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Item 1: Cover Page
Part 2A of Form ADV: Firm Brochure
June 2025
The Dala Group, LLC
2815 Forbs Ave, Suite 107
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
www.TheDalaGroup.com
Firm Contact:
Mike Heatwole
Chief Compliance Officer
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of The Dala
Group, LLC. If clients have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at
847-485-0248. 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 our firm is also available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov by
searching CRD #291828.
Please note that the use of the term “Registered Investment Adviser” and description of our firm
and/or our associates as “registered” does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Clients are
encouraged to review this Brochure and Brochure Supplements for our firm’s associates who advise
clients for more information on the qualifications of our firm and our employees.
Item 2: Material Changes
The Dala Group, LLC is required to make clients aware of material information that has changed
since the last annual update to the Firm Brochure (“Brochure”) and that may be important to
them. Clients can then determine whether to review the brochure in its entirety or to contact us
with questions about the changes.
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Since our firm’s last filing on 02/29/2024, we have the following material changes to disclose:
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Our firm has clarified that we have a minimum annual fee of $4,800 for all new clients using
our portfolio management service, that is only offered through wrapped accounts. Please see Item 7
of our Form ADV Part 2A, Item 5 of our Wrap Brochure, Form CRS or reach out to The Dala
Group, LLC for additional information or questions.
Our firm has increased our Financial Consulting service fee. Please see item 5 of our Form
ADV Part 2A, Form CRS or reach out to The Dala Group, LLC for additional information or
questions.
Our firm no longer offers Retirement Plan Consulting as a service. Please reach out to The
Dala Group, LLC for additional information or questions.
Our firm no longer offers our separate Simple IRA Accounts services under our Wrap
Comprehensive Portfolio Management services. Please reach out to The Dala Group, LLC
for additional information or questions.
Our firm has updated our fee schedule for our Wrap Comprehensive Portfolio Management
services. Please see item 4 of our firm’s Wrap Brochure or reach out to The Dala Group,
LLC for additional information or questions.
ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure
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The Dala Group, LLC
Item 3: Table of Contents
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Item 1: Cover Page
Item 2: Material Changes
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 4: Advisory Business
Item 5: Fees & Compensation
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management
Item 7: Types of Clients & Account Requirements
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Item 13: Review of Accounts or Financial Plans
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation
Item 15: Custody
Item 16: Investment Discretion
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Item 18: Financial Information
Item 19: Requirements for State-Registered Advisers
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The Dala Group, LLC
Item 4: Advisory Business
Our firm is dedicated to providing individuals and other types of clients with a wide array of
investment advisory services. Our firm is a limited liability company formed under the laws of
the State of Illinois in 2018 and has been in business as an investment adviser since that time.
Our firm is wholly owned by the Michael Heatwole Revocable Living Trust to which the
individual Michael Heatwole is the trustee.
The purpose of this Brochure is to disclose the conflicts of interest associated with the
investment transactions, compensation and any other matters related to investment decisions
made by our firm or its representatives. As a fiduciary, it is our duty to always act in the client’s
best interest. This is accomplished in part by knowing our client. Our firm has established a
service-oriented advisory practice with open lines of communication for many different types
of clients to help meet their financial goals while remaining sensitive to risk tolerance and time
horizons. Working with clients to understand their investment objectives while educating them
about our process, facilitates the kind of working relationship we value.
Types of Advisory Services Offered
Financial Consulting:
Financial Consultation services rendered to our clients will usually include general
recommendations for a course of activity, or specific actions to be taken by the clients, and
include individually tailored financial advice. Recommendations may be made that will cover
subject matter listed below. It should be noted that we refer clients to an accountant, attorney, or
other specialist, as necessary for non-advisory related services. For financial consulting
engagements, we usually do not provide our clients with a written summary of our observations.
Consultations are typically completed within six (6) months of the client signing a contract with
us, assuming that all the information and documents we request from the client are provided to
us promptly. Implementation of the recommendations will be at the discretion of the client.
•
Cash Flow & Debt Analysis: This involves advice with respect to cash accounts, financial
obligations, and cash management, including debt and mortgage analysis. We review
each client’s income and expenses in order to project future cash flow needs.
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Investment Planning: This involves advice with respect to asset selection and
allocation, as well as investment income accumulation techniques, for managed and
held away accounts. Evaluations are made of existing and, when applicable, potential
investments in terms of their economic and tax characteristics as well as their
suitability for meeting client’s objectives. We analyze the tax impact of our
recommendations with each client and aim to be as tax efficient as possible with our
proposals.
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Retirement Planning: This involves advice with respect to alternatives and techniques for
accumulating wealth for retirement income or advice relative to appropriate distributions
of assets following retirement. We analyze the long term tax impact of various retirement
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The Dala Group, LLC
income strategies such Social Security analysis, pension option analysis, and required
minimum distribution (RMD) planning.
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Estate Planning: This service involves advice with respect to property ownership,
distribution strategies, estate tax reduction, and tax payment techniques. It involves a
discussion of gifts, trusts, etc. and the disposition of business interests. We review all
accounts for proper account registration and beneficiary designations. Tax
consequences and their implications are identified and evaluated. At the request of the
Client, our firm will engage the client’s chosen personal estate attorney or planner,
with regard to advising the wealth management of the estate planning.
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Charitable Planning: This includes the incorporation of charitable giving into a client’s
financial plan that maximizes philanthropic, tax, and legacy planning goals. We provide
advice on different gifting strategies such as Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
or Donor Advised Funds (DAFs).
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Education Planning: This includes alternatives and strategies with respect to the
complete or partial funding of college or other post-secondary education experience. We
discuss opportunities for tax deductions as part of funding education as well as the
alternate tax-advantaged options if an account is overfunded.
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Corporate and Personal Tax Planning: Our firm offers annual tax planning as part of
our comprehensive financial planning service. We evaluate topics like tax-efficient
retirement vehicles, charitable giving strategies, realizing capital gains, Roth IRA
conversions, tax credit eligibility, and more. We can run projections to see how
potential changes may impact our clients’ upcoming tax liability. We may also offer
advice as to how tax laws may affect various financial decisions, e.g. acquisitions,
pension strategy, investing in new opportunities or consolidation of existing
investments, and individual taxation issues, among others. Insurance Analysis:
This includes risk management associated with advisory recommendations
based on the combination of insurance types that best meet a client’s specific
needs, e.g. life, health, disability, and long-term care, and others as
appropriate. Evaluations are made of existing policies and, when applicable,
other alternatives such as self-insuring in terms of their suitability for
meeting a client’s long-term objective.
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Lines of Credit Evaluation: This service includes an evaluation of the client’s access to
lines of credit, their applicability as a means to raise funds when the sum required is
unknown, and a cost benefit analysis to determine whether opening a line of credit would
be advisable given the individual’s current financial goals.
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Business and Personal Financial Planning: This service involves an analysis of Client’s
cash flow, their business’ cash flow where applicable, and combined tax liabilities. This
service may extend to incorporate other financial planning services stated above to
determine a better balance between the client’s personal and professional enterprises.
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The Dala Group, LLC
Tailoring of Advisory Services
Our firm offers specific allocation and investment advice to consulting and wealth management
clients.
SP Financial Group
When our firm believes that individual bonds are the best fit for a specific client need, we may
recommend that clients use SP Financial Group to analyze and purchase these bonds. Prior to
purchasing, SP Financial Group will provide a client specific proposal that is reviewed and
approved by our Chief Investment Officer, Mike Heatwole. SP Financial Group does not have
discretionary authority or custody over client assets, as once the bond is purchased it is moved
into the client’s Schwab account. SP Financial Group earns their fees based on the markups that
are charged on the individual bonds they purchase. Our firm does not receive a portion of these
fees.
Participation in Wrap Fee Programs
Our firm offers and sponsors a wrap fee program. Comprehensive Portfolio Management services
are only offered through wrapped accounts, which are managed on an individualized basis
according to the client’s investment objectives, financial goals, risk tolerance, etc. Please see our
Part 2A, Appendix 1 (the “Wrap Fee Program Brochure”) for more information.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
Our firm manages $188,184,618 on a discretionary basis and $5,473,582 on a non-
discretionary basis as of December 31, 2024.
Item 5: Fees & Compensation
Compensation for Our Advisory Services
Financial Consulting:
We charge on an hourly basis for our financial consulting services. The total estimated fee, as
well as the ultimate fee that we charge you, is based on the scope and complexity of our
engagement with you. Our hourly fees are $425.
We require a retainer of fifty-percent (50%) of the ultimate financial consulting fee with the
remainder of the fee directly billed to you and due to us within thirty (30) days of your financial
plan being delivered or consultation rendered to you. We will not require a retainer exceeding
$1,200 when services cannot be rendered within 6 (six) months.
Hourly Fees
: Our hourly fees are non-negotiable. Projects spanning more than three months will
be billed quarterly. The items addressed in a modular plan or general consulting services may
include one or more of the services listed above. The amount of time spent will depend on the
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The Dala Group, LLC
complexity of the request and all services will be completed within six months. The total number
of hours will be estimated prior to the engagement and will be specified in our firm’s Financial
Planning & Consulting Agreement for hourly services. The client will be invoiced directly for
hourly fees.
• Example:
A client meets with our firm to discuss basic financial consulting issues and
seeks general investment advice relating to broad issues such as retirement planning and
education planning. The meeting lasts 2 hours and follow up research takes 2 hours. At
$425 per hour, the client would be charged a $850 retainer fee at the time of the initial
meeting (425 x 2 hours) and an additional $850 upon completion of the engagement
($425 x 2 hours). Our firm will perform all financial consulting work before six months
expire.
Either party may terminate the Financial Consulting service at any time by providing written
notice. For purposes of calculating refunds, all work performed by us up to the point of
termination shall be calculated at our hourly fee currently in effect. You will receive a pro-rata
refund of unearned fees based on the time and effort expended by our firm and Planner.
Other Types of Fees & Expenses
Wrap clients will not incur transaction costs for trades by their chosen custodian, but will be
billed on a pro-rata basis monthly in arrears based on the market value of the assets in your
account(s) on the daily time-weighted average of the month. The minimum fee for this service is
$4,800. More information about this can be found in our separate Wrap Fee Program Brochure.
Termination & Refunds
Consulting clients may terminate their agreement at any time before the work has been
completed by providing written notice. For purposes of calculating refunds, all work performed
by us up to the point of termination shall be calculated at the hourly fee currently in effect. Clients
will receive a pro-rata refund of unearned fees based on the time and effort expended by our
firm.
Commissionable Securities Sales
Our firm and representatives do not sell securities for a commission in advisory accounts.
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management
Our firm does not charge performance-based fees.
Item 7: Types of Clients & Account Requirements
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Our firm has the following types of clients:
Individuals and High Net Worth Individuals;
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•
Corporations, Limited Liability Companies and/or Other Business Types
Our firm has a minimum annual fee of $4,800 for all new clients using our portfolio management service,
that is only offered through wrapped accounts.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
We use the following methods of analysis in formulating our investment advice and/or
managing client assets:
Fundamental Analysis:
The analysis of a business's financial statements (usually to analyze the
business's assets, liabilities, and earnings), health, and its competitors and markets. When
analyzing a stock, futures contract, or currency using fundamental analysis there are two basic
approaches one can use: bottom up analysis and top down analysis. The terms are used to
distinguish such analysis from other types of investment analysis, such as quantitative and
technical. Fundamental analysis is performed on historical and present data, but with the goal
of making financial forecasts. There are several possible objectives: (a) to conduct a company
stock valuation and predict its probable price evolution; (b) to make a projection on its business
performance; (c) to evaluate its management and make internal business decisions; (d) and/or
to calculate its credit risk.; and (e) to find out the intrinsic value of the share.
When the objective of the analysis is to determine what stock to buy and at what price, there are
two basic methodologies investors rely upon: (a) Fundamental analysis maintains that markets
may misprice a security in the short run but that the "correct" price will eventually be reached.
Profits can be made by purchasing the mispriced security and then waiting for the market to
recognize its "mistake" and re-price the security.; and (b) Technical analysis maintains that all
information is reflected already in the price of a security. Technical analysts analyze trends and
believe that sentiment changes predate and predict trend changes. Investors' emotional
responses to price movements lead to recognizable price chart patterns. Technical analysts also
analyze historical trends to predict future price movement. Investors can use one or both of
these different but complementary methods for stock picking. This presents 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 stock.
Quantitative Analysis:
The use of models, or algorithms, to evaluate assets for investment. The
process usually consists of searching vast databases for patterns, such as correlations among
liquid assets or price-movement patterns (trend following or mean reversion). The resulting
strategies may involve high-frequency trading. The results of the analysis are taken into
consideration in the decision to buy or sell securities and in the management of portfolio
characteristics. A risk in using quantitative analysis is that the methods or models used may be
based on assumptions that prove to be incorrect.
Qualitative Analysis:
A securities analysis that uses subjective judgment based on
unquantifiable information, such as management expertise, industry cycles, strength of research
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and development, and labor relations. Qualitative analysis contrasts with quantitative analysis,
which focuses on numbers that can be found on reports such as balance sheets. The two
techniques, however, will often be used together in order to examine a company's operations
and evaluate its potential as an investment opportunity. Qualitative analysis deals with
intangible, inexact concerns that belong to the social and experiential realm rather than the
mathematical one. This approach depends on the kind of intelligence that machines (currently)
lack, since things like positive associations with a brand, management trustworthiness,
customer satisfaction, competitive advantage and cultural shifts are difficult, arguably
impossible, to capture with numerical inputs. A risk in using qualitative analysis is that
subjective judgment may prove incorrect.
Sector Analysis
: Sector analysis involves identification and analysis of various industries or
economic sectors that are likely to exhibit superior performance. Academic studies indicate that
the health of a stock's sector is as important as the performance of the individual stock itself. In
other words, even the best stock located in a weak sector will often perform poorly because that
sector is out of favor. Each industry has differences in terms of its customer base, market share
among firms, industry growth, competition, regulation and business cycles. Learning how the
industry operates provides a deeper understanding of a company's financial health. One method
of analyzing a company's growth potential is examining whether the amount of customers in the
overall market is expected to grow. In some markets, there is zero or negative growth, a factor
demanding careful consideration. Additionally, market analysts recommend that investors
should monitor sectors that are nearing the bottom of performance rankings for possible signs
of an impending turnaround.
Investment Strategies We Use
We use the following strategies in managing client accounts, provided that such strategies are
appropriate to the needs of the client and consistent with the client's investment objectives, risk
tolerance, and time horizons, among other considerations:
Asset Allocation:
The implementation of an investment strategy that attempts to balance risk
versus reward by adjusting the percentage of each asset in an investment portfolio according to
the investor's risk tolerance, goals and investment time frame. Asset allocation is based on the
principle that different assets perform differently in different market and economic conditions.
A fundamental justification for asset allocation is the notion that different asset classes offer
returns that are not perfectly correlated, hence diversification reduces the overall risk in terms
of the variability of returns for a given level of expected return. Although risk is reduced as long
as correlations are not perfect, it is typically forecast (wholly or in part) based on statistical
relationships (like correlation and variance) that existed over some past period. Expectations
for return are often derived in the same way.
An asset class is a group of economic resources sharing similar characteristics, such as riskiness
and return. There are many types of assets that may or may not be included in an asset allocation
strategy. The "traditional" asset classes are stocks (value, dividend, growth, or sector-specific
[or a "blend" of any two or more of the preceding]; large-cap versus mid-cap, small-cap or micro-
cap; domestic, foreign [developed], emerging or frontier markets), bonds (fixed income
securities more generally: investment-grade or junk [high-yield]; government or corporate;
short-term, intermediate, long- term; domestic, foreign, emerging markets), and cash or cash
equivalents. Allocation among these three provides a starting point. Usually included are hybrid
instruments such as convertible bonds and preferred stocks, counting as a mixture of bonds and
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stocks. Other alternative assets that may be considered include: commodities: precious metals,
nonferrous metals, agriculture, energy, others.; Commercial or residential real estate (also
REITs); Collectibles such as art, coins, or stamps; insurance products (annuity, life settlements,
catastrophe bonds, personal life insurance products, etc.); derivatives such as long-short or
market neutral strategies, options, collateralized debt, and futures; foreign currency; venture
capital; private equity; and/or distressed securities.
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There are several types of asset allocation strategies based on investment goals, risk tolerance,
time frames and diversification. The most common forms of asset allocation are: strategic,
dynamic, tactical, and core-satellite.
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Strategic Asset Allocation: The primary goal of a strategic asset allocation is to create an
asset mix that seeks to provide the optimal balance between expected risk and return
for a long- term investment horizon. Generally speaking, strategic asset allocation
strategies are agnostic to economic environments, i.e., they do not change their allocation
postures relative to changing market or economic conditions.
Dynamic Asset Allocation: Dynamic asset allocation is similar to strategic asset
allocation in that portfolios are built by allocating to an asset mix that seeks to provide the
optimal balance between expected risk and return for a long-term investment horizon.
Like strategic allocation strategies, dynamic strategies largely retain exposure to their
original asset classes; however, unlike strategic strategies, dynamic asset allocation
portfolios will adjust their postures over time relative to changes in the economic
environment.
Tactical Asset Allocation: Tactical asset allocation is a strategy in which an investor takes
a more active approach that tries to position a portfolio into those assets, sectors, or
individual stocks that show the most potential for perceived gains. While an original
asset mix is formulated much like strategic and dynamic portfolio, tactical strategies are
often traded more actively and are free to move entirely in and out of their core asset
classes
Core-Satellite Asset Allocation: Core-Satellite allocation strategies generally contain a
'core' strategic element making up the most significant portion of the portfolio, while
applying a dynamic or tactical 'satellite' strategy that makes up a smaller part of the
portfolio. In this way, core-satellite allocation strategies are a hybrid of the strategic and
dynamic/tactical allocation strategies mentioned above.
Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”):
An ETF is a type of Investment Company (usually, an open-
end fund or unit investment trust) whose primary objective is to achieve the same return as a
particular market index. The vast majority of ETFs are designed to track an index, so their
performance is close to that of an index mutual fund, but they are not exact duplicates. A tracking
error, or the difference between the returns of a fund and the returns of the index, can arise due
to differences in composition, management fees, expenses, and handling of dividends. ETFs
benefit from continuous pricing; they can be bought and sold on a stock exchange throughout
the trading day. Because ETFs trade like stocks, you can place orders just like with individual
stocks - such as limit orders, good- until-canceled orders, stop loss orders etc. They can also be
sold short. Traditional mutual funds are bought and redeemed based on their net asset values
(“NAV”) at the end of the day. ETFs are bought and sold at the market prices on the exchanges,
which resemble the underlying NAV but are independent of it. However, arbitrageurs will
ensure that ETF prices are kept very close to the NAV of the underlying securities. Although an
investor can buy as few as one share of an ETF, most buy in board lots. Anything bought in less
than a board lot will increase the cost to the investor. Anyone can buy any ETF no matter where
in the world it trades. This provides a benefit over mutual funds, which generally can only be
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bought in the country in which they are registered.
One of the main features of ETFs are their low annual fees, especially when compared to
traditional mutual funds. The passive nature of index investing, reduced marketing, and
distribution and accounting expenses all contribute to the lower fees. However, individual
investors must pay a brokerage commission to purchase and sell ETF shares; for those investors
who trade frequently, this can significantly increase the cost of investing in ETFs. That said, with
the advent of low-cost brokerage fees, small or frequent purchases of ETFs are becoming more
cost efficient.
Equity Securities:
Equity securities represent an ownership position in a company. Equity
securities typically consist of common stocks. The prices of equity securities fluctuate based on,
among other things, events specific to their issuers and market, economic and other conditions.
For example, prices of these securities can be affected by financial contracts held by the issuer
or third parties (such as derivatives) relating to the security or other assets or indices. There
may be little trading in the secondary market for particular equity securities, which may
adversely affect our firm's ability to value accurately or dispose of such equity securities.
Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may
decrease the value and/or liquidity of equity securities. Investing in smaller companies may
pose additional risks as it is often more difficult to value or dispose of small company stocks,
more difficult to obtain information about smaller companies, and the prices of their stocks may
be more volatile than stocks of larger, more established companies. Clients should have a long-
term perspective and, for example, be able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value.
Fixed Income:
Fixed income is a type of investing or budgeting style for which real return rates
or periodic income is received at regular intervals and at reasonably predictable levels. Fixed-
income investors are typically retired individuals who rely on their investments to provide a
regular, stable income stream. This demographic tends to invest heavily in fixed-income
investments because of the reliable returns they offer. Fixed-income investors who live on set
amounts of periodically paid income face the risk of inflation eroding their spending power.
Some examples of fixed-income investments include treasuries, money market instruments,
corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, municipal bonds and international bonds. The primary
risk associated with fixed-income investments is the borrower defaulting on his payment. Other
considerations include exchange rate risk for international bonds and interest rate risk for
longer- dated securities. The most common type of fixed-income security is a bond. Bonds are
issued by federal governments, local municipalities and major corporations. Fixed-income
securities are recommended for investors seeking a diverse portfolio; however, the percentage
of the portfolio dedicated to fixed income depends on your own personal investment style. There
is also an opportunity to diversify the fixed-income component of a portfolio. Riskier fixed-
income products, such as junk bonds and longer-dated products, should comprise a lower
percentage of your overall portfolio.
The interest payment on fixed-income securities is considered regular income and is
determined based on the creditworthiness of the borrower and current market rates. In general,
bonds and fixed- income securities with longer-dated maturities pay a higher rate, also referred
to as the coupon rate, because they are considered riskier. The longer the security is on the
market, the more time it has to lose its value and/or default. At the end of the bond term, or at
bond maturity, the borrower returns the amount borrowed, also referred to as the principal or
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par value.
Index Fund:
A mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) designed to follow certain preset
rules so that the fund can track specified basket of underlying investments. Those rules may
include tracking prominent indexes like the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average or
implementation rules, such as tax-management, tracking error minimization, large block trading
or patient/flexible trading strategies that allows for greater tracking error, but lower market
impact costs. Index funds may also have rules that screen for social and sustainable criteria. An
index fund’s rules of construction clearly identify the type of companies suitable for the fund. The
most commonly known index fund, the S&P 500 Index Fund, is based on the rules established
by S&P Dow Jones Indices for their S&P 500 Index. Equity index funds would include groups of
stocks with similar characteristics such as the size, value, profitability and/or the geographic
location of the companies. A group of stocks may include companies from the United States, Non-
US Developed, emerging markets or Frontier Market countries. Additional index funds within
these geographic markets may include indexes of companies that include rules based on
company characteristics or factors, such as companies that are small, mid-sized, large, small
value, large value, small growth, large growth, the level of gross profitability or investment
capital, real estate, or indexes based on commodities and fixed-income. Companies are
purchased and held within the index fund when they meet the specific index rules or parameters
and are sold when they move outside of those rules or parameters. Think of an index fund as an
investment utilizing rules-based investing. Some index providers announce changes of the
companies in their index before the change date and other index providers do not make such
announcements.
Index funds must periodically "rebalance" or adjust their portfolios to match the new prices and
market capitalization of the underlying securities in the stock or other indexes that they track.
This allows algorithmic traders to perform index arbitrage by anticipating and trading ahead of
stock price movements caused by mutual fund rebalancing, making a profit on foreknowledge
of the large institutional block orders. This results in profits transferred from investors to
algorithmic traders. One problem occurs when a large amount of money tracks the same index.
According to theory, a company should not be worth more when it is in an index. But due to
supply and demand, a company being added can have a demand shock, and a company being
deleted can have a supply shock, and this will change the price. This does not show up in tracking
error since the index is also affected. A fund may experience less impact by tracking a less
popular index
Individual Stocks
: A common stock is a security that represents ownership in a corporation.
Holders of common stock exercise control by electing a board of directors and voting on
corporate policy. Investing in individual common stocks provides us with more control of what
you are invested in and when that investment is made. Having the ability to decide when to buy
or sell helps us time the taking of gains or losses. Common stocks, however, bear a greater
amount of risk when compared to Certificate of Deposits, preferred stock, and bonds. It is
typically more difficult to achieve diversification when investing in individual common stocks.
Additionally, common stockholders are on the bottom of the priority ladder for ownership
structure; if a company goes bankrupt, the common stockholders do not receive their money
until the creditors and preferred shareholders have received their respective share of the
leftover assets.
Long-Term Purchases:
Our firm may buy securities for your account and hold them for a
relatively long time (more than a year) in anticipation that the security’s value will appreciate
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over a long horizon. The risk of this strategy is that our firm could miss out on potential short-
term gains that could have been profitable to your account, or it’s possible that the security’s
value may decline sharply before our firm make a decision to sell.
Mutual Funds
: A mutual fund is a company that pools money from many investors and invests
the money in a variety of differing security types based the objectives of the fund. The portfolio
of the fund consists of the combined holdings it owns. Each share represents an investor’s
proportionate ownership of the fund’s holdings and the income those holdings generate. The
price that investors pay for mutual fund shares is the fund’s per share net asset value (“NAV”)
plus any shareholder fees that the fund imposes at the time of purchase (such as sales loads).
Investors typically cannot ascertain the exact make-up of a fund’s portfolio at any given time,
nor can they directly influence which securities the fund manager buys and sells or the timing
of those trades. With an individual stock, investors can obtain real-time (or close to real-time)
pricing information with relative ease by checking financial websites or by calling a broker or
your investment adviser. Investors can also monitor how a stock’s price changes from hour to
hour—or even second to second. By contrast, with a mutual fund, the price at which an investor
purchases or redeems shares will typically depend on the fund’s NAV, which is calculated daily
after market close.
The benefits of investing through mutual funds include: (a) Mutual funds are professionally
managed by an investment adviser who researches, selects, and monitors the performance of
the securities purchased by the fund; (b) Mutual funds typically have the benefit of
diversification, which is an investing strategy that generally sums up as “Don’t put all your eggs
in one basket.” Spreading investments across a wide range of companies and industry sectors
can help lower the risk if a company or sector fails. Some investors find it easier to achieve
diversification through ownership of mutual funds rather than through ownership of individual
stocks or bonds.; (c) Some mutual funds accommodate investors who do not have a lot of money
to invest by setting relatively low dollar amounts for initial purchases, subsequent monthly
purchases, or both.; and (d) At any time, mutual fund investors can readily redeem their shares
at the current NAV, less any fees and charges assessed on redemption.
Mutual funds also have features that some investors might view as disadvantages: (a) Investors
must pay sales charges, annual fees, and other expenses regardless of how the fund performs.
Depending on the timing of their investment, investors may also have to pay taxes on any capital
gains distribution they receive. This includes instances where the fund went on to perform
poorly after purchasing shares.; (b) Investors typically cannot ascertain the exact make-up of a
fund’s portfolio at any given time, nor can they directly influence which securities the fund
manager buys and sells or the timing of those trades.; and (c) With an individual stock, investors
can obtain real-time (or close to real-time) pricing information with relative ease by checking
financial websites or by calling a broker or your investment adviser. Investors can also monitor
how a stock’s price changes from hour to hour—or even second to second. By contrast, with a
mutual fund, the price at which an investor purchases or redeems shares will typically depend
on the fund’s NAV, which the fund might not calculate until many hours after the investor placed
the order. In general, mutual funds must calculate their NAV at least once every business day,
typically after the major U.S. exchanges close.
When investors buy and hold an individual stock or bond, the investor must pay income tax each
year on the dividends or interest the investor receives. However, the investor will not have to
pay any capital gains tax until the investor actually sells and makes a profit. Mutual funds are
different. When an investor buys and holds mutual fund shares, the investor will owe income
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The Dala Group, LLC
tax on any ordinary dividends in the year the investor receives or reinvests them. Moreover, in
addition to owing taxes on any personal capital gains when the investor sells shares, the investor
may have to pay taxes each year on the fund’s capital gains. That is because the law requires
mutual funds to distribute capital gains to shareholders if they sell securities for a profit, and
cannot use losses to offset these gains.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”):
REITs primarily invest in real estate or real estate-
related loans. Equity REITs own real estate properties, while mortgage REITs hold construction,
development and/or long-term mortgage loans. Changes in the value of the underlying property
of the trusts, the creditworthiness of the issuer, property taxes, interest rates, tax laws, and
regulatory requirements, such as those relating to the environment all can affect the values of
REITs. Both types of REITs are dependent upon management skill, the cash flows generated by
their holdings, the real estate market in general, and the possibility of failing to qualify for any
applicable pass-through tax treatment or failing to maintain any applicable exemptive status
afforded under relevant laws.
Short-Term Purchases:
When utilizing this strategy, our firm may also purchase securities with
the idea of selling them within a relatively short time (typically a year or less). Our firm does
this in an attempt to take advantage of conditions that our firm believes will soon result in a price
swing in the securities our firm purchase.
Risk of Loss
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. While the
stock market may increase and the account(s) could enjoy a gain, it is also possible that the stock
market may decrease and the account(s) could suffer a loss. It is important that clients
understand the risks associated with investing in the stock market, and that their assets are
appropriately diversified in investments. Clients are encouraged to ask our firm any questions
regarding their risk tolerance.
Company Risk:
When investing in stock positions, there is always a certain level of company or
industry specific risk that is inherent in each investment. This is also referred to as unsystematic
risk and can be reduced through appropriate diversification. There is the risk that the company
will perform poorly or have its value reduced based on factors specific to the company or its
industry. For example, if a company’s employees go on strike or the company receives
unfavorable media attention for its actions, the value of the company may be reduced.
Credit Risk:
Credit risk can be a factor in situations where an investment’s performance relies
on a borrower’s repayment of borrowed funds. With credit risk, an investor can experience a
loss or unfavorable performance if a borrower does not repay the borrowed funds as expected
or required. Investment holdings that involve forms of indebtedness (i.e. borrowed funds) are
subject to credit risk.
Equity (Stock) Market Risk:
Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market
fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and
perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of
any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred
stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.
ETF & Mutual Fund Risk
: When investing in an ETF or mutual fund, you will bear additional
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The Dala Group, LLC
expenses based on your pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses,
including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual
fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund
holds. Clients will also incur brokerage costs when purchasing ETFs.
Fixed Income Securities Risk:
Typically, the values of fixed-income securities change inversely
with prevailing interest rates. Therefore, a fundamental risk of fixed-income securities is interest
rate risk, which is the risk that their value will generally decline as prevailing interest rates rise,
which may cause your account value to likewise decrease, and vice versa. How specific fixed
income securities may react to changes in interest rates will depend on the specific
characteristics of each security. Fixed-income securities are also subject to credit risk,
prepayment risk, valuation risk, and liquidity risk. Credit risk is the chance that a bond issuer
will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the
issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of a bond to decline.
Liquidity Risk:
Certain assets may not be readily converted into cash or may have a very limited
market in which they trade. Thus, you may experience the risk that your investment or assets
within your investment may not be able to be liquidated quickly, thus, extending the period of
time by which you may receive the proceeds from your investment. Liquidity risk can also result
in unfavorable pricing when exiting (i.e. not being able to quickly get out of an investment before
the price drops significantly) a particular investment and therefore, can have a negative impact
on investment returns.
Strategy Risk:
There is no guarantee that the investment strategies discussed herein will work
under all market conditions and each investor should evaluate his/her ability to maintain any
investment he/she is considering in light of his/her own investment time horizon. Investments
are subject to risk, including possible loss of principal.
Description of Material, Significant or Unusual Risks
Our firm generally invests client cash balances in money market funds, FDIC Insured Certificates
of Deposit, high-grade commercial paper and/or government backed debt instruments.
Ultimately, our firm tries to achieve the highest return on client cash balances through relatively
low-risk conservative investments. In most cases, at least a partial cash balance will be
maintained in a money market account so that our firm may debit advisory fees for our services
related to our services, as applicable.
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
There are no legal or disciplinary events that are material to the evaluation of our advisory
business or the integrity of our management.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
Representatives of our firm are insurance agents/brokers. They offer insurance products and
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The Dala Group, LLC
receive fees as a result of insurance sales. A conflict of interest exists as these insurance sales
create an incentive to recommend products based on the compensation adviser and/or our
supervised persons may earn. To mitigate this potential conflict, our firm will act in the client’s
best interest.
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in
Client Transactions & Personal Trading
As a fiduciary, it is an investment adviser’s responsibility to provide fair and full disclosure of all
material facts and to act solely in the best interest of each of our clients at all times. Our fiduciary
duty is the underlying principle for our firm’s Code of Ethics, which includes procedures for
personal securities transaction and insider trading. Our firm requires all representatives to
conduct business with the highest level of ethical standards and to comply with all federal and
state securities laws at all times. Upon employment with our firm, and at least annually
thereafter, all representatives of our firm will acknowledge receipt, understanding and
compliance with our firm’s Code of Ethics. Our firm and representatives must conduct business in
an honest, ethical, and fair manner and avoid all circumstances that might negatively affect or appear
to affect our duty of complete loyalty to all clients. This disclosure is provided to give all clients a
summary of our Code of Ethics. If a client or a potential client wishes to review our Code of Ethics
in its entirety, a copy will be provided promptly upon request.
Our firm recognizes that the personal investment transactions of our representatives demands
the application of a Code of Ethics with high standards and requires that all such transactions be
carried out in a way that does not endanger the interest of any client. At the same time, our firm also
believes that if investment goals are similar for clients and for our representatives, it is logical, and
even desirable, that there be common ownership of some securities.
In order to prevent conflicts of interest, our firm has established procedures for transactions effected
1
by our representatives for their personal accounts
. In order to monitor compliance with our
personal trading policy, our firm has pre-clearance requirements, more specifically for initial public
offerings (“IPOs”) and private placements, and a quarterly securities transaction reporting system
for all of our representatives.
Neither our firm nor a related person recommends, buys or sells for client accounts, securities
in which our firm or a related person has a material financial interest without prior disclosure
to the client.
Related persons of our firm may buy or sell securities and other investments that are also
recommended to clients. In order to minimize this conflict of interest, our related persons will
place client interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to our firm’s Code of Ethics, a copy
of which is available upon request.
Likewise, related persons of our firm buy or sell securities for themselves at or about the same time
they buy or sell the same securities for client accounts. In order to minimize this conflict of
interest, our related persons will place client interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to
our firm’s Code of Ethics, a copy of which is available upon request. Further, our related persons
will refrain from buying or selling the same securities prior to buying or selling for our clients in the
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The Dala Group, LLC
same day unless included in a block trade.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Custodian & Brokers Used
Item
Our firm does not maintain custody of client assets (although our firm may be deemed to have
15 Custody
custody of client assets if given the authority to withdraw assets from client accounts. See
, below). Client assets must be maintained in an account at a “qualified custodian,”
generally a broker-dealer or bank. Our firm recommends that clients use the Schwab Advisor
Services division of Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. (“Schwab”), a FINRA-registered broker-dealer,
member SIPC, as the qualified custodian. Our firm is independently owned and operated, and
not affiliated with Schwab. Schwab will hold client assets in a brokerage account and buy and
sell securities when instructed. While our firm recommends that clients use Schwab as
custodian/broker, clients will decide whether to do so and open an account with Schwab by
entering into an account agreement directly with them. Our firm does not open the account. Even
though the account is maintained at Schwab, our firm can still use other brokers to execute
trades, as described in the next paragraph.
How Brokers/Custodians Are Selected
•
Our firm seeks to recommend a custodian/broker who will hold client assets and execute
transactions on terms that are overall most advantageous when compared to other available
providers and their services. A wide range of factors are considered, including, but not limited
to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Products & Services Available from Schwab
combination of transaction execution services along with asset custody services
(generally without a separate fee for custody)
capability to execute, clear and settle trades (buy and sell securities for client accounts)
capabilities to facilitate transfers and payments to and from accounts (wire transfers,
check requests, bill payment, etc.)
breadth of investment products made available (stocks, bonds, mutual funds,
exchange traded funds (ETFs), etc.)
availability of investment research and tools that assist in making investment
decisions quality of services
competitiveness of the price of those services (commission rates, margin interest rates,
other fees, etc.) and willingness to negotiate them
reputation, financial strength and stability of the provider
prior service to our firm and our other clients
availability of other products and services that benefit our firm, as discussed below
(see “
”)
Custody & Brokerage Costs
Schwab generally does not charge a separate fee for custody services, but is compensated by
charging commissions or other fees to clients on trades that are executed or that settle into the
Schwab account. In addition to commissions, Schwab charges a flat dollar amount as a “prime
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The Dala Group, LLC
broker” or “trade away” fee for each trade that our firm has executed by a different broker-dealer
but where the securities bought or the funds from the securities sold are deposited (settled) into
a Schwab account.
These fees are in addition to the commissions or other compensation paid to the executing
broker- dealer. Because of this, in order to minimize client trading costs, our firm has Schwab
execute most trades for the accounts.
Products & Services Available from Schwab
Schwab Advisor Services is Schwab’s business serving independent investment advisory firms
like our firm. They provide our firm and clients with access to its institutional brokerage –
trading, custody, reporting and related services – many of which are not typically available to
Schwab retail customers. Schwab also makes available various support services. Some of those
services help manage or administer our client accounts while others help manage and grow our
business. Schwab’s support services are generally available on an unsolicited basis (our firm
does not have to request them) and at no charge to our firm. The availability of Schwab’s
products and services is not based on the provision of particular investment advice, such as
purchasing particular securities for clients. Here is a more detailed description of Schwab’s
support services:
Services that Benefit Clients
Schwab’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 through Schwab include some to which our firm might not otherwise have
access or that would require a significantly higher minimum initial investment by firm clients.
Schwab’s services described in this paragraph generally benefit clients and their accounts.
Services that May Not Directly Benefit Clients
•
Schwab also makes available other products and services that benefit our firm but may not
directly benefit clients or their accounts. These products and services assist in managing and
administering our client accounts. They include investment research, both Schwab’s and that of
third parties. This research may be used to service all or some substantial number of client
accounts, including accounts not maintained at Schwab. In addition to investment research,
Schwab also makes available software and other technology that:
•
•
•
•
provides access to client account data (such as duplicate trade confirmations and
account statements);
facilitates trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client
accounts;
provides pricing and other market data;
facilitates payment of our fees from our clients’ accounts; and
assists with back-office functions, recordkeeping and client reporting.
Services that Generally Benefit Only Our Firm
Schwab also offers other services intended to help manage and further develop our
business enterprise. These services include:
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The Dala Group, LLC
•
•
•
•
educational conferences and events
technology, compliance, legal, and business consulting;
publications and conferences on practice management and business succession; and
access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants and insurance
providers.
Schwab may provide some of these services itself. In other cases, Schwab will arrange for third-
party vendors to provide the services to our firm. Schwab may also discount or waive fees for
some of these services or pay all or a part of a third party’s fees. Schwab may also provide our
firm with other benefits, such as occasional business entertainment for our personnel.
Irrespective of direct or indirect benefits to our client through Schwab, our firm strives to
enhance the client experience, help clients reach their goals and put client interests before that
of our firm or associated persons.
Our Interest in Schwab’s Services.
The availability of these services from Schwab benefits our firm because our firm does not have
to produce or purchase them. Our firm does not have to pay for these services, and they are not
contingent upon committing any specific amount of business to Schwab in trading commissions
or assets in custody.
In light of our arrangements with Schwab, a conflict of interest exists as our firm may have
incentive to require that clients maintain their accounts with Schwab based on our interest in
receiving Schwab’s services that benefit our firm rather than based on client interest in receiving
the best value in custody services and the most favorable execution of transactions. As part of
our fiduciary duty to our clients, our firm will endeavor at all times to put the interests of our
clients first. Clients should be aware, however, that the receipt of economic benefits by our firm
or our related persons creates a potential conflict of interest and may indirectly influence our
firm’s choice of Schwab as a custodial recommendation. Our firm examined this potential conflict
of interest when our firm chose to recommend Schwab and have determined that the
recommendation is in the best interest of our firm’s clients and satisfies our fiduciary obligations,
including our duty to seek best execution.
In seeking best execution, the determinative factor is not the lowest possible cost, but whether
the transaction represents the best qualitative execution, taking into consideration the full range
of a broker-dealer’s services, including the value of research provided, execution capability,
commission rates, and responsiveness. Although our firm will seek competitive rates, to the
benefit of all clients, our firm may not necessarily obtain the lowest possible commission rates
for specific client account transactions. Our firm believes that the selection of Schwab as a
custodian and broker is the best interest of our clients. It is primarily supported by the scope,
quality and price of Schwab’s services, and not Schwab’s services that only benefit our firm.
Soft Dollars
Our firm does not receive soft dollars in excess of what is allowed by Section 28(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The safe harbor research products and services obtained by
our firm will generally be used to service all of our clients but not necessarily all at any one
particular time.
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The Dala Group, LLC
Client Brokerage Commissions
Schwab does not make client brokerage commissions generated by client transactions
available for our firm’s use.
Client Transactions in Return for Soft Dollars
Our firm does not direct client transactions to a particular broker-dealer in return for soft dollar
benefits.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
Our firm does not receive brokerage for client referrals.
Directed Brokerage
In certain instances, clients may seek to limit or restrict our discretionary authority in making
the determination of the brokers with whom orders for the purchase or sale of securities are
placed for execution, and the commission rates at which such securities transactions are
effected. Clients may seek to limit our authority in this area by directing that transactions (or
some specified percentage of transactions) be executed through specified brokers in return for
portfolio evaluation or other services deemed by the client to be of value. Any such client
direction must be in writing (often through our advisory agreement), and may contain a
representation from the client that the arrangement is permissible under its governing laws and
documents, if this is relevant.
Our firm provides appropriate disclosure in writing to clients who direct trades to particular
brokers, that with respect to their directed trades, they will be treated as if they have retained
the investment discretion that our firm otherwise would have in selecting brokers to effect
transactions and in negotiating commissions and that such direction may adversely affect our
ability to obtain best price and execution. In addition, our firm will inform clients in writing that
the trade orders may not be aggregated with other clients’ orders and that direction of
brokerage may hinder best execution.
Client-Directed Brokerage
Our firm allows clients to direct brokerage outside our recommendation. Our firm may be
unable to achieve the most favorable execution of client transactions. Client directed brokerage
may cost clients more money. For example, in a directed brokerage account, clients may pay
higher brokerage commissions because our firm may not be able to aggregate orders to reduce
transaction costs, or clients may receive less favorable prices.
Aggregation of Purchase or Sale
Our firm provides investment management services for various clients. There are occasions on
which portfolio transactions may be executed as part of concurrent authorizations to purchase or sell
the same security for numerous accounts served by our firm, which involve accounts with similar
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The Dala Group, LLC
investment objectives. Although such concurrent authorizations potentially could be either
advantageous or disadvantageous to any one or more particular accounts, they are affected only
when our firm believes that to do so will be in the best interest of the effected accounts. When such
concurrent authorizations occur, the objective is to allocate the executions in a manner which is
deemed equitable to the accounts involved. In any given situation, our firm attempts to allocate
trade executions in the most equitable manner possible, taking into consideration client objectives,
current asset allocation and availability of funds using price averaging, proration and consistently
non-arbitrary methods of allocation.
Item 13: Review of Accounts or Financial Plans
Financial Consulting clients do not receive reviews of their written plans unless they take action
to schedule a financial consultation with us. Our firm does not provide ongoing services to
financial consulting clients, but are willing to meet with such clients upon their request to
discuss updates to their plans, changes in their circumstances, etc. Financial Consulting clients
do not receive written or verbal updated reports regarding their financial plans unless they
separately engage our firm for an update to their initial consulting appointment.
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
(see Item 12 – Brokerage Practices)
Our firm receives economic benefit from Schwab in the form of the support products and
services made available to our firm and other independent investment advisors that have their
clients maintain accounts at Schwab. These products and services, how they benefit our firm, and
the related conflicts of interest are described above
. The
availability of Schwab’s products and services is not based on our firm giving particular
investment advice, such as buying particular securities for our clients.
Referral Fees
In accordance with Rule 206 (4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, our firm provides cash
or non-cash compensation directly or indirectly to unaffiliated persons for testimonials or
endorsements (which include client referrals). Such compensation arrangements will not result in
higher costs to the referred client. In this regard, our firm maintains a written agreement with each
unaffiliated person that is compensated for testimonials or endorsements in an aggregate amount
of $1,000 or more (or the equivalent value in non-cash compensation) over a trailing 12-month
period in compliance with Rule 206 (4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and applicable
state and federal laws. The following information will be disclosed clearly and prominently to
referred prospective clients at the time of each testimonial or endorsement:
•
•
Whether or not the unaffiliated person is a current client of our firm,
A description of the cash or non-cash compensation provided directly or indirectly by our
firm to the unaffiliated person in exchange for the referral, if applicable, and
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The Dala Group, LLC
•
A brief statement of any material conflicts of interest on the part of the unaffiliated person
giving the referral resulting from our firm’s relationship with such unaffiliated person.
In cases where state law requires licensure of solicitors, our firm ensures that no solicitation fees are
paid unless the solicitor is registered as an investment adviser representative of our firm. If our firm
is paying solicitation fees to another Registered Investment Adviser, the licensure of individuals is
the other firm’s responsibility.
Item 15: Custody
While our firm does not maintain physical custody of client assets (which are maintained by a
qualified custodian, as discussed above), we are deemed to have custody of certain client assets if
given the authority to withdraw assets from client accounts, as further described below under
“Third Party Money Movement.” All of our clients receive account statements directly from their
qualified custodian(s) at least quarterly upon opening of an account. We urge our clients to carefully
review these statements. Additionally, if our firm decides to send its own account statements to
clients, such statements will include a legend that recommends the client compare the account
statements received from the qualified custodian with those received from our firm. Clients are
encouraged to raise any questions with us about the custody, safety or security of their assets and
our custodial recommendations.
Clients are encouraged to raise any questions with us about the custody, safety or security of
their assets and our custodial recommendations.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The SEC issued a no-action letter (“Letter”) with respect to the Rule 206(4)-2 (“Custody Rule”)
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”). The letter provided guidance on
the Custody Rule as well as clarified that an adviser who has the power to disburse client funds
to a third party under a standing letter of instruction (“SLOA”) is deemed to have custody. As
such, our firm has adopted the following safeguards in conjunction with our custodian, Schwab:
The client provides an instruction to the qualified custodian, in writing, that includes the
client’s signature, the third party’s name, and either the third party’s address or the third
party’s account number at a custodian to which the transfer should be directed.
The client authorizes the investment adviser, in writing, either on the qualified
custodian’s form or separately, to direct transfers to the third party either on a specified
schedule or from time to time.
The client’s qualified custodian performs appropriate verification of the instruction,
such as a signature review or other method to verify the client’s authorization, and
provides a transfer of funds notice to the client promptly after each transfer.
The client has the ability to terminate or change the instruction to the client’s qualified
custodian.
The investment adviser has no authority or ability to designate or change the identity of
the third party, the address, or any other information about the third party contained in
the client’s instruction.
The investment adviser maintains records showing that the third party is not a related
party of the investment adviser or located at the same address as the investment adviser.
The client’s qualified custodian sends the client, in writing, an initial notice confirming
the instruction and an annual notice reconfirming the instruction.
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The Dala Group, LLC
Item 16: Investment Discretion
Clients have the option of providing our firm with investment discretion on their behalf,
pursuant to an executed investment advisory client agreement. By granting investment
discretion, our firm is authorized to execute securities transactions, determine which securities
are bought and sold, and the total amount to be bought and sold. Should clients grant our firm
non-discretionary authority, our firm would be required to obtain the client’s permission prior
to effecting securities transactions. Limitations may be imposed by the client in the form of
specific constraints on any of these areas of discretion with our
firm’s written
acknowledgement.
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Our firm does not accept the proxy authority to vote client securities. Clients will receive proxies
or other solicitations directly from their custodian or a transfer agent. In the event that proxies
are sent to our firm, our firm will forward them to the appropriate client and ask the party who
sent them to mail them directly to the client in the future. Clients may call, write or email us to
discuss questions they may have about particular proxy votes or other solicitations.
Item 18: Financial Information
•
Our firm is not required to provide financial information in this Brochure because:
•
•
Our firm does not require the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees when services
cannot be rendered within 6 months.
Our firm does not take custody of client funds or securities.
Our firm does not have a financial condition or commitment that impairs our ability to
meet contractual and fiduciary obligations to clients.
Our firm has never been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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The Dala Group, LLC