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Part 2A of Form ADV:
Firm Brochure
Zhang Financial LLC
doing business as Zhang Financial
5931 Oakland Drive
Portage, MI 49024
(269) 385-5888
www.zhangfinancial.com
March 2026
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Zhang
Financial LLC (“Zhang Financial”, the “Firm”, “we”, “us”, or “our”). If you have any questions about
the contents of this brochure, please contact our Chief Compliance Officer, Christopher Reiff, at (269)
385-5888 or by email at christopher.reiff@zhangfinancial.com. The information in this brochure has
not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or
by any state securities authority.
Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional information
about the Firm also is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. You can search
this site by a unique identifying number, known as a CRD number. The Firm’s CRD number is
#159257.
Please note that the use of the term “registered investment adviser” and description of Zhang
Financial and/or its associates as “registered” does not imply a certain level of skill or training. You
are encouraged to review this Firm Brochure, the Wrap Fee Program Brochure, the Form CRS, and
the Brochure Supplements for the Firm’s associates who advise you for more information on the
qualifications of the Firm and its employees.
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Item 2 – Material Changes
This Form ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure has been updated as part of our annual amendment filing.
There have been no material changes since our last version dated August 20, 2025. Please note
that we updated our disclosures to reflect a change in the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer.
Christopher Reiff is our new Chief Compliance Officer, replacing Lynn Chen-Zhang in this capacity.
Other non-substantive changes have been made, and we urge clients to read this Form ADV Part
2A in its entirety.
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Item 3 – Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page ........................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2: Material Changes .................................................................................................................. 2
Item 3: Table of Contents ................................................................................................................... 3
Item 4: Advisory Business ................................................................................................................. 4
Item 5: Fees and Compensation ....................................................................................................... 6
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management .................................................. 9
Item 7: Types of Clients ..................................................................................................................... 9
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ............................................. 9
Item 9: Disciplinary Information ....................................................................................................... 13
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .............................................................. 13
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions, and Personal Trading ….. 14
Item 12: Brokerage Practices .......................................................................................................... 15
Item 13: Review of Accounts ........................................................................................................... 17
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation ......................................................................... 17
Item 15: Custody ............................................................................................................................. 17
Item 16: Investment Discretion ........................................................................................................ 18
Item 17: Voting Client Securities ...................................................................................................... 18
Item 18: Financial Information ......................................................................................................... 19
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Item 4 – Advisory Business
Firm Description
Zhang Financial LLC (“Zhang Financial,” the “Firm”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is a fee-only investment
advisory firm. We provide individuals and other types of clients with investment management,
financial planning, and other services. The Firm is a limited liability company formed in the State of
Michigan and has been registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) since January 2012. Charles C. Zhang, the Firm’s Founder and President, is the majority
owner of the Firm.
Types of Advisory Services
We offer asset management and advisory services to both individuals and entities, emphasizing
continuous and regular account supervision.
Asset Management
As part of our asset management services, we construct and manage investment portfolios that may
consist of, but are not limited to, individual stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), mutual
funds, money market funds, stock options, and other publicly traded securities. Each client’s
investment strategy is tailored to their individual financial circumstances, investment objectives, time
horizon, and risk tolerance. Portfolios may include some or all of the previously mentioned securities
and are constructed to align with the client’s stated investment objectives and goals. We regularly
monitor client portfolios and make appropriate adjustments based on changes in market conditions,
investment opportunities, and the client’s financial circumstances. Our ability to effectively manage
a client’s portfolio depends in part on the client providing complete and accurate information
regarding their financial circumstances and promptly notifying us of any material changes.
Financial Planning and Consulting
We provide clients with a variety of financial planning and consulting services to manage their
financial resources based upon an analysis of the client’s current situation, goals, and objectives.
Our financial planning services typically involve the preparation of a financial plan or rendering a
financial consultation which may encompass the following areas:
• Retirement Distribution Strategy
• Asset Allocation
• Net Worth and/or Cash Flow Analysis
• Corporate Structure
•
Insurance Analysis
• Employee Stock Option Planning
• Business and Personal Financial Planning
•
Investment Planning
• Retirement Planning
• Estate Planning
• Charitable Planning
• Education Planning
• Corporate and Personal Tax Planning
• Wealth Management Strategies
Our written financial plans and consultations include recommendations for a course of activity or
specific actions to be taken by the client. For example, recommendations may include beginning or
revising investment programs, creating or updating wills or trusts, revising insurance coverage,
adjusting retirement savings strategies, or establishing education or charitable giving programs. We
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may refer clients to accountants, attorneys, or other specialists for non-advisory-related services. In
some circumstances, and as part of our services, we may coordinate with other professionals
selected by us for purposes such as tax or estate planning.
For written financial planning engagements, we provide an initial written summary of the client’s
financial situation, observations, and recommendations. For financial consulting engagements, we
usually do not provide a written summary of our observations and recommendations. Plans or
consultations are typically completed within six (6) months of a client signing a contract with us,
assuming all requested information and documents are provided promptly. Implementation of our
recommendations is always at the client’s discretion.
Individual and Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans
We provide advisory services to employer-sponsored plans on either a one-time or ongoing basis.
Our primary role is to assist plan sponsors with establishing, monitoring, and reviewing investment
options for both participant-directed retirement plans, such as 401(k) and 403(b) programs
(collectively, “Plans”). Depending on the sponsor’s needs, our services may include advice on plan
structure and participant education. These services apply to Plans governed by the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). When we provide investment
advice to Plans, we acknowledge that we are a fiduciary within the meaning of Section 3(21) of
ERISA, but only with respect to the services described in our Pension Consulting Agreement.
As part of our asset management services, we also provide discretionary investment management
services directly to participant-directed retirement plans and individual participants within a
retirement plan. When we provide these services, we generally have discretionary authority to select
and rebalance investment options within the participant’s specific account to align with their individual
goals. In this specific capacity, we act as an “investment manager” as defined in Section 3(38) of
ERISA.
Institutional Advisory Services
We provide investment advisory services to institutional clients, including pension and profit-sharing
plans, charitable organizations, municipal government entities, corporations, and other businesses.
Under these arrangements, we provide continuous investment advisory services that may include
recommending asset allocation, providing investment research, and performing certain back-office
functions.
Individual Tailoring of Advice to Clients
We offer individualized investment advice to clients utilizing our asset management services. On the
other hand, we offer general investment advice to clients utilizing our financial planning and
consulting and our pension consulting services. We typically do not allow 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. In instances that we would allow restrictions, it would be
limited to our asset management services.
We manage select client accounts using internally developed models designed to meet various
investment objectives and risk profiles. Models consists of various factors such as allocations of
investments that we believe is appropriate for a particular strategy.
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Participation in Wrap Fee Programs
We offer wrap fee programs that are more fully described in Part 2A, Appendix 1 (the “Wrap Fee
Program Brochure”). Our wrap fee accounts are managed on an individualized basis according to
the client’s investment objectives, financial goals, risk tolerance and other determining factors.
Currently, nearly all our discretionary accounts are wrap fee accounts. As further described in our
Wrap Fee Program Brochure, we receive 100% of the fees due under our wrap fee programs.
Assets Under Management
As of February 28, 2026, we had regulatory assets under management of $8,370,163,000, with
$5,605,567,000 managed on a discretionary basis and $2,764,595,000 managed on a non-
discretionary basis.
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
Fee Schedules and Billing
Asset Management
Our annual fees for asset management services are negotiated with each client and are generally
based on a flat percentage of the market value of assets under management. While the specific fee
is finalized at the inception of the relationship, we utilize the following schedule as a guideline for our
negotiations:
Market Value of Account(s)
Guideline Annual Flat Fee %
1.00%
0.90%
0.80%
$1,000,000 - $2,500,000
$2,500,000 - $5,000,000
$5,000,000 - $10,000,000
$10,000,000 and above
Negotiable
Our fees are negotiable and may vary based on factors such as account size, related accounts,
anticipated future assets, and scope of services provided. For accounts below $1,000,000, fees are
negotiated and generally will not exceed 1.20%, subject to our $5,000 minimum annual fee. Please
note that we generally do not accept new clients with less than $1,000,000 in assets.
Fee Negotiation and Householding: We reserve the right to charge a fee that may be higher or
lower than the guideline schedule based on a client’s particular circumstances. During the initial
negotiation process, we typically aggregate (or “household”) the values of all related client accounts
to determine the appropriate guideline fee. Once a fee rate is established in the investment advisory
agreement, that rate generally remains static. The percentage does not automatically decrease or
increase based on future market movement, additional deposits or withdrawals, or the addition of
accounts to or removal of accounts from the household. The percentage will never increase without
written notice to and prior consent of the client.
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Flat Fee Structure: Unlike "tiered" schedules where different rates apply to portions of an account
balance, we utilize a flat fee structure. Once a negotiated rate is established, that single percentage
is applied to the entire balance of the account.
Billing Cycle: Advisory fees are generally billed quarterly in advance based on the market value of
the account(s) as of the last business day of the prior month. Billing quarters begin on the first
business day of March, June, September, and December. Fees are generally deducted directly from
the client’s custodial accounts. Clients must authorize the custodian to deduct advisory fees pursuant
to the investment advisory agreement.
For new or existing accounts that receive capital or make withdrawals during the middle of the billing
quarter, we prorate the fee based on the number of days the assets were under our management
during that quarter. This is reflected in the following billing cycle. This pro-rata adjustment ensures
that capital is only billed for the actual time it was managed by Zhang Financial.
Management and Billing of Held-Away Assets: As part of our asset management services, we
may provide investment selection and ongoing management for assets held in a client’s employer-
sponsored retirement plan (e.g., 401(k), 403(b)) or other "held-away" accounts. When we lack direct
access to deduct fees from employer-sponsored retirement plans, the advisory fees for these held-
away assets are generally deducted from one of the client's other managed accounts held at our
primary custodians. If no such account exists, we will invoice the client directly for the fee associated
with these managed retirement assets.
Wrap Fee Programs: We primarily offer wrap fee programs that allow clients to pay a specified fee
for investment advisory services and the execution of transactions in their accounts. Under this
arrangement, the advisory fee includes portfolio management services and the costs associated with
executing transactions in the client’s account. The advisory fee is not based directly on the number
of transactions in a client’s account. Because transaction costs are bundled into the wrap fee, the
overall fee paid by a client participating in the wrap fee programs may be higher than the cost of
purchasing advisory services separately and paying brokerage commissions on a per-transaction
basis. We primarily offer wrap fee accounts for individual discretionary accounts. Certain client
accounts may not be eligible to participate in the wrap fee programs due to limitations related to the
account structure maintained by the custodian. In those cases, clients may incur separate brokerage
commissions or transaction charges. For a detailed description of our wrap fee programs, including
the services provided, associated costs, and a comparison to non-wrap fee arrangements, please
refer to our Wrap Fee Program Brochure.
Financial Planning and Consulting
We charge either on an hourly or flat fee basis for financial planning and consulting services. The
total estimated fee, as well as the ultimate fee that we charge, is based on the scope and complexity
of our engagement. Our hourly fees generally range from $100 to $500, while flat fees generally
range from $250 to $10,000. Financial planning may be included as part of the client relationship for
certain clients. We may require a retainer of 50% of the agreed-upon fee, with the remainder directly
billed and due to us within 30 days from the delivery of the financial plan or from the date of the
consultation rendered.
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Pension and Retirement Plan Consulting
We provide consulting services to sponsors of pensions and employer-sponsored retirement plans
either as a standalone engagement or as part of our broader asset management services. Fees for
these services are negotiated and may be charged on either a percentage-of-assets basis or a flat-
fee basis. If we charge based on percentage-of-assets basis, the annual fee shall generally not
exceed 0.8%. If we charge on a flat-fee basis, the total estimated fee, as well as the final fee, is
based on the scope and complexity of the engagement. Our flat fees generally range from $2,000 to
$200,000 and are typically charged quarterly or annually for ongoing pension consulting services.
The payment arrangements for pension consulting will be determined on a case-by-case basis and
will be detailed in the signed Pension Consulting Agreement. Clients are invoiced directly for pension
consulting fees.
Institutional Advisory Services
Our fees and services for institutional clients are determined by their specific contract and vary based
on the requirements of the engagement. Fees are generally payable at the end of each quarter or
as otherwise agreed upon with the client. Information regarding our fees and services for institutional
advisory service arrangements can be obtained upon request.
Other Fees
In addition to the fees discussed above, clients may also pay third-party costs and expenses. These
may include custodial fees, charges imposed directly by a mutual fund, index fund, or ETF (i.e., fund
management fees and other fund expenses disclosed in the fund’s prospectus), mark-ups and mark-
downs, spreads paid to market makers, wire transfer fees, electronic fund transfer fees, third-party
reporting platform fees, account termination, account maintenance fees, and other fees and taxes
on brokerage accounts. Clients without wrap accounts will pay brokerage transaction fees. These
fees are not included within the fee that clients are charged by Zhang Financial.
Refunds
Either party may terminate the investment advisory agreement at any time. If our services are
terminated, we will refund the unearned portion of any pre-paid advisory fee on a pro-rata basis.
Clients are requested to advise us in writing if they wish to terminate our services. Upon receipt of
the letter of termination, we will promptly proceed to process a pro-rata refund, which is calculated
based on the number of days remaining in the billing quarter from the date of termination through
the end of the billing cycle.
Compensation for Sale of Securities
We are committed to providing fee-only investment advisory services. Zhang Financial and our
supervised persons do not accept compensation for the sale of securities or other investment
products, including asset-based sales charges or service fees from the sale of mutual funds. This
ensures that we remain focused solely on providing objective investment advice as fiduciaries to our
clients.
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Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side
Management
We do not charge performance-based fees. Performance-based fees are those based on a share of
capital gains on, or capital appreciation of, the assets of a client. Furthermore, we do not engage in
side-by-side management. Side-by-side management refers to the practice of managing accounts
that are charged a performance-based fee alongside accounts that are not charged a performance-
based fee.
Item 7 – Types of Clients
Zhang Financial provides investment advisory services to a variety of clients, including individuals,
high net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans,
corporations, limited liability companies, other business types, and municipal government entities.
We generally require a minimum balance to start or maintain an investment advisory relationship
with us. The minimum balance is $1,000,000 for clients residing in the State of Michigan, and
$2,000,000 for clients residing outside the State of Michigan. This minimum balance is generally
preferred throughout the course of the client’s relationship with us. However, this minimum
requirement may be waived in certain circumstances, at our sole discretion. While we prefer this
minimum, it is negotiable at our sole discretion, and we may waive or lower the minimum for various
reasons, including family members of existing clients, employees and their families, anticipation of
future asset growth or additional deposits, legacy relationships, or other factors we deem relevant.
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk
of Loss
Methods of Analysis
Zhang Financial utilizes Fundamental, Technical, and Cyclical analysis to formulate investment
advice.
Fundamental – This involves an in-depth analysis of a company’s financial statements, management,
competitors, markets, and competitive advantages. The analysis puts a focus on the overall state of
the economy, interest rates, production, and earnings. We adhere to disciplined investment
parameters, and our portfolios may include investments in undervalued companies. We are not
concerned with short-term fluctuations in the market price; instead, we put more importance on a
company’s value.
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Technical – This involves an analysis of past market movements and does not consider the
underlying financial condition of a particular company. We attempt to determine and recognize
recurring patterns in investor behavior with respect to a particular company to potentially predict
future price movement of certain securities.
Cyclical – This involves measuring the movements of a particular stock or sector against the overall
market to predict the price movement of the security.
Investment Strategies
We employ a variety of strategies based on client objectives, including long-term purchases
(securities held at least a year), short-term purchases (securities sold within a year), and trading
(securities sold within 30 days). In certain accounts, we may utilize margin transactions and option
writing, including covered options.
Risks of Loss and Investment Risks
Our methods of analysis described above may not accurately predict the movement or future
performance of securities. A poorly managed or financially unsound company may underperform
regardless of overall market conditions, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. Some of the
risks associated with our investment strategies are described below. The list is not intended to be a
complete description of all the risks.
Market Volatility
The prices of securities may experience periods of significant volatility. Market movements may occur
rapidly and may be influenced by a variety of factors which we cannot predict or control, including
changes in market sentiment, inflation, interest rates, and general economic, environmental, natural,
human health, pandemic, and political conditions. Governments and regulatory authorities may also
intervene in financial markets from time to time, which may affect market prices or liquidity. These
factors may cause securities markets to move sharply or unpredictably and may result in significant
fluctuations in the value of client accounts.
Stagnant Markets
Certain investment strategies we employ rely on the presence of market volatility to create pricing
inefficiencies that may be identified and used as investment opportunities. During periods of stagnant
markets and/or deflation, the effectiveness of such strategies may be reduced, which may materially
diminish performance.
Market Disruptions
Client accounts may incur material losses during periods of market disruption or other extraordinary
events. Disruptions from unexpected political, economic, military, public health, natural disaster,
pandemic, or terrorist events may result in significant losses and may cause strategies that have
historically exhibited lower risk to experience heightened volatility and risk.
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Counterparty and Custodian Risk
Financial institutions, including brokerage firms, counterparties, and banks with which clients
interact, may default or encounter financial difficulties that impair their operational capabilities or
clients’ capital positions. Clients are also subject to the risk that exchanges or clearinghouses
involved in processing securities transactions may fail, which could impair client accounts.
Interest Rate Risk
The value of fixed-rate securities generally has an inverse relationship with interest rates. As interest
rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. In addition, when the receivables or loans for
underlying securities are prepayable, the value of such securities may be negatively affected by
increased prepayments, which generally occur when interest rates decline.
Currency Risk
Overseas investments and companies with international operations are subject to fluctuations in the
value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies.
Illiquid Securities
Clients may be invested in securities, loans, or other financial instruments that are not actively or
widely traded. As a result, it may be difficult to dispose of such investments quickly or at favorable
prices, and they may also be more difficult to value.
Concentration of Investments
At times, a significant portion of a client’s assets may be concentrated in a particular security,
industry, market, or country. If that security, industry, market, or country experiences adverse
conditions, the client may face greater volatility and losses than a more diversified portfolio.
Securities-Backed Borrowing
A limited number of clients may maintain lines of credit secured by the securities held in their
investment accounts. If the value of the pledged securities declines, the lender may require the client
to deposit additional collateral or repay a portion of the loan. If the client is unable to meet such
requirements, securities in the account may be liquidated, which could result in additional losses or
unfavorable tax consequences.
Mutual Fund Risk
Mutual funds are investment companies that pool assets from many investors to invest in a
diversified portfolio of securities. Clients investing in mutual funds indirectly bear their proportionate
share of the fund’s internal expenses, including management fees and other operating costs. These
expenses are in addition to the advisory fees charged by Zhang Financial. In addition, the value of a
mutual fund may fluctuate based on the performance of the underlying securities held by the fund,
and there is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its investment objective.
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”)
ETFs are investment companies that trade on a securities exchange and can be bought and sold
throughout the trading day. The market price of ETF shares may differ from the value of its underlying
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securities and may trade at a discount or premium to net asset value. In addition, ETF shares are
subject to bid-ask spreads, which generally vary based on the ETF’s trading volume and market
liquidity. Some ETFs, particularly those that invest in commodities, are not registered as investment
companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Equity Risk
Investments in equity securities (such as common stocks) are subject to market risk and may
experience significant price fluctuations. The value of equity securities may decline due to company-
specific factors, such as changes in earnings, management decisions, or competitive conditions, as
well as broader market and economic conditions. As a result, equity investments may experience
periods of volatility and may result in losses.
Options
From time to time, we may use options as part of a risk management strategy, most commonly
through covered call writing or collar strategies that involve purchasing put options while selling call
options on securities held in a client’s account. These strategies are generally intended to manage
downside risk but may limit the potential upside appreciation of the underlying securities. Options
transactions contain inherent risks, including partial or total loss of principal or default by the issuer.
Selling options entails considerably greater risk than purchasing options as the seller may sustain
losses well in excess of the fixed premium received. If the market or the underlying interest moves
unfavorably, the seller may also need to contribute additional margin to maintain the position.
Model Risk
Certain client accounts may be managed using internally developed and/or third-party models. These
models are designed to reflect specific investment objectives and risk profiles. Although models are
intended to provide consistent investment management, actual client portfolios may differ from the
models due to factors such as client-specific restrictions, tax considerations, legacy holdings,
account size, timing of transactions, or differences in the availability of securities. Additionally,
information generated by models may be inaccurate due to a variety of reasons, such as
imperfections in the models, deterioration in model performance over time, or issues related to the
quality and reliability of input data, which may involve the exercise of judgment. Even if a model
functions as intended, it cannot account for all factors that may influence the prices of securities. As
market dynamics evolve, a previously effective model may become outdated or less reliable. There
can be no assurance that the Firm will be successful in developing, obtaining, or maintaining effective
models, or in identifying when a model is no longer performing as expected, which could result in
losses.
Cybersecurity Risk
Our Firm and our service providers (such as custodians, brokers, and other third-party vendors) rely
on digital technologies and computer systems, and networks to conduct business and provide
services to clients. These systems may be subject to cybersecurity incidents, which can include
intentional attacks (such as hacking, phishing, or ransomware) as well as unintentional events (such
as system errors, service interruptions, or accidental release of confidential information).
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A cybersecurity incident could potentially result in:
• Operational Disruptions: An inability to access systems, process transactions, or obtain
account information which could delay trading or other client services.
• Data Breaches: Unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information, including
clients’ non-public personal information.
• Financial Loss: Costs associated with responding to or mitigating cybersecurity incidents.
No cybersecurity program or system can guarantee complete protection against all potential threats.
Despite our efforts and those of our service providers, cybersecurity incidents may occur and could
have a material adverse effect on client accounts or our ability to provide services.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or
disciplinary events that would be material to a client’s evaluation of the Firm. Neither the Firm nor
our management personnel have been involved in any reportable disciplinary events.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Neither Zhang Financial nor any of its management persons are registered, or have an application
pending to register, as a broker-dealer, registered representative of a broker-dealer, futures
commission merchant, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, or associated person
of the foregoing entities. Furthermore, we are not engaged in any other financial activities and have
no affiliations with broker-dealers, municipal securities dealers, investment companies or other
pooled investment vehicles, other investment advisers or financial planners, futures commission
merchant, commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor, banking or thrift institutions,
insurance company or agency, pension consultant, real estate broker or dealer or sponsor or
syndicator of limited partnerships.
We do not recommend or select other investment advisers for our clients and therefore cannot
receive any compensation, directly or indirectly, from those other investment advisers.
Financial Affiliates
Lynn Chen-Zhang, CPA, PLC
Lynn Chen-Zhang, our Chief Executive Officer, is the owner of Lynn Chen-Zhang, CPA, PLC, an
entity that provides tax preparation services. These services are provided to Zhang Financial clients,
generally for additional fees and under a separate engagement. No client is required to purchase tax
services through Lynn Chen-Zhang, CPA, PLC, and all clients have the option to purchase such
services elsewhere. In some instances, these services may be included as part of the broader client
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relationship. We do not believe that this association poses a conflict of interest, as additional services
are billed separately.
Zhang Legal Group PLC
Alex C. Zhang, Senior Vice President and minority owner of Zhang Financial, is the owner of Zhang
Legal Group PLC, a separate and distinct entity providing legal and estate planning services. Zhang
Financial clients may utilize this firm for establishing trusts or coordinating with the clients’ existing
service providers. These services are provided under a separate engagement for an additional fee.
To ensure our advice remains objective, Zhang Financial offers a one-time asset management fee
reduction for certain clients’ eligible legal and estate planning services. This fee reduction is applied
for one quarter after services are rendered, regardless of whether the client uses Zhang Legal Group
PLC or an independent law firm of their choice to establish trusts or for estate planning. No client is
required or obligated to utilize the legal services of Zhang Legal Group PLC, and we encourage
clients to consider other law firms. We do not believe this association poses a conflict of interest as
additional services requested are billed separately and the asset management fee reduction is
applied when clients choose any law firm for the provision of eligible estate planning services or to
establish trusts.
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions, and Personal Trading
We require all supervised persons to conduct business with the highest level of ethical conduct and
to always comply with securities laws. To support this commitment, we have adopted a written Code
of Ethics designed to mitigate and address potential conflicts of interest that may arise in connection
with our advisory activities. Our Code of Ethics establishes standards of conduct and includes
policies and procedures governing personal securities transactions by our supervised persons.
These procedures include requirements related to pre-clearance of certain securities transactions
and prohibitions on insider trading.
Upon commencing employment with Zhang Financial, and at least annually thereafter, all supervised
persons must acknowledge in writing that they have received, read, understand, and agree to comply
with our Code of Ethics. To monitor compliance, we require employees to report personal securities
transactions on a quarterly basis and provide annual securities holdings reports. These reporting
requirements assist us in identifying and addressing potential conflict of interest related to personal
trading activities.
Zhang Financial and our associated persons may buy or sell securities for their personal accounts
that are identical to, or traded at or about the same time as, securities recommended to or purchased
or sold for client accounts. This practice creates a potential conflict of interest as Zhang Financial or
an associated person may have an incentive to favor their personal account over a client’s account.
To mitigate this risk, our Code of Ethics mandates that all supervised persons must always place
client interests ahead of their own and to adhere to the personal trading procedures set forth in our
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Code of Ethics. We periodically review the personal securities transactions of our supervised persons
to help ensure that their trading activities do not disadvantage our clients or violate our fiduciary duty.
Clients or prospective clients may request a copy of our Code of Ethics by contacting our Chief
Compliance Officer, Christopher Reiff, at (269) 385-5888 or christopher.reiff@zhangfinancial.com.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
Custodian Relationships
Zhang Financial has brokerage and custodial arrangements with LPL Financial LLC (“LPL”) and
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) (collectively referred to as the “Custodians”). These
Custodians provide services including custody of client assets, trade execution, trade reporting, and
clearance and settlement of transactions. Although not a material consideration when determining
whether to recommend a particular custodian, we may receive or have access to investment
research and other practice support materials from these Custodians. These services may be
available to us as a result of executing transactions through the Custodians or clients maintaining
their assets with the Custodians. Examples of such services include research reports, securities
analysis products, written publications on topics, access to technology solutions and support, and
other support services.
These services are used by us to manage accounts and support our overall advisory business, and
they are not provided solely for the benefit of any particular client. Without these arrangements, the
Firm might be required to purchase similar services at our own expense. However, many of these
services are typically offered by custodians as part of their overall platform and client support.
Because we receive these services at no additional cost, a potential conflict of interest exists in that
we may have an incentive to continue using the services of the Custodians. We have considered
this potential conflict of interest when we chose to enter into the relationships with the Custodians
and believe the relationships are consistent with our fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of our
clients, including our duty to seek best execution.
Soft Dollars
As a matter of policy, Zhang Financial does not have any formal or informal arrangements or
commitments to receive research, research-related products, and other services obtained from
broker-dealers, or third-parties in exchange for directing brokerage transactions. We do not
participate in any soft dollar arrangements or use soft dollars to correct trade errors.
Best Execution
Zhang Financial seeks to obtain best execution for client transactions. Best execution does not
necessarily mean obtaining the lowest available commission but rather obtaining the most favorable
qualitative execution available under the circumstances. When evaluating best execution, we
consider many factors, including the characteristics of specific trades, the characteristics of the
security being traded, quality of execution, clearance and settlement capabilities, specific client
needs, and prevailing market conditions.
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Directed Brokerage
Zhang Financial recommends that clients maintain custody of their assets with either LPL or Schwab.
The Custodians provide both custody services and brokerage services for the execution of securities
transactions. As a result, the Custodians typically serve as the broker-dealer that executes
transactions for the accounts.
Institutional clients may direct brokerage to other broker-dealers. Zhang Financial does not manage
institutional client accounts on a discretionary basis, and therefore does not direct brokerage
transactions for those accounts. Therefore, Zhang Financial is not responsible for seeking best
execution for transactions in institutional client accounts.
When a client directs brokerage to other broker-dealers, our ability to negotiate trading costs or
obtain the most favorable execution of transactions may be limited. In such cases, the client is
responsible for negotiating the terms of the brokerage arrangement with that broker-dealer, and
Zhang Financial will not seek execution services or prices from other broker-dealers. As a result,
directed brokerage may result in higher trading costs, less favorable execution prices, or wider
spreads than might otherwise be obtained. Further, because Zhang Financial’s access to information
may differ from access to information for clients whose assets are held at custodians Zhang Financial
works with, there may be delays in meeting client needs.
Trade Aggregation
Transactions for client accounts are generally effected independently, unless the Firm determines
that it is in the clients’ best interest to aggregate orders for the purchase or sell of the same securities
at approximately the same time. This most commonly occurs for accounts that follow our model
strategies. Aggregation is intended to promote efficient execution and to treat clients fairly over time.
Not all accounts will participate in aggregated trades. Certain accounts may be excluded due to
client-specific considerations, such as investment restrictions, tax considerations, or other account-
level factors. Accounts not participating in aggregated trades may receive execution prices that are
more or less favorable than those received by accounts included in the aggregated trades.
When orders are aggregated, participating accounts generally receive the same average price. In
the event of a partial fill, allocations are made in a manner designed to treat clients fairly, considering
relevant factors such as account size and investment objectives. Accounts owned by the Firm or its
supervised persons may be included in the aggregated trades. Such accounts participate on the
same terms as client accounts and receive the same average price. Because client assets are
maintained at more than one custodian, transactions may be executed separately across custodians.
The Firm has adopted procedures designed to ensure that no group of clients is systematically
favored or disadvantaged over time.
Special Considerations for ERISA Clients
A retirement plan subject to ERISA may direct all or part of portfolio transactions through a specific
broker or dealer in order to obtain goods or services for the benefit of the plan. Such arrangements
are permitted only if the goods and services obtained 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 obtained are not
for the exclusive benefit of the plan. Consequently, when plan sponsors direct brokerage
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arrangements, we will request written confirmation that the arrangement is for the exclusive benefit
of the plan.
Item 13 – Review of Accounts
Accounts are reviewed at least annually for changes in suitability factors and quarterly for return
dispersion and adherence to asset allocation. Additional reviews may be triggered by events such
as receipt of additional assets, change in a client’s financial condition, significant change in the
market environment, liquidation or distribution of a significant portion of the portfolio, or upon request
by a client. A designated member of Zhang Financial’s investment team conducts these reviews.
While we do not provide written reports to clients unless specifically requested, we generally provide
verbal reports to clients during annual meetings for clients who engage our asset management
services. The qualified custodians holding client funds and securities provide written transaction
confirmations and brokerage statements at least quarterly.
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
We do not receive any economic benefits from any outside firms who provide investment advice or
other advisory services to our clients. In addition, we do not compensate any person or entity who is
not a supervised person for clients referred to Zhang Financial. By avoiding these arrangements, we
eliminate the potential conflicts of interest that arise when an adviser has a financial incentive to
recommend specific products or third-party services. Our only source of compensation is the fees
paid by our clients as described in Item 5.
Item 15 – Custody
We do not have physical custody of client funds or securities. Client assets are held with qualified
custodians, such as LPL or Charles Schwab. However, under SEC rules, we are deemed to have
custody of client assets in certain circumstances, including:
• Fee Deduction: When clients authorize us to instruct their custodian to deduct our advisory
fees directly from their accounts.
• Standing Letters of Authorization (“SLOA”): When clients provide us with standing authority
to initiate payments from their accounts to a third party on their behalf.
Clients’ qualified custodians will send account statements directly to clients at least quarterly. These
statements show account balances, transaction activity, and any fees deducted from their accounts.
We encourage clients to review these custodial statements carefully. If we provide clients with
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supplemental reports, clients should compare the information in those reports with the statements
received directly from the custodian. Clients should rely on the custodial statements provided by the
qualified custodian as the official record of their accounts. Clients should contact us or their custodian
promptly if they notice any discrepancies.
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
We generally provide discretionary investment advisory services to our asset management clients.
Prior to assuming discretionary authority, clients must execute a written investment advisory
agreement that grants us the authority to determine, without obtaining the client’s specific consent
for each transaction, the securities to be bought or sold, the amount of securities to be traded, and
the broker-dealer to be used. Clients can set forth any restrictions on the discretionary authority
granted to us subject to our acceptance. This type of agreement generally only applies to our asset
management clients.
While we primarily operate on a discretionary basis, we also provide non-discretionary services,
which are generally limited to our institutional clients. For non-discretionary accounts, we will seek
the client’s approval prior to the execution of any trades.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
Zhang Financial does not and will not accept authority to vote client proxies. Clients will receive
proxies or other solicitations directly from their custodian or a transfer agent. If we receive any proxies
or solicitations on a client’s behalf, we will strive to forward them to the client and request the sending
party to mail future proxies and solicitations directly to them. Clients maintain exclusive responsibility
for voting all proxies for securities in their accounts and for making all elections related to any
mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, bankruptcy proceedings, class or mass actions, legal
proceedings or other events pertaining to the securities held in client accounts.
Although we do not vote proxies on behalf of clients, clients may us at (269) 385-5888 to discuss
any questions they may have about particular proxy votes or other solicitations. We may provide
general information or analysis regarding proxy matters upon request, but we do not provide specific
voting recommendations. However, the final decision on how to vote or whether to participate in a
legal proceeding remains entirely with the client.
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Item 18 – Financial Information
We have no financial condition or commitment that impairs our ability to meet our contractual and
fiduciary obligations to clients. Zhang Financial has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at
any time during the past ten years.
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