certain limited circumstances, exceptions may be made to the policies stated below.
When the Firm is engaging in or considering a transaction in any security on behalf of a client, no
Access Person may knowingly effect for themselves or for their immediate family (i.e., spouse,
minor children and adults living in the same household as the Access Person) a transaction in that
security unless the transaction has been completed; the transaction for the Access Person is
completed as part of a batch trade (as defined below in Item 12) with clients; or a decision has
been made not to engage in the transaction for the client.
These requirements are not applicable to: (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United
States; (ii) money market instruments, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit,
commercial paper, repurchase agreements and other high quality short-term debt instruments,
including repurchase agreements; (iii) shares issued by mutual funds or money market funds; and
(iv) shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more mutual
funds.
Clients and prospective clients may contact CSIA to request a copy of its Code of Ethics.
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Item 12. Brokerage Practices
As discussed above, in Item 5, CSIA generally recommends that clients utilize the custody,
brokerage and clearing services of Schwab.
Factors which CSIA considers in recommending Schwab or any other broker- dealer to clients
include their respective financial strength, reputation, execution, pricing, research and service.
Schwab enables CSIA to obtain many mutual funds and ETFs without transaction charges and
other securities at nominal transaction charges. The commissions and/or transaction fees charged
by Schwab may be higher or lower than those charged by other Financial Institutions.
The commissions paid by CSIA’s clients comply with CSIA’s duty to obtain “best execution.”
Clients may pay commissions that are higher than another qualified Financial Institution might
charge to effect the same transaction where CSIA determines that the commissions are reasonable
in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services received. In seeking best execution,
the determinative factor is not the lowest possible cost, but whether the transaction represents
the best qualitative execution, taking into consideration the full range of a Financial Institution’s
services, including among others, the value of research provided, execution capability, commission
rates, and responsiveness. CSIA seeks competitive rates but may not necessarily obtain the lowest
possible commission rates for client transactions.
CSIA periodically and systematically reviews its policies and procedures regarding its
recommendation of Financial Institutions in light of its duty to obtain best execution.
Client Directed Brokerage
The client may direct CSIA in writing to use a particular Financial Institution to execute some or all
transactions for the client. In that case, the client will negotiate terms and arrangements for the
account with that Financial Institution, and CSIA will not seek better execution services or prices
from other Financial Institutions or be able to “batch” client transactions for execution through
other Financial Institutions with orders for other accounts managed by CSIA (as described below).
As a result, the client may pay higher commissions or other transaction costs or greater spreads,
or receive less favorable net prices, on transactions for the account than would otherwise be the
case. Subject to its duty of best execution, CSIA may decline a client’s request to direct brokerage
if, in CSIA’s sole discretion, such directed brokerage arrangements would result in additional
operational difficulties.
Trade Aggregation
Transactions for each client generally will be effected independently, unless CSIA decides to
purchase or sell the same securities for several clients at approximately the same time. CSIA may
(but is not obligated to) combine or “batch” such orders to obtain best execution, to negotiate
more favorable commission rates, or to allocate equitably among CSIA’s 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 generally be averaged as to
price and allocated among CSIA’s clients pro rata to the purchase and sale orders placed for each
client on any given day. To the extent that CSIA determines to aggregate client orders for the
purchase or sale of securities, including securities in which CSIA’s Supervised Persons may invest,
CSIA generally does so in accordance with applicable rules promulgated under the Advisers Act
and no-action guidance provided by the staff of the SEC. CSIA does not receive any additional
compensation or remuneration as a result of the aggregation. In the event that CSIA determines
that a prorated allocation is not appropriate under the particular circumstances, the allocation will
be made based upon other relevant factors, which may include: (i) when only a small percentage
of the order is executed, shares may be allocated to the account with the smallest order or the
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smallest position or to an account that is out of line with respect to security or sector weightings
relative to other portfolios, with similar mandates; (ii) allocations may be given to one account when
one account has limitations in its investment guidelines which prohibit it from purchasing other
securities which are expected to produce similar investment results and can be purchased by other
accounts; (iii) if an account reaches an investment guideline limit and cannot participate in an
allocation, shares may be reallocated to other accounts (this may be due to unforeseen changes
in an account’s assets after an order is placed); (iv) with respect to sale allocations, allocations may
be given to accounts low in cash; (v) in cases when a pro rata allocation of a potential execution
would result in a de minimis allocation in one or more accounts, CSIA may exclude the account(s)
from the allocation; the transactions may be executed on a pro rata basis among the remaining
accounts; or (vi) in cases where a small proportion of an order is executed in all accounts, shares
may be allocated to one or more accounts on a random basis.
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
Consistent with obtaining best execution, brokerage transactions may be directed to certain
broker-dealers in return for investment research products and/or services which assist CSIA in its
investment decision-making process. Additionally, CSIA may have an incentive to select or
recommend a broker-dealer based on their interest in receiving research or other soft dollar
benefits, rather than on clients’ interest in receiving the most favorable execution. Such research
generally will be used to service all CSIA’s clients, but brokerage commissions paid by one client
may be used to pay for research that is not used in managing that client’s portfolio. The receipt
of investment research products and/or services as well as the allocation of the benefit of such
investment research products and/or services poses a conflict of interest because CSIA does not
have to produce or pay for the products or services.
Software and Support Provided by Financial Institutions
CSIA may receive from Schwab, without cost to CSIA, computer software and related systems
support, which allow CSIA to better monitor client accounts maintained at the respective firm.
CSIA may receive the software and related support without cost because CSIA renders investment
management services to clients that maintain assets at Schwab . The software and related systems
support may benefit CSIA, but not its clients directly. In fulfilling its duties to its clients, CSIA
endeavors at all times to put the interests of its clients first. Clients should be aware, however, that
CSIA’s receipt of economic benefits from a broker-dealer creates a conflict of interest since these
benefits may influence CSIA’s choice of broker-dealer over another broker-dealer that does not
furnish similar software, systems support, or services.
Schwab Institutional
CSIA receives the following benefits from Schwab through its Schwab Institutional division: receipt
of duplicate client confirmations and bundled duplicate statements; access to a trading desk that
exclusively services the Schwab Institutional participants; access to block trading which
provides the ability to aggregate securities transactions and then allocate the appropriate shares
to client accounts; access to an electronic communication network for client order entry and
account information.
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For clients that enter into either a brokerage account agreement with Schwab or an agreement for
custodial or trustee services with Schwab and the Parent Company, as an independent third party
record-keeper to Schwab, will be eligible to receive a Plan Expense Payment through Schwab for
its administrative and/or recordkeeping services if the Plan's account with Schwab satisfies the
criteria established under the RP Program Administrator Agreement in effect between the Parent
Company and Schwab. Our standard method of handling is for any Plan Expense Payment to be
credited directly by Schwab to the Plan as soon as administratively feasible and to be allocated as
investment return as of the Plan allocation date on or immediately following the date of credit.
Neither CSIA nor the Parent Company will receive these funds. However, there may be some
instances or scenarios where the Plan Expense Payment is not being returned to the Plan. If this is
the case, if the client is a defined contribution plan client, to the extent there is any Plan Expense
Payment, we shall deduct such Plan Expense Payment from the compensation owed to the Parent
Company for recordkeeping services or Schwab will retain it to offset their custodial fee and if the
client is a defined benefit plan client, Schwab will retain it to offset their custodial fee.
Schwab Advisor Services
CSIA receives the following benefits from Schwab through its registered investment adviser
division: receipt of duplicate client confirmations and bundled duplicate statements; access to a
trading desk that exclusively services its Registered Investment Adviser participants; access to
block trading which provides the ability to aggregate securities transactions and then allocate the
appropriate shares to client accounts; and access to an electronic communication network for
client order entry and account information.
These products or services may assist CSIA in managing and administering client accounts,
including accounts not maintained at Schwab. Other services made available by Schwab are
intended to help CSIA manage and further develop its business enterprise. The benefits received
by CSIA’s participation in the program do not depend on the amount of brokerage transactions
directed to Schwab. Clients should be aware, however, that the receipt of economic benefits by
CSIA or its related persons in and of itself creates a potential conflict of interest and may indirectly
influence CSIA’s recommendation of Schwab for custody and brokerage services.
Siegel Select Portfolios
In addition to CSIA’s portfolio management and other services, the SSP includes the brokerage
services of Betterment Securities. While clients are required to use Betterment Securities as
custodian/broker to enroll in SSP, the client decides whether to do so and opens its account with
Betterment by entering into an account agreement directly with Betterment. If the client does not
wish to place his or her assets with Betterment Securities, then CSIA cannot manage the client’s
account through SSP.
With respect to SSP, as described above under Item 4, CSIA currently does not pay Betterment fees
for its services in connection with SSP. In light of CSIA’s arrangements with Schwab for non-SSP
clients and Betterment for SSP clients, the Firm may have an incentive to recommend that clients
maintain their accounts with Schwab or Betterment based on the Firm’s interest in receiving
Schwab or Betterment’s services that benefit its business rather than based on the client’s interest
in receiving the best value in custody services and the most favorable execution of transactions.
This is a potential conflict of interest. CSIA believes, however, that its selection of Schwab as
custodian and broker for non-SSP clients and Betterment Securities as custodian and broker for
SSP clients is in the best interests of its clients. It is primarily supported by the scope, quality and
price of Schwab and Betterment’s services and not Schwab and Betterment’s services that benefit
only the Firm. Conrad Siegel has adopted policies and procedures designed to ensure that its use
of Schwab and Betterment’s services is appropriate for each of its clients.
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Item 13. Review of Accounts
Account Reviews
For those clients to whom CSIA provides investment management services, CSIA monitors those
portfolios as part of an ongoing process while regular account (or investment holding) reviews
are typically conducted on at least a quarterly basis. For those clients to whom CSIA provides
financial planning and/or consulting services, reviews are conducted on an “as needed” basis. Such
reviews are conducted by one of CSIA’s investment adviser representatives. All investment
advisory clients are encouraged to discuss their needs, goals, and objectives with CSIA and to
keep CSIA informed of any changes thereto. CSIA contacts ongoing investment advisory clients
at least annually to review its previous services and/or recommendations and to discuss the impact
resulting from any changes in the client’s financial situation and/or investment objectives.
Account Statements and Reports
Unless otherwise agreed upon, clients are provided with transaction confirmation notices and
regular summary account statements directly from the broker-dealer or custodian for the client
accounts. Those clients to whom CSIA provides investment advisory services will also receive a
report from CSIA that may include such relevant account and/or market-related information such as
an inventory of account holdings and account performance not less than annually. Clients should
compare the account statements they receive from their custodian with those they receive from
CSIA.
Those clients to whom CSIA provides financial planning and/or consulting services will receive
reports from CSIA summarizing its analysis and conclusions as requested by the client or otherwise
agreed to in writing by CSIA.
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Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Economic Benefits
CSIA is required to disclose any relationship or arrangement where it receives an economic benefit
from a third party (non-client) for providing advisory services. CSIA does not receive economic
benefits from a third party for providing advisory services.
Client Referrals
CSIA is required to disclose any direct or indirect compensation that it provides for client referrals.
The Parent Company has entered into an agreement with Schwab, an independent and unaffiliated
broker-dealer, to participate in Schwab Advisor NetworkTM (“SAN”), an advisor referral service
designed to help investors find an independent professional investment manager in their area. The
Parent Company has agreed to pay Schwab a fee for participating in SAN. This fee covers all client
referrals made to CSIA by Schwab and may be increased, decreased or waived by Schwab from time
to time. CSIA will not charge clients introduced through SAN fees or costs greater than the fees
or costs CSIA charges its advisory clients who were not introduced through SAN and who have
similar assets under management with CSIA and receive similar services. Through the Parent
Company, CSIA’s participation in SAN may raise potential conflicts of interest. The Parent
Company’s referral fee to Schwab is lower if CSIA accounts thereafter remain in the custody of
Schwab rather than another broker-dealer. Any recommendation to use Schwab as the broker-
dealer will be consistent with CSIA’s duty of best execution as further discussed above. The Firm
has also disclosed in Item 12, above, other support products and services that it receives from
Schwab and other Financial Institutions.
The Firm utilizes solicitation arrangements. As described in the Firm's written service agreements,
solicitors can receive compensation ranging from 5 - 50% of all advisory fees charged by the Firm from
solicited clients. Due to the agreement the Firm has with solicitors, the solicitors have an incentive to
recommend the Firm, resulting in a material conflict of interest. CSIA will bear the full cost of any fees
payable to such placement agents, in accordance with the Advisers Act.
These arrangements are in compliance with Rule 206(4) - 1.
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Item 15. Custody
CSIA’s Agreement and/or the separate agreement with any Financial Institution may authorize
CSIA through such Financial Institution to debit a client’s account for the amount of CSIA’s fee
and to directly remit that management fee to CSIA in accordance with applicable custody rules.
The Financial Institutions recommended by CSIA have agreed to send a statement to the client, at
least quarterly, indicating all amounts disbursed from the account including the amount of
management fees paid directly to CSIA. In addition, as discussed in Item 13, CSIA also sends
periodic supplemental reports to clients. Clients should carefully review the statements sent
directly by the Financial Institutions and compare them to those received from CSIA.
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Item 16. Investment Discretion
CSIA may be given the authority to exercise discretion on behalf of clients. CSIA is considered to
exercise investment discretion over a client’s account if it can effect transactions for the client
without first having to seek the client’s consent. CSIA is given this authority through a power-of-
attorney included in the Agreement between CSIA and the client. Clients may request a limitation
on this authority (such as certain securities not to be bought or sold). CSIA takes discretion over
the securities to be purchased or sold, the amount of securities to be purchased or sold; and when
transactions are made.
Additionally, CSIA also provides investment management and advisory services to clients on a
non-discretionary basis pursuant to the specific terms of the Agreement. In those situations, CSIA
must either seek the client’s approval prior to implementing its recommendations or rely on the
client to execute transactions for the account on which it is advising.
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Item 17. Voting Client Securities
CSIA is required to disclose if it accepts authority to vote client securities. CSIA does not vote client
securities on behalf of its clients. Clients receive proxies directly from the Financial Institutions
where their assets are custodied and may contact the Firm at the telephone number on the cover
of this brochure with questions about such solicitations.
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Item 18. Financial Information
CSIA is not required to disclose any financial information pursuant to this Item as the Firm (i) does
not require or solicit the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees six months or more in advance,
(ii) does not have a financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to meet
contractual commitments to clients; and (iii) has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at
any time during the past ten years.
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