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Item 1: Cover Page
Item 1: Cover Page
Part 2A of Form ADV
Firm Brochure
November 3, 2025
Seros Financial, LLC
SEC No. 801-120609
2141 East Broadway Rd., Suite 220
Tempe, AZ 85282
phone: 480-967-1155
email: sherod@teamseros.com
website: www.serosfinancial.com
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Seros Financial, LLC.
If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at 480-967-1155 or email
sherod@teamseros.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. Registration with
the SEC or state regulatory authority does not imply a certain level of skill or expertise.
Additional information about Seros Financial, LLC is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
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Item 2: Material Changes
Item 2: Material Changes
This Firm Brochure is our disclosure document prepared according to regulatory requirements
and rules. Consistent with the rules, we will ensure that you receive a summary of any material
changes to this and subsequent Brochures within 120 days of the close of our business fiscal
year. Furthermore, we will provide you with other interim disclosures about material changes as
necessary.
The following material changes were made to this Brochure since the version issued on April 14,
2025:
▪ A minimum account size requirement of $500,000 for portfolio management services
was added, which may be waived at the discretion of the firm. Please refer to Item 7 of
this Brochure for information on the types of clients and minimum requirements.
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Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2: Material Changes .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Item 3: Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Item 4: Advisory Business ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5: Fees and Compensation ............................................................................................................................ 8
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ......................................................... 11
Item 7: Types of Clients ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss ................................................. 13
Item 9: Disciplinary Information ........................................................................................................................... 27
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ........................................................................ 28
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading ........................................................................................................................................................... 30
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ................................................................................................................................... 32
Item 13: Review of Accounts ................................................................................................................................... 39
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation ........................................................................................ 40
Item 15: Custody .......................................................................................................................................................... 41
Item 16: Investment Discretion ............................................................................................................................... 42
Item 17: Voting Client Securities ............................................................................................................................ 43
Item 18: Financial Information ................................................................................................................................ 44
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Item 4: Advisory Business
Item 4: Advisory Business
A. Ownership/Advisory History
Seros Financial, LLC (“Seros” or the “firm”) is an Arizona limited liability company. Seros became
registered as an investment adviser in 2021 and is principally owned by the Smith Family Trust.
B. Advisory Services Offered
Portfolio Management Services
Seros’s portfolio management services are predicated on the client's investment objectives,
goals, tolerance for risk, and other personal and financial circumstances. Seros will analyze each
client's current investments, investment objectives, goals, age, time horizon, financial
circumstances, investment experience, investment restrictions and limitations, and risk tolerance
and implement a portfolio consistent with such investment objectives, goals, risk tolerance and
related financial circumstances.
Seros provides discretionary and non-discretionary services as requested by the client. For its
discretionary portfolio management services, Seros receives a limited power of attorney to effect
securities transactions on behalf of its clients that include securities and strategies described in
Item 8 of this brochure.
We also provide investment advice on clients’ retirement plan assets held in qualified retirement
plans, (i.e., 401(k) and 403(b) plans, etc.). Please be advised that our recommendations to you
are confined to the investment alternatives made available by the plan.
Clients have the right to provide the firm with any reasonable investment restrictions on the
management of their portfolio, which must be in writing and sent to the firm. Clients should
promptly notify the firm in writing of any changes in such restrictions or in the client's personal
financial circumstances, investment objectives, goals and tolerance for risk. Seros will remind
clients of their obligation to inform the firm of any such changes or any restrictions that should
be imposed on the management of the client’s account. Seros will also contact clients at least
annually to determine whether there have been any changes in a client's personal financial
circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance for risk.
Retirement Rollovers – Conflicts and Added Fees. As a plan participant, clients may be paying little
or nothing for the plan’s investment services. As such, clients’ costs are likely to be more post-
rollover. Alternative courses of action are available to you: (i) Assuming it is permitted by the
Plan, you can leave your money in your current Plan. (ii) If you have changed employers, you can
roll your assets into the new employer’s Plan, if permissible by your new employer. (iii) You can
establish an IRA R/O and place into a commission-based account at a broker-dealer. (iv) You can
establish an IRA R/O and place into a fee-based advisory account. (v) You can withdraw your
retirement money and pay the taxes and any applicable penalties.
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Item 4: Advisory Business
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
Pursuant to a Financial Planning & Consulting Services Agreement, Seros will meet with you to
gather important financial information, outline financial goals, identify financial problems, assess
investment risk tolerance and define investment objectives based on the specific needs, whether
you are an individual or business. Areas for discussion and planning for individuals may focus on
cash flow management, taxes, children’s education funding and goals, retirement and/or estate
planning. Areas for discussion and planning for businesses may focus on cash flow
management, taxes, employee benefits, and/or succession planning. We will gather specific
financial information from you in order to provide you with a written financial plan or provide
ongoing consulting services. Generally, such financial planning and consulting services involve
the preparation and delivery of a financial plan.
However, in other cases, this service can also be to merely provide you various financial analyses
through various reports (such as asset allocation, risk assessments, retirement income planning,
securities analysis, cash flow analysis, budgeting, etc.). Or, in other cases, the service can also be
to merely provide you advice, insights and guidance to consult you on your financial needs,
circumstances and objectives in conjunction with actionable items that you may have to execute
on your own (such as managing your participant account at an employer retirement plan (i.e.,
401k or 403b). Analyses may encompass a variety of factors, including but not limited to, current
and anticipated assets and liabilities, insurance, savings, investments and anticipated retirement
or other employee benefits (such as 401k, 403b, pensions, etc.). The advisor has the discretion to
provide all of the aforementioned services, in whole or in part, based on your specific needs &
objectives.
None of the financial planning services include legal, tax, or accounting advice. Clients should
contact their attorney(s), accountant(s), or other professional with respect to legal, accounting
and/or tax matters.
Clients may elect to have a limited project-based engagement, where services are completed
upon delivery of the plan or consultation, or ongoing financial planning services.
ERISA & Qualified Plan Services
Non-Discretionary 3(21) Fiduciary Services Available
For Non-Discretionary 3(21) Fiduciary Services, the plan sponsor may choose among the
following service options:
•
Investment Policy Statement (“IPS”): Seros will review with the plan sponsor the
investment objectives, risk tolerance, and goals of the plan. If the plan does not have an
IPS, Seros will provide recommendations to the plan sponsor to assist the plan sponsor
with establishing an IPS. If the plan has an existing IPS, Seros will review it for consistency
with the plan’s objectives. If the IPS does not represent the objectives of the plan, Seros
will recommend to the plan sponsor revisions to align the IPS with the plan’s objectives,
which recommendations may be considered by the plan sponsor.
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Item 4: Advisory Business
• Designated Investment Alternatives (“DIA”): Based on the plan’s IPS, Seros will review
the investment options available to the plan and will make recommendations to assist
the plan sponsor with selecting DIAs to be offered to participants. Once the plan sponsor
selects the DIAs, Seros will, on a periodic basis and/or upon reasonable request, provide
reports and information to assist the plan sponsor with monitoring the DIAs. If the IPS
criteria require a DIA to be removed, Seros will provide recommendations to assist the
plan sponsor with replacing the DIA.
• Model Asset Allocation Portfolios (“Models”): Based on the plan’s IPS or other
investment guidelines established by the plan, Seros will review the DIAs available to the
plan and will make recommendations to assist the plan sponsor with creating risk-based
models comprised solely among the plan’s DIAs. Once the plan sponsor approves the
models, Seros will provide reports, information and recommendations, on a periodic
basis, designed to assist the plan sponsor with monitoring the models. If the IPS criteria
require any DIA(s) to be removed, Seros will provide recommendations to assist the plan
sponsor with evaluating replacement DIA(s) to be included in the models. Upon
reasonable request, and depending upon the capabilities of the recordkeeper, Seros will
make recommendations to the plan sponsor to reallocate and/or rebalance the models
to maintain their desired allocations.
• Qualified Default Investment Alternative (“QDIA”): Based on the plan’s IPS or other
guidelines established by the plan, Seros will review the investment options available to
the plan and will make recommendations to assist the plan sponsor with selecting the
plan’s QDIA(s). Once the plan sponsor selects the plan’s QDIA(s), Seros will provide
reports and information, on a periodic basis and/or upon reasonable request, to assist
the plan sponsor in monitoring the QDIA(s). If the IPS criteria require a QDIA to be
replaced, Seros will provide recommendations to assist the plan sponsor with evaluating
replacement QDIA(s).
Plan Consulting Services Available
For Plan Consulting Services, the plan sponsor may choose among the following service
options:
• Administrative Support:
• Assist plan sponsor in reviewing objectives and options available through the plan
• Recommend participant education and communication policies under ERISA §404(c)
• Assist with coordination of participant disclosures under 404a-5
• Service Provider Relationship Oversight:
• Assist fiduciaries with a process to select, monitor and replace service providers
• Assist fiduciaries with review of Covered Service Providers (“CSP”) disclosures under
ERISA §408(b)(2) and fee benchmarking
• Provide reports and/or information designed to assist fiduciaries with monitoring
CSPs
• Assist with preparation and review of Requests for Proposals and/or Information
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Item 4: Advisory Business
• Coordinate and assist with CSP replacement and conversion
Investments:
•
• Periodic review of investment policy in the context of plan objectives
• Assist the plan committee with monitoring investment performance
• Provide analysis of investment managers and model portfolios
• Review and recommend Designated Investment Managers (“DIMs”) and/or third-
party advice providers as necessary
• Educate plan committee members, as needed, regarding replacement of DIA(s)
and/or QDIA(s)
• Participant Services:
• Facilitate group enrollment meetings
• Coordinate employee education regarding plan investments and fees
• Assist participants in understanding plan benefits, retirement readiness and impact of
increasing deferrals
Discretionary 3(38) Fiduciary Services Available
For Discretionary 3(38) Fiduciary Services, the plan sponsor may choose among the following
service options:
• Seros will implement the IPS by investing and reinvesting the plan’s assets consistent
with the IPS.
• Seros will assist the plan sponsor in creating, reallocating and/or rebalancing model
portfolios.
• Seros will select investment options that are available under the plan.
C. Client-Tailored Services and Client-Imposed Restrictions
Each client’s account will be managed on the basis of the client’s financial situation and
investment objectives and in accordance with any reasonable restrictions imposed by the client
on the management of the account—for example, restricting the type or amount of security to
be purchased in the portfolio.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
Seros does not participate in wrap fee programs, where brokerage commissions and transaction
costs are included in the asset-based fee charged to the client.
E. Client Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, Seros managed $285,675,196 of discretionary assets and $15,383,308
of non-discretionary assets.
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Item 5: Fees and Compensation
Item 5: Fees and Compensation
A. Methods of Compensation and Fee Schedule
Portfolio Management Services
The annual fee for portfolio management services will be charged as a percentage of assets
under management according to the following fee schedule, which represents the firm’s
maximum fees for individual services. Fees are negotiable.
Assets Under Management
Annual Fee Rate
$0 – $499,999
$5,000 –$999,999
$1,000,000 – $2,000,000
Above $2,000,000
1.90%
1.85%
1.65%
1.60%
Asset-based fees are subject to the investment advisory agreement between the client and
Seros. Such fees are payable quarterly in advance or arrears, depending on the client’s
custodian, and are based upon the market value of the assets being managed by Seros on the
last day of the previous quarter. If a client utilizes leverage, the firm’s fees will be billed on the
net equity in the portfolio. The fees will be prorated if the investment advisory relationship
commences otherwise than at the beginning of a calendar quarter. Adjustments for significant
contributions to a client’s portfolio are prorated for the quarter in which the change occurs; no
adjustments will be made for withdrawals.
Seros may modify the fee at any time upon 30 days’ written notice to the client, and any fee
increases must be approved in writing by the client. In the event the client has an ERISA-
governed plan, fee modifications must be approved in writing by the client.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
Seros offers financial planning and consulting services as a limited engagement or an ongoing
service. The terms and conditions of the financial planning and consulting engagement are set
forth in the advisory agreement.
Limited engagements will be billed an hourly or fixed fee mutually agreed upon by the client
and Seros. Hourly fees range from $150 to $400 per hour depending on the experience of the
professional providing the service. Fixed fees range from $500 to $30,000 depending upon the
scope and complexity of the agreed-upon services and the experience of the professional
providing the service. The engagement terminates upon delivery of the financial plan or
completion of the agreed-upon services.
For ongoing financial planning services, Seros charges an annual fee as negotiated between the
client and the firm. Seros’s fee is determined based on the nature of the services being provided,
the experience of the professional providing the service, and the complexity of each client’s
circumstances. The agreement will remain in effect until either party sends written notice of
termination notice to the other party.
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Item 5: Fees and Compensation
Clients are that Seros has an economic incentive to place staff that bill a higher hourly rate on
the engagement.
ERISA & Qualified Plan Services
Each engagement is separately negotiated and memorialized in a written agreement prior to the
commencement of services.
B. Client Payment of Fees
Portfolio Management Services
Seros generally requires fees to be prepaid on a quarterly basis. Seros requires clients to
authorize the direct debit of fees from their accounts. Exceptions may be granted subject to the
firm’s consent for clients to be billed directly for our fees. For directly debited fees, the
custodian’s periodic statements will show each fee deduction from the account. Clients may
withdraw this authorization for direct billing of these fees at any time by notifying us or their
custodian in writing.
Seros will deduct advisory fees directly from the client’s account provided that (i) the client
provides written authorization to the qualified custodian, and (ii) the qualified custodian sends
the client a statement, at least quarterly, indicating all amounts disbursed from the account. The
client is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the fee calculation, as the client’s custodian will
not verify the calculation.
The agreement may be terminated by either party for any reason by giving 10 days’ written
notice to the other party. Upon termination, any unearned, prepaid fees will be promptly
refunded.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
Financial planning fee terms are subject to the client services agreement between the client and
Seros. For prepaid fees of $1,200 or more, services will be completed within six months of the
date fees are received.
The financial planning agreement may be canceled at any time by either party upon written
notice. Upon termination, any unearned, prepaid fees will be refunded to the client, and any
earned, unpaid fees will be due and payable.
C. Additional Client Fees Charged
All fees paid for investment advisory services are separate and distinct from the fees and
expenses charged by exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, private placement, pooled
investment vehicles, broker-dealers, and custodians retained by clients. Such fees and expenses
are described in each exchange-traded fund and mutual fund’s prospectus, each private
placement or pooled investment vehicle’s confidential offering memoranda, and by any broker-
dealer or custodian retained by the client. Clients are advised to read these materials carefully
before investing. If a mutual fund also imposes sales charges, a client may pay an initial or
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Item 5: Fees and Compensation
deferred sales charge as further described in the mutual fund’s prospectus. A client using Seros
may be precluded from using certain mutual funds or separate account managers because they
may not be offered by the client's custodian.
Please refer to the Brokerage Practices section (Item 12) for additional information regarding the
firm’s brokerage practices.
D. External Compensation for the Sale of Securities to Clients
Seros’s advisory professionals are compensated primarily through a salary and bonus structure/
through a percentage of advisory fees charged to clients. Seros’s advisory professionals may
receive commission-based compensation for the sale of insurance products. Please see Item
10.C. for conflicts of interest.
E. Important Disclosure – Custodian Investment Programs
Please be advised that the firm utilizes certain custodians/broker-dealers. Under these
arrangements, we can access certain investment programs offered through such custodian(s)
that offer certain compensation and fee structures that create conflicts of interest of which
clients need to be aware. Please note the following:
Limitation on Mutual Fund Universe for Custodian Investment Programs: There are certain
programs in which we participate where a client’s investment options may be limited in certain
of these programs to those mutual funds and/or mutual fund share classes that pay 12b-1 fees
and other revenue sharing fee payments, and the client should be aware that the firm is not
selecting from among all mutual funds available in the marketplace when recommending
mutual funds to the client.
Conflict Between Revenue Share Class (12b-1) and Non-Revenue Share Class Mutual Funds:
Revenue share class/12b-1 fees are deducted from the net asset value of the mutual fund and
generally, all things being equal, cause the fund to earn lower rates of return than those mutual
funds that do not pay revenue sharing fees. The client is under no obligation to utilize such
programs or mutual funds. Although many factors will influence the type of fund to be used, the
client should discuss with their investment adviser representative whether a share class from a
comparable mutual fund with a more favorable return to investors is available that does not
include the payment of any 12b-1 or revenue sharing fees given the client’s individual needs
and priorities and anticipated transaction costs. In addition, the receipt of such fees can create
conflicts of interest in instances where the custodian receives the entirety of the 12b-1 and/or
revenue sharing fees and takes the receipt of such fees into consideration in terms of benefits it
may elect to provide to the firm, even though such benefits may or may not benefit some or all
of the firm’s clients.
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Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
Seros does not charge performance-based fees and therefore has no economic incentive to
manage clients’ portfolios in any way other than what is in their best interests.
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Item 7: Types of Clients
Item 7: Types of Clients
Seros offers its investment services to various types of clients including individuals and high-net-
worth individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporations
and other businesses.
Seros generally requires a minimum account size of $500,000. Seros, in its sole discretion, may
waive the required minimum.
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
A. Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared to
bear. There is no guarantee that any specific investment or strategy will be profitable for a
particular client.
Methods of Analysis
Seros uses a variety of sources of data to conduct its economic, investment and market analysis,
which may include economic and market research materials prepared by others, conference calls
hosted by individual companies or mutual funds, corporate rating services, annual reports,
prospectuses, and company press releases, and financial newspapers and magazines. Seros may
employ outside vendors or utilize third-party software to assist in formulating investment
recommendations to clients.
Seros and its investment adviser representatives are responsible for identifying and
implementing the methods of analysis used in formulating investment recommendations to
clients. The methods of analysis may include quantitative methods for optimizing client
portfolios, computer-based risk/return analysis, technical analysis, and statistical and/or
computer models utilizing long-term economic criteria.
▪ Fundamental analysis is a method of evaluating the intrinsic value of an asset and
analyzing the factors that could influence its price in the future. This form of analysis is
based on external events and influences, as well as financial statements and industry
trends.
▪ Optimization involves the use of mathematical algorithms to determine the appropriate
mix of assets given the firm’s current capital market rate assessment and a particular
client’s risk tolerance.
▪ Quantitative methods include analysis of historical data such as price and volume
statistics, performance data, standard deviation and related risk metrics, how the security
performs relative to the overall stock market, earnings data, price to earnings ratios, and
related data.
▪ Technical analysis involves charting price and volume data as reported by the exchange
where the security is traded to look for price trends.
Investment Strategies
Seros provides access to a variety of proprietary portfolio strategies, which will be discussed with
the client at the time of recommendation or implementation.
Core Models
▪ P3 – Conservative Portfolio – Designed to pursue growth and income with an emphasis
on minimizing volatility. This portfolio primarily holds fixed income and defined outcome
equity exposure, with a modest equity component to support long-term growth.
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
Typical Allocation: 32.5% Equity / 52.5% Bond / 15% Defined Outcome Equity.
Typical Sleeve Blend: 84% P3 / 8% Targeted Equity / 8% Bull/Bear.
▪ P4 – Balanced Portfolio – A diversified portfolio blending equity and fixed income for
clients seeking moderate growth with risk control. May include a small allocation of
defined outcome equity to help cushion volatility.
Typical Allocation: 55% Equity / 35% Bond / 10% Defined Outcome Equity.
Typical Sleeve Blend: 84% P4 / 8% Targeted Equity / 8% Bull/Bear.
▪ P5 – Equity Weighted Portfolio – Focused on growth with an increased equity allocation.
A lower allocation to fixed income and modest use of defined outcome equity allows for
more participation in market upside.
Typical Allocation: 72.5% Equity / 22.5% Bond / 5% Defined Outcome Equity.
Typical Sleeve Blend: 75% P5 / 10% Targeted Equity / 15% Bull/Bear.
▪ P6 – Global Equity Portfolio – High-growth strategy consisting entirely of equity
exposure, including U.S. and international holdings. Used for clients with longer horizons
or aggressive growth objectives.
Typical Allocation: 100% Equity.
Typical Sleeve Blend: 70% P6 / 10% Targeted Equity / 20% Bull/Bear.
Overlays (Sleeves)
▪ Targeted Equity Sleeve (Defined Outcome Equity) – This sleeve includes structured equity
strategies that offer downside buffers and capped upside based on major equity indices.
It is used to enhance risk control when layered over core holdings. Strategies are
selected based on market conditions and research themes that align with the sleeve’s
risk-managed approach.
Purpose: Reduce portfolio volatility while maintaining equity exposure.
▪ Bull/Bear Sleeve (Risk Managed Overlay) – A tactical sleeve that rotates between 100%
equity (Risk-On) and 100% fixed income or defined outcome equity (Risk-Off). This
sleeve is driven by proprietary indicators of market strength or weakness and is designed
to adjust allocations when those signals reflect meaningful changes in market conditions.
Purpose: Adjusts the portfolio’s risk posture in response to macro and technical signals.
Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds, Individual Securities, Third-Party Separate
Account Managers, and Pooled Investment Vehicles
Seros may recommend ”institutional share class” mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”),
individual securities (including fixed income instruments), and pooled investment vehicles. Seros
may also assist the client in selecting one or more appropriate manager(s) for all or a portion of
the client’s portfolio. Such managers will typically manage assets for clients who commit to the
manager a minimum amount of assets established by that manager—a factor that Seros will
take into account when recommending managers to clients.
Seros's selection process cannot ensure that money managers will perform as desired, and Seros
will have no control over the day-to-day operations of any of its selected money managers.
Seros would not necessarily be aware of certain activities at the underlying money manager
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
level, including without limitation a money manager's engaging in unreported risks, investment
“style drift,” or even regulatory breaches or fraud.
A description of the criteria to be used in formulating an investment recommendation for
mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities (including fixed-income securities), managers, and
pooled investment vehicles is set forth below.
Seros has formed relationships with third-party vendors that
▪ provide a technological platform for separate account management
▪ prepare performance reports
▪ perform or distribute research of individual securities
▪ perform billing and certain other administrative tasks
Seros may utilize additional independent third parties to assist it in recommending and
monitoring individual securities, mutual funds, managers and pooled investment vehicles to
clients as appropriate under the circumstances.
Seros reviews certain quantitative and qualitative criteria related to mutual funds and managers
and to formulate investment recommendations to its clients. Quantitative criteria may include
▪
the performance history of a fund or manager evaluated against that of its peers and
other benchmarks
▪ an analysis of risk-adjusted returns
▪ an analysis of the manager’s contribution to the investment return (e.g., manager’s
alpha), standard deviation of returns over specific time periods, sector and style analysis
▪
the fund, sub-adviser, or manager’s fee structure
▪
the relevant portfolio manager’s tenure
Qualitative criteria used in selecting/recommending funds or managers include the investment
objectives and/or management style and philosophy of a fund or manager; a fund or manager’s
consistency of investment style; and employee turnover and efficiency and capacity.
Quantitative and qualitative criteria related to funds and managers are reviewed by Seros on a
quarterly basis or such other interval as appropriate under the circumstances. In addition, funds
or managers are reviewed to determine the extent to which their investments reflect any of the
following: efforts to time the market, engage in portfolio pumping, or evidence style drift such
that their portfolios no longer accurately reflect the particular asset category attributed to the
fund or manager by Seros (are negative factors in implementing an asset allocation structure).
Seros may negotiate reduced account minimum balances and reduced fees with managers
under various circumstances (e.g., for clients with minimum level of assets committed to the
manager for specific periods of time, etc.). There can be no assurance that clients will receive any
reduced account minimum balances or fees, or that all clients, even if apparently similarly
situated, will receive any reduced account minimum balances or fees available to some other
clients. Also, account minimum balances and fees may significantly differ between clients/funds.
Each client’s individual needs and circumstances will determine portfolio weighting, which can
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
have an impact on fees given the funds or managers utilized. Seros will endeavor to obtain
equal treatment for its clients with funds or managers, but cannot assure equal treatment.
Seros will regularly review the activities of funds and managers utilized for the client. Clients that
engage managers or who invest in funds should first review and understand the disclosure
documents of those managers or funds, which contain information relevant to such retention or
investment, including information on the methodology used to analyze securities, investment
strategies, fees and conflicts of interest. Similarly, clients qualified to invest in pooled investment
vehicles should review the private placement memoranda or other disclosure materials relating
to such vehicles before making a decision to invest.
Material Risks of Investment Instruments
Seros generally invests in the following types of securities:
▪ Equity securities
▪ Mutual fund securities
▪ Exchange-traded funds
▪ Exchange-traded notes
▪ Leveraged and inverse exchange-traded products
▪ Fixed income securities
▪ Municipal securities
▪ Private placements
▪ Pooled investment vehicles
▪ Structured products
▪ Fixed equity annuities
▪ Fixed equity indexed annuities
▪ Variable annuities
▪ Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)
▪ Hedge funds
▪ Private Equity
▪
Interval Funds
▪ Derivatives
Equity Securities
Investing in individual companies involves inherent risk. The major risks relate to the
company’s capitalization, quality of the company’s management, quality and cost of the
company’s services, the company’s ability to manage costs, efficiencies in the manufacturing
or service delivery process, management of litigation risk, and the company’s ability to create
shareholder value (i.e., increase the value of the company’s stock price). Foreign securities, in
addition to the general risks of equity securities, have geopolitical risk, financial transparency
risk, currency risk, regulatory risk and liquidity risk.
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
Mutual Fund Securities
Investing in mutual funds carries inherent risk. The major risks of investing in a mutual fund
include the quality and experience of the portfolio management team and its ability to create
fund value by investing in securities that have positive growth, the amount of individual
company diversification, the type and amount of industry diversification, and the type and
amount of sector diversification within specific industries. In addition, mutual funds tend to be
tax inefficient and therefore investors may pay capital gains taxes on fund investments while
not having yet sold the fund.
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”)
ETFs are investment companies whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange.
An ETF holds a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index.
Some examples of ETFs are SPDRs®, streetTRACKS®, DIAMONDSSM, NASDAQ 100 Index
Tracking StockSM (“QQQs SM”) iShares® and VIPERs®. ETFs have embedded expenses that the
client indirectly bears.
Investing in ETFs involves risk. Specifically, ETFs, depending on the underlying portfolio and its
size, can have wide price (bid and ask) spreads, thus diluting or negating any upward price
movement of the ETF or enhancing any downward price movement. Also, ETFs require more
frequent portfolio reporting by regulators and are thereby more susceptible to actions by
hedge funds that could have a negative impact on the price of the ETF. Certain ETFs may
employ leverage, which creates additional volatility and price risk depending on the amount of
leverage utilized, the collateral and the liquidity of the supporting collateral.
Further, the use of leverage (i.e., employing the use of margin) generally results in additional
interest costs to the ETF. Certain ETFs are highly leveraged and therefore have additional
volatility and liquidity risk. Volatility and liquidity can severely and negatively impact the price
of the ETF’s underlying portfolio securities, thereby causing significant price fluctuations of the
ETF.
Leveraged and Inverse Exchange-Traded Products (“ETPs”)
Leveraged ETPs employ financial derivatives and debt to try to achieve a multiple (for example
two or three times) of the return or inverse return of a stated index or benchmark over the
course of a single day. The use of leverage typically increases risk for an investor. However,
unlike utilizing margin or shorting securities in your own account, you cannot lose more than
your original investment. An inverse ETP is designed to track, on a daily basis, the inverse of its
benchmark. Inverse ETPs utilize short selling, derivatives trading, and other leveraged
investment techniques, such as futures trading to achieve their objectives. Leverage and
inverse ETPs reset each day; as such, their performance can quickly diverge from the
performance of the underlying index or benchmark. An investor could suffer significant losses
even if the long-term performance of the index showed a gain. Engaging in short sales and
using swaps, futures, contracts, and other derivatives can expose the ETP.
There is always a risk that not every leveraged or inverse ETP will meet its stated objective on
any given trading day. An investor should understand the impact an investment in the ETP
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
could have on the performance of their portfolio, taking into consideration goals and
tolerance for risk. Leveraged or inverse ETPs may be less tax-efficient than traditional ETPs, in
part because daily resets can cause the ETP to realize significant short-term capital gains that
may not be offset by a loss. Be sure to check with your tax advisor about the consequences of
investing in a leveraged or inverse ETP. Leveraged and Inverse ETPs are not suited for long-
term investment strategies. These are not appropriate for buy-and-hold or conservative
investors and are more suitable for investors who understand leverage and are willing to
assume the risk of magnified potential losses. These funds tend to carry higher fees, due to
active management, that can also affect performance.
Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETN”)
ETNs are structured debt securities. ETN liabilities are unsecured general obligations of the
issuer. Most ETNs are designed to track a particular market segment or index. ETNs have
expenses associated with their operation. When a fund invests in an ETN, in addition to
directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear its pro rata portion of
the ETN’s expenses. The risks of owning an ETN generally reflect the risks of owning the
underlying securities the ETN is designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETN could
result in it being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. In addition, because
of ETN expenses, compared to owning the underlying securities directly it may be more costly
to own an ETN. The value of an ETN security should also be expected to fluctuate with the
credit rating of the issuer.
Fixed Income Securities
Fixed income securities carry additional risks than those of equity securities described above.
These risks include the company’s ability to retire its debt at maturity, the current interest rate
environment, the coupon interest rate promised to bondholders, legal constraints,
jurisdictional risk (U.S or foreign) and currency risk. If bonds have maturities of ten years or
greater, they will likely have greater price swings when interest rates move up or down. The
shorter the maturity the less volatile the price swings. Foreign bonds have liquidity and
currency risk.
Municipal Securities
Municipal securities carry additional risks than those of corporate and bank-sponsored debt
securities described above. These risks include the municipality’s ability to raise additional tax
revenue or other revenue (in the event the bonds are revenue bonds) to pay interest on its
debt and to retire its debt at maturity. Municipal bonds are generally tax free at the federal
level, but may be taxable in individual states other than the state in which both the investor
and municipal issuer is domiciled.
Private Placements
Private placements carry significant risk in that companies using the private placement market
conduct securities offerings that are exempt from registration under the federal securities laws,
which means that investors do not have access to public information and such investors are
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
not provided with the same amount of information that they would receive if the securities
offering was a public offering. Moreover, many companies using private placements do so to
raise equity capital in the start-up phase of their business, or require additional capital to
complete another phase in their growth objective. In addition, the securities issued in
connection with private placements are restricted securities, which means that they are not
traded on a secondary market, such as a stock exchange, and they are thus illiquid and cannot
be readily converted to cash.
Pooled Investment Vehicles
A pooled investment vehicle, such as a commodity pool or investment company, is generally
offered only to investors who meet specified suitability, net worth and annual income criteria.
Pooled investment vehicles sell securities through private placements and thus are illiquid and
subject to a variety of risks that are disclosed in each pooled investment vehicle’s confidential
private placement memorandum or disclosure document. Investors should read these
documents carefully and consult with their professional advisors prior to committing
investment dollars. Because many of the securities involved in pooled investment vehicles do
not have transparent trading markets from which accurate and current pricing information can
be derived, or in the case of private equity investments where portfolio security companies are
privately held with no publicly traded market, the firm will be unable to monitor or verify the
accuracy of such performance information.
Structured Products
Structured products are designed to facilitate highly customized risk-return objectives. While
structured products come in many different forms, they typically consist of a debt security that
is structured to make interest and principal payments based upon various assets, rates or
formulas. Many structured products include an embedded derivative component. Structured
products may be structured in the form of a security, in which case these products may receive
benefits provided under federal securities law, or they may be cast as derivatives, in which case
they are offered in the over-the-counter market and are subject to no regulation.
Investment in structured products includes significant risks, including valuation, liquidity, price,
credit and market risks. One common risk associated with structured products is a relative lack
of liquidity due to the highly customized nature of the investment. Moreover, the full extent of
returns from the complex performance features is often not realized until maturity. As such,
structured products tend to be more of a buy-and-hold investment decision rather than a
means of getting in and out of a position with speed and efficiency.
Another risk with structured products is the credit quality of the issuer. Although the cash
flows are derived from other sources, the products themselves are legally considered to be the
issuing financial institution's liabilities. The vast majority of structured products are from high
investment grade issuers only. Also, there is a lack of pricing transparency. There is no uniform
standard for pricing, making it harder to compare the net-of-pricing attractiveness of
alternative structured product offerings than it is, for instance, to compare the net expense
ratios of different mutual funds or commissions among broker-dealers.
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
Fixed Equity Annuities
A fixed annuity is a contract between an insurance company and a customer, typically called
the annuitant. The contract obligates the company to make a series of fixed annuity payments
to the annuitant for the duration of the contract. The annuitant surrenders a lump sum of cash
in exchange for monthly payments that are guaranteed by the insurance company. Please note
the following risks: (i) Spending power risk. Social Security retirement benefits have cost-of-
living adjustments. Most fixed annuities do not. Consequently, the spending power provided
by the monthly payment may decline significantly over the life of the annuity contract because
of inflation, (ii) Death and survivorship risk. In a conventional fixed annuity, once the annuitant
has turned over a lump sum premium to the insurance company, it will not be returned. The
annuitant could die after receiving only a few monthly payments, but the insurance company
may not be obligated to give the annuitant’s estate any of the money back. A related risk is
based on the financial consequences for a surviving spouse. In a standard single-life annuity
contract, a survivor receives nothing after the annuitant dies. That may put a severe dent in a
spouse’s retirement income. To counteract this risk, consider a joint life annuity. (iii) Company
failure risk. Private annuity contracts are not guaranteed by the FDIC, SIPC, or any other federal
agency. If the insurance company that issues an annuity contract fails, no one in the federal
government is obligated to protect the annuitant from financial loss. Most states have
guaranty associations that provide a level of protection to citizens in that state if an insurance
company also doing business in that state fails. A typical limit of state protection, if it applies
at all, is $100,000. To control this risk, contact the state insurance commissioner to confirm
that your state has a guaranty association and to learn the guarantee limits applicable to a
fixed annuity contract. Based on that information, consider dividing fixed annuity contracts
among multiple insurance companies to obtain the maximum possible protection. Also check
the financial stability and credit ratings of the annuity insurance companies being considered.
A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s publish ratings information.
Fixed Equity Indexed Annuities
An equity-indexed annuity is a type of fixed annuity that is distinguished by the interest yield
return being partially based on an equities index, typically the S&P 500.The returns (in the
form of interest credited to the contract) can consist of a guaranteed minimum interest rate
and an interest rate linked to a market index. The guaranteed minimum interest rate usually
ranges from 1 to 3 percent on at least 87.5 percent of the premium paid. As long as the
company offering the annuity is fiscally sound enough to meet its obligations, you will be
guaranteed to receive this return no matter how the market performs. Your index-linked
returns will depend on how the index performs but, generally speaking, an investor with an
indexed annuity will not see his or her rate of return fully match the positive rate of return of
the index to which the annuity is linked — and could be significantly less. One major reason
for this is that returns are subject to contractual limitations in the form of caps and
participation rates. Participation rates are the percentage of an index's returns that are
credited to the annuity. For instance, if your annuity has a participation rate of 75 percent,
then your index-linked returns would only amount to 75 percent of the gains associated with
the index. Interest caps, meanwhile, essentially mean that during big bull markets, investors
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
won't see their returns go sky-high. For instance, if an index rises 12 percent, but an investor's
annuity has a cap of 7 percent, his or her returns will be limited to 7 percent.
Some indexed annuity contracts allow the issuer to change these fees, participation rates and
caps from time to time. Investors should also be aware that trying to withdraw the principal
amount from a fixed indexed annuity during a certain period — usually within the first 9 or 10
years after the annuity was purchased — can result in fees known as surrender charges, and
could also trigger tax penalties. In fact, under some contracts if withdrawals are taken amounts
already credited will be forfeited. After paying surrender charges an investor could lose money
by surrendering their indexed annuity too soon.
Variable Annuities
Variable Annuities are long-term financial products designed for retirement purposes. In
essence, annuities are contractual agreements in which payment(s) are made to an insurance
company, which agrees to pay out an income or a lump sum amount at a later date. There are
contract limitations and fees and charges associated with annuities, administrative fees, and
charges for optional benefits. They also may carry early withdrawal penalties and surrender
charges, and carry additional risks such as the insurance carrier's ability to pay claims.
Moreover, variable annuities carry investment risk similar to mutual funds. Investors should
carefully review the terms of the variable annuity contract before investing.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)
A REIT is a tax designation for a corporate entity which pools capital of many investors to
purchase and manage real estate. Many REITs invest in income-producing properties in the
office, industrial, retail, and residential real estate sectors. REITs are granted special tax
considerations, which can significantly reduce or eliminate corporate income taxes. In order to
qualify as a REIT and for these special tax considerations, REITs are required by law to
distribute 90% of their taxable income to investors. REITs can be traded on a public exchange
like a stock, or be offered as a non-traded REIT. REITs, both public exchange-traded and non-
traded, are subject to risks including volatile fluctuations in real estate prices, as well as
fluctuations in the costs of operating or managing investment properties, which can be
substantial. Many REITs obtain management and operational services from companies and
service providers that are directly or indirectly related to the sponsor of the REIT, which
presents a potential conflict of interest that can impact returns on investments.
Non-traded REITs include: (i) A REIT that is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) but is not listed on an exchange or over-the-counter market (non-exchange
traded REIT); or, (i) a REIT that is sold pursuant to an exemption to registration (Private REIT).
Non-traded REITs are generally blind pool investment vehicles. Blind pools are limited
partnerships that do not explicitly state their future investments prior to beginning their
capital-raising phase. During this period of capital-raising, non-traded REITs often pay
distributions to their investors.
The risks of non-traded REITs are varied and significant. Because they are not exchange-traded
investments, they often lack a developed secondary market, thus making them illiquid
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
investments. As blind pool investment vehicles, non-traded REITs’ initial share prices are not
related to the underlying value of the properties. This is because non-traded REITs begin and
continue to purchase new properties as new capital is raised. Thus, one risk for non-traded
REITs is the possibility that the blind pool will be unable to raise enough capital to carry out its
investment plan. After the capital raising phase is complete, non-traded REIT shares are
infrequently re-valued and thus may not reflect the true net asset value of the underlying real
estate investments. Non-traded REITs often offer investors a redemption program where the
shares can be sold back to the sponsor; however, those redemption programs are often
subject to restrictions and may be suspended at the sponsor’s discretion. While non-traded
REITs may pay distributions to investors at a stated target rate during the capital-raising
phases, the funds used to pay such distributions may be obtained from sources other than
cash flow from operations, and such financing can increase operating costs.
With respect to publicly traded REITs, publicly traded REITs may be subject to additional risks
and price fluctuations in the public market due to investors’ expectations of the individual
REIT, the real estate market generally, specific sectors, the current yield on such REIT, and the
current liquidity available in public market. Although publicly traded REITs offer investors
liquidity, there can be constraints based upon current supply and demand. An investor when
liquidating may receive less than the intrinsic value of the REIT.
Hedge Funds
A hedge fund is an alternative investment vehicle suitable for sophisticated investors, such as
institutions and individuals that typically meet the Qualified Investor standard under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Hedge funds may invest in traditional securities, such as
stocks, bonds, commodities and real estate, but they typically use sophisticated (and risky)
investments, strategies, and techniques. Hedge funds typically use long-short strategies, which
invest in some balance of long positions (which means buying stocks) and short positions
(which means selling stocks with borrowed money, then buying them back later when their
price has, ideally, fallen).
Additionally, many hedge funds invest in “derivatives,” which are contracts to buy or sell
another security at a specified price. Many hedge funds also use leverage, which is essentially
investing with borrowed money—a strategy that could significantly increase return potential,
but also creates greater risk of loss.
Third, hedge funds are structured as private funds, exempt from registration, have limited
liquidity, and complex tax structures. Most hedge funds, in contrast, seek to generate returns
over a specific period of time called a “lockup period,” during which investors cannot sell their
shares.
Hedge fund managers earn a “management fee,” typically in the range of 1% to 2% of the net
asset value of the fund. In addition, the hedge fund manager receives a percentage of the
returns they earn for investors (performance-based fee), which typically is 20% of the net
profits over some hurdle or minimum return to the fund investors. Performance-based fee
structures may lead the hedge fund managers to invest aggressively to achieve higher returns,
increasing investor risk. Investors looking to invest in hedge funds and alternative investment
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
vehicles are urged to carefully review the fund’s offering documents, related investor
agreements, and disclosures prior to investing.
Private Equity
Private equity is an ownership interest in a company or portion of a company that is not
publicly owned, quoted, or traded on a stock exchange. Private equity takes an ownership
interest in a company with the goal of enhancing the company's value by bringing about
change. Compared to public equity, long-term results of private equity investments are less
dependent on overall market performance. Private equity investments are subject to certain
risks such as market and investment style risk. Investments are highly illiquid and subject to
greater risk. These risks include lack of liquidity, lack of valuation transparency, conflicts of
interest, higher management fees, and complex tax structures. Private equity investments may
require a longer holding period and are highly speculative and may result in a loss of invested
capital. The strategies discussed may only be appropriate for certain qualified investors.
Interval Funds
An interval fund is a type of investment company that periodically offers to repurchase its
shares from shareholders. That is, the fund periodically offers to buy back a stated portion of
its shares from shareholders. Shareholders are not required to accept these offers and sell
their shares back to the fund.
Legally, interval funds are classified as closed-end funds, but they are very different from
traditional closed-end funds in that:
▪ Their shares typically do not trade on the secondary market. Instead, their shares are
subject to periodic repurchase offers by the fund at a price based on net asset value.
▪ They are permitted to (and many interval funds do) continuously offer their shares at a
priced based on the fund’s net asset value.
An interval fund will make periodic repurchase offers to its shareholders, generally every three,
six, or twelve months, as disclosed in the fund’s prospectus and annual report. Interval funds
are not liquid, meaning they are not easily converted into cash. Just as the fund will offer to
repurchase a percentage of the fund at intervals, the investor is limited to selling shares at
intervals. In other words, interval funds have limited liquidity. As a result interval funds are only
appropriate for clients who do not have short term cash needs. The price that shareholders will
receive on a repurchase will be based on the per share NAV determined as of a specified (and
disclosed) date. Note that interval funds are permitted to deduct a redemption fee from the
repurchase proceeds, not to exceed 2% of the proceeds. The fee is paid to the fund, and
generally is intended to compensate the fund for expenses directly related to the repurchase.
Interval funds may charge other fees as well. An interval fund’s prospectus and annual report
will disclose the various details of the repurchase offer. Before investing in an interval fund,
you should carefully read all of the fund’s available information, including its prospectus and
most recent shareholder report.
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
Derivatives
Some ETFs use derivatives, such as swaps, options and futures, among others. Derivative
instruments may be illiquid, difficult to value and leveraged so that small changes may
produce disproportionate losses to a client. Over-the-counter derivatives, such as swaps, are
also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will
not fulfill its contractual obligation. Losses from investments in derivatives can result from a
lack of correlation between the value of those derivatives and the value of the underlying asset
or index. In addition, there is a risk that the performance of the derivatives to replicate the
performance of a particular asset or asset class may not accurately track the performance of
that asset or asset class.
B. Investment Strategy and Method of Analysis Material Risks
Our investment strategy is custom-tailored to the client’s goals, investment objectives, risk
tolerance, and personal and financial circumstances.
Margin Leverage
Although Seros, as a general business practice, does not utilize leverage, there may be instances
in which the use of leverage may be appropriate for certain clients and situations or requested
by the clients for personal use. In this regard please review the following:
The use of margin leverage enhances the overall risk of investment gain and loss to the client’s
investment portfolio. For example, investors are able to control $2 of a security for $1. So if the
price of a security rises by $1, the investor earns a 100% return on their investment. Conversely,
if the security declines by $.50, then the investor loses 50% of their investment.
The use of margin leverage entails borrowing, which results in additional interest costs to the
investor.
Broker-dealers who carry customer accounts require a minimum equity requirement when
clients utilize margin leverage. The minimum equity requirement is stated as a percentage of the
value of the underlying collateral security with an absolute minimum dollar requirement. For
example, if the price of a security declines in value to the point where the excess equity used to
satisfy the minimum requirement dissipates, the broker-dealer will require the client to deposit
additional collateral to the account in the form of cash or marketable securities. A deposit of
securities to the account will require a larger deposit, as the security being deposited is included
in the computation of the minimum equity requirement. In addition, when leverage is utilized
and the client needs to withdraw cash, the client must sell a disproportionate amount of
collateral securities to release enough cash to satisfy the withdrawal amount based upon similar
reasoning as cited above.
Regulations concerning the use of margin leverage are established by the Federal Reserve Board
and vary if the client’s account is held at a broker-dealer versus a bank custodian. Broker-dealers
and bank custodians may apply more stringent rules as they deem necessary.
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
Short-Term Trading
Although Seros, as a general business practice, does not utilize short-term trading, there may be
instances in which short-term trading may be necessary or an appropriate strategy. In this
regard, please read the following:
There is an inherent risk for clients who trade frequently in that high-frequency trading creates
substantial transaction costs that in the aggregate could negatively impact account
performance.
Short Selling
Seros generally does not engage in short selling but reserves the right to do so in the exercise of
its sole judgment. Short selling involves the sale of a security that is borrowed rather than
owned. When a short sale is effected, the investor is expecting the price of the security to
decline in value so that a purchase or closeout of the short sale can be effected at a significantly
lower price. The primary risks of effecting short sales is the availability to borrow the stock, the
unlimited potential for loss, and the requirement to fund any difference between the short credit
balance and the market value of the security.
Technical Trading Models
Technical trading models are mathematically driven based upon historical data and trends of
domestic and foreign market trading activity, including various industry and sector trading
statistics within such markets. Technical trading models, through mathematical algorithms,
attempt to identify when markets are likely to increase or decrease and identify appropriate
entry and exit points. The primary risk of technical trading models is that historical trends and
past performance cannot predict future trends, and there is no assurance that the mathematical
algorithms employed are designed properly, updated with new data, and can accurately predict
future market, industry, and sector performance.
Option Strategies
Various option strategies give the holder the right to acquire or sell underlying securities at the
contract strike price up until expiration of the option. Each contract is worth 100 shares of the
underlying security. Options entail greater risk but allow an investor to have market exposure to
a particular security or group of securities without the capital commitment required to purchase
the underlying security or groups of securities. In addition, options allow investors to hedge
security positions held in the portfolio. For detailed information on the use of options and
option strategies, please contact the Options Clearing Corporation for the current Options Risk
Disclosure Statement.
Seros as part of its investment strategy may employ the following option strategies:
▪ Covered call writing
▪ Long call options purchases
▪ Long put options purchases
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
Covered Call Writing
Covered call writing is the sale of in-, at-, or out-of-the-money call option against a long
security position held in the client portfolio. This type of transaction is used to generate
income. It also serves to create downside protection in the event the security position declines
in value. Income is received from the proceeds of the option sale. Such income may be
reduced to the extent it is necessary to buy back the option position prior to its expiration.
This strategy may involve a degree of trading velocity, transaction costs and significant losses
if the underlying security has volatile price movement. Covered call strategies are generally
suited for companies with little price volatility.
Long Call Option Purchases
Long call option purchases allow the option holder to be exposed to the general market
characteristics of a security without the outlay of capital necessary to own the security. Options
are wasting assets and expire (usually within nine months of issuance), and as a result can
expose the investor to significant loss.
Long Put Option Purchases
Long put option purchases allow the option holder to sell or “put” the underlying security at
the contract strike price at a future date. If the price of the underlying security declines in
value, the value of the long put option increases. In this way long puts are often used to hedge
a long stock position. Options are wasting assets and expire (usually within nine months of
issuance), and as a result can expose the investor to significant loss.
C. Concentration Risks
There is an inherent risk for clients who have their investment portfolios heavily weighted in one
security, one industry or industry sector, one geographic location, one investment manager, one
type of investment instrument (equities versus fixed income). Clients who have diversified
portfolios, as a general rule, incur less volatility and therefore less fluctuation in portfolio value
than those who have concentrated holdings. Concentrated holdings may offer the potential for
higher gain, but also offer the potential for significant loss.
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Item 9: Disciplinary Information
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
A. Criminal or Civil Actions
There is nothing to report on this item.
B. Administrative Enforcement Proceedings
There is nothing to report on this item.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization Enforcement Proceedings
There is nothing to report on this item.
Page 27
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Broker-Dealer or Representative Registration
Neither Seros nor its affiliates are registered broker-dealers and do not have an application to
register pending.
B. Futures or Commodity Registration
Neither Seros nor its affiliates are registered as a commodity firm, futures commission merchant,
commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor and do not have an application to
register pending.
C. Material Relationships Maintained by this Advisory Business and
Conflicts of Interest
Insurance Activities
Seros’s registered advisory persons are licensed insurance agents and may recommend
insurance products offered by such carriers for whom they function as an agent and receive a
commission for doing so. Such commission-based compensation results in a conflict of interest.
Please also be advised that Seros strives to put its clients’ interests first and foremost. Other
than for insurance products that require a securities license, such as variable insurance products,
clients may utilize any insurance carrier or insurance agency they desire. For products requiring a
securities and insurance license, clients may be limited to those insurance carriers that have a
selling agreement with Seros’s employing broker-dealer.
Seros Insurance, LLC
Seros has an affiliate insurance agency, Seros Insurance, LLC, that offers individual and
commercial property and casual (“P&C”) insurance. Neither Jeremy Smith nor any Seros
employees are P&C insurance licensed and do not sell insurance through Seros Insurance.
However, because of its ownership interest in Seros Insurance, Seros has an economic incentive
to refer clients to its affiliate. Seros always acts in the best interest of the client and clients are in
no way required to utilize the services of Seros Insurance.
Links Holding Group LLC and SSJS Holdings LLC
Jeremy Smith owns Links Holding Group LLC and SSJS Holdings LLC, both of which are real
estate and real estate lending companies. Please be advised of the following conflicts of interest:
(i) Mr. Smith has an economic incentive to recommend the services of Links Holding Group and
SSJS Holdings to Seros clients or offer certain incentives through the affiliates in order to
maintain the advisory relationship; (ii) SSJS Holdings also owns vacation property that Jeremy
Smith could financially benefit from Seros clients who choose to rent it; (iii) Seros may give
preferential treatment to clients who are also utilizing the services of Links Holding Group or
SSJS Holdings. In addition, please be advised that Seros has a policy that prohibits proceeds of
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Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
any loans made to clients through its affiliates to increase Seros’s assets under management.
Clients are under no obligation to utilize the services of Seros’s affiliates.
Ponderosa Retreat LLC
Jeremy Smith owns vacation property through Ponderosa Retreat LLC that Jeremy Smith could
financially benefit from Seros clients who choose to rent it.
Shawna Smith PLLC
Shawna Smith, who has an ownership interest in Seros via the Smith Family Trust and is the
spouse of Jeremy Smith, is a licensed real estate agent and could potentially represent Seros
clients in real estate transactions. Clients are under no obligation to utilize the services of
Shawna Smith PLLC.
D. Recommendation or Selection of Other Investment Advisors and
Conflicts of Interest
Seros may engage third-party money managers to manage all or a portion of the client's assets.
Seros’s fees are separate and distinct from the third-party money managers it utilizes. Seros will
always act in the best interests of the client, including when determining which third-party
manager to recommend and/or utilize for clients. Clients are under no obligation to use any
third-party provider recommended by Seros and may use the provider of their choice.
Page 29
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
and Personal Trading
A. Code of Ethics Description
In accordance with the Advisers Act, Seros has adopted policies and procedures designed to
detect and prevent insider trading. In addition, Seros has adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code”).
Among other things, the Code includes written procedures governing the conduct of Seros's
advisory and access persons. The Code also imposes certain reporting obligations on persons
subject to the Code. The Code and applicable securities transactions are monitored by the chief
compliance officer of Seros. Seros will send clients a copy of its Code of Ethics upon written
request.
Seros has policies and procedures in place to ensure that the interests of its clients are given
preference over those of Seros, its affiliates and its employees. For example, there are policies in
place to prevent the misappropriation of material non-public information, and such other
policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with federal and state securities laws.
B. Investment Recommendations Involving a Material Financial Interest and
Conflicts of Interest
Seros does not engage in principal trading (i.e., the practice of selling stock to advisory clients
from a firm’s inventory or buying stocks from advisory clients into a firm’s inventory). In
addition, Seros does not recommend any securities to advisory clients in which it has some
proprietary or ownership interest.
C. Advisory Firm Purchase or Sale of Same Securities Recommended to
Clients and Conflicts of Interest
Seros, its affiliates, employees and their families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and
retirement plans established by it may purchase or sell the same securities as are purchased or
sold for clients in accordance with its Code of Ethics policies and procedures. The personal
securities transactions by advisory representatives and employees may raise potential conflicts
of interest when they trade in a security that is:
▪ owned by the client, or
▪ considered for purchase or sale for the client.
Such conflict generally refers to the practice of front-running (trading ahead of the client), which
Seros specifically prohibits. Seros has adopted policies and procedures that are intended to
address these conflicts of interest. These policies and procedures:
▪
require our advisory representatives and employees to act in the client’s best interest
▪ prohibit fraudulent conduct in connection with the trading of securities in a client
account
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Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
▪ prohibit employees from personally benefitting by causing a client to act, or fail to act in
making investment decisions
▪ prohibit the firm or its employees from profiting or causing others to profit on
knowledge of completed or contemplated client transactions
▪ allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner
▪ provide for the review of transactions to discover and correct any trades that result in an
advisory representative or employee benefitting at the expense of a client.
Advisory representatives and employees must follow Seros’s procedures when purchasing or
selling the same securities purchased or sold for the client.
D. Client Securities Recommendations or Trades and Concurrent Advisory
Firm Securities Transactions and Conflicts of Interest
Seros, its affiliates, employees and their families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and
retirement plans established by it may effect securities transactions for their own accounts that
differ from those recommended or effected for other Seros clients. Seros will make a reasonable
attempt to trade securities in client accounts at or prior to trading the securities in its affiliate,
corporate, employee or employee-related accounts. Trades executed the same day will likely be
subject to an average pricing calculation. It is the policy of Seros to place the clients’ interests
above those of Seros and its employees.
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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
A. Factors Used to Select Broker-Dealers for Client Transactions
Custodian Recommendations
Seros may recommend that clients establish brokerage accounts with the Schwab Advisor
Services division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Axos Clearing LLC d/b/a Axos Advisor Services,
and Pershing Advisor Solutions LLC (hereinafter collectively referred to as “custodian”), FINRA-
registered broker-dealers, members SIPC, to maintain custody of clients’ assets and to effect
trades for their accounts. Although Seros may recommend that clients establish accounts at the
custodian, it is the client’s decision to custody assets with the custodian. Seros is independently
owned and operated and not affiliated with custodian. For Seros-managed advisory accounts,
the custodian generally does not charge separately for custody services but is compensated by
account holders through commissions and other transaction-related or asset-based fees for
securities trades that are executed through the custodian or that settle into custodian accounts.
Seros considers the financial strength, reputation, operational efficiency, cost, execution
capability, level of customer service, and related factors in recommending broker-dealers or
custodians to advisory clients.
In certain instances and subject to approval by Seros, Seros will recommend to clients certain
other broker-dealers and/or custodians based on the needs of the individual client, and taking
into consideration the nature of the services required, the experience of the broker-dealer or
custodian, the cost and quality of the services, and the reputation of the broker-dealer or
custodian. The final determination to engage a broker-dealer or custodian recommended by
Seros will be made by and in the sole discretion of the client. The client recognizes that broker-
dealers and/or custodians have different cost and fee structures and trade execution capabilities.
As a result, there may be disparities with respect to the cost of services and/or the transaction
prices for securities transactions executed on behalf of the client. Clients are responsible for
assessing the commissions and other costs charged by broker-dealers and/or custodians.
How We Select Brokers/Custodians to Recommend
Seros seeks to recommend a custodian/broker who will hold client assets and execute
transactions on terms that provide the most value given a particular client’s needs when
compared to other available providers and their services. We consider a wide range of factors,
including, among others, the following:
▪ combination of transaction execution services along with asset custody services
(generally without a separate fee for custody)
▪ capability to execute, clear, and settle trades (buy and sell securities for client accounts)
▪ capabilities to facilitate transfers and payments to and from accounts (wire transfers,
check requests, bill payment, etc.)
▪ breadth of investment products made available (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-
traded funds (ETFs), etc.)
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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
▪ availability of investment research and tools that assist us in making investment
decisions
▪ quality of services
▪ competitiveness of the price of those services (commission rates, margin interest rates,
other fees, etc.) and willingness to negotiate them
▪
reputation, financial strength, and stability of the provider
▪
their prior service to us and our other clients
▪ availability of other products and services that benefit us, as discussed below
Client’s Custody and Brokerage Costs
For client accounts that the firm maintains, the custodian generally does not charge clients
separately for custody services but is compensated by charging either transaction fees or
custodian asset-based fees on trades that it executes or that settle into the custodian’s
accounts. For some accounts, the custodian may charge a percentage of the dollar amount of
assets in the account in lieu of commissions. The custodian’s commission rates and asset-
based fees applicable to the firm’s client accounts were negotiated based on the firm’s
commitment to maintain a certain minimum amount of client assets at the custodian. This
commitment benefits the client because the overall commission rates and asset-based fees
paid are lower than they would be if the firm had not made the commitment. In addition to
commissions or asset-based fees, the custodian charges a flat dollar amount as a “prime
broker” or “trade away” fee for each trade that the firm has executed by a different broker-
dealer but where the securities bought or the funds from the securities sold are deposited
(settled) into the client’s custodian account. These fees are in addition to the commissions or
other compensation the client pays the executing broker-dealer. Because of this, in order to
minimize the client’s trading costs, the firm has the custodian execute most trades for the
account.
Soft Dollar Arrangements
Seros does not utilize soft dollar arrangements. Seros does not direct brokerage transactions
to executing brokers for research and brokerage services.
Institutional Trading and Custody Services
The custodian provides Seros with access to its institutional trading and custody services,
which are typically not available to the custodian’s retail investors. These services generally are
available to independent investment advisors on an unsolicited basis, at no charge to them so
long as a certain minimum amount of the advisor’s clients’ assets are maintained in accounts
at a particular custodian. The custodian’s brokerage services include the execution of securities
transactions, custody, research, 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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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Other Products and Services
Custodian also makes available to Seros other products and services that benefit Seros but
may not directly benefit its clients’ accounts. Many of these products and services may be used
to service all or some substantial number of Seros's accounts, including accounts not
maintained at custodian. The custodian may also make available to Seros software and other
technology that
▪ provide access to client account data (such as trade confirmations and account
statements)
▪
facilitate trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client
accounts
▪ provide research, pricing and other market data
▪
facilitate payment of Seros’s fees from its clients’ accounts
▪ assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping and client reporting
The custodian may also offer other services intended to help Seros manage and further
develop its business enterprise. These services may include
▪ compliance, legal and business consulting
▪ publications and conferences on practice management and business succession
▪ access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants and insurance
providers
The custodian may also provide other benefits such as educational events or occasional
business entertainment of Seros personnel. In evaluating whether to recommend that clients
custody their assets at the custodian, Seros may take into account the availability of some of
the foregoing products and services and other arrangements as part of the total mix of factors
it considers, and not solely the nature, cost or quality of custody and brokerage services
provided by the custodian, which creates a conflict of interest.
Independent Third Parties
The custodian may make available, arrange, and/or pay third-party vendors for the types of
services rendered to Seros. The custodian may discount or waive fees it would otherwise
charge for some of these services or all or a part of the fees of a third party providing these
services to Seros.
Additional Compensation Received from Custodians
Seros may participate in institutional customer programs sponsored by broker-dealers or
custodians. Seros may recommend these broker-dealers or custodians to clients for custody
and brokerage services. There is no direct link between Seros’s participation in such programs
and the investment advice it gives to its clients, although Seros receives economic benefits
through its participation in the programs that are typically not available to retail investors.
These benefits may include the following products and services (provided without cost or at a
discount):
▪ Receipt of duplicate client statements and confirmations
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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
▪ Research-related products and tools
▪ Consulting services
▪ Access to a trading desk serving Seros participants
▪ Access to block trading (which provides the ability to aggregate securities transactions
for execution and then allocate the appropriate shares to client accounts)
▪ The ability to have advisory fees deducted directly from client accounts
▪ Access to an electronic communications network for client order entry and account
information
▪ Access to mutual funds with no transaction fees and to certain institutional money
managers
▪ Discounts on compliance, marketing, research, technology, and practice management
products or services provided to Seros by third-party vendors
The custodian may also pay for business consulting and professional services received by
Seros’s related persons, and may pay or reimburse expenses (including client transition
expenses, travel, lodging, meals and entertainment expenses for Seros’s personnel to attend
conferences). Some of the products and services made available by such custodian through its
institutional customer programs may benefit Seros but may not benefit its client accounts.
These products or services may assist Seros in managing and administering client accounts,
including accounts not maintained at the custodian as applicable. Other services made
available through the programs are intended to help Seros manage and further develop its
business enterprise. The benefits received by Seros or its personnel through participation in
these programs do not depend on the amount of brokerage transactions directed to the
broker-dealer.
Seros also participates in similar institutional advisor programs offered by other independent
broker-dealers or trust companies, and its continued participation may require Seros to
maintain a predetermined level of assets at such firms. In connection with its participation in
such programs, Seros will typically receive benefits similar to those listed above, including
research, payments for business consulting and professional services received by Seros’s
related persons, and reimbursement of expenses (including travel, lodging, meals and
entertainment expenses for Seros’s personnel to attend conferences sponsored by the broker-
dealer or trust company).
As part of its fiduciary duties to clients, Seros endeavors at all times to put the interests of its
clients first. Clients should be aware, however, that the receipt of economic benefits by Seros
or its related persons in and of itself creates a conflict of interest and indirectly influences
Seros’s recommendation of broker-dealers for custody and brokerage services.
The Firm’s Interest in Custodian’s Services
The availability of these services from the custodian benefits the firm because the firm does
not have to produce or purchase them. The firm does not have to pay for the custodian’s
services so long as a certain minimum of client assets is kept in accounts at the custodian.
Custodian’s services give the firm an incentive to recommend that clients maintain their
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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
accounts with the custodian based on the firm’s interest in receiving the custodian’s services
that benefit the firm’s business rather than based on the client’s interest in receiving the best
value in custody services and the most favorable execution of client transactions. This is a
conflict of interest. The firm believes, however, that the selection of the custodian as custodian
and broker is in the best interest of clients. It is primarily supported by the scope, quality, and
price of the custodian’s services and not the custodian’s services that benefit only the firm.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
Seros does not engage in the practice of directing brokerage commissions in exchange for the
referral of advisory clients.
Directed Brokerage
Seros Recommendations
Seros typically recommends Schwab, Axos, or Pershing as custodian for clients’ funds and
securities and to execute securities transactions on its clients’ behalf.
Client-Directed Brokerage
Occasionally, clients may direct Seros to use a particular broker-dealer to execute portfolio
transactions for their account or request that certain types of securities not be purchased for
their account. Clients who designate the use of a particular broker-dealer should be aware that
they will lose any possible advantage Seros derives from aggregating transactions. Such client
trades are typically effected after the trades of clients who have not directed the use of a
particular broker-dealer. Seros loses the ability to aggregate trades with other Seros advisory
clients, potentially subjecting the client to inferior trade execution prices as well as higher
commissions.
B. Aggregating Securities Transactions for Client Accounts
Best Execution
Seros, pursuant to the terms of its investment advisory agreement with clients, has discretionary
authority to determine which securities are to be bought and sold, and the amount of such
securities. Seros recognizes that the analysis of execution quality involves a number of factors,
both qualitative and quantitative. Seros will follow a process in an attempt to ensure that it is
seeking to obtain the most favorable execution under the prevailing circumstances when placing
client orders. These factors include but are not limited to the following:
▪ The financial strength, reputation and stability of the broker
▪ The efficiency with which the transaction is effected
▪ The ability to effect prompt and reliable executions at favorable prices (including the
applicable dealer spread or commission, if any)
▪ The availability of the broker to stand ready to effect transactions of varying degrees of
difficulty in the future
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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
▪ The efficiency of error resolution, clearance and settlement
▪ Block trading and positioning capabilities
▪ Performance measurement
▪ Online access to computerized data regarding customer accounts
▪ Availability, comprehensiveness, and frequency of brokerage and research services
▪ Commission rates
▪ The economic benefit to the client
▪ Related matters involved in the receipt of brokerage services
Consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities, Seros seeks to ensure that clients receive best
execution with respect to clients’ transactions by blocking client trades to reduce commissions
and transaction costs. To the best of Seros’s knowledge, these custodians provide high-quality
execution, and Seros’s clients do not pay higher transaction costs in return for such execution.
Commission rates and securities transaction fees charged to effect such transactions are
established by the client’s independent custodian and/or broker-dealer. Based upon its own
knowledge of the securities industry, Seros believes that such commission rates are competitive
within the securities industry. Lower commissions or better execution may be able to be
achieved elsewhere.
Security Allocation
Since Seros may be managing accounts with similar investment objectives, Seros may aggregate
orders for securities for such accounts. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or
sold, as well as expenses incurred in the transaction, is made by Seros in the manner it considers
to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to such accounts.
Seros’s allocation procedures seek to allocate investment opportunities among clients in the
fairest possible way, taking into account the clients’ best interests. Seros will follow procedures
to ensure that allocations do not involve a practice of favoring or discriminating against any
client or group of clients. Account performance is never a factor in trade allocations.
Seros’s advice to certain clients and entities and the action of Seros for those and other clients
are frequently premised not only on the merits of a particular investment, but also on the
suitability of that investment for the particular client in light of his or her applicable investment
objective, guidelines and circumstances. Thus, any action of Seros with respect to a particular
investment may, for a particular client, differ or be opposed to the recommendation, advice, or
actions of Seros to or on behalf of other clients.
Order Aggregation
Orders for the same security entered on behalf of more than one client will generally be
aggregated (i.e., blocked or bunched) subject to the aggregation being in the best interests of
all participating clients. Subsequent orders for the same security entered during the same
trading day may be aggregated with any previously unfilled orders. Subsequent orders may also
be aggregated with filled orders if the market price for the security has not materially changed
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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
and the aggregation does not cause any unintended duration exposure. All clients participating
in each aggregated order will receive the average price and, subject to minimum ticket charges
and possible step outs, pay a pro rata portion of commissions.
To minimize performance dispersion, “strategy” trades should be aggregated and average
priced. However, when a trade is to be executed for an individual account and the trade is not in
the best interests of other accounts, then the trade will only be performed for that account. This
is true even if Seros believes that a larger size block trade would lead to best overall price for the
security being transacted.
Allocation of Trades
All allocations will be made prior to the close of business on the trade date. In the event an
order is “partially filled,” the allocation will be made in the best interests of all the clients in the
order, taking into account all relevant factors including, but not limited to, the size of each
client’s allocation, clients’ liquidity needs and previous allocations. In most cases, accounts will
get a pro forma allocation based on the initial allocation. This policy also applies if an order is
“over-filled.”
Seros acts in accordance with its duty to seek best price and execution and will not continue any
arrangements if Seros determines that such arrangements are no longer in the best interest of
its clients.
Trade Errors
From time to time, Seros may make an error in submitting a trade order on the client’s behalf.
When this occurs, Seros may place a correcting trade with the broker-dealer. If an investment
gain results from the correcting trade, the gain will remain in client’s account unless the same
error involved other client account(s) that should have received the gain, it is not permissible for
client to retain the gain, or Seros confers with client and client decides to forego the gain (e.g.,
due to tax reasons).
If the gain does not remain in client’s account and Schwab is the custodian, Schwab will donate
the amount of any gain $100 and over to charity. If a loss occurs greater than $100, Seros will
pay for the loss. Schwab will maintain the loss or gain (if such gain is not retained in client’s
account) if it is under $100 to minimize and offset its administrative time and expense. Generally,
if related trade errors result in both gains and losses in client’s account, they may be “netted.”
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Item 13: Review of Accounts
Item 13: Review of Accounts
A. Schedule for Periodic Review of Client Accounts or Financial Plans and
Advisory Persons Involved
Accounts are reviewed by the investment adviser representative servicing the client’s account.
The frequency of reviews is determined based on the client’s investment objectives, but reviews
are conducted no less frequently than annually. More frequent reviews may also be triggered by
a change in the client’s investment objectives, tax considerations, large deposits or withdrawals,
large purchases or sales, loss of confidence in the underlying investment, or changes in macro-
economic climate.
For limited financial planning and consulting engagements, clients receive their financial plans
and recommendations at the time service is completed. For ongoing financial planning
engagements, reviews normally correspond with the client’s periodic meeting schedule. This is
often quarterly, but reviews occur no less than annually.
B. Review of Client Accounts on Non-Periodic Basis
Seros may perform ad hoc reviews on an as-needed basis if there have been material changes in
the client’s investment objectives or risk tolerance, or a material change in how Seros formulates
investment advice.
C. Content of Client-Provided Reports and Frequency
The client’s independent custodian provides account statements directly to the client no less
frequently than quarterly. The custodian’s statement is the official record of the client’s securities
account and supersedes any statements or reports created on behalf of the client by Seros.
Page 39
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
A. Economic Benefits Provided to the Advisory Firm from External Sources
and Conflicts of Interest
Custodians
Seros receives an economic benefit from custodians in the form of the support products and
services they make available to us. These products and services, how they benefit us, and the
related conflicts of interest are described above under Item 12 Brokerage Practices. The
availability to us of custodian’s products and services is not based on us giving particular
investment advice, such as buying particular securities for our clients.
B. Advisory Firm Payments for Client Referrals
The firm does not pay for client referrals.
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Item 15: Custody
Item 15: Custody
Seros is considered to have custody of client assets for purposes of the Advisers Act for the
following reasons:
▪ The client authorizes us to instruct their custodian to deduct our advisory fees directly
from the client’s account. The custodian maintains actual custody of clients’ assets.
▪ Our authority to direct client requests, utilizing standing instructions, for wire transfer of
funds for first-party money movement and third-party money movement (checks and/or
journals, ACH, Fed-wires). The firm has elected to meet the SEC’s seven conditions to
avoid the surprise custody exam, as outlined below:
1. The client provides an instruction to the qualified custodian, in writing, that includes
the client’s signature, the third party’s name, and either the third party’s address or
the third party’s account number at a custodian to which the transfer should be
directed.
2. The client authorizes the investment adviser, in writing, either on the qualified
custodian’s form or separately, to direct transfers to the third party either on a
specified schedule or from time to time.
3. The client’s qualified custodian performs appropriate verification of the instruction,
such as a signature review or other method to verify the client’s authorization, and
provides a transfer of funds notice to the client promptly after each transfer.
4. The client has the ability to terminate or change the instruction to the client’s
qualified custodian.
5. The investment adviser has no authority or ability to designate or change the identity
of the third party, the address, or any other information about the third party
contained in the client’s instruction.
6. The investment adviser maintains records showing that the third party is not a
related party of the investment adviser or located at the same address as the
investment adviser.
7. The client’s qualified custodian sends the client, in writing, an initial notice confirming
the instruction and an annual notice reconfirming the instruction.
Individual advisory clients will receive at least quarterly account statements directly from their
custodian containing a description of all activity, cash balances, and portfolio holdings in their
accounts. Clients are urged to compare the account balance(s) shown on their account
statements to the quarter-end balance(s) on their custodian's monthly statement. The
custodian’s statement is the official record of the account.
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Item 16: Investment Discretion
Item 16: Investment Discretion
Clients may grant a limited power of attorney to Seros with respect to trading activity in their
accounts by signing the appropriate custodian limited power of attorney form. In those cases,
Seros will exercise full discretion as to the nature and type of securities to be purchased and
sold, and the amount of securities for such transactions. Investment limitations may be
designated by the client as outlined in the investment advisory agreement. In addition, subject
to the terms of its investment advisory agreement, Seros may be granted discretionary authority
for the retention of independent third-party investment management firms. Please see the
applicable third-party manager’s disclosure brochure for detailed information relating to
discretionary authority.
Page 42
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Seros does not take discretion with respect to voting proxies on behalf of its clients. All proxy
material will be forwarded to the client by the client’s custodian for the client’s review and action.
Clients may contact the firm with questions regarding proxies they have received.
Seros will endeavor to make recommendations to clients on voting proxies regarding
shareholder vote, consent, election or similar actions solicited by, or with respect to, issuers of
securities beneficially held as part of Seros supervised and/or managed assets. In no event will
Seros take discretion with respect to voting proxies on behalf of its clients.
Except as required by applicable law, Seros will not be obligated to render advice or take any
action on behalf of clients with respect to assets presently or formerly held in their accounts that
become the subject of any legal proceedings, including bankruptcies.
From time to time, securities held in the accounts of clients will be the subject of class action
lawsuits. Seros has no obligation to determine if securities held by the client are subject to a
pending or resolved class action lawsuit. Seros also has no duty to evaluate a client’s eligibility
or to submit a claim to participate in the proceeds of a securities class action settlement or
verdict. Furthermore, Seros has no obligation or responsibility to initiate litigation to recover
damages on behalf of clients who may have been injured as a result of actions, misconduct, or
negligence by corporate management of issuers whose securities are held by clients.
Where Seros receives written or electronic notice of a class action lawsuit, settlement, or verdict
affecting securities owned by a client, it will forward all notices, proof of claim forms, and other
materials to the client. Electronic mail is acceptable where appropriate and where the client has
authorized contact in this manner.
Page 43
Item 18: Financial Information
Item 18: Financial Information
A. Balance Sheet
Seros does not require the prepayment of fees of $1,200 or more, six months or more in
advance, and as such is not required to file a balance sheet.
B. Financial Conditions Reasonably Likely to Impair Advisory Firm’s Ability
to Meet Commitments to Clients
Seros does not have any financial issues that would impair its ability to provide services to
clients.
C. Bankruptcy Petitions During the Past Ten Years
There is nothing to report on this item.
Page 44