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Form ADV Part 2A – Disclosure Brochure
October 27, 2025
This Disclosure Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business
practices of Talis Advisory Services, LLC d/b/a Generational Wealth Advisors (“GWA”). If you
have any questions about the contents of this Disclosure Brochure, please contact us at 972-
378-1795 or by email at adv@generationalwealthadv.com.
GWA is a Registered Investment Advisor with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”). The information in this Disclosure Brochure has not been approved or
verified by the SEC or by any state securities authority. Registration of an Investment Advisor
does not imply any specific level of skill or training. This Disclosure Brochure provides
information about GWA to assist you in determining whether to retain the Advisor.
Additional information about GWA and its advisory persons is available on the SEC’s website
at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Generational Wealth Advisors
CRD Number: 135145
3400 North Central Expressway, Suite 100
Richardson, Texas 75080
Phone: 972-378-1795 Fax: 214-291-5236
www.generationalwealthadv.com
Item 2 – Material Changes
Form ADV Part 2 (“Disclosure Brochure”) provides information about a variety of topics related
to an Advisor’s business practices and conflicts of interest.
Transparency is the foundation of our relationship with our Clients, and we continually strive
to provide complete and accurate information. We encourage all current and prospective
Clients to carefully read this Disclosure Brochure and to review it annually even if there have
been no “Material Changes” to the brochure.
An additional conflict of interest disclosure was added and Robert Lamse’s title was updated
on October 22, 2025. There are no other material changes to the Firm’s ADV 2A.
the cover page of
You may request a copy of this Disclosure Brochure at any time by contacting us at the
this brochure or by email at
telephone number on
adv@generationalwealthadv.com. In addition, you may view the current Disclosure Brochure
online at the SEC’s Investment Advisory Public Disclosure website: www.adviserinfo.sec.gov
by using GWA’s CRD number 135145.
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Item 3 – Table of Contents
Item 2 – Material Changes ................................................................................................................................. 2
Item 3 – Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................. 3
Item 4 – Advisory Services .................................................................................................................................. 4
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation ....................................................................................................................... 5
Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management .................................................................... 8
Item 7 – Types of Clients ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss .............................................................. 8
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information ...................................................................................................................... 11
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .......................................................................... 11
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation in Client Transactions, and Personal Trading ..................................... 13
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices ......................................................................................................................... 14
Item 13 – Review of Accounts .......................................................................................................................... 15
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation ........................................................................................ 16
Item 15 – Custody ............................................................................................................................................ 16
Item 16 – Investment Discretion ...................................................................................................................... 17
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities ..................................................................................................................... 17
Item 18 – Financial Information ....................................................................................................................... 17
Additional Information – Privacy Policy ............................................................................................................. 18
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Item 4 – Advisory Services
Firm Information
Talis Advisory Services, LLC d/b/a Generational Wealth Advisors (“GWA” or the “Advisor”) is a
Registered Investment Advisor with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) based in Richardson, Texas. The firm is organized as a Limited Liability Company under
the laws of the State of Texas and was founded in May 2005. The firm is owned by Robert J.
Lamse, Jeffrey B. Everett, and Generational Capital, LLC. This Disclosure Brochure provides
information regarding the qualifications, business practices and advisory services provided by
GWA. As used in this brochure, the words “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to GWA and the words
“you”, “your” and “Client” refer to you as either a Client or a prospective Client of our firm.
Advisory Services
GWA offers advisory services to individuals, high net worth individuals, trusts, foundations,
estates, business entities, qualified retirement plan sponsors and charitable organizations in
Texas and other states (each referred to as a “Client”). We use a multi-disciplinary team
approach to address your financial planning, investment, and/or risk management needs. Our
team includes four Advisors that hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
designation, two Advisors who are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), three Advisors that hold
the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation, and an Advisor who is a licensed
attorney. With your consent, we may consult with your other professional advisors as planning
recommendations are formulated and/or implemented.
Client Account Management
We tailor our services to the individual needs of Clients and may allow Clients to impose
restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of securities.
GWA provides financial planning services to individuals and families as part of its investment
Advisory services. Generally, this involves preparing a financial plan based on the Client’s
financial goals and objectives. The plan may address several areas of need, including, but not
limited to investment planning, retirement planning, savings and other areas of a Client’s
financial situation. GWA may also refer Clients to an accountant, attorney or other specialist,
as appropriate to the Client’s situation.
Prior to engaging GWA to provide investment advisory services, each Client is required to enter
into a written Investment Advisory Agreement with the Advisor that defines the terms,
conditions, authority and responsibilities of the Advisor and Client.
GWA provides ongoing advice to Clients regarding the investment of assets based on their
specific needs. Through discussion of a Client’s personal circumstances, goals and objectives
are established, a financial plan may be established, and a personalized Investment Policy
Statement (IPS) is created. We then manage the portfolio on a discretionary basis guided by
the IPS. GWA will typically develop a strategic asset allocation that is targeted to meet the
investment objectives, time horizon, financial situation and risk tolerance for each Client and
document the recommended allocation in the IPS. Our investment recommendations are not
limited to any specific product or service offered by a broker-dealer or insurance company.
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We generally recommend a core portfolio of institutional-class mutual funds, Exchange Traded
Funds (“ETFs”), or separately managed accounts with low expense ratios and internal
transaction costs. Our strategy is primarily long-term, but the Advisor may buy, sell or re-allocate
positions that have been held less than one year to meet the objectives of the Client or due to
market conditions. GWA evaluates and selects assets for inclusion in Client portfolios only after
applying its internal due diligence process.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, GWA managed a total of $392,535,549, all of which is managed
on a discretionary basis.
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
The majority of our Clients pay fees to GWA that are based upon a percentage of the assets we
advise upon. This is a common form of compensation for Registered Investment Advisory firms
and avoids the multiple inherent conflicts of interest associated with commission-based
compensation. However, this method of compensation can still lead to conflicts of interest
between our firm and our Clients as to the advice we provide. For example, conflicts of interest
may arise relating to the following financial decisions: incur or pay down debt; gift funds to
charities or to individuals; purchases of a home or cars or other non-investment assets; the
purchase of an annuity; expenditures of funds for travel or other activities; investment in private
funds or closely held businesses, and the amount of funds to place in cash reserve accounts.
Advisory Service Fees
We charge investment advisory fees for our services based on the fee schedule that is included
in each Client’s written advisory contract. Typically, we charge an annual fee based on a
percentage of the market value of the assets being managed. Our annual fee is exclusive of,
and in addition to brokerage commissions, transaction fees and other related expenses, which
are incurred by the Client. GWA does not receive any portion of these commissions, fees and
expenses.
Our standard fee schedule includes financial planning as part of the overall fee arrangement
and starts at 1.25% annually for the first $1,000,000, following a tiered schedule of reduced
fees for the next $4,000,000 at 1.00%, the next $5,000,000 at 0.75%, and $10,000,000 or
greater at 0.50%. Clients may also choose to pay separately for financial planning, in which
case the fee schedule is reduced to 1.00% for the first $1,000,000. Clients should carefully
review the advisory contract and are encouraged to consult with their attorney. Advisory fees
are negotiable based on business considerations.
Advisory fees are charged quarterly in arrears at the end of each calendar quarter (March 31,
June 30, September 30, and December 31) and are based on the average daily account balance
during that period. Upon request, Advisor will provide details of average daily balance
calculations for a Client’s account. For these Clients, billing begins when custodial account(s)
are funded and/or assets are transferred into the Client’s custodial account(s). For certain
legacy Clients, advisory fees are charged in arrears and based on the account value as of the
last day of the quarter, as specified in the Client’s written advisory contract. These Clients are
encouraged to move to an average daily balance fee arrangement and may do so at any time
by executing a new advisory contract.
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Financial Planning Fees
Clients may choose to have financial planning fees incorporated into the advisory fee as part
of an overall fee arrangement. However, financial planning services may also be charged
separately and in addition to our asset-based fee for portfolio management. In such situations,
we will notify the client and upon their consent the financial planning services will be provided
on an hourly basis according to the hourly rates below, or for a negotiated fixed amount,
typically $3,000 to $12,500, depending upon the scope and complexity of the planning needed
by the client. Hourly rates for financial planning services are subject to the fee schedule below:
$750 per hour – President, Chief Investment Officer or another firm principal
$300 per hour – Vice President, Director, or Senior Advisor
$200 per hour – Advisor
When financial planning is provided as a separate service, it is typical for the fee for the
financial planning services to be collected at the time services begin.
In certain situations, we may choose to provide financial planning services to portfolio
management clients without an additional fee. This depends on our judgment, the complexity
of the financial plan, the size of the client relationship and/or other business considerations.
Consulting Services Fees
For other consulting engagements, we will charge the hourly financial planning fees above.
Deduction of Fees
In our investment management engagements, we deduct our advisory fee based on written
authorization by you permitting the fees to be paid directly from your account. Clients receive
a statement from the qualified custodian that shows the fee deduction transaction each time.
The independently qualified custodian for your account will deliver an account statement to
you monthly if there is activity in your account. Otherwise, the statement is sent no less frequently
than quarterly.
Additional Fees and Expenses
All fees paid to GWA for investment advisory and financial planning services are separate and
distinct from the fees and expenses charged by investment companies (mutual funds,
exchange traded funds, or separately managed accounts), hedge funds, or private funds to their
shareholders. GWA does not share in any portion of fees charged by other entities. Fund
expenses are described in each fund's prospectus, private placement memorandum, or
equivalent document. These expenses will generally include a management fee, other fund
expenses, and possibly a distribution fee. Hedge funds may charge performance-based fees in
addition to management and other fees. Private equity fund general partners may receive
“carried interest” in addition to management and other fees. Clients should carefully review and
evaluate disclosure documents and the fees described. In addition, funds incur transaction
costs and opportunity costs, which are not disclosed. Clients may incur transaction fees or
commissions in connection with trading of mutual funds, exchange traded funds and/or
individual stocks and bonds (and/or principal mark-ups and mark-downs for principal trades),
which are charged by the custodian (the brokerage firm holding the Client’s assets).
We do not share in any portion of the transaction fees or commissions charged by the
custodian. Accordingly, the Client should review the fees charged by funds (including
transaction and opportunity costs within funds), the transaction fees charged by the custodian,
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as well as the fees charged by GWA, to fully understand the total amount of fees and costs paid
by the Client in connection with any recommended transaction. For a discussion of our practice
in recommending brokers (custodians) to our Clients and negotiating brokerage fees on their
behalf, please see the Brokerage Practices section of this brochure.
ERISA Accounts
GWA is deemed to be a fiduciary to advisory Clients that are employee benefit plans or
individual retirement accounts (IRAs) pursuant to the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act (“ERISA”) and regulations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”),
respectively. As such, we are subject to specific duties and obligations under ERISA and the
Code that include restrictions concerning certain forms of compensation. To avoid engaging in
prohibited transactions, GWA may only charge fees for investment advice about products for
which our firm and/or our related persons do not receive any commissions or 12b-1 fees. For the
purposes of ERISA § 3(38), GWA serves as the investment manager and exercises discretionary
authority with regard to the model portfolios it develops and with regard to the mutual funds or
other investment vehicles that it selects as investment options for employee benefit plans.
Limited Prepayment of Fees
Under no circumstances do we require or solicit payment of fees in excess of $1,200 more than
six months in advance of services rendered.
Additional Compensation
Persons providing investment advice on behalf of our firm may be licensed as insurance agents.
These persons will earn commission-based compensation for selling insurance products,
including insurance products they sell to you. Insurance commissions earned by these persons
are separate and in addition to our advisory fees. These persons may also receive incentive
awards, merchandise or trips, and insurance company stock or stock options based on sales
activities for insurance products. This practice presents a conflict of interest because persons
providing investment advice on behalf of our firm who are insurance agents may have an
incentive to recommend insurance products to you for the purpose of generating commissions
and/or receiving incentive awards rather than solely based on your needs. However, you are
under no obligation, contractual or otherwise, to purchase insurance products through any
person affiliated with our firm.
We have adopted internal policies to properly manage these and other potential conflicts of
interest. Our goal is that our advice to you always remains in your best interest, disregarding
any impact of the decision upon our firm or any individual.
Comparable Services
GWA believes that the charges and fees offered within its program are competitive with
alternative programs available through other firms offering a similar range of services; however,
lower fees for comparable services may be available from other sources. For example, a Client
could invest in funds directly, without the services of GWA. In such a case, the Client would not
receive the services provided by GWA or, in some cases, have access to the same funds. These
services are designed, among other things, to assist the Client in determining which funds are
most appropriate to each Client's financial condition and objectives, undertake a disciplined
approach to portfolio rebalancing while considering the tax ramifications of same, and to avoid
ad hoc emotional reactions to short-term market events.
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Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
GWA does not charge performance-based fees and does not participate in side-by-side
management. Side-by-side management refers to the practice of managing accounts that are
charged performance-based fees while at the same time managing accounts that are not
charged performance-based fees. Performance-based fees are fees that are based on a share
of capital gains or capital appreciation of a Client’s account. Our fees are calculated as
described in the Advisory Business section above and are not charged on the basis of a share of
capital gains upon, or capital appreciation of, the funds in your Advisory account.
Item 7 – Types of Clients
GWA provides Advisory services to the following types of Clients:
Individuals (other than high net worth individuals)
▪ High net worth individuals
▪
▪ Pension and profit-sharing plans (other than plan participants)
▪ Trusts
▪ Foundations
▪ Business entities (corporations, limited liability companies, etc.)
▪ Charitable organizations
In general, we require a minimum of $2,000,000.00 as a condition for establishing an ongoing
Client relationship. Clients may aggregate assets in multiple accounts to meet the minimum
requirement. The minimum requirement for maintaining a Client relationship is
$500,000.00. We may choose to make exceptions to the minimum amount required to
establish or maintain a Client relationship when business conditions warrant.
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
Our Investment Committee establishes the overall investment strategies employed by the firm,
reviews the brokerage firms we recommend to our Clients, and approves particular investments
which may be used by Investment Advisor Representatives of our firm. The Investment
Committee includes Jeffrey Everett (Chief Investment Officer and committee chairman), Robert
Lamse, Bryce Gray, Stephen Hart, Sarah Crowe, Gina Aldaz, Glen D. Amason, and William E.
Flock.
We believe that diversification is key to controlling risk, that risk and return are related, and
that asset allocation is the primary determinant of a portfolio’s risk and expected return. Our
equity allocation is globally diversified, minimizing concentrations in any one company, industry,
or sector. In general, our fixed income allocation is composed of high quality, short-term and
intermediate-term debt instruments to minimize interest rate and default risk. We believe that
investors are better rewarded for taking risks in equities than in fixed income and that the
purpose of the fixed income allocation in the portfolio is to reduce risk. We also believe that many
clients can benefit from an allocation to alternative investments that provide additional
portfolio diversification.
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Multiple equity factor premiums have been shown by academic studies to produce returns,
including but not limited to:
▪ Equity risk (stocks have a higher expected return than bonds)
▪ Relative value risk (value stocks have a higher expected rate of return)
▪ Size risk (small-cap stocks have a higher expected rate of return)
▪ Momentum (stocks that are performing well tend to continue to do so for a period of
time)
▪ Profitability (more profitable companies have a higher expected rate of return)
While historical evidence supports the conclusion that factor premiums may produce
additional return, individual factor premiums may be absent or negative for long time periods
that may exceed a Client’s time horizon. Constructing a portfolio with diversified exposure to
multiple factor premiums increases the likelihood of consistently capturing additional return.
We typically use institutional share class mutual funds, ETFs, or separately managed accounts
to capture these premiums with low transaction costs and, when appropriate to the strategy,
with minimal turnover. In some situations, and for certain Clients, we may recommend the use
of a separately managed account for exposure to a particular asset class, as this may provide
for more customization based on Client preferences, tax efficiency, or other benefits.
Separately managed accounts typically require a substantial minimum investment of
$100,000 to $500,000 per strategy and, therefore, are only available to the firm’s larger Clients.
Since the asset allocation decision is the primary determinant of a portfolio’s risk and expected
return, we periodically rebalance the Client portfolios to the target asset allocation defined in
the Client’s Investment Policy Statement. The IPS also outlines tolerance levels for individual
asset classes and groups of asset classes that are taken into consideration when determining
the need for rebalancing. Rebalancing decisions may also be subject to variances based on tax
reduction, tax planning, reduction of transaction fees or other reasons. Asset allocation
decisions are not made in an attempt to time markets or react to short-term volatility.
Allocation changes will occur to improve diversification and/or the risk/return relationship or to
adjust to changes in the Client’s goals or circumstances.
Rather than focusing primarily on security selection, we attempt to identify an appropriate ratio
of equity, fixed income, and alternative investments that is suitable to the Client’s investment
goals and risk tolerance.
Investment Strategies
In designing investment plans for Clients, GWA relies upon the information supplied by the
Client and, in some instances, the Client’s other professional advisors. Such information may
pertain to the Client's financial situation, estate planning, tax planning, risk management
planning, short-term and long-term lifetime financial goals and objectives, investment time
horizon, and perceived or measured tolerance for risk. This information becomes the basis for
the strategic asset allocation plan which we believe will best meet the Client's stated long-term
personal financial goals. The strategic asset allocation provides for investments in those asset
classes which GWA believes (based on historical data and our proprietary analysis) will possess
attractive combinations of return, risk, and correlation over the long-term.
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The investment advice that GWA provides is based upon long-term investment strategies
including the principles of Modern Portfolio Theory. The use of several different asset classes
as part of an investor’s portfolio is emphasized, as this has been shown to reduce portfolio
volatility (i.e., the standard deviation of the portfolio returns) over long periods of time. GWA
allocates and diversifies the Client’s portfolio among various asset classes and among individual
investments, following the investment policy agreed to by the Client.
Our investment approach incorporates the belief that markets are relatively efficient, and that
investors’ gross returns are determined principally by asset allocation decisions. A focus is
provided on developing and implementing globally diversified portfolios, principally through
using low-cost (relative to other funds in the same category) and tax-efficient mutual funds,
ETFs, alternative investments (hedge funds, private funds, etc. as previously described) or
separately managed accounts. Investment policy and overall portfolio weightings between
equities, alternatives and fixed income investments are based upon each Client’s needs and
desires, perceived/measured risk tolerance, the need to assume various risks, and investment
time horizon. The investment portfolio’s strategic asset class allocation is customized to meet
the specific circumstances of the Client, the presence of investments in 401(k) or other
accounts, as well as a perception of the Client’s understanding of the fundamental forces
affecting risk and return in capital markets.
Insurance products such as annuities and various types of life insurance may also be evaluated.
Clients may be advised to retain an existing annuity or undertake partial or full surrenders of
same (and/or tax-free exchanges), following an evaluation of the annuity contract, riders thereto,
investment alternatives within the annuity and their fees and costs, including any surrender fees
which may be imposed by the insurance company. Clients may also be advised to purchase a
fixed indexed annuity when use of the lifetime income benefit rider and the income stream that it
creates is advantageous to the Client’s financial plan. Generally, this strategy is used to replace
part or all of the fixed income allocation in the Client’s portfolio. The Advisor expects, and
explains to the client, that the annuity is expected to achieve a rate of return that is competitive
with fixed income and, regardless of the insurance company’s marketing material, not with
equities.
Cash in Clients’ investment accounts is typically swept into the FDIC insured bank accounts of
the custodian. Small cash amounts may be maintained to facilitate payment of advisory fees,
which may have the effect of slightly reducing the portfolio’s returns in periods when overall
positive returns occur in the portfolio in excess of the interest rate paid on cash or cash
equivalent deposits. While it is typically not the practice to encourage Clients to maintain a
large amount of cash in their accounts, such may be undertaken at the request of the Client or
when yield curve dynamics present the opportunity to achieve a desirable return from money
market funds within the Client’s fixed income allocation.
Risk of Loss
Investing in securities involves certain risks. Securities may fluctuate in value or lose value.
Risks include general market trends, unintended concentrations in certain markets, sectors
and individual issuers, government regulation and lack of sufficient market liquidity. Fixed
income investments are subject to interest rate and default risks. Real estate securities are
subject to property value changes, rental income, property taxes, and tax and regulatory
changes. Foreign securities are subject to the same risks discussed herein and subject to the
risks of exchange rate changes, political instability and different methods of accounting and
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financial reporting.
Alternative investments involve various risk factors including the valuation of complex
derivatives and, in some cases, liquidity constraints. For private investments, this is set forth in
the fund’s private placement memorandum, which is provided to the Client for consideration.
The Client is required to complete a subscription agreement to confirm qualification for
investing in a private placement and to acknowledge understanding and acceptance of the
merits and risks of the investment, including illiquidity.
Clients should be prepared to bear the potential risk of loss. GWA assists Clients in determining
an appropriate strategy based on their tolerance for risk and other factors. However, there is
no guarantee that a Client will meet their investment goals. Past performance is not a
guarantee of future returns.
Modern Portfolio Theory and the multifactor model provide a framework for capturing market
returns and risk premiums, but do not guarantee that an investment will not lose value. The
Advisor relies on financial and other information provided by the Client or their designee(s)
without the duty or obligation to validate the accuracy and completeness of the provided
information. It is the responsibility of the Client to inform the Advisor of any changes in financial
condition, goals or any other factors that may affect the appropriate level of risk exposure in the
Client’s portfolio. Clients are reminded to discuss these risks with the Advisor.
Investments can generate taxable events by virtue of the income they produce, capital gains
they generate and distributions they make. Taxable events can and will occur, and clients are
solely responsible for any resulting tax liabilities. GWA encourages all clients to consult with
their tax professionals regarding transactions. The custodian is responsible for all cost basis
reporting and tracking, including realized capital gain and loss reporting. GWA may receive cost
basis information from the client or the client’s allied professionals and provide such
information to the custodian. GWA is not responsible for verifying the accuracy of such data,
nor the corresponding tax impacts of any errors in data received. The default cost basis election
for all client accounts is first-in, first-out (FIFO). If an alternate cost basis election is preferred,
Client must inform GWA.
The foregoing list of risks should not be deemed to be a complete list of risks. No assurance
can be made that goals will be achieved or that substantial losses cannot occur.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
We are required to disclose any legal or disciplinary events that are material to a Client’s or
prospective Client’s evaluation of our Advisory business or the integrity of our management.
There are no legal, regulatory or disciplinary events involving GWA or any of its employees or
management personnel to disclose.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Robert J. Lamse is a Managing Member of Talis Financial Services, LLC, an insurance agency.
Jeffrey B. Everett is also a Managing Member of Talis Financial Services, LLC. Robert J. Lamse,
Sarah V. Crowe, Stephen T. Hart, and Glen D. Amason are licensed as General Lines Agents
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for life, accident, and health insurance and may transact insurance business through Talis
Financial Services, LLC. Our Clients may also be Clients of Talis Financial Services, LLC. However,
no Clients are obligated to use any service or purchase any product from Talis Financial Services,
LLC and suitable insurance products may be available from other companies.
Mr. Lamse owns stock in NetLaw, a legal technology company owned by The Hargrove Firm, a
law firm. GWA, from time-to-time refers certain clients to The Hargrove Firm for tax and/or
estate planning. GWA does not receive compensation for referrals to The Hargrove Firm or to
any attorney or law firm.
Generational Capital, LLC has ownership interest in Generational Capital Markets, Inc., a
registered broker-dealer. Generational Equity, LLC and Generational Equity of Texas, LLC, both of
which hold real estate brokerage licenses are affiliated with GWA by common ownership. Terry
K. Johnson is a Vice President of GWA and is affiliated with Generational Equity, LLC. Heath A.
Flock is Chief Operating Officer of Generational Equity, LLC and is the Secretary and Treasurer
with GWA. Brenen M. Hofstadter is a Manager of GWA and the President and Supervising
Principal of Generational Capital Markets, Inc., the President of Generational Capital, LLC, the
Chief M&A Officer of Generational Equity, LLC, and is a real estate broker licensed by the Texas
Real Estate Commission.
Ryan Binkley is GWA’s Chief Executive Officer and is affiliated with Generational Capital Markets,
LLC, Generational Equity, LLC, and Generational Equity of Texas, LLC. John H. Binkley Jr. is
affiliated with Generational Capital Markets, LLC, Generational Equity, LLC, and Generational
Equity of Texas, LLC. Generational Capital, LLC, Generational Equity, LLC, and Generational
Equity of Texas, LLC have some shared operations with GWA such as accounting, legal, and
operational support.
Bryce D. Gray is a Senior M&A Advisor with Generational Equity, LLC. In addition, Mr. Gray is a
lawyer with a law firm practice, Majestic Advocacy Group, PLLC, an accountant/CPA with his
accounting firm, Majestic Advisory Group, PLLC, and a real estate broker who operates his real
estate business through Majestic Realty Group, LLC. Mr. Gray is Manager of Majestic Strong
Tower, LLC which is an entity that holds a private investment. This investment is closed to
investors and the Firm believes it does not create a material conflict of interest with Generational
Wealth Advisors’ clients.
Mr. Gray has been the President and Sole Practitioner of several other entities for years with de
minimis involvement on a regular basis. He is a licensed attorney and member of the Michigan
Bar, practicing as a sole proprietor through Majestic Advocacy Group, PLLC. He is also a
registered certified public accountant in Michigan, practicing as a sole proprietor through Majestic
Advisory Group, PLLC. He is also an Associate Broker, and up until 12/31/2018 was the sole
owner of Majestic Realty Group, LLC. He no longer has direct ownership but continues as one of
the Associate Brokers. Mr. Gray also has a single member LLC through which he sometimes
leases automobiles, Majestic Auto Leasing, LLC.
The Firm believes that none of these ancillary activities create a material conflict of interest with
Generational Wealth Advisors’ clients.
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Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation in Client Transactions, and Personal Trading
Code of Ethics
Pursuant to SEC rule 204A-1, GWA has adopted a detailed Code of Ethics expressing the firm's
commitment to ethical conduct, which is used to guide the personal conduct of our various
team members. This detailed Code of Ethics describes the firm's fiduciary duties and
responsibilities to Clients and sets forth our practices of supervising the personal securities
transactions of employees with prior or concurrent access to Client trade information. GWA will
provide a complete copy of the Code of Ethics to any Client or prospective Client upon request.
GWA seeks to avoid material conflicts of interest. Accordingly, neither GWA nor its Investment
Advisor Representatives, nor its team members receive any third party direct monetary
compensation (i.e., commissions, 12b-1 fees, or other fees) from brokerage firms (custodians),
investment companies, or other providers of investment products that GWA may recommend
to Clients.
However, some additional services and non-direct monetary or other forms of compensation
are offered and provided to GWA because of its relationships with custodian(s) and/or providers
of investment products. For example, our Investment Advisor Representatives and employees
may be invited to attend educational conferences and/or entertainment events sponsored by
such brokerage firms or custodians or investment companies. Other services may be provided
as outlined below (see Item 12). GWA believes that the services and benefits provided to it by
brokerage firms (custodians) and investment companies do not materially affect the
investment management recommendations made to its Clients. However, in the interest of full
disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest, we discuss the possible conflicts herein.
Although GWA believes that its business methodologies, ethics rules, and adopted policies are
appropriate to eliminate, or at least minimize, potential material conflicts of interest, and to
manage appropriately any material conflicts of interest that may remain, Clients should be aware
that no set of rules can possibly anticipate or relieve all potential material conflicts of interest.
Personal Trading with Material Interest
GWA and its related persons, as a matter of policy, do not recommend to Clients, or buy or sell
for Client accounts, securities in which the firm or its related persons have a material financial
interest.
Personal Trading in Same Securities as Clients
Our Code of Ethics provides that individuals associated with our firm may buy or sell securities
for their personal accounts that are identical to or are different from those recommended to
Clients. However, it is the expressed policy of our firm that no person employed by the firm shall
prefer his or her own interest to that of an Advisory Client nor make personal investment
decisions based on investment decisions of Advisory Clients.
To supervise compliance with the Code of Ethics, our firm requires that anyone associated with
this Advisory practice and who possesses access to Advisory recommendations (before or at
the time they are entered into) (“access persons”) to provide annual securities holding reports
and quarterly transaction reports to our Chief Compliance Officer. We also require access
persons to receive advance approval from the Chief Compliance Officer prior to investing in any
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initial public offerings or private placements and regarding trading of certain individual
securities.
The Code of Ethics further includes our firm’s policy prohibiting the use of material non-public
information and protecting the confidentiality of Client information. We require that all
individuals must act in accordance with all applicable federal and state regulations governing
registered investment Advisory practices. Any individual not in observance of the above may
be subject to discipline.
Personal Trading at Same Time as Clients
GWA, its managers, and/or its employees may buy or sell the same securities that are bought
or sold in Client accounts at or around the same time. In all such cases, recommendations are
made with the best interest of the Client being the foremost concern. At no time would the
combined Client and Advisor transaction have a noticeable effect on the market.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
Recommendation of Custodian(s)
GWA does not have discretionary authority to select the broker-dealer/custodian. The Client
will select the broker-dealer or custodian (herein the “custodian”) to safeguard Client assets
and authorize GWA to direct trades to this custodian as agreed in the Investment Advisory
Contract. Further, GWA does not have the discretionary authority to negotiate commissions on
behalf of our Clients on a trade-by-trade basis. Although GWA does not exercise discretion over
the selection of the custodian, it may recommend custodian(s) to Clients based on the client’s
best interest.
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
GWA participates in the Advisory Services Program (ASP) of Schwab Institutional and Fidelity
Institutional. While there is no direct linkage between the investment advice given and
participation in the ASPs, economic benefits are received which would not be received if GWA
did not give investment advice to Clients.
The benefits provided by Schwab and Fidelity include assistance with practice management and
assistance with the management of Client accounts, including but not limited to: (a) receipt of
duplicate Client confirmations; (b) receipt of electronic duplicate statements; (c) access to a
trading desk serving Investment Advisor firm participants exclusively, and providing research,
pricing information, and other market data; (d) access to the investment Advisor portion of their
websites which includes practice management articles, compliance updates, and other
financial planning related information and research materials; (e) access to other vendors (such
as insurance or compliance providers, or providers of research or other materials) on a
discounted fee basis through discounts arranged by the custodians; (f) permitting GWA to
access an electronic communication network for Client order entry and to access Clients’ account
information and which may otherwise assist GWA with its back-office functions, including
recordkeeping and Client reporting; and (g) conferences at which Advisors and employees of
our firms may attend (with no registration fees) and receive education on issues such as
practice management, marketing, investment theory, financial planning, business succession,
regulatory compliance, and information technology.
Participation in the ASPs also provides access to certain funds which generally require
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significantly higher minimum initial investments or are generally available only to institutional
investors. The benefits received through participation in the ASPs may depend upon the
amount of transactions directed to, or amount of assets placed in custody with Schwab, or
Fidelity. Generally, these services may be used to service all or a substantial number of our
Clients’ accounts. Educational, research, or other services provided by custodians or mutual
fund companies may benefit all GWA Clients or may benefit only some Clients.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
GWA does not participate in referral programs that may be offered by custodians.
Directed Brokerage
GWA utilizes the services of Schwab Institutional and Fidelity Institutional. Each custodian
provides our team members with access to institutional trading and custody services, which
are typically not available to retail investors. These services generally are available to
independent Investment Advisors on an unsolicited basis and at no charge to them. However,
not all independent Investment Advisors recommend that their Clients use particular
custodians. While, as a fiduciary, GWA endeavors to act in its Clients' best interests, our desire
that Clients maintain much of their assets in accounts at Schwab and/or Fidelity may be based
in part on the benefit to our firm of the availability of some products and services (previously
described) at no cost to us, or at reduced costs, and not solely on the nature, cost, or quality of
custody and brokerage services provided by the brokers, and this may create a potential conflict
of interest. GWA’s Clients may, therefore, pay higher transaction fees, commissions, and principal
mark-ups and mark-downs (relating to purchases and sales on a principal, as opposed to an
agency, basis), than those charged by other discount brokers. However, we have negotiated fees
with the custodians we recommend, and we have selected these custodians for their generally
low fees relative to other large custodians with similar capabilities. We prefer to recommend
custodians that possess significant size and financial resources for purposes of enhanced
safety of Clients’ funds. For these reasons, the lowest cost custodian for Clients may not be
recommended to Clients.
Aggregating and Allocating Trades
GWA has chosen not to aggregate (combine for purposes of securing reduced commissions or
transaction fees) the trades of its Clients. Not all Client trade decisions are made at the same
time and all trade decisions in taxable accounts are reviewed for near-term and long-term tax
efficiency, which requires individual analysis of most trading decisions. This individual analysis
of trades does not lend itself to computer software programs nor manual entry processes which
would aggregate trades. As a result, our Clients do not receive the benefits of reduced
transaction fees such aggregation of trades could provide to our Clients. However, our Clients
may receive benefits from more tax-efficient portfolio management, which Clients may not
otherwise receive.
Item 13 – Review of Accounts
Frequency of Reviews
Client accounts are monitored on an ongoing basis by the Investment Advisor Representative
that is assigned to work with the specific Client. Account reviews are held periodically as agreed
between you and your representative to ensure that the advisory services provided to you
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and/or the portfolio asset allocation are consistent with your stated investment goals and
objectives. The review process includes a comparison of the recommended asset allocation to
the actual asset allocation and evaluating the need for rebalancing. For Clients who have
completed a financial plan, reviews may include an analysis of the Client’s progress toward
meeting the goals defined by the plan.
Causes for Reviews
Reviews may be triggered by client request, deposit or withdrawal of client funds, year-end tax
planning, or a change in the Client’s personal circumstances, including stated goals or
objectives.
Review Reports
Clients typically receive account statements from their custodian monthly, and never less
frequently than quarterly. These statements are sent directly from the custodian to the Client.
The Client may also establish online access to the custodian’s website so that the Client may view
these reports and their account activity. Client statements provided by the custodian will include
all positions, transactions and fees related to Client’s account(s). From time-to-time and when
requested, we may also provide Clients with reports regarding their holdings, allocations and
performance. Note that the Advisor does not provide performance reports on a regular basis.
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Compensation Received by GWA
Please refer to the Brokerage Practices section above for disclosures on research and other
benefits that we may receive from our relationships with qualified custodians or mutual funds.
Persons providing investment advice on behalf of our firm may be licensed insurance agents
and may recommend the use of insurance products and receive compensation as a result of
those recommendations.
Our firm is under common ownership with Generational Equity (“GE”) and Generational Capital
Markets (“GCM”), both of which provide merger and acquisition advisory services exclusively to
business owners seeking to sell their companies. While GWA does not provide M&A advisory
services, there may be circumstances in which a GWA employee recommends GE or GCM to a
business owner who is not currently a GWA client. In such cases, the GWA employee may receive
a commission or referral fee from GE or GCM for the introduction. This creates a potential conflict
of interest, as GWA personnel may have a financial incentive to recommend GE or GCM. GWA
mitigates this conflict by disclosing it in advance and ensuring that any such referrals are made
only when the services are believed to be in the best interest of the individual receiving the
recommendation.
Item 15 – Custody
We previously disclosed in the Fees and Compensation section above that our firm directly debits
advisory fees from certain Client accounts. For Clients that authorize direct payment of advisory
fees, the Client’s custodian is advised of the amount of the fee(s) to be deducted from that Client’s
account(s). This ability to deduct our advisory fees from your accounts causes our firm to exercise
limited custody over your funds or securities. We do not have physical custody of any of your
funds and/or securities. You will receive account statements from the independent qualified
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custodian holding your funds and securities at least quarterly. The account statements from your
custodian will indicate the amount of our advisory fee(s) deducted from your account(s) each
billing period.
You should carefully review account statements for accuracy. If you have a question regarding
your account statement or if you did not receive a statement from your custodian, please contact
us immediately at the telephone number on the cover page of this brochure.
Custody is also disclosed in Form ADV because GWA accepts authority granted by certain clients
to transfer funds from client account(s), which is referred to as a standing letter of
authorization (“SLOA”). When a SLOA allows funds to be transferred to a third party, this
constitutes custody of the client’s funds. Accordingly, GWA will follow the safeguards specified
by the SEC in its 2017 “no action” letter rather than undergo an annual audit.
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
GWA normally requires discretionary authority from advisory Clients to determine which
securities and the amounts of securities that are bought or sold in a client’s account. This means
that we may place trades in a Client’s account without contacting the Client prior to each trade
to obtain the Client’s permission. Client grants this authority by means of a written investment
advisory agreement. This agreement does not grant GWA the authority to take custody or
possession of any client assets. Clients grant GWA limited power of attorney over their accounts
at the selected custodian(s). Refer to the Advisory Business section of this brochure for more
information on discretionary management.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
As a matter of policy, GWA does not vote proxy on behalf of advisory clients. Therefore, Clients
maintain exclusive responsibility for directing the manner in which proxies solicited by issuers of
securities beneficially owned by the client shall be voted. GWA does not offer any consulting
assistance regarding proxy issues to clients. Clients are responsible for instructing each
custodian to forward to the Client copies of all proxies and shareholder communications related
to the Client’s investment assets. GWA will not forward to Clients proxy voting or shareholder
communications that have been directed to GWA.
In addition, we do not determine if securities held by you are the subject of a class action lawsuit or
whether you are eligible to participate in any settlements or litigation, nor do we initiate or
participate in litigation to recover damages on your behalf for injuries as a result of actions,
misconduct or negligence by issuers of securities held by you. Clients are responsible for making
all elections relative to any mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, bankruptcy proceedings or other
events pertaining to the Client’s investment assets. GWA will not forward to Clients
communications that have been directed to GWA. Clients are solely responsible for directing
the manner in which communications related to any legal action or any election related to Client
assets are delivered.
Item 18 – Financial Information
Under no circumstances do we require the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per Client
and six or more months in advance of services rendered. Therefore, we are not required to
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include a financial statement.
Because we maintain discretionary authority for Client accounts and are deemed to maintain
limited custody over Client accounts, we are required to disclose any financial condition that is
reasonably likely to impair our ability to meet our contractual obligations. GWA has no additional
financial circumstances to report. We have not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at any
time.
Additional Information – Privacy Policy
We are committed to safeguarding the confidential information of each of our clients. We hold
all personal information provided to our firm in strict confidence. These records include all
personal information that we collect from you in connection with any of the services provided by
GWA. We use financial information that you provide to us to help you meet your personal
financial goals while guarding against any real or perceived infringements of your rights of
privacy. Our policy with respect to personal information about you is contained in our privacy
policy below.
▪ We limit access to information to those who have a business or professional reason for
knowing, and only to nonaffiliated parties as permitted by law. (For example, federal
regulations permit us to share a limited amount of information about you with a brokerage firm
in order to execute securities transactions on your behalf, or so that our firm can discuss your
financial situation with your accountant or lawyer.)
▪ We maintain a secure office and computer environment to ensure that your information is
not placed at unreasonable risk.
▪ The categories of nonpublic personal information that we collect from a client depend upon
the scope of the client engagement. It may include information about your personal finances,
information about transactions between you and third parties, or information from consumer
reporting agencies.
▪ For unaffiliated third parties that require access to your personal information, including
financial service companies, consultants, and auditors, we also require strict confidentiality in
our agreements with them and expect them to keep this information private. Federal and state
regulators also may review firm records as permitted under law.
▪ We do not provide any information to mailing list vendors or solicitors for any purpose.
▪ Personal identifiable information about you will be maintained during the time you are a
client and for the required time thereafter that such records are required to be maintained by
federal and state securities laws, and consistent with the CFP Board Code of Ethics and
Professional Responsibility. After this required period of record retention, all such information
will be destroyed.
We continue to evaluate our efforts to protect personal information and make every effort to
keep your personal information accurate and up to date. We will provide notice of changes in
our information sharing practices. GWA offers several options for accessing and, if necessary,
correcting your account information. You can review brokerage statements provided by your
designated custodian, or you may email, write, or call us to request information.
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Email is an important form of communication between GWA Advisory Services and its clients.
GWA may communicate information in emails that relate to subjects that include regulatory
information or to send you information about our products or services. If you prefer not to receive
email communication, please call us at the telephone number on the cover page of this brochure.
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