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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
17300 Chenal Parkway
Suite 150
Little Rock, Arkansas 72223
501-821-7733
Email: advisor@ifrahfinancial.com
Website: www.ifrahfinancial.com
Date of Brochure: October 27, 2025
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Ifrah
Financial Services, Inc. (“Ifrah”). If you have any questions about the contents of this Brochure,
you may contact us at (501) 821-7733 or advisor@ifrahfinancial.com to obtain answers and
additional information. Ifrah Financial Services, Inc. is a registered investment adviser with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any
level of skill or training. 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.
Additional information about Ifrah Financial Services, Inc. is available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. You can search this site by a unique identifying number, known as a
CRD number. Our firm’s CRD number is 136925.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
Item 2 – Material Changes
There have been no material changes made to Ifrah Financial Services, Inc.’ (“Ifrah”) Part 2A
Brochure since its prior Amendment filing on March 3, 2025. Ifrah below has made disclosure
additions and enhancements, including clarification of disclosures regarding application of
program fees under Item 5, revised custodian disclosures under Item 12 (Brokerage Practices),
and improved readability and consistency across the brochure.
ANY QUESTIONS: Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains available to address any
questions regarding this Part 2A, including the disclosure additions and enhancements below.
We may further provide other ongoing disclosure information about material changes as
necessary and will further provide you with a new Brochure as necessary based on changes or
new information, at any time, without charge.
Currently, our Brochure may be requested by contacting us at (501) 821-7733 or
advisor@ifrahfinancial.com. The brochure may be accessed by pointing your browser to
http://www.ifrahfinancial.com/disclosures. Our Brochure is provided free of charge.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
Item 3 – Table of Contents
Page
Item 1
Cover Page ........................................................................................................... i
Item 2
Material Changes ................................................................................................ ii
Item 3
Table of Contents ............................................................................................... iii
Item 4
Advisory Business ............................................................................................... 1
Item 5
Fees and Compensation .................................................................................... 16
Item 6
Performance-based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ................................ 23
Item 7
Types of Clients ................................................................................................. 23
Item 8
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss .......................... 24
Item 9
Disciplinary Information ................................................................................... 28
Item 10
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .......................................... 28
Item 11
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and
Personal Trading ............................................................................................... 29
Item 12
Brokerage Practices .......................................................................................... 30
Item 13
Review of Accounts ........................................................................................... 32
Item 14
Client Referrals and Other Compensation ........................................................ 34
Item 15
Custody ............................................................................................................. 34
Item 16
Investment Discretion ....................................................................................... 34
Item 17
Voting Client Securities ..................................................................................... 35
Item 18
Financial Information ........................................................................................ 37
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
Item 4 – Advisory Business
Ifrah Financial Services, Inc. is a SEC-registered investment adviser with its principal place of
business located in Arkansas. We began conducting business in 2006.
Listed below are the firm’s principal shareholders (i.e., those individuals and/or entities
controlling 25% or more of this company):
Patrick Ifrah, President & CEO
Stephen DeSalvo, Chairman of the Board
Micah Brown
We offer investment supervisory services, individual portfolio management, and model portfolio
management services to Clients.
Our investment recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered by a
broker-dealer or insurance company. We offer advice on a broad range of securities such as:
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Exchange-listed securities
Securities traded over-the-counter
Foreign issuers
Corporate debt securities (other than commercial paper)
Municipal securities
Variable life insurance
Variable annuities
Mutual fund shares
Exchange Traded Funds (“ETF”)
United States governmental securities
Interests in partnerships (for example: real estate, oil and gas, among others)
Structured Notes
Because some types of investments involve certain additional degrees of risk, they will only be
utilized when consistent with the Client’s stated investment objectives, tolerance for risk,
liquidity and suitability. Please refer to Item 8 for a discussion of our methods of analysis,
investment strategies, and risk.
Our firm provides investment supervisory and management services to Clients that may use
model asset allocation portfolios. Model asset allocation portfolios are offered through either
Goldman Sachs Custody Solutions (GSCS), formerly known as FOLIOfn and hereinafter referenced
as GSCS or Charles Schwab. Our available model portfolios are listed below. Each is designed to
meet a particular investment goal. Our firm can also provide discretionary management of
accounts outside of the model managed programs in certain circumstances.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
FolioAdvantage Models
FolioAdvantage is a multi-strategy for money management. It attempts to diversify among types
of equities as well as the types of strategies used. It is based on the premise that there are various
times when certain types of securities and management styles go in and out of favor during the
economic cycles. FolioAdvantage models are managed at GSCS. See Item 12 (Brokerage
Practices) below for information related to GSCS.
Based on the planning process, the Investment Advisor Representative (IAR) may allocate among
several sub-portfolios (“Folios”) described below. Folios may be passive or actively managed (or
a combination of both) and may use multiple strategies and styles. Folios are used as part of the
following allocations:
Standard Allocations:
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Ultra Conservative 40/60: 40% Equities - 60% Fixed Income & Cash
Conservative 50/50: 50% Equities - 50% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate Conservative 55/45: 55% Equities - 45% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate Conservative 60/40: 60% Equities - 40% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate 65/35: 65% Equities - 35% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate 70/30: 70% Equities - 30% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate Aggressive 80/20: 80% Equities - 20% Fixed Income & Cash
Aggressive 90/10: 90% Equities - 10% Fixed Income & Cash
Folios may also be created for Small Account Models (using ETFs only)
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Small Conservative 50/50: 50% Equities - 50% Fixed Income & Cash
Small Moderate 70/30: 70% Equities - 30% Fixed Income & Cash
Small Aggressive 90/10: 90% Equities - 10% Fixed Income & Cash
Ultra-Small Conservative 50/50: 50% Equities - 50% Fixed Income & Cash
Ultra-Small Moderate 70/30: 70% Equities - 30% Fixed Income & Cash
Ultra-Small Aggressive 90/10: 90% Equities – 10% Fixed Income & Cash
The following Folios may be used in any of the Standard and Small Account Models:
FOUNDATION FIXED INCOME
This Folio uses fixed income ETFs to create a core diversified portfolio of taxable fixed income
with the objective of matching or outperforming the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index on a risk-
adjusted basis. It is passive in nature however it is reviewed at least annually to consider changes
in the yield curve and to reallocate between short, intermediate, and long maturities if
appropriate. It may include corporate general and high yield bonds as well as inflation protected
treasury bonds as appropriate. Allocations are made in consideration of the trade-offs on the
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
yield curve between yield and maturities as well as quality spreads between Treasuries,
Corporates and other credit type securities made available through ETFs.
FOUNDATION EQUITY US
This Folio uses ETFs to construct a core portfolio that is well diversified and passive in nature. The
ETFs used are in various asset class categories attempting to cover the US market and are
allocated in a manner that is based on distributing the holdings among the following style boxes:
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Small Cap Growth
Small Cap Value
Mid Cap Growth
Mid Cap Value
Large Cap Growth
Large Cap Value
This Folio may also include a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) component. The allocations
will shift over time and given the passive nature of this Folio, it could be a year or more before
any changes are made.
ADVANTAGE TRADING
This Folio is an actively managed portfolio of primarily US Equities; however it can contain some
foreign securities if they are traded on a US exchange (typically in the form of an American
Deposit Receipt (“ADR”)). This Folio Places additional consideration on the technical
characteristics of a stock to select and determine when to purchase and sell stocks from a pre-
screened list of securities with characteristics which fall into an acceptable range. This strategy
looks for a wide range of opportunities and does not necessarily limit itself to fundamental data.
ADVANTAGE LEADERS
This Folio is an actively managed portfolio of primarily US Equities; however it can contain some
foreign securities if they are traded on a US exchange (typically in the form of an American
Deposit Receipt (“ADR”)). This Folio uses investment screens in search of companies with strong
margins and consensus in earnings estimates along with acceptable measures of profitability.
Selection of securities will take into consideration valuation, momentum and other metrics falling
into an acceptable range.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
STRATEGIC EQUITY US
This Folio is an actively managed portfolio of primarily US Equities; however it can contain some
foreign securities if they are traded on a US exchange (typically in the form of an American
Deposit Receipt (“ADR”)). This Folio is invested using multiple screens and will attempt to limit
excessive concentrations in any given sector as deemed appropriate by Advisor.
This Folio will include the use of valuation and momentum factors. Valuation factors will include
both company intrinsic and relative valuation considerations. Momentum factors will
incorporate analyst earning revisions as well as a price momentum model. Momentum is used
in addition to valuation because certain securities could remain undervalued for extended
periods of time and adding momentum can assist with timing of selections.
FOCUS LEADERS
This Folio uses domestic ETFs to focus in certain sectors, and stock types and styles based on
momentum and technical indicators. This Folio will focus on selected areas of the market and
may also invest in ETFs focusing in commodities, currencies as well as target outcome (among
others). Allocations also consider volatility and potential risks as well in the current market
environment.
FOUNDATION EQUITY INTERNATIONAL
This Folio uses ETFs to construct a core portfolio that is well diversified and passive in nature.
The ETFs covers the various markets around the world and will include exposure to developed as
well as emerging countries.
STRATEGIC EQUITY INTERNATIONAL
This Folio uses foreign ETFs to focus in certain geographical areas of the world based primarily on
momentum and technical considerations. It may invest in individual country ETFs, or broader
geographical areas and may use target outcome ETFs. Allocations also consider volatility and
potential risks as well in the current market environment.
ULTRA-SMALL AGGRESSIVE
The Ultra- Small Aggressive Portfolio uses three broad ETFs to provide US and International Equity
exposure as well as fixed income exposure. This portfolio is used for smaller accounts as deemed
appropriate by advisor.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
ULTRA-SMALL MODERATE
The Ultra-Small Moderate Portfolio uses three broad ETFs to provide US and International Equity
exposure as well as fixed income exposure. This portfolio is used for smaller accounts as deemed
appropriate by advisor.
ULTRA-SMALL CONSERVATIVE
The Ultra-Small Conservative Portfolio uses three broad ETFs to provide US and International
Equity exposure as well as fixed income exposure. This portfolio is used for smaller accounts as
deemed appropriate by advisor.
A security may be held in multiple Folios and may be bought/sold at different times in those
Folios based on considerations for the overall portfolio.
Although our FolioAdvantage strategies incorporate the use of rankings and technical
considerations to assist in the selection of securities, investment manager judgment may be used
in conjunction with the use of external research to refine the investment selections and the
timing on executing specific buy and sell trades.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
iFocus Models
iFocus is a multi-strategy and is based on screening concepts of successful market professionals
and our own rankings overlaid for a portion of the portfolio that uses individual stocks and a core
and passive component made up of exchange traded funds for diversification. iFocus models are
managed at GSCS. Like the FolioAdvantage Models, the IAR may allocate among several Folios
as part of an allocation described below.
Standard iFocus Model allocations include:
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Conservative 50/50: 50% Equities - 50% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate Conservative 55/45: 55% Equities - 45% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate Conservative 60/40: 60% Equities - 40% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate 65/35: 65% Equities - 35% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate 70/30: 70% Equities - 30% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate Aggressive 80/20: 80% Equities - 20% Fixed Income & Cash
Aggressive 90/10: 90% Equities - 10% Fixed Income & Cash
Folios used in iFocus Model allocations include:
iFocus Fixed Income
This Folio uses fixed income ETFs to create a core diversified portfolio of taxable fixed income.
The objective is to match or outperform the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index on a risk adjusted
basis. This portfolio is passive in nature; however it is reviewed at least annually to consider
changes in the yield curve and reallocate between short, intermediate and long maturities when
appropriate. It also may include corporate general and high yield bonds as well as inflation
protected treasury bonds, when appropriate.
iFocus US Equities
This Folio uses ETFs to construct a core portfolio that is diversified and passive in nature. The
ETFs used are in various categories attempting to cover the US market and are allocated in a
manner based on distributing the holdings among the following style boxes:
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Small Cap Growth
Small Cap Value
Mid Cap Growth
Mid Cap Value
Large Cap Growth
Large Cap Value
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
The allocations will shift over time and given the passive nature of this Folio it could be a year or
more before any changes are made.
iFocus International
This Folio uses ETFs to construct a core portfolio that is well diversified and passive in nature.
The ETFs cover the various markets around the world and will include exposure to developed as
well as emerging countries.
iFocus Market Pros
This Folio uses individual equities based on screening concepts from market professionals and
third-party research. From this initial screening, we apply our own set of additional criteria and
rankings to select the securities to be used in this Folio.
A Multi-Strategy Allocation is also available and uses a blend of FolioAdvantage folio components
as well as the iFocus Market Pro folio strategy. The aggressive allocation under the Multi-
Strategy uses 95% equities and 5% fixed income.
Although our iFocus strategies utilize rankings and technical considerations to select securities,
investment advisor judgment may apply along with the use of external or other research to refine
the investment selections and the timing on executing specific buy and sell trades.
Schwab Management Models
The Standard Management Models include:
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Strategic Model
Tactical Model
Tactical + Quant Model
Standard Allocations:
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Ultra Conservative 40/60: 40% Equities - 60% Fixed Income & Cash
Conservative 50/50: 50% Equities - 50% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate Conservative 55/45: 55% Equities - 45% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate Conservative 60/40: 60% Equities - 40% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate 65/35: 65% Equities - 35% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate 70/30: 70% Equities - 30% Fixed Income & Cash
Moderate Aggressive 80/20: 80% Equities - 20% Fixed Income & Cash
Aggressive 90/10: 90% Equities - 10% Fixed Income & Cash
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
The Strategic Model
Uses ETFs for core diversification among fixed income, small/mid/large cap stocks, and
international equities. The models are long-term strategic in nature and have very low turnover.
They can remain static for extended periods of time except for rebalancing that may occur as
determined by the specific needs of the client and the tax implications for the account.
The Tactical Model
Uses ETFs with diversification across fixed income, small/mid/large cap stocks and international
equities. The model may be allocated over time in different ETFs to gain varying exposures to
various areas of the markets by emphasizing factors such as value or growth primarily using
technical and momentum considerations. The objective is to emphasize areas that are
considered to be performing well in a given market environment and attempt to reduce risks
when warranted by using lower volatility ETFs as an example.
Tactical + Quant Management Model
Uses both ETFs and individual equities in areas of Small Cap, Mid Cap and Large Cap as a managed
component. It incorporates the Tactical Model in addition to using individual equities. The model
uses quantitative rankings to select stocks. Valuation and momentum considerations are part of
the quantitative rankings. Stock selections are periodically reviewed and substitutions are made
when necessary. Value judgment may apply along with the use of external or other research to
refine the investment selections and the timing on executing specific buy and sell trades.
The Strategic, Tactical and Tactical + Quant Management Models are managed at Charles Schwab
(“Schwab”). See Item 12 (Brokerage Practices) below for information related to Schwab.
For taxable accounts, we may at our discretion defer or limit trading and we may temporarily
assign these accounts to models that have the potential to limit the tax impact of trades in these
accounts.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
Communications and updating of information
To ensure that our initial determination of an appropriate portfolio remains suitable and that the
account continues to be managed in a manner consistent with the Client’s financial
circumstances, we will:
Send quarterly written reminders to each Client requesting any updated information regarding
changes in the Client’s financial situation and investment objectives;
Contact each participating Client annually to determine whether there have been any changes in
the Client’s financial situation or investment objectives, and whether the Client wishes to impose
investment restrictions or modify existing restrictions and always be available to consult with the
client when requested.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
FINANCIAL PLANNING
We also provide financial planning services. Financial planning is an evaluation of a Client’s
current and future financial situation by using currently known variables to analyze future cash
flows, asset values and withdrawal plans. Through the financial planning process, all questions,
information, and analysis are considered as they impact and are impacted by the entire financial
and life situation of the Client. Clients purchasing this service receive a report which provides the
Client with a general financial overview designed to assist the Client achieve his or her financial
goals and objectives.
In general, the financial plan may address any or all of the following areas:
Personal: The review of family records, budgeting, personal liability, estate information and
financial goals where applicable.
Tax and Cash Flow: The analysis of the Client’s income tax and spending and planning for past,
current and future years.
Investments: The analysis of investment alternatives in the Client’s portfolio.
Insurance: The generic review of existing policies and possible recommendation that the Client
discuss additional coverage options for life, health, disability, long-term care, liability, home and
automobile with a licensed insurance agent.
Retirement: The analysis of current strategies and investment plans to help the Client achieve his
or her retirement goals.
Death and Disability: The review of the Client’s cash needs at death, income needs of surviving
dependents, estate planning and disability income.
Estate: Assist the Client and may recommend third party professionals to help assess and develop
long-term strategies, including as appropriate, living trusts, wills, estate tax, powers of attorney,
asset protection plans, long term care, Medicaid, and elder law.
The gathering of necessary information through personal interviews. Information gathered may
include the Client’s current financial status, tax status, future goals, return objectives and
attitudes towards risk. We carefully review documents supplied by the Client and advise
accordingly. Should the Client choose to implement the recommendations contained in the plan,
we suggest the Client work closely with his/her attorney, accountant, insurance agent, and/or
IAR. Implementation of financial plan recommendations is entirely at the Client’s discretion.
We may also provide general non-securities advice on topics that may include tax and budgetary
planning, estate planning and business planning.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
PUBLICATION OF PERIODICALS
We publish a market commentary providing general information on various financial topics
including, but not limited to, estate and retirement planning, market trends, etc. No specific
investment recommendations are provided in these commentaries and the information provided
does not purport to meet the objectives or needs of any individual. This is distributed free of
charge to our advisory Clients and published on our website.
CONSULTING SERVICES
Clients may also receive investment advice on a more focused basis. This may include advice on
only an isolated area(s) of concern such as estate planning, retirement planning, or any other
specific topic. We also provide specific consultation and administrative services regarding
investment and financial concerns of the Client. Consulting recommendations are not limited to
any specific product or service offered by a broker-dealer or insurance company. All
recommendations are of a generic nature.
RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES
IFS offers participant directed 401(k) plans with Vanguard Retirement Services. We provide
advisory services and participant education services. Our advisory services are tailored to the
needs of the client organization and include assistance with the selection of investment options
for the plan as well as making ourselves available to participants for guidance on their account,
investment selection and asset allocation decisions and other financial planning related matters.
Compensation for our services are through a fully disclosed advisory fee negotiated at the onset
of the relationship.
MISCELLANEOUS
Limitations of Financial Planning and Non-Investment Consulting/Implementation Services:
To the extent specifically requested, Ifrah will generally provide planning and consulting services
regarding non-investment related matters, such as tax and estate planning, insurance, etc.
inclusive of its advisory fee set forth at Item 5 below (limited exceptions may occur based upon
assets under management, advanced planning needs, special projects, etc. for which Firm may
charge a mutually agreeable additional fee and/or require a stand-alone financial planning
engagement). Please Note: Ifrah does not serve as an attorney, accountant, or insurance agent,
and no portion of our services should be construed as same. Accordingly, Ifrah does not prepare
estate planning or any other legal documents, tax returns, or sell insurance products. To the
extent requested by a client, we may recommend the services of other professionals for non-
investment implementation purpose (i.e. attorneys, accountants, insurance, etc.). Please Note:
If the client engages any recommended unaffiliated professional, and a dispute arises thereafter
relative to such engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from and against the
engaged professional.
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
Client Obligations:
In performing its services, Ifrah shall not be required to verify any information received from
the client or from the client’s other professionals and is expressly authorized to rely thereon.
Moreover, each client is advised that it remains his/her/its responsibility to promptly notify
Ifrah if there is ever any change in his/her/its financial situation or investment objectives for the
purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising Ifrah’s previous recommendations and/or services.
Retirement Rollovers-Potential for Conflict of Interest:
A client or prospective client leaving an employer typically has four options regarding an existing
retirement plan (and may engage in a combination of these options): (i) leave the money in the
former employer’s plan, if permitted, (ii) roll over the assets to the new employer’s plan, if one
is available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) roll over to an Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”),
or (iv) cash out the account value (which could, depending upon the client’s age, result in adverse
tax consequences). If Ifrah recommends that a client roll over their retirement plan assets into
an account to be managed by Ifrah, such a recommendation creates a conflict of interest if Ifrah
will earn new (or increase its current) compensation as a result of the rollover. When acting in
such capacity, Ifrah serves as a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
(ERISA), or the Internal Revenue Code, or both. No client is under any obligation to roll over
retirement plan assets to an account managed by Ifrah. Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick
Ifrah, remains available to address any questions that a client or prospective client may have
regarding the potential for conflict of interest presented by such rollover recommendation.
Clients can place reasonable restrictions on the types of investments to be held in their account.
Restrictions must be provided to us in writing.
Separate Account Managers:
Ifrah may allocate a portion of a client’s investment assets among unaffiliated independent
investment managers (per the terms of a sub-advisory agreement between Ifrah and the
manager) in accordance with the client’s designated investment objective(s). In such situations,
the Independent Manager[s] shall have day-to-day responsibility for the active discretionary
management of the allocated assets. Ifrah shall continue to render investment supervisory
services to the client relative to the ongoing monitoring and review of account performance,
asset allocation and client investment objectives. Factors that Ifrah shall consider
in
recommending Independent Manager[s] include the client’s designated investment objective(s),
management style, performance, reputation, financial strength, reporting, pricing, and research.
Please Note: The investment management fee charged by the separate account manager is
separate from, and in addition to, Ifrah’s advisory fee as set forth in the fee schedule at Item 5
below.
Custodian Charges-Additional Fees:
As discussed below at 12 below, when requested to recommend a broker-dealer/custodian for
client accounts, Ifrah generally recommends that Schwab and/or GSCS serve as the broker-
dealer/custodian for client investment management assets. Broker-dealers charge transaction
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
fees for effecting securities transactions. In addition to Ifrah’s investment advisory fee referenced
in Item 5 below, the client will also incur transaction fees to purchase securities for the client’s
account (i.e., mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and individual equity and fixed income
securities, including those purchased by an underlying Independent Manager discussed above.
See discussion below regarding transaction based vs. asset-based pricing. ANY QUESTIONS:
Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains available to address any questions that a
client or prospective client may have regarding the above.
from
Asset-Based Pricing Arrangements and Limitations:
Ifrah generally recommends that clients enter into an “Asset-Based” pricing agreement with the
account broker-dealer/custodian. Under an asset-based pricing arrangement, the amount that
a client will pay the custodian for account commission/transaction fees is based upon a
percentage (%) of the market value of the account, generally expressed in basis points and/or a
percentage. One basis point is equal to one one-hundredth of one percent (1/100th of 1%, or
0.01% (0.0001). Generally, the applicable fixed percentage fee decreases as the account value
increases. This differs
transaction-based pricing, which assesses a separate
commission/transaction fee against the account for each account transaction. Account
investment decisions are driven by security selection and anticipated market conditions and not
the amount of transaction fees payable by you to the account custodian. Under either the asset-
based or transaction-based pricing scenario, the fees charged by the respective broker-
dealer/custodian are separate from, and in addition to, the advisory fee payable by the client to
Ifrah per Item 5 below. Ifrah does not receive any portion of the asset-based transaction fees
payable by you to the account custodian. We continue to believe that our clients can benefit
from an asset-based pricing arrangement. You are under no obligation to enter into an asset –
based arrangement, and, if you do, you can request at any time to switch from asset-based
pricing to transactions-based pricing, However, there can be no assurance that the volume of
transactions will be consistent from year-to-year given changes in market events and security
selection. Thus, given the variances in trading volume, any decision by you to switch to
transaction-based pricing could prove to be economically disadvantageous. Ifrah’s Chief
Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains available to address any questions that a client or
prospective client may have regarding Asset-Based versus Transaction- Based pricing.
Please Note-Use of Mutual and Exchange Traded Funds:
In addition to Ifrah’s investment advisory fee described below at Item 5, and transaction and/or
custodial fees discussed above, clients will also incur, relative to all mutual fund and exchange
traded fund purchases, charges imposed at the fund level (e.g. management fees and other fund
expenses). ANY QUESTIONS: Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains available to
address any questions that a client or prospective client may have regarding the above.
ERISA Plan and 401(k) Individual Engagements:
Trustee Directed Plans. Ifrah may be engaged to provide investment advisory services to ERISA
retirement plans, whereby the Firm shall manage Plan assets consistent with the investment
objective designated by the Plan trustees. In such engagements, Ifrah will serve as an investment
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IFRAH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Part 2A of Form ADV – Brochure
fiduciary as that term is defined under The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(“ERISA”). Ifrah will generally provide services on an “assets under management” fee basis per
the terms and conditions of an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Plan and the Firm.
Participant Directed Retirement Plans:
Ifrah may also provide investment advisory and consulting services to participant directed
retirement plans per the terms and conditions of a Retirement Plan Services Agreement between
Ifrah and the plan. For such engagements, Ifrah shall assist the Plan sponsor with the selection of
an investment platform from which Plan participants shall make their respective investment
choices (which may include investment strategies devised and managed by Ifrah), and, to the
extent engaged to do so, may also provide corresponding education to assist the participants
with their decision-making process.
Client Retirement Plan Assets:
If requested to do so, Ifrah shall provide investment advisory services relative to the client’s
401(k) plan assets. In such event, Ifrah shall recommend that the client allocate the retirement
account assets among the investment options available on the 401(k) platform. Ifrah shall be
limited to making recommendations regarding the allocation of the assets among the investment
alternatives available through the plan. Ifrah will not receive any communications from the plan
sponsor or custodian, and it shall remain the client’s exclusive obligation to notify Ifrah of any
changes in investment alternatives, restrictions, etc. pertaining to the retirement account.
Portfolio Activity:
Ifrah has a fiduciary duty to provide services consistent with the client’s best interest. As part of
its investment advisory services, Ifrah will review client portfolios on an ongoing basis to
determine if any changes are necessary based upon various factors, including, but not limited to,
investment performance, fund manager tenure, style drift, account additions/withdrawals,
and/or a change in the client’s investment objective. Based upon these factors, there may be
extended periods of time when Ifrah determines that changes to a client’s portfolio are neither
necessary nor prudent. Of course, as indicated below, there can be no assurance that investment
decisions made by Ifrah will be profitable or equal any specific performance level(s).
Investment Risk:
Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that
future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy (including the investments
and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Ifrah) will be profitable or equal
any specific performance level(s).
We do not manage Wrap Fee programs.
As of 12/31/2024, we were actively managing approximately $446,906,587 of client assets
broken down per the following: Discretionary basis: $390,509,396 and on a non-discretionary
basis $56,397,191.
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ANY QUESTIONS: Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains available to address
any questions that a client may have regarding its prospective engagement and the
corresponding conflict of interest presented by such engagement.
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Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
INVESTMENT SUPERVISORY SERVICES
Clients that engage Ifrah to provide Investment Supervisory Services and model portfolio
management services may pay two fees: (1) an investment advisory fee per the fee schedule set
forth at Item 5; plus, a (2) separate program fee equal to 0.50% of the assets being managed.
The total fee (advisory + program) payable by the client could be more or less than that charged
by other investment advisers. Any questions: Ifrah's Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah,
remains available to address any questions regarding its fees.
The fee for Investment Supervisory Services (“Advisory Fee”) is for the personal advisory
relationship with an IFS advisor as well as client services support and related administration of
client accounts. The financial advisor remains available to their clients anytime as a resource for
financial advice to include at the client's request advice on their accounts, financial planning and
related concerns, asset allocation, coordination of investments with investment objectives,
supervision of accounts as well as reporting and tracking.
Our annual fees for Investment Supervisory Services (“Advisory Fee”) are based upon a
percentage of assets under management.
Our standard Advisory Fee schedule is as follows:
Assets under management
$0 to $1,000,000
$1,000,001 to $2,500,000
$2,500,001 to $5,000,000
$5,000,001 to $10,000,000
Greater than $10,000,000 or Other *
Annual Advisory Fee
1.50% or 0.3750% per quarter
1.30% or 0.3250% per quarter
1.15% or 0.2875% per quarter
1.00% or 0.2500% per quarter
Negotiable
*For assets exceeding ten million dollars or under special circumstances, a negotiated fee
arrangement may be used.
We aggregate certain related Client accounts for the purposes of achieving the minimum account
size requirements and determining the annualized fee.
The advisory fee is to be paid quarterly. The Quarterly amount will be equal to one quarter of the
agreed upon annual rate, multiplied by the market value of the account at the end of the quarter.
For purposes of determining value, securities and other instruments traded on a market for which
actual transaction prices are publicly reported shall be valued at the last reported sale price on
the principal market in which they are traded (or, if there shall be no sales on such date, then at
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the mean between the closing bid and asked prices on such date). Other readily marketable
securities shall be priced using a pricing service or through quotations from one or more dealers.
All other assets shall be valued at fair value by us and our determination shall be conclusive. We
may modify the terms in this Section prospectively on at least 30 days prior written notice.
FINANCIAL PLANNING FEES
Our Financial Planning fees are determined based on the nature of the services being provided
and the complexity of each Client’s circumstances. All fees are agreed upon prior to entering into
a contract with any Client.
Our Financial Planning fees are calculated and charged on an hourly basis, at the rate of $250 per
hour. Although the length of time it will take to provide a Financial Plan will depend on each
Client’s personal situation, we will provide an estimate for the total hours at the start of the
advisory relationship.
The client has no obligation to implement the recommendations presented within the course of
the Financial Planning Agreement. If the client chooses to implement the recommendations
through an on-going advisory relationship with our firm, the financial planning fee will be waived.
If the financial planning fee has already been paid, then it will be applied as a credit toward the
advisory fees. A potential conflict of interest may result from the firm’s financial planning
recommendations since the firm has an interest in recommending the investment management
services of the firm. Clients are however free to take the recommendations and have them
implemented at another firm. Only financial planning clients who do not engage the firm for
other services are charged financial planning fees.
CONSULTING SERVICES FEES
Our Consulting Services fees are determined based on the nature of the services being provided
and the complexity of each Client’s circumstances. All fees are agreed upon prior to entering into
a contract with any Client. Our Consulting Services fees are calculated and charged on an hourly
basis at the rate of $250 per hour. An estimate for the total hours is determined at the start of
the advisory relationship.
THIRD PARTY MANAGERS
We may recommend a third-party manager for fixed income management. If a third-party
manager is recommended, the manager’s fee is separate from our advisory fee. Clients are
required to sign a separate agreement with the third-party manager. In that agreement, the
manager will disclose their fees to Clients. If a third-party manager is utilized for fixed income
management, we will charge the Client our standard advisory fee, but a Program Fee (see below)
will not be charged.
NEGOTIABILITY
Ifrah, in its sole discretion, may charge a lesser investment advisory fee and/or charge a flat fee
based upon certain criteria (i.e. anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future additional
assets, dollar amount of assets to be managed, related accounts, account composition,
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competition, negotiations with client, etc.). Please Note: As result of the above, similarly situated
clients could pay different fees. In addition, similar advisory services may be available from other
investment advisers for similar or lower fees. Negotiability may include the exclusion of certain
assets from billing.
Advisory fees are deducted directly quarterly from the Client’s custodial account(s) upon
submission of an invoice to the custodian. The custodian will provide monthly or quarterly
statements depending on activity to the Client reflecting the amount of the fees charged.
Payment of fees may result in the liquidation of Client’s securities if there is insufficient cash in
the account.
ANY QUESTIONS: Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains available to address any
questions that a client or prospective client may have regarding advisory fees.
Program Fee for Model Portfolio Management
For Model Portfolio Management Services, we charge a program fee (“Program Fee”). This fee
is applicable to (i) all accounts held with GSCS, and (ii) the model managed accounts held with
Schwab that use exchange traded funds and/or individual equities.
This Program Fee is in addition to our advisory fee and separate from fees charged by the
custodians. Our Program Fee is a flat 0.50% per year for all account sizes.
The Program Fee is in addition to our advisory fee and applies only to certain managed accounts.
It is for investment management services on accounts that subscribe to IFS models or custom
management that use exchange traded funds or individual stocks and is for the maintenance,
execution and tracking of the underlying model strategies used to manage client accounts. This
fee is unrelated to the level of trading activity. This fee does not apply to mutual fund positions,
separately managed accounts with third party advisory services and individual fixed income
securities.
The Program Fee also applies to uninvested cash held in the account, even if such cash is excluded
from the advisory fee billing. Cash balances are considered part of the managed account for
purposes of the Program Fee unless otherwise agreed in writing.
The Program Fee is charged in advance for the quarter and is deducted directly from the Client’s
custodial account. The Program Fee is based on the value of the account as of the last day of the
quarter.
Sample Ifrah Fee Calculation
The following example is provided for illustration purposes only. Actual fees may vary based on
account size, negotiated terms, and applicable exclusions. Advisory and program fees are charged
as described above and calculated on the value of assets in the account as of the last business
day of the billing period.
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Assuming client portfolio value is $500,000 at end of quarter. Total Fee Charged by Ifrah is:
500,000 x 1.50% (Advisory Fee) + $500,000 x 0.50% (Program Fee) = $10,000 per year.
This total fee is divided by four quarters to reflect a quarterly fee of $2,500.
ANY QUESTIONS: Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains
available to address any questions regarding its advisory fee schedule.
Custodian Fees for Asset Based Pricing for Transactions in the Model Portfolio Management
Programs
Please Note: Asset Based Pricing Limitations:
Account investment decisions are driven by security selection and anticipated market conditions
and not the amount of transaction fees payable by the client to the account custodian. The client
can request at any time to switch from asset-based pricing to transaction-based pricing, however,
there can be no assurance that the volume of transactions will be consistent from year-to-year
given market events and security selection. Thus, given the variances in trading volume, any
decision by the client to switch to transaction-based pricing, could prove to be economically
disadvantageous for the client.
GSCS
GSCS charges an asset based tiered fee for custody/trading ranging from 0.02% to 0.15% per year
based on account size. Under a special arrangement with GSCS, standard minimum annual fees
have been waived for this program. These fees are billed quarterly and are payable in advance.
Client’s account will be automatically debited at that time. Quarterly fee adjustments for
additional assets received into the account during a quarter will also be provided on the above
on a pro-rata basis. The fees are tiered per the following schedule. Tiered means that breakpoint
pricing is not “retroactive”; when a breakpoint is surpassed, the fees assessed are reduced only
for the assets above each breakpoint.
GSCS custody and trading fees are charged in advance and are not refundable after they have
been collected by GSCS. GSCS fees are based on the account value at the end of the quarter for
accounts at GSCS and is computed by GSCS. GSCS automatically creates a quarterly debit entry
which combines their Asset Based Pricing fee with our Program Fee.
GSCS Asset Based Custody/Trading Schedule
Assets Under Management
Annual GSCS Platform Fee
$0 to $200,000
$200,000 to $500,000
$500,000 to $1,000,000
$1,000,000 and up
0.15% or 0.0375% per quarter
0.10% or 0.0250% per quarter
0.05% or 0.0125% per quarter
0.02% or 0.0050% per quarter
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Accounts maintained under the same client membership record at Folio Investments are
aggregated for achieving breakpoint tiers. For example, an individual account and a joint account
can be created under the same membership record. Certain accounts, however, require the
creation of another client membership record and these types of accounts will not be aggregated
for purposes of client level billing. The types of accounts that require the creation of another
client membership record and not subject to aggregation include corporate, partnership, limited
liability, sole proprietorship, investment club, business trust, qualified retirement plan and
unincorporated organization accounts.
Schwab
Schwab does not charge an asset-based fee for custody/trading.
ADDITIONAL FEES AND EXPENSES
Clients may be required to pay brokerage commissions and transaction fees if they choose to
purchase or sell assets or securities outside of the management program. This information is
reflected in the disclosures made to the client by the custodian. At GSCS, brokerage commissions
and transaction fees are included as a part of the asset-based pricing for trades placed during
their brokerage windows. Schwab does not charge commissions for trades placed electronically
for stocks, exchange traded funds and mutual funds under the Schwab One Source program.
All Clients are separately charged for any expenses imposed by custodians, brokers, exchanges,
and any other third parties. These expenses may include custodial fees (including termination
and/or transfer fees), deferred sales charges, odd-lot differentials, transfer taxes, wire transfer
and electronic fund fees, and other fees and taxes. Mutual funds 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.
Please refer to Item 12 – Brokerage and Custody Costs and Conflicts for additional information
regarding the custodians pricing structures, trading practices, and other potential sources of
revenue from the custodians.
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Financial Planning and Consulting
Financial Planning and Consulting fees include any activities while working with Client’s attorney,
accountant, or other third party as needed for the project. However, our fee is separate, and we
are not responsible for an attorney, accountant or other third-party fee charged to Client as a
result of the above activities.
Advisory fees are charged quarterly in advance based upon the market value of the Account at
the end of the prior quarter. Adjustments (credits or debits) are generally not made for any
additions or withdrawals to the account during a quarter. Market value means the value of all
assets in the account (not adjusted by any margin debit). For purposes of determining value,
securities and other instruments traded on a market for which actual transaction prices are
publicly reported shall be valued at the last reported sale price on the principal market in which
they are traded (or, if there shall be no sales on such date, then at the mean between the closing
bid and asked prices on such date). Other readily marketable securities shall be priced using a
pricing service or through quotations from one or more dealers.
New accounts are pro-rated from the time we begin charging a fee to the Client. Fees for partial
quarters at the commencement or termination of an agreement will be billed or refunded on a
pro-rated basis contingent on the number of days the account was open during the quarter.
Vanguard Retirement Planning Services
The fee rate charged by IFS is negotiated upfront with the client. The size of the plan, the
number of participants as well as funding expectations will help determine the advisory fee
charged by IFS. Fees are typically paid directly from each participant's account. Vanguard has an
arrangement to utilize the services of an administration and trustee firm named Ascensus
which charges separately for plan administration and participant access. Vanguard charges an
annual base plan fee, per participant fees and earns fees from the use of their Vanguard mutual
funds, if they are used in the plan. A portion of the fees that Vanguard earns on the use of their
mutual funds is used to help offset recordkeeping expenses charged by Ascensus through a
credit that is determined by the amount in Vanguard mutual funds and the actual mutual funds
used.
The total cost of implementation and on-going cost of using IFS and Vanguard for retirement
plan services is fully disclosed at the onset of the relationship. The advisory agreement with
IFS, the 408(b)2 disclosures and the specific information provided by Vanguard will reflect this
information prior to agreeing to use such services.
Termination of the Advisory/Financial Planning Relationship:
A Client agreement may be canceled at any time, by either party, for any reason upon receipt of
written notice. Upon termination of an agreement, any prepaid but unearned fees will be
promptly refunded to Client by us. Any fees that have been earned but not yet paid by Client will
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be due and payable. Any other refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis at the written
request of Client within 15 days of account termination. In calculating a Client’s reimbursement
of advisory fees, we will pro rate the reimbursement according to the number of days remaining
in the billing period.
In certain circumstances we are deemed to be a fiduciary to advisory Clients that are employee
benefit plans or individual retirement accounts (IRAs) pursuant to the Employee Retirement
Income and Securities Act (“ERISA”). As such, our firm is subject to specific duties and obligations
under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code that include among other things, restrictions
concerning certain forms of compensation. To avoid engaging in prohibited transactions, we may
only charge fees for investment advice about products for which our firm and/or our related
persons do not receive any commissions or 12b-1 fees. If investment advice is provided regarding
products for which our firm and/or our related persons receive commissions or 12b-1 fees, such
fees will be used to offset our advisory fee.
Please refer to custodian statements for all fees and expenses charged to the account. The
information is also available anytime on the custodian's website.
ANY QUESTIONS: Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains
available to address any questions regarding its advisory fee schedule.
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Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
We do not charge any performance-based fees for our services or engage in side-by-side
management of funds. Accordingly, this item is not applicable to our firm.
Item 7 – Types of Clients
We provide investment advice to individuals, businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts,
estates, and charitable organizations. Because each Client is unique, they must be willing to be
involved in the planning and ongoing processes. Such involvement does not have to be time-
consuming, however we want our clients to remain informed and have a sense of security about
their investments.
Ifrah, in its sole discretion, may charge a lesser investment advisory fee and/or charge a flat fee
based upon certain criteria (i.e. anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future additional
assets, dollar amount of assets to be managed, related accounts, account composition,
competition, negotiations with client, etc.).
Please Note: As result of the above, similarly situated clients could pay different fees. In addition,
similar advisory services may be available from other investment advisers for similar or lower
fees.
Individuals who are signatories on the same advisory agreement with Ifrah Financial Services will
be considered part of the same household. Information on all accounts under a given household
may be shared with every individual who is reflected on the agreement.
ANY QUESTIONS: Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains available to address any
questions that a client or prospective client may have regarding advisory fees.
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Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
METHODS OF ANALYSIS
We use the following methods of analysis in formulating our investment advice and/or managing
Client assets. Clients should understand that all investment strategies involve risk and may result
in loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Charting
In this type of technical analysis, we review charts of market and security activity in an attempt
to identify when the market is moving up or down and to analyze when, how long the trend may
last and when that trend might reverse.
Fundamental Analysis
We attempt to measure the intrinsic value of a security by looking at economic and financial
factors (including the overall economy, industry conditions, and the financial condition and
management of the company itself) to determine if the company is underpriced (indicating it
may be a good time to buy) or overpriced (indicating it may be time to sell). Fundamental analysis
does not attempt to anticipate market movements. This presents a potential risk, as the price of
a security can move up or down along with the overall market regardless of the economic and
financial factors considered in evaluating the stock.
Technical Analysis
We analyze past market movements and apply that analysis to the present in an attempt to
recognize recurring patterns of investor behavior and potentially lower certain risks relating to
the timing of purchase or sale in a given security. Technical analysis does not consider the
underlying financial condition of a company. This presents a risk in that a poorly managed or
financially unsound company may underperform regardless of market movement.
Quantitative Analysis
We use models to obtain comparable measurements of a company’s quantifiable data for ranking
purposes. Rankings are formulated based on their historical performance and behavior. A risk in
using quantitative analysis is that the models used may be based on assumptions that may prove
to be incorrect or ineffective for security selection moving forward.
Qualitative Analysis
We subjectively evaluate non-quantifiable factors such as quality of management, labor
relations, and strength of research and development factors not readily subject to measurement.
A risk is using qualitative analysis is that our subjective judgment may prove incorrect.
Asset Allocation
Rather than focusing primarily on securities selection, we attempt to identify an appropriate ratio
of securities, fixed income, and cash suitable to the Client’s investment goals and risk tolerance.
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A risk of asset allocation is that the Client may not participate in sharp increases in a particular
security, industry or market sector. Another risk is that the ratio of securities, fixed income, and
cash will change over time due to stock and market movements and, if not corrected, will no
longer be appropriate for the Client’s goals.
Mutual Fund and/or ETF Analysis
We look at the experience and track record of the manager of the mutual fund or ETF in an
attempt to determine if that manager has demonstrated an ability to invest over a period of time
and in different economic conditions. We also look at the underlying assets in a mutual fund or
ETF in an attempt to determine if there is significant overlap in the underlying investments held
in another fund(s) in the Client’s portfolio. Data on trading execution and available liquidity of
ETFs are reviewed and considered. Fee and expenses are also a consideration. We also monitor
the funds or ETFs in an attempt to determine if they are continuing to follow their stated
investment strategy.
A risk of mutual fund and/or ETF analysis is that, as in all securities investments, past performance
does not guarantee future results. A manager who has been successful may not be able to
replicate that success in the future. In addition, as we do not control the underlying investments
in a fund or ETF, managers of different funds held by the Client may purchase the same security,
increasing the risk to the Client if that security were to fall in value. There is also a risk that a
manager may deviate from the stated investment mandate or strategy of the fund or ETF, which
could make the holding(s) less suitable for the Client’s portfolio.
Third Party Money Manager Analysis
We examine the experience, expertise, investment philosophies, and past performance of
independent third-party investment managers in an attempt to determine if that manager has
demonstrated an ability to invest over a period of time and in different economic conditions. We
review the manager’s underlying holdings, strategies, concentrations, and leverage as part of our
overall periodic risk assessment.
A risk of investing with a third-party manager who has been successful in the past is that he/she
may not be able to replicate that success in the future. In addition, as we do not control the
underlying investments in a third-party manager’s portfolio, there is also a risk that a 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 control the 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.
Risks for all Forms of Analysis
Our securities analysis methods rely on the assumption that the companies whose securities we
purchase and sell, the rating agencies that review these securities, and other publicly available
sources of information about these securities, are providing accurate and unbiased data. While
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we are alert to indications that data may be incorrect, there is always a risk that our analysis may
be compromised by inaccurate or misleading information.
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
We use the following strategy(ies) in managing Client accounts, provided that such strategy(ies)
are appropriate to the needs of the Client and consistent with the Client’s investment objectives,
risk tolerance, and time horizons, among other considerations:
Long-term purchases
We purchase securities with the idea of holding them in the Client’s account for a year or longer.
Typically, we employ this strategy when:
We believe the securities to be currently undervalued, and/or
We want exposure to a particular asset class over time, regardless of the current projection for
this class.
A risk in a long-term purchase strategy is that by holding the security for this length of time, we
may not take advantages of short-term gains that could be profitable to a Client. Moreover, if
our predictions are incorrect, a security may decline sharply in value before we make the decision
to sell.
Short-term purchases
When utilizing this strategy, we purchase securities with the idea of selling them within a
relatively short time (typically a year or less). We do this in an attempt to take advantage of
conditions that we believe will soon result in a price swing in the securities we purchase.
Trading. We purchase securities with the idea of selling them quickly (typically within 90 days or
less). We do this in an attempt to take advantage of our analysis of brief price swings.
Incorrect timing is a risk when using short-term purchase or trading strategies. Incorrect timing
may not lead to higher performance and may cause losses or increased overall costs.
We use our best judgment and good faith efforts in rendering services to Client. We cannot
warrant or guarantee any particular level of account performance, or that account will be
profitable over time. Not every investment recommendation we make will be profitable. Clients
assume all market risk involved in the investment of account assets. Investments are subject to
various market, currency, economic, political, and business risks.
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Except as may otherwise be provided by law, we are not liable to Clients for:
Any loss that Clients may suffer by reason of any investment recommendation we made with that
degree of care, skill, and diligence under the circumstances that a prudent person acting in a
fiduciary capacity would use; or any act or failure to act by a custodian or other third party to
Client accounts.
It is the responsibility of the Client to give us complete information and to notify us of any changes
in financial circumstances or goals.
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Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
We are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or disciplinary event that would
be material to your evaluation of our firm, or the integrity of our management. No principal or
person associated with us has any information to disclose which is applicable to this Item.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
We have arrangements with unaffiliated third-party providers, including Charles Schwab and
GSCS (collectively, “Third Party Providers”), which offer certain products and services in regard
to Client accounts. These services may include, but are not limited to the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Research;
Due-diligence;
Reporting;
Portfolio analysis;
Various software; and
Back-office administration.
Third Party Providers may also have direct contact with our clients and may enter into separate
advisory contracts directly with Clients. However, the Client’s primary relationship will be with
us.
Upon entering into an advisory agreement with us, Clients authorize us to use Third Party
Providers to service their account, including billing and the deduction of fees from accounts.
Clients agree to allow us to share non-public, personal information with Third Party Providers for
the purpose of administering and managing their account. In circumstances where the Client has
not signed a separate agreement with a Third-Party Provider, we require those providers to
execute a confidentiality agreement and not share Client information with any unauthorized
person or entity.
The use of Third-Party Providers may cause Clients to incur additional fees. Additional fees are
described in Item 5, above.
Please see disclosure at Item 4 above regarding Firm representative, Doug Spencer, relative to
Mr. Spencer providing tax preparation services in his separate individual licensed capacity as a
CPA. The recommendation and/or engagement of Mr. Spencer presents a conflict of interest. The
engagement of Mr. Spencer is separate and apart from the engagement of Ifrah. The client is
under no obligation to engage the services of Mr. Spencer.
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Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transaction & Personal Trading
Ifrah has a Code of Ethics which all employees are required to follow. The Code of Ethics outlines
our high standard of business conduct, and fiduciary duty to Clients. The Code of Ethics includes
provisions relating to the confidentiality of Client information, a prohibition on insider trading, a
prohibition of rumor mongering, restrictions on the acceptance of significant gifts, the reporting
of certain gifts and business entertainment items, and personal securities trading procedures,
among other things.
A copy of the code of ethics is available to any Client or prospective Client upon request by
contacting us at (501) 821-7733 or advisor@ifrahfinancial.com.
Ifrah or individuals associated with us may buy and sell some of the same securities for their
own account that we buy and sell for Clients. When appropriate we will purchase or sell
securities for Clients before purchasing or selling the same for our account or allowing
representatives to purchase or sell the same for their own account. However, we do allow the
accounts of employees to be included in model and/or block trading alongside the accounts of
Clients. In some cases, we or our representatives may buy or sell securities for their own account
for reasons not related to the strategies adopted for our Clients. Our employees and other
persons associated with us are required to follow the Code of Ethics when making trades for their
own accounts in securities which are recommended to and/or purchased for Clients. The Code
of Ethics is designed to assure that the personal securities transactions will not interfere with
making decisions in the best interest of advisory Clients while at the same time, allowing
employees to invest for their own accounts.
The Code of Ethics requires pre-clearance for certain transactions and restricts trading in close
proximity to Client trading activity. On the other hand, certain classes of securities are designated
as exempt transactions, meaning employees may trade these without prior permission because
such trades would not materially interfere with the best interest of our Clients. Nonetheless,
because the Code of Ethics permits employees to invest in the same securities as Clients, there is
a possibility that employees might benefit from the market activity of a Client. Employee trading
is continually monitored under the Code of Ethics, and to reasonably prevent conflicts of interest
between IFS and our Clients.
We will disclose to Clients any material conflict of interest which could reasonably be expected
to impair the rendering of unbiased and objective advice. We will notify Clients in advance of our
policies in respect to officers trading for their own account, including the potential conflict of
interest that arises when recommending securities to Clients in which IFS or any principal holds
a position.
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We have established the following restrictions to ensure our fiduciary responsibilities:
A director, officer, associated person, or employee of our firm shall not buy or sell securities for
his personal portfolio where his decision is substantially derived, in whole or in part, by reason
of his employment unless the information is also available to the investing public on reasonable
inquiry. No person of our firm shall prefer his or her own interest to that of the advisory Client.
We maintain a list of all securities holdings for our firm and for anyone associated with our
practice who has access to advisory recommendations. An appropriate officer of the firm reviews
these holdings on a regular basis.
Any individual not in observance of the above may be subject to termination.
It is our policy that the firm will not affect any principal or agency cross securities transactions
for Client accounts. We will also not cross trades between Client accounts.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
In the event that the client requests that Ifrah recommend a broker-dealer/custodian for
execution and/or custodial services, Ifrah generally recommends that investment advisory
accounts be maintained at Schwab and/or GSCS. Prior to engaging Ifrah to provide investment
management services, the client will be required to enter into a formal Investment Advisory
Agreement with Ifrah setting forth the terms and conditions under which Ifrah shall advise on
the client's assets, and a separate custodial/clearing agreement with each designated broker-
dealer/custodian.
Factors that Ifrah considers in recommending Schwab and/or GSCS include historical relationship
with Ifrah, financial strength, reputation, execution capabilities, pricing, research, and service.
Although the transaction fees paid by Ifrah’s clients shall comply with Ifrah’s duty to obtain best
execution, a client may pay a transaction fee that is higher than another qualified broker-dealer
might charge to effect the same transaction where Ifrah determines, in good faith, that the
transaction fee is reasonable. In seeking best execution, the determinative factor is not the
lowest possible cost, but whether the transaction represents the best qualitative execution,
taking into consideration the full range of a broker-dealer’s services, including the value of
research provided, execution capability, transaction rates, and responsiveness. Accordingly,
although Ifrah will seek competitive rates, it may not necessarily obtain the lowest possible rates
for client account transactions. Transaction fees charged by the designated broker-
dealer/custodian are exclusive of, and in addition to, Ifrah’s investment advisory fee.
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Brokerage and Custody Costs and Conflicts
Ifrah generally recommends that client accounts be held at Goldman Sachs Custody Solutions
(GSCS) or Charles Schwab & Co. (“Schwab”), both of which provide custody, trading, and
operational support for our model portfolio programs.
GSCS Platform Costs. GSCS charges an asset-based platform fee that covers custody and trading
services. This pricing model typically ranges from 0.02% to 0.15% per year depending on account
size, and applies regardless of trading activity. Ifrah does not receive any portion of these
platform fees. GSCS is affiliated with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, which reports it does not receive
payment for order flow. While GSCS does not publicly disclose order-flow revenue, clients should
understand that GSCS is part of a larger financial group whose affiliates engage in a wide range
of financial activities that may create potential conflicts of interest.
Schwab Platform Costs. Schwab has eliminated standard trading commissions for U.S.-listed
equities and ETFs. Schwab’s compensation model includes other revenue sources such as (i)
rebates from liquidity providers and exchanges through its order-routing practices (“payment for
order flow”); (ii) interest spread on client cash balances in sweep/deposit programs; and (iii)
certain fund-transaction or margin-interest fees. These indirect revenues create a potential
conflict of interest because Schwab benefits financially from trading activity and cash balances in
client accounts. Ifrah does not receive any portion of these revenues.
Custodian-Provided Products and Services. Schwab, GSCS, or other custodians may provide Ifrah
with products and services at no cost or at a discount. These may include custody-related
technology, research, access to investment data and practice-management resources, and
participation in educational conferences or other events. These benefits assist Ifrah in managing
and servicing client accounts, but they also create a potential conflict of interest because they
provide an economic or non-cash benefit to Ifrah. Clients do not pay higher fees because of these
arrangements.
ANY QUESTIONS: Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains available to address
any questions that a client or prospective client may have regarding the above arrangements
and the corresponding conflict of interest presented by such arrangements.
Directed Brokerage
Ifrah recommends that its clients utilize the brokerage and custodial services provided by Schwab
and/or GSCS. The Firm generally does not accept directed brokerage arrangements (when a client
requires that account transactions be affected through a specific broker-dealer). In such client
directed arrangements, the client will negotiate terms and arrangements for their account with
that broker-dealer, and Firm will not seek better execution services or prices from other broker-
dealers or be able to "batch" the client’s transactions for execution through other broker-dealers
with orders for other accounts managed by Ifrah. As a result, a client may pay higher commissions
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or other transaction costs or greater spreads, or receive less favorable net prices, on transactions
for the account than would otherwise be the case.
Please Note: In the event that the client directs Ifrah to effect securities transactions for the
client’s accounts through a specific broker-dealer, the client correspondingly acknowledges that
such direction may cause the accounts to incur higher commissions or transaction costs than the
accounts would otherwise incur had the client determined to effect account transactions through
alternative clearing arrangements that may be available through Ifrah. Higher transaction costs
adversely impact account performance. Please Also Note: Transactions for directed accounts will
generally be executed following the execution of portfolio transactions for non-directed
accounts.
Order Aggregation
Transactions for each client account generally will be affected independently, unless Firm decides
to purchase or sell the same securities for several clients at approximately the same time. Firm
may (but is not obligated to) combine or “bunch” such orders to obtain best execution, to
negotiate more favorable commission rates or to allocate equitably among Firm’s client’s
differences in prices and commissions or other transaction costs that might have been obtained
had such orders been placed independently. Under this procedure, transactions will be averaged
as to price and will be allocated among clients in proportion to the purchase and sale orders
placed for each client account on any given day. Firm shall not receive any additional
compensation or remuneration as a result of such aggregation.
Trade Errors
It is our policy to minimize the occurrence of trade errors. Should any trade errors which are
attributable to IFS occur, our policy is to restore your account to the position it should have
been in had the trading error not occurred. Depending on the circumstances, corrective actions
may include canceling the trade, adjusting an allocation, and/or reimbursing the account.
In the event the trading error results in an erroneous profit, for accounts maintained at Schwab
or GSCS, the profit will remain in your account unless the same error involved other client
account(s) that should have received the gain; it is not permissible for you to retain the gain; or
we confer with you and you decide to forego the gain (e.g., due to tax reasons).
If the profit does not remain in your account and Schwab is the custodian, to minimize
paperwork, Schwab has a firm wide policy to absorb all trade error costs under $100. They do
not have that policy to gain business or to influence trades in their direction. If a loss occurs
greater than $100, our firm will pay for the loss. Schwab may retain gains of $100 or less, if they
are not kept in your account, to offset administrative expenses.
Generally, if related trade errors result in both gains and losses in your account, they may be
netted.
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Item 13 – Review of Accounts
While the underlying securities within accounts are continually monitored, Client accounts are
formally reviewed at least quarterly. Accounts are reviewed in the context of each Client’s stated
investment objectives and guidelines.
We have a number of Investment Advisor Representatives (IAR) who may be assigned as the
primary representative to a particular Client’s account. The IAR assigned to a particular Client’s
account will be responsible for the periodic reviews to that account. Clients will be provided the
Supplemental Brochure (Form ADV Part 2B) of any IAR providing advice related to their account.
More frequent reviews may be triggered by a change in Client’s investment objectives; tax
considerations; large deposits or withdrawals; large sales or purchases; loss of confidence in
corporate management; or, changes in the economic climate.
Investment advisory Clients receive standard account statements from the custodian of their
accounts on a monthly or quarterly basis depending on level of activity. Ifrah may also provide
Clients with a written report summarizing the account holdings and performance. Along with
these reports, we may discuss comparisons to indices performance, as well as asset allocation of
the portfolio compared to portfolio target allocations.
Financial Planning Clients may receive a written financial plan. However additional review or
reports will not typically be provided unless otherwise provided for under the terms of the
engagement.
Consulting Services Clients will not typically receive reports or formal reviews due to the nature
of the service.
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Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Ifrah does not maintain solicitor arrangements or compensate third parties for client
introductions.
Any benefits or support services provided by custodians or platform providers, such as access to
technology, research, educational conferences, or practice-management resources, are
described in Item 12 – Brokerage and Custody Costs and Conflicts.
Item 15 – Custody
Except for our ability to debit fees and clients having third-party standing letters of authorization
(SLOA) on file with the custodian, we do not take possession of client assets or otherwise have
custody over Client funds and securities and shall have no liability to the Client for any loss or
other harm to any property in the account.
Standing Letters of Authorization (SLOA): Certain clients have established asset transfer
authorizations that permit the qualified custodian to rely upon instructions from Registrant to
transfer client funds or securities to third parties. These arrangements are disclosed at Item 9 of
Part 1 of Form ADV. However, in accordance with the guidance provided in the SEC’s February
21, 2017 Investment Adviser Association No-Action Letter, the affected accounts are not subject
to an annual surprise CPA examination.
Clients will receive statements, at least quarterly from the broker-dealer, bank or other qualified
custodian that holds and maintains Client’s investment assets. We may also provide periodic
reports on Client’s account. These reports may vary from custodial statements based on
accounting procedures, reporting dates, or valuation methodologies of certain securities. We
urge all Clients to carefully review custodial statements and compare those to the account
reports that we may provide to ensure that all account transactions, holdings and values are
correct and current.
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
Generally, we have the authority to determine, without obtaining specific Client consent, the
securities bought or sold and the number of securities bought or sold. The only restrictions on
the above discretionary authority are those set by the Client on a case-by-case basis.
Discretionary authority allows us to act on behalf of the Client in most matters necessary or
incidental to the handling of the account, including monitoring certain assets, without the Client’s
prior approval.
Clients give us discretionary authority when they sign a discretionary agreement with our firm.
Clients are also required to sign a Limited Power of Attorney (“LPOA”) with the custodian
authorizing us to execute transactions on their behalf. Clients may make changes or limit our
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authority; however, any changes or limitations must be detailed in writing by the Client and
accepted by us.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
Generally, we do vote proxies for Client accounts. However, Client’s may retain the right to vote
their own proxies.
When voting proxies or acting with respect to corporate actions for Clients, it is our intent that
all decisions be made solely in the best interest of the Client (and for ERISA accounts, plan
beneficiaries and participants). We will act in a prudent and diligent manner intended to enhance
the economic value of the assets of the Client’s account.
When voting Client proxies, we utilize the services of an outside service provider, Institutional
Shareholder Services (“ISS”). Except for Clients in GSCS model portfolios, instructions are
provided to the custodian to forward all applicable proxies to ISS. ISS receives all proxies and
votes them in a timely manner and in a manner consistent with the determination of the Client’s
best interests. For Clients in GSCS model portfolios, we vote Client proxies on the GSCS system
based on ISS’ analysis.
Although many proxy proposals can be voted in accordance with the ISS’ established guidelines
(“Guidelines”) below, it is recognized that some proposals require special consideration which
may dictate that we and/or ISS make an exception to the Guidelines. ISS is also responsible for
ensuring that all corporate action notices or requests which require shareholder action received
are addressed in a timely manner and consistent action is taken across all similarly situated Client
accounts. Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between us and/or ISS’ interests and
a client’s interest, we will resolve the conflict as follows:
Vote in Accordance with the Guidelines. To the extent that we have little or no discretion to
deviate from the Guidelines with respect to the proposal in question, we will vote in accordance
with the pre-determined voting policy established by ISS.
Obtain Consent of Clients. To the extent that we have discretion to deviate from the Guidelines
with respect to a proposal in question, we will disclose the conflict to the relevant Clients and
obtain their consent to the proposed vote prior to voting the securities. The disclosure to the
Client will include sufficient detail regarding the matter to be voted on and the nature of the
conflict so that the Client can make an informed decision regarding the vote. If a client does not
respond to such a conflict disclosure request or denies the request, we will abstain from voting
the securities held by the Client’s account.
ISS will review the proxy proposal for conflicts of interest as part of the overall vote review
process. Any material conflict of interest identified by us and/or ISS will be addressed as
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described above. If we determine that it is in the Client’s best interest, we and/or ISS will not
vote proxies received.
The following are certain circumstances where we and/or ISS will limit its role in voting proxies:
Client Maintains Proxy Voting Authority: Where a client specifies in writing that it will maintain
the authority to vote proxies itself or that it has delegated the right to vote proxies to a third
party, we and/or ISS will not vote the securities and will direct the relevant custodian to send the
proxy material directly to the Client. If any proxy material is received by us, it will promptly be
forwarded to the Client or specified third party.
Terminated Account: Once a client account has been terminated with us in accordance with the
investment advisory agreement, we and/or ISS will not vote any proxies received after the
termination. However, the Client may specify in writing that proxies should be directed to the
Client (or a specified third party) for action.
Limited Value: If we and/or ISS determine that the value of a client’s economic interest or the
value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant, we and/or ISS may abstain from
voting a Client’s proxies. We and/or ISS also will not vote proxies received for securities which
are no longer held by the Client’s account.
In accordance with Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, we will maintain for
the time periods set forth in the Rule (currently 5 years; 2 of which shall be in our office):
Proxy voting procedures and policies, and all amendments;
A record of all proxy statements received by us and/or ISS regarding Client securities (provided
however, that we may rely on the proxy statement filed on EDGAR as our records).
A record of all votes cast on behalf of Clients.
Records of all Client requests for proxy voting information.
Any documents prepared by us which were material to making a decision how to vote or that
memorialized the basis for the decision; and
Records of requests made by Clients regarding conflicts of interest in voting the proxy.
Clients may obtain information on how proxies were voted with respect to the Clients’ portfolio
securities or a copy of our Policies and Procedures.
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GUIDELINES
ISS will seek to consider each proxy issue individually. Proxy voting may be different for different
types of Clients. ISS issues proxy voting guidelines which are used as guidelines; but will not be
used as rigid rules. These guidelines are available upon request.
Item 18 – Financial Information
We bill advisory and program fees quarterly in advance. Under no circumstances will we collect
more than $1,200, more than six months in advance from any Client.
We do have discretionary authority over Client funds or securities, but we have no financial
commitments that would impair our ability to meet contractual and fiduciary commitments to
Clients.
Neither Ifrah, nor any of the principals, have been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at any
time in the past. We have no financial conditions that would impair our ability to meet
contractual commitments to our clients.
ANY QUESTIONS: Ifrah’s Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick Ifrah, remains
available to address any questions regarding this Part 2A.
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