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Item 1: Cover Page
Cohen Investment Advisors, LLC
Form ADV Part 2A
Investment Adviser Brochure
264 South River Road, Suite 414
Bedford, NH 03110
(603) 232-8350
www.investwithcohen.com
March 2025
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Cohen
Investment Advisors, LLC (“we,” “us,” “our”). If you have any questions about the contents of this
Brochure, please contact Daniel M. Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and
Chief Compliance Officer at (603) 232-8350 or daniel@investwithcohen.com.
Additional information about our Firm is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.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.
We are a registered investment adviser. Please note that use of the term “registered investment
advisor” and a description of the Firm and/or our employees as “registered” does not imply a
certain level of skill or training. For more information on the qualifications of the Firm and our
employees who advise you, we encourage you to review this Brochure and the Brochure
Supplement(s).
Item 2: Material Changes
In this Item of Cohen Investment Advisors’ (the Firm) Form ADV 2, the Firm is required to discuss
any material changes that have been made to Form ADV since the last Annual Amendment.
Material Changes since the Last Update
Since the last Annual Amendment filing on March 15, 2024, we have no Material Changes to
report.
Annual Update
You will receive a summary of any material changes to our Form ADV brochure within 120 days
of our fiscal year end. We may also provide updated disclosure information about material
changes on a more frequent basis. Any summaries of changes will include the date of the last
annual update of the ADV.
The Supplement to our Form ADV Brochure (Form ADV Part 2B) provides you with information
regarding our employees that provide investment advice.
Full Brochure Available
Our Form ADV may be requested at any time, without charge by contacting Daniel M. Cohen,
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at (603) 232-8350
or daniel@investwithcohen.com. Additional information about the Firm is also available via the
SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. The SEC’s website also provides information about
any employees affiliated with the Firm who are registered as investment advisor representatives.
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Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page ........................................................................................................................ 1
Item 2: Material Changes .............................................................................................................. 2
Item 4: Advisory Business ............................................................................................................. 4
Item 5: Fees and Compensation .................................................................................................... 8
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management............................................... 12
Item 7: Types of Clients ............................................................................................................... 13
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ......................................... 14
Item 9: Disciplinary Information.................................................................................................. 18
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ....................................................... 19
Item 11: Code of Ethics ............................................................................................................... 20
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ...................................................................................................... 21
Item 13: Review of Accounts ....................................................................................................... 24
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation .................................................................... 25
Item 15: Custody ......................................................................................................................... 26
Item 16: Investment Discretion ................................................................................................... 28
Item 17: Voting Client Securities ................................................................................................. 29
Item 18: Financial Information .................................................................................................... 30
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Item 4: Advisory Business
Cohen Investment Advisors offers a variety of advisory services, which include financial planning,
consulting, and investment management services. Prior to the rendering of any of the foregoing
advisory services, clients are required to enter into one or more written agreements with Cohen
Investment Advisors setting forth the relevant terms and conditions of the advisory relationship
(the “Agreement”).
Cohen Investment Advisors provides its services in an effort to improve clients’ overall financial
well-being. To that end, the Firm will analyze client information to assess their current situation,
define their goals and determine what should be done in order to meet those goals. Depending
on what services the Firm is engaged to provide, this could entail analyzing client assets, liabilities
and cash flow, current insurance coverage, investments, tax strategies and other less tangible
concerns. The Firm believes an approach that carefully monitors client portfolios is integral in
achieving client objectives.
Cohen Investment Advisors has been a registered investment adviser since October 2013 and is
wholly owned by Daniel M. Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Chief
Compliance Officer.
While this brochure generally describes the business of Cohen Investment Advisors, certain
sections also discuss the activities of its Supervised Persons, which refer to the Firm’s officers,
partners, directors (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions),
employees or any other person who provides investment advice on Cohen Investment Advisors’
behalf and is subject to the Firm’s supervision or control.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
Financial Planning and Consulting Services may be offered as a component of the overall
investment advisory services, which may include any or all of the following functions:
Investment Management and Consulting
• Tax and Cash Flow Forecasting
•
• Retirement Planning
• Estate Planning
• Financial Reporting
•
Investment Consulting
•
Insurance Needs Analysis
• Retirement Plan Analysis
Cohen Investment Advisors does not charge a separate fee for financial planning services.
Cohen Investment Advisors may recommend the services of itself, its Supervised Persons in their
individual capacities as insurance agents, and/or other professionals to implement its
recommendations. Clients are advised that a conflict of interest exists if clients engage Cohen
Investment Advisors to provide additional fee-based services. Clients retain absolute discretion
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over all decisions regarding implementation and are under no obligation to act upon any of the
recommendations made by Cohen Investment Advisors under a financial planning or consulting
engagement or to engage the services of any such recommended professionals, including Cohen
Investment Advisors itself. Clients are advised that it remains their responsibility to promptly
notify the Firm of any change in their financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose
of reviewing, evaluating, or revising Cohen Investment Advisors’ previous recommendations
and/or services.
Investment Management and Wealth Management Services
Cohen Investment Advisors primarily manages client investment portfolios on a discretionary
basis; however, the Firm does have some non-discretionary accounts. Cohen Investment
Advisors may also provide clients with wealth management services that, in addition to managing
investment portfolios, includes a broad range of comprehensive financial planning and consulting
services.
Cohen Investment Advisors allocates client assets among various models it produces based on
proprietary research which focuses primarily on individual debt and equity securities, mutual
funds, and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). In addition, Cohen Investment Advisors may also
recommend that clients who qualify as accredited investors, as defined by Rule 501 of the
Securities Act of 1933, invest in privately placed securities, which may include debt, equity,
and/or interests in pooled investment vehicles. Where appropriate, the Firm may also provide
advice about any type of legacy position or other investment held in client portfolios.
Clients may also engage Cohen Investment Advisors to advise on certain investment products
that are not maintained at their primary custodian, such as variable life insurance and annuity
contracts and assets held in employer sponsored retirement plans and qualified tuition plans
(i.e., 529 plans). In these situations, Cohen Investment Advisors directs or recommends the
allocation of client assets among the various investment options available with the product.
These assets are generally maintained at the underwriting insurance company, or the custodian
designated by the product’s provider.
Cohen Investment Advisors tailors its advisory services to meet the needs of its individual clients
and continuously seeks to ensure that client portfolios are managed in a manner consistent with
their specific investment profiles. Cohen Investment Advisors consults with clients on an initial
and ongoing basis to determine their specific risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity constraints
and other qualitative factors relevant to the management of their portfolios. Clients are advised
to promptly notify Cohen Investment Advisors if there are changes in their financial situation or if
they wish to place any limitations on the management of their portfolios. Clients may impose
reasonable restrictions or mandates on the management of their accounts if Cohen Investment
Advisors determines, in its sole discretion, the conditions would not materially impact the
performance of a management strategy or prove overly burdensome to the Firm’s management
efforts.
Private Fund
Cohen Real Estate Advisors, LLC is the General Partner to The Cohen Real Estate Fund II, LLLP (the
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Fund); a private real estate fund in which certain clients invest. Daniel is the principal of the
Fund.
Additional information, including fees and specific procedures and restrictions for withdrawals
from, and terminations of a position in the Fund are described in the Fund’s Private Placement
Memorandums.
Use of Independent Managers
As mentioned above, Cohen Investment Advisors may select or recommend certain Independent
Managers to actively manage a portion of its clients’ assets. The specific terms and conditions
under which a client engages an Independent Manager are set forth in a separate written
agreement between the designated Independent Manager and either Cohen Investment
Advisors or the client. In addition to this brochure, clients may also receive the written disclosure
documents of the designated Independent Managers engaged to manage their assets. Cohen
Investment Advisors does not receive compensation from any such Independent Managers.
Cohen Investment Advisors evaluates various information about the Independent Managers it
chooses to manage client portfolios, which may include the Independent Managers’ public
disclosure documents, materials supplied by the Independent Managers themselves and other
third-party analyses it believes are reputable. To the extent possible, the Firm seeks to assess the
Independent Managers’ investment strategies, past performance, and risk results in relation to
its clients’ individual portfolio allocations and risk exposure. Cohen Investment Advisors also
takes into consideration each Independent Manager’s management style, returns, reputation,
financial strength, reporting, pricing, and research capabilities, among other factors.
Cohen Investment Advisors continues to provide services relative to the discretionary selection
of the Independent Managers. On an ongoing basis, the Firm monitors the performance of those
accounts being managed by Independent Managers. Cohen Investment Advisors seeks to ensure
the Independent Managers’ strategies and target allocations remain aligned with its clients’
investment objectives and overall best interests.
Fiduciary Statement
We are fiduciaries under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and when we provide investment
advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, we are
also fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act,
(“ERISA”) and/or the Internal Revenue Code, (“IRC”), as applicable, which are laws governing
retirement accounts.
We have to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. At the same time,
the way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests. We must take into
consideration each client’s objectives and act in the best interests of the client. We are
prohibited from engaging in any activity that is in conflict with the interests of the client. We
have the following responsibilities when working with a client:
• To render impartial advice;
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• To make appropriate recommendations based on the client’s needs, financial
circumstances, and investment objectives;
• To exercise a high degree of care and diligence to ensure that information is presented in
an accurate manner and not in a way to mislead;
• To have a reasonable basis, information, and understanding of the facts in order to
provide appropriate recommendations and representations;
• Disclose any material conflict of interest in writing; and
• Treat clients fairly and equitably.
Regulations prohibit us from:
• Employing any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud a client;
• Making any untrue statement of a material fact to a client or omitting to state a material
fact when communicating with a client;
• Engaging in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as
fraud or deceit upon a client; or
• Engaging in any manipulative act or practice with a client.
We will act with competence, dignity, integrity, and in an ethical manner, when working with
clients. We will use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgement when
conducting investment analysis, making investment recommendations, trading, promoting our
services, and engaging in other professional activities.
Wrap Fee Programs
Cohen Investment Advisors does not participate in a Wrap Fee Program.
Client Assets
As of January 14, 2025, the Firm has $212,993,929 in assets under management, managed solely
on a discretionary basis.
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Item 5: Fees and Compensation
Cohen Investment Advisors offers its investment management services on a fee basis, based
upon assets under management or advisement.
Financial Planning and Consulting Fees
As previously noted in Item 4, Cohen Investment Advisors does not charge a separate fee for
Financial Planning and Consulting Services.
Investment Management and Wealth Management Fees
Cohen Investment Advisors provides investment management services for an annual fee based
on the amount of assets under the Firm’s management. The fee varies between 150 and 75 basis
points (1.50% – 0.75%), based on the following fee schedule:
Portfolio Value
Below $500,000
$500,001 to $1,000,000
Above $1,000,000
Above $5,000,000
Annual Fee*
1.50%
1.25%
1.00%
0.75%
(*Fee rates may vary for existing clients. Please refer to the client agreement for more
information.)
The annual fee is prorated and charged quarterly in advance, based upon the market value of the
assets being managed by Cohen Investment Advisors on the last day of the previous billing
period.
Clients may make additions to and withdrawals from their assets at any time. Contributions will
be billed in arrears based on the number of days remaining in the Billing Period and may be
waived at the company’s discretion. There are no refunds on withdrawals. All withdrawals are
subject to customary securities settlement procedures. In the event the Agreement is
terminated, the fee for the final billing period is prorated through the effective date of the
termination and the unearned portion is refunded to the client, as appropriate.
Private Fund
The Fund is charged a management fee of 1% of the annually updated asset value as of each
January 1st, charged quarterly in advance. A 10% performance-based bonus may be paid if the
Fund earns more than a 5% preferred return.
Fee Discretion
Cohen Investment Advisors, in its sole discretion, may negotiate to charge a lesser fee based
upon certain criteria, such as anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future additional
assets, dollar amount of assets to be managed, related accounts, account composition, pre-
existing client relationship, account retention and pro bono activities.
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In addition, clients with more complex needs (i.e., international clients), may be charged up to a
100-basis point (1.00%) surcharge.
Cash Balances
Some of your assets may be held as cash and remain uninvested. Holding a portion of your assets
in cash and cash alternatives, i.e., money market fund shares, may be based on your desire to
have an allocation to cash as an asset class, to support a phased market entrance strategy, to
facilitate transaction execution, to have available funds for withdrawal needs or to pay fees or to
provide for asset protection during periods of volatile market conditions. Your cash and cash
equivalents will be subject to our investment advisory fees unless otherwise agreed upon. You
may experience negative performance on the cash portion of your portfolio if the investment
advisory fees charged are higher than the returns you receive from your cash.
Retirement Plan Rollover Recommendations
As part of our investment advisory services to our clients, we may recommend that clients roll
assets from their employer’s retirement plan, such as a 401(k), 457, or ERISA 403(b) account
(collectively, a “Plan Account”), to an individual retirement account, such as a SIMPLE IRA, SEP
IRA, Traditional IRA, or Roth IRA (collectively, an “IRA Account”) that we will advise on the client’s
behalf. We may also recommend rollovers from IRA Accounts to Plan Accounts, from Plan
Accounts to Plan Accounts, and from IRA Accounts to IRA Accounts.
If the client elects to roll the assets to an IRA that is subject to our advisement, we will charge the
client an asset-based fee as set forth in the advisory agreement the client executed with our firm.
This creates a conflict of interest because it creates a financial incentive for our firm to
recommend the rollover to the client (i.e., receipt of additional fee-based compensation). Clients
are under no obligation, contractually or otherwise, to complete the rollover. Moreover, if clients
do complete the rollover, clients are under no obligation to have the assets in an IRA advised on
by our firm. Due to the foregoing conflict of interest, when we make rollover recommendations,
we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in our clients’ best interests and not put
our interests ahead of our clients.’
Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
• meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give
prudent advice);
• never put our financial interests ahead of our clients’ when making recommendations
(give loyal advice);
• avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
•
follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in our
clients’ best interests;
• charge no more than a reasonable fee for our services; and
• give clients basic information about conflicts of interest.
Many employers permit former employees to keep their retirement assets in their company
plan. Also, current employees can sometimes move assets out of their company plan before they
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retire or change jobs. In determining whether to complete the rollover to an IRA, and to the
extent the following options are available, clients should consider the costs and benefits of a
rollover. Note that an employee will typically have four options in this situation:
1. leaving the funds in the employer’s (former employer’s) plan;
2. moving the funds to a new employer’s retirement plan;
3. cashing out and taking a taxable distribution from the plan; or
4. rolling the funds into an IRA rollover account.
Each of these options has positives and negatives. Because of that, along with the importance of
understanding the differences between these types of accounts, we will provide clients with an
explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of both account types and document the basis
for our belief that the rollover transaction we recommend is in your best interests.
Additional Fees and Expenses
In addition to the advisory fees paid to Cohen Investment Advisors, clients may also incur certain
charges imposed by other third parties, such as broker-dealers, custodians, trust companies,
banks, and other financial institutions (collectively “Financial Institutions”). These additional
charges may include securities brokerage commissions, transaction fees, custodial fees, charges
imposed directly by a mutual fund or ETF in a client’s account, as disclosed in the fund’s
prospectus (e.g., fund management fees and other fund expenses), deferred sales charges, odd-
lot differentials, transfer taxes, wire transfer and electronic fund fees and other fees and taxes on
brokerage accounts and securities transactions. The Firm’s brokerage practices are described at
length in Item 12, below.
Lower fees for comparable services may be available from other sources.
Fee Debit
Clients generally provide Cohen Investment Advisors with the authority to directly debit their
accounts for payment of the Firm’s investment advisory fees. The Financial Institutions that act
as qualified custodians for client accounts have agreed to send statements to clients not less
than quarterly detailing all account transactions, including any amounts paid to Cohen
Investment Advisors. As required by applicable state securities laws, Cohen Investment Advisors
also sends clients an itemized summary detailing the advisory fees deducted from their accounts.
Account Additions and Withdrawals
Clients may make additions to and withdrawals from their account at any time. Additions may be
in cash or securities provided that the Firm reserves the right to liquidate any transferred
securities or declines to accept particular securities into a client’s account. Clients may withdraw
account assets on notice to Cohen Investment Advisors, subject to the usual and customary
securities settlement procedures. However, Cohen Investment Advisors designs its portfolios as
long-term investments, and the withdrawal of assets may impair the achievement of a client’s
investment objectives. Cohen Investment Advisors may consult with its clients about the options
and implications of transferring securities. Clients are advised that when transferred securities
are liquidated, they may be subject to transaction fees, fees assessed at the mutual fund level
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(i.e., contingent deferred sales charge) and/or tax ramifications.
Termination
The Agreement may be terminated at any time upon receipt of written notice to terminate given
by either party to the other. If the client terminates the Agreement, Cohen Investment Advisors
will promptly repay the client any unearned portion of the Management Fee and the client will
promptly pay Cohen Investment Advisors any unpaid but earned Management Fees, as
appropriate. When a copy of the Brochure Document(s) is not provided to the client at least 48
hours prior to signing the contract(s), the client has five business days in which to cancel the
contract, without penalty.
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Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
As noted in Item 5 – Fees and Compensation, Cohen Investment Advisors may enter into
performance fee arrangements with qualified clients: such fees are subject to individualized
negotiation with each such client. Cohen Investment Advisors will structure any performance or
incentive fee arrangement subject to Section 205(a)(1) of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940
(The Advisors Act) in accordance with the available exemptions there under, including the
exemption set forth in Rule 205-3. In measuring clients' assets for the calculation of
performance-based fees, Cohen Investment Advisors shall include realized and unrealized capital
gains and losses.
Performance-based fee arrangements may create an incentive for Cohen Investment Advisors to
recommend investments which may be riskier or more speculative than those which would be
recommended under a different fee arrangement. Such fee arrangements also create an
incentive to favor higher fee-paying accounts over other accounts in the allocation of investment
opportunities. Cohen Investment Advisors has procedures designed and implemented to ensure
that all clients are treated fairly and equally, and to prevent this conflict from influencing the
allocation of investment opportunities among clients.
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Item 7: Types of Clients
Cohen Investment Advisors provides its services to individuals, high net worth individuals, pooled
investment vehicles, profit sharing plans, trusts, and estates.
Account Minimums
As a condition for starting and maintaining an investment management relationship, Cohen
Investment Advisors generally imposes a minimum portfolio size of $250,000, and a minimum
fee of $2,500. Clients who participate in the Firm’s Real Estate Partnership are subject to a
$100,000 minimum investment to participate.
The Firm, in its sole discretion, may accept clients with smaller portfolios based upon certain
criteria, such as anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future additional assets, dollar
amount of assets to be managed, related accounts, account composition, pre-existing client
relationships, account retention and pro bono activities. Cohen Investment Advisors only accepts
clients with less than the minimum portfolio size if, in the sole opinion of the firm, the smaller
portfolio size will not result in a substantial increase of investment risk beyond the client’s
identified risk tolerance. Cohen Investment Advisors may aggregate the portfolios of family
members to meet the minimum portfolio size.
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Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
Cohen Investment Advisors utilizes largely fundamental but may include some aspects of
technical and cyclical methods of analysis.
Fundamental analysis involves an evaluation of the fundamental financial condition and
competitive position of a particular company. For Cohen Investment Advisors, this process
typically involves an analysis of a company’s management team, balance sheet, income
statement, cash flow, financial ratios, past performance, reputation, and financial strength in
relation to the asset class concentrations and risk exposures of the Firm’s model asset
allocations. A substantial risk in relying upon fundamental analysis is that while the overall health
and position of a company may be good, evolving market conditions may negatively impact the
security.
Technical analysis involves the examination of past market data rather than specific company
information in determining the recommendations made to clients. Technical analysis may involve
the use of mathematical based indicators and charts, such as moving averages and price
correlations, to identify market patterns and trends which may be based on investor sentiment
rather than the fundamentals of the company. A substantial risk in relying upon technical
analysis is that spotting historical trends may not help to predict such trends in the future. Even if
the trend will eventually reoccur, there is no guarantee that Cohen Investment Advisors will be
able to accurately predict such a recurrence.
Cyclical analysis is similar to technical analysis in that it involves the assessment of market
conditions at a macro (entire market or economy) or micro (company specific) level, rather than
focusing on the overall fundamental analysis of the health of the particular company that Cohen
Investment Advisors is recommending. The risks with cyclical analysis are similar to those of
technical analysis.
Investment Strategies
Prior to developing an investment strategy tailored to each client, the Firm gathers and analyzes
detailed information about the client, including goals, existing investments, insurance coverage,
sources of income and other assets and liabilities. The Firm then seeks to define the client’s
investment objectives and risk profile, which together form the basis for the selection and
diversification of investments. Once an initial investment strategy is established, the Firm’s
investment advisors continually monitor its clients’ portfolios, making changes as needed.
Risk of Loss
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear.
All investments involve the risk of loss, including (among other things) loss of principal, a
reduction in earnings (including interest, dividends, and other distributions), and the loss of
future earnings. Although we manage assets in a manner consistent with your investment
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objectives and risk tolerance, there can be no guarantee that our efforts will be successful. You
should be prepared to bear the following risk of loss:
Market Risks: The profitability of a significant portion of Cohen Investment Advisors’
recommendations may depend to a great extent upon correctly assessing the future
course of price movements of stocks and bonds. There can be no assurance that Cohen
Investment Advisors will be able to predict those price movements accurately.
Mutual Funds and ETFs: An investment in a mutual fund or ETF involves risk, including
the loss of principal. Mutual fund and ETF shareholders are necessarily subject to the risks
stemming from the individual issuers of the fund’s underlying portfolio securities. Such
shareholders are also liable for taxes on any fund-level capital gains, as mutual funds and
ETFs are required by law to distribute capital gains in the event, they sell securities for a
profit that cannot be offset by a corresponding loss.
Shares of mutual funds are generally distributed and redeemed on an ongoing basis by
the fund itself or a broker acting on its behalf. The trading price at which a share is
transacted is equal to a fund’s stated daily per share net asset value (“NAV”), plus any
shareholders fees (e.g., sales loads, purchase fees, redemption fees). The per share NAV
of a mutual fund is calculated at the end of each business day, although the actual NAV
fluctuates with intraday changes to the market value of the fund’s holdings. The trading
prices of a mutual fund’s shares may differ significantly from the NAV during periods of
market volatility, which may, among other factors, lead to the mutual fund’s shares
trading at a premium or discount to actual NAV.
Shares of ETFs are listed on securities exchanges and transacted at negotiated prices in
the secondary market. Generally, ETF shares trade at or near their most recent NAV,
which is generally calculated at least once daily for indexed based ETFs and more
frequently for actively managed ETFs. However, certain inefficiencies may cause the
shares to trade at a premium or discount to their pro rata NAV.
There is also no guarantee that an active secondary market for such shares will develop or
continue to exist. Generally, an ETF only redeems shares when aggregated as creation
units (usually 20,000 shares or more). Therefore, if a liquid secondary market ceases to
exist for shares of a particular ETF, a shareholder may have no way to dispose of such
shares.
Use of Independent Managers: Cohen Investment Advisors may recommend the use of
Independent Managers. In these situations, Cohen Investment Advisors continues to do
ongoing due diligence of such managers, but such recommendations rely to a great
extent on the Independent Managers’ ability to successfully implement their investment
strategies. In addition, Cohen Investment Advisors generally may not have the ability to
supervise the Independent Managers on a day-to-day basis.
Management Through Similarly Managed “Model” Accounts: Cohen Investment
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Advisors manages certain accounts through the use of similarly managed “model”
portfolios, whereby the Firm allocates all or a portion of its clients’ assets among various
stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and/or securities on a discretionary basis using one or more
of its proprietary investment strategies. In managing assets through the use of models,
the Firm remains in compliance with the safe harbor provisions of Rule 3a-4 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
The strategy used to manage a model portfolio seeks tax efficient strategies that strive for
a below average portfolio turnover, but it is possible that certain strategies may, at times,
involve an above average portfolio turnover that could negatively impact clients’ net after
tax gains. While the Firm seeks to ensure that clients’ assets are managed in a manner
consistent with their individual financial situations and investment objectives, securities
transactions affected pursuant to a model investment strategy are usually done without
regard to a client’s individual tax ramifications. Clients should contact Cohen Investment
Advisors if they experience a change in their financial situation or if they want to impose
reasonable restrictions on the management of their accounts.
Cybersecurity Risk: A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional
events that may cause an account to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption,
or lose operational capacity. This in turn could cause an account to incur regulatory
penalties, reputational damage, and additional compliance costs associated with
corrective measures, and/or financial loss.
Pandemic Risk: Large-scale outbreaks of infectious disease can greatly increase morbidity
and mortality over a wide geographic area, crossing international boundaries, and causing
significant economic, social, and political disruption.
Custodial Risk: This risk is the probability that a party to a transaction will be unable or
unwilling to fulfill its contractual obligations either due to technological errors, control
failures, malfeasance, or potential regulatory liabilities.
Privately Placed Securities Risks
In addition to the risks cited above, privately placed securities are subject to several specific risks:
Liquidity Risk: Due to a lack of demand in the marketplace or other factors, an account
may not be able to sell some or all of the investments promptly or may only be able to
sell investments at less-than- desired prices. Further, certain investments will have
restrictions on transferability that prohibit or restrict the ability to sell those investments.
Other than investments in the Private Fund, Cohen Investment Advisors’ client accounts
are invested in liquid publicly traded securities.
Management Risk: There is no guarantee that Cohen Investments Advisors’ judgments
about the intrinsic value and potential appreciation of a particular asset class or
individual security are correct. Even if Cohen Investment Advisors’ assessment of the
intrinsic value of a security is correct, it may take a long period of time for the security to
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realize that intrinsic value and there is no guarantee that the stock market will recognize
Cohen Investments Advisors’ estimate of the value of a security.
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Item 9: Disciplinary Information
Cohen Investment Advisors has not been involved in any legal or disciplinary events that are
material to a client’s evaluation of its advisory business or the integrity of its management.
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Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Financial Industry Activities
Cohen Investment Advisors is not registered as a broker-dealer, and none of its management
persons are registered representatives of a broker-dealer.
Neither Cohen Investment Advisors nor any of its management persons is registered as (or
associated with) a futures commissions merchant, commodity pool operator, or a commodity
trading advisor.
Financial Industry Affiliations – Private Fund
As disclosed in Items 4 and 5, certain clients may invest in The Cohen Real Estate Fund II, LLLP,
private real estate fund for which Cohen Investment Advisors acts as the Investment Adviser. As
noted in Item 4, Cohen Real Estate Advisors, LLC is the General Partner, of which Daniel M.
Cohen is the principal.
Other Investment Advisors
Cohen Investment Advisors selects other investment advisors for its clients. Cohen Investment
Advisors does not receive any compensation for the selection of other managers.
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Item 11: Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics
Our employees must comply with a Code of Ethics and Statement for Insider Trading (the
“Code”). The Code describes our high standard of business conduct, and fiduciary duty to our
clients. The Code’s key provisions include:
• Statement of General Principles
• Policy on and reporting of Personal Securities Transactions
• A prohibition on Insider Trading
• Restrictions on the acceptance of significant gifts
• Procedures to detect and deter misconduct and violations
• Requirement to maintain confidentiality of client information
Our employees must acknowledge the terms of the Code at least annually, and any employee not
in compliance with the Code may be subject to termination. We will provide a copy of our Code
upon request.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions – Personal Securities Transactions
Cohen and its employees may buy or sell securities identical to those recommended to clients for
their personal accounts. When the Firm is engaging in or considering a transaction in any security
on behalf of a client, no Access Person may knowingly affect for themselves or for their
immediate family (i.e., spouse, minor children and adults living in the same household as the
Access Person) a transaction in that security unless:
•
•
the transaction has been completed;
the transaction for the Access Person is completed as part of a batch trade (as defined
below in Item 12) with clients; or
• a decision has been made not to engage in the transaction for the client
These requirements are not applicable to: (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United
States; (ii) money market instruments, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit,
commercial paper, repurchase agreements and other high quality short-term debt instruments,
including repurchase agreements; (iii) shares issued by mutual funds or money market funds; and
(iv) shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more mutual
funds.
Neither Cohen nor its employees recommend to clients or buy or sell for client accounts,
securities in which they have a material financial interest except as disclosed in Item 10, for The
Cohen Real Estate Fund II, LLLP, where Cohen Real Estate Advisors, LLC is the General Partner,
and of which Daniel M. Cohen is the principal.
It is Cohen’s policy that the Firm will not affect any principal or agency cross securities
transactions for client accounts. Cohen will also not cross trades between client accounts.
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Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Cohen Investment Advisors does not receive formal soft dollar benefits other than execution
from broker/dealers in connection with client securities transactions. See disclosure below in
Software and Support Provided by Financial Institutions.
Cohen Investment Advisors does not receive client referrals from broker/dealers.
Cohen Investment Advisors generally recommends that clients utilize the brokerage and clearing
services of Pershing Investment Manager Services (“Pershing”) or, Interactive Brokers for
investment management accounts.
Factors which Cohen Investment Advisors considers in recommending broker-dealers to clients
include their respective financial strength, reputation, execution, pricing, research, and service.
The specified broker-dealers noted above enable Cohen Investment Advisors to obtain many
mutual funds without transaction charges and other securities at nominal transaction charges.
The commissions and/or transaction fees charged by these broker-dealers may be higher or
lower than those charged by other Financial Institutions.
The commissions paid by Cohen Investment Advisors’ clients comply with the Firm’s duty to
obtain “best execution.” Clients may pay commissions that are higher than another qualified
Financial Institution might charge to affect the same transaction where Cohen Investment
Advisors determines that the commissions are reasonable in relation to the value of the
brokerage and research services received. In seeking best execution, the determinative factor is
not the lowest possible cost, but whether the transaction represents the best qualitative
execution, taking into consideration the full range of a Financial Institution’s services, including
among others, the value of research provided, execution capability, commission rates and
responsiveness. Cohen Investment Advisors seeks competitive rates but may not necessarily
obtain the lowest possible commission rates for client transactions.
Cohen Investment Advisors periodically and systematically reviews its policies and procedures
regarding its recommendation of Financial Institutions in light of its duty to obtain best
execution.
If a client directs Cohen Investment Advisors in writing to use a particular Financial Institution to
execute some or all transactions for the client, the Firm will not be responsible for seeking best
execution; as a result, the client may pay higher commissions or other transaction costs, greater
spreads or may receive less favorable net prices, on transactions for the account than would
otherwise be the case. Subject to its duty of best execution, Cohen Investment Advisors may
decline a client’s request to direct brokerage.
Transactions for each client generally will be affected independently unless Cohen Investment
Advisors decides to purchase or sell the same securities for several clients at approximately the
same time. Cohen Investment Advisors may (but is not obligated to) combine or “batch” such
orders to obtain best execution, to negotiate more favorable commission rates or to allocate
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equitably among Cohen Investment Advisors’ client’s differences in prices and commissions or
other transaction costs that might not have been obtained had such orders been placed
independently. Under this procedure, transactions will generally be averaged as to price and
allocated among Cohen Investment Advisors’ clients pro rata to the purchase and sale orders
placed for each client on any given day. To the extent that Cohen Investment Advisors
determines to aggregate client orders for the purchase or sale of securities, including securities in
which Cohen Investment Advisors’ Supervised Persons may invest, the Firm generally does so in
accordance with applicable rules promulgated under the Advisers Act and no-action guidance
provided by the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Cohen Investment
Advisors does not receive any additional compensation or remuneration as a result of the
aggregation. In the event that the Firm determines that a prorated allocation is not appropriate
under the particular circumstances, the allocation will be made based upon other relevant
factors, which may include: (i) when only a small percentage of the order is executed, shares may
be allocated to the account with the smallest order or the smallest position or to an account that
is out of line with respect to security or sector weightings relative to other portfolios, with similar
mandates; (ii) allocations may be given to one account when one account has limitations in its
investment guidelines which prohibit it from purchasing other securities which are expected to
produce similar investment results and can be purchased by other accounts; (iii) if an account
reaches an investment guideline limit and cannot participate in an allocation, shares may be
reallocated to other accounts (this may be due to unforeseen changes in an account’s assets
after an order is placed); (iv) with respect to sale allocations, allocations may be given to
accounts low in cash; (v) in cases when a pro rata allocation of a potential execution would result
in a de minimis allocation in one or more accounts, Cohen Investment Advisors may exclude the
account(s) from the allocation; the transactions may be executed on a pro rata basis among the
remaining accounts; or (vi) in cases where a small proportion of an order is executed in all
accounts, shares may be allocated to one or more accounts on a random basis.
Consistent with obtaining best execution, brokerage transactions may be directed to certain
broker-dealers in return for investment research products and/or services which assist Cohen
Investment Advisors in its investment decision-making process. Such research generally will be
used to service all of the Firm’s clients, but brokerage commissions paid by one client may be
used to pay for research that is not used in managing that client’s portfolio. The receipt of
investment research products and/or services as well as the allocation of the benefit of such
investment research products and/or services poses a conflict of interest because Cohen
Investment Advisors does not have to produce or pay for the products or services. The receipt or
research services and products may give Cohen Investment Advisors an incentive to recommend
certain broker-dealers based on its interest rather than the clients.
Software and Support Provided by Financial Institutions
Cohen Investment Advisors may receive from Pershing or Interactive Brokers, without cost to
Cohen Investment Advisors, computer software and related systems support, which allow Cohen
Investment Advisors to better monitor client accounts maintained at the various broker-dealers
noted above. Cohen Investment Advisors may receive the software and related support without
cost because Cohen Investment Advisors renders investment management services to clients
that maintain assets at certain broker-dealers. The software and support are not provided in
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connection with securities transactions of clients (i.e., not “soft dollars”). The software and
related systems support may benefit Cohen Investment Advisors, but not its clients directly. In
fulfilling its duties to its clients, Cohen Investment Advisors endeavors at all times to put the
interests of its clients first. Clients should be aware, however, that Cohen Investment Advisors’
receipt of economic benefits from a broker-dealer creates a conflict of interest since these
benefits may influence Cohen Investment Advisors’ choice of broker-dealer over another broker-
dealer that does not furnish similar software, systems support or services.
Trade Aggregation
Cohen may aggregate trades for multiple accounts. Orders for the same security entered on
behalf of more than one client may be aggregated (i.e., blocked or bunched) subject to the
aggregation being in the best interests of all participating clients. If the order is filled at different
prices during the day, the prices are averaged for the day so that all participating accounts
receive the same price. If an order has not been filled completely so that there are not enough
shares to allocate among all the clients equally, shares will be allocated in good faith, based on
the following considerations: amount of cash in the account, existing asset allocation and
industry exposure, risk profile, and type of security. Cohen’s allocation procedure seeks to be fair
and equitable to all clients with no particular group or client(s) being favored or disfavored over
any other clients.
Accounts for Cohen or its employees may be included in a block trade with client accounts.
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Item 13: Review of Accounts
Reviews
We monitor client portfolios as part of an ongoing process, and regular account reviews are
generally conducted on a quarterly basis. Reviews could also occur at the time of new deposits,
material changes in the client’s financial information, changes in economic cycles, at our
discretion or as often as the client directs. Reviews entail analyzing securities, sensitivity to
overall markets, economic changes, investment results, asset allocation, etc., to ensure the
investment strategy and expectations are structured to continue to meet the client’s objectives.
These reviews are conducted by one of our Investment Advisor Representatives.
Clients are encouraged to discuss their needs, goals, and objectives with us and to inform us of
any changes.
Reporting
At least quarterly, the custodian provides clients with an account statement for each client
account, which may include individual holdings, cost basis information, deposits and
withdrawals, accrued income, dividends, and performance. We may also provide clients with
periodic reports regarding their holdings, allocations, and performance.
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Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Compensation – Client Referrals
We have been fortunate to receive many client referrals over the years. The referrals came from
current clients, estate planning attorneys, accountants, employees, personal friends of
employees, and other similar sources. We do not compensate referring parties for these
referrals.
Other Economic Benefits
In addition, Cohen Investment Advisors is required to disclose any relationship or arrangement
where it receives an economic benefit from a third party (non-client) for providing advisory
services. This type of relationship poses a conflict of interest, and any such relationship is
disclosed in response to Item 12, above.
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Item 15: Custody
Custody – Fee Debiting
Cohen Investment Advisors’ Agreement and/or the separate agreement with any Financial
Institution may authorize Cohen Investment Advisors through such Financial Institution to debit
the client’s account for the amount of Cohen Investment Advisors’ fee and to directly remit that
management fee to Cohen Investment Advisors in accordance with applicable custody rules.
Custody – First Party Money Transfers
Clients may provide Cohen Investment Advisors with written ongoing authorization to wire
money between the client’s accounts held with the qualified custodian directly to an outside
financial institution (i.e., a client’s bank account). A copy of this authorization is provided to the
qualified custodian. The authorization includes the client’s account number(s) at the outside
financial institution(s) as required.
Custody – Third Party Money Transfers
Clients may provide Cohen Investment Advisors with a standing letter of authorization (or similar
asset transfer authorization) which allows Cohen Investment Advisors to disburse funds on
behalf of clients to third parties. Cohen Investment Advisors ensures the following conditions are
in place when deemed to have custody via third party money movement:
1. The client provides a Written Authorization to the custodian that includes all appropriate
information as to how the transfer should be directed;
2. The Written Authorization includes instruction to direct transfers to the third party either
on a specified schedule or from time to time;
3. Appropriate verification is performed by the custodian, along with a transfer of funds
notice to the client promptly after each transfer;
4. The client may terminate or change the instruction to the custodian;
5. The Firm has no authority or ability to designate or change any information about the
third party contained in the instruction;
6. The Firm maintains records showing that the third party is not a related party of the Firm
or located at the same address as the Firm; and
7. The custodian sends the client a written initial notice confirming the instruction and an
annual written confirmation thereafter.
Custodians that hold and maintain client’s investment assets send a statement to the client, at
least quarterly, indicating all amounts disbursed from the account including the amount of
management fees paid directly to Cohen Investment Advisors. In addition, as discussed in Item
13, Cohen Investment Advisors also sends periodic supplemental reports to clients. Clients
should carefully review the statements sent directly by the Financial Institutions and compare
them to those received from Cohen Investment Advisors.
Custody – Pooled Investment Vehicles
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As disclosed in Item 10, Cohen Investment Advisors is the Investment Adviser to The Cohen Real
Estate Fund II, LLLP (the Fund). Daniel M. Cohen is the principal of Cohen Real Estate Advisors,
LLC, which is the general partner of the Fund.
Cohen Investment Advisors has full discretionary investment authority over the Fund’s assets.
Cohen Investment Advisors has custody of the investment assets of the Fund by reason of legal
ownership or access to such assets. The Fund receives an annual audit, and the audited financial
statements are sent to investors within 120 days of the Fund’s fiscal year end.
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Item 16: Investment Discretion
Cohen Investment Advisors is given the authority to exercise discretion on behalf of clients.
Cohen Investment Advisors is considered to exercise investment discretion over a client’s
account if it can affect transactions for the client without first having to seek the client’s consent.
Cohen Investment Advisors is given this authority through a power-of-attorney included in the
agreement between Cohen Investment Advisors and the client. Clients may request a limitation
on this authority (such as certain securities not to be bought or sold). Cohen Investment Advisors
takes discretion over the following activities:
• The securities to be purchased or sold;
• The amount of securities to be purchased or sold;
• When transactions are made; and
• The Independent Managers to be hired or fired.
If Cohen Investment Advisors has not been given discretionary authority, Cohen Investment
Advisors consults with the client prior to each trade.
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Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Proxy Voting
We vote proxies for securities over which we maintain discretionary authority. Our utmost
concern is that all decisions be made solely in the client's best interest. We will act in a prudent
and diligent manner intended to enhance the economic value of the assets of the client’s
portfolio. Although many proxy proposals can be voted in accordance with our established
guidelines, we recognize that some proposals require special consideration, which may dictate
that we make an exception to the guidelines. Clients may direct our vote; however, direction
must be received in writing. Clients may contact us for information about proxy voting.
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Item 18: Financial Information
We have no financial commitments that impair our ability to meet contractual and fiduciary
commitments to clients and we have not been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
We do not require prepayment of fees of both more than $1,200 per client, and more than six
months in advance; and therefore, we not required to provide a balance sheet to clients.
We have not ever filed a bankruptcy petition.
We have not filed a bankruptcy petition at any time.
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