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Item 1: Cover Page
Semitam Bonam LLC d/b/a Great Path Planning
10 Matthews Street, Lower Level
Goshen, NY 10924
Form ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure
(845) 397-7284
Dated March 20, 2025
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of
Semitam Bonam LLC d/b/a Great Path Planning, “Great Path”. If you have any questions about
the contents of this Brochure, please contact us at. 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.
Semitam Bonam LLC d/b/a Great Path Planning is registered as an Investment Adviser with
the SEC. Registration as an Investment Adviser does not imply any level of skill or training.
Additional information about Semitam Bonam LLC d/b/a Great Path Planning is available on
the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov which can be found using the firm’s
identification number 284461.
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Addition of Altruist as a custodian and removal of TD Ameritrade as a custodian.
Item 2: Material Changes
Item 1: Cover Page ........................................................................................................ 1
Item 2: Material Changes .............................................................................................. 2
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 3: Table of Contents .............................................................................................. 2
Item 4: Advisory Business ............................................................................................. 3
Item 5: Fees and Compensation ................................................................................ 10
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management ................................ 14
Item 7: Types of Clients ............................................................................................... 14
Item 9: Disciplinary Information .................................................................................. 18
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ........................................ 19
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading ....................................................................................................................... 19
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ...................................................................................... 21
Item 13: Review of Accounts ....................................................................................... 24
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation ..................................................... 24
Item 15: Custody ......................................................................................................... 24
Item 16: Investment Discretion ................................................................................... 25
Item 17: Voting Client Securities ................................................................................. 26
Item 18: Financial Information .................................................................................... 26
Form ADV Part 2B – Brochure Supplement ................................................................. 27
Item 2: Educational Background and Business Experience .......................................... 28
Item 3: Disciplinary Information .................................................................................. 29
Item 4: Other Business Activities ................................................................................. 30
Item 5: Additional Compensation ................................................................................ 30
Item 6: Supervision ..................................................................................................... 30
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Description of Advisory Firm
Item 4: Advisory Business
Semitam Bonam LLC d/b/a Great Path Planning, “Great Path,” is registered as an Investment
Adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We were founded on June 29, 2016.
Christopher C. Pollard is the principal owner of Great Path. Semitam Bonam (which means
“good path” in Latin) LLC is the legal name of the company in order to comply with New York
State’s Secretary of State guidelines for company names. “d/b/a” means “doing business as,”
which makes Great Path Planning the client facing name of the company, in accordance with
New York State guidelines.
Types of Advisory Services
Ongoing, Comprehensive Financial Advisement
Our firm offers financial planning, advising, and portfolio management services on an ongoing
basis. Our holistic financial planning strives to address multiple facets of life based upon an
analysis of your individual needs. Only by knowing how you live, your lifestyle, health, finances,
family structure, values, and intentions, can we form a "financial life plan" to work towards
helping you achieve a great life today and in the future. Typically, we conduct meetings to cover
the following topics relevant to you:
• Goal setting: determine what is most important to you and align your financial resources to
achieve those stated objectives
• Budgeting and cash flow: evaluate sources of income that exist now and in the future;
evaluate your current living expenses and how they will change over time; plan for large
expenditures beyond normal living expenses; determine cash reserves for emergencies or
other financial goals
• Tax planning: seek to minimize taxes over time while taking into consideration the
intricacies of your personal situation
• Net worth: a consolidated list of your assets (what you own) and liabilities (what you owe)
so we can advise how to best manage resources
• Real estate planning: evaluate rental properties and other real estate and how that
integrates into your overall financial plan
• Portfolio analysis, asset allocation strategies, and specific investment recommendations:
developing an asset allocation strategy to meet clients’ financial goals and risk tolerance,
providing information on investment vehicles and strategies, reviewing employee stock
options, as well as assisting you in establishing your own investment account at a selected
broker/dealer or custodian. The strategies and types of investments we may recommend
are further discussed in Item 8 of this brochure.
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• Estate planning review: a review of your current estate plan, which may include whether
you have a will, powers of attorney, trusts and other related documents. If you do not have
an estate plan, we conduct an education session to prepare you to meet with a competent,
properly licensed attorney who specializes in estate planning. In certain cases, our advice
may include ways for you to minimize or avoid future estate taxes by implementing
appropriate estate planning strategies such as the use of applicable trusts. We always
recommend that you consult with a qualified attorney when you initiate, update, or
complete estate planning activities. We may provide you with contact information for
attorneys who specialize in estate planning when you wish to hire an attorney for such
purposes. From time-to-time, we will participate in meetings or phone calls between you
and your attorney with your approval or request.
• Small business planning: Small business owners have unique financial complexities, and
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Great Path is positioned to provide consulting for clients who currently operate their own
business, are considering starting a business, or are planning for an exit from their current
business with the following advisement: business operations and process improvement,
capital management, debt and equity financing, business succession and exit planning,
retirement plan selection and management, qualified and nonqualified deferred
compensation arrangements, tax strategies, and other topics of a financial nature.
Insurance analysis: review existing policies to determine proper coverage for life, health,
disability, long-term care, liability, home and automobile.
• Retirement planning: projections of your likelihood of achieving your financial goals,
typically focusing on financial independence as the primary objective. For situations where
projections show less than the desired results, we may make recommendations, including
those that may impact the original projections by adjusting certain variables (e.g., working
longer, saving more, spending less, taking more risk with investments). If you are near
retirement or already retired, advice may be given on appropriate distribution strategies to
minimize the likelihood of running out of money or having to adversely alter spending
during your retirement years.
• Analysis of employee benefits: provide review and analysis as to whether you, as an
employee, are taking the maximum advantage possible of your employee benefits. If you
are a business owner, we will consider and/or recommend the various benefit programs
that can be structured to meet both business and personal retirement goals.
• Financial projections: evaluate and model your current and future financial state by using
currently known variables to predict future cash flows, asset values and withdrawal plans;
simulate future impact of current financial decisions
Together, we determine the action list and agree on an implementation process geared
towards helping you reach your goals. This process allows us to assist you in implementing our
recommendations to effectively manage your income, assets and liabilities to meet your
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financial goals and objectives.
Because life is constantly changing, it is important that we review your plans and goals
regularly. Financial plans are based on your financial situation at the time the plan is prepared
and are based on financial information disclosed by you. We feel that scheduled reviews are
imperative in making certain we are doing the utmost to assist you. In this engagement, the
components of the financial plan are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in your
situation, as needed. These reviews will focus on changes in your goals, resources, and current
laws to help you maximize your resources while minimizing or mitigating risks. As your financial
situation, goals, objectives, or needs change, you must notify us promptly. You are advised that
certain assumptions may be made with respect to interest and inflation rates and use of past
trends and performance of the market and economy in our recommendations and investment
strategies.
As part of our ongoing financial planning services the investment advice provided is custom
tailored to meet your needs and investment objectives. Once the portfolio is constructed, we
provide regular supervision and rebalancing of the portfolio as changes in market conditions
and your circumstances may require and subject to any written guidelines that you may
provide. We work together to create an investment strategy and asset allocation, and setup
ongoing investment management.
Where we enter into non-discretionary arrangements with you, we will obtain your approval
prior to the execution of a trade. Where you have granted the firm discretionary authority, we
are authorized to conduct transactions of cash and securities in your account, on your behalf
and at your expense without your further approval.
As part of this plan, the Great Path generally meets with clients between three to six times to
find out the client’s entire financial situation. As part of the ongoing review and modification of
the plan, the Great Path generally offers the opportunity to meet with the client between two
and four times per year, either in person, over the phone, or via video telephony. Some clients,
particularly business owners or clients with more complex financial circumstances, may require
additional meetings.
This service involves working one-on-one with a planner over an extended period of time.
Advice can be rendered on an ongoing basis by their planner and is not merely limited to the
production of a financial planning document or financial planning software reports. By paying a
monthly or quarterly fee (detailed in Section 5), clients get continuous access to a planner who
will work with them to design their plan and provide guidance as the clients’ personal situations
change.
The client always has the right to decide whether or not to act upon our recommendations. If
the client elects to act on any of the recommendations, the client always has the right to
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execute the transactions through anyone of their choosing.
Project Based or Limited Scope Financial Planning and Consulting
Project Based Financial Planning and Consulting is an a la carte, limited-scope financial planning
engagement. We offer this service to individuals who may require assistance with one or more
specific financial planning areas. We offer this service as a stand-alone service, or it can be
added to our many other offerings, i.e.: the Comprehensive Financial Planning Service or the
One Time Meeting. It is designed to narrowly address specific topics or issues that may arise for
individuals or business owners.
Under this type of engagement, we work with you to assess details relevant to the issue in
question, identify your objectives, and develop recommendations. Advice is based on objectives
communicated, either orally or in writing, by the client to the adviser. Consulting services may
be provided through individual consultations and/or a written project document. Great Path
will conduct an information gathering initial interview, lasting about 60-120 minutes. We will
then analyze pertinent information and develop recommendations.
Great Path will conduct a second meeting of 60-90 minutes to deliver the recommendations,
verbally or in writing as appropriate, and address relevant questions. Clients will have
reasonable email access to Great Path within 30 days of the second meeting, at which time the
engagement is concluded. Clients may re-engage Great Path as needed. Additional meetings,
further access to the adviser for questions or implementation over an extended period, and
other services may be added and appropriately annotated on the client agreement.
At times projects may involve more than two meetings as recommended by Great Path or
requested by the client, and mutually agreed by both parties. Some clients may request a
limited scope engagement of a coaching or consulting nature without written presentation of
analytical work, such as monthly business coaching. Such engagements will be annotated in in
the Client Agreement.
One Time Meeting
The One Time Meeting is a stand-alone, limited scope service, designed to assist individuals
whose area of concern can be addressed in one meeting without any preparation or follow up
by us. Great Path will conduct one meeting lasting 60-90 minutes to gather information and
answer questions based on the information provided. The client may ask relevant follow up
questions, if necessary, within 30 calendar days via phone or email not to exceed 30 minutes of
response time by the Adviser. Clients may re-engage Great Path as needed.
Investment Management Services
Some clients may engage us for individually tailored investment portfolios. Our firm provides
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continuous advice to a client regarding the investment of client funds based on the individual
needs of the client. Through personal discussions in which goals and objectives based on a
client's particular circumstances are established, we develop a client's personal investment
policy or an investment plan with an asset allocation target and create and manage a portfolio
based on that plan and allocation target. During our data-gathering process, we determine the
client’s individual objectives, time horizons, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs. We may also
review and discuss a client’s prior investment history, as well as family composition and
background.
Great Path provides investment advisory services individualized for each client’s needs, risk
tolerances and goals. Before providing investment advisory services, an investment adviser
representative will ascertain each client’s investment objectives. Great Path will then allocate
and/or recommend that the client allocate investment assets consistent with the designated
investment objectives. Great Path generally allocates or recommends that clients allocate
investment assets among no-load mutual fund shares and exchange traded funds (“ETFs”).
Additionally, Great Path may use model portfolios, if the portfolio meets the investment
objectives of the client. However, Great Path may also accommodate clients in purchasing
other securities on a client’s behalf when requested by clients. Typically, these purchases have
historically been fixed-income securities, individual equity securities, and options contracts.
Great Path provides ongoing monitoring and review of account performance, asset allocation,
and client investment objectives.
Account supervision is guided by the stated objectives of the client (e.g., maximum capital
appreciation, growth, income, growth and income, etc.), as well as tax considerations. Clients
may impose reasonable restrictions on investing in certain securities, types of securities, or
industry sectors. Fees pertaining to this service are outlined in Item 5 of this brochure.
Clients may engage Great Path to provide discretionary investment advisory services on a fee-
only basis. Please see Item 5 for more information regarding fees. Before engaging Great Path
to provide investment advisory services, clients are required to enter into an Investment
Advisory Agreement with Great Path setting forth the terms and conditions of the engagement,
describing the scope of the services to be provided, and the fee that is due from the client.
In the event that the client requires extraordinary planning or consultation services, as
determined at the sole discretion of Great Path, an additional fee for such additional services
may be warranted. This generally occurs due to a life event that significantly changes the scope
or complexity of the engagement, such as selling a business, receiving a large inheritance,
starting a new business, etc. Clients will always be notified in advance and must provide
consent before any increases in fees takes place. Please see Item 5 for more information
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regarding fees.
For all financial planning and investment management services, it remains the client’s
responsibility to promptly notify the Great Path when there are relevant changes in financial
situation or investment objectives.
Educational Seminars
We may provide educational seminars on an “as announced” basis for groups seeking general
advice on investments and other areas of personal finance. The content of these seminars will
vary depending upon the needs of the attendees. These seminars are purely educational in
nature and do not involve the sale of any investment products. Information presented will not
be based on any individual person’s needs, nor does Great Path provide individualized
investment advice to attendees during these seminars.
Assets Under Management
Discretionary Assets Under Management are $133,915,073.04 as of March 20, 2025.
Wrap Fee Programs
We do not participate in wrap fee programs.
3(38) Investment Management for Company Retirement
Plans – Incl. Participant Services
Plan-Level Discretionary Investment Management Services under ERISA §3(38)
(i) Discuss objectives for the Plan with the client and recommend the number of
general investment options and asset class categories to be offered under the Plan.
(ii) Select a broad range of investment options consistent with ERISA Section 404(c)
and the regulations thereunder.
(iii) Provide ongoing and continuous discretionary investment management with
respect to the asset classes and investment alternatives available under the Plan in
accordance with the objectives for the Plan. Under this authority, Adviser may
remove and replace the investment alternatives available under the Plan in its
discretion.
(iv) Consult with Client as to whether Plan should have a qualified default investment
alternative (“QDIA”) for participants who are automatically enrolled in the Plan or
who otherwise fail to make an investment election and type of investment to serve
as QDIA (e.g., target date fund, balanced fund or managed account). If Client decides
to have QDIA under Plan and decides upon the type of investment that will serve as
QDIA, then Adviser will select the investment to serve as the QDIA. The Client retains
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the sole responsibility to provide all notices to participants required under ERISA
Section 404(c)(5).
2. Participant-Level Non-Discretionary Investment Advisory Services
Adviser will provide non-discretionary investment advice to Plan participants about
Plan investment alternatives when requested by and mutually agreed upon with the
Client. Plan participants shall have the final decision-making authority regarding the
initial selection, retention and changes in investment selections.
Non-Fiduciary Services
The Adviser will perform the Non-Fiduciary services described below. Adviser may
provide these services or, alternatively, may arrange for the Plan’s other providers
to offer these services, as agreed upon between Adviser and Client.
1. Plan-Level Non-Fiduciary Services
(i) Educate Client as to its fiduciary responsibilities.
(ii) Assist the Client in monitoring, selecting and supervising service vendors by
providing consulting services on these matters.
(iii) Prepare fee analysis and benchmarking studies when
requested.
2. Participant-Level Non-Fiduciary Services
(i) Assist in the group enrollment meetings designed to increase retirement plan
participation among employees and to improve investment and financial
understanding by the employees, when requested by and mutually agreed upon with
the Client.
(ii) Assist in the education of the participants in the Plan about general investment
principles and the investment alternatives available under the Plan. Client
understands that Adviser’s assistance in participant investment education shall be
consistent with and within the scope of (d) of Department of Labor Interpretive
Bulletin 96-1 (i.e., the definition of investment education). The frequency of the
meetings shall be mutually agreed upon with the Client.
(iii) As such, the Adviser is not providing fiduciary advice (as defined in ERISA) to the
participants. Adviser will not provide investment advice concerning the prudence of
any investment option or combination of investment options for a particular
participant or beneficiary under the Plan.
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Please note, unless a client has received the firm’s disclosure brochure at least 48
Item 5: Fees and Compensation
hours prior to signing the investment advisory contract, the investment advisory
contract may be terminated by the client within five (5) business days of signing the
contract without incurring any advisory fees and without penalty. How we are paid
depends on the type of advisory service we are performing. Please review the fee and
compensation information below.
Financial Planning Services
Ongoing, Comprehensive Financial Advisement
Clients engaging Great Path for ongoing, comprehensive financial advisement pay a
fee based upon a number of factors, including but not limited to the number of
household members, amount of financial planning required, number and type of
accounts, net worth, life stage, business interests, real estate ownership, trust
arrangements, and complexity of their financial situation, as well as the
responsibility assigned to the Adviser. This fee is determined at the inception of the
client relationship and agreed to by both the client and Great Path in the client
advisory agreement. The fee is generally in the range of 0.50%-1.5% of liquid net
worth, or 0.5%-1.5% of income plus 0.10%-1% of total net worth. The minimum fee
is $2,500.00 per quarter paid in advance. This fee includes both discretionary and
non-discretionary investment advisory services, advice on held-away accounts, and
financial planning services for topics covered under the scope of the ongoing,
comprehensive planning advisement. Clients who benefit from our fee structure
tend have a higher net worth and/or complicated planning needs. We reserve the
right to decline situations which we consider not complicated enough to warrant our
minimum fee, or we may also offer a reduced fee for simpler situations.
Billing begins on the date that the client signs the advisory agreement unless
annotated otherwise in the client agreement and is prorated, then billed quarterly or
monthly thereafter in advance. Great Path may request an initial deposit at the start
of the engagement for clients choosing to pay monthly. If an initial deposit is
requested, the amount will be $1,000.00 or 25% of the total annual fee, whichever is
greater. The remainder of the fee can be paid monthly or quarterly, as annotated in
the client agreement. For clients choosing monthly payment options: since the initial
fee of $1,000 or 25% covers the first quarter’s fees, monthly billing for the remainder
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of the fee will begin 3 months (one calendar quarter) after the initial deposit is made,
with the first monthly payment being prorated, then all others equal. Great Path will
not bill an amount above $500.00 more than 6 months in advance.
Client’s fees will be reviewed biannually, with the fees calculated on the first day of the
quarter following the second anniversary of the initial contract date, then biannually
thereafter. This makes all clients renew on the first day of a calendar quarter for ease
of administration. If Great Path renews at the same fee amount, then no updated
client contract is necessary; the contract is considered renewed for two years at the
same amount from the documented fee calculation date. Such renewals are
continuous until changed mutually by the client and advisor via a new client advisory
agreement.
In the event of a major life event for the client, their fee may be reassessed sooner
than every two years. Examples of a major life event include inheritance of assets,
sale of a closely held business, other events causing a rapid change in net worth not
attributable to general stock market appreciation, or significant events that increase
the demand for advice. Any adjustment to client’s fees will be agreed upon in
advance and outlined in a new client agreement.
Due to the detailed nature of the work we do for clients, our fees for financial
planning and investment management services depend on the scope and
complexity of those services. As such, our fees may be lower or higher than those
charged by other investment advisers for similar investment management or
financial planning services. We may provide services for members of current client
households or their families. Fees are negotiable and waivable at the discretion of
Great Path.
In the event of termination of the advisory relationship, the client will be refunded the
unearned portion of the fee as determined by the net of: the most recent fee paid less
the greater of either 1) an hourly rate of $275-800 per hour determined at Great
Path’s discretion or 2) a proration of the number of days since the beginning of the
period for which fees were paid divided by the number of days in that period (monthly
or quarterly.) (e.g. termination after 1 month will receive a 2/3 refund of a quarterly
fee paid in advance for a noninitial quarter.) Clients have 7 calendar days or 5 business
days to download any applicable financial reports or documents from financial
planning or performance reporting systems before electronic access is terminated.
Project Based or Limited Scope Financial Planning, Consulting, or Flat Fee
Investment Management
Project based financial planning and consulting are available for specific questions or
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problems for which you are seeking advice. The service is designed to give individuals
and couples who are younger an opportunity to work with a financial planner, or
business owners for business consulting. Additionally, clients can engage us in
standalone, discretionary or non-discretionary investment management under this
program.
The fee for service may be determined one of two ways, as agreed between the client
and Great Path the complexity of the clients’ situation. The minimum fee for advice
rendered under the program is $1,250.00. The cost will be determined at the start of
the relationship. Should the scope of the engagement change, Great Path and the
client shall renegotiate the fee.
Great Path may request an initial deposit prior to the start of the project. For projects
estimated to be less than $2,000.00, a 50% initial deposit may be requested. For
projects estimated to be over $2,000.00, an initial deposit may be requested in the
amount of $1,000.00 or 25%, whichever is greater. However, Great Path will not bill an
amount above $500.00 more than 6 months in advance. Final payment for all services
rendered is due upon receipt of the completed project or 30 days after the client is
notified of completion, whichever is sooner. The client and Great Path agree that once
the project is completed, the relationship will end at the time of the project delivery.
In the event of early termination, the client will forfeit the initial deposit. For services
that are ongoing in nature, such as business consulting, Great Path and the client may
agree to a monthly or quarterly payment, an hourly rate billed monthly in arears with
payments due on receipt (at a rate of $275-800 per hour with the specific rate
annotated in the client agreement and time rounded up to the nearest 5 minute
interval.)
The client and Great Path will jointly determine a timeline for the engagement and
payments to be paid. Some services, such as discretionary investment management,
will be provided on an ongoing basis until terminated, as will be stipulated in the
contract. At our discretion, we can assess a fee on a quarterly or monthly basis as
opposed to the fee schedule referenced in the above paragraph. In this case, in the
event of termination, the initial quarter’s fee is nonrefundable. After an initial quarter,
the client will be refunded the unearned portion of the fee as determined by the net
of: the most recent, non-initial fee paid less the greater of either 1) an hourly rate of
$275-800 per hour determined at Great Path’s discretion or 2) a proration of the
number of days since the beginning of the period for which fees were paid divided by
the number of days in that period (monthly or quarterly.) (e.g. termination after 1
month will receive a 2/3 refund of a quarterly fee paid in advance for a noninitial
quarter.)
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One Time Meeting
A One Time Meeting is a limited scope engagement comprised of one 60-90 minute
meeting and 30 minutes of response time within 30 calendar days for pertinent follow
up questions to the topic covered during the meeting. The flat fee for this service is
$950, due at the conclusion of the meeting and is non-refundable.
Additional Information
Adviser may offer advisory services on a pro-bono basis.
Fees may be adjusted at the discretion of the Principal.
3(38) Investment Management for Company Retirement Plans – Incl. Participant Services
The advisory fee is agreed upon by the adviser and client and generally less than or
equal to 0.50% of plan assets, with a minimum of $1,250 quarterly or $5,000 annually.
Educational Seminars
Fees for Educational Seminars will vary due to varying scope, length, and complexity
of seminars. In the event that seminar attendees will be responsible for payment,
the fee will be published on the seminar announcement or invitation. Great Path
may also provide pro bono seminars at its own discretion.
Other Types of Fees and Expenses
When implementing an investment recommendation, the client may incur additional
fees such as brokerage commissions, transaction fees, and other related costs and
expenses. Clients may incur certain charges imposed by broker-dealers, and other third
parties such as custodial fees, deferred sales charges, odd-lot differentials, transfer
taxes, wire transfer and electronic fund fees, and other fees and taxes on brokerage
accounts and securities transactions. Mutual fund 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 our fee, and we shall
not receive any portion of these commissions, fees, and costs.
Item 12 further describes the factors that we consider in selecting or
recommending custodians or broker-dealers for client’s transactions and
determining the reasonableness of their compensation (e.g., commissions).
We do not accept compensation for the sale of securities or other investment
products including asset-based sales charges or service fees from the sale of
mutual funds.
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All fees may be paid from investment accounts of clients who have
investment accounts at custodians with whom Great Path has an institutional
relationship (Altruist Financial LLC and Schwab.) Clients may also pay fees via
check, secure bank transfer, or credit card. If the client pays via credit card,
Great Path may pass along credit card processing fees to the client. If this is
the case, Great Path will annotate it on the advisory agreement. If it is not
annotated, then Great Path will bear the credit card processing fees.
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and
We do not offer performance-based fees.
Side-By-Side Management
Adviser provides financial planning and asset management services to
Item 7: Types of Clients
individuals, retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts and estates, corporations,
and other business entities.
For clients engaging Great Path in the in any of our Financial Planning Services,
there is no minimum account size.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment
Strategies and Risk of Loss
Passive Investment Management
We primarily practice passive investment management. Passive investing involves
building portfolios that are comprised of various distinct asset classes. The asset
classes are weighted in a manner to achieve a desired relationship between
correlation, risk and return. Funds that passively capture the returns of the desired
asset classes are placed in the portfolio. The funds that are used to build passive
portfolios are typically index mutual funds or exchange traded funds.
Passive investment management is characterized by low portfolio expenses (i.e. the
funds inside the portfolio have low internal costs), minimal trading costs (due to
infrequent trading activity), and relative tax efficiency (because the funds inside the
portfolio are tax efficient and turnover inside the portfolio is minimal).
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In contrast, active management involves a single manager or managers who employ
some method, strategy or technique to construct a portfolio that is intended to
generate returns that are greater than the broader market or a designated benchmark.
Academic research indicates most active managers underperform the market.
When appropriate, we may also employ the following methods of investment
analysis: fundamental, technical, cyclical and charting analysis.
Fundamental analysis involves analyzing individual companies and their industry
groups, such as a company’s financial statements, details regarding the company’s
product line, the experience, and expertise of the company’s management, and the
outlook for the company’s industry. The resulting data is used to measure the true
value of the company’s stock compared to the current market value. The risk of
fundamental analysis is that information obtained may be incorrect and the analysis
may not provide an accurate estimate of earnings, which may be the basis for a stock’s
value. If securities prices adjust rapidly to new information, utilizing fundamental
analysis may not result in favorable performance.
Technical analysis involves using chart patterns, momentum, volume, and relative
strength in an effort to pick sectors that may outperform market indices. However,
there is no assurance of accurate forecasts or that trends will develop in the markets
we follow. In the past, there have been periods without discernible trends and similar
periods will presumably occur in the future. Even where major trends develop, outside
factors like government intervention could potentially shorten them.
Furthermore, one limitation of technical analysis is that it requires price movement
data, which can translate into price trends sufficient to dictate a market entry or exit
decision. In a trendless or erratic market, a technical method may fail to identify trends
requiring action. In addition, technical methods may overreact to minor price
movements, establishing positions contrary to overall price trends, which may result in
losses. Finally, a technical trading method may under perform other trading methods
when fundamental factors dominate price moves within a given market.
Cyclical analysis is a type of technical analysis that involves evaluating recurring price
patterns and trends based upon business cycles. Economic/business cycles may not
be predictable and may have many fluctuations between long term expansions and
contractions. The lengths of economic cycles may be difficult to predict with accuracy
and therefore the risk of cyclical analysis is the difficulty in predicting economic
trends and consequently the changing value of securities that would be affected by
these changing trends.
Charting analysis involves the gathering and processing of price and volume
information for a particular security. This price and volume information is analyzed
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using mathematical equations. The resulting data is then applied to graphing charts,
which is used to predict future price movements based on price patterns and trends.
Charts may not accurately predict future price movements. Current prices of securities
may not reflect all information about the security and day-to-day changes in market
prices of securities may follow random patterns and may not be predictable with any
reliable degree of accuracy.
Material Risks Involved
All investing strategies we offer involve risk and may result in a loss of your original
investment which you should be prepared to bear. Many of these risks apply equally
to stocks, bonds, commodities and any other investment or security. Material risks
associated with our investment strategies are listed below.
Market Risk: Market risk involves the possibility that an investment’s current market
value will fall because of a general market decline, reducing the value of the
investment regardless of the operational success of the issuer’s operations or its
financial condition.
Strategy Risk: The Adviser’s investment strategies and/or investment techniques may
not work as intended.
Small and Medium Cap Company Risk: Securities of companies with small and
medium market capitalizations are often more volatile and less liquid than
investments in larger companies.
Small and medium cap companies may face a greater risk of business failure,
which could increase the volatility of the client’s portfolio.
Turnover Risk: At times, the strategy may have a portfolio turnover rate that is
higher than other strategies. A high portfolio turnover would result in
correspondingly greater brokerage commission expenses and may result in the
distribution of additional capital gains for tax purposes. These factors may
negatively affect the account’s performance.
Limited markets: Certain securities may be less liquid (harder to sell or buy) and their
prices may at times be more volatile than at other times. Under certain market
conditions we may be unable to sell or liquidate investments at prices we consider
reasonable or favorable, or find buyers at any price.
Concentration Risk: Certain investment strategies focus on particular asset classes,
industries, sectors or types of investment. From time to time these strategies may be
subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a
strategy that is more broadly diversified across a wider variety of investments.
Interest Rate Risk: Bond (fixed income) prices generally fall when interest rates rise,
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and the value may fall below par value or the principal investment. The opposite is
also generally true: bond prices generally rise when interest rates fall. In general,
fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price
changes. Most other investments are also sensitive to the level and direction of
interest rates.
Legal or Legislative Risk: Legislative changes or Court rulings may impact
the value of investments, or the securities’ claim on the issuer’s assets and
finances.
Inflation: Inflation may erode the buying-power of your investment portfolio, even if
the dollar value of your investments remains the same.
Risks Associated with Securities
Apart from the general risks outlined above which apply to all types of
investments, specific securities may have other risks.
Commercial Paper is, in most cases, an unsecured promissory note that is issued
with a maturity of 270 days or less. Being unsecured the risk to the investor is
that the issuer may default.
Common stocks may go up and down in price quite dramatically, and in the event of
an issuer’s bankruptcy or restructuring could lose all value. A slower-growth or
recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the price of all
stocks.
Corporate Bonds are debt securities to borrow money. Generally, issuers pay investors
periodic interest and repay the amount borrowed either periodically during the life of
the security and/or at maturity. Alternatively, investors can purchase other debt
securities, such as zero coupon bonds, which do not pay current interest, but rather
are priced at a discount from their face values and their values accrete over time to
face value at maturity. The market prices of debt securities fluctuate depending on
such factors as interest rates, credit quality, and maturity. In general, market prices of
debt securities decline when interest rates rise and increase when interest rates fall.
The longer the time to a bond’s maturity, the greater its interest rate risk.
Bank Obligations including bonds and certificates of deposit may be vulnerable to
setbacks or panics in the banking industry. Banks and other financial institutions are
greatly affected by interest rates and may be adversely affected by downturns in the
U.S. and foreign economies or changes in banking regulations.
Municipal Bonds are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various
public purposes, including the construction of public facilities. Municipal bonds pay a
lower rate of return than most other types of bonds. However, because of a municipal
17
bond’s tax-favored status, investors should compare the relative after-tax return to the
after-tax return of other bonds, depending on the investor’s tax bracket. Investing in
municipal bonds carries the same general risks as investing in bonds in general. Those
risks include interest rate risk, reinvestment risk, inflation risk, market risk, call or
redemption risk, credit risk, and liquidity and valuation risk.
Options and other derivatives carry many unique risks, including time-sensitivity,
and can result in the complete loss of principal. While covered call writing does
provide a partial hedge to the stock against which the call is written, the hedge is
limited to the amount of cash flow received when writing the option. When selling
covered calls, there is a risk the underlying position may be called away at a price
lower than the current market price.
Exchange Traded Funds prices may vary significantly from the Net Asset Value due to
market conditions. Certain Exchange Traded Funds may not track underlying
benchmarks as expected.
Investment Companies Risk. When a client invests in open end mutual funds or ETFs,
the client indirectly bears its proportionate share of any fees and expenses payable
directly by those funds. Therefore, the client will incur higher expenses, many of which
may be duplicative. In addition, the client’s overall portfolio may be affected by losses
of an underlying fund and the level of risk arising from the investment practices of an
underlying fund (such as the use of derivatives). ETFs are also subject to the following
risks: (i) an ETF’s shares may trade at a market price that is above or below their net
asset value; (ii) the ETF may employ an investment strategy that utilizes high leverage
ratios; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange’s officials
deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed from the exchange, or the
activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock
prices) halts stock trading generally. The Adviser has no control over the risks taken by
the underlying funds in which clients invest.
Criminal or Civil Actions
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
Great Path and its management have not been involved in any criminal or civil action.
Administrative Enforcement Proceedings
Great Path and its management have not been involved in administrative
enforcement proceedings.
Self-Regulatory Organization Enforcement Proceedings
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Great Path and its management have not been involved in legal or disciplinary
events that are material to a client’s or prospective client’s evaluation of Great Path
or the integrity of its management.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities
and Affiliations
No Great Path employee is registered, or have an application pending to register, as
a broker-dealer or a registered representative of a broker-dealer.
No Great Path employee is registered, or have an application pending to register, as
a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator or a commodity trading
adviser.
Great Path does not have any related parties. As a result, we do not have a
relationship with any related parties.
Great Path only receives compensation directly from clients. We do not receive
monetary compensation from any outside source. We do not have any conflicts
of interest with any outside party.
Under New York State regulations, Christopher Pollard is required to maintain a
current life insurance license in order to review clients’ life insurance policies and
recommend any adjustments. Mr. Pollard does not sell any insurance products, nor
does he receive any commissions of any type related to the sale of insurance
products.
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or
Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
As a fiduciary, our firm and its associates have a duty of utmost good faith to act
Trading
solely in the best interests of each client. Our clients entrust us with their funds and
personal information, which in turn places a high standard on our conduct and
integrity. Our fiduciary duty is a core aspect of our Code of Ethics and represents the
expected basis of all of our dealings. The firm also adheres to the Code of Ethics and
Professional Responsibility adopted by the CFP® Board of Standards Inc., and
accepts the obligation not only to comply with the mandates and requirements of
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all applicable laws and regulations but also to take responsibility to act in an ethical
and professionally responsible manner in all professional services and activities.
Code of Ethics Description
This code does not attempt to identify all possible conflicts of interest, and literal
compliance with each of its specific provisions will not shield associated persons from
liability for personal trading or other conduct that violates a fiduciary duty to advisory
clients. A summary of the Code of Ethics' Principles is outlined below.
Integrity - Associated persons shall offer and provide professional services with integrity.
•
• Objectivity - Associated persons shall be objective in providing professional services
to clients.
• Competence - Associated persons shall provide services to clients competently and
maintain the necessary knowledge and skill to continue to do so in those areas in
which they are engaged.
• Fairness - Associated persons shall perform professional services in a manner that
is fair and reasonable to clients, principals, partners, and employers, and shall disclose
conflict(s) of interest in providing such services.
• Confidentiality - Associated persons shall not disclose confidential client
information without the specific consent of the client unless in response to proper legal
process, or as required by law.
• Professionalism - Associated persons’ conduct in all matter shall reflect credit of
the profession.
• Diligence - Associated persons shall act diligently in providing professional services.
We periodically review and amend our Code of Ethics to ensure that it remains
current, and we require all firm access persons to attest to their understanding of and
adherence to the Code of Ethics at least annually. Our firm will provide of copy of its
Code of Ethics to any client or prospective client upon request.
Investment Recommendations Involving a Material Financial
Interest and Conflicts of Interest
Neither our firm, its associates or any related person is authorized to recommend to a
client, or effect a transaction for a client, involving any security in which our firm or a
related person has a material financial interest, such as in the capacity as an
underwriter, adviser to the issuer, etc.
Advisory Firm Purchase of Same Securities Recommended to Clients and
Conflicts of Interest
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Our firm and its “related persons” may buy or sell securities similar to, or different
from, those we recommend to clients for their accounts. In an effort to reduce or
eliminate certain conflicts of interest involving the firm or personal trading, our policy
may require that we restrict or prohibit associates’ transactions in specific reportable
securities transactions. Any exceptions or trading pre-clearance must be approved by
the firm principal in advance of the transaction in an account, and we maintain the
required personal securities transaction records per regulation.
Trading Securities at/Around the Same Time as Client’s Securities
From time to time, our firm or its “related persons” may buy or sell securities for
themselves at or around the same time as clients. We will not trade non-mutual fund
or non-ETF securities 5 days prior to the same security for clients.
Factors Used to Select Custodians and/or Broker-Dealers
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Great Path does not have any affiliation with Broker-Dealers. Specific custodian
recommendations are made to client based on their need for such services. We recommend
custodians based on the reputation and services provided by the firm.
1. Research and Other Soft-Dollar Benefits
We currently do not receive soft dollar benefits.
2. Brokerage for Client Referrals
We receive no referrals from a broker-dealer or third party in exchange for using that
broker-dealer or third party.
3. Clients Directing Which Broker/Dealer/Custodian to Use
We do recommend a specific custodian for clients to use. However, clients may
custody their assets at a custodian of their choice. Clients may also direct us to use a
specific broker-dealer to execute transactions. By allowing clients to choose a specific
custodian, we may be unable to achieve most favorable execution of client
transaction and this may cost clients’ money over using a lower-cost custodian.
Great Path participates in the institutional program (the “Program”) offered by
Altruist Financial LLC, an unaffiliated SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA
member. Altruist Financial LLC offers independent investment services which include
custody of securities, trade execution, clearance and settlement of transactions.
Great Path receives some benefits from Altruist Financial LLC through its
participation in the Program. Great Path may recommend Altruist Financial LLC to
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clients for custody and brokerage services. There is no direct link between Great
Path’s participation in the program and the investment advice it gives to its clients,
although Great Path receives economic benefits through its participation in the
program.
These benefits include the following products and services (provided without cost or
at a discount): receipt of duplicate client statements and confirmations; research
related products and tools; consulting services; access to a trading desk serving Great
Path participants; access to block trading (which provides the ability to aggregate
securities transactions for execution and then allocate the appropriate shares to
client accounts); the ability to have advisory fees deducted directly from client
accounts; access to an electronic communications network for client order entry and
account information; access to mutual funds with no transaction fees and to certain
institutional money managers; and discounts on compliance, marketing, research,
technology, and practice management products or services provided to Great Path
by third party vendors. Altruist Financial LLC may also have paid for business
consulting and professional services received by Great Path’s related persons.
Some of the products and services made available by Altruist Financial LLC through
the program may benefit Great Path but may not benefit its client accounts. These
products or services may assist Great Path in managing and administering client
accounts, including accounts not maintained at Altruist Financial LLC. Other services
made available by Altruist Financial LLC are intended to help Great Path manage and
further develop its business enterprise.
The benefits received by Great Path or its personnel through participation in the
program do not depend on the amount of brokerage transactions directed to Altruist
Financial LLC. As part of its fiduciary duties to clients, Great Path endeavors at all
times to put the interests of its clients first. Clients should be aware, however, that
the receipt of economic benefits by Great Path or its related persons in and of itself
creates a potential conflict of interest and may indirectly influence Great Path’s
choice of Altruist Financial LLC for custody and brokerage services.
Additionally, Great Path participates in the institutional program (the “Program”)
offered by Schwab Adviser Services. Schwab Adviser Services is a division of Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), an unaffiliated SEC-registered broker-dealer and
FINRA member. Schwab offers independent investment services which include
custody of securities, trade execution, clearance and settlement of transactions.
Great Path receives some benefits from Schwab through its participation in the
Program. Great Path may recommend Schwab to clients for custody and brokerage
services. There is no direct link between Great Path’s participation in the program
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and the investment advice it gives to its clients, although Great Path receives
economic benefits through its participation in the program that are typically not
available to Schwab retail investors.
These benefits include the following products and services (provided without cost or
at a discount): receipt of duplicate client statements and confirmations; research
related products and tools; consulting services; access to a trading desk serving Great
Path participants; access to block trading (which provides the ability to aggregate
securities transactions for execution and then allocate the appropriate shares to
client accounts); the ability to have advisory fees deducted directly from client
accounts; access to an electronic communications network for client order entry and
account information; access to mutual funds with no transaction fees and to certain
institutional money managers; and discounts on compliance, marketing, research,
technology, and practice management products or services provided to Great Path
by third party vendors. Schwab may also have paid for business consulting and
professional services received by Great Path’s related persons.
Some of the products and services made available by Schwab through the program
may benefit Great Path but may not benefit its client accounts. These products or
services may assist Great Path in managing and administering client accounts,
including accounts not maintained at Schwab. Other services made available by
Schwab are intended to help Great Path manage and further develop its business
enterprise.
The benefits received by Great Path or its personnel through participation in the
program do not depend on the amount of brokerage transactions directed to
Schwab. As part of its fiduciary duties to clients, Great Path endeavors at all times to
put the interests of its clients first. Clients should be aware, however, that the
receipt of economic benefits by Great Path or its related persons in and of itself
creates a potential conflict of interest and may indirectly influence Great Path’s
choice of Schwab for custody and brokerage services.
Aggregating (Block) Trading for Multiple Client Accounts
Generally, we combine multiple orders for shares of the same securities purchased for
advisory accounts we manage (this practice is commonly referred to as “block
trading”). We will then distribute a portion of the shares to participating accounts in a
fair and equitable manner. The distribution of the shares purchased is typically
proportionate to the size of the account, but it is not based on account performance
or the amount or structure of management fees. Subject to our discretion, regarding
particular circumstances and market conditions, when we combine orders, each
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participating account pays an average price per share for all transactions and pays a
proportionate share of all transaction costs. Accounts owned by our firm or persons
associated with our firm may participate in block trading with your accounts;
however, they will not be given preferential treatment.
Client accounts under our discretionary management will be reviewed regularly or at
Item 13: Review of Accounts
least on a quarterly basis by Christopher Pollard, Principal and CCO. The account is
reviewed with regards to the client’s stated investment objectives and risk tolerance
levels. Events that may trigger a special review would be unusual performance,
addition or deletions of client-imposed restrictions, excessive draw-down, volatility in
performance, or buy and sell decisions from the firm or per client's needs.
Clients will receive trade confirmations from the broker(s) for each transaction in their
accounts as well as monthly or quarterly statements and annual tax reporting
statements from their custodian showing all activity in the accounts, such as receipt of
dividends and interest.
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other
Compensation
We do not receive any economic benefit, directly or indirectly, from any third party
for advice rendered to our clients. Nor do we directly or indirectly compensate any
person who is not advisory personnel for client referrals.
For clients that do not have their fees deducted directly from their account(s), have
Item 15: Custody
not provided Great Path with any standing letters of authorization to distribute funds
from their account(s), and have not granted Great Path any bill pay or other
disbursement authority that imputes access to client funds or securities, Great Path
will not be deemed to have custody of such clients’ assets.
To the extent Great Path is granted discretion as to the amount or timing of
disbursements from a client’s account pursuant to a SLOA, Great Path shall follow the
seven conditions outlined in the Investment Adviser Association No Action Letter
(February 21, 2017):
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• 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 should be directed.
• The client authorizes Great Path, 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.
• 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.
• The client has the ability to terminate or change the instruction to the client’s
qualified custodian.
• Great Path 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.
• Great Path 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.
• The client’s qualified custodian sends the client, in writing, an initial notice
confirming the instruction and an annual notice reconfirming the instruction.
To the extent a client grants Great Path bill pay or other disbursement authority that
imputes access to client funds or securities, Great Path will undergo an annual
surprise examination conducted by an independent accounting firm. The results of
such independent verification, as well as the corresponding assets under custody, are
reported through via Form ADV-E and Form ADV Part 1, respectively.
At no time will Great Path accept full custody of client funds or securities in the
capacity of a custodial broker-dealer, and at all times client accounts will be held by a
third-party qualified custodian as described in Item 12, above.
If a client receives account statements from both the custodial broker-dealer and
Great Path or a third-party report provider, client is urged to compare such account
statements and advise Great Path of any discrepancies between them.
For those client accounts where we provide investment management services, we
Item 16: Investment Discretion
maintain discretion over client accounts with respect to securities to be bought and
sold and the amount of securities to be bought and sold. Investment discretion is
explained to clients in detail when an advisory relationship has commenced. At the
start of the advisory relationship, the client will execute a Limited Power of Attorney,
25
which will grant our firm discretion over the account.
Additionally, the discretionary relationship will be outlined in the advisory contract
and signed by the client. Clients may impose reasonable restrictions on investing in
certain securities, types of securities, or industry sectors.
We do not vote Client proxies. Therefore, Clients maintain exclusive responsibility for:
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
(1) voting proxies, and (2) acting on corporate actions pertaining to the Client’s
investment assets. The Client shall instruct the Client’s qualified custodian to forward
to the Client copies of all proxies and shareholder communications relating to the
Client’s investment assets. If the client would like our opinion on a particular proxy
vote, they may contact us at the number listed on the cover of this brochure.
In most cases, you will receive proxy materials directly from the account custodian.
However, in the event we were to receive any written or electronic proxy materials,
we would forward them directly to you by mail, unless you have authorized our firm to
contact you by electronic mail, in which case, we would forward you any electronic
solicitation to vote proxies.
Registered Investment Advisers are required in this Item to provide you with certain
Item 18: Financial Information
financial information or disclosures about our financial condition. We have no financial
commitment that impairs our ability to meet contractual and fiduciary commitments
to clients, and we have not been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
We do not have custody of client funds or securities or require or solicit
prepayment of more than $500 in fees per client six months in advance.
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Semitam Bonam LLC d/b/a Great Path Planning
10 Matthews Street, Lower Level
Goshen, NY 10924
(845) 397-7284
Dated February 2, 2024
Form ADV Part 2B – Brochure Supplement
For: Christopher C. Pollard, CFP®, MBA, EA
Principal, and Chief Compliance Officer
This brochure supplement provides information about Christopher C. Pollard that
supplements the Semitam Bonam LLC d/b/a Great Path Planning (“Great Path”)
brochure. A copy of that brochure precedes this supplement. Please contact
Christopher C. Pollard if the Great Path brochure is not included with this supplement
or if you have any questions about the contents of this supplement.
Additional information about Christopher C. Pollard is available on the SEC’s
website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov which can be found using the
identification number 5603384.
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Item 2: Educational Background and
Christopher C. Pollard, CFP®, MBA, EA
Business Experience
Born: 1981
Educational Background
• 2004 – Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering,
United States Military Academy, West Point
• 2012 – Masters of Business Administration, Personal Financial Planning,
Georgia State University
Business Experience
• 07/2016 – Present, Great Path Planning, Principal and CCO
• 10/2016 – Present, Great Path Tax Services, Principal
• 04/2014 – 07/2016, USAA, Wealth Manager
• 08/2012 – 04/2014, Regent Wealth Management Group, Senior Financial Adviser
• 06/2009 – 08/2012, First Command Financial Services, Financial Adviser
• 05/2004 – 06/2009, US Army Officer
Professional Designations, Licensing & Exams
CFP (Certified Financial Planner) ®: CFP® certificants must have a minimum of three years’
workplace experience in financial planning and develop their theoretical and practical
financial planning knowledge by completing a comprehensive course of study approved by
CFP Board. They must pass a comprehensive 2-day, 10-hour CFP® Certification
Examination that tests their ability to apply financial planning knowledge in an integrated
format. As a final step to certification, CFP® practitioners agree to abide by a strict code of
professional conduct.
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally-authorized tax practitioner who has technical
expertise in the field of taxation and who is empowered by the U.S. Department of the
Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue
Service for audits, collections, and appeals. “Enrolled” means to be licensed to practice by
the federal government, and “Agent” means authorized to appear in the place of the
taxpayer at the IRS. Only Enrolled Agents, attorneys, and CPAs may represent taxpayers
28
before the IRS. The Enrolled Agent profession dates back to 1884 when, after questionable
claims had been presented for Civil War losses, Congress acted to regulate persons who
represented citizens in their dealings with the U.S. Treasury Department. The license is
earned in one of two ways, by passing a comprehensive examination which covers all
aspects of the tax code, or having worked at the IRS for five years in a position which
regularly interpreted and applied the tax code and its regulations. All candidates are
subjected to a rigorous background check conducted by the IRS. Enrolled Agents advise,
represent, and prepare tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates,
trusts, and any entities with tax-reporting requirements. Enrolled Agents’ expertise in the
continually changing field of taxation enables them to effectively represent taxpayers
audited by the IRS. The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 allows federally
authorized practitioners (those bound by the Department of Treasury’s Circular 230
regulations) a limited client privilege. This privilege allows confidentiality between the
taxpayer and the Enrolled Agent under certain conditions. The privilege applies to
situations in which the taxpayer is being represented in cases involving audits and
collection matters. It is not applicable to the preparation and filing of a tax return. This
privilege does not apply to state tax matters, although a number of states have an
accountant-client privilege. In addition to the stringent testing and application process, the
IRS requires Enrolled Agents to complete 72 hours of continuing professional education,
reported every three years, to maintain their Enrolled Agent status. National Association of
Enrolled Agents (NAEA) members are obligated to complete 90 hours per three year
reporting period. Because of the knowledge necessary to become an Enrolled Agent and
the requirements to maintain the license, there are only about 46,000 practicing Enrolled
Agents. Only Enrolled Agents are required to demonstrate to the IRS their competence in
matters of taxation before they may represent a taxpayer before the IRS. Unlike attorneys
and CPAs, who may or may not choose to specialize in taxes, all Enrolled Agents specialize
in taxation. Enrolled Agents are the only taxpayer representatives who receive their right to
practice from the U.S. government (CPAs and attorneys are licensed by the states). Enrolled
Agents are required to abide by the provisions of the Department of Treasury’s Circular
230, which provides the regulations governing the practice of Enrolled Agents before the
IRS. NAEA members are also bound by a Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct
of the Association.
No management person at Semitam Bonam LLC d/b/a Great Path Planning has ever
Item 3: Disciplinary Information
been involved in an arbitration claim of any kind or been found liable in a civil, self-
regulatory organization, or administrative proceeding.
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Christopher Pollard is owner and operator of Great Path Tax Services, 10 Matthews St,
Item 4: Other Business Activities
Lower Level, Goshen, NY 10924. This company does tax preparation work seasonally and
business consulting, mostly for Great Path Planning clients. The business is not
investment related and clients can engage Mr. Pollard for these services for an additional
fee. Between January and April 15th, Mr. Pollard will spend 10% of his time providing tax
preparation and planning services. While Mr. Chris Pollard will not be selling insurance
products, under New York law he is required to maintain a current life insurance license
so he can review clients’ life insurance policies and recommend any adjustments.
Christopher C. Pollard does not receive any economic benefit from any person, company, or
Item 5: Additional Compensation
organization, in exchange for providing clients advisory services through Great Path.
Christopher C. Pollard, as Principal and Chief Compliance Officer of Great Path, is responsible
Item 6: Supervision
for supervision. He may be contacted at the phone number on this brochure supplement.
30