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ITEM 1: COVER PAGE
This Form ADV Part 2A (the “Brochure”) provides information about the qualifications and business practices of
Focus Partners Wealth, LLC (“Focus Partners”). If you have any questions regarding the contents of this Brochure,
please contact us at fpwcompliance@focuspartners.com or 617-723-8200. The information in this Brochure has
not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state
securities authority.
Additional information about Focus Partners is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Focus Partner’s SEC number is 801-72862. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or
training.
Version Date: March 31, 2025
OFFICES
Focus Partners has investment advisory offices in the following states or districts:
Arizona
Michigan
Rhode Island
California
Mississippi
South Carolina
Colorado
Missouri
Tennessee
Connecticut
Nebraska
Texas
Florida
New Hampshire
Virginia
Georgia
New Jersey
Washington
Illinois
New York
Washington, DC
Indiana
North Carolina
West Virginia
Iowa
Ohio
Wyoming
Maryland
Oregon
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
As listed in its Form ADV, Focus Partner’s Principal Office and Place of Business is: One Boston Place, 11th Floor,
201 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108; 617-723-8200. Also listed in Schedule D Section 1.F. of that ADV are
the locations of Focus Partner’s other offices. See: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/159289
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ITEM 2: MATERIAL CHANGES
This Item discusses only the material changes that have occurred since Focus Partners’ last Annual Update filed
in March 2024.
On January 13, 2025, The Colony Group, LLC (“Colony”) changed its legal name to Focus Partners Wealth, LLC
(“Focus Partners”). Throughout this Brochure, unless indicated intentionally, “Colony” does not appear in this
Brochure. This name change has no impact on Focus Partners’ ownership, management, operations, or services.
As explained in more detail in Item 4 below, on February 1, 2025, Focus Partners, and Merriman Wealth
Management, LLC (“Merriman”), an SEC-registered investment advisory firm headquartered in Seattle, WA,
merged advisory practices. Clients of Merriman were formally notified of the merger and assigned their advisory
agreements to Focus Partners.
As explained in more detail in Item 4 below, on November 1, 2024, Focus Partners, and GYL Financial Synergies,
LLC (“GYL”), an SEC-registered investment advisory firm headquartered in West Hartford, CT, merged advisory
practices. Clients of GYL were formally notified of the merger and assigned their advisory agreements to Focus
Partners.
As explained in more detail in Item 4 below, on September 1, 2024, Focus Partners, and HoyleCohen, LLC
(“HoyleCohen”), an SEC-registered investment advisory firm headquartered in San Diego, CA, merged advisory
practices. Clients of HoyleCohen were formally notified of the merger and assigned their advisory agreements to
Focus Partners.
As explained in more detail in Item 4 below, on August 1, 2024, Focus Partners, and Gratus Capital, LLC
(“Gratus”), an SEC-registered investment advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, GA, merged advisory practices.
Clients of Gratus were formally notified of the merger and assigned their advisory agreements to Focus Partners.
As explained in more detail in Item 4 below, on June 30, 2024, Focus Partners, and Buckingham Strategic Wealth,
LLC (“BSW”), an SEC-registered investment advisory firm headquartered in St. Louis, MO, merged advisory
practices. Clients of Buckingham were formally notified of the merger and assigned their advisory agreements to
Focus Partners.
As explained in more detail in Item 4 below, on June 1, 2024, Focus Partners, and Connectus Wealth, LLC
(“Connectus”), an SEC-registered investment advisory firm located in Hunt Valley, MD, merged advisory
practices. Clients of Connectus were formally notified of the merger and assigned their advisory agreements to
Focus Partners.
As explained in more detail in Item 4 below, on June 1, 2024, Focus Partners, and Atlas Private Wealth
Management, LLC (“Atlas”), an SEC-registered investment advisory firm located in Albany, NY, merged advisory
practices. Clients of Atlas were formally notified of the merger and assigned their advisory agreements to Focus
Partners.
As explained in more detail in Item 4 below, on May 1, 2024, Focus Partners, and InterOcean Capital Group, LLC
(“IOC”), an SEC-registered investment advisory firm located in Nashville, TN, merged advisory practices. Clients
of IOC were formally notified of the merger and assigned their advisory agreements to Focus Partners.
Our affiliate, Focus Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC (“FTCS”) was acquired by UPTIQ, Inc. and has been renamed
UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC (together with UPTIQ, Inc. and its affiliates, “UPTIQ”). We have revised
the information concerning FTCS to describe our new arrangement with UPTIQ.
We offer clients the option of obtaining certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party financial
institutions through UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC (together with UPTIQ, Inc. and its affiliates, “UPTIQ”)
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and Flourish Financial LLC (“Flourish”). UPTIQ and Flourish are compensated by sharing in the revenue earned by
such third-party institutions for serving our clients. When legally permissible, UPTIQ and Flourish each shares a
portion of this earned revenue with an affiliate of our firm. The affiliate distributes this revenue to us when we
are licensed to receive such revenue (or when no such license is required) and the distribution is not otherwise
legally prohibited. Further information on this conflict of interest is available in Items 4, 5, and 10 of this
Brochure.
We help our clients obtain certain insurance solutions by introducing clients to our affiliate, Focus Risk Solutions,
LLC (“FRS”). If FRS places an insurance product for our client or refers our client to an insurance broker and there
is a subsequent purchase of insurance through the broker, then FRS will receive a portion of the upfront and/or
ongoing commissions associated with the sale by the insurance carrier with which the policy was placed. The
amount of insurance commission revenue earned by FRS is considered for purposes of determining the amount
of additional compensation that certain of our financial professionals are entitled to receive. Additionally,
certain of these brokers pay FRS periodic fees to participate in the FRS platform and, thereby, to offer their
services to our clients and certain of our affiliates’ clients. Further information on this conflict of interest is
available in Items 4, 5 and 10 of this Brochure.
We have begun a business arrangement with an affiliated firm under which certain clients of Focus Partners
invest a portion of their assets in certain of the affiliated firm’s private investment vehicles. Please see Items 4, 5,
and 10 of this Brochure.
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ITEM 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 1: COVER PAGE.................................................................................................................................................................... 1
ITEM 2: MATERIAL CHANGES ................................................................................................................................................... 2
ITEM 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................. 4
ITEM 4: ADVISORY BUSINESS ................................................................................................................................................... 6
A. Description of the Advisory Firm ....................................................................................................... 6
B. Advisory and Other Services ............................................................................................................... 7
C. Client-Tailored Advisory Services .................................................................................................... 14
D. Wrap Fee Programs ............................................................................................................................ 15
E. Regulatory Assets Under Management (RAUM) .......................................................................... 16
ITEM 5: FEES AND COMPENSATION ....................................................................................................................................16
A. Fees for Advisory and Other Services............................................................................................. 16
B. Payment of Fees .................................................................................................................................. 29
C. Clients Responsible for Custodial and Brokerage Fees ............................................................... 30
D. Prepayment of Fees ............................................................................................................................ 31
E. Outside Compensation for the Sale of Securities to Clients ...................................................... 31
ITEM 6: PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT .........................................................31
ITEM 7: TYPES OF CLIENTS .......................................................................................................................................................31
ITEM 8: METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, AND RISK OF LOSS ..........................................32
A. Methods of Analysis and Risk of Loss ............................................................................................. 32
B. Material Risks Involved ...................................................................................................................... 33
C. Unusual Risks of Specific Securities ................................................................................................ 36
ITEM 9: DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION ...............................................................................................................................37
ITEM 10: OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS .............................................................37
A. Registration as a Broker-Dealer or Broker-Dealer Representative ........................................... 37
B. Registration as a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, Commodity
Trading Advisor, or an Associated Person of the Foregoing Entities ....................................... 37
C. Relationships Material to Advisory Business ................................................................................. 38
D. Selection of Other Investment Advisors and Compensation Received ................................... 45
ITEM 11: CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT TRANSACTIONS ................................47
A. Description of Code of Ethics ........................................................................................................... 47
B. Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests .......................................................... 47
C. Investing Related Persons’ Money in the Same Securities as Clients ....................................... 47
D. Trading Securities At/Around the Same Time as Client’s Securities ........................................ 47
E. Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests .......................................................... 48
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ITEM 12: BROKERAGE PRACTICES .........................................................................................................................................48
A. Factors Used to Select Custodians and/or Broker-Dealers ........................................................ 48
B. Trade Aggregation ............................................................................................................................... 54
ITEM 13: REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS ..........................................................................................................................................55
A. Frequency and Nature of Periodic Reviews and Who Makes Those Reviews ....................... 55
B. Other Reviews ..................................................................................................................................... 56
C. Content and Frequency of Regular Reports Provided to Clients .............................................. 56
ITEM 14: CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION ....................................................................................57
A. Economic Benefits Provided by Third Parties for Advice Rendered to Clients ...................... 57
B. Compensation to Non-Supervised Persons for Client Referrals ............................................... 58
C. Other Compensation .......................................................................................................................... 61
ITEM 15: CUSTODY .....................................................................................................................................................................65
ITEM 16: INVESTMENT DISCRETION ....................................................................................................................................65
ITEM 17: VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES .................................................................................................................................65
ITEM 18: FINANCIAL INFORMATION ...................................................................................................................................66
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ITEM 4: ADVISORY BUSINESS
A. Description of the Advisory Firm
Focus Partners Wealth, LLC (“Focus Partners”) is a limited liability company organized in Delaware. Focus
Partners is an investment advisory firm registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”).
Focus Partners merged with Merriman Wealth Mgmt., LLC (SEC # 801-77544) (“Merriman”) on 02/01/25.
Focus Partners merged with GYL Financial Synergies, LLC (SEC # 801-108230) (“GYL”) on 11/01/24.
Focus Partners merged with HoyleCohen, LLC (SEC # 801-67037) (“HoyleCohen”) on 09/01/24.
Focus Partners merged with Gratus Capital, LLC (SEC # 801-80563) (“Gratus”) on 08/01/24.
Focus Partners merged with Buckingham Strategic Wealth, LLC (SEC # 801-67640) (“BSW”) on 07/01/24.
Focus Partners merged with Connectus Wealth, LLC (SEC # 801-119970) (“Connectus”) on 06/01/24.
Focus Partners merged with Atlas Private Wealth Management, LLC (SEC # 801-68444) (“Atlas”) on 06/01/24.
Focus Partners merged with InterOcean Capital Group, LLC (SEC # 801-119431) (“IOC”) on 05/01/24.
Focus Partners merged with GW & Wade, LLC (SEC # 801-27292) (“GWW”) on 03/01/24.
Focus Financial Partners
Focus Partners is part of the Focus Financial Partners, LLC (“Focus LLC”) partnership. Specifically, Focus
Partners is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Focus LLC. Focus Financial Partners Inc. (“Focus Inc.”) is the
sole managing member of Focus LLC. Ultimate governance of Focus LLC is conducted through the board of
directors at Ferdinand FFP Ultimate Holdings, LP. Focus LLC is majority owned, indirectly and collectively, by
investment vehicles affiliated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (“CD&R”). Investment vehicles affiliated with
Stone Point Capital LLC (“Stone Point”) are indirect owners of Focus LLC. Because Focus Partners is an
indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Focus LLC, CD&R and Stone Point investment vehicles are indirect
owners of Focus Partners.
Focus LLC also owns other registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, pension consultants, insurance
firms, business managers, and other firms (the “Focus Partner Firms”), most of which provide wealth
management, benefit consulting, and investment consulting services to individuals, families, employers, and
institutions. Some Focus Partner Firms also manage or advise limited partnerships, private funds, or
investment companies as disclosed on their respective Form ADVs.
Focus Partners’ day-to-day operations are managed and overseen by its Executive Committee. The Executive
Committee provides operational oversight and execution. It also drives the overall design and
implementation of Focus Partners’ strategic priorities.
We are stating here, with clarity and in plain English, what it means to be a fiduciary to you.
As a fiduciary, we have duties of care and of loyalty to you and are subject to obligations imposed on us by
federal and state securities laws. As a result, you have certain rights that cannot be waived or limited by
contract. Nothing in our agreement with you should be interpreted as a limitation of our obligations under
federal and state securities laws or as a waiver of any unwaivable rights you possess.
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Adviser Liability
As noted above, as applicable, we hereby are amending your client agreement’s adviser liability term with
the following:
The federal and state securities laws impose liability under certain circumstances on investment advisers
even when acting in good faith, and nothing in this Agreement shall waive or limit any rights that you may
have under those laws. Except as otherwise provided by law, neither we nor any of our employees, affiliates,
representatives, or agents shall be liable for: (a) any investment loss that you may suffer by reason of any
investment decision made or not made or any other action taken or omitted in good faith by us with that
degree of care, skill, prudence, and diligence that a person acting in a fiduciary capacity would use under the
circumstances; (b) any loss arising from our adherence to your written and/or oral instructions; (c) any act or
failure to act by the Custodian, any broker-dealer to which we direct transactions for the Account, or by any
other non-party to this Agreement; and/or (d) any loss that you may suffer by reason of any decision made
or other action taken by any manager by which the Adviser delegates authority in accordance with Section
[X] hereof. The exculpation provisions set forth in this Section [X} shall survive any termination of this
Agreement.
B. Advisory and Other Services
Focus Partners offers a suite of wealth advisory services and other services to individuals, families, qualified
retirement plans, institutions, and businesses. These services include investment management, financial
counseling, family office services, and employee benefit retirement plan services. In addition, Focus Partners
provides investment consulting services for certain clients on accounts and assets that Focus Partners does
not manage. Focus Partners also offers tax planning, tax preparation, tax compliance, business solutions,
business management, family budget consulting, dispute resolution, and financial management services.
Focus Partners also offers sub-advisory and business services to other advisory firms. Focus Partners also
offers, through third parties, and cash management services. For advisory agreements, Focus Partners
acknowledges within the advisory contract with that client that it is held to a fiduciary standard of care in the
delivery and performance of its advisory services.
Investment Management Services
Focus Partners provides Investment Management Services to individuals and institutions. Focus Partners’
primary core investment philosophy is long-term and focuses on tax and fee sensitivity. The investment
management services provided to a client are customized based on the personal needs of that client,
including understanding the client’s risk tolerance level, expected rate return requirements, and liquidity
needs. Focus Partners will allocate a client’s assets among various investments taking into consideration the
client’s unique ability, need, and willingness to take risk. Investment management services can include active
or passive strategies. Focus Partners calls its approach to investment management “enhanced open
architecture.” In designing and implementing customized strategies, Focus Partners can manage, on a
discretionary and/or nondiscretionary basis, or combination of both, a broad range of investment strategies
and vehicles.
•
Equity (stock) and fixed income strategies
• Mutual fund and ETF strategies
• Private funds (LP structure funds)
• Alternative investments and strategies
•
Third-party subadvisor/SAM (separate account manager) strategies
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If appropriate for a client, Focus Partners may allocate a portion of a portfolio to an independent third-party
investment adviser (“separate account manager”) for separate account management based upon individual
client circumstances and objectives, including, but not limited to, client account size, investment strategy,
and tax circumstances.
For certain clients, in addition to managing the client’s investment portfolio, Focus Partners provides
financial counseling services, which are more holistic services than investment management alone (see
below).
Focus Partners may provide investment advice on clients’ accounts and assets held away from clients’
primary custodians. These held-away accounts and assets include but are not limited to 401(k) accounts,
529 plans, private investments, annuities, etc. Clients may need to arrange for Focus Partners’ access to such
accounts in order for Focus Partners to trade the accounts and/or provide investment advice (including but
not limited to access and order management through Pontera Solutions, Inc.). We review, monitor, and
advise on these held-away accounts in an integrated way with the clients’ brokerage accounts held at their
primary custodians.
If requested by a client, Focus Partners will help open and maintain a non-managed or accommodation
account for the client. By virtue of opening the account under Focus Partners, Focus Partners may have a
limited power of attorney authority on the account, but the client acknowledges that Focus Partners will not
provide any investment advice on the account. Focus Partners may, in its discretion, facilitate a client’s
specific written request to facilitate a trade or other instruction.
Wrap Program (for Grandfathered GYL Clients)
As a result of the merger of GYL Financial Synergies, LLC (“GYL”) into Focus Partners on 11/01/24, Focus
Partners has a very small number of institutional clients that are on a wrap program (the “Focus Partners
Program”), which is both sponsored and managed by Focus Partners. Focus Partners’ investment
management fee for these legacy GYL clients are bundled with the custody and commissions (but not
markups or markdowns embedded in any fixed income transactions) for brokerage transactions executed at
the wrap program broker. In this an arrangement, the client pays a single fee (“Focus Partners Program Fee”)
for Focus Partners’ investment advice, custody and commissions for securities transactions executed at the
program broker the client chooses, which is either Fidelity or Charles Schwab. The Focus Partners Program
Fee does not include the fees and expenses of any underlying mutual funds, ETFs, or independent managers
and their platform manager.
Participants in the Focus Partners Program may pay a higher or lower aggregate fee than if investment
management and brokerage services were unbundled and charged separately. Additional information about the
Focus Partners Program is available in Focus Partners’ Wrap Brochure, which appears as ADV Part 2A Appendix.
The fee paid to Focus Partners could be more or less than the cost of paying for investment advice, trade
execution, custody, and reporting services separately, depending on the cost of these services if provided
separately and the level of trading activity in the client’s account. Depending upon the percentage wrap-fee
charged by Focus Partners, the amount of portfolio activity in the client’s account, and the value of custodial
and other services provided, the wrap fee may or may not exceed the aggregate cost of such services if they
were to be provided separately.
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A wrap arrangement is not appropriate for every advisory client, and Focus Partners has no plans to offer a
wrap arrangement to any new or current client. Participants in the Focus Partners Program may pay a higher
or lower aggregate fee than if investment management and brokerage services are purchased separately. If
the number of transactions in a client’s account is low enough, the wrap fee the client pays could potentially
exceed the standalone investment advisory fee and any separate brokerage fees and commissions that
otherwise would have been charged. Under Focus Partners’ agreements with the wrap program brokers,
Focus Partners can choose whether to pay transaction-based pricing or asset-based pricing for transactions
in client accounts. If Focus Partners elects commissions rather than asset-based pricing, Focus Partners will
have an economic incentive to maximize its compensation by seeking to minimize the number of trades in
the client’s account. However, as a fiduciary, it remains Focus Partners’ duty to always act in the client’s best
interest. There will be times, including extensive periods, where, as a result of each individual client’s facts
and circumstances, including tax reasons and other financial reasons, there will be no recommendations to
trade a client’s account.
Employee Benefit Retirement Plan Services
Focus Partners provides investment advisory services to retirement plans under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), on either a discretionary or nondiscretionary basis,
depending on the client. Focus Partners’ fiduciary services to ERISA plans may include preparing an
investment policy statement, screening and selecting investment options for the plan, selecting a qualified
default investment alternative, providing quarterly investment reports, attending the investment committee
meetings, and if the services are discretionary, creating and managing portfolios based on a range of
varying target asset allocations. Focus Partners’ non-fiduciary services to ERISA plans can include providing
education regarding general investment principles and the investments options in the plan-to-plan
participants.
Focus Partners is a fiduciary under ERISA with respect to investment management services and investment advice
provided to ERISA plans and ERISA plan participants. Focus Partners is also a fiduciary under section 4975 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”) with respect to investment management services and
investment advice provided to individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), ERISA plans, and ERISA plan participants.
As such, Focus Partners is subject to specific duties and obligations under ERISA and the IRC, as applicable, that
include, among other things, prohibited transaction rules which are intended to prohibit fiduciaries from acting
on conflicts of interest. When a fiduciary gives advice, the fiduciary must either avoid certain conflicts of interest
or rely upon an applicable prohibited transaction exemption (a “PTE”).
3(21) Fiduciary Services
Focus Partners also offers fiduciary and non-discretionary advisory services (“3(21) Fiduciary Services”) to
certain participant-directed employee retirement benefit plans that arose as a result of a recent merger. As a
3(21) fiduciary, as defined by ERISA, Focus Partners assists the plan sponsor in selecting, reviewing, and
evaluating the performance of an investment manager, and meets with the plan sponsor periodically to
discuss that investment manager’s performance and retention. Focus Partners will also meet with the plan
sponsor periodically to review and discuss investment reports. Additionally, Focus Partners provides non-
fiduciary services to the plan sponsor, including educating the plan sponsor on its fiduciary responsibilities;
assisting the plan sponsor in monitoring, selecting, and supervising service vendors (and coordinating the
transition process should the plan sponsor determine to replace a vendor); and assisting in the group
enrollment meetings for the purpose of increasing both plan participation by the plan sponsor’s employees
and investment and financial understanding by the plan sponsor’s employees. If applicable, Focus Partners
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will also assist in the education of plan participants and provide guidance about general investment
principles and the investment alternatives under the plan.
Plan sponsors who engage us for services to participant-directed retirement plans will enter into an
investment advisory and management agreement among the plan sponsor, Focus Partners, and Focus
Partners Advisor Solutions, LLC (“FPAS”), a Focus Partners affiliate. Focus Partners, like FPAS, is an indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Focus LLC and is therefore under common control with FPAS. Under this
arrangement, FPAS will provide services as the 3(38) investment manager, including discretionary
investment management services. FPAS will exercise discretionary authority to select plan investments to be
made available to plan participants in accordance with the plan’s goals and objectives.
Affiliated Private Funds
Focus Partners serves as the investment manager of eighteen (18) private pooled investment vehicles
(“Partnership(s)”). The Investor qualification standard for each Partnership is explained in Item 10 of this
Brochure.
Three of the Partnerships diversify their assets among a variety of asset classes. The diversified asset class
funds are: TCG Balanced Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership established for tax exempt investors
(“TCGBF”); TCG Onshore Balanced Fund L.P., a Delaware limited partnership established for taxable investors
(“TCGOBF”); and TCG Diversifying Strategies Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“TCGDSF”). One
fund, International Opportunities Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“TCGIOF”), focuses on non-U.S.
equities.
Two other Partnerships include: TCG Income Opportunity Partnership, L.P. (“TCGIOP”); and the TCG Real
Estate Partners VII, LLC (“TCGREP”). TCGREP is closed to new investors but has a small amount of capital
remaining to be called from its limited partners. TCGIOP is composed of various classes, however, only
TCGIOP Class A is currently open for new investments. TCGIOP has made an investment that is managed by
a family member of an advisory client. This affiliation gives us an incentive to make or maintain the
investment recommendation. We mitigate the conflict by applying the same standards for making the
investment as we do for all of our recommendations, and by disclosing this conflict to you.
Three other Partnerships include TCG Private Equity 2022, L.P. (“TCGPE"), TCG Private Credit 2024, L.P.
(“TCGPC”), and TCG Private Credit (Offshore) 2024, L.P. (“TCGPCO”). Capital Integration Systems LLC (“CAIS”)
sponsors TCGPE, TCGPC and TCGPCO and is the sole member of TCG Private Equity 2022 GP LLC, TCG
Private Credit 2024 GP LLC, and TCG Private Credit (Offshore) 2024 GP LLC (“CAIS GP”). CAIS GP serves as
the general partner to TCGPE, TCGPC, and TCGPCO and has discretionary authority to manage their
activities. Focus Partners is responsible for TCGPE’s, TCGPC’s, and TCGPCO’s day-to-day portfolio
management under the general supervision of CAIS GP.
One other Partnership, TopRidge Capital Partners (AI), L.P. a Delaware limited partnership (“TCP”), now
closed to new investors, invested in a portfolio of private investment partnerships and co-investments
directly in portfolio companies. The general partner to TCP is TopRidge Capital Partners II, LLC, an affiliate of
Focus Partners. The investment manager as of June 1, 2024, is Focus Partners. Connectus was the prior
manager; it assigned its remaining duties to Focus Partners upon the Focus Partners-Connectus merger.
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Through the merger of Gratus into Focus Partners on August 1, 2024, Focus Partners now serves as the
investment manager of eight (8) additional Partnerships. These Partnerships, and their general partners, are
as follows:
Trailhead Income QP, LP. General Partner = PPB Trailhead QP Mgt LLC
Trailhead Growth, LP. General Partner = PPB Trailhead QP Mgt LLC
Trailhead Income, LP. General Partner = PPB Trailhead MGT., LLC
Trailhead Options Income LP. General Partner = PPB Trailhead Options Mgt LLC
GC Fintech Fund, LP. General Partner = PPB GCFT MGT., LLC
GC Opportunities I Private Fund, LP. General Partner = PPB Gratus PRE Mgt, LLC
GC Opportunities 2 Private Fund, LP. General Partner = PPB Gratus PRE Mgt, LLC
GC Long/Short, LP. General Partner = iCapital HF GP, LLC
Investment Consulting Services
Focus Partners provides investment consulting services on a non-discretionary basis, which consist of
reporting and review of assets held outside of Focus Partners’ management. Such services include the
provision of consolidated reports and periodic meetings with clients to discuss their financial objectives,
asset allocation, portfolio performance, and liquidity needs, among other things.
Financial Counseling Services
Focus Partners provides financial counseling services that are geared toward integrating a client’s full
financial circumstances as part of holistic wealth services. In certain circumstances, financial counseling
services can be standalone. In general, financial counseling services will address any or all of the following
areas:
Investment Planning
• Retirement planning
•
Tax planning
•
Estate planning
• Cash flow planning
• Philanthropic planning
•
Education planning
• Risk management
•
Tax planning
• College planning
• Divorce financial planning
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Family Office Services
•
Strategy: tax planning, wealth accumulation, estate and wealth transfer, lifestyle planning
•
Investment: portfolio strategy, manager selection, aggregation & coordination
•
Legacy: family education, business & financial advice, philanthropy, fiduciary services
• Governance: tax compliance, risk management, regulatory support, cash management &
recordkeeping, bill pay
Practice Integrated Wealth Management for Certain Engagements
For certain engagements, as a complement to our investment management services, Focus Partners also
provides financial planning services to dentists that are geared toward integrating their personal and
professional lives and goals. Practice Integrated Wealth Management (PIWM) services generally include a
financial plan, any or all of the areas within the financial counseling services and may include analysis or
planning specific to a dental practice, including cash flow strategies, equipment cost analysis, retirement
plan design, and business continuity planning for the practice.
Family Budget Services
For certain engagements, as a complement to our investment management services, Focus Partners
provides advice in the form of family budget consulting services, which typically includes designing a
budget plan and comprehensive data analysis, including cash flow and income statement. Implementation
of any budget-related recommendations is entirely at the client's discretion.
Seminars and Workshops for Companies and/or Employees
From time to time, Focus Partners offers financial educational seminars to companies to help their
employees learn about investing, benefits, taxes, retirement planning, education funding, equity incentive
compensation, insurance, and estate planning. Focus Partners can customize its seminars and workshops
specifically for a company’s benefits programs and employee needs.
Sub-Advisory and Related Services to other Advisory Firms
Focus Partners may offer investment advisory services to other registered investment advisory firms and
their clients. This may include discretionary investment management and/or the provision of multiple asset
class model portfolios that other advisers may use in managing investment accounts for their clients. Focus
Partners provides sub-advisory services to advisers of ERISA plans and acknowledges its fiduciary status
under ERISA in such cases. Focus Partners offers supplementary support services to other advisers,
including: administrative assistance as it relates to the adviser-custodian relationship; access to portfolio
accounting and reporting services; client questionnaires and investment policy statement templates;
samples of advisory agreement templates; assistance with accessing investment offerings generally available
only to clients of investment advisers; and collection and remittance of net fees to investment advisers.
Financial Solutions through UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC, Flourish Financial LLC, and
Insurance Solutions through Focus Risk Solutions, LLC
We offer clients the option of obtaining certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party financial
institutions through UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC (together with UPTIQ, Inc. and its affiliates,
“UPTIQ”) and Flourish Financial LLC (“Flourish”). Please see Items 5 and 10 for a full discussion of these
services and other important information.
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We help our clients obtain certain insurance solutions by introducing clients to our affiliate, Focus Risk
Solutions, LLC (“FRS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of our parent company, Focus Financial Partners, LLC.
Please see Items 5 and 10 for a fuller discussion of these services and other important information.
SCS Capital Management, LLC
We have a business arrangement with SCS Capital Management LLC (“SCS”), who, like Focus Partners, an
indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Focus LLC and Focus Inc. and is therefore our affiliate. Where suitable,
Focus Partners clients have the option of investing in certain private investment vehicles managed by SCS.
Please see Items 5 and 10 of this Brochure for further details about SCS.
Non-Advisory Services
Business Management
Focus Partners provides its business management services to businesses which typically are small
businesses. These services generally include:
• Monthly updates & reporting
• QuickBooks set up
•
Signatory authority set up
•
Interested party set up
• Bill-pay and accounts receivable processing
• Budget and cash flow planning
•
Tax compliance and planning
Business Solutions
• Business valuations
• Value enhancement
•
Succession planning
Dispute Resolution
Focus Partners provides dispute resolution services to individuals involved in a variety of types of situations,
including divorce, family, and closely held business disputes. These services generally include:
• Accounting: preparation of balance sheets and income statements
•
Forensic Accounting: analysis of financial activity reported by the parties
•
Income and Asset Division: asset and income division scenarios
•
Tax: assess taxation impacts associated with income and/or asset division
• Valuation: oversee the valuation of all assets
• Disposition or Reallocation of Assets: provide options for the orderly disposition or
reallocation of assets
• Risk Assessment: to protect long-term settlement structures
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•
Financial Impact: provide long-term projections of the likely impacts of settlement options
Aging Life Care Services
• As a result of the merger of GYL into Focus Partners on 11/01/24, Focus Partners offers aging
life care services, which include the following:
• Comprehensive, holistic assessment of the client’s needs
• Referral to resources such as homecare agencies, medical equipment, medical providers,
attorney, bookkeeper, and ongoing care management etc.
• Home visits, in-person office visits or virtual consultations
• Coordination of referrals for ongoing care management and facilitation of discussions for
short and long-term planning
Concierge
Focus Partners offers a distinct set of non-advisory services designed to address the needs and aspirations
of our clients. These include health and wellness, cybersecurity, career development, and lifelong learning.
Focus Partners has selected unaffiliated third-party providers that it believes are best suited to offer clients
the quality and professionalism they may need currently or at some time in the future. Where possible,
Focus Partners has arranged for the providers to offer preferential services or pricing for our clients. Focus
Partners receives no compensation from the service providers and no compensation from its clients that use
the services of such providers.
Tax Preparation & Tax Compliance Services
In addition to providing advisory services, Focus Partners also provides income tax preparation and tax
compliance services.
No Legal or Public Accounting Advice
While certain associates of Focus Partners are licensed attorneys or certified public accountants, and certain
associates of Focus Partners engage in outside public accounting activities, Focus Partners is not a law firm
or a public accounting firm and does not provide any legal or public accounting advice. Clients should seek
the counsel of a qualified certified public accountant and/or attorney when necessary.
C. Client-Tailored Advisory Services
Investment Management Services
Focus Partners tailors its investment management services to the needs of its clients, whether they are
individuals or institutions. Focus Partners seeks to understand each client’s goals, objectives, time horizon,
risk tolerance, and tax position. The client and Focus Partners then decide on an investment plan that may
include the utilization of: Focus Partners’ fixed-income, mutual fund, exchange-traded fund, and equity
strategies; alternative investments and other private offerings; third-party separate account managers; and
supervision of certain non-discretionary accounts and assets. For accounts managed on a discretionary
basis, a client is free to impose reasonable restrictions with respect to the management of their accounts.
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Financial Counseling Services; Practice Integrated Wealth Management; Family Budget Services
Each client’s needs are different, and Focus Partners seeks to tailor its services to the specific needs of each
client. For each financial counseling client, the client is provided with a wealth advisor whose role is to
facilitate the provision of financial counseling services that are tailored to the client’s unique circumstances.
Employee Benefit Retirement Plan Services
Employee benefit retirement plan services are tailored to the required needs of the retirement plan client.
Family Office Services
Focus Partners can help high-net-worth families manage their wealth across generations. It can guide a
family through complex technical and family issues. It can organize and choreograph the intricate elements
of a family’s legacy by teaming with the family’s other advisors to implement a wealth management strategy
tailored to the family’s unique needs and objectives. Through a dedicated team, a family can have the
benefit of Focus Partners; full array of wealth management services and access to many money managers
and investment solutions.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
See Item 4 B. above.
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E. Regulatory Assets Under Management (RAUM)
Focus Partners has the following regulatory assets under management:
Discretionary RAUM:
$87,282,614,981
Non-Discretionary RAUM:
$8,607,273,445
Total RAUM:
$95,889,888,425
Date Calculated:
12/31/24
ITEM 5: FEES AND COMPENSATION
A. Fees for Advisory and Other Services
Fees for Focus Partners’ services are separate from and in addition to any transaction or similar
fees/expenses and the fees/expenses charged by any custodian, broker, subadvisor, mutual fund, exchange-
traded fund (ETF), separate account manager, limited partnership, strategy consultant, or other adviser, as
the case may be. For investment strategy consultants that Focus Partners utilizes for certain of its equity
strategies, Focus Partners collects the fee on behalf of the consultant and pays such consultant directly.
Investment Management Services – Individuals (non-institutional clients)
Our fees for investment management services are set forth in our investment advisory agreement with the
client. Our fees are generally based on a percentage of the client’s assets under management with Focus
Partners, generally as much as 1.25%; are negotiable; will vary from client to client, and are based on a
number of factors, such as the client’s assets under Focus Partners’ management, scope of services to be
provided, origins of the client relationship (including whether the client joined Focus Partners through a
merger with another firm), and potential future revenues from the client relationship. Advisory fees shall
apply to cash balances accrued interest, income, accrued dividends, and, if any, margin balances unless
negotiated or agreed upon otherwise. The specific fee schedule charged by Focus Partners is established in
a client’s written advisory agreement. Clients engaging Focus Partners for Investment Management Services
are typically subject to a minimum fee of $3,000 although this minimum can be waived.
For investment advice provided on held-away accounts and assets as mentioned above in Item 4, Focus
Partners’ fee is deducted from a brokerage account under Focus Partners’ management or paid directly by
the client on a quarterly basis. Fees are based on the value of these held-away accounts and assets; such
valuations generally provided to Focus Partners on a quarterly basis as valued by the custodian or financial
institution. Fees will typically be based on the client’s full portfolio value, including the held-away accounts.
The specific fee schedule charged by Focus Partners is established in a client’s written agreement with Focus
Partners.
If an independent third-party adviser is utilized for separate account management, that adviser can charge
its own management fee. All fees and expenses charged by a separate account manager are separate and
distinct from Focus Partners’ management fee and are withdrawn from the client’s account by the separate
account manager.
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For certain client relationships, a fixed fee rate is charged on a quarterly basis, in advance or in arrears, in
place of the percentage of assets under management/advisement outlined above. These fees are
customized with the client, are negotiable, and the final fee schedule will be memorialized in the client’s
advisory agreement. Focus Partners takes into account multiple factors to determine this fixed fee rate,
which include but are not limited to: the services required; whether or not investment management services
will be provided; the size and complexity of the assets under management; the complexity of the services;
the financial planning areas to be covered; and the estimated number of hours to service the relationship.
Fixed fees that are collected in advance will be refunded based on the prorated amount of work completed
at the point of termination.
Pursuant to Focus Partners’ current standard agreement, an investment advisory agreement may be
terminated at will upon 30 days’ written notice. Clients whose investment advisory agreements predate this
policy in some cases have alternate provisions concerning termination of such agreements. Focus Partners
will abide by the terms of the relevant investment advisory agreement.
Depending on the needs of the client, Focus Partners and the client may execute an investment advisory
agreement that includes the provision of a one-time financial plan (the “Financial Plan”) of which there is no
cost to the client. For Focus Partners’ fees for ongoing and in-depth financial counseling and/or tax
compliance services, see below.
Options Income Overlay Strategy
For Focus Partners’ Options Income Overlay strategy (“OIO”), which is an overly strategy that involves
writing uncovered put options and/or put spreads (explained below in Item 8), a client is charged an annual
fee of 0.75% on their Notional Value Target. This fee is in addition to the advisory fee Focus Partners
charges on the underlying securities on which the options and/or put spreads are written. The advisory fee
on those underlying securities depends on the specific engagement by the client. If the client engages
Focus Partners to actively manage the securities, the client will be charged the advisory fee as stated in their
investment advisory agreement. If the client does not seek active management, Focus Partners charges a
Collateral Advisory Services fee on the value of the portfolio, which begins at 0.25% and is reduced to 0.12%
(annually) if/when higher asset levels are reached. A client engaging Focus Partners for the OIO strategy
must be approved for the strategy and must execute an Options Income Overlay Addendum, where risks,
fees, their personal OIO investment target, and other important matters about the OIO strategy are
disclosed and explained. Please see Item 14 for more about this conflict of interest.
TrendWise Strategy
For an investment in Focus Partners’ TrendWise strategy, (“TrendWise”), explained below in Item 8, a client is
charged an additional 0.20% (annually) over and above the standard investment management rate. This
potential to receive fees creates an incentive for Focus Partners to allocate a client’s assets to TrendWise.
Please see Item 14 for more about this conflict of interest.
Employee Benefit Retirement Plan Services
The annual fee for Focus Partners’ plan services is charged on a quarterly basis and is based on a
percentage of assets within the plan and typically ranges from 0.20% to 1.00% per year. The annual fee will
be based upon a number of factors including the size of the plan, the number of participants, the number of
locations as well as the method of employee education and the services required. Fees will typically be
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tiered, and the fee is calculated by applying a different fee rate to each corresponding range of the plan’s
account balance.
Employee Benefit Plan 3(21) Fiduciary Services for Focus Partners Affiliates
To engage Focus Partners for 3(21) Fiduciary Services, the plan sponsor will enter into an agreement with
both Focus Partners and FPAS (a “Fiduciary Services Agreement”). In consideration for the services rendered
under this agreement, the plan will be charged an annual fee as a percentage of included assets (as such
term is defined in the agreement).
Fees will be billed in advance on a quarterly basis. At the election of the plan sponsor, an invoice will be sent
to the plan sponsor for remittance of the fees due, or to the plan custodian or recordkeeper, as applicable,
for automatic deduction from the plan. Any of the plan sponsor, Focus Partners, or FPAS may terminate the
Fiduciary Services Agreement upon thirty (30) days advance written notice to the other parties. In the event
of such termination prior to the end of a fee period, Focus Partners and FPAS will be entitled to a fee pro-
rated for the number of days in the fee period prior to the effective date of termination. Any unearned fees
of Focus Partners or FPAS, as the case may be, will be returned by Focus Partners or FPAS, as the case may
be, to the plan sponsor.
Institutional – Consulting
Our fees for Institutional Consulting services are set forth in our investment advisory agreement with the
institutional client. Our fees are generally based on a percentage of the institutional client’s assets under
advisement with Focus Partners, generally as much as 0.25%; are negotiable; and will vary between
institutional clients based on a number of factors, such as the institutional client’s assets under advisement,
scope and complexity of services provided, the origins of the client relationship (including whether the client
joined Focus Partners through a merger with another firm), and potential future revenues from the client
relationship.
Institutional clients are organizations serviced by our institutional practice and generally include
endowments, foundations, and retirement plans. Institutional Consulting is an advisory model where Focus
Partners provides recommendations on asset allocation and investment manager selection, but where the
ultimate decision on investment selection and related matters lies with the fiduciaries who are responsible
for oversight of the assets. In this model, Focus Partners performs initial and ongoing due diligence on
various investments, including public and private funds, separate account managers (SAMs), and other
investment structures, thereby enabling the fiduciaries to make informed investment decisions about the
holdings in their portfolios.
Focus Partners’ reporting of portfolio and manager performance allows fiduciaries, in consultation with
Focus Partners, to determine if the portfolio and the managers are meeting expectations.
Focus Partners’ minimum relationship size for its Institutional Consulting model is $25 million and a
minimum advisory fee of $62,500 is imposed on an annual basis. Relationship sizes below such level are
negotiable on a case-by-case basis, at Focus Partners’ discretion. Focus Partners reserves the right to make
exceptions to the minimum fee on a case-by-case basis and to negotiate fee arrangements with prospective
and existing institutional clients. Minimum fees may vary based upon when the client engaged Focus
Partners or a merged firm and/or based on the size, scope, and complexity of the services provided.
Institutional – OCIO (Outsourced Chief Investment Officer) Discretionary and Non-Discretionary
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Our fees for Institutional OCIO services are set forth in our investment advisory agreement with the
institutional client. Our fees are generally based on a percentage of the institutional client’s assets under
advisement with Focus Partners, generally as much as 0.50%; are negotiable; and will vary between
institutional clients based on a number of factors, such as the institutional client’s assets under advisement,
scope of services to be provided, origins of the client relationship (including whether the client joined Focus
Partners through a merger with another firm), and potential future revenues from the client relationship.
Institutional clients are organizations generally serviced by our institutional practice and generally include
endowments, foundations, retirement plans, and other types of institutions. Institutional OCIO is an advisory
model where Focus Partners’ institutional team builds and manages a customized portfolio of diverse
investments based on the client’s needs. These investments generally include public and private funds,
separate account managers (SAMs), may include a portfolio of various other public securities, and may
include an investment in one or more of Focus Partners’ private funds. Detailed monthly and/or quarterly
reports allows the client to gauge Focus Partners’ success at managing their portfolio.
Focus Partners’ minimum relationship size for its Institutional OCIO model is $50 million. Focus Partners
does not impose a minimum annual fee for clients in the OCIO model. Relationship sizes below such level
are negotiable on a case-by-case basis, at Focus Partners’ discretion. Some clients may be subject to a
minimum annual fee based on when the client engaged Focus Partners or a merged firm. Focus Partners
reserves the right to negotiate fee arrangements with prospective and existing institutional clients.
Focus Partners’ standard investment advisory agreement includes a provision that the account balance on
which the advisory fee is based is inclusive of cash balances, accrued interest, income, accrued dividends,
and, if any, margin balances.
Affiliated Private Funds/Pooled Investment Vehicles
Focus Partners, in its sole discretion, may waive or reduce the management fee for any limited partner.
Additionally, the general partner may waive or modify any terms related to withdrawals for a limited partner
pursuant to written agreement with the limited partner. A Focus Partners client invested in one of its private
funds does not pay a fund-level management fee and an advisory fee to Focus Partners on the same fund-
level assets.
TCG Income Opportunity Partnership, L.P. (“TCGIOP”)
TCGIOP charges its limited partners a quarterly management fee in arrears of .25% (1.0% annualized); the
fee is charged within the fund. TCGIOP may charge a minimum fee of $2,500. In its sole discretion, it may
charge a lesser management fee, reduce or waive its minimum fee or aggregate account minimum, charge a
fixed fee, or charge no fee, based on certain criteria (e.g., anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated
future additional assets, dollar amount of assets to be managed, related accounts, account composition,
competition, courtesy accounts, family/employee accounts, negotiations with client, etc.). Focus Partners
does not charge an advisory client invested in TCGIOP an advisory fee on top of the management fee a
limited partner pays to the fund.
A limited partner in TCGIOP that is permitted to withdraw on a date other than on June 30 or December 31
may be charged a pro rata portion of the management fee paid or due with respect to such quarter. Each
limited partner admitted to TCGIOP other than on the first day of the calendar quarter is subject to a pro
rata portion of the management fee based upon the portion of the quarter for which it is a limited partner.
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TCGIOP holds a demand promissory note from a privately held lender, County Mortgage LLC (“County
Mortgage”). The note is an asset of TCGIOP. The note accrues interest at a fixed rate, annually; the value of
such interest is added to the note’s principal. TCGIOP may withdraw principal at any time. The spouse of the
owner of Country Mortgage is an advisory client of Focus Partners. Also, the owner of Country Mortgage is
a board member of a charitable institution that is an advisory client of Focus Partners. The advisory services
applied to these clients is independent of, and unrelated to, the promissory note held by TCGIOP.
TCG Real Estate Partners VII, LLC (“TCGREP”)
TCGREP charges its limited partners a quarterly administration fee in arrears of .25%; the fee is charged
within the fund. TCGIOP may charge a minimum fee of $2,500. In its sole discretion, it may charge a lesser
management fee, reduce or waive its minimum fee or aggregate account minimum, charge a fixed fee, or
charge no fee, based on certain criteria (e.g., anticipated future earning capacity, anticipated future
additional assets, dollar amount of assets to be managed, related accounts, account composition,
competition, courtesy accounts, family/employee accounts, negotiations with client, etc.). Focus Partners
does not charge an advisory client invested in TCGREP an advisory fee on top of the management fee a
limited partner pays to the fund.
A limited partner in TCGREP that is permitted to withdraw on a date other than on June 30 or December 31
may be charged a pro rata portion of the management fee paid or due with respect to such quarter. Each
limited partner admitted to TCGREP other than on the first day of the calendar quarter is subject to a pro
rata portion of the Management Fee based upon the portion of the quarter for which it is a limited partner.
TCG Diversifying Strategies Fund, L.P. (“TCGDSF”)
Focus Partners charges limited partners of TCGDSF an annual management fee, payable monthly in arrears.
Capital accounts that were established prior to January 1, 2022, are billed a management fee that was
agreed to by the limited partner and the general partner. For capital accounts that were established on or
after January 1, 2022, the monthly management fee is 1/12th of 0.95% of each such capital account balance
up to $5 million; 1/12th of 0.75% of the portion of each such capital account balance that is between $5
million and $50 million, if any; (iii) 1/12th of 0.50% of the portion of each such capital account balance that is
between $50 million and $100 million, if any; (iv) 1/12th of 0.40% of the portion of each such capital account
balance that is between $100 million and $250 million, if any; and (v) 1/12th of 0.30% of the portion of each
such capital account balance that is greater than $250 million, if any. Focus Partners, in its sole discretion,
may waive or reduce the management fee for any limited partner. Management fees paid to Focus Partners
will be assessed at the fund level and will not be aggregated with any assets held in advisory accounts for
purposes of obtaining fee breakpoints. The management fee rate some investors will pay under the
management fee schedule is higher than the fee rate they will pay for assets held in their advisory accounts
managed by Focus Partners. For those clients, the higher management fee rate creates an incentive for
Focus Partners to recommend that clients invest in TCGDSF. Focus Partners seeks to mitigate this conflict by
clearly disclosing it to Focus Partners’ clients. In addition, as a fiduciary to its advisory clients, Focus Partners
has a duty to recommend suitable investment amounts that are consistent with clients’ investment
objectives and financial circumstances.
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TCG Balanced Fund, L.P. (“TCGBF”)
Focus Partners charges limited partners of TCGBF a monthly management fee in arrears. The management
fee is 1/12th of 0.50% of the portion of each such account balance (calculated as of the last business day of
the applicable month) up to $100 million; 1/12th of 0.40% of the portion of each such account balance
between $100 million and $250 million, if any; and 1/12th of 0.30% of the portion of each such account
balance greater than $250 million, if any. At its sole discretion, the general partner may charge a lesser
management fee.
TCG International Opportunities Fund, L.P. (“TCGIOF”)
Focus Partners charges limited partners of TCGIOF a monthly management fee in arrears. Capital accounts
that were established prior to January 1, 2022, are billed a management fee that was agreed to by the
limited partner and the general partner. For capital accounts that were established on or after January 1,
2022, the monthly management fee is 1/12th of 0.95% of the portion of each limited partner’s capital
account balance (calculated as of the last business day of the applicable month) up to $5 million, if any;
1/12th of 0.75% of the portion of each such account balance between $5 million and $50 million, if any;
1/12th of 0.50% of the portion of each such account balance between $50 million and $100 million, if any;
1/12th of 0.40% of the portion of each such account balance between $100 million and $250 million, if any;
and 1/12th of 0.30% of the portion of each such account balance greater than $250 million, if any.
TCG Onshore Balanced Fund, L.P. (“TCGOBF”)
Focus Partners charges limited partners of TCGOBF a monthly management fee in arrears. The management
fee is 1/12th of 0.50% of the portion of each such account balance (calculated as of the last business day of
the applicable month) up to $100 million; 1/12th of 0.40% of the portion of each such account balance
between $100 million and $250 million, if any; and 1/12th of 0.30% of the portion of each such account
balance greater than $250 million, if any. At its sole discretion, the general partner may charge a lesser
management fee.
TCG Private Equity 2022, L.P. (“TCGPE”)
As investment manager to TCGPE, Focus Partners does not charge a separate management fee. However,
investors shall be charged an advisory fee on their interest in TCGPE, in accordance with their advisory
agreement with Focus Partners. During the commitment period, CAIS GP, as general partner to TCGPE,
receives a fee of (i) .25% of the aggregate Commitments if the total is between $25,000,000 to $49,999,999;
(ii) 0.225% of the aggregate commitments if the total is between $50,000,000 and $74,999,999; (iii) 0.175%
of aggregate Commitments if the total is between $75,000,000 and $99,999,999; and (iv) 0.15% of the
aggregate Commitments if the total is $100,000,000 and above.
Thereafter, on a quarterly basis, CAIS charges each TCGPE limited partner’s aggregate Capital Contribution
that remains invested in TCGPE the applicable fee rate listed above.
TCG Private Credit 2024, L.P. (“TCGPC”)
Focus Partners is the investment manager to TCGPC. There are two share classes: Class A and Class B. For
Class A investors, who are Focus Partners clients, Focus Partners charges an advisory fee on their interest in
TCGPC in accordance with their advisory agreement with Focus Partners. CAIS GP, as general partner to
TCGPC, also receives a fee. That fee is: (i) 0.225% of the aggregate commitments if the total is between
$25,000,000 to $49,999,999; (ii) 0.200% of the aggregate commitments if the total is between $50,000,000
and $99,999,999; and (iii) 0.175% of aggregate commitments if the total is $100,000,000 and above.
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For Class B investors, who are investors other than Focus Partners clients, Focus Partners charges a
management fee of 1% of net invested capital (capital contributions that remain invested in the fund) per
annum, payable quarterly in arrears. CAIS GP also receives a fee. That fee is: (i) 0.225% of the aggregate
commitments if the total is between $25,000,000 to $49,999,999; (ii) 0.200% of the aggregate commitments
if the total is between $50,000,000 and $99,999,999; and (iii) 0.175% of aggregate commitments if the total
is $100,000,000 and above.
TCG Private Credit (Offshore) 2024, L.P. (“TCGPCO”)
Focus Partners is the investment manager to TCGPC). There are two share classes: Class A and Class B. For
Class A investors, who are Focus Partners clients, Focus Partners charges an advisory fee on their interest in
TCGPC in accordance with their advisory agreement with Focus Partners. CAIS GP, as general partner to
TCGPCO, also receives a fee. That fee is: (i) 0.225% of the aggregate commitments if the total is between
$25,000,000 to $49,999,999; (ii) 0.200% of the aggregate commitments if the total is between $50,000,000
and $99,999,999; and (iii) 0.175% of aggregate commitments if the total is $100,000,000 and above.
For Class B investors, who are investors other than Focus Partners clients, Focus Partners charges a
management fee of 1% of net invested capital (capital contributions that remain invested in the fund) per
annum, payable quarterly in arrears. CAIS GP also receives a fee. That fee is: (i) 0.225% of the aggregate
commitments if the total is between $25,000,000 to $49,999,999; (ii) 0.200% of the aggregate commitments
if the total is between $50,000,000 and $99,999,999; and (iii) 0.175% of aggregate commitments if the total
is $100,000,000 and above.
TopRidge Capital Partners (AI), L.P. (“TCP”)
For our investment management services to TCP, we receive, on an annual basis and paid quarterly, a
management fee of 1.5% of the capital commitment to TCP. After the termination of the investment period,
the management fee paid by each investor will be 1.5% of such investor’s capital invested in portfolio
investments that have not been realized or written off. As explained in detail in Item 6 below, we also are
entitled to carried interest, which is a form of performance-based fee. We have the right, in our sole
discretion, to reduce or eliminate the management fee or the performance fee, in whole or in part, payable
by an investor to TCP. For additional details regarding TCP fees, and how they are calculated, please refer to
your private placement memorandum for the TCP.
Eight (8) affiliated Partnerships resulting from the Gratus merger:
Trailhead Income, LP (“TI”)
Focus Partners is the investment manager to TI. There are two share classes: Class A and Class B. Focus
Partners charges Class A investors, who are Focus Partners clients, a quarterly management fee on their
interest in TI in an amount equal to the greater of (a) the product obtained by multiplying 0.3125% (1.25%
per annum) by the value of each Class A investor’s capital contribution as of the last business day of the
previous fiscal quarter, or (b) the product obtained by multiplying 0.3125% (1.25% per annum) by the value
of each investor’s capital account as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter.
For Class B investors, who are investors other than Focus Partners clients, Focus Partners charges a quarterly
management fee equal to the greater of (a) the product obtained by multiplying 0.325% (1.30% per annum)
by the value of each Class B investor’s capital contribution as of the last business day of the previous fiscal
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quarter, or (b) the product obtained by multiplying 0.325% (1.30% per annum) by the value of each
investor’s capital account as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter.
PPB Trailhead Mgt. LLC, as general partner to TI, also receives a fee calculated at a different rate depending
upon the share class. That fee is: (i) an amount equal to the product obtained multiplying 0.0625% (0.25%
per annum) by the aggregate capital contributions of all Class A investors, who are Focus Partners clients, as
of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter; provided, however, such fee shall not be less than
$9,000 per quarter which is allocated pro rata based on partnership percentages to all investors; or (ii) an
amount equal to the product obtained multiplying 0.125% (0.50% per annum) by the aggregate capital
contributions of all Class B investors, who are not Focus Partners clients, as of the last business day of the
previous fiscal quarter.
Trailhead Income QP, LP (“TIQP”)
As investment manager to TIQP, Focus Partners charges investors a quarterly advisory fee on their interest
in TIQP in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying 0.25% (1.00% per annum) by the value
of each investor’s capital account as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter.
There are two share classes: Class A and Class B. PPB Trailhead QP Mgt LLC, as general partner to TIQP, also
receives a fee calculated at a different rate depending upon the share class. That fee is: (i) an amount equal
to the product obtained multiplying 0.0625% (0.25% per annum) by the aggregate capital contributions of
all Class A investors, who are Focus Partners clients, as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter;
provided, however, such fee shall not be less than $9,000 per quarter which is allocated pro rata based on
partnership percentages to all investors; or (ii) an amount equal to the product obtained multiplying 0.125%
(0.50% per annum) by the aggregate capital contributions of all Class B investors, who are not Focus
Partners clients, as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter; provided, however, such fee shall
not be less than $9,000 per quarter which is allocated pro rata based on partnership percentages to all
investors.
Trailhead Growth, LP (“TG”)
Focus Partners is the investment manager to TG. Focus Partners charges investors a quarterly management
fee on their interest in TG. PPB Trailhead Growth Mgt LLC, as general partner to TG, also receives a fee
calculated at a different rate depending upon the share class. The investment manager fee and general
partner fee are calculated as follows:
Founders Class investors, investors who invested in the fund before the fund’s total capital commitments
exceeded $20,000,000, for the first two (2) years from the date of their initial capital contribution pay a
quarterly management fee in an amount equal to the greater of (a) the product obtained by multiplying
0.225% (0.90% per annum) by the value of such investor’s capital contributions as of the business day of the
previous fiscal quarter or (b) the product obtained by multiplying 0.225% (0.90% per annum) by the value of
such investor’s capital account as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter. Thereafter, the
quarterly management fee for Founders Class investors shall be the same as the quarterly management fee
for the Class A investors. The quarterly general partner fee for Founders Class Investors shall be equal to the
product obtained by multiplying 0.075% (0.30% per annum) by the greater of (i) aggregate capital
commitments of all Founders Class investors or (ii) the net asset value attributable to all Founders Class
investors, as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter; provided, however such fee shall not be
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less than $9,000 per quarter which shall be allocated pro rata based on partnership percentages to all
Founders Class investors.
For Class A investors, who are investors that are Focus Partners clients, Focus Partners charges a quarterly
management fee equal to the greater of (a) the product obtained by multiplying 0.30% (1.20% per annum)
by the value of each Class A investor’s capital contribution as of the last business day of the previous fiscal
quarter, or (b) the product obtained by multiplying 0.30% (1.20% per annum) by the value of each investor’s
capital account as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter. The quarterly general partner fee
for Class A investors shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying 0.075% (0.30% per annum) by
the greater of (i) aggregate capital commitments of all Class A investors or (ii) the net asset value
attributable to all Class A investors, as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter; provided,
however such fee shall not be less than $9,000 per quarter which shall be allocated pro rata based on
partnership percentages to all Class A investors.
For Class B investors, who are investors other than Focus Partners clients, Focus Partners charges a quarterly
management fee equal to the greater of (a) the product obtained by multiplying 0.3125% (1.25% per
annum) by the value of each Class B investor’s capital contribution as of the last business day of the
previous fiscal quarter, or (b) the product obtained by multiplying 0.3125% (1.25% per annum) by the value
of each investor’s capital account as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter. The quarterly
general partner fee for Class B investors shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying 0.15% (0.60%
per annum) by the greater of (i) aggregate capital commitments of all Class B investors or (ii) the net asset
value attributable to all Class B investors, as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter; provided,
however such fee shall not be less than $9,000 per quarter which shall be allocated pro rata based on
partnership percentages to all Class B investors.
Trailhead Options Income, LP (“TOI”)
As the investment manager of TOI, Focus Partners charges investors a quarterly management fee on their
interest in TOI. There are two share classes: Class A and Class B. Focus Partners charges Class A investors,
investors that invested less than $5,000,000 in the fund, a quarterly management fee on their interest in TOI
in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying 0.175% (0.70% per annum) by the aggregate
capital account balances of all investors, as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter until the
aggregate value of the capital accounts of all investors equal $20,000,000. From and after the time the
aggregate value of the capital accounts of all investors equals or exceeds $20,000,000, the quarterly
management fee for Class A investors shall be an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying
0.1875% (0.75% per annum) by the value of each Class A investor’s capital account, as of the last business
day of the previous fiscal quarter.
For Class B investors, investors that invested equal to or more than $5,000,000 in the fund, there is a
quarterly management fee in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying 0.175% (0.70% per
annum) by the value of each Class B investor’s capital account, as of the last business day of the previous
fiscal quarter.
PPB Trailhead Options Mgt LLC, as general partner to TOI, also receives a fee from investors. Until the
aggregate value of the capital accounts of all investors equals $20,000,000, the quarterly general partner fee
shall be an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying 0.0375% (0.15% per annum) by the
aggregate capital account balances of all investors, as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter.
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From and after the time the aggregate value of the capital accounts of all investors equals or exceeds
$20,000,000, the quarterly GP Fee shall be an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying 0.05%
(0.20% per annum) by the aggregate capital account balances of all investors, as of the last business day of
the previous fiscal quarter.
GC Opportunities I Private Fund, LP (“GCOPF”)
As investment manager to GCOPF, Focus Partners charges investors a quarterly management fee on their
interest in GCOPF in an amount equal to the greater of (a) the product obtained by multiplying 0.35%
(1.40% per annum) by the value of each investor’s capital commitment, as of the last business day of the
previous fiscal quarter, or (b) the product obtained by multiplying 0.35% (1.40% per annum) by the value of
each investor’s ending capital account, as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter.
There are two share classes: Class A and Class B. PPB Gratus PRE Mgt, LLC, as general partner to GCOPF, also
receives a fee calculated at a different rate depending upon the share class. For Class A investors, who are
Focus Partners clients, the fee shall be calculated as an amount equal to the product obtained by
multiplying 0.0625% (0.25% per annum) by each Class A investor’s capital commitment. For Class B
investors, who are not Focus Partners clients, the fee shall be calculated as an amount equal to the product
obtained by multiplying 0.1250% (0.50% per annum) by each Class B investor’s capital commitment, as of
the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter; provided, however, that the quarterly aggregated
general partner fee paid by the fund shall in no event be less than $9,000 to the Class A investors plus the
calculated fee to the Class B investors.
GC Opportunities 2 Private Fund, LP (“GCOPF 2”)
Focus Partners is the investment manager to GCOPF 2. Focus Partners charges investors a quarterly
management fee on their interest in GCOPF 2 in an amount equal to the greater of (a) the product obtained
by multiplying 0.35% (1.40% per annum) by the value of each investor’s capital commitment, as of the last
business day of the previous fiscal quarter, or (b) the product obtained by multiplying 0.35% (1.40% per
annum) by the value of each investor’s ending capital account, as of the last business day of the previous
fiscal quarter.
There are two share classes: Class A and Class B. PPB Gratus PRE Mgt, LLC, as general partner to GCOPF 2,
also receives a fee calculated at a different rate depending upon the share class. For Class A investors, who
are Focus Partners clients, the fee shall be calculated as an amount equal to the product obtained by
multiplying 0.0625% (0.25% per annum) by each Class A investor’s capital commitment. For Class B
investors, who are not Focus Partners clients, the fee shall be calculated as an amount equal to the product
obtained by multiplying 0.125% (0.50% per annum) by each Class B investor’s capital commitment, as of the
last business day of the previous fiscal quarter; provided, however, that the quarterly aggregated general
partner fee paid by the fund shall in no event be less than $9,000 to the Class A investors plus the calculated
fee to the Class B investors.
GC FinTech Fund, LP (“GCFT”)
As investment manager to GCFT, Focus Partners charges investors a quarterly management fee on their
interest in GCFT in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying 0.3125% (1.25% per annum) by
the value of each investor’s capital account as of the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter.
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There are two share classes: Class A and Class B. PPB GCFT Mgt., LLC, as general partner to GCFT, also
receives a fee calculated at a different rate depending upon the share class. For Class A investors, who are
Focus Partners clients, the fee shall be calculated as an amount equal to the product obtained by
multiplying 0.0625% (0.25% per annum) by the aggregate capital commitments of all Class A investors, as of
the last business day of the previous fiscal quarter, which shall be allocated pro rata based on partnership
percentages to all investors. For Class B investors, who are not Focus Partners clients, the fee shall be
calculated as an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying 0.125% (0.50% per annum) by the
aggregate capital commitments of all Class B investors, as of the last business day of the previous fiscal
quarter, which shall be allocated pro rata based on partnership percentages to all investors.
GC Long/Short, LP (“GCLS”)
Focus Partners is an investment manager to GCLS. Focus Partners charges investors a quarterly
management fee on their interest in GCLS in an amount equal to 1.0% per annum of the net asset value of
the investor’s capital account. iCapital HF GP, LLC, as general partner to GCLS, also receives a fee in an
amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the net asset value of the investor’s capital account. Additionally, the
underlying fund that GCLS invests in, Cygnus Opportunity Fund, LLC, receives a management fee equal to
0.875% per annum of the balance of the fund’s capital account in the underlying fund as of the first day of
each calendar quarter.
Investors should refer to the Partnerships’ Private Offering Memoranda, Subscription Agreements, and other
offering documents for additional/supplementary information regarding the various fees and charges
associated with investments in the private funds.
SCS Private Pooled Investment Vehicles
With respect to investments by Focus Partners clients in SCS’s pooled investment vehicles, while Focus
Partners bills an advisory fee on clients’ SCS investments, we do not receive any additional compensation
from SCS in connection with assets that our clients place in SCS’s pooled investment vehicles. Focus
Partners’ clients are not advisory clients of, and do not pay advisory fees to, SCS, other than management
fees and any performance fees as subscribers/limited partners to a SCS pooled investment(s) vehicle in
which the clients are invested.
The allocation of Focus Partners client assets to SCS’s pooled investment vehicles, rather than to unaffiliated
private funds, or other investments, increases SCS’s compensation and the revenue to Focus LLC relative to
a situation in which our clients are excluded from SCS’s pooled investment vehicles. As a consequence,
Focus LLC has a financial incentive to cause us to recommend that our clients invest in SCS’s pooled
investment vehicles.
Financial Counseling Services
A client’s fee for financial counseling services generally depends upon the complexity of the engagement
and scope of work. Prior to executing an advisory agreement for the provision of financial counseling
services, the client and their wealth advisor will discuss the nature of the work and decide on the fee. A
Financial Counseling Fee generally is annual/fixed (billed quarterly) but in some circumstances could be
based on an hourly rate. The scope of work will be outlined in the advisory agreement. As the service is
ongoing, the fee for services in subsequent years may change if, based on the complexity of the
engagement and scope of work, Focus Partners and the client agree to revise the fee.
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Investment Consulting Services – Individual Clients
Focus Partners may charge an asset-based fee or a fixed fee for investment consulting services to individual
clients depending on the nature of the services to be provided, the size of the account, and the complexity
of the reporting requirements. Fees are negotiable, but generally range from 0.10% to 0.25% per annum.
Focus Partners does not manage a client’s assets in this type of engagement.
Family Office Services
A client’s fee for family office services generally depends on the complexity of the engagement and scope
of the work. Fees for family office services are either a flat annual fee or an hourly fee that generally ranges
from $95 to $275 per hour required to perform the services.
Aging Life Care Services
For aging life care services, Focus Partners charges an initial consultation fee of $400 and hourly fees as
specified in the aging life care services agreement, although fees are negotiable. The aging life care services
fee is payable monthly in arrears.
Practice Integrated Wealth Management
If a client chooses the Practice Integrated Wealth Management offering, Focus Partners charges a fixed fee.
Focus Partners’ fees are negotiable, but for this type of financial planning, fees generally range from $150
per month to $825 per month. The exact amount depends upon the level and scope of the services required
and the professionals rendering the services. Fixed fees are paid on a monthly schedule and are paid in
advance.
Family Budget Services
Family budget and consulting fees shall be charged depending on the nature and complexity of client’s
circumstances and upon mutual agreement with client. Fees generally range from a fixed monthly fee
between $3,000 and $6,000 but more complex or longer engagements will incur a significantly higher fixed
fee. Fees will be billed on a monthly or quarterly basis. Fees may be negotiable in certain circumstances. The
exact amount depends upon the level and scope of the services required and the professionals rendering
the services. Focus Partners will not require any payment greater than $1,200 more than six (6) months in
advance of services to be rendered.
Business Solutions
Business Solutions Services fees shall be charged based on the nature of the engagement and will vary
depending on the nature and complexity of a client’s circumstances and upon mutual agreement with client.
Depending on the services and length of engagement, fees will typically range from $5,000 to $50,000, but
more complex or longer engagements will incur a significantly higher fixed fee.
Business Management Services
Focus Partners’ business management services fees are based on the time required to perform the services,
and hourly rates range from $80 to $375 per hour. Fees may be negotiable in certain circumstances.
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Dispute Resolution Services
Dispute resolution services fees are based on the time required to perform the services, and hourly rates are
generally $300 per hour. Time spent in court, arbitration, and hearings, is billed at $250 per hour. Fees may
be negotiable in certain circumstances
Tax Preparation & Compliance Services
Focus Partners offers tax compliance services, including preparation of tax returns, to its advisory clients.
Focus Partners provides this service to non-advisory clients as well. The fee for tax compliance services
generally depends on the client engagement; in some cases, the fee could be included as part of the
advisory or other engagement and in some cases a client will pay this fee separately.
Lending and Cash Management Solutions
We offer clients the option of obtaining certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party financial
institutions through UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC (together with UPTIQ, Inc. and its affiliates,
“UPTIQ”) and Flourish Financial LLC (“Flourish”). Focus Financial Partners, LLC (“Focus”) is a minority investor
in UPTIQ, Inc. UPTIQ is compensated by sharing in the revenue earned by such third-party financial
institutions for serving our clients. The revenue paid to UPTIQ also benefits UPTIQ, Inc.’s investors, including
Focus, our parent company. When legally permissible, UPTIQ also shares a portion of this earned revenue
with our affiliate, Focus Solutions Holdings, LLC (“FSH”). For securities-backed lines of credit (“SBLOCs”)
made to our clients, UPTIQ will share with FSH up to 75% of all revenue it receives from such third-party
financial institutions. For other loans (except residential mortgage loans) made to our clients, UPTIQ will
share with FSH up to 25% of all revenue it receives from such third-party financial institutions. For cash
management products and services provided to our clients, UPTIQ will share with FSH up to 33% of all
revenue it receives from the third-party financial institutions and other intermediaries that provide
administrative and settlement services in connection with this program. As noted above, Flourish facilitates
cash management solutions for our clients. When legally permissible, Flourish pays FSH a revenue share of
up to 0.10% of the total amount of cash held in Flourish cash accounts by our clients. Although the amount
of these revenue-sharing payments to FSH is not charged directly in the calculation of the interest rate paid
by clients on credit solutions facilitated by UPTIQ or the yield earned by clients on cash management
solutions facilitated by UPTIQ or Flourish, the compensation earned by UPTIQ and Flourish is an expense of
the third-party financial institutions that informs the interest rate paid by clients on credit solutions and the
yield earned by clients on cash management solutions. FSH distributes this revenue to us when we are
licensed to receive such revenue (or when no such license is required) and the distribution is not otherwise
legally prohibited. Further information on this conflict of interest is available in Item 10 of this Brochure.
Insurance Solutions
We help our clients obtain certain insurance solutions by introducing clients to our affiliate, Focus Risk
Solutions, LLC (“FRS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of our parent company, Focus Financial Partners, LLC.
FRS assists our clients with regulated insurance sales activity by advising our clients on insurance matters
and placing insurance products for them and/or referring our clients to certain third-party insurance brokers
(the “Brokers”), with whom FRS has agreements, which either separately or together with FRS place
insurance products for them. If FRS places an insurance product or refers one of our clients to a Broker and
there is a subsequent purchase of insurance through the Broker, then FRS will receive a portion of the
upfront and/or ongoing commissions associated with the sale by the insurance carrier with which the policy
was placed. The amount of revenue earned by FRS for the sale of these insurance products will vary over
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time in response to market conditions and will also differ based on the type of insurance product sold and
which Broker placed the policy. The amount of insurance commission revenue earned by FRS is considered
for purposes of determining the amount of additional compensation that certain of our financial
professionals are entitled to receive. Additionally, in exchange for allowing certain of the Brokers to
participate in the FRS platform and, thereby, to offer their services to our clients and certain of our affiliates’
clients, FRS receives periodic fees (the “Platform Fees”) from such Brokers. The Platform Fees are expected
to change over time. Such Platform Fees are revenue for FRS and, ultimately, for our common parent
company, Focus, but we do not share in such revenue. FRS also indirectly benefits from our clients’ use of
the services insofar as such use incentivizes the Brokers to maintain their relationship with FRS and to
continue paying Platform Fees to FRS, which could also support increases in the overall amount of the
Platform Fee rates in the future. Further information on this conflict of interest is available in Item 10 of this
Brochure.
Concierge Services
Focus Partners does not receive any compensation from any unaffiliated third parties with whom our clients
engage under the Concierge services described above.
B. Payment of Fees
Investment Management Services
Except as provided below, for brokerage accounts that it manages on a discretionary basis, Focus Partners
deducts its investment management fee from a client’s investment account(s) held at their custodian. Upon
engaging Focus Partners to manage such account(s), a client grants Focus Partners this limited authority
through a written instruction to the custodian of their account(s). The fee generally is billed in advance on a
quarterly basis. A newly managed account is charged a fee from the start date to the end of the quarter. The
fee is based on the value of the account the day prior to the start date. Thereafter, the quarterly fee is based
on the market value of the account on the last business day of the previous quarter. Unless an advisory
agreement specifies otherwise, Focus Partners reserves the right, and will in its sole discretion, adjust the
Investment Advisory Fee on a pro rata basis for contributions made during the previous quarter on the
subsequent quarterly billing statement.
For investments in unaffiliated limited partnerships and similar private offerings for which Focus Partners
has invested its clients’ assets, Focus Partners charges an advisory fee pursuant to the clients’ fee schedule.
The fees and manner of payment in which a client pays to the manager of a limited partnership fund or
other private offering depends on the specific investment offering and will be disclosed to the client in the
investment’s offering documents.
For accounts managed by Separate Account Managers (SAMs), Focus Partners generally deducts its advisory
fee from such accounts. Each SAM generally deducts its management fee pursuant to its agreement and
arrangement with the client.
Clients generally are required to have their investment management fees deducted from their accounts. In
some cases, however, Focus Partners will directly bill a client for investment management fees if it
determines that such billing arrangement is appropriate given the circumstances.
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As some of Focus Partners’ clients originated from advisory firms that merged into Focus Partners, most
such clients have maintained their previous billing structure and terms, including rates, treatment of interim
deposits, quarterly valuation dates, and whether billing occurs in advance or arrears.
Financial Counseling, Family Office, Practice Integrated Wealth Management, and Family Budget
Services
Financial counseling fees generally are paid quarterly or monthly. Family office fees generally are paid
quarterly. PWIM and Family Budget Services fees may be paid monthly or quarterly. If a client also has an
investment management relationship with Focus Partners, such client may instruct Focus Partners, through a
Letter of Authorization (LOA), to deduct any of the foregoing non-investment management fees, as
applicable, from their investment account.
Investment Consulting Services
The fee generally is billed in advance on a quarterly basis. The fee is based on the value of the consulting
assets the day prior to the start date. Thereafter, the quarterly fee is based on the market value of the
consulting assets on the last business day of the previous quarter.
Employee Benefit Retirement Plan Services
The annual fee for Focus Partners’ plan services is charged on a quarterly basis.
Family Office, Business Management, and Dispute Resolution Services – Hourly rate
For services charged at an hourly rate, clients are sent monthly invoices detailing the hours spent in the
previous month providing services and the applicable rates. Clients may authorize Focus Partners in writing
to process payment to itself, and in such cases, Focus Partners does not process payment until the client has
approved the charges on the monthly invoice.
Tax Compliance Services
If the fee for tax services is not included in a client’s financial counseling or family office fee, the fee
generally is directly billed to the client upon completion of the services, for example, upon the filing of a tax
return. A client may, in writing, grant Focus Partners the authority to deduct the tax preparation fee from
his/her brokerage account.
C. Clients Responsible for Custodial and Brokerage Fees
In connection with Focus Partners’ management of an account, a client will incur fees and/or expenses
separate from Focus Partners’ management fee. These additional fees include transaction charges and the
fees/expenses charged by any custodian, broker, subadvisor, mutual fund, SAM, limited partnership, or
other advisor, all as applicable. The client is responsible for all such fees and expenses. Please see Item 12 of
this Brochure regarding brokerage practices.
Focus Partners does not sponsor or provide investment management services to wrap fee programs. In two
instances, Focus Partners clients (from a merger) use a SAM whose investment management services are
provided through a wrap program. This arrangement is client-directed. The clients pay a fee to the wrap fee
sponsor, which is inclusive of the SAM’s fee, the cost of brokerage/transactions, and the advisory fee the
sponsor pays to Focus Partners. While these arrangements are atypical and client-directed, Focus Partners
evaluates the overall cost to the client and offers advice as to whether a more traditional arrangement might
be more beneficial to the client.
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D. Prepayment of Fees
As noted in Item 5(B) above, investment management fees and investment consulting fees generally are
paid in advance. Upon the termination of a client’s investment advisory relationship, Focus Partners will
issue a refund equal to any unearned management fee or investment consulting fee for the remainder of
the quarter. The client may specify how they would like such refund issued (e.g., a check sent directly to the
client, or a check sent to the client’s custodian for deposit into their account). Focus Partners does not
require prepayment of more than $1,200 in advisory fees for an investment advisory client, six months or
more in advance.
E. Outside Compensation for the Sale of Securities to Clients
Focus Partners does not accept compensation for the sale of securities.
ITEM 6: PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT
Side-by-side management refers to the practice of managing accounts that are charged performance-based fees
while at the same time managing accounts that are not charged performance-based fees.
Other than a performance-based fee for five of its Partnerships, Focus Partners does not charge performance-
based fees for its investment management services. Performance-based fees are fees that are based on a share
of capital gains or capital appreciation of a client’s account or private fund investment. Focus Partners’
Partnerships that charge performance-bases fees include the following: TCP; Trailhead Income QP, LP; Trailhead
Growth, LP; Trailhead Options Income LP; and GC Long/Short LP.
With respect to TCP, in addition to the management fee disclosed in Item 5 above, Focus Partners is entitled to
carried interest of 10% of TCP’s distributions after investor capital has been returned, and 15% of TCP’s
distributions after the carried interest hurdle has been satisfied.
The potential for earning a performance-based fee creates an incentive for us to make investments that are
riskier or more speculative than would be the case if a Partnership did not charge performance-based fees. We
receive more in fees from assets invested in such Partnerships than we would from fees in other assets we
manage. While TCP is closed to new investors, historically, this gave us an incentive to recommend that our
clients allocate some portion of their assets to TCP over other investments. However, this incentive exists with
respect to Trailhead Income QP, LP; Trailhead Growth, LP; and Trailhead Options Income LP. We address these
conflicts through this disclosure. Also, we do not recommend our clients subscribe to these Partnerships unless
they are eligible investors and the investment are appropriate for them.
ITEM 7: TYPES OF CLIENTS
Focus Partners provides investment advisory services to individuals/high-net-worth individuals, family offices,
trusts, institutions, charitable organizations and foundations, corporations, businesses, and retirement/profit-
sharing plans. Because it believes that diversification within an investment portfolio is important, Focus Partners
prefers that accounts invested in certain of its investment strategies maintain a balance that will allow the
portfolio manager to properly diversify the accounts.
Minimum account or asset size for an alternative investments, private offerings, and third-party separate
accounts varies depending on the manager, investment vehicle, and/or platform.
Other types of clients and non-advisory services are described in Item 4.
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Outside Investors (non-advisory clients) in Focus Partners’ pooled investment vehicles/Partnerships
Focus Partners maintains non-advisory relationships with a number of investors in certain of its Partnerships.
These individuals are not advisory clients of Focus Partners; their connection to Focus Partners is solely as
outside investors in one or more of the Partnerships. On a monthly basis or quarterly basis, investors receive
estimates of the Partnerships’ returns. The accountant (or the third-party administrator for Partnerships) sends
investor statements. On an annual basis, all investors receive audited financial statements either from the
accountant or the third-party administrator.
ITEM 8: METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, AND RISK OF LOSS
Focus Partners has investment committees that include professionals such as analysts, portfolio managers, and
wealth advisors of the firm. Focus Partners also has investment teams and/or sub-committees, including the
Focus Partners Investment Management Leadership Council, that review private strategies, manager research,
equity strategies, and fixed income strategies. Sub-committees and teams generally meet every two weeks. The
investment committee is chaired by Focus Partners’ Chief Investment Officer.
A. Methods of Analysis and Risk of Loss
Asset Allocation
•
In addition to internally created capital market assumptions (CMAs), Focus Partners engages a
consultant to develop CMAs for a variety of asset classes. The consultant provides forecasts for
expected return, volatility, and correlations across a wide universe of asset classes.
• CMAs are blended to calculate a series of “optimal” portfolios that maximize expected return for a
given level of risk. Software may be used to help develop the firm’s strategic allocations.
• Optimal portfolios are stress tested across different market regimes with the goal of having a more
consistent risk-return profile across a range of market environments.
• Quantitative and qualitative factors are used to determine clients’ tactical positioning relative to
their strategic asset allocation. Focus Partners measures factors such as valuation, growth, and
relative price strength for most asset classes. Decision-making is also informed by third-party
research.
A client’s ability, willingness, and need for risk are taken into consideration when implementing an asset
allocation.
Investment Diligence
•
Focus Partners performs due diligence on a range of investment products and/or managers,
including, but not limited to, publicly traded stocks, public and private alternative investments,
mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, private funds, subadvisors/separate account managers,
exchange traded notes, and structured notes.
• Quantitative analysis is used to measure a manager’s risk-adjusted performance relative to an
appropriate peer group. Focus Partners looks at factors such as return, internal rate of return,
volatility, upside and downside capture, Sharpe ratio, information ratio, semi-variance, drawdown,
and others.
• Qualitative analysis focuses on a manager’s process and philosophy. The goal of this analysis is to
determine whether a strategy can generate superior risk-adjusted results in a sustainable manner.
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Focus Partners-designed Strategies
• Quantitative analysis is used to rank individual securities based on their probability to outperform.
Focus Partners engages a third-party quantitative research firm to assist with its quantitative
analysis. The ranking system weights quantifiable data such as free cash flow, return on capital,
dividend yield, earnings momentum, relative price movement, and other factors. Focus Partners
typically performs further fundamental analysis before purchasing a particular security for client
accounts.
•
Fundamental analysis is used to attempt to measure a security’s intrinsic value and future growth
by examining related economic, financial, and other factors. This method involves the analysis of
factors that can affect a security’s value, including macroeconomic external factors, such as the
overall economy and industry conditions, and company-specific factors, such as its financial
condition, management, and competitive advantages.
B. Material Risks Involved
1. All investments present the risk of loss of principal – the risk that the value of securities (mutual funds,
exchange- traded funds (ETFs), and individual bonds), when sold or otherwise disposed of, may be less
than the price paid for the securities. Even when the value of the securities when sold is greater than
the price paid, there is the risk that the appreciation will be less than inflation. In other words, the
purchasing power of the proceeds can be less than the purchasing power of the original investment.
2.
Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities (common, convertible preferred stocks, ETFs, and other
securities whose values are tied to the price of stocks, such as rights, warrants, and convertible debt
securities) could decline in value if the issuer's financial condition declines or in response to overall
market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s) – such as large cap, mid cap, or
small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks – can underperform other market segments or the equity
markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies can involve greater risk
and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
3.
Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Fixed-income securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit quality
risk. The market value of fixed-income securities generally declines when interest rates rise, and an
issuer of fixed-income securities could default on its payment obligations.
4. Asset Allocation Risk. A fund's selection and weighting of asset classes and/or underlying funds can
cause it to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective.
5.
Interval Fund Risk. Where appropriate, Focus Partners may utilize certain funds structured as non-
diversified, closed-end management investment companies, registered under the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (“interval fund”). Investments in an interval fund involve additional risk, including lack of
liquidity and restrictions on withdrawals. During any time periods outside of the specified repurchase
offer window(s), investors will be unable to sell their shares of the interval fund. There is no assurance
that an investor will be able to tender shares when or in the amount desired, and the fund can suspend
or postpone repurchases. Additionally, in limited circumstances, an interval fund may have a limited
amount of capacity and may not be able to fulfill all purchase orders. While an interval fund periodically
offers to repurchase a portion of its securities, there is no guarantee that investors may sell their shares
at any given time or in the desired amount. The closed-end interval funds utilized by Focus Partners
impose liquidity gates for each repurchase offer and in the event the offer is oversubscribed, the
requested redemption amount may be reduced.
6. As interval funds may expose investors to liquidity risk, investors should consider interval fund shares to
be an illiquid investment. Typically, the interval funds are not listed on any securities exchange and are
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not publicly traded. Thus, there is no secondary market for the fund’s shares. Clients should carefully
review the fund’s prospectus and most recent shareholder report to more fully understand the interval
fund structure and be knowledgeable to the unique risks associated with internal funds, including the
illiquidity risks. Because these types of investments involve certain additional risk, these funds will only
be utilized when consistent with a client’s investment objectives, individual situation, suitability,
tolerance for risk and liquidity needs. Investment should be avoided where an investor has a short-term
investing horizon and/or cannot bear the loss of some or all of the investment.
7. Alternative Fund Risk. Certain alternative funds (registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940)
utilized by Focus Partners may employ use of derivatives, options, futures, and/or short sales. Use of
derivatives, options, or futures by a Fund may be for purposes of gaining exposure to a particular asset
group, for hedging purposes, or for leverage purposes. The use of derivatives, options, and futures
exposes the funds to additional risks and transaction costs. In addition, if the Fund uses leverage
through activities such as entering into short sales or purchasing derivative instruments, there are
additional risks, including the fund having the risk that losses may exceed the net assets of the fund.
The net asset value of a fund while employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market
movements. Clients should carefully review the fund’s prospectus to more fully understand the risk of
funds employing the use of derivatives, options, futures, and/or short sales. Investments in these funds
should be avoided where an investor has a short-term investing horizon and/or cannot bear the loss of
some or all of the investment.
8. A risk in using quantitative analysis is that the models may be based on assumptions that prove to be
incorrect.
9.
Risks associated with fundamental analysis include the potential inability to forecast future cash flow
accurately or use appropriate discount rates to value securities.
10. With regard to the use of other managers, risks include the possibility of manager turnover, style drift,
underperformance, size constraint, tax inefficiency, compliance, and fee changes. In addition, for
alternative investments, private offerings, and certain other third-party managers, potential risk factors
include lack of liquidity, lack of transparency, layering of fees, and other risks as identified by such
managers in their disclosure documents.
11. With respect specifically to alternative investment vehicles recommended by Focus Partners that charge
performance fees, the possibility of receiving a performance-based fee may create an incentive for the
manager to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than would be the case in the
absence of such an arrangement. Performance-based fees are disclosed in fund and investment
offering documents.
12. For securities that Focus Partners purchases and sells on behalf of clients, its analysis methods rely on
the assumption that the companies whose securities it purchases and sells, the rating agencies and
research firms that review these securities, and other publicly available sources of information about
these securities, are providing accurate and unbiased data. While Focus Partners is alert to indications
that data may be incorrect, there is always a risk that an analysis may be compromised by inaccurate or
misleading information.
13. For any strategy that makes significant use of options writing (usually selling “call” options) for the
purpose of generating income, investors should not the risks related to writing options. The writer of a
“call” option receives premium payments in exchange for the obligation to sell stock to the holder of
the option at the agreed-upon strike price. The writer of a call option could potentially incur substantial
losses in the event of significant and sudden increases in the price of the underlying security. If the
option is exercised, the writer of the call option is exposed to potential losses of the difference between
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the strike price of the option and the market price of the underlying security when exercised. The
potential for loss is greatest where the call is “uncovered,” meaning that the writer does not hold the
underlying security. However, to the extent that a call is written against a security held in an account,
the account will not realize the benefit of increases in the price of the security.
The writer of a “put” option receives premium payments in exchange for the obligation to purchase
stock from the holder of the option at the agreed-upon strike price. The writer of a put option could
potentially incur substantial losses in the event of significant and sudden declines in the price of the
underlying security. If the option is exercised, the writer of the put option is exposed to potential losses
of the difference between the strike price of the option and the market price of the underlying security
when exercised. The potential for loss is greatest where the put is “uncovered” and the writer of the
option has not reserved cash to cover the cost of purchasing the delivered security. We seek to
mitigate this risk by securing any put options we write with cash.
14. Sales of options also are subject to the costs and risks of trading on margin, which include the
magnification of trading gains and losses and the potential for forced liquidation of a position at fire sale
prices in order to meet margin maintenance requirements. For detailed information on the use of
options and option strategies, please contact the Options Clearing Corporation for the current
Options Risk Disclosure Statement.
15. Focus Partners offers its “OIO” strategy to certain advisory clients. The strategy involves selling out-of-
the-money put options in exchange for options premiums. The strategy may be implemented for
clients for whom it is appropriate, including clients that have large, concentrated stock positions.
Generally, the purchase or sale, or the recommendation to purchase or sell, an option contract is with
the intent of producing income or offsetting/”hedging” a potential market risk in the client’s portfolio.
The use of options transactions as an investment strategy can involve a high level of inherent risk.
Option transactions establish a contract between two parties concerning the buying or selling of an
asset at a predetermined price during a specific period of time. During the term of the option contract,
the buyer of the option gains the right to demand fulfillment by the seller. Fulfillment can take the form
of either selling or purchasing a security, depending upon the nature of the option contract. A client
will lose money if the underlying stock trades into the money and the put buyer exercises the right to
sell the stock to the client at the strike price. In addition, the strategy could generate less income than
the client expects if options premiums decline. Accounts invested in OIO incur additional risks if they
do not maintain sufficient cash. If stock is put to the account owner, the account will need to have
sufficient cash to purchase the stock. OIO uses margin borrowing. Margin borrowing is a form of debt
that requires the owner to make interest payments. Margin accounts are required to maintain a
minimum amount of equity in their accounts. If the account owner gets a margin call, the account will
need to have sufficient cash to meet it. An account that writes options and/or uses margin borrowing
could be forced to liquidate or sell securities to raise cash. Forced sales of securities in large amounts
have the potential to cause a downward spiral in the value of an account.
16. Focus Partners offers its “TrendWise” strategy to certain advisory clients. TrendWise uses active
risk management through a trend-following strategy in an attempt to decrease losses in major
bear markets. This strategy may be beneficial for clients who are especially anxious about the ups
and downs of the markets; who have a history of liquidating investments at the wrong times;
who believe in the benefits of trend following; or who prefer to diversify by investing in both
active and passive risk-management strategies.
TrendWise portfolios may invest in ETFs, ETNs (Exchange Traded Notes) and mutual funds and
employ a disciplined trend-following approach maintained by Focus Partners’ research team.
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These systems are applied to U.S. stocks, international stocks, bonds, REITs and potentially other
asset classes such as commodities. Within each asset class, Focus Partners may invest in multiple
funds, each of which is governed by an independent trend-following timing system.
When a trend-following system triggers a buy or sell signal, the purchase or sale is made and the funds
are withdrawn from, or invested in, a money market fund or a short-term treasury fund. Focus Partners’
research team is responsible for managing the investment and reinvestment of assets in TrendWise
accounts.
While TrendWise portfolios are designed to reduce long-term investment risk, no timing system
eliminates risk, and in general none react quickly enough to protect investors from a sudden,
dramatic market decline. Because Focus Partners’ timing systems follow trends instead of trying
to predict them, short-term trading losses cannot be eliminated in TrendWise portfolios.
17. Focus Partners is subject to the risk that war, terrorism, global health crises or similar pandemics, and
other related geopolitical events increase short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term
effects on world economics and markets generally. These risks have previously led and may lead in the
future to adverse effects on issuers of securities and the value of clients’ investments. At such times,
Focus Partners’ exposure to a number of other risks described elsewhere in this section can increase.
18. The computer systems, networks, and devices used by Focus Partners and service providers to us and
our clients to carry out routine business operations employ a variety of protections designed to prevent
damage or interruption from computer viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunication
failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons, and security breaches. Despite the various protections
utilized, systems, networks, or devices potentially can be breached. A client could be negatively
impacted as a result of a cybersecurity breach.
Cybersecurity breaches can include unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices; infection
from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or
otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. Cybersecurity
breaches may cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses
to a client; impediments to trading; the inability by us and other service providers to transact business;
violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage,
reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs; as well as the inadvertent
release of confidential information.
Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity breaches affecting issuers of securities in
which a client invests; governmental and other regulatory authorities; exchange and other financial
market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, and other financial institutions; and other parties. In addition,
substantial costs may be incurred by these entities in order to prevent any cybersecurity breaches in
the future.
In addition, investing in securities always involves a risk of loss that clients must be aware of and be willing
to accept as a possible outcome of investing in securities.
C. Unusual Risks of Specific Securities
Focus Partners does not primarily or solely recommend a particular type of security, investment, or strategy.
Generally, Focus Partners designs a diversified portfolio of investments for its clients. In customizing an
investment plan for a client, Focus Partners considers the client’s unique circumstances, objectives, risk
tolerance, aspirations, personal preferences, future needs, and ongoing commitments.
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Inverse and Leveraged ETFs
Where appropriate, Focus Partners may use leveraged or inverse ETFs in certain strategies or for specific
clients. Leveraged and inverse ETFs seek to return multiples or the opposite of performance of specified
indexes on a daily basis. These investments are subject to the risk of market volatility. The use of leverage
generally increases risk, as it magnifies potential losses.
The investment performance for periods greater than a single day will be the result of each day’s returns
compounded over the period, which is likely to be either better or worse than the index performance times
the stated multiple in the fund’s investment objective, before accounting for fees and expenses.
Compounding affects all investments but has a more significant impact on an inverse or leveraged fund.
Losses incurred will require even greater gains to get back to even. It is important for investors to
understand that the effect of compounding on leveraged funds is significantly magnified and can cause
gains and losses to occur much faster and to a greater degree. This effect becomes more pronounced as the
volatility increases. Focus Partners seeks to manage this risk by providing initial disclosures and obtaining
the client’s acknowledgment and acceptance of the risks.
Values-based, Environmental, Social and Governance Fund (“ESG”) or Socially Responsible
Investments (“SRI”)
When directed by the client, values-based, ESG or SRI investments may be included in the client’s portfolio.
A client should carefully consider the risks and investment objectives of values-based, ESG or SRI funds, as
an investment in these funds may not be appropriate for all investors and is not designed to be a complete
investment program. Depending on the strategy or client-specific restrictions, a client’s account may
undergo exclusionary or inclusionary screening based on values-based, ESG, and/or SRI criteria, as well as
other criteria such as those based on religious beliefs. These criteria are nonfinancial reasons to exclude or
include a security, and therefore the client’s account or strategy may forgo some market opportunities
available to portfolios that don’t use such screening.
ITEM 9: DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION
Registered investment advisors are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or disciplinary
events that would be material to your evaluation of Focus Partners or the integrity of Focus Partners’
management. Focus Partners has no information applicable to this Item.
ITEM 10: OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS
A. Registration as a Broker-Dealer or Broker-Dealer Representative
Neither Focus Partners nor any Focus Partners employee is registered as a broker-dealer or a registered
representative of a broker-dealer other than those associates registered with Foreside Financial Services, LLC
who are licensed to discuss the SA Funds mutual Funds offered through Focus Partners Advisor Solutions,
LLC, an affiliate of Focus Partners.
B. Registration as a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, Commodity Trading
Advisor, or an Associated Person of the Foregoing Entities
Neither Focus Partners nor any Focus Partners employee is registered as a futures commission merchant,
commodity pool operator, commodity-trading advisor, or an associated person of any of the foregoing
entities.
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C. Relationships Material to Advisory Business
Focus Financial Partners
As noted above in response to Item 4, certain investment vehicles affiliated with CD&R collectively are
indirect majority owners of Focus LLC, and certain investment vehicles affiliated with Stone Point are indirect
owners of Focus LLC. Because Focus Partners is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Focus LLC, CD&R
and Stone Point investment vehicles are indirect owners of Focus Partners. Additional information about
Focus is available at www.focusfinancialpartners.com.
As stated earlier in this Brochure, Focus Partners is a wholly owned subsidiary of Focus LLC. Focus LLC is also
one of several minority investors in SmartAsset Advisors LLC (“SmartAsset”), which, as explained in more
detail in Item 14 below, seeks to match prospective advisory clients with registered investment advisers.
Focus LLC has one director on SmartAsset’s board. Focus Partners’ payment of a fee to SmartAsset benefits
SmartAsset’s investors, including Focus LLC, Focus Partners’ parent company.
Focus Partners Advisor Solutions, LLC
Focus Partners Advisor Solutions, LLC (_“FPAS”) is an investment advisor registered with the SEC. FPAS
provides services to independent registered investment advisors across the country, including asset-class
allocation and investment management, technology, education, marketing, administration services, support
and consultation. FPAS’s sub-advisory services include providing fixed income sub-advisory services to
independent investment advisors and their clients pursuant to limited investment discretion. For certain
accounts, FPAS also provides sub-advisory services through custom model asset allocation portfolios to
independent investment advisers and their clients. Focus Partners shares investment personnel and support
services with FPAS in providing services.
Such services include, among others, trade processing, calculation and collection of management fees,
record maintenance, report preparation, marketing assistance, and research. FPAS also offers distinct
packages of services for retirement plan services.
See Item 12 for further descriptions of investment and trading operations that discuss certain conflicts of
interest presented through the overlap of services provided by Focus Partners and FPAS. Focus Partners and
FPAS share office space, accounting personnel, trading desks, and many other critical functions, including
management.
As previously discussed, plan sponsors who engage Focus Partners for services to participant-directed
retirement plans will enter into an investment advisory and management agreement among the plan
sponsor, Focus Partners, and FPAS, a Focus Partners affiliate. This arrangement poses a potential conflict of
interest in that, when providing 3(21) Fiduciary Services to clients, Focus Partners has a fiduciary duty to
recommend appropriate and qualified 3(38) investment managers in the clients’ best interests, and clients
who engage FPAS will increase the fees of our affiliate receives. Because Focus Partners and FPAS are under
common control, our parent company benefits when Focus Partners recommends that clients hire FPAS as a
3(38) investment manager. We believe this conflict is mitigated because of the following: (1) this
arrangement is based on our judgment that our clients’ engagement of FPAS is in the best interests of such
clients; (2) clients engage FPAS on a nondiscretionary basis; (3) Focus Partners will recommend that plan
sponsors terminate FPAS if FPAS’s services become unsatisfactory in Focus Partners’ judgment; and (4)
Focus Partners has fully and fairly disclosed the material facts regarding this relationship.
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SA Funds
FPAS is the investment manager, administrator, and shareholder servicing agent of the SA Funds –
Investment Trust (“SA Funds”), a series of open-end mutual funds. For further information about the SA
Funds, refer to the applicable prospectus at https://advisor.focuspartners.com/sa-funds/documents/.
FPAS defines the investment objectives of the individual SA Funds, administers the SA Funds, monitors the
Sub-Adviser and other service providers to the SA Funds, and is responsible for the servicing of the SA
Funds’ shareholders. For its services to the SA Funds, FPAS receives management, administration, and
shareholder servicing fees from each of the SA Funds (with the exception of the SA Worldwide Moderate
Growth Fund) as described in the SA Funds’ prospectuses.
All of the officers of the SA Funds are employees of FPAS. They do not receive compensation from the SA
Funds for this service. FPAS is compensated directly from the SA Funds, as described in the SA Funds’
prospectus. FPAS does not emphasize one SA Fund over another except as part of an overall portfolio or
asset-class allocation strategy. If a Focus Partners client holds an SA Fund as part of their portfolio, that
position is excluded from their investment advisory fee as Focus Partners’ affiliate, FPAS, is compensated
from the SA Funds. FPAS has contracted with Dimensional Fund Advisors, an unaffiliated registered
investment adviser, as sub-adviser, to buy and sell securities that fulfill the asset-class investment
components of the SA Funds (with the exception of the SA Worldwide Moderate Growth Fund). DFA uses a
committee of investment professionals to manage the assets of these Funds. FPAS relies on DFA as the SA
Funds’ sub-adviser to obtain best execution for all trading performed on behalf of the SA Funds.
FPAS may contract with other mutual fund sub-advisers when additional funds are added to the Trust or
should FPAS determine that the continued use of DFA is not advantageous to the SA Funds or its
shareholders. FPAS and the Trust have obtained exemptive relief to change sub-advisers for any SA Fund by
a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. It may also retain others to perform accounting, administration,
and shareholder services. See additional disclosure re: SA Funds under Item 14.
Credit and Cash Management Solutions
We offer clients the option of obtaining certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party financial
institutions through UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC (together with UPTIQ, Inc. and its affiliates,
“UPTIQ”) and Flourish Financial LLC. These third-party financial institutions are banks and non-banks that
offer credit and cash management solutions to our clients, as well as certain other unaffiliated third parties
that provide administrative and settlement services to facilitate UPTIQ’s cash management solutions. UPTIQ
acts as an intermediary to facilitate our clients’ access to these credit and cash management solutions.
Flourish acts as an intermediary to facilitate our clients’ access to cash management solutions.
We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Focus Financial Partners, LLC (“Focus”). Focus is a minority investor in
UPTIQ, Inc. UPTIQ is compensated by sharing in the revenue earned by such third-party financial
institutions for serving our clients. The revenue paid to UPTIQ also benefits UPTIQ, Inc.’s investors, including
Focus. When legally permissible, UPTIQ also shares a portion of this earned revenue with our affiliate, Focus
Solutions Holdings, LLC (“FSH”). For securities-backed lines of credit (“SBLOCs”) made to our clients, UPTIQ
will share with FSH up to 75% of all revenue it receives from such third-party financial institutions. For other
loans (except residential mortgage loans) made to our clients, UPTIQ will share with FSH up to 25% of all
revenue it receives from such third-party financial institutions. For cash management products and services
provided to our clients, UPTIQ will share with FSH up to 33% of all revenue it receives from the third-party
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financial institutions and other intermediaries that provide administrative and settlement services in
connection with this program. As noted above, Flourish facilitates cash management solutions for our
clients. When legally permissible, Flourish pays FSH a revenue share of up to 0.10% of the total amount of
cash held in Flourish cash accounts by our clients. Although the amount of these revenue-sharing payments
to FSH is not charged directly in the calculation of the interest rate paid by clients on credit solutions
facilitated by UPTIQ or the yield earned by clients on cash management solutions facilitated by UPTIQ or
Flourish, the compensation earned by UPTIQ and Flourish is an expense of the third-party financial
institutions that informs the interest rate paid by clients on credit solutions and the yield earned by clients
on cash management solutions. FSH distributes this revenue to us when we are licensed to receive such
revenue (or when no such license is required) and the distribution is not otherwise legally prohibited. This
revenue is also revenue for FSH’s and our common parent company, Focus. Additionally, the volume
generated by our clients’ transactions allows Focus to negotiate better terms with UPTIQ and Flourish, which
benefits Focus and us. Accordingly, we have a conflict of interest when recommending UPTIQ’s and
Flourish’s services to clients because of the compensation to us and to our affiliates, FSH and Focus, and the
transaction volume to UPTIQ and Flourish. We mitigate this conflict by: (1) fully and fairly disclosing the
material facts concerning the above arrangements to our clients, including in this Brochure; and (2) offering
UPTIQ’s and Flourish’s solutions to clients on a strictly nondiscretionary and fully disclosed basis, and not as
part of any discretionary investment services. Additionally, we note that clients who use UPTIQ’s and
Flourish’s services will receive product-specific disclosures from the third-party financial institutions and
other unaffiliated third-party intermediaries that provide services to our clients.
We have an additional conflict of interest when we recommend credit solutions to our clients because our
interest in continuing to receive investment advisory fees from client accounts gives us a financial incentive
to recommend that clients borrow money rather than liquidate some or all of the assets we manage.
Credit Solutions
Clients retain the right to pledge assets in accounts generally, subject to any restrictions imposed by clients’
custodians. While credit solution programs that we offer facilitate secured loans through third-party
financial institutions, clients are free instead to work directly with institutions outside such programs.
Because of the limited number of participating third-party financial institutions, clients may be limited in
their ability to obtain as favorable loan terms as if the client were to work directly with other banks to
negotiate loan terms or obtain other financial arrangements.
Clients should also understand that pledging assets in an account to secure a loan involves additional risk
and restrictions. A third-party financial institution has the authority to liquidate all or part of the pledged
securities at any time, without prior notice to clients and without their consent, to maintain required
collateral levels. The third-party financial institution also has the right to call client loans and require
repayment within a short period of time; if the client cannot repay the loan within the specified time period,
the third-party financial institution will have the right to force the sale of pledged assets to repay those
loans. Selling assets to maintain collateral levels or calling loans may result in asset sales and realized losses
in a declining market, leading to the permanent loss of capital. These sales also may have adverse tax
consequences. Interest payments and any other loan-related fees are borne by clients and are in addition
to the advisory fees that clients pay us for managing assets, including assets that are pledged as collateral.
The returns on pledged assets may be less than the account fees and interest paid by the account. Clients
should consider carefully and skeptically any recommendation to pursue a more aggressive investment
strategy in order to support the cost of borrowing, particularly the risks and costs of any such strategy.
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More generally, before borrowing funds, a client should carefully review the loan agreement, loan
application, and other forms and determine that the loan is consistent with the client’s long-term financial
goals and presents risks consistent with the client’s financial circumstances and risk tolerance.
We use UPTIQ to facilitate credit solutions for our clients.
Cash Management Solutions
For cash management programs, certain third-party intermediaries provide administrative and settlement
services to our clients. Engaging the third-party financial institutions and other intermediaries to provide
cash management solutions does not alter the manner in which we treat cash for billing purposes. Clients
should understand that in rare circumstances, depending on interest rates and other economic and market
factors, the yields on cash management solutions could be lower than the aggregate fees and expenses
charged by the third-party financial institutions, the intermediaries referenced above, and us. Consequently,
in these rare circumstances, a client could experience a negative overall investment return with respect to
those cash investments. Nonetheless, it might still be reasonable for a client to participate in a cash
management program if the client prefers to hold cash at the third-party financial institutions rather than at
other financial institutions (e.g., to take advantage of FDIC insurance).
We use UPTIQ and Flourish to facilitate cash management solutions for our clients.
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Focus Risk Solutions
We help our clients obtain certain insurance solutions by introducing clients to our affiliate, Focus Risk
Solutions, LLC (“FRS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of our parent company, Focus Financial Partners, LLC
(“Focus”).
FRS assists our clients with regulated insurance sales activity by advising our clients on insurance matters
and placing insurance products for them and/or referring our clients to certain third-party insurance brokers
(the “Brokers”), with whom FRS has agreements, which either separately or together with FRS place
insurance products for them. If FRS places an insurance product or refers one of our clients to a Broker and
there is a subsequent purchase of insurance through the Broker, then FRS will receive a portion of the
upfront and/or ongoing commissions associated with the sale by the insurance carrier with which the policy
was placed. The amount of revenue earned by FRS for the sale of these insurance products will vary over
time in response to market conditions and will also differ based on the type of insurance product sold and
which Broker placed the policy. The amount of insurance commission revenue earned by FRS is considered
for purposes of determining the amount of additional compensation that certain of our financial
professionals are entitled to receive. This revenue is also revenue for our and FRS’s common parent
company, Focus.
Additionally, in exchange for allowing certain of the Brokers to participate in the FRS platform and, thereby,
to offer their services to our clients and certain of our affiliates’ clients, FRS receives periodic fees (the
“Platform Fees”) from such Brokers. The Platform Fees are expected to change over time. Such Platform
Fees are revenue for FRS and, ultimately, for our common parent company, Focus, but we do not share in
such revenue. FRS also indirectly benefits from our clients’ use of the services insofar as such use
incentivizes the Brokers to maintain their relationship with FRS and to continue paying Platform Fees to FRS,
which could also support increases in the overall amount of the Platform Fee rates in the future.
Accordingly, we have a conflict of interest when recommending FRS’s services to clients because of the
compensation to certain of our financial professionals and to our affiliates, FRS and Focus. We address this
conflict by: (1) fully and fairly disclosing the material facts concerning the above arrangements to our
clients, including in this Brochure; (2) offering FRS solutions to clients on a strictly nondiscretionary and fully
disclosed basis, and not as part of any discretionary investment services; and (3) not sharing in any portion
of the Platform Fees. Additionally, we note that clients who use FRS’s services will receive product-specific
disclosure from the Brokers and insurance carriers and other unaffiliated third-party intermediaries that
provide services to our clients.
The insurance premium is ultimately dictated by the insurance carrier, although in some circumstances the
Brokers or FRS may have the ability to influence an insurance carrier to lower the premium of the policy.
The final rate may be higher or lower than the prevailing market rate, and may be higher than if the policy
was purchased directly through the Broker without the assistance of FRS. We can offer no assurances that
the rates offered to you by the insurance carrier are the lowest possible rates available in the marketplace.
SCS Capital Management, LLC
We do not believe the Focus Partnership presents a material conflict of interest with our clients. Focus
Partners has no business relationships with other Focus firms that are material to our clients, but as stated in
Items 4 and 5, we have recommended and expect that we will continue to recommend SCS’s pooled
investment vehicles to certain clients.
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Where appropriate, we may offer our clients the opportunity to invest in pooled investment vehicles
managed by SCS. SCS makes these products available for investment for those clients pursuant to limited
partnership agreement documents and in exchange for a fund-level management fee and performance fee
paid by our clients as limited partner investors, and not by us. SCS, like Focus Partners, is an indirect wholly
owned subsidiary of Focus LLC and is therefore under common control with Focus Partners. The allocation
of our clients’ assets to SCS’s pooled investment vehicles, rather than to an unaffiliated private fund or other
investment, increases SCS’s compensation and the revenue to Focus LLC relative to a situation in which our
clients are excluded from SCS’s pooled investment vehicles. As a consequence, Focus LLC has a financial
incentive to cause Focus Partners to recommend that our clients invest in SCS’s pooled investment vehicles,
which creates a conflict of interest with those Focus Partners clients who invest in SCS’s pooled investment
vehicles. More information about Focus LLC can be found at www.focusfinancialpartners.com.
We believe this conflict is mitigated because of the following factors: (1) this arrangement is based on our
judgment that investing a portion of our clients’ assets in SCS’s investment vehicles is in the best interests of
the relevant clients; (2) SCS and its investment vehicles have met the due diligence and performance
standards that we apply to outside, unaffiliated private funds/managers; (3) subject to redemption
restrictions on the pooled vehicles, we are willing to recommend reallocation of our clients’ assets to other
unaffiliated private funds, in part or in whole, if SCS’s services become unsatisfactory in our judgment; (4) we
have fully and fairly disclosed the material facts regarding this relationship in this Brochure; and (5) For our
clients that invest in SCS’s pooled investment vehicles, we received their informed and written consent.
Sentinel Pension Advisors, Inc.
Focus Partners and Sentinel Pension Advisors, Inc. (“SPA”) are both advisory firms owned by Focus
Operating, LLC. Focus Partners and SPA have an agreement in place whereby Focus Partners serves as a
subadvisor to SPA for certain client retirement plans. SPA and the client enter an advisory agreement that
specifies the discretionary and/or non-discretionary advisory services that SPA will provide. It also specifies
the duties to be delegated to Focus Partners. Generally, Focus Partners is responsible for investment
recommendations and creating and maintaining model portfolios, individual fund choices, and asset
allocation targets.
SPA is generally responsible for fiduciary governance, participant services, and portfolio administration,
including trading, rebalancing, and fiduciary and performance reporting. Focus Partners, at its discretion,
participates in Sentinel’s investment meetings with clients. As the adviser to the client, SPA collects its
quarterly advisory fee and generally remits 50% of such fee to Focus Partners for its services.
Adhesion Wealth Advisor Solutions, Inc. (“Adhesion”)
Prior to merging with Focus Partners, CapGroup entered into an agreement with Adhesion, an investment
advisory firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Adhesion provided certain advisory functions to CapGroup
on behalf of certain CapGroup client accounts. These functions included trading, back-office support, and
performance reporting. CapGroup and/or the client paid a fee to Adhesion for each account that received
services.
As a result of the merging of CapGroup and Focus Partners, and the clients of CapGroup assigning their
advisory agreements to Focus Partners, Adhesion continues to provide certain services for a small number
of clients of Focus Partners.
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Pooled Investment Vehicles:
Focus Partners controls Colony Funds, LLC, the general partner to six (6) of the private pooled investment
vehicles. The general partner has the authority to manage the Partnerships’ and TCGIOP's and TCGREP's
activities. Interests in the Partnerships, TCGIOP, and TCGREP are suitable only for sophisticated investors
who do not require immediate liquidity for their investments; for whom an investment in one of the vehicles
does not constitute a complete investment program; and who fully understand and are willing to assume
the risks involved in the Partnerships’ TCGIOP's, and TCGREP's investment programs.
Limited partners for TCGBF and TCGOBF must qualify as Accredited Investors (as such term is defined in
Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933).
Limited partner subscriptions for TCGDSF and TCGIOF are limited to Qualified Purchasers (as such term is
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated by the SEC).
Limited partners for TCGIOP and TCGREP must qualify as Accredited Investors (as such term is defined in
Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933).
None of the management agreement or any of the agreements, contracts, and arrangements between the
Partnerships, TCGIOP, or TCGREP, on the one hand, and the general partner, Focus Partners, and/or their
respective affiliates, on the other hand, was or will be the result of arm’s-length negotiations. The attorneys,
accountants, and others who have performed services for the Partnerships, TCGIOP, or TCGREP in
connection with the issuance of interests, and who will perform services for the Partnerships, TCGIOP, or
TCGREP in the future, have been and will be selected by the general partner. The general partner and Focus
Partners are affiliates and under common control. The Partnerships’ TCGIOP’s and TCGREP’s fund
documents contain additional information that must be reviewed by any potential investor.
Certain of the pooled investment vehicles are invested in funds sponsored by Warburg Pincus, whose
former President and Chief Investment Officer, John Vogelstein, is Vice-Chair, Emeritus, Consultant of Focus
Partners, and whose son Andrew Vogelstein is President of Focus Partners’ Institutional Advisory Practice.
Warburg Pincus funds are required to meet the same due diligence standards Focus Partners applies when
selecting funds with whom Focus Partners does not have any business relationship.
Outside Business Activities – Accounting Firms
Certain individual Associates of Focus Partners may be actively engaged in the practice of public accounting
or tax preparation services through independent accounting firms. Certain Associates may also have
ownership in these independent accounting firms. Tax and/or accounting services provided by these
individuals are separate and distinct from the advisory services of Focus Partners and are provided for
separate and typical compensation. There are no referral fee arrangements between Focus Partners and
these unaffiliated accounting firms. Any Associate engaged in accounting or tax services has disclosed this
activity in their Brochure Supplement (Form ADV Part 2B). No Focus Partners client is obligated to use these
individuals for any accounting or tax services.
Outside Business Activities – Passive Ownership in Accounting Firm
Certain individual Wealth Advisors of Focus Partners may have had ownership in an accounting firm. Some
of these individual Wealth Advisors have maintained a minority passive ownership in an accounting firm as
part of a transition of ownership of the accounting firm. Any Wealth Advisor with this continuing legacy
44
passive ownership in an accounting firm has disclosed this ownership in their Brochure Supplement (Form
ADV Part 2B).
Outside Business Activities
Jeffrey Levine, Chief Planning Officer, maintains various outside business activities which operate
independent from his role and employment at the firm. These unaffiliated outside business activities are
completely separate from the Focus Partners and FPAS business operations and any opinions/information
shared by these outside businesses or on these outside business activities platforms are not the opinions of
Focus Partners or FPAS. His unaffiliated outside business activities include Kitces.com, LLC, and Fully Vested
Advice, Inc. Mr. Levine is also engaged for consulting and speaking. Mr. Levine receives separate
compensation or revenue from these outside business activities separate and apart from any compensation
he receives as an employee of Focus Partners. Focus Partners and FPAS receive potential benefits from these
outside business activities from broader name recognition, industry thought leadership that can be
provided to clients and third party FPAS advisors, and client referrals. While Mr. Levine is individually subject
to the Firm’s Code of Ethics and compliance requirements, these outside business activities are completely
separate from the FPAS/Focus Partners business operations.
D. Selection of Other Investment Advisors and Compensation Received
Focus Partners utilizes third-party managers and/or unaffiliated alternative investment vehicles when
appropriate for the purpose of providing a client an overall diversified portfolio. Focus Partners does not
receive compensation from those managers or alternative investment vehicles.
Investment Consultants
From time to time, Focus Partners has directly entered into investment consulting relationships with
independent registered investment advisory firms on behalf of its clients pursuant to the delegation
authority granted to Focus Partners by its clients in such clients’ investment advisory agreements.
Investment consultants in some cases offer investment strategies that are separate and distinct from
strategies offered by Focus Partners.
Prior to entering into a relationship, Focus Partners performs a due diligence review of the consultant. This
review includes the review of the firm’s investment offerings, performance of the strategy considered,
regulatory filings, and compliance program. The due diligence process includes multiple conversations and
may include in-person visits to the consultant’s place of business.
When a strategy offered through a consultant is appropriate for a client of Focus Partners, Focus Partners
will provide the client with the consultant’s Form ADV Part 2A and any other information that may be
relevant or informative to the client. In addition, each client that invests in such a strategy is required to
acknowledge, in writing, the Focus Partners-consultant relationship and the specific strategy offered
through the consultant. The client will not engage the consultant directly; the client’s advisory relationship
remains with Focus Partners as set forth in the client’s investment advisory agreement.
Focus Partners has a consulting agreement with Copeland Capital Management, LLC (“Copeland”). Copeland
is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm based in Conshohocken, PA. For clients for whom it is
appropriate, Focus Partners constructs a portfolio of stocks that exhibit dividend growth while seeking to
preserve capital by tactically exiting sectors displaying technical weakness. The stock selection process
screens for stocks with five years of dividend growth that then are ranked using a quantitative model based
45
on factors linked to the company’s ability to pay and increase dividends. The portfolio generally holds
positions in the five top-ranked stocks in each sector with a positive technical signal. The maximum sector
allocation is 25%, and cash is held if a portfolio invests in three or fewer sectors. Copeland acts as an
investment consultant and provides Focus Partners with the investment recommendations with respect to
this strategy. A Focus Partners client invested in this strategy has no relationship with Copeland; their
investment advisory relationship is with Focus Partners.
Focus Partners has a consulting agreement with Contravisory Investment Management Inc. (“Contravisory”).
Contravisory is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm based in Norwell, MA. For clients for whom it is
appropriate, Focus Partners constructs a diversified long-only, trend-following equity portfolio that seeks to
capitalize on the long-term relative price trends in the equity markets. Contravisory acts as an investment
consultant and provides Focus Partners with the investment recommendations with respect to this strategy.
A Focus Partners client invested in this strategy has no relationship with Contravisory; their investment
advisory relationship is with Focus Partners.
Focus Partners has a consulting agreement with AllianceBernstein L.P. (“AB”). AB is an SEC-registered
investment advisory firm based in Nashville, TN. For clients for whom it is appropriate, Focus Partners
constructs an equity portfolio that fits into sustainable themes that are aligned with the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals. AB acts as an investment consultant and provides Focus Partners with the
investment recommendations with respect to this strategy. A Focus Partners client invested in this strategy
has no relationship with AB; their investment advisory relationship is with Focus Partners.
Focus Partners has a consulting agreement with CapTrust. CapTrust is an SEC-registered investment
advisory firm. For clients for whom it is appropriate, Focus Partners constructs a Dividend Growth equity
portfolio in line with CapTrust’s model. CapTrust acts as an investment consultant and provides Focus
Partners with investment recommendations with respect to this strategy. A Focus Partners client invested in
this strategy has no relationship with Captrust; their investment advisory relationship is with Focus Partners.
Focus Partners has a consulting agreement with RMB Capital Management, LLC (“RMB”). RMB is an SEC-
registered investment advisory firm based in Chicago, IL. For client for whom it is appropriate, Focus
Partners constructs a portfolio of small-cap domestic stocks primarily with market capitalization less than $2
billion. Fundamental analysis is employed to select growing companies that Focus Partners believes are
reasonably valued. Capital appreciation is sought by investing in companies that are fundamentally strong,
are at the early stages of a growth inflection, and have long-term appreciation potential. There exists a
preference for companies with resilient free cash flow and shareholder friendly management teams. RMB
acts as an investment consultant and provides Focus Partners with the investment recommendations with
respect to this strategy. A Focus Partners client invested in this strategy has no relationship with RMB; their
investment advisory relationship is with Focus Partners.
Separate Account Managers/Subadvisors
Some of Focus Partners’ clients utilize separate account managers (“SAMs”) for management of certain of
their investment assets. In addition to an advisory relationship with Focus Partners, clients utilizing a SAM
enter into an advisory agreement directly with such SAM, or are engaged by Focus Partners on the client’s
behalf. Focus Partners performs diligence on the SAMs, addressing whether the strategies generally are
appropriate for its clients, and in some cases assists clients with the completion of SAM forms, advisory
46
agreements, custodial documents, etc. Management fees charged by the SAM are disclosed in each SAM’s
ADV 2A, a copy of which is provided to the client by the SAM and/or Focus Partners, as required.
Fees also are included in the SAM’s advisory agreement or in the custodian’s SAM platform documents, as
the case may be. Some SAMs prepare quarterly investment reports and provide them directly to the clients.
ITEM 11: CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT TRANSACTIONS
A. Description of Code of Ethics
Focus Partners, together with its affiliate FPAS, has adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code”) pursuant to SEC
rule 204A-1. The Code provides that each employee places the interests of Focus Partners’ clients ahead of
their own. The Code covers the following areas: Prohibited, Restricted and Limited Activities, Reporting
Requirements, Certification of Compliance, Confidentiality, Recordkeeping Requirements, Whistleblower
Protection, Insider Trading, and Compliance with Laws and Regulations. Current or prospective Clients may
obtain a copy of the Code of Ethics by emailing Focus Partners’ Compliance department at:
fpwcompliance@focuspartners.com.
B. Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests
Under the Code, related persons of Focus Partners are required to disclose any personal material interest
they have in a security or investment that Focus Partners recommends to clients.
C. Investing Related Persons’ Money in the Same Securities as Clients
Related persons of Focus Partners may invest in a particular investment strategy in which Focus Partners’
clients invest. Trades on behalf of clients may be aggregated with trades on behalf of a related person only
if the following conditions are met:
1. The clients’ trades are treated equally with trades of the related person;
2. Each related person and each client in the trade receive average execution and average commissions;
and
3. The securities purchased or sold are allocated pro rata.
The account of a related person receives no favorable treatment with respect to the management of the
account or the execution of transactions. Should a potential transaction on behalf of a related person likely
conflict with any of Focus Partners’ clients, Focus Partners will place its clients’ interests first. Focus Partners
reviews accounts that it manages on behalf of its related persons to ensure that such accounts have not
received preferred treatment. Related persons of Focus Partners may invest in a private investment vehicle
in which clients are invested. Any related person recommending an investment in which he or she is
invested must disclose the fact to the client.
D. Trading Securities At/Around the Same Time as Client’s Securities
Pursuant to the Code, related persons of Focus Partners may invest in individual securities that also are
holdings in Focus Partners’ investment strategies. Each related person is required to conduct all personal
securities transactions in a manner that is consistent with the Code and to avoid any conflict of interest. No
related person may misuse information about client accounts, abuse his or her position of trust and
47
responsibility, or take inappropriate advantage of his or her position. Focus Partners has a policy concerning
individual trading by related persons that it believes is reasonably designed to minimize potential conflicts
of interest with its clients. In furtherance of minimizing such potential conflicts of interest, Focus Partners
prohibits its related persons from trading, either personally or on behalf of others, in securities while in
possession of material non-public information regarding such securities or communicating material non-
public information to others.
E. Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests
Envision Asset Management (“EAM”) is an investment adviser registered with the SEC as an exempt
reporting adviser. Currently, two Focus Partners employees serve on the board of directors of EAM and one
of EAM’s private funds. In exchange, Focus Partners receives a share of EAM’s profits. Focus Partners may
offer EAM’s private funds or other investments to clients if the investment is deemed suitable.
One Focus Partners Wealth employee serves as a portfolio manager for the Trailhead Growth, LP private
investment fund (“TGLP”) and sits on the Board of Directors for Global Digital Holdings LLC (“GDH”), a
position held by TGLP and offered to Clients. The employee also has a personal investment in GDH. This
presents a conflict of interest because the employee has a duty to act in the best interest of GDH and
Clients. The conflict has been mitigated through disclosures to fund investors and ensuring
recommendations to invest in GDH or TGLP are suitable for Clients.
ITEM 12: BROKERAGE PRACTICES
A. Factors Used to Select Custodians and/or Broker-Dealers
Focus Partners generally recommends that its investment management clients custody their accounts/assets
at unaffiliated broker/dealer custodians with which Focus Partners has an institutional relationship.
Currently, these include, but are not limited to, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), Fidelity Brokerage
Services LLC and National Financial Services LLC (together, “Fidelity”), and Pershing Advisor Solutions, LLC
(“Pershing”) (generally and collectively, “BD/Custodian(s)”), all of which are “Qualified Custodians” as that
term is described in Rule 206(4)-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Each BD/Custodian provides
custody of securities, trade execution, and clearance and settlement of transactions placed by Focus
Partners.
Prior to September 2023, Focus Partners also recommended TD Ameritrade, Inc. (“TD Ameritrade”), member
FINRA/SIPC. TD Ameritrade was an independent and unaffiliated SEC-registered broker-dealer. TD
Ameritrade was acquired by Schwab, and TD Ameritrade client accounts became Schwab accounts by early
September 2023. Upon request by a client, Focus Partners will provide retired Form ADV 2A TD Ameritrade
disclosure.
Focus Partners seeks to select BD/Custodian(s) that will hold clients’ assets and execute transactions on
terms that are, overall, most advantageous when compared with other available providers and their services.
In selecting a BD/Custodian, some of the factors that Focus Partners considers include:
•
Trade order execution and the ability to provide accurate and timely execution of trades;
•
The reasonableness and competitiveness of commissions and other transaction costs;
• Access to a broad range of investment products;
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• Access to trading desks;
•
Technology that integrates within Focus Partners’ environment, including interfacing with Focus
Partners’ portfolio management system;
• Access to investment research and tools that assist us in making investment decisions;
• Ability to provide a full range of options for account registrations for Focus Partners’ clients;
• Availability of a soft dollar program or additional services program;
• A dedicated service or back-office team and its ability to process seamlessly and timely myriad
requests from Focus Partners on behalf of its clients, including transfers and payments to and from
accounts (wire transfers, check requests, bill payment, etc.)
• Ability to provide Focus Partners with access to client account information through an institutional
website;
• Ability to provide clients with electronic access to account information and investment and
research tools;
• Access to client referral platforms;
• Practice management tools and services;
• Reputation, financial strength, security and stability; and
• Prior service to us and our clients.
Focus Partners generally places portfolio transactions through the BD/Custodian where the clients’ accounts
are custodied. In exchange for using the services of the BD/Custodian, Focus Partners receives, without cost,
computer software and related systems support that allows Focus Partners to monitor and service its clients’
accounts maintained with such BD/Custodian. Focus Partners also receives through the BD/Custodian
access to a broad range of investment products, execution of securities transactions, and custody of client
assets. The investment products available through the BD/Custodian include some to which Focus Partners
might not otherwise have access or that would require a significantly higher minimum initial investment by
clients. Additional benefits that Focus Partners receives from the BD/Custodian include the receipt of
duplicate client confirmations and bundled duplicate statements, access to investment research, access to a
trading desk that exclusively services institutional brokerage group participants, access to block trading
services that provide the ability to aggregate securities transactions and then allocate the appropriate
shares to client accounts, and/or access to an electronic communication network for client order entry and
account information, access to the technology that allows Focus Partners to facilitate payment of Focus
Partners’ fees from the clients’ accounts and that assist with back-office functions, recordkeeping and client
reporting. Other benefits Focus Partners receives from various BD/Custodians include consulting,
publications, educational conferences and events on practice management, information technology,
business succession, and regulatory compliance; access to employee benefits providers, human capital
consultants, and insurance providers; marketing consulting and support; and occasional business
entertainment of our personnel. The BD/Custodian may provide some of these services itself or it will
arrange for third-party vendors to provide the services to Focus Partners. The BD/Custodian may also
discount or waive its fees for some of these services or pay all or a part of a third party’s fees. Some of these
same benefits are also provided on the TIAA and AEGON platforms.
The availability of these services from the BD/Custodians benefits Focus Partners in that it does not have to
produce or purchase them. As applicable, Focus Partners’ receipt of such benefits is reviewed to ensure
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compliance with the Securities Exchange Act 28(e)’s safe harbor for so-called “soft dollar” arrangements and
the SEC’s latest guidelines.
BD/Custodians generally do not charge Focus Partners’ clients separately for custody service for clients’
accounts they maintain, but they are compensated by charging clients commissions or other fees on trades
that they execute or that settle into clients’ accounts with the respective BD/Custodian. Certain trades (for
example, many mutual fund and ETFs) may not incur the BD/Custodian commissions or transaction fees.
If a client’s account meets the BD/Custodian’s minimum account size, Focus Partners generally recommends
that the client enter a Prime Brokerage Services Agreement with the BD/Custodian. This agreement permits
Focus Partners, in its discretion, to trade away from that BD/Custodian when placing securities transactions
on behalf of the client. The account will incur a small trade-away fee (generally $5.00) from the
BD/Custodian for each transaction that is executed on a trade-away basis. This fee is separate from the
commission/transaction fee imposed by the broker-dealer through which the trade was executed.
Trading away may be advantageous for the client because:
•
the broker-dealer may have expertise in trading a particular security or market;
•
the broker-dealer makes a market in a particular security;
•
a particular security is thinly traded; or
•
the broker-dealer can identify a counter party for a trade.
A client generally pays higher net execution costs than they would have paid if the transaction were placed
through the BD/Custodian holding their account. Focus Partners reviews its arrangements with the
BD/Custodians and other broker-dealers against other possible arrangements in the marketplace as it
strives to achieve best execution on behalf of its clients. Focus Partners maintains a list of broker-dealers
that have been approved for trading clients’ assets away from the BD/Custodians. In seeking best execution,
the determinative factor is not the lowest possible cost, but whether the transaction represents the best
qualitative execution, taking into consideration the full range of a broker-dealer’s services, including, but not
limited to, the following:
•
a broker-dealer’s trading expertise, including its ability to complete trades, execute and settle
difficult trades, obtain liquidity to minimize market impact and accommodate unusual market
conditions, maintain anonymity, and account for its trade errors and correct them in a satisfactory
manner;
•
a broker-dealer’s infrastructure, including order-entry systems, adequate lines of communication,
timely order execution reports, an efficient and accurate clearance and settlement process, and
capacity to accommodate unusual trading volume;
•
a broker-dealer’s ability to minimize total trading costs while maintaining its financial health, such
as whether a broker-dealer can maintain and commit adequate capital when necessary to
complete trades, respond during volatile market periods, and minimize the number of incomplete
trades;
•
a broker-dealer’s ability to provide research and execution services, including advice as to the
value or advisability of investing in or selling securities, analyses and reports concerning such
matters as companies, industries, economic trends and political factors, or services incidental to
executing securities trades, including clearance, settlement and custody; and
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•
a broker-dealer’s ability to provide services to accommodate special transaction needs, such as the
broker-dealer’s ability to execute and account for client-directed arrangements and soft dollar
arrangements, participate in underwriting syndicates, and obtain initial public offering shares.
Client trades in fixed income or equity transactions may be blocked with transactions where (1) Focus
Partners initiates each client transaction (2) or client transactions are initiated by Focus Partners, FPAS or an
investment advisor utilizing the back-office services of FPAS or Focus Partners. Block trading will be utilized
to seek cost benefits for clients. In the event block trades are only partially filled, allocations will be made on
a fair and equitable basis considering the timing of orders and the ability to pro-rate partial trade fills from
brokers and dealers. As necessary, the first order received meeting minimum lot size requirements may be
allocated shares on a preferential basis.
Focus Partners also has negotiated special bank money market and bank certificate of deposit (CD) rates
that may not be available to retail investors through Enterprise Bank & Trust (Enterprise) and The Business
Bank. Enterprise and The Business Bank are unaffiliated with Focus Partners and are bank regulated entities.
The Enterprise and Business Bank platforms are generally offered to clients who desire to have bank deposit
accounts and who would like to maintain a higher cash or short-term time deposit allocation. Use of
Enterprise and Business Bank require clients to open an account with these banking institutions. The
Enterprise and Business Bank have provided certain benefits directly to Focus Partners to allow Focus
Partners and FPAS’s back-office technology to link directly to these organizations.
With respect to retirement plans, 529 plans, and after-tax annuities, Focus Partners participates in the TIAA
Financial Advisor Program offered to advisors providing fee-only investment management. Focus Partners
also utilizes Peoples Benefit Life Insurance Company, a division of AEGON and Nationwide for after-tax
annuities.
1. Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
Focus Partners uses a portion of client brokerage commissions to obtain certain research-related
products or services. While some brokers charge low or no commissions for equity trades, some charge
a fee to the client for an advisor’s trades in mutual funds. In all cases where a commission or fee is
charged and Focus Partners receives a portion of such commission or fee in the form of soft dollar
credits, there is an economic benefit to Focus Partners, as Focus Partners does not have to pay for such
research-related products or services with hard dollars. This is a conflict of interest as Focus Partners has
an incentive to select and allocate to BD/Custodians or other broker-dealers that provide soft dollar
arrangements over those that do not and because allocations could be based upon Focus Partners
receiving such benefits, rather than on the client’s interest in receiving execution at the best price.
Where mutual funds generate soft dollar credits, Focus Partners has an incentive to select mutual funds
over other assets for its clients.
Focus Partners will enter into soft dollar arrangements in accordance with Section 28(e) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the following policy. Where more than one broker-dealer is believed to be
capable of providing the best combination of price and execution with respect to a particular portfolio
transaction, Focus Partners in some cases will select a broker-dealer that furnishes products and/or
research services.
In addition, if Focus Partners determines in good faith that the commission charged by a broker-dealer
is reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage and research services provided by such broker-dealer,
Focus Partners in some cases will cause a client account to pay such a broker-dealer an amount of
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commission greater than the amount a BD/Custodian or other broker-dealer may charge, but generally
within a competitive range. Research products and/or services may include:
•
fundamental research reports;
• quantitative research reports;
•
technical and portfolio analyses;
• pricing services;
•
economic forecasting, interest rate projections and general market information (including but
not limited to research and information services such as BCA, First Call, Reuters, FactSet, Dow
Jones News Services, Morningstar, Empirical Research, and similar services); and
• historical database information.
Research, products, or services received from soft dollar benefits generally serve to benefit all client
accounts. Focus Partners does not allocate soft dollar benefits to client accounts proportionately to any
soft dollar credits that the accounts generate.
Focus Partners has soft dollar agreements with Schwab and Fidelity, two of the BD/Custodians that it
uses for custody of clients’ accounts. It has research arrangements with other unaffiliated broker-
dealers, including Bernstein & Co. LLC, and William Blair & Co.. Periodically, Focus Partners reviews its
arrangements with the BD/Custodians and broker-dealers by evaluating those factors previously
detailed in this Item.
2. Brokerage for Client Referrals
Focus Partners does not select or recommend broker-dealers based on whether or not it receives client
referrals from a broker-dealer or third party. Currently, Focus Partners does not participate in client
referral programs with broker-dealer custodians.
3. Client-Directed Brokerage
Generally, in the absence of specific instructions to the contrary, for brokerage accounts that clients
engage Focus Partners to manage on a discretionary basis, Focus Partners has full discretion with
respect to securities transactions placed in the accounts. This discretion includes the authority, without
prior notice to the client, to buy and sell securities for the client’s account and establish and affect
securities transactions through the BD/Custodian of the client’s account or other broker-dealers selected
by Focus Partners. In selecting a broker-dealer to execute a client’s securities transactions, Focus
Partners seeks prompt execution of orders at favorable prices.
A client, however, may instruct Focus Partners to custody their account at a specific broker-dealer
and/or direct some or all of his/her brokerage transactions to a specific broker-dealer.
In directing brokerage transactions, a client should consider whether the commission expenses,
execution, clearance, settlement capabilities, and custodian fees, if any, are comparable to those that
would result if Focus Partners exercised its discretion in selecting the broker-dealer to execute the
transactions. Directing brokerage to a particular broker-dealer often involves the following
disadvantages to a directed brokerage client:
•
Focus Partners’ ability to negotiate commission rates and other terms on behalf of such clients
could be impaired;
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•
such clients could be denied the benefit of Focus Partners’ experience in selecting broker-
dealers that are able to execute difficult trades efficiently;
• opportunities to obtain lower transaction costs and better prices by aggregating (batching) the
client’s orders with orders for other clients could be limited; and
•
the client could receive less favorable prices on securities transactions because Focus Partners
often places transaction orders for directed brokerage clients after placing batched transaction
orders for other clients.
In addition to accounts managed by Focus Partners on a discretionary basis where the client has
directed the brokerage of his/her account(s), certain institutional accounts that Focus Partners manages
on a non-discretionary basis are held at custodians selected by the institutional client. The decision to
use a particular custodian and/or broker-dealer generally resides with the institutional client. Focus
Partners endeavors to understand the trading and execution capabilities of any such custodian and/or
broker-dealer, as well as its costs and fees. Focus Partners in some cases assists the institutional client in
facilitating trading and other instructions to the custodian and/or broker-dealer in carrying out Focus
Partners’ investment recommendations.
Employee Benefit Retirement Plan Services
For participant-directed retirement plans, Focus Partners does not arrange for the execution of securities
transactions as a part of this service for accounts held with retirement plan service providers. In such
situations, transactions are executed directly through employee plan participation. For certain plans,
however, Focus Partners does arrange for execution of securities transactions for certain plans custodied
BD/Custodians.
4. Trade Errors
Focus Partners’ goal is to execute trades seamlessly and in the best interests of the client. In the event a
trade error by Focus Partners occurs, Focus Partners endeavors to identify the error in a timely manner,
correct the error so that the client’s account is in the same position it would have been had the error not
occurred, and, after evaluating the error, assess what action(s) might be necessary to prevent a
recurrence of similar errors in the future.
Trade errors are usually corrected using a trade error account at each custodian. The correction of some
trade errors will result in a loss and the correction of other errors will result in a gain. Correcting multiple
trade errors using the trade error account during a quarter will cause losses and gains from trade errors
to be netted against one another. Any balance in the trade error account remaining from trade error
gains at the end of each quarter is donated to charity and any trade error losses at the end of each
quarter will be paid by Firm.
For certain fixed income transactions, Focus Partners may also correct trade errors by reallocating a
purchased security to another client(s) account(s) in situations in which Focus Partners determines such
allocation will be in the clients’ best interest. Such reallocations might prevent Focus Partners from
incurring trade error losses (see Cross Trades below).
Focus Partners may choose to use other methods of trade error correction if Focus Partners believes an
alternative method of correction is in the client’s best interest and the method of correction will make
the client whole.
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B. Trade Aggregation
Balancing the Interests of Multiple Client Accounts
Focus Partners manages multiple accounts with similar investment objectives and strategies and manages
accounts with different objectives or strategies that in some cases trade in the same securities. Despite
these similarities, Focus Partners’ portfolio decisions about each client’s investments and the performance
resulting from these decisions at times differs from those of other clients.
Allocating Investment Opportunities
Focus Partners will not necessarily purchase or sell the same securities for client accounts at the same time
or in the same proportionate amounts for all eligible clients. It is expected, however, that client accounts
with similar objectives will often trade in the same securities at the same time. Focus Partners will allocate
investment and trading opportunities (including the sequence of placing orders if not “batched”) in a
manner believed by Focus Partners to be fair and equitable to each client. In making these allocations, Focus
Partners will consider the following factors:
•
the clients’ investment objectives and strategies;
•
the composition, size, and characteristics of the account;
•
the cash flows and amount of investment funds available to each client;
•
the amount already committed by each client to a specific investment;
•
each client’s risk tolerance and the relative risk of the investment; and
•
the marketability of the security being considered.
Focus Partners at times deviates from strictly pro rata allocation, when appropriate, taking into account the
following considerations:
•
to avoid creating odd lot fixed income positions in any account;
•
to allocate a smaller portion to those accounts for which the purchased security would be a
peripheral investment and a larger portion to those accounts for which the security would be a
core investment;
• whether the purchased security is especially appropriate for accounts with certain investment
goals or risk tolerances;
•
to satisfy demand with respect to an account’s cash position relative to its portfolio (i.e., to allocate
a small portion to accounts with less cash or liquidity and a greater portion to accounts with more
or highly liquid investments); and
• whether a proportionate allocation would, given the size of a client account, result in a position
that is too small to be meaningful or too large to maintain an appropriate level of diversification.
If it is not possible in a single transaction or at a single price to affect a trade in a particular security that is
appropriate for multiple accounts, Focus Partners in some cases, if feasible, computes and gives to each
participating client account the average price for that day’s transactions in the security.
Trade aggregation of SAMs
If a SAM is utilized, that manager can have different brokerage practices and the client should review the
disclosure documents and agreements of the utilized SAM.
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Batching Orders
When the same investment decision is made for more than one client on the same day, Focus Partners often
places orders to buy or sell the same securities for a number of clients. Whenever possible, orders to
purchase or sell the same security for multiple accounts are aggregated. All accounts that participate in an
aggregated transaction shall participate on a pro rata basis. Focus Partners will not aggregate investment
transactions for accounts unless the transaction is consistent with the terms of the applicable investment
advisory agreement and each account’s investment objectives, restrictions, and policies.
Principal Transactions and Cross Trades
Focus Partners does not engage in principal transactions.
On an infrequent basis, a portfolio manager may engage in a fixed income cross-trade transaction pursuant
to Focus Partners’ policy. A cross trade will occur when there is an objective determination that it makes
sense from an investment and cost standpoint and neither participating account is advantaged over the
other. Cross trades will not occur in ERISA plan accounts.
In certain circumstances, Focus Partners and FPAS exercise discretion to cross fixed income transactions
between Focus Partners client accounts and/or fixed income sub-advised client accounts. Focus Partners
and FPAS will effect cross trades in situations where it is determined that such transactions can be fairly
priced for each account, it is judged to be in each client’s best interest and where it believes that such
transactions are appropriate based on each party’s investment objectives and guidelines, subject to
applicable law and regulation. Focus Partners and FPAS do not cross trades among any affiliated accounts.
ITEM 13: REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS
A. Frequency and Nature of Periodic Reviews and Who Makes Those Reviews
Focus Partners performs regular reviews of the accounts it manages on behalf of its clients. Each client
portfolio is managed by one or more advisory personnel, which can include portfolio managers and wealth
advisors. Review responsibilities include the following:
•
review the account’s securities for price changes, volume, and relevant news;
•
compare the account’s allocation with stated goals;
•
review holdings and consider alternatives;
•
address the need to rebalance;
• monitor the size of individual securities relevant to their sectors, asset classes, and overall account
size;
•
analyze an account’s composition and performance, income, appreciation, gains/losses, and asset
allocation; and
•
assess its performance
A client’s wealth advisor is responsible for assessing the client’s goals and objectives, reviewing the client’s
managed accounts to ensure that the portfolio is consistent with the client’s investment objectives and
guidelines, the investment strategy remains suitable for the client, and any material changes with respect to
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the account or client have been incorporated. Advisors review investment management invoices for new
clients and if/when there is a contractual change to an existing client’s billing rate, as appropriate.
B. Other Reviews
Compliance performs reviews of select accounts for various reasons, including, but not limited to,
comparing an account’s strategy and/or allocation to the account’s stated objectives, reviewing commission
and transaction costs borne by the account, and reviewing the billing rate and charges.
The review of a financial counseling relationship is ongoing and involves revisiting goals, assessing the
progress in achieving goals, and redefining strategies and goals where necessary. Advisors seek to
communicate with clients regularly. Such communication generally includes in-person meetings, phone
calls, letters, and/or email, as appropriate.
C. Content and Frequency of Regular Reports Provided to Clients
Investment Management Accounts
Focus Partners generates and provides written investment reports to its investment management clients
generally on a quarterly basis. The reports include performance, income/expenses, cash flow, realized
gains/losses, and an appraisal. Focus Partners also prepares a quarterly market commentary letter and
provides a copy to its clients. Moreover, each client receives or has access to account statements from the
qualified custodian of their account at least quarterly.
Focus Partners urges all investment management clients to compare investment reports received from
Focus Partners with the account statements from their custodians. Focus Partners also urges these clients to
contact their wealth advisor should they not receive a brokerage statement from their custodian.
A client’s investment report may differ from the custodian’s statement(s) for various reasons, including: (1)
Focus Partners’ reports generally are prepared on a trade-date basis, reflecting holdings as of the day
transactions are executed, while holdings in custodians’ statements generally are reported on a settlement
basis, which typically is two business days after the trade date; (2) Focus Partners’ reports in many cases
include assets that it advises on but are not held at the client’s custodian (for which Focus Partners receives
data and valuations from other sources); and/or (3) Focus Partners’ reports in many cases exclude non-
managed positions, while the custodians generally must report all client assets held in an account. Also, it is
not uncommon for various custodians to have slightly different prices for identical bonds. For these reasons,
the billable value of a client’s portfolio as shown on their investment report may differ from the value as
shown on the custodian’s statement(s).
For assets not held by a client’s main custodian, yet advised on and reported by Focus Partners, pricing and
valuations are received from other third-party service providers and administrators. In the event a quarter-
end valuation for a certain asset(s) is unavailable, Focus Partners will use the most recent value known to
Focus Partners with respect to such asset(s).
Valuations and/or performance for a client’s interest in a limited partnership, hedge fund, or other similar
investment vehicle are subject to change based upon updates received from the underlying managers and
administrators.
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Employee Benefit Retirement Plan Services
Plan assets are reviewed as necessary and according to the standards and situations described above for
investment management service accounts. Focus Partners’ retirement team provides annual reports with
fiduciary benchmarks to plan sponsors. Focus Partners also provides quarterly information regarding
investment returns and participant education that can be distributed by the sponsor or plan’s administrator
to the participants of the plan.
ITEM 14: CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION
A. Economic Benefits Provided by Third Parties for Advice Rendered to Clients
Fidelity and Schwab also offer other services intended to help Focus Partners manage and further develop
its business enterprise. These services include: (1) educational conferences and events; (2) technology,
compliance, legal, and business consulting; (3) publications and conferences on practice management and
business succession; and (4) access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants, and
insurance providers. They also from time to time provide other benefits such as educational events that
benefit its clients or occasional business entertainment of Focus Partners personnel. Fidelity and Schwab
may make available, arrange and/or pay third-party vendors for these types of services rendered to Focus
Partners. Fidelity and Schwab from time-to-time discount or waive fees it would otherwise charge for some
of these services or pay all or a part of the fees of a third party providing these services to Focus Partners.
See any specific instances of such benefits below.
The availability of services from Fidelity and Schwab benefits Focus Partners as it does not have to produce
or purchase them. In evaluating whether to recommend or require that clients custody their assets at
Fidelity or Schwab, Focus Partners does take into account the availability of some of the foregoing products
and services and other arrangements as part of the total mix of factors it considers and does not solely
consider the nature, cost, or quality of custody and brokerage services offered by Fidelity or Schwab, which
creates a potential conflict of interest. Focus Partners recognizes this potential conflict of interest but
believes that its selection of Fidelity or Schwab (when selected) as a custodian and broker-dealer is in the
best interests of its clients, as its selection primarily is supported by the scope, quality, and price of their
custodial and brokerage services (based on the factors discussed above – see “Factors Used to Select
Custodians and/or Broker-Dealers”) and not the services that benefit only Focus Partners. Moreover, Focus
Partners reviews and evaluates its arrangements with Fidelity and Schwab against other possible
arrangements in the marketplace.
Schwab’s support services – provided by Schwab Advisor Services – generally are available on an unsolicited
basis (Focus Partners does not have to request them) and at no charge so long as at least $10 million in
Focus Partners’ clients’ assets are held in accounts custodied at Schwab. The receipt of support services
gives Focus Partners an incentive to recommend that its clients’ accounts be held at Schwab in order to
meet the minimum. As explained above, Focus Partners recognizes this potential conflict of interest but
believes its clients’ interests are well-served with custody and brokerage services provided by Schwab.
Fidelity – Support Services Agreement
Focus Partners has entered into an agreement with eMoney Advisor, Inc. (“eMoney”) to license certain
technology products and services from eMoney (the “eMoney Services”). eMoney is an affiliate of Fidelity.
The specific eMoney service in this arrangement is the eMX Pro Financial Planning Software, which assists
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Focus Partners in rendering financial planning services to its clients. This software helps Focus Partners
deliver its financial planning services efficiently and aids in its communication with clients.
As a part of its overall business relationship with Focus Partners, Fidelity has agreed to subsidize a portion
(30%) of the cost of the eMoney Services (the “Subsidy,” which currently totals approximately $35,000
annually). As a result of the Subsidy, Focus Partners has a potential conflict of interest with respect to its
decision to use Fidelity for custody, execution, and clearing for client accounts, and Focus Partners has an
incentive to suggest the use of Fidelity and its affiliates to its advisory clients.
Entering into a contractual relationship with eMoney does not limit Focus Partners’ duty to select brokers on
the basis of best execution, nor does receiving the Subsidy. Focus Partners must continue to act in the best
interest of its clients, and Focus Partners reviews its relationship with Fidelity on a regular basis.
While Fidelity provides the Subsidy, it is not a party to the contract between Focus Partners and eMoney.
Furthermore, there is no form of legal partnership, agency, affiliation, or similar relationship between Focus
Partners and Fidelity, nor is such a relationship created or implied by the provision of the Subsidy
Schwab Client Benefit Agreement(s)
From time to time, Focus Partners and Schwab may enter into a Client Benefit Services Agreement whereby
Schwab will provide Focus Partners an economic benefit. These benefits generally cover items such as (1) a
fee waiver for an employee(s) of Focus Partners to attend Schwab’s annual e IMPACT Conference and/or (2)
Schwab providing Focus Partners a benefit that Focus Partners may use toward technology, research,
marketing, compliance, or consulting-related expenses.
Schwab’s Client Benefit Agreements create a conflict of interest with respect to Focus Partners’ decision to
use Schwab for custody, execution, and clearing for client accounts, and Focus Partners has an incentive to
suggest Schwab and its affiliates to its advisory clients. Receiving the benefit from Schwab does not limit
Focus Partners’ duty to select brokers on the basis of best execution. Focus Partners must act in the best
interest of its clients and review its relationship with Schwab on a regular basis.
Recognitions and Awards from Unaffiliated Financial-Related Institutions
Focus Partners from time to time receives awards or recognitions from unaffiliated rating services,
companies, and/or publications. Focus Partners receives no compensation or other financial benefits in
receiving an award or recognition. Awards or recognitions should not be construed by a client or
prospective client as a guarantee that they experience a certain level of results if Focus Partners is engaged,
or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. They should not be construed as a
current or past endorsement of Focus Partners by any of its clients. Awards or recognitions generally are
based on information prepared and/or submitted by Focus Partners.
B. Compensation to Non-Supervised Persons for Client Referrals
Referral Arrangements with Entities and Individuals
Focus Partners has arrangements in place with certain third parties, called promoters, under which such
promoters refer clients to us in exchange for a percentage of the advisory fees we collect from such referred
clients. Such compensation creates an incentive for the promoters to refer clients to us, which is a conflict of
interest for the promoters. Rule 206(4)-1 under the Advisers Act addresses this conflict of interest by, among
other things, requiring disclosure of whether the promoter is a client or a non-client and a description of the
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material conflicts of interest and material terms of the compensation arrangement with the promoter.
Accordingly, we require promoters to disclose to referred clients, in writing: whether the promoter is a client
or a non-client; that the promoter will be compensated for the referral; the material conflicts of interest
arising from the relationship and/or compensation arrangement; and the material terms of the
compensation arrangement, including a description of the compensation to be provided for the referral.
Focus Partners does not charge a referred client an advisory fee that is higher than its current standard rate.
In the case of one solicitor entity, Equitable Advisors, LLC (“Equitable”), Focus Partners pays Equitable non-
compensatory processing fees to cover Equitable’s administrative expenses related to the solicitation
arrangement; such fee is in addition to the referral fee. The cost of this is borne by Focus Partners, not the
referred client.
Focus Partners also compensates affiliated persons of Focus Partners or FPAS for client referrals. Clients
should understand that these persons have an economic incentive to recommend the advisory services of
Focus Partners.
Schwab Advisor Network
Focus Partners receives client referrals from Schwab through Focus Partners’ participation in the Schwab
Advisor Network (the “Network”). The Network is designed to help investors find an independent
investment Advisor. Schwab is a broker-dealer independent of and unaffiliated with Focus Partners. Schwab
does not supervise Focus Partners and has no responsibility for Focus Partners’ management of client
portfolios or Focus Partners’ other advice or services. Focus Partners pays Schwab fees to receive client
referrals through the Network. Focus Partners’ participation in the Network raises potential conflicts of
interest. Focus Partners pays Schwab a participation fee on all referred client accounts that are maintained in
custody at Schwab (the “Participation Fee”) and a “Non-Schwab Custody Fee” on all accounts that are
maintained at, or transferred to, another custodian. The Participation Fee is a percentage of the value of the
assets in the client’s account. Focus Partners pays Schwab the Participation Fee for so long as the referred
client’s account remains in custody at Schwab. The fee is billed to Focus Partners quarterly and may be
increased, decreased, or waived by Schwab from time to time. The Participation Fee is paid by Focus
Partners, not the client. Focus Partners does not charge clients referred through the Network fees greater
than the fees it charges clients with similar portfolios who were not referred through the Network or
otherwise pass referral fees it pays to Schwab through to its clients
Focus Partners, and not the client, generally pays Schwab a Non-Custody Fee if custody of a referred client’s
account is not maintained by, or assets in the account are transferred from, Schwab. The Schwab Non-
Custody Fee is a one-time payment equal to a percentage of the assets placed with a custodian other than
Schwab. The fee is higher than the Participation Fee Focus Partners generally would pay in a single year.
Therefore, Focus Partners has an incentive to recommend that the referred client’s accounts be held in
custody at Schwab.
The Participation Fee and Schwab Non-Custody Fees are based on the amount of assets in accounts of
Focus Partners’ clients who were referred by Schwab and those referred clients’ family members living in the
same household. Thus, Focus Partners will have incentives to encourage household members of clients
referred through the Network to maintain custody of their accounts at Schwab.
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For accounts of Focus Partners’ clients maintained in custody at Schwab, Schwab generally does not charge
the client separately for custody but receives compensation from the client in the form of commissions or
other transaction-related compensation on securities trades Schwab executes for the client’s account.
Clients also pay Schwab a fee for clearance and settlement of trades executed through broker-dealers other
than Schwab. Schwab’s fees for trades executed at other broker-dealers are in addition to the other broker-
dealer’s fees. Thus, Focus Partners has an incentive to cause trades to be executed through Schwab rather
than another broker-dealer.
Focus Partners nevertheless acknowledges its duty to seek best execution of trades for client accounts.
Trades for client accounts held in custody at Schwab are from time to time executed through a different
broker-dealer than trades for Focus Partners’ other clients. Thus, trades for accounts custodied at Schwab in
some cases will be executed at different times and different prices than trades for other accounts that are
executed at other broker-dealers.
Compensation we pay to third-party solicitors/promoters who refer clients to us creates a conflict of interest
for the solicitors. Rule 206(4)-1 of the Advisers Act addresses this conflict of interest by, among other things,
requiring the solicitor to disclosure in writing their arrangement with Focus Partners, including the
compensation terms and the conflicts of interest arising from the relationship and compensation
arrangement. Furthermore, the prospective client receives Focus Partners’ Form ADV 2A prior to entering
into an advisory agreement with Focus Partners.
Separate and apart from formal referral agreements with solicitors, Focus Partners may, in compliance with
the de minimis exemption under Rule 206(4)-1, provide non-cash gifts up to $100 to clients or other
referring parties as a thank you for referring clients to Focus Partners. Each instance must be pre-approved
by Compliance and will be permitted only when the referring individual has no expectation of a gift.
Fidelity Wealth Advisor Solutions®
Focus Partners participates in the Fidelity Wealth Advisor Solutions® Program (the “WAS Program”), through
which Focus Partners receives referrals from Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors LLC (FPWA), a
registered investment adviser and Fidelity Investments company. Focus Partners is independent and not
affiliated with FPWA or any Fidelity Investments company. FPWA does not supervise or control Focus
Partners, and FPWA has no responsibility or oversight for Focus Partners’ provision of investment
management or other advisory services.
Under the WAS Program, FPWA acts as a solicitor for Focus Partners, and Focus Partners pays referral fees
to FPWA for each referral received based on Focus Partners’ 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 Focus Partners does not
constitute a recommendation or endorsement by FPWA of Focus Partners’ particular investment
management services or strategies. More specifically, Focus Partners 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, Focus Partners has agreed to pay FPWA a minimum annual
program fee of $50,000 to participate in the WAS Program. These referral fees are paid by Focus Partners
and not the client.
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To receive referrals from the WAS Program, Focus Partners must meet certain minimum participation
criteria, but Focus Partners 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, Focus Partners 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 Focus Partners 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 Focus Partners as
part of the WAS Program. Under an agreement with FPWA, Focus Partners has agreed that Focus Partners
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, Focus
Partners 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 Focus Partners
fiduciary duties would so require, and Focus Partners 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, Focus Partners may have an incentive to suggest that referred clients and their household
members maintain 32 custody of their accounts with affiliates of FPWA. However, participation in the WAS
Program does not limit Focus Partners’ duty to select brokers on the basis of best execution.
Smart Asset
As a result of recently merged advisory firms into Focus Partners, we have an agreement in place with
SmartAsset Advisors LLC (“SmartAsset”) whereby we participate in an online matching program. SmartAsset
seeks to match prospective advisory clients who have expressed an interest in working with registered
investment advisory firms. SmartAsset’s adviser matching program provides the name and contact
information of the prospective advisory client to the advisory firm as a potential lead. For our participation
in the program, we pay a flat fee of $212 per lead (“lead fee”) for prospective clients with investible assets of
more than $1 million. The lead fee we have agreed to pay gives SmartAsset a financial incentive to match
prospective clients to our firm, thereby resulting a conflict of interest. The lead fee we pay to SmartAsset is
payable regardless of whether the prospect becomes our advisory client. SmartAsset provides the
prospective advisory client with Focus Partners’ Form ADV 2A and disclosure of this arrangement. Should
the prospect hire Focus Partners, the lead fee is NOT passed on to the client.
As stated earlier in this Brochure, Focus Partners is a wholly owned subsidiary of Focus. Focus is also one of
several minority investors in SmartAsset, which seeks to match prospective advisory clients with investment
advisers. Focus has one director on SmartAsset’s board. Focus Partners payment of a fee to SmartAsset
benefits SmartAsset’s investors, including Focus, our parent company.
C. Other Compensation
TrendWise Strategy
Clients interested in Focus Partners’ TrendWise strategy should be aware that they will pay a higher fee for
this strategy than they would for other Focus Partners investment strategies or models. This creates a
conflict of interest as Focus Partners will stand to receive increased advisory fees when recommending the
TrendWise strategy over other strategies or models. Focus Partners mitigates this conflict of interest through
disclosure and by only recommending services we believe meet client needs and that would be in client’s
best interest. This strategy will be recommended only to clients who are interested and no Focus Partners
client will be obligated to participate in this strategy.
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Option Income Overly Strategy
Clients interested in Focus Partners’ OIO strategy should be aware that they will pay a higher fee for this
strategy than they would for other Focus Partners investment strategies or models. This creates a conflict of
interest as Focus Partners will stand to receive increased advisory fees when recommending the OIO strategy
over other strategies or models. Focus Partners mitigates this conflict of interest through disclosure and by
only recommending services we believe meet client needs and that would be in client’s best interest. This
strategy will be recommended only to clients who are interested and no Focus Partners client will be
obligated to participate in this strategy.
Focus Partners’ parent company is Focus Financial Partners, LLC (“Focus”). From time to time, Focus holds
partnership meetings and other industry and best-practices conferences, which typically include Focus
Partners, other Focus firms and external attendees. These meetings are first and foremost intended to
provide training or education to personnel of Focus firms, including Focus Partners. However, the meetings
do provide sponsorship opportunities for asset managers, asset custodians, vendors and other third-party
service providers. Sponsorship fees allow these companies to advertise their products and services to Focus
firms, including Focus Partners. Although the participation of Focus firm personnel in these meetings is not
pre-conditioned on the achievement of a sales target for any conference sponsor, this practice could
nonetheless be deemed a conflict as the marketing and education activities conducted, and the access
granted, at such meetings and conferences could cause Focus Partners to focus on those conference
sponsors in the course of its duties. Focus attempts to mitigate any such conflict by allocating the
sponsorship fees only to defraying the cost of the meeting or future meetings and not as revenue for itself
or any affiliate, including Focus Partners. Conference sponsorship fees are not dependent on assets placed
with any specific provider or revenue generated by such asset placement.
The following entities have provided conference sponsorship to Focus from January 1, 2024 to February 1, 2025:
• Advent Software, Inc. (includes SS&C)
• BlackRock, Inc.
• Blackstone Administrative Services Partnership L.P.
• Capital Integration Systems LLC (CAIS)
• Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
• Confluence Technologies Inc.
•
Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (includes Parametric Portfolio Associates)
•
Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and Fidelity Distributors Company LLC (includes Fidelity
Institutional Asset Management and FIAM)
•
Flourish Financial LLC
•
Franklin Distributors, LLC (includes O’Shaughnessy Asset Management, L.L.C. (OSAM) and
CANVAS)
• K&L Gates LLP
• Nuveen Securities, LLC
• Orion Advisor Technology, LLC
• Pinegrove Capital Partners LLC (includes Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions)
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• Practifi, Inc.
•
Salus GRC, LLC
•
Stone Ridge Asset Management LLC
•
The Vanguard Group, Inc.
•
TriState Capital Bank
• UPTIQ, Inc.
You can access updates to the list of conference sponsors on Focus’ website through the following link:
https://focusfinancialpartners.com/conference-sponsors/
Debra Brede, a Focus Partners Senior Wealth Advisor, and formerly of GWW, has an arrangement with
Forbes, Inc. (“Forbes’) in which she receives payments from Forbes in connection with sales of a book she
authored on the topic of retirement financial literacy. The arrangement, which came about when Ms. Brede
was solicited by Forbes, pre-dates the GWW-Focus Partners merger. While part of GWW, Ms. Brede also
received, and will likely continue to receive (as part of Focus Partners), client referrals from a website that
Forbes sponsors which promotes Ms. Brede and her book.
Fund companies including but not limited to, Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), Bridgeway Capital
Management (Bridgeway), AQR, Stoneridge, BlackRock, Inc., and Vanguard also provide Focus Partners and
FPAS assistance and economic support directly to providers in the production of seminars, podcasts,
conferences and educational events, including providing educational speakers and sponsoring and
sponsoring and exhibiting at conferences hosted by Focus Partners or Focus Partners’ affiliate, FPAS
(“Support Services”). These Support Services are valuable and are a substantial direct meaningful economic
benefit to Focus Partners. The Support Services also present a conflict of interest as Focus Partners could
have an incentive to recommend one of these providers or expand use of a provider as a result of these
Support Services and other benefits provided by these providers. Without these Support Services, Focus
Partners would be required to purchase the same or similar services at its own expense. The fees that Focus
Partners charges will not be reduced by the value of the Support Services received. These providers engage
in providing these Support Services to Focus Partners in their sole discretion and at their own expense
primarily for educational and training purposes, and Focus Partners does not pay any fees to these
providers for the Support Services. Focus Partners’ receipt of Support Services does not diminish its duty to
act in the best interests of its clients. In addition to Support Services, on limited occasions, these companies
may also provide customary business entertainment to Focus Partners personnel. Focus Partners also
receives software from DFA, in forming asset allocation strategies and producing performance reports. DFA
has also provided its own personnel and outside consultants for purposes of developing prospects for Focus
Partners and FPAS, continuing education for Focus Partners wealth advisors and FPAS advisor clients and
internal strategic planning for Focus Partners and FPAS. DFA, through a web-based service, provides
referrals of investor clients to Focus Partners. DFA makes such referrals to many investment advisors based
on the geographic location of the prospective client.
On limited occasions, certain Focus Partners professionals are invited by custodians, service providers,
record-keepers, or fund companies to speak/present or attend a strategic planning meeting, that
organizations conference or an industry conference for which that speaker or attendee will be reimbursed
for travel expenses and receive a free conference attendance. This is an economic benefit for Focus Partners
to receive reimbursement for travel expenses and free attendance, however, neither Focus Partners nor
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FPAS have made any commitment to direct business to any of these companies as a result of the
reimbursement of travel expenses and free conference attendance. In addition, speakers from Focus
Partners are offered an honorarium for speaking engagements, but it is the policy of Focus Partners to
direct the sponsor to donate such honorariums to a 501(c)(3) organization of Focus Partners’ choice. DFA
has also provided its own personnel and outside consultants for purposes of developing prospects for Focus
Partners and FPAS, continuing education for Focus Partners wealth advisors and FPAS advisor clients and
internal strategic planning for Focus Partners and FPAS. DFA, through a web-based service, provides
referrals of investor clients to Focus Partners. DFA makes such referrals to many investment advisors based
on the geographic location of the prospective client.
On limited occasions, certain Focus Partners professionals are invited by custodians, service providers,
record-keepers, or fund companies to speak/present or attend a strategic planning meeting, that
organizations conference or an industry conference for which that speaker or attendee will be reimbursed
for travel expenses and receive a free conference attendance. This is an economic benefit for Focus Partners
to receive reimbursement for travel expenses and free attendance, however, neither Focus Partners nor
FPAS have made any commitment to direct business to any of these companies as a result of the
reimbursement of travel expenses and free conference attendance. In addition, speakers from Focus
Partners are of often offered an honorarium for speaking engagements.
For one of Focus Partners’ websites, it provides a link to Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com for which
Focus Partners receives a fee for books purchased through that link.
Wendy Hartman, who joined Focus Partners as part of the Focus Partners-BSW merger, serves on the
Schwab Advisor Services Advisory Board (the “Advisory Board”). As described throughout this Form ADV,
Focus Partners may recommend that clients establish brokerage accounts with Schwab and/or its affiliates
to maintain custody of the clients’ assets and effect trades for their accounts. The Advisory Board consists of
representatives of independent investment advisory firms who have been invited by Schwab management
to participate in meetings and discussions of Schwab Advisor Services’ services for independent investment
advisory firms and their clients. Generally, Board members serve for two-year terms. Mrs. Hartman’s term
will tentatively end in March 2025. Advisory Board members enter into nondisclosure agreements with
Schwab under which they agree not to disclose confidential information shared with them. This information
generally does not include material nonpublic information about the Charles Schwab Corporation, whose
common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SCHW). The Advisory Board
meets in person or virtually approximately twice per year and has periodic conference calls scheduled as
needed.
Advisory Board members are not compensated by Schwab for their service, but Schwab does pay for or
reimburse Advisory Board members’ travel, lodging, meals, and other incidental expenses incurred in
attending Advisory Board meetings
Focus Partners’ affiliate, FPAS, is the investment manager, administrator, and shareholder servicing agent of
the SA Funds. In certain instances, particularly where a client becomes a client of Focus Partners’ through a
transaction, a client may be invested in one or more SA Funds. There are no sales commissions with respect
to these client’s accounts purchases or sales of the SA Funds, these accounts will not pay a redemption fee
in connection with the sale of SA Fund shares unless the redemption fee is paid only to the Fund and the
existence of the fee was disclosed in the Fund’s prospectus in effect both at the time of the purchase of
such shares and at the time of such sale and the Client’s account will not pay any investment advisory fee,
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investment management fee or similar fee with respect to the account assets invested in the SA Funds.
However, an SA Fund may pay an investment advisory fee to Focus Partners Advisor Solutions for managing
and/or advising the SA Fund.
ITEM 15: CUSTODY
Clients’ brokerage accounts managed by Focus Partners are held at unaffiliated qualified custodians.
Although Focus Partners does not hold these accounts, due to certain business practices necessary to render
advisory services, Focus Partners is deemed to have custody for purposes of amended Rule 206(4)-2 of the
Advisors Act. As a result, Focus Partners undergoes an annual surprise custody audit performed by an
unaffiliated PCAOB registered public accounting firm.
Focus Partners generally provides investment management clients with quarterly investment reports. These
reports are in addition to statements provided by the clients’ custodians on at least a quarterly basis. Focus
Partners urges all investment management clients to compare the investment reports received by Focus
Partners with the account statements received by their custodians. For accounts managed by SAMs, clients
receive quarterly investment reports from such SAMs. In these cases, too, Focus Partners urges clients to
compare such reports to the account statements received from their custodians.
ITEM 16: INVESTMENT DISCRETION
For clients that have hired Focus Partners for investment management services, Focus Partners generally has
discretionary authority to manage their investments, such authority having been granted by an investment
advisory agreement and one or more Investment Policy Statements, or equivalent (“IPSs”) executed by Focus
Partners and the client.
With respect to Focus Partners’ exercising investment discretion over an account, this authority is granted
through a limited power of attorney granted by the client to Focus Partners through a client-executed
custodial application and/or related custodial form. A client retains the right and ability to remove any and
all of Focus Partners’ discretionary authorities over their account.
For some clients, Focus Partners provides ongoing supervisory and investment advice with respect to non-
discretionary accounts and/or assets as agreed upon by Focus Partners and the client. Non-discretionary
accounts and assets generally include accounts managed by SAMs; clients’ investments in unaffiliated hedge
funds, limited partnerships, or other private offerings; and outside assets which often include qualified
employer-sponsored plans. Non-discretionary accounts and assets also include accounts belonging to
certain institutional clients where Focus Partners has responsibility to make, monitor, and oversee its
investment recommendations.
As explained above in Item 4(C), a client may impose reasonable restrictions or limitations on the
management of their account. Any such restrictions or limitations generally are reflected in an IPS, or
equivalent, and/or other written instructions provided to Focus Partners.
ITEM 17: VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES
It is Focus Partners’ longstanding policy that each client is responsible for voting all of the proxies related to
the securities held in their managed account. For advisory clients of certain merged firms, it was the policy of
such merged firms to vote proxies on behalf of their advisory clients. Therefore, in light of these pre-existing
arrangements, Focus Partners will vote securities on behalf of such clients. This “grandfathering” policy
applies only to these groups of clients or other certain other clients pursuant to a pre-established
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arrangement. On a case-by-case and limited circumstance basis, Focus Partners will accept the responsibility
to vote proxies on behalf of a client.
When Focus Partners does in fact accept such responsibility, it will cast proxy votes in a manner consistent
with the best interest of its clients. Absent special circumstances, which are described in Focus Partners’
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, all proxies will be voted consistent with guidelines established and
described in Focus Partners’ Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, as they may be amended from time to
time. A client may contact Focus Partners to request information about how Focus Partners voted proxies for
their securities or to get a copy of Focus Partners’ Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures. A brief summary of
Focus Partners’ Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures is as follows:
•
Investment Services generally will vote proxies according to Focus Partners’ then current Proxy
Voting Guidelines. The Proxy Voting Guidelines include many specific examples of voting
decisions for the types of proposals that are most frequently presented, including composition
of the board of directors, approval of independent auditors, management and director
compensation, anti-takeover mechanisms and related issues, changes to capital structure,
corporate and social policy issues, and issues involving mutual funds.
• Although the Proxy Voting Guidelines are followed as a general policy, certain issues are
considered on a case-by-case basis based on the relevant facts and circumstances. Since
corporate governance issues are diverse and continually evolving, Focus Partners is committed
to spending sufficient time and resources to monitor these changes.
• Clients cannot direct Focus Partners’ vote on a particular solicitation but can revoke Focus
Partners’ authority to vote proxies.
•
In situations where there is a conflict of interest in the voting of proxies due to business or
personal relationships that Focus Partners maintains with persons having an interest in the
outcome of certain votes, Focus Partners takes appropriate steps to ensure that its proxy
voting decisions are made in the best interest of its clients and are not the product of such
conflict.
•
For the legacy clients of a small number of firms that prior to their mergers with and into
Focus Partners voted proxies on behalf of their clients, Focus Partners utilizes the electronic
voting services of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Broadridge’s service, ProxyEdge, is
designed to help Focus Partners manage, track, and report proxy voting through electronic
delivery of ballots, online voting, and integrated reporting and recordkeeping.
ITEM 18: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Registered investment advisors are required in this Item to provide you with certain financial information or
disclosures about their financial condition. Focus Partners has no financial commitment that impairs its
ability to meet contractual and fiduciary commitments to clients and has not been the subject of a
bankruptcy proceeding.
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