Overview

Assets Under Management: $217 million
Headquarters: LOS ANGELES, CA
High-Net-Worth Clients: 38
Average Client Assets: $5 million

Services Offered

Services: Portfolio Management for Individuals, Portfolio Management for Institutional Clients

Clients

Number of High-Net-Worth Clients: 38
Percentage of Firm Assets Belonging to High-Net-Worth Clients: 100.00
Average High-Net-Worth Client Assets: $5 million
Total Client Accounts: 42
Discretionary Accounts: 42

Regulatory Filings

CRD Number: 128580
Last Filing Date: 2024-08-05 00:00:00
Website: https://powerassetmanagement.com

Form ADV Documents

Primary Brochure: PAM - FORM ADV PART 2A - FIRM BROCHURE (2025-03-27)

View Document Text
ITEM 1: COVER PAGE FOR PART 2A OF FORM ADV: FIRM BROCHURE March 2025 POWER ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC 1901 AVENUE OF THE STARS, SUITE 200 LOS ANGELES, CA 90067 (310) 461-1330 FIRM CONTACT: MICHAEL POWER CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER FIRMS WEBSITE ADDRESS: WWW.POWERASSETMANAGEMENT.COM This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Power Asset Management, LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact Michael Power, Chief Compliance Officer, by telephone at (310) 461-1330 or by email at mike@powerassetmanagement.com. The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any State Securities Authority. Additional information about Power Asset Management, LLC also is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Please note that the use of the term “registered investment adviser” and description of Power Asset Management, LLC and/or our associates as “registered” does not imply a certain level of skill or training. You are encouraged to review this Brochure and Brochure Supplements for our firm’s associates who advise you for more information on the qualifications of our firm and its employees. Item 2: Material Changes To Our Part 2A of Form ADV: Firm Brochure Power Asset Management, LLC is required to advise you of any material changes to our Firm Brochure (“Brochure”) from our last annual update, identify those changes on the cover page of our Brochure or on the page immediately following the cover page, or in a separate communication accompanying our Brochure. Since the last annual amendment filed on 03/26/2024, the following changes have been made: Our firm has updated to disclose that Michael Power is the Co-Founder, CCO, and Investment Adviser Representative of Power Forward LLC, an affiliate. Michael Power is no longer registered as an investment adviser representative of Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC. 2 Item 3: Table of Contents: Item 2: Material Changes to Our Part 2A of Form ADV: Firm Brochure ........................................................... 2 Item 3: Table of Contents: .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Item 4: Advisory Business.................................................................................................................................................... 4 Item 5: Fees & Compensation ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management ........................................................................... 6 Item 7: Types of Clients & Account Requirements .................................................................................................... 6 Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss ................................................................... 6 Item 9: Disciplinary Information....................................................................................................................................... 8 Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations .................................................................................... 8 Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions & Personal Trading ............... 8 Item 12: Brokerage Practices ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Item 13: Review of Accounts ............................................................................................................................................ 11 Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation ..................................................................................................... 12 Item 15: Custody .................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Item 16: Investment Discretion ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Item 17: Voting Client Securities ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Item 18: Financial Information ........................................................................................................................................ 13 3 Item 4: Advisory Business We specialize in the following types of services: asset management and sub-advisory services. We are dedicated to providing individuals and other types of clients with investment advice relating to the purchase and sale of various fixed-income securities and, from time to time, issuing analyses and reports to clients in the above-described activities. Our firm is a limited liability company formed in the State of Delaware. Our firm has been in business as an investment adviser since 2003 and is owned by Michael R. Power, Chief Executive Officer. Advisory Services We Offer We emphasize continuous and regular account supervision. As part of our asset management service, we provide individuals and other types of clients with investment advice relating to the purchase and sale of various fixed-income securities and, from time to time, we issue analyses and reports to our clients in the aforementioned activities. Each portfolio will be initially designed to meet a particular investment goal, which we determine to be suitable to the client’s circumstances. Once the appropriate portfolio has been determined, we review the portfolio at least quarterly and if necessary, rebalance the portfolio based upon the client’s individual needs, stated goals and objectives. Each client has the opportunity to place reasonable restrictions on the types of investments to be held in the portfolio. Our firm may act as a Sub-Adviser, where we may design an investment portfolio and provide ongoing corresponding asset management services on a fee-only basis for a percentage of assets in conjunction with another investment advisory firm. Tailoring of Advisory Services We offer individualized investment advice to clients utilizing our firm’s Asset Management service. Each client has the opportunity to place reasonable restrictions on the types of investments to be held in the portfolio. Restrictions on investments in certain securities or types of securities may not be possible due to the level of difficulty this would entail in managing the account. Restrictions would be limited to our Asset Management service. Participation in Wrap Fee Programs We do not offer wrap fee programs. Regulatory Assets Under Management We manage1 $189,000,000 on a discretionary basis as of 12/31/2024. Item 5: Fees & Compensation 1 Please note that our method for computing the amount of “client assets we manage” can be different from the method for computing “assets under management” required for Item 5.F in Part 1A of Form ADV. However, we have chosen to follow the method outlined for Item 5.F in Part 1A of Form ADV. If we decide to use a different method at a later date to compute “client assets we manage,” we must keep documentation describing the method we use and inform you of the change. The amount of assets we manage may be disclosed by rounding to the nearest $100,000. Our “as of” date must not be more than three months before the date we last updated our Brochure in response to Item 4.E of Form ADV Part 2A. 4 How We Are Compensated Asset Management: The fee for this service will be based on a percentage of Assets Under Management and shall not exceed 60 bps for our Fixed Income Portfolios, or 1.00% for Equity Portfolios. Our fees are negotiable and will be billed on a pro-rata annualized basis quarterly in advance based on the value of your account on the last day of the previous quarter. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, fees will be assessed on cash and cash equivalents. Fees will generally be deducted from your managed account. As part of this process, you understand and acknowledge the following: a) Your independent custodian sends statements at least quarterly to you showing the market values for each security included in the Assets and all disbursements in your account including the amount of the advisory fees paid to us; b) You provide authorization permitting us to be directly paid by these terms. We send our invoice directly to the custodian; and c) If we send a copy of our invoice to you, it will include a legend urging you to compare information provided in our statement with those from the qualified custodian. When acting as a Sub-Adviser to an account for an Adviser, we are compensated by the Adviser for our services rendered. This compensation, is typically equal to a percentage of the overall investment advisory fee charged by the Adviser or an agreed upon fixed fee. The advisory fee paid to us shall be negotiable in certain circumstances, but shall never exceed the overall amount in their published fee statement. The terms and conditions under which the client shall engage the Adviser shall generally be set forth in separate written agreements between the client and our firm and the client and the designated Adviser. Other Fees Clients will incur transaction charges for trades executed in their accounts. These transaction fees are separate from our fees and will be disclosed by the firm that the trades are executed through. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) does not charge transaction fees for U.S. listed equities and exchange traded funds. Fidelity Brokerage Services (“Fidelity”) eliminated transaction fees for U.S. listed equities and exchange traded funds for clients who opt into electronic delivery of statements or maintain at least $1 million in assets at Fidelity. Clients who do not meet either criteria will be subject to transaction fees charged by Fidelity for U.S. listed equities and exchange traded funds. Also, clients will pay the following separately incurred expenses, which we do not receive any part of: charges imposed directly by a mutual fund, index fund, or exchange traded fund which shall be disclosed in the fund’s prospectus (i.e., fund management fees and other fund expenses). Refunds Following Termination We charge our advisory fees quarterly in advance. In the event that you wish to terminate our services, we will refund the unearned portion of our advisory fee to you. You need to contact us in writing and state that you wish to terminate our services. Upon receipt of your letter of termination, we will proceed to close out your account and process a pro-rata refund of unearned advisory fees. Commissionable Securities Sales 5 We do not sell securities for a commission. In order to sell securities for a commission, we would need to have our associated persons registered with a broker-dealer. We have chosen not to do so. Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management We do not charge performance fees to our clients. Item 7: Types of Clients & Account Requirements We have the following types of clients: • High Net Worth Individuals; • Corporations, limited liability companies and/or other business types. Our requirements for opening and maintaining accounts or otherwise engaging us: • We require a minimum account balance of $500,000 for our asset management service. Generally, this minimum account balance requirement is not negotiable and would be required throughout the course of the client’s relationship with our firm. Clients who opt into electronic delivery of statements or maintain at least $1 million in assets at Fidelity will not be charged transaction fees for U.S. listed equities and exchange traded funds. Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss Methods of Analysis We use the following methods of analysis in formulating our investment advice and/or managing client assets: Fundamental Analysis: The analysis of a business's financial statements (usually to analyze the business's assets, liabilities, and earnings), health, and its competitors and markets. When analyzing a stock, futures contract, or currency using fundamental analysis there are two basic approaches one can use: bottom up analysis and top down analysis. The terms are used to distinguish such analysis from other types of investment analysis, such as quantitative and technical. Fundamental analysis is performed on historical and present data, but with the goal of making financial forecasts. There are several possible objectives: (a) to conduct a company stock valuation and predict its probable price evolution; (b) to make a projection on its business performance; (c) to evaluate its management and make internal business decisions; (d) and/or to calculate its credit risk.; and (e) to find out the intrinsic value of the share. When the objective of the analysis is to determine what stock to buy and at what price, there are two basic methodologies investors rely upon: (a) Fundamental analysis maintains that markets may misprice a security in the short run but that the "correct" price will eventually be reached. Profits can 6 be made by purchasing the mispriced security and then waiting for the market to recognize its "mistake" and reprice the security.; and (b) Technical analysis maintains that all information is reflected already in the price of a security. Technical analysts analyze trends and believe that sentiment changes predate and predict trend changes. Investors' emotional responses to price movements lead to recognizable price chart patterns. Technical analysts also analyze historical trends to predict future price movement. Investors can use one or both of these different but complementary methods for stock picking. This presents a potential risk, as the price of a security can move up or down along with the overall market regardless of the economic and financial factors considered in evaluating the stock. Technical Analysis: A security analysis methodology for forecasting the direction of prices through the study of past market data, primarily price and volume. A fundamental principle of technical analysis is that a market's price reflects all relevant information, so their analysis looks at the history of a security's trading pattern rather than external drivers such as economic, fundamental and news events. Therefore, price action tends to repeat itself due to investors collectively tending toward patterned behavior – hence technical analysis focuses on identifiable trends and conditions. Technical analysts also widely use market indicators of many sorts, some of which are mathematical transformations of price, often including up and down volume, advance/decline data and other inputs. These indicators are used to help assess whether an asset is trending, and if it is, the probability of its direction and of continuation. Technicians also look for relationships between price/volume indices and market indicators. Technical analysis employs models and trading rules based on price and volume transformations, such as the relative strength index, moving averages, regressions, inter-market and intra-market price correlations, business cycles, stock market cycles or, classically, through recognition of chart patterns. Technical analysis is widely used among traders and financial professionals and is very often used by active day traders, market makers and pit traders. The risk associated with this type of analysis is that analysts use subjective judgment to decide which pattern(s) a particular instrument reflects at a given time and what the interpretation of that pattern should be. Cyclical Analysis: Statistical analysis of specific events occurring at a sufficient number of relatively predictable intervals that they can be forecasted into the future. Cyclical analysis asserts that cyclical forces drive price movements in the financial markets. Risks include that cycles may invert or disappear and there is no expectation that this type of analysis will pinpoint turning points, instead be used in conjunction with other methods of analysis. Investment Strategies We Use We use the following strategies in managing client accounts, provided that such strategies are appropriate to the needs of the client and consistent with the client's investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizons, among other considerations: Long-Term Purchases: Our firm may buy securities for your account and hold them for a relatively long time (more than a year) in anticipation that the security’s value will appreciate over a long horizon. The risk of this strategy is that our firm could miss out on potential short-term gains that could have been profitable to your account, or it’s possible that the security’s value may decline sharply before our firm make a decision to sell. Trading: Our firm purchase securities with the idea of selling them very quickly (typically within 30 days or less). Our firm do this in an attempt to take advantage of our predictions of brief price swings. Trading involves risk that may not be suitable for every investor, and may involve a high volume of 7 trading activity. Each trade generates a commission and the total daily commission on such a high volume of trading can be considerable. Active trading accounts should be considered speculative in nature with the objective being to generate short-term profits. This activity may result in the loss of more than 100% of an investment. Please Note: Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. While the stock market may increase and your account(s) could enjoy a gain, it is also possible that the stock market may decrease and your account(s) could suffer a loss. It is important that you understand the risks associated with investing in the stock market, are appropriately diversified in your investments, and ask us any questions you may have. Description of Material, Significant or Unusual Risks We generally invest client’s cash balances in money market funds, FDIC Insured Certificates of Deposit, high-grade commercial paper and/or government backed debt instruments. Ultimately, we try to achieve the highest return on our client’s cash balances through relatively low-risk conservative investments. In most cases, at least a partial cash balance will be maintained in a money market account so that our firm may debit advisory fees for our services related to comprehensive portfolio management, asset management service and portfolio monitoring, as applicable. Item 9: Disciplinary Information There are no legal or disciplinary events that are material to the evaluation of our advisory business. Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations Michael Power is the Co-Founder and CCO of Power Forward LLC. In addition, Michael Power is dually registered as an investment adviser representative (“IAR”) with Power Forward LLC. A conflict of interest may arise as a result of being an owner & IAR with multiple RIAs. To mitigate this conflict, Michael Power will act in the client’s best interest. Furthermore, any services that may be offered will remain separate from our firm’s advisory services and governed under separate agreements. Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions & Personal Trading We recognize that the personal investment transactions of members and employees of our firm demand the application of a high Code of Ethics and require that all such transactions be carried out in a way that does not endanger the interest of any client. At the same time, we believe that if investment goals are similar for clients and for members and employees of our firm, it is logical and even desirable that there be common ownership of some securities. Therefore, in order to prevent conflicts of interest, we have in place a set of procedures (including a pre-clearing procedure) with respect to transactions effected 8 by our members, officers and employees for their personal accounts2. In order to monitor compliance with our personal trading policy, we have a quarterly securities transaction reporting system for all of our associates. Furthermore, our firm has established a Code of Ethics which applies to all of our associated persons. An investment adviser is considered a fiduciary. As a fiduciary, it is an investment adviser’s responsibility to provide fair and full disclosure of all material facts and to act solely in the best interest of each of our clients at all times. We have a fiduciary duty to all clients. Our fiduciary duty is considered the core underlying principle for our Code of Ethics which also includes Insider Trading and Personal Securities Transactions Policies and Procedures. We require all of our supervised persons to conduct business with the highest level of ethical standards and to comply with all federal and state securities laws at all times. Upon employment or affiliation and at least annually thereafter, all supervised persons will sign an acknowledgement that they have read, understand, and agree to comply with our Code of Ethics. Our firm and supervised persons must conduct business in an honest, ethical, and fair manner and avoid all circumstances that might negatively affect or appear to affect our duty of complete loyalty to all clients. This disclosure is provided to give all clients a summary of our Code of Ethics. However, if a client or a potential client wishes to review our Code of Ethics in its entirety, a copy will be provided promptly upon request. Related persons of our firm may buy or sell securities and other investments that are also recommended to clients. In order to minimize this conflict of interest, our related persons will place client interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to our firm’s Code of Ethics, a copy of which is available upon request. Related persons of our firm may buy or sell securities for themselves at or about the same time they buy or sell the same securities for client accounts. In order to minimize this conflict of interest, our related persons will place client interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to our firm’s Code of Ethics, a copy of which is available upon request. Further, our related persons will refrain from buying or selling the same securities within 24 hours of buying or selling for our clients. If related persons’ accounts are included in a block trade, our related persons will always trade personal accounts last. Item 12: Brokerage Practices Selecting a Brokerage Firms We seek to recommend a custodian/broker who will hold your assets and execute transactions on terms that are overall most advantageous when compared to other available providers and their services. We consider a wide range of factors, including, among others, these: • Timeliness of execution • Timeliness and accuracy of trade confirmations • Research services provided • Ability to provide investment ideas 2 For purposes of the policy, our associate’s personal account generally includes any account (a) in the name of our associate, his/her spouse, his/her minor children or other dependents residing in the same household, (b) for which our associate is a trustee or executor, or (c) which our associate controls, including our client accounts which our associate controls and/or a member of his/her household has a direct or indirect beneficial interest in. 9 • Execution facilitation services provided • Record keeping services provided • Custody services provided • Frequency and correction of trading errors • Ability to access a variety of market venues • Expertise as it relates to specific securities • Financial condition • Business reputation • Quality of services With this in consideration, our firm has an arrangement with of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and other custodians (“Schwab/Custodian”). Schwab/Custodian offers to independent investment advisers non-soft dollar services which include custody of securities, trade execution, clearance and settlement of transactions. We receive some non-soft dollar benefits from Schwab/Custodian through our participation in the program. (Please see the disclosure under Item 14 of this Brochure.) Schwab/Custodian may make certain research and brokerage services available at no additional cost to our firm. These services may be directly from independent research companies, as selected by our firm (within specific parameters). Research products and services provided by Schwab/Custodian may include research reports on recommendations or other information about, particular companies or industries; economic surveys, data and analyses; financial publications; portfolio evaluation services; financial database software and services; computerized news and pricing services; quotation equipment for use in running software used in investment decision-making; and other products or services that provide lawful and appropriate assistance by Schwab/Custodian to our firm in the performance of our investment decision-making responsibilities. We do not use client brokerage commissions to obtain research or other products or services. The aforementioned research and brokerage services are used by our firm to manage accounts for which we have investment discretion. Without this arrangement, our firm might be compelled to purchase the same or similar services at our own expense. As a result of receiving the services discussed above for no additional cost, we may have an incentive to continue to use or expand the use Schwab/Custodian’s services. Our firm examined this potential conflict of interest when we chose to enter into the relationship with Schwab/Custodian and we have determined that the relationship is in the best interest of our firm’s clients and satisfies our client obligations, including our duty to seek best execution. Schwab/Custodian charges brokerage commissions and transaction fees for effecting certain securities transactions (i.e., transaction fees are charged for certain no-load mutual funds, commissions are charged for individual equity and debt securities transactions). Schwab/Custodian enables us to obtain many no-load mutual funds without transaction charges and other no-load funds at nominal transaction charges. Schwab/Custodian’s commission rates are generally discounted from customary retail commission rates. However, the commission and transaction fees charged by Schwab/Custodian may be higher or lower than those charged by other custodians and broker- dealers. Our clients may pay a commission to Schwab/Custodian that is higher than another qualified broker dealer might charge to effect the same transaction where we determine in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services received. In 10 seeking best execution, the determinative factor is not the lowest possible cost, but whether the transaction represents the best qualitative execution, taking into consideration the full range of a broker-dealer’s services, including the value of research provided, execution capability, commission rates, and responsiveness. Accordingly, although we will seek competitive rates, to the benefit of all clients, we may not necessarily obtain the lowest possible commission rates for specific client account transactions. Soft Dollars Although the investment research products and services that may be obtained by our firm will generally be used to service all of our clients, a brokerage commission paid by a specific client may be used to pay for research that is not used in managing that specific client’s account. Excluding the Safe Harbor provision outlined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, we do not have any soft dollar relationships and do not direct client transactions to a particular broker-dealer in return for soft dollar benefits. Brokerage for Client Referrals Our firm does not receive brokerage for client referrals. Directed Brokerage Neither we nor any of our firm’s related persons have discretionary authority in making the determination of the brokers with whom orders for the purchase or sale of securities are placed for execution, and the commission rates at which such securities transactions are effected. We routinely recommend/request/require that a client directs us to execute through a specified broker-dealer. Our firm recommends the use of Schwab/Custodian. Each client will be required to establish their account(s) Schwab/Custodian if not already done. Please note that not all advisers have this requirement. In our capacity as a sub-adviser, there may be accounts that may have custodial and brokerage services other than those recommended by us. Aggregation of Purchase or Sale We perform investment management services for various clients. There are occasions on which portfolio transactions may be executed as part of concurrent authorizations to purchase or sell the same security for numerous accounts served by our firm, which involve accounts with similar investment objectives. Although such concurrent authorizations potentially could be either advantageous or disadvantageous to any one or more particular accounts, they are affected only when we believe that to do so will be in the best interest of the effected accounts. When such concurrent authorizations occur, the objective is to allocate the executions in a manner which is deemed equitable to the accounts involved. In any given situation, we attempt to allocate trade executions in the most equitable manner possible, taking into consideration client objectives, current asset allocation and availability of funds using price averaging, proration and consistently non-arbitrary methods of allocation. It is important to note that our firm on rare occasion utilizes the aforementioned services and benefits offered by Schwab. Item 13: Review of Accounts 11 We review accounts on a quarterly basis for our clients subscribing to the Asset Management service. The nature of these reviews is to learn whether clients’ accounts are in line with their investment objectives, appropriately positioned based on market conditions, and investment policies, if applicable. Only Mike Power will conduct reviews. We may review client accounts more frequently than described above. Among the factors which may trigger an off-cycle review are major market or economic events, the client’s life events, requests by the client, etc. We do not provide written reports to clients, unless asked to do so. Verbal reports to clients take place on at least an annual basis when we meet with clients who subscribe to Asset Management service. Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Our firm may recommend that clients establish brokerage accounts with Schwab Institutional division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), registered broker-dealers, Members SIPC, to maintain custody of Clients’ assets and to effect trades for their accounts. Our firm is independently owned and operated and not affiliated with Schwab. Our firm may also recommend that Clients establish accounts with firms other than Schwab. We receive an economic benefit from Schwab in the form of the support products and services it makes available to us and other independent investment advisors that have their clients maintain accounts at Schwab. These products and services, how they benefit us, and the related conflicts of interest are described above (see Item 12 – Brokerage Practices). The availability to us of Schwab’s products and services is not based on us giving particular investment advice, such as buying particular securities for our clients. Referral Fees In accordance with Rule 206 (4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, our firm provides cash or non-cash compensation directly or indirectly to unaffiliated persons for testimonials or endorsements (which include client referrals). Such compensation arrangements will not result in higher costs to the referred client. In this regard, our firm maintains a written agreement with each unaffiliated person that is compensated for testimonials or endorsements in an aggregate amount of $1,000 or more (or the equivalent value in non-cash compensation) over a trailing 12-month period in compliance with Rule 206 (4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and applicable state and federal laws. The following information will be disclosed clearly and prominently to referred prospective clients at the time of each testimonial or endorsement: • Whether or not the unaffiliated person is a current client of our firm, • A description of the cash or non-cash compensation provided directly or indirectly by our firm to the unaffiliated person in exchange for the referral, if applicable, and • A brief statement of any material conflicts of interest on the part of the unaffiliated person giving the referral resulting from our firm’s relationship with such unaffiliated person. 12 In cases where state law requires licensure of solicitors, our firm ensures that no solicitation fees are paid unless the solicitor is registered as an investment adviser representative of our firm. If our firm is paying solicitation fees to another registered investment adviser, the licensure of individuals is the other firm’s responsibility. Item 15: Custody Our firm does not have custody of client funds or securities. All of our clients receive account statements directly from their qualified custodians at least quarterly upon opening of an account. If our firm decides to also send account statements to clients, such notice and account statements include a legend that recommends that the client compare the account statements received from the qualified custodian with those received from our firm. Clients are encouraged to raise any questions with us about the custody, safety or security of their assets and our custodial recommendations. Item 16: Investment Discretion Our clients need to sign a discretionary investment advisory agreement with our firm for the management of their account. This type of agreement only applies to our Asset Management clients. We do not take or exercise discretion with respect to our other clients. Item 17: Voting Client Securities We do not and will not accept the proxy authority to vote client securities. Clients will receive proxies or other solicitations directly from their custodian or a transfer agent. In the event that proxies are sent to our firm, we will forward them on to you and ask the party who sent them to mail them directly to you in the future. Clients may call, write or email us to discuss questions they may have about particular proxy votes or other solicitations. Item 18: Financial Information We are not required to provide financial information in this Brochure because we do not require the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees and six or more months in advance, we do not take custody of client funds or securities, we do not have a financial condition that is likely to impair our ability to meet contractual commitments, and we have never been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding. 13