Overview
Assets Under Management: $340 million
Headquarters: RUMSON, NJ
High-Net-Worth Clients: 99
Average Client Assets: $3 million
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (BCS PWM ADV PART 2)
Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$0 | $5,000,000 | 1.00% |
$5,000,001 | $10,000,000 | 0.75% |
$10,000,001 | and above | 0.50% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$1 million | $10,000 | 1.00% |
$5 million | $50,000 | 1.00% |
$10 million | $87,500 | 0.88% |
$50 million | $287,500 | 0.58% |
$100 million | $537,500 | 0.54% |
Clients
Number of High-Net-Worth Clients: 99
Percentage of Firm Assets Belonging to High-Net-Worth Clients: 83.97
Average High-Net-Worth Client Assets: $3 million
Total Client Accounts: 509
Discretionary Accounts: 508
Non-Discretionary Accounts: 1
Regulatory Filings
CRD Number: 174761
Last Filing Date: 2024-07-23 00:00:00
Website: HTTP://WWW.BC-WM.COM
Form ADV Documents
Primary Brochure: BCS PWM ADV PART 2 (2025-03-19)
View Document Text
Item 1: Cover Page
BCS PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Form ADV, Part 2
Firm Brochure
47 West River Road, Suite B
Rumson, NJ 07760
P: (732) 291-7272
F: (732) 289-9259
Contact Person: Christopher Bernard, Chief Compliance Officer
chris@bcspwm.com
Date of Brochure: March 13, 2025
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of BCS
Private Wealth Management. If you have any questions about the contents of this
brochure, please contact us at (732) 291-7272. 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 BCS Private Wealth Management also is available on the
SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Page 1 of 17
Item 2: Material Changes
The Company is required to disclose any material changes to the ADV Part 2A here in Item 2.
There are no material changes to disclose since the last update dated March 2024.
Page 2 of 17
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 .............................................................................................................. 5
A. The Firm and its Owners. ............................................................................................... 5
B. The Firm’s Services. ...................................................................................................... 5
C. Miscellaneous Information About the Firm’s Services.................................................. 6
D. The Firm’s Assets Under Management. ........................................................................ 6
Item 5: Fees and Compensation ...................................................................................................... 6
A. The Firm’s Fees and Compensation for Services. ......................................................... 6
The Company’s compensation differs based upon the services that it provides to a
client. ....................................................................................................................... 6
B. Compensation for the Sale of Insurance Products and Annuities .................................. 7
C. General Information on Fees. ......................................................................................... 8
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management ................................................. 8
Item 7: Types of Clients .................................................................................................................. 9
A. The Firm’s Clients. ........................................................................................................ 9
B. Requirements for Opening or Maintaining an Account. ................................................ 9
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss .......................................... 9
A. Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies. ........................................................... 9
Item 9: Disciplinary Information .................................................................................................. 10
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ...................................................... 10
A. Other Registrations. ..................................................................................................... 10
B. Other Financial Industry Activities. ............................................................................. 10
C. Other Financial Industry Affiliations. .......................................................................... 10
D. Other Activities ............................................................................................................ 11
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading . 11
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A. Description of the Firm’s Code of Ethics .................................................................... 11
B. Investing by the Firm and its Personnel ....................................................................... 11
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ........................................................................................................ 12
A. Recommendation of Broker-Dealer ............................................................................. 12
B. Aggregation. ................................................................................................................. 15
Item 13: Review of Accounts ....................................................................................................... 15
A. Account Reviews. ........................................................................................................ 15
B. Account Reports. .......................................................................................................... 16
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation ...................................................................... 16
A. Non-Clients providing an Economic Benefit to the Company. ................................... 16
B. Compensation to Non-Advisory Personnel for Client Referrals. ................................. 16
BCS does not have any solicitor relationships to disclose. ............................................... 16
Item 15: Custody ........................................................................................................................... 16
Item 16: Investment Discretion ..................................................................................................... 17
Item 17: Voting Client Securities ................................................................................................. 17
Item 18: Financial Information ..................................................................................................... 17
Page 4 of 17
Item 4: Advisory Business
A. The Firm and its Owners.
BCS Private Wealth Management (the “Company” or the “Firm”) is the primary business name
of Bernard Caroli Wealth Management, Inc., a New Jersey corporation that was formed in June
2009. The Company submitted its application for investment adviser registration with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission in April 2015. The Company also utilizes a
marketing name of Royalston Advisors, LLC.
The issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock are owned by John Arthur
Caroli, Christopher Paul Bernard, David Baker “Scott” Schiff, and Craig David Cummings. The
Company’s President is John Arthur Caroli, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer is
Christopher Paul Bernard, and Secretary is Scott Schiff. All owners are also members of the
Company’s Board of Directors.
B. The Firm’s Services.
As discussed below in this Disclosure Brochure, the Company offers discretionary investment
management services, financial planning services, and divorce mediation services.
1.
Investment Management Services. The Company’s investment management services are
defined as giving ongoing and continuous investment advice to a client based on the client’s
investment objectives and financial situation. Through personal discussion in which goals and
objectives based on a client’s particular circumstances are established, the Company, in
conjunction with the client, will ascertain the client’s financial situation, risk tolerance, and
investment objectives. We then use various fixed income and equity vehicles in managing client
assets. The Company’s investment management services offering also includes financial
planning services, the details of which are set forth in Section 4.B.2 below, provided, however,
that in the event that the client does not take advantage of all elements of the Company’s
investment management services offering, the Company shall not offer any discount of its fees to
account for the Client not taking full advantage of all such elements.
The Company provides investment advice primarily with respect to various equity securities
(such as exchange-listed, securities traded over the counter, and foreign issuers), exchange traded
funds, warrants, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, options, mutual fund shares,
and other securities. Although the Company’s investment advice is typically limited to those
investment categories, the Company may provide advice with respect to other investment
opportunities in response to a client request or where the Company determines that it would be in
the interests of the client to pursue those other investment opportunities.
2.
Financial Planning Services. The Company’s financial planning services are comprised
of ongoing financial counseling services for client accounts which can include estate planning,
investment planning, cash flow planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, and risk
management, including property and casualty, and life insurance. The Company will gather
relevant information about its financial planning client through interviews with the client and a
review of various documents that the client will produce. The Company will typically either
Page 5 of 17
develop a financial plan for a client or a multi-item financial checklist that presents conclusions
and recommendations. If requested by the client, The Company will assist the client with the
implementation of the financial plan while working with the client’s attorney, accountant, tax
advisor, and/or insurance agent, and the Company may also recommend the services of other
professionals if asked by the client. The client is under no obligation to engage the services of
any such recommended professional and retains absolute discretion over all such implementation
decisions and is free to accept or reject any recommendation from the Company. These financial
planning services may be provided by the Company as part of its investment management
services, or on a stand-alone basis for clients who do not wish to engage the Company for
investment management services.
Divorce Mediation Services. The Company, through John Caroli, may be hired to
3.
provide divorce mediation services of a financial planning nature.
4.
To the extent that a client wishes for the Company to provide any services or assistance
that is outside the scope of the specific services mentioned herein, and to the extent that the
Company agrees to provide such services, the Company and the client shall collectively
determine the scope of, and the compensation payable to the Company for, such services.
C. Miscellaneous Information About the Firm’s Services.
In connection with the provision of the Company’s services, (1) the Company tailors its advisory
services to the client’s individual needs, (2) clients may impose reasonable restrictions on the
Company’s services, which may include restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of
securities, (3) the client retains absolute discretion over all implementation decisions and is free
to accept or reject any recommendation from the Company, (4) the Company is authorized to
rely on any and all information that is provided to the Company by the client or any of the
client’s other professionals (such as the client’s attorney or accountant), and shall not be required
to independently verify any such information, and (5) each client is responsible to promptly
notify the Company if there is ever any change in their financial situation or investment
objectives so that the Company is positioned to review, evaluate and possibly revise its previous
recommendations and/or services.
D. The Firm’s Assets Under Management.
As of December 31, 2024, the amount of the firm’s discretionary assets under management is
$405,763,492 in 547 accounts and the amount of the firm’s non-discretionary assets under
management is $103,311 in 1 account.
Item 5: Fees and Compensation
A. The Firm’s Fees and Compensation for Services.
The Company’s compensation differs based upon the services that it provides to a client.
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1. Investment Management Services.
The annual fee for investment management services will be charged as a percentage of assets
under management, according to the schedule below:
Annual Fee
1.00 %
0.75 %
0.50 %
Assets Under Management
Initial $5,000,000
All amounts between $5,000,000 up
to and including $10,000,000
All amounts exceeding $10,000,000
Clients will be invoiced in advance at the end of each calendar quarter based upon the market
value of the average daily balance of the assets in the client’s account as of the last business day
of the previous quarter. For clients with multiple accounts, the Company, in its sole discretion,
may combine the amount of assets in more than one account in determining the fee to be charged
to that client for services on the client’s total amount of assets. The Company, in its sole
discretion, may charge a different management fee based upon certain criteria (i.e. anticipated
future earning capacity, anticipated future additional assets, dollar amount of assets to be
managed, related accounts, type of services required, account composition, negotiations with
client, etc.). If an account is established during a quarter, the Company will bill in arrears the
days the account was funded to the end of the quarter. In the event of termination of the
Company’s services before the end of a billing period for which the Firm received a pre-paid fee,
the Firm shall pro-rate its fee through the date of termination and promptly return any unearned
portion of that pre-paid fee to the client.
2. Financial Planning Services. For stand-alone financial planning services, the Company will
collect (in advance) and bill against a retainer of $2,500 in hourly fee increments of $250. In the
event of a termination of the Company’s services, the Company will refund any unearned portion
of the Client’s fee. In the event the Client and the Company cannot agree on the amount of the
“unearned portion of the Client’s fee”, the Company’s opinion shall prevail provided that such
opinion is supported by and is not in violation of applicable law.
3. Divorce Mediation Services. The Company will collect (in advance) and bill against a retainer
of $2,500 in hourly fee increments of $250 for this service.
B. Compensation for the Sale of Insurance Products and Annuities
1. Certain of the Company’s personnel are also licensed insurance producers/agents with several
insurance companies in various states. In such capacity, each such personnel may recommend
the purchase of certain insurance or annuity products where they will receive a share of revenue
derived from the sale of such insurance or annuity products. For further discussion concerning
these activities, see Item 10.A of this Disclosure Brochure.
2. The activity disclosed in Item 5.B.1 above represents a potential conflict of interest and gives
the Company personnel engaging in such insurance activities an incentive to recommend the
purchase of insurance or annuity products for a client account based on their ability to receive
compensation from such a purchase, rather than based on a client’s needs. However, the Firm
Page 7 of 17
addresses this potential conflict by (a) requiring that any such transaction be on commercially
reasonable terms that are generally consistent with industry standards, and (b) neither requiring
nor expecting that a client will purchase any such insurance or annuity products from or through
Firm personnel. In addition, any such Firm personnel must maintain compliance with applicable
rules and regulations that govern the sale of such insurance or annuity products.
3. Clients have the option to purchase investment or annuity products that the Company
recommends through other brokers or agents that are not affiliated with the Company.
4. The Company’s advisory fee is in addition to any commission that Company personnel may
receive, and the Company will not reduce its advisory fee to offset such commission. The
Company does not charge advisory fees on the value of the insurance or annuity contract after it
has been purchased by Firm personnel.
C. General Information on Fees.
1. All fees are negotiable.
2. The Company’s fees shall be deducted from the client’s account by the client’s account
custodian, or, in the alternative, the client may pay the Company’s fee directly.
With respect to the Company’s investment management services, the client will also incur
charges imposed directly by the custodian of the client’s account, transaction charges imposed by
the broker-dealer executing securities transactions for the client’s account, and fees and expenses
imposed directly by mutual funds held in or for the client’s account (the Company, in its sole
discretion, may choose to absorb fees related to a particular transaction for a client account). For
further discussion concerning the Company’s brokerage practices, please see Item 12 of this
Disclosure Brochure. All fees paid to the Company for its services are separate and distinct from
the fees and expenses charged directly by the client’s custodian, the broker-dealer, and mutual
funds. The fees and expenses imposed by mutual funds are described in each fund’s prospectus,
and will generally include a management fee, other fund expenses, and a possible distribution
fee. If the fund also imposes sales charges, a client may pay an initial or deferred sales charge.
The client should review both the fees charged by the funds and the fees charged by the
Company to fully understand the total amount of fees to be paid by the client and to thereby
evaluate the advisory services being provided.
In addition, as discussed in the disclosure in Item 10.A pertaining to other compensation that
may be received by Company personnel who hold other registrations, the client may also incur
charges in connection with the activities of such Company personnel (for example, if the client
purchases an insurance policy through one of the Company’s personnel in their individual
capacity as a licensed insurance agent, the client will be responsible for the costs that are
associated with the purchase of that insurance policy, in addition to the compensation that is
payable to the Company for the Company’s services).
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
The Company does not have any information to disclose in response to this Item 6.
Page 8 of 17
Item 7: Types of Clients
A. The Firm’s Clients.
The firm’s client base is comprised of individuals, high net worth individuals, one or more
pooled investment vehicles, and corporations or other business entities.
B. Requirements for Opening or Maintaining an Account.
1. Advisory Agreement. Each client will be required to sign a servicing agreement with the
Company that sets forth the terms and conditions of their relationship with the Company.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
A. Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies.
1. Methods of Analysis. In connection with servicing client accounts, the firm utilizes the
following methods of analysis: (a) charting, (b) fundamental, and (c) technical. The main sources
of the information that the firm’s personnel use in their investment decision-making process
include financial newspapers and magazines, research materials prepared by others, corporate
rating services, company press releases, and annual reports, prospectuses, filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. Multiple Investment Strategies. The firm utilizes various investment strategies for servicing
client accounts, and does not primarily weight one strategy over another strategy. Although used
infrequently, and then only where the benefits to the client outweigh the burdens to the client, the
firm may engage in frequent trading of securities, which carries an additional risk that frequent
trading can affect investment performance particularly through increased brokerage and other
transaction costs and taxes.
3. Risk of Loss. Investing in securities involves risk of loss that each client should be prepared
to bear.
4. Security related risks. The Company does not recommend any specific type of security over
any other type of security. Every type of security is subject to various risks appurtenant to that
type of security, which the Company can discuss with each client upon request.
5. Excess Cash Balance Risk. Client accounts may have cash balances in excess of $250,000,
which is the insurance limit of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. For cash balances in
excess of that amount, there is an enhanced risk that operation related counterparty risk related to
the account custodian could cause losses in the account. The Company mitigates this risk by
carrying cash balances in amounts either subject to protection or as limited as the client, directs.
The client may elect to participate in a “cash sweep” program through the account custodian
which automatically moves excess cash from the client’s investment account into a cash account
and then invests that cash into cash based investments, such as money market funds. The
Company does not receive compensation of any kinds for facilitating the client’s participation in
such cash sweep accounts.
Page 9 of 17
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
The Company does not have any information to disclose in response to this Item 9.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Other Registrations.
1. As mentioned in the discussion to Item 5.B of this Disclosure Brochure, certain of the Firm’s
personnel are also licensed insurance producers/agents with various insurance companies in
various states. In such capacity, each such individual may recommend the purchase of certain
insurance or annuity products where they will receive a share of revenue derived from the sale of
such insurance or annuity products. This activity represents a potential conflict of interest and
gives Firm personnel an incentive to recommend the purchase of insurance or annuity products
for a client account based on their ability to receive compensation from such a purchase, rather
than based on a client’s needs. However, the Firm seeks to address this potential conflict by (a)
requiring that any such transaction will be on commercially reasonable terms that are generally
consistent with industry standards, and (b) neither requiring nor expecting that a client will
purchase any such insurance or annuity products from or through Firm personnel. In addition,
Firm personnel must comply with applicable rules and regulations that govern the sale of such
products. Clients have the option to purchase investment products that the Firm recommends
through other brokers or agents that are not affiliated with the Firm.
B. Other Financial Industry Activities.
See the discussion in Item 10.A (“Other Registrations”) of this Disclosure Brochure discussing
the registrations held by certain Firm personnel. When Firm personnel act in the capacity of
insurance producers/agents, they will engage in other financial industry activities that are
commensurate with such other registrations.
Private Fund
The Company is under common control with BCS Family Fund GP LLC (“GP”), the General
Partner, to BCS Family Fund LP (“Fund”). The Fund is offered to Clients of the Company and
presents a conflict of interest since members of the GP are also owners in the Company and
stand to financially benefit from the recommendation of the Fund to Clients of the Company.
The Company attempts to mitigate this conflict by disclosing it to the public and adhering to the
Company’s Code of Ethics. Clients of the Company that invest in the Fund have no opportunity
to select or evaluate any Fund investments or strategies. The Fund is managed according to its
stated strategy and does not tailor Fund strategies to the individual needs of Fund investors. The
specifics, costs, and risks related to the Fund offering is outlined in the subscription and
disclosure documents provided to each potential investor. All investors should review the
governing documents of the Fund in which they are considering an investment for more
complete information about the fees and compensation payable with respect to such Fund.
C. Other Financial Industry Affiliations.
Please see the response in this Disclosure Brochure to Item 10.A above (“Other Registrations”).
Page 10 of 17
D. Other Activities
Mr. Schiff is a notary public and may act in such capacity if requested by clients. The Company
does not charge any special compensation in connection with Mr. Schiff’s activities as a notary
public.
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading
A. Description of the Firm’s Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to SEC Rule 204A-1, which serves to
establish a standard of business conduct for all of the firm’s personnel that is based upon
fundamental principles of openness, integrity, honesty and trust. The Company is a fiduciary
and therefore has the responsibility to render professional, continuous, and unbiased investment
advice. As a fiduciary, the Company must act at all times in its clients’ best interest and must
avoid or disclose conflicts of interest. It is the purpose of the Company’s Code of Ethics to
emphasize and implement these fundamental principles within its operations.
Information concerning the identity of security holdings and financial circumstances of clients is
to be confidential. Failure to comply with the Code of Ethics may result in disciplinary action,
which may include termination of employment.
The Company will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics to any client or prospective client upon
request.
B. Investing by the Firm and its Personnel
1. The purchase or sale of the same securities as for the client. The Company and Company
personnel may purchase, sell or hold the same securities for each of its and their own accounts as
are purchased or sold for client accounts. In addition, any person affiliated with the Company
may directly or indirectly hold the same securities as the Company recommends to clients.
These investment activities present a potential conflict of interest in the sense that the Company,
or its personnel, may benefit financially from a transaction effected for a client account.
The firm believes that it has addressed this potential conflict of interest through its internal
compliance policies. Initially, each such person will be required to report to the Chief
Compliance Officer of the Company all securities transactions during the preceding quarter in
which she or he had a direct or indirect beneficial interest, and the Chief Compliance Officer will
be required to report his securities transactions to other Firm personnel. Next, employees,
officers and directors of the Company are prohibited from using any information acquired in
their capacities as such to affect any trade or undertake any activity that may adversely affect the
Company’s clients or their interests. All are similarly prohibited from furnishing such
information to others or otherwise improperly using such information for their own benefit.
Further, the Company emphasizes the overarching right of the client to decline to implement any
advice rendered. Lastly, the Company requires that all personnel act in accordance with all
Page 11 of 17
applicable Federal and State regulations governing registered investment advisory practices.
Any individual not in observance of the above may be subject to termination.
2. The purchase or sale of same securities at or about the same time as in a client’s account. The
Company, and/or any person related to the Company, may recommend securities to clients, or
buy or sell securities for client accounts, at or about the same time that the Company or the
person related to the Company buys or sells the same securities for the account of the Company
or the Company’s related person (including, for example, through participation in the same block
transaction as is entered for client accounts). This presents a potential conflict of interest
because the Company or the related person may benefit financially as a result of transactions in
that same security that occur in the client account. Similarly, the value of the security held in the
client’s account may be detrimentally impacted by transactions in that same security that occur in
the Company’s account or the account of the Company’s related person.
The firm believes that it has addressed this potential conflict of interest through its internal
compliance policies as described in Item 11.B.1.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
A. Recommendation of Broker-Dealer
BCS may be deemed to have custody if a client grants BCS authority to debit fees directly from
their account (see Item 15 below). Assets will be held with a qualified custodian, which is
typically a bank or broker-dealer. BCS recommends that investment accounts be held in custody
by Schwab Advisor Services (“Schwab”), which is a qualified custodian. BCS is independently
owned and operated and is not affiliated with Schwab. Schwab will hold client assets in a
brokerage account and buy and sell securities when BCS instructs them to, which BCS does in
accordance with its agreement with the client. While BCS recommends that clients use Schwab
as custodian/broker, clients will decide whether to do so and will open an account with Schwab
by entering into an account agreement directly with Schwab. BCS does not open the account for
the client, although BCS may assist the client in doing so. Even though the account is maintained
at Schwab, BCS may use other brokers to execute trades for the client’s account as described
below (see “Your brokerage and custody costs”).
BCS seeks to recommend a custodian/broker that will hold client assets and execute transactions
on terms that are, overall, most beneficial when compared with other available providers and
their services. BCS considers a wide range of factors, including both quantitative (Ex: costs) and
qualitative (execution, reputation, service) factors. BCS does not consider whether Schwab or
any other broker-dealer/custodian, refers clients to BCS as part of our evaluation of these broker-
dealers.
Schwab Advisor Services
Your brokerage and custody costs
For our clients’ accounts that Schwab maintains, Schwab generally does not charge you
separately for custody services but is compensated by charging you commissions or other fees on
trades that it executes or that settle into your Schwab account. In addition to commissions,
Schwab charges you a flat dollar amount as a “prime broker” or “trade away” fee for each trade
Page 12 of 17
that we have executed by a different broker-dealer but where the securities bought or the funds
from the securities sold are deposited (settled) into your Schwab account. These fees are in
addition to the commissions or other compensation you pay the executing broker-dealer. Because
of this, in order to minimize your trading costs, we have Schwab execute most trades for your
account.
Products and services available to us from Schwab
Schwab Advisor Services™ (formerly called Schwab Institutional®) is Schwab’s business
serving independent investment advisory firms like the Company. They provide the Company
and our clients with access to its institutional brokerage services (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 the Company manage
or administer our clients’ accounts, while others help the Company manage and grow our
business. Schwab’s support services are generally available on an unsolicited basis (we don’t
have to request them) and at no charge to the Company. Following is a more detailed description
of Schwab’s support services:
Services that benefit you
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 we might not otherwise have access
or that would require a significantly higher minimum initial investment by our clients. Schwab’s
services described in this paragraph generally benefit you and your account.
Services that may not directly benefit you.
Schwab also makes available to us other products and services that benefit us but may not
directly benefit you or your account. These products and services assist us in managing and
administering our clients’ accounts. They include investment research, both Schwab’s own and
that of third parties. We may use this research to service all or a substantial number of our
clients’ accounts, including accounts not maintained at Schwab. In addition to investment
research, Schwab also makes available software and other technology that:
Provide access to client account data (such as duplicate trade confirmations and account
statements)
Facilitate trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client
accounts
Provide pricing and other market data
Facilitate payment of our fees from our clients’ accounts
Assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping, and client reporting
Services that generally benefit only us.
Schwab also offers other services intended to help us manage and further develop our business
enterprise. These services include:
Educational conferences and events
Consulting on technology, compliance, legal, and business needs
Publications and conferences on practice management and business succession
Page 13 of 17
Access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants, and insurance
providers
Assistance related to the transition of client assets from prior firms
Schwab may provide some of these services itself. In other cases, it will arrange for third-party
vendors to provide the services to us. Schwab may also discount or waive its fees for some of
these services or pay all or a part of a third party’s fees. Schwab may also provide us with other
benefits, such as occasional business entertainment of our personnel.
Our interest in Schwab’s services
The availability of these services from Schwab benefits us because we do not have to produce or
purchase them. We don’t have to pay for Schwab’s services. These services are not contingent
upon us committing any specific amount of business to Schwab in trading commissions or assets
in custody. We may have an incentive to recommend that you maintain your account with
Schwab, based on our interest in receiving Schwab’s services that benefit our business rather
than based on your interest in receiving the best value in custody services and the most favorable
execution of your transactions. This is a potential conflict of interest. We believe, however, that
our selection of Schwab as custodian and broker is in the best interests of our clients. Our
selection is primarily supported by the scope, quality, and price of Schwab’s services (see “How
we select brokers/ custodians”) and not Schwab’s services that benefit only us.
We do not consider whether Schwab or any other broker-dealer/custodian, refers clients to the
Company as part of our evaluation of these broker-dealers.
Inspira Financial
The Firm may recommend Inspira Financial (Inspira) to clients for custody and brokerage
services. Inspira is used by the Firm to custody qualified account assets that are used for
investment in the Fund. The Company receives economic benefits (“Program Benefits”) which
may include investment research and support services and/or products other than execution from
the broker in connection with client securities transactions.
Please also see the discussion within Item 14 to this Disclosure Brochure.
1. Directed brokerage.
The Company does not generally recommend that a client direct it to execute transaction through
a specified broker-dealer. Nonetheless, the Company may, in its sole discretion, permit a client
to request that the Company effect securities transaction for that client’s account through a
particular broker-dealer. A client’s direction of brokerage can limit or eliminate the Company’s
ability to negotiate commissions (which could result in higher commission costs) and otherwise
obtain most favorable execution of client transactions. In addition, the Company may be unable
to aggregate orders to reduce transaction costs. If the client directs brokerage, the client will
negotiate terms and arrangements for the account with that broker-dealer, and the Company will
not seek better execution services or prices from other broker-dealers. As a result, the client may
pay higher commissions or other transaction costs or incur greater spreads, or receive less
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favorable net prices, on transactions for the account than would otherwise be the case. In other
words, directing brokerage may cost a client more money.
No Company client is required to implement the Company’s investment recommendations
through, or purchase and/or sell insurance products from or through, the Company or from or
through any of the Company’s personnel in their separate capacities as insurance agents.
2. Additional Brokerage
The Firm does secure pricing from one or more broker dealers who trade in bonds. Accordingly,
when bonds are being purchased or sold, the Firm utilizes an approved list of broker dealers.
This list is reviewed at least annually. When selecting from among the list of broker dealers, the
Firm considers the experience of the broker dealer, among other factors, when considering which
broker dealer to utilize for the transaction.
B. Aggregation.
Transactions for each client account generally will be effected independently, unless Registrant
decides to purchase or sell the same securities for several clients at approximately the same time.
Registrant may (but is not obligated to) combine or "batch" such orders to obtain “best
execution”, to negotiate more favorable commission rates, or to allocate equitably among
Registrant’s clients differences in prices and commissions or other transaction costs that might
have been obtained had such orders been placed independently. Under this procedure,
transactions will be averaged as to price and will be allocated among Registrant's clients in
proportion to the purchase and sale orders placed for each client account on any given day. To
the extent that Registrant determines to aggregate client orders for the purchase or sale of
securities, including securities in which Registrant's principals and/or associated persons may
invest, Registrant shall generally do so in accordance with the parameters set forth in SEC No-
Action Letter, SMC Capital, Incorporated. Registrant shall not receive any additional
compensation or remuneration as a result of the aggregation. In the event that the Firm elects not
to aggregate or batch client securities transactions when it has the opportunity to do so, the client
may receive a higher price per transaction than if the Firm had aggregated the subject
transaction.
Item 13: Review of Accounts
A. Account Reviews.
1. Investment Management Services. The Company will review accounts periodically. Each
client account will be monitored by that client’s adviser, and reviewed whenever significant
economic events, changes in market conditions or important new developments concerning a
security affect any individual account. If warranted, Firm personnel will take appropriate action
consistent with the goals and objectives of each account.
2. Financial Planning Services. Financial planning accounts are typically not reviewed on a
subsequent basis unless the client specifically engages the Firm to provide this follow-up service.
Where a financial planning account is also an investment management account, the financial
planning services is revisited as part of the Company’s reviews.
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3. Divorce Mediation Services. The Company does not provide any reviews in connection with
its divorce mediation services.
B. Account Reports.
1. Investment Management Services. Clients will receive written reports and confirmations of
all transactions from broker-dealers on a monthly basis for securities transactions. The Company
will issue periodic written reports. All such reports are issued as an accommodation only and the
client should rely upon the reports issued by the broker-dealer/custodian of the assets.
2. Financial Planning Services. After delivery of the financial plan or the Company’s
conclusions to a client, the Company will not provide any additional reports to the client relative
to financial planning services.
3. Divorce Mediation Services. The Company does not provide any reports in connection with
its divorce mediation services, other than those that are required by the parties to that mediation.
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
A. Non-Clients providing an Economic Benefit to the Company.
Please refer to Item 12, where the recommendation of Broker-Dealers is discussed.
B. Compensation to Non-Advisory Personnel for Client Referrals.
BCS does not have any solicitor relationships to disclose.
Item 15: Custody
The client’s assets are maintained with a qualified custodian. The qualified custodian is
authorized by the client to deduct and direct payment of the Company’s advisory fee directly
from the client’s custodial account. Each client will receive account statements directly from the
broker on at least a quarterly basis. Each client should carefully review those statements. In the
event that a client also receives an account statement from the Company, each client is urged to
compare the account statement they receive from the qualified custodian with the account
statement they receive from the Company, and to rely solely on the account statement received
from the qualified custodian.
The Company is deemed to have custody of client funds where investment advisor
representatives of BCS act as a power of attorney or trustee for client assets and accounts.
The Company will not have physical custody of any assets of the Fund other than certain
privately offered securities to the extent permitted by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and
SEC Staff guidance. Nevertheless, the Company will generally be deemed to have custody of the
assets of the Fund as a result of its position as an affiliate of the general partner of the Fund. The
Company relies on an exception available to “pooled investment vehicles” from the reporting
and surprise audit obligations imposed by the SEC’s custody rule by causing the Fund’s financial
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statements to be audited annually by a recognized independent auditor registered with and
subject to regular inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The audited
financial statements are distributed to the respective investors in the Fund, typically within 180
days (or sooner if required) after the Funds’ fiscal year end.
Item 16: Investment Discretion
It is expected that the majority of the activities of the Company will involve individual
investment advice provided to individual clients. This advice will be discretionary in that the
Company will have written authority to determine the securities to be bought or sold, the amount
of securities to be bought or sold, the broker or dealer to be used and the commission rates to be
paid. Clients may (but typically do not) place limitations on the Company’s discretionary
authority; such limitations will be considered by the Company on a case-by-case basis.
the agreement between
the client and
The Company’s servicing contract, and
the
custodian/broker-dealer for the account, grant discretionary authority to the Company. The
client’s written agreement with the custodian also grants a limited power of attorney to the
Company relative to transactions in the client’s custodial account.
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
The Company does not vote client proxies for client accounts. Therefore, although the Company
may provide investment advisory services relative to client investment assets, the Company’s
clients maintain exclusive responsibility for (1) directing the manner in which proxies solicited
by issuers of securities beneficially owned by the client shall be voted, and (2) making all
elections relative to any mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, bankruptcy proceedings and other
type events pertaining to the client’s investment assets. The Company and/or the client shall
correspondingly instruct each custodian of the assets to forward to the client copies of all proxies
and shareholder communications relating to the client’s investment assets. The Company
generally does not advise clients on questions regarding a particular solicitation.
The Fund is invested in private investments which typically do not issue proxies; therefore, the
traditional concept of voting proxies and participation in class actions is not currently applicable
to the Company.
Item 18: Financial Information
The Company does not have any information to disclose in response to this Item 18.
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