View Document Text
INVESTMENT ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
Form ADV Part 2A: Firm Brochure
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Shelter Rock
Management, LLC. The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission, or by any state securities authority.
Additional information about the Adviser is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov
SHELTER ROCK MANAGEMENT, LLC
375 NORTH BROADWAY, SUITE 207
JERICHO, NEW YORK 11753
516.605.2215
WWW.SHELTERROCKMANAGEMENT.COM
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Item 2-Material Changes
Annual Update
This section identifies and discusses material changes we made to Shelter Rock Management’s
Brochure since our last updating amendment on March 21, 2025.
Full Brochure Available
Whenever you would like to receive a complete copy of our Firm Brochure, please contact us by
telephone at 516-605-2215 or by email at sean@shelterrockmanagement.com.
Page i of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Item 3-Table of Contents
Item 2-Material Changes ............................................................................................................................. i
Item 3-Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ ii
Item 4-Advisory Business ........................................................................................................................... 4
Firm Description ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Types of Advisory Services.................................................................................................................... 4
Investment Advisory Agreement ............................................................................................................ 6
Wrap Fee Programs ................................................................................................................................ 7
Client Assets under Management ........................................................................................................... 7
Item 5-Fees and Compensation .................................................................................................................. 7
Fee Billing .............................................................................................................................................. 8
Other Fees............................................................................................................................................... 8
Item 6-Performance Fees ........................................................................................................................... 9
Item 7-Types of Clients ............................................................................................................................... 9
Description ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Account Minimums ................................................................................................................................ 9
Item 8-Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ................................................... 9
Methods of Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 9
Investment Strategies ............................................................................................................................. 9
Investment Risks .................................................................................................................................... 9
Item 9-Legal and Disciplinary Information ............................................................................................ 12
Item 10-Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ............................................................... 12
Item 11-Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading ..... 12
Code of Ethics ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions .................................................................................... 12
Personal Trading ................................................................................................................................... 13
Item 12-Brokerage Practices .................................................................................................................... 13
Brokerage Selection and Soft Dollars .................................................................................................. 13
Order Aggregation ................................................................................................................................ 14
Directing Brokerage for Client Referrals ............................................................................................. 15
Directed Brokerage ............................................................................................................................... 15
Item 13-Review of Accounts ..................................................................................................................... 15
Periodic Reviews .................................................................................................................................. 15
Review Triggers ................................................................................................................................... 16
Client Reports ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Page ii of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Item 14-Client Referrals and Other Compensation ............................................................................... 16
Item 15-Custody ........................................................................................................................................ 16
Account Statements .............................................................................................................................. 16
Performance Reports ............................................................................................................................ 16
Item 16-Investment Discretion ................................................................................................................. 17
Item 17-Voting Client Securities .............................................................................................................. 17
Item 18-Financial Information ................................................................................................................ 17
Business Continuity Plan .......................................................................................................................... 18
General ................................................................................................................................................. 18
Disasters ............................................................................................................................................... 18
Alternate Offices .................................................................................................................................. 18
Information Security Program ................................................................................................................ 18
Information Security ............................................................................................................................. 18
Privacy Practices .................................................................................................................................. 18
iii
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Item 4-Advisory Business
Firm Description
Shelter Rock Management, LLC, hereinafter (“the Adviser”), was founded in 2006. Sean
Chaitman is the principal owner and 100% stockholder.
The Adviser provides personalized, confidential investment management directly to
individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and
small businesses. In addition to its direct advisory services, the Adviser also serves as a
sub-adviser to other registered investment advisers. When serving as a sub-adviser, the
Adviser is responsible for managing only a designated portion of the primary adviser's
client’s separately managed account (SMA), as specified in the sub-advisory agreement
The Adviser is a fee-only investment management firm. The firm does not sell securities
on a commission basis. The firm is not affiliated with entities that sell financial products or
securities.
The Adviser does not act as a custodian of client assets. The client always maintains asset
control.
Any conflicts of interest arising out of the Adviser or its associated persons are disclosed in
this brochure.
Types of Advisory Services
Shelter Rock Management, LLC (“the Adviser”) provides investment advisory services to
its clients on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. As part of the investment
advisory service, the Adviser reviews many aspects of the client’s financial affairs,
including investment time horizon, financial objectives, and risk profile. The Adviser
works with clients to set realistic and measurable goals and to define objectives to reach
those goals. As goals and objectives change over time, the Adviser will make
recommendations and implement an action plan on an ongoing basis. The Adviser
periodically reviews a client’s financial situation and portfolio through regular contact with
the client. As a sub-adviser, Shelter Rock determines which strategy to invest in for the
client based upon consultation and the direction of the investment consultant/financial
adviser of the end client.
The advisory services include, among other things, providing advice regarding asset
allocation and the selection and monitoring of investments including mutual funds, indices,
fixed income, and individual equities. A direct client's relationship may include a blend of
services listed below and is guided by the stated objectives of the client.
Strategic Income
The Strategic Income Strategy is a fixed-income managed account strategy that is
primarily invested in a diversified portfolio of short to intermediate-term individual bonds.
The strategy seeks to provide current income while seeking to preserve capital.
Page 4 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Conservative Allocation
The Conservative Allocation Strategy is primarily invested in in short to intermediate-term
individual bonds and will have up to 40% of its portfolio in high quality US large-cap
stocks. The strategy seeks to generate current income and capital appreciation while
seeking to preserve capital.
Equity Income
The Equity Income Strategy will invest up to 75% of its portfolio in high quality US large-
cap stocks and the remainder primarily in US short to intermediate-term individual bonds.
The strategy seeks to generate growth and income while preserving capital over a wide
variety of market cycles.
Select Equity
The Select Equity Strategy is an equity managed account strategy that primarily invests in
high quality US large-cap stocks. The strategy seeks to generate long-term capital
appreciation and preserve capital over a wide variety of market cycles.
Customized Accounts
Shelter Rock manages customized conservative, moderate and aggressive strategies that
contain mutual funds, individual stocks, individual bonds, ETFs and MLPs. Mutual funds
and ETFs/Indices for clients will be selected on the basis of any or all of the following
criteria: the fund’s performance history under the current manager(s); the industry sector(s)
and geographic exposure of the fund’s investments; the Advisers’ assessment of the level
of risk being taken in order to achieve returns; the fund’s investment objectives; the fund’s
management style and philosophy; the fund’s management fee structure; the fund’s tax
efficiency and the level of assets in the fund. The Adviser will also attempt to select mutual
funds and indices with the goal of appropriately diversifying clients based on individual
risk tolerance, investment objectives, and investment horizon. Individual stocks will
generally be selected in companies believed to be undervalued based on free cash flow
metrics. The manager will select individual bonds by carefully balancing expected returns
versus credit and interest rate risks.
Retirement Plans
When Shelter Rock provides investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan
account or individual retirement account, Shelter Rock and its investment adviser
representatives are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, which are laws
governing retirement accounts. The way Shelter Rock makes money creates some conflicts
with your interests, so Shelter Rock operates under a special rule that requires us to act in
your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours.
401K
Shelter Rock provides 401K services to corporate clients. This includes helping companies
evaluate 401K plan administrators, creating and monitoring mutual fund menus available
to participants, constructing investment models for conservative through aggressive risk
tolerances and providing retirement, asset allocation, and investment guidance.
Page 5 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Retirement Plan Rollover Recommendations
A client leaving an employer typically has four options regarding an existing retirement
plan (and may engage in a combination of these options): (1) leave the money in his/her
former employer’s plan, if permitted, (2) roll over the assets to his/her new employer’s
plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted, (3) roll over to an Individual
Retirement Account (“IRA”), or (4) cash out the account value (which could, depending
upon the client’s age, result in adverse tax consequences).
If Shelter Rock recommends you roll over your account from a current retirement plan to
an individual retirement account (“Rollover IRA”) managed by Shelter Rock, please know
that Shelter Rock and its investment adviser representatives have an economic incentive to
recommend a rollover of funds from a retirement plan to a Rollover IRA which is a
conflict of interest. Shelter Rock can earn increased investment advisory fees by
recommending that you roll over your account at the retirement plan to a Rollover IRA
managed by Shelter Rock and earn fewer investment advisory fees if you do not roll over
the funds in the retirement plan to a Rollover IRA managed by Shelter Rock.
investments which
result
in Shelter Rock
Shelter Rock has taken steps to manage this conflict of interest including adopting an
impartial conduct standard whereby our investment adviser representatives will (1) provide
investment advice to a retirement plan participant regarding a rollover of funds from the
retirement plan in accordance with the fiduciary status described below, (2) not
receiving unreasonable
recommend
compensation related to the rollover of funds from the retirement plan to a Rollover IRA,
and (3) fully disclose compensation received by Shelter Rock and our supervised persons
and any material conflicts of interest related to recommending the rollover of funds from
the retirement plan to a Rollover IRA and (4) refrain from making any materially
misleading statements regarding such rollover.
Our investment adviser representatives will act with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence
under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and
familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and
with like aims, based on the investment objectives, risk, tolerance, financial circumstances,
and a client’s needs, without regard to the financial or other interests of Shelter Rock or
our affiliated personnel.
Investment Advisory Agreement
The Adviser describes to clients the scope of work to be provided and fee for advisory
services in writing prior to the start of the relationship (Investment Advisory Agreement).
An advisory client will have a period of five (5) business days from the date of signing the
Investment Advisory Agreement to unconditionally rescind the agreement. Thereafter,
either party may terminate the investment advisory agreement within 7 days’ written
notice. If an advisory relationship with Shelter Rock Management is terminated prior to
December 31, the management fee will be prorated for 7 days after written notification is
received to terminate the relationship and the management fee will be assessed based on
the final accounts value 7 days after written notification is received.
Page 6 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Agreements may not be assigned without client consent.
Wrap Fee Programs
The Adviser does not sponsor or participate in Wrap Fee Programs.
Client Assets under Management
As of December 31, 2024, the Adviser managed approximately $206,212,472 in assets for
130 clients with $147,796,405 managed on a discretionary basis and $58,416,067 on a
non-discretionary basis.
Item 5-Fees and Compensation
The Adviser bases its fees on a percentage of assets under management.
The Adviser will bill clients for all fees. Management fees will be deducted directly from
the client’s accounts unless the client requests to manually pay fees. All management fees
are paid quarterly in arrears. Fees are payable on the first day of the calendar quarter. Fees
are based on the account’s asset value as of the last business day of the prior calendar
quarter. Fees for corporate 401(K) clients are based on the average of the plan’s assets for
the most recent quarter. Fees for 401(K) clients may also be based on the plan asset value as
of the last business day of the quarter if it is required by the 401(k) provider selected by the
corporate client. The fees for the first quarter under management will be prorated.
All services have a $250,000 minimum, except for Strategic Income, which has a $1
million minimum. The Adviser may waive these minimum service levels at its discretion.
Shelter Rock Management’s managed account fee schedule is outlined below:
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Strategic
Income
Conservative
Allocation
Equity
Income
Select
Equity
Custom
Accounts
Minimum Investment
$1,000,000
$250,000
$250,000
$250,000
$250,000
1.00%
1.25%
1.50%
1.50%
1.50%
1.00%
1.25%
1.25%
1.25%
1.25%
Management Fees
Total Client HH Assets
up to $500,000
Total Client HH Assets
up to $1M
1.00%
1.00%
1.25%
1.25%
1.25%
Total Client HH Assets
over $1M
1.00%
1.00%
1.00%
1.00%
1.00%
Total Client HH Assets
over $2M
0.85%
0.85%
0.85%
0.85%
0.85%
Total Client HH Assets
over $5M
These breakpoints exclude household assets managed in variable annuity accounts. The
annualized management fee for managing variable annuity mutual fund portfolio accounts
on a discretionary basis is 0.5%.
Page 7 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
SMA Sub-Advisory Fees
Shelter Rock Management’s annual fees for SMA Sub-Advisory services are 0.75% and
are charged as a percentage of the assets under management. In accordance with the terms
of each sub-advisory agreement, Shelter Rock Management’s SMA Sub-Advisory fees are
billed quarterly in arrears using the dollar value of the account at the end of each calendar
quarter. The quarterly billable fee is debited or invoiced on or after the last business day of
the calendar quarter; partial periods are pro-rated. Shelter Rock may waive the minimum
account size and sub-advisory fee for these services at its discretion.
Shelter Rock’s corporate 401(k) plan fee schedule is outlined below.
Corporate 401(k) Plan Asset Size
401(k) Fee
Up to $500,000
1.00%
Up to $1,000,000
0.75%
Up to $5,000,000
0.60%
Over $5,000,000
0.50%
In certain instances, Shelter Rock’s management fees may be negotiable.
Fee Billing
As mentioned above, investment management fees are billed quarterly, in arrears, meaning
that Shelter Rock invoices clients after the three-month billing period has ended. Payment
in full is expected upon invoice presentation. Fees are deducted from the client account to
facilitate billing as authorized by the client.
Other Fees
There are several other fees that can be associated with holding and investing in securities.
In addition to the advisory fees paid to Shelter Rock, clients also incur certain charges
imposed by other third parties, such as broker-dealers, custodians, trust companies, banks,
and other financial institutions (collectively “Financial Institutions”). These additional
charges may include securities brokerage commissions, transaction fees, custodial fees,
margin costs, charges imposed directly by a mutual fund or ETF in a client’s account, as
disclosed in the fund’s prospectus (i.e., fund management fees, 12b-1 fees, and other fund
expenses), deferred sales charges, wire transfer, and electronic fund fees, and other fees
and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Management fees charged by
Shelter Rock are separate and distinct from the fees and expenses charged by the third
parties in connection with the securities that are recommended to you.
Shelter Rock will consider the internal fees and expenses associated with each share class
when selecting mutual funds that have multiple share classes for recommendation to
clients, and it is Shelter Rock's policy to choose the lowest-cost share class available,
absent circumstances that dictate otherwise. For a complete discussion of expenses related
to each mutual fund, you should read a copy of the prospectus issued by that fund. Shelter
Page 8 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Rock can provide or direct you to a copy of the prospectus for any fund that we
recommend to you.
SMA advisory clients may be charged various fees in addition to the advisory fee charged
by Shelter Rock Management. These fees may include investment advisory fees of
independent advisers, brokerage fees, custodial fees, and other related charges. Clients
should consider these additional costs when evaluating the overall expenses associated
with their account, including how the frequency of portfolio transactions and other factors
may impact the total cost of services.
Item 6-Performance Fees
The Adviser does not use a performance-based fee structure.
Item 7-Types of Clients
Description
The Adviser generally provides investment advice to individuals, pension, profit-sharing
plans, corporations or business entities. Relationships vary in scope and length of service.
Account Minimums
The Adviser requires a minimum of $250,000 to establish a new Advisory account;
however, the minimum may be waived at the sole discretion of the Adviser.
Item 8-Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
Security analysis methods include fundamental analysis and at times, technical analysis.
The main sources of information include company filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, financial newspapers and magazines, research materials prepared
by others, annual reports, prospectuses, and company press releases.
Investment Strategies
Strategies may include long-term purchases of investment securities, short-term purchases,
and trading purchases. The investment strategy for a specific client is based upon the
objectives stated by the client during consultations. The client may change these objectives
at any time.
The Adviser’s strategies do not involve frequent trading.
Investment Risks
All investments including the investment accounts managed by the Adviser have risks that
are borne by the investor. This includes the risks described below:
Market Risks:
Page 9 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
• General Investment Risks Including Market Volatility: The performance of
any investment is subject to numerous factors that are neither within the control of
nor predictable by the Adviser. Such factors include a wide range of economic,
political, competitive, technological, and other conditions (including acts of
terrorism and war) that may affect investments in general or specific industries or
companies. The securities markets may be volatile, which may adversely affect the
ability of the Adviser to realize profits. Additionally, specific investments in the
Adviser’s strategies may require more time than others to realize an expected return
and may experience a pricing correction in a faster-than-expected time, subjecting
the Adviser to reinvestment risk.
• Material Non-Public Information: By reason of their responsibilities in
connection with other activities of the Adviser and/or its affiliates, certain
principals or employees of the Adviser and/or its affiliates may acquire confidential
or material non-public information or be restricted from initiating transactions in
certain securities. The Adviser will not be free to act upon any such information.
Due to these restrictions, the Adviser may not be able to initiate a transaction that it
otherwise might have initiated and may not be able to sell an investment that it
otherwise might have sold.
• Fixed Income Interest Rate and Credit Risk: The price of most fixed income
securities move in the opposite direction of the change in interest rates. For
example, as interest rates rise, the price of many fixed income securities falls. This
risk is usually greater for longer-term and higher-rated fixed income securities. If
the Adviser holds a fixed-income security to maturity, the change in its price before
maturity may have little impact on the Adviser’s performance; however, if the
Adviser must sell certain fixed income securities before their maturity date, an
increase in interest rates could result in a loss to the Adviser. All fixed income
securities contain default and repayment of principal risk. Default and repayment
of principal risks are the ability of a bond issuer to repay scheduled interest
payments and principal upon a bond’s maturity in the event of an issuer’s financial
hardship. In general, lower-rated fixed income securities including high yield bonds
are more at risk of default and principal repayment than higher-rated securities
include
investment-grade bonds. The Adviser’s strategies may
including
investments in fixed income securities that are un-rated or below investment grade
that have the potential for higher returns than investment-grade bonds but also have
greater credit, volatility, and liquidity risk.
• Fixed Income Call Option Risk: Many bonds, including agency, corporate and
municipal bonds, and all mortgage-backed securities, contain a provision that
allows the issuer to “call” all or part of the issue before the bond’s maturity date.
The issuer usually retains this right to refinance the bond in the future if market
interest rates decline below the coupon rate. For callable bonds, the cash flow
pattern is not known with certainty and the capital appreciation potential of a bond
may be reduced because the price of a callable bond may not rise much above the
price at which the issuer may call the bond. The Adviser seeks to mitigate bond call
risk by analyzing the yield to call for individual bonds prior to making purchases,
Page 10 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
but there can be no assurance that it can avoid all risks associated with bonds that
may be called.
• Investments in Non-U.S. Securities: The Adviser may invest and trade a portion
of its assets in non-U.S. securities, including ADRs, foreign bonds, and mutual
funds that invest in international securities. International securities generally have
greater volatility, political, economic and currency risks than domestic securities.
Additionally, they may involve differences in accounting methods.
• Diversification: Depending on an investor’s objectives, the Adviser may manage
certain accounts in a non-diversified manner. For these investors, assets may be
concentrated in a limited number of holdings, which may cause greater volatility
based on the individual holdings than would otherwise be the case if assets were
invested in a more diversified manner.
• Liquidity: Liquidity is the ability to readily convert an investment into cash.
Securities, where there is a ready market that is traded through an exchange, are
generally more liquid. Securities traded over the counter or that do not have a ready
market or are thinly traded are less liquid and may face discounts in the price level
in a liquidation situation. Additionally, certain types of securities including small
and mid-capitalization stocks and non-investment grade bonds tend to be less liquid
and more volatile than other securities including large-capitalization stocks and
investment-grade bonds. The Adviser makes investments in a variety of different
types of securities in its managed accounts including those types that may be less
liquid and more volatile than other types.
Regulatory Risks:
• Strategy Restrictions: Certain institutions may be restricted from directly utilizing
investment strategies of the type in which the Adviser may engage. Such
institutions, including entities subject to ERISA, should consult their own advisors,
counsel, and accountants to determine what restrictions may apply and whether an
investment in the Adviser is appropriate.
• Trading Limitations: For all securities, instruments and/or assets listed on an
exchange, including options listed on a public exchange, the exchange generally
has the right to suspend or limit trading under certain circumstances. Such
suspensions or limits could render certain strategies difficult to complete or
continue and subject the Adviser to loss. Also, such a suspension could render it
impossible for the Adviser to liquidate positions and thereby expose the Adviser to
potential losses.
• Tax Risk: The tax aspects of an investment are complicated, and each investor
should have them reviewed by professional advisors familiar with such investor’s
personal tax situation and with the tax laws and regulations applicable to the
investor and private investment vehicles as applicable.
• Conflicts of Interest: In the administration of client accounts, portfolios, and
financial reporting, the Adviser faces inherent conflicts of interest which are
Page 11 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
described in this brochure. Generally, the Adviser mitigates these conflicts through
its Code of Ethics and fiduciary responsibilities as a registered investment adviser
which provides that the client’s interest is always held above that of the Firm and
its associated persons.
• Accuracy of Public Information: The Adviser selects investments, in part, based
on information and data filed by issuers with various government regulators or
made directly available to the Adviser by the issuers or through sources other than
the issuers. Although the Adviser evaluates all such information and data and
sometimes seeks independent corroboration when it is considered appropriate and
reasonably available, the Adviser is not in a position to confirm the completeness,
genuineness or accuracy of such information and data, and in some cases, complete
and accurate information is not available. Investments may not perform as expected
if the information is inaccurate.
Item 9-Legal and Disciplinary Information
The firm and its employees have not been involved in legal or disciplinary events related to
past or present investment clients.
Item 10-Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
The Adviser does not currently have any other financial industry affiliations.
Item 11-Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading
Code of Ethics
The Adviser has adopted a Code of Ethics which establishes standards of conduct for its
supervised persons. The Code of Ethics includes general requirements that such supervised
persons comply with their fiduciary obligations to clients and applicable securities laws,
and specific requirements relating to, among other things, personal trading, insider trading,
conflicts of interest and confidentiality of client information. It requires supervised persons
to report their personal securities transactions and holdings quarterly to the Adviser’s
Compliance Officer and requires the Compliance Officer to review those reports. It also
requires supervised persons to report any violations of the Code of Ethics promptly to the
Adviser’s Compliance Officer. Each supervised person of the Adviser receives a copy of
the Code of Ethics and any amendments to it and must acknowledge in writing having
received the materials. Annually, each supervised person must certify that he or she
complied with the Code of Ethics during that year. Clients and prospective clients can
obtain a copy of the Adviser’s Code of Ethics by contacting the Compliance Officer of the
Adviser.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Under the Adviser’s Code of Ethics, the Adviser and its managers, members, officers, and
employees may invest personally in securities of the same classes as are purchased for
clients and may own securities of the issuers whose securities are subsequently purchased
for clients. If an issue is purchased or sold for clients and any of the Adviser, managers,
members, officers, and employees on the same day purchase or sell the same security,
Page 12 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
either the clients and the Adviser, managers, members, officers, or employees shall receive
or pay the same price, or the clients shall receive a more favorable price. The Adviser and
its managers, members, officers, and employees may also buy or sell specific securities for
their own accounts based on personal investment considerations, which the Adviser does
not deem appropriate to buy or sell for clients.
Personal Trading
The Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser is Sean Chaitman. He conducts personal
trading reviews to ensure that personal trading does not affect the markets and that clients
of the firm receive preferential treatment.
Item 12-Brokerage Practices
Brokerage Selection and Soft Dollars
The Adviser recommends brokerage firms as qualified custodians and for trade execution.
Generally, these recommendations are based on the Adviser’s perception of the breadth of
services offered by the broker-dealer and their quality of trading execution. However, the
client may pay commissions or fees that are higher or lower than those that may be
obtained from elsewhere for similar services. The Adviser does not receive fees or
commissions from any of these arrangements.
In selecting brokers or dealers to execute transactions, the Adviser will seek to achieve the
best execution possible, but this does not require it to solicit competitive bids and does not
have an obligation to seek the lowest available commission cost. The Adviser is not
required to negotiate "execution-only" commission rates; thus, the client may be deemed to
be paying for research and related services (i.e., "soft dollars") provided by the broker
which are included in the commission rate. It is the policy and practice of the Adviser to
strive for the best price and execution for costs and discounts which are competitive in
relation to the value of the transaction, and which comply with Section 28(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Nevertheless, it is understood that the
Adviser may pay compensation on a transaction more than the amount of compensation
that another broker or dealer may charge so long as it is in compliance with Section 28(e),
and the Adviser makes no warranty or representation regarding compensation paid on
transactions. In negotiating mark-ups or mark-downs, the Adviser will consider the
financial stability and reputation of brokerage firms and the brokerage and research
services provided by such brokers, although the client may not, in any particular instance,
be the sole direct or indirect beneficiary of the research services provided. The Adviser has
no obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in executing transactions in
portfolio securities.
Custodians generally offer a variety of share classes of open-end mutual funds for client
accounts, which typically include: (1) Retail shares - generally available for purchase
without a transaction fee, but by and large, have a higher internal expense ratio than
institutional class shares); and (2) Institutional class shares - typically have a lower
internal expense ratio than the retail share class, but often require the payment of a
Page 13 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
transaction fee and may require a minimum dollar purchase or be subject to other
restrictions that make them impractical for certain clients.
Even though the transaction fees and applicable fund expenses (i.e., 12b-1 fees) are
payable to the account custodian, and not Shelter Rock or any of its employees, Shelter
Rock must still undertake a review to determine what share class is most appropriate for
the client, considering such factors as the intended purchase amount, the amount of the
transaction fee, the difference in expense ratios, the intended holding period, tax
implications, and the availability of the institutional share class.
Order Aggregation
At times, the Adviser purchases or sells the same security for many accounts, even though
each client account is individually managed. When possible, the Adviser also aggregates
the same transaction in the same securities for many clients for whom the Adviser has
discretion to direct brokerage. Clients in aggregated transactions each receive the same
price per unit, although they may pay differing brokerage commissions depending upon the
nature of their directed brokerage arrangement, if any.
If more than one price is paid for securities in an aggregated transaction, each client in the
aggregated transaction will receive the average price paid for the block of securities in the
same aggregated transaction for the day. If the Adviser is unable to fill an aggregated
transaction completely but receives a partial fill of the aggregated transaction, the Adviser
will allocate the filled portion of the transaction to clients based on an equitable rotational
system as follows:
• The Adviser must ensure that adequate and full disclosure of its allocation and
bunching practices has been made prior to the transaction.
• All clients, accounts or funds participating in the aggregated order shall receive an
average share price with all other transaction costs shared on a pro-rata basis.
• Aggregate transactions must not be executed unless the intended and resultant
aggregation is consistent with its duty to seek best execution and any terms found
in the Adviser's written agreements.
• Aggregated orders filled in their entirety shall be allocated among clients, accounts,
or funds in accordance with an allocation statement created prior to the execution
of the transaction(s); partially filled orders shall be allocated pro-rata based on the
allocation statement and the variance from the modeled allocation of a security.
Where this method prescribes an odd lot that is less than 100 shares for an account,
the allocation will be rounded up to a whole lot. Client funds held collectively for
the purpose of completing the transaction may not be held in this commingled
manner for any longer than is practical to settle the transaction.
•
• Each client, account or fund that participates in an aggregated order will participate
at the average share price for all the Adviser's transactions in that security on a
given business day, with transaction costs shared pro-rata based on each client's,
account’s, or fund's participation in the transaction.
Investments resulting from any aggregated order must be consistent with the
specific investment objective(s) of each client, account, or fund as detailed in any
Page 14 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
written agreements. No additional compensation shall result from the proposed
allocation. No client, account or fund will be favored over any other client, account,
or fund because of the allocation.
• Pre-allocation statement(s) specifying the participating client accounts and the
proposed method to allocate the order among the clients, accounts or funds are
required prior to any allocated order. The basis for establishing pre-allocations may
include pro-rata of account assets to assets for the specific strategy, executing
broker and variance from modeled position holding as factors. Should the actual
allocation differ from the allocation statement, such trade will only be settled with
the approval of the CCO or another appropriately qualified and authorized principal
of the Adviser.
In cases where the client has negotiated the commission rate directly with the broker, the
Adviser will not be able to obtain more favorable commission rates based on an aggregated
trade. In such cases, the client will be precluded from receiving the benefit of any possible
commission discounts that might otherwise be available as a result of the aggregated trade.
Directing Brokerage for Client Referrals
The Adviser and its associated persons do not receive client referrals from broker-dealers
or third parties as consideration for selecting or recommending brokers for client accounts.
Directed Brokerage
The Adviser may allow clients to direct brokerage, but the Adviser does not require clients to
direct brokerage. If a client directs the Adviser to use a particular broker or dealer, the
Adviser may not be authorized under those circumstances to negotiate commissions and
may not be able to obtain volume discounts or best execution. In addition, under these
circumstances, a disparity in commission charges may exist between the commissions
charged to clients who direct the Adviser to use a particular broker or dealer and other
clients who do not direct the Adviser to use a particular broker or dealer, which may result
in higher trading expenses to the client who directs brokerage. The Adviser may place
orders for transactions in certain securities initially only for those accounts that are held in
custody at banks or at brokerage firms that permit the Adviser to place trades for accounts
held in custody at that firm with other brokerage firms. Therefore, accounts held in custody
at firms that do not permit the Adviser to place transactions with other brokerage firms
may not be able to participate in the initial transaction and may not be able to participate in
the same gains or losses as other clients whose accounts are not so restricted. In cases
where trading or investment restrictions are placed on a client's account, the Adviser may be
precluded from aggregating that client's transaction with other accounts which may result in
less favorable security prices and/or higher transaction costs.
Item 13-Review of Accounts
Periodic Reviews
Account reviews are performed quarterly by Sean Chaitman, Chief Investment, and Chief
Compliance Officer. He will consider the client's current security positions and the
Page 15 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
likelihood that the performance of each security will contribute to the investment
objectives of the client.
Review Triggers
Accounts are reviewed quarterly or more frequently when market conditions dictate. Other
conditions that may trigger a review are changes in the tax laws, new investment
information, and changes in a client's financial or personal situation.
Client Reports
Clients may receive periodic reports that may include account valuation, performance
stated in dollars and as a percent, and portfolio attribution. Clients receive statements of
account positions and account valuation no less than quarterly from the account custodian.
Item 14-Client Referrals and Other Compensation
The Adviser does not have any arrangements in place to refer clients to another investment
adviser.
However, we do pay individuals (“solicitors”) who introduce our management services to
prospective clients. These affiliated solicitors must notify prospective clients that they are
solicitors of the Adviser at the time of the referral and the Adviser provides further details
of the referral arrangement as part of the written investment management agreement you
sign prior to the start of the advisory relationship. The fees to the solicitors are paid out of
the Adviser’s standard management fees and the payment of solicitor fees does not
increase the cost of investment management services to the client. The Adviser confirms
that all solicitors are licensed as required and are otherwise qualified to provide impersonal
investment advice. No person referred is under any obligation to agree to pay for advisory
services or to obtain desired services through the Adviser.
Item 15-Custody
The Adviser does not accept or permit the Firm or its associated persons from obtaining
custody of client assets including cash, securities, acting as a trustee, provide bill paying
service, have password access to control account activity or any other form of controlling
client assets. All checks or wire transfers to fund client accounts should be made out
to/sent directly to the account custodian.
Account Statements
All assets are held at qualified custodians and the custodians provide account statements
not less than quarterly to clients at their address of record. Clients should carefully review
such statements for any discrepancies or inaccuracies.
Performance Reports
Pursuant to recent amendments to Rule 206(4) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
the Securities and Exchange Commission now requires advisers to urge clients to compare
the information set forth in their statement from the Adviser with the statements received
directly from the custodian to ensure accuracy of all account transactions.
Page 16 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Item 16-Investment Discretion
The Adviser contracts for discretionary authority to transact portfolio securities accounts
on behalf of clients. Discretionary authority is granted by the Adviser’s investment
management agreement. The Adviser has the authority to determine, without obtaining
specific client consent, the securities to be bought or sold, and the amount of the securities
to be bought or sold. The firm's discretionary authority regarding investments may, however,
be subject to certain limitations. These limitations are recognized as the restrictions and
prohibitions placed by the client on transactions in certain types of businesses or industries.
All such restrictions are to be agreed upon in writing at the account's inception.
Retirement Plan Services
The Adviser provides investment fiduciary and retirement plan advisory services selected
by the Plan Sponsor to assist the Sponsor in meeting its requirements to prudently
administer and manage the Plan and, if applicable, to educate the Plan’s participants to
help them maximize their benefits through the Plan.
When providing any nondiscretionary fiduciary services, as selected by the Sponsor, the
Adviser will solely be making recommendations to the Sponsor, and the Sponsor retains
full discretionary authority or control over assets of the Plan.
Item 17-Voting Client Securities
The Adviser will not vote nor advise clients how to vote proxies for securities held in
client accounts. The client clearly keeps the authority and responsibility for the voting of
these proxies. The Adviser does not give any advice or take any action with respect to the
voting of these proxies. For accounts subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), the plan fiduciary specifically keeps the authority
and responsibility for the voting of any proxies for securities held in plan accounts. The
Adviser promptly passes along any proxy voting information to the clients or their
representatives.
Item 18-Financial Information
The Adviser does not have any financial commitment that impairs its ability to meet
contractual and fiduciary commitments to clients. The Adviser does not require or solicit
prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per client, six months or more in advance and
therefore is not required to provide a balance sheet.
Page 17 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
Business Continuity Plan
General
The Adviser has a Business Continuity Plan in place that provides detailed steps to
mitigate and recover from the loss of office space, communications, services, or key
people.
Disasters
The Business Continuity Plan covers natural disasters such as snowstorms, hurricanes,
tornados, and flooding. The Plan covers man-made disasters such as loss of electrical
power, loss of water pressure, fire, bomb threat, nuclear emergency, chemical event,
biological event, T-1 communications line outage, Internet outage, railway accident and
aircraft accident.
Alternate Offices
Alternate offices are identified to support ongoing operations in the event the main office is
unavailable. It is our intention to contact all clients within five days of a disaster that
dictates moving our office to an alternate location.
Information Security Program
Information Security
The Adviser maintains an information security program to reduce the risk that your
personal and confidential information is breached.
Privacy Practices
Below is a summary of the Adviser’s Privacy Policy regarding client personal information.
Shelter Rock Management, LLC:
a) Collects non-public personal information about its clients from the following
sources:
•
•
•
Information received from clients on applications or other forms
Information about clients’ transactions with the Adviser, its affiliates, and
others
Information received from our correspondent clearing broker with respect to
client accounts
Information received from service bureaus or other third parties
•
b) The Adviser will not share such information with any affiliated or nonaffiliated
third party except:
• When necessary to complete a transaction in a customer account, such as
with the clearing firm or account custodians
• When required to maintain or service a customer account
• To resolve customer disputes or inquiries
Page 18 of 20
Shelter Rock Management, LLC Brochure
• With persons acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity on behalf of
the customer
• To protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud, identity theft,
unauthorized transactions, claims or other liability
• To comply with federal, state or local laws, rules, and other applicable legal
•
requirements
In connection with a written agreement to provide investment management
or advisory services when the information is released for the sole purpose of
providing the products or services covered by the agreement
In any circumstances with the customer’s instruction or consent
•
c) Restricts access to confidential client information to individuals who are authorized
to have access to confidential client information and need to know that information
to provide services to clients.
d) Maintains physical, electronic, and procedural security measures that comply with
applicable state and federal regulations to safeguard confidential client information.
Page 19 of 20