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Disclosure Brochure
Form ADV Part 2A
March 31, 2025
Curi RMB Capital, LLC
One N. Wacker Dr., Suite 3500
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 993-5800
rmbcap.com
This Part 2A of Form ADV (this “Brochure”) provides information about the qualifications and
business practices of Curi RMB Capital, LLC (“Curi RMB” or “Adviser”). If you have any
questions about the contents of this Brochure, please contact us at 1-800-601-5228 or
compliance@rmbcap.com. The information in this Brochure has not been approved or verified by
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or by any state securities regulators.
Curi RMB is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any
level of skill or training. The oral and written communications of an adviser provide you with
information about which you can use to determine whether to hire or retain an adviser.
The information provided in this Brochure should not be considered a recommendation to
purchase or sell any particular security.
Additional information about Curi RMB is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
ITEM 2: MATERIAL CHANGES
This Item 2 discusses only specific material changes that were made to the Brochure since the last
annual update. Since our last annual update filing on March 29, 2024, we would like to inform
you of the following:
•
Following the merger of Curi Wealth Management, LLC (doing business as Curi
Capital) and RMB Capital Management, LLC in January 2024, the business
operations have been more fully integrated. With more than a year operating as a
combined entity, this Form ADV Part 2A more accurately describes the unified
operations.
•
As of August 30, 2024, Curi RMB’s main office moved to One N. Wacker Dr., Suite
3500, Chicago, IL 60606.
•
Due to a change in the trading platform used, updates have been made in Item 12
related to trading practices. Specifically, revisions were made to the manner in
which allocations are made when aggregated client orders aren’t completely filled
on any given trading day.
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ITEM 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM
PAGE
ITEM 1: COVER PAGE ............................................................................................................................ 1
ITEM 2: MATERIAL CHANGES ........................................................................................................... 2
ITEM 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... 3
ITEM 4: ADVISORY BUSINESS ........................................................................................................... 4
ITEM 5: FEES AND COMPENSATION ............................................................................................. 10
ITEM 6: PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT ................... 18
ITEM 7: TYPES OF CLIENTS ............................................................................................................... 19
ITEM 8: METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, AND RISK OF LOSS . 20
ITEM 9: DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION ...................................................................................... 35
ITEM 10: OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS ................... 36
ITEM 11: CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION IN CLIENT TRANSACTIONS AND
PERSONAL TRADING ....................................................................................................... 40
ITEM 12: BROKERAGE PRACTICES ................................................................................................ 42
ITEM 13: REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS ................................................................................................... 48
ITEM 14: CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION ............................................. 49
ITEM 15: CUSTODY .............................................................................................................................. 52
ITEM 16: INVESTMENT DISCRETION ............................................................................................ 54
ITEM 17: VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES ........................................................................................ 56
ITEM 18: FINANCIAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................... 58
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ITEM 4: ADVISORY BUSINESS
About Curi RMB Capital
Curi RMB Capital, LLC (“Curi RMB”, “Adviser” or “we”) is an investment adviser offering
advisory services and investment solutions to a diverse range of clients.
Curi RMB is principally owned by Curi Capital, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of
MMIC Investment Holdings, Inc. MMIC Investment Holdings, Inc. is wholly owned by Curi
Holdings, Inc. Our business is structured to help ensure our clients’ best interests are the driving
force behind our practices and recommendations.
Curi RMB’s services include Wealth Management, Asset Management, Retirement Plan
Solutions, Wealth Builder, and Family Office Services. Our Wealth Management business focuses
on providing holistic solutions to our client’s financial needs while our Asset Management
business provides various investment strategies to clients through separately managed accounts
and other investment products that may serve as the building blocks for our clients’ investment
portfolios. Retirement Plan Solutions provides non-discretionary advisory and consulting
services and solutions to employer organizations which sponsor and/or administer employee
retirement plans. Wealth Builder provides foundational financial planning to both simple and
complex clients. Family Office Services provides a variety of customized financial planning and
investment services to multi-generational clients with complex needs. These services are
described more fully below.
Wealth Management Services
For individuals and families, Wealth Management provides personalized, holistic financial
planning services as well as discretionary and non-discretionary asset allocation
recommendations and discretionary investment implementation. Our goal is to pilot a
personalized financial plan designed with each client’s best interests, unique needs, and long-
term objectives in mind.
We dedicate ourselves to understanding the intricacies of each client’s financial picture. Through
ongoing, in-depth conversations, we work to build a personal relationship with our clients and
their families. We commonly also act as the “central adviser” by collaborating with clients’ other
trusted advisers—including estate planning attorneys, tax advisors, and corporate benefits
managers—to maintain a well-informed perspective. This familiarity, both practically and
personally, establishes the foundation for us to create and manage a highly customized financial
plan.
Our approach to investing for our Wealth Management clients is a natural extension of our
approach to financial planning. We establish personalized asset allocations based on each client’s
specific circumstances, taking into consideration investment goals, time horizons, risk tolerances,
income requirements, total asset levels and other relevant factors. Clients may impose reasonable
restrictions, limitations, or other requirements with respect to their individual accounts. We then
implement our recommendations using internally and externally managed investment strategies.
For a small number of clients, we offer tax services, including tax return preparation. We hold
steadfast to the core principles of our investment philosophy—taking a long-term view,
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conducting fundamental analysis, being opportunistic yet disciplined, and avoiding unnecessary
risk.
Whether developing financial plans or investment solutions, we are keenly focused on the long
term, as we believe being diligent, disciplined, and conservative are keys to driving results over
time. The wealth management services described above are collectively referred to as “Wealth
Management Services.”
Wealth Builder Services
Wealth Builder Services are for individuals and families that are primarily focused on asset
accumulation. Wealth Builder provides hands-on financial planning services as well as
discretionary and non-discretionary asset allocation recommendations and discretionary
investment implementation. Our goal is to be a trusted partner in both development and
execution of a financial plan designed with each client’s best interests, unique needs, and long-
term objectives in mind. Through early interaction with our financial planning technology, we
establish goals and then construct an ongoing plan to reach those goals. Our dedication to
simplifying our client’s financial life allows them to monitor ongoing progress while having a
dedicated advisory team readily available to dive deeper into financial topics as needed. We
know our clients are busy and we strive for proactive, simple to digest communication while
being available for phone and virtual meetings. Our approach to investing for our Wealth Builder
clients is a natural extension of our approach to financial planning. We have established target
asset allocations designed to meet each client’s circumstances, taking into consideration
investment goals, time horizons, risk tolerances, income requirements, total asset levels and other
relevant factors. We then implement our recommendations using internally and externally
managed investment strategies. We hold steadfast to the core principles of our investment
philosophy—taking a long-term view, conducting fundamental analysis, being opportunistic yet
disciplined, and avoiding unnecessary risk. Whether developing financial plans or investment
solutions, we are keenly focused on the long term, as we believe being diligent, disciplined, and
conservative are keys to driving results over time. The wealth management services described
above are collectively referred to as “Wealth Builder Services.”
Asset Management Services
Asset Management offers a variety of investment solutions, on a discretionary or non-
discretionary basis, through separately managed account strategies, private funds, mutual funds,
and model portfolios, as well as strategies and products of third-party managers. Our goal is to
deliver investment solutions that can satisfy distinct objectives within each client’s overall asset
allocation. The following asset management services described herein are collectively referred to
as “Asset Management Services.”
Separately Managed Account Strategies
We offer certain separately managed account strategies, including equity and fixed income
strategies. Our equity strategies generally follow a bottom-up, fundamental approach focused on
finding investments with attractive risk/reward profiles. Our fixed income strategies generally
follow a fundamental, relative value approach focused on capital preservation and income. We
also offer certain tax management strategies for taxable and tax-exempt accounts. Clients may
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impose reasonable restrictions, limitations, or other requirements with respect to their individual
accounts. We provide certain separately managed account strategies on a sub-advisory basis to
third-party investment advisory firms and their clients.
Private Fund Strategies
Curi RMB and its affiliates serve as general partner, managing member or investment adviser (or
in a similar capacity) to private funds. Each private fund is generally focused on generating
absolute, risk-adjusted returns that have a low correlation to broader equity markets. Each private
fund has different investment features and terms, including, but not limited to, varying levels of
management fee and/or performance compensation, withdrawal rights, investment guidelines,
investment minimums, investor qualification standards and liquidity terms. This Brochure
should not be considered an offering document for an investment in any private fund and
prospective, qualified investors should refer to a specific private fund’s offering memorandum
or organizational documents for a complete description of that fund, including its types of
investments and strategies, risks, conflicts of interest, fees, and expenses. We tailor our
investment advisory services for a private fund to such fund’s overall investment program, as
noted in its offering documents, and not to the specific needs of any underlying investor therein.
Curi RMB has recommended, and may in the future recommend, that its advisory clients invest
in private funds managed by Curi RMB, as well as private funds advised or serviced by managers
in which Curi RMB has a financial interest. Advisory clients of Curi RMB must affirmatively
subscribe for any investment in a private fund.
Mutual Funds
Curi RMB serves as the investment adviser to registered, open-ended investment companies
(“mutual funds”). For one mutual fund, Curi RMB employs a sub-adviser to manage the
portfolio. Each mutual fund has different investment features which may include varying
expense ratios, investment guidelines, levels of risk and investment minimums. This Brochure
should not be considered an offering document for an investment the Curi RMB mutual funds
and prospective investors should refer to a specific mutual fund’s prospectus and statement of
additional information (“SAI”) for a complete description of that mutual fund, including its types
of investments and strategies, risks, conflicts of interest, fees, and expenses. We tailor our
investment advisory services for a mutual fund to such mutual fund’s overall investment
program, as noted in the prospectus and SAI, and not to the specific needs of any underlying
investor therein. Curi RMB has recommended, and may in the future recommend, that its
advisory clients invest in mutual funds managed by Curi RMB.
Third-Party Strategies
In addition to proprietary strategies and products described above, we also provide our clients
with access to third-party managers and their products (each a “third-party manager”). This
service provides clients with access to a wide range of investment opportunities, strategies and
asset classes, including international equities, emerging market equities, global fixed income,
high-yield fixed income, private equity, commodities, hedge funds and real assets. By combining
our third-party managers and products with our extensive in-house resources, we seek to
optimize our customized portfolio management capabilities for clients.
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Model Portfolio Services
Curi RMB may provide model portfolios to unaffiliated investment advisers, broker-dealers and
other financial intermediaries (“program sponsors”). As a model portfolio provider, Curi RMB
designs, monitors, and periodically updates the model portfolios for the program sponsors. The
program sponsors then offer the model portfolios to their clients. The program sponsors are
responsible for implementing the models, making investment decisions, and performing other
services and functions for their clients. Curi RMB does not have investment discretion to
implement the models and/or model updates on behalf of a program sponsor’s clients and Curi
RMB does not have an advisory relationship with a program sponsor’s end clients.
Financial Planning Services
To the extent specifically requested, we will provide financial planning and/or consulting
services (including investment and non-investment related matters, such as estate planning,
insurance planning, education savings, retirement planning, tax consulting and preparation,
divorce, etc.). Financial planning and consulting services are typically provided as part of our
Wealth Management Services; however, we may charge an additional fee for such services
depending on the level of service provided and other considerations deemed relevant by us in
our sole discretion. We also may provide financial planning and consulting services on a stand-
alone basis. Prior to engaging Curi RMB to provide these services and to the extent a client has
not entered into an investment advisory agreement (also referred to as an investment
management agreement or client advisory agreement) with Curi RMB, clients are generally
required to enter into a financial planning agreement with Curi RMB setting forth the terms and
conditions of the engagement (including termination), describing the scope of the services to be
provided, and the portion of the fee that is due from the client prior to Curi RMB commencing
services if applicable.
Retirement Plan Solutions – Plan Sponsors
Curi RMB’s Retirement Plan Solutions division (“RPS”) provides non-discretionary advisory and
consulting services and solutions to employer organizations which
sponsor (“Plan Sponsors”) and/or administer employee retirement plans. RPS focuses on
assisting its clients in improving the performance, design and operation of their sponsored
retirement plans. RPS tailors its consulting and advisory services to meet the needs of its clients.
These services typically include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Recommending investments based on a prudent and documented fiduciary process that
includes a comparison among available investments in a given asset class and/or
investment style using many factors, including but not limited to, performance, risk,
investment process, fees and style consistency, and monitoring
management,
recommended investments for consistency with the selection factors;
investment education and
individualized advice to retirement plan
• Recommending appropriate services and service providers;
• Providing ERISA fiduciary (and fiduciary risk) education and training;
• Providing
participants;
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• Benchmarking of investment performance, plan fees and costs, investment options, and
•
services provided by a retirement plan’s service providers;
Initiating and managing the request for proposal/search process for new retirement plan
service providers; and
• Overseeing retirement plan administration and compliance procedures.
Family Office Services
Curi RMB provides non-investment advisory family office services to family offices clients,
certain of which are also investment advisory clients of Curi RMB. These non-investment
advisory services vary from client to client based on the terms of applicable client agreement, but
typically include services such as portfolio accounting, investment operations, administrative
services, bill pay services, reporting, tax and legal facilitation, audit and financial control
facilitation, estate planning and insurance administration, and family consulting services.
Other Businesses and Investment Programs
Third-Party Cash Solutions
For clients desiring access to an alternative cash management opportunity that may help
maximize the earning potential of cash while increasing FDIC insurance to help protect the cash
account, Curi RMB makes available third-party cash solutions accounts (“Cash Solutions”). A
Cash Solutions account is not an investment account; rather, it is a cash account for which
deposited cash is swept to interest-bearing deposit accounts(s) at one or more third-party FDIC
member banks (“Program Banks”). Third-party cash solutions have the discretionary authority
to select Program Banks and allocate deposits into these banks, while endeavoring to keep each
account’s deposits at or below the FDIC insurance limit per Program Bank. It is a client’s
responsibility, however, to monitor the total amount of deposits in third-party Cash Solutions
accounts and at the Program Banks (including any amounts held at any Program Bank outside
of the Cash Solutions account, as those amounts count toward the limit for FDIC insurance
coverage at each Program Bank) in order to determine the extent of FDIC insurance coverage
available.
Accounts are opened directly with the third-party and not through Curi RMB. Curi RMB is not
affiliated with any third-party cash solution or any Program Bank. The Cash Solutions program
is a federally insured structured bank deposit vehicle, with direct custodial accounts owned by
the depositor. There is currently no minimum initial deposit to open an account or to participate
in the Cash Solutions program. Deposits to custodian bank accounts are backed by the full faith
and credit of the US Government and are insured through the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation. Clients desiring to participate in the Cash Solutions program do so at their own
discretion, and clients will receive separate account opening disclosures and an application
from the third-party Cash Solutions provider. If a client desires, Curi RMB will assist a client in
signing up for the program and will help facilitate any transfer of funds between a client’s
accounts. Higher yields on cash reserves may be available with other solutions, especially if one
does not require FDIC insurance on the entire cash balance. Curi RMB recommends that clients
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discuss their specific needs regarding their cash reserves with their wealth advisor and consider
alternative options before participating in the Flourish Cash program.
Participant Account Management – Held Away Plans
Curi RMB will advise on held away assets in held away plans. We use a third-party platform to
facilitate management of the assets, such as defined contribution plan participant accounts, with
discretion. The platform allows us to avoid being considered to have custody of client funds since
we do not have direct access to client login credentials to affect trades. We are not affiliated with
the platform in any way and receive no compensation from them for using their platform. A link
will be provided to the client, allowing them to connect an account(s) to the platform. Once client
account(s) is connected to the platform, Advisor will review the current account allocations.
When deemed necessary, Advisor will provide the third-party platform with specific instruction
on changes to allocations so that the third-party can rebalance the account. In these situations, the
Adviser considers the client's investment goals and risk tolerance, as well as any changes in
current economic and market trends. The goal is to improve account performance over time,
minimize loss during difficult markets, and manage internal fees that can potentially harm
account performance. Going forward, the third-party fee associated with this service will be paid
by the client. The firm has agreed to pay this fee for some legacy clients.
Client Agreement
Prior to engaging us, the client will be required to enter into one or more written agreements
setting forth the terms, conditions, and objectives under which we shall render our services.
Additionally, we will only implement our investment recommendations after a client has
arranged for and furnished all information and authorization regarding accounts with
appropriate financial institutions. Our clients are advised to promptly notify us if there are ever
any changes in their financial situation or investment objectives.
Curi RMB, as a matter of policy, regardless of the type of client engagement or service, does not
generally provide tax, accounting, regulatory or legal advice. Rules in the areas of law, tax, and
accounting are subject to change and open to varying interpretations. Any such advice given by
Curi RMB in these areas will be limited in nature. As such before implementation, clients should
consult with their trusted professionals on the tax, accounting and legal implications of any
recommended investment strategy based on their circumstances.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, the firm had approximately $9,830,680,915 regulatory assets under
management, of which approximately $8,888,287,794 was managed on a discretionary basis and
approximately $942,393,121 was managed on a non-discretionary basis.
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ITEM 5: FEES AND COMPENSATION
The specific manner in which our fees are charged is established in the client’s agreement with
Curi RMB. The structure and level of our fees vary by client based upon the services provided
and other considerations deemed relevant but customarily take the form of an annual fee
calculated as a percentage of assets under management (as further described below). Such fees
are generally charged quarterly, in advance, based upon the amount of assets under management
at the beginning of each quarter, but may be charged in arrears or on an alternative schedule, in
accordance with the applicable client agreement. Unless otherwise agreed with a client, advisory
fees are applied to all discretionary assets and non-discretionary assets. Generally, fees are
deducted from a client’s custodial account unless Curi RMB is instructed by the client to collect
its fees by billing the client directly. The custodian does not validate or check our fee or its
calculation on the assets on which the fee is based. The custodian will deduct the fee from the
account(s) or, if the client has more than one account, from the account designated to pay our
fees. The financial institution(s) recommended by us have agreed to provide a statement to the
client (either paper or electronic format), at least quarterly, indicating all amounts disbursed from
the account including the amount of advisory fees paid directly to us.
A client may make additions to and withdrawals from the account at any time, subject to our
right to terminate the client relationship. Where fees are paid in advance, billing adjustments will
be made in each billing period to reflect substantive contributions or withdrawals made during
the preceding billing period (5% of the value of the account, unless otherwise specifically agreed
with a client in writing). In the event of termination during a billing period, the client is entitled
to a pro rata refund of that portion of the fee for the remaining balance of the billing period if fees
were paid in advance. Client agreements are terminable upon notice as specified in such
agreements.
Curi RMB offers differing fee levels for various categories of clients. The variance in fee schedules
takes into account factors such as the degree of supervision required, the nature of the services
provided, and the types of guidelines and restrictions imposed upon the management of the
accounts. Separate fees are generally charged for services provided by Curi RMB’s Wealth
Management unit and Curi RMB’s Asset Management unit. Fees for clients receiving Wealth
Management Services differ from fees for clients that only receive Asset Management Services.
Clients that receive both Wealth Management Services and Asset Management Services will
generally be subject to both Wealth Management Fees in addition to Asset Management Fees
(each as described below). Please see “Conflicts of Interest” below for more information.
From time to time, Curi RMB acquires the assets of other investment advisers that established
other advisory fee structures, account minimums or investment programs. While Curi RMB’s
goal is to move these clients to Curi RMB’s investment programs and services over time, client
accounts are managed under a client agreement and program of a previous adviser until the client
executes a client agreement with Curi RMB.
Curi RMB employee account fees vary but employees are typically charged reduced Wealth
Management Fees and reduced Asset Management Fees depending on the services provided.
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The following paragraphs describe the fees payable to Curi RMB. For information applicable to
certain Legacy Clients, please see the applicable section below.
Wealth Management Fees
Wealth Management Fees will vary by client based upon the services provided and other
considerations deemed relevant to Curi RMB but will generally range between 0.25% and 1.25%
of assets under management per annum. These fees are charged quarterly in advance with a
minimum fee of $10,000 per year ($2,500 per quarter). Certain clients may not be subject to the
minimum annual fee as agreed in writing with the client at the sole discretion of the firm and
some may pay fees in arrears. Wealth Management Fees are typically applied to all discretionary
assets and to nondiscretionary assets. Accounts of legacy clients may be subject to different
Wealth Management Fees.
Curi RMB may charge hourly financial planning fees and asset-based fees for advice regarding
401(k) and 529 Plans. With respect to retirement client assets in proprietary products or mutual
funds managed by affiliates, Curi RMB must comply with applicable requirements of ERISA
and/or the Internal Revenue Code. These requirements include, but are not limited to, disclosure
and avoiding double fees for retirement plans and IRAs. Curi RMB will either waive the portion
of the advisory fee that is attributable to the client’s assets invested in a proprietary or affiliated
product or rebate the client’s advisory fee by an amount equal to the proprietary or affiliated
product’s fees associated with the total assets invested in such product. If the account is not
charged an investment advisory fee by Curi RMB, it will not receive a rebate of the proprietary
or affiliated product’s fees.
Wealth Builder Fees
For Wealth Builder Services, the fees are typically 1.25% of assets under management charged
quarterly in advance with a minimum fee of $2,500 per year ($625 per quarter). Curi RMB
maintains the right to charge lower fees in certain circumstances, such as friends and family
accounts.
Asset Management Fees (General)
Separately Managed Accounts – Wealth Management Clients
The fees below represent the advisory fees typically charged by Curi RMB for separately
managed account services provided to Wealth Management clients. Such advisory fees are not
all-inclusive, and clients are generally subject to additional fees and expenses as described herein,
including the Wealth Management Fee. Certain strategies listed below have different minimum
account size requirements. Please note the strategies we offer will change from time to time.
Core Equity Strategies:
Core Fixed Income:
0.350%
0.325
0.300
0.275
First $3.0 million
Next $2.0 million
Next $5.0 million
Next $15.0 million
0.500%
0.475
0.450
0.425
First $3.0 million
Next $2.0 million
Next $5.0 million
Next $15.0 million
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0.250
Over $25.0 million
0.400
Over $25.0 million
Treasury Bill Strategy:
Innovators Strategy:
0.150%
0.125
0.100
First $1.0 million
Next $2.0 million
Over $3.0 million
1.000%
0.850
0.700
First $10.0 million
Next $10.0 million
Over $20.0 million
Small Cap Focus:
International Equity Strategy:
0.750%
0.700
First $2.0 million
Next $3.0 million
1.000%
0.975
First $1.0 million
Next $2.0 million
0.650
0.600
0.550
Next $5.0 million
Next $10.0 million
Over $20.0 million
0.950
0.900
0.825
0.750
Next $2.0 million
Next $5.0 million
Next $15.0 million
Over $25.0 million
Multi-Asset Strategies:
0.350%
0.325
0.300
0.275
0.250
First $1.0 million
Next $2.0 million
Next $2.0 million
Next $5.0 million
Over $10.0 million
Separately Managed Accounts – Stand-Alone Basis
Curi RMB also offers certain investment strategies through separately managed accounts directly
to certain clients on a stand-alone basis, outside of the Wealth Management Services. Such
advisory fees are not all-inclusive, and clients may be subject to additional fees and expenses as
described herein. Fees vary by strategy but range up to 1.00% of assets under management per
annum and may be structured using breakpoints. Clients that are not full-service Wealth
Management clients of Curi RMB, or clients that access these strategies through a third-party
platform, will pay higher fees and be subject to higher account size minimums.
Private Funds
Clients invested in private funds managed by Curi RMB are generally subject to management
fees and performance fees, if applicable, charged by the private fund (collectively, the “Private
Fund Fees”). The Private Fund Fees and expenses of each private fund managed by Curi RMB
are fully described in the Confidential Private Placement Memorandum or other offering
document for each private fund. Unless otherwise described in the offering materials, the Private
Fund Fees payable to private funds managed by Curi RMB are in addition to our advisory fees.
However, in certain circumstances, alternative fees for an investment in a private fund managed
by Curi RMB may be negotiated between Curi RMB and clients receiving other investment
advisory services from Curi RMB. Private Fund Fees generally range from a management fee of
0.5%-1.5% of the net asset value of the assets in the applicable private fund. The fees are paid in
accordance with the description in the offering materials for the applicable private fund. A
conflict of interest exists when Curi RMB causes clients to invest in investment products managed
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by Curi RMB and/or investment products advised or serviced by managers in which Curi RMB
has a financial interest as Curi RMB is entitled to additional compensation with respect to such
investments. Curi RMB has sought to mitigate this conflict as detailed below under “Conflicts of
Interest.”
Curi RMB may also receive a performance-based fee, as specified in the offering materials.
Aside from Curi RMB’s affiliated private funds, clients may invest in unaffiliated private funds
and other privately offered investment vehicles. Clients will be subject to management fees
and/or other fees in addition to Curi RMB’s advisory fee, if applicable. The fees and expenses of
each vehicle are fully described in the offering materials.
Investors in any privately offered vehicles must meet specific suitability and investor eligibility
requirements in order to invest and specific opportunities may require higher levels of
investment.
Mutual Funds
Curi RMB receives advisory fees in connection with Curi RMB-sponsored mutual funds.
Information on the fees and expenses of Curi RMB-sponsored mutual funds is set forth in the
applicable prospectus and offering materials for each fund.
Investments in mutual funds, closed-end funds, ETFs, structured products, and other pooled
investment vehicles by advisory clients are subject to commissions, fees and expenses, including
sales loads, each of which are disclosed in the applicable fund’s prospectus or offering
documents. Such charges, fees and commissions are exclusive of and in addition to Curi RMB’s
fees. Clients invested in mutual funds advised by Curi RMB are generally subject to the
management fee charged by the mutual fund, in addition to Curi RMB’s advisory fees, although
clients will not bear any sales load for any Curi RMB-sponsored mutual fund.
Third-Party Strategies
Curi RMB may employ a third-party manager, a sub-adviser, to manage a portion of your
account. For certain sub-advisers there may be a separate written agreement between you and
the sub-adviser to pay an additional amount directly to the sub-adviser. Fees charged by a sub-
adviser or third-party Manager will be in addition to the fees payable to Adviser. Fees of a sub-
adviser or third-party manager will be charged directly by such sub-adviser or third-party
manager, as applicable, and Client shall be responsible for the payment of such fees.
Model Portfolio Provider Services
For its model portfolio provider services, Curi RMB has agreements with program sponsors for
Curi RMB to provide model portfolios for a fee. Curi RMB’s model portfolio fees are negotiable
and will vary from program sponsor-to-program sponsor but typically take the form of an annual
percentage of the value of the program sponsor’s client assets managed pursuant to Curi RMB’s
model portfolios.
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Financial Planning Services
Curi RMB’s financial planning and consulting fees are generally billed on a fixed fee basis, an
hourly rate basis, or based upon a percentage per annum for services provided at any asset level,
depending upon the level and scope of the service(s) required and the professional(s) rendering
the service(s). In some cases, Curi RMB will provide its clients with tax consulting and
preparation services as part of its financial planning fee or advisory fee. All fee arrangements are
subject to negotiation.
Retirement Plan Services – Plan Sponsors
Curi RMB is compensated for its services either on a fixed fee basis or based upon a percentage
of assets of the plan sponsor client’s retirement plan. The amount of fees charged by Curi RMB,
as well as the specific manner in which such fees are charged, are customized for each plan
sponsor client and set forth in a written agreement with the plan sponsor client. Curi RMB’s fees
are negotiable and are dependent on the scope and depth of the services provided. Fees generally
are payable in advance at the beginning of each quarter, however, some are paid in arrears, and
are prorated to cover the period from either: (1) the time of execution of the advisory agreement,
or (2) the effective date of the written agreement with the plan sponsor client through the
expected completion of the project or the time period covered by the agreement. Curi RMB also
charges one-time fees in situations where we perform Support Services including, but not limited
to, assistance during a merger or acquisition, DOL or IRS audits or other special projects. Clients
either pay fees directly to Curi RMB or instruct their retirement plan service providers to deduct
and remit the fees from the retirement plan assets or from excess revenue generated by the
retirement plan’s investments.
Since Curi RMB plan sponsor clients may have different fee structures and may pay different fees,
there is an incentive for Curi RMB to focus its efforts on those clients that generate higher fees for
Curi RMB. Curi RMB has procedures designed and implemented to help ensure that plan
sponsor clients are treated fairly and to help mitigate this conflict.
Family Office Services
Family Office Services clients generally pay a fixed family office fee, which is generally negotiable
depending on the individual needs of the client and the non-investment advisory services
provided by Curi RMB. Where the client is also an advisory client, such family office fees are
generally in addition to the wealth or asset management fee paid by the client.
Additional Fees and Expenses
Our fees are exclusive of administration expenses, brokerage commissions, transaction fees, fund
expenses, custody fees and other related costs and expenses which shall be incurred by a client.
Custody fees can and will vary depending on the client’s chosen custodian. Custodian fees can
also change from time to time. When there are such changes, Curi RMB will seek, to the extent
possible, to negotiate the best rates possible for its clients. There is no guarantee that these
negotiations will be successful. At any time, clients may ask for a copy of the current custodian
fee schedule in place. All brokerage charges and related transaction costs are charged to the
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account(s) as they occur. Clients incur certain charges imposed by custodians, brokers, third-
party managers and other third parties such as fees charged by managers, custodial fees, 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.
When beneficial to the client, certain transactions may be effected through brokers other than the
account custodian, in which event, except in situations in which the custodian has waived the
additional fee, the client generally will incur both the fee (commission, mark-up/mark-down)
charged by the executing broker and a separate “trade-away,” “step-out” and/or prime broker
fee charged by the custodian. Clients should review custodial agreements for additional detail on
the fees charged.
Private funds, mutual funds, closed-end funds, ETFs, structured products, and other pooled
investment vehicles are subject to commissions, fees and expenses which are disclosed in the
fund’s prospectus or offering documents. Such charges, fees and commissions are exclusive of
and in addition to our advisory fee. Clients may be charged a sales load for any mutual funds
where applicable.
Many funds offer multiple share classes available for investment based upon certain eligibility
and/or purchase requirements. For instance, in addition to more commonly offered retail mutual
fund share classes (typically, Class A (including load-waived A shares), B and C shares for mutual
funds), some funds offer institutional share classes or other share classes specifically designed for
purchase by an account for a fee-based investment advisory program. These share classes
commonly feature higher transaction costs and/or minimum purchase criteria that limit
availability to larger transactions. Curi RMB and its affiliates are not obligated to aggregate client
investments for purposes of meeting institutional share class criteria or similar eligibility
requirements. Accordingly, clients may not be invested in the share class (regardless of the type
of fund structure – e.g., mutual fund, closed-end fund, hedge fund, private equity fund or other
investment vehicle) with the lowest fees and/or lowest expense ratio for which a client may
otherwise qualify.
Third-Party Cash Solutions
Curi RMB will not assess a fee for a client’s participation in the Third-Party Cash program.
However, additional fees for the program may be assessed to you by Flourish and/or the
Program Banks, as disclosed in the application and disclosure documents provided by a third-
party. A client will not pay a fee to Curi RMB directly for any deposits made with the third-party.
Curi RMB will also not receive any portion of any fees assessed by the third-party for a client’s
participation in the Third-Party program.
Private Investor Program
There is no separate fee charged for participation in the Program; however, assets invested as
part of the Program will become part of the client’s assets under management and will be subject
to Curi RMB’s standard wealth management fees. As described above, all recommendations
made pursuant to this Program are non-discretionary and all investment decisions are made
solely by the client.
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Conflicts of Interest
Curi RMB charges different fees for its various services and products. This creates an incentive
for Curi RMB to guide clients to products and services that generate higher fees for Curi RMB.
Additionally, when allocating investment opportunities among its investment programs,
products, and clients, Curi RMB has an incentive to favor the investment programs, products,
and clients that generate the most revenue for Curi RMB, including its Asset Management
products. In addition, when recommending the use of a third-party manager, Curi RMB has an
incentive to recommend a manager which will result in the highest residual fee to Curi RMB, for
example a manager in which Curi RMB maintains a financial interest. Curi RMB has procedures
designed and implemented to help ensure that clients are treated fairly and to help prevent these
conflicts from influencing selection of a client’s investments and the allocation of investment
opportunities among clients. See Item 6 “Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side
Management” for a description of the conflicts of interest related to performance fees.
Our wealth advisors select the relevant policy benchmarks for certain types of clients, which may
include affiliated products and other unaffiliated investment products. Although our wealth
advisors do not receive any direct compensation for allocating client assets to affiliated products
or managers in which Curi RMB maintains a financial interests, wealth advisors nonetheless have
a conflict of interest in making such recommendations to the extent overall firm revenues
increase.
With respect to retirement client assets in affiliated products or managers in which Curi RMB
maintains a financial interest, Curi RMB must comply with applicable requirements of ERISA
and/or the Internal Revenue Code. These requirements include, but are not limited to, disclosure
and avoiding double fees for retirement plans and IRAs. Curi RMB will either waive the portion
of the advisory fee that is attributable to the client’s assets invested in the affiliated product or
manager in which Curi RMB maintains a financial interests or rebate the client’s advisory fee by
an amount equal to the fees charged by the affiliated product or manager. If the account is not
charged an investment advisory fee by Curi RMB, it will not receive a rebate of the fees of the
affiliated product or manager.
Sales Based Compensation
As permitted by applicable law, Curi RMB may compensate employees for business development
activity, including the attraction or retention of client assets. Certain personnel of Curi RMB are
registered representatives of a non-affiliated, registered broker-dealer in connection with certain
services provided to certain Curi RMB-sponsored mutual funds. Such personnel are entitled to
receive transaction-based compensation from the broker-dealer for the sale of securities of the
Curi RMB-sponsored mutual funds solely with respect to investors that are not advisory clients
of Curi RMB. With respect to the Curi RMB-sponsored mutual funds, we seek reimbursement
from the registered broker-dealer to cover the costs of base compensation for these registered
representatives, if and when there are available excess 12b-1 fees.
Additional Fee Information Applicable Solely to Certain Legacy Clients
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Legacy Clients receiving portfolio management services are typically charged an annual fee on
assets under management not to exceed 1.00%. The specific fee to which a Legacy Client is subject
will be specified in the client agreement. Legacy Clients whose assets are managed partially or in
full by a sub-adviser selected by Curi RMB, will typically pay an additional fee to the sub-adviser,
as specified in the sub-adviser’s disclosure brochure.
Certain persons at Curi RMB maintain insurance licenses and/or securities registrations at Lion
Street Financial, LLC and work with Curi Capital Insurance Solutions, LLC, MAI Insurance
Solutions and other insurance agencies to facilitate the purchase of insurance products by clients.
Curi RMB may recommend insurance solutions to clients as part of the financial planning process;
however, no client is required to purchase insurance through Curi Capital Insurance Solutions,
LLC, MAI Insurance Solutions, Lion Street Financial, or any other insurance agency Curi RMB
may work with and/or recommend. No firm employee is directly compensated, in the form of
commissions, from the insurance products they sell through Curi Capital Insurance Solutions,
MAI Insurance Solutions, Lion Street Financial, or any other insurance agency; however,
employees may derive economic benefit from insurance product sales as part of an annual bonus
program. This creates a conflict of interest in that Curi RMB and its employees have an economic
incentive to recommend insurance product sales to clients, but Curi RMB and its employees only
make such recommendations when it is in a client’s best interest. Certain firm employees may
receive trail commission for insurance policies sold prior to their affiliation with Curi RMB. Curi
RMB and its Supervised Persons may also receive gifts and/or entertainment from third parties,
including third-party investment managers doing business or seeking to do business with Curi
RMB, subject to the requirements of its Compliance Manual and Code of Ethics.
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Item 6: PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT
Curi RMB may be entitled to receive performance-based compensation with respect to certain
private funds it manages, as more fully described in the applicable governing documents. All
performance-based compensation arrangements comply with Section 205(a)(1) of the Advisers
Act. Performance-based compensation arrangements create an incentive for Curi RMB to make
investments which are riskier or more speculative than those which would be made under a
different fee arrangement, such as an advisory fee-only arrangement. In addition, performance-
based compensation, as well as asset-based fees, vary among clients which pursue the same or
similar investment strategies. Such fee arrangements create an incentive for Curi RMB to favor
higher fee-paying accounts over other accounts in the allocation of investment opportunities. A
similar conflict exists with respect to the management of accounts of Curi RMB and its affiliates
and employees.
Curi RMB has adopted written policies and procedures designed to ensure clients are treated
equitably over time with respect to the allocation of investment opportunities regardless of fee
arrangement. In addition, we have adopted trading practices designed to address conflicts of
interest inherent in proprietary and client discretionary trading. During periods of unusual
market conditions, Curi RMB may deviate from its normal trade allocation practices. There can
be no assurance, however, that all conflicts have been addressed in all situations.
From time to time, certain clients may invest in private investments or limited investment
opportunities. The allocation of these investments across client portfolios is generally not
executed on a pro rata basis as a number of factors will determine whether the private or limited
offering is appropriate or suitable for a client. These types of investment may also have investor
eligibility requirements that must be met by any participating clients. Accordingly, such
opportunities may be allocated based on another approach, including random selection, selection
based on account size or another methodology. Factors which may impact the allocation, include
but are not limited to account size, liquidity, investor qualification and risk tolerance. We note
that private investments or limited investment opportunities may not be appropriate for smaller
accounts, depending on factors such as minimum investment size, account size, risk, and
diversification requirements, and accordingly may not be allocated such investments.
Many of our employees invest in the Curi RMB mutual funds, separately managed accounts or
private funds managed by us. This creates an incentive for us to favor these products in the
allocation of investment opportunities over other clients. We maintain investment, trade
allocation and account valuation policies and procedures designed to address such conflicts of
interest. Further, our Code of Ethics requires employees to put clients’ interests ahead of their
own or Curi RMB’s as well as reporting investments and transactions in mutual funds, private
funds, and separately managed accounts we manage.
For more information on the risks of side-by-side management, please see Item 12 – “Brokerage
Practices” below.
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ITEM 7: TYPES OF CLIENTS
Curi RMB provides advisory services to individuals, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans,
pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, foundations, endowments, mutual funds,
private funds, corporations, government entities, Taft-Hartley funds, and other institutions. Curi
RMB also provides model portfolio and sub-advisory services to unaffiliated investment advisers
and their private funds.
Curi RMB also provides Retirement Plan Solution services to for-profit and non-profit employer
organizations which sponsor and/or administer employee retirement plans, including defined
benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans (such as 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans), profit-
sharing plans, and Taft-Hartley plans. RPS’ clients are generally considered to be institutional
clients and are named fiduciaries of the retirement plans they sponsor.
Curi RMB may impose minimum account size requirements with respect to certain of its advisory
services. For legacy individual clients and small- and medium-sized institutions of Curi RMB,
Curi RMB typically requires a minimum initial investment of $1,000,000 or a minimum fee level
of $10,000 annually ($2,500 per quarter) to establish an investment account. A minimum
contribution for investment in an internally managed private fund for those clients who are
qualified is set forth in the applicable offering documents. For institutional clients, a minimum
investment of $1,000,000 is generally required for investment in any internally managed strategy.
In certain circumstances, Curi RMB will raise or lower the minimum investment amount or accept
an initial investment below the established minimum at its discretion or in accordance with
applicable law. For Wealth Builder Services, the fees are typically 1.25% of assets under
management charged quarterly in advance with a minimum fee of $2,500 per year ($625 per
quarter).
In addition, certain third-party managers may impose more restrictive account requirements and
varying billing practices. In such instances, we may alter our corresponding account
requirements and/or billing practices to accommodate those of the manager(s).
Please see the relevant offering materials for more information on the eligible investors and
minimum investment amount for each fund managed by Curi RMB.
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ITEM 8: METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, AND RISK OF LOSS
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
The following is a summary of the methods of analysis and investment strategies Curi RMB uses
when formulating investment advice for clients. Please see the Private Placement Memorandum
of each private fund managed by Curi RMB for more information regarding the fees, strategies,
and risks related to an investment in these private funds. Please see the prospectus of each mutual
fund advised by Curi RMB for more information regarding the strategies, fees, and risks related
to an investment in these mutual funds.
Curi RMB primarily uses fundamental analyses and active management strategies; however, Curi
RMB will consider other strategies such as quantitative and technical analyses and passive or
indexed strategies. Within a client’s portfolio, we may employ one or more of the strategies
detailed below as well as other investment strategies. Within a strategy, Curi RMB may invest in
individual securities, utilize other managers through separate accounts and/or invest in funds.
Curi RMB has developed a proprietary risk analysis tool that seeks to help institutions
understand the risks associated with expected return which could result in better informed active
manager selection. The tool also allows multiple portfolios to be aggregated to assess the overall
risk associated with the plan’s total allocation to equity. With improved insights as to the forward-
looking risks inherent in a portfolio, this knowledge may be applied to assess that each manager’s
skill is aligned with the risks that are being taken and reflects the intended risks within the overall
allocation.
Wealth Management Services
Curi RMB may construct portfolios for our clients using a mix of individual stocks, bonds, ETFs,
exchange-traded notes, closed-end funds, mutual funds, structured notes, alternative
investments, and Digital Assets (as defined below). Curi RMB will manage its clients’ assets
through the direct purchase of securities, by allocating to other managers and/or by investing in
a variety of funds. Each client’s asset allocation is determined by their specific investment
objectives and unique circumstances.
Within a client’s portfolio, we may employ one or more of the strategies detailed below as well
as other investment strategies. Within an investment strategy, Curi RMB may invest in individual
securities, utilize other managers through separate accounts and/or invest in funds. Many of the
strategies detailed below are offered through managed accounts with third-party managers and
funds.
Investment Strategies
Equity Strategies (Domestic and International)
Equity strategies generally follow a long-only bottom-up, fundamental approach focused on
finding investments with attractive risk/reward profiles.
For certain of its equity strategies, Curi RMB has incorporated certain material environmental,
social and governance (“ESG”) considerations in connection with Curi RMB’s due diligence
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practices, investment processes, and in the monitoring of portfolio investments, where
appropriate. As part of this process, the investment team evaluates the general and industry-
specific ESG factors that Curi RMB believes to be the most financially material to a company’s
short-, medium-, and long-term enterprise value. Consideration of such ESG-based factors is just
one of the criteria considered when making investment decisions for accounts employing these
strategies.
Fixed Income Strategies
Fixed income strategies generally follow a fundamental, relative value approach focused on
capital preservation and income. Fixed income portfolios are generally invested in U.S. dollar
denominated, investment-grade fixed income securities with short to intermediate durations.
Third-Party Investment Strategies
From time to time, we recommend that clients authorize the active discretionary management of
a portion of their assets by and/or among certain third-party manager(s) where appropriate
based upon the stated investment objectives of the client. When recommending or selecting a
third-party manager for a client, we shall review information about the manager(s) such as its
disclosure statement and/or material supplied by the manager(s) or independent third parties
for a description of the manager’s investment strategies, past performance and risk results to the
extent available as detailed above.
Retirement Plan Services - Method of Analysis
Curi RMB’s method of analysis follows a prudent and documented process to help ensure that
its retirement plan sponsor clients meet the requirements of the “Prudent Man Rule” (as
described in ERISA §404).
Curi RMB’s investment research is based on interviews with investment managers and retirement
plan service providers and includes subscriptions to third-party sources of information. Curi
RMB’s analysis includes searching databases of investment analytics and research information
covering a substantial amount of investment products and securities. Such databases are also
used in the ongoing performance monitoring of investment alternatives for retirement plan
sponsors.
While we have confidence in the veracity of the information we receive, there is the risk that such
information contains inaccuracies which could lead to improper or misguided recommendations.
Retirement Plan Services - Investment Strategies
The investment strategies recommended are those deemed to be appropriate, based on the client
retirement plan’s objectives, for the management of the retirement plan’s assets. Generally, open-
end mutual funds and/or other investment managers are recommended to allow reasonable
diversification among asset classes and investment styles.
Retirement Plan Services - Investment Selection
Curi RMB employs an independent process when recommending investments for client
retirement plans that mitigates most conflicts of interest and reduces risk and liability. First, Curi
RMB works with each client to understand their investment objectives for the investment options
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related to the client’s retirement plan. Next, Curi RMB reviews the universe of investment
options available to start our screening process. Our screening process includes:
1. Reviewing investments in our analytic system and remove any mutual funds that are not
scoring appropriately (i.e., generally less than 7 in our 10-point scoring system);
2. Completing additional quantitative analysis to identify finalists for recommendation. This
recommendation includes factors specific to the category of retirement plan investments
requested by the client;
3. Performing a qualitative screening that includes, if practicable, an interview with the
portfolio manager for the potential retirement plan investment to evaluate the portfolio
manager’s skills and identify any other potential issues.
Curi RMB believes that its evaluation and diligence process lead to retirement plan investment
options that meet the attributes and investment objectives required by each client. As part of this
process, Curi RMB documents the rationale for its recommendations in order to help the client
meet its fiduciary obligations as retirement plan sponsor/administrator. In addition, Curi RMB
also monitors its recommendations quarterly to help ensure that action is taken without undue
delay, if necessary.
Curi RMB does not imply, represent, or warrant that its services or its methods of analysis can or
will predict future results, identify market tops or bottoms, or insulate clients and their retirement
plan participants from losses, including material losses due to major market corrections or
crashes, or detect fraud or negligence on the part of the manager of any recommended retirement
plan investment or any recommended service provider. No guarantees are provided that a
client’s goals or objectives or those of its retirement plan participants can or will be achieved.
Risk of Loss
All investments in securities and other financial instruments involve substantial risk of volatility
(potentially resulting in rapid declines in market prices and significant financial losses) arising
from any number of factors that are beyond the control of Curi RMB. Legal, tax, and regulatory
changes could occur which, in certain cases, materially adversely affect the ability of an account
to pursue its chosen investment strategies or achieve its investment objective.
Although Curi RMB believes that its investment program should mitigate the risk of loss through
a careful selection and monitoring of investments, an investment is nevertheless subject to
potential financial losses, including possible loss of the entire amount invested. There is no
guarantee or representation made that an investment will be successful, and the investment
results will vary substantially over time.
In addition to the general investment risks listed herein, there are additional material risks
associated with the types of strategies, mutual funds and private funds in which your account
invests from time to time. Please refer to the relevant prospectus or private placement
memorandum for more information regarding risk factors for a particular investment in a mutual
or private fund.
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The success of client positions depends in large part on Curi RMB’s ability to accurately assess
the fundamental value of those positions. An accurate assessment of fundamental value depends
on a complex analysis of a number of financial and legal factors. No assurance can be given that
Curi RMB will be in a position to assess the nature and magnitude of all material factors having
a bearing on the value of client positions, or that Curi RMB will accurately assess the impact of
all factors of which it is aware.
As with any other methods used to make projections into the future, there are several risks
associated with this method, which may result in the client not being able to achieve their
financial goals. These risks include: expected future cash flows do not match those used in the
analysis; rates of return fall short of the estimates used in the simulation; inflation will exceed the
estimates used in the simulation; or that tax rates will be higher than was assumed in the analysis.
Depending on the different types of investments and strategies employed for your account,
there are varying degrees of risk (please note that this is not a comprehensive list of all the
potential risks associated with your investments and the strategies employed):
• General Economic and Market Conditions
The success of a portfolio’s activities may be affected by general economic and market
conditions, such as interest rates, availability of credit, inflation rates, economic uncertainty,
changes in laws and national and international political circumstances. These factors may
affect the level and volatility of securities prices and the liquidity of certain investments.
Unexpected volatility or illiquidity could impact a portfolio’s profitability or result in losses.
• Equity
Curi RMB expects to invest client assets in equity and equity derivative securities. The value
of these securities generally will vary with the performance of the issuer and movements in
the equity markets. As a result, clients will likely suffer losses if Curi RMB selects equity
securities of issuers whose performance diverges from Curi RMB’s expectations or if the
equity markets generally move in a single direction and Curi RMB has not anticipated such a
general move.
• Company Risk
There is always a level of company or industry risk when investing in stock positions. This is
referred to as an unsystematic risk and can be reduced through appropriate diversification.
There is the risk that a company will perform poorly or that its value will be reduced based
on factors specific to it or its industry.
• Long Positions
The success of the long positions established by Curi RMB will depend in large part on the
Curi RMB’s ability to accurately assess the fundamental value of those positions. An accurate
assessment of fundamental value depends on a complex analysis of a number of financial and
legal factors. No assurance can be given that Curi RMB will be in a position to assess the
nature and magnitude of all material factors having a bearing on the value of the long
positions, or that Curi RMB will accurately assess the impact of all factors of which it is aware.
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• Short Selling
The principal risk in selling a particular security short is contrary to Curi RMB’s expectation,
the price of the security will rise, resulting in a loss equal to the difference between the cost of
acquiring the security (for return to the lender) and the net proceeds of the short sale. This
risk of loss is theoretically unlimited since there is theoretically no limit on the price to which
the security sold short may rise. In addition, an account would be responsible for the payment
of any accrued interest on a bond it has sold short while the short sale is outstanding.
• Trading in Non-U.S. Companies and Markets
Trading in the securities of a non-U.S. companies involve certain considerations not usually
associated with trading in securities of U.S. companies, such as general social, political, and
economic uncertainty and instability; adverse diplomatic developments; the small size of
some markets in foreign countries and the low volume of trading, resulting in potential lack
of liquidity and in price volatility; fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies and
costs associated with currency conversion etc. In addition, disclosure, accounting, reporting
standards, and regulation authorities that prevail in foreign countries are generally not
equivalent to United States standards.
• Small- and Medium-Capitalization Companies
Depending on the strategy, Curi RMB invests assets in the stocks of companies with small- to
medium-sized market capitalizations. While Curi RMB believes they often provide significant
profit opportunities, those stocks, particularly smaller-capitalization stocks, involve higher
risks in some respects than investments in stocks of larger companies. For example, prices of
small-capitalization and even medium-capitalization stocks are often more volatile than
prices of large-capitalization stocks, and the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency of many smaller
companies is higher than for larger, “blue-chip” companies. In addition, due to thin trading
in some small-capitalization stocks, an investment in those stocks is likely illiquid (see
discussion below).
• Sector Focus Risk
Portfolios may be more heavily invested in certain sectors or industries, which may cause the
value of their investments to be especially sensitive to factors and economic risks that
specifically affect those sectors and may cause the value of the portfolios to fluctuate. Certain
sectors in which the portfolios invest are continuously evolving and are subject to rapid
technological and regulatory change. The success of any business operating in these sectors
is, to a large extent, dependent on its ability to acquire, develop, adopt, and exploit new and
existing technology and strategies and to distinguish its products and services from those of
its competitors. The acquisition, development, adoption, exploitation and distribution of new
and existing technology and strategy may take longer periods of time and may require
significant capital investment. In addition, the success of any business in these sectors is
dependent on its ability to anticipate and adapt to regulatory changes. These sectors are also
characterized by intense competition.
• Management Risk
Judgments about the value and potential appreciation of a particular investment may be
wrong and there is no guarantee that the investment will perform as anticipated. The value
of any single investment can be more volatile than the market as a whole or Curi RMB’s
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intrinsic value approach may fail to produce the intended results. There is dependence on the
diligence, skill and business contacts of Curi RMB’s investment advisory personnel for the
execution of Curi RMB’s strategies. Curi RMB’s future success depends, to a significant extent,
on the continued service and coordination of the underlying managers and the companies in
its investment portfolios.
• Environmental, Social and Governance Considerations
Certain investment strategies employed by Curi RMB take into account certain applicable
ESG factors. Incorporation of ESG factors into the investment process may cause Curi RMB
to make different investments on behalf of an account, and result in different exposures to
various issuers and industries, than accounts that do not incorporate such considerations into
their strategy or investment processes. This may affect an account’s performance depending
on whether certain investments are in or out of favor, and the account’s investment
performance could be different compared to accounts that do not incorporate ESG
considerations. When evaluating an issuer, Curi RMB is dependent on information or data
obtained through voluntary or third-party reporting that may be incomplete, inaccurate, or
unavailable, which could cause Curi RMB to incorrectly assess an issuer’s ESG practices.
Because ESG factor analysis is used as one part of Curi RMB’s overall investment process, the
account may still invest in securities of issuers that many or all market participants view as
having a high ESG risk profile.
• Fixed Income Risk
Investing in bonds involves the risk that the issuer will default on the bond and be unable to
make payments. In addition, individuals depending on set amounts of periodically paid
income face the risk that inflation will erode their spending power. Fixed-income investors
receive set, regular payments that face the same inflation risk. The fixed income instruments
purchased by a client are subject to the risk that market values of such securities will decline
as interest rates increase. These changes in interest rates have a more pronounced effect on
securities with longer durations. Fixed income securities are also subject to reinvestment risk
in that if interest rates are falling during a period of reinvestment returns will be lower.
Interest rate risk increases as portfolio duration increases. Reinvestment risk increases as
portfolio duration decreases.
• Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security or counterparty to the
portfolio’s transactions will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal and/or interest
payments or otherwise will be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations. If the
issuer, guarantor, or counterparty fails to pay interest, the portfolio’s income may be reduced.
If the issuer, guarantor, or counterparty fails to repay principal, the value of that security and
the value of the portfolio may be reduced.
• Non-Investment Grade Bonds
Depending on the strategy, a client account will invest in bonds (commonly known as “junk
bonds”) that are of below investment grade quality (rated below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. or below BBB- by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group and Fitch Ratings or, if
unrated, reasonably determined by Curi RMB to be of comparable quality (“non-investment
grade bonds”). An account’s investments in non-investment grade bonds are predominantly
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speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. While normally offering higher yields,
non-investment grade bonds typically entail greater potential price volatility and will likely
be less liquid than investment grade securities.
Analyses of the creditworthiness of issuers of non-investment grade bonds will likely be more
complex than for issuers of investment grade instruments. Credit quality of non-investment
grade issuers can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently issued credit ratings
will likely not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular non-investment grade
instrument.
Ratings assigned by a rating agency (e.g., Moody’s, S&P and/or Fitch) to securities acquired
in a portfolio reflect only the views of those agencies. Explanations of the significance of
ratings should be obtained from Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. No assurance can be given that
ratings assigned will not be withdrawn or revised downward if, in the view of the rating
agency, circumstances so warrant. A lower rating may adversely affect the value of the
security acquired by a portfolio, thereby adversely affecting the value of the portfolio.
• Distressed Securities
An account, depending on the strategy, will invest in securities of companies that are
experiencing or have experienced significant financial or business difficulties. Distressed
securities may generate significant returns for an account but also involve a substantial degree
of risk. In certain circumstances, an account will lose a substantial portion or all of its
investment in a distressed company or be required to accept cash or securities with a value
less than an account’s original investment. Depending on the circumstances, such
investments also will be adversely affected by state and federal laws and the laws of non-U.S.
jurisdictions. The market prices of such investments are also subject to abrupt and erratic
market movements and above average price volatility, and the spread between the bid and
asked prices of such investments will likely be greater than for non-distressed securities.
• Private Debt Investments
Certain client accounts will invest in privately issued secured and unsecured debt of both
public and private companies. Private debt investments generally are of non-investment
grade quality, frequently are unrated, and present many of the same risks as investing in non-
investment grade loans and non-investment grade bonds. Whenever an account invests in
companies that do not publicly report financial and other material information, it assumes a
greater degree of investment risk and reliance upon the Curi RMB’s ability to obtain and
evaluate applicable information concerning such companies’ creditworthiness and other
investment considerations.
•
Interest Rates
An account’s investments will be subject to interest rate risk. Generally, the value of debt
securities will change inversely with changes in interest rates. As interest rates rise, the market
value of debt securities tends to decrease. Conversely, as interest rates fall, the market value
of debt securities tends to increase. This risk will be greater for long-term securities than for
short-term securities. In certain circumstances, an account will likely from time to time seek
to hedge such risks (including through long or short investments in treasury securities or
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derivative instruments), there is no assurance that such measures, even if implemented, will
be effective.
• Limited Experience in Certain Areas of the Credit Market
To the extent that Curi RMB has limited experience in a particular area of the credit market
which it determines offers an attractive investment opportunity for an account, Curi RMB
may, but will be under no obligation to, arrange for outside advisors or other persons acting
in similar capacities to advise an account on such areas in consideration for a fee or in certain
circumstances an equity participation or share of the return on investments in such areas,
which may be pursuant to a joint venture or similar arrangement. There can be no assurance
that the limited experience of Curi RMB in any such additional area of the credit market will
not result in a lower return than anticipated or a greater risk of loss on such investments even
if Curi RMB arranges for outside advisors with experience in such areas to advise it.
• Reliance on Corporate Management and Financial Reporting
Many of the investment strategies implemented by an account rely on the information made
available by the issuers in which it invests. Curi RMB will not necessarily have the ability to
independently verify the information disseminated by the issuers in which an account invests
and will consequently be dependent upon the integrity of both the management of these
issuers and the financial reporting process in general. Recent events have demonstrated the
material losses that investors in such an account can incur as a result of corporate
mismanagement, fraud, and accounting irregularities.
•
Illiquid Investments
Depending on the strategy, an account’s assets may be invested in securities and other
financial instruments or obligations for which a limited market exists. Because of the absence
of any trading market for these investments, Curi RMB will likely take longer to liquidate
these positions than would be the case for publicly traded securities. Although these
securities, under certain circumstances, may be resold in privately negotiated transactions,
the prices realized on such sales could be less than those originally paid. Further, companies
whose securities are not publicly traded will likely not be subject to public disclosure and
other investor protection requirements applicable to publicly traded securities. In addition, at
various times, the markets for securities purchased or sold by an account, although organized
and active, will likely nevertheless be “thin” or illiquid, making the purchase or sale of securi-
ties at desired prices or in desired quantities difficult or impossible. This lack of depth could
be a disadvantage, both in the realization of the prices which are quoted and in the execution
of orders at desired prices.
In addition, and depending on the strategy, the markets for some of the instruments that will
be traded by an account will have limited liquidity and depth. This lack of depth could be a
disadvantage, both in the realization of the prices which are quoted and in the execution of
orders at desired prices. These investments usually have a long-term investment horizon (10
or more years). As such, investors may not be able to access the invested capital for an
extended period of time.
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• Digital Assets
We may recommend clients invest in third-party managers and their products that invest in
virtual currencies, crypto-currencies, and digital coins and tokens (“Digital Assets”). The
investment characteristics of Digital Assets generally differ from those of traditional
currencies, commodities, or securities. Importantly, Digital Assets are not backed by a central
bank or a national, supra-national or quasi-national organization, any hard assets, human
capital, or other form of credit. Rather, Digital Assets are market-based: a Digital Asset’s value
is determined by (and fluctuates often, according to) supply and demand factors, the number
of merchants that accept it, and/or the value that various market participants place on it
through their mutual agreement, barter or transactions.
• Price Volatility of Digital Assets
A principal risk in trading Digital Assets is the rapid fluctuation of market price. High price
volatility undermines Digital Assets’ role as a medium of exchange as consumers or retailers
are much less likely to accept them as a form of payment. The value of client portfolios relates
in part to the value of the Digital Assets held in the client portfolio and fluctuations in the
price of Digital Assets could adversely affect the value of a client’s portfolio. There is no
guarantee that a client will be able to achieve a better than average market price for Digital
Assets or will purchase Digital Assets at the most favorable price available. The price of
Digital Assets achieved by a client may be affected generally by a wide variety of complex
and difficult to predict factors such as Digital Asset supply and demand; rewards and
transaction fees for the recording of transactions on the blockchain; availability and access to
Digital Asset service providers (such as payment processors), exchanges, miners or other
Digital Asset users and market participants; perceived or actual Digital Asset network or
Digital Asset security vulnerability; inflation levels; fiscal policy; interest rates; and political,
natural and economic events.
• Digital Asset Service Providers
Several companies and financial institutions provide services related to the buying, selling,
payment processing and storing of virtual currency (i.e., banks, accountants, exchanges,
digital wallet providers, and payment processors). However, there is no assurance that the
virtual currency market, or the service providers necessary to accommodate it, will continue
to support Digital Assets, continue in existence, or grow. Further, there is no assurance that
the availability of and access to virtual currency service providers will not be negatively
affected by government regulation or supply and demand of Digital Assets. Accordingly,
companies or financial institutions that currently support virtual currency may not do so in
the future.
• Custody of Digital Assets
Under the Advisers Act, SEC registered investment advisers are required to hold securities
with “qualified custodians,” among other requirements. Certain Digital Assets may be
deemed to be securities. Currently, many of the companies providing Digital Assets custodial
services fall outside of the SEC’s definition of “qualified custodian”, and many long-standing,
prominent qualified custodians do not provide custodial services for Digital Assets or
otherwise provide such services only with respect to a limited number of actively traded
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Digital Assets. Accordingly, clients may use nonqualified custodians to hold all or a portion
of their Digital Assets.
• Government Oversight of Digital Assets
The regulatory schemes—both foreign and domestic—possibly affecting Digital Assets or a
Digital Asset network may not be fully developed and subject to change. It is possible that
any jurisdiction may, in the near or distant future, adopt laws, regulations, policies or rules
directly or indirectly affecting a Digital Asset network, generally, or restricting the right to
acquire, own, hold, sell, convert, trade, or use Digital Assets, or to exchange Digital Assets for
either fiat currency or other virtual currency. It is also possible that government authorities
may take direct, or indirect investigative or prosecutorial action related to, among other
things, the use ownership or transfer of Digital Assets, resulting in a change to its value or to
the development of a Digital Asset network.
•
International Investing Risk
International investing, especially in emerging markets, involves special risks, such as
currency exchange and price fluctuations, as well as political and economic risks.
• Emerging Markets Risk
The risks associated with foreign investments are heightened when investing in emerging
markets. The governments and economies of emerging market countries may show greater
instability than those of more developed countries. Such investments tend to fluctuate in price
more widely and to be less liquid than other foreign investments.
• Cash Management
In managing the cash maintained in your account, we typically utilize the cash vehicle made
available by the custodian. We also make available a cash management product offered by a
third-party, as described in Item 4 herein. There may be other cash management options
available to you with higher yields or safer underlying investments. While cash is generally
safe, there is a risk that inflation may be higher than the yield on a particular cash product,
and the real value of your cash balance may decrease.
• Non-Diversification Risk
If a strategy is “non-diversified,” its investments are not required to meet certain
diversification requirements under federal law. A “non-diversified” strategy is permitted to
invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified
strategy. Thus, the strategy may have fewer holdings than other strategies. As a result, a
decline in the value of those investments would cause the strategy’s overall value to decline
to a greater degree than if the strategy held a more diversified portfolio.
• Broad Investment and Trading Mandate
The client agreement does not impose significant restrictions on Curi RMB’s investing and
trading and permits an account to invest and trade in a broad range of securities and other
financial instruments. Curi RMB expects that, under current market conditions, an account
will focus on a specific investment strategy. Curi RMB, however, will engage in other
strategies from time to time to take advantage of changing market conditions and investment
opportunities, without notice. This could involve changes in the types of securities and other
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instruments in which an account trades and invests, as well as changes in the markets in
which such securities and other instruments trade. There can be no assurance that pursuing
additional strategies, either in lieu of or in addition to the strategy described herein, would
be successful or not result in losses.
• Counterparties
Some of the markets in which an account invests could result in the risk that a counterparty
will not be able to settle a transaction with an account in accordance with its terms because of
a credit or liquidity problem of the counterparty, thereby exposing an account to loss. In
addition, in the case of a default by a counterparty, an account could become subject to
significant losses while it attempts to execute a substitute transaction.
• Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities (TIPS)
Inflation-protected bonds typically have lower yields than conventional fixed-rate bonds.
While TIPS may provide investors with a hedge against inflation, in the event of deflation, in
which prices decline over time, the principal and income of inflation-protected bonds would
likely decline in value.
• Taxes
The purchase and sale of securities in a taxable account may result in taxable events for clients.
Depending on the length that securities are held in client accounts, the taxes may be either
short or long-term and subject to different tax rates. The implementation of investment
strategies chosen by clients and/or their advisors may not produce the most tax efficient
results for clients. Clients should be prepared to accept this risk. Clients who are sensitive to
potential tax liabilities should inform their advisor in advance or as circumstances change.
• Mortgage and Asset Backed Securities
Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participation in, or are collateralized
by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property. The value of these securities
may change more drastically than traditional debt securities due to the fact that they pay both
principal and interest that can fluctuate during periods of changing interest rates. Asset-
backed securities represent fractional interests in, or are secured by and payable from, pools
of assets such as motor vehicle installment sales contracts, installment loan contracts, leases
of various types of real and personal property and receivables from revolving credit
agreements. Asset-backed securities have structures and characteristics similar to those of
mortgage-backed securities; accordingly, they are subject to many of the same risks.
• Government Securities
U.S. Government securities are subject to interest rate and inflation risks. Not all U.S.
Government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Certain
securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government are only insured
or guaranteed by the issuing agency or instrumentality, which must rely on its own resources
to repay the debt. As a result, there is the risk that these entities will default on a financial
obligation.
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• Municipal Securities Risk
Municipal securities are subject to various risks based on factors such as economic and
regulatory developments, changes or proposed changes in the federal and state tax structure,
deregulation, court rulings and other factors. Repayment of municipal securities depends on
the ability of the issuer or project backing such securities to generate taxes or revenues. There
is a risk that the interest on an otherwise tax-exempt municipal security may be subject to
federal income tax.
• ETF, Closed-End Fund and Mutual Fund Risk
ETF, closed-end fund and mutual fund investments bear additional expenses based on a pro-
rata share of operating expenses, including potential duplication of management fees. The
risks of owning an ETF, closed-end fund or mutual fund generally reflect the risks of owning
the underlying securities held by the ETF, closed-end fund or mutual fund. If the ETF, closed-
end fund or mutual fund fails to achieve its investment objective, the strategy’s investment in
the fund may adversely affect its performance. In addition, because ETFs and many closed-
end funds are listed on national stock exchanges and are traded like stocks listed on an
exchange, (1) the strategy may acquire ETF or closed-end fund shares at a discount or
premium to their net asset value, and (2) the strategy may incur greater expenses since ETFs
are subject to brokerage and other trading costs. Since the value of ETF shares depends on the
demand in the market, we may not be able to liquidate the holdings at the most optimal time,
adversely affecting performance. Closed-end funds which are not publicly offered (also
known as interval funds) provide only limited liquidity to investors. Accordingly,
investments in interval funds can expose investors to liquidity risk, and that risk is greater in
funds that invest in securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations, derivatives
or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk.
• Private Investment Vehicles Risk
Client portfolios may be invested in other private funds, such as real estate funds, venture
capital funds, private equity, real assets, private credit or other private pooled vehicles.
Investments in a private fund may be subject to wide swings in value and may employ the
use of leverage or hold illiquid securities. An investment in a private fund will not be liquid
and may not have limitations on particular sectors, industries, countries, regions or securities.
Because private investment vehicles are not registered investment companies, they are not
subject to the same regulatory reporting or oversight as registered entities.
• Real Estate Risks
Investments in real estate are subject to various known and unknown risks, including
unforeseen changes in local, national and global economy, dynamic shifts in the geopolitical
environment, the financial conditions of tenants, changes in the number of buyers for a
specific asset type or geography, increases in the supply of product relative to demand,
changes in availability and terms of third party financing, increases in interest rates, real estate
tax rates, energy prices, and other operating expenses, changes in environmental laws and
regulations, zoning laws, service and overall returns, commodity and labor prices impacting
the cost of construction, as well as acts of God, terrorism, labor shortages, material shortages,
and uninsurable losses, and other factors that are beyond the control of Curi RMB. The
acquisition, ownership, management, and disposition of property carries potential litigation
risks, which could result in unexpected losses to the real estate fund.
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• REITs Risk
The value of a strategy’s investments in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) may change
in response to changes in the real estate market. A strategy’s investments in REITs may subject
it to the following additional risks: declines in the value of real estate, changes in interest rates,
lack of available mortgage funds or other limits on obtaining capital and financing,
overbuilding, extended vacancies of properties, increases in property taxes and operating
expenses, changes in zoning laws and regulations, casualty or condemnation losses, and tax
consequences of the failure of a REIT to comply with tax law requirements. A strategy will
bear a proportionate share of the REIT’s ongoing operating fees and expenses, which may
include management, operating and administrative expenses.
• Options Transactions
An option is a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a
particular security at a specified price on or before the expiration date of the option. When an
investor sells a call option, he or she must deliver to the buyer a specified number of shares if
the buyer exercises the option. When an investor sells a put option, he or she must pay the
strike price per share if the buyer exercises the option and will receive the specified number
of shares. The option writer/seller receives a premium (the market price of the option at a
particular time) in exchange for writing the option. Options are complex investments and can
be very risky, especially if the investor does not own the underlying stock. In certain
situations, an investor’s risk can be unlimited.
• Other Risks
Client accounts are also subject to investment style risk. A client account invested in one of
our investment strategies involves the risk that the investment strategy may underperform
other investment strategies or the overall market. For example, growth companies are
generally more susceptible to market events and sharp declines in value than established
companies. Value stocks may not increase in price, may not issue the anticipated stock
dividends, or may decline in price based on the market’s belief of the issuer’s intrinsic worth.
Curi RMB does not offer any products or services that guarantee rates of return on
investments for any time period to any client. All clients assume the risk that investment
returns may be negative or below the rates of return of other investment advisers, market
indices or investment products.
• Absence of Registration
Certain strategies that are offered through private funds are exempt from registration under
the Securities Act provided by Regulation D. In addition, these private funds will typically
rely on the “exclusion” from the definition of “investment company” for certain “private”
investment companies provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(“ICA”). As a result, these private funds have not registered and are not subject to regulation
under the ICA or the Securities Act, and investors are not afforded the protections that such
registration and regulation might provide.
• Retirement Plan Services - Risk of Loss
All investments in securities and other financial instruments involve substantial risk of
volatility (potentially resulting in rapid declines in market prices and significant
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losses) arising from any number of factors that are beyond the control of Curi RMB. Legal,
tax, and regulatory changes could occur which in certain cases materially adversely affect the
ability of an account to pursue its investment strategies or achieve its investment objective.
Although Curi RMB believes that its recommendations should mitigate the risk of loss
through a careful selection and monitoring of investments, an investment is nevertheless
subject to loss, including possible loss of the entire amount invested. No guarantee or
representation is made that an investment will be successful, and the investment results will
vary substantially over time.
• Cybersecurity and Business Continuity
Curi RMB’s information and technology systems may be vulnerable to damage or
interruption from computer viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunication
failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and security breaches, usage errors by its
professionals, power outages and catastrophic events such as fires, tornadoes, floods,
hurricanes, and earthquakes. Although Curi RMB has implemented various measures to
protect the confidentiality of its internal data and to manage risks relating to these types of
events, if these systems are compromised, become inoperable for extended periods of time or
cease to function properly, Curi RMB will likely have to make a significant investment to fix
or replace them. The failure of these systems and/or of disaster recovery plans for any reason
could cause significant interruptions in Curi RMB’s operations and result in a failure to
maintain the security, confidentiality, or privacy of sensitive data, including personal
information relating to clients. Such a failure could harm Curi RMB’s reputation or subject it
or its affiliates to legal claims and otherwise affect their business and financial performance.
Curi RMB will seek to notify affected clients of any known cybersecurity incident that will
likely pose substantial risk of exposing confidential personal data about such clients to
unintended parties.
• Allocations to third-party managers/sub-advisers and investors in private funds are subject
to the following additional risks:
Client portfolios may be invested in private investment vehicles, such as real estate
funds, venture capital funds, private equity, real assets, private credit. Because private
investment vehicles are not registered investment companies, they are not subject to
the same regulatory reporting or oversight as registered entities.
Aggressive Investment Technique Risk – Curi RMB or a third-party manager will, from
time to time for certain strategies, use investment techniques and financial
instruments that are considered aggressive, including but not limited to investments
in derivatives such as futures contracts, options on futures contracts, securities and
indices, forward contracts, swap agreements and similar instruments. Such techniques
may also include taking short positions or using other techniques that are intended to
provide inverse exposure to a particular market or other asset class, as well as
leverage, which can expose a client’s account to potentially dramatic changes (losses
or gains). These techniques may expose a client to potentially dramatic changes
(losses) in the value of its allocation to the manager.
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Liquidity and Transferability – Certain private funds offer their investors only limited
liquidity and interests are generally not freely transferable. In addition to other
liquidity restrictions, investments in private funds may offer liquidity at infrequent
times (i.e., monthly, quarterly, annually or less frequently). Accordingly, investors in
private funds should understand that they may not be able to liquidate their
investment in the event of an emergency or for any other reason.
Possibility of Fraud and Other Misconduct – When a private fund invests in an
underlying fund, the private fund does not have custody of the underlying fund’s
assets. Therefore, there is the risk that the underlying fund or its custodian could
divert or abscond with those assets, fail to follow agreed upon investment strategies,
provide false reports of operations, or engage in other misconduct. Moreover, there
can be no assurances that all underlying funds will be operated in accordance with all
applicable laws and that assets entrusted to underlying funds will be protected.
Counterparty Risk – The institutions (such as banks) and prime brokers with which a
manager does business, or to which securities have been entrusted for custodial
purposes, could encounter financial difficulties. This could impair the operational
capabilities or the capital position of a manager or create unanticipated trading risks.
There can be no assurance that the methods described above will be successful or that clients will not suffer
losses. Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. Private funds and
mutual funds have different risks depending on the strategy implemented by the manager of the private
funds and mutual funds. Please see the PPM or prospectus for a full list of risks associated with such
investments.
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ITEM 9: DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION
Item 9 is not applicable to us as we have no reportable material legal or disciplinary events.
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ITEM 10: OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS
Curi RMB has relationships and arrangements that are material to our advisory business or to
our clients with related persons that provide a variety of financial services and products, as
detailed below. When appropriate for a client, Curi RMB uses and/or recommends the services
and products offered by Curi RMB’s affiliates when appropriate for a client.
Curi RMB’s majority owner is Curi Capital, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of MMIC
Investment Holdings, Inc. (“MMIC”). MMIC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Curi Holdings, Inc.
(FKA Medical Mutual Holdings) which also owns Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North
Carolina (“Medical Mutual”). Medical Mutual provides professional liability insurance to
physicians and medical practices. Curi RMB provides investment management services to
Medical Mutual and its affiliates, existing policyholders of Medical Mutual and to independent
clients unrelated to Medical Mutual. Curi RMB’s affiliation with Medical Mutual creates a
financial incentive for Curi RMB to favor Medical Mutual affiliated accounts or Medical Mutual
policyholder investment accounts. Curi RMB has procedures designed and implemented to
ensure that all clients are treated fairly, and to prevent this potential conflict from influencing the
allocation of investment opportunities among clients.
Affiliated Products
Where determined appropriate for a client, Curi RMB uses and/or recommends affiliated
products, services and private funds of Curi RMB (“Affiliated Products”) to clients. Curi RMB
has an incentive to recommend Affiliated Products over similar unaffiliated options as a result of
the conflicts described below. Curi RMB has sought to mitigate this conflict by disclosing such
fees to clients and not sharing any revenue from the Affiliated Products with the wealth advisors
who select client investments, although certain wealth advisors are partners of Curi RMB who
share in the overall profits of Curi RMB. Some, but not all, of the conflicts of interest of Curi
RMB’s recommendation of Affiliated Products include the following:
•
Curi RMB and its affiliates generally receive an investment management fee and,
depending on the Affiliated Product, performance-based compensation with
respect to its management of the Affiliated Product. Except as noted herein, fees
charged with respect to Affiliated Products are in addition to the wealth
management fees charged by Curi RMB. Generally, all or a portion of the
revenues earned by Curi RMB affiliates ultimately flow to Curi RMB.
•
A client that invests in an Affiliated Product will pay the client’s pro rata share of
the expenses of the Affiliated Product.
•
An Affiliated Product may offer limited or no liquidity, and thus clients of Curi
RMB may be holding the investment for an indefinite period of time. Even if the
client terminates its relationship with Curi RMB, it may be unable to withdraw
from the Affiliated Product.
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•
The investment strategies employed by an Affiliated Product may be volatile and
utilize leverage. Therefore, the risk of loss is increased. Any investor in an
Affiliated Product could lose all or a substantial portion of their investment.
•
Curi RMB and its affiliates may share revenues and expenses.
•
Persons associated with Curi RMB may own a significant amount of an Affiliated
Product, and may be subject to preferential terms such as waived or reduced
management or performance-based compensation.
Related Persons
Curi RMB has certain relationships or arrangements with related persons that are material to its
advisory business or its clients. Below is a description of such relationships and some of the
conflicts of interest that arise from them. Curi RMB has adopted policies and procedures
reasonably designed to prevent, limit, or mitigate conflicts of interest that may arise between Curi
RMB and its related persons.
Affiliations With Broker-Dealers
Certain personnel of Curi RMB are registered representatives of a non-affiliated, registered
broker-dealer in connection with certain services provided to certain Curi RMB-sponsored
mutual funds. Such personnel may be entitled to receive transaction-based compensation from
the broker-dealer for the sale of securities of the Curi RMB-sponsored mutual funds solely with
respect to investors that are not advisory clients of Curi RMB. In addition, certain officers of the
mutual funds are affiliated with Curi RMB, which presents a conflict of interest due to competing
priorities.
Affiliations with Investment Companies
Curi RMB has arrangements that are material to its advisory business with affiliated investment
companies. Curi RMB serves as the investment adviser to affiliated mutual funds.
Certain of our affiliates serve as the general partner, managing member, and/or investment
manager of private funds. Where appropriate, we and our affiliates solicit clients to invest in these
vehicles. In addition, we, or an affiliate are generally entitled to receive management fees,
administrative fees and/or performance-based compensation for investments made by clients in
the private funds.
A Curi RMB employee currently serves as an Independent Trustee for the Nationwide Mutual
Funds (NMF) and the Nationwide Variable Insurance Trust (NVIT) and chair of the Board. The
employee is compensated by NMF and NVIT for his service as an Independent Trustee and chair.
While the employee does not derive a direct financial benefit from any investment in a
Nationwide fund, the firm may allocate client assets to, or recommend that clients invest in, the
Nationwide mutual funds, which may be viewed as a conflict of interest. In addition, potential
conflicts of interest may arise in respect of decisions to dispose (or not to dispose) of Nationwide
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products in a client's portfolio. The firm has a process in place whereby if the employee receives
material, non-public information regarding the Nationwide mutual funds as a result of service
on the board, the employee and the firm may be prohibited for a period of time from making
certain investment recommendations in respect of any client's holdings of the Nationwide mutual
funds, and such restrictions may disadvantage the firm's clients.
Affiliations with Other Investment Advisers
Curi RMB is entitled to receive certain periodic payments from Iron Road Capital Partners, LLC
(“Iron Road”), a manager of private funds that is an exempt reporting adviser with the SEC and
principally owned and controlled by former employees of Curi RMB. In addition, Iron Road
provides operational and administrative services to private funds managed by other advisers in
exchange for a support services fee. Certain clients of Curi RMB currently, and may in the future,
hold investments in private funds advised or serviced by Iron Road. Curi RMB has a conflict of
interest in recommending private funds advised or serviced by Iron Road to clients as Curi RMB
is entitled to receive certain periodic payments from Iron Road.
Affiliation with Insurance Agencies
Certain persons at Curi RMB maintain insurance licenses and/or securities registrations at Lion
Street Financial, LLC and work with Curi Capital Insurance Solutions, LLC, MAI Insurance
Solutions and other insurance agencies to facilitate the purchase of insurance products by clients.
Curi RMB may recommend insurance solutions to clients as part of the financial planning process;
however, no client is required to purchase insurance through Curi Capital Insurance Solutions,
LLC, MAI Insurance Solutions, Lion Street Financial, or any other insurance agency Curi RMB
may work with and/or recommend. No firm employee is directly compensated, in the form of
commissions, from the insurance products they sell through Curi Capital Insurance Solutions,
MAI Insurance Solutions, Lion Street Financial, or any other insurance agency; however,
employees may derive economic benefit from insurance product sales as part of an annual bonus
program. This creates a conflict of interest in that Curi RMB and its employees have an economic
incentive to recommend insurance product sales to clients, but Curi RMB and its employees only
make such recommendations when it is in a client’s best interest. Certain persons at Curi RMB
may receive trail commission for insurance policies sold prior to their affiliation with Curi RMB.
Other Relationships or Affiliations
Certain employees of a Curi RMB branch office provide limited real estate services to a limited
number of clients through a real estate company licensed in their state. These employees generally
offer property management services and other real estate services to their clients. These
employees do not engage in the business of real estate brokerage. While these services are not
currently offered to Curi RMB clients, certain legacy clients pay a fee for these services to a limited
number of employees of Curi RMB.
Certain Curi RMB personnel are involved in other outside business activities, including board
positions for institutions, charities, public companies, and investment funds. Curi RMB personnel
have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and activity between Curi RMB and other
businesses with which they are associated. Curi RMB maintains policies and procedures designed
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to manage and monitor the conflicts of interest presented to Curi RMB and its clients by these
activities.
Certain employees of Curi RMB may, from time to time, serve in an executive position for a family
investment partnership. These family investment partnerships are legacy clients of a Curi RMB
branch. Curi RMB provides investment services to these family partnerships but does not solicit
clients to invest who are not part of the extended family.
Additionally, legacy clients of a Curi RMB branch have invested in a fund of funds private equity
partnership managed by an employee’s family member. This employee receives no financial
interest and does not have a relationship with this manager of the fund other than a family
relationship.
Curi RMB has employees that are on the Board of Directors and/or act as Chairman for
Investment Committees for several charitable and/or non-profit organizations. In these positions
our employees could work with pension or investment consultants that Curi RMB also has a
relationship with. In some situations, Curi RMB acts as an investment manager for the same
charitable or non-profit organization. These potential conflicts of interest are fully disclosed to
the charitable or non-profit organization prior to acceptance of any position. These outside
directorships and/or committees are required to be reported to Curi RMB’s Compliance
Department.
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ITEM 11: CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT
TRANSACTIONS AND PERSONAL TRADING
Overview of Code of Ethics and Personal Trading
Curi RMB has adopted a Code of Ethics for all supervised persons of Curi RMB describing its
high standard of business conduct and fiduciary duty to clients. In accordance with Section 204A
of the Advisers Act, the Code of Ethics contains written policies reasonably designed to prevent
the unlawful use of material, non-public information by Curi RMB or any of its supervised
persons. The Code of Ethics includes provisions relating to personal securities trading
procedures, periodic employee reporting of personal securities holdings and transactions and
pre-approval of certain investments, among other things. All supervised persons at Curi RMB
must acknowledge the terms of the Code of Ethics as a new employee, annually, or as amended
from time to time. Any violations or suspected violations of the Code of Ethics are encouraged
to be brought to the attention of the Chief Compliance Officer or other members of the
Compliance Department for review. If it is determined that an employee has violated the Code
of Ethics, we will take such remedial action as is deemed appropriate. Sanctions may vary
depending on the specific circumstances, but may include reprimand, limitation or prohibition
of personal trading, suspension, or termination of employment.
From time to time, employees or related persons of Curi RMB will invest in securities that are
also held in client accounts. All transactions in these and other securities must comply with Curi
RMB’s Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics requires, among other things, that employees and
related persons of Curi RMB pre-approve all personal securities transactions except under certain
limited circumstances. The adviser also has policies that further restrict employees’ personal
securities transactions by:
• Limiting the size of trade and ability to trade in such securities if Curi RMB is trading
for client accounts on the same day;
• Requiring employees to report all personal trading and accounts to Curi RMB’s
Compliance Department for compliance review with these standards;
• Establishing minimum holding periods for any securities purchased for employee’s
personal accounts.
In certain circumstances and upon written request, Curi RMB may permit transactions in a
security that would otherwise be prohibited under Curi RMB’s Code of Ethics.
Curi RMB will provide a copy of its Code of Ethics to any client or prospective client upon request.
Clients may request a copy by email at compliance@rmbcap.com or by phone at (312) 993-5800.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Curi RMB does not directly buy or sell publicly traded securities for itself that it also recommends
to clients, but accounts sponsored by Curi RMB, including its 401(k) plan, may hold and transact
in such securities. Curi RMB’s parent company, Curi, is an affiliate and a client of Curi RMB’s
and may have investments in the same securities as non-affiliated clients. The firm has policies
and procedures in place to ensure that no clients are disadvantaged. Any such transactions that
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are directed by employees are subject to the requirements outlined in Curi RMB’s Code of Ethics.
Our affiliates or related personnel may recommend to clients, or purchase or sell for client
accounts, securities in which our affiliates or related personnel have a material financial interest.
These include situations in which we, our affiliates or related personnel, act as general partner
(or in a similar capacity) in a private fund in which we solicit client investments and/or act as an
investment adviser to an investment company that we recommend to clients. Curi RMB, its
affiliates and their respective employees and officers, may invest for their own accounts in
various opportunities appropriate for investment by clients.
To address these potential conflicts and protect and promote the interests of clients, we employ
the following policies and procedures:
•
If we enter into a transaction on behalf of our clients that presents either a material or
non-material conflict of interest, the conflict should be prominently disclosed to the
client prior to the consummation of such transaction.
• Employees must comply with our policy on the handling and use of material, non-
public information (aka “inside” information).
• Employees must report certain personal securities transactions pursuant to our Code
of Ethics.
From time to time, Curi RMB introduces clients to private funds managed by Curi RMB. In
addition to investment management fees, depending on market conditions and the strategy, Curi
RMB and its affiliates are generally entitled to receive performance-based compensation from
such private funds. While Curi RMB has a financial incentive to recommend an investment in a
private fund managed by Curi RMB, it will consider the suitability of the investment in light of
the client’s specific situation, including any investment objectives and restrictions. In addition,
Curi RMB will provide the client with the applicable Private Placement Memoranda for each
private fund which outlines, among other things, the risks, fees, and conflicts of interest related
to an investment in the private fund. Ultimately, clients retain final discretion and decision-
making authority with respect to making an investment into a private fund managed by Curi
RMB.
Curi RMB will also introduce their clients to the mutual funds that it manages which are
distributed by an independent, third-party broker-dealer. Curi RMB has a financial incentive to
recommend the mutual funds it manages; however, it will consider whether the mutual fund(s)
is an appropriate investment for the client given the client’s specific situation, including any
investment objectives and restrictions.
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ITEM 12: BROKERAGE PRACTICES
Selection of Brokers
Curi RMB may suggest that the client use a particular broker-dealer to act as custodian for the
funds and securities to be managed. In those cases, Curi RMB generally recommends a broker-
dealer with whom Curi RMB has negotiated rates believed to be beneficial to Curi RMB and its
clients. Clients are not required to use this broker/custodian or to utilize the negotiated fee
schedules. Negotiated rates include both asset-based and transaction-based fees.
In determining the brokers through whom, and commission rates and other transaction costs at
which, securities transactions for client accounts are to be executed, Curi RMB will generally seek
to negotiate a combination of the most favorable commission and the best price obtainable on
each transaction. However, Curi RMB will consider various additional factors when selecting a
broker including, but not limited to, the nature of the portfolio transaction, size of the transaction,
execution, clearing and settlement capabilities, desired timing of transactions, reliability, financial
condition, confidentiality of trades, client direction and under appropriate circumstances, and the
availability of research and research-related services provided.
Asset-Based and Transaction-Based Fees
Custodians may offer Curi RMB clients’ either asset-based or transaction-based pricing, or both.
When considering which fee option to choose (asset-based or transaction-based), several items
should be considered. These include the frequency of trading, cash levels, types of securities held,
and size of the account. For example, if a client elects to be charged an asset-based fee, it is
generally anticipating a more actively managed account. In this case, the client accepts the risk
that it could have been better off choosing transaction-based fees in the event the account has
fewer transactions than was expected for that account. Similarly, if a client elects to be charged
transaction-based fees, it is generally anticipating a less actively managed account and accepts
the risk that it could have been better off electing an asset-based fee in the event the account
experiences more frequent transactions than expected. An account being charged an asset-based
fee will likely be invested temporarily in cash or cash equivalents, or otherwise not actively
managed, for short periods of time as a result of decisions made by the clients or their adviser.
Under these circumstances, the client acknowledges that the custodian continues to hold the
account assets and accordingly continues to charge its custodial fees. A more detailed explanation
of the types of considerations faced by a client that chooses an asset-based fee versus transaction-
based fees is included in the asset-based pricing supplement of your Custodial Account
Agreements.
Trade-Aways and Step-Outs
Trade-aways and/or step-outs are trades in accounts that are executed by a broker outside of
their custodian. The broker receives a commission for executing the trade. The commission is a
separate transaction cost which is charged in addition to the quarterly custodial fee charged by a
Custodian. Step-outs are typically utilized at Curi RMB only when processing a trade error, but
not as a form of intentional trade aways.
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Brokerage for Client Referrals
Curi RMB has arrangements with a number of broker-dealers that act as custodians for Curi RMB
clients (each, together with its affiliates, a “Custodian”). Certain Custodians provide Curi RMB
with “institutional platform services.” The institutional platform services include, among other
things, brokerage, custody, and other related services. The Custodians’ institutional platform
services that assist Curi RMB in managing and administering client accounts include software
and other technology that (i) provides access to client account data (such as trade confirmations
and account statements); (ii) facilitates trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for
multiple client accounts; (iii) provides research, pricing, and other market data; (iv) facilitates
payment of fees from its clients’ accounts; and (v) assists with back-office functions,
recordkeeping, and client reporting. Clients and/or Curi RMB will select either asset-based or
transaction-based custodial pricing at a Custodian, if offered.
The Custodians also offer other services intended to help Curi RMB manage and further develop
its advisory practice. Such services include, but are not limited to, performance reporting,
financial planning, contact management systems, third-party research, publications, access to
educational conferences, roundtables and webinars, practice management resources, access to
consultants, and other third-party service providers who provide a wide array of business-related
services and technology with whom Curi RMB will contract directly, if required.
There is a possibility that prime brokers or other executing brokers through their capital
introduction groups with whom Curi RMB directs trades could introduce potential investors to
the Private Funds or as clients. As a result, there would be the potential for conflicts of interest
from Curi RMB’s relationship with such brokers. Curi RMB would evaluate each such
relationship and consider any conflicts of interest which may result from these relationships to
ensure (i) Curi RMB gets the best execution for client transactions and (ii) Curi RMB will not
favor any such brokers over other comparable brokers that do not introduce clients.
Curi RMB is independently operated and owned and is not affiliated with any Custodian or other
broker-dealer.
Each Custodian generally does not charge Curi RMB’s clients separately for custody services but
is compensated by account holders through commissions and other transaction-related or asset-
based fees for securities trades that are executed through the Custodian or that settle into the
Custodian’s accounts (e.g., transaction fees are charged for certain no-load mutual funds,
commissions are charged for individual equity and debt securities transactions). Custodians will
likely provide access to no-load mutual funds without transaction charges and other no-load
funds at nominal transaction charges to suitable clients.
Directed Brokerage
Clients have the option to direct us in writing to use a particular broker-dealer to execute some
or all transactions for the client. In that case, the client will negotiate terms and arrangements for
the account with that broker-dealer, and we will not seek better execution services or prices from
other broker-dealers or be able to “batch” client transactions for execution through other broker-
dealers with orders for other accounts managed by us (as described below). As such, a client who
directs brokerage should consider that they: (i) may pay higher commissions on some
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transactions than may be attainable by Curi RMB, or may receive less favorable execution of some
transactions or both; (ii) may forego any benefit on execution costs that could be obtained for
clients through negotiated volume discounts on bunched transactions; (iii) may not be able to
participate in the allocation of a new issue, if the new issue shares are provided by another broker;
(iv) may receive execution of a particular trade after the execution of such trade for clients who
have not directed the brokerage for their accounts; and (vii) may not experience returns equal to
clients who have not directed brokerage for their accounts.
Trade Aggregation and Allocation
Curi RMB may, at its discretion, aggregate trades done for multiple accounts in order to reduce
commissions and execution costs. Block trades are initiated on a sequencing basis beginning with
the smallest block to the largest block. All accounts for whom trades are aggregated will receive
an average execution price for the relevant trading block. In cases when a trade is not completed
in a single day, Curi RMB will typically allocate the traded shares randomly among all of the
accounts in the trade block. The choice of an allocation method, whether random or pro-rata, for
a particular trade will be based on a variety of factors, including percentage of the trade
completed, ability to settle the transactions efficiently and potential costs to clients.
With respect to the model portfolio provider service, Curi RMB has implemented a rotation policy
(“Rotation Policy”) to provide approximately equal preference to discretionary clients of Curi
RMB that are managed pursuant to a model portfolio provider. When Curi RMB makes an update
to a model portfolio provider’s platform, the Rotation Policy provides a method of rotating the
order in which Curi RMB communicates the trade changes to its various model portfolio
providers. The Trading Department, with consultation from the Investment Committee, is
responsible for determining the rotation.
Even though Curi RMB utilizes the Rotation Policy, Curi RMB’s discretionary accounts and
accounts to which Curi RMB provides model portfolio platform services or non-discretionary
services may trade the same securities at the same time. In these circumstances, Curi RMB will
affect trading on behalf of its clients and deliver model providers portfolio updates in a manner
which it believes to be fair and equitable. Due to the nature of the rotation process, trading for
Curi RMB’s discretionary accounts may be conducted at the same time as trading being
conducted by model sponsors or accounts where Curi RMB is not granted trading discretion. As
a result, Curi RMB’s discretionary accounts may obtain more favorable execution prices than non-
discretionary or model portfolio provider accounts or vice versa.
For the KDI Equity Strategies, Curi RMB places market, limit price or volume weighted average
price (VWAP) trade orders depending on the price target of established by Curi RMB. Market
and limit price orders will be placed at the same time for all clients (private funds and portfolio
management clients). VWAP orders will be placed for the largest clients first, currently the
private funds and client accounts custodied at Goldman Sachs & Co. As trades on the VWAP
orders are executed for the largest clients, trades will be placed pro-rata throughout the trading
day for smaller clients to follow the trades of the largest clients.
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Clients who place restrictions on their accounts (e.g. cash requirements, restrictions on positions,
etc.) may not be able to participate in aggregated or blocked trades. These accounts may need to
be traded separately and after the block trades have been submitted.
Competing Trades
Curi RMB’s various funds and trading strategies may trade in different positions from each other.
For example, a private fund may trade and may continue to trade in securities and other financial
instruments for the benefit of its investors which may not benefit the investors of another private
fund and even if such trades compete with, occur ahead of or are opposite positions taken by the
other private funds.
Curi RMB’s funds and trading strategies may also compete with each other to buy certain
securities, including securities with limited availability. This competition may cause one or more
funds or accounts to obtain fewer securities and/or pay higher prices than would otherwise be
the case.
Research and Additional Benefits
In certain circumstances, Curi RMB will select brokers to execute trades for clients that provide
certain “soft dollar” benefits to Curi RMB in exchange for client brokerage fees. Soft dollar
benefits may include but are not limited to: (i) information services that report on the availability
and potential buyers or sellers of securities; (ii) quantitative analytical software and other
research-oriented software; (iii) research or fundamental analysis on individual companies,
securities and/or sectors; (iv) bond analytics on fixed income portfolios, including duration, yield
to maturity and convexity; (v) macro-economic research; (vi) global market news services and
financial publications; and (vii) securities quotation and data systems for capital markets. Broker-
dealers typically provide a bundle of services including research and execution of transactions to
their customers.
In using research and related services from broker-dealers on a soft dollar basis, we are
confronted with several inherent risks, including that we may choose a broker-dealer to execute
trades that charges a higher commission than other possible broker-dealers. To manage and
mitigate these risks, Curi RMB will limit its receipt of soft dollar benefits to those that meet the
“safe harbor” under Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act – namely benefits relating to trading,
research services, or seminars. Curi RMB also has a committee that monitors compliance with
our best execution obligations, applicable law and individual client guidelines with respect to our
use of “soft dollars.”
Research obtained with soft dollars will not always be utilized by Curi RMB for the specific
product, private fund or client account that generated the soft dollars. Because Curi RMB
aggregates transactions for accounts, brokerage commissions are aggregated to brokers and
therefore the research received from each broker may not be specifically tied to the product,
private fund or client account that generated the soft dollars. Curi RMB does not allocate the
relative costs or benefits of research among the private funds and clients because it believes that
the research they receive generally benefits all of the private funds and clients. In addition, the
research obtained with soft dollars generated may be used for the benefit of all clients.
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There are some broker-dealers who make their proprietary research available at no cost to Curi
RMB (i.e., no soft or hard dollar payments required). It appears that this is a customary practice
for these large, institutional broker-dealers as a result of the total amount of trading that Curi
RMB conducts with such firms. If these firms begin to assess a fee for such research, Curi RMB
will make an assessment of the research provided to determine which payment method would
be appropriate given the perceived value of the research.
Cross Trades
In certain circumstances, Curi RMB may affect “cross” trades between client accounts through an
unaffiliated broker/dealer at the prevailing market price. Curi RMB will affect such transactions
only when it deems the transaction to be in the best interests of both client accounts. The manner
of calculating the cross price is documented within policies and procedures adopted by Curi RMB
as amended from time to time. The custodian may charge a service fee for crossing the trade. Curi
RMB, as the investment adviser, receives no transactional compensation in regard to cross trades.
In addition, Curi RMB executes buys and sells in the same security in different client accounts
based on liquidity needs. Curi RMB does not cross those transactions for proprietary or principal
accounts; rather the trades for proprietary or principal accounts are executed at current market
prices.
Trade Errors
Curi RMB has policies to minimize the occurrence of trade errors and, should they occur, detect
such trade errors, and take steps to resolve the error to make the client whole. Upon the timely
discovery of a trade error, Curi RMB corrects the trade error. The trade error resolution process
varies depending on the policies and practices of the custodian where the relevant client account
is maintained. Clients may obtain additional information about the trade error policies and
practices applicable to their account by contacting Curi RMB.
Retirement Plan Services – Plan Sponsors
Curi RMB assists its plan sponsor clients with the selection of retirement plan service providers
which may also be registered broker-dealers. Curi RMB’s evaluation and subsequent
recommendation of such a service provider is based solely on the entity’s capabilities as a third-
party administrator or recordkeeper and not on the entity’s brokerage, trading or research
capabilities. Curi RMB does not execute any trades for its plan sponsor clients or their underlying
participants.
Custodial Services
Curi RMB participates in the Schwab Advisor Services Program and the Fidelity Institutional
Services program each of which offers services to independent investment advisers. Curi RMB
receives benefits from Schwab and Fidelity that it would not receive if it did not offer investment
advice. Schwab and Fidelity provide Curi RMB with access to services designed to assist
investment advisers that are not available to retail investors. These services are generally
available to investment advisers at no charge as long as the amount of the adviser’s managed
client assets maintained at Schwab or Fidelity exceeds a certain threshold.
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Schwab and Fidelity also make available to Curi RMB other products and services that benefit
Curi RMB but may not benefit its clients’ accounts. Some of these other products and services
assist Curi RMB in managing and administering client accounts. These include software and
other technology that provide access to client account data (e.g. trade confirmation and account
statements), facilitate trade execution and allocation of aggregated trade orders for multiple
client accounts, provide research, pricing information and other market data, facilitate payment
of Curi RMB’s fees from its clients’ accounts, and assist with back-office functions,
recordkeeping and client reporting. Many of these services may be used to service all or a
substantial number of Curi RMB’s clients’ accounts.
Schwab and Fidelity may also make available to Curi RMB other services intended to help it
manage and further develop its business enterprise. These services may include consulting,
publications and conferences on practice management, information technology, business
succession, regulatory compliance and marketing. While as a fiduciary Curi RMB endeavors to
act in the best interests of its clients, Curi RMB’s preference that clients maintain their assets in
accounts at either Schwab or Fidelity may be based in part on the benefit to Curi RMB of the
availability of some of the foregoing products and services and not solely on the nature, cost or
quality of custody and brokerage services provided by the brokers, which may create a potential
conflict of interest.
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ITEM 13: REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS
For advisory clients, members of Curi RMB’s Asset Management team including the Managing
Director of Asset Management, Portfolio Managers, and Analysts review the accounts they
manage on a regular basis. Members of Curi RMB’s Wealth Management team review client
accounts formally when any recommendations or financial plan changes are conveyed to clients
and on a periodic basis (no less frequently than annually). The Wealth Management team may
also review client accounts on an ad-hoc basis, depending on client inquiries and macro-economic
conditions and/or to ensure client’s asset allocations are within their tolerance ranges for the
client’s investment policy statement
.
Members of Curi RMB’s RPS team periodically monitor investments recommended to clients and
provide periodic reports summarizing the client’s retirement plan design, investment
performance, and advisory fees. Curi RMB generally meets with clients on an annual basis to
review the recent period’s data, recommend changes and discuss possible changes in the client’s
investment objectives and needs. Plan sponsor clients must inform Curi RMB of any interim
changes that would indicate a need to change investment recommendations.
See Item 15 for information on the content and frequency of client reports.
Investors in Private Funds will receive regular statements prepared by the applicable general
partner or fund administrator.
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ITEM 14: CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION
Referral Programs
As a result of Curi RMB’s participation in referral programs sponsored by certain Custodians and
their affiliates, Curi RMB has potential conflicts of interest including its decision to use certain
Custodians for execution, custody, and clearing for certain client accounts, and Curi RMB has a
potential incentive to suggest the use of a Custodian and its affiliates to its advisory clients,
whether or not those clients were referred to Curi RMB by a Custodian or its affiliates. A
Custodian will most likely refer clients to investment advisers that encourage their clients to
custody their assets at such Custodian and whose client accounts are profitable to such
Custodian. Consequently, in order to obtain client referrals from a Custodian, Curi RMB has an
incentive to recommend to clients that the assets under management by Curi RMB be held in
custody with such Custodian and to place transactions for client accounts with such Custodian.
In addition, Curi RMB will generally agree not to solicit clients referred to it by one Custodian to
establish brokerage or custody accounts at other custodians, except when Curi RMB’s fiduciary
duties require doing so.
There is no direct link between Curi RMB’s participation in any referral program and the
investment advice it gives to its clients, although Curi RMB receives economic benefits through
its participation in referral programs that are typically not available to clients of a Custodian.
These benefits at certain Custodians include the following products and services (provided
without cost or at a discount): receipt of duplicate client statements and confirmations; research
related products and tools; consulting services; access to a trading desk serving Curi RMB
participants; access to block trading (which provides the ability to aggregate securities
transactions for execution and then allocate the appropriate shares to client accounts); the ability
to have advisory fees deducted directly from client accounts; access to an electronic
communications network for client order entry and account information; access to mutual funds
with no transaction fees and to certain institutional money managers; and discounts on
compliance, marketing, research, technology, and practice management products or services
provided to Curi RMB by third-party vendors. A Custodian may also have paid for business
consulting and professional services received by Curi RMB’s related persons. Some of the
products and services made available by may benefit Curi RMB but may not benefit its client
accounts. These products or services may assist Curi RMB in managing and administering client
accounts, including accounts not maintained at the Custodian providing the benefit. Other
services made available may be intended to help Curi RMB manage and further develop its
business enterprise.
Curi RMB’s participation in a referral program does not diminish its duty to seek best execution
of trades for client accounts. Curi RMB has agreed that it will not charge clients more than the
standard range of advisory fees disclosed in its Form ADV 2A Brochure to cover solicitation fees
paid to as part of a referral program. As part of its fiduciary duties to clients, Curi RMB endeavors
at all times to put the interests of its clients first. Clients should be aware, however, that the receipt
of economic benefits by Curi RMB or its related persons in and of itself creates a potential conflict
of interest and may indirectly influence the Curi RMB’s recommendation for custody and
brokerage services.
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Affiliated Products
As previously described in Item 10, if we determine that it is appropriate based on the client’s
investment objectives and investor status, we will recommend that clients invest in an Affiliated
Product. Affiliated Products are generally subject to fees in addition to and separate from the fees
charged by Curi RMB. Clients are advised that a conflict of interest exists to the extent we
recommend an investment in an Affiliated Product.
Other Compensation
We also compensate certain employees for business development activities, including for
referring, attracting, and retaining client assets, in accordance with applicable law.
From time to time, we may receive indirect compensation from service providers or third-party
vendors in the form of marketing support, reimbursement for client events, company due
diligence meetings, entertainment, tickets to sporting events and gift cards. When received, these
occasions are evaluated to ensure they are reasonable in value and customary in nature to ensure
their occurrence does not present any conflicts of interest.
Certain Curi RMB employees may attend a limited number of conference meetings and other
meetings sponsored by certain Custodians. These Custodians may pay for the flight, hotel, and
transportation expenses for these employees to attend these meetings. In addition, the Custodians
or Curi RMB may pay for food and beverage expenses at periodic seminars conducted by Curi
RMB and attended by clients and prospects.
Fidelity Wealth Advisor® Solutions
Curi RMB participates in the Fidelity Wealth Advisor Solutions® Program (the “WAS Program”),
through which Curi RMB receives referrals from Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors LLC
(“FPWA”), a registered investment adviser and Fidelity Investments company. Curi RMB is
independent and not affiliated with FPWA or any Fidelity Investments company. FPWA does
not supervise or control Curi RMB, and FPWA has no responsibility or oversight for Curi RMB’s
provision of investment management or other advisory services.
Under the WAS Program, FPWA acts as a solicitor for Curi RMB, and Curi RMB pays referral
fees to FPWA for each referral received based on Curi RMB’s assets under management
attributable to each client referred by FPWA or members of each client’s household. The WAS
Program is designed to help investors find an independent investment advisor, and any referral
from FPWA to Curi RMB does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by FPWA of
Curi RMB’s particular investment management services or strategies. More specifically, Curi
RMB pays the following amounts to FPWA for referrals: the sum of (i) an annual percentage of
0.10% of any and all assets in client accounts where such assets are identified as “fixed income”
assets, by FPWA and (ii) an annual percentage of 0.25% of all other assets held in client accounts.
In addition, Curi RMB has agreed to pay FPWA a minimum annual fee amount in connection
with its participation in the WAS Program.
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To receive referrals from the WAS Program, Curi RMB must meet certain minimum participation
criteria, but Curi RMB may have been selected for participation in the WAS Program as a result
of its other business relationships with FPWA and its affiliates, including Fidelity Brokerage
Services, LLC (“FBS”). As a result of its participation in the WAS Program, Curi RMB may have
a potential conflict of interest with respect to its decision to use certain affiliates of FPWA,
including FBS, for execution, custody and clearing for certain client accounts, and Curi RMB may
have a potential incentive to suggest the use of FBS and its affiliates to its advisory clients,
whether or not those clients were referred to Curi RMB as part of the WAS Program. Under an
agreement with FPWA, Curi RMB has agreed that it will not charge clients more than the
standard range of advisory fees disclosed in its Form ADV 2A Brochure to cover solicitation fees
paid to FPWA as part of the WAS Program. Pursuant to these arrangements, Curi RMB has
agreed not to solicit clients to transfer their brokerage accounts from affiliates of FPWA or
establish brokerage accounts at other custodians for referred clients other than when Curi RMB’s
fiduciary duties would so require, and Curi RMB has agreed to pay FPWA a one-time fee equal
to 0.75% of the assets in a client account that is transferred from FPWA’s affiliates to another
custodian; therefore, Curi RMB may have an incentive to suggest that referred clients and their
household members maintain custody of their accounts with affiliates of FPWA. However,
participation in the WAS Program does not limit Curi RMB’s duty to select brokers on the basis
of best execution.
Solicitors
Curi RMB may utilize solicitors to refer clients to its advisory business and/or private funds
managed by Curi RMB. Each unaffiliated solicitor retained by Curi RMB would have an executed
a solicitation agreement or other similar agreement to serve as a solicitor for Curi RMB. Certain
solicitors may also provide software and other technology support to Curi RMB for
compensation.
Clients referred by a third-party solicitor are subject to a conflict of interest, as the third-party
solicitor is incentivized by the referral fee to refer clients to Curi RMB, as opposed to another
adviser where no such referral fee is paid. Referral fees paid to a third-party solicitor are
contingent upon a client engaging Curi RMB to provide investment management services.
Affiliated solicitors are not required to have a solicitation agreement. Curi RMB has policies and
procedures in place to ensure that affiliated solicitors meet the requirements of Rule 206(4)-1 of
the Advisers Act.
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ITEM 15: CUSTODY
Except as outlined below, Curi RMB will not have custody over other funds or securities for
advisory clients. All advisory client funds and securities will be held at a broker-dealer, bank, or
other qualified custodians.
Curi RMB may be deemed to have custody of client assets where Curi RMB operates under certain
types of standing letters of authorization, where Curi RMB instructs custodians on a client’s
instruction to move assets to third parties, or where Curi RMB or its employees otherwise may
have access to client assets. In such cases, Curi RMB will undergo an annual surprise examination
of client assets by an independent auditor, to the extent required by applicable law.
In addition, in many cases we have the authority to debit our clients’ custodial accounts for
advisory fees. We are deemed to have custody of those assets if, for example, we are authorized
and instructed by a client’s custodian to deduct our advisory fees directly from the account or if
we are granted authority to move money from a client’s account to another person’s account. At
all times, the custodial bank maintains actual custody of those assets.
Clients should receive at least quarterly statements or links to their quarterly statements from the
broker-dealer, bank, or other qualified custodian that holds and maintains clients’ investment
assets. These reports detail the performance of the accounts, portfolio holdings, and transactions.
The relevant custodian(s) will also send information regarding account holdings, transactions,
and cash flows directly to clients. Clients may also choose to receive trade confirmations directly
from the custodian. Curi RMB urges you to carefully review such statements and compare such
official custodial records to the account statements that we may provide you. Statements
provided may vary from custodial statements based on accounting procedures, reporting dates,
or valuation methodologies of certain securities.
Private Funds
Curi RMB is deemed to have custody of the assets of the private funds it manages. The private
funds are audited annually by an independent public accountant registered with and subject to
regular inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the audited financial
statements are distributed to all beneficial owners within 120 days, or 180 days for fund of funds,
of the private fund’s fiscal year end.
Retirement Plan Services – Plan Sponsors
Curi RMB does not have custody or any other form of access to its plan sponsor clients’ assets or
the assets of the retirement plans sponsored and/or administered by its plan sponsor clients. Such
assets are held by the custodian of the applicable retirement plan for the exclusive benefit of the
retirement plan’s participants.
Wire Transfer and/or Standing Letter of Authorization
Curi RMB, or persons associated with Curi RMB, may affect wire transfers from client accounts
to one or more third parties designated, in writing, by the client without obtaining written client
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consent for each separate, individual transaction, as long as the client has provided us with
written authorization to do so. Such written authorization is known as a Standing Letter of
Authorization. An adviser with authority to conduct such third-party transfers on a client’s behalf
has access to the client’s assets and therefore has custody of the client’s assets in any related
accounts.
However, Curi RMB is not required to obtain a surprise annual audit, as would otherwise be
required by reason of having custody, as long as Curi RMB meets the following criteria:
•
Client provides written, signed instructions to the qualified custodian that includes the
third party’s name and address or account number at a custodian.
•
Client authorizes Curi RMB in writing to direct transfers to the third party either on a
specified schedule or from time to time;
•
Client’s qualified custodian verifies client authorization (e.g., signature review) and
provides a transfer of funds notice to client promptly after each transfer;
•
Client can terminate or change the instruction;
•
Curi RMB has no authority or ability to designate or change the identity of the third party,
the address, or any other information about the third party;
•
Curi RMB maintains records showing that the third party is not a related party to Curi
RMB nor located at the same address as Curi RMB; and
•
Client’s qualified custodian sends client, in writing, an initial notice confirming the
instruction and an annual notice reconfirming the instruction.
Curi RMB hereby confirms that it meets the above criteria.
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ITEM 16: INVESTMENT DISCRETION
Curi RMB provides both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to its
clients.
Discretionary Authority
Where investment discretion has been granted, Curi RMB supervises and manages the account
and makes investment decisions without consulting the client. Discretionary decisions include
determinations regarding which securities are bought and sold for the account, the total amount
of the securities to be bought and sold, the brokers with whom orders for the purchase or sale of
securities are placed for execution and the price per share and the commission rates at which
securities transactions are affected.
In some instances, Curi RMB’s discretionary authority in making these determinations may be
limited by conditions imposed by clients in their investment guidelines or objectives or in
instructions otherwise provided to Curi RMB. Examples of common guideline restrictions
include limitations prohibiting the purchase or sale of a particular security or type of security or
directing transactions to be affected with specific brokers or dealers. Specific client investment
restrictions may limit our ability to manage those assets like other similarly managed portfolios.
This may impact the performance of the account relative to other accounts and the benchmark
index. These clients are informed that their restrictions may impact performance.
Non-Discretionary Authority
To the extent Curi RMB manages a client’s account on a non-discretionary basis, Curi RMB will
make investment recommendations to the client as to which securities are to be purchased or
sold, and the amounts to be purchased or sold. Upon approving the recommended transactions,
the client may request that Curi RMB direct the execution of purchase or sale orders to implement
the recommended transactions for the client’s account.
Curi RMB then may be given authority to determine the brokers or dealers through which the
transactions will be executed, and the commission rates, if any, paid to affect the transactions. As
noted above with respect to discretionary accounts, the client may direct that their transactions
be affected with specific brokers or dealers. Generally, trading for non-discretionary accounts
will not be aggregated with trading for discretionary accounts. Clients under non-discretionary
arrangements should be aware that if Curi RMB is not able to aggregate such trades, non-
discretionary accounts will be traded after trading for discretionary accounts is executed which
may result in inferior execution prices for those trades.
Curi RMB will not exercise discretion when determining whether to make an investment in Curi
RMB-managed private funds.
Reporting Services
We also provide reporting services related to the assets that clients designate in their account
agreement. We do not manage or provide investment recommendations and are not responsible
for the investments in accounts categorized as reporting only assets.
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Retirement Plan Services – Plan Sponsors
Curi RMB does not have discretionary authority for the selection of any securities or other
investments for plan sponsor client accounts. When recommending investments, Curi RMB
observes the investment policies, guidelines, limitations and restrictions of the retirement plans
sponsored and/or administered by its plan sponsor clients, which must be provided to Curi RMB
by the client in writing. The selection of investments for a plan sponsor client’s retirement plan is
generally subject to the approval of the trustees or similar governing body of such retirement
plan. For most retirement plans, the participants in the retirement plan direct the investment of
their retirement plan accounts.
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ITEM 17: VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES
Curi RMB has adopted and implemented policies and procedures that Curi RMB believes are
reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients in those cases
where a client has contractually given proxy voting responsibility to Curi RMB.
General Guidelines
Where clients have delegated Curi RMB discretion to vote proxies, votes are cast in accordance
with Curi RMB’s fiduciary duties and SEC rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act. The proxy voting
guidelines have been tailored to reflect these rules and the long-standing fiduciary standards and
responsibilities for ERISA accounts set out by the Department of Labor. Where a client does not
delegate proxy voting authority to Curi RMB, the client is responsible for voting proxies.
Where Curi RMB has proxy voting authority, Curi RMB has contracted with an independent
proxy advisory firm (the “Proxy Firm”) to handle administration and voting of client proxies.
Additionally, the Proxy Firm provides research on proxy proposals and vote recommendations
based on written guidelines, which are periodically reviewed and approved from time to time by
Curi RMB’s Proxy Voting Committee (the “Committee”).
Curi RMB, as a general matter, follows the voting recommendations of the Proxy Firm, though
Curi RMB retains the right to determine the vote on a particular proxy issue. Accordingly, there
may be instances, including those in which the Proxy Firm recommends a vote, in which the Asset
Management team or a Portfolio Manager will provide the Committee with its written analysis
as to why Curi RMB should not vote as recommended by the Proxy Firm on a particular proxy
issue. In those instances, the Committee may decide to vote contrary to the Proxy Firm
recommendation if it is determined to be in the best interests of the clients. As a matter of course,
members of the Committee will also review issues for which the Proxy Firm does not provide a
recommendation.
Material Conflicts
In cases in which it is determined that Curi RMB has a material conflict of interest that could
influence how proxies are voted, such conflicts may be resolved by using the recommendation of
the Proxy Firm if it is determined to be in the best interests of the client. Alternatively, Curi RMB,
when appropriate, may decide to disclose the conflict to the affected clients and give the clients
the opportunity to vote their proxies themselves, or the Committee may review the issue and
determine a vote. In any of these material conflict of interest situations, the Committee will review
the issue and determine a resolution.
Abstentions
Additionally, there may be cases where Curi RMB deems that the cost-benefit analysis of voting
proxies received for client accounts may lead to Curi RMB declining to vote. Such instances may
include:
• Voting for foreign securities in countries which require “share-blocking”;
• Securities in transition or already sold before the date of the shareholder meeting;
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• Completing ballots for companies held in the client account as of the record date,
but which are no longer owned at the time that a vote would be cast;
• RBA receives proxy materials without sufficient time to reach an informed voting
decision and vote the proxies;
• Terms of an applicable client agreement reserve voting authority to the client or
another party.
Clients may request information on votes cast or a copy of Curi RMB’s proxy voting policies and
procedures by contacting Curi RMB by email at compliance@rmbcap.com or by phone at (312)
993-5800.
Proxy voting is not applicable to Curi RMB’s provision of model portfolios, or the retirement plan
services provided to plan sponsors.
Curi RMB does not generally participate in class action lawsuits directly on behalf of clients.
Clients are given an option to elect a third-party vendor to provide class action litigation
monitoring and claim filing. Curi RMB does, however, facilitate an exchange of information
between the client and the third-party vendor. Any information received regarding class action
lawsuits will be forwarded to the clients who may be eligible to participate and do not elect to
utilize the services of a third- party vendor.
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ITEM 18: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Registered investment advisers are required in this section to provide you with certain financial
information or disclosures about their financial condition. Curi RMB has no financial
commitments that would impair its ability to meet contractual and fiduciary commitments to
clients and has not been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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