Overview
- Headquarters
- Beachwood, OH
- Average Client Assets
- $2.9 million
- Minimum Account Size
- $10,000
- SEC CRD Number
- 153184
Recent Rankings
Barron's 2025:
23
Barron's 2024:
22
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (ADV PART 2A SWP WRAP BROCHURE 03.2026)
| Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | and above | 2.00% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
| Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $20,000 | 2.00% |
| $5 million | $100,000 | 2.00% |
| $10 million | $200,000 | 2.00% |
| $50 million | $1,000,000 | 2.00% |
| $100 million | $2,000,000 | 2.00% |
Clients
- HNW Share of Firm Assets
- 63.68%
- Total Client Accounts
- 47,696
- Discretionary Accounts
- 45,275
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 2,421
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals, Portfolio Management for Institutional Clients, Pension Consulting, Investment Advisor Selection, Educational Seminars
Regulatory Filings
Additional Brochure: ADV PART 2A SWP FIRM BROCHURE 04.2026 (2026-04-17)
View Document Text
ITEM 1: COVER PAGE
Part 2A of Form ADV: Firm Brochure
Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd.
3750 Park East Drive, Suite 200
Beachwood, OH 44122
440-519-2500
Fax 855-863-4623
www.stratoswealthpartners.com
April 17, 2026
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Stratos Wealth
Partners, Ltd. (“SWP”). If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact
your Stratos representative or Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. at (440) 519-2500. The information in
this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) or by any state securities authority.
Additional information about Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Note,
however, that such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The oral and written
communications we provide to you (including this brochure) are information you use to evaluate us (and
other advisers), and thus are a factor in your decision to hire us or to continue to maintain a mutually
beneficial relationship.
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ITEM 2: MATERIAL CHANGES
The Material Changes section of this brochure will be updated annually or when material changes occur
since the previous release of the disclosure brochure.
Clients wishing to receive a complete copy of this brochure may download it from the SEC website as
indicated on page 1 of this brochure or contact our Chief Compliance Officer at 440-519-2500.
This section describes the material changes to SWP’s brochure since its last filing.
SWP had the following material change to its business since its last ADV amendment in June 2025:
•
Items 4 and 10 have been updated to reflect an indirect change of control of SWP. On
December 3, 2025, SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, LLC (“SEI Holdco”), which is owned
by a subsidiary of SEI Investments Company, and Stratos Management Holdings, LLC,
indirectly acquired the interests of SWP.
•
Item 4 has been updated to describe services available to SWP from its affiliate, SEI
Investment Management Corporation (“SIMC”), including a third-party manager platform
and Outsourced Chief Investment Officer services.
•
Item 10 was updated to reflect that when SWP utilizes affiliate SIMC’s third-party manager
platform, additional fees paid by clients to SIMC create indirect economic benefits to SWP
affiliates, and to describe related conflicts of interest arising from the use of affiliate custodial
services through SEI Private Trust Company (“SPTC”).
•
Item 12 has been updated to reflect that SWP IARs have access to alternative investments
through the SEI Access Marketplace and the Select List and to describe conflicts of interest
arising from the waiver of certain fees for those products and services because of the common
ownership between SWP and SEI Investments Company.
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ITEM 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 1: Cover Page ............................................................................................................................................. 1
ITEM 2: Material Changes .................................................................................................................................... 2
ITEM 3: Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................... 3
ITEM 4: Advisory Business ................................................................................................................................. 4
ITEM 5: Fees and Compensation ....................................................................................................................... 20
ITEM 6: Performance Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management .................................................................... 28
ITEM 7: Types of Clients ................................................................................................................................... 28
ITEM 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ............................................................ 28
ITEM 9: Disciplinary Information ...................................................................................................................... 33
ITEM 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .......................................................................... 33
ITEM 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading ..................... 39
ITEM 12: Brokerage Practices ............................................................................................................................ 40
ITEM 13: Review of Accounts ........................................................................................................................... 47
ITEM 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation .......................................................................................... 47
ITEM 15: Custody............................................................................................................................................... 51
ITEM 16: Investment Discretion......................................................................................................................... 52
ITEM 17: Voting Client Securities ..................................................................................................................... 53
ITEM 18: Financial Information ......................................................................................................................... 53
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ITEM 4: ADVISORY BUSINESS
Introduction
Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. (“SWP”) has been an SEC registered investment adviser since 2010. On
December 3, 2025, SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, LLC (“SEI Holdco”), which is owned by a subsidiary
of SEI Investments Company, and Stratos Management Holdings, LLC, indirectly acquired the interests
of SWP. SEI Holdco is a holding company which owns, among other companies, three other registered
investment advisers and a limited purpose broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Please see Item 10 for
more information.
SWP’s advisory services are made available to clients primarily through individuals associated with SWP
as investment advisor representatives (“IARs”). Most IARs are independent contractors of SWP and may
have their own legal business entities whose trade names and logos are used for marketing purposes and
may appear on marketing materials and/or client statements. The client should understand that the
businesses are legal entities of the IAR and not of SWP. The IARs are under the supervision of SWP, and
the advisory services of the IAR are provided through SWP. SWP has these arrangements with the
business entities listed in Schedule D of Form ADV. SWP has developed a program that provides for a
limited number of IARs to become employees of SWP. Please see Item 14 for more information.
For more information about the IAR providing advisory services, clients should refer to the Brochure
Supplement (also called the ADV Part 2B) for the IAR. The Brochure Supplement is a separate document
that is provided by the IAR along with this disclosure brochure before or at the time a client engages the
IAR. If the client did not receive a Brochure Supplement for the IAR, the client should contact the IAR or
SWP at (440) 519-2500.
As of December 31, 2025, SWP had approximately $17,848,000,000 in assets under management on a
discretionary basis and approximately $798,400,000 in assets under management on a non-discretionary
basis.
Types of Advisory Services
SWP offers various types of advisory services and programs, including but not limited to: advisor-
managed wrap and non-wrap programs, asset allocation programs, advisory programs offered by third
party investment advisor firms, and financial planning services.
Not all services are available to all clients, through all advisers, or in all states. In addition, services may
not be available at all custodians.
SWP currently has agreements with the following broker-dealer custodians:
• LPL Financial (“LPL Financial” or “LPL”), Member FINRA/SIPC;
• Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC and National Financial Services, LLC (collectively
“Fidelity”), Member FINRA/SIPC;
• Charles Schwab (“Schwab”), Member FINRA/SIPC; and
• SEI Private Trust Company (“SPTC”), Member FINRA/SIPC.
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A separate disclosure brochure is provided for services offered through the Retirement Plan Consulting
Program offered through LPL Financial. If the IAR participates in the Retirement Plan Consulting
Program, the IAR will be dually registered with the LPL Financial Registered Investment Advisor firm.
If clients would like more information on this program, clients should contact the IAR for a copy of the
program brochure that describes this program, or go to www.adviserinfo.sec.gov for LPL Financial.
SWP provides non-wrap accounts through each of the above custodians. Not all custodians or products
are available to all clients or IARs, or in all states.
Accounts at the custodians listed above are also available under a wrap fee program. Please see the separate
SWP Wrap Fee Brochure for further information. There is no significant difference between the way
IARs manage wrap fee accounts and non-wrap fee accounts. However, if a client determines to engage
SWP on a wrap fee basis, the client will pay a single fee for investment management and transaction fees.
The services included in a wrap fee agreement will depend upon client needs. If the client determines to
engage SWP on a non-wrap fee basis, the client will select services on an unbundled basis, paying for
each service separately. Note: when managing a client’s account on a wrap fee basis, SWP will receive,
as payment for its investment advisory services, the balance of the wrap fee after all other costs
incorporated into the wrap fee have been deducted. Inasmuch as the execution costs for transactions
effected in the client account will be paid by the IAR, a conflict of interest exists in that the IAR may have
a disincentive to trade securities in the client account. In addition, the amount of compensation received
by SWP as a result of the client’s participation in the wrap program may be more than what SWP would
receive if the client paid separately for investment management and transaction fees.
SWP offers customized individually managed portfolios or management based on model accounts. IARs
will determine and present to clients an asset allocation specific to the client based upon a client’s
individual investment goals, objectives, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon.
Strategic Wealth Management (“SWM”)
SWM Accounts are unbundled or non-wrap accounts that are custodied at LPL Financial. The client pays
an advisory fee to SWP and ticket or transaction charges on each transaction executed in the account. The
exception is that there may be a select listing of securities (typically reserved to mutual funds) for which
no transaction fees will be assessed. However, the security may be subject to a holding period to avoid
early liquidation fees. For securities with holding periods, clients are not prevented from liquidating during
the holding periods, however, there is a fee associated with liquidations during the holding period.
SWM is a comprehensive, open-architecture, fee-based investment platform where multiple investments
can be aggregated into one account with one consolidated statement for the client. Clients’ portfolios may
consist of stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”)/exchange traded notes (“ETNs”), no-load and/or
load mutual funds and cash or cash equivalents, or other securities deemed by the IAR to be appropriate
and suitable for the client.
SWM Accounts are offered on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis as agreed to between the client
and the IAR. Non-discretionary accounts require the IAR to discuss all changes in the client’s portfolio
with the client, and receive client approval, prior to execution of the transactions. For discretionary
accounts, the IAR will make changes within the client’s portfolio as deemed appropriate by IAR without
delay and without contacting the client prior to the transaction. Clients will receive confirmations and
statements from LPL Financial reflecting all transactions in their account. SWP or IAR will not have the
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discretionary authority to close the account or withdraw funds or securities, with the exception of SWP’s
advisory fees on a quarterly basis.
The IAR will determine and present to clients an asset allocation specific to the client based upon a client’s
individual investment goals, objectives, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon. Clients may have a
customized individually managed portfolio managed by the IAR or participate in various model portfolios
designed by IAR(s) consistent with the client’s stated investment objective. A model portfolio will be
managed similar to other clients utilizing the model. There are no guarantees that a portfolio based on a
model will ensure positive results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. In either case, the
IAR provides ongoing advice on the selection or replacement of a portfolio based on the client’s individual
needs. The IAR may choose more than one portfolio to be managed for the client’s account. SWP also
offers an advisor-managed wrap fee program called the SWP Wealth Management II Program. Please see
the SWP Wrap Fee Program Brochure for further information on this program.
SWP provides asset management services on an ongoing basis based on the individual needs of the client.
The management program through SWP offers clients flexibility among payment structures, custodians,
and management styles. Management will be on an active basis. Thus, IARs will actively monitor the
assets in the account and make changes or recommendations the IAR deems appropriate in light of the
circumstances in the market.
SWP does not take custody of SWM Accounts except under the following conditions, which are
considered by the SEC to be custody:
1. SWP is deemed to have custody because of its ability to deduct investment advisory fees
from client account(s). Clients will receive a statement at least quarterly direct from the
account custodian showing the deduction of SWP fees from their account(s). Authorization
to deduct SWP fees from client account(s) is given in the agreement executed between SWP
and the client.
2. SWP is deemed to have custody if clients establish a standing letter of authorization to direct
SWP to transfer funds or securities from client account(s) to a specified third party and
clients give SWP the authorization to change the timing and or the amount of the
transfer. SWP does not have the ability to change the third party without a client’s written
authorization.
3. SWP is deemed to have custody when an IAR elects to utilize SEI Investment Management
Corporation (“SIMC”) as a third-party manager. Most SIMC-managed programs utilize SEI
Private Trust Company (“SPTC”) as custodian. Because of the indirect acquisition by SEI
Holdco of interests in SWP, when an IAR selects a program that results in SPTC acting as
custodian for those assets, SWP is deemed to have custody of those assets. Please see Item
10 for more information.
A minimum account value of $10,000 is required for SWM Accounts; however, in certain instances, the
minimum account size may be lower.
Advisor-Managed, Non-Wrap Accounts
For SWP’s additional advisor-managed, non-wrap accounts, the client pays a management fee to SWP
and ticket or transaction charges on each transaction executed in the account. The exception is that there
may be a select listing of securities (typically reserved to mutual funds) for which no transaction fees will
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be assessed. However, the security may be subject to a holding period to avoid early liquidation fees. For
securities with holding periods, clients are not prevented from liquidating during the holding periods,
however, there is a fee associated with liquidations during the holding period.
The IAR will determine and present to clients an asset allocation specific to the client based upon a client’s
individual investment goals, objectives, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon. Clients may have a
customized individually managed portfolio managed by the IAR or participate in various model portfolios
designed by IAR(s) consistent with the client’s stated investment objective. A model portfolio will be
managed similar to other clients utilizing the model. There are no guarantees that a portfolio based on a
model will ensure positive results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. In either case, the
IAR provides ongoing advice on the selection or replacement of a portfolio based on the client’s individual
needs. The IAR may choose more than one portfolio to be managed for the client’s account. SWP also
offers an advisor-managed wrap fee program called the Advisor Wealth Management II Program. Please
see the SWP Wrap Fee Program Brochure for further information on this program.
The IAR provides asset management services on an ongoing basis based on the individual needs of the
client. The management program through SWP offers clients flexibility among payment structures,
custodians, and management styles. Management will be on an active basis. Thus, IARs will actively
monitor the assets in the account and make changes the IAR deems appropriate in light of the
circumstances in the market.
These non-wrap accounts are custodied at Fidelity, Schwab or SPTC. SWP does not take custody except
under the following conditions:
1. SWP is deemed to have custody because of its ability to deduct investment advisory fees
from client account(s). Clients will receive a statement at least quarterly from the account
custodian showing the deduction of SWP fees from their account(s). Authorization to deduct
SWP fees from client account(s) is given in the agreement executed between SWP and the
client.
2. SWP is deemed to have custody if clients establish a standing letter of authorization to direct
SWP to transfer funds or securities from client account(s) to a specified third party and
clients give SWP authorization to change the timing and or the amount of the transfer. SWP
does not have the ability to change the third party without a client’s written authorization.
3. SWP is deemed to have custody when an IAR elects to utilize SEI Investment Management
Corporation (“SIMC”) as a third-party manager. Most SIMC-managed programs utilize SEI
Private Trust Company (“SPTC”) as custodian. Because of the indirect acquisition by SEI
Holdco of interests in SWP, when an IAR selects a program that results in SPTC acting as
custodian for those assets, SWP is deemed to have custody of those assets. Please see Item
10 for more information.
Clients’ portfolios may consist of stocks, bonds, ETFs/ETNs, no-load and/or load mutual funds and cash
or cash equivalents, or other securities deemed by the IAR to be appropriate and suitable for the client.
If the SWP account is opened containing existing securities previously purchased through or is opened
with cash proceeds from the sale of securities sold through Fidelity, Schwab, SPTC or the IARs, Fidelity,
Schwab, SPTC and/or the IAR may have already received commissions on the purchase. Additional
commissions will not be charged, however, the fees discussed below will be charged.
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Clients are advised that transactions in the account, account reallocations and rebalancing may trigger a
taxable event for the client, with the exception of transactions in IRA accounts, 403(b) accounts and other
qualified retirement accounts. SWP does not offer tax advice and clients are urged to consult with their
tax advisors.
A minimum account value of $10,000 is required for advisor-managed, non-wrap accounts; however, in
certain instances, the minimum account size may be lower.
Discretion on Held-Away Assets
When requested by the client, IARs of SWP can provide discretionary investment management and
periodic monitoring by leveraging the order management system provided by Pontera with respect to
certain accounts (primarily 401(k) participant accounts, health-savings accounts and other assets identified
by the client) held with custodians other than those referenced in Item 12. In such instances, the IAR will
regularly review the available investment options in these accounts, monitor them, and rebalance and
implement its strategies as necessary in the same manner as if such accounts were held with a custodian
referenced in Item 12.
Sub-Advisory Services through SWP
Some IARs of SWP may act as subadvisor to other non-affiliated registered investment advisers (“RIAs”).
SWP will manage such accounts in accordance with the investment objective applicable to the end client.
SWP will rely on the primary RIA to determine the needs of the client and recommend the investment
objective to the client.
SWP will typically require discretionary authority in order to select securities and execute transactions
without permission from the client prior to each transaction. SWP recommends Fidelity to maintain
custody of clients’ assets and to effect trades for their accounts. SWP seeks to provide investment
decisions that are made in accordance with the fiduciary duties owed to its accounts and without
consideration of SWP’s economic, investment or other financial interests. To meet its fiduciary
obligations, SWP attempts to avoid, among other things, investment or trading practices that
systematically advantage or disadvantage certain client portfolios, and accordingly, SWP’s policy is to
seek fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities/transactions among its clients to
avoid favoring one client over another over time.
Stratos Investment Management, LLC
SWP sponsors the Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. Wrap Fee Program and hires Stratos Investment
Management, LLC (“SIM”), an affiliate of SWP, to act as its portfolio manager for that program. SIM
also provides subadvisory services to IARs of SWP on a non-wrap fee basis. SIM offers ongoing portfolio
management based on the individual goals, objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance of each client. The
wrap fee program allows the investor to pay one stated fee that includes management fees and transaction
costs.
SIM primarily acts as a subadvisor. Its portfolio management services include, but are not limited to, the
following:
Investment strategy
•
• Asset allocation
• Portfolio construction
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• Risk tolerance
• Regular portfolio monitoring
SIM will typically require discretionary authority in order to select securities and execute transactions
without permission from the client prior to each transaction. However, the firm may also provide non-
discretionary portfolio management if needed. Advisors working with SIM often recommend Fidelity to
maintain custody of clients’ assets and to effect trades for their accounts but may also recommend that
Schwab or LPL maintain custody of clients’ assets and effect trades for their accounts. SIM seeks to
provide investment decisions that are made in accordance with the fiduciary duties owed to its accounts
and without consideration of SIM’s economic, investment or other financial interests. To meet its fiduciary
obligations, SIM attempts to avoid, among other things, investment or trading practices that systematically
advantage or disadvantage certain client portfolios. It is SIM’s policy to allocate investment opportunities
and transactions it identifies as being appropriate and prudent among its clients on a fair and equitable
basis to avoid favoring one client over another over time. Clients should refer to Items 10 and 14 below
for more information about conflicts of interest that may arise when using SIM as a portfolio manager.
SIM is under common control with SWP and Stratos Wealth Advisors, LLC (“SWA”). SWP and SWA
have overlap in personnel with SIM and use SIM as a subadvisor for many client accounts. SIM complies
at all times with its fiduciary duty as an investment adviser. Please see Item 10 below for more information
about conflicts of interest that may arise when using SIM as a portfolio manager.
For more information regarding SIM, including more information on the advisory services and fees that
apply, the types of investments available in the programs, and the conflicts of interest presented by the
programs, please see both the SWP Wrap Fee Program Brochure and the SIM Form ADV Part 2A Firm
Brochure.
Financial Planning Services
As part of its financial planning services, SWP (through its IARs) provides personal financial planning
tailored to the individual needs of the client. The services described below may not be available through
all IARs. SWP offers financial planning services under the following structures:
Financial Plans for a Flat Fee
With this structure, the engagement terminates upon delivery of the financial plan. SWP offers various
types and levels of financial planning. The level and type of services will vary among IARs and will
depend on the needs of the client.
Subscription Financial Planning Services
Clients seeking to receive ongoing financial planning advice may choose to pay a recurring subscription
fee for such services. Recurring fees are negotiated between the IAR and the client and reflect the
service(s) provided.
Hourly Consulting Services
SWP, through its IARs, provides consulting services on an hourly basis. The IAR tailors the hourly
consulting services to the individual needs of the client, and the engagement terminates upon final
consultation with the client.
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The Employer Sponsored Account Recommendations (“ESAR”) Service
IARs may also provide financial planning advice to plan participants regarding their retirement plans under
all financial planning service structures. IARs may provide advice for qualified plan participants. They
will provide specific recommendations to clients if they are not being provided under a separate Stratos
program. With this service, an IAR may provide clients with specific investment recommendations for
their retirement plan assets that are not managed by an SWP IAR. It is up to the client to decide whether
to implement the recommendations made by the IAR. The IAR may provide these services for free, or
charge either a flat fee or an hourly fee. The IAR may also provide these services through the Financial
Wellness Program or as part of a Subscription Financial Planning Service, however the IAR’s fiduciary
status changes as listed below.
When providing ESAR services through a one-time engagement (free, flat fee or hourly fee structure)
services are not provided on a regular or ongoing basis. The IAR will not be deemed to be a fiduciary
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) with respect to the participant’s
plan assets. To maintain the non-fiduciary status under ERISA, the program limits the number of
engagements with any client to one per calendar year.
When providing ESAR services as part of a Subscription Financial Planning Service the services are
considered to be provided on a regular or ongoing basis. The advisor assumes the role of fiduciary under
the ERISA with respect to the participant’s plan assets.
The following information applies to all Financial Planning services offered by SWP:
SWP and the IAR do not have any discretionary investment authority when offering financial planning
services. The IAR makes recommendations as to general types of investment products or securities that
may be appropriate for the client to consider and may also provide recommendations regarding specific
investments or securities.
Planning and consulting services are based on the client’s financial situation at the time and are based on
financial information disclosed by the client to SWP. Clients are advised plans may contain certain
assumptions that may be made with respect to interest and inflation rates and use of past trends and
performance of the market and economy. However, past performance is not an indication of future
performance. SWP cannot offer any guarantees or promises that the client’s financial goals and objectives
will be met. Further, clients must continue to review any plan or analysis and update the plan based upon
changes in the client’s financial situation, goals, or objectives, or any changes in the economy. Should a
client’s financial situation or investment goals or objectives change, the client must notify SWP promptly.
Clients are advised that fees for financial planning and/or consulting services are strictly for the planning
and/or consulting services. Therefore, clients may pay fees and/or commissions for additional services
obtained (e.g., asset management) or products purchased (e.g., securities or insurance).
Financial Planning Services may include, but not be limited to, the following examples of services:
• Retirement Planning
• General, Segmented and Comprehensive Financial Planning
• Educational Planning
• Cash Flow Analysis
• Estate Planning
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Insurance Needs Analysis
• Budget Planning
• Tax Planning
•
• Business Continuity, Succession and Exit Planning
• Asset Allocation Services
• Sports and Entertainment Management
• Executive Planning
• Corporate Benefit Consulting
• Other planning and consulting services as requested by the client and agreed to by the IAR
SWP will gather financial information and history from clients, which may include, among other things,
retirement and financial goals, risk tolerance, investment horizon, financial needs, cost of living needs,
education needs, savings tendencies, and other applicable financial information required by SWP in order
to provide the investment advisory services requested.
As stated above, the level and type of services will depend upon the needs of the client. Depending on the
services requested, clients may receive a written analysis, summary or plan. One or more meetings may
be necessary with the client and may involve other professionals, as invited and agreed to by the client
(e.g., attorneys and/or certified public accountants). The financial plan may be constructed or prepared by
a Stratos party other than the IAR,
SWP and the IAR do not have any discretionary investment authority when offering financial planning.
Conflicts of Interest for Financial Planning and Consulting Services
Under all Financial Planning programs offered by SWP, IARs have a conflict of interest to recommend
their own services for asset management and/or insurance. Clients are under no obligation to use SWP or
the IAR for the services, or to take action as recommended by the IAR.
Third Party Investment Adviser (“TPIA”) Account Management Services
SWP offers the following TPIA account management programs. Not all of these programs are available
to all clients, all IARs, or are offered in all states.
Under these TPIA programs, SWP (through its IARs) provides ongoing investment advice to clients that
is tailored to the individual needs of the client. SWP IARs may interact with each TPIA as a promoter, a
subadvisor, or a dual contract advisor. The IAR’s responsibilities will be different under each of these
arrangements. The specifics of the IAR’s role and payment of fees will be governed by the TPIA
Investment Management Agreement with SWP, and the client’s agreement with the TPIA. As part of
these TPIA services, the IAR obtains the necessary financial data from the client and assists the client
with: determining the suitability of the program; setting an appropriate investment objective; and opening
an account with the TPIA. In addition, depending on the type of program, the IAR may assist the client in
selecting a model portfolio of securities designed by the TPIA or selecting a portfolio management firm
to provide discretionary asset management services. The IAR may have discretionary authority to select
the TPIA or to make changes to the TPIA. It is the TPIA (and not the IAR) that has client authority to
purchase and sell securities on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis pursuant to the investment
objective chosen by the client. This authorization will be set out in the TPIA client agreement. The
disclosure brochure for the particular TPIA will explain whether clients may impose restrictions on
investing in certain securities or types of securities.
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SWP offers the following programs utilizing TPIA managers:
SEI Investment Management Corporation (“SIMC”)
SWP may provide advisory services through certain programs offered by SEI Investment Management
Corporation (“SIMC”), a registered investment adviser under common indirect ownership with SWP.
Because SIMC is an affiliate, recommending SIMC introduces a conflict of interest, as SIMC receives
additional compensation for managing client assets. SWP’s IARs do not receive additional compensation
for recommending SIMC programs.
SIMC provides discretionary portfolio management services through a range of investment programs. The
specific features, investment approaches, and account requirements of each SIMC program are described
in SIMC’s Form ADV Part 2A and the applicable client agreement.
SWP is deemed to have custody when an IAR elects to utilize SEI Investment Management Corporation
(“SIMC”) as a TPIA. Most SIMC-managed programs utilize SEI Private Trust Company (“SPTC”) as
custodian. Because of the indirect acquisition by SEI Holdco of interests in SWP, when an IAR selects a
program that results in SPTC acting as custodian for those assets, SWP is deemed to have custody of those
assets. Please see Item 10 for more information.
Clients are not required to use SIMC and may request alternative TPIAs. Clients should review SIMC’s
disclosure brochure for detailed information regarding services, fees, and conflicts applicable to SIMC-
managed programs.
SEI Investment Management Corporation (“SIMC”) Advisory Programs
SIMC provides investment advisory services to a wide range of institutional and individual clients,
including pension plans, endowments, foundations, corporations, and retail investors. SIMC also advises
pooled investment vehicles such as mutual funds, ETFs, hedge funds, private equity funds, and collective
investment trusts, and sponsors managed account programs. SWP is an affiliate of SIMC, under mutual
indirect ownership. When SWP recommends SIMC Advisory Programs, clients will pay an additional fee
to SIMC, in addition to their IAR’s stated management fee, please see Item 10 for more information about
conflicts of interest that an SWA IAR has when recommending the use of the below SIMC Advisory
Programs.
Independent Advisor Solutions by SEI (“IAS”) Programs
SIMC offers several advisory programs through its Independent Advisor Solutions platform for use by
IARs with their clients. Below is a brief description of each program. For more information on each
program please seem SIMC’s ADV Part 2A. Minimum account balances vary (typically between $25,000
- $250,000) depending upon the managed account strategy chosen and whether the client selects the tax
management feature.
SEI Asset Allocation Models
This program provides IARs with access to SIMC-developed model portfolios consisting of SEI mutual
funds and SEI ETFs. SIMC acts as a non-discretionary advisor by publishing and periodically updating
these models, while the IAR determines suitability and implements allocations for clients. SIMC does not
charge a direct program fee; however, SIMC and its affiliates earn fees from the underlying SEI Funds
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and SEI ETFs for advisory, administrative, and distribution services. This creates a conflict of interest
because SIMC benefits financially from allocations to proprietary funds. SIMC mitigates this conflict
through disclosure and by leaving all client-level decisions to the IAR.
Managed Account Solutions (MAS)
MAS is a wrap fee program sponsored by SIMC, which acts as the discretionary manager. MAS includes
two components: Individual Manager Strategies, which are portfolios managed by third-party managers
or SIMC, and Models-Based Strategies, which use SEI funds, SEI ETFs, or third-party ETFs and funds.
Clients pay a bundled fee covering advisory, brokerage, and custody services, as detailed in SIMC’s Wrap
Brochure. SIMC earns additional revenue when proprietary SEI funds or SEI ETFs are included in MAS
portfolios, creating a conflict of interest. SIMC mitigates this by waiving or rebating fees on SEI fund
assets within MAS.
Sub-Advised Program
Under this program, SIMC provides discretionary and non-discretionary sub-advisory services to IARs.
SIMC manages assets according to strategies selected by the IAR and charges tiered fees based on strategy
type and account size, ranging from 0.15% to 1.05%, plus an optional tax overlay fee of 0.10%. SIMC
may include SEI funds or SEI ETFs in these strategies, which creates a conflict of interest because SIMC
earns additional fees from these products. SIMC mitigates this conflict through disclosure and fee offsets
or rebates.
Gateway Manager Program
This program provides IARs access to third-party managers’ equity and fixed-income strategies. SIMC’s
role is limited to implementing equity models and providing optional tax overlay services. Fees are
bundled and charged by SIMC’s affiliate, SEI Global Services, Inc. (SGS), and tax overlay services add
0.10%. Fee arrangements with Gateway Managers vary, creating potential economic incentives for
affiliates. SIMC mitigates this conflict through disclosure and by leaving manager selection solely to the
IAR.
Firm Model Portfolio Program
IARs participating in this program create and manage their own model portfolios. SIMC provides overlay
services and optional tax management. Fees are negotiated with each IAR but do not exceed 0.30%. SIMC
earns additional revenue when SEI funds or SEI ETFs are included in Advisor-created models, creating a
conflict of interest. SIMC addresses this conflict through disclosure and by leaving all investment
decisions to the IAR. Although the IAR does not receive additional compensation for the use of SEI
proprietary funds or SEI ETFs, SWP benefits indirectly from the use of an affiliated asset manager, as its
corporate parent receives additional fees when proprietary products are used to manage client assets.
Strategist Program
SIMC publishes asset allocation models for use on third-party platforms. IARs remain the sole fiduciary
and are responsible for determining suitability. SIMC generally does not charge a fee for models consisting
solely of SEI Funds but earns fund-level fees from SEI funds and SEI ETFs included in these models.
This creates a conflict of interest, which SIMC mitigates through disclosure. Although the IAR does not
receive additional compensation for the use of SEI proprietary funds or SEI ETFs, SWA benefits indirectly
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from the use of an affiliated asset manager, as its corporate parent receives additional fees when
proprietary products are used to manage client assets.
LPL Financial Sponsored Advisory Programs
SWP may provide advisory services through certain programs sponsored by LPL Financial, a registered
investment advisor and broker-dealer. Below is a brief description of each LPL advisory program
available through SWP. For more information regarding the LPL programs, including more information
on the advisory services and fees that apply, the types of investments available in the programs, and the
conflicts of interest presented by the programs, please see the LPL Financial Form ADV Part 2A or the
applicable program’s ADV Part 2A and the applicable client agreement.
Personal Wealth Portfolios Program (“PWP”)
PWP offers clients an asset management account using asset allocation model portfolios designed by LPL.
IARs have discretion for selecting the asset allocation model portfolio based on the client’s investment
objective. They also have discretion for selecting third party money managers (PWP Advisors), mutual
funds and Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) within each asset class of the model portfolio. LPL will act
as the overlay portfolio manager on all PWP accounts and will be authorized to purchase and sell on a
discretionary basis mutual funds, ETFs, and equity and fixed income securities.
A minimum account value of $250,000 is required for the PWP. In certain instances, LPL will permit a
lower minimum account size.
Optimum Market Portfolios Program (“OMP”)
OMP offers clients the ability to participate in a professionally managed asset allocation program using
Optimum Funds shares. Under OMP, the client authorizes LPL on a discretionary basis to purchase and
sell Optimum Funds pursuant to investment objectives chosen by the client. The IAR assists the client in:
determining the suitability of OMP for the client, and setting an appropriate investment objective. The
IAR has discretion to select a mutual fund asset allocation portfolio designed by LPL consistent with the
client’s investment objective. LPL will have discretion to purchase and sell Optimum Funds pursuant to
the portfolio selected for the client. LPL will also have authority to rebalance the account.
A minimum account value of $10,000 is required for OMP. In certain instances, LPL will permit a lower
minimum account size.
Model Wealth Portfolios Program (“MWP”)
MWP offers clients a professionally managed mutual fund asset allocation program. SWP obtains the
necessary financial data from the client and assists the client in: determining the suitability of the MWP
program, and setting an appropriate investment objective. The IAR initiates the steps necessary to open
an MWP account and has discretion to select a model portfolio designed by LPL’s Research Department
consistent with the client’s stated investment objective. LPL’s Research Department or third-party
portfolio strategists are responsible for selecting the mutual funds or ETFs within a model portfolio and
for making changes to the mutual funds or ETFs selected.
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The client authorizes LPL to act on a discretionary basis to purchase and sell mutual funds and ETFs and
to liquidate previously purchased securities. The client also authorizes LPL to effect rebalancing for MWP
accounts.
MWP requires a minimum asset value for a program account to be managed. The minimums vary
depending on the portfolio(s) selected and the account’s allocation amongst portfolios. The lowest
minimum for a portfolio is $25,000. In certain instances, a lower minimum for a portfolio is permitted.
Manager Access Select (“MAS”)/Managed Access Network (“MAN”) Program
MAS/MAN provides clients access to the investment advisory services of professional portfolio
management firms for the individual management of client accounts. The IAR assists the client in
identifying a third-party portfolio manager (“Portfolio Manager”) from a list of Portfolio Managers made
available by LPL. The Portfolio Manager manages the client’s assets on a discretionary basis. The IAR
provides initial and ongoing assistance regarding the Portfolio Manager selection process.
A minimum account value of $100,000 is required for the MAS/MAN Program, however, in certain
instances, the minimum account size may be lower or higher.
Small Market Solution (“SMS”) Program
Under SMS, LPL Research (a team of investment professionals within LPL) creates and maintains a series
of different investment menus (“Investment Menus”) consisting of a mix of different asset classes and
investment vehicles (“investment options”) for clients that sponsor and maintain participant-directed
defined contribution plans (“Plan Sponsors”). The Plan Sponsor is responsible for selecting the Investment
Menu that it believes is appropriate based on the demographics and other characteristics of the Plan and
its participants. LPL Research is responsible for the selection and monitoring of the investment options
made available through Investment Menus (“Fiduciary Selection Services”). The investment options that
are offered through SMS are limited to the specific investments available through the recordkeeper that
the Plan Sponsor selects. The Plan Sponsor may only select an Investment Menu in its entirety and does
not have the option to remove or substitute an investment option.
If the Plan is subject to ERISA, LPL will be a “fiduciary” and serve as “investment manager” (as that term
is defined in section 3(38) of ERISA) in connection with the Fiduciary Selection Services. None of the
services offered under SMS other than the Fiduciary Selection Services will constitute “investment
advice” under 3(21)(A)(ii) of ERISA, or otherwise cause LPL or SWP to be deemed a fiduciary.
In addition to the Fiduciary Selection Services, the Plan Sponsor may also select from a number of non-
fiduciary consulting services available under SMS that are provided by SWP. These consulting services
may include, but are not limited to: general education, and support regarding the Plan and the investment
options selected by Plan Sponsor; assistance regarding the selection of, and ongoing relationship
management for, recordkeepers and other third-party vendors; Plan participant enrollment support; and
participant-level education regarding investment in the Plan. These consulting services do not include any
individualized investment advice to the Plan Sponsor or Plan participants with respect to Plan assets, and
LPL and SWP do not act as fiduciaries under ERISA in providing such consulting services.
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Guided Wealth Portfolios (“GWP”)
GWP offers clients the ability to participate in a centrally managed investment program, which is made
available to users and clients through LPL’s Account View, a web-based interactive account management
portal. The Program generates investment recommendations based upon model portfolios constructed by
LPL and selected for the account. Communications concerning GWP are intended to occur primarily
through electronic means (including but not limited to, through email communications or through such
portal), although SWP will be available to discuss investment strategies, objectives or the account in
general in person or via telephone.
A preview of the Program (the “Proposal Tool”) is provided to help users determine whether they would
like to become advisory clients and receive ongoing financial advice from LPL and SWP by enrolling in
the advisory service (the “Advisory Service”). The Proposal Tool and Advisory Service are described in
more detail in the GWP Program Brochure. Users of the Proposal Tool are not considered to be advisory
clients of LPL or SWP, do not enter into an advisory agreement with LPL or SWP, do not receive ongoing
investment advice or supervisions of their assets, and do not receive any trading services.
Investors participating in the Advisory Service complete an account application and enter into an account
agreement with LPL and SWP. Based on information provided by the client in a client profile, LPL selects
an appropriate investment allocation track and model portfolio for a client. The SWP IAR is required to
review and accept the account, including the investment allocation track and model portfolio, prior to
account opening. The model portfolios have been designed and are maintained by LPL Research and
include a list of ETF holdings and may in the future include mutual funds holdings and include relative
weightings and a list of potential replacement securities for tax harvesting purposes. LPL Research
currently serves as the sole Portfolio Strategist and does not charge a fee for its services. Only one Model
Portfolio is permitted per account.
A minimum account value of $5,000 is required to enroll in the Managed Service.
Conflicts of Interest
Transactions in LPL advisory program accounts are effected through LPL as the executing broker-dealer.
The IAR receives management fees as a result of a client’s participation in an LPL program. Depending
on, among other things, the type and size of the account, type of securities held in the account, changes in
its value over time, ability to negotiate fees or commissions, historical or expected size or number of
transactions, and number and range of supplementary advisory and client-related services provided to the
client, the amount of this compensation may be more or less than what SWP would receive if the client
participated in other programs, whether through LPL or another sponsor, or paid separately for investment
advice, brokerage and other services.
In addition, SWP has a fee arrangement with LPL related to assets held on one of the LPL advisory
programs. Under this arrangement, LPL pays SWP a rebate based on the amount of assets invested in that
LPL program. This results in a conflict of interest between clients and SWP because receipt of the rebate
gives SWP an incentive to recommend that clients invest assets in the program; however, this conflict is
mitigated insofar as the rebate payments SWP receives are not shared with the IAR who selects or
recommends the program for its clients.
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The account fee for GWP may be higher than the fees charged by other investment advisors for similar
services, and clients could generally pay a lower advisory fee for algorithm-driven, automated (“robo”)
investment advisory services through another robo provider. However, clients using such direct robo
services will forgo opportunities to utilize LPL-constructed model portfolios or to work directly with a
financial advisor.
Clients should consider the level and complexity of the advisory services to be provided when negotiating
the account fee (or the advisor fee portion of the account fee, as applicable) with SWP. With regard to
accounts utilizing third-party portfolio managers under aggregate, all-in-one account fee structures
(including MAS, PWP and the legacy MWP fee structure), because the portion of the account fee retained
by SWP varies depending on the portfolio strategist fee associated with a portfolio, SWP has a financial
incentive to select one portfolio instead of another portfolio.
Fidelity Advisory Programs
SWP may also provide advisory services through Fidelity as the broker-dealer custodian. Below is a brief
description of advisory programs available at Fidelity.
Fidelity Separate Account Network® (“SAN”) – Fidelity offers a Separate Account Network program
(“SAN Program”), a unified platform for managed portfolios. The SAN Program enables the IAR to have
the ability to build separately managed account portfolios from a vast network of managers to meet client
needs which will be managed as a wrap fee program by designated SAN Managers on a discretionary
basis. The minimum investment required by each individual SAN Manager must be met. Please refer to
the SAN Manager’s Form ADV Part 2A or the comparable disclosure document and the Form ADV Part
2A, Appendix 1 provided to clients by their SWP IAR.
Some managers under the SAN program may require an additional client advisory agreement in addition
to the agreement signed with SWP. For a complete description of the services offered, the programs, the
fees charged and minimum account requirements, please refer to the separate disclosure brochure (such
as Part 2A of Form ADV) maintained by the Manager as provided by the IAR.
Clients should carefully review these additional disclosure brochures for important and specific details
including, among other things, fees, experience, investment objectives, and risk guidelines, and disclosure
of the money manager’s conflicts of interest.
The client and IAR together determine which program is appropriate for the client. Clients will receive
confirmations and statements reflecting all transactions in their account. SWP will not have the
discretionary authority to close the account or withdraw funds or securities, with the exception of SWP’s
advisory fees on a quarterly basis.
Clients should refer to the disclosure brochure, client agreement and other account paperwork for each
TPIA for more detailed information about the services available under the program.
Envestnet
Envestnet provides broad access to financial products, including institutional money managers. In
addition, IARs can select from Envestnet’s portfolio consulting group and Fund Strategist Network.
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Fund Strategist Network
Envestnet’s Fund Strategist Network provides IARs with access to institutional managers to develop
unique strategies for their client’s portfolios. IARs can access asset allocation and investment
management assistance from fund strategists who can deliver multi-asset solutions for their clients. The
IAR will recommend an appropriate model portfolio. Once the model portfolio is selected, the strategist
will be responsible for monitoring the performance of the holdings in their model portfolios and will adjust
and rebalance the model portfolio in accordance with their investment strategy. The fund strategist will
manage on a discretionary basis. The client may be somewhat restricted in their ability to directly contact
and consult with the fund strategists, but the IAR is available to address any questions, issues or concerns
about the performance of their accounts. The minimum investment required by each fund strategist, which
will vary from $5,000 to $50,000.
Envestnet ONE, Unified Managed Account (UMA)
The Envestnet UMA program offers a single portfolio that can access multiple asset managers to address
a variety of asset classes. This investment model seeks to deliver the benefits of a traditional separately
managed accounts in a single, broadly diversified portfolio by combining institutional money managers,
ETFs and mutual funds into a single portfolio and custodial account. Envestnet also provides overlay
management services to seek tax efficiencies and appropriate asset allocation across the portfolio. The
minimum investment required for a UMA is $250,000, but may be negotiated lower at account opening.
Schwab Advisory Programs
SWP may also provide advisory services through Schwab as the broker-dealer custodian. Below is a brief
description of advisory programs available at Schwab.
Managed Account Select
This wrap fee program sponsored by Schwab includes brokerage, custody and money manager services.
The IAR has access to professional money managers that have been evaluated by Schwab. The money
managers will manage the accounts on a discretionary basis. The IAR will have access to ongoing research
and comparative reports regarding the money manager selected for clients. The account minimum for the
Managed Account Select program is typically $100,000 for accounts utilizing equities but may be more
for fixed income.
Managed Account Access
This wrap fee program sponsored by Schwab also provides access to professional money managers. The
IAR will select from an array of money managers and hundreds of investment strategies. The money
managers will manage the accounts on a discretionary basis. The account minimum for the Managed
Account Access program is typically $100,000 for accounts utilizing equities but may be more for fixed
income.
Managed Account Marketplace
In this program, the IAR will work with the client to negotiate directly with money managers of the client’s
choosing. Marketplace allows the IAR and the client to use money managers based on their own
negotiated arrangements. Account minimums will be as negotiated with the money manager selected.
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Referral Services for Investment Advisors
SWP and its IARs may act as referral agents on behalf of TPIAs pursuant to a referral agreement. In such
case, SWP provides services to the TPIA related to the referred client. The IAR provides the referred client
a disclosure statement regarding the role of SWP and the IAR as a referral agent, but the IAR does not
enter into an agreement with the client to provide ongoing investment advice. Instead, the client engages
the TPIA for advisory services. Please see Item 14 below for more information about these referral services
and the related compensation.
Clients should refer to the disclosure brochure, client agreement and other account paperwork for each
TPIA for more detailed information about the services available under the program.
SWP and SIMC Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (“OCIO”)
SWP IARs who are not registered with LPL, working with SIMC, offer Outsourced Chief Investment
Officer solutions including investment management and investment advisory services directly to
institutional clients through SEIC’s business segment called Institutional Investors (the “Institutional
Group”). Certain SWP IARs, together with SIMC’s Institutional Group, delivers integrated healthcare,
retirement and non-profit investment solutions to institutional clients including, but not limited to,
corporate and union sponsored pension plans, public plans, defined contribution plans (including 401(k)
plans), endowments, charitable foundations, and hospital organizations.
The solutions offered by certain SWP IARs, along with SIMC’s Institutional Group, are designed to enable
clients to meet financial objectives, reduce business risks and fulfill their due diligence requirements
through implemented fiduciary management strategies for defined benefit plans, defined contribution
plans, endowments, foundations and other balance sheet assets. The SWP IAR and SIMC’s Institutional
Group provides customized asset allocation advice to clients based on the financial objectives, investment
objectives, risk tolerance and investment restrictions of the individual client (“Investment Guidelines”).
The SWP IAR will focus on client relationship management, while SIMC’s Institutional Group primarily
focuses on the asset allocation, with input from the SWP IAR. SIMC uses a proprietary asset allocation
methodology to make its initial and ongoing recommendations. SIMC’s methodology uses estimates of
the long-term rates of return, volatility and correlations of various asset classes. SIMC also provides
comparisons of its performance to relevant benchmarks.
SIMC maintains an open architecture investment management platform. The foundation of the approach
is strategic asset allocation, and portfolios are designed to capture opportunities over both the short-term
and the long-term. SIMC recommends a strategic asset allocation for each client based on input from the
SWP IAR, such client’s Investment Guidelines, objectives and risk constraints. While this allocation
should be the primary focus for a client to achieve its investment objectives, there may be periods of time
in which it is possible to capture shorter-term market opportunities. Services seek to implement advice in
the most efficient manner. Further, asset allocation changes are recommended to attempt to improve
portfolio returns as well as to reduce risks.
When recommending or implementing a client’s customized asset allocation portfolio, SIMC’s
Institutional Group generally invests Client assets in: (i) SIMC’s Pooled Investment Vehicles; (ii)
individual equities or fixed income vehicles; (iii) derivatives; and/or (iv) other investments as otherwise
may be agreed. Subject to client-specific contractual terms, the SWP IAR and SIMC generally assumes
full management responsibilities for the agreed-upon client portfolio upon, or shortly after, executing an
investment management agreement with the client. As part of the on-boarding process, the SWP IAR and
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SIMC will review the client’s current investment portfolio and work with the client to determine if any
portfolio assets will be retained.
IRA Rollovers
When IARs recommend that a client rollover his or her account from the current retirement plan to an IRA
managed by the IAR, SWP and its IARs have a conflict of interest because SWP and its IARs earn
investment advisory fees by recommending the rollover to an IRA managed by the IAR. SWP requires
that IARs making such a recommendation comply with Impartial Conduct Standards, which are achieved
by: (i) providing investment advice that is in the client’s best interest; (ii) charging only reasonable
compensation; (iii) making no materially misleading statements about the investment transaction and other
relevant matters; and (iv) seeking to obtain the best execution of the investment transaction reasonably
available under the circumstances. In connection with a rollover recommendation, SWP and its IARs will
provide a written disclosure acknowledging that SWP and its IARs are fiduciaries under ERISA, along
with a written description regarding the services to be provided, SWP’s compensation to be received and
any material conflicts of interest related to the transaction.
ITEM 5: Fees and Compensation
The advisory fees payable upon initial implementation are collected directly from the account (provided
the client has given SWP written authorization for SWP to deduct the fees directly from the account).
Advisory fees for all subsequent periods will be collected directly from the account, provided authorization
was obtained. Clients will be provided with an account statement from the account custodian, reflecting
the deduction of the advisory fee. If the account does not contain sufficient funds to pay advisory fees,
SWP has limited authority to sell or redeem securities in sufficient amounts to pay advisory fees. The client
may reimburse the account for advisory fees paid to SWP, except for ERISA and IRA accounts.
Fees are negotiable and are not based on a share of capital gains/losses upon or capital
appreciation/depreciation of the funds or any portion of the funds.
Most SWP IARs charge an ongoing asset-based fee which is a percentage of the value of the client’s account.
The more assets a client has in an asset-based fee account, the more the client will pay the SWP IAR in
fees. This creates an incentive for the IAR to encourage clients to increase the size of their account,
including by transferring or rolling over assets from other accounts.
Additionally, in limited cases, the client’s managed accounts may be aggregated together to determine a fee
breakpoint. Therefore, clients with multiple managed accounts will be charged a fee considering the
account values in total. In these cases, and when available, it is a benefit to the client to have an IAR that
aggregates accounts. Alternatively, some IARs may charge a corresponding fee based on each account size.
Therefore, clients with multiple accounts may pay a different fee depending on the account size.
The maximum annual advisory fee is 2.0% for SWM and other advisor-managed non-wrap accounts.
In limited cases, SWP may apply a flat fee to provide asset management services. The maximum flat fee
will be no more than 2.0% of the assets under management. Details regarding billing can be found in the
client agreement for the applicable accounts. Clients should understand that this may create a conflict of
interest, as SWP’s and the IAR’s compensation does not increase or decrease along with the client’s
account value.
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Transaction Charges:
In addition to the advisory fees above, clients with non-wrap fee accounts will pay a transaction charge
for each transaction. Transaction charges are not assessed by SWP and SWP does not share in the
transaction charges. The transaction charges are assessed by the broker-dealer executing the transaction
and may be changed at any time by the broker-dealer. The following list of fees or expenses are what
clients pay directly to third parties, whether a security is being purchased, sold or held in an account under
SWP management. Fees are charged by the broker-dealer/custodian.
Clients who custody their account at LPL financial will typically pay higher transaction fees and higher
fees for structured products than they would at other custodians such as Fidelity or Schwab.
SWP does not receive, directly or indirectly, any of these fees charged to the client. They are paid to the
broker, custodian or the mutual fund or other investment that is held. The fees include, among others:
• Accounts holding Alternative Investments will be charged an annual custodial fee per
position per account per year
• Brokerage commissions
• Transaction fees
• Exchange fees
• SEC fees
• Advisory fees and administrative fees charged by mutual funds/ ETFs
• Advisory fees charged by subadvisors (if any are used for your account)
• Custodial fees
• Trade-away fees
• Deferred sales charges (on mutual funds or annuities)
• Odd-Lot differentials
• Transfer taxes
• Wire transfer and electronic fund processing fees
• Commissions or mark-ups/mark-downs on security transactions
Ticket Charges
There are conflicts of interest to consider in connection with the selection of mutual funds and a specific
transaction cost commonly known as ticket charge associated with each mutual fund transaction.
As background, custodians often make available mutual funds that offer various classes of shares. Some
share classes of a fund charge higher internal expenses, whereas other share classes of a fund charge lower
internal expenses. Institutional and advisory share classes (collectively, “institutional shares” or
“institutional share classes”) typically have lower expense ratios and are less costly for a client to hold
than Class A shares or other share classes that are eligible for purchase in an advisory account. In some
instances, a mutual fund offers only Class A shares, but another similar mutual fund may be available that
offers institutional shares.
Whether a mutual fund or a specific share class of a mutual fund incurs a ticket charge often depends on
whether the mutual fund or the mutual fund share class has 12b-1 fees (fees paid by the mutual fund to
distributors of the funds to cover the cost of distribution and/or shareholder services). For instance, where
a mutual fund or mutual fund share class has 12b-1 fees can correlate with no ticket charge. Additional
fees that could have an impact on whether a mutual fund or mutual fund share class has a ticket charge or
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not also include recordkeeping fees to the custodian. Mutual funds and mutual fund share classes with no
ticket fees (which can be described as NTF shares) usually have higher fees and expense ratios, and the
associated costs would be incurred by the client. Mutual funds and mutual fund shares with ticket fees
usually have lower fees and expenses, which would lessen the associated fees and expense costs on the
client.
SWP has a policy that IARs recommend the lower cost share class reasonably available at the time through
the custodian where a client account is located. Furthermore, SWP conducts surveillance to test this policy
and maintains a process to reasonably conduct conversions to the lower cost share class, where applicable
and possible depending on availability with an individual custodian.
We strongly encourage clients to discuss with their IAR whether lower cost share classes are available
with a particular custodian or a particular managed account program; why the particular funds or other
investments that will be purchased or held in a client’s account are appropriate in consideration of their
expected holding period, investment objective, risk tolerance, time horizon, financial condition, amount
invested, trading frequency, the amount of the advisory fee charged; whether clients will pay higher
internal fund expenses in lieu of transaction charges that could adversely affect long-term performance;
and relevant tax considerations.
Clients using non-wrap fee accounts pay a fee to SWP plus transaction charges. Typically, this
option may be more economical for those managed accounts where there is less trading or where
mutual funds with no transaction fees will be primarily utilized in the management of the portfolio.
SWP may, on occasion, aggregate trades for clients and provide clients an average execution price. The
fixed transaction costs charged by the broker-dealer for these aggregated trades will be assessed on a pro-
rated basis.
Fees and Termination Provisions for Advisor Managed Accounts custodied at SPTC
Advisory fees on accounts that are custodied at SPTC as a result of utilizing SIMC as a TPIA will be
charged in advance on a calendar quarter basis. Fees will be calculated based upon the value of the portfolio
on the last business day of the just completed quarterly period. Advisory fees for accounts opened on a day
other than the first day of the calendar quarterly period or closed on a day other than the last business day
of the calendar quarterly period will be prorated based on the number of days in the quarter. The initial fee
for accounts established during a calendar quarter will be billed to the account in arrears at the beginning
of the calendar quarter following execution of this agreement along with the first full calendar quarter’s
fee paid in advance. Therefore, for accounts established during a calendar quarter, the first fee paid by the
client may be a large fee since it will be a combination of the first full calendar quarter fee paid in advance
and a prorated fee for the remaining quarter in which the account was established. The initial fee will be
calculated based on the value of the account on the last business day of the then current calendar quarter
and prorated based on the number of days remaining in the quarter starting with the date the client executed
the advisory agreement (e.g., an account established on July 25, the initial fee will be invoiced to the
account sometime within the month of October. The initial fee will be calculated using the value of the
account on the last business day of September and will be prorated from the date the advisory agreement
was signed to the end of September. Additionally, the fee deducted from the account, based on the example,
will include the fee paid in advance for October through December and calculated based on the value of
the account on the last business day of September).
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Clients may make additions to the account or withdrawals from the account. Additional assets deposited
into the account after it is opened will be charged a pro-rata fee based upon the number of days remaining
in the then-current quarterly period. Additionally, partial withdrawals from the account will result in a pro-
rated refund or credit of fees to the account. Fee adjustments for additional deposits to the account and
partial withdrawals from the account will be calculated in arrears or in the next quarterly period billing
cycle. Fee adjustments will be calculated based on the value at the time of the additional deposit or partial
withdrawal. No fee adjustments will be made for account appreciation or depreciation.
Fees and Termination Provisions for Accounts custodied at LPL Financial, (for SWM Accounts)
Certain IARs of SWP are also associated with LPL Financial as broker-dealer registered representatives
(“Dually Registered Persons”). In their capacity as registered representatives of LPL Financial, certain
Dually Registered Persons may earn commissions for the sale of securities or investment products that
they recommend for brokerage clients. They do not earn commissions on the sale of securities or
investment products recommended or purchased in advisory accounts through SWP. Clients have the
option of purchasing many of the securities and investment products SWP makes available through
another broker-dealer or investment adviser. However, when purchasing these securities and investment
products away from SWP, clients will not receive the benefit of the advice and other services SWP
provides.
Advisory fees will be charged in advance on a calendar quarter basis. Fees will be calculated based upon
the value of the portfolio on the last business day of the just completed quarterly period. Advisory fees for
accounts opened on a day other than the first day of the calendar quarterly period or closed on a day other
than the last business day of the calendar quarterly period will be prorated based on the number of days in
the quarter. The initial fee for accounts established during a calendar quarter will be billed to the account
in arrears at the beginning of the calendar quarter following execution of this agreement along with the
first full calendar quarter’s fee paid in advance. Therefore, for accounts established during a calendar
quarter, the first fee paid by the client may be a large fee since it will be a combination of the first full
calendar quarter fee paid in advance and a prorated fee for the remaining quarter in which the account was
established. The initial fee will be calculated based on the value of the account on the last business day of
the then current calendar quarter and prorated based on the number of days remaining in the quarter
starting with the date the client executed the advisory agreement (e.g., an account established on July 25,
the initial fee will be invoiced to the account sometime within the month of October. The initial fee will be
calculated using the value of the account on the last business day of September and will be prorated from
the date the advisory agreement was signed to the end of September. Additionally, the fee deducted from
the account, based on the example, will include the fee paid in advance for October through December and
calculated based on the value of the account on the last business day of September).
Clients may make additions to the account or withdrawals from the account. Additional assets deposited
into the account after it is opened will be charged a pro-rata fee based upon the number of days remaining
in the then-current quarterly period. Additionally, partial withdrawals from the account will result in a pro-
rated refund or credit of fees to the account. Fee adjustments for additional deposits to the account and
partial withdrawals from the account will be calculated in arrears or in the next quarterly period billing
cycle. Fee adjustments will be calculated based on the value at the time of the additional deposit or partial
withdrawal. No fee adjustments will be made for account appreciation or depreciation.
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Fees and Termination Provisions for Accounts custodied at Schwab or Fidelity
Advisory fees will be charged in advance on a calendar quarter basis. Fees will be calculated based upon
the average daily value of the portfolio from the prior calendar quarter. Advisory fees for accounts opened
on a day other than the first day of the calendar quarterly period or closed on a day other than the last
business day of the calendar quarterly period will be prorated based on the number of days in the quarter.
The initial fee for accounts established during a calendar quarter will be billed to the account in advance
from the date of the initial deposit to the calendar quarter end based on the value of the initial deposit.
Client Investment Management Agreement Termination
Clients may terminate, with written notice to SWP, investment advisory services within five (5) business
days after entering into the advisory agreement, without penalty or obligation and for a full refund of any
prepaid fees. After five (5) business days of entering into an advisory agreement, client will be entitled
to a prorated refund of any prepaid quarterly advisory fee based upon the number of days remaining in the
quarter after the termination date.
Certain IARs of SWP are also associated with LPL Financial as Dually Registered Persons. In their
capacity as registered representatives of LPL, certain Dually Registered Persons may earn commissions
for the sale of securities or investment products that they recommend for brokerage clients. They do not
earn commissions on the sale of securities or investment products recommended or purchased in advisory
accounts through SWP. Clients have the option of purchasing many of the securities and investment
products SWP makes available through another broker-dealer or investment adviser. However, when
purchasing these securities and investment products away from SWP, clients will not receive the benefit
of the advice and other services SWP provides.
When purchasing securities and investment products away from SWP, partial withdrawals or additional
deposits may result in a prorated refund or credit of fees to your account(s). Fee adjustments for partial
withdrawals and additional deposits may be calculated in arrears on the next quarterly period billing cycle.
Fee adjustments will be calculated based on the value at the time of the additional deposit or partial
withdrawal.
Fees for Held-Away Assets
IARs may provide discretionary investment management services leveraging the Pontera system for
accounts including 401(k) participant accounts, health-savings accounts and other assets identified by the
client held with custodians other than those referenced in Item 12. The fee will be assessed and billed
quarterly based on the account value at the end of the quarter. Fees will be debited from a taxable account
as authorized by the client. On a limited basis, where the client does not have a taxable account, then the
fees will be billed directly to the client. Accounts initiated or terminated during a calendar quarter will be
charged a pro-rated fee based on the number of days remaining in the billing period. An account may be
terminated with written notice.
Financial Planning and Hourly Consulting Services
Financial Planning/Consulting Fees may be separate from advisory fees discussed elsewhere. Financial
Planning/Consulting Fees are negotiable. Each IAR will negotiate a financial planning/consulting fee with
the client and quote a fee prior to any services being rendered. IARs may charge based on a flat or hourly
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fee. The fee will be based on several factors including but not limited to: the services requested by the
client; the complexity of the client’s situation; the number of meetings required to complete the requested
services; the number of parties and/or other professionals involved; the areas of review and analysis; the
staff resources, travel, time and research needed; and the savings to the client as a result of the services.
Fees may be different from one IAR to another.
Fees may be paid upon execution of the agreement with SWP or at the end of the engagement. In addition,
SWP retains the ability to negotiate an installment payment schedule with the client; however, SWP does
not allow for more than six installment payments.
Hourly fees will typically range up to $500 per hour; however, SWP may permit a higher hourly fee in
certain situations. Typically, clients will be provided an estimate of the amount of time needed for the
services. No deposit is required at the time of engagement. SWP does not require or solicit prepayment
six months or more in advance.
IARs who provide Subscription Financial Planning Services, may charge based on a fixed or tiered fee on
a monthly or quarterly basis. IARs may also charge an onboarding fee for new clients entering
subscription financial planning services.
Clients may terminate, with written notice to SWP, planning and/or consulting advisory services within
five (5) business days after entering into the advisory agreement, without penalty or obligation and for a
full refund of any prepaid fees. After five (5) business days of entering into the financial planning advisory
agreement, clients may terminate upon SWP’s receipt of a client’s written notice to terminate. If fees have
been prepaid and a financial planning engagement is terminated prior to completion, the client will be
entitled to a refund of unearned fees. After completion and presentation of the services no refunds will
be issued.
SWP accepts payment by check, credit card and ACH. Note that not all IARs accept credit cards and/or
ACH payment.
Fees for LPL Advisory Programs
The account fee charged to the client for each LPL advisory program is negotiable, subject to the following
maximum account fees:
Manager Access Select
OMP
PWP
MWP
SMS
GWP
3.0%
2.5%
2.5%
2.83%*
1.20%**
1.35%***
* The MWP account fee consists of an LPL program fee, a strategist fee (if applicable) and an advisor fee
of up to 2.00%. Where the LPL program fee is a tiered fee schedule that reduces based on account size,
the difference in the program fee is provided to the IAR and the client’s fee remains the same. Accounts
remaining under the legacy fee structure may be charged one aggregate account fee, for which the
maximum account fee is 2.50%. See the MWP program brochure for more information.
** The SMS fee consists of an LPL program fee of 0.20%, and an advisor fee of up to 1.00%.
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*** GWP Managed Service clients are charged an account fee consisting of an LPL program fee of 0.35%
and an advisor fee of up to 1.00%. LPL Research currently serves as the sole portfolio strategist and does
not charge a fee for its services.
Excluding SMS, LPL serves as program sponsor, investment advisor and broker-dealer for the LPL
advisory programs.
SWP and LPL may share in the account fee and other fees associated with program accounts. Associated
persons of SWP may also be Dually Registered Persons. Under SMS, LPL serves as investment advisor
but not the broker-dealer. The advisor and LPL may share in the advisory portion of the SMS fee.
Fees for Fidelity, Schwab and SPTC Advisory Programs
Fidelity, Schwab and SPTC charge an asset-based fee for the services provided in their advisory platform
programs. The fees vary according to the program utilized, the size of the account and the investment
strategy chosen for an account. The fees may be negotiable based on a number of factors that may result
in a particular client paying a fee that is different from another client. Clients should discuss fees with
their IARs and review program material to ensure they understand the fees associated with a program
before deciding to invest in the program.
Third Party Investment Advisers
For TPIAs, clients pay an advisory fee as set out in the client agreement with the TPIA sponsor. The fee
is typically negotiated among the TPIA sponsor, the IAR and the client. Fees may be different from one
IAR to another. Further, fees are not commensurate with education or experience. The TPIA sponsor may
establish a fee schedule or set a minimum or maximum fee. The TPIA fee schedule will be set out in the
disclosure brochure provided by the TPIA sponsor. The advisory fee typically is based on the value of
assets under management as valued by the custodian of the assets for the account and will vary by program.
The advisory fee typically will be deducted from the account by the custodian and paid quarterly in arrears
or in advance. The advisory fee is often paid to the TPIA sponsor, who in turn pays a portion to SWP.
SWP and the IAR share such portion of the advisory fee. A TPIA account may be terminated by a party
pursuant to the terms outlined in the TPIA client agreement. The TPIA client agreement will explain how
clients can obtain a refund of any pre-paid fee if the agreement is terminated before the end of a billing
period.
The maximum total fee is 3%, with 2% being the maximum for the SWP advisory fee and 1%
maximum being the TPIA fee.
There are other fees and charges imposed by third parties that may apply to investments in TPIA accounts.
Some of these fees and charges are described below. The client may be charged commissions, markups,
markdowns, or transaction charges by the broker-dealer who executes transactions in the TPIA account.
There may be custodial related fees imposed by the custodian of assets for the program account. These
additional fees and charges will be set out in the TPIA brochure and the agreements executed by the client
at the time the account is opened.
If assets are invested in mutual funds, ETFs or other pooled funds, there are two layers of advisory fees
and expenses for those assets. The client will pay an advisory fee to the fund manager and other expenses
as a shareholder of the fund. The client will also pay the TPIA advisory fee with respect to those assets.
The mutual funds and ETFs available in the programs often may be purchased directly. Therefore, clients
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could avoid the second layer of fees by not using the advisory services of the TPIA and IAR and by making
their own decisions regarding the investment.
A mutual fund in a TPIA program account may pay an asset-based sales charge or service fee (e.g., a 12b-
1 fee) that is paid to the broker-dealer on the account. SWP and IARs are not paid these fees for TPIA
program accounts.
If a client transfers into a TPIA account a previously purchased mutual fund, and there is an applicable
contingent deferred sales charge on the fund, client will pay that charge when the mutual fund is sold. If
the account is invested in a mutual fund that charges a fee if a redemption is made within a specific time
period after the investment, the client will be charged a redemption fee. If a mutual fund has a frequent
trading policy, the policy can limit a client’s transactions in shares of the fund (e.g., for rebalancing,
liquidations, deposits or tax harvesting).
If the client holds a variable annuity that is managed as part of a TPIA account, there are mortality, expense
and administrative charges, fees for additional riders on the contract, and charges for excessive transfers
within a calendar year imposed by the variable annuity sponsor. If the client holds a Unit Investment Trust
(“UIT”) in a program account, UIT sponsors charge creation and development fees or similar fees. Further
information regarding fees assessed by a mutual fund, variable annuity or UIT is available in the
appropriate prospectus, which clients should request from their IAR.
If the TPIA program is a wrap fee program, clients should understand that the wrap fee may cost the client
more than purchasing the program services separately (e.g., paying fees for the advisory services of the
TPIA and IAR, plus commissions for each transaction in the account). Factors that bear upon the cost of
the account in relation to the cost of the same services purchased separately include the:
• Type and size of the account;
• Types of securities in the account;
• Historical and/or expected size or number of trades for the account; and
• Number and range of supplementary advisory and client-related services provided to the
client.
The investment products and services available to be purchased in TPIA program accounts can be
purchased by clients outside of a TPIA program account, through LPL or through broker-dealers or other
investment firms not affiliated with SWP or the TPIA.
SWP and SIMC Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (“OCIO”)
When SWP and SIMC provide outsourced Chief Investment Officer services, a portion of the client fee is
shared and allocated to SIMC for services provided to client accounts. The fee allocated to SIMC is
negotiated and will not exceed 0.30% of the average daily net assets invested in the program.
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ITEM 6: Performance Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
SWP does not charge advisory fees on a share of the capital appreciation of the funds or securities in a
client account (performance-based fees). Our advisory fee compensation is charged only as disclosed
above. SWP does not engage in Side-By-Side Management.
ITEM 7: Types of Clients
SWP provides services to a variety of clients:
Individuals
•
• Trusts, estates and charitable organizations
• Corporations or other business entities
• Governmental plans, municipalities
• Not for profit entities
• Bank or thrift institutions
• Retirement plans
The account minimums for both SWM and other advisor-managed, non-wrap fee accounts is $10,000;
however, in certain circumstances, the minimum account size may be lower.
Please see Item 4 for account minimums for other account types on LPL, Fidelity, Schwab, and SIMC
platforms.
SWP does not require a minimum asset amount for financial planning or hourly consulting.
For TPIAs, the TPIA sponsor typically establishes a minimum account value, which will be set forth in
the account opening documents with the TPIA sponsor.
ITEM 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Affiliated and unaffiliated service providers may develop asset allocation models. The IAR may also
develop asset allocation models or use others from outside independent sources. Each IAR develops his
or her own methods of analysis, sources of information, and investment strategies. As such,
recommendations by IARs and individual investment portfolios will differ.
A variety of methods and strategies may be utilized when formulating investment advice and managing
client assets, methods of analysis may include, but are not limited to:
•
Charting Analysis involves the use of patterns in performance charts to identify current
trends and trend reversals to forecast the direction of prices;
•
Fundamental Analysis involves the analysis of financial statements, the general financial
health of companies, and/or the analysis of management or competitive advantages; and
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•
Technical Analysis involves the analysis of past market data (primarily price and
volume).
There are certain risks associated with each of these methods of analysis:
Charting Analysis: Economic/business cycles may not be predictable and may have many fluctuations
between long-term expansions and contractions. The lengths of economic cycles may be difficult to predict
with accuracy and therefore the risk of charting analysis is the difficulty in predicting economic trends and
consequently the changing value of securities that would be affected by these changing trends.
Fundamental Analysis: does not attempt to anticipate market movements. This represents a potential risk,
as the price of a security can move up or down along with the overall market, regardless of the economic
and financial factors considered in evaluating the security.
Technical Analysis: The risk of the analysis using mathematical and statistical modeling is that they may
not accurately predict future investment patterns. Day-to-day changes in the market prices of investments
may follow random patterns and may not be predictable with any reliable degree of accuracy. The risk of
analysis using more subjective criteria is that the information obtained to make the analysis may be
inaccurate and skew the analysis. In addition, measuring (or weighting) the criteria will likely be
inconsistent from one analysis to another and could adversely affect the investment decisions.
Clients’ portfolios may consist of stocks, bonds, ETFs/ETNs, no-load and/or load mutual funds and cash
or cash equivalents, or other securities deemed appropriate and suitable to the client by SWP.
Clients are advised that transactions in the account, account reallocations and rebalancing may trigger a
taxable event for the client, with the exception of transactions in IRA accounts, 403(b) accounts and other
qualified retirement accounts. SWP does not offer tax advice and clients are urged to consult with their
tax advisers.
Risk of Loss
Securities markets fluctuate substantially over time. All investments in securities include a risk of loss of
money invested (principal) and any unrealized profits (i.e., profits in the account that have not been
liquidated, sometimes called “paper profits”). In addition, as recent global and domestic economic events
have indicated, performance of any investment is not guaranteed. As a result, there is a risk of loss of the
assets SWP manages that may be out of SWP’s control. SWP cannot guarantee any level of performance
or that clients will not experience a loss of account assets. SWP does not represent, warrant or imply that
the services or methods of analysis used by SWP can or will predict future results, successfully identify
market tops or bottoms, or insulate clients from losses due to major market corrections or crashes. No
guarantees can be offered that the client’s goals or objectives will be achieved. Further, no promises or
assumptions can be made that the advisory services offered by SWP will provide a better return than other
investment strategies.
Varied fluctuations in the price of investments are a normal characteristic of securities markets due to a
variety of influences. Managed account programs should be considered a long-term investment and thus
long-term performance and performance consistency are the major goals.
The IAR has access to various research reports and model portfolios which can be referred to when
determining the investment advice the IAR provides to clients. The IAR chooses his/her own research
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methods, investment style and management philosophy. It is important to note that no methodology or
investment strategy is guaranteed to be successful or profitable and has a risk of loss.
Types of Investments and Risks
SWP and its IARs can recommend many different types of securities, including mutual funds, unit
investment trusts (“UITs”), closed end funds, Exchange-Traded Funds/Exchange-Traded Notes
(“ETFs/ETNs”), variable annuity subaccounts, equities, fixed income securities, options, hedge funds,
managed futures, and structured products. Investing in securities involves the risk of loss that clients
should be prepared to bear. Described below are some particular risks associated with some types of
investments available in the program.
• Alternative Strategy Mutual Funds or ETFs. Certain mutual funds and ETFs invest
primarily in alternative investments and/or strategies. Investing in alternative investments
and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves special risks, such as risks
associated with commodities, real estate, leverage, selling securities short, the use of
derivatives, potential adverse market forces, regulatory changes, and potential illiquidity.
There are special risks associated with mutual funds and ETFs that invest principally in real
estate securities, such as sensitivity to changes in real estate values and interest rates and
price volatility because of the fund’s concentration in the real estate industry.
•
Interval Funds. Interval funds are a type of closed-end investment company that is not listed
on a securities exchange and does not provide daily liquidity. Unlike open-end mutual funds,
interval fund shares generally cannot be freely sold or redeemed at the investor’s discretion,
and there is no guarantee that an investor will be able to tender all or any portion of their
shares during a repurchase offer. Investors should be prepared to hold these investments for
an extended or indefinite period of time. Many interval funds invest in alternative or less
liquid asset classes, such as private credit, real estate, structured products, or other alternative
strategies, which may not be suitable for all investors. These investments may involve greater
risk, including market risk, credit risk, leverage risk, interest rate risk, valuation risk, and
concentration risk, and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, market, or regulatory
developments than traditional investments. Such strategies may also result in higher
volatility or losses, particularly during periods of market stress.
• Closed-End Funds. Closed-end funds (“CEFs”) are registered investment companies that
generally issue a fixed number of shares. Unlike open-end mutual funds, CEF shares may
not be redeemed on a daily basis at net asset value (“NAV”) and instead typically trade in
the secondary market (if listed) at market prices that may be above (a premium) or below (a
discount) NAV. As a result, investors may realize returns that differ materially from the
fund’s NAV performance and may experience losses due to changes in the market price
and/or changes in the discount/premium, even when the fund’s underlying portfolio performs
favorably. CEF share prices can be volatile and may be affected by market conditions,
interest rates, credit spreads, fund distributions, and investor sentiment. Many CEFs use
leverage (including borrowing, preferred shares, or derivatives) to attempt to enhance
income or returns. Leverage magnifies gains and losses, may increase portfolio volatility,
may cause distributions to fluctuate, and may force asset sales at unfavorable times. Leverage
also creates additional expenses (including interest and other financing costs) that reduce
returns. CEFs may invest in less liquid or complex securities (including private credit,
structured products, bank loans, municipal bonds, or other alternative strategies), which may
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be difficult to value or sell promptly at desired prices. Valuation of certain holdings may be
based on estimates, which can increase the risk of pricing errors and may contribute to
market price volatility. CEFs often have higher fees and expenses than other pooled
investment vehicles, and investors in CEFs bear these expenses in addition to any advisory
fees paid for account management. Some CEFs may also invest in other pooled vehicles,
which can result in multiple layers of fees. Distributions from CEFs may be paid from
income, capital gains, or return of capital, and a distribution rate is not the same as investment
return. Return of capital may reduce an investor’s tax basis and is not necessarily indicative
of a fund’s investment performance. Distributions may be reduced, suspended, or eliminated.
While certain closed-end funds may seek to provide liquidity through periodic repurchase or
tender offers (including “interval funds” or tender offer funds), such offers may be limited
in amount and frequency, may be subject to early deadlines, and there is no guarantee an
investor will be able to sell all or any portion of their shares in a repurchase offer.
Accordingly, clients should be prepared to hold these investments for an extended or
indefinite period of time.
• ETFs. ETFs are typically investment companies that are legally classified as open end
mutual funds or UITs. However, they differ from traditional mutual funds, in particular, in
that ETF shares are listed on a securities exchange. Shares can be bought and sold throughout
the trading day like shares of other publicly-traded companies. ETF shares may trade at a
discount or premium to their net asset value. This difference between the bid price and the
ask price is often referred to as the “spread.” The spread varies over time based on the ETF’s
trading volume and market liquidity and is generally lower if the ETF has a lot of trading
volume and market liquidity and higher if the ETF has little trading volume and market
liquidity. Although many ETFs are registered as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, like traditional mutual funds, some ETFs (in particular
those that invest in commodities) are not registered as an investment company.
• ETNs. An ETN is a senior unsecured debt obligation designed to track the total return of an
underlying market index or other benchmark. ETNs may be linked to a variety of assets (e.g.,
commodity futures, foreign currency and equities). ETNs are similar to ETFs in that they are
listed on an exchange and can typically be bought or sold throughout the trading day.
However, an ETN is not a mutual fund and does not have a net asset value; the ETN trades
at the prevailing market price. The repayment of the principal, interest (if any), and the
payment of any returns at maturity or upon redemption are dependent upon the ETN issuer’s
ability to pay. In addition, the trading price of the ETN in the secondary market may be
adversely impacted if the issuer’s credit rating is downgraded. The index or asset class for
performance replication in an ETN may or may not be concentrated in a specific sector, asset
class or country, and may therefore carry specific risks.
• Leveraged and Inverse ETFs, ETNs and Mutual Funds. Leveraged ETFs, ETNs and
mutual funds, sometimes labeled “ultra” or “2x”, are designed to provide a multiple of the
underlying index's return, typically on a daily basis. Inverse products are designed to provide
the opposite of the return of the underlying index, typically on a daily basis. These products
are different from and can be riskier than traditional ETFs, ETNs and mutual funds. Although
these products are designed to provide returns that generally correspond to the underlying
index, they may not be able to exactly replicate the performance of the index because of fund
expenses and other factors. This is referred to as a tracking error. Continual re-setting of
returns within the product may add to the underlying costs and increase the tracking error.
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As a result, this may prevent these products from achieving their investment objective. In
addition, compounding of the returns can produce a divergence from the underlying index
over time, particularly for leveraged products. In highly volatile markets with large positive
and negative swings, return distortions are magnified over time. Because of these distortions,
these products should be actively monitored, as frequently as daily, and are generally not
appropriate as an intermediate- or long-term holding. To accomplish their objectives, these
products use a range of strategies, including swaps, futures contracts and other derivatives.
These products may not be diversified and can be based on commodities or currencies. These
products may have higher expense ratios and be less tax-efficient than more traditional ETFs,
ETNs and mutual funds.
• Options. Certain types of option trading are permitted in order to generate income or hedge
a security held in the program account; namely, the selling (writing) of covered call options
or the purchasing of put options on a security held in the program account. The client should
be aware that the use of options involves additional risks. The risks of covered call writing
include the potential for the market to rise sharply. In such case, the security may be called
away and the program account will no longer hold the security. The risk of buying long puts
is limited to the loss of the premium paid for the purchase of the put if the option is not
exercised or otherwise sold by the program account.
• Structured Products. Structured products are securities derived from another asset, such as
a security or a basket of securities, an index, a commodity, a debt issuance, or a foreign
currency. Structured products frequently limit the upside participation in the reference asset.
Structured products are senior unsecured debt of the issuing bank and subject to the credit
risk associated with that issuer. This credit risk exists whether or not the investment held in
the account offers principal protection. The creditworthiness of the issuer does not affect or
enhance the likely performance of the investment other than the ability of the issuer to meet
its obligations. Any payments due at maturity are dependent on the issuer’s ability to pay. In
addition, the trading price of the security in the secondary market (if there is one) may be
adversely impacted if the issuer’s credit rating is downgraded. Some structured products
offer full protection of the principal invested; others offer only partial or no protection.
Investors may be sacrificing a higher yield to obtain the principal guarantee. In addition, the
principal guarantee relates to nominal principal and does not offer inflation protection. An
investor in a structured product never has a claim on the underlying investment, whether a
security, zero coupon bond, or option. There may be little or no secondary market for the
securities, and information regarding independent market pricing for the securities may be
limited. This is true even if the product has a ticker symbol or has been approved for listing
on an exchange. Tax treatment of structured products may be different from other
investments held in the account (e.g., income may be taxed as ordinary income even though
payment is not received until maturity). Structured CDs that are insured by the FDIC are
subject to applicable FDIC limits.
• High-Yield Debt. High-yield debt is issued by companies or municipalities that do not
qualify for “investment grade” ratings by one or more rating agencies. The below investment
grade designation is based on the rating agency’s opinion of an issuer that it has a greater
risk to repay both principal and interest and a greater risk of default than those issuers rated
investment grade. High-yield debt carries greater risk than investment grade debt. There is
the risk that the potential deterioration of an issuer’s financial health and subsequent
downgrade in its rating will result in a decline in market value or default. Because of the
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potential inability of an issuer to make interest and principal payments, an investor may
receive less than originally invested. There is also the risk that the bond’s market value will
decline as interest rates rise and that an investor will not be able to liquidate a bond before
maturity.
• Hedge Funds and Managed Futures. Hedge and managed futures funds may be purchased
by clients meeting certain qualification standards. Investing in these funds involves
additional risks including, but not limited to, the risk of investment loss due to the use of
leveraging and other speculative investment practices and the lack of liquidity and
performance volatility. In addition, these funds are not required to provide periodic pricing
or valuation information to investors and may involve complex tax structures and delays in
distributing important tax information. Clients should be aware that these funds are not liquid
as there is no secondary trading market available. At the absolute discretion of the issuer of
the fund, there may be certain repurchase offers made from time to time. However, there is
no guarantee that clients will be able to redeem the fund during the repurchase offer.
• Variable Annuities. If the client purchases a variable annuity that is part of the program, the
client will receive a prospectus and should rely solely on the disclosure contained in the
prospectus with respect to the terms and conditions of the variable annuity. The client should
also be aware that certain riders purchased with a variable annuity may limit the investment
options and the ability to manage the subaccounts.
ITEM 9: Disciplinary Information
SWP is obligated to disclose any legal or disciplinary events that would be material to clients, or
potential clients, when evaluating SWP or the integrity of its management team. SWP does not have
information to disclose that is applicable to this item.
ITEM 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
SWP is indirectly owned by SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, LLC (“SEI Holdco”), which is owned by a
subsidiary of SEI Investment Company, and Stratos Management Holdings, LLC. SEI Holdco owns the
following registered investment advisers and a limited purpose broker-dealer:
1. SWP, a retail investment firm offering advice primarily through IARs who are securities
licensed through LPL, Member FINRA/SIPC;
2. Stratos Wealth Advisors, LLC (“SWA”), a retail investment firm offering advice primarily
through IARs who are not securities-licensed;
3. Stratos Investment Management, LLC (“SIM”), an asset management firm acting primarily
as a subadvisor;
4. Stratos Wealth Securities, LLC (“SWS”), a limited purpose broker-dealer, Member
FINRA/SIPC. SWS does not process securities transactions or maintain client accounts; and
5. Renaissance Investment Group, a retail investment firm offering advice through IARs who
are not securities licensed.
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In December 2025, Stratos Wealth Holdings (“Stratos”) entered into the first stage of a strategic
investment transaction with SEI Investments Company (“SEIC”), pursuant to which SEIC acquired a
majority ownership interest (57.5%) in the holding company that owns the equity of Stratos Wealth
Partners, Ltd. and Stratos Wealth Advisors, LLC, along with their subsidiaries (collectively, the
“Stratos-Affiliated RIAs”). As a result of this transaction, Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. (“SWP”) and SEI
Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”) are under common ownership.
SWP and SIMC each operate as separate registered investment advisers with independent management,
compliance programs, and fiduciary obligations. SWP may utilize investment strategies, models,
programs, and/or products managed by SIMC and made available through SEI Advisor Services. In these
arrangements, SIMC provides investment management or related services, while SWP remains
responsible for the client relationship, including determining suitability and providing investment advice,
as applicable. SWP may enter into fee arrangements with SIMC based on assets under management, client
fees, or other agreed-upon terms, which are disclosed as required by law or regulation. This common
ownership structure creates conflicts of interest, including incentives to recommend or utilize strategies,
models, programs, or products managed or sponsored by SIMC, as the use of such offerings may generate
additional fees for SIMC and, through common ownership, indirectly benefit SWP’s parent company.
These conflicts are mitigated through the separation of advisory, supervisory, and compliance
responsibilities between SWP and SIMC. Additional information regarding SIMC’s business practices,
services, and conflicts of interest is available in SIMC’s Form ADV brochure.
Certain IARs of SWP are also associated with LPL Financial as broker-dealer registered representatives
(“RRs”). LPL Financial is a broker-dealer that is independently owned and operated and is not affiliated
with SWP. Such Dually Registered Persons may offer services through SWP on a fee basis and conduct
securities business on a commissionable basis through LPL. Additionally, the IARs may be insurance
licensed and offer insurance products and services. Clients are advised IARs may receive fee
compensation for advisory services offered through SWP. Separately, IARs may also receive commission-
based compensation for securities business conducted through LPL and for insurance business.
Please refer to Item 12 for a discussion of the benefits SWP may receive from LPL Financial and the
conflicts of interest associated with receipt of such benefits.
Most IARs are independent contractors of SWP, and the experience, level of education, level and/or
sophistication of services and fees will vary. Fees may not be commensurate with education and/or
experience. However, the fees clients will pay for advisory services will not exceed the fee schedules set
forth in this brochure. Further, clients are advised that they may pay more or less for similar services
received by another client serviced by another IAR.
Clients may maintain multiple accounts with an IAR, some of which are subject to an investment advisory
relationship through SWP, while others may operate under a brokerage relationship through LPL. Clients
are under no obligation to purchase or sell securities through IARs. However, if a client chooses to
implement the recommendations, commissions may be earned by IARs as RRs of LPL for brokerage
transactions in brokerage accounts in addition to any fees paid for advisory services on investment
advisory accounts. Commissions may be higher or lower at LPL than at other broker/dealers. IARs have
a conflict of interest by having clients purchase securities and/or insurance related products through LPL
in that the higher their production with LPL the greater potential for obtaining a higher pay-out on
commissions earned. Further, IARs may be restricted to only offering those products and services that
have been reviewed and approved for offering to the public through LPL. The amount of time spent by
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each IAR offering securities products on a commission basis as a RR of LPL will vary. Some IARs may
spend significantly more or less time offering commissionable products and services through LPL.
As discussed previously, certain associated persons of SWP are RRs of LPL Financial. As a result of this
relationship, LPL may have access to certain confidential information (e.g., financial information,
investment objectives, transactions and holdings) about SWP’s clients, even if the client does not establish
an account through LPL Financial. If you would like a copy of the LPL Financial Privacy Policy, please
contact our Chief Compliance Officer at 440-519-2500.
Certain IARs are also dually registered as IARs of LPL Financial’s Registered Investment Advisor for
transition and supervisory purposes or offering LPL’s Retirement Plan Consulting Program services.
SWP IARs registered with LPL may offer insurance products and services for which commissions will be
paid. IARs and other related persons of SWP (defined as any advisory affiliate and any person that is
under common control with SWP) may be licensed with various insurance companies. SWP, its IARs and
related persons have a conflict of interest when recommending clients purchase insurance products, as
commissions may be earned in addition to fees for investment advisory services. Clients are not obligated
to purchase insurance products through SWP or its IARs. Some IARs may spend significantly more or
less time offering insurance products and services. The principal business of SWP is not to offer insurance
products and services. Less than 10% of SWP’s resources are dedicated to insurance business.
Many IARs have their own legal business entities whose trade names and logos are used for marketing
purposes and may appear on marketing materials and/or client statements. The client should understand
that the businesses are legal entities of the IAR and not of SWP. The IARs are under the supervision of
SWP, and the advisory services of the IAR are provided through SWP. SWP has these arrangements with
the business entities listed in Schedule D of Form ADV.
SWP may also offer its advisory services through financial institutions such as banks. SWP is not an
affiliate of the banks in which its IARs maintain offices nor are SWP or its IARs employees of the bank.
SWP pays a fee to the bank for the opportunity to conduct business on its premises and with banking
clients. This is a conflict of interest in that SWP has an incentive to charge a higher fee to the client. SWP
has policies against charging a higher fee when working with financial institutions and periodically
reviews these accounts to test for compliance with this policy.
Certain IARs may be certified public accountants (“CPAs”) and offer accounting services through their
accounting practice. SWP does not endorse or recommend the services of the IARs in their capacity as
CPAs. Further, none of the services offered by SWP are to be considered legal or accounting services.
Clients are under no obligation to participate in accounting services offered by IARs who may also be
CPAs.
As stated above, most IARs are independent contractors. As such, the IARs have a direct incentive in the
investment advisory fees being charged since a portion of the advisory fee collected by SWP will be paid
to the IAR for compensation for advisory services. Further, clients are advised that the amount paid by
SWP to the IAR will be based on the production of the IAR. Therefore, the higher sales the IAR produces
the more compensation the IAR will receive. Consequently, since production is a basis for determining
the IAR’s payout, and since a portion of the advisory fees will be retained by SWP, there is a conflict of
interest for the IAR to potentially charge a higher fee.
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SWP may offer clients the option to utilize the management services of one or more third party managers.
As set forth below, IARs have a conflict of interest by having clients utilize the management services of
third-party managers instead of directly managing clients’ assets.
One of the recommended third-party managers, SIM, is an affiliate of SWP, and clients will pay additional
fees to SIM in addition to their IAR’s stated management fee. While the IAR does not receive additional
fees for offering sub-advisory or wrap services through SIM, SWP does benefit by using an affiliate to
manage a client’s assets as its corporate parent will receive additional fees for managing those assets.
Clients must discuss these conflicts with their IAR and refer to SIM disclosure brochure for payment terms
and conditions.
SWP may also utilize SEI Investment Management Corporation (“SIMC”) as a third-party manager. SWP
is an affiliate of SIMC, and clients will pay additional fees to SIMC in addition to their IAR’s stated
management fee. While the IAR does not receive additional compensation for offering sub-advisory or
wrap services through SIMC, SWP benefits indirectly by using an affiliate to manage a client’s assets as
its corporate parent will receive additional fees for managing those assets. Clients must discuss these
conflicts with their IAR and refer to the SIMC disclosure brochure for payment terms and conditions.
Clients are not required to use SIMC and may request alternatives.
In addition, most SIMC-managed programs utilize SEI Private Trust Company (“SPTC”) as custodian.
SPTC charges the client a fee for these services as set forth in SPTC’s custodial agreement with the client.
Accounts custodied at SPTC are required to participate in the SEI Integrated Cash Program. Under the
SEI Integrated Cash Program, SPTC will transfer or “sweep” all (i) required Integrated Cash Program
amounts (described below) and (ii) uninvested or unallocated cash in clients’ SPTC accounts into deposit
accounts eligible for insurance by the FDIC (“FDIC Sweep”). FDIC Sweep amounts are deposited through
a network of individual “Sweep Banks.” These deposits are eligible for FDIC insurance up to the maximum
amount permitted by the FDIC, currently $250,000 for all deposits held in the same ownership category at
each Sweep Bank. SPTC receives compensation from these banks (the “Bank Sweep Fee”), which reduces
the interest paid to clients. This creates a conflict of interest because SPTC, SIMC, and their affiliates
benefit financially from client participation in the program. Further, a committee made up of SEIC-
employed individuals that serve as SPTC and SIMC employees or officers (the “Interest Rate Committee”)
has sole discretion to set the Bank Sweep Fee, and thus SPTC and SIMC directly determine how much of
the interest the banks pay on FDIC Sweep to clients and how much SPTC retains as Bank Sweep Fee
compensation. This discretion in setting the Bank Sweep Fee creates a conflict between the interests of
clients and the interests of SPTC and SIMC, in that the Interest Rate Committee’s determination of the
Bank Sweep Fee affects the interest clients earn on their FDIC Sweep. The higher the Bank Sweep Fee paid
to SPTC, the lower the interest paid by the Sweep Banks to clients; the lower the Bank Sweep Fee paid to
SPTC, the higher the interest paid by the Sweep Banks to clients.
SPTC also requires that at least 1% of each account be maintained in the SEI Integrated Cash Program.
Excess cash may be invested in SEI-managed or certain third-party money market funds, which also
generate revenue for SIMC and affiliates. This 1% minimum investment requirement results in conflicts
of interest for SPTC and SIMC, which are affiliates of SWP. In particular, because the amount of the
Bank Sweep Fee SPTC receives is based on the amount of client assets invested in FDIC Sweep, SPTC
and SIMC have an incentive to set the minimum cash requirement at a level that maximizes revenue for
SPTC. Furthermore, because the SEI Integrated Cash Program does not offer other cash sweep options,
such as money market funds, clients and SWP IARs will not be able to use the program to
programmatically invest cash allocations held in client accounts above the 1% required FDIC Sweep in
cash sweep vehicles that generate less revenue for SPTC and/or return higher investment yields to clients.
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Therefore, in general, any cash balances in excess of the 1% SEI Integrated Cash Program requirement will
also generally be held in the FDIC Sweep, creating additional revenue for SPTC and another conflict of
interest. To mitigate this conflict of interest, to the extent an account holds cash balances in excess of the
1% required SEI Integrated Cash Program requirement, SPTC offers IARs the ability to invest such “excess
cash balances” in SIMC- and certain third party-advised money market funds, many of which that have
historically offered higher yields and result in less compensation for SPTC than the SEI Integrated Cash
Program. Furthermore, to the extent a client has a wrap account holding such excess cash balances, such
excess cash balances will automatically be invested in the SEI Daily Income Trust Government II Fund, a
SIMC-managed money market fund unless the client’s portfolio manager instructs otherwise. The use of
the SEI money market fund is subject to certain conflicts of interest due to the revenue it generates for
SPTC, SIMC and their affiliates, one of which is SWP. SPTC, SIMC and their affiliates receive economic
benefits in connection with shares held in the SEI money market fund. The fee paid to SPTC is for
shareholder servicing and other services with respect to amounts invested in the Program. SIMC (and its
affiliates) receive advisory, administrative and other fees from (and with respect to) investments in the
Money Market Sweep. SPTC, SIMC and their affiliates would not typically receive these fees in
connection with direct investments or investments in unaffiliated mutual funds, and as a result, these fees
create an incentive to select the Money Market Sweep instead of other money market funds that do not pay
these fees. Clients holding excess cash should discuss available cash management options with their IARs,
particularly if they plan to hold significant cash positions for longer periods of time.
The Bank Sweep Fee is in addition to the fees earned by SPTC (and its affiliates) with respect to other SEI
Funds. It is also in addition to any advisory or wrap fees earned by SWP, SIMC and its affiliates in
connection with the third-party management programs offered through SIMC.
For accounts not subject to a wrap fee, all applicable account-level advisory fees (including each client’s
IAR’s advisory fee) are assessed on 100% of the value of account assets on an ongoing basis, even though
the amounts held in the SEI Integrated Cash Program do not receive any investment advisory or brokerage
services. (They do receive administrative and custodial services.) In addition, accounts not subject to a
wrap fee are not assessed SPTC’s custody fee with respect to amounts allocated to FDIC Sweep.
Nevertheless, when looked at jointly, SIMC and SPTC may receive more compensation in connection with
client assets invested in the SEI Integrated Cash Program than client assets invested in other strategies
offered through SIMC. For accounts subject to a wrap fee, amounts held in FDIC Sweep are not assessed
the wrap fee. In most interest-rate environments, applicable fees earned by SPTC in the SEI Integrated Cash
Program will exceed the amount of interest paid to accounts on the amounts held in the SEI Integrated Cash
Program.
Additional information on the SEI Integrated Cash Program, including current interest rates associated
with FDIC Sweep and the SEI Integrated Cash Program Disclosure Document, can be found at
seic.com/InsuredDepositCash. SPTC delivers the SEI Integrated Cash Program Disclosure Document to
clients at or prior to the time they begin participating in the SEI Integrated Cash Program and client should
refer to that document for more information on the program and how it operates. Cl i ent s can al so
r equest additional copies from their IAR.
SWP will assist clients with evaluating their financial situation, identifying one or more third party
managers, and selecting a third-party manager’s service. Additionally, on an ongoing basis SWP will be
available to answer questions clients may have regarding their managed account and act as the
communication conduit between the client and the manager. SWP will periodically meet with the client
to evaluate the client’s account and third-party manager. In addition, if the investment program
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recommended to a client is a wrap fee program the client will also receive Part 2A Appendix 1 of the Form
ADV or equivalent wrap fee brochure provided by the sponsor of the program.
Clients may pay transaction fees, account maintenance fees, promoter fees, advisory/management fees and
other fees and expenses associated with maintaining the account. Fees will be charged by and collected
by the third-party manager, and the third-party manager will allocate SWP’s portion of the fee. Therefore,
clients must refer to the third-party manager’s disclosure brochure for payment terms and conditions.
Clients will be charged these fees by the third-party manager selected by the client. Any fee received
(promoter, investment advisory fee, maintenance, etc.) can create a conflict of interest to the IAR since it
will not lower the fee the IAR receives for providing clients with advisory services and SWP may receive
a portion of the third-party manager’s fee.
Clients are advised that fees for such programs may be higher or lower than if the client directly obtained
the services of the third-party manager, or if the client obtained advisory services separately. Clients
should read the third-party manager’s disclosure brochure for additional disclosure of its managed
program.
For accounts that utilize a third-party manager, the client will establish a third-party manager custody
account at a qualified custodian. SWP will not directly conduct any securities transactions on behalf of
the client or participate directly in the selection of the securities to be purchased or sold for the client.
Investment decisions are made by the third-party manager in accordance with the agreement between the
client and the manager.
As part of financial planning services or hourly consulting services, an IAR may provide recommendations
as to investment products or securities. To the extent that the IAR recommends that a client invest in
products and services that will result in compensation being paid to SWP and the IAR, this presents a
conflict of interest. The compensation to IAR and SWP may be more or less depending on the product or
service that the IAR recommends. Therefore, the IAR has a financial incentive to recommend that a
financial plan or consulting advice be implemented using a certain product or service over another product
or service. The client is under no obligation to purchase securities or services through SWP and the IAR.
If the client decides to implement the financial plan or consulting advice through an advisory program or
service, at the time of engagement the IAR will provide the client with a disclosure brochure, client
agreement and other account paperwork that contain specific information about fees and compensation
that the IAR and SWP will receive in connection with that program. The brochures are also available at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
If the client desires instead to purchase securities in a brokerage account through the IAR acting as an RR
of LPL, both LPL and the IAR will receive brokerage-related compensation for those services (e.g.,
commissions and/or trail fees). SWP receives a percentage portion of the brokerage-related compensation.
Information regarding such brokerage compensation is provided at the time of a brokerage transaction.
When considering whether to implement a financial plan through the IAR and SWP, clients should discuss
with the IAR how SWP and the IAR will be compensated for any recommendations in the plan. It is
important to note that clients are under no obligation to implement a financial plan through SWP. Clients
should understand that the investment products, securities and services that an IAR may recommend as
part of financial planning and hourly consulting are available to be purchased through broker-dealers,
investment advisors or other investment firms not affiliated with SWP.
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Certain IARs who are not registered with LPL may recommend to clients who are qualified, limited partner
interests in various alternative investments. One such alternative investment is the Preylock Strategic
Opportunity Fund, LP (the “Fund”), which is offered by Preylock Companies, LLC (“Preylock”). An
affiliate of Preylock will serve as the General Partner of the Fund. Preylock will pay NSC Asesores SC
(“NSC”) an administrative fee pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement between Preylock and
NSC (the “Service Agreement”), which will be paid out of, and not in addition to, the management fee
and the acquisition fee charged to the Fund that would otherwise be payable to Preylock. Clients of SWP
or NSC may be investors in the Fund and any such investor should be aware of the foregoing fees that
may be paid to NSC. An affiliate of SWP is a majority investor in NSC. As a result, SWP will indirectly
benefit from the fees paid by Preylock to NSC under the Service Agreement. Due to the fees that will be
paid to NSC under the Service Agreement, SWP has an economic incentive to solicit investors to commit
capital to the Fund, resulting in a conflict of interest on SWP’s part. Clients should read all offering
documents related to investments in the Fund and discuss this conflict of interest with their IAR.
The client should understand that SWP and the IAR, as either an IAR of SWP or an RR of LPL, may
perform investment advisory and/or brokerage services for various other clients, and that SWP and the
IAR may give advice or take actions for those other clients that differ from the advice given to the client.
The timing or nature of any action taken for the account may also be different.
ITEM 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
Code of Ethics and Personal Trading
SWP has adopted a Code of Ethics for all supervised persons of the firm describing its high standards of
business conduct and fiduciary responsibility to its clients. The Code of Ethics includes provisions relating
to the confidentiality of client information, a prohibition on insider trading, restrictions and reporting
requirements on the acceptance of gifts and personal securities trading policies, as discussed below.
SWP’s Code of Ethics is distributed to each employee and IAR at the time of hire/contract, and thereafter
as it is modified. In addition, SWP requires an annual certification by all employees/IARs regarding their
understanding and compliance with the Code of Ethics.
A copy of our Code of Ethics will be provided to any client or prospective client upon request. You may
contact our Chief Compliance Officer at 440-519-2500.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Most SWP IARs are Dually Registered Persons and must execute securities transactions through LPL,
unless those IARs obtain authorization from LPL to execute securities transactions through another
broker-dealer.
IARs of SWP may buy or sell securities that are recommended to clients. IARs will not put their interests
before a client’s interest. IARs may not trade ahead of their clients or trade in such a way to obtain a better
price for themselves than for their clients. Further, associated persons are prohibited from trading on non-
public information or sharing such information. SWP and its associated persons are required to conduct
their securities and investment advisory business in accordance with all applicable Federal and State
securities regulations.
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ITEM 12: Brokerage Practices
LPL Financial is the broker-dealer selected by SWP for the conduct of its commission-based brokerage
business and to provide “qualified custodial” services for advisory accounts held on LPL platforms.
Factors considered in selecting LPL include the stability and size of LPL along with the variety of
programs and flexibility in commission rates IARs may charge. SWP receives referral bonuses from LPL
which are based on the trailing 12-month commission production history of newly hired IARs, as well as
a percentage portion of the commissions and bonuses the IARs generate at LPL.
Newly hired representatives may receive from LPL forgivable loans, upfront cash and various forms of
start-up expense coverage based on their trailing 12-month commission production history for electing to
join LPL and SWP. This provides an incentive for the representative to change firms in order to obtain
these forms of compensation.
SWP has also selected Fidelity, Schwab and SPTC as broker-dealers to provide qualified custodial services
for advisory accounts. Factors considered in selecting these firms are described below.
SWP is not affiliated with LPL, Fidelity or Schwab. All recommended custodians will hold client assets
in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities when SWP instructs them to. While SWP recommends
that clients use LPL, Fidelity or Schwab as their custodian, clients will decide whether to do so and will
open an account by entering into an account agreement with them. SWP may also recommend SEI Private
Trust Company (“SPTC”) as custodian for certain programs. Not all programs are available to all SWP
IARs. SWP is an affiliate of SPTC under mutual parent ownership, and SIMC’s affiliated broker-dealer,
SEI Investments Distribution Co. (“SIDCO”), may execute equity trades for certain strategies. This
affiliated relationship and the potential use of affiliated service providers (including SIDCO) present
conflicts of interest. SIMC and its affiliates may receive economic benefits or fees when proprietary SEI
mutual funds or ETFs are used, or when trades are executed through SIDCO, SWP will seek best execution
and disclose these conflicts. Conflicts of interest associated with these arrangements are described below
as well as in Item 14 (Client Referrals and Other Compensation). Clients should consider these conflicts
of interest when selecting a custodian.
SWP does not maintain custody of client assets on which we advise, although we may be deemed to have
custody of client assets if clients give SWP authority to withdraw assets from client accounts (see Item 15
– Custody, below). SWP is deemed to have custody when client assets on which SWP advise are held at
SPTC. Please see Item 15—Custody, below for more information.
SWP does not open accounts for clients, although we may assist clients in doing so.
How we select custodians
Depending on specific client needs, one broker-dealer or custodian may offer better transaction costs/order
processing than another, and those differences are evaluated by the IAR prior to opening a client account.
SWP, as an investment adviser, owes a legal and fiduciary duty to its clients, including a duty to seek best
execution of client transactions and to make full and fair disclosure to clients about any soft dollar
arrangements. While the cost is carefully monitored, cost is not the only determining factor that would
influence opening an account at one custodian or another. Important items like financial strength, stability,
reputation, research, trading platforms, trading execution, breadth of available investment products,
pricing, research, quality of service, administrative efficiencies, and client friendly statements are also
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considered in the evaluation and selection of a custodian. The lowest cost trade execution is not always
the determining factor for the selection of a custodian. However, the client has the right to inquire about
opening accounts at these various institutions.
Client Brokerage and Custody Costs
The custodians generally do not charge separately for custody services, but rather are compensated by
account holders through commissions or other transaction-related or asset-based fees for securities trades
that are executed through them or that settle into client accounts. Custodians are also compensated by
earning interest on the uninvested cash in client accounts. For some accounts, custodians may charge
clients a percentage of the dollar amount of assets in the account in lieu of commissions. The commission
rates and asset-based fees applicable to SWP’s client accounts are negotiated based on the condition that
our clients collectively maintain a total amount of assets in accounts at the custodian. Although this is a
conflict of interest and can create an incentive to IARs to recommend these custodians in order to meet
the required amount of assets to maintain the negotiated pricing, we believe this commitment benefits our
clients because the overall commission rates and asset-based fees clients pay are lower than they would
be otherwise.
In addition to commissions or other transaction-related or asset-based fees, if a client participates in a
“prime broker” or “trade away” program, the custodian will typically charge a flat fee for each trade that
SWP has executed by a different broker-dealer but where the securities bought or the funds from the
securities sold are deposited (settled) into the client’s custodian account. These fees are in addition to the
commissions or other compensation the client pays the executing broker-dealer. Total cost of a transaction
is one factor used to determine if/when to trade away from a custodian, as SWP seeks to minimize trading
costs. Because of this and in order to minimize a client’s trading costs, SWP has LPL, Schwab, and
Fidelity execute most trades for client accounts.
Recommendation of LPL
SWP may recommend that clients establish a brokerage account with LPL Financial to maintain custody
of clients’ assets and to effect trades for their accounts. LPL provides brokerage and custodial services to
independent investment advisory firms, including SWP. For SWP’s accounts custodied at LPL Financial,
LPL generally is compensated by clients through commissions, trails, or other transaction-based fees for
trades that are executed through LPL or that settle into LPL. For IRA accounts, LPL generally charges
account maintenance fees. In addition, LPL also charges clients miscellaneous fees and charges, such as
account transfer fees.
Clients should also understand that LPL is responsible under FINRA rules for supervising certain business
activities of SWP and its Dually Registered Persons that are conducted through broker-dealers and
custodians other than LPL Financial. LPL charges a fee for its oversight of activities conducted through
these other broker-dealers and custodians. This fee is passed on to the IAR. This arrangement presents a
conflict of interest because SWP and its IARs have a financial incentive to recommend the use of LPL
rather than other broker-dealers or custodians in order to avoid incurring the oversight fee.
Benefits Received by SWP. LPL makes available to SWP various products and services designed to
assist SWP in managing and administering client accounts. Many of these products and services may be
used to service a significant number of SWP accounts. These include software and other technology that
(i) provide access to client account data (such as trade confirmations and account statements); (ii) facilitate
trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client accounts; (iii) provide pricing and
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other market data; (iv) facilitate payment of SWP fees from client accounts; and (v) assist with back-office
functions, recordkeeping and client reporting.
SWP has a fee arrangement with LPL related to assets held on one of the LPL advisory programs. Under
this arrangement, LPL pays SWP a rebate based on the amount of assets invested in that LPL program.
This results in a conflict of interest between clients and SWP because receipt of the rebate gives SWP an
incentive to recommend that clients invest assets in the program; however, this conflict is mitigated insofar
as the rebate payments SWP receives are not shared with the IAR who selects or recommends the program
for its clients.
Transition Assistance Benefits. LPL provides various benefits and payments to Dually Registered
Persons that are new to the LPL platform to assist them with the costs (including foregone revenues during
account transition) associated with transitioning their businesses to the LPL Financial platform (collectively
referred to as “Transition Assistance”). The proceeds of such Transition Assistance payments are intended
to be used for a variety of purposes, including (but not necessarily limited to) providing working capital to
assist in funding the Dually Registered Person’s business, satisfying any outstanding debt owed to the
Dually Registered Person’s prior firm, offsetting account transfer fees (“ACATs”) payable to LPL as a
result of the Dually Registered Person’s clients transitioning to LPL’s custodial platform, technology set-
up fees, marketing and mailing costs, stationery and licensure transfer fees, moving expenses, office space
expenses, staffing support, and termination fees associated with moving accounts.
The amount of the Transition Assistance payments is often significant in relation to the overall revenue
earned or compensation received by the Dually Registered Person at their prior firm. Such payments are
generally based on the size of the Dually Registered Person’s business established at the prior firm and/or
assets under custody. Please refer to the relevant Part 2B brochure supplement for more information about
the specific Transition Payments your IAR receives.
Transition Assistance payments and other benefits are provided to associated persons of SWP in their
capacity as registered representatives of LPL. However, the receipt of Transition Assistance by such
Dually Registered Persons creates a conflict of interest relating to SWP’s advisory business. In certain
instances, the receipt of such benefits is dependent on a Dually Registered Person maintaining its clients’
assets with LPL and therefore SWP has an incentive to recommend that clients maintain their account
with LPL in order to generate such benefits.
SWP attempts to mitigate these conflicts of interest by evaluating and recommending that clients use
LPL’s services based on the benefits that such services provide to our clients, rather than the Transition
Assistance earned by any particular Dually Registered Person. SWP considers LPL’s stability and size,
along with the variety of programs and flexibility in commission rates IARs may charge when
recommending or requiring that clients maintain accounts with LPL. However, clients should be aware of
this conflict and take it into consideration in making a decision regarding whether to custody their assets
in a brokerage account at LPL.
Products and Services Available to SWP from Schwab, Fidelity, and SPTC
SPTC. SWP IARs who are not registered with LPL may receive certain services and benefits from SEI
Investments Management Corporation and its affiliates (“SEI”) to help conduct its advisory business
through SEI’s Independent Advisor Solutions by SEI business unit (“IAS”). IAS is a core business unit of
SEI, which provides investment management and investment processing platforms to affluent investors
through a network of independent registered investment advisors, financial planners, and other investment
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professionals in the United States. In addition to the integrated platform of services, IAS also provides
SWP IARs with access to SIMC’s investment products and managed account program for use with their
end clients.
Investments managed for clients working with SEI are held in custodial accounts at SEI Private Trust
Company (“SPTC”) pursuant to an agreement signed by each client with SPTC to receive custodial
services. Accounts held at SPTC are supported through SEI’s proprietary platform known as the SEI
Wealth PlatformSM, or the “Platform”. SWP may use the Platform and other technology provided by SEI
or paid for by SEI to assist in both the management of client assets and to support its business.
The Platform is provided to certain SWP IARs at no cost and generally supports the management of its
client’s accounts held at SEI. The Platform provides a front-office view of its client’s custody accounts at
SPTC and gives SWP IARs the ability to submit instructions to SPTC on behalf of its clients, such as
transactions, strategy changes, and general servicing of client accounts. In addition, the Platform includes
access to SEI’s proprietary proposal system that permits SWP to develop and select investment strategies
for its clients to use for accounts at SPTC. The Platform also supports the processing of advisory fees for
its firm. SWP does not incur a cost for the Platform and is therefore incentivized to recommend SEI over
other third-party managers and custodians that do charge a cost for access to a similar platform.
SEI supports various third-party software systems that assist certain SWP IARs in managing its clients’
assets held at SPTC. SEI may also provide and pay for automated workflow technologies that support the
integration of these third-party systems into the Platform or to streamline SWP’s use of these third-party
systems with the Platform and SEI’s other systems. SEI also provides personnel for operational support
to facilitate the integration of third-party software/systems used with the Platform to help to streamline
operations. SWP is eligible for these third-party software/systems-related benefits because of its common
ownership. The use of these software systems creates an incentive for SWP to recommend SEI over other
third-party managers and custodians that do not offer this benefit.
SEI also supports SWP’s use of non-integrated third-party software/systems at a reduced cost through SEI
or its affiliate’s arrangement with the software provider to provide discounted rates to SWP. The
availability of the third-party discounts has created an incentive for SWP to recommend SEI over other
third-party managers and custodians that do not offer this benefit.
In addition to the SEI Proposal system, SEI provides investment research to assist SWP in making
investment recommendations/decisions for its clients’ accounts. This service generally consists of SEI’s
investment professionals reviewing SWP client’s current investment portfolio, future goals, and potential
tax impact of an investment reallocation, as provided by SWP to SEI, and SEI designing a proposed
investment portfolio intended to meet its clients’ goals constructed using SEI’s investment solutions. The
proposed investment portfolio is provided by SEI to SWP. Each SWP IAR independently reviews any
investment proposal designed by SEI and determines whether to recommend/use the investment portfolio
with his/her client(s) and/or to implement the portfolio at SEI. This service has created an incentive for
SWP to recommend SEI over other third-party managers and custodians that do not offer this benefit.
SEI Access Marketplace Select List (the “Select List”)
SWP has entered into a contract with the SEI Access Marketplace. The SEI Access Marketplace is a
digital platform developed by SEI Access Platform, LLC (the “Access Platform”), an affiliate of SIMC,
to provide access to alternative investments for financial professionals. The SEI Access Marketplace
includes subscription processing and educational content. SIMC has been engaged by the Access
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Platform, through its affiliate SIDCO, to perform certain research services (i.e., the Select List) for the
Access Platform. The Select List is a subset of the alternative investment offerings available through the
SEI Access Marketplace that have gone through an in-depth due diligence review conducted by, and that
have meet certain criteria developed by, SIMC (the “Select List Funds”). In connection with the Select
List, SIMC also produces a proprietary due diligence report (the “Select List Due Diligence Report”) for
each such Select List Fund which is made available to SWP IARs who are not registered with LPL
accessing the SEI Access Marketplace. SIMC’s client under this arrangement is the Access Platform. The
Select List, along with the Select List Due Diligence Reports, are made available on the SEI Access
Marketplace for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice, a recommendation
or an endorsement of the Select List Funds. As a result of their common ownership, SEI has waived the
fees for SWP’s IARs to utilize the Access Platform. This creates an incentive for SWP IARs to utilize the
Access Platform over other unaffiliated providers of alternative investments for financial professionals.
Schwab and Fidelity. Schwab and Fidelity both provide services to independent investments advisory
firms like SWP. They provide SWP and our clients with access to their institutional brokerage services
(trading, custody, reporting, and related services), many of which are not typically available to retail
customers. However certain retail investors may be able to get institutional brokerage services from
Schwab or Fidelity without going through SWP. Schwab and Fidelity also make available various support
services. Some of these services help us manage or administer client accounts, while others help us
manage and grow our business. Schwab’s and Fidelity’s support services are generally available on an
unsolicited basis (SWP doesn’t have to request them) and at no charge to SWP. Following is a more
detailed description of the support services.
Services that benefit clients. Schwab’s and Fidelity’s institutional brokerage services include access to
a broad range of investment products, execution of securities transactions and custody of client assets.
The investment products available include some to which SWP might not otherwise have access or that
would require a significantly higher minimum initial investment by our clients. The custodian’s services
described in this paragraph generally benefit our clients and their accounts.
Services that do not directly benefit clients. Schwab and Fidelity also make available to SWP other
products and services that benefit the firm but do not directly benefit its clients and their accounts. These
products and services assist us in managing and administering clients’ accounts and operating our firm.
They include investment research, both Schwab’s and Fidelity’s own and that of third parties. SWP uses
this research to service all or a substantial number of clients’ accounts, including accounts not maintained
at Schwab or Fidelity. In addition to investment research, Schwab and Fidelity also make available
software and other technology that (i) provide access to client account data (such as duplicate trade
confirmations and account statements); (ii) facilitate trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders
for multiple client accounts; (iii) provide pricing and other market data; (iv) facilitate payment of SWP
fees from client accounts; and (v) assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping and client reporting.
Services that generally benefit only SWP. Schwab and Fidelity also offer other services intended to
help SWP manage and further our business enterprise. These services include (i) educational conferences
and events; (ii) consulting on technology and business needs; (iii) consulting on legal and compliance
related needs; (iv) publications and conferences on practice management and business succession; (v)
access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants, and insurance providers; and (vi)
marketing consulting and support. Schwab and Fidelity provide some of these services themselves; in
other cases, they will arrange for third-party vendors to provide the services to SWP. Schwab and Fidelity
discount or waive their fees for some of the services or pay all or a part of a third party’s fees. Schwab
and Fidelity also provide us with other benefits, such as occasional business entertainment of our
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personnel. If clients did not maintain accounts with Schwab or Fidelity, SWP would be required to pay
for those services from our own resources.
Transition Assistance Benefits. From time to time, Fidelity or Schwab will provide Transition Assistance
to SWP IARs that are new to the Fidelity or Schwab platform. The proceeds of such Transition Assistance
payments are intended to be used for a variety of purposes, including (but not necessarily limited to)
providing working capital to assist in funding the IARs business, satisfying any outstanding debt owed to
the IAR’s prior firm, offsetting ACATs fees payable to Fidelity or Schwab as a result of the IAR’s clients
transitioning to Fidelity’s or Schwab’s’ custodial platform, technology set-up fees, marketing and mailing
costs, stationery and licensure transfer fees, moving expenses, office space expenses, staffing support, and
termination fees associated with moving accounts.
The amount of the Transition Assistance payments is often significant in relation to the overall revenue
earned or compensation received by the IAR at their prior firm. Such payments are generally based on the
size of the IAR’s business established at the prior firm and/or assets under custody. Please refer to the
relevant Part 2B brochure supplement for more information about the specific Transition Payments your
IAR receives.
The receipt of Transition Assistance by such IARs creates a conflict of interest relating to SWP’s advisory
business. In certain instances, the receipt of such benefits is dependent on an IAR maintaining its clients’
assets with Fidelity or Schwab and therefore SWP has an incentive to recommend that clients maintain
their account with Fidelity or Schwab in order to generate such benefits.
SWP attempts to mitigate these conflicts of interest by evaluating and recommending that clients use
Fidelity’s or Schwab’s services based on the benefits that such services provide to our clients, rather than
the Transition Assistance earned by any particular IAR. SWP considers Fidelity’s and Schwab’s stability
and size, along with the variety of programs and flexibility in commission rates IARs may charge when
recommending or requiring that clients maintain accounts with Fidelity or Schwab. However, clients
should be aware of this conflict and take it into consideration in making a decision regarding whether to
custody their assets in a brokerage account at Fidelity or Schwab.
Our Interest in Custodian’s Services
The availability of these services from our custodians benefits SWP because we do not have to produce or
purchase them. SWP doesn’t have to pay for custodial services. The custodians have also agreed to pay
for certain technology, research, marketing and compliance consulting products and services on our behalf
once the value of our clients’ assets in accounts at the custodians reaches certain thresholds. These
services are not contingent upon SWP committing any specific amount of business to the custodians in
trading commissions or assets in custody. The fact that we receive these benefits from the custodians is
an incentive for SWP to recommend the use of the custodians rather than making such a decision based
exclusively on our clients’ interest in receiving the best value in custody services and the most favorable
execution of client transactions. This is a conflict of interest. SWP believes, however, that taken in the
aggregate our recommendation of the custodians is in the best interests of our clients. Our selection is
primarily supported by the scope, quality, and price of the custodian’s services (see “How we select
custodians”) and not the custodian’s services that benefit only SWP.
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Retirement Plan Participant Accounts
SWP uses a third-party platform to facilitate management of held away assets such as defined contribution
plan participant accounts, with discretion. The platform allows SWP to avoid being considered to have
custody of client funds since IARs do not have direct access to client log-in credentials to affect trades.
SWP is not affiliated with the platform in any way and receives no compensation from them for using
their platform. A link will be provided to the client allowing them to connect an account(s) to the platform.
Once client account(s) is connected to the platform, an IAR will review the current account allocations.
When deemed necessary, the IAR will rebalance the account considering client investment goals and risk
tolerance, and any change in allocations will consider current economic and market trends. The goal is to
improve account performance over time, minimize loss during difficult markets, and manage internal fees
that harm account performance. Client account(s) will be reviewed periodically, at least annually, and
allocation changes will be made as deemed necessary.
Brokerage for Client Referrals: SWP does not recommend brokerage for client referrals.
Directed Brokerage: SWP generally does not engage in directed brokerage transactions for clients. In
limited circumstances, SWP may allow clients to request to use a particular broker to execute some or all
transactions for the client. In those cases, the client will negotiate terms and arrangements for the account
with that broker and SWP will not seek better execution services or prices from other brokers or be able
to aggregate client transactions for execution through other brokers with orders for other accounts
managed by SWP. As a result, the client will potentially pay higher commissions or other transaction
costs or greater spreads, or receive less favorable net prices, on transactions for the account than would
otherwise be the case. Subject to its duty of best execution, SWP may decline a client’s request to direct
brokerage if, in SWP’s sole discretion, such directed brokerage arrangements would result in additional
operational difficulties. As a general rule, SWP encourages each client to compare the possible costs or
disadvantages of directed brokerage against the value of custodial or other services provided by the broker
to the client in exchange for the directed brokerage designation.
In connection with TPIA programs, the TPIA sponsor may require that clients direct brokerage to a broker-
dealer, including the TPIA sponsor or broker-dealer affiliated with the TPIA sponsor. Clients should
understand that not all advisors require their clients to direct brokerage. By directing brokerage to a broker,
clients may be unable to achieve the most favorable execution of client transactions and may pay more in
transaction charges than other broker-dealer firms. Therefore, directed brokerage may cost clients more
money. For more information about the brokerage practices of a TPIA sponsor, clients should refer to the
Disclosure Brochure for the applicable TPIA. For information about other conflicts of interest regarding
SWP’s arrangements with TPIAs, please also see Item 14 below.
Aggregation
In placing orders to purchase or sell securities in accounts, IARs may elect to aggregate orders (that is,
consolidate smaller orders for the same security into a large order, which generally results in transaction
cost savings). In so doing, IARs will not aggregate transactions unless aggregation is consistent with its
duty to seek best execution. No advisory client will be favored over any other client; each client that
participates in an aggregated order will participate at the average share price for all transactions executed
by the IAR in that security on a given business day, with transaction costs shared pro-rata based on each
client’s participation in the transaction.
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ITEM 13: Review of Accounts
SWP maintains a compliance program designed to conduct periodic reviews of client accounts. IARs are
expected to meet and document reviews with clients on at least an annual basis. Such meetings may include
review of accounts statements, quarterly performance reports, and other information or data related to the
client’s account and investment objectives. Clients may request more frequent reviews and may set
thresholds for triggering events that would cause a review to take place. Generally, IARs will monitor for
changes or shifts in the economy, changes to the management and structure of a mutual fund or company in
which client assets are invested, and market shifts and corrections. Clients are advised that they should
notify their IAR promptly of any changes to the client’s financial goals, objectives or financial situation
as such changes may require the IAR to review the client’s portfolio and make recommendations for
changes.
LPL, Fidelity, or Schwab, as the custodian, provide clients with regular written reports regarding their
accounts. In addition, LPL, Fidelity, or Schwab send client trade confirmations and account statements
showing transactions, positions, and deposits and withdrawals of principal and income. Fidelity and
Schwab do not send trade confirmations for systematic purchases, systematic redemptions and systematic
exchanges. In some cases, SWP provides detailed quarterly performance reports describing account
performance and positions. Some managed accounts either send confirmations for each securities
transaction in the client’s account direct from the account custodian as they occur, and others bundle
them to be sent with the periodic statement mailing.
Clients will receive account statements direct from the broker-dealer or account custodian reflecting the
deduction of SWP’s advisory fee. Clients should carefully review statements received from the broker-
dealer or account custodian. Further, clients should compare any written report received from SWP with
statements received directly from the broker-dealer or account custodian. Clients should notify their IAR
if they notice any discrepancies between the statement received from their account custodian and quarterly
performance reports received from SWP.
For all financial planning services, SWP reviews the deliverable(s) provided to the client to ensure the
recommendations were in line with the client’s needs and objectives.
For TPIA services, IARs review, on an ongoing basis, client accounts and meet with clients to review such
items as accounts statements, quarterly performance reports, and other information or data related to the
client’s account and investment objective. The TPIA sponsor or custodian of the TPIA account assets send
clients regular written reports and statements regarding the account.
ITEM 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Client Referrals
SWP may enter into arrangements with individuals (“Promoters”) whereby the Promoter will refer a client
to SWP who may be a candidate for the investment advisory services offered by SWP. In return, SWP
will agree to compensate the Promoter for the referral. Compensation to the Promoter is dependent on the
client entering into an advisory agreement with SWP for advisory services. Compensation to the Promoter
will be an agreed upon percentage of SWP’s advisory fee. SWP’s referral program is in compliance with
the federal regulations. The promoter/referral fee is paid pursuant to a written agreement retained by both
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the investment adviser and the Promoter. Each referred client is required to receive a copy of SWP’s Form
ADV Part 2A and a disclosure document explaining the nature of the Promoter’s relationship with SWP,
the compensation arrangement and the amount the Promoter will receive as a consequence of the Promoter
arrangement. The Promoter is not permitted to offer clients any investment advice on behalf of SWP. A
client’s advisory fee will not exceed SWP maximum fees regardless of promoter or referral arrangements.
SWP and its IARs may offer advisory services on the premises of unaffiliated financial institutions such
as banks. SWP has entered into agreements with the financial institutions pursuant to which SWP shares
compensation, including a portion of the advisory fee, with the financial institution for the use of the
financial institution’s facilities and for client referrals.
Participation in Fidelity Wealth Advisor Solutions®
SWP participates in the Fidelity Wealth Advisor Solutions® Program (the “WAS Program”), through
which SWP receives referrals from Strategic Advisers LLC (“Strategic Advisers”), a registered investment
adviser, and Fidelity Investments company. SWP is independent and not affiliated with Strategic Advisers
or any Fidelity Investments company. Strategic Advisers does not supervise or control SWP, and Strategic
Advisers has no responsibility or oversight for SWP’s provision of investment management or other
advisory services.
Under the WAS Program, Strategic Advisers acts as a promoter for SWP, and SWP pays referral fees to
Strategic Advisers for each referral received based on SWP’s assets under management attributable to
each client referred by Strategic Advisers or members of each client’s household. The WAS Program is
designed to help investors find an independent investment advisor, and any referral from Strategic
Advisers to SWP does not constitute a recommendation by Strategic Advisers of SWP’s particular
investment management services or strategies. More specifically, SWP pays the following amounts to
Strategic Advisers for referrals: the sum of (i) an annual percentage of 0.10% of any and all assets in
client accounts where such assets are identified as “fixed income” assets by Strategic Advisers and (ii) an
annual percentage of 0.25% of all other assets held in client accounts. In addition, SWP has agreed to pay
Strategic Advisers an annual program fee of $50,000 to participate in the WAS Program. These referral
fees are paid by SWP and not the client.
To receive referrals from the WAS Program, SWP must meet certain minimum participation criteria, but
SWP has been selected for participation in the WAS Program as a result of its other business relationships
with Strategic Advisers and its affiliates, including Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC (“FBS”). As a result
of its participation in the WAS Program, SWP and those IARs at SWP participating in the WAS Program
have a conflict of interest with respect to its decision to use certain affiliates of Strategic Advisers,
including FBS, for execution, custody and clearing for certain client accounts. SWP and those IARs at
SWP participating in the WAS Program could have an incentive to suggest the use of FBS and its affiliates
to its advisory clients, whether or not those clients were referred to SWP as part of the WAS Program.
Under an agreement with Strategic Advisers, SWP has agreed that SWP will not charge clients more than
the standard range of advisory fees disclosed in its Form ADV Part 2A Brochure to cover promoter fees
paid to Strategic Advisers as part of the WAS Program. Pursuant to these arrangements, SWP has agreed
not to solicit clients to transfer their brokerage accounts from affiliates of Strategic Advisers or establish
brokerage accounts at other custodians for referred clients other than when SWP’s fiduciary duties would
so require, and SWP has agreed to pay Strategic Advisers a one-time fee equal to 0.75% of the assets in a
client account that is transferred from Strategic Advisers’ affiliates to another custodian; therefore, SWP
and those IARs at SWP participating in the WAS Program have an incentive to suggest that referred clients
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and their household members maintain custody of their accounts with affiliates of Strategic Advisers.
However, participation in the WAS Program does not limit SWP’s duty to select brokers on the basis of
best execution.
Other Compensation
SWP receives an economic benefit from its recommended custodians in the form of the support products
and services they make available to SWP and other independent investment advisors whose clients
maintain their accounts with the custodians. In addition, the custodians have also agreed to pay for certain
products and services for which SWP would otherwise have to pay once the value of our clients’ assets in
accounts at the custodians reach a certain size. Clients do not pay more for assets maintained at the
custodians as a result of these arrangements. However, SWP benefits from the arrangement because the
cost of these services would otherwise be borne directly by SWP. Clients should consider these conflicts
of interest when selecting a custodian. The products and services provided by the custodians, how they
benefit SWP, and the related conflicts of interest are described in Item 12 above.
SWP receives referral bonuses from LPL which are based on the trailing 12-month commission production
history of newly hired IARs, as well as a percentage portion of the commissions and bonuses they generate
at LPL. Newly hired IARs may receive from LPL forgivable loans, upfront cash and various forms of
start-up expense coverage based on their trailing 12-month commission production history for electing to
join LPL and SWP. This is a conflict of interest in that it provides an incentive for the representative to
change firms in order to obtain these forms of compensation.
SWP and/or its Dually Registered Persons are incented to join and remain affiliated with LPL and to
recommend that clients establish accounts with LPL through the provision of Transition Assistance
(discussed in Item 12 above), and this is a conflict of interest. LPL also provides other compensation to
SWP and its Dually Registered Persons, including, but not limited to, bonus payments, repayable and
forgivable loans, stock awards, and other benefits. The receipt of any such compensation creates a
financial incentive for the IAR to recommend LPL Financial as custodian for the assets in a client’s
account, and thus it is a conflict of interest. We encourage the client to discuss any such conflicts of
interest with their representative before making a decision to custody their assets at LPL Financial.
SWP has a fee arrangement with LPL related to assets held on one of the LPL advisory programs. Under
this arrangement, LPL pays SWP a rebate based on the amount of assets invested in that LPL program.
This results in a conflict of interest between clients and SWP because receipt of the rebate gives SWP an
incentive to recommend that clients invest assets in the program; however, this conflict is mitigated insofar
as the rebate payments SWP receives are not shared with the IAR who selects or recommends the program
for its clients.
Additionally, SWP’s agreement with Fidelity and Schwab provides for payment of Transition Assistance
(discussed in Item 12 above) for certain IARs joining SWP who are likely to recommend Fidelity or
Schwab as a custodian. The receipt of any such compensation creates a financial incentive for the IAR to
recommend Fidelity or Schwab as custodian for the assets in a client’s account, and thus it is a conflict of
interest. We encourage the client to discuss any such conflicts of interest with their representative before
making a decision to custody their assets at Fidelity or Schwab. Dually Registered Persons must receive
approval to use custodians other than LPL.
When SWP IARs undertake a conversion of its clients’ accounts to SPTC from other custodial platforms,
IARs receive clerical support from SIMC personnel to streamline the conversion process (e.g., SIMC
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personnel populate SIMC’s and SPTC’s end client paperwork for client signature necessary for clients to
move accounts to SPTC) and other administrative services. This creates a benefit from SIMC to SWP and
the IAR in that SWP personnel or the IAR do not need to perform the clerical services in connection with
the conversion. In certain circumstances SIMC pays the costs that the IAR’s clients would otherwise incur
when transferring clients’ assets to SPTC from another custodian (for instance, paying account closing
fees charged by the client’s old custodian). SIMC may either pay the custodian directly the amount it
would have otherwise charged each converting client to close its account with the custodian or reimburse
the client’s account at SPTC by the amount of the transfer costs incurred. An SWP IAR is eligible for the
conversion services benefit because of the common ownership. This creates an incentive for an IAR to
recommend SIMC over other third-party managers or custodians that do not offer this benefit. Clients
should discuss this conflict of interest with their IAR.
The IAR, SWP and SWP employees may receive additional non-cash compensation from advisory product
sponsors. Such compensation may not be tied to the sale of any products. Compensation may include such
items as gifts valued at less than $500 annually, an occasional dinner or ticket to a sporting event, or
reimbursement in connection with educational meetings or marketing or advertising initiatives. Advisory
product sponsors may also pay for education or training events that may be attended by SWP employees
and IARs.
The IAR recommending a TPIA program to the client receives compensation as a result of the client’s
participation in the program. This compensation includes a portion of the advisory fee and also may
include other compensation, such as awards or other things of value offered by the TPIA to the IAR. For
example, a TPIA may pay additional marketing payments to SWP, its employees and/or IARs to cover
fees to attend conferences or reimbursement of expenses for workshops, seminars presented to the IAR’s
clients, client appreciation events or advertising, marketing or practice management. The amount of this
compensation may be more or less than what the IAR would receive if the client participated in custodial
advisory programs, programs of other investment advisors or paid separately for investment advice,
brokerage and other client services. Therefore, this is a conflict or interest in that the IAR may have a
financial incentive to recommend a TPIA program account over other programs and services.
SWP has entered into referral agreements with independent TPIAs, pursuant to which SWP and IARs
receive referral fees from the TPIAs in return for referrals of clients. Because SWP is engaged by and paid
by the TPIA for the referral, any recommendation regarding a TPIA as part of a referral presents a conflict
of interest. SWP addresses this conflict by providing the client with a disclosure statement explaining the
role of SWP, the IAR and the referral fee received by SWP and the IAR.
For more information regarding these TPIA arrangements, refer to Item 4.
One TPIA that an IAR may also recommend is SIM, which is an affiliate of SWP. This creates a conflict
of interest because management fees earned by SIM generate revenue for SWP’s parent company and
benefit the firm as a whole. By managing those assets, the IAR receives a benefit of access to the portfolio
management, and SWP and SIM receives fees on those assets that would otherwise be paid to other
entities. SWP addresses this conflict by identifying SIM as an affiliate and providing clients with a
disclosure brochure explaining the role of SWP, the IAR and SIM and the additional fees charged by SIM
for its services. Ultimately it is up to the client to choose the TPIA that is right for their situation.
Some IARs hold equity in Stratos Management Holdings, LLC, an owner of SEI Holdco. This creates a
conflict of interest in recommending SIM as a subadviser as those IARs will receive an indirect benefit in
sharing in the profitability of SIM as a shareholder of Stratos Managaement Holdings, LLC .
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Another TPIA that an IAR may recommend is accessed through certain programs offered by SEI
Investment Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a registered investment adviser under common indirect
ownership with SWP. Because SIMC is an affiliate, recommending SIMC introduces a conflict of interest,
as SIMC receives additional compensation for managing client assets. SWP’s IARs do not receive
additional compensation for recommending SIMC programs. Clients are not required to use SIMC and
may request alternative TPIAs. Clients should review SIMC’s disclosure brochure for detailed information
regarding services, fees, and conflicts applicable to SIMC-managed programs.
SWP has developed a program pursuant to which a limited number of IARs can become employees of an
affiliate of SWP. In connection with that program, the IAR agrees to change its branding, adopt a common
technology stack and move assets to SIM, as appropriate, among other things. Participation in this
program results in a one-time inventive payment to the IAR and, therefore, represents a conflict of interest.
IARs provide disclosure of this conflict to clients and does an analysis to ensure that moving assets to SIM
is in the best interest of the clients. As always, it is up to the client to choose the portfolio manager that
is right for their situation.
Load and no-load mutual funds may pay annual distribution charges sometimes referred to as 12b-1 fees.
12b-1 fees come from fund assets; therefore, indirectly from client assets. Any 12b-1 fees paid on mutual
funds purchased in an SWP managed account are not passed on to IARs and will be retained by LPL or
another custodian.
LPL makes available to SWP other products and services that benefit SWP but may not benefit its clients’
accounts. Some of these other products and services assist SWP in managing and administering clients’
accounts. These include: software and other technology that provide access to client account data (such as
trade confirmations and account statements); the facilitation of trade execution and allocation of
aggregated trade orders for multiple client accounts; research, pricing information and other market data;
the facilitation of payment of SWP’s fees from its clients’ accounts; and assistance with back-office
functions, recordkeeping and client reporting. Many of these services generally may be used to service all
or a substantial number of SWP’s accounts, including those accounts not maintained at LPL. LPL may
also make available to SWP other services intended to help SWP manage and further develop its business
enterprise. These services may include: consulting, publications and conferences on practice management;
information technology; business succession; regulatory compliance; and marketing. In addition, LPL
may make available, arrange and/or pay for these types of services rendered to SWP by independent third
parties. LPL may discount or waive fees it would otherwise charge for some of these services or pay all
or a part of the fees of a third party providing these services to SWP.
ITEM 15: Custody
Accounts are often custodied at LPL, Fidelity, Schwab, SPTC or qualified custodians as chosen by the
client and IAR, or through other TPIAs who have selected custodial relationships.
For TPIA programs, client assets are maintained at a custodian other than LPL. In such cases, the client
will complete account paperwork with the outside custodian that will provide the name and address of the
custodian. The client will receive statements and reports directly from the custodian, rather than from LPL.
Clients should refer to the statements and reports that they receive from the custodian or TPIA sponsor.
Clients should review these statements and reports carefully.
With the exception of the deduction of Stratos’ advisory fees from client accounts or if SWP facilitates or
executes client requests for third party standing letters of authorization, and certain other circumstances
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described below, SWP does not take custody of client funds or securities that are held with LPL, Fidelity
or Schwab. Clients will receive account statements direct from the broker-dealer or account custodian
reflecting the deduction of SWP’ advisory fee. Clients should carefully review statements received from
the broker-dealer or account custodian. Further, clients should compare any written report received from
their IAR with statements received directly from the broker-dealer or account custodian. Clients should
notify their IAR if they notice any discrepancies between the statement received from their account
custodian and quarterly performance reports received from SWP.
Under government regulations, SWP is deemed to have custody of client assets if, for example, the client
authorizes SWP to instruct their account custodian to deduct its advisory fees directly from the client’s
account, or if the client grants SWP authority to move their money to a third-party account. Additionally,
if the client has a third-party standing letter of authorization and SWP has the ability to change the timing
or the amount of the transfer upon the client’s request, SWP is deemed to have custody. SWP is also
deemed to have custody when client assets are held at SEI Private Trust Company (“SPTC”) in connection
with investment management services provided by SEI Investment Management Corporation (“SIMC”),
an affiliated third‑party investment adviser under common indirect ownership with SWP. Because SPTC
is a related person that acts as custodian for certain SIMC‑managed programs, SWP is considered to have
“related‑person custody” of those assets even though SWP does not have direct access to or control over
those accounts.
The client’s account custodian maintains actual custody of the client’s assets. The client will receive
account statements directly from their account custodian at least quarterly. They will be sent to the email
or postal mailing address the client provided. The client should carefully review those statements promptly
when they receive them. Clients whose accounts are custodied at SPTC should also review SPTC-issued
statements carefully and compare them with any reports received from their IAR.
ITEM 16: Investment Discretion
Clients may grant SWP authorization to manage a client’s account on a discretionary basis. Discretionary
authorization provides SWP the ability to determine the securities to be purchased and sold and when such
securities are purchased and sold. Client will grant such authority to SWP by execution of the client
agreement. Clients must complete and sign custodial paperwork to establish any mutual fund, variable
annuity, or brokerage account.
Clients can also request that SWP has non-discretionary authority over their account. In this instance,
SWP makes recommendations to clients regarding the securities to be purchased or sold and the size of
those transactions. For those accounts, the client must authorize SWP to implement our recommendations.
With respect to financial planning and hourly consulting services, SWP and the IAR do not have any
discretionary investment authority.
In a TPIA program, the client typically authorizes the TPIA to purchase and sell securities on a
discretionary or non-discretionary basis pursuant to the investment objective chosen by the client. This
authorization will be set out in the TPIA client agreement. SWP and the IAR do not have discretion on
TPIA program accounts.
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ITEM 17: Voting Client Securities
SWP will not ask for, nor accept, voting authority for client securities. Clients will receive proxies directly
from the issuer of the security or the custodian. Clients should direct all proxy questions to the issuer of
the security.
ITEM 18: Financial Information
SWP is required in this item to provide clients with certain financial information or disclosures about its
financial condition. SWP does not solicit fees of more than $1,200 per client, six months or more in
advance. SWP does not have any financial commitment that would impair its ability to meet any
contractual or fiduciary obligations it may have to its clients and the firm.
SWP has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition in its history.
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Additional Brochure: ADV PART 2A SWP WRAP BROCHURE 03.2026 (2026-04-17)
View Document Text
Item 1. Cover Page
Part 2A Appendix 1 of Form ADV (“WRAP Brochure”)
Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd.
3750 Park East Drive, Suite 200
Beachwood, Ohio 44122
440-519-2500
Fax 855-863-4623
www.stratoswealthpartners.com
March 31, 2026
This wrap fee program brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of
Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us
at 440-519-2500. 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 Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. also is available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Note,
however, that such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The oral and written
communications we provide to you, including this brochure, is information you use to evaluate us (and other
advisers) which are factors in your decision to hire us or to continue to maintain a mutually beneficial
relationship.
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Item 2: Material Changes
The Material Changes section of this brochure will be updated annually or when material changes occur
since the previous release of this wrap fee Program Brochure.
Clients wishing to receive a complete copy of this brochure may download it from the SEC Website as
indicated on page 1 of this brochure or call 440-519-2500.
This section describes the material changes to SWP’s brochure since its last filing.
SWP had the following material change to its business since its last ADV amendment in June 2025:
•
Items 4 and 9 have been updated to reflect an indirect change of control of SWP.
On December 3, 2025, SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, LLC (“SEI Holdco”),
which is owned by a subsidiary of SEI Investments Company, and Stratos
Management Holdings, LLC, indirectly acquired the interests of SWP.
•
Item 9 has been updated to describe conflicts of interest that arise when SWP
utilizes strategies, models, products and programs managed or sponsored by SEI
Investments Management Corporation, which is under common ownership with
SWP.
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Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1 – Cover Page… ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2 – Material Changes… ............................................................................................................................ 2
Item 3 – Table of Contents… ............................................................................................................................ 3
Item 4 - Services, Fees, and Compensation… ................................................................................................... 4
Item 5 - Account Requirements and Types of Clients..................................................................................... 13
Item 6 – Portfolio Manager Selection and Evaluation. ................................................................................... 14
Item 7 – Client Information Provided to Portfolio Managers… ..................................................................... 19
Item 8 – Client Contact with Portfolio Managers… ....................................................................................... 20
Item 9 - Additional Information… .................................................................................................................. 20
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Item 4: Services, Fees and Compensation
Introduction
Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. (“SWP”) is an SEC registered investment adviser since 2010. On December 3, 2025,
SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, LLC (“SEI Holdco”), which is owned by a subsidiary of SEI Investments
Company, and Stratos Management Holdings, LLC, indirectly acquired the interests of SWP. SEI Holdco is
a holding company which owns, among other companies, three other registered investment advisers and a
limited purpose broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC.
SWP’s advisory services are made available to clients primarily through individuals associated with SWP as
investment advisory representatives (“IARs”). For more information about the IAR providing advisory
services, client should refer to the Brochure Supplement (also called the ADV Part 2B) for the IAR. The Brochure
Supplement is a separate document that is provided by the IAR along with this Brochure before or at the time
client engages the IAR. If client did not receive a Brochure Supplement for the IAR, the client should contact
the IAR or SWP at (440) 519-2500.
SWP offers services through our network of IARs. Many IARs have their own legal business entities whose
trade names and logos are used for marketing purposes and may appear on marketing materials and/or client
statements. The client should understand that the businesses are legal entities of the IAR and not of SWP. The
IARs are under the supervision of SWP, and the advisory services of the IAR are provided through SWP.
SWP has these arrangements with the business entities listed in Schedule D of Form ADV.
Types of Advisory Services
SWP offers various types of advisory services and programs, including but not limited to: wrap programs,
asset allocation programs, advisory programs offered by third party investment advisor (“TPIA”) firms, and
financial planning services.
This wrap fee Program Brochure provides information about the SWP Wrap Managed Account Services for
bundled or wrap accounts.
SWP also offers the following separate services described under its Firm Brochure (Form ADV Part 2A):
• Non-Wrap Fee Managed Account Services
• Financial Planning and Consulting
• Third Party Investment Advisor Services
• Retirement Plan Consulting
Not all services are available to all clients, through all advisors, or in all states. In addition, services may not
be available at all custodians.
SWP currently has agreements with the following broker-dealer custodians for its wrap programs:
• LPL Financial (“LPL or LPL Financial”), Member FINRA/SIPC;
• Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and National Financial Services LLC
(collectively “Fidelity”), Member FINRA/SIPC; and
• Charles Schwab (“Schwab”), Member FINRA/SIPC.
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Not all custodians or products are available to all clients or IARs, or in all states.
SWP offers customized individually managed portfolios or management based on model accounts. SWP
IARs will determine and present to clients an asset allocation specific to the client based upon a client’s
individual investment goals, objectives, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon.
Accounts at the custodians listed above are also available under an unbundled or non-wrap fee program.
Please see the separate SWP ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure for further information. There is no significant
difference between the way IARs manage wrap fee account and non-wrap fee accounts. However, if a client
determines to engage SWP on a wrap fee basis, the client will pay a single fee for investment management
and transaction fees. The services included in a wrap fee agreement will depend upon client needs. If the
client determines to engage SWP on a non-wrap fee basis, the client will select services on an unbundled
basis, paying for each service separately. Note: when managing a client’s account on a wrap fee basis, SWP
will receive, as payment for its investment advisory services, the balance of the wrap fee after all other costs
incorporated into the wrap fee have been deducted. Inasmuch as the execution costs for transactions effected
in the client account will be paid by the IAR, a conflict of interest exists in that the IAR may have a
disincentive to trade securities in the client account. In addition, the amount of compensation received by
SWP as a result of the client’s participation in the wrap program may be more than what SWP would receive
if the client paid separately for investment management and transaction fees.
SWP Wealth Management II (SWMII)
SWMII is a bundled or wrap program available to SWP clients custodied at LPL. The client pays one fee to
SWP that includes ticket charges and management of the account.
Clients’ portfolios may consist of stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”)/exchange traded notes (“ETNs”),
no-load and/or load mutual funds and cash or cash equivalents, or other securities deemed appropriate and
suitable for the client by SWP IAR.
SWMII Accounts are offered on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis as agreed to between the client
and the IAR. Non-discretionary accounts require the IAR to discuss all changes in the client’s portfolio with
the client, and receiving client approval, prior to execution of the transactions. For discretionary accounts,
IAR will make changes within the client’s portfolio as deemed appropriate by IAR without delay and without
contacting the client prior to the transaction. Clients will receive confirmations and statements from LPL
Financial reflecting all transactions in their account. SWP or the IAR will not have the discretionary authority
to close the account or withdraw funds or securities, with the exception of SWP’s advisory fees on a quarterly
basis.
The IAR will determine and present to clients an asset allocation specific to the client based upon a client’s
individual investment goals, objectives, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon. Clients may have a
customized individually managed portfolio managed by the IAR or participate in various model portfolios
designed by IAR(s) consistent with the client’s stated investment objective. A model portfolio will be
managed similar to other clients utilizing the model. There are no guarantees a portfolio based on a model
will ensure positive results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. In either case, the IAR provides
ongoing advice on the selection or replacement of a portfolio based on the client’s individual needs. The IAR
may choose more than one portfolio to be managed for the client’s account.
SWP provides asset management services on an ongoing basis based on the individual needs of the client.
The management program through SWP offers clients flexibility among payment structures, custodians, and
management styles. Management will be on an active basis. Thus, SWP IARs will actively monitor the
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assets in the account and make changes or recommendations the IAR deems appropriate in light of
the circumstances in the market.
SWP takes custody under the following conditions, which are considered by the Securities and Exchange
Commission to be custody because of our authority and ability to transfer funds.
SWP is deemed to have custody because of our ability to deduct our fees from your account. You will receive
a statement at least quarterly direct from the account custodian showing the deduction of our fees from your
account. Authorization to deduct our fees from your account is given in the agreement you executed with
SWP.
SWP is also deemed to have custody if you establish a standing letter of authorization to direct us to transfer
funds or securities from your account to a specified third party and you give us the authorization to change
the timing and or the amount of the transfer. SWP does not have the ability to change the third party without
your written authorization.
Advisor Wealth Management II (AWMII)
AWMII is a bundled or wrap program available to SWP clients custodied at Fidelity or Schwab. The client
pays one fee to SWP that includes ticket charges and management of the account. The exception is that there
may be a select listing of securities (typically reserved to mutual funds) for which no transaction fees will be
assessed. However, the security may be subject to a holding period to avoid early liquidation fees. For securities
with holding periods, clients are not prevented from liquidating during the holding periods, however, there is
a fee associated with liquidations during the holding period. The IAR will determine and present to clients an
asset allocation specific to the client based upon a client’s individual investment goals, objectives, risk
tolerance, and investment time horizon. Clients may have a customized individually managed portfolio
managed by the IAR or participate in various model portfolios designed by IAR(s) consistent with the client’s
stated investment objective. A model portfolio will be managed similar to other clients utilizing the model.
There are no guarantees a portfolio based on a model will ensure positive results. Past performance is no
guarantee of future results. In either case, the IAR provides ongoing advice on the selection or replacement
of a portfolio based on the client’s individual needs. The IAR may choose more than one portfolio to be
managed for the client’s account. SWP also offers advisor-managed non-wrap fee accounts. Please see the
SWP ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure for further information.
Clients’ portfolios may consist of stocks, bonds, ETFs/ETNs, no-load and/or load mutual funds and cash or
cash equivalents, or other securities deemed appropriate and suitable to the client by SWP.
The SWP IAR provides asset management services on an ongoing basis based on the individual needs of the
client. The management program through SWP offers clients flexibility among payment structures,
custodians, and management styles. Management will be on an active basis. Thus, SWP and its IARs will
actively monitor the assets in the account and make changes the IAR deems appropriate in light of the
circumstances in the market.
SWP takes custody under the following conditions, which are considered by the Securities and Exchange
Commission to be custody.
SWP is deemed to have custody because of our ability to deduct our fees from your account. You will receive
a statement at least quarterly direct from the account custodian showing the deduction of our fees from your
account. Authorization to deduct our fees from your account is given in the agreement you execute with
SWP.
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SWP is also deemed to have custody if you establish a standing letter of authorization to direct us to transfer
funds or securities from your account to a specified third party and you give us the authorization to change
the timing and or the amount of the transfer. SWP does not have the ability to change the third party without
your written authorization.
Finally, SWP is deemed to have custody when an IAR elects to utilize SEI Investment Management
Corporation (“SIMC”) as a third-party manager. Most SIMC-managed programs utilize SEI Private Trust
Company (“SPTC”) as custodian. Because of the indirect acquisition by SEI Holdco of interests in SWP,
when an IAR selects a program that results in SPTC acting as custodian for those assets, SWP is deemed to
have custody of those assets.
If the SWP account is opened containing existing securities previously purchased through, or is opened
with cash proceeds from the sale of securities sold through, Fidelity, Schwab, or the IARs, then Fidelity,
Schwab, and/or the IAR may have already received commissions on the purchase. Additional commissions
will not be charged, however, the fees discussed below will be charged.
Clients are advised that transactions in the account, account reallocations and rebalancing may trigger a
taxable event for the client, with the exception of transactions in IRA accounts, 403(b) accounts and other
qualified retirement accounts. SWP does not offer tax advice and clients are urged to consult with their tax
advisers.
Stratos Investment Management, LLC
SWP sponsors the Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. Wrap Fee Program and hires Stratos Investment
Management, LLC (“SIM”), an affiliate of SWP, to act as portfolio manager for the wrap fee program,
offering ongoing portfolio management based on the individual goals, objectives, time horizon, and risk
tolerance of each client. The wrap fee program allows the investor to pay one stated fee that includes
management fees and transaction costs. This fee is in addition to the management fee paid to the IAR under
the SWP investment management agreement.
SIM primarily acts as a subadviser to affiliated and unaffiliated investment advisers. Its portfolio
management services include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Investment strategy
• Asset allocation
• Portfolio construction
• Risk tolerance
• Regular portfolio monitoring
SIM will typically require discretionary authority in order to select securities and execute transactions without
permission from the client prior to each transaction. However, the firm may also provide non-discretionary
portfolio management if needed. Advisors working with SIM often recommend Fidelity to maintain custody
of clients’ assets and to effect trades for their accounts but may also recommend Schwab or LPL to maintain
custody of clients’ assets and to effect trades for their accounts. SIM seeks to provide investment decisions
that are made in accordance with the fiduciary duties owed to its accounts and without consideration of SIM
economic, investment or other financial interests. To meet its fiduciary obligations, SIM attempts to avoid,
among other things, investment or trading practices that systematically advantage or disadvantage certain
client portfolios. It is SIM’s policy to allocate investment opportunities and transactions it identifies as being
appropriate and prudent among its clients on a fair and equitable basis to avoid favoring one client over
another over time.
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For more information about SIM’s portfolios and its portfolio management practices, please see the SIM
Form ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure. Clients should refer to Item 9 below for more information about potential
conflicts of interest that may arise when using the Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. Wrap Fee Program and hiring
SIM as the portfolio manager.
SEI Access Marketplace Select List (the “Select List”)
SWP has entered into a contract with the SEI Access Marketplace. The SEI Access Marketplace is a digital
platform developed by SEI Access Platform, LLC (the “Access Platform”), an affiliate of SIMC, to provide
access to alternative investments for financial professionals. The SEI Access Marketplace includes
subscription processing and educational content. SIMC has been engaged by the Access Platform, through
its affiliate SIDCO, to perform certain research services (i.e., the Select List) for the Access Platform. The
Select List is a subset of the alternative investment offerings available through the SEI Access Marketplace
that have gone through an in-depth due diligence review conducted by, and that have meet certain criteria
developed by, SIMC (the “Select List Funds”). In connection with the Select List, SIMC also produces a
proprietary due diligence report (the “Select List Due Diligence Report”) for each such Select List Fund which
is made available to SWP IARs who are not registered with LPL and SIM portfolio managers accessing the
SEI Access Marketplace. SIMC’s client under this arrangement is the Access Platform. The Select List, along
with the Select List Due Diligence Reports, are made available on the SEI Access Marketplace for
informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice, a recommendation or an endorsement
of the Select List Funds. As a result of their common ownership, the Access Platform has waived the fees for
SWP’s IARs and SIM portfolio managers to utilize the Platform. This creates an incentive for SWP IARs and
SIM portfolio managers to utilize the Access Platform over other unaffiliated providers of alternative
investments for financial professionals.
Fees and Compensation
The advisory fees payable upon initial implementation are collected directly from the account (provided the
client has given SWP written authorization for SWP to deduct the fees directly from the account). Advisory
fees for all subsequent periods will be collected directly from the account, provided authorization was
obtained. Clients will be provided with an account statement from the account custodian reflecting the
deduction of the advisory fee. If the account does not contain sufficient funds to pay advisory fees, SWP has
limited authority to sell or redeem securities in sufficient amounts to pay advisory fees. The client may
reimburse the account for advisory fees paid to SWP, except for ERISA and IRA accounts.
Fees are negotiable and are not based on a share of capital gains/losses upon or capital
appreciation/depreciation of the funds or any portion of the funds.
Clients using SWMII & AWMII (wrap fee) accounts pay a single fee to SWP to cover both management
fees and transaction charges. Typically, this option may be more economical for those managed accounts
where there is more trading and where securities with transaction fees will be primarily utilized in the
management of the portfolio. SWP does not charge our clients higher advisory fees based on their trading
activity, but there is a conflict of interest in that an IAR may have an incentive to limit trading activities in
client account(s) because the IAR is charged for executed trades.
Most SWP IARs charge an ongoing asset-based fee which is a percentage of the value of the client’s account.
The more assets a client has in an asset-based fee account, the more the client will pay the SWP IAR in fees.
This creates an incentive for the IAR to encourage clients to increase the size of their account, including by
transferring or rolling over assets from other accounts.
Additionally, in limited cases, the client’s managed accounts may be aggregated together to determine a fee
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breakpoint. Therefore, clients with multiple managed accounts will be charged a fee considering the account
values in total. In these cases, and when available, it is a benefit to the client to have an IAR that aggregates
accounts. Alternatively, some IARs may charge a corresponding fee based on each account size. Therefore,
clients with multiple accounts may pay a different fee depending on the account size.
In limited cases, SWP may apply a flat fee to provide asset management services. The flat amount will include
transaction charges. Details regarding billing can be found in the client agreement for the applicable accounts.
Clients should understand that this may create a conflict of interest, as SWP’s and the IAR’s compensation
does not increase or decrease along with the client’s account value.
The maximum annual advisory wrap account fee is 2.0% for SWMII, AWMII.
Clients may receive comparable services from other broker-dealers or investment advisers and pay fees that
are higher or lower than those charged under SWP’s wrap fee program. Fees may be more or less than the
client would have paid if the services (account management, custody and brokerage transactions) were
purchased separately outside of the wrap program.
Ticket Charges
There are conflicts of interest to consider in connection with the selection of mutual funds and a specific
transaction cost commonly known as ticket charge associated with each mutual fund transaction. In a wrap
account, clients do not pay any ticket charges but IARs pay these ticket charges to the custodian where the
trades occur for each client account.
As background, custodians often make available mutual funds that offer various classes of shares. Some
share classes of a fund charge higher internal expenses, whereas other share classes of a fund charge lower
internal expenses. Institutional and advisory share classes (collectively, “institutional shares” or “institutional
share classes”) typically have lower expense ratios and are less costly for a client to hold than Class A shares
or other share classes that are eligible for purchase in an advisory account. In some instances, a mutual fund
offers only Class A shares, but another similar mutual fund may be available that offers institutional shares.
Whether a mutual fund or a specific share class of a mutual fund incurs a ticket charge often depends on
whether the mutual fund or the mutual fund share class has 12b-1 fees (fees paid by the mutual fund to
distributors of the funds to cover the cost of distribution and/or shareholder services). For instance, where a
mutual fund or mutual fund share class has 12b-1 fees can correlate with no ticket charge. Additional fees
that could have an impact on whether a mutual fund or mutual fund share class has a ticket charge or not also
include recordkeeping fees to the custodian. Mutual funds and mutual fund share classes with no ticket fees
(which can be described as NTF shares) usually have higher fees and expense ratios, and the associated costs
would be incurred by the client. Mutual funds and mutual fund shares with ticket fees usually have lower
fees and expenses, which would lessen the associated fees and expense costs on the client.
As noted above, IARs, not SWP, pay these ticket charges. Clients should understand that the cost to IARs
of transaction charges can be a factor that influences IARs when deciding which securities to select and how
frequently to place transactions in these accounts. Clients should understand that another investment advisor
may offer the same mutual fund at a lower overall cost to the investor than is available through the custodial
platforms with which SWP has relationships.
SWP has a policy that IARs recommend the lower cost share class reasonably available at the time through
the custodian where a client account is located. Furthermore, SWP conducts surveillance to test this policy
and maintains a process to reasonably conduct conversions to the lower cost share class, where applicable
and possible depending on availability with an individual custodian.
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We strongly encourage clients to discuss with their IAR whether lower cost share classes are available with
a particular custodian or a particular managed account program; why the particular funds or other investments
that will be purchased or held in your account are appropriate in consideration of their expected holding
period, investment objective, risk tolerance, time horizon, financial condition, amount invested, trading
frequency, the amount of the advisory fee charged; whether clients will pay higher internal fund expenses in
lieu of transaction charges that could adversely affect long-term performance; and relevant tax
considerations.
Clients who custody their account at LPL Financial will typically pay higher fees for structured products than
they would at other custodians such as Fidelity or Schwab.
Although clients do not pay a transaction charge for transactions in a SWMII account, clients should be aware
that SWP pays LPL transaction charges for those transactions. The transaction charges paid by SWP vary
based on the type of transaction (e.g., mutual fund, equity or ETF) and for mutual funds based on whether or
not the mutual fund pays 12b-1 fees and/or recordkeeping fees to LPL.
SWP does not receive, directly or indirectly any of the following fees that may be charged to you. The fees
not included in the advisory fee for SWP’s wrap services are charges imposed directly by a mutual fund, index
fund, or exchange traded fund which shall be disclosed in the fund’s prospectus (i.e., fund management fees
and other fund expenses), mark-ups and mark-downs, spreads paid to market makers, and fees charged by the
custodian for an account. All of these fees may not be applicable but if charged they include, among others:
• Accounts holding Alternative Investments will be charged an annual custodial
fee per position per account per year
• Exchange fees
• SEC fees
• Advisory fees and administrative fees charged by mutual funds/ETFs
• Advisory fees charged by subadvisors (if any are used for your account)
• Custodial fees
• Deferred sales charges (on mutual funds or annuities)
• Odd-Lot differentials
• Trade away fees
• Transfer taxes
• Wire transfer and electronic fund processing fees
• Commissions or mark-ups/mark-downs on security transactions
SWP may, on occasion, aggregate trades for clients and provide clients an average execution price. The fixed
transaction costs charged by the broker-dealer for these aggregated trades will be assessed on a pro-rated basis.
Fees and Termination Provisions for Accounts Custodied at LPL Financial (for
SWMII Accounts)
Certain IARs of SWP are also associated with LPL Financial as broker-dealer registered representatives
(“Dually Registered Persons”). In their capacity as registered representatives of LPL Financial, certain Dually
Registered Persons may earn commissions for the sale of securities or investment products that they
recommend for brokerage clients. They do not earn commissions on the sale of securities or investment
products recommended or purchased in advisory accounts through SWP. Clients have the option of
purchasing many of the securities and investment products SWP makes available through another broker-
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dealer or investment adviser. However, when purchasing these securities and investment products away from
SWP, clients will not receive the benefit of the advice and other services SWP provides.
Advisory fees will be charged in advance on a calendar quarter basis. Fees will be calculated based upon the
value of the portfolio on the last business day of the just completed quarterly period. Advisory fees for
accounts opened on a day other than the first day of the calendar quarterly period or closed on a day other
than the last business day of the calendar quarterly period will be prorated based on the number of days in
the quarter. The initial fee for accounts established during a calendar quarter will be billed to the account in
arrears at the beginning the calendar quarter following execution of this agreement along with the first full
calendar quarter’s fee paid in advance. Therefore, for accounts established during a calendar quarter, the first
fee paid by the client may be a large fee since it will be a combination of the first full calendar quarter fee
paid in advance and a prorated fee for the remaining quarter in which the account was established. The initial
fee will be calculated based on the value of the account on the last business day of the then current calendar
quarter and prorated based on the number of days remaining in the quarter starting with the date the client
executed the advisory agreement. (E.g., an account established on July 25, the initial fee will be invoiced to
the account sometime within the month of October. The initial fee will be calculated using the value of the
account on the last business day of September and will be prorated from the date the advisory agreement was
signed to the end of September. Additionally, the fee deducted from the account, based on the example, will
include the fee paid in advance for October through December and calculated based on the value of the
account on the last business day of September.)
Clients may make additions to the account or withdrawals from the account. Additional assets deposited into
the account after it is opened will be charged a pro-rata fee based upon the number of days remaining in the
then-current quarterly period. Additionally, partial withdrawals from the account will result in a pro-rated
refund or credit of fees to the account. Fee adjustments for additional deposits to the account and partial
withdrawals from the account will be calculated in arrears or in the next quarterly period billing cycle. Fee
adjustments will be calculated based on the value at the time of the additional deposit or partial withdrawal.
No fee adjustments will be made for account appreciation or depreciation.
Clients may terminate, with written notice to SWP, investment advisory services within five (5) business
days after entering into the advisory agreement, without penalty or obligation and for a full refund of any
prepaid fees. After five (5) business days of entering into an advisory agreement, client will be entitled to a
prorated refund of any prepaid quarterly advisory fee based upon the number of days remaining in the quarter
after the termination date.
Fees and Termination Provisions for Accounts Custodied at Schwab or Fidelity
(for AWMII Accounts)
Advisory fees will be charged in advance on a calendar quarter basis. Fees will be calculated based upon the
average daily value of the portfolio from the prior calendar quarter. Advisory fees for accounts opened on a
day other than the first day of the calendar quarterly period or closed on a day other than the last business
day of the calendar quarterly period will be prorated based on the number of days in the quarter.
The initial fee for accounts established during a calendar quarter will be billed to the account in advance from
the date of the initial deposit to the calendar quarter end based on the value of the initial deposit.
Clients may terminate, with written notice to SWP, investment advisory services within five (5) business
days after entering into the advisory agreement, without penalty or obligation and for a full refund of any
prepaid fees. After five (5) business days of entering into an advisory agreement, client will be entitled to a
prorated refund of any prepaid quarterly advisory fee based upon the number of days remaining in the quarter
after the termination date.
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SIM Wrap Fees – based on strategy and assets under management
Clients will pay separate investment advisory fees to SWP and to SIM. The SWP fee will be disclosed in the
investment management agreement and generally will not exceed 2.0% of account assets. The SIM fee will
also be disclosed in the investment management agreement. SIM’s fees for managing the accounts are
determined by strategy and size of accounts. SIM’s fees are generally negotiable.
SIM’s fee schedules are set forth below.
Tactical, Enhanced Index, Global Individual Equity, ESG USA No Energy, Dividend
Growth, Focused Mid Cap, Focused Small Cap, Scorpio Style Rotation, Multi-Asset, NDR,
and Dynamic Fixed Income Models
High Break
$499,999.99
$749,999.99
$1,249,999.99
$4,999,999.99
$24,999,999.99
Low Break
$100,000.00
$500,000.00
$750,000.00
$1,25,000.00
$5,000,000.00
$25,000,000.00 and up
Annual Fee
0.29%
0.27%
0.25%
0.23%
0.19%
0.15%
Strategic and Enhanced Index Focused Models (Small Account Solutions)
High Break
Low Break
All Assets
Annual Fee
0.29%
Fixed Income SMA Model
Low Break
High Break
$ 1,999,999.99
$ 100,000
$ 2,000,000.00 and up
Annual Fee
0.20%
0.15%
High Break
$1,999,999.99
Custom Indexing Model
Low Break
$ 100,000
$ 2,000,000.00 and up
Annual Fee
0.18%
0.16%
Tailored Strategies
Fees for all Tailored Strategies will be negotiated and may vary based on strategy, complexity and asset size
of the account.
There is a difference in fees for wrap and non-wrap fee SIM clients. Non-wrap fee SIM clients will pay a
slightly lower asset-based fee as their transaction costs are not included with the fee and are charged
separately. Please see SIM’s Form ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure for more information on non-wrap fee
account charges.
Clients may terminate, with written notice to SWP, investment advisory services within five (5) business
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days after entering into the advisory agreement, without penalty or obligation and for a full refund of any
prepaid fees. After five (5) business days of entering into an advisory agreement, client will be entitled to a
prorated refund of any prepaid quarterly advisory fee based upon the number of days remaining in the quarter
after the termination date.
Conflicts of Interest
The types of accounts listed above are also available under an unbundled or non-wrap fee program. Please
see the separate SWP ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure for further information. There is no significant difference
between the way IARs manage wrap fee account and non-wrap fee accounts. However, if a client determines
to engage SWP on a wrap fee basis, the client will pay a single fee for investment management and transaction
fees. The services included in a wrap fee agreement will depend upon client needs. If the client determines
to engage SWP on a non-wrap fee basis, the client will select services on an unbundled basis, paying for each
service separately. Note: when managing a client’s account on a wrap fee basis, SWP will receive, as
payment for its investment advisory services, the balance of the wrap fee after all other costs incorporated
into the wrap fee have been deducted. Inasmuch as the execution costs for transactions effected in the client
account will be paid by the IAR, a conflict of interest exists in that the IAR may have a disincentive to trade
securities in the client account. In addition, the amount of compensation received by SWP as a result of the
client’s participation in the wrap program may be more than what SWP would receive if the client paid
separately for investment management and transaction fees.
In addition, SWP has a fee arrangement with LPL related to assets held on one of the LPL advisory
programs. Under this arrangement, LPL pays SWP a rebate based on the amount of assets invested in that
LPL program. When IARs recommend the Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. Wrap Fee Program, hire SIM as the
portfolio manager for wrap fee accounts and the custodian for those accounts is LPL, the accounts will be
opened on the LPL advisory program under this fee arrangement. This results in a conflict of interest between
clients and SWP because receipt of the rebate gives SWP an incentive to recommend that clients invest assets
through the LPL advisory program; however, this conflict is mitigated insofar as the rebate payments SWP
receives are not shared with the IAR who selects or recommends the program for its clients.
Item 5: Account Requirements and Types of Clients
SWP provides services to the following types of clients:
Individuals
•
• Trusts, estates and charitable organizations
• Corporations or other business entities
• Governmental plans, municipalities
• Not for profit entities
• Bank or thrift institutions
• Retirement plans
A minimum account value of $10,000 is required for SWMII and AWMII accounts; however, in certain
instances, the minimum account size may be lower.
The minimum account size for the SIM wrap program varies according to the model selected. There is
generally an account minimum of $10,000 for the Strategic, certain Enhanced Index Focus, NDR, and
Dynamic Fixed Income Models; an account minimum of $25,000 for the Liquid Alternatives Model; an
account minimum of $50,000 for the Tactical and certain of the Enhanced Index Models; an account
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minimum of $100,000 for the Global Individual Equity, ESG USA No Energy, Dividend Growth, Focused
Mid Cap and Focused Small Cap, Scorpio Style Rotation and the Custom Indexing Models; an account
minimum of $150,000 for the Multi-Asset Equity and Multi-Asset Taxable Fixed Income Models and
$300,000 for the Multi-Assset Municipal Fixed Income Model; an account minimum of $200,000 for the
Fixed Income SMAs; and an account minimum of $5,000,000 for Tailored Strategies. These may be waived
at SIM’s sole discretion. For more information about SIM’s portfolios and its portfolio management
practices, including the fees charged for its models, please see the SIM Form ADV Part 2A Firm
Brochure.
Item 6: Portfolio Manager Selection and Evaluation
SWP managed wrap accounts in SWMII or AWMII accounts are managed by the IAR as appointed in the
Investment Management Agreement.
The education and background of each IAR can be found on the IAR’s ADV Part 2B Supplement.
SWP does not assign portfolio managers for these accounts, as they are appointed by the client. Account
performance is reviewed as described under Review of Accounts in Item 9.
SWP does not charge advisory fees on a share of the capital appreciation of the funds or securities in a client
account (performance-based fees). Our advisory fee compensation is charged only as disclosed above. SWP
does not engage in Side-By-Side Management.
Affiliated and unaffiliated service providers may develop asset allocation models. The SWP IAR may also
develop asset allocation models or use others from outside independent sources. Each IAR develops his or
her own methods of analysis, sources of information, and investment strategies. As such, recommendations
by IARs and individual investment portfolios will differ.
A variety of methods and strategies may be utilized when formulating investment advice and managing client
assets, Methods of analysis may include, but are not limited to:
• Charting Analysis involves the use of patterns in performance charts to identify
current trends and trend reversals to forecast the direction of prices;
• Fundamental Analysis involves the analysis of financial statements, the general
financial health of companies, and/or the analysis of management or competitive
advantages; and
• Technical Analysis involves the analysis of past market data (primarily price and
volume).
There are certain risks associated with each of these methods of analysis:
Charting Analysis: Economic/business cycles may not be predictable and may have many fluctuations
between long term expansions and contractions. The lengths of economic cycles may be difficult to predict
with accuracy and therefore the risk of charting analysis is the difficulty in predicting economic trends and
consequently the changing value of securities that would be affected by these changing trends.
Fundamental Analysis: Fundamental analysis does not attempt to anticipate market movements. This
represents a potential risk, as the price of a security can move up or down along with the overall market,
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regardless of the economic and financial factors considered in evaluating the security.
Technical Analysis: The risk of the analysis using mathematical and statistical modeling is that they may
not accurately predict future investment patterns. Day to day changes in the market prices of investments
may follow random patterns and may not be predictable with any reliable degree of accuracy. The risk of
analysis using more subjective criteria is that the information obtained to make the analysis may be inaccurate
and skew the analysis. In addition, measuring (or weighting) the criteria will likely be inconsistent from one
analysis to another and could adversely affect the investment decisions. Clients’ portfolios may consist of
stocks, bonds, ETF/ETNs, no-load and/or load mutual funds and cash or cash equivalents, or other securities
deemed appropriate and suitable to the client by SWP.
Clients are advised that transactions in the account, account reallocations and rebalancing may trigger a
taxable event for the client, with the exception of transactions in IRA accounts, 403(b) accounts and other
qualified retirement accounts. SWP does not offer tax advice and clients are urged to consult with their tax
advisers.
Risk of Loss
Securities markets fluctuate substantially over time. All investments in securities include a risk of loss of
money invested (principal) and any unrealized profits (i.e., profits in the account that have not been
liquidated, sometimes called “paper profits”). In addition, as recent global and domestic economic events
have indicated, performance of any investment is not guaranteed. As a result, there is a risk of loss of the
assets SWP manages that may be out of our control. We cannot guarantee any level of performance or that
you will not experience a loss of your account assets. SWP does not represent, warrant or imply that the
services or methods of analysis used by SWP can or will predict future results, successfully identify market
tops or bottoms, or insulate clients from losses due to major market corrections or crashes. No guarantees
can be offered that client’s goals or objectives will be achieved. Further, no promises or assumptions can be
made that the advisory services offered by SWP will provide a better return than other investment strategies.
Varied fluctuations in the price of investments are a normal characteristic of securities markets due to a
variety of influences. Managed account programs should be considered a long-term investment and thus
long-term performance and performance consistency are the major goals.
Types of Investments and Risks
SWP and IARs can recommend many different types of securities, including mutual funds, unit investment
trusts (“UITs”), closed end funds, Exchange-Traded Funds/ Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETF/ETNs”), variable
annuity subaccounts, equities, fixed income securities, options, hedge funds, managed futures, and structured
products. Investing in securities involves the risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. Described
below are some particular risks associated with some types of investments available in the program.
• Alternative Strategy Mutual Funds and ETFs. Certain mutual funds and ETFs
invest primarily in alternative investments and/or strategies. Investing in
alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors
and involves special risks, such as risks associated with commodities, real estate,
leverage, selling securities short, the use of derivatives, potential adverse market
forces, regulatory changes and potential illiquidity. There are special risks
associated with mutual funds and ETFs that invest principally in real estate
securities, such as sensitivity to changes in real estate values and interest rates and
price volatility because of the fund’s concentration in the real estate industry.
Interval Funds. Interval funds are a type of closed-end investment company that
•
15 | P a g e
is not listed on a securities exchange and does not provide daily liquidity. Unlike
open-end mutual funds, interval fund shares generally cannot be freely sold or
redeemed at the investor’s discretion, and there is no guarantee that an investor
will be able to tender all or any portion of their shares during a repurchase
offer. Investors should be prepared to hold these investments for an extended or
indefinite period of time. Many interval funds invest in alternative or less liquid
asset classes, such as private credit, real estate, structured products, or other
alternative strategies, which may not be suitable for all investors. These
investments may involve greater risk, including market risk, credit risk, leverage
risk, interest rate risk, valuation risk, and concentration risk, and may be more
susceptible to adverse economic, market, or regulatory developments than
traditional investments. Such strategies may also result in higher volatility or
losses, particularly during periods of market stress.
• Closed-End Funds. Closed-end funds (“CEFs”) are registered investment
companies that generally issue a fixed number of shares. Unlike open-end mutual
funds, CEF shares may not be redeemed on a daily basis at net asset value
(“NAV”) and instead typically trade in the secondary market (if listed) at market
prices that may be above (a premium) or below (a discount) NAV. As a result,
investors may realize returns that differ materially from the fund’s NAV
performance and may experience losses due to changes in the market price and/or
changes in the discount/premium, even when the fund’s underlying portfolio
performs favorably. CEF share prices can be volatile and may be affected by
market conditions, interest rates, credit spreads, fund distributions, and investor
sentiment. Many CEFs use leverage (including borrowing, preferred shares, or
derivatives) to attempt to enhance income or returns. Leverage magnifies gains
and losses, may increase portfolio volatility, may cause distributions to fluctuate,
and may force asset sales at unfavorable times. Leverage also creates additional
expenses (including interest and other financing costs) that reduce returns. CEFs
may invest in less liquid or complex securities (including private credit, structured
products, bank loans, municipal bonds, or other alternative strategies), which may
be difficult to value or sell promptly at desired prices. Valuation of certain
holdings may be based on estimates, which can increase the risk of pricing errors
and may contribute to market price volatility. CEFs often have higher fees and
expenses than other pooled investment vehicles, and investors in CEFs bear these
expenses in addition to any advisory fees paid for account management. Some
CEFs may also invest in other pooled vehicles, which can result in multiple layers
of fees. Distributions from CEFs may be paid from income, capital gains, or return
of capital, and a distribution rate is not the same as investment return. Return of
capital may reduce an investor’s tax basis and is not necessarily indicative of a
fund’s investment performance. Distributions may be reduced, suspended, or
eliminated. While certain closed-end funds may seek to provide liquidity through
periodic repurchase or tender offers (including “interval funds” or tender offer
funds), such offers may be limited in amount and frequency, may be subject to
early deadlines, and there is no guarantee an investor will be able to sell all or any
portion of their shares in a repurchase offer. Accordingly, clients should be
prepared to hold these investments for an extended or indefinite period of time.
• ETFs. ETFs are typically investment companies that are legally classified as open
end mutual funds or UITs. However, they differ from traditional mutual funds, in
particular, in that ETF shares are listed on a securities exchange. Shares can be
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bought and sold throughout the trading day like shares of other publicly-traded
companies. ETF shares may trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value.
This difference between the bid price and the ask price is often referred to as the
“spread.” The spread varies over time based on the ETF’s trading volume and
market liquidity and is generally lower if the ETF has a lot of trading volume and
market liquidity and higher if the ETF has little trading volume and market
liquidity. Although many ETFs are registered as an investment company under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 like traditional mutual funds, some ETFs,
in particular those that invest in commodities, are not registered as an investment
company.
• ETNs. An ETN is a senior unsecured debt obligation designed to track the total
return of an underlying market index or other benchmark. ETNs may be linked to
a variety of assets, for example, commodity futures, foreign currency and equities.
ETNs are similar to ETFs in that they are listed on an exchange and can typically
be bought or sold throughout the trading day. However, an ETN is not a mutual
fund and does not have a net asset value; the ETN trades at the prevailing market
price. Some of the more common risks of an ETN are as follows. The repayment
of the principal, interest (if any), and the payment of any returns at maturity or
upon redemption are dependent upon the ETN issuer’s ability to pay. In addition,
the trading price of the ETN in the secondary market may be adversely impacted
if the issuer’s credit rating is downgraded. The index or asset class for
performance replication in an ETN may or may not be concentrated in a specific
sector, asset class or country and may therefore carry specific risks.
• Leveraged and Inverse ETFs, ETNs and Mutual Funds. Leveraged ETFs, ETNs
and mutual funds, sometimes labeled “ultra” or “2x” for example, are designed to
provide a multiple of the underlying index's return, typically on a daily basis.
Inverse products are designed to provide the opposite of the return of the
underlying index, typically on a daily basis. These products are different from and
can be riskier than traditional ETFs, ETNs and mutual funds. Although these
products are designed to provide returns that generally correspond to the
underlying index, they may not be able to exactly replicate the performance of the
index because of fund expenses and other factors. This is referred to as tracking
error. Continual re- setting of returns within the product may add to the underlying
costs and increase the tracking error. As a result, this may prevent these products
from achieving their investment objective. In addition, compounding of the
returns can produce a divergence from the underlying index over time, in
particular for leveraged products. In highly volatile markets with large positive
and negative swings, return distortions are magnified over time. Because of these
distortions, these products should be actively monitored, as frequently as daily,
and are generally not appropriate as an intermediate or long- term holding. To
accomplish their objectives, these products use a range of strategies, including
swaps, futures contracts and other derivatives. These products may not be
diversified and can be based on commodities or currencies. These products may
have higher expense ratios and be less tax- efficient than more traditional ETFs,
ETNs and mutual funds.
• Options. Certain types of option trading are permitted in order to generate income
or hedge a security held in the program account; namely, the selling (writing) of
covered call options or the purchasing of put options on a security held in the
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program account. Clients should be aware that the use of options involves
additional risks. The risks of covered call writing include the potential for the
market to rise sharply. In such case, the security may be called away and the
program account will no longer hold the security. The risk of buying long puts is
limited to the loss of the premium paid for the purchase of the put if the option is
not exercised or otherwise sold by the program account.
• Structured Products. Structured products are securities derived from another
asset, such as a security or a basket of securities, an index, a commodity, a debt
issuance, or a foreign currency. Structured products frequently limit the upside
participation in the reference asset. Structured products are senior unsecured debt
of the issuing bank and subject to the credit risk associated with that issuer. This
credit risk exists whether or not the investment held in the account offers principal
protection. The creditworthiness of the issuer does not affect or enhance the likely
performance of the investment other than the ability of the issuer to meet its
obligations. Any payments due at maturity are dependent on the issuer’s ability to
pay. In addition, the trading price of the security in the secondary market, if there
is one, may be adversely impacted if the issuer’s credit rating is downgraded.
Some structured products offer full protection of the principal invested, others
offer only partial or no protection. Investors may be sacrificing a higher yield to
obtain the principal guarantee. In addition, the principal guarantee relates to
nominal principal and does not offer inflation protection. An investor in a
structured product never has a claim on the underlying investment, whether a
security, zero coupon bond, or option. There may be little or no secondary market
for the securities and information regarding independent market pricing for the
securities may be limited. This is true even if the product has a ticker symbol or
has been approved for listing on an exchange. Tax treatment of structured products
may be different from other investments held in the account (e.g., income may be
taxed as ordinary income even though payment is not received until maturity).
Structured CDs that are insured by the FDIC are subject to applicable FDIC limits.
• High-Yield Debt. High-yield debt is issued by companies or municipalities that do
not qualify for “investment grade” ratings by one or more rating agencies. The
below investment grade designation is based on the rating agency’s opinion of an
issuer that it has a greater risk to repay both principal and interest and a greater
risk of default than those issuers rated investment grade. High yield debt carries
greater risk than investment grade debt. There is the risk that the potential
deterioration of an issuer’s financial health and subsequent downgrade in its rating
will result in a decline in market value or default. Because of the potential inability
of an issuer to make interest and principal payments, an investor may receive less
than originally invested. There is also the risk that the bond’s market value will
decline as interest rates rise and that an investor will not be able to liquidate a bond
before maturity.
• Hedge Funds and Managed Futures. Hedge and managed futures funds may be
purchased by clients meeting certain qualification standards. Investing in these
funds involves additional risks including, but not limited to, the risk of investment
loss due to the use of leveraging and other speculative investment practices and
the lack of liquidity and performance volatility. In addition, these funds are not
required to provide periodic pricing or valuation information to investors and may
involve complex tax structures and delays in distributing important tax
18 | P a g e
information. Client should be aware that these funds are not liquid as there is no
secondary trading market available. At the absolute discretion of the issuer of the
fund, there may be certain repurchase offers made from time to time. However,
there is no guarantee that client will be able to redeem the fund during the
repurchase offer.
• Variable Annuities. If client purchases a variable annuity that is part of the
program, client will receive a prospectus and should rely solely on the disclosure
contained in the prospectus with respect to the terms and conditions of the variable
annuity. Client should also be aware that certain riders purchased with a variable
annuity may limit the investment options and the ability to manage the
subaccounts.
SWP will not ask for, nor accept, voting authority for client securities in wrap accounts. Clients will receive
proxies directly from the issuer of the security or the custodian. Clients should direct all proxy questions to
the issuer of the security.
For the Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. Wrap Fee Program utilizing SIM as the portfolio manager, SIM will be
the sole portfolio manager and will not select any outside portfolio managers with the exception of the
Custom Indexing Model. SIM will use industry standards to calculate portfolio manager performance. SIM
reviews the performance information to determine and verify its accuracy and compliance with presentation
standards. The performance information is reviewed quarterly and is reviewed by SIM. For the SIM Custom
Indexing Model, SIM has established agreements to work with a third-party investment adviser in a
subadvisory capacity. Please see the SIM Form ADV 2A Firm Brochure for more information.
Client accounts for SIM’s advisory services provided on an ongoing basis are reviewed at least quarterly by
the firm’s investment committee to identify drift from proper allocation. Additional, non-periodic reviews
may be triggered by material market, economic or political events, or by changes in client's financial
situations (such as retirement, termination of employment, physical move, or inheritance).
SWP has a fee arrangement with LPL related to assets held on one of the LPL advisory programs. Under
this arrangement, LPL pays SWP a rebate based on the amount of assets invested in that LPL program. When
IARs recommend the Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. Wrap Fee Program, hire SIM as the portfolio manager
for wrap fee accounts and the custodian for those accounts is LPL, the accounts will be opened on the LPL
advisory program under this fee arrangement. This results in a conflict of interest between clients and SWP
because receipt of the rebate gives SWP an incentive to recommend that clients invest assets through the
LPL advisory program; however, this conflict is mitigated insofar as the rebate payments SWP receives are
not shared with the IAR who selects or recommends the program for its clients.
SIM is under common control with SWP and Stratos Wealth Advisors, LLC (“SWA”). SWP and SWA have
overlap in personnel with SIM and use SIM as a subadviser for many client accounts. Please see Item 9
below for more information about conflicts of interest that arise when using SIM as a portfolio manager.
Item 7: Client Information Provided to Portfolio Managers
All client information provided to SWP is shared with the appointed IAR(s)/Portfolio Manager(s). Updated
client information provided to SWP is also shared with the appointed IAR(s)/Portfolio Manager(s)
throughout the client relationship.
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Item 8: Client Contact with Portfolio Managers
SWP has no restrictions on clients contacting their IAR/Portfolio Manager(s).
Item 9: Additional Information
Disciplinary Information
SWP is obligated to disclose any legal or disciplinary events that would be material to clients, or potential
clients, when evaluating SWP or the integrity of its management team. SWP does not have information to
disclose that is applicable to this item.
Code of Ethics
SWP has adopted a Code of Ethics for all supervised persons of the firm describing its high standards of
business conduct and fiduciary responsibility to its clients. The Code of Ethics includes provisions relating
to the confidentiality of client information, a prohibition on insider trading, restrictions, and reporting
requirements on the acceptance of gifts and personal securities trading policies, as discussed below.
SWP’s Code of Ethics is distributed to each employee and IAR at the time of hire/contract, and thereafter
as it is modified. In addition, SWP requires an annual certification by all employees/IARs regarding their
understanding and compliance with the Code of Ethics.
A copy of our Code of Ethics will be provided to any client or prospective client upon request. You may
contact our Chief Compliance Officer at 440-519-2500.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Most SWP IARs are Dually Registered Persons and must execute securities transactions through LPL,
unless those IARs obtain authorization from LPL to execute securities transactions through another broker-
dealer.
IARs of SWP may buy or sell securities that are recommended to clients. IARs will not put their interests
before a client’s interest. IARs may not trade ahead of their clients or trade in such a way to obtain a better
price for themselves than for their clients. Further, access persons are prohibited from trading on non-
public information or sharing such information. SWP and its access persons are required to conduct their
securities and investment advisory business in accordance with all applicable Federal and State securities
regulations.
Review of Accounts
SWP maintains a compliance program designed to conduct periodic reviews of client accounts. IARs are
expected to meet and document reviews with clients on at least an annual basis. Such meetings may include
review of accounts statements, quarterly performance reports, and other information or data related to the
client’s account and investment objectives. Clients may request more frequent reviews and may set thresholds
20 | P a g e
for triggering events that would cause a review to take place. Generally, IARs will monitor for changes or
shifts in the economy, changes to the management and structure of a mutual fund or company in which client
assets are invested, and market shifts and corrections. Clients are advised that they should notify their IAR
promptly of any changes to the client’s financial goals, objectives or financial situation as such changes may
require the IAR to review the client’s portfolio and make recommendations for changes.
LPL, Fidelity, or Schwab, as the custodian, provide clients with regular written reports regarding their wrap
accounts. In addition, LPL, Fidelity, or Schwab send client trade confirmations and account statements
showing transactions, positions, and deposits and withdrawals of principal and income. Fidelity and Schwab
do not send trade confirmations for systematic purchases, systematic redemptions and systematic exchanges.
In some cases, SWP provides detailed quarterly performance reports describing account performance and
positions. Some managed accounts either send confirmations for each securities transaction in the client's
account direct from the account custodian as they occur, and others bundle them to be sent with the periodic
statement mailing.
Clients will receive account statements direct from the broker-dealer or account custodian reflecting the
deduction of SWP’s advisory fee. Clients should carefully review statements received from the broker-dealer
or account custodian. Further, clients should compare any written report received from their IAR with
statements received directly from the broker-dealer or account custodian. Clients should notify their IAR if
they notice any discrepancies between the statement received from their account custodian and quarterly
performance reports received from SWP.
Client assets must be maintained in an account at a “qualified custodian,” generally a broker-dealer or bank.
SWP will generally recommend that clients use LPL, Fidelity, or Schwab as the qualified custodian for its
wrap accounts.
SWP is not affiliated with LPL, Fidelity, or Schwab. Each of the recommended custodians will hold client
assets in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities when SWP instructs them to. While SWP
recommends that clients use LPL, Fidelity, or Schwab as their custodian, clients will decide whether to do
so and will open an account by entering into an account agreement with them. Conflicts of interest associated
with this arrangement are described below. Clients should consider these conflicts of interest when selecting
a custodian.
SWP does not open accounts for clients, although we may assist clients in doing so.
How we select custodians
Depending on specific client needs, one broker-dealer or custodian may offer better transaction costs/order
processing than another, and those differences are evaluated by the IAR prior to opening a client account.
SWP, as an investment adviser, owes a legal and fiduciary duty to its clients, including a duty to seek best
execution of client transactions and to make full and fair disclosure to clients about any soft dollar
arrangements. While the cost is carefully monitored, cost is not the only determining factor that would
influence opening an account at one custodian or another. Important items like financial strength, stability,
reputation, research, trading platforms, trading execution, breadth of available investment products, pricing,
research, quality of service, administrative efficiencies, and client friendly statements are also considered in
the evaluation and selection of a custodian. The lowest cost trade execution is not always the determining
factor for the selection of a custodian. However, the client has the right to inquire about opening accounts at
these various institutions.
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Client Brokerage and Custody Costs
The custodians generally do not charge separately for custody services, but rather are compensated by
account holders through commissions or other transaction- related or asset-based fees for securities trades
that are executed through them or that settle into client accounts. Custodians are also compensated by earning
interest on the uninvested cash in client accounts. For some accounts, custodians may charge clients a
percentage of the dollar amount of assets in the account in lieu of commissions. The commission rates and
asset-based fees applicable to SWP’s client accounts are negotiated based on the condition that our clients
collectively maintain a total amount of assets in accounts at the custodian. Although this is a conflict of
interest and can create an incentive to IARs to recommend these custodians in order to meet the required
amount of assets to maintain the negotiated pricing, we believe this commitment benefits our clients because
the overall commission rates and asset-based fees clients pay are lower than they would be otherwise.
In addition to commissions or other transaction-related or asset-based fees, if a client participates in a “prime
broker” or “trade away” program, the custodian will typically charge a flat fee for each trade that SWP has
executed by a different broker-dealer but where the securities bought or the funds from the securities sold
are deposited (settled) into the client’s custodian account. These fees are in addition the commissions or
other compensation the client pays the executing broker-dealer. Total cost of a transaction is one factor used
to determine if/when to trade away from a custodian, as SWP seeks to minimize trading costs. Because of
this and in order to minimize a client’s trading costs, SWP has LPL, Schwab, and Fidelity execute most
trades for client accounts.
LPL Financial is the broker-dealer selected by SWP for the conduct of its commission-based brokerage
business and to provide custodial services for advisory accounts held on LPL platforms, (SWMII Accounts).
Factors considered in selecting LPL include the stability and size of LPL along with the variety of programs
and flexibility in commission rates advisors may charge. SWP receives referral bonuses from LPL which are
based on the trailing 12-month commission production history of newly hired representatives, as well as a
percentage portion of the commissions and bonuses the representatives generate at LPL.
Newly hired representatives may receive from LPL forgivable loans, upfront cash and various forms of start-
up expense coverage based on their trailing 12-month commission production history for electing to join LPL
and SWP. This may provide an incentive for the representative to change firms in order to obtain these forms
of compensation.
Recommendation of LPL
SWP may recommend that clients establish a brokerage account with LPL Financial to maintain custody of
clients’ assets and to effect trades for their accounts. LPL Financial provides brokerage and custodial services
to independent investment advisory firms, including SWP. For SWP’s accounts custodied at LPL Financial,
LPL Financial generally is compensated by clients through commissions, trails, or other transaction-based
fees for trades that are executed through LPL Financial or that settle into LPL Financial accounts. For IRA
accounts, LPL Financial generally charges account maintenance fees. In addition, LPL Financial also charges
clients miscellaneous fees and charges, such as account transfer fees.
Clients should also understand that LPL Financial is responsible under FINRA rules for supervising certain
business activities of SWP and its Dually Registered Persons that are conducted through broker-dealers and
custodians other than LPL Financial. LPL Financial charges a fee for its oversight of activities conducted
through these other broker-dealers and custodians. This fee is passed on to the IAR. This arrangement
presents a conflict of interest because SWP and its IARs have a financial incentive to recommend the use of
LPL Financial rather than with another broker-dealer or custodian to avoid incurring the oversight fee.
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Benefits Received by SWP. LPL makes available to SWP various products and services designed to assist
SWP in managing and administering client accounts. Many of these products and services may be used to
service a significant number of SWP accounts. These include software and other technology that (i) provide
access to client account data (such as trade confirmations and account statements); (ii) facilitate trade
execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client accounts; (iii) provide pricing and other
market data; (iv) facilitate payment of SWP fees from client accounts; and (v) assist with back-office
functions, recordkeeping and client reporting.
SWP has a fee arrangement with LPL related to assets held on one of the LPL advisory programs. Under
this arrangement, LPL pays SWP a rebate based on the amount of assets invested in that LPL program. When
IARs recommend the Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. Wrap Fee Program, hire SIM as the portfolio manager
for wrap fee accounts and the custodian for those accounts is LPL, the accounts will be opened on the LPL
advisory program under this fee arrangement. This results in a conflict of interest between clients and SWP
because receipt of the rebate gives SWP an incentive to recommend that clients invest assets in the program;
however, this conflict is mitigated insofar as the rebate payments SWP receives are not shared with the IAR
who selects or recommends the program for its clients.
Transition Assistance Benefits. LPL Financial provides various benefits and payments to Dually Registered
Persons that are new to the LPL Financial platform to assist the representative with the costs (including
foregone revenues during account transition) associated with transitioning his or her business to the LPL
Financial platform (collectively referred to as “Transition Assistance”). The proceeds of such Transition
Assistance payments are intended to be used for a variety of purposes, including but not necessarily limited
to, providing working capital to assist in funding the Dually Registered Person’s business, satisfying any
outstanding debt owed to the Dually Registered Person’s prior firm, offsetting account transfer fees (ACATs)
payable to LPL Financial as a result of the Dually Registered Person’s clients transitioning to LPL Financial’s
custodial platform, technology set-up fees, marketing and mailing costs, stationery and licensure transfer
fees, moving expenses, office space expenses, staffing support and termination fees associated with moving
accounts.
The amount of the Transition Assistance payments are often significant in relation to the overall revenue
earned or compensation received by the Dually Registered Person at their prior firm. Such payments are
generally based on the size of the Dually Registered Person’s business established at their prior firm and/or
assets under custody. Please refer to the relevant Part 2B brochure supplement for more information about
the specific Transition Payments your representative receives. Transition Assistance payments and other
benefits are provided to associated persons of SWP in their capacity as registered representatives of LPL
Financial. However, the receipt of Transition Assistance by such Dually Registered Persons creates a conflict
of interest relating to SWP’s advisory business. In certain instances, the receipt of such benefits is dependent
on a Dually Registered Person maintaining its clients’ assets with LPL Financial and therefore SWP has an
incentive to recommend that clients maintain their account with LPL Financial in order to generate such
benefits.
SWP attempts to mitigate these conflicts of interest by evaluating and recommending that clients use LPL
Financial’s services based on the benefits that such services provide to our clients, rather than the Transition
Assistance earned by any particular Dually Registered Person. SWP considers LPL Financial’s stability and
size along with the variety of programs and flexibility in commission rates advisors may charge when
recommending or requiring that clients maintain accounts with LPL Financial. However, clients should be
aware of this conflict and take it into consideration in making a decision whether to custody their assets in a
brokerage account at LPL Financial.
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Products and Services Available to SWP from Schwab and Fidelity
Schwab and Fidelity provide services to independent investments advisory firms like SWP. They provide
SWP and our clients with access to their institutional brokerage services (trading, custody, reporting, and
related services), many of which are not typically available to retail customers. However certain retail
investors may be able to get institutional brokerage services from Schwab or Fidelity without going through
SWP. Schwab and Fidelity also make available various support services. Some of these services help us
manage or administer client accounts, while others help us manage and grow our business. Schwab’s and
Fidelity’s support services are generally available on an unsolicited basis (SWP doesn’t have to request them)
and at no charge to SWP. Following is a more detailed description of the support services.
Services that benefit clients. Schwab’s and Fidelity’s institutional brokerage services include access to a
broad range of investment products, execution of securities transactions and custody of client assets. The
investment products available include some to which SWP might not otherwise have access or that would
require a significantly higher minimum initial investment by our clients. The custodian’s services described
in this paragraph generally benefit our clients and their accounts.
Services that do not directly benefit clients. Schwab and Fidelity also make available to SWP other
products and services that benefit the firm but do not directly benefit its clients and their accounts. These
products and services assist us in managing and administering clients’ accounts and operating our firm. They
include investment research, both Schwab’s and Fidelity’s own and that of third parties. SWP uses this
research to service all or a substantial number of clients’ accounts, including accounts not maintained at
Schwab or Fidelity. In addition to investment research, Schwab and Fidelity also make available software
and other technology that (i) provide access to client account data (such as duplicate trade confirmations and
account statements); (ii) facilitate trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client
accounts; (iii) provide pricing and other market data; (iv) facilitate payment of SWP fees from client
accounts; and (v) assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping and client reporting.
Services that generally benefit only SWP. Schwab and Fidelity also offer other services intended to help
SWP manage and further our business enterprise. These services include (i) educational conferences and
events; (ii) consulting on technology and business needs; (iii) consulting on legal and compliance related
needs; (iv) publications and conferences on practice management and business succession; (v) access to
employee benefits providers, human capital consultants, and insurance providers; and (vi) marketing
consulting and support. Schwab and Fidelity provide some of these services themselves; in other cases, they
will arrange for third-party vendors to provide the services to SWP. Schwab and Fidelity discount or waive
their fees for some of the services or pay all or a part of a third party’s fees. Schwab and Fidelity also provide
us with other benefits, such as occasional business entertainment of our personnel. If clients did not maintain
accounts with Schwab or Fidelity, SWP would be required to pay for those services from its own resources.
Transition Assistance Benefits. From time to time, Fidelity or Schwab will provide Transition Assistance
to SWP IARs that are new to the Fidelity or Schwab platform. The proceeds of such Transition Assistance
payments are intended to be used for a variety of purposes, including (but not necessarily limited to) providing
working capital to assist in funding the IARs business, satisfying any outstanding debt owed to the IAR’s
prior firm, offsetting ACATs fees payable to Fidelity or Schwab as a result of the IAR’s clients transitioning
to Fidelity’s or Schwab’s’ custodial platform, technology set-up fees, marketing and mailing costs, stationery
and licensure transfer fees, moving expenses, office space expenses, staffing support, and termination fees
associated with moving accounts.
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The amount of the Transition Assistance payments is often significant in relation to the overall revenue earned
or compensation received by the IAR at their prior firm. Such payments are generally based on the size of the
IAR’s business established at the prior firm and/or assets under custody. Please refer to the relevant Part 2B
brochure supplement for more information about the specific Transition Payments your IAR receives.
The receipt of Transition Assistance by such IARs creates a conflict of interest relating to SWP’s advisory
business. In certain instances, the receipt of such benefits is dependent on an IAR maintaining its clients’
assets with Fidelity or Schwab and therefore SWP has an incentive to recommend that clients maintain their
account with Fidelity or Schwab in order to generate such benefits.
SWP attempts to mitigate these conflicts of interest by evaluating and recommending that clients use
Fidelity’s or Schwab’s services based on the benefits that such services provide to our clients, rather than the
Transition Assistance earned by any particular IAR. SWP considers Fidelity’s and Schwab’s stability and
size, along with the variety of programs and flexibility in commission rates IARs may charge when
recommending or requiring that clients maintain accounts with Fidelity or Schwab. However, clients should
be aware of this conflict and take it into consideration in making a decision regarding whether to custody
their assets in a brokerage account at Fidelity or Schwab.
Brokerage for Client Referrals. SWP does not recommend brokerage for client referrals.
Directed Brokerage. SWP generally does not engage in directed brokerage transactions for clients. In limited
circumstances, SWP may allow clients to request to use a particular broker to execute some or all transactions
for the client. In those cases, the client will negotiate terms and arrangements for the account with that broker
and SWP will not seek better execution services or prices from other brokers or be able to aggregate client
transactions for execution through other brokers with orders for other accounts managed by SWP. As a
result, the client will potentially pay higher commissions or other transaction costs or greater spreads, or
receive less favorable net prices, on transactions for the account than would otherwise be the case. Subject
to its duty of best execution, SWP may decline a client’s request to direct brokerage if, in SWP’s sole
discretion, such directed brokerage arrangements would result in additional operational difficulties. As a
general rule, SWP encourages each client to compare the possible costs or disadvantages of directed
brokerage against the value of custodial or other services provided by the broker to the client in exchange for
the directed brokerage designation.
Aggregation
In placing orders to purchase or sell securities in accounts, IARs may elect to aggregate orders (that is,
consolidate smaller orders for the same security into a large order, which, generally results in transaction cost
savings). In so doing, IARs will not aggregate transactions unless aggregation is consistent with its duty to
seek best execution. No advisory client will be favored over any other client; each client that participates in
an aggregated order will participate at the average share price for all transactions executed by the IAR in that
security on a given business day, with transaction costs shared pro-rata based on each client’s participation
in the transaction.
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
SWP is indirectly owned by SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, LLC (“SEI Holdco”), which is owned by a
subsidiary of SEI Investment Company, and Stratos Management Holdings, LLC. SEI Holdco owns the
following registered investment advisers and a limited purpose broker-dealer:
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1. SWP, a retail investment firm offering advice primarily through IARs who are securities licensed
through LPL, Member FINRA/SIPC;
2. Stratos Wealth Advisors, LLC (“SWA”), a retail investment firm offering advice primarily through
IARs who are not securities licensed;
3. Stratos Investment Management, LLC (“SIM”), an asset management firm acting primarily as a
subadvisor;
4. Stratos Wealth Securities, LLC (“SWS”), a limited purpose broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC.
SWS does not process securities transactions or maintain client accounts; and
5. Renaissance Investment Group, a retail investment firm offering advice through IARs who are not
securities licensed.
In December 2025, Stratos Wealth Holdings (“Stratos”) entered into the first stage of a strategic investment
transaction with SEI Investments Company (“SEIC”), pursuant to which SEIC acquired a majority ownership
interest (57.5%) in the holding company that owns the equity of SWP and Stratos Wealth Advisors, LLC,
along with their subsidiaries (collectively, the “Stratos-Affiliated RIAs”). As a result of this transaction, SWP
and SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”) are under common ownership.
SWP and SIMC each operate as separate registered investment advisers with independent management,
compliance programs, and fiduciary obligations. SWP may utilize investment strategies, models, programs,
and/or products managed by SIMC and made available through SEI Advisor Services. In these arrangements,
SIMC provides investment management or related services, while SWP remains responsible for the client
relationship, including determining suitability and providing investment advice, as applicable. SWP may
enter into fee arrangements with SIMC based on assets under management, client fees, or other agreed-upon
terms, which are disclosed as required by law or regulation. This common ownership structure creates
conflicts of interest, including incentives to recommend or utilize strategies, models, programs, or products
managed or sponsored by SIMC, as the use of such offerings may generate additional fees for SIMC and,
through common ownership, indirectly benefit SWP’s parent company. These conflicts are mitigated through
the separation of advisory, supervisory, and compliance responsibilities between SWP and SIMC. Additional
information regarding SIMC’s business practices, services, and conflicts of interest is available in SIMC’s
Form ADV brochure.
Most SWP IARs are Dually Registered persons of LPL Financial, a broker-dealer that is independently
owned and operated and is not affiliated with SWP. Please refer to Item 12 of the Firm Brochure for a
discussion of the benefits SWP may receive from LPL Financial and the conflicts of interest associated with
receipt of such benefits.
Clients may maintain multiple accounts with a representative, some of which are subject to an investment
advisory relationship through SWP, while other accounts of the same client may operate under a brokerage
relationship through LPL. Clients are under no obligation to purchase or sell securities through IARs.
However, if a client chooses to implement the recommendations, commissions may be earned by IARs as
registered representative of LPL for brokerage transactions in brokerage accounts in addition to any fees paid
for advisory services on investment advisory accounts. Commissions may be higher or lower at LPL than at
other broker-dealers. IARs have a conflict of interest in having clients purchase securities and/or insurance
related products through LPL in that the higher their production with LPL the greater potential for obtaining
a higher pay-out on commissions earned. Further, IARs may be restricted to only offering those products and
services that have been reviewed and approved for offering to the public through LPL. The amount of time
spent by each IAR offering securities products on a commission basis as a registered representative of LPL
will vary. Some IARs may spend significantly more or less time offering commissionable products and
services through LPL.
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As discussed previously, certain associated persons of SWP are registered representatives of LPL Financial.
As a result of this relationship, LPL Financial may have access to certain confidential information (e.g.,
financial information, investment objectives, transactions, and holdings) about SWP’s clients, even if client
does not establish any account through LPL Financial. If you would like a copy of the LPL Financial privacy
policy, please contact our Chief Compliance Officer at 440-519-2500.
Certain SWP IARs are also dually registered as IARs of LPL Financial’s Registered Investment Advisor for
transition and supervisory purposes or offering LPL’s Retirement Plan Consulting Program services.
Certain SWP IARs may also be dually registered as IARs of other investment advisers not affiliated with
SWP. The potential for receipt of fees and other compensation gives the IAR an incentive to recommend an
advisory relationship based on the compensation received rather than on the client’s needs or best interests.
SWP advisors registered with LPL may offer insurance products and services for which commissions will be
paid. IARs and other related persons of SWP may be licensed with various insurance companies. SWP, its
IARs and related persons have a conflict of interest to recommend clients purchase insurance products since
commissions may be earned in addition to fees for investment advisory services. Clients are not obligated to
purchase insurance products through SWP or its IARs. The amount of time spent by each IAR will vary.
Some IARs may spend significantly more or less time offering insurance products and services. The principal
business of SWP is not to offer insurance products and services. Less than 10% of SWP’s resources are
dedicated to insurance business.
Many IARs have their own legal business entities whose trade names and logos are used for marketing
purposes and may appear on marketing materials and/or client statements. The client should understand that
the businesses are legal entities of the IAR and not of SWP. The IAR’s are under the supervision of SWP,
and the advisory services of the IAR are provided through SWP. SWP has these arrangements with the
business entities listed in Schedule D of Form ADV.
Certain IARs may be certified public accountants (“CPAs”) and offer accounting services through their
accounting practice. SWP does not endorse or recommend the services of the IARs in their capacity as CPAs.
Further, none of the services offered by SWP are to be considered legal or accounting services. Clients are
under no obligation to participate in accounting services offered by IARs who may be CPAs.
Most IARs are independent contractors. As such, the IARs have a direct incentive in the advisory fees being
charged since a portion of the advisory fee collected by SWP will be paid to the IAR for compensation for
advisory services. Further, clients are advised that the amount paid by SWP to the IAR will be based on the
production of the IAR. Therefore, the higher sales the IAR produces the more compensation the IAR will
receive. Consequently, since production is a basis for determining the IAR’s payout, and since a portion of
the advisory fees will be retained by SWP, there is a conflict of interest for the IAR to potentially charge a
higher fee.
Stratos Investment Management
The Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. Wrap Fee Program utilizes Stratos Investment Management, LLC (“SIM”),
which is an affiliate of SWP, as the program’s portfolio manager. This creates a conflict of interest because
management fees earned by SIM generate revenue for SWP’s parent company and benefit the firm as a
whole. By managing those assets, the IAR receives a benefit of access to the portfolio management, and
SWP and SIM receives fees on those assets that would otherwise be paid to other entities. SWP addresses
this conflict by identifying SIM as an affiliate, and disclosing the role of SWP, the IAR and SIM and the
additional fees charged by SIM for its services. Ultimately it is up to the client to choose the wrap fee
program that is right for their situation.
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SWP has a fee arrangement with LPL related to assets held on one of the LPL advisory programs. Under
this arrangement, LPL pays SWP a rebate based on the amount of assets invested in that LPL program. When
IARs recommend the Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. Wrap Fee Program, hire SIM as the portfolio manager
for wrap fee accounts and the custodian for those accounts is LPL, the accounts will be opened on the LPL
advisory program under this fee arrangement. This results in a conflict of interest between clients and SWP
because receipt of the rebate gives SWP an incentive to recommend that clients invest assets through the LPL
advisory program; however, this conflict is mitigated insofar as the rebate payments SWP receives are not
shared with the IAR who selects or recommends the program for its clients.
Some IARs hold equity in Stratos Management Holdings, LLC, an owner of SEI Holdco. This creates a
conflict of interest in recommending SIM as a subadviser as those IARs will receive an indirect benefit in
sharing in the profitability of SIM as a shareholder of Stratos Management Holdings, LLC.
SWP has developed a program pursuant to which a limited number of IARs can become employees of an
affiliate of SWP. In connection with that program, the IAR agrees to change its branding, adopt a common
technology stack and move assets to SIM, as appropriate, among other things. Participation in this program
results in a one-time inventive payment to the IAR and, therefore, represents a conflict of interest. IARs
provide disclosure of this conflict to clients and does an analysis to ensure that moving assets to SIM is in
the best interest of the clients. As always, it is up to the client to choose the portfolio manager that is right
for their situation.
Client Referrals
SWP may enter into arrangements with individuals or firms (“Promoters”) whereby the Promoter will refer
clients to SWP which clients may be a candidate for the investment advisory services offered by SWP. In
return, SWP will agree to compensate the Promoter for the referral. Compensation to the Promoter is
dependent on the client entering into an advisory agreement with SWP for advisory services. Compensation
to the Promoter will be an agreed upon percentage of SWP’s advisory fee. SWP’s referral program is in
compliance with the federal regulations. The promoter/referral fee is paid pursuant to a written agreement
retained by both the investment adviser and the Promoter. The Promoter will be required to provide the client
with a copy of SWP’s Form ADV Part 2A and a disclosure document explaining the nature of the Promoter’s
relationship with SWP, the compensation arrangements and the amount he/she will receive as a consequence
of the Promoter arrangement. The Promoter is not permitted to offer clients any investment advice on behalf
of SWP. A Client’s advisory fee will not exceed SWP maximum fees regardless of promoter or referral
arrangements.
SWP may also offer its advisory services through financial institutions such as banks. SWP is not an affiliate
of the banks in which its IARs maintain offices nor are SWP or its IARs employees of the bank. SWP pays
a fee to the bank for the opportunity to conduct business on its premises and with banking clients. This fee is
part of, and not in addition to, the advisory fees paid by clients to SWP.
For further information about these programs, please see the SWP ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure.
Participation in Fidelity Wealth Advisor Solutions®
SWP participates in the Fidelity Wealth Advisor Solutions® Program (the “WAS Program”), through which
SWP receives referrals from Strategic Advisers LLC (“Strategic Advisers”), a registered investment adviser,
and Fidelity Investments company. SWP is independent and not affiliated with Strategic Advisers or any
Fidelity Investments company. Strategic Advisers does not supervise or control SWP, and Strategic Advisers
has no responsibility or oversight for SWP’s provision of investment management or other advisory services.
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Under the WAS Program, Strategic Advisers acts as a promoter for SWP, and SWP pays referral fees to
Strategic Advisers for each referral received based on SWP’s assets under management attributable to each
client referred by Strategic Advisers or members of each client’s household. The WAS Program is designed
to help investors find an independent investment advisor, and any referral from Strategic Advisers to SWP
does not constitute a recommendation by Strategic Advisers of SWP’s particular investment management
services or strategies. More specifically, SWP pays the following amounts to Strategic Advisers for referrals:
the sum of (i) an annual percentage of 0.10% of any and all assets in client accounts where such assets are
identified as “fixed income” assets by Strategic Advisers and (ii) an annual percentage of 0.25% of all other
assets held in client accounts. In addition, SWP has agreed to pay Strategic Advisers an annual program fee
of $50,000 to participate in the WAS Program. These referral fees are paid by SWP and not the client.
To receive referrals from the WAS Program, SWP must meet certain minimum participation criteria, but
SWP has been selected for participation in the WAS Program as a result of its other business relationships
with Strategic Advisers and its affiliates, including Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC (“FBS”). As a result
of its participation in the WAS Program, SWP and those IARs at SWP participating in the WAS Program
have a conflict of interest with respect to its decision to use certain affiliates of Strategic Advisers, including
FBS, for execution, custody and clearing for certain client accounts. SWP and those IARs at SWP
participating in the WAS Program could have an incentive to suggest the use of FBS and its affiliates to its
advisory clients, whether or not those clients were referred to SWP as part of the WAS Program.
Under an agreement with Strategic Advisers, SWP has agreed that SWP will not charge clients more than
the standard range of advisory fees disclosed in its Form ADV Part 2A Brochure to cover promoter fees paid
to Strategic Advisers as part of the WAS Program. Pursuant to these arrangements, SWP has agreed not to
solicit clients to transfer their brokerage accounts from affiliates of Strategic Advisers or establish brokerage
accounts at other custodians for referred clients other than when SWP’s fiduciary duties would so require,
and SWP has agreed to pay Strategic Advisers a one-time fee equal to 0.75% of the assets in a client account
that is transferred from Strategic Advisers’ affiliates to another custodian; therefore, SWP and those IARs
at SWP participating in the WAS Program have an incentive to suggest that referred clients and their
household members maintain custody of their accounts with affiliates of Strategic Advisers. However,
participation in the WAS Program does not limit SWP’s duty to select brokers on the basis of best execution.
Other Compensation
SWP receives an economic benefit from its recommended custodians in the form of the support products and
services they make available to SWP and other independent investment advisors whose clients maintain their
accounts with the custodians. In addition, the custodians have also agreed to pay for certain products and
services for which SWP would otherwise have to pay once the value of our clients’ assets in accounts at the
custodians reach a certain size. Clients do not pay more for assets maintained at the custodians as a result of
these arrangements. However, SWP benefits from the arrangement because the cost of these services would
otherwise be borne directly by SWP. Clients should consider these conflicts of interest when selecting a
custodian. The products and services provided by the custodians, how they benefit SWP, and the related
conflicts of interest are described above.
SWP receives referral bonuses from LPL which are based on the trailing 12-month commission production
history of newly hired representatives, as well as a percentage portion of the commissions and bonuses the
representatives generate at LPL. Newly hired representatives may receive from LPL forgivable loans, upfront
cash and various forms of start-up expense coverage based on their trailing 12- month commission production
history for electing to join LPL and SWP. This is a conflict of interest in that it may provide an incentive for
the representative to change firms in order to obtain these forms of compensation.
SWP and/or its Dually Registered Persons are incented to join and remain affiliated with LPL Financial and
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to recommend that clients establish accounts with LPL Financial through the provision of Transition
Assistance, as discussed above. LPL also provides other compensation to SWP and its Dually Registered
Persons, including but not limited to, bonus payments, repayable and forgivable loans, stock awards and other
benefits. The receipt of any such compensation creates a financial incentive for your representative to
recommend LPL Financial as custodian for the assets in your advisory account and is a conflict of interest.
We encourage you to discuss any such conflicts of interest with your representative before making a decision
to custody your assets at LPL Financial.
Additionally, SWP’s agreement with Fidelity provides for payment of transition related expenses for certain
IARs joining SWP who are likely to recommend Fidelity as a custodian. The agreement with Schwab
provides for the reimbursement of transfer of account exit fees for certain IARs joining SWP who are likely
to recommend Schwab as a custodian. These agreements are a conflict of interest that clients should consider
when selecting a custodian.
The IAR, SWP and SWP employees may receive additional non-cash compensation from advisory product
sponsors. Such compensation may not be tied to the sales of any products. Compensation may include such
items as gifts valued at less than $500 annually, an occasional dinner or ticket to a sporting event, or
reimbursement in connection with educational meetings or marketing or advertising initiatives. Advisory
product sponsors may also pay for education or training events that may be attended by SWP employees and
IARs.
Load and no-load mutual funds may pay annual distribution charges, sometimes referred to as 12b-1 fees.
12b-1 fees come from fund assets, therefore, indirectly from client assets. Any 12b-1 fees paid on mutual
funds purchased in an SWP managed account where LPL is the custodian are not passed to IARs and will be
retained by LPL.
LPL makes available to SWP other products and services that benefit SWP but may not benefit its clients’
accounts. Some of these other products and services assist SWP in managing and administering clients’
accounts. These include software and other technology that provide access to client account data, such as
trade confirmation and account statements; facilitate trade execution and allocation of aggregated trade orders
for multiple client accounts; provide research, pricing information and other market data; facilitate payment
of SWP’s fees from its clients’ accounts; and with back-office functions, recordkeeping and client reporting.
Many of these services generally may be used to service all or a substantial number of SWP’s accounts,
including those accounts not maintained at LPL. LPL may also make available to SWP other services
intended to help SWP manage and further develop its business enterprise. These services may include
consulting, publications and conferences on practice management, information technology, business
succession, regulatory compliance and marketing. In addition, LPL may make available, arrange and/or pay
for these types of services rendered to SWP by independent third parties. LPL may discount or waive fees it
would otherwise charge for some of these services or pay all or a part of the fees of a third party providing
these services to SWP.
Financial Information
SWP is required in this item to provide you with certain financial information or disclosures about its
financial condition. SWP does not solicit fees of more than $1,200, per client, six months or more in advance.
SWP does not have any financial commitment that would impair its ability to meet any contractual or
fiduciary obligations it may have to its clients and the firm.
SWP has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition in its history.
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