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FORM ADV – PART 2A
(Brochure)
March 30, 2025
Item 1. Cover Page
Principal Business Office Address:
701 Fifth Avenue, 74th Floor
Seattle, Washington 98104
T 206.707.7300 | 800.990.3001
F 206.707.7399
E compliance@freestonecapital.com
WWW.FREESTONECAPITAL.COM
In this Brochure, we use the terms Freestone, us, we and our to refer to Freestone Capital
Management, LLC. As discussed in Item 4, we generally provide investment advisory services
to individuals or institutions and to certain private pooled investment vehicles for which an
affiliate of ours serves as general partner. In this Brochure, we refer to clients who are individuals
or institutions investing through managed accounts as advisory clients and we refer to the pooled
investment vehicles as the private funds. References to clients generally include our advisory
clients and the private funds.
This Brochure provides information about our qualifications and business practices. If you have
any questions about the contents of this Brochure, please contact our Chief Compliance Officer at
206.707.7300 or 800.990.3001 or via email at compliance@freestonecapital.com. The
information in this Brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) or by any state securities authority. We are a registered investment
adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Freestone Capital Management, LLC is available on the SEC’s
website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Item 2. Material Changes
The following is a summary of material changes made to this brochure, including amendments
made as of August 11, 2025, since we last filed with the SEC on March 30, 2024.
•
Item 4.C was updated to remove disclosures related to the use of third-party models
which were purchased by us and managed internally, which we no longer do.
•
Item 5.A and Item 6 were updated to reflect that we no longer charge separately managed
accounts a performance-based fee.
•
Item 8.D was updated to add a new risk section associated with the use of artificial
intelligence (“AI”).
•
Item 10.B was updated to remove references to the Golf Funds because they have been
liquidated and closed.
•
Item 11.B was updated to remove references to Meritus Holdings, which has been
replaced by Cambio Communities, LLC for certain property management services.
•
Item 12 and Item 14.A were updated to reflect that we no longer utilize soft dollar
arrangements, for example where client commissions are used to pay for technology,
research and other services.
•
Item 12 and Item 14 were updated to reflect administrative changes to our custodial and
brokerage practices, including updates to the firm’s policies and procedures regarding the
aggregation of trades, allocation of orders, and the handling of trade errors.
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Item 3. Table of Contents
Item 1. Cover Page ......................................................................................................................... i
Item 2. Material Changes ............................................................................................................... 1
Item 3. Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ 2
Item 4. Advisory Business .............................................................................................................. 3
Item 5. Fees and Compensation .................................................................................................... 5
Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ................................................ 8
Item 7. Types of Clients .................................................................................................................. 9
Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ......................................... 10
Item 9. Disciplinary Information ..................................................................................................... 20
Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .......................................................... 21
Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading ... 23
Item 12. Brokerage Practices ........................................................................................................ 27
Item 13. Review of Accounts ......................................................................................................... 34
Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation ...................................................................... 35
Item 15. Custody .......................................................................................................................... 38
Item 16. Investment Discretion ..................................................................................................... 39
Item 17. Voting Client Securities .................................................................................................. 40
Item 18. Financial Information ...................................................................................................... 41
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Item 4. Advisory Business
A. Overview, History and Ownership
Freestone Capital Management, LLC (“Freestone,”“us,”“we,” or “our”) is a comprehensive wealth
management firm founded in 1999. We are headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and have
offices in Santa Barbara, California, San Francisco, California, Campbell, California, and
Anchorage, Alaska. Freestone, or our predecessor company, Freestone Capital Management,
Inc., has been registered as an investment adviser with the SEC since 1999.
Our principal owner is Freestone Capital Holdings, LLC. Gary Furukawa, Freestone’s founder
and Chief Investment Officer, and his spouse, indirectly through one or more entities controlled
by them, collectively own more than 25%, but less than 50%, of Freestone. Gary Furukawa
and Erik Morgan are the managers of Freestone Capital Holdings, LLC and us. For more
information regarding who owns and controls Freestone, please see Schedules A and B of Part
1A of our Form ADV.
Freestone Investments LLC, our affiliate, is the direct or indirect ultimate general partner of the
private funds. To the extent Freestone Investments is deemed to be acting as an investment
adviser, it is registered with the SEC as our relying adviser and is identified in Schedule R of Part
1A of our Form ADV. Please see Item 10 (Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations) for
additional information regarding this and other affiliations.
B. Types of Advisory Services
We provide ongoing wealth management and investment advisory services to advisory clients
on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, typically through managed accounts. Throughout
this Brochure, we refer to clients to whom we provide advice through managed accounts as
advisory clients. We also provide asset management and
investment advisory services to
privately offered pooled investment vehicles, or private funds. The detailed terms, strategies and
risks applicable to investors in the private funds are described in each private fund’s
organizational and offering documents. The private funds and advisory clients are collectively
referred to in this brochure as our clients.
C. Tailoring our Advisory Services and Investment Solutions
Through our discussions with each advisory client, we develop a wealth management and
investment plan for that advisory client based on, among other things, the advisory client’s
particular circumstances, financial goals or objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity
needs. We then manage that advisory client’s assets using a combination of one or more of the
following investment solutions:
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Internally managed model portfolios developed and managed by us;
§
§ Model portfolios and strategies developed by third-parties not affiliated with us and
managed by those unaffiliated third-parties (such as sub-advisers); and
§ Alternative investments, including investments in the private funds and other funds
not managed or controlled by our affiliates or us.
We manage most assets on a discretionary basis, meaning we have investment control to
implement the investment plan we have developed with an advisory client without obtaining the
advisory client’s consent prior to making a trade or allocation. For advisory clients, typically this
involves allocating the advisory client’s assets among the above-described investment solutions.
For the private funds, this generally involves investing a private fund’s assets in accordance with
the private fund’s organizational and offering documents. Advisory clients may impose
reasonable restrictions on the way we manage assets held in their accounts, such as prohibiting
the purchase of tobacco stocks. The determination as to what is a “reasonable restriction” is solely
ours. To the extent that an advisory client imposes a restriction that would impact our ability to
implement the strategy for that account, we reserve the right to refuse to manage or liquidate
the account.
We only make recommendations to advisory clients regarding investing in the private funds on a
non-discretionary basis, meaning that an advisory client must decide on a case-by-case basis
whether to accept or reject our recommendations regarding making an investment in a private
fund. We manage the private funds on a fully discretionary basis. Investors in the private funds
generally cannot impose restrictions on the way we manage the private funds or the assets held
by the private funds. For Form ADV purposes, investors in the private funds are not considered
our “clients” solely by virtue of their investment in one or more of the private funds.
In addition to the above services, we also provide general financial advice, wealth planning and
other services not specifically related to investment activity. See the “Wealth Management and
Financial Planning” portion of Item 8 (Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of
Loss) for additional information regarding these services.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
We do not participate in wrap fee programs.
E. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, our total regulatory assets under management were approximately
$11,493,619,610. Of this amount, we managed approximately $8,056,130,360 on a discretionary
basis and approximately $3,437,489,250 on a non-discretionary basis (which includes sub-advised
assets).
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Item 5. Fees and Compensation
A. Advisory Client Accounts
In general, we charge an annual management fee based on the amount of the advisory client’s
assets that we manage or advise, this includes assets for which we have discretionary and non-
discretionary authority. We assess management fees quarterly. Depending on the terms of the
investment management agreement we have entered into with the advisory client, we typically
calculate quarterly management fees based on the value of the advisory client’s accounts on the
last day of a quarter. Management fees are payable either in advance or in arrears. In either case,
we typically deduct the management fee directly from the advisory client’s accounts. If an advisory
client, who pays management fees in advance, terminates our relationship at any time other than
the end of a calendar quarter, then we will refund that advisory client a portion of the pre-paid
fees, calculated on a pro-rata basis to reflect the number of days remaining in the quarter. We
will apply the refund to the advisory client’s account or mail the refund to the advisory client’s
address of record. Fee amounts and payment provisions are included in the investment
management agreement we enter into with our advisory clients.
The amount of our management fee is negotiable and varies among advisory clients, but will not
exceed 1.50% of the value of the advisory client’s assets that we manage or advise, subject
to the minimum fee described below. In many cases, we will charge new advisory clients
referred to us by Charles Schwab (“Schwab”) a lower annual management fee than other
advisory clients of similar size and complexity.
In general, we charge new advisory clients who are not referred to us by Schwab a minimum
annual management fee of $6,000 per year. Our minimum annual management fee will not apply
to the calendar year in which the new advisory client becomes an advisory client. Advisory clients
referred to us by Schwab typically are subject to a lower minimum annual management fee of
$4,000, which also does not apply to the calendar year in which the Schwab-referred client first
becomes an advisory client. Many existing advisory clients are subject to a different minimum fee
amount or no minimum fee amount. We waive our minimum annual management fee from time
to time, in our sole discretion.
We engage third-parties not affiliated with us (sub-advisers) to manage or otherwise provide
advisory services or investment advice for certain strategies and model portfolios. Generally,
advisory clients bear the additional costs, fees and expenses associated with investments in these
portfolios, including fees of the sub-advisers. The amount of the costs, fees and expenses
associated with such sub-advised strategies or model portfolios will fluctuate, but our management
fee percentage will remain the same. The sub-adviser will deduct the sub-adviser fees from
advisory client accounts directly. We disclose the existence of the additional costs, fees and
expenses in the investment management agreement we enter into with the advisory client and in
ancillary documents or communications with the advisory client.
Factors that influence the amount of management fees we charge advisory clients include client
type, account size and anticipated increases in account size, pre-existing relationship and other
factors. In addition, from time to time we will agree to pay or reimburse certain costs and
expenses of a client who engages us to manage its accounts (e.g., fees of the client’s CFO,
CPA or other professional advisors). We typically combine certain related advisory client accounts
for purposes of calculating a client’s aggregate household size and/or management fee.
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Generally, we charge lower or no management fees to current and former Freestone employees
and their family members at our sole discretion.
In all cases, advisory clients are responsible for all fees and expenses incurred by or arising in
connection with an account, including custodial fees, brokerage commissions, fees and expenses
charged by mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, trade-away fees, clearing fees, interest
and taxes incurred in connection with trading. Advisory clients pay these fees and expenses in
addition to the management fee we charge and the management fees charged by sub-advisers.
We discuss brokerage and other transaction costs incurred by advisory client accounts in more
detail in Item 12 (Brokerage Practices).
Occasionally, we recommend that an advisory client invest in a private fund or account not
managed or controlled by our affiliates or us. In that case, in addition to our management fee,
the advisory client will be responsible for all fees, allocations and other costs and expenses
charged by or payable to the unaffiliated third-party manager and/or private fund.
In the event an advisory client elects to invest in a private fund managed or controlled by our
affiliates or us, the advisory client will not pay the above-described management fee to us in
respect of the assets invested in the private fund. Instead, the advisory client will pay the fees
associated with the private fund, as described in the private fund’s offering documents, to us and
our affiliates, which are discussed below.
B. Private Funds
Fees associated with the private funds generally include an annual management fee of 1%, as well
as a performance-based fee or allocation. In addition, many of the private funds carry an
additional asset-based services fee of 0.10% to 0.25%. In most cases, Freestone or our affiliates
deduct those fees and/or allocations directly from the private funds. In addition, each private
fund pays all operating expenses and other costs of the fund, including fund formation costs,
due diligence costs and expenses, custodial fees, brokerage commissions, fees and expenses
charged by mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (if any), clearing fees, interest and taxes
incurred in connection with or related to its investments, and many other costs and expenses,
which are costs investors will bear. If one of the private funds invests into a private fund not
managed by our affiliates or us, or if one of the private funds enters into a managed account or
other arrangement in which an unaffiliated third-party provides investment advisory or other
services to the private fund, then an investor in the private fund effectively will incur two levels of
advisory fees: (1) the private fund’s management fee and performance-based fee or allocation;
and (2) any management fee or performance-based fee or allocation paid by the fund to the
unaffiliated third party.
The types of expenses borne and paid by the private funds are much broader than the types of
expenses advisory clients bear and pay as managed account clients. For example, among others,
the private funds pay: all investment related expenses (including legal fees and the fees of other
advisors); due diligence costs; travel and entertainment expenses related to the private fund and
its current or potential investments; tax preparation costs and filing fees; expenses associated with
preparing and distributing financial, tax and performance reports; insurance and bonding costs
(including any costs associated with errors and omissions insurance that covers us and our
employees and principals); costs related to compliance with applicable laws (including costs we
incur in complying with laws and regulations that apply to us as a result of our services to the
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private funds); costs of the fund’s legal counsel (including costs relating to internal legal functions,
inclusive of salaries of personnel of the Investment Adviser, performing such functions); and costs
of software, hardware and all systems and services that provide benefit to the private funds or to
us in providing services to the private funds, even if those costs would not otherwise fall within the
“safe harbor” established by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Each private fund’s organizational and offering documents includes details regarding the fees,
costs and expenses associated with that private fund, and the provisions of the private fund’s
organizational and offering documents govern an investment in the private fund, including with
respect to fees, operating expenses and other costs of the fund. Occasionally, the general partner
of the private funds will authorize the use of side letters. Any investor in the private funds must
read and understand the applicable fund’s organizational and offering documents.
C. Financial Planning and Wealth Management Services
The financial planning and wealth management services we provide are in conjunction with our
investment advisory services, and we generally do not charge additional fees for any of these
services. From time to time, we also recommend outside professionals to provide services to an
advisory client. The advisory client will be responsible for any fees charged by outside
professionals, in addition to our management fee. In connection with our financial planning and
wealth management services, we may recommend on a non-discretionary basis the purchase of
mutual funds or other securities, 529 plans or fixed or variable life insurance products or annuities.
We sometimes recommend and act as producer for life and disability insurance products. If an
advisory client elects to purchase any such life or disability products, we will receive a one-time
commission on those products. The sale of such insurance products poses a conflict of interest
because an agent may choose to recommend a product based on the compensation the agent will
receive from the sale instead of an advisory client’s specific needs. Freestone addresses this
conflict by only allowing licensed insurance producers to provide such recommendations and by
disclosing this conflict to the advisory client in writing prior to the sale of the insurance product.
Freestone has also engaged a non-affiliated third-party insurance provider to provide insurance
solutions to our advisory clients. We discuss this arrangement in more detail in Item 10 (Other
Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations).
An advisory client may purchase similar products or various other products we recommend
through other brokers or agents not affiliated with us.
D. Hourly or Flat Fees
We occasionally charge an advisory client an hourly fee or a flat fee for advice regarding
investments or related financial or wealth planning. We negotiate the fees associated with these
arrangements with applicable advisory clients on a case-by-case basis.
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Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
As described in Item 5 (Fees and Compensation), Freestone and/or our affiliates receive
performance-based fees or allocations from the private funds. Each private fund’s organizational
and offering documents describe in detail any applicable performance-based fee or allocation
arrangements.
Differences exist across the private funds in the total fees paid by each private fund, the amount
of assets in each private fund and in the amount of our investments (or investments by our
affiliates) in each private fund. These differences could create an incentive to favor one private
fund over other private funds when allocating investment opportunities, or to direct the best
investment ideas to, or allocate or sequence trades in favor of, one private fund over the other
private funds. We are committed to allocating investment opportunities on a fair and equitable
basis over time and we have established policies and procedures designed to address associated
conflicts of interest. We discuss these issues in more detail in Item 12 (Brokerage Practices).
A conflict of interest exists because we generally charge advisory clients an asset-based fee for
the advisory services we provide, but we (or our affiliates) are entitled to receive performance-
based fees or allocations from the private funds. As a result, we have an incentive to recommend
that an advisory client invest in a private fund, as opposed to holding assets only in separate
accounts and allocating those assets to investment solutions through which we (or our affiliates)
would not be entitled to receive performance-based fees or allocations. We also have an
incentive to offer investments that we believe will be more profitable than others to the private
funds in order to earn more compensation. Please see Item 12 (Brokerage Practices)
for a
discussion regarding how we attempt to mitigate this conflict.
Charging a performance-based fee could also create an incentive for us to recommend riskier or
more speculative investments and make different decisions regarding the timing and manner of
the realization of such investments than would be the case if we were not entitled to performance-
based fees.
We seek to address these conflicts of interest by emphasizing our duty to place the interests of
our clients first. In addition, the performance of the private funds does not drive the compensation
structure of our client advisers, though client advisers who indirectly have an equity interest in
Freestone will derive indirect benefits from performance-based fees or allocations received by
our affiliates or us.
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Item 7. Types of Clients
We provide investment advisory services primarily to high net worth families and individuals.
However, from time to time our advisory clients also include pension and profit-sharing plans,
financial institutions (including funds of funds), trusts, endowments, charitable organizations,
corporations or other business entities and third-party investment advisers.
We also serve as investment manager to the private funds. Any minimum investment amount or
other qualification requirements related to an investment in the private funds are set forth in the
applicable private fund’s offering documents.
We do not require a minimum account size, though in general we seek advisory clients that desire
to establish a discretionary investment management relationship with us over time involving
at least $1,000,000, or $500,000 for advisory clients referred to us through the Schwab Advisor
Network referral service. See Item 14 (Client Referrals and Other Compensation) for information
the Schwab Advisor Network referral service. For information regarding fees and
regarding
compensation that we receive, see Item 5 (Fees and Compensation).
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Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
A. Methods of Analysis
Our investment solutions are designed to manage the financial assets of our clients by combining
our internal expertise in traditional and alternative asset categories with external expertise in
domestic and global equity, domestic and global fixed income and alternative investments. Our
methods of security analysis and portfolio construction include fundamental and quantitative
analysis. Our sources of data typically include financial news and publications, reviews of
corporate activities, discussions with issuers and other market participants, research materials
prepared by others, corporate rating services, press releases and filings with the SEC, including
prospectuses and annual reports.
B. Investment Solutions
Our approach to advisory client portfolio construction seeks to achieve a proper balance of risk
and reward, depending on the unique needs and goals of our individual advisory clients. We
remain steadfast in our approach to investment management by focusing on downside risk as
well as upside opportunity.
We base the investment advice we provide to advisory clients on a number of factors, including
one or more of the following: the client’s investment objectives; risk tolerances; asset-class
preferences; time horizons; liquidity needs; expected returns; current economic and market
conditions; and views on future economic and market conditions. We attempt to achieve
diversification for advisory clients by investing over time, across asset classes, within asset
classes, across geographies and/or across various investment styles.
Generally, our investment solutions emphasize long-term investments in a diversified portfolio
intended to meet the advisory client’s long-term financial objectives. Nevertheless, investment
solutions include short-term purchases (instruments sold within one year), trading (instruments
sold within 30 days), long-term purchases (instruments held at least one year), concentrated
positions, short sales, costless collars, covered calls and other techniques, including some of those
discussed below.
In addition, investors in the private funds (including any advisory clients who elect to invest in the
private funds) are exposed to the investment strategies described in the applicable private fund’s
offering documents, which are materially different from the solutions described above and below.
For further information regarding a private fund’s strategies and the risks involved, please see
the organizational and offering documents for the applicable private fund.
Based upon our discussions with each advisory client, and depending upon each advisory client’s
particular circumstances and the investment allocations that we agree to with each advisory
client, we typically manage new advisory client discretionary account assets using some
combination of the following three investment solutions:
1. Equity portfolios managed by us and/or sub-advisers.
2. Fixed income portfolios managed by us and/or sub-advisers.
3. Alternative Investments, which includes non-discretionary recommendations regarding the
private funds we sponsor or other private funds not managed or controlled by our affiliates
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or us.
From time to time, we create customized solutions that are not comprised of these investment
solutions on a case-by-case basis for a particular advisory client. In addition, some existing
advisory clients have assets invested using one or more of our legacy model portfolios. A portion
of every advisory client portfolio, including each of the below model portfolios, likely will be held in
cash or cash equivalents from time to time, in which case the applicable portfolio will not be fully
invested.
In addition, we have entered into relationships with sub-advisers to manage advisory client
accounts in accordance with the sub-advisers’ strategies. While we have discretion regarding
selection of the sub-adviser strategies and models into which advisory client assets will be
invested, the sub-advisers manage the advisory client accounts on a discretionary basis and are
responsible for making investment decisions regarding the purchase, sale or exchange of
investments in the accounts. Typically, these sub-advisers select brokers and execute based
upon the sub-adviser’s policies. The sub-advisers also allocate and aggregate transactions based
on their policies and procedures, not our policies and procedures.
We select sub-advisers through a screening and due diligence process. It is possible that one
or more of the sub-advisers have current or prior relationships or other business dealings with
one or more of our key persons or one of our affiliated entities, and may provide investment
recommendations and advice to one or more of the private funds.
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1. Equity Portfolios
Our equity portfolios have the ability to provide a range of active and passive exposure that we
believe provide quality equity solutions to our advisory clients. Our equity portfolios are managed
by us or one or more sub-advisers and typically consist of, among other things, U.S. and non-U.S.
individual equities (including common and preferred stock), exchange-traded funds, index funds,
mutual funds, master limited partnerships, real estate investment trusts, interval funds, “tender
offer” funds, business development companies, options, other derivatives or a combination of any
of the forgoing.
2. Fixed Income Portfolios
Our fixed income portfolios seek to generate current income and to provide relative stability. Our
fixed income portfolios are managed by us or one or more sub-advisers and typically consist of,
among other things, income-oriented mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, individual taxable
and tax-exempt investments, investment grade and non-investment grade bonds and instruments,
including U.S. and non-U.S. instruments.
3. Alternative Investments
Affiliates of ours form and control various private funds designed primarily to provide our
advisory clients with exposure to alternative investment strategies, though investors that are not
advisory clients also invest in the private funds from time to time. In general, we do not tailor the
strategy of any private fund to the needs of individual investors in the private fund, regardless of
whether the investor is an advisory client of ours. Subject to the provisions of the organizational
and offering documents of the applicable private fund, a private fund invests in the U.S. and
outside of the U.S., and employs a variety of investment strategies and techniques, including,
among others:
§ distressed investing or arbitrage strategies, including equity-related investments, loans or
other debt, structured finance, real estate, bonds or other asset classes and types, including
residential- and mortgage-backed securities;
§ private placements and other restricted securities, which include securities of private or
public companies with limited or no trading market;
§
the purchase of interests of a single private fund issuer sold in the secondary market;
§
§ a multi-manager and fund-of-funds investment approach, through which a private fund
allocates capital to a variety of investment funds or vehicles or discretionary accounts of
third-party investment advisers that manage a variety of hedged and unhedged strategies
in U.S. and non-U.S. securities and other investments;
real estate investments, including direct or indirect, equity or debt, co-investments with
funds and/or third-party investment advisers or real estate operators, joint ventures, and
other vehicles for the acquisition of real estate and real estate-related assets;
§ private equity investments;
§
real assets, such as oil and gas working interests or bulk aged spirits;
§ privately originated corporate loans; or
§ cleared and over-the-counter financial instruments, including options on securities or
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groups of securities, swaps, futures and other derivatives, designed to increase return or
act as a hedge against other positions or against certain market or interest rate risks, or as
part of other trading strategies.
C. Wealth Management and Financial Planning
We also offer wealth management and financial planning services to many of our advisory clients.
Our process focuses on the integration and coordination of financial issues that an advisory client
may face. Among other things, these services typically include:
§ Financial planning, which includes one or more services, including reviewing an advisory
client’s estate, tax and philanthropic planning;
retirement and benefit plan solutions;
insurance;
§
§ credit and risk analysis;
§
§ college planning; and
§ corporate benefits (including analysis regarding stock options, restricted stock, 401(k)
plans and deferred compensation plans).
We offer these services in conjunction with our investment advisory services, and we generally
do not charge additional fees for any of these services. Many times, whether (and to what extent)
we offer these services to an advisory client depends primarily on the amount of assets we
manage for the advisory client and the complexity of the advisory client’s circumstances. From
time to time, we also recommend outside professionals to provide services to an advisory client.
The advisory client will be responsible for any fees charged by outside professionals, in addition
to our management fee.
D. Material Risks
Any investment activity, including investing in securities, involves risk of loss that clients should
be prepared to bear. All investments carry the risk of loss, including complete loss, and there is
no guarantee
that any investment strategy will meet its investment or risk management
objectives. Any past success of a particular investment strategy or methodology does not imply
or guarantee future success.
Depending on the investment strategy and the type of financial instruments used at any given
time to implement that strategy, advisory clients and investors in the private funds face one or
more of the following material investment risks:
§ Equity Instruments. Investments in equity securities generally involve a high degree of risk.
Stock prices are volatile and change daily, and market movements are difficult to predict.
Movements in stock prices and markets may result from a variety of factors, including those
affecting individual companies, sectors or industries. Such movements may be temporary or
last for extended periods. The price of an individual stock may fall or fail to appreciate, even
in a rising stock market. A client could lose money due to a sudden or gradual decline in a
stock’s price or due to an overall decline in the stock markets generally. In particular, “growth”
stocks can have relatively high valuations, which, among other things, may result in the prices
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of growth stocks being more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than prices
of other stocks. Accordingly, investing in growth stocks can be more risky than investing in a
company with more modest growth expectations.
§ Fixed Income Instruments. Generally, prices of fixed income instruments are volatile and
change daily. Investments in fixed income instruments present numerous risks, including
credit, interest rate, reinvestment and prepayment risk, all of which affect the price (i.e., value)
of the instruments. For instance, a rise in interest rates may cause fixed income instruments
to lose value. The value of fixed income instruments may decline in response to events
affecting the issuer, its credit rating or any underlying assets backing the instruments.
High-yield fixed income instruments (often referred to as “junk bonds”) are speculative and
involve a greater risk of default and price change than investment grade fixed income
instruments. High-yield instruments can experience sudden and sharp price swings due to
changes in economic conditions, stock market activity, sales by major investors, default,
perceived creditworthiness or other factors. The secondary market for high-yield fixed income
instruments may be less liquid than the market for investment grade instruments, and a
client’s account may be unable to sell illiquid high-yield instruments at an advantageous time
or price.
§ Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies. Depending on the investment strategies we use to
manage a client’s account, we can and do invest a substantial portion of the client’s account
in smaller and less established companies (i.e., small-capitalization and mid capitalization
companies). These smaller companies may present greater opportunities for capital
appreciation, but typically are more volatile and involve greater risk than companies that are
larger and more established. Such smaller companies may have limited product lines, markets
or financial resources and their securities may trade less frequently and in more limited
volumes than the securities of larger, more mature companies. As a result, the prices of the
securities of such smaller companies may fluctuate to a greater degree than the prices of the
securities of other issuers and these companies may be more likely to fail, which could result
in substantial losses.
§ Non-U.S. Investments. From time to time, we invest client accounts in instruments issued by
non-U.S. companies and governments, including those in developing nations and emerging
markets. Such investments involve a number of risks not usually associated with investing in
securities of U.S. companies or the U.S. government. Those risks include, among other
things, trade balances and imbalances and related economic policies, currency exchange rate
fluctuations, imposition of exchange control regulation, withholding taxes, limitations on the
repatriation of funds or other assets to the U.S., possible nationalization of assets or
industries, political difficulties and political instability, any of which could lead to substantial
losses.
§ Turnover. In general, there is no limit on how frequently we trade in a client’s account and,
while not typical of our model portfolios, it is possible to trade in a client’s account many times
per month. A higher turnover rate of instruments in a client’s account, or increased trading in
a client’s account, will result in higher transaction costs and higher taxes in taxable accounts,
and may materially affect performance.
§ Management. Our judgments regarding the attractiveness, value or potential appreciation of
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a particular asset class or investment instrument are sometimes incorrect and there is no
guarantee that any asset class or instrument will perform as we expect. We may fail to
implement a strategy as we intended or we may not identify all risks associated with a strategy
or a shift in strategy, all of which may cause substantial losses.
In addition, our ability to manage client assets is largely dependent on the talents and efforts
of highly skilled individuals. Competition in the financial services industry for qualified
employees is intense. Our continued ability to manage client asset effectively depends on our
ability to retain and motivate our employees. Moreover, there is no prohibition on our
employees or principals resigning or retiring.
§ Sub-Advisers. The performance of strategies managed by sub-advisers on a discretionary
basis depends in whole or in part upon the strategies, skills and abilities of sub-advisers not
affiliated with us. Although we endeavor to select sub-advisors with individual strategies and
investment policies consistent with our objectives, we do not have any control over the
investments that the sub-advisors make. In addition, although we endeavor to monitor sub-
advisers periodically, we are unlikely to have access to information regarding a sub-adviser’s
trading activity prior to that activity taking place. In instances where we are executing trades
in accordance with a model acquired from a third-party sub- adviser, we typically will execute
those trades in reliance on the sub-adviser executing its strategy. Accordingly, we are not in
a position to analyze or respond to developments (or anticipated developments) resulting from
such trades until after the trades have occurred, in which case it may be too late to prevent
or mitigate any losses we might otherwise have been able to prevent or mitigate.
§ Market Risk; Liquidity. General economic and market conditions, such as interest rates,
availability of credit, inflation rates, commodity prices, economic uncertainty, changes in laws,
trade barriers, currency fluctuations and controls, and national and international political
circumstances can materially affect a client’s account. For example, any of these factors may
affect price volatility and the liquidity of instruments held in a client’s account. Even an
instrument that generally is, or recently was, liquid may unexpectedly and suddenly become
illiquid. Such volatility or illiquidity could result in substantial losses.
§ Financial Institution Risk; Distress Events. Distress Events can be caused by factors including
eroding market sentiment, significant withdrawals, fraud, malfeasance, poor performance or
accounting irregularities. In the event banks, brokers, hedging counterparties, lenders or other
custodians (each, a “Financial Institution”) experiences a Distress Event, Freestone and/or
the private funds may not be able to access deposits, borrowing facilities or other services for
an extended period of time or ever. Although assets held by regulated Financial Institutions
in the United States frequently are insured up to stated balance amounts by organizations
such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), in the case of banks, or the
Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”), in the case of certain broker-dealers,
amounts in excess of the relevant insurance are subject to risk of loss, and any non-U.S.
Financial Institutions that are not subject to similar regimes pose increased risk of loss.
Although in recent years governmental intervention has resulted in additional protections for
depositors, there can be no assurance that governmental intervention will be successful or
avoid the risk of loss, substantial delays or negative impact on banking or brokerage
conditions or markets. Although Freestone expects to exercise contractual remedies under
the agreements with Financial Institutions in the event of a Distress Event, there can be no
15
assurance that such remedies will be successful or avoid losses or delays.
Many Financial Institutions require, as a condition to using their services or otherwise, that
Freestone and/or the relevant private fund maintain all or a set amount or percentage of their
respective accounts or assets with the Custodian, which heightens the risks associated with
a Distress Event with respect to such Custodian(s). Although Freestone seeks to do business
with Custodians that it believes are creditworthy and capable of fulfilling their respective
obligations, Freestone is under no obligation to use a minimum number of Custodians with
respect to any private fund, or to maintain account balances at or below the relevant insured
amounts.
§ Extraordinary Events. Global terrorist activity, armed conflicts, epidemics, pandemics and
similar extraordinary events may negatively affect general economic conditions, including
sales, profits and production, and may materially affect prices and/or impair our trading
facilities and infrastructure or the trading facilities and infrastructure of our counterparties or
the exchanges or markets on which we trade.
§ Cybersecurity Risks. We and our service providers are subject to risks associated with a
breach in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is a generic term used to describe the technology,
processes and practices designed to protect networks, systems, computers, programs, and
data from both intentional cyber-attacks and hacking by other computer users as well as
unintentional damage or interruption that, in either case, can result in damage or interruption
from computer viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunications 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. A cybersecurity breach could expose Freestone, our affiliates,
clients and investors to substantial costs (including, without limitation, those associated with
forensic analysis of the origin and scope of the breach, increased and upgraded cybersecurity,
identity theft, unauthorized use of proprietary information, litigation, adverse investor
reaction, the dissemination of confidential and proprietary information and reputational
damage), civil liability as well as regulatory inquiry and/or action. In addition, with the
increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, Freestone and client
information could be susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. While
Freestone has established a business continuity plan (referenced in Item 11) in the event of,
and risk management strategies, systems, policies and procedures to seek to prevent,
cybersecurity breaches, there are inherent limitations in such plans, strategies, systems,
policies and procedures, including the possibility that certain risks have not yet been identified.
Furthermore, Freestone and our affiliates cannot control the cybersecurity plans, strategies,
systems, policies and procedures put in place by other service providers to our clients or the
issuers in which our clients invest.
§ Business Continuity Plan. Freestone has adopted a business continuity plan designed to
maintain critical functions in the event our ability to conduct business and operate normally is
negatively impacted or disrupted. By their nature, disasters and emergencies are difficult to
predict. We have determined it is most important that our plan contemplates and addresses
the inability to access our office space or network due to a variety of factors, including
electrical outages, loss of internet connectivity, computer viruses that corrupt key data, natural
disasters, epidemics or pandemics, or terrorist attack. Our recovery strategies are designed
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to limit the impact on clients from any business interruption or disaster. Nevertheless, our
ability to conduct business may be curtailed by a disruption in the infrastructure that supports
our operations and the regions in which our offices are located. In addition, our investment
management activities may be adversely impacted if certain service providers fail to perform.
§ Regulatory Developments. The legal, tax and regulatory environment worldwide in the
financial industry is evolving, and changes in regulations affecting the financial industry,
including Freestone and the issuers of financial instruments held in client accounts, may have
a material adverse effect on our ability to pursue the investment strategies described above
or the value of the instruments held in client accounts. There has been an increase in scrutiny
of the financial industry by governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations. Various
national governments have expressed concern regarding the disruptive effects of speculative
trading and the need to regulate the financial markets in general. New laws and regulations
or actions taken by regulators that restrict our ability to pursue our investment strategies or
conduct business with broker-dealers and other counterparties could adversely affect client
accounts.
§ Concentration. Client accounts may have highly concentrated positions in issuers engaged
in one or a few industries. This increases the risk of loss relative to the market as a whole.
§ Derivatives. Derivatives (a term that includes a broad range of investments, including futures,
options, forward contracts and swaps) may move in unexpected ways due to the use of
leverage and other factors and may result in increased volatility or losses. Many
derivatives, particularly those negotiated over-the-counter, are substantially illiquid or could
become illiquid under certain market conditions. Use of derivatives also involves counterparty
risk, meaning that the counterparty to a derivative contract may fail to comply with the terms
of the contract. Any dispute concerning a derivative contract could be expensive and time
consuming to resolve, and even a favorable resolution could come too late to prevent liquidity
problems and substantial losses.
§ Short Sales. Some of our sub-advisers utilize short selling strategies. Short sales can result
in profits to a client’s account if the price of the securities sold short declines. In a short sale,
securities are sold that have been borrowed, usually from a broker. To obtain the borrowed
shares, we typically will pledge cash or securities held in the client’s account in an amount
equal to or exceeding the value of the borrowed securities. The amount of the deposit may
increase or decrease to reflect changes in the market value of the borrowed securities, and
the lender generally may demand the return of the borrowed securities at any time. The
client’s account will profit only if it repays the lender with securities purchased at a lower price
than it borrowed them. The client’s account could experience losses if it is required to replace
borrowed securities by purchasing them in the market at a time when the market price is
higher than the price at which it borrowed them. Accordingly, short sales generally involve the
potential for unlimited loss.
§ Leverage. If appropriate given the size and sophistication of the advisory client, we may
employ leverage in that advisory client’s account. Some examples of investment positions
that use leverage include derivatives, short sales and purchasing securities on margin. The
use of leverage generally involves a high degree of risk. Typically, a client’s account will be
required to post cash or securities as collateral against the amount borrowed. If the value of
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the derivatives or securities in the client’s account that have been posted as collateral falls
below the margin or collateral levels required by the lender, then additional margin or collateral
would be required. Failing to post additional margin or collateral could cause the lender to
terminate the transactions and liquidate or retain the collateral and margin. In addition,
because the use of leverage allows the client’s account to hold a position worth more than the
amount of the client’s investment in the position, the amount the client’s account may lose if
the price moves against the client’s position will be high in relation to the amount invested.
§ Alternative Investments (Private Funds) Risk. In addition to the above risks, the private funds
and the strategies they use include additional risks, including:
• The private funds use derivatives, short sales and/or leverage regularly, and the risks
associated with those instruments and investment practices are much greater in the
private funds than in advisory client accounts.
• The private funds are exempt from SEC registration and only available to “accredited
investors” and/or “qualified purchasers” who are assumed to be sophisticated purchasers
who have little or no need for liquidity from such investments, and are able to withstand
the loss of some or all of their investment.
• Limited withdrawal rights and restrictions on transfer create higher liquidity risk and
investors should view an investment in the private funds as a long-term investment.
• The private funds may invest
• Fund fees and expenses may be a higher percentage of net assets than traditional
investment strategies, and investors typically are subject to performance or incentive fees
or allocations in addition to management fees.
• Private fund investments may be more sensitive to interest rates and include the
possibility of more volatility than other investments.
• Generally, we determine the value of investments held by the private funds or, if the
private fund has invested in a third-party fund, the investment manager of that fund.
The various risks briefly summarized above and in this section D are not the only potential
or actual risks associated with an investment in any of the private funds. Before making
any investment decision regarding any of the private funds, an investor must carefully
review and evaluate all of the applicable fund documents, including the private fund’s
private offering memorandum, and the specific disclosures regarding risk factors and
conflicts of interest applicable to a particular private fund.
§ Other Funds. In addition to the private funds, we often invest a portion of an advisory client
account in funds not managed by our affiliates or us. Examples of these types of funds include
U.S. and non-U.S. master limited partnerships, unit investment trusts, open-end and closed-
end mutual funds and hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds, advisory
accounts, real estate investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, or other private alternative or
other investment funds. These other funds and accounts have their own fees (including
management fees) and expenses and, depending on the fund, have separate incentive or
performance fees or allocations. Accordingly, if an advisory client or one of the private funds
invests in these other funds or accounts, the advisory client or private fund will bear the fees
and expenses of the other fund or account, in addition to our management fee (or, in the case
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of a private fund, the fees, expenses and allocations in respect of that particular private fund).
Also, U.S. mutual funds generally must distribute all gains to investors, including investors
who may not have an economic gain from investing in the fund, which can lead to negative
tax effects on investors, particularly non-U.S. persons.
§ Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (collectively “AI”). AI is used as an umbrella term
that encompasses a broad spectrum of different technologies and applications, such as
computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as
visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.
Although Freestone may use AI tools to help promote administrative and operational efficiency,
personnel are prohibited from entering any personally identifiable information into any AI
platform. When relying on AI there are certain potential risks, including data quality, copyright
and trade secret violations, confidentiality breaches, unauthorized access or malware risks,
breach of contract, cybersecurity, and privacy law violations. Results from AI tools are
assessed and evaluated, but there can be no assurance of accuracy. The regulatory
environment relating to AI is rapidly evolving and could require changes in Freestone’s
adoption and implementation of AI technology in the future.
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Item 9. Disciplinary Information
We are required to disclose legal or disciplinary events that are material to a client’s or prospective
client’s evaluation of our advisory business or the integrity of our management. We do not have any
information to disclose in response to this Item.
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Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Commodity Pool Operator Affiliation
Freestone Investments LLC (“Freestone Investments”), our affiliate and general partner of several
of the private funds, is a commodity pool operator registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures
Trading Commission. We share resources with Freestone Investments, including offices and staff.
All of the persons registered as principals or associated persons of Freestone Investments are also
employees of ours.
B. Material Relationships or Arrangements with Industry Participants
Freestone Investments, our affiliate and the direct or indirect ultimate general partner of the private
funds, or its subsidiaries generally has the right to receive a performance-based fee or allocation
from the private funds and has the power to determine who will serve as the investment manager to
the private funds. Because of the forgoing, Freestone Investments may be considered to be acting
as an investment adviser. To the extent that is true, Freestone Investments and we collectively
conduct a single advisory business. Accordingly, Freestone Investments is registered with the SEC
as an investment adviser through our filing of a joint Form ADV, in which Freestone Investments is
indicated as a “relying adviser.” We have disclosed in the Miscellaneous Section of Schedule D and
Schedule R of Part 1A of our Form ADV that Freestone Investments and we are together filing a
single Form ADV.
As discussed above, our affiliate, Freestone Investments, is the direct or indirect ultimate general
partner of the private funds. In addition, we provide investment advisory services to approximately
2,700 advisory clients and serve as investment manager to the private funds. Freestone and our
affiliates likely will participate in or sponsor other investment vehicles and service additional advisory
clients in the future.
In some cases, a particular investment opportunity is desirable and appropriate for all or some of
our advisory clients and the private funds, but the amount of capital that may be allocated to the
investment opportunity is limited. Those circumstances create the potential for a conflict of interest
between and among the advisory clients and the private funds. We intend to allocate the opportunity
among the advisory clients and the private funds in a manner we believe is fair and equitable over
time. We discuss allocation in more detail in Item 12 (Brokerage Practices).
In addition, many times we recommend that advisory clients invest in the private funds. Because
Freestone and our affiliates serve as investment manager and general partner of the private funds,
we and/or our affiliates are entitled to receive a management fee and a performance-based fee or
allocation. This creates a conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend an
investment in the private funds based on our own financial interests, rather than solely based on the
interests of our clients. Please see Item 11 (Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading) for further discussion of this and other conflicts of interest and
how we seek to address them.
In addition, Freestone Investments holds 100% of the equity and is the sole managing member of
all of the general partners of the private funds, other than those private funds for which Freestone
Investments serves as general partner directly.
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Insurance Solutions Arrangement
C.
Freestone has an arrangement with Long Road Risk Management Services, LLC (“LRRM”) to
provide insurance solutions to advisory clients including life insurance, disability insurance and long-
term care insurance. Advisory clients who choose to purchase insurance coverage through LRRM
will need to enter into a customer agreement with LRRM or its affiliate. When an advisory client
chooses to purchase an insurance product through LRRM on certain insurance solutions, Freestone
will help monitor the policies on behalf of the client and will receive an annual fee for such service.
This fee is paid by Valmark Policy Management Company, LLC (“VPMC”) to Freestone and will not
result in increased fees for the client than if they had executed the insurance solution without
Freestone’s involvement. This arrangement is disclosed to advisory clients that choose to execute
insurance solutions with LRRM. Freestone does not receive any portion of the commission revenue
generated in life insurance product placement. This fee for monitoring represents a conflict of
interest for Freestone. Advisory clients have no obligation to engage the services of LRRM or VPMC
and retain absolute discretion over such decisions and are free to accept or reject any policy
placement or replacement recommendations. LRRM and VPMC are both subsidiaries of Valmark
Securities, Inc. Neither VPMC nor LRRM are affiliated with Freestone.
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Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and
Personal Trading
A. Code of Ethics
We have established a Code of Ethics for our personnel that imposes a high standard of business
conduct on us and our employees and emphasizes our fiduciary duty to our clients. The Code
includes provisions regarding prohibitions on insider trading, personal trading activity in employee
and employee-related accounts, and compliance with laws. Our Code of Ethics emphasizes that
employees have a duty to place the interests of our clients first. A copy of our Code of Ethics is
available to current or prospective clients upon request by contacting our Chief Compliance
Officer or your Client Advisor.
B. Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
In some cases, we implement investment ideas across the model portfolios and the private funds.
We have adopted allocation policies designed to distribute the execution of these ideas among
the applicable parties in a fair and equitable manner over time. For information regarding our
trading practices, see Item 12 (Brokerage Practices).
Employees often buy or sell securities or assets identical to those recommended to or purchased
for clients, including the private funds. This results in a conflict of interest. For example, many
employees are investors in our model portfolios, alongside the other client accounts also invested
in those model portfolios. All client accounts (including employee accounts) participate in any
trade allocation consistent with the methodology discussed above, including being eligible for any
random and full allocation. Consequently, there are situations where an employee account is filled
before and at a more advantageous price than an advisory client account. If the allocation
involves parallel funds or multiple single employee-controlled accounts, then the parallel funds
and all of the single employee-controlled accounts, as applicable, will be treated as a single client
or account for purposes of initial allocation. In any such case, we allocate across client accounts
in accordance with our allocation policies and without regard for whether the client is an employee
or not.
In addition, from time to time, employees, for their own account and not through a model portfolio
or the private funds, can purchase or sell securities or assets identical to those recommended to
or purchased for clients. In some cases, those purchases or sales occur on the same day, prior
to or at a better price than client accounts. In such instances, employees have a conflict of interest
to prioritize their own interests ahead of clients. As discussed further below, we have procedures
in place designed to address the potential conflicts of interests that could arise in these instances.
Some of our employees have interests or positions in certain securities that we recommend to
clients. For example, we often recommend that advisory clients invest in the private funds,
assuming the private funds are suitable for the advisory clients and the advisory clients are
qualified to invest in the private funds. Our affiliate, Freestone Investments, is the direct or indirect
ultimate general partner of the private funds and controls the funds. In many cases, employees
are investors in the private funds. Another example occurs when a portfolio manager personally
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purchases one or more securities to test an investment thesis or strategy to ascertain whether it
behaves as expected prior to recommending that thesis or strategy to clients. In addition, in some
circumstances, we or our affiliates or employees invest alongside clients in securities or other
positions, including real estate investments.
As discussed above, our affiliate, Freestone Investments, is the direct or indirect ultimate general
partner of the private funds. We serve as the investment manager to the private funds and are
entitled to receive a management fee and a performance fee or allocation. We often recommend
that advisory clients invest in the private funds, assuming the private funds are suitable for the
advisory clients and the advisory clients are qualified to invest in the private funds. This creates a
conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend an investment in the private funds
based on our own financial interests, rather than solely the interests of our clients. For other
disclosures relating to conflicts of interest associated with the private funds, please see Item 6
(Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management).
From time to time we recommend that certain advisory clients invest directly in private funds not
affiliated with us. In some cases, the private funds and/or our affiliates or employees invest in the
unaffiliated fund alongside our advisory clients. In certain instances in the past, but not currently,
the private funds and/or our affiliates or employees have entered into agreements with the
unaffiliated fund that permit the private funds and/or our affiliates or employees to invest on more
favorable terms than the advisory clients. Such terms have included reduced management fees
and performance fees or allocations, more frequent or greater liquidity and a revenue share based
on the management and performance fees and allocations received by the unaffiliated fund,
including fees paid by our advisory clients. We may not offer (and on occasion in the past have
not offered) these terms to our advisory clients that invest in the unaffiliated fund, or such terms
may not be available for our advisory clients. This creates a conflict of interest because we have
an incentive to recommend an investment in the unaffiliated fund for a variety of reasons, including
to increase the amount of revenue paid to our affiliates or us and to garner goodwill with the
unaffiliated fund.
We have engaged in principal transactions in the past and it is likely we will occasionally engage
in one-off principal transactions in the future. We do not engage in principal transactions on an
ongoing basis as part of conducting our business activities, and we do not believe these
transactions, if executed, are material to our investment process. If we do engage in such
transactions occasionally in the future, those transactions would involve the potential for conflicts
of interest because, among other things, we are a party to the transactions and we would be
acting for our own account. In an effort to mitigate these conflicts, we require prior approval of
such transactions from our General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer. In addition, we may
engage in cross trades between client accounts on occasion where such a transaction is
permissible under the relevant client agreements and where we have determined such transaction
is in the best interest of each client.
Among other things, we have established the following policies designed to address the forgoing
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conflicts of interest:
No employee may prefer his or her own interest to that of any client.
Employee personal trades are reviewed by our Compliance department. We have enacted
various policies and procedures in an effort to ensure client trades are not negatively impacted by
employee personal trades.
We are aware of all securities holdings that we manage on behalf of clients, and we have
implemented procedures to stay informed as to the securities holdings of employees that have
access to advisory recommendations. We review securities holdings of such persons on a regular
basis.
We emphasize the unrestricted right of the client to decline any recommendation we provide,
except in situations where we have discretionary authority with respect to the client’s account. For
instance, we do not have investment discretion over advisory client accounts in respect of
decisions regarding an investment in the private funds. We may recommend that an advisory
client invest in the private funds, but the advisory client has ultimate discretion regarding whether
to execute on our recommendation.
We require our employees to link their brokerage accounts to ACA ComplianceAlpha, an
application we use to assist with monitoring employee trades and other compliance requirements.
We evaluate opportunities for advisory clients to invest alongside the private funds on a case-by-
case basis, taking into account the relevant facts and circumstances of the particular opportunity.
Some of the factors we consider in our evaluation include the following: the size of the opportunity;
whether the opportunity is appropriate for the client; the amount of the opportunity that is
appropriate for the client based on a variety of factors (e.g., risk profile, asset class); the structure
of the opportunity; how the client would access the opportunity; and any additional administrative
or other burdens of evaluating, investing in and monitoring the opportunity. In general, we believe
advisory clients should access investments made by, or investment opportunities presented to,
the private funds by making an investment in the private funds. Accordingly, typically we will not
provide advisory clients the opportunity to invest directly alongside the private funds, though, in
some cases, our model portfolios invest alongside our private funds. We discuss this in more
detail in Item 12 (Brokerage Practices). This approach creates a potential conflict of interest
because we generally charge advisory clients an asset-based fee for the advisory services we
provide, but we (or our affiliates) are entitled to receive performance-based fees or allocations
from the private funds and, in some cases, we charge advisory clients performance-based
management fees. As a result, we have an economic incentive to recommend that an advisory
client invest in a private fund, as opposed to holding assets only in separate accounts and
allocating those assets to investment solutions through which we (or our affiliates) would not be
entitled to receive performance-based fees or allocations. We discuss this conflict and the steps
we take to mitigate it in Item 6 (Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management).
We require employees to act in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, rules and
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regulations governing investment advisory practices. Employees who fail to observe the above
policies are subject to remedial measures and/or termination.
In addition, we are under common control with Freestone Asset Management LLC, which is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Freestone Capital Holdings, LLC. In September 2017, Freestone
Asset Management acquired a minority ownership interest in Meritus Communities, LLC, which
was subsequently sold to a third party. In July 2020, Freestone Asset Management acquired a
47.5% ownership interest and, in general terms, a 37% economic interest in, Cambio
Communities LLC. Meritus and Cambio are the asset and property managers of all of the
manufactured housing communities held by the private funds.
The Cambio holding provides strategic and economic benefits to us or our affiliates. For example,
we or our affiliates will benefit by being entitled to a share of the revenues earned by Cambio,
including revenues derived from the fees, distributions and other proceeds paid to Cambio by the
private funds. We or our affiliates will also benefit if Cambio is acquired or conducts an initial
public offering. In addition, Freestone Asset Management has various negative consent rights in
respect of Cambio, and is entitled to appoint, and has appointed, 40% of the board of managers
of Cambio, which should provide us or our affiliates with enhanced oversight of the growth and
operations of Cambio. Currently, our employees, Gary Furukawa and Nick Cicero, serve on the
Cambio board of managers.
We recognize that, notwithstanding the forgoing, the Cambio holding creates actual and potential
conflicts of interest between us and our affiliates, on the one hand, and the private funds, on the
other hand. In an effort to mitigate certain conflicts of interest that may arise in the future as a
result of the transaction, we will retain, at our sole cost and expense, an independent third-party
to provide guidance to us and our affiliates regarding such conflicts if and when they arise.
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Item 12. Brokerage Practices
A. Discretionary Advisory Client Accounts
§ Brokerage
Unless otherwise designated in a client’s investment management agreement, we will determine
the brokers used and the commissions paid in connection with transactions for a client’s account.
We have a duty to seek to obtain “best execution” for a client on each brokerage transaction. We
will allocate brokerage transactions to those brokers, dealers and markets, and at such prices and
commission rates, as in our good faith judgment we expect to be in the best interest of our clients.
In making such allocations, we may take into account a variety of factors, including price,
execution capabilities and research, transaction size, quality of execution and services (including
research services) provided by the broker-dealer, block positioning, custodial and other services
provided by the broker-dealer that we believe could enhance our general portfolio management
capabilities and the value of ongoing relationships with the broker-dealer. It is not necessary that
such factors provide a direct benefit to a particular client, and we do not have any duty or obligation
to seek advanced competitive bidding for the most favorable commission rate. Accordingly,
although we will seek competitive commission rates, we will not necessarily obtain the lowest
possible commission rate in respect of a transaction.
As discussed in Item 14, we typically require that advisory clients maintain accounts over which
we have discretion at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) or Fidelity Brokerage Services, and
its affiliated clearing broker, National Financial Services LLC, along with other affiliates (Fidelity).
We receive client referrals from Schwab. As a result, when we select a broker-dealer with which
to trade, we have an incentive to select Schwab based on our interest in receiving client referrals,
rather than on our clients’ interest in receiving most favorable execution. We do not have any
obligation to place trades with Schwab. Most of the time, we will execute advisory client trades
(e.g., rebalancing trades, trades that are not aggregated or small aggregated block trades)
through the broker affiliated with the custodian where the assets are custodied, consistent with
our duty to seek best execution.
In some cases, sub-advisers provide trade execution services in connection with the
implementation of the model portfolios managed by those sub-advisers. In those cases, the
applicable sub-adviser is responsible for seeking best execution of those trades. We will have
investment discretion regarding selection of the portfolio managed by the sub-adviser and may
place restrictions on the types of securities purchased and sold on behalf of an advisory client
account. In some cases, the sub-adviser will not effect any trades for an advisory client account
without our express instruction. In other cases, the sub-adviser effects trades for an advisory
client account in its discretion without any instruction by us.
§ Soft Dollars and Other Benefits Under Section 28(e)
In 2024, we did not have any formal soft dollar arrangements where client commissions were
used to pay for research, products, or services. In prior years, soft dollars were used to acquire
certain research and services, but we have since ceased this practice. However, we receive and
use certain brokerage services that fall within the “safe harbor” provisions of Section 28(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which include services that are customarily provided by brokers
27
dealers to their clients. For example, we receive brokerage-specific services, including
communication services related to execution, clearing, settlement of transactions, post-trade
matching, allocations routing, settlement instructions, trading software to route orders to market
centers or brokers, direct market access and other functions incidental to effecting securities
transactions.
These services are evaluated based on their ability to provide best execution and are consistent
with our fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of our clients. We acknowledge that we receive
a benefit because we do not have to produce or pay for these services. In general, we use
benefits derived from brokerage services that fall within the “safe harbor” to service all client
accounts, regardless of any client’s trading activity or commissions generated by any client.
Because we do not have to pay for these products or services ourselves, we face a conflict of
interest when allocating brokerage business for client accounts. In other words, we could have an
incentive to execute client transactions through a broker-dealer that provides valuable services or
products to us and pay transaction commissions charged by that broker-dealer, rather than based
on a client account’s interest in receiving most favorable execution. We could also have an
incentive to cause client accounts to engage in more securities transactions or pay higher
commissions than would otherwise be optimal in order to acquire research products and services.
Additionally, in some cases, a client’s transaction may be executed by a broker-dealer in
recognition of services or products that are not used in managing that client’s account. We do not
exclude a broker-dealer from consideration when making a trading decision regarding a client’s
account simply because the broker-dealer has not provided services or products to us, although
we may not be willing to pay the same commission to that broker-dealer.
We may cause client accounts to pay a brokerage commission higher than another broker-dealer
might have charged for effecting the same transaction. We would do this if we believe in good
faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research
services provided by the broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either the particular transaction or our
overall responsibilities with respect to our client accounts.
To manage these conflicts, we have procedures in place to evaluate best execution including (i)
on a regular basis, we review best execution practices and brokerage arrangements and (ii) we
review commission rates periodically relative to peers.
§ Aggregation
From time to time, when we deem the purchase or sale of securities to be in the best interest of
one or more accounts, we aggregate the securities to be purchased or sold by all such clients for
a variety of reasons, including seeking best execution. In such situations, we typically will seek to
aggregate accounts for (i) model trade orders executed on the same day and custodied with the
same custodian (e.g., a systematic transition or migration of client accounts to a different model
not in response to a trade ticket, rebalancing a model) (“model trades”) or (ii) orders by private
funds in the same security on the same day and custodied with the same custodian, when feasible
(“private fund trades”). From time to time, aggregating the forgoing orders is not reasonably
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practical or may result in clients being treated unfairly or inequitably.
We will seek to execute aggregated orders for model trades or private fund trades on the same
day. When Freestone places aggregated model and private fund trades across multiple brokers,
it will execute these orders using a fair and equitable allocation method, consistent with its internal
policies and procedures. For various reasons, we periodically aggregate and trade only a portion
of the accounts within a given model on a given day in an effort to ensure the selected account
orders are filled in full (versus trading the same accounts over multiple days). In such instances,
we will select the accounts to aggregate on a given day. When practical, we will seek to aggregate
accounts using a consistently applied methodology. In cases where using this methodology is
not practical, we will aggregate orders in good faith without intentionally favoring one client or type
of client over another. Any aggregation or bunching of trades will be consistent with our duty to
seek best execution.
We strongly prefer to allocate all transaction costs (including commissions) for aggregated orders
pro-rata based on each client’s participation in the aggregated order. Many times, however, it is
not possible or practical to share all costs pro-rata due to the nature of the client accounts
participating in the order. For example, we may aggregate non-prime broker eligible accounts so
all accounts participating in the aggregate order receive the same execution price and/or for
purposes of best execution. In such cases, the accounts would pay a custodial fee to the
applicable custodian on such account according to each account’s custodial fee schedule,
because such accounts cannot pay or participate in the payment of the executing broker’s
commission.
For instances other than model trades and private fund trades (e.g., rebalancing individual advisory
client accounts, investing cash for an advisory client, raising cash for an advisory client) (“ticket
trades”), we generally will not aggregate client account orders. Trades for these events are initiated
by our client advisory teams in respect of individual client accounts, and typically are executed
individually in an effort to increase the likelihood of executing each trade timely and reduce the risk
of errors. Due to the custom circumstances or timing of transactions for individual client accounts,
aggregation is often not feasible which will result in clients receiving different execution prices.
We seek to execute all ticket trades on the next trading day following the day the applicable trade
ticket is submitted, unless a ticket trade is specifically marked as a “Same Day Trade,” In which
case we will seek to execute the trade on the same trading day. Ticket trades are not executed
in the order in which they are received.
§ Allocation Generally
We allocate securities purchased across the model portfolios and to the private funds in
accordance with an order allocation statement we prepare. The order allocation statement
specifies how we intend to allocate the order among the client accounts participating in the
transaction. Each private fund is treated as a client account for this purpose and typically
participates in allocations along with advisory client accounts. If an order to purchase securities
is partially filled, we generally allocate the filled portion of the order on a pro-rata basis based on
account size.
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Although we may allocate on a pro-rata basis, we will not always do so. There are instances
where, in our judgment, allocating an order on a pro-rata basis is not desirable or appropriate for
client accounts. For example, filling a relatively small or large percentage of an order could result
in the potential for clients to receive multiple statements and/or trade confirmations reflecting the
allocation of a relatively small number of shares over the course of multiple days. In that case, we
have in the past, and may in the future, elect to allocate the partially filled order on a random and
full basis.
In Excel, we use the random selection function to randomly select a portion of the participating
client accounts and fill the order in full for each of those accounts, based on an algorithm we do
not control. Typically, we seek to fill the remaining portion of the order during subsequent trading
days. However, it is possible that the security will not trade at a price that is desirable for future
buys or sales, as the case may be, in which case client that were not filled in full will not trade any
amount of the security. In addition, a partially filled buy order may cause or contribute to an
increase in the price of the security during subsequent trading days, and a partially filled sell order
may cause or contribute to a decrease in the price of the security during subsequent trading days.
In addition to the foregoing, we may allocate orders on a basis different from that specified in the
order allocation statement if all client accounts receive fair and equitable treatment over time.
Each advisory client will not necessarily be offered or participate in every investment opportunity.
We will endeavor to make all investment allocations in a manner that we consider to be fair and
equitable over time.
§ Additional Items Regarding Private Fund Allocation
Our general policy regarding allocation of limited or constrained investment opportunities in the
private funds is set forth below, though the actual policy for each private fund will vary based on
a variety of factors. The policy for each private fund is included in such private fund’s
organizational or offering documents, and at all times such policy shall govern investors in the
applicable private fund and supersede the below general policy.
• A portion of private fund commitments will first be allocated to us and our affiliates
(including our employees) in an amount we believe in our sole discretion to be appropriate
given overall capacity and the circumstances specific to the private fund.
• Qualified investors with $10 million or more of Freestone Assets will receive the remaining
capacity.
-
-
If the private fund is oversubscribed at this level, then investor commitments within
this group will be reduced pro-rata.
“Freestone Assets” means the aggregate amount of reportable assets managed or
advised by Freestone measured in our sole discretion based on such assets as
reflected in our portfolio management system. The amount of Freestone Assets
will be measured at or around the time of the applicable closing.
- For purposes of this policy, each investor’s Freestone Assets will be determined
and aggregated based on the accounts held by such investor’s immediate family
members or other members of its family group as determined by us in our sole
discretion.
• Qualified investors with $5 million up to $10 million of Freestone Assets will receive any
remaining capacity.
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-
If the private fund is oversubscribed at this level, then investor commitments within
this group will be reduced pro-rata.
• Qualified investors with $2.5 million up to $5 million of Freestone Assets will receive any
remaining capacity.
-
If the private fund is oversubscribed at this level, then investor commitments within
this group will be reduced pro-rata.
• Qualified investors with less than $2.5 million of Freestone Assets will receive any
remaining capacity.
-
If the private fund is oversubscribed at this level, then investor commitments within
this group will be reduced pro-rata.
• We may institute capacity limits or minimum investment amounts, overall or within each
•
investor group, in our sole discretion.
If a private fund does not meet its targeted commitment amount in its initial closing or if we
desire to raise additional equity for the private fund, we may conduct subsequent closings
to reach or exceed the target. The allocation policy for such subsequent closings will be
at our sole discretion and we will not be obligated to offer any additional amount to all
investors, all similarly-situated investors, or otherwise.
In addition, from time to time, we or our affiliates are presented with investment opportunities in
connection with our and their management and control of the private funds. For various reasons,
we may determine that those opportunities are not appropriate or desirable investments for the
private funds, or that only a portion of an available opportunity is appropriate or desirable for the
private funds. In general, we believe advisory clients should access investments made by, or
investment opportunities presented to, the private funds by making an investment in the private
funds. Accordingly, in such cases we or our affiliates may, but are not obligated to, in our discretion
offer the available investment opportunity to any one or more persons, including: investors in the
private funds; persons or entities that are not investors in the private funds; any other private fund
or client; and/or personnel employed by our affiliates or us. In each of the forgoing cases, any
such offer will be on such terms and conditions as we determine in our discretion. In the past there
have been instances where we have not offered, and in the future we may not offer and are not
obligated to offer, such available investment opportunities to advisory clients, in which case we,
our affiliates and/or personnel employed by our affiliates or us may invest in such investment
opportunities without allocating any portion of the investment opportunity to advisory clients and
without providing notice to, or obtaining consent from, any advisory clients. In addition, in the past
we, our affiliates and/or personnel employed by our affiliates or us have invested in the same
investment opportunities as our clients on more favorable terms than our clients, including fee and
liquidity terms that are more favorable than the terms on which our clients invest. See the section
regarding Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading in Item 11 (Code
of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading) for additional
information.
§ Trade Errors
If Freestone causes a trade error to occur in a client account, it is our policy to correct the error at
no cost to the client and to restore the client account to the position it should have been in had
the trade error not occurred. We will not use any soft dollars to correct trade errors, and we will
not use the promise of future brokerage commissions to compensate a broker-dealer for
absorbing the cost of a trade error. If a trade error results in a loss, we will absorb the loss so it
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will not be borne by the client. Similarly, if a trade error results in a gain, we will retain it. If a trade
error account is utilized to resolve the error, Freestone will adhere to the trade error account
procedures established by each respective custodian. Generally, if the ending balance of the error
account—excluding any funds deposited during the calendar year or quarter—exceeds the
beginning balance on the first day of that period, the excess amount will be donated to a charitable
organization typically chosen by Freestone. Trade errors may also be resolved without utilizing
the custodian’s trade error account. In such cases, Freestone will apply a fair and equitable
methodology to correct the error in accordance with our policies and procedures.
A. Private Funds
The investment strategies of a number of the private funds involve primarily “multi-manager”
investment approaches in which the private funds allocate a portion of their capital to third-party
investment advisers (either directly on a managed account basis or by making investments in
vehicles managed or controlled by the third-party or its affiliates). Certain of the private funds
allocate substantially all of their capital to third-party investment advisers. In addition, many times
we invest a portion of the funds’ capital directly in securities and other investments. See the
section regarding Alternative Investments in Item 8 (Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies
and Risk of Loss) for further information.
§
Investment/Brokerage Discretion – Private Fund Capital Invested by Third-Party Investment
Advisers
Subject to the investment management agreement or comparable document entered into by a
third-party investment adviser and a private fund, each third-party investment adviser will have
the authority to buy and sell any securities at its discretion. In addition, the third-party investment
advisers will have complete discretion as to the selection of broker-dealers for execution of
transactions. Each third-party investment adviser will be required to select broker- dealers in a
manner that is consistent with its duty to seek best execution in respect of transactions for the
private fund accounts.
§
Investment/Brokerage Discretion – Private Fund Capital Invested Directly by Us
With regard to that portion of the private fund capital invested directly by us, we will have full
investment discretion with respect to all portfolio securities transactions and full authority to select
broker-dealers to execute such transactions. Allocation of investment opportunities and
investments will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the private fund offering
documents and our allocation policies and procedures. In general, we endeavor to allocate liquid
market transactions under guidelines materially similar to those described in Item 12A above, in
the section regarding Discretionary Advisory Client Accounts. In addition to such market
transactions, the private funds make many substantial investments in financial instruments and
other asset classes, such as real estate, for which we determine the allocation guidelines
described above are not applicable or desirable. In such cases, we intend to allocate such
opportunities and investments in a manner we believe is fair and equitable over time.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, none of our affiliates or us are precluded from directly or indirectly
purchasing, selling or holding assets or investments for our or their own accounts, regardless of
whether any private fund also purchases, sells or holds the same assets or investments.
B. Directed Brokerage
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We do not routinely recommend, request or require that a client direct us to execute transactions
through a specified broker-dealer, and we generally do not permit clients to direct us to use a
particular broker-dealer. In the event a client does direct us to use a particular broker-dealer, and
we agree to do so, we will not have authority to negotiate commissions or obtain volume discounts,
and it is unlikely best execution will be achieved. In addition, under these circumstances, a
disparity in commission charges likely will exist between the commissions charged to other clients.
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Item 13. Review of Accounts
A. Advisory Client Accounts
One of our client advisors is primarily responsible for our relationship with each advisory client.
Each client advisor has one or more members of our client advisor support team that assists with
servicing and monitoring the advisory client’s account. In most cases, we review each advisory
client’s goals and objectives at least annually in an effort to assure proper asset allocation. In
addition, we regularly review the securities held in the model portfolios.
The account custodian sends brokerage statements to advisory clients no less frequently than
quarterly. These statements list the account positions and activity in the account over the covered
period, as well as other related information. The custodian also sends trade confirmations to
advisory clients following each transaction or on a consolidated basis as requested by the client.
In addition to the statements and confirmations that advisory clients receive from their custodian,
we provide quarterly written reports that include details regarding investment holdings and
portfolio performance.
B. Private Funds
The portfolio manager(s) of each private fund review the applicable private fund’s portfolio at
least monthly. Reviews of private funds consist of an analysis of the portfolio holdings (when
available) and performance to-date in light of the applicable private fund’s investment objective,
portfolio risk exposure and diversification among sub-advisers and investment strategies, as well
as an evaluation of any appropriate changes to be implemented with respect to the portfolio.
Investors in a private fund receive from Freestone the private fund’s annual audited financial
In addition, we generally provide written reports to investors that typically include,
statements.
among other things, unaudited values, performance data, information regarding the status of
the investor’s account and certain tax reporting information to a private fund investor on an interim
basis. The organizational and offering documents for each private fund describe the nature and
frequency for which private fund investors receive information from us.
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Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation
A. Custodians
We require that clients open brokerage/custodial accounts at custodians not affiliated with our
affiliates or us, typically Charles Schwab or Fidelity. Our private funds will also have assets,
typically cash, custodied with other custodians (please refer to Item 7.B.(1) of ADV Part 1A). We
do not receive compensation directly for recommending custodians to clients, though we do
receive indirect economic benefits from those custodians (“Additional Services”). For example,
Schwab and Fidelity, at no cost or at a discount, provide us with support services or products.
Some of those services help us manage or administer client accounts, while others help us
manage and grow our business. For instance, Schwab and Fidelity make available software and
other technology to us that provide access to client account data, facilitate trade execution and
provide pricing and other market data. Schwab and Fidelity also provide, among other things,
educational conferences, events and publications and technology, compliance, legal and
business consulting. In addition, in the past Schwab has, and in the future Schwab and/or Fidelity
may, sponsor and pay all or a portion of the expenses associated with events or entertainment
we host for clients or prospective clients, or events or entertainment only attended by our
employees.
We describe additional services received and related conflicts of interest in the Brokerage and
Soft Dollar portions of Item 12 (Brokerage Practices).
We participate in the Schwab Advisor Network, a referral service designed to help high net worth
individuals find an independent professional investment manager. We are not affiliated with
Schwab, and Schwab does not supervise Freestone or have any responsibility for our
management of client portfolios or our other advice or services. We pay Schwab “participation
fees” on all referred advisory client accounts that Schwab maintains. We generally pay Schwab
a non-affiliated custody fee if Schwab does not maintain a referred client’s account. The non-
affiliated custody fee is a one-time payment equal to a percentage of the assets held with a
different custodian and is higher than the annual participation fees we generally would pay to
Schwab in respect of the same account. Among other things, a client referred by Schwab must
sign a form confirming the client’s knowledge of the referral arrangement, the parties involved and
that we pay Schwab a fee for referring the client to us. We, not the advisory client, pay the fees
to Schwab, and we do not charge clients referred to us by Schwab any fees or costs greater than
the fees or costs we charge clients with similar portfolios who were not referred by Schwab.
Accordingly, we have an incentive to recommend that clients referred by Schwab maintain their
accounts at Schwab. In addition, the fees charged by Schwab are based on the amount of assets
in advisory client accounts referred by Schwab. Thus, our participation in the referral program
raises potential conflicts of interest because we have an incentive to encourage clients referred
by Schwab to maintain custody of their accounts and assets at Schwab. We may also have an
incentive to recommend that clients custody assets with Schwab so we can receive Additional
Services and referrals.
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To participate in the Schwab Advisor Network, we must meet certain minimum participation
criteria, but it is possible we were selected to participate in the program because of our other
business relationships with Schwab and its affiliates, including our use of Schwab’s custody and
brokerage services. In addition, we have agreed not to solicit advisory clients referred by Schwab
to transfer their accounts from Schwab or its affiliates or to establish accounts at other custodians,
other than when our fiduciary duties would require us to do so. Accordingly, we are incentivized
to suggest that referred clients and their household members maintain custody of their accounts
with Schwab or its affiliates.
Fidelity and Schwab receive compensation from client accounts in the form of commissions,
asset-based pricing fees, or a combination of both. For those client accounts that are subject to
asset-based pricing, each custodian does not charge any additional fees for trades executed at
other broker-dealers (i.e., a trade that “trades away”), however, those executing brokers typically
charge a commission, which will be disclosed on the client trade confirmation. For those client
accounts that are subject to commission-based pricing only, each custodian will typically charge
a prime broker fee for trades that trade away, in addition to any commission charged by the
executing brokers (which will be disclosed on the client’s trade confirmation). In each case,
commissions charged by executing brokers will vary in respect of trades that trade away.
Our receipt of Additional Services, our participation in the referral program described above and
any indirect benefit we receive under the Client Benefit Confirmation Agreement do not diminish
our duty to act in the best interests of our clients, including seeking best execution of trades for
our client accounts.
In addition, from time to time representatives of Schwab who refer advisory clients to us approach
us regarding employment opportunities at Freestone. This creates a potential conflict of interest
because the representatives could have an incentive to refer advisory clients to us with the goal
of obtaining a position with us.
B. Referral Partners
We have entered into written agreements with parties not affiliated with us pursuant to which those
parties refer new clients to us. We pay fees to the referring party on an ongoing basis based upon
a percentage of the management fees we receive or assets we manage with respect to each client
that the referring party referred to us. The referring party or Freestone discloses the compensation
arrangement between Freestone and the referring party to a prospective client before the client
enters into an investment advisory relationship with us. We do not charge clients referred to us by
a referring party any fees or costs greater than the fees or costs we charge clients with similar
portfolios who were not referred to us by a referring party.
From time to time, we sponsor and pay all or a portion of the expenses associated with events or
entertainment we host for referring parties, including dinner events, entertainment and travel to
resort destinations where we spend time seeking to further develop our business relationship with
the referring parties. These activities create a potential conflict of interest for the referring parties
because they may be incentivized to refer prospective clients to us because of such activities.
C. Employees
We make one-time fixed amount bonus payments to certain employees who refer prospective
clients to us, assuming those prospects become our clients. In addition, the primary employment
36
activity of one or more of our employees is to solicit prospective clients for us. These employees
receive one-time bonuses and ongoing payments for a specified period based on the amount of
new client assets successfully solicited.
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Item 15. Custody
To comply with the requirements of the SEC’s custody rule, we have arranged for advisory clients
to receive at least quarterly account statements from their custodian (typically Charles Schwab or
Fidelity). Freestone urges advisory clients to carefully review those statements and compare the
official custodial records to the account statements provided by us, as described in Item 13
(Review of Accounts). Our statements may vary from custodial statements based on accounting
procedures, reporting dates or valuation methodologies of certain securities. Clients should
contact us immediately if they do not receive account statements from their custodian on at least
a quarterly basis.
Freestone may act on behalf of a Client, pursuant to a standing letter of instruction or other similar
transfer authorization arrangement established by a Client with the custodian, to transfer Client
assets to one or more third parties upon the request of a Client. Freestone is deemed to have
custody of such assets in order to facilitate these transactions for our clients. It is noted that the
SEC set forth seven conditions whereby, if met by, the SEC would not recommend enforcement
action against an adviser under Section 206(4) of, and Rule 206(4)-2, under the Advisers Act if
that adviser does not obtain a surprise examination. Freestone has established processes
whereby we believe that Freestone and our custodian are complying with such conditions and
report such assets in Item 9 of Freestone’s Form ADV Part 1 as required.
In certain circumstances, pursuant to a letter of instruction or authorization arrangement
established by a Client, Freestone is deemed to have custody regarding the use of the U.S.
Department of Treasury’s Electronic Federal Tax Payment System ("EFTPS"). Accordingly,
Freestone is subject to an annual surprise custody examination and will seek to have EFTPS
accounts audited on an annual basis by an independent public accountant. We are also subject
to the SEC’s custody rule in respect of the private funds. However, we are not required to comply
with certain requirements of the custody rule with respect to the private funds because we comply
with the provisions of the so-called “audit exception” for pooled investment vehicles. Among other
things, the exception requires that each private fund be subject to audit at least annually by an
independent public accountant that is registered with, and subject to regular inspection by, the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and requires that the private fund distribute its
audited financial statements to all investors within 120 days (or 180 days for fund of funds) after
the end of its fiscal year and additionally arrange for a liquidation audit upon liquidation of the
private fund.
Investors in the private funds receive periodic reports from us or our affiliates, as described in Item
13 (Review of Accounts). We urge investors in the private funds to carefully review those reports
and compare the audited financial statements of the private funds to the reports provided by us.
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Item 16. Investment Discretion
Details regarding the investment discretion that we exercise with respect to our advisory clients
are included in Item 4 (Advisory Business). We usually receive discretionary authority from an
advisory client at the outset of the advisory relationship to select the identity and amount of
securities to be bought or sold on behalf of a client’s accounts. Advisory clients grant us this
authority in the investment management agreement we enter into with them and in their custodial
paperwork. In all cases, however, we will only exercise discretion in a manner consistent with the
goals and investment objectives expressed to us by the advisory client. Advisory clients must
provide investment guidelines and restrictions to Freestone in writing.
For a private fund, we invest its assets in accordance with the private fund’s organizational and
offering documents.
We only make recommendations to advisory clients regarding investing in the private funds on a
non-discretionary basis, meaning that an advisory client must decide on a case-by-case basis
whether to accept or reject our recommendations regarding making an investment in a private
fund.
We have discretionary authority to invest and reinvest the assets of the private funds, subject to
the control of each private fund’s general partner, which is an affiliate of ours.
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Item 17. Voting Client Securities
As a general matter, we have the authority to vote proxies relating to securities held in the
accounts we manage and advise, as agreed with our clients. Clients may also elect to retain proxy
voting authority. This must be communicated to us in writing at the time we establish our
relationship. Each client may at any time change his or her decision regarding proxy voting by
notifying us in writing. We have engaged Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) to assist
with the analysis and voting of proxy ballots and related record keeping. ISS provides independent
assessment and recommendations with regard to all proxy items for securities held in accounts.
We have adopted written policies and procedures regarding the voting of account proxies. We
have designed these policies and procedures to fulfill our obligation to vote proxies in our clients’
best interest.
Freestone and its employees have many varied business and personal relationships. From time
to time, one of these business or personal relationships may have an interest in the outcome of a
given vote. Such circumstances create the potential for a conflict of interest because we may be
motivated to vote client securities in a way that furthers our business or personal relationship as
opposed to voting in the client’s best interests. Also, it is possible that Freestone on its own behalf
may have an interest in the outcome of a particular vote because it would further our interests or
a matter about which we are concerned on our own, as opposed to on behalf of our clients. We
have sought to eliminate the potential for such conflicts to influence the manner in which we vote
client proxies by engaging ISS. In general, we require all proxies to be voted in accordance with
ISS’s recommendation.
If we determine that the cost of voting proxies exceeds the anticipated benefit to one or more of
our advisory clients, we may refrain from voting proxies with respect to those accounts.
A client may obtain a copy of our proxy voting policies and procedures and information about how
any proxies were voted on the client’s behalf upon request. Any such request must be made in
writing and directed to compliance@freestonecapital.com.
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Item 18. Financial Information
We do not require or solicit prepayment of fees six months or more in advance. We are not aware
of any financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair our ability to meet our contractual
commitments to clients. We have never been the subject of any bankruptcy petition.