View Document Text
Item 1:
Cover Sheet
ADV PART 2A
INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE
SINGLE POINT PARTNERS, LLC
277 Dartmouth Street
Boston, MA 02116
www.spcfo.com
Shaun D. Erickson
(617) 600-0510
March 20, 2025
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Single Point Partners,
LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at (617) 600-0510. 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. Single Point Partners, LLC is a registered investment
adviser. Registration does not imply any certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Single Point Partners, LLC is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
1
Item 2:
Statement of Material Changes
Single Point Partners, LLC is required to indicate any material changes since its last filing. Since the last filing
dated March 22, 2024, there have been no material changes.
2
Item 3:
Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Sheet ............................................................................................................................................. 1
Item 2: Statement of Material Changes .............................................................................................................. 2
Item 3: Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... 3
Item 4: Advisory Business .................................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5: Fees and Compensation .......................................................................................................................... 5
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees......................................................................................................................... 7
Item 7: Types of Clients ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ................................................................ 7
Item 9: Disciplinary Information ........................................................................................................................ 12
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ............................................................................... 13
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading ......................... 13
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ............................................................................................................................... 14
Item 13: Review of Accounts ............................................................................................................................... 15
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation ............................................................................................ 16
Item 15: Custody .................................................................................................................................................. 16
Item 16: Investment Discretion ........................................................................................................................... 17
Item 17: Voting Client Securities ......................................................................................................................... 17
Item 18: Financial Information ............................................................................................................................ 17
3
INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE
SINGLE POINT PARTNERS, LLC
Item 4:
Advisory Business
Single Point Partners, LLC (hereinafter “Single Point”) has been in business since June, 2012. Single
Point is owned by Single Point Management, LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company. Single
Point’s principal owners are Shaun D. Erickson and Rene A. Jarquin.
Single Point Partners provides services to a variety of client types, including, but not limited to,
individuals, trusts, foundations, corporations, and endowments. Single Point's Wealth LogisticsTM
service is a comprehensive financial planning, account aggregation, and financial and business
consulting option that allows clients a single point of contact for their financial management needs, all
under one fee arrangement.
Wealth LogisticsTM
Businesses employ Chief Financial Officers (CFO) to oversee, plan, and manage the finances of the
company, and Single Point believes that a clients’ personal finances require the same amount of time,
energy, and attention to detail which is why Single Point created the Wealth LogisticsTM service.
Wealth Logistics clients have a single point of contact, a “Personal CFO” for their financial lives. When
Single Point is the “single point” of contact, clients can focus on what makes them successful. This
service begins with providing Single Point information including income, investments, savings,
insurance, age, goals, financially related projects, and any other items that are helpful to the firm in
assessing a client’s needs. The information is typically provided during personal interviews and may be
supplemented with written information. Once the information is received, Single Point will discuss
needs and goals with the client, including taking an active role in planning for the short, medium, and
long term. Single Point will then proactively make recommendations for building a plan to meet those
goals, and facilitate the tasks required to implement the recommendations and manage the client’s
investment accounts (see Item 16, below). Once the plan is in motion, Single Point will continue to
play a major role in the client’s financial life by applying comprehensive risk management tools that
take into account internal factors like a client’s personal situation, as well as external factors such as
changes in the economic or tax environment. Wealth Logistics clients will have available an advisor on
all key decisions, whether it be home purchase or a major investment. In addition, Wealth Logistics
clients will receive access to reports from Single Point that provide information not only regarding any
assets managed by Single Point, but also any other assets for which information is reported to Single
Point. This account aggregation and reporting is designed to give clients a single resource to view,
analyze, question, and receive guidance on the totality of their financial lives. Single Point will also
spearhead communication with client’s other financial professionals, to ensure that clients are
properly leveraging their advisor’s various areas of expertise. It is imperative that clients receiving
Wealth Logistics services keep Single Point informed of all matters in their financial lives, as a change in
one area may significantly affect recommendations in another area.
4
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, Single Point Partners LLC has a total of $567,607,386 in assets under
management of which $558,707,750 is managed on a discretionary basis. Single Point Partners, LLC
also consults on $70,799,456 assets under advisement.
Item 5:
Fees and Compensation
Fees Charged
A.
All clients will be required to execute a written agreement that will describe the type of services to be
provided and the fees, among other items.
Wealth Logistics
The fee for the Wealth Logistics service will be an annual fixed dollar fee based on the client’s net
worth in accordance with the fee schedule below:
Fees are negotiable, and may be higher or lower than this range, based on the nature of the client.
Factors affecting fee calculations include the size of the account, complexity of asset structures, and
other factors. In circumstances where we advise on accounts that are not held at the firm, such as
403b plans, we may bill a portion of the fee from these accounts if the custodian allows for it. If you
are under the age of 40, and your Net Worth has not yet eclipsed $1.0 MM, you may be eligible for our
Wealth Start-Up pricing. Wealth Start-Up pricing receives our full Wealth Logistics service at a reduced
price of $350/mo.
Fee Payment
B.
Wealth Logistics
Fees for the Wealth Logistics service will be payable at the inception of the engagement, and either
debited quarterly from an account designated by the client or via AdvicePay. Alternative payment
arrangements may be negotiated with Single Point on a case-by-case basis. If the client terminates the
agreement prior to completion of the services, any unearned fees will be returned to the client.
5
Clients whose fees are directly debited will provide written authorization to debit advisory fees from
their accounts held by a qualified custodian chosen by the client. Each year, clients will receive a
statement outlining the fees to be debited each quarter for the year ahead , including the formula
used to calculate the fee, and the time period covered by the fee. Single Point will only update and
send additional statements during the year if the amount or method of billing from an account change.
The invoice will also state that the fee was not independently calculated by the custodian. The client
will also receive a statement from their account custodian showing all transactions in their account,
including the fee.
Single Point will cease to perform services, including processing trades and distributions, upon
termination. Assets not transferred from terminated accounts within 30 (thirty) days of termination
may be “de-linked”, meaning they will no longer be visible to Single Point and will become a retail
account with the custodian.
Other Fees
C.
When applicable, our fee is in addition to the fees charged by elected third-party investment advisers
for the portion of the client’s account under each adviser’s direct management. Clients should refer to
the selected registered investment adviser’s disclosure document (Part 2 of Form ADV or other
disclosure document in lieu of Part 2) for information regarding the advisory fees charged.
There are a number of other fees that can be associated with holding and investing in securities. You
will be responsible for these fees including transaction fees for the purchase or sale of a mutual fund
or Exchange Traded Fund, or commissions for the purchase or sale of a stock. Expenses of a fund will
not be included in management fees, as they are deducted from the value of the shares by the mutual
fund manager. When selecting mutual funds that have multiple share classes for recommendation to
clients, Single Point will take into account the internal fees and expenses associated with each share
class, and it is Single Point policy to choose the lowest-cost share class, absent circumstances that
dictate otherwise. For complete discussion of expenses related to each ETF or mutual fund, you
should read a copy of the prospectus issued by that fund. Single Point can provide or direct you to a
copy of the prospectus for any fund that we recommend to you. For a complete discussion of fees
payable to a third-party investment manager, clients should refer to that manager’s Form ADV, a copy
of which can be provided to you by the manager or Single Point.
Please make sure to read Item 12 of this informational brochure, where we discuss broker-dealer and
custodial issues.
Pro-rata Fees
D.
If you engage us during a billing quarter, the fees for that quarter will be set to start on the 1st of the
next month and you will be billed one-third or two-thirds of the quarterly fee, depending on how many
months are left in the quarter. If you terminate services during a quarter, you will be charged a fee for
the portion of the quarter during which you were a client. We will then calculate the total fee that
would be due for the quarter, divide the fee by the number of days in the quarter to arrive at a daily
rate, count the number of days the client was a client during that quarter (as applicable) and multiply
that number by the daily rate.
Compensation for the Sale of Securities.
E.
6
Not applicable.
Item 6:
Performance-Based Fees
Single Point will not charge performance-based fees.
Item 7:
Types of Clients
Clients advised may include individuals, trusts, foundations, and corporations. There is no minimum
account size required to become a client of Single Point.
Item 8:
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
It is important for you to know and remember that all investments carry risks. Investing in securities
involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear.
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
Each client’s portfolio will be invested according to that client’s investment objectives. We determine
these objectives by interviewing the client. Once we ascertain your objectives for each account, we
will develop a set of asset allocation guidelines. An asset allocation strategy is a percentage-based
allocation to different investment types. For example, a client may have an asset allocation strategy
that calls for 40-60% of the portfolio to be invested in equity securities, with 20% of that allocated to
international equities and the remaining balance in fixed income. Another client may have an asset
allocation of 50-60% in fixed income securities and the remainder equities. Another may have an
allocation that calls for 80% to be managed by third party managers and the remaining 20% in index-
based exchange-traded funds. The percentages in each type that we recommend are based on the
typical behavior of that security type or third party manager, individual securities or managers we
follow, current market conditions, your current financial situation, your financial goals, and the
timeline to get you to those goals. Because we develop an investment strategy based on your
personal situation and financial goals, your asset allocation guidelines may be similar to or different
from another client’s.
We will periodically recommend changes in your portfolio to meet the guidelines of the asset
allocation strategy. It is important to remember that because market conditions can vary greatly, your
asset allocation guidelines are not necessarily strict rules. Rather, we review accounts individually, and
may deviate from the guidelines as we believe necessary. Client’s placed in the same or similar asset
allocation percentage as other client’s may have their securities traded simultaneously, depending on
each instance, which may allow for operational efficiencies not available to Single Point if client
securities were traded individually. If the securities are not traded simultaneously, some accounts
may be modified before others. This may result in accounts being traded earlier inadvertently have an
advantage over accounts traded later.
7
The specific securities we recommend for your account will depend on market conditions and our
research at the time. Generally, we recommend index-based exchange traded funds, however, client
portfolios may also include a mix of mutual funds, index funds, stocks, bonds and options. Specific
funds are chosen based on where its investment objective fits into the asset allocation recommended
by Single Point, its risk parameters, past performance, peer rankings, fees, expenses, and any other
aspects of the fund Single Point deems relevant to that particular fund. We base our conclusions on
predominantly publicly available research, such as regulatory filings, press releases, competitor
analyses, and in some cases research we receive from our custodian or other market analyses. We
will also utilize technical analyses, which means that we will review the past behaviors of the security
and the markets in which it trades for signals as to what might happen in the future.
Additionally, as assets are transitioned from a client’s prior advisors to Single Point, clients may hold
legacy securities and may place restrictions on individual security types. Legacy securities are those
that a client owned prior to or separate from its Single Point portfolio. If a client transitions mutual
fund shares to Single Point that are not the lowest-cost share class, and Single Point is not
recommending disposing of the security altogether, Single Point will attempt to convert such mutual
fund share classes into the lowest-cost share classes the client is eligible for, taking into account any
adverse tax consequences associated with such conversion.
Third Party Managers
We also sub-advise certain portions of a client portfolio to independent third-party managers or
recommend direct investment with independent third-party managers, typically when those managers
demonstrate knowledge and expertise in a particular investment strategy.
Based on a client’s individual circumstances and needs, we will determine which selected money
manager's portfolio management style is appropriate for that client. Factors considered in making this
determination include account size, risk tolerance and the investment philosophy of the selected
money manager. We encourage clients to review each third-party manager’s disclosure document
regarding the particular characteristics of any program and managers selected by us.
The experience, expertise,
Single Point will obtain appropriate due diligence on all independent third-party managers, making
reasonable inquiries into their performance calculations, policies and procedures, code of ethics
policies and other operational and compliance matters to account for performance and risk
management.
investment philosophies and past performance of
independent third-party investment managers are examined in an attempt to determine if that
manager has demonstrated an ability to invest over a period of time and in different economic
conditions. We monitor the manager’s underlying holdings, strategies, concentration, and leverage as
part of our overall periodic risk assessment. Additionally, as part of our due-diligence process, we
survey the manager’s compliance and business enterprise risks. Single Point also confirms that each
recommended adviser is either registered or exempt from registration as an investment adviser.
We will regularly and continuously monitor the performance of the selected money managers. If we
determine that a particular selected money manager is not providing sufficient management services
to the client, or are not managing the client's portfolio in a manner consistent with the client's
investment objectives, we will remove the client's assets from that selected money manager and place
the client's assets with another money manager at our discretion and without prior consent from the
client.
8
When clients assets are allocated to a third party manager, that manager will always collect an
advisory fee from the client’s account with that manager. Single Point’s advisory fee will be collected
separately, and not remitted back to Single Point by the manager. Single Point’s fee is not in
compensation for a client referral. Rather, it is Single Point’s compensation for the portfolio
management for the client as well as ongoing diligence of that manager as it is part of client’s
portfolio.
Risk of Loss
There are always risks to investing. Clients should be aware that all investments carry various types
of risk including the potential loss of principal that clients should be prepared to bear. It is impossible
to name all possible types of risks. Among the risks are the following:
• Political Risks. Most investments have a global component, even domestic stocks. Political events
anywhere in the world may have unforeseen consequences to markets around the world.
• General Market Risks. Markets can, as a whole, go up or down on various news releases or for no
understandable reason at all. This sometimes means that the price of specific securities could go up or
down without real reason, and may take some time to recover any lost value. Adding additional
securities does not help to minimize this risk since all securities may be affected by market
fluctuations.
• Currency Risk. When investing in another country using another currency, the changes in the
value of the currency can change the value of your security value in your portfolio.
• Regulatory Risk. Changes in laws and regulations from any government can change the value of a
given company and its accompanying securities. Certain industries are more susceptible to
government regulation. Changes in zoning, tax structure or laws impact the return on these
investments.
• Tax Risks Related to Short Term Trading: Clients should note that Single Point may engage in
short-term trading transactions. These transactions may result in short term gains or losses for federal
and state tax purposes, which may be taxed at a higher rate than long term strategies. Single Point
endeavors to invest client assets in a tax efficient manner, but all clients are advised to consult with
their tax professionals regarding the transactions in client accounts.
• Purchasing Power Risk. Purchasing power risk is the risk that your investment’s value will decline
as the price of goods rises (inflation). The investment’s value itself does not decline, but its relative
value does, which is the same thing. Inflation can happen for a variety of complex reasons, including a
growing economy and a rising money supply.
• Business Risk. This can be thought of as certainty or uncertainty of income. Management comes
under business risk. Cyclical companies (like automobile companies) have more business risk because
of the less steady income stream. On the other hand, fast food chains tend to have steadier income
streams and therefore, less business risk.
• Financial Risk. The amount of debt or leverage determines the financial risk of a company.
• Default Risk. This risk pertains to the ability of a company to service their debt. Ratings provided
by several rating services help to identify those companies with more risk. Obligations of the U.S.
government are said to be free of default risk.
• Risks specific to sub-advisors and other managers. If we invest some of your assets with another
advisor, including a private placement, there are additional risks. These include risks that the other
manager is not as qualified as we believe them to be, that the investments they use are not as liquid as
we would normally use in your portfolio, or their risk management guidelines are more liberal than we
9
would normally employ. The third-party manager who has been successful in the past may not be able
to replicate that success in the future. In addition, as we do not control the underlying investments in
a third-party manager’s portfolio, there is also a risk that a manager may deviate from the stated
investment mandate or strategy of the portfolio, making it a less suitable investment for our clients.
Moreover, as we do not control the manager’s daily business and compliance operations, it is possible
for us to miss the absence of internal controls necessary to prevent business, regulatory or
reputational deficiencies.
• Short Sales. “Short sales” are a way to implement a trade in a security Single Point feels is
overvalued. In a “long” trade, the investor is hoping the security increases in price. Thus, in a long
trade, the amount of the investor’s loss (without margin) is the amount paid for the security. In a
short sale, the investor is hoping the security decreases in price. However, unlike a long trade where
the price of the security can only go from the purchase price to zero, in a short sale, the prince of the
security can go infinitely upwards. Thus, in a short sale, the potential for loss is unlimited and
unknown, where the potential for loss in a long trade is limited and knowable. Single Point utilizes
short sales only when the client’s risk tolerances permit.
•
Information Risk. All investment professionals rely on research in order to make conclusions
about investment options. This research is always a mix of both internal (proprietary) and external
(provided by third parties) data and analyses. Even an adviser who says they rely solely on proprietary
research must still collect data from third parties. This data, or outside research is chosen for its
perceived reliability, but there is no guarantee that the data or research will be completely accurate.
Failure in data accuracy or research will translate to a compromised ability by the adviser to reach
satisfactory investment conclusions.
• Small Companies. Some investment opportunities in the marketplace involve smaller issuers.
These companies may be starting up or are historically small. While these companies sometimes have
potential for outsized returns, they also have the potential for losses because the reasons the
company is small are also risks to the company’s future. For example, a company’s management may
lack experience, or the company’s capital for growth may be restricted. These small companies also
tend to trade less frequently than larger companies, which can add to the risks associated with their
securities because the ability to sell them at an appropriate price may be limited as compared to the
markets as a whole. Not only do these companies have investment risk, if a client is invested in such
small companies and requests immediate or short-term liquidity, these securities may require a
significant discount to value in order to be sold in a shorter time frame.
• Concentration Risk. While Single Point selects individual securities, including mutual funds, for
client portfolios based on an individualized assessment of each security, this evaluation comes without
an overlay of general economic or sector specific issue analysis. This means that a client’s equity
portfolio may be concentrated in a specific sector, geography, or sub-sector (among other types of
potential concentrations), so that if an unexpected event occurs that affects that specific sector or
geography, for example, the client’s equity portfolio may be affected negatively, including significant
losses.
• Transition Risk. As assets are transitioned from a client’s prior advisers to Single Point there may
be securities and other investments that do not fit within the asset allocation strategy selected for the
client. Accordingly, these investments will need to be sold in order to reposition the portfolio into the
asset allocation strategy selected by Single Point. However, this transition process may take some time
to accomplish. Some investments may not be unwound for a lengthy period of time for a variety of
reasons that may include unwarranted low share prices, restrictions on trading, contractual
restrictions on liquidity, or market-related liquidity concerns. In some cases, there may be securities or
investments that are never able to be sold. The inability to transition a client's holdings into
10
recommendations of Single Point may adversely affect the client's account values, as Single Point’s
recommendations may not be able to be fully implemented.
• Restriction Risk. Clients may at all times place reasonable restrictions on the management of their
accounts. However, placing these restrictions may make managing the accounts more difficult, thus
lowering the potential for returns.
• Risks Related to Investment Term & Liquidity. Securities do not follow a straight line up in value.
All securities will have periods of time when the current price of the security is not an accurate
measure of its value. If you require us to liquidate your portfolio during one of these periods, you will
not realize as much value as you would have had the investment had the opportunity to regain its
value. Further, some investments are made with the intention of the investment appreciating over an
extended period of time. Liquidating these investments prior to their intended time horizon may
result in losses.
• Mutual Funds. The performance of mutual funds is subject to market risk, including the possible
loss of principal. The price of the mutual funds will fluctuate with the value of the underlying securities
that make up the funds. The price of a mutual fund is typically set daily therefore a mutual fund
purchased at one point in the day will typically have the same price as a mutual fund purchased later
that same day. When selecting mutual funds that have multiple share classes for recommendation to
clients, Single Point will take into account the internal fees and expenses associated with each share
class, as it is our policy to choose the lowest-cost share class available, absent circumstances that
dictate otherwise.
• ETFs. The performance of ETFs is subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal.
The price of the ETFs will fluctuate with the price of the underlying securities that make up the funds.
In addition, ETFs have a trading risk based on the loss of cost efficiency if the ETFs are traded actively
and a liquidity risk if the ETFs have a large bid-ask spread and low trading volume. The price of an ETF
fluctuates based upon the market movements and may dissociate from the index being tracked by the
ETF or the price of the underlying investments. An ETF purchased or sold at one point in the day may
have a different price than the same ETF purchased or sold a short time later.
• Equity Securities. Equity securities tend to be more volatile than other investment choices. The
value of an individual mutual fund or ETF can be more volatile than the market as a whole. This
volatility affects the value of the client’s overall portfolio. Small and mid-cap companies are subject to
additional risks. Smaller companies may experience greater volatility, higher failure rates, more limited
markets, product lines, financial resources, and less management experience than larger companies.
Smaller companies may also have a lower trading volume, which may disproportionately affect their
market price, tending to make them fall more in response to selling pressure than is the case with
larger companies.
• Fixed Income. The issuer of a fixed income security may not be able to make interest and principal
payments when due. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security, the greater the risk that the
issuer will default on its obligation. If a rating agency gives a debt security a lower rating, the value of
the debt security will decline because investors will demand a higher rate of return. As nominal
interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities held by the Fund is likely to decrease. A nominal
interest rate is the sum of a real interest rate and an expected inflation rate.
• Options Contracts. Investments in options contracts have the risk of losing value in a relatively
short period of time. Option contracts are leveraged instruments that allow the holder of a single
contract to control many shares of an underlying stock. This leverage can compound gains or losses.
• REITs. Single Point may recommend that portions of client portfolios be allocated to real estate
investment trusts, otherwise known as “REITs”. A REIT is an entity, typically a trust or corporation that
accepts investments from a number of investors, pools the money, and then uses that money to invest
11
in real estate through either actual property purchases or mortgage loans. While there are some
benefits to owning REITs, which include potential tax benefits, income, and the relatively low barrier to
invest in real estate as compared to directly investing in real estate, REITs also have some increased
risks as compared to more traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. First, real
estate investing can be highly volatile. Second, the specific REIT chosen may have a focus such as
commercial real estate or real estate in a given location. Such investment focus can be beneficial if the
properties are successful but lose significant principal if the properties are not successful. REITs may
also employ significant leverage for the purpose of purchasing more investments with fewer
investment dollars, which can enhance returns but also enhances the risk of loss. The success of a REIT
is highly dependent upon the manager of the REIT. Clients should ensure they understand the role of
the REIT in their portfolio.
• MLPs. Single Point may recommend that portions of client portfolios be allocated to master
limited partnerships, otherwise known as “MLPs”. An MLP is a publicly traded entity that is designed
to provide tax benefits for the investor. In order to preserve these benefits, the MLP must derive
most, if not all, of its income from real estate, natural resources and commodities. While MLPs may
add diversification and tax favored treatment to a client’s portfolio, they also carry significant risks
beyond more traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. One such risk is
management risk-the success of the MLP is dependent upon the manager’s experience and judgment
in selecting investments for the MLP. Another risk is the governance structure, which means the rules
under which the entity is run. The investors are the limited partners of the MLP, with an affiliate of the
manager typically the general partner. This means the manager has all of the control in running the
entity, as opposed to an equity investment where shareholders vote on such matters as board
composition. There is also a significant amount of risk with the underlying real estate, resources, or
commodities investments. Clients should ask Single Point any questions regarding the role of MLPs in
their portfolio.
• Structured Notes. Single Point may include structured notes within its investment portfolios
when deemed appropriate. Structured notes have a relative lack of liquidity due to the highly
customized nature of the investment and rarely trade after issuance. Moreover, the full extent of
returns from the complex performance features is not realized until maturity. Selling before maturity
may be at a significant discount. Because of this, structured notes tend to be more of a buy-and-hold
investment decision. Counterparty risk is another inherent risk with structured notes. A principal
protected note is backed by the firm that issued the note. In the case of a bankruptcy of the issuer, the
noteholder would be repaid at a rate equivalent to other senior unsecured debt holders of the firm.
Principal protected notes are not usually FDIC insured.
A special note related to the calculation of tax basis: If a client is unable to provide information on
cost basis for tax purposes for each investment at the onset of the client relationship, Single Point will
be unable to provide accurate cost basis information in the future. To the extent any cost basis
calculation is ever performed for a client, such client should be aware that without accurate
information, any cost basis estimates prepared by Single Point will be based on the information
available combined with certain assumptions as well as mathematical computation. Therefore, if the
cost basis is not accurate at the onset of the relationship, there is no guarantee that Single Point’s
calculations will be correct, and materially adverse tax circumstances may result.
Item 9:
Disciplinary Information
12
Neither the firm nor any of its employees or principals has any disciplinary information to report.
Item 10:
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Broker-dealer
Neither the principals of Single Point, nor any related persons are registered, or have an application
pending to register, as a broker-dealer or as an associated person of a broker-dealer. Please refer to
Item 12 which discusses Single Point’s relationship with Fidelity Institutional Brokerage Group.
B. Futures Commission Merchant/Commodity Trading Advisor
None of the firm’s principals or related persons are registered, or have an application pending to
register, as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, a commodity trading advisor,
or an associated person of the foregoing entities.
C. Relationship with Related Persons
Single Point does not have any relationships with related persons which would have a material impact
on a client’s advisory relationship with Single Point.
D. Recommendations of Other Advisers
While Single Point may recommend the use of third-party managers for client accounts, Single Point
does not receive any compensation from managers for placing assets with them. Further, there are no
relationships with third party managers that would give rise to a conflict of interest.
Item 11:
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and
Personal Trading
A copy of our Code of Ethics is available upon request. Our Code of Ethics includes discussions
A.
of our fiduciary duty to clients, political contributions, gifts, entertainment, and trading guidelines.
Single Point does not recommend to clients that they invest in any security in which Single
B.
Point or any principal thereof has any financial interest.
C.
On occasion, an employee of Single Point may purchase for his or her own account securities
which are also recommended for clients. Our Code of Ethics details rules for employees regarding
personal trading and avoiding conflicts of interest related to trading in one’s own account. To avoid
placing a trade before a client (in the case of a purchase) or after a client (in the case of a sale), all
employee trades must be reviewed by the Compliance Officer. All employee trades must either take
place in the same block as a client trade or sufficiently apart in time from the client trade so the
employee receives no added benefit. Employee statements, trading blotters and reports through our
13
third-party reporting software for accounts held-away are reviewed to confirm compliance with the
trading procedures.
D.
On occasion, an employee of Single Point may purchase for his or her own account securities
which are also recommended for clients at the same time the clients purchase the securities. Our
Code of Ethics details rules for employees regarding personal trading and avoiding conflicts of interest
related to trading in one’s own account. To avoid placing a trade before a client (in the case of a
purchase) or after a client (in the case of a sale), all employee trades must be reviewed by the
Compliance Officer. All employee trades must either take place in the same block as a client trade or
sufficiently apart in time from the client trade so the employee receives no added benefit. Employee
statements, trading blotters and reports through our third-party reporting software for accounts held-
away are reviewed to confirm compliance with the trading procedures.
Item 12:
Brokerage Practices
Recommendation of Broker-Dealer
A.
Single Point recommends that investment accounts be held in custody by Fidelity Institutional
Brokerage Group (“Fidelity”). Fidelity offers enhanced services to independent investment advisors.
These services include custody of securities, trade execution platforms, and access to research not
available to the general public. Fidelity is wholly independent from Single Point. It is expected that
most, if not all, transactions in a given client account will be cleared through the custodian of that
account in its capacity as a broker-dealer.
Single Point recommends Fidelity to its clients based on a variety of factors. These include, but are not
limited to, commission costs. Fidelity has what can be considered discounted commission rates.
However, in choosing a broker-dealer or custodian to recommend, we are most concerned with the
value the client receives for the cost paid, not just the cost. Fidelity adds value beyond commission
cost. Other factors that may be considered in determining overall value include speed and accuracy of
execution, financial strength, knowledge and experience of staff, research, and service. Fidelity also
has arrangements with many mutual funds that enable us to purchase these mutual funds for client
accounts at reduced transaction charges (as opposed to other broker-dealers). Fidelity has the highest
market share of investment adviser business which makes them the most experienced in matters likely
to arise for our clients. Single Point re-evaluates the use of Fidelity at least annually to determine if
they are still the best value for our clients.
Fidelity provides Single Point with some non-cash benefits (not available to retail customers) in return
for placing client assets with them or executing trades through them. Currently, these benefits come
in the form of investment research and sponsored attendance at various investment seminars. We
may also receive such items as investment software, books, and research reports. These products,
services, or educational seminars are items that will play a role in determining how to invest client
accounts. If there is any item that has a multi-use aspect, mixed between investment and non-
investment purposes, Single Point will determine a reasonable allocation of investment to non-
investment use and non-cash benefits will be allocated only to the investment portion of the product
(and we will pay the remaining cost). Single Point receives a benefit from these services, as otherwise
we would be compiling the same research ourselves. This may cause a conflict of interest as we may
14
to want to place more client accounts with a broker-dealer/custodian such as Fidelity, solely because
of these added benefits. As such, Single Point may have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-
dealer based on interests in receiving the research or other products or services, rather than on
clients’ interest in receiving most favorable execution. Single Point attempts to mitigate this potential
conflict by performing regular reviews of execution services and value clients receive to ensure clients
are receiving the best possible value for costs paid. However, the value to all of our clients of these
benefits is included in our evaluation of custodians. Products and services received will generally be
used for the benefit of all clients. However, it is possible that a given client’s trades will generate non-
cash benefits that acquire products and/or services that are not ultimately utilized for that same
client’s account. Non-cash benefits provide additional value and are accordingly considered in
determining which broker-dealer or custodian to utilize as part of our best execution analysis.
We do not consider whether Fidelity or any other broker-dealer/custodian, refers clients to Single
Point as part of our evaluation of these broker-dealers.
Aggregating Trades
B.
Commission costs per client may be lower on a particular trade if all clients in whose accounts the
trade is to be made are executed at the same time. This is called aggregating trades. Instead of
placing a number of trades for the same security for each account, we will, when appropriate, execute
one trade for all accounts and then allocate the trades to each account after execution. If an
aggregate trade is not fully executed, the securities will be allocated to client accounts on a pro rata
basis, except where doing so would create an unintended adverse consequence (For example, ¼ of a
share, or a position in the account of less than 1%.)
Item 13:
Review of Accounts
All accounts will be reviewed by one of Single Point’s licensed professionals, on at least an annual
basis. However, it is expected that market conditions, changes in a particular client’s account, or
changes to a client’s circumstances will trigger a review of accounts.
All clients will receive access to Single Point’s performance reporting system which provides up-to-date
reporting. This report will include valuations as of the end of each quarter and current asset
allocations. Wealth Logistics clients will receive reports that also include assets held by custodians
other than Fidelity, and/or managed by other advisers, as well as status of projects being monitored by
Single Point.
Clients should carefully review the statements they receive directly from Fidelity and advise Single
Point Partners if they have any questions or concerns about their portfolios. Regular communication
from the client greatly assists us in performing our services. If a client does not understand or agree
with the asset allocation, holdings, or use of other managers discussed in any portion of a statement or
a report from Single Point Partners, the client should contact us immediately so that any concerns may
be resolved. Clients should also be aware that the software utilized by Single Point Partners may
calculate asset levels differently, as it accounts for dividends differently than Fidelity's statement. Any
differences between the two reports for the same time period should be fractional. Any significant
differences should be brought to our attention so they may be resolved.
15
Item 14:
Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Fidelity provides us with some non-cash benefits (not available to retail customers) in return for
placing client assets with them or executing trades through them. Such non-cash benefits are referred
to as “soft dollars”. Currently, these benefits come in the form of investment research and sponsored
attendance at various investment seminars. We may also receive such items as investment software,
books, and research reports. These products, services, or educational seminars are items that will play
a role in determining how to invest client accounts. If there is any item that has a multi-use aspect,
mixed between investment and non-investment purposes, Single Point will determine a reasonable
allocation of investment to non-investment use and soft dollars will be allocated only to the
investment portion of the product (and we will pay the remaining cost). Single Point receives a benefit
from these services, as otherwise we would be compiling the same research ourselves. This may cause
a conflict of interest as we may to want to place more client accounts with a broker-dealer/custodian
such as Fidelity, solely because of these added benefits. As such, Single Point may have an incentive to
select or recommend a broker-dealer based on interests in receiving the research or other products or
services, rather than on clients’ interest in receiving most favorable execution. Single Point attempts to
mitigate this potential conflict by performing regular reviews of execution services and value clients
receive to ensure clients are receiving the best possible value for costs paid. However, the value to all
of our clients of these benefits is included in our evaluation of custodians. Products and services
received via soft dollars will generally be used for the benefit of all clients. However, it is possible that
a given client’s trades will generate soft dollars that acquire products and/or services that are not
ultimately utilized for that same client’s account. Soft dollars provide additional value and are
accordingly considered in determining which broker-dealer or custodian to utilize as part of our best
execution analysis.
Item 15:
Custody
There are two avenues through which Single Point has custody of client funds; by directly debiting its
fees from client accounts pursuant to applicable agreements granting such right, and potentially by
permitting clients to issue standing letters of authorization (“SLOAs”). SLOAs permit a client to issue
one document that directs Single Point to make distributions out of the client’s account(s). Clients will
receive statements directly from Fidelity, and copies of all trade confirmations directly from Fidelity.
Clients whose fees are directly debited will provide written authorization to debit advisory fees from
their accounts held by a qualified custodian chosen by the client. Each year, clients will receive a
statement outlining the fees to be debited each quarter for the year ahead, including the formula used
to calculate the fee, and the time period covered by the fee. Single Point will only update and send
additional statements during the year if the amount or method of billing from an account change.
The invoice will also state that the fee was not independently calculated by the custodian. The client
will also receive a statement from their account custodian showing all transactions in their account,
including the fee.
We encourage clients to carefully review the statements and confirmations sent to them by their
custodian, and to compare the information on your quarterly report prepared by Single Point against
the information in the statements provided directly from Fidelity. Please alert us of any discrepancies.
16
In addition to the account custodian’s custody procedures, clients issuing SLOAs will be requested to
confirm, in writing, that the accounts to which funds are distributed are parties unrelated to Single
Point or Fidelity.
Item 16:
Investment Discretion
Asset management services provided to Wealth Logistics clients may be provided on a “discretionary”
basis. When Single Point is engaged to provide asset management services on a discretionary basis,
we will monitor your accounts to ensure that they are meeting your asset allocation requirements. If
any changes are needed to your investments, we will make the changes. These changes may involve
selling a security or group of investments and buying others or keeping the proceeds in cash. You may
at any time place restrictions on the types of investments we may use on your behalf, or on the
allocations to each security type. You may receive at your request written or electronic confirmations
from your account custodian after any changes are made to your account. You will also receive
monthly statements from your account custodian. Clients engaging us on a discretionary basis will be
asked to execute a Limited Power of Attorney (granting us the discretionary authority over the client
accounts) as well as a Wealth Logistics Agreement that outlines the responsibilities of both the client
and Single Point.
We generally recommend that clients utilize Fidelity Brokerage Group to act as the broker-
dealer/custodian for their accounts. However, the client may use another broker-dealer if the client
wishes to do so.
Item 17:
Voting Client Securities
Copies of our Proxy Voting Policies and procedures are available upon request.
From time to time, shareholders of stocks, mutual funds, exchange traded funds or other securities
may be permitted to vote on various types of corporate actions. Examples of these actions include
mergers, tender offers, or board elections. Clients are required to vote proxies related to their
investments, or to choose not to vote their proxies. Single Point will not accept authority to vote client
securities. Clients will receive their proxies directly from the custodian for the client account. Single
Point will not give clients advice on how to vote proxies.
Item 18:
Financial Information
Single Point does not require the prepayment of fees more than six (6) months or more in advance and
therefore has not provided a balance sheet with this brochure.
There are no material financial circumstances or conditions that would reasonably be expected to
impair our ability to meet our contractual obligations to our clients.
17