Overview
Assets Under Management: $155 million
Headquarters: AUSTIN, TX
High-Net-Worth Clients: 19
Average Client Assets: $7 million
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (HAMPTON ROCK PART 2A)
Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$0 | $500,000 | 1.50% |
$500,001 | $1,000,000 | 1.25% |
$1,000,001 | $10,000,000 | 1.00% |
$10,000,001 | $30,000,000 | 0.90% |
$30,000,001 | $50,000,000 | 0.75% |
$50,000,001 | and above | 0.50% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$1 million | $13,750 | 1.38% |
$5 million | $53,750 | 1.08% |
$10 million | $103,750 | 1.04% |
$50 million | $433,750 | 0.87% |
$100 million | $683,750 | 0.68% |
Clients
Number of High-Net-Worth Clients: 19
Percentage of Firm Assets Belonging to High-Net-Worth Clients: 92.04
Average High-Net-Worth Client Assets: $7 million
Total Client Accounts: 110
Discretionary Accounts: 110
Regulatory Filings
CRD Number: 331682
Last Filing Date: 2025-01-14 00:00:00
Form ADV Documents
Primary Brochure: HAMPTON ROCK PART 2A (2025-03-10)
View Document Text
Item 1 – Cover Page
Part 2A of Form ADV
March 10, 2025
Hampton Rock Wealth Management, LLC
7500 Rialto Boulevard
Building 1, Suite 122
Austin, TX 78735
Phone: 512-256-9272
Email: DDodson@hamptonrockwealth.com
www.hamptonrock.com
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Hampton
Rock Wealth Management, LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this Brochure,
please contact us using the information listed above. The information in this Brochure has not been
approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or by any
state securities authority.
Hampton Rock Wealth Management, LLC (CRD# 331682) is a registered investment adviser with
the SEC. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Hampton Rock Wealth Management, LLC. is also available on the
SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Item 2 – Material Changes
Since the initial filing of this brochure, the firm has the following material changes:
• The firm updated its principal place of business (Item 1).
• The firm updated its fee schedule (Item 5).
• The firm has updated its Assets Under Management. (Item 4.E)
• The firm manages cryptocurrency and has included the risks associated with investing in
cryptocurrency (Item 8).
• The firm has added Pension Consulting services and fees. (Items 4, 5 and 7) The firm has
updated Item 4 and 5 with Estate Planning Services and Fees.
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Item 3 – Table of Contents
Item 1 – Cover Page ...............................................................................................................1
Item 2 – Material Changes ......................................................................................................2
Item 3 – Table of Contents .....................................................................................................3
Item 4 – Advisory Business .....................................................................................................4
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation ............................................................................................7
Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management .......................................... 10
Item 7 – Types of Clients & Account Minimums .................................................................... 10
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, Investment Tools, and Risk of Loss ...... 10
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information ......................................................................................... 16
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ................................................. 16
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading17
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices .............................................................................................. 18
Item 13 – Review of Accounts ............................................................................................... 22
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation .............................................................. 23
Item 15 – Custody ................................................................................................................ 24
Item 16 – Investment Discretion ........................................................................................... 25
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities ......................................................................................... 25
Item 18 – Financial Information ............................................................................................ 25
Item 19 – Requirements for State Registered Advisors .......................................................... 25
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Item 4 – Advisory Business
Description of the Advisory Firm
A.
Hampton Rock Wealth Management, LLC (“Hampton Rock WM”), was formed in June of 2024, is
based in Austin, Texas, and has been providing investment advisory services since its registration
was approved in mid-2024. Hampton Rock WM’s owners are Stuart Brown and David Dodson.
Types of Advisory Services
B.
ASSET MANAGEMENT
Hampton Rock WM offers asset management services to advisory Clients. Hampton Rock WM will
offer Clients ongoing asset management services through determining individual investment goals,
time horizons, objectives, and risk tolerance. Investment strategies, investment selection, asset
allocation, portfolio monitoring and the overall investment program will be based on the above
factors.
Discretionary
When the Client elects to use Hampton Rock WM on a discretionary basis, the Client will
sign a limited trading authorization or equivalent allowing Hampton Rock WM to determine
the securities to be bought or sold and the amount of the securities to be bought or sold.
Hampton Rock WM will have the authority to execute transactions in the account without
seeking Client approval on each transaction.
Non-Discretionary
When the Client elects to use Hampton Rock WM on a non-discretionary basis, Hampton
Rock WM will determine the securities to be bought or sold and the amount of the securities
to be bought or sold. However, Hampton Rock WM will obtain prior Client approval on each
and every transaction before executing any transaction.
HELD-AWAY ASSETS
Hampton Rock WM’s held-away accounts’ service provides investment allocation and guidance
with outside accounts held at other custodians. These accounts typically include some variable
insurance products, 529 plans or mutual funds held directly with a mutual fund sponsor, as well as
401k accounts. If Client agrees, Hampton Rock WM will provide advice on these accounts. If assets
are monitored on technology platform used by Hampton Rock WM, these assets will be included
in the billing outlined in Item 5 Fees and Compensation. Hampton Rock WM will be allowed to
monitor these accounts and place trades with discretion as needed.
In some cases, assets are not monitored on our technology platform and if so, our advice is solely
consultative in nature and Clients are responsible for placing and executing their own trades, either
on their own or with another investment adviser, as Hampton Rock WM will not have discretion nor
the ability to execute trades on the Client’s behalf.
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
Hampton Rock WM may also recommend alternative investments to clients who meet the
financial, suitability and risk tolerance requirements of the investment recommendation. These
products are not typically held at Hampton Rock WM’s custodian, but are purchased directly
through the use of a subscription (or similar) document. These are typically hedge funds,
cryptocurrency, and private equity funds. Hampton Rock WM does not use our discretionary
trading authority for the purchase or sale of these alternative investments but instead will explain
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the investment’s potential risks and rewards to you. You will be required to sign the paperwork
required by the sponsor which we will submit on your behalf.
Hampton Rock WM does not serve as the investment adviser to the alternative investments but
oversees the assets, does initial and ongoing due diligence and makes recommendations to
clients that are believed to be in-line with the client’s investment objectives and risk tolerance.
Hampton Rock WM does charge a fee for this service as outlined in Item 5 Fees and
Compensation.
CORPORATE FINANCE
Some clients may find themselves in need of advice regarding the purchase or sale of a business
or other advice typically provided by an investment bank. They may also be interested in exploring
investment opportunities beyond the scope of traditional asset management. If this is the case,
clients of Hampton Rock WM may be introduced to HamptonRock Partners LLC (HamptonRock
Partners), an affiliate of ours and a registered broker-dealer, member FINRA and SIPC.
HamptonRock Partners is able to provide the specialized guidance and support needed to explore
possible mergers and acquisitions, a capital raise or other strategic financial transactions. This
presents a conflict of interest because the Investment Adviser Representative may recommend
HamptonRock Partners over other firms with more experience or lower fees. HamptonRock
Partners will earn compensation on these transactions as outlined in their agreement with the
client. This agreement is separate and apart from the client’s agreement with Hampton Rock WM.
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND CONSULTING
Financial planning and consulting are available to clients of Hampton Rock WM but are not
provided to every client. If a client is interested in discussing financial planning in more detail, they
should speak to their financial advisor.
Hampton Rock WM does not typically provide a written financial plan but instead will discuss topics
applicable to the client in a consultative manner. These topics may include, but are not limited to:
• Personal net worth
• Cash flow analysis
• Retirement strategies
• Long-term investment plans
• Tax reduction strategies
• Exit planning strategies
• Estate preservation
If a conflict of interest exists between the interests of Hampton Rock WM and the interests of the
Client, the Client is under no obligation to act upon Hampton Rock WM’s recommendation. If the
Client elects to act on any of the recommendations made by Hampton Rock WM, the Client is under
no obligation to affect the transaction through Hampton Rock WM.
Estate Planning Services
At Hampton Rock Wealth Management, we offer estate planning services through third-party
software designed to assist clients in creating customized estate planning documents. Please be
advised that, as a non-legal, non-CPA advisory firm, we do not provide legal or tax advice. Our role
is to provide clients with access to estate planning software, guide them through the interface, and
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assist in inputting personal and financial information to generate estate planning documents, such
as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. While we offer general information and education on estate
planning concepts, including the purpose of common documents and their alignment with financial
goals, these tools are intended for informational purposes only. We strongly recommend
consulting with a licensed attorney or certified public accountant to review your estate plan and
ensure it meets your specific needs and complies with relevant laws.
PENSION CONSULTING SERVICES
Hampton Rock WM offers consulting services to pension or other employee benefit plans
(including but not limited to 401(k) plans). Pension consulting may include, but is not limited to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
identifying investment objectives and restrictions
providing guidance on various assets classes and investment options
recommending money managers to manage plan assets in ways designed to achieve
objectives
monitoring performance of money managers and investment options and making
recommendations for changes
recommending other service providers, such as custodians, administrators and broker-
dealers
creating a written pension consulting plan
These services are based on the goals, objectives, demographics, time horizon, and/or risk
tolerance of the plan and its participants.
Written Acknowledgement of Fiduciary Status
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual
retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, which are laws governing
retirement accounts. The way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests, so we
operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and not put our interest
ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give
prudent advice);
Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give
loyal advice);
Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your
best interest;
Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
Client-Tailored Services and Client-Imposed Restrictions
C.
The Client’s financial needs, investment goals, tolerance for risk, and investment objectives are
documented in Hampton Rock WM’s Client files. Investment strategies are created that reflect the
stated goals and objectives. Clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or
types of securities. These restrictions may, however, prohibit engagement with Hampton Rock WM.
Wrap Fee Programs
D.
Hampton Rock WM does not participate in a Wrap Fee Program.
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Amounts Under Management
E.
As of December 31, 2024, Hampton Rock WM had $142,138,531 in client discretionary assets
under management and $0 in client non-discretionary assets under management.
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
Fee Schedule
A.
ASSET MANAGEMENT
Hampton Rock WM offers asset management services to advisory Clients. Hampton Rock WM
charges an annual investment advisory fee based on the total assets under management as
follows:
Assets Under Management
Annual Fee
First $0 - $500,000
1.50%
Next $500,001 - $1,00,000
1.25%
Next $1,000,001 - $10,000,000
1.00%
Next $20,000,000
0.90%
Next $20,000,000
0.75%
Amounts >$50,000,000
0.50%
This is a blended fee schedule, meaning different asset levels are assessed different fees, as shown
above. Fees are billed monthly in advance based on the amount of assets managed as of the close
of business on the last business day of the previous billing period. If margin is utilized, the fees will
be billed based on the gross asset value of the account. Lastly, please note that Hampton Rock
WM may group certain related Client accounts, often known as “householding”, for the purposes of
achieving the minimum account size and determining the annualized fee. Fees are negotiable at
the discretion of Hampton Rock WM, and the final fee schedule will be attached to the Investment
Advisory Contract.
Fees are calculated based on the number of actual days in the month. An example of a simple
billing calculation is:
$10,000,000 in assets as of 9/30/2023: ($10,000,000 * 1% / 366) = $273.22/day $273.22 * 31=
$8,469.95 in fees will be deducted in early October for the month of October. (2023 was a leap
year. In non-leap years, the annual fee is divided by 365 days).
Please note that certain accounts, such as variable annuities, may have separate billing options
and may also be paid in the following ways:
• Deducted from a non-qualified Client account held with Hampton Rock WM
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• Deducted from a qualified Client account held with Hampton Rock WM for Client’s over 59½
HELD-AWAY ASSETS
Held-away assets managed on our technology platform are included in billing by Hampton Rock
WM as agreed upon in the client’s advisory agreement. These assets will be billed on the same
Asset Management fee schedule shown above.
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
Accounts that hold alternative investments held away that were recommended to you by
Hampton Rock WM or are listed on the Client’s advisory agreement are charged an asset
management advisory fee by Hampton Rock WM. This is typically 1% but is negotiable at
Hampton Rock WM’s discretion. This fee is in addition to the management and performance fees
charged to you by the investment adviser of the alternative investment as described in their
offering documents. The management and performance fees charged by the investment adviser
of the alternative investment are not shared with Hampton Rock WM.
This conflict is mitigated by disclosures, procedures and Hampton Rock WM’s fiduciary obligation
to place the best interest of the client first. Moreover, clients are not required to purchase any
alternative investment(s) recommended by Hampton Rock WM.
CORPORATE FINANCE
Hampton Rock WM and its financial advisers do not earn direct compensation based on the referral
of a client to HamptonRock Partners, although bonus and payout structures may take into account
the profitability of business sent to HamptonRock Partners or its affiliates. Additional details are
listed under Item 4 Advisory Business.
This conflict is mitigated by disclosures, procedures and Hampton Rock WM’s fiduciary obligation
to place the best interest of the client first. Moreover, clients are not required to engage the broker-
dealer or its representatives if they do not wish to.
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND CONSULTING
Hampton Rock WM does not charge separately for financial planning and consulting. Financial
planning and consulting are available to clients of Hampton Rock WM but are not provided to every
client. If a client is interested in discussing financial planning in more detail, they should speak to
their financial advisor.
Estate Planning Fees
At Hampton Rock Wealth Management, we charge a standard fee of $1,000 for the estate planning
service, which includes access to the third-party software and our assistance in navigating and
inputting information to generate personalized estate planning documents. The fee is negotiable
at the discretion of the Advisor.
PENSION CONSULTING
The fee schedule for pension consulting services is based on an annual percentage of the plan
assets for which Hampton Rock WM is providing such consulting services listed below. This is a
blended fee schedule, meaning different asset levels are assessed different fees, as shown above.
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Fees are billed monthly in advance based on the amount of assets managed as of the close of
business on the last business day of the previous billing period. These fees are negotiable.
Assets Under Management
Annual Fee
First $0 - $500,000
1.50%
Next $500,001 - $1,00,000
1.25%
Next $1,000,001 - $10,000,000
1.00%
Next $20,000,000
0.90%
Next $20,000,000
0.75%
Amounts >$50,000,000
0.50%
Payment of Fees
B.
Asset Management Fees are deducted directly from the Client’s Account. Fees can be deducted
from the managed account or from another, non-retirement account, custodied at Schwab.
Fixed estate planning fees are paid via check, direct deduction from a managed account or wire.
These fees are charged in advance, but never more than six months in advance. Fixed fees that are
collected in advance, but unearned at the time termination becomes effective (if any), will be
refunded based on the prorated amount of work completed at the point of termination. If this
Agreement is terminated prior to completion of the estate planning services, then Client will be
responsible for paying the prorated fee for work completed but unpaid (if any) at the time
termination becomes effective.
Pension consulting fees are withdrawn directly from the client’s accounts with client’s written
authorization. Fees are paid monthly in advance.
Hampton Rock WM, in its sole discretion, may charge a lesser investment advisory fee based upon
certain criteria (e.g., historical relationship, type of assets, anticipated future earning capacity,
anticipated future additional assets, dollar amounts of assets to be managed, related accounts,
account composition, negotiations with Clients, etc.).
For all services, the Agreement may be terminated by Hampton Rock WM with thirty (30) days
written notice to Client and by the Client at any time with written notice to Hampton Rock WM. For
accounts opened or closed mid-billing period, fees will be prorated based on the number of days
services are provided during the billing period. All unpaid earned fees will be due to Hampton Rock
WM and all unearned fees will be refunded to the Client. Any increase in fees will be acknowledged
in writing by both parties before any increase in said fees occurs.
Additional Fees
C.
Custodians may charge brokerage commissions, transaction fees, and other related costs on the
purchases or sales of mutual funds, equities, bonds, options, margin interest, and exchange-traded
funds. Mutual funds, money market funds, and exchange-traded funds also charge internal
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management fees, which are disclosed in the fund’s prospectus. Hampton Rock WM does not
directly receive any compensation from these fees. All of these fees are in addition to the
management fee you pay to Hampton Rock WM. For more details on the brokerage practices, see
Item 12 of this brochure.
There are additional fees charged by Schwab and paid by the client in certain circumstances.
Hampton Rock WM does not mark these fees up nor does it share in the fees imposed by Schwab.
Clients will receive information on these fees upon signing up for your account(s) with Schwab, and
you should keep this for future reference.
Prepayment of Fees
D.
Hampton Rock WM does charge Clients monthly in advance. If a Client terminates their
relationship with Hampton Rock WM during a billing cycle, prepaid and unearned fees will be
promptly refunded. In other words, you will only pay us fees for the time we manage your
account(s).
External Compensation for the Sale of Securities
E.
Hampton Rock WM does not receive any external compensation from the sale of retail securities
although certain Investment Adviser Representatives of Hampton Rock WM may also be
Registered Representatives of our affiliated broker-dealer and investment banker, HamptonRock
Partners, LLC. HamptonRock Partners does not sell retail investments or securities to clients of
Hampton Rock WM. HamptonRock Partners’ is licensed to sell private placements of securities
and to provide advisory services regarding mergers and acquisitions. For additional information,
please refer to Item 10, Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations.
Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
Fees are not based on a share of the capital gains or capital appreciation of managed securities.
Hampton Rock WM does not use a performance-based fee structure nor “side-by-side”
management because of the conflict of interest. Performance based compensation may create an
incentive for Hampton Rock WM to recommend an investment that may carry a higher degree of
risk to the Client.
Item 7 – Types of Clients & Account Minimums
Hampton Rock WM’s Clients are generally individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, high net-
worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, pooled investment vehicles, and charities.
Client relationships vary in scope and length of service.
Hampton Rock WM requires a minimum account size of $5,000,000 to enter into an Advisory
Agreement. However, Hampton Rock WM retains the discretion to lower or waive said minimum.
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, Investment Tools, and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
A.
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that Clients should be prepared to bear. Past
performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Security analysis methods may include:
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Fundamental analysis concentrates on factors that determine a company’s value and expected
future earnings. This strategy would normally encourage equity purchases in stocks that are
undervalued or priced below their perceived value. The risk assumed is that the market will fail to
reach expectations of perceived value.
Cyclical analysis assumes that the markets react in cyclical patterns which, once identified, can be
leveraged to provide performance. The risks with this strategy are twofold: 1) the markets do not
always repeat cyclical patterns; and 2) if too many investors begin to implement this strategy, then
it changes the very cycles these investors are trying to exploit.
Quantitative analysis deals with measurable factors as distinguished from qualitative
considerations such as the character of management or the state of employee morale, such as the
value of assets, the cost of capital, historical projections of sales, and so on.
Modern portfolio theory is a theory of investment that attempts to maximize portfolio expected
return for a given amount of portfolio risk, or equivalently minimize risk for a given level of expected
return, each by carefully choosing the proportions of various assets.
In developing a financial plan for a Client, Hampton Rock WM’s analysis may include cash flow
analysis, investment planning, risk management, tax planning and estate planning. Based on the
information gathered, a detailed strategy is tailored to the Client’s specific situation.
The main sources of information include financial newspapers and magazines, annual reports,
prospectuses, and filings with the SEC.
Investment Strategy
B.
The investment strategy for a specific Client is based upon the objectives stated by the Client
during consultations. The Client may change these objectives at any time by providing written
notice to Hampton Rock WM. Each Client executes a Client profile form or similar form that
documents their objectives and their desired investment strategy.
Risks of Investments and Strategies Utilized
C.
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that Clients should be prepared to bear. Hampton Rock
WM’s investment approach constantly keeps the risk of loss in mind. Investors may face the
following investment risks:
General Investment and Trading Risks. Clients may invest in securities and other financial
instruments using strategies and investment techniques with significant risk characteristics. The
investment program utilizes such investment techniques as option transactions, margin
transactions, short sales, leverage, and derivatives trading, the use of which can, in certain
circumstances, maximize the adverse impact to which a Client may be subject.
Interest-rate Risk. Fluctuations in interest rates may cause investment prices to fluctuate. For
example, when interest rates rise, yields on existing bonds become less attractive, causing their
market values to decline.
Inflation Risk. When any type of inflation is present, a dollar today will buy more than a dollar next
year, because purchasing power is eroding at the rate of inflation.
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Currency Risk. Overseas investments are subject to fluctuations in the value of the dollar against
the currency of the investment’s originating country. This is also referred to as exchange rate risk.
Reinvestment Risk. This is the risk that future proceeds from investments may have to be
reinvested at a potentially lower rate of return (i.e. interest rate). This primarily relates to fixed
income securities.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity is the ability to readily convert an investment into cash. Generally, assets
are more liquid if many traders are interested in a standardized product. For example, Treasury Bills
are highly liquid, while real estate properties are not.
Management Risk. The advisor’s investment approach may fail to produce the intended results. If
the advisor’s assumptions regarding the performance of a specific asset class or fund are not
realized in the expected time frame, the overall performance of the Client’s portfolio may suffer.
Cybersecurity Risk. Hampton Rock WM and its service providers may be subject to operational and
information security risks resulting from cyberattacks. Cyberattacks include, among other
behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on
websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of
cybersecurity breaches. Cybersecurity attacks affecting Hampton Rock WM and its service
providers may adversely impact Clients. For instance, cyberattacks may interfere with the
processing of transactions, cause the release of private information about Clients, impede trading,
subject Hampton Rock WM to regulatory fines or financial losses, and cause reputational damage.
Similar types of cybersecurity risks are also present for issuers of securities in which Clients may
invest in, qualified custodians, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other
financial market operators, or other financial institutions. Cybersecurity incidents that could
ultimately cause them to incur losses, including for example: financial losses, cost and reputational
damages, and loss from damage or interruption of systems. Although Hampton Rock WM has
established its systems to reduce the risk of these incidents from coming to fruition, there is no
guarantee that these efforts will always be successful, especially considering that Hampton Rock
WM does not directly control the cybersecurity measures and policies employed by third party
service providers.
Options Trading. The risks involved with trading options are that they are very time sensitive
investments. An options contract is generally a few months. The buyer of an option could lose his
or her entire investment even with a correct prediction about the direction and magnitude of a
particular price change if the price change does not occur in the relevant time period (i.e., before
the option expires). Additionally, options are less tangible than some other investments. An option
is a “book-entry” only investment without a paper certificate of ownership.
Trading on Margin. In a cash account, the risk is limited to the amount of money that has been
invested. In a margin account, risk includes the amount of money invested plus the amount that
has been loaned. As market conditions fluctuate, the value of marginable securities will also
fluctuate, causing a change in the overall account balance and debt ratio. As a result, if the value of
the securities held in a margin account depreciates, the Client will be required to deposit additional
cash or make full payment of the margin loan to bring the account back up to maintenance levels.
Clients who cannot comply with such a margin call may be sold out or bought in by the brokerage
firm.
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Exchange-Traded Funds. ETFs are a type of index fund bought and sold on a securities exchange.
The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities they are
designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile and ETFs
have management fees that increase their costs. ETFs are also subject to other risks, including:
(i) the risk that their prices may not correlate perfectly with changes in the underlying reference
units; and (ii) the risk of possible trading halts due to market conditions or other reasons that, in
the view of the exchange upon which an ETF trades, would make trading in the ETF inadvisable.
Mutual Fund Risks. An investment in mutual funds could lose money over short or even long
periods. A mutual fund’s share price and total return are expected to fluctuate within a wide range,
like the fluctuations of the overall stock market.
Common Stocks and Equity-Related Securities. Certain ETFs or mutual funds hold common stock.
Prices of common stock react to the economic condition of the company that issued the security,
industry and market conditions, and other factors which may fluctuate widely. Investments related
to the value of stocks may rise and fall based on an issuer’s actual and anticipated earnings,
changes in management, the potential for takeovers and acquisitions, and other economic factors.
Similarly, the value of other equity-related securities, including preferred stock, warrants, and
options may also vary widely.
Small- and Mid-Cap Risks. Certain ETFs and mutual funds hold securities of small- and mid-cap
issuers. Securities of small-cap issuers may present greater risks than those of large-cap issuers.
For example, some small- and mid-cap issuers often have limited product lines, markets, or
financial resources. They may be subject to high volatility in revenues, expenses, and earnings.
Their securities may be thinly traded, may be followed by fewer investment research analysts, and
may be subject to wider price swings and thus may create a greater chance of loss than when
investing in securities of larger-cap issuers. The market prices of securities of small- and mid-cap
issuers generally are more sensitive to changes in earnings expectations, to corporate
developments, and to market rumors than are the market prices of large-cap issuers.
Futures, Commodities, and Derivative Investments. Certain ETFs and mutual funds hold
commodities, commodities contracts, and/or derivative instruments, including futures, options and
swap agreements. The prices of commodities contracts and derivative instruments, including
futures and options, are highly volatile. Payments made pursuant to swap agreements may also
be highly volatile. Price movements of commodities, futures and options contracts, and payments
pursuant to swap agreements are influenced by, among other things, interest rates, changing
supply and demand relationships, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and
policies of governments, and national and international political and economic events and policies.
The value of futures, options, and swap agreements also depends upon the price of the
commodities underlying them. In addition, Client assets are subject to the risk of the failure of any
of the exchanges on which its positions trade or of its clearinghouses or counterparties.
Highly Volatile Markets. The prices of financial instruments can be highly volatile. Price movements
of forward and other derivative contracts are influenced by, among other things, interest rates,
changing supply and demand relationships, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs
and policies of governments, and national and international political and economic events and
policies. Clients are also subject to the risk of failure of any of the exchanges on which their
positions trade or of its clearinghouses.
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Non-U.S. Securities. Certain ETFs and mutual funds hold securities of non-U.S. issuers.
Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers pose a range of potential risks which could include
expropriation, confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividends, interest,
capital gains or other income, political or social instability, illiquidity, price volatility, and market
manipulation. In addition, less information may be available regarding securities of non-U.S.
issuers, and non-U.S. issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting
standards, and requirements comparable to or as uniform as those of U.S. issuers.
Emerging Markets. Certain ETFs and mutual funds hold securities of emerging markets issuers. In
addition to the risks associated with investments outside of the United States, investments in
emerging markets (i.e., the developing countries) may involve additional risks. Emerging markets
generally are not as efficient as those in developed countries. In some cases, a market for the
security may not exist locally, and transactions will need to be made on a neighboring exchange.
Volume and liquidity levels in emerging markets are lower than in developed countries. When
seeking to sell emerging market securities, little or no market may exist for the securities. In
addition, issuers based in emerging markets are not generally subject to uniform accounting and
financial reporting standards, practices, and requirements comparable to those applicable to
issuers based in developed countries, thereby potentially increasing the risk of fraud or other
deceptive practices.
Capitalization Risks. Investing in Companies within the same market capitalization category carries
the risk that the category may be out of favor due to current market conditions or investor
sentiment.
Market Risks. Turbulence in the financial markets and reduced liquidity may negatively affect the
Companies, which could have an adverse effect on each of them. If the securities of the Companies
experience poor liquidity, investors may be unable to transact at advantageous times or prices,
which may decrease the Company’s returns. In addition, there is a risk that policy changes by
central governments and governmental agencies, including the Federal Reserve or the European
Central Bank, which could include increasing interest rates, could cause increased volatility in
financial markets, which could have a negative impact on the Companies. Furthermore, local,
regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other
public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Companies.
For example, the rapid and global spread of COVID-19, resulted in extreme volatility in the financial
markets and severe losses; reduced liquidity of many Companies’ securities; restrictions on
international and, in some cases, local travel; significant disruptions to business operations
(including business closures); strained healthcare systems; disruptions to supply chains, consumer
demand and employee availability; and widespread uncertainty regarding the duration and long-
term effects of this pandemic. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers experienced
particularly large losses. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased volatility and/or
decreased liquidity in the securities markets. The Companies’ values could decline over short
periods due to short-term market movements and over longer periods during market downturns.
Inverse and Leveraged Products. Hampton Rock WM may recommend and engage in trading with
leveraged and inverse products. These products are aggressive in nature and carry unusual and
significant risk. They are not appropriate for inexperienced investors. These products are intended
to be used/traded daily. Most leveraged and inverse ETFs reset on a daily basis and have published
prospectuses that state (I) they're designed to achieve their stated objective within one day, (2)
clients can lose all of their investment potentially in one day, and (3) holding these securities for
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periods longer than one day could lead to losses even if the underlying index moves in the
anticipated direction. Regulatory organizations, such as FINRA & SEC, have released alerts stating
that inverse and leveraged ETFs that reset daily typically are not suitable for retail investors who
plan to hold them longer than one day. Managers may hold these products in client accounts for
periods of time significantly greater than one day. Investors with holding periods longer than a day
expose themselves to substantial risk as the holding period returns will deviate from the returns to
a leveraged or inverse investment in the index. It is possible for an investor in a leveraged ETF to
experience negative returns even when the underlying index has positive returns.
Penny Stock Risks. Generally, Penny Stocks are low-priced shares of small companies that are not
traded on an exchange. Penny Stocks typically trade over-the-counter, such as on the OTC Bulletin
Board or Pink Sheets. Penny Stocks, unlike listed stocks, are not subject to SEC reporting
requirements or the listing standards of stock exchanges. Because of this, information about the
Penny Stock companies can be difficult to find and verify. Penny Stocks also have lower liquidity
as they are traded less frequently. This also leads to higher volatility. For these reasons, Penny
Stocks are considered to be speculative investments and Clients who trade in penny stocks should
be prepared for the possibility that they may lose their entire investment, or an amount in excess
of their investment if they purchased Penny Stocks on margin.
Variable Annuity Risk. A variable annuity is a form of insurance where the seller or issuer (typically
an insurance company) makes a series of future payments to a buyer (annuitant) in exchange for
the immediate payment of a lump sum (single-payment annuity) or a series of regular payments
(regular-payment annuity). The payment stream from the issuer to the annuitant has an unknown
duration based principally upon the date of death of the annuitant. At this point, the contract will
terminate, and the remainder of the funds accumulated are forfeited unless there are other
annuitants or beneficiaries in the contract. Annuities can be purchased to provide an income during
retirement. Unlike fixed annuities that make payments in fixed amounts or in amounts that increase
by a fixed percentage, variable annuities, pay amounts that vary according to the performance of a
specified set of investments, typically bond and equity mutual funds. Many variable annuities
typically impose asset-based sales charges or surrender charges for withdrawals within a specified
period. Variable annuities may impose a variety of fees and expenses, in addition to sales and
surrender charges, such as mortality and expense risk charges; administrative fees; underlying fund
expenses; and charges for special features, all of which can reduce the return. Earnings in a variable
annuity do not provide all the tax advantages of 401(k)s and other before-tax retirement plans.
Once the investor starts withdrawing money from their variable annuity, earnings are taxed at the
ordinary income rate, rather than at the lower capital gains rates applied to other non-tax-deferred
vehicles which are held for more than one year. Proceeds of most variable annuities do not receive
a "step-up" in cost basis when the owner dies like stocks, bonds and mutual funds do. Some
variable annuities offer "bonus credits." These are usually not free. In order to fund them, insurance
companies typically impose mortality and expense charges and surrender charge periods. In an
exchange of an existing annuity for a new annuity (so-called 1035 exchanges), the new variable
annuity may have a lower contract value and a smaller death benefit; may impose new surrender
charges or increase the period of time for which the surrender charge applies; may have higher
annual fees; and provide another commission for the broker
Alternative Investments. When appropriate for a Client’s objective, risk tolerance and qualifications,
Hampton Rock WM may recommend the client participate in private issues, such as single purpose
vehicles, funds of funds, private equity, and hedge funds. These are usually structured as limited
partnerships with differing minimum investments, liquidity, fees and carries.
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Cryptocurrency investing refers to trading in digital/virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin, that are not
backed by real assets or tangible securities and are more volatile than traditional currencies and
financial assets. Digital currency is a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of
exchange, a unit of account, or a store of value, but it does not have legal tender status. Digital
currency is not backed or supported by any government or central bank. Digital currency’s price is
completely derived by market forces of supply and demand, traded between consenting parties
with no broker and tracked on digital ledgers commonly known as blockchains. Investing in digital
currency comes with significant risk of loss that a client should be prepared to bear and, due to the
nature of cryptocurrencies, clients are exposed to the risks normally associated with investing but
also unique risks not typical of investing in traditional securities. These include, but are not limited
to, volatile market price swings or flash crashes, market manipulation, economic, regulatory,
technical, and cybersecurity risks.
The foregoing list of risk factors does not purport to be a complete enumeration or explanation of
the risks involved in an investment with Hampton Rock WM.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
Hampton Rock WM and its management have not been involved in any criminal or civil actions,
administrative or self-regulatory enforcement proceedings, nor any legal or disciplinary events that
are material to a Client’s or prospective Client’s evaluation of Hampton Rock WM or the integrity of
its management.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Registration as a Broker-Dealer or Broker-Dealer Representative
A.
Hampton Rock WM is affiliated with HamptonRock Partners, LLC, a registered broker-dealer and
investment banker, member FINRA and SIPC. HamptonRock Partners does not sell retail
investments or securities to clients of Hampton Rock WM. HamptonRock Partners’ is only licensed
to sell private placements of securities and to provide advisory services regarding mergers and
acquisitions.
Clients of Hampton Rock WM may be introduced to HamptonRock Partners should they express
an interest in exploring investment opportunities beyond the scope of traditional asset
management. HamptonRock Partners is able to provide the specialized guidance and support
needed to explore possible mergers and acquisitions, a capital raise or other strategic financial
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transactions. This presents a conflict of interest because the Investment Adviser Representative
may recommend HamptonRock Partners over other firms with more experience or lower fees.
HamptonRock Partners does charge clients for these services and those charges will be outlined
in the client’s agreement with HamptonRock Partners.
This conflict is mitigated by disclosures, procedures and Hampton Rock WM’s fiduciary obligation
to place the best interest of the Client first. Moreover, Clients are not required to engage
HamptonRock Partners or its representatives if they do not wish to.
B.
Registration as a Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, or a
Commodity Trading Advisor
Neither Hampton Rock WM nor its management persons are registered as a futures commission
merchant, commodity pool operator, or a commodity trading advisor.
Relationships Material to this Advisory Business and Possible Conflicts of Interest
C.
Some Investment Adviser Representatives of Hampton Rock WM are licensed to sell insurance
products and as such would receive external compensation from sales of investment related
services as Insurance Agents. This represents a conflict of interest because it gives an incentive to
recommend services based on the fee amount received. This conflict is mitigated by disclosures,
procedures and Hampton Rock WM’s fiduciary obligation to place the best interest of the Client
first. Moreover, Clients are not required to engage the Agent or Agency if they do not wish to. More
information on this can be found in the respective Investment Adviser Representative’s Form U4
and ADV 2B. The recommendation of an insurance product will only be made if it is determined to
be a need for the client based on the client’s financial and estate planning situation. These
recommendations are rarely made by Investment Adviser Representatives of Hampton Rock WM.
Selection of Other Advisors or Managers
D.
Hampton Rock WM does not utilize nor select other advisors.
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
Code of Ethics
A.
The affiliated persons (affiliated persons include employees and/or independent contractors) of
Hampton Rock WM have committed to a Code of Ethics (“Code”). The purpose of our Code is to
set forth standards of conduct expected of Hampton Rock WM affiliated persons and addresses
conflicts that may arise. The Code defines acceptable behavior for affiliated persons of Hampton
Rock WM. The Code reflects Hampton Rock WM and its supervised persons’ responsibility to act
in the best interest of their Client.
One area which the Code addresses is when affiliated persons buy or sell securities for their
personal accounts and how to mitigate any conflict of interest with our Clients. We do not allow
any affiliated persons to use non-public material information for their personal profit or to use
internal research for their personal benefit in conflict with the benefit to our Clients.
Hampton Rock WM’s policy prohibits any person from acting upon or otherwise misusing non-
public or inside information. No advisory representative or other affiliated person, officer or director
of Hampton Rock WM may recommend any transaction in a security or its derivative to advisory
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Clients or engage in personal securities transactions for a security or its derivatives if the advisory
representative possesses material, non-public information regarding the security.
Hampton Rock WM’s Code is based on the guiding principle that the interests of the Client are our
top priority. Hampton Rock WM’s officers, directors, advisors, and other affiliated persons have a
fiduciary duty to our Clients and must diligently perform that duty to maintain the complete trust
and confidence of our Clients. When a conflict arises, it is our obligation to put the Client’s interests
over the interests of either affiliated persons or the company.
The Code applies to “access” persons. “Access” persons are affiliated persons who have access to
non-public information regarding any Clients' purchase or sale of securities, or non-public
information regarding the portfolio holdings of any reportable fund, who are involved in making
securities recommendations to Clients, or who have access to such recommendations that are
non-public.
Hampton Rock WM will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics to any Client or prospective Client
upon request.
Recommendations Involving Material Financial Interests
B.
As noted in Items 4, 5 and 10, Hampton Rock WM and its related persons may recommend the
corporate financing activities of HamptonRock Partners, an affiliate of Hampton Rock WM, to
Clients. If the Client decides to move forward with the services and recommendations made by
HamptonRock Partners, the Client will sign a separate agreement with HamptonRock Partners and
will pay the applicable fees. These fees are material in nature.
Advisory Firm Purchase of Same Securities Recommended to Clients and Conflicts of
C.
Interest
Hampton Rock WM and its affiliated persons may invest in the same securities (or related
securities, e.g., warrants, options or futures) that Hampton Rock WM or an affiliated person
recommends to Clients. In order to mitigate conflicts of interest, such as frontrunning, Hampton
Rock WM’s Chief Compliance Officer, or their designee, will no less than quarterly, review firm
and/or personal holdings of its affiliated persons. These reviews ensure that the personal trading
of affiliated persons does not disadvantage Clients of Hampton Rock WM.
Client Securities Recommendations or Trades and Concurrent Advisory Firm Securities
D.
Transactions and Conflicts of Interest
Hampton Rock WM and its affiliated persons may recommend securities, or buy or sell securities
for Clients accounts, at or about the same time, that they also buy or sell the same securities in
their own account(s). Hampton Rock WM, for instance, will place trades in an account in an attempt
to earn better than money market rates. In order to mitigate conflicts of interest, such as
frontrunning, Hampton Rock WM’s Chief Compliance Officer, or their designee, will no less than
quarterly, review firm and/or personal holdings of its affiliated persons. These reviews ensure that
the personal trading of affiliated persons does not disadvantage Clients of Hampton Rock WM.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
Factors Used to Select or Recommending Broker-Dealers
A.
The custodian and brokers we use
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Hampton Rock WM does not maintain custody of your assets that we manage, although we may
be deemed to have custody of your assets if you give us authority to withdraw assets from your
accounts (see Item 15, Custody, below). Your assets must be maintained in an account at a
"qualified custodian," generally a broker-dealer or bank.
We recommend the brokerage and custodial services of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab” or
“Custodian"), a registered broker-dealer, member SIPC, as the qualified custodian for most of our
accounts.
We are independently owned and operated and are not affiliated with Schwab. Schwab will hold
your assets in a brokerage account and buy and sell securities when we instruct them to. While
we recommend that you use Schwab as custodian/broker, you will decide whether to do so and
will open your account with Schwab by entering into an account agreement directly with them.
Conflicts of interest associated with this arrangement are described below as well as in Item 14,
Client Referrals and Other Compensation. You should consider these conflicts of interest when
selecting your custodian.
We do not open the account for you, although we may assist you in doing so. If you do not wish
to place your assets with Schwab, we may not be able to manage your account. Not all advisers
require their clients to use a particular broker-dealer or other custodian selected by the adviser.
Even though your account is maintained at Schwab, and we anticipate that most trades will be
executed through Schwab, we can still use other brokers to execute trades for your account as
described below (see “Your brokerage and custody costs”).
How we select brokers/custodians
We seek to recommend Schwab, a custodian/broker that will hold your assets and execute
transactions. When considering whether the terms that Schwab provides are, overall, most
advantageous to you when compared with other available providers and their services, we take
into account a wide range of factors, including:
• Combination of transaction execution services and asset custody services (generally
without a separate fee for custody)
• Capability to execute, clear, and settle trades (buy and sell securities for your account)
• Capability to facilitate transfers and payments to and from accounts (wire transfers,
check requests, bill payment, etc.)
• Breadth of available investment products (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded
funds (ETFs), etc.)
• Availability of investment research and tools that assist us in making investment
decisions
• Quality of services
• Competitiveness of the price of those services (commission rates, margin interest rates,
other fees, etc.) and willingness to negotiate the prices
• Reputation, financial strength, security and stability
• Prior service to us and our clients
• Services delivered or paid for by Schwab, and
• Availability of other products and services that benefit us, as discussed below (see
"Products and services available to us from Schwab").
Your brokerage and custody costs
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For our clients' accounts that Schwab maintains, Schwab generally does not charge you
separately for custody services but is compensated by charging other fees on trades that it
executes or that settle into your Schwab account. Certain trades (for example, many mutual
funds and ETFs) may not incur Schwab commissions or transaction fees. Schwab is also
compensated by earning interest on the uninvested cash in your account in Schwab's Cash
Features Program. Schwab does charge client accounts a flat dollar amount as a "prime broker"
or "trade away" fee for each trade that we have executed by a different broker-dealer but where
the securities bought or the funds from the securities sold are deposited (settled) into your
Schwab account. These fees are in addition to the commissions or other compensation you pay
the executing broker-dealer. Because of this, in order to minimize your trading costs, we have
Schwab execute most trades for your account. Bonds, however, will typically be traded away, and
as such will be charged the “prime broker” fee on buys and sells.
We are not required to select the broker or dealer that charges the lowest transaction cost, even if
that broker provides execution quality comparable to other brokers or dealers. Although we are
not required to execute all trades through Schwab, we have determined that having Schwab
execute most trades is consistent with our duty to seek "best execution" of your trades. Best
execution means the most favorable terms for a transaction based on all relevant factors,
including those listed above (see "How we select brokers/custodians"). By using another broker or
dealer you may pay lower transaction costs.
Products and services available to us from Schwab
Schwab Advisor Services™ is Schwab's business serving independent investment advisory firms
like us. They provide us and our clients with access to their institutional brokerage services
(trading, custody, reporting, and related services), many of which are not typically available to
Schwab retail customers. However, certain retail investors may be able to get institutional
brokerage services from Schwab without going through us. Schwab also makes available various
support services. Some of those services help us manage or administer our clients' accounts,
while others help us manage and grow our business. Schwab's support services are generally
available on an unsolicited basis (we don't have to request them) and at no charge to us.
Following is a more detailed description of Schwab's support services:
Services that benefit you. Schwab's institutional brokerage services include access to a broad
range of investment products, execution of securities transactions, and custody of client assets.
The investment products available through Schwab include some to which we might not
otherwise have access or that would require a significantly higher minimum initial investment by
our clients. Schwab's services described in this paragraph generally benefit you and your
account.
During our first twelve months with Schwab, Schwab will pay for all fees (TOA Fees) associated
with transferring your accounts to Schwab up to a maximum of $160,000. These fees are often
charged by another custodian when an account is closed or transferred out to another custodian.
This allows you to move your assets to Schwab while allowing Hampton Rock WM to manage
them with no out-of-pocket transfer-related costs to you. This does create a conflict of interest
since the TOA Fee reimbursement may not have been available to you and us if we selected
another custodian. We believe your accounts will continue to be held with a financially sound
custodian that offers a broad range of services and competitive costs.
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Services that do not directly benefit you. Schwab also makes available to us other products and
services that benefit us but do not directly benefit you or your account. These products and
services assist us in managing and administering our clients' accounts and operating our firm.
They include investment research, both Schwab's own and that of third parties. We use this
research to service all or a substantial number of our clients' accounts, including accounts not
maintained at Schwab. In addition to investment research, Schwab also makes available software
and other technology that:
• Provides access to client account data (such as duplicate trade confirmations and
account statements)
• Facilitates trade execution and allocate aggregated trade orders for multiple client
accounts
• Provides pricing and other market data
• Facilitates payment of our fees from our clients' accounts
• Assists with back-office functions, recordkeeping, and client reporting
Services that generally benefit only us. Schwab also offers other services intended to help us
manage and further develop our business enterprise. These services include:
• Educational conferences and events
• Consulting on technology and business needs
• Consulting on legal and related compliance needs
• Publications and conferences on practice management and business succession
• Access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants, and insurance
providers
• Marketing consulting and support
Schwab provides some of these services itself. In other cases, it will arrange for third-party
vendors to provide the services to us. Schwab also discounts or waives its fees for some of these
services or pays all or a part of a third party's fees. Schwab also provides us with other benefits,
such as occasional business entertainment of our personnel. If you did not maintain your account
with Schwab, we would be required to pay for these services from our own resources.
We use these services as needed to help us run a compliant and efficient business and to provide
increased services to our clients. We believe the available services provide additional value to our
clients and do not significantly increase the costs imposed to clients when compared to other
comparable custodians.
During our first twelve months with Schwab, Schwab provides us with compensation to grow our
business. This compensation is paid to Hampton Rock WM based on the dollar amount of assets
we have in our clients’ accounts at Schwab. The higher the assets held in our clients’ accounts at
Schwab, the more money we receive from Schwab.
This creates a conflict of interest for Hampton Rock WM since we are encouraged to increase our
asset levels at Schwab through the acquisition of new clients and potentially investing in riskier
investments in an effort to reach the higher payment levels. These conflicts are mitigated by our
disclosures, procedures and Hampton Rock WM’s fiduciary obligation to place the best interest of
its clients first.
Our Interest in Schwab's Services
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The availability of these services from Schwab benefits us because we do not have to produce or
purchase them. We do not have to pay for Schwab's services. These services are not contingent
upon us committing any specific amount of business to Schwab in trading commissions or
assets in custody. Schwab has also agreed to pay for certain technology, research, marketing,
and compliance consulting products and services on our behalf once the value of our clients'
assets in accounts at Schwab reaches certain thresholds.
The fact that we receive these benefits from Schwab is an incentive for us to require the use of
Schwab rather than making such a decision based exclusively on your interest in receiving the
best value in custody services and the most favorable execution of your transactions. This is a
conflict of interest. We believe, however, that taken in the aggregate, our recommendation of
Schwab as custodian and broker is in the best interests of our clients. Our selection is primarily
supported by the scope, quality, and price of Schwab's services (see "How we select brokers/
custodians") and not Schwab's services that benefit only us.
1. Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
We do not have any soft dollar arrangements with Schwab or other custodians however we do
receive economic benefits from Schwab. These are described in response to Item 12 Brokerage
Practices.
2. Brokerage for Client Referrals
We do not receive client referrals from Schwab or other broker-dealers in exchange for cash or
other compensation, such as brokerage services or research.
3. Directed Brokerage
We do not generally allow directed brokerage although we may make an exception in certain
circumstances.
Aggregating Trading for Multiple Client Accounts
B.
When a Client authorizes discretionary management, Hampton Rock WM is authorized in its
discretion to aggregate purchases and sales and other transactions made for the account with
purchases and sales and transactions in the same securities for other Clients of Hampton Rock
WM. All Clients participating in the aggregated order shall receive an average share price with all
other transactions. If aggregation is not allowed or infeasible and individual transactions occur
(e.g., withdrawal or liquidation requests, odd-late trades, etc.) an account may potentially be
assessed higher costs or less favorable prices than those where aggregation has occurred.
Hampton Rock WM will always attempt to aggregate orders whenever it has the opportunity to do
so.
Item 13 – Review of Accounts
Frequency and Nature of Periodic Review and Who Makes Those Reviews
A.
Account reviews are performed at least annually by the Chief Compliance Officer of Hampton Rock
WM. Account reviews are performed more frequently when market conditions dictate. Reviews of
Client accounts include, but are not limited to, a review of Client documented risk tolerance,
adherence to account objectives, investment time horizon, and suitability criteria, reviewing target
allocations of each asset class to identify if there is an opportunity for rebalancing, and reviewing
accounts for tax loss harvesting opportunities.
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Financial plans are updated as requested by the Client.
Factors That Will Trigger a Non-Periodic Review of Client Accounts
B.
Other conditions that may trigger a review of Clients’ accounts are changes in the tax laws, new
investment information, and changes in a Client's own situation.
Content and Frequency of Regular Reports
C.
Clients receive written account statements no less than quarterly for managed accounts. Account
statements are issued by the Client’s custodian. Client receives confirmations of each transaction
in account from Custodian and an additional statement during any month in which a transaction
occurs. Hampton Rock WM may also send periodic or other event-inspired reports based on market
or portfolio activity. Reports will generally be provided in electronic format.
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Economic Benefits from Others
A.
We receive an economic benefit from Schwab in the form of the support products and services it
makes available to us and other independent investment advisors whose clients maintain their
accounts at Schwab. In addition, Schwab has also agreed to pay for certain products and
services for which we would otherwise have to pay once the value of our clients’ assets in
accounts at Schwab reaches a certain size. In some cases, a recipient of such payments is an
affiliate of ours or another party which has some pecuniary, financial or other interests in us. You
do not pay more for assets maintained at Schwab as a result of these arrangements. However,
we benefit from the referral arrangement because the cost of these services would otherwise be
borne directly by us. You should consider these conflicts of interest when selecting a custodian.
The products and services provided by Schwab, how they benefit us, and the related conflicts of
interest are described above (see Item 12—Brokerage Practices).
CORPORATE FINANCE
Hampton Rock WM and its financial advisers do not earn direct compensation based on the
referral of a client to HamptonRock Partners, although bonus and payout structures may take into
account the profitability of business sent to HamptonRock Partners or its affiliates.
Compensation to Non-Advisory Personnel for Client Referrals
B.
Hampton Rock WM may enter into agreements with individuals and organizations, which may be
affiliated or unaffiliated with Hampton Rock WM, that refer Clients to Hampton Rock WM in
exchange for compensation. All such agreements will be in writing and comply with the
requirements of Federal or State regulation. If a Client is introduced to Hampton Rock WM by a
promoter, Hampton Rock WM may pay that promoter a fee. While the specific terms of each
agreement may differ, generally, the compensation will be a flat fee per referral, or a percentage of
23
the introduced capital. Any such fee will be paid solely from Hampton Rock WM’s investment
management fee and shall not result in any additional charge to the Client.
Each prospective Client who is referred to Hampton Rock WM under such an arrangement will
receive a separate written disclosure document disclosing the nature of the relationship between
the solicitor and Hampton Rock WM.
Item 15 – Custody
All assets are held at qualified custodians, which means the custodians provide account
statements directly to Clients at least quarterly. Clients are urged to compare the account
statements received directly from their custodians to any documentation or reports prepared by
Hampton Rock WM.
Under government regulations, Hampton Rock WM is deemed to have limited custody of your
assets if, for example, you authorize us to instruct Schwab to deduct our advisory fees directly
from your account or if you grant us authority to move your money to another person’s account.
Schwab maintains actual custody of your assets. You will receive account statements directly
from Schwab at least quarterly. They will be sent to the email or postal mailing address you
provided to Schwab. You should carefully review those statements promptly when you receive
them.
Hampton Rock WM has limited custody due to having standing letters of authorization (“SLOA”) to
direct third-party payments. Hampton Rock WM will meet the following seven conditions when a
SLOA has been established with a Client to be exempted from the annual audit requirement:
1. The client provides an instruction to the qualified custodian, in writing, that includes
the client’s signature, the third party’s name, and either the third party’s address or
the third party’s account number at a custodian to which the transfer will be
directed.
2. The client authorizes the investment adviser, in writing, either on the qualified
custodian’s form or separately, to direct transfers to the third party either on a
specified schedule or from time to time.
3. The client’s qualified custodian performs appropriate verification of the instruction,
such as a signature review or other method to verify the client’s authorization, and
provides a transfer of funds notice to the client promptly after each transfer.
4. The client has the ability to terminate or change the instruction to the client’s
qualified custodian.
5. The investment adviser has no authority or ability to designate or change the identity
of the third party, the address, or any other information about the third party
contained in the client’s instruction.
6. The investment adviser maintains records showing that the third party is not a
related party of the investment adviser or located at the same address as the
investment adviser.
7. The client’s qualified custodian sends the client, in writing, an initial notice
confirming the instruction and an annual notice reconfirming the instruction.
Hampton Rock WM is not affiliated with Schwab. Schwab does not supervise Hampton Rock WM,
its employees or activities.
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Item 16 – Investment Discretion
If applicable, Client will authorize Hampton Rock WM discretionary authority, via the Advisory
Agreement, to determine, without obtaining specific Client consent, the securities to be bought or
sold, and the amount of the securities to be bought or sold. If applicable, Client will authorize
Hampton Rock WM discretionary authority to execute selected investment program transactions
as stated within the Investment Advisory Agreement. If, however, consent for discretion is not
given, Hampton Rock WM will obtain prior Client approval before executing each transaction.
Hampton Rock WM allows Clients to place certain restrictions, as outlined in the Client’s
Investment Policy Statement or similar document. Such restrictions could include only allowing
purchases of socially conscious investments. These restrictions must be provided to Hampton
Rock WM in writing.
The Client approves the custodian to be used and the commission rates paid to the custodian.
Hampton Rock WM does not receive any portion of the transaction fees or commissions paid by
the Client to the custodian.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
Hampton Rock WM will not vote client proxies. Instead, clients will receive proxy voting information
directly from the issuer and/or custodian of the security. Clients will not receive any such proxy
voting material from Hampton Rock WM. When assistance on voting proxies is requested by the
Client, Hampton Rock WM will provide recommendations to the Client. However, Hampton Rock
WM will not have authority to vote proxies on behalf of the Client. If in the future Hampton Rock
WM obtains authority to vote proxies, this Brochure will be appropriately amended. Clients may
contact Hampton Rock WM at 512-256-9272 or by email at DDodson@hamptonrockwealth.com.
Item 18 – Financial Information
Balance Sheet
A.
Hampton Rock WM does not require nor solicit prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per Client,
six months or more in advance, and as such, a balance sheet is not included in this document.
Financial Condition
B.
At this time, neither Hampton Rock WM nor its management persons have any financial conditions
that are likely to reasonably impair its ability to meet contractual commitments to Clients.
Bankruptcy Petitions in Previous Years
C.
Hampton Rock WM has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition in the last ten years.
Item 19 – Requirements for State Registered Advisors
Hampton Rock WM is an SEC registered investment adviser and as such, this item is not
applicable.
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