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Item 1 Cover Page
IMZ Advisory Inc.
137 W. Royal Palm Road
Boca Raton, FL 33432
www.imzfinancial.com
November 16, 2025
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of IMZ
Advisory Inc., CRD# 314890. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure,
please contact us at 561-368-2336. 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. Registration as a registered investment advisor does not imply a certain
level of skill or training.
Additional information about IMZ Advisory Inc. also is available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Item 2 Material Changes
There have been no material changes to this brochure since the date of the last annual update
noted below.
The material changes discussed above are only those changes that have been made to this brochure
since the firm’s last annual update of the brochure. The date of the last annual update of the
brochure was February 21, 2025.
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Item 3 Table of Contents
Brochure
Item 1 Cover Page ................................................................................................................................. i
Item 2 Material Changes ...................................................................................................................... ii
Item 3 Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... iii
Item 4 Advisory Business .................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5 Fees and Compensation ............................................................................................................ 7
Item 6 Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ........................................................ 8
Item 7 Types of Clients ........................................................................................................................ 8
Item 8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ................................................. 8
Item 9 Disciplinary Information ......................................................................................................... 10
Item 10 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ............................................................ 10
Item 11 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading ....... 11
Item 12 Brokerage Practices .............................................................................................................. 12
Item 13 Review of Accounts .............................................................................................................. 16
Item 14 Client Referrals and Other Compensation ............................................................................ 17
Item 15 Custody ................................................................................................................................. 17
Item 16 Investment Discretion ........................................................................................................... 17
Item 17 Voting Client Securities ........................................................................................................ 17
Item 18 Financial Information ............................................................................................................ 18
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Item 4 Advisory Business
IMZ Advisory Inc. is a registered investment advisor firm registered with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since August 2021.
IMZ Advisory Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IMZ Financial Services, Inc. The principal
owners of IMZ Financial Services, Inc. are Irwin Zagoria, President and CEO of IMZ Advisory
Inc. and Cory Davis, Vice President of IMZ Advisory Inc.
Advisory Services
IMZ Advisory Inc. (“IMZ” or “Advisor”) principal service is providing fee-based investment
advisory services. The Advisor practices custom management of portfolios, on a discretionary
basis, according to the client’s objectives. The Advisor’s primary approach is to use a tactical
allocation strategy aimed at reducing risk and increasing performance. The Advisor may use
exchange listed securities, corporate debt securities, municipal securities, mutual funds, and
interests in partnerships investing in real estate to accomplish this objective. The Advisor
measures and selects mutual funds by using various criteria, such as the fund manager’s tenure,
and/or overall career performance. The Advisor may recommend, on occasion, redistributing
investment allocations to diversify the portfolio in an effort to reduce risk and increase
performance. The Advisor may recommend specific stocks to increase sector weighting and/or
dividend potential. The Advisor may recommend employing cash positions as a possible hedge
against market movement which may adversely affect the portfolio. The Advisor may recommend
selling positions for reasons that include, but are not limited to, harvesting capital gains or losses,
business or sector risk exposure to a specific security or class of securities, overvaluation or
overweighting of the position(s) in the portfolio, change in risk tolerance of client, or any risk
deemed unacceptable for the client’s risk tolerance.
Pension Consulting Services
IMZ will offer pension consulting services to Qualified Plans and participant fiduciary advice to
plan participants for assets held at Qualified Plans. The Advisor’s pension consulting services and
participant fiduciary advice will be based on information obtained from the plan participant about
goals and investment objectives, time horizon, risk tolerance and the plan participant's financial
situation. IMZ will utilize the Investment Policy Statement when providing standardized asset
allocation recommendations for the investment of assets within Qualified Plans. IMZ provides
ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary investment services where IMZ is responsible for the
implementation of recommendations for the Qualified Plans.
IMZ may offer other pension consulting services that include but are not limited to educational
seminars, plan surveys, evaluations of vendor's services or special projects on behalf of the plan
sponsor.
Qualified Retirement Plan Consulting Services
As part of the Advisory Agreement for Pension Planning, IMZ may provide services as follows
for qualified retirement plans:
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Fiduciary Services
The Advisor will perform the following Fiduciary Services:
(i)
Provide discretionary investment advice to the Client about asset classes and
investment alternatives available for the Plan in accordance with the Plan’s investment
policies and objectives.
(ii)
Assist the Client with the selection of a broad range of investment options consistent
with ERISA section 404(c) and the regulations thereunder.
(iii) Assist the Client in the development of an investment policy statement (IPS). The IPS
establishes the investment policies and objectives for the Plan. Client shall have the
ultimate responsibility and authority to establish such policies and objectives and to
adopt and amend the investment policy statement.
(iv) Assist in monitoring investment options by preparing periodic investment reports that
document investment performance, consistency of fund management and conformance
to the guidelines set forth in the IPS and make recommendations to maintain or remove
and replace investment options.
(v) Meet with Client on a periodic basis to discuss the reports and the investment
recommendations.
(vi)
Provide discretionary investment advice to the Plan Sponsor with respect to the
selection of a qualified default investment alternative (“QDIA”) for participants who
are automatically enrolled in the Plan or who otherwise fail to make an investment
election. The Client retains the sole responsibility to provide all notices to participants
required under ERISA section 404(c)(5).
(vii)
Provide specific investment advice to participants concerning investing and portfolio
construction who request it. Such investment advice will only be provided after
Advisor has assessed the participant’s investor profile based on information obtained
from the participant about goals and investment objectives, time horizon, risk tolerance
and the plan participant's financial situation.
Non-Fiduciary Services
The Advisor will perform the following Non-Fiduciary services:
(i) Assist in the education of the participants in the Plan about general investment
principles and the investment alternatives available under the Plan. Client understands
that Advisor’s assistance in participant investment education shall be consistent with
and within the scope of section (d) of Department of Labor Interpretive Bulletin 96-1
(i.e., the definition of investment education). As such, the Advisor is not providing
fiduciary advice (as defined in ERISA) to the participants. Advisor will not provide
investment advice concerning the prudence of any investment option or combination of
investment options for a particular participant or beneficiary under the Plan.
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(ii) Assist in the group enrollment meetings designed to increase retirement plan
participation among employees and investment and financial understanding by the
employees.
Advisor may provide these services or, alternatively, may arrange for the Plan’s other providers
to offer these services, as agreed upon between Advisor and Client.
The Advisor's roles and actions in fulfilling all responsibilities pertaining to the qualified plan
consulting services shall not include those of the Plan's Trustee and will be performed solely at the
direction of the Plan Sponsor, its authorized officers, employees and/or agents. At no time will
the Advisor accept, maintain possession of, or have custodial responsibility for the Plan's assets.
Communicational and educational activities in which the Advisor engages related to Participants
in the Plan shall be solely at the direction of the Plan Sponsor, and shall not be represented by the
Advisor or Plan Sponsor as investment, tax or legal advice. The Advisor is not licensed to provide,
shall not provide, nor be construed to provide, the services of an attorney or accountant.
Selection of Other Advisors
IMZ may recommend and refer clients to unaffiliated money managers or investment advisors
through Managed Account programs sponsored by a third-party provider. In these arrangements,
the client will then enter into a program and investment advisory agreement with the program
sponsor and sub-advisors. IMZ will assist and advise the client in establishing investment
objectives for the sub-advisors and continue to provide oversight of the client account and ongoing
monitoring of the activities of the sub-advisors. The sub-advisors will develop an investment
strategy to meet those objectives by identifying appropriate investments and monitoring such
investments. In consideration for such services, the program sponsor will charge a program fee
that includes the investment advisory fee of the sub-advisors, the administration of the program
and trading, clearance and settlement costs. The program sponsor will add IMZ's investment
advisory fee (described below in Item 5) and will deduct the overall fee from the client account
quarterly in advance based on the fair market value at the beginning of the quarter. The asset-
based program fee is tiered and varies depending on the size of the account, the asset class of the
underlying securities and the sub-advisor selected.
IMZ will ensure that all third-party money managers recommended to clients will be either an
investment advisor registered with the appropriate state securities regulators, the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or exempt from such registrations. The client, prior
to entering into an agreement with a third-party money manager selected by IMZ, will be provided
with that manager’s Brochure. In addition, IMZ and its client will agree in writing that the client’s
account will be managed by that selected third-party money manager on a discretionary basis.
IMZ will tailor its advisory services to its client’s individual needs based on meetings and
conversations with the client. If clients wish to impose certain restrictions on investing in certain
securities or types of securities, the Advisor will address those restrictions with the client to have
a clear understanding of the client’s requirements.
IMZ does not provide portfolio management services to wrap fee programs.
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As of December 31, 2024, IMZ had $322,817,000 in discretionary, and $58,880,000 in non-
discretionary client assets under management.
Item 5 Fees and Compensation
Asset Management Fees
Pursuant to an investment advisory contract signed by each client, including pension plans, the
client will pay a tiered annual management fee, payable quarterly in advance, based on the value
of portfolio assets of the account managed by the Advisor as of the opening of business on the first
business day of each quarter. New account fees will be prorated from the inception of the account
to the end of the first quarter.
Assets Under Management Annual Fee
First $250,000
$250,001 to $500,000
$500,001 to $1,000,000
$1,000,001 to $5,000,000
Over $5,000,000
1.50%
1.25%
1.00%
0.75%
0.60%
These fees may be negotiated at the sole discretion of the Advisor. Asset management fees will
be directly deducted from the client account on a quarterly basis by the qualified custodian. The
client will give written authorization permitting the Advisor to be paid directly from their account
held by the custodian. The custodian will send a statement at least quarterly and the Advisor will
also send an invoice to the client outlining the fee calculation and time period covered, and the
amount withdrawn from the client account at the same time the fee deduction invoice is sent to the
qualified custodian. Where it is not practical to deduct fees directly from client accounts, client
will be sent an invoice at the beginning of each quarter. The invoice is payable upon receipt.
Fixed Fees
Where IMZ is not managing a client’s portfolio, IMZ will charge a fixed fee for ongoing
investment advice and quarterly meetings with the client of $50 per month paid quarterly in
advance. Fixed fees may be negotiated in advance based at the discretion of the Advisor. The
fixed fees will be directly deducted from client accounts on a quarterly basis by the qualified
custodian. The client will give written authorization permitting the Advisor to be paid directly
from their account held by the custodian. The custodian will send a statement at least quarterly.
All fees paid to IMZ for investment advisory services are separate and distinct from the expenses
charged by mutual funds to their shareholders. These fees and expenses are described in each
fund’s prospectus. These fees will generally include a management fee and other fund expenses.
At no time will IMZ accept or maintain custody of a client’s funds or securities except for
authorized fee deduction. Client is responsible for all custodial and securities execution fees
charged by the custodian and executing broker-dealer. The Advisor’s fee is separate and distinct
from the custodian and execution fees.
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IMZ’s management fee is payable in advance. Upon termination, any fees paid in advance will be
prorated to the date of termination and any unearned fees will be refunded to client.
Where acting in the capacity of insurance agents, investment advisory representatives of IMZ may
effect insurance transactions for typical and customary compensation. Clients are not obligated to
use investment advisor representatives of IMZ to execute such securities transactions.
Where acting in the capacity of a registered representative or insurance agent, investment advisor
representatives (IARs) of IMZ may as broker or agent effect securities or insurance transactions
for typical and customary compensation. This practice presents a conflict of interest by creating
an incentive to recommend investment products based on the compensation received, rather than
on a client’s needs. Clients of IMZ are not required to utilize the IARs in their capacity as
registered representatives of the broker-dealer or in their capacity as insurance agents for the
purchase of investment products. IMZ has established a Code of Ethics to address conflicts of
interest. See the response to Item 11 below for more information on the Code of Ethics. A client
may be able to invest in products recommended by the firm directly, without the services of IMZ.
In that case, the client would not receive the services provided by IMZ which are designed, among
other things, to assist the client in determining which products or services are most appropriate to
each client’s financial condition and objectives. Commissions from the sale of investment
products do not represent 50% or more of the revenues received by IMZ. IMZ does not charge
advisory fees on client assets invested through the broker-dealer or on insurance products.
Item 6 Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
IMZ does not charge performance-based fees.
Item 7 Types of Clients
The Advisor will offer its services to individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates,
charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities.
The Advisor does not have any minimum requirements for opening or maintaining an account.
Item 8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
The Advisor primarily uses fundamental analysis techniques in formulating investment advice or
managing assets for clients.
Fundamental analysis of businesses involves analyzing its financial statements and health, its
management and competitive advantages and its competitors and markets. Fundamental analysis
is performed on historical and present data but with the goal of making financial forecasts. There
are several possible objectives; to conduct a company stock valuation and predict its probable price
evolution; to make a projection on its business performance; to evaluate its management and make
internal business decisions and to calculate its credit risk.
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The Advisor’s investment strategy is based generally on long-term purchases of securities held at
least for one year. However, IMZ may trade more frequently in times of unusual market
conditions or external events that may impact the markets.
Clients need to be aware that investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients need to be
prepared to bear.
The methods of analysis and investment strategies followed by the Advisor are utilized across all
of the Advisors clients, as applicable. One method of analysis or investment strategy is not more
significant than the other as the Advisor is considering the client’s portfolio, risk tolerance, time
horizon and individual goals. However, the client should be aware that with any trading that occurs
in the client account, the client will incur transaction and administrative costs.
Investing includes the risk that the value of an investment can be negatively affected by factors
specifically related to the investment (e.g., capability of management, competition, new inventions
by other companies, lawsuits against the company, labor issues, patent expiration, etc.), or to
factors related to investing and the markets in general (e.g., the economy, wars, civil unrest or
terrorism around the world, concern about oil prices or unemployment, etc.).
Risks of fundamental analysis may include risks that market actions, natural disasters, government
actions, world political events or other events not directly related to the price or valuation of a
specific company’s fundamental analysis can adversely impact the stock price of a company
causing a portfolio containing that security to lose value. Risks may also include that the historical
data and projections on which the fundamental analysis is performed may not continue to be
relevant to the operations of a company going forward, or that management changes or the business
direction of management of the company may not permit the company to continue to produce
metrics that are consistent with the prior company data utilized in the fundamental analysis, which
may negatively affect the Advisor’s estimate of the valuation of the company.
All investments involve some degree of risk. In finance, risk refers to the degree of uncertainty
and/or potential financial loss inherent in an investment decision. In general, as investment risks
rise, investors seek higher returns to compensate themselves for taking such risks.
Every saving and investment product have different risks and returns. Differences include how
readily investors can get their money when they need it, how fast their money will grow, and how
safe their money will be. The primary risks faced by investors include:
Business Risk
With a stock, you are purchasing a piece of ownership in a company. With a bond, you are loaning
money to a company. Returns from both of these investments require that that the company stays
in business. If a company goes bankrupt and its assets are liquidated, common stockholders are
the last in line to share in the proceeds. If there are assets, the company’s bondholders will be paid
first, then holders of preferred stock. If you are a common stockholder, you get whatever is left,
which may be nothing.
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The business risk in purchasing an annuity is that the financial strength of the insurance company
issuing the annuity may decline and not be able to pay out the annuity obligation.
Volatility Risk
Even when companies aren’t in danger of failing, their stock price may fluctuate up or
down. Large company stocks as a group, for example, have lost money on average about one out
of every three years. A stock’s price can be affected by factors inside the company, such as a
faulty product, or by events the company has no control over, such as political or market events.
Inflation Risk
Inflation is a general upward movement of prices. Inflation reduces purchasing power, which is a
risk for investors receiving a fixed rate of interest. The principal concern for individuals investing
in cash equivalents is that inflation will erode returns.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate changes can affect a bond’s value. If bonds are held to maturity the investor will
receive the face value, plus interest. If sold before maturity, the bond may be worth more or less
than the face value. Rising interest rates will make newly issued bonds more appealing to investors
because the newer bonds will have a higher rate of interest than older ones. To sell an older bond
with a lower interest rate, you might have to sell it at a discount.
Liquidity Risk
This refers to the risk that investors won’t find a market for their securities, potentially preventing
them from buying or selling when they want. This can be the case with the more complicated
investment products. It may also be the case with products that charge a penalty for early
withdrawal or liquidation such as a certificate of deposit (CD).
The Advisor does not primarily recommend a particular type of security. However, clients are
advised that many unexpected broad environmental factors can negatively impact the value of
portfolio securities causing the loss of some or all of the investment, including changes in interest
rates, political events, natural disasters, and acts of war or terrorism. Further, factors relevant to
specific securities may have negative effects on their value, such as competition or government
regulation. Also, the factors for which the company was selected for inclusion in a client portfolio
may change, for example, due to changes in management, new product introductions, or lawsuits.
Item 9 Disciplinary Information
Neither IMZ nor its management persons have had any legal or disciplinary events, currently or in
the past.
Item 10 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Cory Davis, Vice President is a Registered Representative with Arete Wealth Management, LLC,
CRD# 44856, a FINRA registered broker-dealer.
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Neither IMZ nor any of its management persons are registered or have an application pending to
register, as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, a commodity trading
advisor, or an associated person of the foregoing entities.
IMZ does not currently have any relationships or arrangements that are material to its advisory
business or clients with either a municipal securities dealer, a government securities dealer or
broker, investment company or other pooled investment vehicle (including a mutual fund, closed-
end investment company, unit investment trust, private investment company or “hedge fund” or
offshore fund), other investment advisor or financial planner, futures commission merchant,
commodity pool operator, or commodity trading advisor, banking or thrift institution, accountant
or accounting firm, lawyer or law firm, pension consultant, real estate broker or dealer or sponsor
of syndicator of limited partnerships.
Investment advisor representatives of IMZ are also licensed and registered as insurance agents to
sell life, accident and other lines of insurance for various insurance companies. Therefore, they
can purchase insurance products for any client in need of such services and will receive separate,
yet typical compensation in the form of commissions for the purchase of those insurance products.
This creates a conflict of interest because of the receipt of additional compensation by the
investment advisor representatives. Clients are not obligated to use IMZ or its investment advisor
representative for insurance products. However, in such instances, there is no advisory fee
associated with these products, and clients will be made aware of all commissions associated with
the products prior to the transactions. The insurance agent activities are conducted through IMZ
Financial Services, Inc., the parent company of IMZ Advisory Inc.
Cory Davis, Vice President, is also the Manager of an unaffiliated private fund, Founders Capital
Partners LLC. If appropriate, IMZ clients may be eligible to invest in the private fund if they meet
the requirements for investment and such investment would be suitable to their investor profile.
IMZ clients are not obligated to invest in the private fund. If a client chooses to invest in the
private fund, IMZ will not charge its advisory fee on the assets invested in the private fund.
IMZ does recommend or select other investment advisors for clients. For more specific
information, see the response to 4 above.
Item 11 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading
IMZ maintains a Code of Ethics pursuant to SEC rule 204A-1. IMZ’s Code of Ethics sets forth
the basic policies of ethical conduct for all managers, officers, and employees of the adviser. In
addition, the Code of Ethics governs personal trading by each employee of IMZ deemed to be an
Access Person and is intended to ensure that securities transactions effected by Access Persons of
IMZ are conducted in a manner that avoids any conflict of interest between such persons and
clients of the adviser or its affiliates. IMZ collects and maintains records of securities holdings
and securities transactions effected by Access Persons. These records are reviewed to identify and
resolve conflicts of interest. IMZ will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics to any client or
prospective client upon request.
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Where acting in the capacity of a registered representative, investment advisor representatives of
IMZ may as broker or agent effect securities transactions for typical and customary compensation.
This creates a conflict of interest. Clients are not obligated to use investment advisor
representatives of IMZ to execute such securities transactions. If client elects to use the investment
advisor representatives of IMZ in this capacity, fees associated with these types of transactions
will be disclosed to the client in advance.
IMZ and/or its investment advisor representatives may from time to time purchase or sell products
that they may recommend to clients. This practice creates conflicts of interest in that personnel of
IMZ can take advantage of the advance knowledge of firm securities trading and trade their
personal accounts ahead of the client trades or recommend trades in client accounts that may affect
the price of the securities owned by the Investment Advisor Representatives. To mitigate these
conflicts, the Code of Ethics governs personal trading by each employee of IMZ deemed to be an
Access Person and is intended to ensure that securities transactions effected by Access Persons of
IMZ are conducted in a manner that avoids any actual or potential conflict of interest between such
persons and clients of the adviser or its affiliates. Finally, supervised persons of registered
investment advisors are fiduciaries by law and are required to put the client’s interest before those
of the firm and themselves.
IMZ requires that its investment advisor representatives follow its basic policies and ethical
standards as set forth in its Code of Ethics.
Investment Advisor Representatives of IMZ may trade for their own accounts securities that are
being traded for client accounts at or about the same time. To mitigate the conflict of interest in
such circumstances, IMZ’s policy is to require the trading of all relevant client account prior to the
trading of their own accounts. The Chief Compliance Officer examines personal trading activities
of IMZ’s personnel to verify compliance with this policy.
Item 12 Brokerage Practices
If requested by the client, IMZ may suggest brokers or dealers to be used based on execution and
custodial services offered, cost, quality of service and industry reputation. IMZ will consider
factors such as commission price, speed and quality of execution, client management tools, and
convenience of access for both the Advisor and client in making its suggestion.
The custodian and brokers we use
IMZ does not maintain custody of your assets, although we are deemed to have custody of your
assets if you give us authority to withdraw assets from your account (see Item 15 – Custody,
below). Your assets must be maintained in an account at a “qualified custodian,” generally a
broker-dealer or bank. We recommend that our clients use Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
(“Schwab”), a registered broker-dealer, member SIPC, as the qualified custodian. We are
independently owned and operated and are not affiliated with Schwab. Schwab will hold your
assets in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities when we instruct them to. While we
recommend that you use Schwab as custodian/broker, you will decide whether to do so and will
open your account with Schwab by entering into an account agreement directly with them. We do
not open the account for you, although we may assist you in doing so. Not all advisors require
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their clients to use a particular broker-dealer or other custodian selected by the advisor. Even
though your account is maintained at Schwab, we can still use other brokers to execute trades for
your account as described below (see “Your brokerage and custody costs”).
How we select brokers/custodians
We seek to recommend a custodian/broker that will hold your assets and execute transactions on
terms that are overall most advantageous when compared with other available providers and their
services. We consider a wide range of factors, including:
• 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)
• 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
• Availability of other products and services that benefit us, as discussed below (see
“Products and services available to us from Schwab”)
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. Schwab is also compensated
by earning interest on the uninvested cash in your account in Schwab’s Cash Features Program.
For some accounts, Schwab may charge you a percentage of the dollar amount of assets in the
account in lieu of commissions. Schwab’s commission rates and asset-based fees applicable to our
client accounts were negotiated based on the condition that our clients collectively maintain a total
of at least $100 million of their assets in accounts at Schwab. This commitment benefits you
because the overall commission rates and asset-based fees you pay are lower than they would be
otherwise. In addition to commissions and asset-based fees, Schwab charges you a flat dollar
amount as a “prime broker” or “trade away” fee for each trade that we have executed by a different
broker-dealer but where the securities bought or the funds from the securities sold are deposited
(settled) into your Schwab account. These fees are in addition to the commissions or other
compensation you pay the executing broker/dealer. Because of this, in order to minimize your
trading costs, we have Schwab execute most trades for your account. We have determined that
having Schwab execute most trades is consistent with our duty to seek “best execution” of your
trades. Best execution means the most favorable terms for a transaction based on all relevant
factors, including those listed above (see “How we select brokers/custodians”).
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Products and services available to us from Schwab
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. Following is a more detailed description of Schwab’s
support services:
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.
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:
• provide access to client account data (such as duplicate trade confirmations and account
statements)
facilitate trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client accounts
facilitate payment of our fees from our clients’ accounts
•
• provide pricing and other market data
•
• assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping, and client reporting
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:
• Educational conferences and events
• Consulting on technology, compliance, legal, and business needs
• Publications and conferences on practice management and business succession
• Access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants, and insurance providers
• Marketing consulting and support
Schwab may provide some of these services itself. In other cases, it will arrange for third-party
vendors to provide the services to us. Schwab may also discount or waive its fees for some of these
services or pay all or a part of a third party’s fees. Schwab may also provide us with other benefits
such as occasional business entertainment of our personnel.
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Our interest in Schwab’s services
The availability of these services from Schwab benefits us because we do not have to produce or
purchase them. We don’t have to pay for Schwab’s services. These services are not contingent
upon us committing any specific amount of business to Schwab in trading commissions or assets
in custody. This creates an incentive to recommend that you maintain your account with Schwab,
based on our interest in receiving Schwab’s services that benefit our business and Schwab’s
payment for services for which we would otherwise have to pay rather than based on your interest
in receiving the best value in custody services and the most favorable execution of your
transactions. This is a potential conflict of interest. We believe, however, that our selection of
Schwab as custodian and broker is in the best interests of our clients. Our selection is primarily
supported by the scope, quality, and price of Schwab’s services (see “How we select
brokers/custodians”) and not Schwab’s services that benefit only us.
For any such products and services IMZ receives from Schwab or other custodians, it will follow
procedures which ensure compliance with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or applicable state securities rules.
The firm seeks to obtain the most favorable net results for clients’ price, execution quality, services
and commissions. Although the firm seeks competitive commission rates, it may pay commissions
on behalf of clients which may be higher than those available from other brokers in order to receive
other services. The firm may enter into such transactions so long as it determines in good faith
that the amount of commission paid was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
research services provided by the broker. The services that may be considered in this
determination of reasonableness may include (1) advice, either directly or through publications or
writing, as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling
securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) analysis and
reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy,
and the performance of accounts; or (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions
incidental thereto. Such research furnished by broker-dealers may be used to service any or all of
IMZ’s clients and may be used in connection with accounts other than those that pay commissions
to the broker-dealers providing the research. In particular, third-party research provided by broker-
dealers may be used to benefit all of the firm’s clients. This creates a conflict of interest in that the
firm has an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on its interest in receiving the
research or other products or services, rather than on the clients’ interest in receiving most
favorable execution.
Trading commissions may be used as soft dollars provided that:
• The service is primarily for the benefit of IMZ’s clients
• The commission rates are competitive with rates charged by comparable broker-dealers;
•
and
IMZ does not guarantee a minimum amount of commissions to any broker-dealer.
IMZ does not receive client referrals from any broker-dealer or third party as a result of the firm
selecting or recommending that broker-dealer to clients.
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As an investment advisory firm, IMZ has a fiduciary duty to seek best execution for client
transactions. While best execution is difficult to define and challenging to measure, there is some
consensus that it does not solely mean the achievement of the best price on a given transaction.
Rather, it appears to be a collective consideration of factors concerning the trade in question. Such
factors include the security being traded, the price of the trade, the speed of the execution, apparent
conditions in the market, and the specific needs of the client. IMZ’s primary objectives when
placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for client accounts is to obtain the most
favorable net results taking into account such factors as 1) price, 2) size of order, 3) difficulty of
execution, 4) confidentiality and 5) skill required of the broker. IMZ may not necessarily pay the
lowest commission or commission equivalent as specific transactions may involve specialized
services on the part of the broker.
IMZ does not permit clients to direct brokerage.
IMZ may combine orders into block trades when more than one account is participating in the
trade assuming there are multiple client accounts at the same custodian participating in the security
that is being bought or sold. This blocking or bunching technique must be equitable and potentially
advantageous for each such account (e.g., for the purposes of reducing brokerage commissions or
obtaining a more favorable execution price). Block trading is performed when it is consistent with
the duty to seek best execution and is consistent with the terms of IMZ’s investment advisory
agreements. Equity trades are blocked based upon fairness to client, both in the participation of
their account, and in the allocation of orders for the accounts of more than one client. Allocations
of all orders are performed in a timely and efficient manner. All managed accounts participating
in a block execution receive the same execution price (average share price) for the securities
purchased or sold in a trading day. Any portion of an order that remains unfilled at the end of a
given day will be rewritten on the following day as a new order with a new daily average price to
be determined at the end of the following day. Due to the low liquidity of certain securities, broker
availability may be limited. Open orders are worked until they are completely filled, which may
span the course of several days. If an order is filled in its entirety, securities purchased in the
aggregated transaction will be allocated among the accounts participating in the trade in
accordance with the allocation statement. If an order is partially filled, the securities will be
allocated pro rata based on the allocation statement. IMZ may allocate trades in a different manner
than indicated on the allocation statement (non-pro rata) only if all managed accounts receive fair
and equitable treatment.
Item 13 Review of Accounts
Investment advisory client accounts are monitored on an ongoing basis, with quarterly analysis of
holdings and rebalancing of the accounts if necessary. Meetings with clients are held at least
annually, or more frequently if requested by the client. Client accounts are reviewed by Irwin
Zagoria, President and CEO, and Cory Davis, Vice President. The nature of the review is to
determine if the client account is still in line with the client’s stated objectives.
The client is encouraged to notify the Advisor and Investment Advisor Representative if changes
occur in his/her personal financial situation that might materially affect his/her investment plan.
IMZ Advisory Inc.
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The client will receive written statements no less than quarterly from the custodian. In addition,
the client will receive other supporting reports from mutual funds, asset managers, trust companies
or other custodians, broker-dealers and others who are involved with client accounts. IMZ does
not provide separate client reports.
Item 14 Client Referrals and Other Compensation
IMZ has an arrangement with Arete Wealth Management, LLC (“Arete”), a FINRA registered
broker-dealer, where IMZ can refer to Arete any of its clients that would like access to the
securities brokerage services offered by Arete. IMZ is compensated by Arete for such referrals
with a one-time payment. This creates a conflict of interest because of the receipt of additional
compensation by IMZ. Clients are not obligated to use Arete for securities brokerage services.
The payment to IMZ does not increase fees the client will pay to Arete for its services.
IMZ does not directly or indirectly compensate any person who is not a supervised person for
client referrals.
Item 15 Custody
IMZ does not have custody of client funds or securities, except for the withdrawal of advisory fees
directly from client accounts (please see Item 5 which describes the safeguards around direct fee
deduction). However, as noted in Item 13 above, clients will receive statements not less than
quarterly from the qualified custodian, and we encourage you to review those statements carefully.
Any discrepancies should be immediately brought to the firm’s attention.
Item 16 Investment Discretion
IMZ generally has discretion over the selection and amount of securities to be bought or sold in
client accounts without obtaining prior consent or approval from the client for each transaction.
However, these purchases or sales may be subject to specified investment objectives, guidelines,
or limitations previously set forth by the client and agreed to by IMZ.
Discretionary authority will only be provided upon full disclosure to the client. The granting of
such authority will be evidenced by the client’s execution of an Investment Advisory Agreement
containing all applicable limitations to such authority. All discretionary trades made by IMZ will
be in accordance with each client’s investment objectives and goals.
Item 17 Voting Client Securities
IMZ will not vote, nor advise clients how to vote, proxies for securities held in client accounts.
The client clearly keeps the authority and responsibility for the voting of these proxies. Also, IMZ
cannot give any advice or take any action with respect to the voting of these proxies. The client
and IMZ agree to this by contract. Clients will receive proxy solicitations from their custodian
and/or transfer agent.
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Item 18 Financial Information
IMZ does not require or solicit prepayment of more than $500 in fees per client, six months or
more in advance, and is not required to file a balance sheet.
IMZ has discretionary authority over client accounts and is not aware of any financial condition
that will likely impair its ability to meet contractual commitments to clients. If IMZ does become
aware of any such financial condition, this brochure will be updated and clients will be notified.
IMZ has never been subject to a bankruptcy petition.
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