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Unified Investment Management, LLC
Firm Brochure - Form ADV Part 2A
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Unified Investment
Management, LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at (404) 920-
4768 or by email at: contact@unifiedim.com. 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 Unified Investment Management, LLC is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Unified Investment Management, LLC’s CRD number is: 326056.
One Glenlake Parkway Suite 650
Atlanta, GA 30328
(404) 920-4768
contact@unifiedim.com
https://www.unifiedim.com
Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Version Date: 01/28/2026
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Item 2: Material Changes
Unified Investment Management, LLC has the following material changes to report. Material changes
relate to Unified Investment Management, LLC's policies, practices or conflicts of interests.
• Unified Investment Management, LLC has updated their Assets Under Management (Item 4.E)
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Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page
Item 2: Material Changes ....................................................................................................................................... ii
Item 3: Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... iii
Item 4: Advisory Business ......................................................................................................................................2
Item 5: Fees and Compensation .............................................................................................................................4
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management ....................................................................5
Item 7: Types of Clients ..........................................................................................................................................5
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, & Risk of Loss ...............................................................6
Item 9: Disciplinary Information .........................................................................................................................11
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .........................................................................11
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading ...............12
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ................................................................................................................................13
Item 13: Review of Accounts ................................................................................................................................14
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation ..........................................................................................15
Item 15: Custody ....................................................................................................................................................16
Item 16: Investment Discretion ............................................................................................................................16
Item 17: Voting Client Securities (Proxy Voting) ..............................................................................................17
Item 18: Financial Information .............................................................................................................................17
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Item 4: Advisory Business
A. Description of the Advisory Firm
Unified Investment Management, LLC (hereinafter “Unified IM”) is a Limited Liability
Company organized in the State of Georgia. The firm was formed in March 2023, and the
principal owners are David Travis Weitz and Ryan Powell Malec.
B. Types of Advisory Services
Portfolio Management Services
Unified IM offers ongoing portfolio management services based on the individual goals,
objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance of each client. Unified IM creates an
Investment Policy Statement for each client, which outlines the client’s current situation
(income, tax levels, and risk tolerance levels) and then constructs a plan to aid in the
selection of a portfolio that matches each client's specific situation. Portfolio management
services include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Investment strategy •
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Asset allocation
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Risk tolerance
Personal investment policy
Asset selection
Regular portfolio monitoring
Unified IM evaluates the current investments of each client with respect to their risk
tolerance levels and time horizon. Unified IM will request discretionary authority from
clients in order to select securities and execute transactions without permission from the
client prior to each transaction. Risk tolerance levels are documented in the Investment
Policy Statement, which is given to each client.
Unified IM seeks to provide that investment decisions are made in accordance with the
fiduciary duties owed to its accounts and without consideration of Unified IM’s economic,
investment or other financial interests. To meet its fiduciary obligations, Unified IM
attempts to avoid, among other things, investment or trading practices that systematically
advantage or disadvantage certain client portfolios, and accordingly, Unified IM’s policy
is to seek fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities/transactions among
its clients to avoid favoring one client over another over time. It is Unified IM’s policy to
allocate investment opportunities and transactions it identifies as being appropriate and
prudent among its clients on a fair and equitable basis over time.
Unified IM provides financial planning services to portfolio management clients at no
additional charge.
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Subadviser Services
Unified IM may also act as a subadviser to advisers unaffiliated with Unified IM. These
third-party advisers would outsource portfolio management services to Unified IM.
Services Limited to Specific Types of Investments
Unified IM generally limits its investment advice to mutual funds, fixed income securities,
real estate funds (including REITs), equities, ETFs (including ETFs in the gold and
precious metal sectors), treasury inflation protected/inflation linked bonds, commodities,
non-U.S. securities, venture capital funds and private placements, although Unified IM
primarily recommends equities. Unified IM may use other securities as well to help
diversify a portfolio when applicable.
Written Acknowledgement of Fiduciary Status
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or
individual retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as
applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. We also have a fiduciary
duty under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 with respect to all client accounts. The
way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests, so we operate under a
special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead
of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
• Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations
(give prudent advice);
• Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations
(give loyal advice);
• Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
• Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in
your best interest;
• Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
C. Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
Unified IM will tailor a program for each individual client. This will include an interview
session to get to know the client’s specific needs and requirements as well as a plan that
will be executed by Unified IM on behalf of the client. Unified IM may use model
allocations together with a specific set of recommendations for each client based on their
personal restrictions, needs, and targets. Clients may impose restrictions in investing in
certain securities or types of securities in accordance with their values or beliefs. However,
if the restrictions prevent Unified IM from properly servicing the client account, or if the
restrictions would require Unified IM to deviate from its standard suite of services,
Unified IM reserves the right to end the relationship.
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D. Wrap Fee Programs
A wrap fee program is an investment program where the investor pays one stated fee that
includes management fees and transaction costs. Unified IM does not participate in wrap
fee programs.
E. Assets Under Management
Unified IM has the following assets under management:
Discretionary Amounts: Non-discretionary Amounts: Date Calculated:
$ 150,610,399.00
$ 0.00
December 2025
Item 5: Fees and Compensation
A. Fee Schedule
Portfolio Management Fees
Total Assets Under Management Annual Fees
All Assets
1.25%
Unified IM uses the value of the account as of the last business day of the billing period
for purposes of determining the market value of the assets upon which the advisory fee is
based.
These fees are generally negotiable and the final fee schedule will be memorialized in the
client’s advisory agreement. Clients may terminate the agreement without penalty for a
full refund of Unified IM's fees within five business days of signing the Investment
Advisory Contract. Thereafter, clients may terminate the Investment Advisory Contract
generally with 30 days' written notice.
Subadviser Services Fees
Unified IM may also act as a subadviser to unaffiliated third-party advisers. Unified IM
would receive a flat fee paid for by the third-party adviser. . The fees charged are
negotiable and will not exceed any limit imposed by any regulatory agency.
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B. Payment of Fees
Payment of Portfolio Management Fees
Asset-based portfolio management fees are withdrawn directly from the client's accounts
with client's written authorization on a quarterly basis. Fees are paid in arrears.
Payment of Subadviser Fees
Subadviser fees will be invoiced to and paid by the third-party adviser.
C. Client Responsibility For Third Party Fees
Clients are responsible for the payment of all third party fees (i.e. custodian fees,
brokerage fees, mutual fund fees, transaction fees, etc.). Those fees are separate and
distinct from the fees and expenses charged by Unified IM. Please see Item 12 of this
brochure regarding broker-dealer/custodian.
D. Prepayment of Fees
Unified IM collects its fees in arrears. It does not collect fees in advance.
E. Outside Compensation For the Sale of Securities to Clients
Neither Unified IM nor its supervised persons accept any compensation for the sale of
investment products, including asset-based sales charges or service fees from the sale of
mutual funds.
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
Unified IM does not accept performance-based fees or other fees based on a share of capital gains
on or capital appreciation of the assets of a client.
Item 7: Types of Clients
Unified IM generally provides advisory services to the following types of clients:
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Individuals
High-Net-Worth Individuals
Other Investment Advisers
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There is no account minimum for any of Unified IM’s services.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, & Risk of
Loss
A. Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
Methods of Analysis
Unified IM’s methods of analysis include Charting analysis, Cyclical analysis,
Fundamental analysis, Modern portfolio theory, Quantitative analysis and Technical
analysis.
Charting analysis involves the use of patterns in performance charts. Unified IM uses this
technique to search for patterns used to help predict favorable conditions for buying
and/or selling a security.
Cyclical analysis involves the analysis of business cycles to find favorable conditions for
buying and/or selling a security.
Fundamental analysis involves the analysis of financial statements, the general financial
health of companies, and/or the analysis of management or competitive advantages.
Modern portfolio theory is a theory of investment that attempts to maximize portfolio
expected return for a given amount of portfolio risk, or equivalently minimize risk for a
given level of expected return, each by carefully choosing the proportions of various asset.
Quantitative analysis deals with measurable factors as distinguished from qualitative
considerations such as the character of management or the state of employee morale, such
as the value of assets, the cost of capital, historical projections of sales, and so on.
Technical analysis involves the analysis of past market data; primarily price and volume.
Investment Strategies
Unified IM uses long term trading, short term trading, short sales, margin transactions
and options trading (including covered options, uncovered options, or spreading
strategies).
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared
to bear.
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B. Material Risks Involved
Methods of Analysis
Charting analysis strategy involves using and comparing various charts to predict long
and short-term performance or market trends. The risk involved in using this method is
that only past performance data is considered without using other methods to crosscheck
data. Using charting analysis without other methods of analysis would be making the
assumption that past performance will be indicative of future performance. This may not
be the case.
Cyclical analysis assumes that the markets react in cyclical patterns which, once
identified, can be leveraged to provide performance. The risks with this strategy are two-
fold: 1) the markets do not always repeat cyclical patterns; and 2) if too many investors
begin to implement this strategy, then it changes the very cycles these investors are trying
to exploit.
Fundamental analysis concentrates on factors that determine a company’s value and
expected future earnings. This strategy would normally encourage equity purchases in
stocks that are undervalued or priced below their perceived value. The risk assumed is
that the market will fail to reach expectations of perceived value.
Modern portfolio theory assumes that investors are risk averse, meaning that given two
portfolios that offer the same expected return, investors will prefer the less risky one.
Thus, an investor will take on increased risk only if compensated by higher expected
returns. Conversely, an investor who wants higher expected returns must accept more
risk. The exact trade-off will be the same for all investors, but different investors will
evaluate the trade-off differently based on individual risk aversion characteristics. The
implication is that a rational investor will not invest in a portfolio if a second portfolio
exists with a more favorable risk-expected return profile – i.e., if for that level of risk an
alternative portfolio exists which has better expected returns.
Quantitative analysis Investment strategies using quantitative models may perform
differently than expected as a result of, among other things, the factors used in the models,
the weight placed on each factor, changes from the factors’ historical trends, and technical
issues in the construction and implementation of the models.
Technical analysis attempts to predict a future stock price or direction based on market
trends. The assumption is that the market follows discernible patterns and if these
patterns can be identified then a prediction can be made. The risk is that markets do not
always follow patterns and relying solely on this method may not take into account new
patterns that emerge over time.
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Investment Strategies
Unified IM's use of short sales, margin transactions and options trading generally holds
greater risk, and clients should be aware that there is a material risk of loss using any of
those strategies.
Long term trading is designed to capture market rates of both return and risk. Due to its
nature, the long-term investment strategy can expose clients to various types of risk that
will typically surface at various intervals during the time the client owns the investments.
These risks include but are not limited to inflation (purchasing power) risk, interest rate
risk, economic risk, market risk, and political/regulatory risk.
Margin transactions use leverage that is borrowed from a brokerage firm as collateral.
When losses occur, the value of the margin account may fall below the brokerage firm’s
threshold thereby triggering a margin call. This may force the account holder to either
allocate more funds to the account or sell assets on a shorter time frame than desired.
Options transactions involve a contract to purchase a security at a given price, not
necessarily at market value, depending on the market. This strategy includes the risk that
an option may expire out of the money resulting in minimal or no value, as well as the
possibility of leveraged loss of trading capital due to the leveraged nature of stock options.
Short sales entail the possibility of infinite loss. An increase in the applicable securities’
prices will result in a loss and, over time, the market has historically trended upward.
Short term trading risks include liquidity, economic stability, and inflation, in addition to
the long-term trading risks listed above. Frequent trading can affect investment
performance, particularly through increased brokerage and other transaction costs and
taxes.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared
to bear.
C. Risks of Specific Securities Utilized
Unified IM's use of short sales, margin transactions and options trading generally holds
greater risk of capital loss. Clients should be aware that there is a material risk of loss
using any investment strategy. The investment types listed below (leaving aside Treasury
Inflation Protected/Inflation Linked Bonds) are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or
any other government agency.
Mutual Funds: Investing in mutual funds carries the risk of capital loss and thus you may
lose money investing in mutual funds. All mutual funds have costs that lower investment
returns. The funds can be of bond “fixed income” nature (lower risk) or stock “equity”
nature.
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Equity investment generally refers to buying shares of stocks in return for receiving a
future payment of dividends and/or capital gains if the value of the stock increases. The
value of equity securities may fluctuate in response to specific situations for each
company, industry conditions and the general economic environments.
Fixed income investments generally pay a return on a fixed schedule, though the amount
of the payments can vary. This type of investment can include corporate and government
debt securities, leveraged loans, high yield, and investment grade debt and structured
products, such as mortgage and other asset-backed securities, although individual bonds
may be the best known type of fixed income security. In general, the fixed income market
is volatile and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond
prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term
securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk, liquidity risk, call risk, and
credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. The risk of default on treasury
inflation protected/inflation linked bonds is dependent upon the U.S. Treasury defaulting
(extremely unlikely); however, they carry a potential risk of losing share price value, albeit
rather minimal. Risks of investing in foreign fixed income securities also include the
general risk of non-U.S. investing described below.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): An ETF is an investment fund traded on stock exchanges,
similar to stocks. Investing in ETFs carries the risk of capital loss (sometimes up to a 100%
loss in the case of a stock holding bankruptcy). Areas of concern include the lack of
transparency in products and increasing complexity, conflicts of interest and the
possibility of inadequate regulatory compliance. Risks in investing in ETFs include
trading risks, liquidity and shutdown risks, risks associated with a change in authorized
participants and non-participation of authorized participants, risks that trading price
differs from indicative net asset value (iNAV), or price fluctuation and disassociation from
the index being tracked. With regard to trading risks, regular trading adds cost to your
portfolio thus counteracting the low fees that one of the typical benefits of ETFs.
Additionally, regular trading to beneficially “time the market” is difficult to achieve. Even
paid fund managers struggle to do this every year, with the majority failing to beat the
relevant indexes. With regard to liquidity and shutdown risks, not all ETFs have the same
level of liquidity. Since ETFs are at least as liquid as their underlying assets, trading
conditions are more accurately reflected in implied liquidity rather than the average daily
volume of the ETF itself. Implied liquidity is a measure of what can potentially be traded
in ETFs based on its underlying assets. ETFs are subject to market volatility and the risks
of their underlying securities, which may include the risks associated with investing in
smaller companies, foreign securities, commodities, and fixed income investments (as
applicable). Foreign securities in particular are subject to interest rate, currency exchange
rate, economic, and political risks, all of which are magnified in emerging markets. ETFs
that target a small universe of securities, such as a specific region or market sector, are
generally subject to greater market volatility, as well as to the specific risks associated with
that sector, region, or other focus. ETFs that use derivatives, leverage, or complex
investment strategies are subject to additional risks. Precious Metal ETFs (e.g., Gold,
Silver, or Palladium Bullion backed “electronic shares” not physical metal) specifically
may be negatively impacted by several unique factors, among them (1) large sales by the
official sector which own a significant portion of aggregate world holdings in gold and
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other precious metals, (2) a significant increase in hedging activities by producers of gold
or other precious metals, (3) a significant change in the attitude of speculators and
investors. The return of an index ETF is usually different from that of the index it tracks
because of fees, expenses, and tracking error. An ETF may trade at a premium or discount
to its net asset value (NAV) (or indicative value in the case of exchange-traded notes). The
degree of liquidity can vary significantly from one ETF to another and losses may be
magnified if no liquid market exists for the ETF’s shares when attempting to sell them.
Each ETF has a unique risk profile, detailed in its prospectus, offering circular, or similar
material, which should be considered carefully when making investment decisions.
Real estate funds (including REITs) face several kinds of risk that are inherent in the real
estate sector, which historically has experienced significant fluctuations and cycles in
performance. Revenues and cash flows may be adversely affected by: changes in local real
estate market conditions due to changes in national or local economic conditions or
changes in local property market characteristics; competition from other properties
offering the same or similar services; changes in interest rates and in the state of the debt
and equity credit markets; the ongoing need for capital improvements; changes in real
estate tax rates and other operating expenses; adverse changes in governmental rules and
fiscal policies; adverse changes in zoning laws; the impact of present or future
environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws.
Private placements carry a substantial risk as they are subject to less regulation than are
publicly offered securities, the market to resell these assets under applicable securities
laws may be illiquid, due to restrictions, and the liquidation may be taken at a substantial
discount to the underlying value or result in the entire loss of the value of such assets.
Venture capital funds invest in start-up companies at an early stage of development in
the interest of generating a return through an eventual realization event; the risk is high
as a result of the uncertainty involved at that stage of development.
Commodities are tangible assets used to manufacture and produce goods or services.
Commodity prices are affected by different risk factors, such as disease, storage capacity,
supply, demand, delivery constraints and weather. Because of those risk factors, even a
well-diversified investment in commodities can be uncertain.
Options are contracts to purchase a security at a given price, risking that an option may
expire out of the money resulting in minimal or no value. An uncovered option is a type
of options contract that is not backed by an offsetting position that would help mitigate
risk. The risk for a “naked” or uncovered put is not unlimited, whereas the potential loss
for an uncovered call option is limitless. Spread option positions entail buying and selling
multiple options on the same underlying security, but with different strike prices or
expiration dates, which helps limit the risk of other option trading strategies. Option
transactions also involve risks including but not limited to economic risk, market risk,
sector risk, idiosyncratic risk, political/regulatory risk, inflation (purchasing power) risk
and interest rate risk.
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Non-U.S. securities present certain risks such as currency fluctuation, political and
economic change, social unrest, changes in government regulation, differences in
accounting and the lesser degree of accurate public information available.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing in securities involves a
risk of loss that you, as a client, should be prepared to bear.
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
A. Criminal or Civil Actions
There are no criminal or civil actions to report.
B. Administrative Proceedings
There are no administrative proceedings to report.
C. Self-regulatory Organization (SRO) Proceedings
There are no self-regulatory organization proceedings to report.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Registration as a Broker/Dealer or Broker/Dealer Representative
Neither Unified IM nor its representatives are registered as, or have pending applications
to become, a broker/dealer or a representative of a broker/dealer.
B. Registration as a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity
Pool Operator, or a Commodity Trading Advisor
Neither Unified IM nor its representatives are registered as or have pending applications
to become either a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, or
Commodity Trading Advisor or an associated person of the foregoing entities.
C. Registration Relationships Material to this Advisory Business
and Possible Conflicts of Interests
Neither Unified IM nor its representatives have any material relationships to this advisory
business that would present a possible conflict of interest.
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D. Selection of Other Advisers or Managers and How This Adviser
is Compensated for Those Selections
Unified IM does not utilize nor select third-party investment advisers.
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading
A. Code of Ethics
Unified IM has a written Code of Ethics that covers the following areas: Prohibited
Purchases and Sales, Insider Trading, Personal Securities Transactions, Exempted
Transactions, Prohibited Activities, Conflicts of Interest, Gifts and Entertainment,
Confidentiality, Service on a Board of Directors, Compliance Procedures, Compliance
with Laws and Regulations, Procedures and Reporting, Certification of Compliance,
Reporting Violations, Compliance Officer Duties, Training and Education,
Recordkeeping, Annual Review, and Sanctions. Unified IM's Code of Ethics is available
free upon request to any client or prospective client.
B. Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests
Unified IM does not recommend that clients buy or sell any security in which a related
person to Unified IM or Unified IM has a material financial interest.
C. Investing Personal Money in the Same Securities as Clients
From time to time, representatives of Unified IM may buy or sell securities for themselves
that they also recommend to clients. This may provide an opportunity for representatives
of Unified IM to buy or sell the same securities before or after recommending the same
securities to clients resulting in representatives profiting off the recommendations they
provide to clients. Such transactions may create a conflict of interest. Unified IM will
always document any transactions that could be construed as conflicts of interest and will
never engage in trading that operates to the client’s disadvantage when similar securities
are being bought or sold.
D. Trading Securities At/Around the Same Time as Clients’
Securities
From time to time, representatives of Unified IM may buy or sell securities for themselves
at or around the same time as clients. This may provide an opportunity for representatives
of Unified IM to buy or sell securities before or after recommending securities to clients
resulting in representatives profiting off the recommendations they provide to clients.
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Such transactions may create a conflict of interest; however, Unified IM will never engage
in trading that operates to the client’s disadvantage if representatives of Unified IM buy
or sell securities at or around the same time as clients.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
A. Factors Used to Select Custodians and/or Broker/Dealers
Custodians/broker-dealers will be recommended based on Unified IM’s duty to seek
“best execution,” which is the obligation to seek execution of securities transactions for a
client on the most favorable terms for the client under the circumstances. Clients will not
necessarily pay the lowest commission or commission equivalent, and Unified IM may
also consider the market expertise and research access provided by the broker-
dealer/custodian, including but not limited to access to written research, oral
communication with analysts, admittance to research conferences and other resources
provided by the brokers that may aid in Unified IM's research efforts. Unified IM will
never charge a premium or commission on transactions, beyond the actual cost imposed
by the broker-dealer/custodian.
Unified IM recommends Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and Schwab Institutional, a
division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc..
Unified IM will, on occasion, utilize brokers other than Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
and Schwab Institutional, a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. to help with the
purchase and sale of fixed income securities. Unified IM makes this choice because these
more specialized brokers provide a value-added service of helping the firm design and
manage municipal and corporate bond ladders for its clients.
1. Research and Other Soft-Dollar Benefits
While Unified IM has no formal soft dollars program in which soft dollars are used to
pay for third party services, Unified IM may receive research, products, or other
services from custodians and broker-dealers in connection with client securities
transactions (“soft dollar benefits”). Unified IM may enter
into soft-dollar
arrangements consistent with (and not outside of) the safe harbor contained in Section
28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. There can be no assurance
that any particular client will benefit from soft dollar research, whether or not the
client’s transactions paid for it, and Unified IM does not seek to allocate benefits to
client accounts proportionate to any soft dollar credits generated by the accounts.
Unified IM benefits by not having to produce or pay for the research, products or
services, and Unified IM will have an incentive to recommend a broker-dealer based
on receiving research or services. Clients should be aware that Unified IM’s acceptance
of soft dollar benefits may result in higher commissions charged to the client.
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2. Brokerage for Client Referrals
Unified IM receives no referrals from a broker-dealer or third party in exchange for
using that broker-dealer or third party.
3. Clients Directing Which Broker/Dealer/Custodian to Use
Unified IM may permit clients to direct it to execute transactions through a specified
broker-dealer. If a client directs brokerage, then the client will be required to
acknowledge in writing that the client’s direction with respect to the use of brokers
supersedes any authority granted to Unified IM to select brokers; this direction may
result in higher commissions, which may result in a disparity between free and
directed accounts; the client may be unable to participate in block trades (unless
Unified IM is able to engage in “step outs”); and trades for the client and other directed
accounts may be executed after trades for free accounts, which may result in less
favorable prices, particularly for illiquid securities or during volatile market
conditions. Not all investment advisers allow their clients to direct brokerage.
B. Aggregating (Block) Trading for Multiple Client Accounts
If Unified IM buys or sells the same securities on behalf of more than one client, then it
may (but would be under no obligation to) aggregate or bunch such securities in a single
transaction for multiple clients in order to seek more favorable prices, lower brokerage
commissions, or more efficient execution. In such case, Unified IM would place an
aggregate order with the broker on behalf of all such clients in order to ensure fairness for
all clients; provided, however, that trades would be reviewed periodically to ensure that
accounts are not systematically disadvantaged by this policy. Unified IM would
determine the appropriate number of shares and select the appropriate brokers consistent
with its duty to seek best execution, except for those accounts with specific brokerage
direction (if any).
Item 13: Review of Accounts
A. Frequency and Nature of Periodic Reviews and Who Makes
Those Reviews
All client accounts for Unified IM's advisory services provided on an ongoing basis are
reviewed at least annually by Ryan Malec, Managing Partner, with regard to clients’
respective investment policies and risk tolerance levels. All accounts at Unified IM are
assigned to this reviewer.
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B. Factors That Will Trigger a Non-Periodic Review of Client
Accounts
Reviews may be triggered by material market, economic or political events, or by changes
in client's financial situations (such as retirement, termination of employment, physical
move, or inheritance).
C. Content and Frequency of Regular Reports Provided to Clients
Each client of Unified IM's advisory services provided on an ongoing basis will receive a
quarterly report detailing the client’s account, including assets held, asset value, and
calculation of fees. This written report will come from the custodian. Unified IM will also
provide at least quarterly a separate written statement to the client.
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
A. Economic Benefits Provided by Third Parties for Advice
Rendered to Clients (Includes Sales Awards or Other Prizes)
With respect to Schwab, Unified IM receives access to Schwab’s institutional trading and
custody services, which are typically not available to Schwab retail investors. These
services generally are available to independent investment advisers on an unsolicited
basis, at no charge to them so long as a total of at least $10 million of the adviser’s clients’
assets are maintained in accounts at Schwab Advisor Services. Schwab’s services include
brokerage services that are related to the execution of securities transactions, custody,
research, including that in the form of advice, analyses and reports, and access to mutual
funds and other investments that are otherwise generally available only to institutional
investors or would require a significantly higher minimum initial investment. For Unified
IM client accounts maintained in its custody, Schwab generally does not charge separately
for custody services but is compensated by account holders through commissions or other
transaction-related or asset-based fees for securities trades that are executed through
Schwab or that settle into Schwab accounts.
Schwab also makes available to Unified IM other products and services that benefit
Unified IM but may not benefit its clients’ accounts. These benefits may include national,
regional or Unified IM specific educational events organized and/or sponsored by
Schwab Advisor Services. Other potential benefits may include occasional business
entertainment of personnel of Unified IM by Schwab Advisor Services personnel,
including meals, invitations to sporting events, including golf tournaments, and other
forms of entertainment, some of which may accompany educational opportunities. Other
of these products and services assist Unified IM in managing and administering clients’
accounts. These include software and other technology (and related technological
training) that provide access to client account data (such as trade confirmations and
account statements), facilitate trade execution (and allocation of aggregated trade orders
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for multiple client accounts, if applicable), provide research, pricing information and
other market data, facilitate payment of Unified IM’s fees from its clients’ accounts (if
applicable), and assist with back-office training and support functions, recordkeeping and
client reporting. Many of these services generally may be used to service all or some
substantial number of Unified IM’s accounts. Schwab Advisor Services also makes
available to Unified IM other services intended to help Unified IM manage and further
develop its business enterprise. These services may include professional compliance, legal
and business consulting, publications and conferences on practice management,
information technology, business succession, regulatory compliance, employee benefits
providers, human capital consultants, insurance and marketing. In addition, Schwab may
make available, arrange and/or pay vendors for these types of services rendered to
Unified IM by independent third parties. Schwab Advisor Services may discount or waive
fees it would otherwise charge for some of these services or pay all or a part of the fees of
a third-party providing these services to Unified IM. Unified IM is independently owned
and operated and not affiliated with Schwab.
B. Compensation to Non – Advisory Personnel for Client Referrals
Unified IM does not directly or indirectly compensate any person who is not advisory
personnel for client referrals.
Item 15: Custody
When advisory fees are deducted directly from client accounts at client's custodian, Unified IM
will be deemed to have limited custody of client's assets and must have written authorization
from the client to do so. Clients will receive all account statements and billing invoices that are
required in each jurisdiction, and they should carefully review those statements for accuracy.
Item 16: Investment Discretion
Unified IM provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to clients.
The advisory contract established with each client sets forth the discretionary authority for
trading. Where investment discretion has been granted, Unified IM generally manages the client’s
account and makes investment decisions without consultation with the client as to when the
securities are to be bought or sold for the account, the total amount of the securities to be
bought/sold, what securities to buy or sell, or the price per share. In some instances, Unified IM’s
discretionary authority in making these determinations may be limited by conditions imposed
by a client (in investment guidelines or objectives, or client instructions otherwise provided to
Unified IM.
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Item 17: Voting Client Securities (Proxy Voting)
Unified IM will not ask for, nor accept voting authority for client securities. Clients will receive
proxies directly from the issuer of the security or the custodian. Clients should direct all proxy
questions to the issuer of the security.
Item 18: Financial Information
A. Balance Sheet
Unified IM neither requires nor solicits prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per client,
six months or more in advance, and therefore is not required to include a balance sheet
with this brochure.
B. Financial Conditions Reasonably Likely to Impair Ability to
Meet Contractual Commitments to Clients
Neither Unified IM nor its management has any financial condition that is likely to
reasonably impair Unified IM’s ability to meet contractual commitments to clients.
C. Bankruptcy Petitions in Previous Ten Years
Unified IM has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition in the last ten years.
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