Overview
Assets Under Management: $128 million
Headquarters: MANDEVILLE, LA
High-Net-Worth Clients: 91
Average Client Assets: $1 million
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals, Pension Consulting
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (FORM ADV PART 2A - FIRM BROCHURE - SPINOSA WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP)
Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$0 | and above | 0.50% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$1 million | $5,000 | 0.50% |
$5 million | $25,000 | 0.50% |
$10 million | $50,000 | 0.50% |
$50 million | $250,000 | 0.50% |
$100 million | $500,000 | 0.50% |
Additional Fee Schedule (FORM ADV PART 2A, APPENDIX 1 - WRAP FEE PROGRAM BROCHURE - SPINOSA WMG)
Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$0 | $250,000 | 1.25% |
$250,001 | $10,000,000 | 1.00% |
$10,000,001 | $20,000,000 | 0.90% |
$20,000,001 | and above | 0.75% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$1 million | $10,625 | 1.06% |
$5 million | $50,625 | 1.01% |
$10 million | $100,625 | 1.01% |
$50 million | $415,625 | 0.83% |
$100 million | $790,625 | 0.79% |
Clients
Number of High-Net-Worth Clients: 91
Percentage of Firm Assets Belonging to High-Net-Worth Clients: 92.86
Average High-Net-Worth Client Assets: $1 million
Total Client Accounts: 269
Discretionary Accounts: 269
Regulatory Filings
CRD Number: 170903
Last Filing Date: 2024-03-21 00:00:00
Website: HTTP://WWW.SPINOSAWMG.COM
Form ADV Documents
Primary Brochure: FORM ADV PART 2A - FIRM BROCHURE - SPINOSA WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP (2025-03-20)
View Document Text
Item 1: Cover Page
Part 2A of Form ADV: Firm Brochure
March 2025
4565 LaSalle Street, Suite 201
Mandeville, Louisiana 70471
www.spinosawmg.com
Firm Contact:
Brittany Roaden
Chief Compliance Officer
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Spinosa
Wealth Management Group, LLC. If clients have any questions about the contents of this brochure,
please contact us at (985) 674-6722 or brittany@spinosawmg.com. The information in this brochure
has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by
any State Securities Authority. Additional information about our firm is also available on the SEC’s
website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov by searching CRD #170903.
Please note that the use of the term “registered investment adviser” and description of our firm
and/or our associates as “registered” does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Clients are
encouraged to review this Brochure and Brochure Supplements for our firm’s associates who advise
clients for more information on the qualifications of our firm and our employees.
Item 2: Material Changes
Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC is required to notify clients of any information that has
changed since the last annual update of the Firm Brochure (“Brochure”) that may be important to
them. Clients can request a full copy of our Brochure or contact us with any questions that they may
have about the changes.
Since the last annual amendment filed on March 21, 2024, there have been no material changes to
report.
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 1: Cover Page ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2: Material Changes ............................................................................................................................ 2
Item 3: Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 3
Item 4: Advisory Business .......................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5: Fees & Compensation ..................................................................................................................... 6
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management .............................................................. 7
Item 7: Types of Clients & Account Requirements ................................................................................... 7
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss ........................................................ 8
Item 9: Disciplinary Information .............................................................................................................. 15
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations .................................................................... 15
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in .............................................................................. 15
Item 12: Brokerage Practices ................................................................................................................... 16
Item 13: Review of Accounts or Financial Plans ..................................................................................... 18
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation ................................................................................... 19
Item 15: Custody ....................................................................................................................................... 20
Item 16: Investment Discretion ............................................................................................................... 20
Item 17: Voting Client Securities .............................................................................................................. 20
Item 18: Financial Information ................................................................................................................ 20
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Item 4: Advisory Business
Our firm provides individuals and other types of clients with a wide array of investment advisory
services. Our firm is a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Louisiana in
2014 and has been in business as an investment adviser since that time. Our firm is wholly owned by
Lawrence Spinosa.
The purpose of this Brochure is to disclose the conflicts of interest associated with the investment
transactions, compensation and any other matters related to investment decisions made by our firm
or its representatives. As a fiduciary, it is our duty to always act in the client’s best interest. This is
accomplished in part by knowing our client. Our firm has established a service-oriented advisory
practice with open lines of communication for many different types of clients to help meet their
financial goals while remaining sensitive to risk tolerance and time horizons. Working with clients to
understand their investment objectives while educating them about our process, facilitates the kind
of working relationship we value.
Types of Advisory Services Offered
Wrap Portfolio Management:
Please see our Form ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 (the “Wrap Fee Program Brochure”) for information
regarding our Wrap Portfolio Management service.
Financial Planning:
Our firm provides a variety of standalone financial planning services to clients for the management
of financial resources based upon an analysis of current situation, goals, and objectives. Financial
planning services will typically involve preparing a financial plan for clients based on the client’s
financial goals and objectives. This planning or consulting may include, but is not limited to
Investment Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Education Planning, Corporate and
Personal Tax Planning, Mortgage/Debt Analysis, Insurance Analysis, Lines of Credit Evaluation, or
Business and Personal Financial Planning.
Written financial plans rendered to clients usually include general recommendations for a course of
activity or specific actions to be taken by the clients. Implementation of the recommendations will be
at the discretion of the client. Our firm provides clients with a summary of their financial situation,
and observations for financial planning engagements
Pension Consulting:
Our firm provides retirement plan consulting services to employer plan sponsors on an ongoing
basis. Generally, such consulting services consist of assisting employer plan sponsors in establishing,
monitoring and reviewing their company's participant-directed retirement plan. As the needs of the
plan sponsor dictate, areas of advising may include:
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Establishing an Investment Policy Statement – Our firm may assist in the development of a
statement that summarizes the investment goals and objectives along with the broad
strategies to be employed to meet the objectives.
Investment Options – Our firm may work with the Plan Sponsor to evaluate existing
investment options and make recommendations for appropriate changes.
Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction – Our firm may develop strategic asset allocation
models to aid Participants in developing strategies to meet their investment objectives, time
horizon, financial situation, and tolerance for risk.
Investment Monitoring – Our firm may monitor the performance of the investments and
notify the client in the event of over/underperformance and in times of market volatility.
Participant Education – Our firm may provide opportunities to educate plan participants
about their retirement plan offerings, different investment options, and general guidance on
allocation strategies.
In providing services for retirement plan consulting, our firm does not provide any advisory services
with respect to the following types of assets: employer securities, real estate (excluding real estate
funds and publicly traded REITS), participant loans, non-publicly traded securities or assets, other
illiquid investments, or brokerage window programs (collectively, “Excluded Assets”). All retirement
plan consulting services shall comply with the applicable state laws regulating retirement consulting
services. This applies to client accounts that are retirement or other employee benefit plans (“Plan”)
governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). If the
client accounts are part of a Plan, and our firm accepts appointment to provide services to such
accounts, our firm acknowledges its fiduciary standard within the meaning of Section 3(21) or 3(38)
of ERISA as designated by the Retirement Plan Consulting Agreement with respect to the provision
of services described therein.
Tailoring of Advisory Services
Our firm offers individualized investment advice to our Wrap Portfolio Management clients. General
investment advice will be offered to our Financial Planning & Consulting and Pension Consulting
clients.
Each Wrap Portfolio Management client may place reasonable restrictions on the types of investments
to be held in the portfolio. Restrictions on investments in certain securities or types of securities may
not be possible due to the level of difficulty this would entail in managing the account.
Participation in Wrap Fee Programs
Our firm offers and sponsors a wrap fee program, as further described in the Wrap Fee Program
Brochure. Portfolio Management services are only offered through wrapped accounts, which are
managed on an individualized basis according to the client’s investment objectives, financial goals,
risk tolerance, etc.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
Our firm manages $155,061,629 on a discretionary basis as of December 31, 2024.
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Item 5: Fees & Compensation
Compensation for Our Advisory Services
Wrap Portfolio Management:
Please see our Wrap Fee Program Brochure for information regarding our fees and compensation for
our Wrap Portfolio Management service.
Financial Planning:
Our firm charges on an hourly or flat fee basis for financial planning services. The total estimated fee,
as well as the ultimate fee charged, is based on the scope and complexity of our engagement with the
client. The maximum hourly fee to be charged will not exceed $350. Flat fees range from $1,000 to
$5,000. Full payment will be due upon rendering of financial planning services. Our firm will not
require a retainer exceeding $1,200 when services cannot be rendered within 6 months.
Pension Consulting:
Our Retirement Plan Consulting services are billed on an hourly or flat fee basis or a fee based on the
percentage of Plan assets under management. The total estimated fee, as well as the ultimate fee
charged, is based on the scope and complexity of our engagement with the client. The maximum
hourly fee to be charged will not exceed $350. Our flat fees range from $1,000 to $25,000. Fees based
on a percentage of managed Plan assets will not exceed 0.50%. The fee-paying arrangements will be
determined on a case-by-case basis and will be detailed in the signed consulting agreement.
Other Types of Fees & Expenses
Clients will not incur transaction costs for trades by their chosen custodian. More information about
this can be found in our separate Wrap Fee Program Brochure. However, clients may pay holdings
charges imposed by the chosen custodian for certain investments, charges imposed directly by a
mutual fund, index fund, or exchange traded fund, which shall be disclosed in the fund’s prospectus
(e.g., fund management fees, distribution fees, surrender charges, variable annuity fees, IRA and
qualified retirement plan fees, mark-ups and mark-downs, spreads paid to market makers, fees for
trades executed away from custodian, wire transfer fees and other fees and taxes on brokerage
accounts and securities transactions). Our firm does not receive a portion of these fees.
Termination & Refunds
Either party may terminate the signed advisory agreement at any time. Upon receipt of your notice
of termination, LPL will process a pro-rated refund of the unearned portion of the advisory fees
charged in advance at the beginning of the quarter.
Financial Planning clients may terminate their agreement at any time before the delivery of a
financial plan by providing written notice. For purposes of calculating refunds, all work performed
by us up to the point of termination shall be calculated at the hourly fee currently in effect. Clients
will receive a pro-rata refund of unearned fees based on the time and effort expended by our firm.
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Either party to a Pension Consulting Agreement may terminate at any time by providing written
notice to the other party. Full refunds will only be made in cases where cancellation occurs within 5
business days of signing an agreement. After 5 business days from initial signing, either party must
provide the other party 30 days written notice to terminate billing. Billing will terminate 30 days
after receipt of termination notice. Clients will be charged on a pro-rated basis, which takes into
account work completed by our firm on behalf of the client. Clients will incur charges for bona fide
advisory services rendered up to the point of termination (determined as 30 days from receipt of
said written notice) and such fees will be due and payable.
Commissionable Securities Sales
Representatives of our firm are also associated with LPL as broker-dealer registered representatives
(“Dually Registered Persons”). In their capacity as registered representatives of LPL, certain Dually
Registered Persons may earn commissions for the sale of securities or investment products that they
recommend for brokerage clients. They do not earn commissions on the sale of securities or
investment products recommended or purchased in advisory accounts through our firm. Clients have
the option of purchasing many of the securities and investment products made available through
another broker-dealer or investment adviser. When purchasing these securities and investment
products away from our firm, however, Clients will not receive the benefit of the advice and other
services we provide.
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management
Our firm does not charge performance-based fees.
Item 7: Types of Clients & Account Requirements
Our firm generally provides advisory services to the following types of clients:
Individuals and High Net Worth Individuals;
Trusts, Estates or Charitable Organizations;
Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans; &
Corporations, Limited Liability Companies and/or Other Business Types.
Our requirements for opening and maintaining accounts or otherwise engaging us:
Our firm requires a minimum account balance of $500,000 to engage our firm our Wrap
Portfolio Management service. However, our firm retains the authority to reduce or waive
this requirement at our sole discretion on a case-by-case basis.
Written financial plans are generally assessed a minimum fee of $1,000.
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
We use the following methods of analysis in formulating our investment advice and/or managing
client assets:
Cyclical Analysis: Statistical analysis of specific events occurring at a sufficient number of relatively
predictable intervals that they can be forecasted into the future. Cyclical analysis asserts that cyclical
forces drive price movements in the financial markets. Risks include that cycles may invert or
disappear and there is no expectation that this type of analysis will pinpoint turning points, instead
be used in conjunction with other methods of analysis.
Fundamental Analysis: The analysis of a business's financial statements (usually to analyze the
business's assets, liabilities, and earnings), health, and its competitors and markets. When analyzing
a stock, futures contract, or currency using fundamental analysis there are two basic approaches one
can use: bottom up analysis and top down analysis. The terms are used to distinguish such analysis
from other types of investment analysis, such as quantitative and technical. Fundamental analysis is
performed on historical and present data, but with the goal of making financial forecasts. There are
several possible objectives: (a) to conduct a company stock valuation and predict its probable price
evolution; (b) to make a projection on its business performance; (c) to evaluate its management and
make internal business decisions; (d) and/or to calculate its credit risk.; and (e) to find out the
intrinsic value of the share.
When the objective of the analysis is to determine what stock to buy and at what price, there are two
basic methodologies investors rely upon: (a) Fundamental analysis maintains that markets may
misprice a security in the short run but that the "correct" price will eventually be reached. Profits can
be made by purchasing the mispriced security and then waiting for the market to recognize its
"mistake" and reprice the security.; and (b) Technical analysis maintains that all information is
reflected already in the price of a security. Technical analysts analyze trends and believe that
sentiment changes predate and predict trend changes. Investors' emotional responses to price
movements lead to recognizable price chart patterns. Technical analysts also analyze historical
trends to predict future price movement. Investors can use one or both of these different but
complementary methods for stock picking. This presents a potential risk, as the price of a security
can move up or down along with the overall market regardless of the economic and financial factors
considered in evaluating the stock.
Modern Portfolio Theory (“MPT”): A mathematical framework for assembling a portfolio of assets
such that the expected return is maximized for a given level of risk, defined as variance. Its key insight
is that an asset's risk and return should not be assessed by itself, but by how it contributes to a
portfolio's overall risk and return. MPT assumes that investors are risk averse, meaning that given
two portfolios that offer the same expected return, investors will prefer the less risky one. Thus, an
investor will take on increased risk only if compensated by higher expected returns. Conversely, an
investor who wants higher expected returns must accept more risk. The exact trade-off will be the
same for all investors, but different investors will evaluate the trade-off differently based on
individual risk aversion characteristics. The implication is that a rational investor will not invest in a
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
portfolio if a second portfolio exists with a more favorable risk-expected return profile – i.e., if for
that level of risk an alternative portfolio exists that has better expected returns.
The risk, return, and correlation measures used by MPT are based on expected values, which means
that they are mathematical statements about the future (the expected value of returns is explicit in
the above equations, and implicit in the definitions of variance and covariance). In practice, investors
must substitute predictions based on historical measurements of asset return and volatility for these
values in the equations. Very often such expected values fail to take account of new circumstances
that did not exist when the historical data were generated. Mathematical risk measurements are also
useful only to the degree that they reflect investors' true concerns—there is no point minimizing a
variable that nobody cares about in practice. MPT uses the mathematical concept of variance to
quantify risk, and this might be justified under the assumption of elliptically distributed returns such
as normally distributed returns, but for general return distributions other risk measures (like
coherent risk measures) might better reflect investors' true preferences.
Quantitative Analysis: The use of models, or algorithms, to evaluate assets for investment. The
process usually consists of searching vast databases for patterns, such as correlations among liquid
assets or price-movement patterns (trend following or mean reversion). The resulting strategies may
involve high-frequency trading. The results of the analysis are taken into consideration in the
decision to buy or sell securities and in the management of portfolio characteristics. A risk in using
quantitative analysis is that the methods or models used may be based on assumptions that prove to
be incorrect.
Technical Analysis: A security analysis methodology for forecasting the direction of prices through
the study of past market data, primarily price and volume. A fundamental principle of technical
analysis is that a market's price reflects all relevant information, so their analysis looks at the history
of a security's trading pattern rather than external drivers such as economic, fundamental and news
events. Therefore, price action tends to repeat itself due to investors collectively tending toward
patterned behavior – hence technical analysis focuses on identifiable trends and conditions.
Technical analysts also widely use market indicators of many sorts, some of which are mathematical
transformations of price, often including up and down volume, advance/decline data and other
inputs. These indicators are used to help assess whether an asset is trending, and if it is, the
probability of its direction and of continuation. Technicians also look for relationships between
price/volume indices and market indicators. Technical analysis employs models and trading rules
based on price and volume transformations, such as the relative strength index, moving averages,
regressions, inter-market and intra-market price correlations, business cycles, stock market cycles
or, classically, through recognition of chart patterns. Technical analysis is widely used among traders
and financial professionals and is very often used by active day traders, market makers and pit
traders. The risk associated with this type of analysis is that analysts use subjective judgment to
decide which pattern(s) a particular instrument reflects at a given time and what the interpretation
of that pattern should be.
Investment Strategies We Use
We use the following strategies in managing client accounts, provided that such strategies are
appropriate to the needs of the client and consistent with the client's investment objectives, risk
tolerance, and time horizons, among other considerations:
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Covered Calls: The risks associated with this type of strategy involve having the underlying stock
called away. Each contract has a strike price at which the writer of the contract agrees to allow the
purchaser call the stock away from the writer. This can create a taxable event whereby the writer of
the option is required to recognize a capital gain on the underlying security. Furthermore, the market
price could appreciate beyond the strike price, forcing the writer to sell their holdings below current
market value.
Cash & Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents generally refer to either United States dollars
or highly liquid short-term debt instruments such as, but not limited to, treasury bills, bank CD’s and
commercial paper. Generally, these assets are considered nonproductive and will be exposed to
inflation risk and considerable opportunity cost risk. Investments in cash and cash equivalents will
generally return less than the advisory fee charged by our firm. Our firm may recommend cash and
cash equivalents as part of our clients’ asset allocation when deemed appropriate and in their best
interest. Our firm considers cash and cash equivalents to be an asset class. Therefore, our firm
assesses an advisory fee on cash and cash equivalents unless indicated otherwise in writing.
Long-Term Purchases: Our firm may buy securities for your account and hold them for a relatively
long time (more than a year) in anticipation that the security’s value will appreciate over a long
horizon. The risk of this strategy is that our firm could miss out on potential short-term gains that
could have been profitable to your account, or it’s possible that the security’s value may decline
sharply before our firm makes a decision to sell.
Margin Transactions: Our firm may purchase stocks, mutual funds, and/or other securities for your
portfolio with money borrowed from your brokerage account. This allows you to purchase more
stock than you would be able to with your available cash and allows us to purchase stock without
selling other holdings. Margin accounts and transactions are risky and not necessarily appropriate
for every client. The potential risks associated with these transactions are (1) You can lose more
funds than are deposited into the margin account; (2) the forced sale of securities or other assets in
your account; (3) the sale of securities or other assets without contacting you; and (4) you may not
be entitled to choose which securities or other assets in your account(s) are liquidated or sold to
meet a margin call.
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”): MLPs are publicly traded partnerships that trade mainly
on the New York Stock Exchange and/or the NASDAQ, the same as stocks. With a few exceptions,
MLPs hold and operate assets related to the transportation and storage of energy (certain MLPs may
have commodity risk). Most publicly traded companies are corporations. Corporate earnings are
usually taxed twice. The business entity is taxed on any money it makes and then shareholders are
taxed on the earnings the company distributes to them. In the 1980s, Congress allowed public trading
of certain types of companies as partnerships instead of corporations. The main advantage a
partnership has over a corporation is that partnerships are “pass through” entities for tax purposes.
This means that the company does not pay any tax on its earnings. Distributions are still taxed, but
this avoids the problem of double taxation that most publicly traded companies face. Congress
requires that any company designated as an MLP has to produce 90% of its earnings from “qualified
resources” (natural resources and real estate). Most MLPs are involved in energy infrastructure, i.e.
things like pipelines. MLPs are required to pay minimum quarterly distributions to limited partners.
A contract establishes the payments, so distributions are predictable. Otherwise, the shareholders
could find the company in breach of contract.
Options: An option is a financial derivative that represents a contract sold by one party (the option
writer) to another party (the option holder, or option buyer). The contract offers the buyer the right,
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
but not the obligation, to buy or sell a security or other financial asset at an agreed-upon price (the
strike price) during a certain period of time or on a specific date (exercise date). Options are
extremely versatile securities. Traders use options to speculate, which is a relatively risky practice,
while hedgers use options to reduce the risk of holding an asset. In terms of speculation, option
buyers and writers have conflicting views regarding the outlook on the performance of a:
Call Option: Call options give the option to buy at certain price, so the buyer would want the
stock to go up. Conversely, the option writer needs to provide the underlying shares in the
event that the stock's market price exceeds the strike due to the contractual obligation. An
option writer who sells a call option believes that the underlying stock's price will drop
relative to the option's strike price during the life of the option, as that is how he will reap
maximum profit. This is exactly the opposite outlook of the option buyer. The buyer believes
that the underlying stock will rise; if this happens, the buyer will be able to acquire the stock
for a lower price and then sell it for a profit. However, if the underlying stock does not close
above the strike price on the expiration date, the option buyer would lose the premium paid
for the call option.
Put Option: Put options give the option to sell at a certain price, so the buyer would want the
stock to go down. The opposite is true for put option writers. For example, a put option buyer
is bearish on the underlying stock and believes its market price will fall below the specified
strike price on or before a specified date. On the other hand, an option writer who sells a put
option believes the underlying stock's price will increase about a specified price on or before
the expiration date. If the underlying stock's price closes above the specified strike price on
the expiration date, the put option writer's maximum profit is achieved. Conversely, a put
option holder would only benefit from a fall in the underlying stock's price below the strike
price. If the underlying stock's price falls below the strike price, the put option writer is
obligated to purchase shares of the underlying stock at the strike price.
The potential risks associated with these transactions are that (1) all options expire. The closer the
option gets to expiration, the quicker the premium in the option deteriorates; and (2) Prices can move
very quickly. Depending on factors such as time until expiration and the relationship of the stock
price to the option’s strike price, small movements in a stock can translate into big movements in the
underlying options.
Short Sales: A short sale is a transaction in which an investor sells borrowed securities in
anticipation of a price decline and is required to return an equal number of shares at some point in
the future. These transactions have a number of risks that make it highly unsuitable for the novice
investor. This strategy has a slanted payoff ratio in that the maximum gain (which would occur if the
shorted stock was to plunge to zero) is limited, but the maximum loss is theoretically infinite (since
stocks can in theory go up infinitely in price). The following risks should be considered: (1) In
addition to trading commissions, other costs with short selling include that of borrowing the security
to short it, as well as interest payable on the margin account that holds the shorted security. (2) The
short seller is responsible for making dividend payments on the shorted stock to the entity from
whom the stock has been borrowed. (3) Stocks with very high short interest may occasionally surge
in price. This usually happens when there is a positive development in the stock, which forces short
sellers to buy the shares back to close their short positions. Heavily shorted stocks are also
susceptible to “buy-ins,” which occur when a broker closes out short positions in a difficult-to-borrow
stock whose lenders are demanding it back. (4) Regulators may impose bans on short sales in a
specific sector or even in the broad market to avoid panic and unwarranted selling pressure. Such
actions can cause a spike in stock prices, forcing the short seller to cover short positions at huge
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
losses. (5) Unlike the “buy-and-hold” investor who can afford to wait for an investment to work out,
the short seller does not have the luxury of time because of the many costs and risks associated with
short selling. Timing is everything when it comes to shorting. (5) Short selling should only be
undertaken by experienced traders who have the discipline to cut a losing short position, rather than
add to it hoping that it will eventually work out.
Structured Products: Structured products are designed to facilitate highly customized risk-return
objectives. While structured products come in many different forms, they typically consist of a debt
security that is structured to make interest and principal payments based upon various assets, rates
or formulas. Many structured products include an embedded derivative component. Structured
products may be structured in the form of a security, in which case these products may receive
benefits provided under federal securities law, or they may be cast as derivatives, in which case they
are offered in the over-the-counter market and are subject to no regulation.
Investing in structured products includes significant risks, including valuation, lack of liquidity, price,
credit and market risks. The relative lack of liquidity is due to the highly customized nature of the
investment and the fact that the full extent of returns from the complex performance features is often
not realized until maturity.
Another risk with structured products is the credit quality of the issuer. Although the cash flows are
derived from other sources, the products themselves are legally considered to be the issuing financial
institution's liabilities. The vast majority of structured products are from high-investment-grade
issuers only. Also, there is a lack of pricing transparency. There is no uniform standard for pricing,
making it harder to compare the net-of-pricing attractiveness of alternative structured product
offerings than it is, for instance, to compare the net expense ratios of different mutual funds or
commissions among broker-dealers.
Risk of Loss
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear. While the stock
market may increase and the account(s) could enjoy a gain, it is also possible that the stock market
may decrease, and the account(s) could suffer a loss. It is important that clients understand the risks
associated with investing in the stock market, and that their assets are appropriately diversified in
investments. Clients are encouraged to ask our firm any questions regarding their risk tolerance.
Capital Risk: Capital risk is one of the most basic, fundamental risks of investing; it is the risk that
you may lose 100% of your money. All investments carry some form of risk and the loss of capital is
generally a risk for any investment instrument.
Economic Risk: The prevailing economic environment is important to the health of all businesses.
Some companies, however, are more sensitive to changes in the domestic or global economy than
others. These types of companies are often referred to as cyclical businesses. Countries in which a
large portion of businesses are in cyclical industries are thus also very economically sensitive and
carry a higher amount of economic risk. If an investment is issued by a party located in a country that
experiences wide swings from an economic standpoint or in situations where certain elements of an
investment instrument are hinged on dealings in such countries, the investment instrument will
generally be subject to a higher level of economic risk.
Equity (Stock) Market Risk: Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations
and, volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would
generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the
issuer.
ETF & Mutual Fund Risk: When investing in an ETF or mutual fund, you will bear additional
expenses based on your pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including
the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally
reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities, the ETF, or mutual fund holds. Clients will also
incur brokerage costs when purchasing ETFs. Our firm bases the selection of mutual funds and ETFs
for advisory accounts on the past performance of the mutual fund and/or ETF and their expense ratio
relative to alternative options.
Financial Risk: Financial risk is represented by internal disruptions within an investment or the
issuer of an investment that can lead to unfavorable performance of the investment. Examples of
financial risk can be found in cases like Enron or many of the dot com companies that were caught
up in a period of extraordinary market valuations that were not based on solid financial footings of
the companies.
Fixed Income Securities Risk: Typically, the values of fixed-income securities change inversely with
prevailing interest rates. Therefore, a fundamental risk of fixed-income securities is interest rate risk,
which is the risk that their value will generally decline as prevailing interest rates rise, which may
cause your account value to likewise decrease, and vice versa. How specific fixed income securities
may react to changes in interest rates will depend on the specific characteristics of each security.
Fixed-income securities are also subject to credit risk, prepayment risk, valuation risk, and liquidity
risk. Credit risk is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely
manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the
price of a bond to decline.
Foreign Exposure Risk: Our firm may have exposure to foreign markets, including emerging
markets, which can be more volatile than the U.S. markets. As a result, returns and net asset value
may be affected to a large degree by fluctuations in currency exchange rates or political or economic
conditions in a particular country. Any investments in emerging market countries may involve risks
greater than, or in addition to, the risks of investing in more developed countries.
Inflation Risk: Inflation risk involves the concern that in the future, your investment or proceeds
from your investment will not be worth what they are today. Throughout time, the prices of resources
and end-user products generally increase and thus, the same general goods and products today will
likely be more expensive in the future. The longer an investment is held, the greater the chance that
the proceeds from that investment will be worth less in the future than what they are today. Said
another way, a dollar tomorrow will likely get you less than what it can today.
Interest Rate Risk: Certain investments involve the payment of a fixed or variable rate of interest to
the investment holder. Once an investor has acquired or has acquired the rights to an investment that
pays a particular rate (fixed or variable) of interest, changes in overall interest rates in the market
will affect the value of the interest-paying investment(s) they hold. In general, changes in prevailing
interest rates in the market will have an inverse relationship to the value of existing, interest paying
investments. In other words, as interest rates move up, the value of an instrument paying a particular
rate (fixed or variable) of interest will go down. The reverse is generally true as well.
Market Risk: The value of your portfolio may decrease if the value of an individual company or
multiple companies in the portfolio decreases or if our belief about a company’s intrinsic worth is
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
incorrect. Further, regardless of how well individual companies perform, the value of your portfolio
could also decrease if there are deteriorating economic or market conditions. It is important to
understand that the value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, in response to changes in
the market, and you could lose money. Investment risks include price risk as may be observed by a
drop in a security’s price due to company specific events (e.g. earnings disappointment or downgrade
in the rating of a bond) or general market risk (e.g. such as a “bear” market when stock values fall in
general). For fixed-income securities, a period of rising interest rates could erode the value of a bond
since bond values generally fall as bond yields go up. Past performance is not a guarantee of future
returns.
Market Timing Risk: Market timing can include high risk of loss since it looks at an aggregate market
versus a specific security. Timing risk explains the potential for missing out on beneficial movements
in price due to an error in timing. This could cause harm to the value of an investor's portfolio because
of purchasing too high or selling too low.
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) Risk: MLPs bear three primary risks: (a) The government
could step in and change the rules of the game. That can always happen. Since one of the main
advantages of these securities is their tax advantages, this poses a considerable risk for an investor.;
(b) It is commonly thought that these types of investments do better when interest rates are low,
making their yield higher in relation to the safest investments, such as Treasury bills and securities
that are guaranteed by the U.S. government. Consequently, MLPs may perform better during periods
of declining or relatively low interest rates or, more poorly during periods of rising or high interest
rates.; and (c) MLPs are pass-through entities, passing earnings through to the limited partners.
Investors must be aware that there are potentially significant tax implications of investing in MLPs
and they should consult with their tax advisor before investing in these securities.
Options Risk: Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an
investment in the underlying securities. Additionally, options have an expiration date, which makes
them “decay” in value over the amount of time they are held and can expire worthless. Purchasing
and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary
investment risks.
Past Performance: Charting and technical analysis are often used interchangeably. Technical
analysis generally attempts to forecast an investment’s future potential by analyzing its past
performance and other related statistics. In particular, technical analysis often times involves an
evaluation of historical pricing and volume of a particular security for the purpose of forecasting
where future price and volume figures may go. As with any investment analysis method, technical
analysis runs the risk of not knowing the future and thus, investors should realize that even the most
diligent and thorough technical analysis cannot predict or guarantee the future performance of any
particular investment instrument or issuer thereof.
Description of Material, Significant or Unusual Risks
Our firm generally invests client cash balances in money market funds, FDIC Insured Certificates of
Deposit, high-grade commercial paper and/or government backed debt instruments. Ultimately, our
firm tries to achieve the highest return on client cash balances through relatively low-risk
conservative investments. In most cases, at least a partial cash balance will be maintained in a money
market account so that our firm may debit advisory fees for our services related to our Wrap Portfolio
Management service.
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
There are no legal or disciplinary events that are material to the evaluation of our advisory business
or the integrity of our management.
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
Representatives of our firm are Dually Registered Persons. LPL is a broker-dealer that is
independently owned and operated and is not affiliated with our firm. Please refer to Item 12 for a
discussion of the benefits our firm may receive from LPL Financial and the conflicts of interest
associated with receipt of such benefits.
Our firm’s Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer, Lawrence R. Spinosa, is a Certified Public
Accountant. However, Mr. Spinosa does not provide income tax preparation or accounting services
to advisory clients. Our firm does not actively solicit clients to utilize these services.
Representatives of our firm are insurance agents/brokers. They offer insurance products and receive
customary fees as a result of insurance sales. A conflict of interest exists as these insurance sales
create an incentive to recommend products based on the compensation adviser and/or our
supervised persons may earn. To mitigate this potential conflict, our firm will act in the client’s best
interest.
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in
Client Transactions & Personal Trading
As a fiduciary, it is an investment adviser’s responsibility to provide fair and full disclosure of all material
facts and to always act solely in the best interest of each of our clients. Our fiduciary duty is the
underlying principle for our firm’s Code of Ethics, which includes procedures for personal securities
transaction and insider trading. Our firm requires all representatives to conduct business with the
highest level of ethical standards and to always comply with all federal and state securities laws. Upon
employment with our firm, and at least annually thereafter, all representatives of our firm will
acknowledge receipt, understanding and compliance with our firm’s Code of Ethics. Our firm and
representatives must conduct business in an honest, ethical, and fair manner and avoid all circumstances
that might negatively affect or appear to affect our duty of complete loyalty to all clients. This disclosure
is provided to give all clients a summary of our Code of Ethics. If a client or a potential client wishes to
review our Code of Ethics in its entirety, a copy will be provided promptly upon request.
Our firm recognizes that the personal investment transactions of our representatives demands the
application of a Code of Ethics with high standards and requires that all such transactions be carried out
in a way that does not endanger the interest of any client. At the same time, our firm also believes that if
investment goals are similar for clients and for our representatives, it is logical, and even desirable, that
there be common ownership of some securities.
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
In order to prevent conflicts of interest, our firm has established procedures for transactions effected by
our representatives for their personal accounts1. To monitor compliance with our personal trading
policy, our firm has pre-clearance requirements and a quarterly securities transaction reporting system
for all our representatives.
Neither our firm nor a related person recommends, buys or sells for client accounts, securities in
which our firm or a related person has a material financial interest without prior disclosure to the
client.
Related persons of our firm may buy or sell securities and other investments that are also
recommended to clients. In order to minimize this conflict of interest, our related persons will place
client interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to our firm’s Code of Ethics, a copy of which
is available upon request.
Likewise, related persons of our firm buy or sell securities for themselves at or about the same time they
buy or sell the same securities for client accounts. In order to minimize this conflict of interest, our
related persons will place client interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to our firm’s Code of
Ethics, a copy of which is available upon request. Further, our related persons will refrain from buying
or selling the same securities prior to buying or selling for our clients in the same day unless included in
a block trade.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
Selecting a Brokerage Firm
While our firm does not maintain physical custody of client assets, we are deemed to have custody of
certain client assets if given the authority to withdraw assets from client accounts (see Item 15
Custody, below). Client assets must be maintained by a qualified custodian. Our firm seeks to
recommend a custodian who will hold client assets and execute transactions on terms that are overall
most advantageous when compared to other available providers and their services. The factors
considered, among others, are these:
Timeliness of execution
Timeliness and accuracy of trade confirmations
Research services provided
Ability to provide investment ideas
Execution facilitation services provided
Record keeping services provided
Custody services provided
Frequency and correction of trading errors
Ability to access a variety of market venues
Expertise as it relates to specific securities
Financial condition
1 For purposes of the policy, our associate’s personal account generally includes any account (a) in the name of our associate, his/her spouse,
his/her minor children or other dependents residing in the same household, (b) for which our associate is a trustee or executor, or (c) which our
associate controls, including our client accounts which our associate controls and/or a member of his/her household has a direct or indirect
beneficial interest in.
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Business reputation
Quality of services
Our firm recommends that Clients establish accounts with LPL Financial (“LPL”), member
FINRA/SIPC, to maintain custody of clients’ assets and to effect trades for their accounts. LPL
provides brokerage and custodial services to independent investment advisory firms, including our
firm. For accounts custodied at LPL, LPL is generally compensated by clients through commissions,
trails, or other transaction-based fees for trades that are executed through LPL or that settle into LPL
accounts. For IRA accounts, LPL generally charges account maintenance fees. In addition, LPL also
charges clients miscellaneous fees and charges, such as account transfer fees.
While LPL does not participate in, or influence the formulation of, the investment advice our firm
provides, certain supervised persons of our firm are Dually Registered Persons. Dually Registered
Persons are restricted by certain Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and
policies from maintaining accounts at another custodian or executing transactions in such accounts
through any broker-dealer or custodian that is not approved by LPL. As a result, the use of other
trading platforms must be approved by our firm and LPL.
Clients should also be aware that for accounts where LPL serves as the custodian, our firm is limited
to offering services and investment vehicles that are approved by LPL, and may be prohibited from
offering services and investment vehicles that may be available through other broker-dealers and
custodians, some of which may be more suitable for a client’s portfolio than the services and
investment vehicles offered through LPL. Clients should understand that not all investment advisers
require that Clients custody their accounts and trade through specific broker-dealers.
Benefits Received by Our Personnel
LPL makes available to our firm various products and services designed to assist our firm in
managing and administering client accounts. Many of these products and services may be used to
service all or a substantial number of accounts, including accounts not held with LPL. These include
software and other technology that provide access to client account data (such as trade confirmation
and account statements); facilitate trade execution (and aggregation and allocation of trade orders
for multiple client accounts); provide research, pricing information and other market data; facilitate
payment of our firm’s fees from its clients’ accounts; and assist with back-office functions;
recordkeeping and client reporting.
LPL also makes available to our firm other services intended to help manage and further develop our
business. Some of these services assist our firm to better monitor and service program accounts
maintained at LPL. Many of these services, however, benefit only our firm. These support services
and/or products may be provided without cost, at a discount, and/or at a negotiated rate, and include
practice management-related publications; consulting services; attendance at conferences and
seminars, meetings, and other educational and/or social events; marketing support; and other
products and services used by our firm in furtherance of the operation and development of its
investment advisory business.
Where such services are provided by a third party vendor, LPL will either make a payment to our
firm to cover the cost of such services, reimburse our firm for the cost associated with the services,
or pay the third party vendor directly on behalf of our firm.
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
The products and services described above are provided to our firm as part of its overall relationship
with LPL. While as a fiduciary, our firm endeavors to act in its clients’ best interests, the receipt of
these benefits creates a conflict of interest because our firm’s requirement that Clients custody their
assets at LPL is based in part on the benefit to our firm of the availability of the foregoing products
and services and not solely on the nature, cost or quality of custody or brokerage services provided
by LPL. Our firm’s receipt of some of these benefits may be based on the amount of advisory assets
custodied on the LPL platform.
Our firm does not receive client brokerage commissions (or markups or markdowns) to obtain
research or other products or services. Our firm does not receive soft dollars, products or services
acquired with client brokerage commissions. Our firm does not receive brokerage for client referrals.
Our firm does not allow client-directed brokerage, as trades in our clients’ accounts are executed
through LPL, a qualified custodian and broker-dealer; no do we direct client transactions to LPL in
return for soft-dollar benefits. Our firm does not possess discretion over the broker or dealer to be
used.
Special Considerations for ERISA Clients
A retirement or ERISA plan client may direct all or part of portfolio transactions for its account
through a specific broker or dealer in order to obtain goods or services on behalf of the plan. Such
direction is permitted provided that the goods and services provided are reasonable expenses of the
plan incurred in the ordinary course of its business for which it otherwise would be obligated and
empowered to pay. ERISA prohibits directed brokerage arrangements when the goods or services
purchased are not for the exclusive benefit of the plan. Consequently, our firm will request that plan
sponsors who direct plan brokerage provide us with a letter documenting that this arrangement will
be for the exclusive benefit of the plan.
Aggregation of Purchase or Sale
Our firm provides investment management services for various clients. There are occasions on which
portfolio transactions may be executed as part of concurrent authorizations to purchase or sell the same
security for numerous accounts served by our firm, which involve accounts with similar investment
objectives. Although such concurrent authorizations potentially could be either advantageous or
disadvantageous to any one or more particular accounts, they are affected only when our firm believes
that to do so will be in the best interest of the effected accounts. When such concurrent authorizations
occur, the objective is to allocate the executions in a manner which is deemed equitable to the accounts
involved. In any given situation, our firm attempts to allocate trade executions in the most equitable
manner possible, taking into consideration client objectives, current asset allocation and availability of
funds using price averaging, proration and consistently non-arbitrary methods of allocation.
Item 13: Review of Accounts or Financial Plans
Lawrence R. Spinosa reviews accounts on at least a quarterly basis for our Wrap Portfolio
Management clients. The nature of these reviews is to learn whether client accounts are in line with
their investment objectives, appropriately positioned based on market conditions, and investment
policies, if applicable. Our Wrap Portfolio Management clients will receive written reports detailing
their account(s) from the custodian on a quarterly basis. These reports shall include the client’s
ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
assets, the value of those assets, and a calculation of fees. Verbal reports to clients take place on at
least an annual basis when our Wrap Portfolio Management clients are contacted.
Our firm may review client accounts more frequently than described above. Among the factors which
may trigger an off-cycle review are major market or economic events, the client’s life events, requests
by the client, etc.
Financial Planning clients do not receive reviews of their written plans unless they take action to
schedule a financial consultation with us. Our firm does not provide ongoing services to financial
planning clients, but are willing to meet with such clients upon their request to discuss updates to
their plans, changes in their circumstances, etc. Financial Planning clients do not receive written or
verbal updated reports regarding their financial plans unless they separately engage our firm for a
post-financial plan meeting or update to their initial written financial plan.
Pension Consulting clients receive reviews of their retirement plans for the duration of the service.
Our firm also provides ongoing services where clients are met with upon their request to discuss
updates to their plans, changes in their circumstances, etc. Retirement Plan Consulting clients do not
receive written or verbal updated reports regarding their plans unless they choose to engage our
firm for ongoing services.
Item 14: Client Referrals & Other Compensation
LPL Financial
Our firm may receive from LPL or a mutual fund company, without cost and/or at a discount non
soft-dollar support services and/or products, to assist us to better monitor and service client
accounts maintained at such institutions. Included within the support services our firm may receive
investment-related research, pricing information and market data, software and other technology
that provide access to client account data, compliance and/or practice management-related
publications, discounted or gratis consulting services, discounted and/or gratis attendance at
conferences, meetings, and other educational and/or social events, marketing support, computer
hardware and/or software and/or other products used by us to assist us in our investment advisory
business operations. Our clients do not pay more for investment transactions effected and/or assets
maintained at LPL as result of this arrangement. There is no commitment made by us to LPL or any
other institution as a result of the above arrangement.
Referral Fees
In accordance with Rule 206 (4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, our firm does not provide
cash or non-cash compensation directly or indirectly to unaffiliated persons for testimonials or
endorsements (which include client referrals).
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Item 15: Custody
Deduction of Advisory Fees:
While our firm does not maintain physical custody of client assets (which are maintained by a
qualified custodian, as discussed above), we are deemed to have custody of certain client assets if
given the authority to withdraw assets from client accounts, as further described below under “Third
Party Money Movement.” All our clients receive account statements directly from their qualified
custodian(s) at least quarterly upon opening of an account. We urge our clients to carefully review
these statements. Additionally, if our firm decides to send its own account statements to clients, such
statements will include a legend that recommends the client compare the account statements
received from the qualified custodian with those received from our firm. Clients are encouraged to
raise any questions with us about the custody, safety or security of their assets and our custodial
recommendations.
Item 16: Investment Discretion
Wrap Portfolio Management clients must provide our firm with investment discretion on their behalf,
pursuant to an executed investment advisory client agreement. By granting investment discretion,
our firm is authorized to execute securities transactions, determine which securities are bought and
sold, and the total amount to be bought and sold.
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Our firm does not accept the proxy authority to vote client securities. Clients will receive proxies or
other solicitations directly from their custodian or a transfer agent. If proxies are sent to our firm,
our firm will forward them to the appropriate client and ask the party who sent them to mail them
directly to the client in the future. Clients may call, write, or email us to discuss questions they may
have about particular proxy votes or other solicitations.
Item 18: Financial Information
Our firm is not required to provide financial information in this Brochure because:
Our firm does not require the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees when services cannot
be rendered within 6 months.
Our firm does not take custody of client funds or securities.
Our firm does not have a financial condition or commitment that impairs our ability to meet
contractual and fiduciary obligations to clients.
Our firm has never been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Additional Brochure: FORM ADV PART 2A, APPENDIX 1 - WRAP FEE PROGRAM BROCHURE - SPINOSA WMG (2025-03-20)
View Document Text
Item 1: Cover Page
Part 2A Appendix 1 of Form ADV: Wrap Fee Program Brochure
March 2025
Spinosa Wealth Management Group
Wrap Program
Sponsored by:
4565 LaSalle Street, Suite 201
Mandeville, Louisiana 70471
www.spinosawmg.com
Firm Contact:
Brittany Roaden
Chief Compliance Officer
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Spinosa
Wealth Management Group, LLC. If clients have any questions about the contents of this brochure,
please contact us at (985) 674-6722 or Brittany@spnosawmg.com. The information in this brochure
has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by
any State Securities Authority. Additional information about our firm is also available on the SEC’s
website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov by searching CRD #170903.
Please note that the use of the term “registered investment adviser” and description of our firm
and/or our associates as “registered” does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Clients are
encouraged to review this Brochure and Brochure Supplements for our firm’s associates who advise
clients for more information on the qualifications of our firm and our employees.
Item 2: Material Changes
Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC is required to notify clients of any information that has
changed since the last annual update of the Firm Brochure (“Brochure”) that may be important to
them. Clients can request a full copy of our Brochure or contact us with any questions that they may
have about the changes.
Since the last annual amendment filed on March 21, 2024, there have been no material changes to
report.
ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 – Wrap Fee Brochure
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 2: Material Changes ......................................................................................................... 2
Item 3: Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... 3
Item 4: Services, Fees & Compensation ...................................................................................... 4
Item 5: Account Requirements & Types of Clients ...................................................................... 5
Item 6: Portfolio Manager Selection & Evaluation ....................................................................... 6
Item 7: Client Information Provided to Portfolio Manager(s) ..................................................... 13
Item 8: Client Contact with Portfolio Manager(s) ...................................................................... 14
Item 9: Additional Information ............................................................................................... 14
ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 – Wrap Fee Brochure
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Item 4: Services, Fees & Compensation
Our firm manages assets for many different types of clients to help meet their financial goals while
remaining sensitive to risk tolerance and time horizons. As a fiduciary, it is our duty to always act in
the client’s best interest. This is accomplished in part by knowing the client. Our firm has established
a service-oriented advisory practice with open lines of communication. Working with clients to
understand their investment objectives while educating them about our process, facilitates the kind
of working relationship we value.
Our firm sponsors and offers a wrap fee program, which allows clients to pay a single fee for
investment advisory services and associated custodial transaction costs. Transaction fees will be paid
by our firm via individual transaction charges. Because our firm absorbs client transaction fees, an
incentive exists to limit trading activities in client accounts.
LPL Financial offers a trading platform with select exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) that do not charge
transaction fees. The no-transaction-fee ETF trading platform is available to clients participating in
LPL Financial’s Strategic Wealth Management (“SWM”) and Strategic Asset Management (“SAM”)
programs. Since our firm pays the transaction fees charged by LPL Financial to clients participating
in our wrap fee program, we are incentivized to recommend no-transaction-fee ETFs over other
types of securities and ETFs to reduce our costs. This presents a conflict of interest because the
limited number of ETFs available on the no-transaction fee platform may have higher overall
expenses than other types of securities and ETFs not included in the platform. In addition, other
major custodians have eliminated transaction fees for all ETFs and U.S. equities, so clients may pay
more for investing in the same securities at LPL Financial.
Our Wrap Advisory Services
Wrap Portfolio Management:
As part of our Wrap Portfolio Management service, a portfolio is created, consisting of individual stocks,
bonds, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), options, mutual funds and other public and private securities or
investments. The client’s individual investment strategy is tailored to their specific needs and may
include some or all of the previously mentioned securities. Portfolios will be designed to meet a
particular investment goal, determined to be suitable to the client’s circumstances. Once the appropriate
portfolio has been determined, portfolios are continuously and regularly monitored, and if necessary,
rebalanced based upon the client’s individual needs, stated goals and objectives.
Fee Schedule
Assets Under Management
Annual Percentage of Assets Charge
$0 to $249,999.99
1.25%
$250,000 to $9,999,999.99
1.00%
$10,000,000 to $19,999,999.99
0.90%
Over $20,000,000
0.75%
ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 – Wrap Fee Brochure
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
The fee to be assessed to each account will be detailed in the client’s signed advisory agreement,
LPL Account Application or LPL Tiered Fee Authorization form. Fees are billed on a pro-rata basis
quarterly in advance based on the value of the account(s) on the last day of the previous quarter.
Household assets are aggregated to obtain the lowest possible fee. Our firm bills on cash unless
otherwise agreed to in writing. Fees are negotiable and will be deducted from the account(s).
Please note that fees will be adjusted for deposits and withdrawals made during the quarter. If
accounts are opened during the quarter, the pro-rata advisory fees will be deducted during the
next regularly scheduled billing cycle. Our firm does not offer direct invoicing. As part of this
process, Clients understand the following:
a) LPL as the client’s custodian sends statements at least quarterly, showing all
disbursements for each account, including the amount of the advisory fees paid to our
firm;
b) Clients provide authorization permitting LPL to deduct these fees;
c) LPL calculates the advisory fees for all fee schedules and deducts them from the client’s
account.
Other Types of Fees & Expenses:
In addition to our advisory fees above, clients may also pay holding charges imposed by the chosen
custodian for certain investments, charges imposed directly by a mutual fund, index fund, or
exchange traded fund, which shall be disclosed in the fund’s prospectus (e.g., fund management fees,
distribution fees, surrender charges, variable annuity fees, IRA and qualified retirement plan fees,
mark-ups and mark-downs, spreads paid to market makers, fees for trades executed away from
custodian, wire transfer fees and other fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities
transactions). Our firm does not receive a portion of these fees.
Termination and Refunds:
Either party may terminate the signed advisory agreement at any time. Upon receipt of your notice
of termination, LPL will process a pro-rated refund of the unearned portion of the advisory fees
charged in advance at the beginning of the quarter.
Wrap Fee Program Recommendations:
Our firm does not recommend or offer the wrap program services of other providers.
Item 5: Account Requirements & Types of Clients
Our firm generally provides advisory services to the following types of clients:
Individuals and High Net Worth Individuals;
Trusts, Estates or Charitable Organizations;
Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans; &
Corporations, Limited Liability Companies and/or Other Business Types.
ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 – Wrap Fee Brochure
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC
Our firm requires a minimum account balance of $500,000 to engage us for our Wrap Portfolio
Management service. However, our firm retains the authority to reduce or waive this requirement at
our sole discretion on a case-by-case basis.
Item 6: Portfolio Manager Selection & Evaluation
Selection of Portfolio Managers:
Our firm’s investment adviser representatives (“IARs”) act as portfolio manager(s) for this wrap fee
program. A conflict arises in that other investment advisory firms may charge the same, lower or
higher fees than our firm for similar services. Our IARs are subject to individual licensing
requirements as imposed by state securities boards. Our firm is required to confirm or update each
IAR’s Form U4 on an annual basis. IAR supervision is conducted by our Chief Compliance Officer or
management personnel.
Our firm does not utilize outside portfolio managers. All accounts are managed by our in-house
licensed investment adviser representatives (“IARs”) of our firm. Prior to becoming licensed with our
firm, each IARs industry experience, licensure, outside business activities, client complaints (if any),
disciplinary or regulatory history (if any) and financial well-being will be reviewed. Each IAR will
then have a Form U4 and ADV Part 2B on file with our firm.
Performance returns of wrap portfolios are reviewed at least quarterly. The nature of these reviews
is to learn whether client accounts are in line with their investment objectives and appropriately
positioned based on market conditions. If these standards fall below the client objectives, our firm
will discuss the review with the portfolio manager for proactive action to realign the investment
strategy.
Our firm reviews performance information in order to verify its accuracy. Please see Item 6A (1) for
more information.
Advisory Business:
Information about our wrap fee services can be found in Item 4 of this brochure. Our firm offers
individualized investment advice to our Wrap Portfolio Management clients.
Each Wrap Portfolio Management client may place reasonable restrictions on the types of investments
to be held in the portfolio. Restrictions on investments in certain securities or types of securities may
not be possible due to the level of difficulty this would entail in managing the account.
Participation in Wrap Fee Programs:
Our firm only offers wrap fee accounts to our clients, which are managed on an individualized basis
according to the client’s investment objectives, financial goals, risk tolerance, etc.
Performance-Based Fees & Side-By-Side Management:
Our firm does not charge performance-based fees.
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Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies & Risk of Loss:
The following methods of analysis are utilized by our firm when formulating investment advice
and/or managing client assets:
Cyclical Analysis: Statistical analysis of specific events occurring at a sufficient number of relatively
predictable intervals that they can be forecasted into the future. Cyclical analysis asserts that cyclical
forces drive price movements in the financial markets. Risks include that cycles may invert or
disappear and there is no expectation that this type of analysis will pinpoint turning points, instead
be used in conjunction with other methods of analysis.
Cash & Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents generally refer to either United States dollars
or highly liquid short-term debt instruments such as, but not limited to, treasury bills, bank CD’s and
commercial paper. Generally, these assets are considered nonproductive and will be exposed to
inflation risk and considerable opportunity cost risk. Investments in cash and cash equivalents will
generally return less than the advisory fee charged by our firm. Our firm may recommend cash and
cash equivalents as part of our clients’ asset allocation when deemed appropriate and in their best
interest. Our firm considers cash and cash equivalents to be an asset class. Therefore, our firm
assesses an advisory fee on cash and cash equivalents unless indicated otherwise in writing.
Fundamental Analysis: The analysis of a business's financial statements (usually to analyze the
business's assets, liabilities, and earnings), health, and its competitors and markets. When analyzing
a stock, futures contract, or currency using fundamental analysis there are two basic approaches one
can use: bottom up analysis and top down analysis. The terms are used to distinguish such analysis
from other types of investment analysis, such as quantitative and technical. Fundamental analysis is
performed on historical and present data, but with the goal of making financial forecasts. There are
several possible objectives: (a) to conduct a company stock valuation and predict its probable price
evolution; (b) to make a projection on its business performance; (c) to evaluate its management and
make internal business decisions; (d) and/or to calculate its credit risk.; and (e) to find out the
intrinsic value of the share.
When the objective of the analysis is to determine what stock to buy and at what price, there are two
basic methodologies investors rely upon: (a) Fundamental analysis maintains that markets may
misprice a security in the short run but that the "correct" price will eventually be reached. Profits can
be made by purchasing the mispriced security and then waiting for the market to recognize its
"mistake" and reprice the security.; and (b) Technical analysis maintains that all information is
reflected already in the price of a security. Technical analysts analyze trends and believe that
sentiment changes predate and predict trend changes. Investors' emotional responses to price
movements lead to recognizable price chart patterns. Technical analysts also analyze historical
trends to predict future price movement. Investors can use one or both of these different but
complementary methods for stock picking. This presents a potential risk, as the price of a security
can move up or down along with the overall market regardless of the economic and financial factors
considered in evaluating the stock.
Modern Portfolio Theory (“MPT”): A mathematical framework for assembling a portfolio of assets
such that the expected return is maximized for a given level of risk, defined as variance. Its key insight
is that an asset's risk and return should not be assessed by itself, but by how it contributes to a
portfolio's overall risk and return. MPT assumes that investors are risk averse, meaning that given
two portfolios that offer the same expected return, investors will prefer the less risky one. Thus, an
investor will take on increased risk only if compensated by higher expected returns. Conversely, an
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investor who wants higher expected returns must accept more risk. The exact trade-off will be the
same for all investors, but different investors will evaluate the trade-off differently based on
individual risk aversion characteristics. The implication is that a rational investor will not invest in a
portfolio if a second portfolio exists with a more favorable risk-expected return profile – i.e., if for
that level of risk an alternative portfolio exists that has better expected returns.
The risk, return, and correlation measures used by MPT are based on expected values, which means
that they are mathematical statements about the future (the expected value of returns is explicit in
the above equations, and implicit in the definitions of variance and covariance). In practice, investors
must substitute predictions based on historical measurements of asset return and volatility for these
values in the equations. Very often such expected values fail to take account of new circumstances
that did not exist when the historical data were generated. Mathematical risk measurements are also
useful only to the degree that they reflect investors' true concerns—there is no point minimizing a
variable that nobody cares about in practice. MPT uses the mathematical concept of variance to
quantify risk, and this might be justified under the assumption of elliptically distributed returns such
as normally distributed returns, but for general return distributions other risk measures (like
coherent risk measures) might better reflect investors' true preferences.
Quantitative Analysis: The use of models, or algorithms, to evaluate assets for investment. The
process usually consists of searching vast databases for patterns, such as correlations among liquid
assets or price-movement patterns (trend following or mean reversion). The resulting strategies may
involve high-frequency trading. The results of the analysis are taken into consideration in the
decision to buy or sell securities and in the management of portfolio characteristics. A risk in using
quantitative analysis is that the methods or models used may be based on assumptions that prove to
be incorrect.
Technical Analysis: A security analysis methodology for forecasting the direction of prices through
the study of past market data, primarily price and volume. A fundamental principle of technical
analysis is that a market's price reflects all relevant information, so their analysis looks at the history
of a security's trading pattern rather than external drivers such as economic, fundamental and news
events. Therefore, price action tends to repeat itself due to investors collectively tending toward
patterned behavior – hence technical analysis focuses on identifiable trends and conditions.
Technical analysts also widely use market indicators of many sorts, some of which are mathematical
transformations of price, often including up and down volume, advance/decline data and other
inputs. These indicators are used to help assess whether an asset is trending, and if it is, the
probability of its direction and of continuation. Technicians also look for relationships between
price/volume indices and market indicators. Technical analysis employs models and trading rules
based on price and volume transformations, such as the relative strength index, moving averages,
regressions, inter-market and intra-market price correlations, business cycles, stock market cycles
or, classically, through recognition of chart patterns. Technical analysis is widely used among traders
and financial professionals and is very often used by active day traders, market makers and pit
traders. The risk associated with this type of analysis is that analysts use subjective judgment to
decide which pattern(s) a particular instrument reflects at a given time and what the interpretation
of that pattern should be.
The following investment strategies are used managing client accounts, provided that such strategies
are appropriate to the needs of the client and consistent with the client's investment objectives, risk
tolerance, and time horizons, among other considerations:
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Covered Calls: The risks associated with this type of strategy involve having the underlying stock
called away. Each contract has a strike price at which the writer of the contract agrees to allow the
purchaser to call the stock away from the writer. This can create a taxable event whereby the writer
of the option is required to recognize a capital gain on the underlying security. Furthermore, the
market price could appreciate beyond the strike price, forcing the writer to sell their holdings below
current market value.
Long-Term Purchases: Our firm may buy securities for your account and hold them for a relatively
long time (more than a year) in anticipation that the security’s value will appreciate over a long
horizon. The risk of this strategy is that our firm could miss out on potential short-term gains that
could have been profitable to your account, or it’s possible that the security’s value may decline
sharply before our firm makes a decision to sell.
Margin Transactions: Our firm may purchase stocks, mutual funds, and/or other securities for your
portfolio with money borrowed from your brokerage account. This allows you to purchase more
stock than you would be able to with your available cash and allows us to purchase stock without
selling other holdings. Margin accounts and transactions are risky and not necessarily appropriate
for every client. The potential risks associated with these transactions are (1) You can lose more
funds than are deposited into the margin account; (2) the forced sale of securities or other assets in
your account; (3) the sale of securities or other assets without contacting you; and (4) you may not
be entitled to choose which securities or other assets in your account(s) are liquidated or sold to
meet a margin call.
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”): MLPs are publicly traded partnerships that trade mainly
on the New York Stock Exchange and/or the NASDAQ, the same as stocks. With a few exceptions,
MLPs hold and operate assets related to the transportation and storage of energy (certain MLPs may
have commodity risk). Most publicly traded companies are corporations. Corporate earnings are
usually taxed twice. The business entity is taxed on any money it makes and then shareholders are
taxed on the earnings the company distributes to them. In the 1980s, Congress allowed public trading
of certain types of companies as partnerships instead of corporations. The main advantage a
partnership has over a corporation is that partnerships are “pass through” entities for tax purposes.
This means that the company does not pay any tax on its earnings. Distributions are still taxed, but
this avoids the problem of double taxation that most publicly traded companies face. Congress
requires that any company designated as an MLP has to produce 90% of its earnings from “qualified
resources” (natural resources and real estate). Most MLPs are involved in energy infrastructure, i.e.
things like pipelines. MLPs are required to pay minimum quarterly distributions to limited partners.
A contract establishes the payments, so distributions are predictable. Otherwise, the shareholders
could find the company in breach of contract.
Options: An option is a financial derivative that represents a contract sold by one party (the option
writer) to another party (the option holder, or option buyer). The contract offers the buyer the right,
but not the obligation, to buy or sell a security or other financial asset at an agreed-upon price (the
strike price) during a certain period of time or on a specific date (exercise date). Options are
extremely versatile securities. Traders use options to speculate, which is a relatively risky practice,
while hedgers use options to reduce the risk of holding an asset. In terms of speculation, option
buyers and writers have conflicting views regarding the outlook on the performance of a:
Call Option: Call options give the option to buy at certain price, so the buyer would want the
stock to go up. Conversely, the option writer needs to provide the underlying shares in the
event that the stock's market price exceeds the strike due to the contractual obligation. An
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option writer who sells a call option believes that the underlying stock's price will drop
relative to the option's strike price during the life of the option, as that is how he will reap
maximum profit. This is exactly the opposite outlook of the option buyer. The buyer believes
that the underlying stock will rise; if this happens, the buyer will be able to acquire the stock
for a lower price and then sell it for a profit. However, if the underlying stock does not close
above the strike price on the expiration date, the option buyer would lose the premium paid
for the call option.
Put Option: Put options give the option to sell at a certain price, so the buyer would want the
stock to go down. The opposite is true for put option writers. For example, a put option buyer
is bearish on the underlying stock and believes its market price will fall below the specified
strike price on or before a specified date. On the other hand, an option writer who sells a put
option believes the underlying stock's price will increase about a specified price on or before
the expiration date. If the underlying stock's price closes above the specified strike price on
the expiration date, the put option writer's maximum profit is achieved. Conversely, a put
option holder would only benefit from a fall in the underlying stock's price below the strike
price. If the underlying stock's price falls below the strike price, the put option writer is
obligated to purchase shares of the underlying stock at the strike price.
The potential risks associated with these transactions are that (1) all options expire. The closer the
option gets to expiration, the quicker the premium in the option deteriorates; and (2) Prices can move
very quickly. Depending on factors such as time until expiration and the relationship of the stock
price to the option’s strike price, small movements in a stock can translate into big movements in the
underlying options.
Short Sales: A short sale is a transaction in which an investor sells borrowed securities in
anticipation of a price decline and is required to return an equal number of shares at some point in
the future. These transactions have a number of risks that make it highly unsuitable for the novice
investor. This strategy has a slanted payoff ratio in that the maximum gain (which would occur if the
shorted stock was to plunge to zero) is limited, but the maximum loss is theoretically infinite (since
stocks can in theory go up infinitely in price). The following risks should be considered: (1) In
addition to trading commissions, other costs with short selling include that of borrowing the security
to short it, as well as interest payable on the margin account that holds the shorted security. (2) The
short seller is responsible for making dividend payments on the shorted stock to the entity from
whom the stock has been borrowed. (3) Stocks with very high short interest may occasionally surge
in price. This usually happens when there is a positive development in the stock, which forces short
sellers to buy the shares back to close their short positions. Heavily shorted stocks are also
susceptible to “buy-ins,” which occur when a broker closes out short positions in a difficult-to-borrow
stock whose lenders are demanding it back. (4) Regulators may impose bans on short sales in a
specific sector or even in the broad market to avoid panic and unwarranted selling pressure. Such
actions can cause a spike in stock prices, forcing the short seller to cover short positions at huge
losses. (5) Unlike the “buy-and-hold” investor who can afford to wait for an investment to work out,
the short seller does not have the luxury of time because of the many costs and risks associated with
short selling. Timing is everything when it comes to shorting. (5) Short selling should only be
undertaken by experienced traders who have the discipline to cut a losing short position, rather than
add to it hoping that it will eventually work out.
Structured Products: Structured products are designed to facilitate highly customized risk-return
objectives. While structured products come in many different forms, they typically consist of a debt
security that is structured to make interest and principal payments based upon various assets, rates
or formulas. Many structured products include an embedded derivative component. Structured
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products may be structured in the form of a security, in which case these products may receive
benefits provided under federal securities law, or they may be cast as derivatives, in which case they
are offered in the over-the-counter market and are subject to no regulation.
Investing in structured products includes significant risks, including valuation, lack of liquidity, price,
credit and market risks. The relative lack of liquidity is due to the highly customized nature of the
investment and the fact that the full extent of returns from the complex performance features is often
not realized until maturity.
Another risk with structured products is the credit quality of the issuer. Although the cash flows are
derived from other sources, the products themselves are legally considered to be the issuing financial
institution's liabilities. The vast majority of structured products are from high-investment-grade
issuers only. Also, there is a lack of pricing transparency. There is no uniform standard for pricing,
making it harder to compare the net-of-pricing attractiveness of alternative structured product
offerings than it is, for instance, to compare the net expense ratios of different mutual funds or
commissions among broker-dealers.
Please Note: Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear.
While the stock market may increase and your account(s) could enjoy a gain, it is also possible that
the stock market may decrease, and your account(s) could suffer a loss. It is important that you
understand the risks associated with investing in the stock market, are appropriately diversified in
your investments, and ask any questions you may have.
Capital Risk: Capital risk is one of the most basic, fundamental risks of investing; it is the risk that
you may lose 100% of your money. All investments carry some form of risk and the loss of capital is
generally a risk for any investment instrument.
Economic Risk: The prevailing economic environment is important to the health of all businesses.
Some companies, however, are more sensitive to changes in the domestic or global economy than
others. These types of companies are often referred to as cyclical businesses. Countries in which a
large portion of businesses are in cyclical industries are thus also very economically sensitive and
carry a higher amount of economic risk. If an investment is issued by a party located in a country that
experiences wide swings from an economic standpoint or in situations where certain elements of an
investment instrument are hinged on dealings in such countries, the investment instrument will
generally be subject to a higher level of economic risk.
Equity (Stock) Market Risk: Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations
and, volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers
change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would
generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the
issuer.
ETF & Mutual Fund Risk: When investing in an ETF or mutual fund, you will bear additional
expenses based on your pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including
the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally
reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities, the ETF, or mutual fund holds. Clients will also
incur brokerage costs when purchasing ETFs. Our firm bases the selection of mutual funds and ETFs
for advisory accounts on the past performance of the mutual fund and/or ETF and their expense ratio
relative to alternative options.
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Financial Risk: Financial risk is represented by internal disruptions within an investment or the
issuer of an investment that can lead to unfavorable performance of the investment. Examples of
financial risk can be found in cases like Enron or many of the dot com companies that were caught
up in a period of extraordinary market valuations that were not based on solid financial footings of
the companies.
Fixed Income Securities Risk: Typically, the values of fixed-income securities change inversely with
prevailing interest rates. Therefore, a fundamental risk of fixed-income securities is interest rate risk,
which is the risk that their value will generally decline as prevailing interest rates rise, which may
cause your account value to likewise decrease, and vice versa. How specific fixed income securities
may react to changes in interest rates will depend on the specific characteristics of each security.
Fixed-income securities are also subject to credit risk, prepayment risk, valuation risk, and liquidity
risk. Credit risk is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely
manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the
price of a bond to decline.
Foreign Exposure Risk: Our firm may have exposure to foreign markets, including emerging
markets, which can be more volatile than the U.S. markets. As a result, returns and net asset value
may be affected to a large degree by fluctuations in currency exchange rates or political or economic
conditions in a particular country. Any investments in emerging market countries may involve risks
greater than, or in addition to, the risks of investing in more developed countries.
Inflation Risk: Inflation risk involves the concern that in the future, your investment or proceeds
from your investment will not be worth what they are today. Throughout time, the prices of resources
and end-user products generally increase and thus, the same general goods and products today will
likely be more expensive in the future. The longer an investment is held, the greater the chance that
the proceeds from that investment will be worth less in the future than what they are today. Said
another way, a dollar tomorrow will likely get you less than what it can today.
Interest Rate Risk: Certain investments involve the payment of a fixed or variable rate of interest to
the investment holder. Once an investor has acquired or has acquired the rights to an investment that
pays a particular rate (fixed or variable) of interest, changes in overall interest rates in the market
will affect the value of the interest-paying investment(s) they hold. In general, changes in prevailing
interest rates in the market will have an inverse relationship to the value of existing, interest paying
investments. In other words, as interest rates move up, the value of an instrument paying a particular
rate (fixed or variable) of interest will go down. The reverse is generally true as well.
Market Risk: The value of your portfolio may decrease if the value of an individual company or
multiple companies in the portfolio decreases or if our belief about a company’s intrinsic worth is
incorrect. Further, regardless of how well individual companies perform, the value of your portfolio
could also decrease if there are deteriorating economic or market conditions. It is important to
understand that the value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, in response to changes in
the market, and you could lose money. Investment risks include price risk as may be observed by a
drop in a security’s price due to company specific events (e.g. earnings disappointment or downgrade
in the rating of a bond) or general market risk (e.g. such as a “bear” market when stock values fall in
general). For fixed-income securities, a period of rising interest rates could erode the value of a bond
since bond values generally fall as bond yields go up. Past performance is not a guarantee of future
returns.
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Market Timing Risk: Market timing can include high risk of loss since it looks at an aggregate market
versus a specific security. Timing risk explains the potential for missing out on beneficial movements
in price due to an error in timing. This could cause harm to the value of an investor's portfolio because
of purchasing too high or selling too low.
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) Risk: MLPs bear three primary risks: (a) The government
could step in and change the rules of the game. That can always happen. Since one of the main
advantages of these securities is their tax advantages, this poses a considerable risk for an investor.;
(b) It is commonly thought that these types of investments do better when interest rates are low,
making their yield higher in relation to the safest investments, such as Treasury bills and securities
that are guaranteed by the U.S. government. Consequently, MLPs may perform better during periods
of declining or relatively low interest rates or, more poorly during periods of rising or high interest
rates.; and (c) MLPs are pass-through entities, passing earnings through to the limited partners.
Investors must be aware that there are potentially significant tax implications of investing in MLPs
and they should consult with their tax advisor before investing in these securities.
Options Risk: Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an
investment in the underlying securities. Additionally, options have an expiration date, which makes
them “decay” in value over the amount of time they are held and can expire worthless. Purchasing
and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary
investment risks.
Past Performance: Charting and technical analysis are often used interchangeably. Technical
analysis generally attempts to forecast an investment’s future potential by analyzing its past
performance and other related statistics. In particular, technical analysis often times involves an
evaluation of historical pricing and volume of a particular security for the purpose of forecasting
where future price and volume figures may go. As with any investment analysis method, technical
analysis runs the risk of not knowing the future and thus, investors should realize that even the most
diligent and thorough technical analysis cannot predict or guarantee the future performance of any
particular investment instrument or issuer thereof.
Voting Client Securities:
Our firm does not accept the proxy authority to vote client securities. Clients will receive proxies or
other solicitations directly from their custodian or a transfer agent. If proxies are sent to our firm,
our firm will forward them to the appropriate client and ask the party who sent them to mail them
directly to the client in the future. Clients may call, write, or email us to discuss questions they may
have about particular proxy votes or other solicitations.
Item 7: Client Information Provided to Portfolio Manager(s)
All accounts are managed by our in-house licensed IARs. The IAR selected to manage the client’s
account(s) or portfolio(s) will be privy to the client’s investment goals and objectives, risk tolerance,
restrictions placed on the management of the account(s) or portfolio(s) and relevant client notes
taken by our firm. Please see our firm’s Privacy Policy for more information on how our firm utilizes
client information.
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Item 8: Client Contact with Portfolio Manager(s)
Clients are always free to directly contact their portfolio manager(s) with any questions or concerns
about their portfolios or other matters.
Item 9: Additional Information
Disciplinary Information
There are no legal or disciplinary events that are material to the evaluation of our advisory business
or the integrity of our management.
Financial Industry Activities & Affiliations
Representatives of our firm are Dually Registered Persons. LPL is a broker-dealer that is
independently owned and operated and is not affiliated with our firm. Please refer to Item 12 for a
discussion of the benefits our firm may receive from LPL Financial and the conflicts of interest
associated with receipt of such benefits.
Our firm’s Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer, Lawrence R. Spinosa, is a Certified Public
Accountant. However, Mr. Spinosa does not provide income tax preparation or accounting services
to advisory clients. Our firm does not actively solicit clients to utilize these services.
Representatives of our firm are insurance agents/brokers. They offer insurance products and receive
customary fees as a result of insurance sales. A conflict of interest exists as these insurance sales
create an incentive to recommend products based on the compensation adviser and/or our
supervised persons may earn. To mitigate this potential conflict, our firm will act in the client’s best
interest.
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions & Personal Trading
As a fiduciary, it is an investment adviser’s responsibility to provide fair and full disclosure of all material
facts and to always act solely in the best interest of each of our clients. Our fiduciary duty is the
underlying principle for our firm’s Code of Ethics, which includes procedures for personal securities
transaction and insider trading. Our firm requires all representatives to conduct business with the
highest level of ethical standards and to always comply with all federal and state securities laws. Upon
employment with our firm, and at least annually thereafter, all representatives of our firm will
acknowledge receipt, understanding and compliance with our firm’s Code of Ethics. Our firm and
representatives must conduct business in an honest, ethical, and fair manner and avoid all circumstances
that might negatively affect or appear to affect our duty of complete loyalty to all clients. This disclosure
is provided to give all clients a summary of our Code of Ethics. If a client or a potential client wishes to
review our Code of Ethics in its entirety, a copy will be provided promptly upon request.
Our firm recognizes that the personal investment transactions of our representatives demands the
application of a Code of Ethics with high standards and requires that all such transactions be carried out
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in a way that does not endanger the interest of any client. At the same time, our firm also believes that if
investment goals are similar for clients and for our representatives, it is logical, and even desirable, that
there be common ownership of some securities.
In order to prevent conflicts of interest, our firm has established procedures for transactions effected by
our representatives for their personal accounts1. In order to monitor compliance with our personal
trading policy, our firm has pre-clearance requirements and a quarterly securities transaction reporting
system for all of our representatives.
Neither our firm nor a related person recommends, buys or sells for client accounts, securities in
which our firm or a related person has a material financial interest without prior disclosure to the
client.
Related persons of our firm may buy or sell securities and other investments that are also
recommended to clients. In order to minimize this conflict of interest, our related persons will place
client interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to our firm’s Code of Ethics, a copy of which
is available upon request.
Likewise, related persons of our firm buy or sell securities for themselves at or about the same time they
buy or sell the same securities for client accounts. In order to minimize this conflict of interest, our
related persons will place client interests ahead of their own interests and adhere to our firm’s Code of
Ethics, a copy of which is available upon request. Further, our related persons will refrain from buying
or selling the same securities prior to buying or selling for our clients in the same day unless done so
after the client execution or concurrently as part of a block trade.
Review of Accounts
Lawrence R. Spinosa reviews accounts on at least a quarterly basis for our Wrap Portfolio
Management clients. The nature of these reviews is to learn whether clients’ accounts are in line with
their investment objectives, appropriately positioned based on market conditions, and investment
policies, if applicable. Our firm may review client accounts more frequently than described above.
Among the factors which may trigger an off-cycle review are major market or economic events, the
client’s life events, requests by the client, etc. Our firm does not provide written reports to clients,
unless asked to do so. Verbal reports to clients take place on at least an annual basis when our Wrap
Portfolio Management clients are contacted.
Other Compensation
LPL Financial:
Our firm may receive from LPL or a mutual fund company, without cost and/or at a discount non
soft-dollar support services and/or products, to assist us to better monitor and service client
accounts maintained at such institutions. Included within the support services our firm may receive
investment-related research, pricing information and market data, software and other technology
that provide access to client account data, compliance and/or practice management-related
publications, discounted or gratis consulting services, discounted and/or gratis attendance at
1 For purposes of the policy, our associate’s personal account generally includes any account (a) in the name of our associate, his/her spouse,
his/her minor children or other dependents residing in the same household, (b) for which our associate is a trustee or executor, or (c) which our
associate controls, including our client accounts which our associate controls and/or a member of his/her household has a direct or indirect
beneficial interest in.
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conferences, meetings, and other educational and/or social events, marketing support, computer
hardware and/or software and/or other products used by us to assist us in our investment advisory
business operations. Our clients do not pay more for investment transactions effected and/or assets
maintained at LPL as result of this arrangement. There is no commitment made by us to LPL or any
other institution as a result of the above arrangement.
Client Referrals:
In accordance with Rule 206 (4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, our firm does not provide
cash or non-cash compensation directly or indirectly to unaffiliated persons for testimonials or
endorsements (which include client referrals).
Financial Information
Our firm is not required to provide financial information in this Brochure because:
Our firm does not require the prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees when services cannot
be rendered within 6 months.
Our firm does not take custody of client funds or securities.
Our firm does not have a financial condition or commitment that impairs our ability to meet
contractual and fiduciary obligations to clients.
Our firm has never been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 – Wrap Fee Brochure
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Spinosa Wealth Management Group, LLC