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Item 1: Cover Page
Part 2A of Form ADV: Firm Brochure
February 2026
2950 Buskirk Avenue, Suite 350
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
www.vistaadvisorgroup.com
Firm Contact:
Michael Lahl
Chief Compliance Officer
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Vista Advisor
Group, LLC. If clients have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at
925-476-4646. 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 #307268.
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
Vista Advisor Group, LLC is required to make clients aware of 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.
th
, 2025, we have no material changes
Since our firm’s last annual amendment was filed on January 27
to disclose.
ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page .................................................................................................................................................................. 1
Item 2: Material Changes ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
Item 3: Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Item 4: Advisory Business.................................................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5: Fees & Compensation ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management ........................................................................... 7
Item 7: Types of Clients & Account Requirements .................................................................................................... 7
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss ................................................................... 7
Item 9: Disciplinary Information .................................................................................................................................... 11
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations .................................................................................. 12
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in ............................................................................................... 12
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ........................................................................................................................................... 13
Item 13: Review of Accounts or Financial Plans ....................................................................................................... 18
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation ..................................................................................................... 18
Item 15: Custody .................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Item 16: Investment Discretion ....................................................................................................................................... 20
Item 17: Voting Client Securities ..................................................................................................................................... 20
Item 18: Financial Information ........................................................................................................................................ 20
ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure
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Vista Advisor 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 California in 2020 and has been in business as an investment adviser since that time. Our
firm is owned primarily by Bill Lahl, Michael Lahl and Stephen Lahl.
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
Wrap Comprehensive Portfolio Management:
Please see our Part 2A, Appendix 1 (the “Wrap Fee Program Brochure”) for more information
regarding our Wrap Comprehensive Portfolio Management service offering.
Financial Planning & Consulting:
Our firm provides a variety of standalone financial planning and consulting services to clients for the
management of financial resources based upon an analysis of current situation, goals, and objectives.
Financial planning services will typically involve preparing a financial plan or rendering a financial
consultation for clients based on the client’s financial goals and objectives. This planning or
consulting may encompass Investment Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Charitable
Planning, Education Planning, Personal Tax Planning, Real Estate Analysis, Mortgage/Debt Analysis,
Insurance Analysis, or Personal Financial Planning.
Written financial plans or financial consultations rendered to clients usually include general
recommendations for a course of activity or specific actions to be taken by the clients.
Implementation of the recommendations will be at the discretion of the client. Our firm provides
clients with a summary of their financial situation, and observations for financial planning
engagements. Financial consultations are not typically accompanied by a written summary of
observations and recommendations, as the process is less formal than the planning service. Assuming
that all the information and documents requested from the client are provided promptly, plans or
consultations are typically completed within 6 months of the client signing a contract with our firm.
Retirement Plan Consulting:
Our firm provides retirement plan consulting services to employer plan sponsors on an ongoing
basis. Generally, such consulting services consist of assisting employer plan sponsors in establishing,
monitoring and reviewing their company's participant-directed retirement plan. As the needs of the
plan sponsor dictate, areas of advising may include:
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
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Establishing an Investment Policy Statement – Our firm will assist in the development of a
statement that summarizes the investment goals and objectives along with the broad
strategies to be employed to meet the objectives.
Investment Options – Our firm will work with the Plan Sponsor to evaluate existing
investment options and make recommendations for appropriate changes.
Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction – Our firm will develop strategic asset allocation
models to aid Participants in developing strategies to meet their investment objectives, time
horizon, financial situation and tolerance for risk.
Investment Monitoring – Our firm will monitor the performance of the investments and
notify the client in the event of over/underperformance and in times of market volatility.
Participant Education – Our firm will provide opportunities to educate plan participants
about their retirement plan offerings, different investment options, and general guidance on
allocation strategies.
In providing services for retirement plan consulting, our firm does not provide any advisory services
with respect to the following types of assets: employer securities, real estate (excluding real estate
funds and publicly traded REITS), participant loans, non-publicly traded securities or assets, other
illiquid investments, or brokerage window programs (collectively, “Excluded Assets”). All retirement
plan consulting services shall be in compliance with the applicable state laws regulating retirement
consulting services. This applies to client accounts that are retirement or other employee benefit
plans (“Plan”) governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”). If the client accounts are part of a Plan, and our firm accepts appointment to provide
services to such accounts, our firm acknowledges its fiduciary standard within the meaning of Section
3(21) or 3(38) of ERISA as designated by the Retirement Plan Consulting Agreement with respect to
the provision of services described therein.
Tailoring of Advisory Services
Our firm offers individualized investment advice to our Wrap Comprehensive Portfolio Management
clients. General investment advice will be offered to our Financial Planning & Consulting and
Retirement Plan Consulting clients.
Our firm does not usually allow Wrap Comprehensive Portfolio Management clients to impose
restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of securities due to the level of difficulty this
would entail in managing their account. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
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 Wrap Fee
Program Brochure for more information.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
, 2025 our firm manages $314,639,936 in total Assets. Our firm manages
st
As of December 31
$312,731,359 on a discretionary basis and $1,908,577 on a non-discretionary basis.
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
Item 5: Fees & Compensation
Compensation for Our Advisory Services
Wrap Comprehensive Portfolio Management:
Please see our Wrap Fee Program Brochure for information regarding our fees and compensation for
Wrap Comprehensive Portfolio Management services.
Financial Planning & Consulting:
Our firm charges on an hourly or flat fee basis for financial planning and consulting services. The total
estimated fee, as well as the ultimate fee charged, is based on the scope and complexity of our
engagement with the client. The maximum hourly fee to be charged will not exceed $500. Flat fees
will not exceed $75,000. The fee-paying arrangements will be determined on a case-by-case basis
and will be detailed in the signed consulting agreement. Our firm will not require a retainer exceeding
$1,200 when services cannot be rendered within 6 months.
Retirement Plan Consulting:
Our Retirement Plan Consulting services are billed as a percentage of Plan assets under management.
The total estimated fee, as well as the ultimate fee charged, is based on the scope and complexity of
our engagement with the client. Fees based on a percentage of managed Plan assets will not exceed
1.00%. The fee-paying arrangements will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will be detailed
in the signed consulting agreement.
Other Types of Fees & Expenses
Non-Wrap Clients will incur transaction fees for trades executed by their chosen custodian, via
individual transaction charges. These transaction fees are separate from our firm’s advisory fees and
will be disclosed by the chosen custodian. Charles Schwab & Co Inc, (“Schwab”) does not charge
transaction fees for U.S. listed equities and exchange traded funds.
Clients may also pay holdings charges imposed by the chosen custodian for certain investments,
charges imposed directly by a mutual fund, index fund, or exchange traded fund, which shall be
disclosed in the fund’s prospectus (i.e., fund management fees, initial or deferred sales charges,
mutual fund sales loads, 12b-1 fees, surrender charges, variable annuity fees, IRA and qualified
retirement plan fees, and other fund expenses), mark-ups and mark-downs, spreads paid to market
makers, fees for trades executed away from custodian, wire transfer fees and other fees and taxes on
brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Our firm does not receive a portion of these fees.
Wrap clients will not incur transaction costs for trades by their chosen custodian. More information
about this can be found in our separate Wrap Fee Program Brochure.
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
Termination & Refunds
Either party may terminate the advisory agreement signed with our firm for Wrap Comprehensive
Portfolio Management services in writing at any time. Upon notice of termination our firm will
process a pro-rata refund of the unearned portion of the advisory fees charged in advance.
Financial Planning & Consulting clients may terminate their agreement at any time before the
delivery of a financial plan 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.
Either party to a Retirement Plan Consulting Agreement may terminate at any time by providing
written notice to the other party. Full refunds will only be made in cases where cancellation occurs
within 5 business days of signing an agreement. After 5 business days from initial signing, either
party must provide the other party 30 days written notice to terminate billing. Billing will terminate
30 days after receipt of termination notice. Clients will be charged on a pro-rata basis, which takes
into account work completed by our firm on behalf of the client. Clients will incur charges for bona
fide advisory services rendered up to the point of termination (determined as 30 days from receipt
of said written notice) and such fees will be due and payable.
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
Our firm has the following types of clients:
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Individuals and High Net Worth Individuals;
Trusts, Estates or Charitable Organizations;
Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans;
Corporations, Limited Liability Companies and/or Other Business Types
Our firm does not impose requirements for opening and maintaining accounts or otherwise engaging
us.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
We use the following methods of analysis in formulating our investment advice and/or managing
client assets:
Qualitative Analysis:
A securities analysis that uses subjective judgment based on unquantifiable
information, such as management expertise, industry cycles, strength of research 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.
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 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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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
•
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.
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.
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 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 makes a decision to sell.
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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.
Capital Risk:
Capital risk is one of the most basic, fundamental risks of investing; it is the risk that
you may lose 100% of your money. All investments carry some form of risk and the loss of capital is
generally a risk for any investment instrument.
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.
Economic Risk:
The prevailing economic environment is important to the health of all businesses.
Some companies, however, are more sensitive to changes in the domestic or global economy than
others. These types of companies are often referred to as cyclical businesses. Countries in which a
large portion of businesses are in cyclical industries are thus also very economically sensitive and
carry a higher amount of economic risk. If an investment is issued by a party located in a country that
experiences wide swings from an economic standpoint or in situations where certain elements of an
investment instrument are hinged on dealings in such countries, the investment instrument will
generally be subject to a higher level of economic risk.
Equity (Stock) Market Risk:
Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations
and, 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
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.
Financial Risk:
Financial risk is represented by internal disruptions within an investment or the
issuer of an investment that can lead to unfavorable performance of the investment. Examples of
financial risk can be found in cases like Enron or many of the dot com companies that were caught
up in a period of extraordinary market valuations that were not based on solid financial footings of
the companies.
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
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
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.
Inflation Risk
: Inflation risk involves the concern that in the future, your investment or proceeds
from your investment will not be worth what they are today. Throughout time, the prices of resources
and end-user products generally increase and thus, the same general goods and products today will
likely be more expensive in the future. The longer an investment is held, the greater the chance that
the proceeds from that investment will be worth less in the future than what they are today. Said
another way, a dollar tomorrow will likely get you less than what it can today.
Interest Rate Risk:
Certain investments involve the payment of a fixed or variable rate of interest to
the investment holder. Once an investor has acquired or has acquired the rights to an investment that
pays a particular rate (fixed or variable) of interest, changes in overall interest rates in the market
will affect the value of the interest-paying investment(s) they hold. In general, changes in prevailing
interest rates in the market will have an inverse relationship to the value of existing, interest paying
investments. In other words, as interest rates move up, the value of an instrument paying a particular
rate (fixed or variable) of interest will go down. The reverse is generally true as well.
Market Risk:
The value of your portfolio may decrease if the value of an individual company or
multiple companies in the portfolio decreases or if our belief about a company’s intrinsic worth is
incorrect. Further, regardless of how well individual companies perform, the value of your portfolio
could also decrease if there are deteriorating economic or market conditions. It is important to
understand that the value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, in response to changes in
the market, and you could lose money. Investment risks include price risk as may be observed by a
drop in a security’s price due to company specific events (e.g. earnings disappointment or downgrade
in the rating of a bond) or general market risk (e.g. such as a “bear” market when stock values fall in
general). For fixed-income securities, a period of rising interest rates could erode the value of a bond
since bond values generally fall as bond yields go up. Past performance is not a guarantee of future
returns.
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 Wrap
Comprehensive Portfolio Management 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.
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
Representatives of our firm are insurance agents/brokers. They offer insurance products and receive
customary 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.
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In order to prevent conflicts of interest, our firm has established procedures for transactions effected by
. In order to monitor compliance with our personal
our representatives for their personal accounts
trading policy, our firm has pre-clearance requirements 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.
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For purposes of the policy, our associate’s personal account generally includes any account (a) in the name of our associate, his/her spouse,
his/her minor children or other dependents residing in the same household, (b) for which our associate is a trustee or executor, or (c) which our
associate controls, including our client accounts which our associate controls and/or a member of his/her household has a direct or indirect
beneficial interest in.
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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 same day unless included in
a block trade.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Selecting a Brokerage Firm
Item 15
While our firm does not maintain physical custody of client assets, we are deemed to have custody of
Custody
certain client assets if given the authority to withdraw assets from client accounts (see
, below). Client assets must be maintained by a qualified custodian. Our firm seeks to
recommend a custodian who will hold client assets and execute transactions on terms that are overall
most advantageous when compared to other available providers and their services. The factors
considered, among others, are these:
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Expertise as it relates to specific securities
Ability to provide investment ideas
Record keeping services provided
Frequency and correction of trading errors
Business reputation
Timeliness and accuracy of trade
confirmations
Timeliness of execution
Research services provided
Execution facilitation services provided
Custody services provided
Ability to access a variety of market venues
Financial condition
Quality of services
Custodian & Brokers Used
Item 15
Our firm does not maintain custody of client assets (although our firm may be deemed to have
Custody
custody of client assets if give 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:
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
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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
Products & Services Available from Schwab
availability of other products and services that benefit our firm, as discussed below (see
“
”)
Custody & Brokerage Costs
Schwab generally does not charge a separate 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 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
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
•
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:
•
•
•
•
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.
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
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.
SEI Investments Distribution Co.
Our firm has an arrangement with SEI Investments Distribution Co. (“SEI”), a qualified custodian from
whom our firm is independently owned and operated. SEI offers services to independent investment
advisers which includes custody of securities, trade execution, clearance and settlement of
transactions. SEI enables us to obtain many no-load mutual funds without transaction charges and
other no-load funds at nominal transaction charges. SEI does not charge client accounts separately for
custodial services. Client accounts will be charged transaction fees, commissions or other fees on trades
that are executed or settle into the client’s custodial account. Transaction fees may be charged via
individual transaction charges. These fees are negotiated with SEI and are generally discounted from
customary retail commission rates. This benefits clients because the overall fee paid is often lower than
would be otherwise.
SEI may make certain research and brokerage services available at no additional cost to our firm.
Research products and services provided by SEI may include: research reports on recommendations or
other information about particular companies or industries; economic surveys, data and analyses;
financial publications; portfolio evaluation services; financial database software and services;
computerized news and pricing services; quotation equipment for use in running software used in
investment decision-making; and other products or services that provide lawful and appropriate
assistance by SEI to our firm in the performance of our investment decision-making responsibilities. The
aforementioned research and brokerage services qualify for the safe harbor exemption defined in
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
SEI does not make client brokerage commissions generated by client transactions available for our
firm’s use. The aforementioned research and brokerage services are used by our firm to manage
accounts for which our firm has investment discretion. Without this arrangement, our firm might be
compelled to purchase the same or similar services at our own expense.
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 SEI as a custodial recommendation. Our firm examined this potential conflict of interest when
our firm chose to recommend SEI 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.
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Vista Advisor Group, LLC
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.
Client Brokerage Commissions
Neither Schwab nor SEI 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
Our firm routinely requires that clients direct us to execute through a specified broker-dealer. Our
firm requires the use of Schwab & SEI. Please note that not all advisory firms have this requirement.
Special Considerations for ERISA Clients
A retirement or ERISA plan client may direct all or part of portfolio transactions for its account
through a specific broker or dealer in order to obtain goods or services on behalf of the plan. Such
direction is permitted provided that the goods and services provided are reasonable expenses of the
plan incurred in the ordinary course of its business for which it otherwise would be obligated and
empowered to pay. ERISA prohibits directed brokerage arrangements when the goods or services
purchased are not for the exclusive benefit of the plan. Consequently, our firm will request that plan
sponsors who direct plan brokerage provide us with a letter documenting that this arrangement will
be for the exclusive benefit of the plan.
Client-Directed Brokerage
Our firm does not allow client-directed brokerage.
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 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
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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
Our management personnel or financial advisors review accounts on at least an annual basis for our
Wrap Comprehensive Portfolio Management clients. The nature of these reviews is to learn whether
client accounts are in line with their investment objectives, financial goals, and investment policies,
if applicable. Our firm does not provide written reports to clients, unless asked to do so. Verbal
reports to clients take place on at least an annual basis when our Wrap Comprehensive Portfolio
Management clients are contacted.
Our firm may review client accounts more frequently than described above. Among the factors which
may trigger an off-cycle review are major market or economic events, the client’s life events, requests
by the client, etc.
Financial Planning 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
planning clients, but are willing to meet with such clients upon their request to discuss updates to
their plans, changes in their circumstances, etc. Financial Planning clients do not receive written or
verbal updated reports regarding their financial plans unless they separately engage our firm for a
post-financial plan meeting or update to their initial written financial plan.
Retirement Plan Consulting clients receive reviews of their retirement plans for the duration of the
service. Our firm also provides ongoing services where clients are met with upon their request to
discuss updates to their plans, changes in their circumstances, etc. Retirement Plan Consulting clients
do not receive written or verbal updated reports regarding their plans unless they choose to engage
our firm for ongoing services.
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.
Product Sponsor Funded Events
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Various product wholesalers provide financial assistance to allow us to sponsor client educational
seminars, or attend such seminars hosted by the product sponsor. This money is not directly tied to
our use of their products, nor it is contingent upon any future business to be directed to their
products, nonetheless it creates a conflict of interest that may incentivize us to utilize their products.
Our firm will adhere to our fiduciary duty to act in our client’s best interest when selecting what
products to use in client accounts.
Referral Fees
In accordance with Rule 206 (4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, our firm does not provide
cash or non-cash compensation directly or indirectly to unaffiliated persons for testimonials or
endorsements (which include client referrals).
Item 15: Custody
Deduction of Advisory Fees:
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
“Standing Instructions.” All 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.
Third Party Money Movement:
On February 21, 2017, the SEC issued a no-action letter (“Letter”) with respect to 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:
•
•
•
•
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.
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•
•
•
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.
Clients are encouraged to raise any questions with us about the custody, safety or security of their
assets and our custodial recommendations.
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.
In rare cases, our firm may agree to limitations 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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