Overview
- Headquarters
- Claremont, CA
- Average Client Assets
- $4.0 million
- Minimum Account Size
- $1,000,000
- SEC CRD Number
- 113098
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (GOULD ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC BROCHURE)
| Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | and above | 2.25% |
Minimum Annual Fee: $3,000
Illustrative Fee Rates
| Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $22,500 | 2.25% |
| $5 million | $112,500 | 2.25% |
| $10 million | $225,000 | 2.25% |
| $50 million | $1,125,000 | 2.25% |
| $100 million | $2,250,000 | 2.25% |
Clients
- HNW Share of Firm Assets
- 88.61%
- Total Client Accounts
- 644
- Discretionary Accounts
- 565
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 79
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals, Portfolio Management for Institutional Clients
Regulatory Filings
Primary Brochure: GOULD ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC BROCHURE (2026-04-16)
View Document Text
Part 2A of Form ADV: Client Brochure
Item 1 – Cover Page
341 West First Street, Suite 200
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 445-1291
www.gouldasset.com
March 27, 2026
Important Note:
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Gould Asset
Management LLC (“Gould”). If you have any questions about the contents of this Brochure, please
contact us at (909) 445-1291 or contact@gouldasset.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.
Gould is a registered investment adviser. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any
level of skill or training.
Additional information about Gould is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Form ADV Part 2
Item 2 – Material Changes
On July 28, 2010, the United State Securities and Exchange Commission published “Amendments
to Form ADV,” which amends the disclosure document (or “Brochure”) that we provide to clients
as required by SEC Rules. Pursuant to SEC rules, we now provide clients a summary of any
material changes to this and subsequent Brochures within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year.
We may provide other ongoing disclosure information about material changes as necessary.
To minimize waste, we will provide you only with the summary of material changes, except in
cases where SEC guidelines require delivery of the full document. We will provide you with a
complete version of the latest Brochure at any time, upon your request, without charge. Our
Brochure may be retrieved from our website (www.gouldasset.com), or requested by contacting
us at (909) 445-1291 or contact@gouldasset.com.
Additional information about Gould is also available via the SEC’s web site
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. The SEC’s web site also provides information about any persons
affiliated with Gould who are registered as investment adviser representatives of Gould.
Summary of Material Changes
Gould’s assets under management (AUM) figures as of December 31, 2025: $995.0 million in
discretionary AUM and $39.5 million in non-discretionary AUM. In our last Brochure update (March
2025), these figures were $865.0 million and $36.3 million, respectively.
Item 5 (“Fees and Compensation”) was updated as follows:
Under “Asset-Based Fees” we have updated the fee calculation for certain PE Funds and RE LLC
investments and added Lifetime Income to the fees table.
Item 8 (“Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss”) was updated as updated as
follows:
Under “Investment Strategies” we have added the following regarding Lifetime Income.
The Lifetime Income strategy is designed to help clients meet their lifetime income needs with
greater confidence, while also providing long-term growth. The strategy is implemented through a
two-part portfolio. One part is invested, directly or through exchange-traded funds, in U.S. Treasury
Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) to generate a predictable, pension-like income stream,
inflation-indexed, over a selected time horizon. The other part of the portfolio is invested according
to a diversified asset allocation that seeks long-term growth, consistent with the client’s investment
objectives and risk tolerance.
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Item 3 – Table of Contents
Part 2A of Form ADV: Client Brochure ............................................................................................................... 1
Item 1 – Cover Page .................................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2 – Material Changes .......................................................................................................................... 2
Summary of Material Changes ............................................................................................................. 2
Item 3 – Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... 3
Item 4 – Advisory Business ......................................................................................................................... 5
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation ................................................................................................................ 8
Asset-Based Fees .................................................................................................................................. 8
Sub-Advisory Fees ................................................................................................................................ 10
Hourly Fees .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Additional Fees .................................................................................................................................... 10
Termination.......................................................................................................................................... 10
Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management .......................................................... 11
Item 7 – Types of Clients ...........................................................................................................................11
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss ................................................... 11
Methods of Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 11
Investment Strategies ......................................................................................................................... 12
Risk of Loss .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information.............................................................................................................. 17
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ...................................................................17
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Client Transactions, and Personal Trading ...................................................... 17
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices ..................................................................................................................18
Basis of Brokerage Selection ............................................................................................................... 18
Soft Dollars .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Trade Aggregation ............................................................................................................................... 18
Directed Brokerage ............................................................................................................................. 19
Item 13 – Review of Accounts .................................................................................................................. 19
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation ............................................................................... 20
Referral Programs ............................................................................................................................... 20
Solicitation .......................................................................................................................................... 20
Financial Support for Client Appreciation Events ............................................................................... 20
Item 15 – Custody .................................................................................................................................... 21
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Item 16 – Investment Discretion ...............................................................................................................21
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities ............................................................................................................. 22
Item 18 – Financial Information ................................................................................................................23
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Item 4 – Advisory Business
Gould Asset Management LLC (“Gould”) was founded in 1999 and is controlled and partly owned by
Donald P. Gould. The other owners are Paul M. Goldensohn (consultant) and senior portfolio
managers Derek M. Baldwin, CFA, Thomas K. Carr Jr., CFP®, John J. DeBiase III, CFA, and Scott B.
Smith, CFA, and Bridgeport Financial Solutions LLC.
Gould provides investment management services, primarily through individually managed
accounts for individuals and institutions. Gould does not hold itself out as a provider of financial
planning services. To the extent specifically requested by a client, Gould provides limited
consultation services to its investment management clients on investment and non-investment
related matters that are generally ancillary to the investment management process, for example,
preparing retirement income projections. Any such consultation services are rendered exclusively
on an unsolicited basis.
Gould’s general investment philosophy is to seek good risk-adjusted return while maintaining a
long-term perspective. Most Gould investment strategies offer a broadly diversified portfolio of
securities, with periodic adjustments consistent with a disciplined investment process. Gould does
not generally engage in market timing. Careful attention is paid to managing the costs of
investing, both explicit (for example, trading commissions and mutual fund expense ratios) and
implicit (for example, tax implications and liquidity constraints). Gould offers a broad suite of
strategies, suitable for investors ranging from conservative to growth oriented.
In recommending one or more investment strategies to a client, Gould considers client objectives,
risk tolerance, tax and/or legal situation, and other individual factors. While Gould offers
customized and personal investment management, accounts managed according to similar
strategies may be similar in composition. Gould seeks to treat all clients fairly over time with
respect to investment allocations, but not all accounts in a particular strategy will purchase or sell
the same securities at the same times. This may be due to differences in client risk tolerances,
objectives, cash balances, account tax status, or other reasons. Clients may impose reasonable
restrictions on the way any account is managed.
Gould’s management agreement with the client generally provides Gould with authority to act on
a discretionary basis with client assets, with exceptions noted below. Client assets are held in a
third-party custodial account (typically with a brokerage firm), registered in the name of the client.
Gould may enter into sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated investment advisors whereby (i)
Gould, as sub-advisor, provides discretionary investment management services to clients of such
advisors for a fee, or, (ii) Gould retains and pays a sub-advisor to manage all or a portion of a
client’s assets under Gould’s management.
Gould may also enter into agreements with unaffiliated investment advisors whereby such
advisors provide discretionary investment management services to Gould clients, acting in the
capacity of a sub-advisor. In such instances, Gould will pay the sub-advisor’s fee out of its own
resources.
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Gould may use a third-party platform to facilitate its management of certain defined contribution
plan assets such as client 401(k) and 403(b) accounts that are not held on the custodial platforms
generally used by Gould clients. Platform procedures are designed such that Gould does not have
custody of client assets managed through the platform. Gould is not affiliated with the platform
provider and receives no compensation from the platform provider. Any fees charged by the
platform provider are paid by Gould out of its own resources. Client management fees with
respect to assets managed through the platform are generally paid from client accounts other
than those managed through the platform.
In selected circumstances, Gould may make available to certain clients opportunities to invest
directly in real estate through investment in special purpose limited liability companies (“RE
LLCs”). RE LLCs are managed by one or more third-party companies that specialize in such
investments. Clients generally must be “accredited investors” (as defined in Regulation D under
the Securities Act of 1933) and “qualified clients” (as defined under Rule 205-3 of the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940) and meet other requirements, as determined by Gould in its discretion,
taking into account such factors as the client’s net worth, investment objectives, risk tolerance,
and liquidity needs, among others. Investments in RE LLCs generally are made by clients on a non-
discretionary basis. Gould may charge clients an advisory fee consisting of a fixed percentage of
the estimated market value of the client’s investment and/or a performance fee based on the
client’s realized investment return in relation to a specified preferred return. RE LLCs are non-
publicly traded, illiquid securities, and therefore, investors in RE LLCs may not have access to their
capital from the time of their initial investment until the underlying property is sold and the RE LLC
is dissolved, typically a period of several years and potentially exceeding ten years. Client
ownership of the RE LLC interest is evidenced by documentation provided by the manager of the
RE LLC.
In selected circumstances, Gould may make available to certain clients opportunities to invest in
private equity through investment in private commingled funds (“PE Funds”). PE Funds are
managed by one or more third-party companies that specialize in private equity investments. PE
Funds typically are “funds-of-funds;” that is, a single PE Fund typically invests in one or more other
private funds, each managed by a manager independent of the PE Fund manager and each making
multiple private equity investments over time. The fund-of-funds structure may provide its
investors greater diversification of private equity investments and may also provide access to
private equity managers (and the funds they manage) that would not otherwise be available. The
PE Funds’ fund-of-funds structure generally entails higher overall management fees to its investors
than would direct investments in the PE Funds’ underlying funds, given the additional layer of
management.
Clients who invest in PE Funds generally must be “qualified purchasers” (as defined in Section
2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act of 1940) and meet other requirements, as determined by
Gould in its discretion, taking into account such factors as the client’s net worth, investment
objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs, among others. Investments in PE Funds generally
are made by clients on a non-discretionary basis. Gould may charge clients an advisory fee
consisting of a fixed percentage of the estimated market value of the client’s investment. PE
Funds are non-publicly traded, illiquid securities, and therefore, investors in PE Funds may not
have access to their capital from the time of their initial investment until such time as the PE Funds
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make cash distributions and/or wind up, a period of at least several years, sometimes exceeding
ten years. Client ownership of the PE Fund interest is evidenced by documentation provided by the
manager of the PE Fund.
Gould does not sponsor or participate in any wrap fee programs.
In addition, when Gould provides investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan
account or individual retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, which
are laws governing retirement accounts. The way we make money creates some conflicts with
your interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and
not put our interest ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
• Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give
prudent advice);
• Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give loyal
advice);
• Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
• Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your best
interest;
• Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
Gould’s discretionary client assets under management as of December 31, 2025 totaled
$995.0 million. Non-discretionary assets under management on the same date were $39.5 million.
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Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
Gould’s fees are determined by many factors, including, but not limited to, a client’s investment
objectives, the size of the investment portfolio to be managed, any applicable portfolio
restrictions, and the scope of the overall engagement. A client’s risk tolerance and corresponding
investment objectives may be determined through discussions with Gould employees, the use of
risk tolerance questionnaires, and/or by a third-party financial adviser. All fees and account
minimums are negotiable, including accounts managed on a sub-advisory basis. Gould prices its
services based upon various objective and subjective factors. As a result, Gould clients could pay
different fees based upon the market value of their assets, the complexity of the engagement, and
the level and scope of the overall investment advisory and/or consulting services to be rendered.
As a result of these factors, the services provided by Gould to any particular client could be
available from other advisers at lower fees. The specific way fees are charged by Gould is
established in a client’s written agreement with Gould.
Asset-Based Fees
Client fees are generally billed quarterly, in advance, based on the prior quarter-end market value
of the client’s account.
Any initial or subsequent deposit of cash and/or securities made on a day other than the first day
of a calendar quarter will be subject to a management fee charge for the prorated remainder of
the calendar quarter, provided both of the following conditions are met: (1) the market value of
the amount deposited is at least $100,000; and (2) the calculated prorated management fee
charge is at least $250.00. If either condition is not met, no partial-quarter management fee will
be charged. Any partial-quarter management fee due may be waived at Gould’s sole discretion.
Any withdrawal of cash and/or securities, including withdrawals made upon termination of the
investment advisory relationship, made on a day other than the first day of a calendar quarter will
receive a refund of a previously charged management fee for the prorated remainder of the
calendar quarter, provided both of the following conditions are met: (1) the market value of the
amount withdrawn is at least $100,000; and (2) the calculated prorated management fee refund is
at least $250.00. If either condition is not met, no partial-quarter management fee refund will be
made.
Gould does not make partial quarter fee refunds with respect to any Client withdrawal of funds
arising solely as a result of margin borrowing against the assets in the Client’s account. Likewise,
Gould does not assess partial quarter fee charges on any Client addition of funds having the sole
effect of reducing the Client’s margin borrowing balance.
Gould reserves the right to include accrued interest in the market value of accounts for the
purpose of calculating fees.
Gould generally relies on securities valuations provided by the client’s custodian on the date as of
which the fees are calculated. With respect to certain PE Funds and RE LLC investments that report
client account valuations with a material lag, Gould reserves the right to bill clients quarterly, in
advance, based on the most current valuation of the investment provided by the PE Fund sponsor
or RE LLC sponsor.
Below is a list of Gould investment strategies and a representative fee rate. The actual fee for any
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given client may be higher or lower, depending on the particular circumstances. Fee discounts may
be granted at Gould’s discretion based on a client’s total assets with Gould and/or within an
individual Gould investment strategy. Fees may be lowered or waived at Gould’s discretion. The
maximum gross asset-based fee charged by Gould is 2.00% per year, plus up to an additional
0.25% per year for certain non-standard accounts. Gould may also assess a minimum portfolio
management fee of up to $750 per quarter. Performance-based fees (see Item 6 below), if any,
are in addition to any applicable asset-based fee.
Investment Strategy
Annual Fee
Treasury Bills
Quality Fixed Income
0.25%
0.50%
Capital Preservation
0.75%
Diversified Income
0.75%
TargetReturn
1.00%
BenchmarkPlus
1.00%
Equity Index Plus
1.00%
Equity Dividend Growth
Lifetime Income
1.00%
1.00%
RE LLC1
1.00%
PE Fund2
1.00%
Private Markets
1.00%
Master Limited Partnerships
1.25%
Global Growth & Resources
1.25%
Concentrated Stock
1.25%
Investment minimums are described in Item 7, Types of Clients.
Gould deducts asset-based fees directly from client accounts, where possible. When it does so,
Gould sends the client a statement showing the amount of the fees, the value of the assets on
which they are based, and the supporting calculation. When direct fee deduction is not possible,
Gould will invoice the client with the same detailed statement provided.
Because fee levels may vary by investment strategy selected, Gould may derive more revenue
and/or profit from one strategy than from another. This presents a potential conflict of interest.
Notwithstanding, Gould recommends to each client the investment strategy(ies) that it believes
best meet(s) the client’s specific objectives, regardless of fee level.
™
1 As defined in Item 4 above. Based on estimated market value of illiquid investment. Also subject to additional
performance fee; see Item 6 below.
2 As defined in Item 4 above. Based on estimated market value of illiquid investment.
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Sub-Advisory Fees
Under a sub-advisory agreement with an unaffiliated investment advisor, (i) where Gould is the
sub-advisor, Gould typically receives a specified portion of the total fee paid to such advisor by its
client, or, (ii) where Gould retains a sub-advisor, Gould typically pays a portion of its advisory fee
to the sub-advisor. When Gould retains a sub-advisor, the affected client’s total advisory fee may
be higher than would be the case if no sub-advisor were retained. Gould clients are advised in
advance of any such additional fee.
Hourly Fees
Gould may also provide general personal financial and investment consulting services to its clients.
Such services may include recommendations on various financial and investment matters,
including asset allocation and securities selection. Gould’s fee for such services is generally billed
at up to $500/hour, with the actual rate determined based on the specific consulting project.
Gould reserves the right to change its hourly consulting rate upon prior written notice to the
client. Gould’s consulting fees are payable at time of billing. Consulting arrangements may be
terminated either by Gould or client upon written notice to the other party.
Additional Fees
Gould’s fees are exclusive of brokerage commissions, transaction fees, and other related costs and
expenses, which shall be incurred by the client. Clients may incur certain other charges imposed by
custodians, brokers, third-party investment managers, and other third parties, such as fees
charged by third-party managers, custodial fees, deferred sales charges, odd-lot differentials,
transfer taxes, wire transfer and electronic fund fees, and other fees and taxes on brokerage
accounts and securities transactions. Mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, funds that invest in
private (non-publicly traded) assets, RE LLCs, and PE Funds also charge internal management fees
(which in some cases includes performance-based fees) and other expenses, which are disclosed in
each such investment’s prospectus or offering materials. Such charges, fees and commissions are
exclusive of and in addition to Gould’s fee, and Gould shall not receive any portion of these
commissions, fees, and costs.
Item 12, Brokerage Practices, describes the factors that Gould considers in selecting or
recommending brokerage firms for client transactions and determining the reasonableness of
their compensation (for example, commissions).
Termination
A client agreement may be canceled at any time, by either party for any reason, unless otherwise
specified in the client’s written agreement with Gould. Upon termination of any agreement, any
prepaid, unearned fees will be promptly refunded to the account on a pro rata basis, and any
earned, unpaid fees will be due and payable (subject, in each case, to the limitations set forth in
“Asset-Based Fees” above). Clients terminating the management of portfolio assets within one
year of the initial management fee deduction on such assets may be subject to a one-time
administrative charge of 0.25% of the market value of the affected assets.
Termination provisions may be negotiated.
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Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
Gould may charge performance-based fees in certain circumstances. At present, the only such
instance is in the case of client investments in certain real estate limited liability companies (“RE
LLCs”, as described in Item 4 above). In addition to an ongoing advisory fee calculated as a fixed
percentage of the estimated market value of the RE LLC, Gould may also charge clients a
performance fee. This performance fee is calculated as a fixed percentage of the amount, if any, by
which the total cash return to the client exceeds a specified rate of return (the “preferred rate”)
over the life of the investment. Exact advisory and performance fees (and related preferred rates of
return) and methods of calculation are disclosed in the investment advisory agreement between
the client and Gould and may vary from one RE LLC to another. In all instances, the advisory fee,
performance fee and the preferred rate are fully disclosed to and discussed with clients prior to the
client’s investment in any RE LLC.
Item 7 – Types of Clients
Gould offers portfolio management services to individuals, corporate pension and profit-sharing
plans, trusts, estates, charitable institutions, foundations, endowments, and other U.S. and
international entities.
Gould generally requires an aggregate minimum investment of $1 million. In its sole discretion,
Gould may waive its required minimum investment.
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
Gould’s general investment philosophy is to seek good risk-adjusted return while maintaining a
long-term perspective. Risk management, liquidity, and sensitivity to taxes and other costs are key
factors in our investment process.
Gould may employ the following methods of analysis in managing client assets according to
Gould’s various investment strategies. This list is not exhaustive.
• Allocation across asset classes and/or individual securities according to the principles of
Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). MPT is a quantitative investment method that seeks to
maximize portfolio expected return for a given amount of portfolio risk, or equivalently,
minimize risk for a given level of expected return.
• A disciplined routine of selling covered option contracts on equity investments, seeking
lower risk for any given level of equity market return. Gould also employs options and
other hedging instruments to manage concentrated stock positions for certain clients.
• An assessment of opportunities in various geographic regions and industrial sectors, using
quantitative yield, credit, and correlation considerations, as well as qualitative evaluations
of global macroeconomic factors.
• Consideration of how assets may match up with a client’s known and projected liabilities.
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Gould may also employ fundamental and technical analysis from time to time, but these are not
the primary methods of analysis.
Gould’s management involves investment in the following types of securities: mutual funds,
including traditional open-end, exchange-traded (ETF) and closed-end funds; equity securities
(stocks); options on mutual funds, equity securities and indexes; fixed-income securities (bonds),
including government, corporate and municipal issues; certificates of deposit; exchange-traded
limited partnerships; and certain insurance products (for example, variable annuities). Gould may
invest in other types of securities, as well, including certain private markets, real estate, and
private equity investments as described in Item 4 above.
Investment Strategies
The following is a summary of Gould’s primary investment strategies. Unless otherwise noted,
Gould implements these portfolios primarily or exclusively using mutual funds. For the purpose of
this document, “mutual funds” is defined to include traditional open-end, exchange-traded (ETF),
interval, and closed-end funds. In certain investment strategies, mutual funds may be primarily or
exclusively index or index-like funds.
1. Treasury Bills: This strategy seeks capital preservation and current income. We invest in
U.S. Treasury bills with staggered maturities to create portfolios that provide regular
liquidity and flexibility. The strategy seeks to generate greater interest income than clients
would expect to receive from bank deposits, such as certificates of deposit, of comparable
maturities.
2. Quality Fixed Income: This strategy seeks to provide diversification, attractive current
income and long-term preservation of capital. We construct portfolios using a combination
of selected individual bonds and/or mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.
3. Capital Preservation: This strategy seeks long-term preservation of capital, with modest
growth potential. About 90% of the portfolio is constructed using a combination of
carefully selected short-term individual bonds and/or mutual funds and exchange-traded
funds investing in such bonds. The remaining 10% generally is invested in mutual funds and
exchange-traded funds investing in US large cap stocks as represented by a leading index
such the S&P 500.
4. Diversified Income: This strategy seeks to provide a diversified approach to achieving
attractive current income, with some growth potential. Portfolio investments may
include a variety of bonds (including investment-grade corporate, government,
mortgage-backed, inflation-indexed, high-yield, international, convertible, and municipal
bonds); preferred stocks; real estate investment trusts (REITs); master limited
partnerships; and high- dividend-yield equities.
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5. TargetReturn: This strategy seeks a positive rate of real (inflation-adjusted) return,
currently about 3% to 5% above inflation. The strategy employs dynamic asset allocation
across a globally diversified range of asset classes, using portfolio optimization techniques
in seeking to identify the lowest risk path to the target. Clients should not expect to
achieve the target return in any given period. Rather, we seek to converge on the target
over the long term, with the expectation of experiencing both above- and below-target
returns along the way.
6. BenchmarkPlus: This strategy seeks to provide clients with a balanced and diversified
portfolio, implemented in a disciplined manner, with rigorous attention to risk
management. There are several versions of this strategy, each calibrated to a different
return/risk combination. We seek to improve upon the benchmark’s performance through
a combination of enhanced return and/or reduced risk, allocating assets across a globally
diversified range of asset classes. The estimated near-term volatility of the benchmark
changes with market conditions; in response, we employ techniques to adjust asset
allocation in seeking a more stable risk level through time. We also consider certain market
valuation and other measures in determining asset allocation.
7. Equity Index Plus: This is a covered call option strategy that seeks long-run stock market-
like returns, with less risk than the market (as measured by the variability of monthly
returns). Generally, we establish a position in an exchange-traded fund that tracks an
equity index such as the S&P 500, and we sell call options periodically on the underlying
position or corresponding index. In general, a covered call-writing strategy such as Equity
Index Plus may be expected to outperform a buy-and-hold strategy in down, flat, and
slightly up markets and underperform in rising markets, though this will not always be the
case.
8. Equity Dividend Growth: The Equity Dividend Growth strategy seeks total return from a
combination of long-term capital appreciation and ongoing dividends, and additionally
seeks growth of dividend income over time. The strategy invests in a diversified selection
of individual US large cap “blue chip” stocks that pay attractive current dividend yields and
have a long history of increasing their dividends. In certain circumstances, we also, (1) sell
covered call options against existing positions to generate additional cash flow and/or
provide some degree of protection against potential stock price depreciation, and/or, (2)
sell cash-secured out-of-the-money put options (i.e., having exercise prices below the then-
current market price) on stocks we would like to purchase.
9. Lifetime Income: The Lifetime Income strategy is designed to help clients meet their
lifetime income needs with greater confidence, while also providing long-term growth. The
strategy is implemented through a two-part portfolio. One part is invested, directly or
through exchange-traded funds, in U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) to
generate a predictable, pension-like income stream, inflation-indexed, over a selected time
horizon. The other part of the portfolio is invested according to a diversified asset
allocation that seeks long-term growth, consistent with the client’s investment objectives
and risk tolerance.
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10. Private Markets: The Private Markets strategy invests in growth-oriented assets generally
not traded on public markets. These may include stock in privately held companies, real
estate, and other assets. Generally, investments in such assets will be implemented
through commingled funds, each of which is diversified across many individual assets, for
example, a fund composed of stocks of many private companies or multiple real estate
properties. The Private Markets strategy seeks high total return through a combination of
capital appreciation and current income. The strategy should be viewed as an aggressive
growth strategy with a commensurately high level of risk. Because this strategy invests in
assets generally not traded on public markets, an investment in the strategy will be less
liquid than investments in strategies that hold publicly traded stocks, bonds, and mutual
funds.
11. Master Limited Partnerships: This strategy seeks exposure to companies that are
organized as exchange-traded limited partnerships, many of which are engaged in the
operation of energy infrastructure and transportation facilities such as oil and gas pipelines
and propane distribution. These investments may offer stable and growing rates of income.
Furthermore, a portion of this income may be received as tax-free return of capital. Note
that a return of capital may reduce the investor’s cost basis in a security, thereby increasing
the amount of taxable capital gain realized upon sale. Note that this strategy is highly
concentrated in a single industry and may therefore experience higher volatility than a
more diversified strategy.
12. Global Growth & Resources: The Global Growth & Resources strategy seeks long-term
appreciation, investing primarily in mutual funds and individual stocks expected to benefit
from two related long-term trends: economic growth in emerging markets and increasing
demand for natural resources. This strategy may exhibit higher levels of volatility than
standard equity strategies.
13. Concentrated Stock: This custom solution is designed for clients with large holdings in one
or more individual stocks, comprising a substantial portion of their total portfolio. We
provide tailored strategies that seek to increase diversification, reduce downside risk,
and/or generate income from the concentrated position(s). In some cases, we may employ
options as part of this investment strategy.
There can be no assurance or guarantee that any of the strategies listed above will achieve its
objective. Gould may offer other investment strategies in addition to those listed above.
Responsible Investing
In many of the investment strategies listed above, Gould offers clients the ability to modify the
investment portfolio to reflect the client’s responsible investment priorities. Examples of
responsible investment implementation include:
• Minimizing or eliminating exposure to specific industries, for example, stocks of fossil fuel
producers.
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•
Increasing exposure to specific industries, for example, stocks of companies in the
renewable energy field.
• More heavily weighting the stocks of companies considered to better conduct their
business in the areas of environmental responsibility, social responsibility, and/or
corporate governance.
Gould may use mutual funds (including exchange-traded funds) designed to achieve certain
responsible investment goals in implementing a client’s portfolio. Gould may also employ specialty
sub-advisors for implementation of portfolios of individual stocks and/or bonds intended to reflect
the client’s responsible investment priorities.
Risk of Loss
Gould frequently implements investment portfolios using traditional open-end and/or exchange-
traded mutual funds. Certain portfolios may hold individual bonds, and portfolios invested in the
Equity Dividend Growth, Master Limited Partnerships, and Global Growth & Resources strategies,
as well as various other strategies, generally hold individual equity securities. Portfolios invested
in the Equity Index Plus strategy will normally hold short positions in exchange-traded option
contracts.
There can be no assurance that any mutual fund will meet the objective(s) stated in its prospectus.
Mutual funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings, as well as the risk of
mismanagement or malfeasance on the part of the fund’s management.
All investments involve the risk of loss, including (among other things) loss of all or a portion of
principal, a reduction in earnings (including interest, dividends and other distributions), and the
loss of future earnings. Specific risk factors that may lead to loss include market risk, interest rate
risk, issuer risk, and general economic risk. Although Gould seeks to manage assets in a manner
consistent with a client’s risk tolerance, there can be no guarantee that our efforts will be
successful.
Fixed-income securities (for example, bonds) are subject to a variety of risks, including risk from
interest rate movements (bond prices tend to move inversely to changes in market interest rates),
changes in the creditworthiness of an issuer, adverse changes in inflation expectations, changes in
market liquidity, reinvestment of principal and/or interest at unfavorable interest rates, and
adverse legal or geopolitical developments.
Equity securities (for example, stocks) are subject to each of the risks enumerated in the three
paragraphs immediately preceding. Holders of equity securities incur more risk than holders of
debt securities of the same issuer because the rights of common stockholders are generally
subordinate to the rights of bondholders. Equity securities may fluctuate with the overall
condition of the stock market and/or as a result of company-specific developments.
Market liquidity conditions for any security can change quickly and may have a substantial adverse
impact on the price that can be realized for such security at a given point in time.
Mutual funds known as interval funds generally do not offer daily liquidity, but instead offer
periodic redemption opportunities, for example, monthly, quarterly, or annually. The fund sponsor
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may also impose limits on the percentage of assets (across all shareholders of a particular interval
fund) that may be liquidated at a periodic redemption opportunity. These liquidity restrictions are
generally put in place by the fund sponsor to reflect limitations on the liquidity of the underlying
assets held by the interval fund. For these reasons, the liquidity of client investments in interval
funds may be substantially restricted.
Short positions in option contracts are subject to additional risk factors. The value of such
positions is derived from the value of the underlying asset, which for Gould portfolios is normally
either, 1) a broad stock market index, 2) an exchange-traded fund that seeks to track an index, or
3) an individual stock position. A short option position, by itself, has the potential for outsized
losses. This is referred to as an “uncovered” option position. Gould employs so-called “covered”
option positions in client portfolios, meaning that options are used as an overlay on an existing
equity or equity fund position in the same account. Covered options carry much less risk than
uncovered options and can potentially reduce the risk of an equity or equity fund position (as
compared to such position in the absence of a covered option). In some accounts, Gould employs
index option positions that are the economic equivalent of a covered position but retain some risk
of not tracking the underlying fund (known as “basis risk”). A common example of this is the
combination of a long position in an exchange-traded fund that seeks to track the S&P 500 Index
and a short position in a call option on the S&P 500 Index itself. Gould also uses cash-secured put
positions, which are economically equivalent to the covered call positions described above.
The Private Markets strategy (described above) invests in assets generally not traded on public
markets. Consequently, an investment in the strategy will be less liquid than investments in
strategies that hold publicly traded stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Commingled funds in which
the Private Markets strategy invests generally offer limited liquidity on a periodic basis, but there
can be no assurance that all or any portion of a fund can be liquidated in any given time period.
Accordingly, the Private Markets strategy is designed for long-term investors who can bear both
the investment risk and potential illiquidity associated with any investment in the strategy.
Real estate securities, including RE LLCs referenced in Item 4 above, are subject to various risks.
These include systemic risks that apply to real estate generally, as well as risks specific to a
particular property. General risks include weakness in the overall economy, adverse credit market
developments (for example, higher interest rates), regulatory changes, illiquidity, and risks
associated with leverage. Specific property risks include competition from other properties,
problems with tenants, acts of nature (for example, earthquakes, pandemics), and unexpected
capital or operating expenses.
Private equity investments, including PE Funds referenced in Item 4 above, are subject to various
risks. These include systemic risks that apply to all equity investments in companies. General risks
include weakness in the overall economy, adverse credit market developments (for example,
higher interest rates), regulatory changes, illiquidity, and risks associated with leverage. Such risks
are generally increased in the case of PE Funds’ investments in the private equity of companies at
early stages in their development (such investments sometimes being referred to as “venture
capital”).
Applying responsible investment criteria to portfolio implementation may result in a portfolio that
is less diversified, and therefore subject to greater risk, than a portfolio that does not apply such
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criteria. Also, there can be no assurance that applying responsible investment criteria will improve
a portfolio’s investment return.
All investments are subject to macroeconomic forces, economic slowdowns, financial crises,
periods of illiquidity, etc. Most generally, all investments are subject to potentially adverse price
movements.
Investing in any type of security involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared and able to
bear.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or
disciplinary events that would be material to your evaluation of Gould or the integrity of Gould’s
management. Gould has no legal or disciplinary events to disclose.
Legal and disciplinary information for any Registered Investment Adviser and individual
Investment Advisor Representative can be found at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov, the SEC’s
Investment Advisor Public Disclosure (IAPD) system.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Gould maintains no arrangements with related persons that are material to its advisory business.
Gould has contracted with Chicago Clearing Corporation (“CCC”) to offer a service to Gould clients
whereby CCC will file claims for Gould clients in securities class action settlements. CCC will
monitor pending and settled securities class action lawsuits, match them with a client’s qualifying
shares, and file a claim on behalf of the client. Clients are required to opt-in if they wish to use this
service. Clients are given the ability to opt-out of the service with respect to specific securities, if
desired. As compensation, CCC will deduct and retain 17% of any claims awards received on behalf
of Gould clients.
The services of CCC are made available to Gould clients solely as a courtesy, and Gould makes no
representations as to their effectiveness.
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Client Transactions, and Personal Trading
As officers and employees of Gould Asset Management LLC (“Gould”), we are retained by our
clients to manage aspects of their financial affairs and to represent their interests in many
matters. We are keenly aware that, as fiduciaries, we owe our clients our undivided loyalty—our
clients trust us to act on their behalf, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards of fairness in
all such matters. As such, we have adopted a Code of Conduct as part of our policies and
procedures, which all employees are required to understand and adopt.
Since Gould and/or its partners, officers, employees, and consultants (together, hereafter,
“Employees”) may at times invest in the same securities that are traded on behalf of its clients,
Gould requires that all such transactions be carried out in a way that does not endanger the
interests of any client. To avoid any potential conflicts of interest involving personal trades, Gould
has adopted a formal Code of Ethics and personal trading policies and procedures. The Code of
Ethics is predicated on the principle that Gould owes a fiduciary duty to its clients. Accordingly,
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Gould’s Employees must avoid activities, interests, and relationships that run contrary to the best
interests of clients.
Gould’s policy and procedures require, among other things, that Employees:
• Place client interests ahead of Gould’s
• Engage in personal investing that is in full compliance with Gould’s Code of Ethics
• Avoid taking advantage of their position with Gould
• Maintain full compliance with securities law
Gould follows a formalized review process that requires, 1) all Employees to annually disclose a list
of all accounts in which they have a beneficial interest, 2) all Employees to instruct the brokerage
firms of their accounts to provide Gould with duplicate statements or allow Gould to access
holdings and transaction data electronically, and 3) the Chief Compliance Officer (Thomas K. Carr
Jr.), a designated Employee, and/or third party to review these statements at least quarterly to
ensure that Employee transactions do not “front run” or otherwise harm Gould client accounts.
The Chief Compliance Officer’s personal transactions are reviewed in the same manner by persons
other than the Chief Compliance Officer.
Gould’s clients or prospective clients may request a copy of the firm's Code of Ethics by contacting
us at (909) 445-1291 or contact@gouldasset.com.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
Basis of Brokerage Selection
Gould will generally seek best execution considering the circumstances involved in each
transaction. In evaluating a brokerage firm’s ability to provide best execution, historical net prices
(after commissions or other transaction-related compensation) will be an important factor, but
Gould may also consider, among other factors: the execution, clearance, error resolution, and
settlement capabilities of the broker or dealer generally and in connection with securities of the
type to be bought or sold; the broker’s or dealer’s willingness to commit capital; the broker’s or
dealer’s reputation, reliability and financial stability; the size of the transaction; and the market for
the security. Gould will not obligate itself to obtain the lowest commission or best net price for an
account on any particular transaction. Gould evaluates the quality and cost of services received
from brokerage firms on a periodic and systematic basis, generally every six months. Gould
summarizes each of its reviews in a written format.
Soft Dollars
Soft dollar arrangements are a means of paying brokerage firms for certain services with directed
commission revenue from clients, as opposed to normal direct (hard) payments. Gould does not
have any soft dollar arrangements.
Trade Aggregation
In the course of Gould’s investment management process, occasions arise when Gould will
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purchase or dispose of a particular security in more than one client account on the same day. On
such occasions, Gould can aggregate trading transactions throughout the day and allocate the
executed trades in a manner deemed by Gould to be equitable for all accounts involved.
Generally, Gould uses this “block trading” ability to give all relevant accounts the same average
price for a security on a given trading day, but “average price” is not always the most equitable
method of allocating aggregated client trades, and Gould’s judgment takes priority over any one
specific method.
Gould can aggregate similar trades at each of the third-party custodians it uses, but it cannot
aggregate similar trades across multiple custodians. Client accounts at different custodians may
therefore receive different trade prices on a given day.
Directed Brokerage
A client may instruct Gould to execute any or all securities transactions for his or her account at a
particular brokerage firm, possibly because of a prior relationship or other arrangement with the
brokerage firm. In these cases, the client is responsible for negotiating the terms and conditions of
the brokerage relationship, including commission rates and other fees. Gould will assume no
responsibility for obtaining the best prices or commission rates in such relationships.
The client must recognize that he or she may not receive commission rates or other terms as
favorable as those offered by the brokerage firms recommended by Gould. Clients in such an
arrangement must notify Gould in writing if they want to cease executing transactions with the
alternative brokerage firm.
Item 13 – Review of Accounts
All accounts are reviewed periodically by one or more investment professionals at Gould Asset
Management. Account reviews are conducted no less frequently than semi-annually. Account
reviews focus on the account’s allocation among asset classes and/or individual securities, as
applicable, and whether any changes are necessary, consistent with the account’s long-term
investment objective. Significant market, economic, or political developments may trigger special
account reviews, but generally will not result in immediate changes in the account. Reporting
systems based on data provided by account custodians are used to review account positions.
There are eight reviewers, consisting of the president, four portfolio managers, two portfolio
associates, and one consultant. These individuals are described in the supplement to this
brochure. Accounts are generally assigned individually to reviewers but may be reviewed jointly
by two or more reviewers. Reviewers observe account holdings to determine what, if any, actions
are advisable for furthering the long-term objectives of the account. Overall investment policy is
determined by Gould’s portfolio management team, led by the Chief Investment Officer, Donald P.
Gould.
Gould provides written quarterly reports to clients, describing quarter-end holdings and asset
allocation, contributions, and withdrawals during the period, and rate of return calculations, as
well as a statement of management fees deducted. Additional materials are typically included
that are not client-specific, for example, a broad economic and market review and an overall
performance summary for various investment strategies offered by Gould. Additionally,
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custodians send written monthly statements to clients via paper and/or electronic means.
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Referral Programs
As a result of past participation in TD Ameritrade's AdvisorDirect program, Gould received client
referrals from TD Ameritrade. TD Ameritrade established AdvisorDirect as a means of referring its
brokerage customers and other investors seeking fee-based personal investment management
services or financial planning services to independent investment advisors. Charles Schwab & Co.
(“Schwab”) has acquired TD Ameritrade and incorporated the AdvisorDirect program into its own
referral program. Schwab does not supervise Gould and has no responsibility for Gould's
management of client portfolios (including those referred via the AdvisorDirect program) or
Gould's other advice or services. Gould no longer receives new client referrals via the
AdvisorDirect program or the successor Schwab referral program, but Gould remains obligated to
pay Schwab an ongoing fee for each continuing client relationship established as a result of past
referrals obtained through the AdvisorDirect program. This fee is usually a percentage (not to
exceed 25%) of the advisory fee that the client pays to Gould ("Solicitation Fee"). Gould will also
pay Schwab the Solicitation Fee on any advisory fees received by Gould from any of a referred
client's family members who hired Gould on the recommendation of such referred client. Gould
will not charge clients referred to it through AdvisorDirect additional fees or costs for having been
referred through AdvisorDirect.
Solicitation
Gould has entered into written contractual agreements with individuals and/or organizations
(“promoters”) who solicit clients for Gould. While the specific terms of the arrangements may
differ, generally, a promoter’s compensation is based upon the value of assets of the referred
client(s) managed by Gould. The promoter’s compensation will usually increase the referred
client’s total fees beyond that which Gould would otherwise charge the referred client for its
investment management services. Certain of Gould’s employees who refer or help solicit
investment advisory clients to Gould may be compensated on a one-time or ongoing basis based
on a percentage of the advisory fees paid by such client to Gould. Gould may also compensate
unaffiliated, third-party promoters for the referral of advisory clients. Such fees are paid in
accordance with Rule 206(4)-1, the Marketing Rule under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
In certain situations, the client may pay more for Gould’s services because of the promoter’s
introduction than if the client engaged Gould’s services directly (independent of the promoter). In
such events, the written disclosure statement provided by the promoter shall indicate accordingly.
As a result of this factor, the services to be provided by Gould to any particular client could be
available from other advisers at lower fees.
Financial Support for Client Appreciation Events
The custodians may from time to time provide financial support for Gould-sponsored client
appreciation events.
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Item 15 – Custody
Gould is deemed to have custody of client assets because of:
1. Gould’s authority to make withdrawals directly from client accounts to pay our advisory
fees; and,
2. The existence of standing letters of authorization, executed by Gould clients, that authorize
the client’s custodian to act on instructions from Gould to transfer client assets to a
specified third party.
Notwithstanding, all Gould client assets are held in client name either by a third-party custodian
(typically a brokerage firm, as described in the next paragraph) or, in the case of non-public
securities (such as RE LLCs and PE Funds), on the books of the securities issuer.
Unless a client has an existing relationship with a custodian that it wishes to or is required to
maintain, Gould will generally recommend that clients use one of two brokerage firms to act as
custodian: Fidelity Investments and/or Charles Schwab & Co. Gould believes these firms provide
good service for a competitive fee. Gould has no affiliation with any of these firms and does not
receive any compensation in connection with recommending their services. As noted above,
custodians may from time to time provide financial support for Gould-sponsored client
appreciation events.
Clients receive monthly statements from the brokerage firm, bank or other qualified custodian
that holds and maintains client’s investment assets. Gould urges clients to carefully review such
statements and compare such official custodial records to the account statements that Gould
provides.
Our statements may vary from custodial statements. Gould and the custodian may use different
accounting methods for measuring the cost basis of investments, causing the amounts of reported
gains and losses (both realized and unrealized) to differ. The timing of month-end dividend and
interest payments from certain securities may result in valuation differences, depending on the
reporting date used. Finally, Gould may take accrued interest on fixed-income securities (bonds)
into account in its account valuations, while custodial statements typically do not.
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
Gould generally receives discretionary authority from the client to select the securities to be
bought or sold, as well as the brokerage firms that will execute the trades, without obtaining
consent from the client before transactions take place. In all cases, however, such discretion is to
be exercised in a manner consistent with the stated investment objectives for the particular client
account. Discretionary authority is conveyed to Gould at the outset of an advisory relationship by
the client’s execution of, 1) a brokerage application with the selected third-party custodian, and 2)
a formal investment advisory agreement with Gould.
When selecting securities and determining amounts to be transacted, Gould observes the
investment policies, limitations and restrictions of the clients for which it advises. Client-imposed
investment guidelines and restrictions must be provided to Gould in writing.
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Gould’s authority may be subject to conditions imposed by the client, examples of which may
include:
1. The client restricts or prohibits transactions in a particular security or in securities of a
specific industry or issuer.
2. The client directs that transactions be executed through specific brokers or dealers
(possibly conditioned on factors such as availability of particular securities or
competitiveness of transaction fees).
With respect to investments in certain real estate limited liability companies (“RE LLCs”; see Item 4
above), Gould may from time to time discuss with certain clients an investment in a RE LLC.
Because of the illiquidity of investments in RE LLCs, as well as risk factors specific to the property
being acquired by the RE LLC, Gould advises clients on how an RE LLC investment could fit into the
client’s overall portfolio and investment strategy, but any decision to invest in an RE LLC generally
is made on a non-discretionary basis, meaning that the ultimate decision to invest in any given RE
LLC is made by the client.
With respect to investments in certain private equity funds (“PE Funds”; see Item 4 above), Gould
may from time to time discuss with certain clients an investment in a PE Fund. Because of the
illiquidity of investments in a PE Fund, Gould advises clients on how a PE Fund investment could fit
into the client’s overall portfolio and investment strategy, but any decision to invest in a PE Fund
generally is made on a non-discretionary basis, meaning that the ultimate decision to invest in any
given PE Fund is made by the client.
Notwithstanding, Gould may also invest on behalf of clients in RE LLCs and/or PE Funds on a
discretionary basis.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
Generally, per Gould’s investment advisory agreement, the Firm does not vote (by proxy or
otherwise) in any matters related to securities beneficially held in client accounts, unless an
arrangement has been specifically agreed to in writing. However, as an alternative for clients not
wishing to research shareholder matters or vote their own proxies, Gould has engaged a third-party
service provider, Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”), and ISS, by way of an agreement directly
with Gould, and with written consent of Gould’s client, votes client proxies. Gould’s clients opt in
or opt out of this service by way of a form provided by their respective custodian, whereby proxy
materials are either directed to ISS (“opt in”), or redirected back to the clients themselves (“opt out”).
This service is provided at Gould’s expense solely as a courtesy to clients who wish to delegate proxy
voting responsibility to a third party. Gould clients may not engage ISS’s services directly. Gould does
not specifically endorse the use of ISS’s services; any decision to use these services is solely at the
client’s discretion. Clients may wish to have their proxies voted by another independent third party or
other named fiduciary or agent, at the client’s expense. Gould does not handle class action matters
on behalf of clients. Gould may, at its option, assist clients in completing the necessary paperwork
upon request. In addition, as described in Item 10 above, Gould has contracted with Chicago Clearing
Corporation (“CCC”) to offer a service to Gould clients whereby CCC will file claims for participating
Gould clients in securities class action settlements.
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Pursuant to Rule 206(4)-6 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Gould has adopted policies and
procedures reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of the client.
When voting, Gould votes in such a way that the Firm believes is consistent with its fiduciary duty.
Clients may provide voting instructions to override ISS’ recommendations. Additionally, in the
event of a potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest that may arise between Gould’s
interest and those of its clients, Gould shall always adhere to its fiduciary obligations and
prioritize the interests of its clients above its own.
If a client wishes to obtain information with regard to how Gould (if applicable) or ISS voted with
respect to their securities, that client may contact Gould at the phone number or address on this
document. A copy of Gould’s proxy voting policies and procedures as well as ISS’s proxy voting
policies and procedures may also be obtained by contacting the phone number or address on this
document.
Item 18 – Financial Information
Registered investment advisers are required in this Item to provide you with certain financial
information or disclosures about Gould’s financial condition. Gould has no financial commitment
that impairs its ability to meet contractual and fiduciary commitments to clients, and the company
has not been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding or petition. Gould does not require or solicit
prepayment of fees six months or more in advance of the rendering of advisory services.
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