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Physician Wealth Advisors, Inc.
6820 South 900 East, Suite 200
Salt Lake City, UT 84047
801-747-0800
info@pwa.org
March 19, 2025
This Form ADV Part 2A Brochure provides information about the qualifications and
business practices of Physician Wealth Advisors, Inc. If you have any questions about
the contents of this Brochure, you may contact Melissa Saez at 801-747-0800 or email
info@pwa.org. Physician Wealth Advisors, Inc. is a registered investment advisor with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration of an investment advisor does
not imply any level of skill or training. The information in this Brochure has not been
approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Additional information about Physician Wealth Advisors, Inc. is available on the SEC’s
website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
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Item 2 – Material Changes
The date of our previous annual updating amendment to our ADV 2A Brochure was
March 26, 2024. Since that date, we have made the following material changes:
Our office address changed to: 6820 South 900 East, Suite 200, Salt Lake City,
Utah 84047.
Our Brochure is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. The
searchable IARD/CRD number for the Firm is 106043. We may provide ongoing
disclosure information about material changes as necessary and will further provide a
new Brochure as necessary based on changes or added information, at any time,
without charge.
Currently, you may request our Brochure by contacting Melissa Saez at 801-747-0800 or
by emailing compliance@pwa.org.
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Item 3 – Table of Contents
Page
Item 1 – Cover Page ........................................................................................................ i
Item 2 – Material Changes .............................................................................................. ii
Item 3 – Table of Contents .............................................................................................. iii
Item 4 – Advisory Business ............................................................................................. 4
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation ................................................................................... 5
Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ............................... 7
Item 7 – Types of Clients ................................................................................................. 7
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss .......................... 8
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information ................................................................................... 10
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ......................................... 10
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions & Personal
Trading .......................................................................................................................... 11
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices ...................................................................................... 11
Item 13 – Review of Accounts ....................................................................................... 12
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation ..................................................... 12
Item 15 – Custody ......................................................................................................... 13
Item 16 – Investment Discretion .................................................................................... 13
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities ................................................................................. 14
Item 18 – Financial Information ..................................................................................... 14
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Item 4 – Advisory Business
Physician Wealth Advisors, Inc. (“Firm” or “we” “us”) has a principal place of business in
Salt Lake City, Utah and is a Utah Corporation registered as an investment advisor under
the laws of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The Firm was incorporated on September 3, 1993.
We provide discretionary investment management services based on individual client
needs. As a result, we create and manage client portfolios based upon personal
discussions regarding each client’s particular circumstances. During these discussions,
we collaborate with the client to determine individual goals and objectives, time horizons,
risk tolerance and liquidity needs.
We generally recommend clients allocate their investments among various asset classes
and, within those classes, among various issuers and types of issuers. Asset classes may
include equities, fixed income securities, real estate investment trusts (known as REITs)
and, when suitable and in the best interests of the client, diverse types of alternative
investments such as private equity funds, hedge funds and other privately offered funds.
We may, among other things, make investment decisions on a discretionary basis for
client accounts. Client funds are deposited in either a brokerage firm, bank custodian
account, directly with mutual fund companies or insurance companies. We may also
retain service providers and take other actions related to its investment management
authority —such as the selection of money managers to provide services to portions of a
client’s portfolio, the selection of private investment funds, and the purchase and sale of
securities.
The Firm also provides financial planning services to clients. Through in-depth personal
interviews, we gather information about the client’s current financial status, tax status,
future goals, return objectives and attitudes toward risk. We carefully review documents
supplied by the client and typically prepare a written report. If requested, we may
recommend the services of other professionals for implementation purposes, i.e.,
attorneys, CPAs etc. The client retains absolute discretion over any implementation
decisions and is free to accept or reject any of our recommendations.
We do not participate in any wrap-fee programs.
We manage $1,085,855,442 of client assets on a discretionary basis, and $643,972,668
of ERISA plan assets on a non-discretionary basis. These amounts were calculated as of
December 31, 2024.
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Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
We are a fee-based investment advisor which means our investment management fees
are based upon an annual percentage of assets under management. We believe this
method of compensation helps to minimize potential conflicts of interest.
Compensation to us for investment advisory services will be calculated in accordance
with “Schedule A” of the Investment Advisory Agreement (IAA) which is entered into with
each client. We reserve the right to amend the fee but only upon 30 days prior written
notice to each client.
Fee Schedule
Assets Under Management
Annual Fee
Assets between $0 and $250,000
Assets between $250,000 and $1,000,000
Assets between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000
Assets between $2,000,000 and $10,000,000
Assets above $10,000,000
.80%
.70%
.60%
.50%
.40%
Accounts managed by Physician Wealth Advisors are billed in arrears, after services for
the quarter are rendered and based on an average daily balance. Market value will be
construed to equal the sum of the values of all assets in the account, not adjusted by any
margin debit. Most commonly, fees are debited directly from the client’s account(s).
Payment of fees may result in the liquidation of securities within the account if there is not
sufficient cash to pay the fees. With special approval, the client may be invoiced. A client
agreement may be terminated by either party for any reason, by written notice to the
other. Upon termination of any client agreement any advisory fees will be collected
through the date of termination.
Financial planning services are provided as a benefit of membership in the UMA (Utah
Medical Association). Basic financial planning consultations and services are offered at
no cost to member physicians and others. More in-depth financial planning may be
provided for investment management clients as part of their ongoing investment
management relationship.
In order to help clients address certain risks and other planning considerations, certain
investment advisor representatives or other employees of the Firm are licensed to sell
insurance products. In such cases, all commissions received for insurance sales are paid
directly to the Firm. No supervised person associated with us receives or accepts any
compensation for the sale of securities or insurance products.
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Clients may incur certain charges imposed by custodians, brokers, and other third parties
such as fees charged for custodial fees, mutual fund charges, odd
lot differentials,
transfer taxes, wire transfers and electronic funds fees and other fees and taxes on
brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Mutual funds and exchange-traded
funds also charge internal management fees, which are disclosed in a fund’s prospectus.
Such charges, fees, and commissions are exclusive of and in addition to the Firm’s fees.
Physician Wealth Advisors does not receive any portion of these commissions, fees, or
other charges.
The Firm also offers customized consulting services for retirement, pension, 401(k),
403(b), 457, Money Purchase, and or deferred compensation plan(s).
Rollover Recommendations
As part of our investment advisory services to you, we may recommend that you roll
assets from your employer’s retirement plan, such as a 401(k), 457, or ERISA 403(b)
account (collectively, a “Plan Account”), to an individual retirement account, such as a
SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, Traditional IRA, or Roth IRA (collectively, an “IRA Account”) that
we will manage on your behalf. We may also recommend rollovers from IRA Accounts to
Plan Accounts, from Plan Accounts to Plan Accounts, and from IRA Accounts to IRA
Accounts. When we provide any of the foregoing rollover recommendations we are acting
as fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act (“ERISA”) and/or the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), as applicable, which are laws
governing retirement accounts.
If you elect to roll the assets to an IRA that is subject to our management, we will charge
you an asset-based fee as set forth in the advisory agreement you executed with our firm.
This creates a conflict of interest because it creates a financial incentive for our firm to
recommend the rollover to you (i.e., receipt of additional fee-based compensation). You
are under no obligation, contractually or otherwise, to complete the rollover. Moreover, if
you do complete the rollover, you are under no obligation to have the assets in an IRA
managed by our firm. Due to the foregoing conflict of interest, when we make rollover
recommendations, we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best
interests and not put our interests 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 interests;
charge no more than a reasonable fee for our services; and
give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
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Many employers permit former employees to keep their retirement assets in their
company plan. Also, current employees can sometimes move assets out of their company
plan before they retire or change jobs. In determining whether to complete the rollover to
an IRA, and to the extent the following options are available, you should consider the
costs and benefits of a rollover.
Note that an employee will typically have four options in this situation:
1. leaving the funds in your employer’s (former employer’s) plan;
2. moving the funds to a new employer’s retirement plan;
3. cashing out and taking a taxable distribution from the plan; or
4. rolling the funds into an IRA rollover account.
Each of these options has positives and negatives. Because of that, along with the
importance of understanding the differences between these types of accounts, we will
provide you with a written explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of both
account types and the basis for our belief that the rollover transaction we recommend is
in your best interests.
As an alternative to providing you with a rollover recommendation, we may instead take
an entirely educational approach in accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor’s
Interpretive Bulletin 96-1. Under this approach, our role will be limited only to providing
you with general educational materials regarding the pros and cons of rollover
transactions. We will make no recommendation to you regarding the prospective rollover
of your assets and you are advised to speak with your trusted tax and legal advisors with
respect to rollover decisions. As part of this educational approach, we may provide you
with materials discussing some or all of the following topics: the general pros and cons of
rollover transactions; the benefits of retirement plan participation; the impact of pre-
retirement withdrawals on retirement income; the investment options available inside your
Plan Account; and high level discussion of general investment concepts (e.g., risk versus
return, the benefits of diversification and asset allocation, historical returns of certain
asset classes, etc.). We may also provide you with questionnaires and/or interactive
investment materials that may provide a means for you to independently determine your
future retirement income needs and to assess the impact of different asset allocations on
your retirement income. You will make the final rollover decision.
Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
We do not charge any performance-based fees, which are fees based on a share of
capital gains or capital appreciation of client assets. Accordingly, this Item is not
applicable to our Firm.
Item 7 – Types of Clients
The Firm serves the members of the Utah Medical Association (UMA) and their family
members. Under limited circumstances, Physician Wealth Advisors works with non-
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members of the UMA. We also provide products and services to other entities in
connection with UMA member physicians’ practices.
As a result, we provide investment advice to the following types of clients:
•
Individuals
• Corporations
• Foundations
• Endowments
• Pension and profit sharing plans
• Trusts, estates, or charitable organizations
Because each client is unique, we encourage client involvement in the planning and
processes associated with the management of their accounts. Such involvement does
not have to be time consuming as we support our clients in remaining informed about
their investments.
Due to the nature of our practice, there is no minimum investment requirement to have
an investment management relationship with Physician Wealth Advisors.
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
The investment advice we provide to our clients is generally based on a number of factors,
including, but not necessarily limited to, the client’s investment objectives, risk tolerance,
tax positions and/or objectives, asset class preferences, time horizons, liquidity needs,
expected returns and an assessment of current economic and market views expressed
by economic analysts, banks and securities firms.
Rather than focusing primarily on individual equity selection, we attempt to identify an
appropriate ratio of investments by asset class (i.e., equities, fixed income, cash, etc.),
also known as asset allocation, suitable to the client’s investment goals and risk tolerance.
A risk of asset allocation is that the client may not participate in sharp increases in a
particular security, industry, or market sector. In addition, there is a risk that the ratio of
investments by asset class will change over time due to market movements and, if not
rebalanced, may no longer be appropriate for the client’s goals.
As a result, our approach is also based on the science of capital markets, rather than
speculation and market timing. This approach builds broadly diversified portfolios in the
worldwide equity and fixed-income markets, combined with periodic rebalancing.
Securities selected for use in client portfolios are generally maintained on a
recommended list of securities, for which ongoing research is performed. Reviews of the
securities included on the recommended list include both qualitative and quantitative
factors.
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We will utilize a variety of investment strategies, taking into consideration the client’s best
interest. Ideally, we prefer to hold investments long
term (one year or more) due to
preferential tax treatment in taxable accounts. However, investments may be held for
short periods of time (less than one year) depending on the client’s objectives, the
investment, market environment and economic conditions.
In taxable accounts, wherever possible, we will seek to offset realized gains with realized
losses. When market dips occur, we may “harvest” losses and use them to offset future
gains. The use of such strategies may increase the after
tax rate of return.
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An integral part of our investment process is our ongoing monitoring of client portfolios.
As a result, we encourage continuing client communication, which helps to ensure that a
client’s investment strategy remains aligned with their risk tolerance and financial goals.
All too often as circumstances evolve, clients are faced with either expected or
unexpected life events. Ongoing communication also allows us to assist our clients in
making informed decisions, designed to help them stay the course toward their desired
financial outcome.
‐
Our securities analysis methods rely on the assumption that the companies whose
securities we purchase and sell, the rating agencies that review these securities, and
other publicly
available sources of information about these securities, are providing
accurate and unbiased data. While we are alert to indications that data may be incorrect,
there is always a risk that our analysis may be compromised by inaccurate or misleading
information.
Physician Wealth Advisors attempts to offset this risk by reviewing and rebalancing each
client’s portfolio. Because of the dynamic and fast
moving nature of investment markets,
new unanticipated risks can arise at any time. Maintaining a highly diversified investment
portfolio helps to offset these types of risks but cannot eliminate them altogether.
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear.
Alternative investments such as privately offered securities involve an extremely high
degree of risk and are generally more speculative than investments in publicly offered
(registered) securities. Private investments may include privately offered REITs,
Delaware Statutory Trusts, private equity funds, hedge funds, commodity pools, and other
similar investment vehicles. Private investments are not appropriate for all clients and
may be entirely illiquid. Clients should be financially capable of accepting an extremely
high degree of risk and should have significant resources beyond those invested in any
private investment(s). Stated differently, your private investments should purely represent
“risk capital” within your overall portfolio, the complete loss of which would have an
immaterial and insubstantial effect on your overall financial circumstances and financial
goals. Clients should carefully review any disclosure documents, operating agreements,
subscription materials, private placement memoranda, prospectuses and similar
documentation provided by the issuers of private securities with their independent legal
and tax advisors prior to investing.
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Physician Wealth Advisors attempts to offset this risk by only investing a small portion of
a client’s portfolio in alternative investments to maintain an elevated level of
diversification. Further, we only introduce alternative investments when the specific
investment is suitable and appropriate to meet that individual client’s investing needs.
We will use our best judgment and good faith efforts in rendering services to our clients.
However, we cannot warrant or guarantee any particular level of account performance,
or that an account will be profitable over time. Clients assume all market risk involved in
the investment of account assets under the Investment Advisory Agreement and
understand that investment decisions made for this account are subject to various risks,
such as market, currency, economic, political, and business risks.
Except as may otherwise be provided by law, we are not liable to clients for:
• Any loss that a client may suffer by reason of any investment decision made or
other action taken or omitted in good faith by us with that degree of care, skill,
prudence and diligence under the circumstances that a prudent person acting in a
fiduciary capacity would use;
• Any loss arising from our adherence to a client’s instructions; or
• Any act or failure to act by a custodian or other third party.
It is the responsibility of each client to provide complete information and notify us of any
changes in financial circumstances or goals.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
We are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or disciplinary event that
would be material to your evaluation of our Firm, or the integrity of our management. We
have no information to disclose applicable to this item.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Physician Wealth Advisors has no management persons registered as or pending
registration as:
dealer or registered representative of a broker
dealer; or
i.
ii.
‐
‐
a broker
a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, commodity trading
advisor, or an associated person of the foregoing entities.
The Firm is licensed by the Utah Insurance Department as a Resident Producer
Organization and certain employees are licensed to sell insurance.
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Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation, or Interest in Client Transactions
& Personal Trading
Physician Wealth Advisors has adopted a Code of Ethics (“Code”) describing its high
standards of business conduct, fiduciary duty to its clients, and the restrictions and
reporting requirements for employees’ personal investments.
All employees at Physician Wealth Advisors are subject to the Code and must
acknowledge the terms of the Code annually or as amended. Employees are instructed
to place the interests of their clients first, conduct all their personal securities transactions
in a manner consistent with the Code and not take advantage of their positions. Among
other terms, the Code contains:
• provisions relating to the confidentiality of client information;
• a prohibition on any fraudulent conduct;
• a prohibition on insider trading;
•
restrictions on the acceptance of significant gifts and the reporting of certain gifts
and business entertainment items; and
• personal securities trading procedures.
The Code restricts trading in close proximity to client trading activity. Nonetheless,
because the Code in some circumstances would permit employees to invest in the same
securities as clients, there is a possibility that employees might benefit from market
activity by a client in a security held by an employee. Employee trading is continually
monitored under the Code of Ethics to reasonably prevent conflicts of interest between
us and our clients.
A copy of the Code of Ethics is available to any client or prospective client upon request.
We will disclose to clients any material conflict of interest which could reasonably be
expected to impair the rendering of unbiased and objective advice.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
Our clients’ assets are held by independent third-party custodians. Except to the extent
that a client directs otherwise, we may use our discretion in selecting or recommending
the custodian. Clients are not obligated to effect transactions through any custodian
recommended by Physician Wealth Advisors. In recommending a custodian we will
comply with our fiduciary duty in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
to obtain best execution and will take into account such relevant factors as:
• Price;
• The custodian’s facilities, reliability and financial responsibility;
• The ability of the custodian to effect transactions, particularly with regard to such
aspects as timing, order size and execution of order;
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• The research and related brokerage services provided by such custodian to us,
notwithstanding that the account may not be the direct or exclusive beneficiary of
such services; and
• Any other factors that we consider to be relevant.
As a matter of policy and practice, Physician Wealth Advisors does not generally block
client trades; therefore, we implement client transactions separately for each account.
Consequently, certain client trades may be executed before others, at a different price
and/or commission rate.
Item 13 – Review of Accounts
Investment Advisory Relationships
Client portfolios will be reviewed on a periodic basis and rebalanced to the investment
objective as determined with the client. Reviews typically also include an assessment of
diversification by asset class and industry. An inventory of assets showing market value
and cost of each security is provided to each client on at least an annual basis unless
directed otherwise by the client. Detailed transactions and holdings are provided by the
custodian at least quarterly. Performance is calculated and provided to clients by a third
party on at least an annual basis, unless directed otherwise by the client.
In an effort to help clients continually align their investments with their planning goals,
client meetings often contain aspects of both investment advisory and financial planning
reviews. These meetings are performed by our financial advisors.
Financial Planning Relationships
Financial planning clients of Physician Wealth Advisors may receive all or some
combination of three core financial planning documents: Statement of Financial
Objectives, Net-Worth Statement, and Retirement Model. More comprehensive financial
planning reviews are done by client requests, i.e., client has a question about life
insurance, has outdated estate planning documents or has relocated to a new state.
Financial planning (non-investment) clients do not normally receive investment reports
from Physician Wealth Advisors. Financial planning clients can initiate reviews with us if
they have changes in their personal circumstances. Reviews are conducted by our
financial advisors.
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
The Utah Medical Association, (“UMA”) owns Physician Wealth Advisors and markets our
services to its membership. UMA does not provide investment advice to any clients or
prospective clients when marketing our services.
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In exchange for their promotion of our advisory services, we may pay cash compensation
to third-party intermediaries in exchange for their promotion, referral, and endorsement
of our advisory services to prospective clients. The cash compensation paid to such
promoters may take the form of a retainer, a flat advertising fee, a fee per referral, and/or
a percentage of the advisory fees we collect from referred client accounts. These fees
may be paid to the promoter on one-time or recurring basis. Unless otherwise explicitly
disclosed in writing to the client, the cash compensation paid to a promoter will be borne
entirely by us and referred clients do not pay any additional or increased advisory fees as
a result of having been referred to our firm by a paid third-party promoter.
We will only engage third-party promoters in accordance with the requirements of the
SEC’s “marketing rule” (SEC Rule 206(4)-1), promulgated under the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940. Any promoters engaged for this purpose will disclose to you at or reasonably
prior to the time of their promotion of our firm (i) that they will receive compensation from
us as a result of their endorsement of our firm; (ii) a description of the material terms of
the compensation they will receive; and (iii) a brief statement discussing the conflicts of
interest arising out of the compensation arrangement and/or the relationship between our
firm and the third-party promoter. Clients referred to our firm by a third-party promoter are
encouraged to inquire with us if they have any questions about the foregoing
arrangements.
Item 15 – Custody
Except for having the ability to deduct fees from a client’s custodial account, and our
ability to disburse certain funds pursuant to Standing Letters of Authorization executed by
clients, we do not have custody of the assets in client accounts. Accordingly, we have no
liability to clients for any loss or other harm to any property in the account, including any
harm to any property in the account resulting from the insolvency of the custodian or any
acts of the agents or employees of the custodian and whether or not the full amount or
such loss is covered by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) or any other
insurance which may be carried by the custodian. Clients understand that SIPC provides
only limited protection for the loss of property held by a broker-dealer.
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
Clients may grant Physician Wealth Advisors discretionary or non-discretionary authority
to manage securities accounts on their behalf. Discretionary authority includes the
authority to select which securities to buy or sell, the amount of these securities and the
timing of trades. Non-discretionary authority requires Physician Wealth Advisors to obtain
a client’s prior approval of each specific transaction prior to executing the investment
recommendations.
Investment discretion is exercised consistent with the investment objectives for the
particular client account. If the client imposes any investment restrictions in writing and
we agree to them, these supersede the Firm’s investment discretion.
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Under the terms of our standard Investment Advisory Agreement (IAA) and through the
Custodian account agreement, clients grant us a limited power of attorney with
discretionary authority over investments and may limit this authority by providing us with
separate written instructions.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
The Firm does not vote proxy on behalf of clients. While there are some investment
advisors that will vote proxies on behalf of their clients, we have determined that taking
on the responsibility for voting client securities does not add enough value to the services
provided to clients to justify the additional compliance and regulatory costs associated
with voting client securities. Therefore, it is the client’s responsibility to vote all proxies for
securities held in accounts managed by the Firm.
Clients will receive proxies directly from their custodian or transfer agent and such
documents will not be delivered by the Firm. However, clients are given the option of
having their voting forms sent to us with the understanding that they will not be voted on
but will be shredded using our secure shredding services.
Item 18 – Financial Information
We do not have any financial condition that would impair our ability to meet contractual
commitments to clients and have not been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
A copy of our Privacy Notice is available by contacting Melissa Saez at 801-747-0800 or
at compliance@pwa.org.
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