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Kickstand Ventures, LLC
Form ADV Part 2A - Brochure
Effective: February 9, 2026
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Kickstand Ventures, LLC.
If you have any questions regarding the contents of this brochure, please contact our Chief Compliance
Officer, Lonny Elfenbein by telephone at (513) 977-8330 or by email at
lonny.elfenbein@dinsmorecomplianceservices.com.
Kickstand Ventures, LLC is a registered investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). The information in this Disclosure Brochure has not been approved or verified by the SEC or by any
state securities authority. Registration of an investment advisor does not imply any specific level of skill or
training. This Disclosure Brochure provides information through Kickstand Ventures, LLC to assist you in
determining whether to retain the Advisor.
Additional information about of Kickstand Ventures, LLC and its Advisory Persons is available on the SEC’s
website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov by searching with the Advisor’s firm name or with CRD# 327022.
1250 Pittsford Victor Rd., Bldg. 200, Suite 290
Pittsford, New York 14534
585-382-8600
https://kickstandwealth.com/
Item 2 – Material Changes
Form ADV Part 2A requires registered investment advisers to amend their brochure when information
becomes materially inaccurate. If there are any material changes to an adviser’s disclosure brochure, the
adviser is required to notify you and provide you with a description of the material changes.
There have been no material changes to Kickstand Ventures, LLC’s ADV Part 2A since our last annual
update dated March 20, 2025.
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Table of Contents
Item 2 – Material Changes
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Item 3 – Table of Contents
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Item 4 – Advisory Services
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Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
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Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
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Item 7 – Types of Clients
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Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
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Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
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Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
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Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
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Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
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Item 13 – Review of Accounts
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Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
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Item 15 – Custody
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Item 16 – Investment Discretion
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Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
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Item 18 – Financial Information
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Item 4 – Advisory Services
Firm Information
Kickstand Ventures, LLC, doing business under the name Kickstand Wealth Advisors (“Kickstand Wealth
Advisors” or the “Firm”) is a limited liability company established in the State of Delaware in June 2021.
Kickstand Wealth Advisors is an investment advisory firm independently registered with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) since June 2023. Kickstand Wealth Advisors is owned by Chad
Goodchild and Jacob Schlicht.
Advisory Services Offered
Kickstand Wealth Advisors provides personalized financial planning and discretionary and non-discretionary
investment advisory services to individuals, including high net worth individuals, and entities, including, but
not limited to, family offices, trusts, estates, private foundations, and qualified retirement plans.
Investment Management Services
Kickstand Wealth Advisors offers investment management services on a discretionary basis and non-
discretionary basis. All investment advice provided is customized to each client’s investment objectives and
financial needs. The information provided by the client, together with any other information relating to the
client’s overall financial circumstances, will be used by Kickstand Wealth Advisors to determine the
appropriate portfolio asset allocation and investment strategy for the client. Comprehensive financial
planning services also are provided as part of the delivery of investment management services. Depending
upon individual client requirements, the comprehensive financial planning will include recommendations for
retirement planning, educational planning, estate planning, tax planning and insurance needs and analysis.
The securities utilized by Kickstand Wealth Advisors for investment in client accounts mainly consist of
registered mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs), but we will also invest in equity securities,
corporate bonds, private funds/illiquid investments, REITS, interval funds and variable annuities, among
others, if we determine such investments fit within a client’s objectives and are in the best interest of our
clients.
Kickstand Wealth Advisors may further recommend to clients that all or a portion of their investment
portfolio be managed on a discretionary basis by one or more unaffiliated money managers or investment
platforms (“External Managers”). The client may be required to enter into a separate agreement with the
External Manager(s), which will set forth the terms and conditions of the client’s engagement of the External
Manager. Kickstand Wealth Advisors generally renders services to the client relative to the discretionary
selection of External Managers. Kickstand Wealth Advisors also assists in establishing the client’s investment
objectives for the assets managed by External Managers, monitors and reviews the account performance
and defines any restrictions on the account. The investment management fees charged by the designated
External Managers, together with the fees charged by the corresponding designated broker-dealer/custodian
of the client’s assets, are exclusive of, and in addition to, the annual advisory fee charged by Kickstand
Wealth Advisors.
Investment Management Services to Retirement Plans
Kickstand Wealth Advisors offers discretionary and non-discretionary advisory services to qualified plans,
including 401k plans. These services include, depending upon the needs of the plan client, recommending,
or for discretionary clients selecting, investment options for plans to offer to participants, ongoing
monitoring of a plan’s investment options, assisting plan fiduciaries in creating and/or updating the plan’s
written investment policy statements, working with plan service providers, and providing general investment
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education to plan participants.
Advisory Services to Brokerage Customers
Kickstand Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory services to certain broker-dealers’ variable annuity
customers (“Brokerage Customers”) who provide written consent requesting to receive the firm’s advisory
services.
Note for IRA and Retirement Plan Clients: When Kickstand Wealth Advisors provides investment advice to
you regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, Kickstand Wealth Advisors is a
fiduciary within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal
Revenue Code, as applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. The way Kickstand Wealth
Advisors makes money creates some conflicts with your interests, so Kickstand Wealth Advisors operates
under a special rule that requires Kickstand Wealth Advisors to act in your best interest and not put
Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ interest ahead of yours.
Client Tailored Advisory Services
Clients may impose reasonable restrictions on the management of their accounts if Kickstand Wealth
Advisors determines, in its sole discretion, that the conditions would not materially impact the performance
of a management strategy or prove overly burdensome for Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ management efforts.
Information Received From Clients
Kickstand Wealth Advisors will not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, or the information provided
by clients. Kickstand Wealth Advisors is not obligated to verify any information received from a client or
other professionals (e.g., attorney, accountant) designated by a client, and Kickstand Wealth Advisors is
expressly authorized by the client to rely on such information provided. Under all circumstances, clients are
responsible for promptly notifying Kickstand Wealth Advisors in writing of any material changes to the
client’s financial situation, investment objectives, time horizon, or risk tolerance.
Assets Under Management
As of January 27, 2026, the discretionary assets under management totaled approximately $595,014,586
and non-discretionary assets totaled approximately $38,459,629 for a total of $633,474,215 assets under
management. These numbers are impacted not only by new or cancelled accounts, but also by daily
fluctuations in the market value of the assets.
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
Kickstand Wealth Advisors charges fees based on a percentage of assets under management. The specific
fees charged by Kickstand Wealth Advisors for services provided will be set forth in each client’s Agreement.
Investment Management Services
Kickstand Wealth Advisors charges an annual advisory fee that is agreed upon with each client and set forth
in an agreement executed by Kickstand Wealth Advisors and the client. The annual advisory fee ranges from
0.25% to 1.50%. The advisory fee for the initial month will be paid, on a pro rata basis, in arrears, based on
the asset value of the client’s accounts as of the last business day of the initial month. For subsequent
months, the advisory fee will be paid, in advance, based on the asset value of the client’s accounts as of the
last business day of the preceding month as provided by third-party sources, such as pricing services,
custodians, fund administrators, and client-provided sources. For retirement plans the valuation
methodology and fee bill frequency may vary due to the requirements of the administrator for the plan
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client.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Kickstand Wealth Advisors and the client may choose to negotiate an annual
advisory fee that varies from the range set forth above. Factors upon which a different annual advisory fee
may be based include, but are not limited to, the size and nature of the relationship, the services rendered,
the nature and complexity of the products and investments involved, time commitments, and travel
requirements. The advisory fee charged by the Firm will apply to all of the client’s assets under management,
unless specifically excluded in the client agreement. The advisory fee includes the financial planning services
described above. Although Kickstand Wealth Advisors believes that its fees are competitive, clients should
understand that lower fees for comparable services may be available from other sources and firms.
The investment advisory agreement between Kickstand Wealth Advisors and the client may be terminated at
will by either Kickstand Wealth Advisors or the client upon written notice. Kickstand Wealth Advisors does
not impose termination fees when the client terminates the investment advisory relationship, except when
agreed upon in advance.
Payment of Fees
Kickstand Wealth Advisors generally deducts its advisory fee from a client’s investment account(s) held at
his/her custodian. Upon engaging Kickstand Wealth Advisors to manage such account(s), a client grants
Kickstand Wealth Advisors this limited authority through a written instruction to the custodian of his/her
account(s). The client is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the calculation of the advisory fee; the
custodian will not determine whether the fee is accurate or properly calculated. See Section A herewith for
further information on fee billing.
Although clients generally are required to have their investment advisory fees deducted from their accounts,
in some cases, Kickstand Wealth Advisors will directly bill a client for investment advisory fees if it
determines that such billing arrangement is appropriate given the circumstances.
The custodian of the client’s accounts provides each client with a statement, at least quarterly, indicating
separate line items for all amounts disbursed from the client's account(s), including any fees paid directly to
Kickstand Wealth Advisors.
Clients may make additions to and withdrawals from their account at any time, subject to Kickstand Wealth
Advisors’ right to terminate an account. Additions may be in cash or securities provided that the Firm
reserves the right to liquidate transferred securities or decline to accept particular securities into a client’s
account. Clients may withdraw account assets at any time on notice to Kickstand Wealth Advisors, subject to
the usual and customary securities settlement procedures. However, the Firm generally designs its portfolios
as long-term investments, and the withdrawal of assets may impair the achievement of a client’s investment
objectives. Kickstand Wealth Advisors may consult with its clients about the options and implications of
transferring securities. Clients are advised that when transferred securities are liquidated, they may be
subject to transaction fees, short-term redemption fees, fees assessed at the mutual fund level (e.g.
contingent deferred sales charges) and/or tax ramifications
Clients Responsible for Fees Charged by Financial Institutions and External Money Managers
In connection with Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ management of an account, a client will incur fees and/or
expenses separate from and in addition to Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ advisory fee. These additional fees
may include transaction charges and the fees/expenses charged by any custodian, subadvisor, mutual fund,
ETF, separate account manager (and the manager’s platform manager, if any), limited partnership, or other
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advisor, transfer taxes, odd lot differentials, exchange fees, interest charges, ADR processing fees, and any
charges, taxes or other fees mandated by any federal, state or other applicable law, retirement plan account
fees (where applicable), margin interest, brokerage commissions, mark-ups or mark-downs and other
transaction-related costs, electronic fund and wire fees, and any other fees that reasonably may be borne by
a brokerage account. For External Managers, clients should review each manager’s Form ADV 2A disclosure
brochure and any contract they sign with the External Manager (in a dual contract relationship). The client is
responsible for all such fees and expenses. Please see Item 12 of this brochure regarding brokerage practices.
Prepayment of Fees
As noted in Item 5(B) above, Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ advisory fees generally are paid in advance. Upon
the termination of a client’s advisory relationship, Kickstand Wealth Advisors will issue a refund equal to any
unearned management fee for the remainder of the month. The client may specify how he/she would like
such refund issued (i.e., a check sent directly to the client, or a check sent to the client’s custodian for
deposit into his/her account).
Outside Compensation for the Sale of Securities or Other Investment Products to Clients
Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not buy or sell securities and does not receive any compensation for
securities transactions in any client account, other than the investment advisory fees noted above.
Advisory Services to Brokerage Customers
Kickstand Wealth Advisors receives an advisory fee based on the Assets Under Management from Brokerage
Customers who have provided written consent to a broker-dealer to receive the investment advisory service
from Kickstand Wealth Advisors for Variable Annuities and have entered into a written advisory contract with
Kickstand Wealth Advisors. The advisory fee is calculated in advance based on the value of the Assets Under
Management from Brokerage Customers as of the end of the previous quarter. The maximum advisory fee
will not exceed 1% annually. This advisory fee is paid by the broker-dealer in arrears and is not charged to the
client separately.
Securities Claims Class Action Litigation
Kickstand Wealth Advisors has engaged a third-party service provider, Chicago Clearing Corporation (“CCC”),
to monitor and file securities claims class action litigation paperwork with claims administrators on behalf of
the Firm’s clients. Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not receive any fees or remuneration in connection with
this service nor does it receive any fees from the third-party provider(s). CCC earns a fee based on a flat
percentage of all claims it collects on behalf of Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ clients. This fee is collected and
retained by CCC out of the claims paid by the claim administrator. Clients may opt out of this service at any
time. If a client opts out, Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not have an obligation to advise or take any action
on behalf of a client with regard to class action litigation involving investments held in or formerly held in a
client’s account.
Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not charge performance-based fees or participate in side-by-side
management. Performance-based fees are fees that are based on a share of capital gains or capital
appreciation of a client’s account. Side-by-side management refers to the practice of managing accounts that
are charged performance-based fees while at the same time managing accounts that are not charged
performance-based fees. Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ fees are calculated as described in Item 5 above.
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Item 7 – Types of Clients
Kickstand Wealth Advisors offers investment advisory services to individuals, including high net worth
individuals, families, family offices, trusts, businesses, charitable foundations, retirement/profit-sharing plans
and broker-dealers. Kickstand Wealth Advisors generally imposes a minimum portfolio size or a minimum
initial investment to open an account of $500,000. However, Kickstand Wealth Advisors does reserve the
right to accept or decline a potential client for any reason in its sole discretion.
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
A primary step in Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ investment strategy is getting to know the clients – to
understand their financial condition, risk profile, investment goals, tax situation, liquidity constraints – and
assemble a complete picture of their financial situation. To aid in this understanding, Kickstand Wealth
Advisors offers clients financial planning that is highly customized and tailored. This comprehensive approach
is integral to the way that Kickstand Wealth Advisors does business. Once Kickstand Wealth Advisors has a
true understanding of its clients’ needs and goals, the investment process can begin, and the Firm can
recommend strategies and investments that it believes are aligned with the client’s goals and risk profile.
Kickstand Wealth Advisors primarily employs fundamental analysis methods in developing investment
strategies for its clients. Research and analysis from Kickstand Wealth Advisors is based on numerous
sources, including third-party research materials and publicly available materials, such as company annual
reports, prospectuses, and press releases.
Kickstand Wealth Advisors generally employs a long-term investment strategy for its clients, as consistent
with their financial goals. At times, the Firm may also buy and sell positions that are more short-term in
nature, depending on the goals of the client and/or the fundamentals of the security, sector or asset class.
Client portfolios with similar investment objectives and asset allocation goals may own different securities
and investments. The client’s portfolio size, tax sensitivity, desire for simplicity, income needs, long-term
wealth transfer objectives, time horizon and choice of custodian are all factors that influence Kickstand
Wealth Advisors’ investment recommendations.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss. A client can lose all or a substantial portion of his/her
investment. A client should be willing to bear such a loss. Some investments are intended only for
sophisticated investors and can involve a high degree of risk.
Material Risks Involved
Investing in securities involves a significant risk of loss which clients should be prepared to bear. Kickstand
Wealth Advisors’ investment recommendations are subject to various market, currency, economic, political
and business risks, and such investment decisions will not always be profitable. Clients should be aware that
there may be a loss or depreciation to the value of the client’s account. There can be no assurance that the
client’s investment objectives will be obtained and no inference to the contrary should be made.
Generally, the market value of equity stocks will fluctuate with market conditions, and small-stock prices
generally will fluctuate more than large-stock prices. The market value of fixed income securities will
generally fluctuate inversely with interest rates and other market conditions prior to maturity. Fixed income
securities are obligations of the issuer to make payments of principal and/or interest on future dates, and
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include, among other securities: bonds, notes and debentures issued by corporations; debt securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, or by a non-U.S.
government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities; municipal securities; and mortgage-backed and asset-
backed securities. These securities may pay fixed, variable, or floating rates of interest, and may include zero
coupon obligations and inflation-linked fixed income securities. The value of longer duration fixed income
securities will generally fluctuate more than shorter duration fixed income securities. Investments in
overseas markets also pose special risks, including currency fluctuation and political risks, and it may be more
volatile than that of a U.S. only investment. Such risks are generally intensified for investments in emerging
markets. In addition, there is no assurance that a mutual fund or ETF will achieve its investment objective.
Past performance of investments is no guarantee of future results.
Additional risks involved in the securities recommended by Kickstand Wealth Advisors include, among
others:
• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. The market value of equity
securities will generally fluctuate with market conditions. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with
periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. Prices of equity securities tend to fluctuate over
the short term as a result of factors affecting the individual companies, industries or the securities
market as a whole. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed income securities.
•
• Sector risk, which is the chance that significant problems will affect a particular sector, or that returns
from that sector will trail returns from the overall stock market. Daily fluctuations in specific market
sectors are often more extreme than fluctuations in the overall market.
Issuer risk, which is the risk that the value of a security will decline for reasons directly related to the
issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, and reduced demand for the issuer's
goods or services.
• Non-diversification risk, which is the risk of focusing investments in a small number of issuers,
industries or foreign currencies, including being more susceptible to risks associated with a single
economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be.
• Value investing risk, which is the risk that value stocks do not increase in price, not issue the
anticipated stock dividends, or decline in price, either because the market fails to recognize the stock’s
intrinsic value, or because the expected value was misgauged. If the market does not recognize that
the securities are undervalued, the prices of those securities might not appreciate as anticipated. They
also may decline in price even though in theory they are already undervalued. Value stocks are
typically less volatile than growth stocks but may lag behind growth stocks in an up market.
• Smaller company risk, which is the risk that the value of securities issued by a smaller company will go
•
up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably as compared to more widely held securities.
Investments in smaller companies are subject to greater levels of credit, market and issuer risk.
• Foreign (non-U.S.) investment risk, which is the risk that investing in foreign securities result in the
portfolio experiencing more rapid and extreme changes in value than a portfolio that invests
exclusively in securities of U.S. companies. Risks associated with investing in foreign securities include
fluctuations in the exchange rates of foreign currencies that may affect the U.S. dollar value of a
security, the possibility of substantial price volatility as a result of political and economic instability in
the foreign country, less public information about issuers of securities, different securities regulation,
different accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and less liquidity than in the U.S.
markets.
Interest rate risk, which is the chance that prices of fixed income securities decline because of rising
interest rates. Similarly, the income from fixed income securities may decline because of falling interest
rates.
• Credit risk, which is the chance that an issuer of a fixed income security will fail to pay interest and
principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments
will cause the price of that fixed income security to decline.
• Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) risk, which is the risk of an investment in an ETF, including the possible
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loss of principal. ETFs typically trade on a securities exchange and the prices of their shares fluctuate
throughout the day based on supply and demand, which may not correlate to their net asset values.
Although ETF shares will be listed on an exchange, there can be no guarantee that an active trading
market will develop or continue. Owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying
securities it is designed to track. ETFs are also subject to secondary market trading risks. In addition, an
ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the index it seeks to track for a number of reasons,
including transaction costs incurred by the ETF, the temporary unavailability of certain securities in the
secondary market, or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to weighting of
securities or number of securities held.
• Management risk, which is the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses applied by
Kickstand Wealth Advisors may not produce the desired results and that legislative, regulatory, or tax
developments, affect the investment techniques available to Kickstand Wealth Advisors. There is no
guarantee that a client’s investment objectives will be achieved.
• Real Estate risk, which is the risk that an investor’s investments in Real Estate Investment Trusts
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(“REITs”) or real estate-linked derivative instruments will subject the investor to risks similar to those
associated with direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, and
changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, zoning laws,
regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes and operating expenses. An investment in REITs or real
estate-linked derivative instruments subject the investor to management and tax risks.
Investment Companies (“Mutual Funds”) risk, when an investor invests in mutual funds, the investor
will bear additional expenses based on his/her pro rata share of the mutual fund’s operating expenses,
including the management fees. The risk of owning a mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning
the underlying investments the mutual fund holds.
• Commodity risk, generally commodity prices fluctuate for many reasons, including changes in market
and economic conditions or political circumstances (especially of key energy-producing and consuming
countries), the impact of weather on demand, levels of domestic production and imported
commodities, energy conservation, domestic and foreign governmental regulation (agricultural, trade,
fiscal, monetary and exchange control), international politics, policies of OPEC, taxation and the
availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems and the emotions of the
marketplace. The risk of loss in trading commodities can be substantial.
• Cybersecurity risk, which is the risk related to unauthorized access to the systems and networks of
Kickstand Wealth Advisors and its service providers. The computer systems, networks and devices used
by Kickstand Wealth Advisors and service providers to us and our clients to carry out routine business
operations employ a variety of protections designed to prevent damage or interruption from computer
viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized
persons and security breaches. Despite the various protections utilized, systems, networks or devices
potentially can be breached. A client could be negatively impacted as a result of a cybersecurity breach.
Cybersecurity breaches can include unauthorized access to systems, networks or devices; infection from
computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow or
otherwise disrupt operations, business processes or website access or functionality. Cybersecurity
breaches cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses to a
client; impediments to trading; the inability by us and other service providers to transact business;
violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage,
reimbursement or other compensation costs, or other compliance costs; as well as the inadvertent
release of confidential information. Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity
breaches affecting issues of securities in which a client invests; governmental and other regulatory
authorities; exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers and other financial
institutions; and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred by those entities in order
to prevent any cybersecurity breaches in the future.
• Alternative Investments / Private Funds risk, investing in alternative investments is speculative, not
suitable for all clients, and intended for experienced and sophisticated investors who are willing to bear
the high economic risks of the investment, which can include:
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•
•
loss of all or a substantial portion of the investment due to leveraging, short-selling or other
speculative investment practices;
lack of liquidity in that there may be no secondary market for the investment, and none
expected to develop;
volatility of returns;
restrictions on transferring interests in the investment;
•
•
• potential lack of diversification and resulting higher risk due to concentration of trading authority
when a single adviser is utilized;
• absence of information regarding valuations and pricing;
• delays in tax reporting;
•
•
less regulation and higher fees than mutual funds;
risks associated with the operations, personnel, and processes of the manager of the funds
investing in alternative investments.
Closed-End Funds risk, Closed-end funds typically use a high degree of leverage. They may be diversified or
non-diversified. Risks associated with closed-end fund investments include liquidity risk, credit risk,
volatility and the risk of magnified losses resulting from the use of leverage. Additionally, closed-end
funds may trade below their net asset value. In addition, closed-end funds that are interval funds limit
liquidity to investors to stated intervals – typically quarterly, semi-annually or annually. There is no
guarantee that a client will be able to redeem shares during a given redemption period.
Structured Notes risks:
• Complexity. Structured notes are complex financial instruments. Clients should understand the
reference asset(s) or index(es) and determine how the note’s payoff structure incorporates such
reference asset(s) or index(es) in calculating the note’s performance. This payoff calculation may
include leverage multiplied on the performance of the reference asset or index, protection from
losses should the reference asset or index produce negative returns, and fees. Structured notes
may have complicated payoff structures that can make it difficult for clients to accurately assess
their value, risk and potential for growth through the term of the structured note. Determining
the performance of each note can be complex and this calculation can vary significantly from
note to note depending on the structure. Notes can be structured in a wide variety of ways.
Payoff structures can be leveraged, inverse, or inverse-leveraged, which may result in larger
returns or losses. Clients should carefully read the prospectus for a structured note to fully
understand how the payoff on a note will be calculated and discuss these issues with Kickstand
Wealth Advisors.
•
• Market risk. Some structured notes provide for the repayment of principal at maturity, which is
often referred to as “principal protection.” This principal protection is subject to the credit risk
of the issuing financial institution. Many structured notes do not offer this feature. For
structured notes that do not offer principal protection, the performance of the linked asset or
index may cause clients to lose some, or all, of their principal. Depending on the nature of the
linked asset or index, the market risk of the structured note may include changes in equity or
commodity prices, changes in interest rates or foreign exchange rates, and/or market volatility.
Issuance price and note value. The price of a structured note at issuance will likely be higher than
the fair value of the structured note on the date of issuance. Issuers now generally disclose an
estimated value of the structured note on the cover page of the offering prospectus, allowing
investors to gauge the difference between the issuer’s estimated value of the note and the
issuance price. The estimated value of the notes is likely lower than the issuance price of the
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note to investors because issuers include the costs for selling, structuring and/or hedging the
exposure on the note in the initial price of their notes. After issuance, structured notes may not
be re-sold on a daily basis and thus may be difficult to value given their complexity.
• Liquidity. The ability to trade or sell structured notes in a secondary market is often very limited,
as structured notes (other than exchange-traded notes known as ETNs) are not listed for trading
on securities exchanges. As a result, the only potential buyer for a structured note may be the
issuing financial institution’s broker-dealer affiliate or the broker-dealer distributor of the
structured note. In addition, issuers often specifically disclaim their intention to repurchase or
make markets in the notes they issue. Clients should, therefore, be prepared to hold a structured
note to its maturity date, or risk selling the note at a discount to its value at the time of sale.
Credit risk, Structured notes are unsecured debt obligations of the issuer, meaning that the issuer
is obligated to make payments on the notes as promised. These promises, including any principal
protection, are only as good as the financial health of the structured note issuer. If the structured
note issuer defaults on these obligations, investors may lose some, or all, of the principal amount
they invested in the structured notes as well as any other payments that may be due on the
structured notes.
Clients are advised that they should only commit assets for management that can be invested for the long
term, that volatility from investing can occur, and that all investing is subject to risk. Kickstand Wealth Advisors
does not guarantee the future performance of a client’s portfolio, as investing in securities involves the risk of
loss that clients should be prepared to bear.
Past performance of a security or a fund is not necessarily indicative of future performance or risk of loss.
Use of External Managers
Kickstand Wealth Advisors may select certain External Managers to manage a portion of its clients’ assets. In
these situations, the success of such recommendations relies to a great extent on the External Managers’
ability to successfully implement their investment strategies. In addition, Kickstand Wealth Advisors generally
may not have the ability to supervise the External Managers on a day-to-day basis.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or disciplinary
events that would be material to a client’s evaluation of the adviser and the integrity of the adviser’s
management. Kickstand Wealth Advisors has no information applicable to this Item.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Kickstand Wealth Advisors may recommend that clients use External Managers based on clients’ needs and
suitability. Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not receive separate compensation, directly or indirectly, from
such External Managers for recommending that clients use their services. Kickstand Wealth Advisors does
not have any other business relationships with the recommended External Managers.
Advisory Services to Brokerage Customers
Kickstand Wealth Advisors has agreement(s) with broker-dealers to provide investment advisory services to
Brokerage Customers for Variable Annuity holdings. Broker-dealers pay compensation to Kickstand Wealth
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Advisors for providing investment advisory services to Customers. Brokerage Customers will execute a
written advisory agreement directly with Kickstand Wealth Advisors.
This relationship presents conflicts of interest. Potential conflicts are mitigated by Brokerage Customers
consenting to receive investment advisory services from Kickstand Wealth Advisors; by Kickstand Wealth
Advisors not accepting or billing for additional compensation on broker-dealers’ Assets Under Management
beyond the advisory fees disclosed in Item 5; and by Kickstand Wealth Advisors not engaging as, or holding
itself out to the public as, a securities broker-dealer. Kickstand Wealth Advisors is not affiliated with any
broker-dealer.
Item 11 - Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Description of Code of Ethics
Kickstand Wealth Advisors has a Code of Ethics (the “Code”) which requires Kickstand Wealth Advisors’
employees (“supervised persons”) to comply with their legal obligations and fulfill the fiduciary duties owed
to the Firm’s clients. Among other things, the Code of Ethics sets forth policies and procedures related to
conflicts of interest, outside business activities, gifts and entertainment, compliance with insider trading laws
and policies and procedures governing personal securities trading by supervised persons.
Personal securities transactions of supervised persons present potential conflicts of interest with the price
obtained in client securities transactions or the investment opportunity available to clients. The Code
addresses these potential conflicts by prohibiting securities trades that would breach a fiduciary duty to a
client and requiring, with certain exceptions, supervised persons to report their personal securities holdings
and transactions to Kickstand Wealth Advisors for review by the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. The Code
also requires supervised persons to obtain pre-approval of certain investments, including initial public
offerings and limited offerings.
Kickstand Wealth Advisors will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics to any client or prospective client upon
request.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
Factors Used to Select Custodians and/or Broker-Dealers
Kickstand Wealth Advisors generally recommends that its investment management clients utilize the custody
and brokerage services of an unaffiliated broker/dealer custodians (a “BD/Custodian”) with which Kickstand
Wealth Advisors has an institutional relationship. Currently, this includes Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
(“Schwab”), which is a “qualified custodian” as that term is described in Rule 206(4)-2 of the Advisers Act.
Each BD/Custodian provides custody of securities, trade execution, and clearance and settlement of
transactions placed on behalf of clients by Kickstand Wealth Advisors. If your accounts are custodied at
Schwab, Schwab will hold your assets in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities when we instruct
them to. Clients will pay fees to Schwab for custody and the execution of securities transactions in their
accounts.
In making BD/Custodian recommendations, Kickstand Wealth Advisors will consider a number of judgmental
factors, including, without limitation: 1) clearance and settlement capabilities; 2) quality of confirmations and
account statements; 3) the ability of the BD/Custodian to settle the trade promptly and accurately; 4) the
financial standing, reputation and integrity of the BD/Custodian; 5) the BD/Custodian’s access to markets,
research capabilities, market knowledge, and any “value added” characteristics; 6) Kickstand Wealth
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Advisors’ past experience with the BD/Custodian; and 7) Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ past experience with
similar trades. Recognizing the value of these factors, clients may pay a brokerage commission in excess of
that which another broker might have charged for effecting the same transaction.
In exchange for using the services of Schwab, Kickstand Wealth Advisors may receive, without cost,
computer software and related systems support that allows Kickstand Wealth Advisors to monitor and
service its clients’ accounts maintained with Schwab. Schwab also makes available to the Firm products and
services that benefit the Firm but may not directly benefit the client or the client’s account. These products
and services assist Kickstand Wealth Advisors in managing and administering client accounts. They include
investment research, both Schwab’s own and that of third parties. Kickstand Wealth Advisors may use this
research to service all or some substantial number of client 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;
•
• provide pricing and other market data;
facilitate payment of our fees from our clients’ accounts; and
•
• assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping, and client reporting.
Schwab also offers other services intended to help us manage and further develop our business enterprise.
These services include:
• educational conferences and events;
technology, compliance, legal, and business consulting;
•
• publications and conferences on practice management and business succession; and
• access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants, and insurance providers.
Schwab may provide some of these services itself. In other cases, it will arrange for third-party vendors to
provide the services to the Firm. 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 the Firm with other benefits such as occasional
business entertainment of Firm personnel.
The benefits received by Kickstand Wealth Advisors through its participation in the Schwab custodial platform
do not depend on the amount of brokerage transactions directed to Schwab. In addition, there is no
corresponding commitment made by Kickstand Wealth Advisors to Schwab to invest any specific amount or
percentage of client assets in any specific mutual funds, securities or other investment products as a result of
participation in the program. While as a fiduciary, we endeavor to act in our clients’ best interests, our
recommendation that clients maintain their assets in accounts at Schwab will be based in part on the benefit
to Kickstand Wealth Advisors of the availability of some of the foregoing products and services and not solely
on the nature, cost or quality of custody and brokerage services provided by Schwab. The receipt of these
benefits creates a potential conflict of interest and may indirectly influence Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ choice
of Schwab for custody and brokerage services.
Kickstand Wealth Advisors will periodically review its arrangements with the BD/Custodians and other broker-
dealers against other possible arrangements in the marketplace as it strives to achieve best execution on
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behalf of its clients. 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, but not limited to, the following:
• a broker-dealer’s trading expertise, including its ability to complete trades, execute and settle
difficult trades, obtain liquidity to minimize market impact and accommodate unusual market
conditions, maintain anonymity, and account for its trade errors and correct them in a
satisfactory manner;
infrastructure,
including order-entry systems, adequate
• a broker-dealer’s
lines of
communication, timely order execution reports, an efficient and accurate clearance and
settlement process, and capacity to accommodate unusual trading volume;
• a broker-dealer’s ability to minimize total trading costs while maintaining its financial health, such
as whether a broker-dealer can maintain and commit adequate capital when necessary to
complete trades, respond during volatile market periods, and minimize the number of
incomplete trades;
• a broker-dealer’s ability to provide research and execution services, including advice as to the
value or advisability of investing in or selling securities, analyses and reports concerning such
matters as companies, industries, economic trends and political factors, or services incidental to
executing securities trades, including clearance, settlement and custody; and
• a broker-dealer’s ability to provide services to accommodate special transaction needs, such as
the broker-dealer’s ability to execute and account for client-directed arrangements and soft
dollar arrangements, participate in underwriting syndicates, and obtain initial public offering
shares.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not select or recommend BD/Custodians based on whether or not it may
receive client referrals from a BD/Custodian or third party.
Client Directed Brokerage
Generally, in the absence of specific instructions to the contrary, for brokerage accounts that clients engage
Kickstand Wealth Advisors to manage on a discretionary basis, Kickstand Wealth Advisors has full discretion
with respect to securities transactions placed in the accounts. This discretion includes the authority, without
prior notice to the client, to buy and sell securities for the client’s account and establish and affect securities
transactions through the BD/Custodian of the client’s account or other broker-dealers selected by Kickstand
Wealth Advisors. In selecting a broker-dealer to execute a client’s securities transactions, Kickstand Wealth
Advisors seeks prompt execution of orders at favorable prices. As noted above, Kickstand Wealth Advisors
utilizes Schwab for custodial and execution services for client accounts. Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not
accept client direction for the utilization of any other broker-dealer or custodian for the provision of
custodial and execution services for client accounts.
Trade Errors
Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ goal is to execute trades seamlessly and in the best interests of the client. In the
event a trade error occurs, Kickstand Wealth Advisors endeavors to identify the error in a timely manner,
correct the error so that the client’s account is in the position it would have been had the error not occurred,
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and, after evaluating the error, assess what action(s) might be necessary to prevent a recurrence of similar
errors in the future.
Trade errors generally are corrected through the use of a “trade error” account or similar account at Schwab,
or another BD, as the case may be. In the event an error is made in a client account custodied elsewhere,
Kickstand Wealth Advisors works directly with the broker in question to take corrective action. In all cases,
Kickstand Wealth Advisors will take the appropriate measures to return the client’s account to its intended
position.
Trade Aggregation
To the extent that the Firm determines to aggregate client orders for the purchase or sale of securities,
including securities in which the Firm’s supervised persons may invest, the Firm will generally do so in a fair
equitable manner in accordance with applicable rules promulgated under the Advisers Act and guidance
provided by the staff of the SEC and consistent with policies and procedures established by the Firm.
Item 13 – Review of Accounts
Periodic Reviews
While investment management accounts are monitored on an ongoing basis, Kickstand Wealth Advisors’
investment adviser representatives seek to have at least one annual meeting with each client to conduct a
formal review of the clients’ accounts. Accounts are reviewed for consistency with the investment strategy
and other parameters set forth for the account and to determine if any adjustments need to be made.
Other Reviews and Triggering Factors
In addition to the periodic reviews described above, reviews may be triggered by changes in an account
holder’s personal, tax or financial status. Other events that may trigger a review of an account are material
changes in market conditions as well as macroeconomic and company-specific events. Clients are
encouraged to notify Kickstand Wealth Advisors of any changes in his/her personal financial situation that
might affect his/her investment needs, objectives, or time horizon.
Regular Reports
Written brokerage statements are generated no less than quarterly and are sent directly from the qualified
custodian. These reports list the account positions, activity in the account over the covered period, and other
related information. Clients are also sent confirmations following each brokerage account transaction unless
confirmations have been waived.
Kickstand Wealth Advisors may also determine to provide account statements and other reporting to clients
on a periodic basis. Kickstand Wealth Advisors also provides account reports during client meetings.
Clients are urged to carefully review all custodial account statements and compare them to any statements
and reports provided by Kickstand Wealth Advisors. Kickstand Wealth Advisors statements and reports may
vary from custodial statements based on accounting procedures, reporting dates, or valuation
methodologies of certain securities.
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Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Economic Benefits Provided by Third Parties for Advice Rendered to Clients
Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not receive benefits from third parties for providing investment advice to
clients.
Compensation to Non-Supervised Persons for Client Referrals
Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not enter into agreements with individuals or organizations for the referral
of clients.
Item 15 – Custody
All clients must utilize a “qualified custodian” as detailed in Item 12. Clients are required to engage the
custodian to retain their funds and securities and direct Kickstand Wealth Advisors to utilize the custodian
for the client’s securities transactions. Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ agreement with clients and/or the clients’
separate agreements with the B/D Custodian may authorize Kickstand Wealth Advisors through such
BD/Custodian to debit the clients’ accounts for the amount of Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ fee and to directly
remit that fee to Kickstand Wealth Advisors in accordance with applicable custody rules.
The BD/Custodian recommended by Kickstand Wealth Advisors has agreed to send a statement to the client,
at least quarterly, indicating all amounts disbursed from the account including the amount of management
fees paid directly to Kickstand Wealth Advisors. Kickstand Wealth Advisors encourages clients to review the
official statements provided by the custodian, and to compare such statements with any reports or other
statements received from Kickstand Wealth Advisors. For more information about custodians and brokerage
practices, see “Item 12 - Brokerage Practices.”
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
Clients have the option of providing Kickstand Wealth Advisors with investment discretion on their behalf,
pursuant to a grant of a limited power of attorney contained in Kickstand Wealth Advisors’ client agreement.
By granting Kickstand Wealth Advisors investment discretion, a client authorizes Kickstand Wealth Advisors
to direct securities transactions and determine which securities are bought and sold, the total amount to be
bought and sold, and the costs at which the transactions will be affected. Clients may impose reasonable
limitations in the form of specific constraints on any of these areas of discretion with the consent and written
acknowledgement of Kickstand Wealth Advisors if Kickstand Wealth Advisors determines, in its sole
discretion, that the conditions would not materially impact the performance of a management strategy or
prove overly burdensome for Kickstand Wealth Advisors. See also Item 4(C), Client-Tailored Advisory
Services.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not accept the authority to and does not vote proxies on behalf of clients.
Clients retain the responsibility for receiving and voting proxies for all and any securities maintained in
client portfolios.
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Item 18 – Financial Information
Kickstand Wealth Advisors is not required to disclose any financial information pursuant to this item due to
the following:
a) Kickstand Wealth Advisors does not require or solicit the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees
six months or more in advance of rendering services;
b) Kickstand Wealth Advisors is unaware of any financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair
its ability to meet its contractual commitments relating to its discretionary authority over certain
client accounts; and
c) Kickstand Wealth Advisors has never been the subject of a bankruptcy petition.
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