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Disclosure Brochure
March 4, 2025
MAYFAIR ADVISORY GROUP, LLC
a Registered Investment Adviser
110 Office Park Drive, Suite 220
Birmingham, AL 35223
(205) 395-6970
www.mayfairag.com
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Mayfair Advisory Group,
LLC (hereinafter “MAG” or the “Firm”). If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please
contact the Firm at the telephone number listed above. The information in this brochure has not been approved
or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or by any state securities authority.
Additional information about the Firm is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. The Firm
is a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply any level of skill or training.
Disclosure Brochure
Item 2. Material Changes
In this Item, MAG is required to discuss any material changes that have been made to the brochure since
the last annual amendment dated February 26, 2024. The Firm has no changes to disclose in relation to this
Item.
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Item 3. Table of Contents
Item 2. Material Changes .............................................................................................................................................. 2
Item 3. Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Item 4. Advisory Business ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Item 5. Fees and Compensation .................................................................................................................................... 7
Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ................................................................................ 9
Item 7. Types of Clients ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ....................................................................... 10
Item 9. Disciplinary Information ................................................................................................................................ 13
Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .................................................................................... 13
Item 11. Code of Ethics .............................................................................................................................................. 13
Item 12. Brokerage Practices ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Item 13. Review of Accounts ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation .................................................................................................... 18
Item 15. Custody......................................................................................................................................................... 19
Item 16. Investment Discretion ................................................................................................................................... 19
Item 17. Voting Client Securities ............................................................................................................................... 19
Item 18. Financial Information ................................................................................................................................... 20
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Item 4. Advisory Business
MAG offers a variety of advisory services, which include financial planning, consulting, and investment
management services. Prior to MAG rendering any of the foregoing advisory services, clients are required
to enter into one or more written agreements with MAG setting forth the relevant terms and conditions of
the advisory relationship (the “Advisory Agreement”).
MAG filed for registration as an investment adviser in July 2019 and is owned by Samuel M. Kirkpatrick,
Charles M. Smith, and Joseph C. Mason. As of December 31, 2024, MAG has $ 718,448,245 in assets
under management, $ 561,394,543 of which was managed on a discretionary basis and $157,053,702 of
which was managed on a non-discretionary basis.
While this brochure generally describes the business of MAG, certain sections also discuss the activities of
its Supervised Persons, which refer to the Firm’s officers, partners, directors (or other persons occupying a
similar status or performing similar functions), employees or other persons who provide investment advice
on MAG’s behalf and are subject to the Firm’s supervision or control.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
MAG offers clients a broad range of financial planning and consulting services, which include any or all of
the following functions:
Retirement Planning
Business Planning
•
•
Risk Management
Cash Flow Forecasting
•
•
Charitable Giving
Trust and Estate Planning
•
•
Distribution Planning
Asset Allocation
•
•
Tax Planning
Investment Consulting
•
•
Education Planning
Insurance Analysis
•
•
While each of these services is available on a stand-alone basis, certain of them can also be rendered in
conjunction with investment portfolio management as part of a comprehensive wealth management
engagement (described in more detail below).
In performing these services, MAG is not required to verify any information received from the client or
from the client’s other professionals (e.g., attorneys, accountants, etc.,) and is expressly authorized to rely
on such information. MAG recommends certain clients engage the Firm for additional related services
and/or other professionals to implement its recommendations. Clients are advised that a conflict of interest
exists for the Firm to recommend that clients engage MAG or its affiliates to provide (or continue to
provide) additional services for compensation, including investment management services. Clients retain
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absolute discretion over all decisions regarding implementation and are under no obligation to act upon any
of the recommendations made by MAG under a financial planning or consulting engagement. Clients are
advised that it remains their responsibility to promptly notify the Firm of any change in their financial
situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating or revising MAG’s
recommendations and/or services.
Wealth Management Services
MAG provides certain clients with wealth management services which include a broad range of financial
planning and consulting services as well as discretionary and/or non-discretionary management of
investment portfolios.
MAG primarily allocates client assets among various mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and
independent investment managers (“Independent Managers”) in accordance with their stated investment
objectives.
Where appropriate, the Firm also provides advice about any type of legacy position or other investment
held in client portfolios (clients should not assume that these assets are being continuously monitored or
otherwise advised on by the Firm unless specifically agreed upon). Clients can engage MAG to manage
and/or advise on certain investment products that are not maintained at their primary custodian, such as
variable life insurance and annuity contracts and assets held in employer sponsored retirement plans and
qualified tuition plans (i.e., 529 plans). In these situations, MAG directs or recommends the allocation of
client assets among the various investment options available with the product. These assets are generally
maintained at the underwriting insurance company or the custodian designated by the product’s provider.
MAG tailors its advisory services to meet the needs of its individual clients and seeks to ensure, on a
continuous basis, that client portfolios are managed in a manner consistent with those needs and objectives.
MAG consults with clients on an initial and ongoing basis to assess their specific risk tolerance, time
horizon, liquidity constraints and other related factors relevant to the management of their portfolios.
Clients are advised to promptly notify MAG if there are changes in their financial situation or if they wish
to place any limitations on the management of their portfolios. Clients can impose reasonable restrictions
or mandates on the management of their accounts if MAG determines, in its sole discretion, the conditions
would not materially impact the performance of a management strategy or prove overly burdensome to the
Firm’s management efforts.
Use of Independent Managers
As mentioned above, MAG selects certain Independent Managers to actively manage a portion of its clients’
assets. The specific terms and conditions under which a client engages an Independent Manager may be
set forth in a separate written agreement with the designated Independent Manager. That agreement can be
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between the Firm and the Independent Manager (often called a subadvisor) or the client and the Independent
Manager (sometimes called a separate account manager). In addition to this brochure, clients may also
receive the written disclosure documents of the respective Independent Managers engaged to manage their
assets.
MAG evaluates a variety of information about Independent Managers, which includes the Independent
Managers’ public disclosure documents, materials supplied by the Independent Managers themselves and
other third-party analyses it believes are reputable. To the extent possible, the Firm seeks to assess the
Independent Managers’ investment strategies, past performance and risk results in relation to its clients’
individual portfolio allocations and risk exposure. MAG also takes into consideration each Independent
Manager’s management style, returns, reputation, financial strength, reporting, pricing and research
capabilities, among other factors.
MAG continues to provide services relative to the discretionary or non-discretionary selection of the
Independent Managers. On an ongoing basis, the Firm monitors the performance of those accounts being
managed by Independent Managers. MAG seeks to ensure the Independent Managers’ strategies and target
allocations remain aligned with its clients’ investment objectives and overall best interests.
Retirement Plan Consulting Services
MAG provides various consulting services to qualified employee benefit plans and their fiduciaries. This
suite of institutional services is designed to assist plan sponsors in structuring, managing and optimizing
their corporate retirement plans. Each engagement is individually negotiated and customized, and includes
any or all of the following services:
Plan Fee and Cost Analysis
Plan Design and Strategy
•
•
Plan Committee Consultation
Plan Review and Evaluation
•
•
Fiduciary and Compliance
Executive Planning & Benefits
•
•
Participant Education
Investment Selection
•
•
As disclosed in the Advisory Agreement, certain of the foregoing services are provided by MAG as a
fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). In
accordance with ERISA Section 408(b)(2), each plan sponsor is provided with a written description of
MAG’s fiduciary status, the specific services to be rendered and all direct and indirect compensation the
Firm reasonably expects under the engagement.
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Item 5. Fees and Compensation
MAG offers services on a fee basis, which includes fixed fees, as well as fees based upon assets under
management.
Financial Planning and Consulting Fees
MAG charges a fixed fee for providing financial planning and consulting services under a stand-alone
engagement. These fees are negotiable, but range from $500 to $5,000, depending upon the scope and
complexity of the services and the professional rendering the financial planning and/or the consulting
services. If the client engages the Firm for additional investment advisory services, MAG may offset all or
a portion of its fees for those services based upon the amount paid for the financial planning and/or
consulting services.
The terms and conditions of the financial planning and/or consulting engagement are set forth in the
Advisory Agreement and MAG requires one-half of the fixed fee payable upon execution of the Advisory
Agreement. The outstanding balance is due upon delivery of the financial plan or completion of the agreed
upon services. The Firm does not, however, take receipt of $1,200 or more in prepaid fees in excess of six
months in advance of services rendered.
Wealth Management Fees
MAG offers wealth management services for an annual fee based on the amount of assets under the Firm’s
management. This management fee varies between 50 and 100 basis points (0.50% – 1.00%), depending
upon the size and composition of a client’s portfolio and the type of services rendered. The annual fee is
prorated and charged quarterly, in advance, based upon the market value of the assets being managed by
MAG on the last day of the previous quarter as determined by a party independent from the Firm (including
the client’s custodian or another third-party). The Firm includes cash in a client’s account in determining
the valuation for billing purposes. The Firm may, in its sole discretion, not include cash in determining the
fee, especially where a client has a high percentage of cash for reasons other than the Firm's investment
management decision. If assets are deposited into or withdrawn from an account after the inception of a
billing period, the fee payable with respect to such assets is not adjusted to reflect the interim change in
portfolio value.
For the initial period of an engagement, the fee is calculated on a pro rata basis. In the event the advisory
agreement is terminated, the fee for the final billing period is prorated through the effective date of the
termination and the outstanding or unearned portion of the fee is charged or refunded to the client, as
appropriate. Additionally, for asset management services the Firm provides with respect to certain client
holdings (e.g., held-away assets, accommodation accounts, alternative investments, etc.), MAG may
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negotiate a fee rate that differs from the range set forth above. Clients are advised that a conflict of interest
exists for the Firm to recommend that clients engage MAG for additional services for compensation,
including rolling over retirement accounts or moving other assets to the Firm’s management. Clients retain
absolute discretion over all decisions regarding engaging the Firm and are under no obligation to act upon
any of the recommendations.
Retirement Plan Consulting Fees
MAG charges as fixed project-based fee to provide clients with retirement plan consulting services. Each
engagement is individually negotiated and tailored to accommodate the needs of the individual plan
sponsor, as memorialized in the Agreement. These fees vary between 25 and 50 basis points (0.25% –
0.50%), depending upon the size and composition of the client’s assets as well as the scope of the services
to be rendered.
Fee Discretion
MAG may, in its sole discretion, negotiate to charge a lesser fee based upon certain criteria, such as
anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future additional assets, dollar amount of assets to be
managed, related accounts, account composition, pre-existing/legacy client relationship, account retention
and pro bono activities. In addition, institutional and foundation accounts will typically be charged a lesser
fee.
Additional Fees and Expenses
In addition to the advisory fees paid to MAG, clients also incur certain charges imposed by other third
parties, such as broker-dealers, custodians, trust companies, banks and other financial institutions
(collectively “Financial Institutions”). These additional charges include securities brokerage commissions,
transaction fees, custodial fees, fees attributable to alternative assets, fees charged by the Independent
Managers, margin costs, charges imposed directly by a mutual fund or ETF in a client’s account, as
disclosed in the fund’s prospectus (e.g., fund management fees and other fund expenses), deferred sales
charges, odd-lot differentials, transfer taxes, wire transfer and electronic fund fees, and other fees and taxes
on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. The Firm’s brokerage practices are described at length
in Item 12, below.
Direct Fee Debit
Clients provide MAG and/or certain Independent Managers with the authority to directly debit their
accounts for payment of the investment advisory fees. The Financial Institutions that act as the qualified
custodian for client accounts, from which the Firm retains the authority to directly deduct fees, have agreed
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to send statements to clients not less than quarterly detailing all account transactions, including any amounts
paid to MAG. Alternatively, subject to the Firm’s acceptance, clients may elect to have MAG send a
separate invoice for direct payment.
Use of Margin
MAG can be directed by clients to use margin in the management of the client’s investment portfolio. In
these cases the fee payable will be assessed net of margin such that the market value of the client’s account
and corresponding fee payable by the client to MAG will not be increased. The Firm does not typically
recommend leverage. Additionally, MAG can recommend borrowing for non-investment needs, such as
bridge loans and other financing needs. The Firm’s fees are determined based upon the value of the assets
being managed gross of any margin or borrowing.
Account Additions and Withdrawals
Clients can make additions to and withdrawals from their account at any time, subject to MAG’s right to
terminate an account. Additions can be in cash or securities provided that the Firm reserves the right to
liquidate any transferred securities or declines to accept particular securities into a client’s account. Clients
can withdraw account assets on notice to MAG, subject to the usual and customary securities settlement
procedures. However, the Firm designs its portfolios as long-term investments and the withdrawal of assets
may impair the achievement of a client’s investment objectives. MAG 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.
Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
MAG does not provide any services for a performance-based fee (i.e., a fee based on a share of capital gains
or capital appreciation of a client’s assets).
Item 7. Types of Clients
MAG offers services to individuals, high net worth individuals, trusts and estates, non-profit and/or
charitable organizations, employer-sponsored retirement plans and other business entities.
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Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
MAG’s investment decisions are formed by the Firm’s Investment Committee, which is comprised of the
Firm’s principals. The Investment Committee utilizes a variety of third-party analytical tools and research
services to evaluate the investment strategies being considered for inclusion in client portfolios.
The Investment Committee also incorporates fundamental and technical research in developing portfolios
for clients.
The Investment Committee meets regularly to review the performance, process, and personnel of the
investments held in client accounts. Regular meetings are also held in order to review client portfolios and
discuss current market events.
Investment Strategies
MAG primarily utilizes mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), and separately managed accounts
in client portfolios. The Firm may also recommend interval funds for certain clients.
MAG seeks to design investment portfolios that will help clients successfully reach their stated goals. For
individual clients, this means structuring the client’s portfolio within the context of their overall financial
plan.
The planning process starts with a series of discovery meetings during which the Firm assesses the client’s
assets and liabilities, as well as strives to understand the client’s past investing experiences, financial and
personal goals, risk preferences, time horizon, spending patterns, and saving rates.
MAG periodically revisits the client’s financial plan with them to identify changes that might impact their
circumstances and, therefore, the Firm’s investment portfolio recommendations.
For non-profit clients, MAG starts with a thorough review of the organization’s assets, liabilities, cash
flows, spending policies, and investment policies. The guiding asset allocation framework for an
endowment portfolio is a customized analysis that aims to match the portfolio’s distributions with the short,
medium and long-term goals of the client.
For all clients, MAG routinely monitors the portfolio’s effectiveness with helping the client stay on track
towards reaching their desired outcomes. The Firm’s monitoring process evaluates the portfolio’s
performance, costs, risks, and tax-efficiency. Clients receive performance reports that provide a snapshot
of their performance compared against relative benchmarks.
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Risk of Loss
The following list of risk factors does not purport to be a complete enumeration or explanation of the risks
involved with respect to the Firm’s investment management activities. Clients should consult with their
legal, tax, and other advisors before engaging the Firm to provide investment management services on their
behalf.
Market Risks
Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and all investors should be guided
accordingly. The profitability of a significant portion of MAG’s recommendations and/or investment
decisions may depend to a great extent upon correctly assessing the future course of price movements of
stocks, bonds and other asset classes. In addition, investments may be adversely affected by financial
markets and economic conditions throughout the world. There can be no assurance that MAG will be able
to predict these price movements accurately or capitalize on any such assumptions.
Volatility Risks
The prices and values of investments can be highly volatile, and are influenced by, among other things,
interest rates, general economic conditions, the condition of the financial markets, the financial condition
of the issuers of such assets, changing supply and demand relationships, and programs and policies of
governments.
Cash Management Risks
The Firm may invest some of a client’s assets temporarily in money market funds or other similar types of
investments, during which time an advisory account may be prevented from achieving its investment
objective.
Mutual Funds and ETFs
An investment in a mutual fund or ETF involves risk, including the loss of principal. Mutual fund and ETF
shareholders are necessarily subject to the risks stemming from the individual issuers of the fund’s
underlying portfolio securities. Such shareholders are also liable for taxes on any fund-level capital gains,
as mutual funds and ETFs are required by law to distribute capital gains in the event they sell securities for
a profit that cannot be offset by a corresponding loss.
Shares of mutual funds are generally distributed and redeemed on an ongoing basis by the fund itself or a
broker acting on its behalf. The trading price at which a share is transacted is equal to a fund’s stated daily
per share net asset value (“NAV”), plus any shareholders fees (e.g., sales loads, purchase fees, redemption
fees). The per share NAV of a mutual fund is calculated at the end of each business day, although the actual
NAV fluctuates with intraday changes to the market value of the fund’s holdings. The trading prices of a
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mutual fund’s shares may differ significantly from the NAV during periods of market volatility, which may,
among other factors, lead to the mutual fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to actual NAV.
Shares of ETFs are listed on securities exchanges and transacted at negotiated prices in the secondary
market. Generally, ETF shares trade at or near their most recent NAV, which is generally calculated at
least once daily for indexed based ETFs and potentially more frequently for actively managed ETFs.
However, certain inefficiencies may cause the shares to trade at a premium or discount to their pro rata
NAV. There is also no guarantee that an active secondary market for such shares will develop or continue
to exist. Generally, an ETF only redeems shares when aggregated as creation units (usually 20,000 shares
or more). Therefore, if a liquid secondary market ceases to exist for shares of a particular ETF, a
shareholder may have no way to dispose of such shares.
Use Interval Funds
The Firm will recommend that certain clients invest in interval funds. An interval fund is a type of closed-
end fund with shares that do not trade on the secondary market. Instead, the fund periodically offers to
repurchase a percentage of outstanding shares at NAV. The rules for interval funds, along with the types
of assets held, make this investment largely illiquid compared with (open-end) mutual funds and ETFs.
Offers to repurchase shares may be oversubscribed, meaning that shareholders may only be able to have a
portion of their shares repurchased. There is no guarantee that an investor will be able to redeem shares on
a given repurchase date or in the desired amount. In addition, to the extent an interval fund invests in
companies with smaller market capitalizations, derivatives, or securities that entail significant market or
credit risk, the liquidity risk may be greater. The client will receive a prospectus explaining such risks.
Use of Independent Managers
As stated above, MAG selects certain Independent Managers to manage a portion of its clients’ assets. In
these situations, MAG continues to conduct ongoing due diligence of such managers, but such
recommendations rely to a great extent on the Independent Managers’ ability to successfully implement
their investment strategies. In addition, MAG does not have the ability to supervise the Independent
Managers on a day-to-day basis.
Use of Margin
While the use of margin borrowing for investments can substantially improve returns, it may also increase
overall portfolio risk. Margin transactions are generally effected using capital borrowed from a Financial
Institution, which is secured by a client’s holdings. Under certain circumstances, a lending Financial
Institution may demand an increase in the underlying collateral. If the client is unable to provide the
additional collateral, the Financial Institution may liquidate account assets to satisfy the client’s outstanding
obligations, which could have extremely adverse consequences. In addition, fluctuations in the amount of
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a client’s borrowings and the corresponding interest rates may have a significant effect on the profitability
and stability of a client’s portfolio.
Item 9. Disciplinary Information
MAG has not been involved in any legal or disciplinary events that are material to a client’s evaluation of
its advisory business or the integrity of its management.
Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
This item requires investment advisers to disclose certain financial industry activities and affiliations. The
Firm does not have any other financial industry activities or affiliations that need to be disclosed.
Item 11. Code of Ethics
MAG has adopted a code of ethics in compliance with applicable securities laws (“Code of Ethics”) that
sets forth the standards of conduct expected of its Supervised Persons. MAG’s Code of Ethics contains
written policies reasonably designed to prevent certain unlawful practices such as the use of material non-
public information by the Firm or any of its Supervised Persons and the trading by the same of securities
ahead of clients in order to take advantage of pending orders.
The Code of Ethics also requires certain of MAG’s personnel to report their personal securities holdings
and transactions and obtain pre-approval of certain investments (e.g., initial public offerings, limited
offerings). However, the Firm’s Supervised Persons are permitted to buy or sell securities that it also
recommends to clients if done in a fair and equitable manner that is consistent with the Firm’s policies and
procedures. This Code of Ethics has been established recognizing that some securities trade in sufficiently
broad markets to permit transactions by certain personnel to be completed without any appreciable impact
on the markets of such securities. Therefore, under limited circumstances, exceptions may be made to the
policies stated below.
When the Firm is engaging in or considering a transaction in any security on behalf of a client, no
Supervised Person with access to this information may knowingly effect for themselves or for their
immediate family (i.e., spouse, minor children and adults living in the same household) a transaction in that
security unless:
•
the transaction has been completed;
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•
the transaction for the Supervised Person is completed as part of a batch trade with clients; or
•
a decision has been made not to engage in the transaction for the client.
These requirements are not applicable to: (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United States; (ii)
money market instruments, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper,
repurchase agreements and other high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase
agreements; (iii) shares issued by money market funds; and iv) shares issued by other unaffiliated open-end
mutual funds.
Clients and prospective clients may contact MAG to request a copy of its Code of Ethics.
Item 12. Brokerage Practices
Recommendation of Broker-Dealers for Client Transactions
MAG recommends that clients utilize the custody, brokerage and clearing services of Charles Schwab &
Co, Inc. through its Schwab Advisor Services division (“Schwab”) and/or National Financial Services LLC
and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (together with affiliates, “Fidelity” and together with Custodian,
“Custodian”) for investment management accounts. The final decision to custody assets with Custodian is
at the discretion of the client, including those accounts under ERISA or IRA rules and regulations, in which
case the client is acting as either the plan sponsor or IRA accountholder. MAG is independently owned and
operated and not affiliated with Custodian. Custodian provides MAG with access to its institutional trading
and custody services, which are typically not available to retail investors.
Factors which MAG considers in recommending Custodian or any other broker-dealer to clients include
their respective financial strength, reputation, execution, pricing, research and service. Custodian enables
the Firm to obtain many mutual funds without transaction charges and other securities at nominal
transaction charges. Custodian has also agreed to reimburse clients for exit fees associated with moving
accounts to Custodian. The commissions and/or transaction fees charged by Custodian may be higher or
lower than those charged by other Financial Institutions.
The commissions paid by MAG’s clients to Custodian comply with the Firm’s duty to obtain “best
execution.” Clients may pay commissions that are higher than another qualified Financial Institution might
charge to effect the same transaction where MAG determines that the commissions are reasonable in
relation to the value of the brokerage and research services received. 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 Financial Institution’s services, including
among others, the value of research provided, execution capability, commission rates and responsiveness.
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MAG seeks competitive rates but may not necessarily obtain the lowest possible commission rates for client
transactions.
Consistent with obtaining best execution, brokerage transactions are directed to certain broker-dealers in
return for investment research products and/or services which assist MAG in its investment decision-
making process. Such research will be used to service all of the Firm’s clients, but brokerage commissions
paid by one client may be used to pay for research that is not used in managing that client’s portfolio. The
receipt of investment research products and/or services as well as the allocation of the benefit of such
investment research products and/or services poses a conflict of interest because MAG does not have to
produce or pay for the products or services.
MAG periodically and systematically reviews its policies and procedures regarding its recommendation of
Financial Institutions in light of its duty to obtain best execution.
Software and Support Provided by Financial Institutions
MAG receives without cost from Custodian administrative support, computer software, related systems
support, as well as other third party support as further described below (together “Support”) which allow
MAG to better monitor client accounts maintained at Custodian and otherwise conduct it’s business. MAG
receives the Support without cost because the Firm renders investment management services to clients that
maintain assets at Custodian. The Support is not provided in connection with securities transactions of
clients (i.e., not “soft dollars”). The Support benefits MAG, but not its clients directly. Clients should be
aware that MAG’s receipt of economic benefits such as the Support from a broker-dealer creates a conflict
of interest since these benefits will influence the Firm’s choice of broker-dealer over another that does not
furnish similar software, systems support or services. In fulfilling its duties to its clients, MAG endeavors
at all times to put the interests of its clients first and has determined that the recommendation of Custodian
is in the best interest of clients and satisfies the Firm’s duty to seek best execution.
Specifically, MAG receives the following benefits from Custodian: i) receipt of duplicate client
confirmations and bundled duplicate statements; ii) access to a trading desk that exclusively services its
institutional traders; iii) access to block trading which provides the ability to aggregate securities
transactions and then allocate the appropriate shares to client accounts; and iv) access to an electronic
communication network for client order entry and account information.
These services generally are available to independent investment advisors on an unsolicited basis, at no
charge to them so long as a certain amount of the advisor’s clients’ assets are maintained in accounts at
Custodian Advisor Services. Custodian’s services include brokerage services that are related to the
execution of securities transactions, custody, research, including that in the form of advice, analyses and
reports, and access to mutual funds and other investments that are otherwise generally available only to
institutional investors or would require a significantly higher minimum initial investment.
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For client accounts maintained in its custody, Custodian generally does not charge separately for custody
services but is compensated by account holders through commissions or other transaction-related or asset-
based fees for securities trades that are executed through Custodian or that settle into Custodian accounts.
Custodian also makes available to the Firm other products and services that benefit the Firm but may not
benefit its clients’ accounts. These benefits may include national, regional or Firm specific educational
events organized and/or sponsored by Custodian. Other potential benefits may include occasional business
entertainment of personnel of MAG by Custodian personnel, including meals, invitations to sporting events,
including golf tournaments, and other forms of entertainment, some of which may accompany educational
opportunities. Other of these products and services assist MAG in managing and administering clients’
accounts. These include software and other technology (and related technological training) that provide
access to client account data (such as trade confirmations and account statements), facilitate trade execution
(and allocation of aggregated trade orders for multiple client accounts), provide research, pricing
information and other market data, facilitate payment of the Firm’s fees from its clients’ accounts, and assist
with back-office training and support functions, recordkeeping and client reporting. Many of these services
generally may be used to service all or some substantial number of the Firm’s accounts, including accounts
not maintained at Custodian. Custodian also makes available to MAG other services intended to help the
Firm manage and further develop its business enterprise. These services may include professional
compliance, legal and business consulting, publications and conferences on practice management,
information technology, business succession, regulatory compliance, employee benefits providers, human
capital consultants, insurance and marketing. In addition, Custodian may make available, arrange and/or
pay vendors for these types of services rendered to the Firm by independent third parties. Custodian may
discount or waive fees it would otherwise charge for some of these services or pay all or a part of the fees
of a third-party providing these services to the Firm. While, as a fiduciary, MAG endeavors to act in its
clients’ best interests, the Firm’s recommendation that clients maintain their assets in accounts at Custodian
may be based in part on the benefits received and not solely on the nature, cost or quality of custody and
brokerage services provided by Custodian, which creates a conflict of interest.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
MAG does not consider, in selecting or recommending broker-dealers, whether the Firm receives client
referrals from the Financial Institutions or other third party.
Directed Brokerage
The client may direct MAG in writing to use a particular Financial Institution to execute some or all
transactions for the client. In that case, the client will negotiate terms and arrangements for the account
with that Financial Institution and the Firm will not seek better execution services or prices from other
Financial Institutions or be able to “batch” client transactions for execution through other Financial
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Institutions with orders for other accounts managed by MAG (as described above). As a result, the client
may pay higher commissions or other transaction costs, greater spreads or may receive less favorable net
prices, on transactions for the account than would otherwise be the case. Subject to its duty of best
execution, MAG may decline a client’s request to direct brokerage if, in the Firm’s sole discretion, such
directed brokerage arrangements would result in additional operational difficulties.
Trade Aggregation
Transactions for each client will be effected independently, unless MAG decides to purchase or sell the
same securities for several clients at approximately the same time. MAG may (but is not obligated to)
combine or “batch” such orders to obtain best execution, to negotiate more favorable commission rates or
to allocate equitably among the Firm’s clients’ differences in prices and commissions or other transaction
costs that might not have been obtained had such orders been placed independently. Under this procedure,
transactions will be averaged as to price and allocated among MAG’s clients pro rata to the purchase and
sale orders placed for each client on any given day. To the extent that the Firm determines to aggregate
client orders for the purchase or sale of securities, including securities in which MAG’s Supervised Persons
may invest, the Firm does so in accordance with applicable rules promulgated under the Advisers Act and
no-action guidance provided by the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. MAG does not
receive any additional compensation or remuneration as a result of the aggregation.
In the event that the Firm determines that a prorated allocation is not appropriate under the particular
circumstances, the allocation will be made based upon other relevant factors, which include: (i) when only
a small percentage of the order is executed, shares may be allocated to the account with the smallest order
or the smallest position or to an account that is out of line with respect to security or sector weightings
relative to other portfolios, with similar mandates; (ii) allocations may be given to one account when one
account has limitations in its investment guidelines which prohibit it from purchasing other securities which
are expected to produce similar investment results and can be purchased by other accounts; (iii) if an
account reaches an investment guideline limit and cannot participate in an allocation, shares may be
reallocated to other accounts (this may be due to unforeseen changes in an account’s assets after an order
is placed); (iv) with respect to sale allocations, allocations may be given to accounts low in cash; (v) in
cases when a pro rata allocation of a potential execution would result in a de minimis allocation in one or
more accounts, the Firm may exclude the account(s) from the allocation; the transactions may be executed
on a pro rata basis among the remaining accounts; or (vi) in cases where a small proportion of an order is
executed in all accounts, shares may be allocated to one or more accounts on a random basis.
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Item 13. Review of Accounts
Account Reviews
MAG monitors client portfolios on a continuous and ongoing basis while regular account reviews are
conducted on at least a quarterly basis. Such reviews are conducted by the Firm’s investment adviser
representatives and the Firm’s principals. All investment advisory clients are encouraged to discuss their
needs, goals and objectives with MAG and to keep the Firm informed of any changes thereto. The Firm
contacts ongoing investment advisory clients at least annually to review its previous services and/or
recommendations and quarterly to discuss the impact resulting from any changes in the client’s financial
situation and/or investment objectives.
Account Statements and Reports
Clients are provided with transaction confirmation notices and regular summary account statements directly
from the Financial Institutions where their assets are custodied. From time-to-time or as otherwise
requested, clients may also receive written or electronic reports from MAG and/or an outside service
provider, which contain certain account and/or market-related information, such as an inventory of account
holdings or account performance. Clients should compare the account statements they receive from their
custodian with any documents or reports they receive from MAG or an outside service provider.
Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Client Referrals
The Firm does not currently provide compensation to any third-party solicitors for client referrals.
Other Compensation
The Firm receives economic benefits from Custodian. The benefits, conflicts of interest and how they are
addressed are discussed above in response to Item 12.
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Item 15. Custody
MAG is deemed to have custody of client funds and securities because the Firm is given the ability to debit
client accounts for payment of the Firm’s fees. As such, client funds and securities are maintained at one
or more Financial Institutions that serve as the qualified custodian with respect to such assets. Such
qualified custodians will send account statements to clients at least once per calendar quarter that typically
detail any transactions in such account for the relevant period.
In addition, as discussed in Item 13, MAG will also send, or otherwise make available, periodic
supplemental reports to clients. Clients should carefully review the statements sent directly by the Financial
Institutions and compare them to those received from MAG.
Item 16. Investment Discretion
MAG is given the authority to exercise discretion on behalf of clients. MAG is considered to exercise
investment discretion over a client’s account if it can effect and/or direct transactions in client accounts
without first seeking their consent. MAG is given this authority through a power-of-attorney included in
the agreement between MAG and the client. Clients may request a limitation on this authority (such as
certain securities not to be bought or sold). MAG takes discretion over the following activities:
• The securities to be purchased or sold;
• The amount of securities to be purchased or sold;
• When transactions are made; and
• The Independent Managers to be hired or fired.
Item 17. Voting Client Securities
MAG does not accept the authority to vote a client’s securities (i.e., proxies) on their behalf. Clients receive
proxies directly from the Financial Institutions where their assets are custodied and may contact the Firm
at the contact information on the cover of this brochure with questions about any such issuer solicitations.
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Item 18. Financial Information
MAG is not required to disclose any financial information due to the following:
• The Firm does not require or solicit the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees six months or more
in advance of services rendered;
• The Firm does not have a financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to meet
contractual commitments to clients; and
• The Firm has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at any time during the past ten years.
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