Overview
Assets Under Management: $123 million
Headquarters: NEW YORK, NY
High-Net-Worth Clients: 41
Average Client Assets: $3 million
Services Offered
Services: Portfolio Management for Individuals
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (BROCHURE)
Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$0 | $1,000,000 | 1.25% |
$1,000,001 | $2,500,000 | 1.00% |
$2,500,001 | $5,000,000 | 0.75% |
$5,000,001 | and above | 0.50% |
Minimum Annual Fee: $5,000
Illustrative Fee Rates
Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$1 million | $12,500 | 1.25% |
$5 million | $46,250 | 0.92% |
$10 million | $71,250 | 0.71% |
$50 million | $271,250 | 0.54% |
$100 million | $521,250 | 0.52% |
Clients
Number of High-Net-Worth Clients: 41
Percentage of Firm Assets Belonging to High-Net-Worth Clients: 95.35
Average High-Net-Worth Client Assets: $3 million
Total Client Accounts: 52
Discretionary Accounts: 52
Regulatory Filings
CRD Number: 105603
Last Filing Date: 2024-03-22 00:00:00
Website: HTTP://GARRISONBRADFORDINVESTMENTS.COM
Form ADV Documents
Primary Brochure: BROCHURE (2025-03-14)
View Document Text
Form ADV Part 2A: Firm Brochure
Garrison, Bradford & Associates, Inc.
445 Park Avenue, 9th Floor, Suite 909
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 557-7440
www.garrisonbradfordinvestments.com
March 31, 2025
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of
Garrison, Bradford & Associates, Inc. “GBA”. If you have any questions about the
contents of the brochure, please contact us at (212) 557-7440 or by email at
bradford@gbinvest.com. 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 Garrison, Bradford & Associates is also available on the
SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec/gov.
Garrison, Bradford & Associates, Inc. is an investment adviser registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of
skill or training.
Material Changes During the Past Year
There were no material changes during the year.
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Table of Contents
Cover Page . . . . . . . 1
Material Changes . . . . . . . 1
Table of Contents . . . . . . . 2
Advisory Business . . . . . . . 2
Fees and Compensation . . . . . . . 3
Performance Fees . . . . . . . 4
Types of Clients . . . . . . . 4
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss . . . . . . . 4
Disciplinary Information . . . . . . . 5
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations . . . . . . . 6
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
and Personal Trading . . . . . . . 6
Brokerage Practices . . . . . . . 7
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits . . . . . . . 7
Brokerage for Client Referrals . . . . . . . 8
Directed Brokerage . . . . . . . 8
Review of Accounts . . . . . . . 8
Client Referrals and Other Compensation . . . . . . . 9
Custody . . . . . . . 9
Investment Discretion . . . . . . . 9
Voting Client Securities . . . . . . .10
Financial Information . . . . . . . 10
Advisory Business
Garrison, Bradford & Associates, Inc. (GBA) is a fee-based investment adviser registered
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940. We provide discretionary, separate account investment
management services to individuals, tax-exempt entities, and investment partnerships.
The firm was founded in 1974 as Garrison Asset Management by William G. Garrison,
formerly a partner at Century Capital. The name changed to Garrison, Keogh &
Company in 1976 when Thomas F. Keogh joined from White Weld & Company.
William Bradford, who had been President of NSR Asset Management, joined in 1984,
and the firm’s name changed to Garrison, Bradford & Associates in 1990 when Mr.
Keogh retired. Mr. Garrison retired and sold his stock to Mr. Bradford in December
2021, making Mr. Bradford the sole owner of GBA. In 2022 and 2023, he sold 46% of
the company to Ms. Sherli Looi, Executive Vice President and long-time employee.
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Our advisory contracts grant us discretionary authority to buy and sell securities for our
clients, but not to maintain physical custody of their assets nor to withdraw cash from
their account except, with their authorization, for the payment of our fee. As discussed in
greater detail in the “Investment Strategy” section, we invest in a broad mix of publicly
traded stocks, open- and closed-end funds, fixed income securities and cash instruments
with the goal of earning an “optimum” long-term return for our clients. Each client’s
portfolio is managed by the firm’s senior portfolio managers. Each portfolio is managed
separately and is tailored to that client’s individual goals and objectives. We consult
regularly with clients and will take directions concerning legacy (generally low-cost)
positions. We will also honor restrictions that clients may impose on investing in certain
securities or types of securities. However, we believe that an investment manager’s
results can be fairly judged only if he has full investment discretion, i.e., the authority to
make the final investment decision.
On December 31, 2024, GBA’s Regulatory Assets Under Management totaled
approximately $135 million in 54 separately managed discretionary accounts. Advisory
fees on those accounts are the firm’s only source of revenue.
Fees and Compensation
Fees are charged as a percentage of assets under management. We believe this method
aligns the interests of the client and investment manager because fees increase only as
assets increase, not as a function of trading activity. Fees are billed quarterly after the
service is performed. Clients may choose to pay the fee directly, or they may authorize
the custodian to pay it from the assets of the account. Our advisory agreement permits
termination by either party upon 30 days written notice; during that 30-day period we
will honor a request not to engage in any further trading activity.
The annual fee rate for new accounts is:
1.25% on the first $1 million of assets;
1.00% on the next $1.5 million;
0.75% on the next $2.5 million;
0.50% on assets over $5 million.
Accounts in the same family group are combined to receive the maximum volume
discount.
Accounts which started several years ago may have different fee rates. These rates are
not offered to new clients.
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The minimum fee is $5,000 annually per account. In some cases, however, this fixed
minimum is waived, and the stated percentage fee is applied if the client has multiple
accounts or may open new accounts or add assets.
GBA generally invests directly in equities and fixed income instruments. However, cash
balances invested by the custodian in money-market funds and/or strategic investments
in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, REITs and other managed entities may result in
the payment, in effect, of two management fees. Besides our management fee, clients
incur securities brokerage and other transaction fees (discussed in more detail in the
“Brokerage Practices” section). They may also incur custody and administrative fees
levied by the independent custodian, who holds the assets and is responsible for tax and
other reports.
Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
None of GBA’s fees are based on a share of the income, capital gains or capital
appreciation of the assets under management.
Types of Clients
GBA’s clients include individuals and their retirement assets, and tax-exempt entities
such as charitable institutions, endowments and employee benefit trusts. Generally, there
is a $500,000 minimum for a new account. That requirement may be waived, however,
if the account is part of an existing relationship or if a new client is likely to contribute
additional assets over time. There is no minimum size requirement for maintaining an
existing account.
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Our basic investment strategy is to “optimize” real returns by investing for long-term
growth while minimizing risk. Our goal is to own outstanding growth and income stocks
and other securities when investment conditions are favorable and to limit losses during
periods of cyclical decline in the financial markets.
Philosophically, we believe that strong risk-adjusted investment returns come from the
common stocks of companies that grow their sales and earnings on a consistent basis. As
a group, these stocks have outperformed most other investable asset classes over the long
term, and it is our strong conviction that they will continue to do so. Purchasing these
stocks when they are undervalued or taking profits when they become overvalued can
enhance the return provided by the underlying growth. To reflect clients' individual
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needs, we diversify portfolios by the allocation of assets to cash, fixed income and
equities; by the number and types of securities held; by exposure to different industries;
and by various quality ratings levels. Most of our accounts are “balanced”, meaning they
generally hold a mix of equities, fixed income securities and cash equivalents. At certain
points in the economic and securities market cycles we will increase or decrease the
allocation to these various categories depending upon our analysis of risk and reward
opportunities, with the primary emphasis always on maintaining a low level of overall
portfolio risk.
Mr. Bradford is a Chartered Financial Analyst with a research background. The portfolio
managers see themselves as fundamental investment analysts, whose primary job is to
find, research and understand companies and securities that fit our models for growth and
risk control. We use many sources of information, including SEC filings, meetings with
company managements, their competitors and customers, and computer screening. In
following a company in depth, we focus on the “economic moat” that allows it to earn a
high return on investment. We monitor and assess management’s skill in protecting its
business franchise and implementing its growth plan, particularly when confronted with
challenges such as economic cycles, technological change, and new competition. We
concentrate on finding uniquely successful growth companies, rather than trying to
forecast economic conditions or securities market cycles. We use models to help us
judge under- or overvaluation and to time purchases and sales.
Assessing a client’s tolerance for risk, which involves the chance of the loss of principal
and/or the loss of an anticipated income stream, is an important part of an investment
adviser’s responsibility. Risk is an ever-present part of investing. It comes in two basic
forms: market risk, which derives from cycles and unforeseen events that can affect the
economy and securities markets broadly; and specific risk, which relates to fundamental
problems with individual investments. GBA’s strategy for mitigating market risk is
diversification and flexible asset allocation. Specific risk is addressed by intensive
research and concentrating on high-quality debt issuers and companies with strong
balance sheets and stable business models. Our portfolio managers know from
experience that recognizing problems early and cutting losses quickly are important
elements of risk control.
High brokerage and other transaction costs related to trading frequency have not been an
historic risk for GBA’s clients. Because of the focus on the long-term and high-quality
holdings, turnover in portfolios has been relatively low.
Disciplinary Information
Neither Mr. Bradford, Ms. Looi nor any principal or employee of GBA has ever been
involved in a disciplinary or legal event related to investments, an investment-related
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business, or any fraud, false statements or omissions, wrongful taking of property,
bribery, perjury, forgery, counterfeiting, extortion, or a conspiracy to commit any of
these offenses.
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Mr. Bradford and Ms. Looi have no other financial industry activities and affiliations that
might create a conflict of interest with clients.
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and
Personal Trading
GBA is a fiduciary and is legally held to a standard of care that requires always putting
clients’ best interests first. We have a written Code of Ethics, re-subscribed to annually
by all employees, which states that clients' interests are always foremost, and that all
clients will be treated fairly and equally. A copy of this document is available to clients
or prospective clients upon request.
Potential conflicts of interest exist when investment advisers own the same securities as
clients or participate in client transactions. For example, Mr. Bradford and Ms. Looi are
trustees of the firm's Profit-Sharing Retirement Plan, which often buys and sells the same
securities as clients. Additionally, principals and employees of our firm are permitted to
own the same securities as clients. When done in a way that avoids conflicts of interest,
we believe clients appreciate knowing the adviser’s money is invested right alongside
theirs. In certain instances, principals and employees may participate in “bunched”
(combining more than one account) orders with clients.
If an account in which an employee has a personal interest participates with clients in a
bunched trade, that order is entered after other separate client orders in the same security
have been completed. All participating accounts receive the same price and pay a pro
rata share of expenses. Personal trades in a security are not permitted until all pending
client trades in that security have been executed. GBA pre-authorizes, monitors, and
keeps records of all personal trades.
GBA policy provides for cross transactions among clients under circumstances which are
equally beneficial to both parties. Such transactions are effected through an unaffiliated
broker; the price is equal to the mean between the bid and ask as quoted and confirmed
by independent sources. In very limited cases GBA principals and employees may
participate in cross transactions with clients if the reasons are sound and the trade is in
the client’s best interests without showing favoritism at the expense of other clients. All
cross transactions are documented in our trade records and client files.
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Brokerage Practices
GBA is not a broker. Each client selects the custodian who will have physical possession
of his or her assets, which often determines an account's primary brokerage relationship.
In these cases, we attempt on behalf of the client to negotiate commissions and fees as
low as possible and closely monitor and discuss with the client the broker’s trade
execution capability, fee competitiveness, product offerings and service levels.
When clients can "trade away" from their custodian, GBA exercises its discretion in
selecting brokers. Our intent is to obtain “best execution” and capture the maximum
possible value of our investment decisions. Factors influencing the choice of a broker for
a given trade include execution capability, commission rates, merchandise availability,
client direction, research services provided, trade settlement efficiency and other
services.
When possible, orders from several clients may be grouped together to receive lower
commission costs and better execution. In a bunched order, each client receives the same
average price and pays a pro rata share of the commission (except that smaller clients
may pay a minimum ticket charge).
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
We allocate discretionary brokerage commissions by balancing best execution in trading
against the help brokers' proprietary investment research and other services give us in
achieving our clients' goals. Thus, we may select a broker in recognition of research
services provided, and for the same reason we may pay a broker a higher commission
than what another broker might have charged for the same trade. Research and other
services furnished by brokers through whom we effect transactions are used in servicing
all accounts, even though not all accounts participate in payment of the related
commissions.
We have a "soft-dollar" relationship with one broker, in which they deliver the payment
to two independent third-party data and pricing service providers. We pay the broker a
certain amount of commissions, and they in turn pay cash to the providers. In such an
arrangement we first determine that the commission rate is reasonable relative to the
values of the brokerage and research services received, paying particular attention to best
execution. In 2024, approximately 3% of our total commissions were paid as soft
dollars. While all clients benefited from the services, only 6% of clients participated in
payment of the related commissions, at rates at least as low as the average for all our
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commissions. Over the past three years, an average of 9% of the cost of the services was
paid with commissions, with the remainder a cash expense to GBA.
Brokerage for Client Referrals
When selecting or recommending brokers, GBA does not consider whether we receive
client referrals from that broker or a related party.
Directed Brokerage
GBA permits clients to direct brokerage. In most cases this direction is exercised
through the client’s selection of the independent custodian, who often becomes the
primary and sometimes the exclusive broker. Such a custodial relationship may be more
expensive than alternatives, for reasons such as fixed commission rates or the inability to
aggregate orders. GBA regularly consults with clients about brokers/custodians’ best
execution capabilities. Where applicable, GBA informs clients that lower-cost fee
alternatives exist.
Review of Accounts
Mr. Bradford and Ms. Looi are the portfolio managers and make all investment decisions
as a team. Each is familiar with all accounts and is empowered to act in the other’s
absence. Accounts are priced daily, and investment performance is reviewed for
inconsistencies. Because of the daily review activity, the familiarity of the managers
with all accounts, and the senior status and close working relationship of the managers,
we believe no formal internal review procedure is necessary.
GBA uses the Advent Portfolio Accounting system to maintain account records,
permitting accurate reports to be produced at any time. The Advent software and all
client accounting records are located at a secure site in the internet cloud, administered
by Amazon Web Services. This allows for remote access of all client records. Custodians
also maintain client records.
Accounts are reconciled with custodians’ records to ensure accuracy. Each client receives
a monthly report showing current market value and original cost of all investment
positions via mail or e-mail. Available optional reports include transactions, income
received, investment performance calculated using timeweighted and dollar-weighted
industry standards, realized gains and losses, commissions paid, and other customized
formats. Clients also receive regular monthly reports from their independent custodian.
E-mail, telephone calls and meetings are scheduled as appropriate.
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Client Referrals and Other Compensation
GBA does not pay for client referrals. Advisory fees on client assets under management
are the firm’s only source of revenue.
Custody
GBA does not maintain physical possession of any client assets. We believe that an
independent custodian, who issues regular statements that should be carefully reviewed
and compared with ours, helps to protect clients from abuses that can occur if trading
discretion and physical possession of the assets are concentrated at one entity.
Under recent SEC guidance, GBA is technically considered to have “custody” if the
client authorizes us to deduct our management fee from assets in the account under a
Standing Letter of Authorization. When this is the case, we are required to satisfy
ourselves that the custodian 1) is qualified to maintain client funds and securities and 2)
sends regular account statement to the client, including notice of the deduction of the fee.
Investment Discretion
Our investment management contract is a limited power of attorney granting us
“discretionary” authority to buy and sell securities in a client’s account. This means that
we are authorized to enter orders without prior approval from the client. We believe such
an arrangement is important to clearly assign ultimate responsibility for investment
results. Thus, while we consult regularly with clients to understand their investment
goals and are pleased to discuss our strategies and tactics in as much detail as the client
desires, we reserve for ourselves the final decisions as to what, how much and when to
buy or sell. We believe our clients' role in our ongoing relationship is to communicate
their objectives and judge the results of our investment decisions.
In order to give clients a more complete picture of their financial situation, we may at
times include their non-discretionary or "legacy" securities positions in our reports. We
may offer advice on such holdings, but they are excluded from our calculations of fees,
investment performance and assets under management.
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Voting Client Securities
GBA no longer votes proxies for its clients and instructs custodians to send all proxy
materials directly to the client. We made this decision reluctantly several years ago when
the SEC imposed new record keeping and due diligence requirements for proxy voting
that we felt a firm our size would have difficulty meeting. We do vote proxies for the
company's own retirement plans, however, and clients are welcome to inquire as to how
and why we voted as we did.
Financial Information
Because GBA does not collect prepaid fees and maintains custody only in the limited
sense that we may be authorized to deduct our fee from assets in clients’ accounts, a
balance sheet is not required to be included with this brochure. We nevertheless believe
our financial condition is strong.
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Additional Brochure: BROCHURE SUPPLEMENT (2025-03-14)
View Document Text
Form ADV Part 2B: Brochure Supplement
William Bradford III
Sherli Looi
Garrison, Bradford & Associates, Inc.
445 Park Avenue, Floor 9, Suite 909
New York
New York 10022
Telephone: (212) 557-7440
www.garrisonbradfordinvestments.com
March 31, 2025
This brochure provides information about William Bradford III and Sherli Looi that
supplements the Garrison, Bradford & Associates (“GBA”) brochure. You should
have received a copy of that brochure. Please contact us at (212) 557-7440, at
the above address or by email at bradford@gbinvest.com if you did not receive
our brochure or if you have any questions about the contents of this supplement.
Additional information about Garrison, Bradford & Associates, Inc. is also
available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec/gov.
William Bradford III
Born: 1943
Educational Background and Business Experience
Graduated from Bowdoin College in 1965 with A.B. in History. Attended New
York University Graduate School of Business Administration. Started with
Standard & Poor’s. Analyst with Eastman Dillion, Union Securities. Portfolio
Manager of National Growth Fund at National Securities. Portfolio Manager and
President of NSR Asset Management. Joined Garrison, Keogh & Company (now
Garrison, Bradford & Associates) in 1985, Executive Vice President 1990-2021.
President since 2021.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA): This professional designation requires the
successful completion of the CFA Program consisting of three levels, each
culminating in a six-hour exam, and an annual pledge to adhere to the CFA
Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
Chartered Investment Counselor (CIC): This professional designation requires a
CFA charter, employment with a member firm of the Investment Adviser
Association, and adherence to the IAA’s Standards of Practice.
Disciplinary Information
No involvement in a disciplinary or legal event with any bearing on investment
management.
Other Business Activities
No other financial industry activities and affiliations that might create a conflict of
interest with clients.
Additional Compensation
No compensation for advisory services to non-GBA clients.
Supervision
The portfolio managers at GBA supervise each other, as more fully described in
the “Review of Accounts” section of the GBA brochure.
Sherli Looi
Born: 1958
Educational Background and Business Experience
Graduated from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand in 1980 with a
Bachelor of Commerce & Administration, majoring in Accountancy and Business
Administration. Earned a professional certification as a Chartered Accountant
from the New Zealand Society of Accountants. Attended William E. Simon
Graduate School of Business at the University of Rochester. Started with Peat
Marwick Chartered Accountants, Wellington, New Zealand. Worked at Chase
Manhattan Bank in Malaysia, Singapore, and New York City, and Gramercy
Capital. Joined Garrison Bradford and Associates in 2012. Senior Vice President
2015 and Executive Vice President in 2023.
Registered Investment Advisor Representative under Series 65.
Disciplinary Information
No involvement in a disciplinary or legal event with any bearing on investment
management.
Other Business Activities
No other financial industry activities and affiliations that might create a conflict of
interest with clients.
Additional Compensation
No compensation for advisory services to non-GBA clients.
Supervision
The portfolio managers at GBA supervise each other, as more fully described in
the “Review of Accounts” section of the GBA brochure.