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Item 1: Cover Page
Greenway Wealth Advisors, LLC
1920 Abbott St. Ste. 300
Charlotte, NC 28203
(704) 981-1228
Form ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure
Dated: March 25, 2026
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Greenway
Wealth Advisors, LLC, “GWA.” If you have any questions about the contents of this Brochure,
please contact us at (704) 981-1228. The information in this Brochure has not been approved or
verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities
authority.
Greenway Wealth Advisors, LLC is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission(“SEC”) .
Registration of an Investment Adviser does not imply any level of skill or training.
Additional information about GWA is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov
which can be found using the firm’s identification number 290727.
Item 2: Material Changes
Since our last annual brochure dated January 27, 2025, Greenway Wealth Advisors, LLC has
transitioned from a sole-ownership model to a multi-partner structure.
Effective January 1, 2026, Alexandria Crouch and Jennifer Hill, CFP® have each acquired a 5% equity
interest in the firm. J. Nicholas Foy, CFP® remains the majority owner and principal of the firm.
From time to time, we may amend this Disclosure Brochure to reflect changes in our business
practices, changes in regulations and routine annual updates as required by the securities
regulators. This complete Disclosure Brochure or a Summary of Material Changes shall be
provided to each Client annually and if a material change occurs in the business practices of GWA.
At any time, you may view the current Disclosure Brochure on-line at the SEC’s Investment Adviser
Public Disclosure website at http://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov by searching for our firm name or by
our CRD number 290727.
You may also request a copy of this Disclosure Brochure at any time, by contacting us at (704)
981-1228.
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Item 3: Table of Contents
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Item 1: Cover Page
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Item 2: Material Changes
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Item 3: Table of Contents
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Item 4: Advisory Business
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Item 5: Fees and Compensation
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Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
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Item 7: Types of Clients
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
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Item 9: Disciplinary Information
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Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Item 13: Review of Accounts
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Item 15: Custody
Item 16: Investment Discretion
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Item 18: Financial Information
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Item 4: Advisory Business
Description of Advisory Firm
Greenway Wealth Advisors, LLC is registered as an Investment Adviser with the Securities and
Exchange Commission(“SEC”). We were founded in September 2017. The firm is principally owned
by J. Nicholas Foy. As of January 1, 2026, Alexandria Crouch and Jennifer Hill each maintain a 5%
minority ownership interest in the firm.
As of December 31, 2025, GWA manages $182,374,922 in discretionary assets under management
and $2,170,359 in non-discretionary assets under management.
Types of Advisory Services
Investment Management Services
We are in the business of managing individually tailored investment portfolios. Our firm provides
continuous advice to a client regarding the investment of client funds based on the individual
needs of the client. Through personal discussions in which goals and objectives based on a client's
particular circumstances are established, we develop a client's personal investment policy or an
investment plan with an asset allocation target and create and manage a portfolio based on that
policy and allocation targets. We may also review and discuss a client’s prior investment history, as
well as family composition and background.
Account supervision is guided by the stated objectives of the client (e.g., maximum capital
appreciation, growth, income, or growth and income), as well as tax considerations. Clients may
impose reasonable restrictions on investing in certain securities, types of securities, or industry
sectors. Fees pertaining to this service are outlined in Item 5 of this brochure.
We may offer investment advisory services through the use of third-party money managers
(“Outside Managers”) for portfolio management services. We assist clients in selecting an
appropriate allocation model, completing the Outside Manager’s investor profile questionnaire,
interacting with the Outside Manager and reviewing the Outside Manager. Our review process and
analysis of outside managers is further discussed in Item 8 of this Form ADV Part 2A. Additionally,
we will meet with the client on a periodic basis to discuss changes in their personal or financial
situation, suitability, and any new or revised restrictions to be applied to the account. Fees
pertaining to this service are outlined in Item 5 of this brochure.
Comprehensive Financial Planning
Greenway clients receive comprehensive financial planning on an ongoing basis. Clients work with
a planner to help develop and implement a financial plan. We will also monitor the plan and
recommend modifications.
Together, clients and advisor(s) work on understanding their goals and values around money. The
client will be required to provide information to help us analyze and develop reports and
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recommendations related to their: net worth, cash flow, insurance, credit scores/reports,
employee benefits, retirement planning, insurance, investments, college planning and estate
planning. Once the client’s information is reviewed, their plan will be built and analyzed, and then
the findings, analysis and potential changes to their current situation will be reviewed with the
client. Clients subscribing to this service will receive a written or an electronic report, providing the
client with a detailed financial plan designed to achieve his or her stated financial goals and
objectives. If a follow up meeting is required, we will meet at the client's convenience. The plan
and the client’s financial situation and goals will be monitored throughout the year. We typically
meet with clients on a semi-annual basis where we review their plan to ensure its accuracy and
ongoing appropriateness. Any needed updates will be implemented at that time. We are available
on an ongoing basis should our clients have any questions, concerns or modifications to their
finances.
Held Away Account Services
We provide an additional service for accounts not directly held by one of our custodian(s) (see
Item 12 of this Brochure), referred to as “Held Away Accounts,” but where we do have discretion
and may leverage an Order Management System to implement asset allocation or rebalancing
strategies on behalf of the client. These are primarily 401(k) accounts, 529 plans, variable
annuities, and other assets held away from our typical custodians. We regularly review the current
holdings and available investment options in these accounts, monitor accounts, rebalance and
implement our strategies as necessary.
Hourly Financial Planning
We provide financial planning services on topics such as retirement planning, risk management,
college savings, cash flow, debt management, work benefits, and estate and incapacity planning.
Financial planning is a comprehensive evaluation of a client’s current and future financial state by
using currently known variables to predict future cash flows, asset values and withdrawal plans.
The key defining aspect of financial planning is that through the financial planning process, all
questions, information and analysis will be considered as they affect and are affected by the entire
financial and life situation of the client. Clients purchasing this service will receive a written or an
electronic report, providing the client with a detailed financial plan designed to achieve his or her
stated financial goals and objectives.
In general, the financial plan will address any or all of the following areas of concern. The client
and advisor will work together to select the specific areas to cover. These areas may include, but
are not limited to, the following:
● Business Planning: We provide consulting services for clients who currently operate their
own business, are considering starting a business, or are planning for an exit from their
current business. Under this type of engagement, we work with you to assess your current
situation, identify your objectives, and develop a plan aimed at achieving your goals.
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● Cash Flow and Debt Management: We will conduct a review of your income and
expenses to determine your current surplus or deficit along with advice on prioritizing how
any surplus should be used or how to reduce expenses if they exceed your income. Advice
may also be provided on which debts to pay off first based on factors such as the interest
rate of the debt and any income tax ramifications. We may also recommend what we
believe to be an appropriate cash reserve that should be considered for emergencies and
other financial goals, along with a review of accounts (such as money market funds) for
such reserves, plus strategies to save desired amounts.
● College Savings: Includes projecting the amount that will be needed to achieve college or
other post-secondary education funding goals, along with advice on ways for you to save
the desired amount. Recommendations as to savings strategies are included, and, if
needed, we will review your financial picture as it relates to eligibility for financial aid or the
best way to contribute to grandchildren (if appropriate).
● Employee Benefits Optimization: We will provide review and analysis as to whether you,
as an employee, are taking the maximum advantage possible of your employee benefits. If
you are a business owner, we will consider and/or recommend the various benefit
programs that can be structured to meet both business and personal retirement goals.
● Estate Planning: This usually includes an analysis of your exposure to estate taxes and
your current estate plan, which may include whether you have a will, powers of attorney,
trusts and other related documents. Our advice also typically includes ways for you to
minimize or avoid future estate taxes by implementing appropriate estate planning
strategies such as the use of applicable trusts.
We always recommend that you consult with a qualified attorney when you initiate, update,
or complete estate planning activities. We may provide you with contact information for
attorneys who specialize in estate planning when you wish to hire an attorney for such
purposes. From time-to-time, we will participate in meetings or phone calls between you
and your attorney with your approval or request.
● Financial Goals: We will help clients identify financial goals and develop a plan to reach
them. We will identify what you plan to accomplish, what resources you will need to make it
happen, how much time you will need to reach the goal, and how much you should budget
for your goal.
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Insurance: Review of existing policies to ensure proper coverage for life, health, disability,
long-term care, liability, home and automobile.
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Investment Analysis: This may involve developing an asset allocation strategy to meet
clients’ financial goals and risk tolerance, providing information on investment vehicles and
strategies, reviewing employee stock options, as well as assisting you in establishing your
own investment account at a selected broker/dealer or custodian. The strategies and types
of investments we may recommend are further discussed in Item 8 of this brochure.
● Retirement Planning: Our retirement planning services typically include projections of
your likelihood of achieving your financial goals, typically focusing on financial
independence as the primary objective. For situations where projections show less than the
desired results, we may make recommendations, including those that may impact the
original projections by adjusting certain variables (e.g., working longer, saving more,
spending less, taking more risk with investments).
If you are near retirement or already retired, advice may be given on appropriate
distribution strategies to minimize the likelihood of running out of money or having to
adversely alter spending during your retirement years.
● Risk Management: A risk management review includes an analysis of your exposure to
major risks that could have a significant adverse impact on your financial picture, such as
premature death, disability, property and casualty losses, or the need for long‐term care
planning. Advice may be provided on ways to minimize such risks and about weighing the
costs of purchasing insurance versus the benefits of doing so and, likewise, the potential
cost of not purchasing insurance (“self‐insuring”).
● Tax Planning Strategies: Advice may include ways to minimize current and future income
taxes as a part of your overall financial planning picture. For example, we may make
recommendations on which type of account(s) or specific investments should be owned
based in part on their “tax efficiency,” with consideration that there is always a possibility of
future changes to federal, state or local tax laws and rates that may impact your situation.
We recommend that you consult with a qualified tax professional before initiating any tax
planning strategy, and we may provide you with contact information for accountants or
attorneys who specialize in this area if you wish to hire someone for such purposes. We will
participate in meetings or phone calls between you and your tax professional with your
approval.
Employee Benefit Plan Services
Our firm provides employee benefit plan services to employer plan sponsors on an ongoing basis.
Generally, such services consist of assisting employer plan sponsors in establishing, monitoring
and reviewing their company's participant-directed retirement plan. As the needs of the plan
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sponsor dictate, areas of advising could include: investment options, plan structure and
participant education.
In providing employee benefit plan services, our firm does not provide any advisory services with
respect to the following types of assets: employer securities, real estate (excluding real estate
funds and publicly traded REITS), participant loans, non-publicly traded securities or assets, other
illiquid investments, or brokerage window programs (collectively, “Excluded Assets”).
All retirement plan consulting services shall be in compliance with the applicable state laws
regulating retirement consulting services. This applies to client accounts that are retirement or
other employee benefit plans (“Plan”) governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). If the client accounts are part of a Plan, and our firm accepts
appointments to provide services to such accounts, our firm acknowledges its fiduciary standard
within the meaning of Section 3(21) or 3(38) of ERISA as designated by the Retirement Plan
Consulting Agreement with respect to the provision of services described therein.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
We offer the same suite of services to all of our clients. However, specific client financial plans and
their implementation are dependent upon the client Investment Policy Statement which outlines
each client’s current situation (income, tax levels, and risk tolerance levels) and is used to
construct a client specific plan to aid in the selection of a portfolio that matches restrictions,
needs, and targets.
Wrap Fee Programs
We do not participate in wrap fee programs.
Item 5: Fees and Compensation
Please note, unless a client has received the firm’s disclosure brochure at least 48 hours prior to
signing the investment advisory contract, the investment advisory contract may be terminated by
the client within five (5) business days of signing the contract without incurring any advisory fees.
How we are paid depends on the type of advisory service we are performing and level of assets
invested. Greenway clients are either billed a fee based on a percentage of assets we are
managing, or a combination of a percentage of assets and a monthly fee. The services provided
are similar regardless of the fee arrangement chosen. Clients may also pay an hourly fee for
financial planning services. Please review the fee and compensation information below.
Investment Management and Comprehensive Financial Planning services ($500,000
minimum) - Traditional Fee Model
Our standard advisory fee is based on the market value of the assets under management and is
calculated as follows:
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Account Value
Annual Advisory Fee
$0 - $1,500,000
1.00%
$1,500,001 - $5,000,000
0.75%
$5,000,001 - $10,000,000
0.40%
$10,000,001 and Above
0.25%
The annual fees are negotiable and are pro-rated and paid in arrears on a quarterly basis. The
advisory fee is a blended fee and is calculated by assessing the percentage rates using the
predefined levels of assets as shown in the above chart, and applying the fee to the average
account value for the prior quarter, with the exception of Held Away Accounts described later. No
increase in the annual fee shall be effective without agreement from the client by signing a new
agreement or amendment to their current advisory agreement.
Should we recommend utilization of an outside manager for investment advisory services, please
note that, under the traditional model, the outside manager’s fee is included.
Advisory fees are directly debited from client accounts, or the client may choose to pay by check
or electronic transfer. Accounts initiated or terminated during a calendar quarter will be charged a
prorated fee based on the amount of time remaining in the billing period. An account may be
terminated with written notice at least 30 calendar days in advance. Since fees are paid in arrears,
no rebate will be needed upon termination of the account.
Investment Management and Financial Planning Services ($0 minimum) - Hybrid Fee Model
For clients who don’t meet our $500,000 minimum, we offer advisory and financial planning
services via a hybrid fee consisting of a combined investment advisory fee and a monthly financial
planning fee. The standard advisory fee is based on the market value of the account and is
calculated as follows:
Investment Management Fee
Account Value
Annual Advisory Fee
$0 - $499,999
0.30%
+
Comprehensive Financial Planning Fee
$300/ month
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The Investment Management Fee is negotiable and is prorated and paid in arrears on a quarterly
basis based on the average account balance for the prior quarter. Should we recommend
utilization of an outside manager for investment advisory services, please note that, under the
hybrid model, our fee is separate and in addition to their compensation and will be described to
you prior to engagement.
The Comprehensive Financial Planning Fee is negotiable and paid in arrears on a monthly basis.
Fees for this service may be paid by electronic funds transfer, check, or credit card. This service
may be terminated with 30 days notice.
Accounts initiated or terminated during a calendar quarter will be charged a prorated fee based
on the amount of time remaining in the billing period. An account may be terminated with written
notice at least 30 calendar days in advance. Since fees are paid in arrears, no rebate will be
needed upon termination of the account.
Once Clients assets have reached $500,000 or more under management, Clients fees will
transition to our traditional fee structure listed above as soon as administratively feasible.
Held Away Account Services
We charge an annual fee for the services provided to Held Away Accounts, which is deducted from
an account under our Investment Management Service on a quarterly basis in arrears or by other
means such as invoicing. Fees are based on the assets within these accounts, and are charged as
part of Client’s traditional fee model or hybrid fee model, whichever is applicable, according to the
valuation of the accounts at the close of the quarter as valued by the account custodian.
Financial Planning Hourly Fee
Financial Planning fee is an hourly rate between $150.00 and $350.00 per hour, depending on
complexity. The fee may be negotiable in certain cases and is due at the completion of the
engagement. In the event of early termination by client, any fees for the hours worked will be due.
Fees for this service may be paid by electronic funds transfer, check, or credit card.
Employee Benefit Plan Services
Account Value
Fee
$0 - $10,000,000
0.50%
Above $10,000,000
Negotiable
The annual fees are negotiable and are prorated and paid in arrears on a quarterly basis. The
advisory fee is calculated by assessing the percentage rates using the predefined levels of assets
as shown in the above chart, and applying the fee to the account value as of the last day of the
quarter resulting in a combined weighted fee. No increase in the annual fee shall be effective
without agreement from the client by signing a new agreement or amendment to their current
advisory agreement.
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Advisory fees are directly debited from client accounts, or the client may choose to pay by bank
transfer, credit card, or check. An account may be terminated with written notice at least 30
calendar days in advance. Upon termination of the account, any unearned fee will be refunded to
the client.
Other Types of Fees and Expenses
Our fees are exclusive of brokerage commissions, transaction fees, and other related costs and
expenses which may be incurred by the client. Clients may incur certain charges imposed by
custodians, brokers, and other third parties such as 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 fund and exchange traded funds also
charge internal management fees, which are disclosed in a fund’s prospectus. Such charges, fees
and commissions are exclusive of and in addition to our fee, and we shall not receive any portion
of these commissions, fees, and costs.
Item 12 further describes the factors that we consider in selecting or recommending
broker-dealers for client’s transactions and determining the reasonableness of their compensation
(e.g., commissions).
We do not accept compensation for the sale of securities or other investment products including
asset-based sales charges or service fees from the sale of mutual funds.
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and
Side-By-Side Management
We do not offer performance-based fees.
Item 7: Types of Clients
We provide financial planning and portfolio management services to individuals, high net-worth
individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations or other
businesses.
Our minimum account size requirement is $500,000, except in the case of clients who utilize our
Hybrid Fee Model noted in Item 5 above.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment
Strategies and Risk of Loss
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Below is a brief description of our methods of analysis and primary investment strategies.
Fundamental analysis involves analyzing individual companies and their industry groups, such as
a company’s financial statements, details regarding the company’s product line, the experience,
and expertise of the company’s management, and the outlook for the company’s industry. The
resulting data is used to measure the true value of the company’s stock compared to the current
market value. The risk of fundamental analysis is that the information obtained may be incorrect
and the analysis may not provide an accurate estimate of earnings, which may be the basis for a
stock’s value. If securities prices adjust rapidly to new information, utilizing fundamental analysis
may not result in favorable performance.
Passive Investment Management
We primarily practice passive investment management. Passive investing involves building
portfolios that are comprised of various distinct asset classes. The asset classes are weighted in a
manner to achieve a desired relationship between correlation, risk and return. Funds that
passively capture the returns of the desired asset classes are placed in the portfolio. The funds
that are used to build passive portfolios are typically index mutual funds or exchange traded
funds.
Passive investment management is characterized by low portfolio expenses (i.e. the funds inside
the portfolio have low internal costs), minimal trading costs (due to infrequent trading activity),
and relative tax efficiency (because the funds inside the portfolio are tax efficient and turnover
inside the portfolio is minimal).
In contrast, active management involves a single manager or managers who employ some
method, strategy or technique to construct a portfolio that is intended to generate returns that
are greater than the broader market or a designated benchmark. Academic research indicates
most active managers underperform the market.
Use of Outside Managers
We may refer Clients to Third Party Investment Advisers or advisory programs (“Outside
Managers”). Our analysis of Outside Managers involves the examination of the experience,
expertise, investment philosophies, and past performance of the Outside Managers in an attempt
to determine if that Outside Manager has demonstrated an ability to invest over a period of time
and in different economic conditions. We monitor the Outside Manager's underlying holdings,
strategies, concentrations, and leverage as part of our overall periodic risk assessment.
Additionally, as part of our due diligence process, we survey the Outside Manager's compliance
and business enterprise risks. A risk of investing with an Outside Manager who has been
successful in the past is that they may not be able to replicate that success in the future. In
addition, we do not control the underlying investments in an Outside Manager's portfolio. There is
also a risk that an Outside Manager may deviate from the stated investment mandate or strategy
of the portfolio, making it a less suitable investment for our Clients. Moreover, as we do not
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control the Outside Manager's daily business and compliance operations, we may be unaware of
the lack of internal controls necessary to prevent business, regulatory or reputational deficiencies.
Material Risks Involved
All investing strategies we offer involve risk and may result in a loss of your original
investment which you should be prepared to bear. Many of these risks apply equally to stocks,
bonds, commodities and any other investment or security. Material risks associated with our
investment strategies are listed below.
Market Risk: Market risk involves the possibility that an investment’s current market value will fall
because of a general market decline, reducing the value of the investment regardless of the
operational success of the issuer’s operations or its financial condition.
Strategy Risk: The Adviser’s investment strategies and/or investment techniques may not work as
intended.
Small and Medium Cap Company Risk: Securities of companies with small and medium market
capitalizations are often more volatile and less liquid than investments in larger companies. Small
and medium cap companies may face a greater risk of business failure, which could increase the
volatility of the client’s portfolio.
Interest Rate Risk: Bond (fixed income) prices generally fall when interest rates rise, and the
value may fall below par value or the principal investment. The opposite is also generally true:
bond prices generally rise when interest rates fall. In general, fixed income securities with longer
maturities are more sensitive to these price changes. Most other investments are also sensitive to
the level and direction of interest rates.
Risks Associated with Securities
Apart from the general risks outlined above which apply to all types of investments, specific
securities may have other risks.
Exchange Traded Funds prices may vary significantly from the Net Asset Value due to market
conditions. Certain Exchange Traded Funds may not track underlying benchmarks as expected.
ETFs are also subject to the following risks: (i) an ETF’s shares may trade at a market price that is
above or below their net asset value; (ii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing
exchange’s officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed from the exchange, or
the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers'' (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices)
halts stock trading generally. The Adviser has no control over the risks taken by the underlying
funds in which clients invest.
Investment Companies Risk. When a client invests in open end mutual funds or ETFs, the client
indirectly bears its proportionate share of any fees and expenses payable directly by those funds.
Therefore, the client will incur higher expenses, many of which may be duplicative. In addition, the
client’s overall portfolio may be affected by losses of an underlying fund and the level of risk
arising from the investment practices of an underlying fund (such as the use of derivatives).
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Item 9: Disciplinary Information
Criminal or Civil Actions
GWA and its management have not been involved in any criminal or civil action.
Administrative Enforcement Proceedings
GWA and its management have not been involved in administrative enforcement proceedings.
Self-Regulatory Organization Enforcement Proceedings
GWA and its management have not been involved in legal or disciplinary events that are material
to a client’s or prospective client’s evaluation of GWA or the integrity of its management.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry
Activities and Affiliations
No GWA employee is registered, or has an application pending to register as a broker-dealer or a
registered representative of a broker-dealer.
No GWA employee is registered, or has an application pending to register, as a futures
commission merchant, commodity pool operator or a commodity trading advisor.
GWA does not have any related parties. As a result, we do not have a relationship with any related
parties.
Recommendations or Selections of Other Investment Advisers
As referenced in Item 4 of this brochure, GWA may recommend clients to Outside Managers to
assist in managing their investment accounts. In the event that we recommend an Outside
Manager, please note that we do not share in their advisory fee. You are not obligated,
contractually or otherwise, to use the services of any Outside Manager we recommend.
Additionally, GWA will only recommend an Outside Manager who is properly licensed or registered
as an investment adviser.
GWA only receives compensation directly from clients. We do not receive compensation from any
outside source.
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Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or
Interest in Client Transactions and
Personal Trading
As a fiduciary, our firm and its associates have a duty of utmost good faith to act solely in the best
interests of each client. Our clients entrust us with their funds and personal information, which in
turn places a high standard on our conduct and integrity. Our fiduciary duty is a core aspect of our
Code of Ethics and represents the expected basis of all of our dealings. The firm also adheres to
the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility adopted by the CFP® Board of Standards Inc.,
and accepts the obligation not only to comply with the mandates and requirements of all
applicable laws and regulations but also to take responsibility to act in an ethical and
professionally responsible manner in all professional services and activities.
Code of Ethics Description
This code does not attempt to identify all possible conflicts of interest, and literal compliance with
each of its specific provisions will not shield associated persons from liability for personal trading
or other conduct that violates a fiduciary duty to advisory clients. A summary of the Code of Ethics'
Principles is outlined below.
•
Integrity - Associated persons shall offer and provide professional services with integrity.
•
Objectivity - Associated persons shall be objective in providing professional services to
clients.
•
Competence - Associated persons shall provide services to clients competently and
maintain the necessary knowledge and skill to continue to do so in those areas in which
they are engaged.
•
Fairness - Associated persons shall perform professional services in a manner that is fair
and reasonable to clients, principals, partners, and employers, and shall disclose conflict(s)
of interest in providing such services.
•
Confidentiality - Associated persons shall not disclose confidential client information
without the specific consent of the client unless in response to proper legal process, or as
required by law.
•
Professionalism - Associated persons’ conduct in all matters shall reflect credit of the
profession.
•
Diligence - Associated persons shall act diligently in providing professional services.
We periodically review and amend our Code of Ethics to ensure that it remains current, and we
require all firm access persons to attest to their understanding of and adherence to the Code of
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Ethics at least annually. Our firm will provide a copy of its Code of Ethics to any client or
prospective client upon request.
Investment Recommendations Involving a Material Financial Interest and Conflicts of
Interest
Neither our firm, its associates or any related person is authorized to recommend to a client, or
effect a transaction for a client, involving any security in which our firm or a related person has a
material financial interest, such as in the capacity as an underwriter, adviser to the issuer, etc.
Advisory Firm Purchase of Same Securities Recommended to Clients and Conflicts of
Interest
Our firm, its access persons, and its related persons may buy or sell securities similar to, or
different from, those we recommend to Clients. In an effort to reduce or eliminate certain conflicts
of interest, our Code of Ethics may require that we restrict or prohibit access persons’ transactions
in specific reportable securities. Any exceptions or trading pre-clearance must be approved by
GWA’s Chief Compliance Officer in advance of the transaction in an account. GWA maintains a
copy of access persons’ personal securities transactions as required.
Trading Securities At/Around the Same Time as Client’s Securities
From time to time our firm, its access persons, or its related persons may buy or sell securities for
themselves at or around the same time as they buy or sell securities for Clients’ account(s). To
address this conflict, it is our policy that neither our firm or access persons shall have priority over
Clients’ accounts in the purchase or sale of securities.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Factors Used to Select Custodians
GWA does not have any affiliation with any custodian we recommend. Specific custodian
recommendations are made to the Client based on their need for such services. We recommend
custodians based on the reputation and services provided by the firm.
In recommending custodians, we have an obligation to seek the “best execution” of transactions in
Client accounts. The determinative factor in the analysis of best execution is not the lowest
possible commission cost, but whether the transaction represents the best qualitative execution,
taking into consideration the full range of the custodian’s services. The factors we consider when
evaluating a custodian for best execution include, without limitation, the custodian’s:
● Combination of transaction execution services and asset custody services (generally
without a separate fee for custody);
● Capability to execute, clear, and settle trades (buy and sell securities for your account);
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● Capability to facilitate transfers and payments to and from accounts (wire transfers, check
requests, bill payment, etc.);
● Breadth of available investment products (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded
funds (ETFs), etc.);
● Availability of investment research and tools that assist us in making investment decisions
● Quality of services;
● Competitiveness of the price of those services (commission rates, margin interest rates,
other fees, etc.) and willingness to negotiate the prices;
● Reputation, financial strength, security and stability;
● Prior service to us and our clients.
With this in consideration, our firm typically recommends Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., a registered
broker-dealer, member FINRA and SIPC (“Schwab”). Although Clients may request us to use a
custodian of their choosing, we generally recommend that Clients open brokerage accounts with
Schwab. We are not affiliated with Schwab. The Client will ultimately make the final decision of the
custodian to be used to hold the Client’s investments by signing the selected custodian’s account
opening documentation.
Betterment for Advisors offers its investment sub-advisory services for securities portfolios
through a wrap fee program that includes custody and trading services provided by its affiliate,
MTG LLC, dba Betterment Securities (“Betterment Securities”). Betterment Securities is a
registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Betterment Securities is responsible for
execution of securities transactions and maintains custody of customer assets. Betterment places
aggregated orders involving multiple Betterment accounts trading in the same securities. Orders
for the purchase or sale of securities are routed by Betterment Securities to Apex Clearing
Corporation (“Apex”), the clearing broker used by Betterment Securities, for managed execution.
Betterment Securities does not provide research or other products and services to GWA in
connection with Client securities transactions.
Complimentary Research Materials and “Soft Dollars”
Advisor does not have any soft-dollar arrangements with custodians whereby soft-dollar credits,
used to purchase products and services, are earned directly in proportion to the amount of
commissions paid by a Client. However, as a result of being on their institutional platform, Schwab
may provide us with certain services and products that may benefit us. All such soft dollar benefits
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are consistent with the safe harbor contained in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
Schwab Advisor Services™ is Schwab’s business serving independent investment advisory firms
like us. They provide our Clients and us with access to their institutional brokerage services
(trading, custody, reporting and related services), many of which are not typically available to
Schwab retail customers. Schwab also makes available various support services. Some of those
services help us manage or administer our Clients’ accounts, while others help us manage and
grow our business.
Schwab’s support services are generally available on an unsolicited basis (we don’t have to request
them) and at no charge to us. The benefits received by Advisor or its personnel do not depend on
the number of brokerage transactions directed to Schwab. As part of its fiduciary duties to Clients,
Advisor at all times must put the interests of its Clients first. Clients should be aware, however,
that the receipt of economic benefits by Advisor or its related persons in and of itself creates a
potential conflict of interest and may indirectly influence the Advisor’s choice of Schwab for
custody and brokerage services. This conflict of interest is mitigated as Advisor regularly reviews
the factors used to select custodians to ensure our recommendation is appropriate. Following is a
more detailed description of Schwab’s support services:
1. Services that benefit you. Schwab’s institutional brokerage services include access to a
broad range of investment products, execution of securities transactions, and custody of
Client assets. The investment products available through Schwab include some to which we
might not otherwise have access or that would require a significantly higher minimum
initial investment by our Clients. Schwab’s services described in this paragraph generally
benefit you and your account.
2. Services that may not directly benefit you. Schwab also makes available to us other
products and services that benefit us but may not directly benefit you or your account.
These products and services assist us in managing and administering our Clients’ accounts.
They include investment research, both Schwab’s own and that of third parties. We may
use this research to service all or a substantial number of our Clients’ accounts, including
accounts not maintained at Schwab. In addition to investment research, Schwab also
makes available software and other technology that:
a. provide access to Client account data (such as duplicate trade confirmations and
account statements)
b. facilitate trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple Client
accounts
c. provide pricing and other market data
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d. facilitate payment of our fees from our Clients’ accounts
e. assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping, and Client reporting
3. Services that generally benefit only us. Schwab also offers other services intended to help
us manage and further develop our business enterprise. These services include:
a. Educational conferences and events
b. Consulting on technology, compliance, legal, and business needs
c. Publications and conferences on practice management and business succession
4. Your brokerage and custody costs. For our Clients’ accounts that Schwab maintains,
Schwab generally does not charge you separately for custody services but is compensated
by charging you commissions or other fees on trades that it executes or that settle into
your Schwab account. Certain trades (for example, many mutual funds and ETFs) may not
incur Schwab commissions or transaction fees.
Block Trading
Investment advisers may elect to purchase or sell the same securities for several clients at
approximately the same time when they believe such action may prove advantageous to clients.
This process is referred to as aggregating orders, batch trading or block trading. We do not engage
in block trading. It should be noted that implementing trades on a block or aggregate basis may be
less expensive for client accounts; however, it is our trading policy to implement all client orders
on an individual basis. Therefore, we do not aggregate or “block” client transactions. Considering
the types of investments we hold in advisory client accounts, we do not believe clients are
hindered in any way because we trade accounts individually. This is because we develop
individualized investment strategies for clients and holdings will vary. Our strategies are primarily
developed for the long-term and minor differences in price execution are not material to our
overall investment strategy.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
We receive no referrals from a custodian, broker-dealer or third party in exchange for using that
custodian, broker-dealer or third party.
Clients Directing Which Broker/Dealer/Custodian to Use
We do recommend a specific custodian for Clients to use, however, Clients may custody their
assets at a custodian of their choice. Clients may also direct us to use a specific custodian to
execute transactions. By allowing Clients to choose a specific custodian, we may be unable to
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achieve the most favorable execution of Client transactions and this may cost Clients money over
using a lower-cost custodian.
Item 13: Review of Accounts
Client accounts with the Investment Management Service will be reviewed regularly by our team
of advisors. The account is reviewed with regards to the client’s investment policies and risk
tolerance levels. Events that may trigger a special review would be unusual performance, addition
or deletions of client imposed restrictions, excessive draw-down, volatility in performance, or buy
and sell decisions from the firm or per client's needs.
Clients will receive trade confirmations from the broker(s) for each transaction in their accounts as
well as monthly or quarterly statements and annual tax reporting statements from their custodian
showing all activity in the accounts, such as receipt of dividends and interest.
GWA will provide electronic or written reports to Investment Advisory Clients on a quarterly basis.
We urge Clients to compare these reports against the account statements they receive from their
custodian.
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other
Compensation
We do not receive any economic benefit, directly or indirectly, from any third party for advice
rendered to our clients. Nor do we, directly or indirectly, compensate any person who is not
advisory personnel for client referrals.
Item 15: Custody
GWA does not accept custody of client funds except in the instance of withdrawing client fees.
For client accounts in which GWA directly debits their advisory fee:
i.
least quarterly statements to the client showing all
ii.
The custodian will send at
disbursements for the account, including the amount of the advisory fee.
The client will provide written authorization to GWA, permitting them to be paid directly for
their accounts held by the custodian.
Clients should receive at least quarterly statements from the broker-dealer, bank or other
qualified custodian that holds and maintains Client's investment assets. We urge you to carefully
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review such statements and compare such official custodial records to the account statements or
reports that we may provide to you. Our statements or reports may vary from custodial
statements based on accounting procedures, reporting dates, or valuation methodologies of
certain securities.
Item 16: Investment Discretion
For those client accounts where we provide investment management services, we maintain
discretion over client accounts with respect to securities to be bought and sold and the amount of
securities to be bought and sold. Investment discretion is explained to clients in detail when an
advisory relationship has commenced. At the start of the advisory relationship, the client will
execute a Limited Power of Attorney, which will grant our firm discretion over the account.
Additionally, the discretionary relationship will be outlined in the advisory contract and signed by
the client.
For clients with assets held at Betterment, Advisor will have the discretion to facilitate the
selection of, and changes to, the Betterment For Advisors portfolio allocation. Betterment For
Advisors provides software tools for advisors to facilitate the purchase and sale of securities in the
Client's accounts, including the amounts of securities to be bought and sold to align with the
Client's goals and risk tolerance, through a series of 101 incremental model portfolio allocations
ranging from 0% to 100% in equities.
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
We do not vote Client proxies. Therefore, Clients maintain exclusive responsibility for: (1) voting
proxies, and (2) acting on corporate actions pertaining to the Client’s investment assets. The Client
shall instruct the Client’s qualified custodian to forward to the Client copies of all proxies and
shareholder communications relating to the Client’s investment assets. If the client would like our
opinion on a particular proxy vote, they may contact us at the number listed on the cover of this
brochure.
In most cases, you will receive proxy materials directly from the account custodian. However, in
the event we were to receive any written or electronic proxy materials, we would forward them
directly to you by mail, unless you have authorized our firm to contact you by electronic mail, in
which case, we would forward you any electronic solicitation to vote proxies.
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Item 18: Financial Information
Registered Investment Advisers are required in this Item to provide you with certain financial
information or disclosures about our financial condition. We have no financial commitment that
impairs our ability to meet contractual and fiduciary commitments to clients, and we have not
been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
We do not have custody of client funds or securities or require or solicit prepayment of more than
$1,200 in fees per client six months in advance.
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