View Document Text
Brochure
Form ADV Part 2A
Item 1 - Cover Page
CRD# 109606
5100 Wheelis Drive
Suite 107
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
901.729.8100
www.SummitAssetManagement.com
March 6, 2025
info@summitassetmanagement.com
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Summit
Asset Management, LLC. The information in this Brochure has not been approved or verified by
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state authority. Please contact
us at 901.729.8100 or at
if you have any questions about
the contents of this Brochure.
Summit Asset Management, LLC is an investment advisory firm registered with the appropriate
regulatory authority. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional
www.AdviserInfo.sec.gov
information about Summit Asset Management, LLC also is available on the SEC’s website at
.
Item 2 - Material Changes
This Brochure is prepared in the revised format required beginning in 2011. Registered
Investment Advisers are required to use this format to inform clients of the nature of advisory
services provided, types of clients served, fees charged, potential conflicts of interest and other
information. The Brochure requirements include providing a Summary of Material Changes (the
“Summary”) reflecting any material changes to our policies, practices, or conflicts of interest
made since our last required “annual update” filing. In the event of any material changes, such
Summary is provided to all clients within 120 days of our fiscal year-end. Our last annual update
was filed on February 8, 2024. The complete Brochure is available to you at any time upon
request.
Item 3 - Table of Contents
Contents
Page
Item 1 - Cover Page ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2 - Material Changes ............................................................................................................................................................ 1
Item 3 - Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
Item 4 - Advisory Business .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Item 5 - Fees and Compensation ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management ............................................................................. 7
Item 7 - Types of Clients ............................................................................................................................................................... 7
Item 8 - Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ..................................................................... 7
Item 9 - Disciplinary Information .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Item 10 - Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ................................................................................... 10
Item 11 - Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading .............. 10
Item 12 - Brokerage Practices ................................................................................................................................................. 11
Item 13 - Review of Accounts .................................................................................................................................................. 12
Item 14 - Client Referrals and Other Compensation ...................................................................................................... 13
Item 15 – Custody ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Item 16 - Investment Discretion ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Item 17 - Voting Client Securities .......................................................................................................................................... 14
Item 18 - Financial Information .............................................................................................................................................. 14
Page 2
Item 4 - Advisory Business
1
in Memphis, Tennessee and
General Information
Summit Asset Management, LLC (“Summit”) was formed in 1991
provides investment management, financial planning, and special services to our clients.
Brochure Supplements, Exhibit A
John N. Laughlin, Lance W. Hollingsworth, and Peggy K. Adler are the owners of Summit. Please
see
, for more information on the firm’s owners and other
individuals who formulate investment advice and have direct contact with clients, or have
discretionary authority over client accounts.
As of December 31, 2024, Summit managed $837,747,543 on a discretionary basis and
$101,172,865 of assets on a non-discretionary basis.
SERVICES PROVIDED
At the outset of our relationship, Summit spends time with you, asking questions, discussing
your investment experience and financial circumstances, and reviewing options for you. Based
on our reviews, we generally develop with you:
•
•
a financial outline for you based on your financial circumstances and goals, and your risk
tolerance level (the “Financial Profile” or “Profile”); and
your investment objectives, asset allocation, and guidelines (the “Investment Plan” or
“Plan”).
The Financial Profile is a reflection of your current financial picture and a look to your future
goals. The Investment Plan outlines the types of investments we will make on your behalf to
meet those goals. The Profile and the Plan are discussed regularly with you, but are not
necessarily written documents or contained in a formal financial planning booklet.
Portfolio Management
As described above, at the beginning of our relationship, we meet with you, gather information,
and perform research and analysis as necessary to develop your Investment Plan. Your
Investment Plan will be updated from time to time when requested by you, or when determined
to be necessary or advisable by us based on updates to your financial or other circumstances.
To implement your Investment Plan, we will manage your investment portfolio on a
discretionary basis. As a discretionary investment adviser, we will have the authority to
supervise and direct your portfolio without prior consultation with you. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, you may impose certain written restrictions on us in the management of your
investment portfolio, such as prohibiting the sale of highly appreciated stocks. You should note,
however, that restrictions imposed by you may adversely affect the composition and
performance of your investment portfolio.
1
Summit Asset Management, LLC was originally formed as an S-Corporation (Summit Asset Management, Inc.) and
converted to a Limited Liability Corporation in 1999.
Page 3
You should also note that your investment portfolio is treated individually, and may differ from
similar portfolios in the selection of specific funds, deposits and distributions, the timing of
purchases or sales, and other factors. For these and other reasons, the performance of your
investment portfolio within the same investment objectives, allocations and/or risk tolerance
may differ.
Financial Planning
We offer financial planning services to clients in need of such services in conjunction with
Portfolio Management. Our financial planning services normally address areas such as
retirement planning, education spending, charitable giving, risk and insurance analysis, and
other typical financial events. The goal of these services is to anticipate your future financial
needs to more effectively develop your Investment Plan and make reasonable recommendations.
Individual Retirement Advice
When we are making investment recommendations to you regarding your retirement plan
account or individual retirement account, we are acting as fiduciaries within the meaning of Title
I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as
applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. The way we make money or
otherwise are compensated creates some conflicts with your financial interests, so we operate
under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of
yours.
Under this special rule's provisions, we must:
Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give
prudent advice) to you;
Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give
loyal advice);
Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your
best interest;
Charge no more than what is reasonable for our services; and
Give you basic information about our conflicts of interest.
Retirement Plan Advisory Services
Establishing a sound fiduciary governance process is vital to good decision-making and to
ensuring that prudent procedural steps are followed in making investment decisions. We will
provide Retirement Plan consulting services to Plans and Plan Fiduciaries as described below.
The particular services provided will be detailed in the written agreement. The appropriate Plan
Fiduciary(ies) designated in the Plan documents (e.g., the Plan sponsor or named fiduciary) will
(i) make the decision to retain our firm; (ii) agree to the scope of the services that we will
provide; and (iii) make the ultimate decision as to accepting any of the recommendations that we
may provide. The Plan Fiduciaries are free to seek independent advice about the appropriateness
of any recommended services for the Plan. Retirement Plan consulting services may be offered
individually or as part of a comprehensive suite of services.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) sets forth rules under which
Plan Fiduciaries may retain investment advisers for various types of services with respect to
Page 4
Plan assets. For certain services, we will be considered a fiduciary under ERISA. For example,
we will act as an ERISA § 3(21) fiduciary when providing non-discretionary investment advice to
the Plan Fiduciaries by recommending a suite of investments as choices among which Plan
Participants may select. Also, to the extent that the Plan Fiduciaries retain us to act as an
investment manager within the meaning of ERISA § 3(38), we will provide discretionary
investment management services to the Plan.
Consulting
Fiduciary
Services
Investment Selection Services
•
We will provide Plan Fiduciaries with recommendations of investment options consistent
with ERISA section 404(c).
Plan Fiduciaries retain responsibility for the final
determination of investment options and for compliance with ERISA section 404(c).
• Non-Discretionary Investment Advice
We provide Plan Fiduciaries and Plan Participants general, non-discretionary investment
advice regarding asset classes and investments.
Investment Monitoring
•
We will assist in monitoring the plan’s investment options by providing periodic
investment reports that document investment performance, consistency of fund
management and conformation to the guidelines set forth in the investment policy
statement and we will make recommendations to maintain or remove and replace
investment options.
Management
Services
Fiduciary
• Discretionary Management Services
When retained as an investment manager within the meaning of ERISA § 3(38), we
provide continuous and ongoing supervision over the designated retirement plan assets.
We will actively monitor the designated retirement plan assets and provide ongoing
management of the assets. When applicable, we will have discretionary authority to make
all decisions to buy, sell or hold securities, cash or other investments for the designated
retirement plan assets in our sole discretion without first consulting with the Plan
Fiduciaries. We also have the power and authority to carry out these decisions by giving
instructions, on your behalf, to brokers and dealers and the qualified custodian(s) of the
Plan for our management of the designated retirement plan assets.
• Discretionary Investment Selection Services
We will monitor the investment options of the Plan and add or remove investment
options for the Plan without prior consultation with the Plan Fiduciaries. We will have
discretionary authority to make and implement all decisions regarding the investment
options that are available to Plan Participants.
Investment Management via Model Portfolios
•
We will provide discretionary management of Model Portfolios among which the
participants may choose to invest as Plan options. Plan Participants will also have the
Page 5
Item 5 - Fees and Compensation
option of investing only in options that do not include Model Portfolios (i.e., the Plan
Participants may elect to invest in one or more of the mutual fund options made available
in the Plan, and choose not to invest in the Model Portfolios at all).
General Fee Information
We are a fee-only advisor, which means we are only compensated by management fees paid by
our clients. We earn no sales loads or commissions on any investment products. Fees paid to us
Item 12 - Brokerage Practices
are exclusive of all custodial and transaction costs paid to your custodian, broker-dealers or
for additional information. Fees
other third parties. Please see
paid to us are also separate and distinct from the fees and expenses charged by mutual funds,
ETFs (exchange traded funds) or other investment pools (generally including a management fee
and fund expenses, as described in each fund’s prospectus or offering materials). You should
review all fees charged by funds, broker-dealers, Summit and others to fully understand the total
amount of fees paid by you for investment and financial-related services.
Portfolio Management Fees
Our annual rate schedule, based on assets under management, is as follows. For illustrative
purposes, we have included examples of the resulting blended rate. The actual effective rate will
vary slightly based on the exact amount of managed assets.
Summit Annual Fee Schedule
Blended Rate Examples
Equity or Balanced
Portfolios
Annual
Rate
Blended
Rate
If assets under
management in equity or
balanced portfolios total:
:
First $500,000
Next $500,000
Next $2,000,000
Balance over $3,000,000
1.00%
0.80%
0.50%
0.25%
$1,000,000
$3,000,000
$5,000,000
$8,000,000
0.90%
0.63%
0.48%
0.39%
The minimum portfolio value is generally set at $500,000. We may, at our discretion, make
exceptions to the foregoing or negotiate special fee arrangements where we deem it appropriate
under the circumstances.
Portfolio management fees are payable quarterly, in arrears. If we are engaged by you after the
start of a quarter, or you terminate the relationship with us after the start of a quarter, fees will
be prorated accordingly. With your authorization, unless other arrangements are made, fees will
be debited directly from your account(s).
Either you or Summit may terminate your Investment Advisory Agreement (“IAA”) at any time,
subject to any written notice requirements in the IAA.
Page 6
Special Services and Fees
From time to time, we may provide special services, outside the scope of investment
management, to clients. Such services are generally provided on a project basis with the fees
Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
negotiated prior to the time of the engagement.
We do not have any performance-based fees or side-by-side arrangements. “Side-by-Side
Management” refers to a situation in which the same firm manages accounts that are billed based
on a percentage of assets under management and at the same time manages other accounts for
which fees are assessed on a performance fee basis. Because we have no performance-based fee
Item 7 - Types of Clients
accounts, we have no side-by-side management.
We serve individuals, families, trusts, retirement plans for businesses, charitable endowments,
and corporations. Our stated minimum portfolio value for the combined accounts of each client
Item 8 - Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
is $500,000; however, we may adjust that minimum for specific client circumstances.
Methods of Analysis and Investment Strategies
We manage investments using an asset allocation method based on client-influenced factors such
as risk tolerance, time horizon and financial goals. The most common asset classes are cash,
bonds and equities. Access to these asset classes is generally gained through mutual funds or
exchange traded funds. Where appropriate, we may also use alternative investments.
Each client strategy includes a target mix of asset classes. When market performance causes
investments to significantly depart from those targets, we rebalance at our discretion. We do not
engage in market timing. However, at the asset class level and more commonly within the funds
that comprise each asset class, we may tactically adjust the mix of funds to emphasize areas we
think will outperform and/or minimize areas we believe may underperform.
We invest in equity funds to achieve growth of capital. We assess equity investments using a
number of factors including: market evaluation, fund research, valuation metrics, technical
analysis, and minimum diversification practices.
We employ market research services provided by reputable third parties to understand the
potential impact of market cycles, interest rates, investor sentiment, global influences, and other
“macro” influences on investment markets. We employ proprietary analytical methods for
assessing the attractiveness of equity sectors. The goal is to select equity investments that have
the potential to outperform over a mid-to-long term time horizon, adjusting the mix of funds as
our market expectations evolve. If a fund is not expected to achieve its potential as a mid-to-
long term investment, we may sell that fund, even if it has been held for less than one year.
We invest in fixed income funds to provide relative portfolio stability and to produce income.
We include both money market and investment grade bond funds in our definition of fixed
income. We may opportunistically invest in funds that contain non-investment grade bonds
when we expect that extra return and improved diversification may help achieve your goals. The
Page 7
selection and allocation of fixed income funds are primarily designed to reduce the volatility of
your investment portfolio or provide a stable-value reserve if you receive distributions from
your investments.
Alternative investments such as diversified hedge funds of funds, commodity funds or other
multi-strategy funds may provide an additional opportunity for growth and diversification.
These funds may be used when appropriate to address your goals. Some alternative
investments, such as hedge fund of funds partnerships, may only be used with clients who meet
SEC minimum requirements.
When appropriate for your specific circumstances, we will utilize the services of one or more
Sub-advisers to manage a specific portion of your portfolio. The fee assessed by the Sub-
adviser(s) is charged in addition to our fee, and is debited directly from the managed account by
the Sub-adviser(s).
Risk of Loss
While we seek to diversify your investment portfolio across various asset classes consistent with
your Investment Plan in an effort to reduce risk of loss, all investment portfolios are subject to
risks. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that your investment portfolio will be able to fully
meet your investment objectives and goals, or that investments will not lose money.
You should expect values of individual investments within your portfolio as well as the total
value of your portfolio to fluctuate. Such fluctuations are characteristic of the investment
markets. Our goal is to avoid investments that run a risk of permanent loss of capital. However,
we cannot guarantee that we will always be able to accomplish our goals.
Below is a description of several of the principal risks that your investment portfolio faces.
Investment Planning Risks.
In the process of you and Summit developing a suitable Investment
Plan, there is a risk that you may overestimate your tolerance for market fluctuations and certain
other unexpected developments in the investment markets. This increases the risk that you may
instruct us to sell investments during periods of market stress and, thus, miss out on recovery
potential for those investments.
Portfolio Management Risks.
While we manage your investment portfolio based on our
experience, research, and proprietary methods, the value of your investment portfolio will
change daily based on the performance of the underlying mutual funds and other securities in
which it is invested. Accordingly, your investment portfolio is subject to the risk that we allocate
your assets to individual securities and/or asset classes that are adversely affected by
unanticipated market movements, and the risk that our specific investment choices could
underperform their relevant indexes.
Risks of Investments in Mutual Funds, ETFs and Other Investment Pools.
As described above, we
will invest your portfolio in mutual funds, ETFs and other investment pools (“pooled investment
funds”). Investments in pooled investment funds are generally less volatile than investing in
individual securities because of their diversified portfolios; however, these investments are still
subject to risks associated with the markets in which they invest. Additionally, in the case of
actively managed mutual funds, the investment performance will be determined by the security
Page 8
selection of the investment manager. Therefore, although the managers are selected by us with
confidence of future performance, the results are not within our direct control. Actively
managed mutual funds’ success will be related to the skills of their managers at picking
individual securities using a consistent process that produces appropriate returns over time.
Pooled investment funds are also subject to risks due to regulatory restrictions applicable to
registered investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Risks Related to Alternative Investment Vehicles
. The value of your portfolio will be based in part
on the value of alternative investment vehicles in which it is invested, the success of each of
which will depend heavily upon the efforts of their respective Managers. When the investment
objectives and strategies of a Manager are out of favor in the market or a Manager makes
unsuccessful investment decisions, the alternative investment vehicles managed by the Manager
may lose money. Your account may lose a substantial percentage of its value if the investment
objectives and strategies of many or most of the alternative investment vehicles in which it is
invested are out of favor at the same time, or many or most of the Managers make unsuccessful
investment decisions at the same time.
Equity Market Risks.
We will invest portions of your assets in equity investments, primarily into
pooled investment funds that invest in the stock market. As noted above, while pooled
investments have diversified portfolios that may make them less volatile than investments in
individual securities, funds that invest in stocks and other equity securities are nevertheless
subject to the risks of the stock market. These risks include, without limitation, the risks that
stock values will decline due to fluctuations in the prices of individual stocks or sectors, and that
stock values will decline over longer periods (e.g., bear markets) due to general market declines
in the stock prices for all companies, regardless of the prospects for any individual security or
sector.
Fixed Income Risks.
We will invest portions of your assets in pooled investment funds that invest
in fixed income instruments, such as bonds and notes. Rarely, we may invest your funds directly
into bonds or notes. While investing in fixed income instruments, either directly or through
pooled investment funds, is generally less volatile than investing in stock (equity) markets, fixed
income investments nevertheless are subject to risks. These risks include, without limitation,
interest rate risks (risks that changes in interest rates will devalue the investments), credit risks
(risks of default by borrowers), or maturity risks (risks that premium bonds will lose value as
they approach maturity).
Foreign Securities Risks.
We may invest portions of your assets into pooled investment funds that
invest internationally. While foreign investments are important to the diversification of your
investment portfolio, they carry risks that may be different from U.S. investments. For example,
foreign investments may not be subject to uniform audit, financial reporting or disclosure
standards, and practices or requirements comparable to those found in the U.S. Foreign
investments are also subject to foreign withholding taxes and the risk of adverse changes in
investment or exchange control regulations. Finally, foreign investments may involve currency
risk, which is the risk that the value of the foreign security will decrease due to changes in the
relative value of the U.S. dollar and the security’s underlying foreign currency.
Page 9
Item 9 - Disciplinary Information
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any legal or
disciplinary events that would be material to your evaluation of us or the integrity of our
Item 10 - Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
management. We have no disciplinary events to report.
Neither Summit nor our Management Persons have any other financial industry activities or
Item 11 - Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
affiliations to report.
Trading
Code of Ethics and Personal Trading
We have adopted a Code of Ethics (“the Code”), the full text of which is available to you upon
request. Our Code has several goals. The Code is designed to assist us in complying with
applicable laws and regulations governing our investment advisory business. As a registered
investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, we are held to a fiduciary
standard. A fiduciary standard means we will seek to avoid conflicts of interest with clients,
disclose conflicts of interest if they are unavoidable and, in any transaction or conflict, we will
seek to put the interests of clients ahead of our own. Pursuant to these fiduciary duties, the Code
requires persons associated with Summit (officers and employees) to act with honesty, good
faith and fair dealing in working with clients. In addition, the Code prohibits such associated
persons from trading or otherwise acting on insider information. The Code sets forth guidelines
for professional standards for our associated persons.
Also, the Code sets forth policies and procedures to monitor and review the personal trading
activities of associated persons (associates who give investment advice to clients or are
designated by our Chief Compliance Officer). From time to time, our associated persons may
invest in the same securities recommended to you. Under our Code, we have adopted
procedures designed to reduce or eliminate conflicts of interest that this could potentially cause.
The Code’s personal trading policies include procedures for limitations on personal securities
transactions of associated persons, reporting and review of such trading, and pre-clearance of
certain types of personal trading activities. These policies are designed to discourage and
prohibit personal trading that would disadvantage clients. The Code also provides for
disciplinary action as appropriate for violations.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Because your account is invested almost exclusively in open-end mutual funds and ETFs, there is
little opportunity for a conflict of interest between personal trades by Summit associated
persons and trades in your account, even when such accounts invest in the same securities.
However, in the event of other identified potential trading conflicts of interest, such as with
individual securities, our policy is to place your interests first.
Consistent with the foregoing, we maintain policies regarding stock trading, participation in
initial public offerings (“IPOs”), and private placements to comply with applicable laws and avoid
conflicts with client transactions.
Page 10
Finally, if a Summit associated person wishes to buy or sell an individual stock, participate in an
IPO or invest in a private placement, he or she must submit a pre-clearance request and obtain
Item 12 - Brokerage Practices
the approval of a designated principal of our firm.
Best Execution and Benefits of Brokerage Selection
We seek to obtain “best execution” for your transactions, which includes such factors as access to
desired securities, quality of execution, services provided, bid-ask spreads, and commissions.
We have discretion to select the brokerage firm that will execute orders in your accounts. In
almost all cases, we select Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), which serves as both broker-
dealer and custodian for most client accounts. In rare cases, we will place your trade orders
through brokerage firms other than Schwab, particularly when we seek access to special
securities. In such cases as individual bonds, we may seek to execute the trade at another
brokerage firm according to “prime broker” protocols and then transfer the security to Schwab
to be held in custody in your account. In some cases, we may use a brokerage firm that does not
charge the lowest available commission in consideration of client-specific issues and/or benefits
other than commission rates. We may receive general or proprietary research on specific
securities or markets from brokerage firms that execute client trades. Such research may not
benefit each Summit client equally.
We recommend that you establish a brokerage account with Schwab, a FINRA registered broker-
dealer and member SIPC, as qualified custodian to maintain custody of your assets. We may also
effect trades for your accounts at Schwab, or may in some instances, consistent with our duty of
best execution and specific agreement with you, elect to execute trades elsewhere. Although we
may recommend that you establish an account at Schwab, it is ultimately your decision to
custody assets with Schwab. We are independently owned and operated and are not affiliated
with Schwab.
Schwab Advisor Services provides us with access to its institutional trading, custody, reporting
and related services, which are typically not available to Schwab retail investors. Schwab also
makes available various support services. Some of those services help us manage or administer
our clients’ accounts while others help us manage and grow our business. These services
generally are available to independent investment advisors on an unsolicited basis, at no charge
to them. These services are not soft dollar arrangements, but are part of the institutional
platform offered by Schwab. Schwab’s brokerage services include the execution of securities
transactions, custody, research, and access to mutual funds and other investments that are
otherwise generally available only to institutional investors or would require a significantly
higher minimum initial investment.
For our client accounts maintained in its custody, Schwab generally does not charge separately
for custody services but is compensated by account holders through commissions or other fees
on trades that it executes or that settle into your Schwab account. Certain trades may not incur
Schwab commissions or transaction fees. Schwab is also compensated by earning interest on the
uninvested cash in your account. Schwab Advisor Services also makes available to us other
products and services intended to help us manage and further develop our business but may not
directly benefit your account. Many of these products and services may be used to service a
substantial number of our accounts, including accounts not maintained at Schwab.
Page 11
Schwab’s products and services that assist us in managing and administering your account
include software and other technology that (i) provide access to your account data (such as trade
confirmations and account statements); (ii) facilitate trade execution and allocate aggregated
trade orders for multiple client accounts; (iii) provide pricing and other market data; (iv)
facilitate payment of our fees from your accounts; and (v) assist with back-office functions,
recordkeeping and client reporting.
Schwab Advisor Services also offers other services intended to help us manage and further
develop our business enterprise. These services may include: (i) technology, compliance, legal
and business consulting; (ii) publications and conferences on practice management and business
succession; and (iii) access to employee benefits providers, human capital consultants and
insurance providers. Schwab may make available, arrange and/or pay third-party vendors for
the types of services rendered to us. Schwab Advisor Services may discount or waive fees it
would otherwise charge for some of these services or pay all or a part of the fees of a third-party
providing these services to us. Schwab Advisor Services may also provide other benefits such as
educational events or occasional business entertainment of our personnel. In evaluating
whether to recommend that you custody your assets at Schwab, we may take into account the
availability of some of the foregoing products and services and other arrangements as part of the
total mix of factors we consider and not solely on the nature, cost or quality of custody and
brokerage services provided by Schwab, which may create a potential conflict of interest.
Directed Brokerage
We generally do not allow directed brokerage accounts.
Aggregated Trade Policy
We typically direct trading in your account as and when trades are appropriate based on your
Investment Plan, without regard to activity in other client accounts. However, in the case of
stocks and bonds, we may aggregate trades for multiple accounts to ensure that all participating
clients receive the same price for the security being traded. If such an aggregated trade is not
completely filled, we will allocate shares received (in an aggregated purchase) or sold (in an
aggregated sale) across participating accounts on a pro rata or other fair basis; provided,
however, that any participating accounts that are owned by Summit or our officers, directors, or
Item 13 - Review of Accounts
employees will be excluded first.
While managed portfolios are reviewed at least quarterly, the underlying investments of your
portfolio are monitored on an ongoing basis. Your portfolio may be reviewed more often than
quarterly if requested by you, upon receipt of information material to the management of your
portfolio, or at any time such review is deemed necessary or advisable by us. Also, portfolios are
reviewed if required by a change in your individual situation, or if economic, political or market
conditions warrant a review. John N. Laughlin, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief
Compliance Officer of Summit and Lance W. Hollingsworth, Chief Investment Officer and
Treasurer of Summit, Alex Thompson, III, Chairman and Financial Advisor, Sarah R. Haizlip,
Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor, and Leslie H. Drummond, Financial Advisor, all
review accounts.
Page 12
Account custodians are responsible for providing monthly or quarterly account statements
which reflect the positions and current pricing in your account as well as transactions in your
account, including fees paid from your account. Account custodians also provide prompt
confirmation of all trading activity and year-end tax statements, such as 1099 forms. In addition,
we provide a quarterly report for each managed portfolio. This written report normally includes
a summary of portfolio holdings, performance results, and our commentary on market
Item 14 - Client Referrals and Other Compensation
developments. Additional reports are available at your request or during review meetings.
From time to time, we may enter into arrangements with third parties (“Promoters”) to identify
and refer potential clients to us. Consistent with legal requirements under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, we enter into written agreements with Promoters under
which, among other things, we or the Promoter are required to disclose to you how the Promoter
is compensated and any material conflicts of interest at the time that our services are
recommended or endorsed by the Promoter.
Item 12 - Brokerage Practices
As noted above, we receive an economic benefit from Schwab in the form of support products
and services it makes available to us and other independent investment advisors whose clients
maintain accounts at Schwab. These products and services, how they benefit our firm, and the
related conflicts of interest are described in
. The availability of
Schwab’s products and services to us is based solely on our participation in the programs and
Item 15 – Custody
not on the provision of any particular investment advice.
Schwab is the custodian of nearly all of our client accounts. From time to time, however, you
may select an alternate custodian. In any case, it is the custodian’s responsibility to provide you
with confirmations of trading activity, tax forms, and at least quarterly account statements. You
are advised to review this information carefully and to notify us of any questions or concerns.
You are also asked to promptly notify us if the custodian fails to provide statements on each
account held.
From time to time and in accordance with our agreement with you, we will provide additional
reports. The account balances reflected on these reports should be compared to the balances
shown on your brokerage statements to ensure accuracy. At times, there may be small
Item 16 - Investment Discretion
differences due to the timing of dividend reporting, pending trades and other similar issues.
Item 4 - Advisory Business
As described in
, we accept clients on a discretionary basis. Under
this arrangement, a Limited Power of Attorney (“LPOA”) is executed by you, giving us the
authority to carry out various activities in your account, generally including the following: trade
execution, disbursement authority on your behalf, and the withdrawal of advisory fees directly
from your account. We then direct investment of your portfolio using our discretionary
authority. You may limit the terms of the LPOA to the extent consistent with your Investment
Advisory Agreement with us and the requirements of your custodian.
Page 13
non-discretionary
arrangements. Under these arrangements, we maintain
We have a select few
Item 17 - Voting Client Securities
continuous and regular oversight but do not make investment recommendations.
As a policy and in accordance with Summit’s client agreement, we do not vote proxies related to
securities held in client accounts. The custodian of the account will normally provide proxy
materials directly to the client. Clients may contact us with questions relating to proxy
Item 18 - Financial Information
procedures and proposals; however, we generally do not research particular proxy proposals.
Because we do not require nor solicit prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per client, six
months or more in advance, nor meet other criteria requiring financial disclosure, we have no
disclosure required for this item.
Page 14
Exhibit A
Brochure Supplement
Form ADV Part 2B
Item 1 – Cover Page
Samuel Alexander Thompson, III, CLU®, ChFC®
CRD# 725932
of
Summit Asset Management, LLC
5100 Wheelis Drive
Suite 107
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
901.729.8100
www.SummitAssetManagement.com
March 6, 2025
This Brochure Supplement provides information about Alex Thompson, and supplements the
Summit Asset Management, LLC (“Summit”) Brochure. You should have received a copy of that
Brochure. Please contact us at 901.729.8100 if you did not receive our Brochure, or if you have any
questions about the contents of this Supplement.
www.AdviserInfo.sec.gov.
Additional information about Alex is available on the SEC’s website at
Item 2 - Educational Background and Business Experience
Samuel Alexander Thompson, III (“Alex”) (year of birth 1951), joined Summit in 1999 as a Principal.
In addition to being a Financial Advisor, Alex serves as Chairman of Summit. His main areas of
involvement are client investment strategies, portfolio management, financial and estate planning.
Alex serves on the Investment Committee and the Financial Advisory Committee.
Prior to joining Summit, Alex was a representative for The Equitable for over twenty years. There
he was inducted into Equitable’s Hall of Fame, became a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round
Table, and served on the Executive Committee of Equitable’s National Agent Forum.
®
®
®
®
After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Alex continued his
”) designation. He completed coursework at
* (“CLU
studies earning a Chartered Life Underwriter
the University of Memphis in accounting and took graduate level courses in both Defined Benefit
Retirement Plans and Accounting and Business Valuation through the American College. Alex
earned the Chartered Financial Consultant
** (“ChFC
”) designation from the American College.
Exhibit A-1
Alex has been an elder at Second Presbyterian Church for many years. He was also a long-term
Board Member of both Presbyterian Day School, where he served as Chairman on two different
occasions, and Memphis University School, where he was Chairman of the Endowment Committee.
He also serves on the professional advisory group of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis. Alex is a
member of the Memphis Estate Planning Council, The Economic Club of Memphis and the Society of
Financial Service Professionals.
®
®
. The CLU
is a professional
* The American College awards The Chartered Life Underwriter
designation for individuals who wish to specialize in life insurance and estate planning. Individuals
must complete five core courses and three elective courses, and successfully pass all eight two-
hour, 100-question examinations in order to receive the designation.
®
®
is a financial planning designation for the insurance industry awarded by the
** The ChFC
must meet experience requirements and pass exams
American College of Bryn Mawr. ChFCs
covering finance and investing. They must have at least three years of experience in the financial
industry, and have studied and passed an examination on the fundamentals of financial planning,
Item 3 - Disciplinary Information
including income tax, insurance, investment and estate planning.
Advisers are required to disclose any material facts regarding certain legal or disciplinary events
that would be material to your evaluation of an adviser; however, Alex has no such disciplinary
information to report.
Item 4 - Other Business Activities
Alex is not engaged in any other business activities.
Item 5 - Additional Compensation
Item 6 - Supervision
Alex has no other income or compensation to disclose.
Overall investment decisions are made as a team by the Investment Committee, and portfolio
activity based on these decisions will be carried out by individuals on the Committee, as assisted by
other staff members of the firm.
As Chief Compliance Officer, John N. Laughlin is responsible for providing compliance oversight to
the staff; he may be contacted at 901.729.8100.
Exhibit A-2
Brochure Supplement
Form ADV Part 2B
Item 1 - Cover Page
Lance W. Hollingsworth, CFP®
CRD# 4373723
of
Summit Asset Management, LLC
5100 Wheelis Drive
Suite 107
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
901.729.8100
www.SummitAssetManagement.com
March 6, 2025
This Brochure Supplement provides information about Lance Hollingsworth, and supplements the
Summit Asset Management, LLC (“Summit”) Brochure. You should have received a copy of that
Brochure. Please contact us at 901.729.8100 if you did not receive our Brochure, or if you have any
questions about the contents of this Supplement.
www.AdviserInfo.sec.gov.
Additional information about Lance is available on the SEC’s website at
Item 2 - Educational Background and Business Experience
Lance W. Hollingsworth (year of birth 1972) was hired by the founder of Summit in 1995 and
became a Principal in 1999. Lance’s duties encompass client service, portfolio management,
investment research and development, trading, and operations. He also oversees Summit’s
technology implementation. Lance serves as Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer. He chairs
Summit’s Investment Committee and participates on the Financial Advisory Committee.
Prior to joining Summit, Lance was a Financial Planning Assistant at Wray, Fugitt, & Howard
Financial Advisors from 1993 to 1995.
Lance graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Business
Administration. While there, he majored in Finance with an emphasis in Investments and
Insurance. Lance is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional* as granted by Certified Financial
Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
Exhibit A-3
Lance is a long-time member of the Tiger Scholarship Fund and a proud supporter of the University
of Memphis. He is actively involved in both St. Francis of Assisi and St. Benedict at Auburndale
Catholic schools. Additionally Lance volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul and has a special interest in
supporting organizations that facilitate international adoptions, particularly those within China. In
his spare time he also volunteers with youth golf development groups.
*
®
The CFP
®
®
certification is granted by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP
Board”). To attain the certification, the candidate must complete the required educational,
examination, experience and ethics requirements set forth by CFP Board. Certain designations,
such as the CPA, CFA and others may satisfy the education component, and allow a candidate to sit
for the CFP
Certification Examination. A comprehensive examination tests the candidate’s ability
to apply financial planning knowledge to client situations. Qualifying work experience is also
required for certification. Qualifying experience includes work in the area of the delivery of the
personal financial planning process to clients, the direct support or supervision of others in the
personal financial planning process, or teaching all, or any portion, of the personal financial
professionals must complete 30 hours of continuing education accepted by
planning process. CFP
Item 3 - Disciplinary Information
CFP Board every two years.
Advisers are required to disclose any material facts regarding certain legal or disciplinary events
that would be material to your evaluation of an adviser; however, Lance has no such disciplinary
information to report.
Item 4 - Other Business Activities
Lance is not engaged in any other business activities.
Item 5 - Additional Compensation
Item 6 - Supervision
Lance has no other income or compensation to disclose.
Overall investment decisions are made as a team by the Investment Committee, and portfolio
activity based on these decisions will be carried out by individuals on the Investment Committee, as
assisted by other staff members of the firm.
As Chief Compliance Officer, John N. Laughlin is responsible for providing compliance oversight to
the staff; he may be contacted at 901.729.8100.
Exhibit A-4
Brochure Supplement
Form ADV Part 2B
Item 1 - Cover Page
John Norfleet Laughlin, CFP®
CRD# 2911189
of
Summit Asset Management, LLC
5100 Wheelis Drive
Suite 107
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
901.729.8100
www.SummitAssetManagement.com
March 6, 2025
This Brochure Supplement provides information about John N. Laughlin, and supplements the
Summit Asset Management, LLC (“Summit”) Brochure. You should have received a copy of that
Brochure. Please contact us at 901.729.8100 if you did not receive our Brochure, or if you have any
questions about the contents of this Supplement.
www.AdviserInfo.sec.gov.
Additional information about John is available on the SEC’s website at
Item 2 - Educational Background and Business Experience
John Norfleet Laughlin (year of birth 1973) joined Summit in 2001 as a Financial Advisor and
became a Principal in 2007. John serves as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and
President.
John’s responsibilities include client service, portfolio management, business
development, and strategic planning. He chairs Summit’s Financial Advisory Committee and serves
on its Investment Committee.
Prior to joining Summit, John was an Equity Analyst at Regions Morgan Keegan in Memphis from
1997 to 1999 and an Equity Analyst intern at Mastrapasqua & Associates in Nashville.
John graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor
of Arts in Economics. After working for several years, he also obtained a Master of Business
Administration in Finance with honors from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management.
Exhibit A-5
John is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional* as granted by Certified Financial Planner
Board of Standards, Inc.
John is currently on the investment committees for the Second Presbyterian Church Foundation
and the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (“MIFA”) endowment. He also serves on the
professional advisory group of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis. In addition, John serves as an
elder at Second Presbyterian Church of Memphis. He was previously on the boards of the
Presbyterian Day School Alumni Association, Christ Community Ministries, Memphis Opportunity
Scholarship Trust (MOST), the Christian Community Foundation of Memphis, and the philanthropy
advisory council of BRIDGES USA – a Memphis non-profit serving the city’s youth.
*
®
The CFP
®
®
certification is granted by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP
Board”). To attain the certification, the candidate must complete the required educational,
examination, experience and ethics requirements set forth by CFP Board. Certain designations,
such as the CPA, CFA and others may satisfy the education component, and allow a candidate to sit
for the CFP
Certification Examination. A comprehensive examination tests the candidate’s ability
to apply financial planning knowledge to client situations. Qualifying work experience is also
required for certification. Qualifying experience includes work in the area of the delivery of the
personal financial planning process to clients, the direct support or supervision of others in the
personal financial planning process, or teaching all, or any portion, of the personal financial
professionals must complete 30 hours of continuing education accepted by
planning process. CFP
CFP Board every two years.
Item 3 - Disciplinary Information
Advisers are required to disclose any material facts regarding certain legal or disciplinary events
that would be material to your evaluation of an adviser; however, John has no such disciplinary
information to report.
Item 4 - Other Business Activities
Item 5 - Additional Compensation
John is not engaged in any other business activities.
Item 6 - Supervision
John has no other income or compensation to disclose.
Overall investment decisions are made as a team by the Investment Committee, and portfolio
activity based on these decisions will be carried out by individuals on the Investment Committee, as
assisted by other staff members of the firm.
As Chief Compliance Officer, John is responsible for providing compliance oversight to the staff; he
may be contacted at 901.729.8100.
Exhibit A-6
Brochure Supplement
Form ADV Part 2B
Item 1 - Cover Page
Sarah Russell Haizlip
CRD# 707644
of
Summit Asset Management, LLC
1169 W. Intendencia Street
Pensacola, Florida 32502
Main Office:
5100 Wheelis Drive
Suite 107
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
901.729.8100
www.SummitAssetManagement.com
March 6, 2025
This Brochure Supplement provides information about Sarah Haizlip, and supplements the Summit
Asset Management, LLC (“Summit”) Brochure. You should have received a copy of that Brochure.
Please contact us at 901.729.8100 if you did not receive our Brochure, or if you have any questions
about the contents of this Supplement.
www.AdviserInfo.sec.gov.
Additional information about Sarah is available on the SEC’s website at
Item 2 - Educational Background and Business Experience
Sarah Russell Haizlip (year of birth 1947) joined Summit in 2006 as Senior Vice President of Client
Service and a Financial Advisor. Sarah’s time is primarily spent in client service, communications,
and business development. She regularly contributes to Summit’s efforts to better engage, educate,
and inform clients.
Sarah began her more than 45-year career in the investment field with Interstate Securities (now
Wells Fargo) in North Carolina. After moving home to Memphis, she became an Assistant Vice
President in institutional sales at Morgan Keegan & Co. Prior to joining Summit, Sarah was a
Exhibit A-7
Principal and Financial Advisor with Legacy Wealth Management, Inc. from 1995 until she joined
Summit in 2006.
Sarah is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned her Bachelor
of Arts. She completed her Master of Arts degree with honors in Education from the University of
East Carolina. Sarah earned an insurance and annuities license from the Tennessee Department of
Insurance.
Sarah is a member of the Board of Directors of The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton
Exchange and the Christian Community Foundation of Memphis. In addition, Sarah is former
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Visible Music College, a former member of the Board of
Trustees of the Hutchison School, former president of The Woman’s Club of Memphis, former
president of the Little Glass Club of Memphis, and one of the founding members of the Women’s
Foundation of Greater Memphis. She also serves on the professional advisory group of the Jewish
Foundation of Memphis. Sarah is involved in Brooks Art Museum, Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Second
Item 3 - Disciplinary Information
Presbyterian Church, IMPACT 100, and Professional Women’s Alliance.
Advisers are required to disclose any material facts regarding certain legal or disciplinary events
that would be material to your evaluation of an adviser; however, Sarah has no such disciplinary
information to report.
Item 4 - Other Business Activities
Sarah is not engaged in any other business activities.
Item 5 - Additional Compensation
Item 6 - Supervision
Sarah has no other income or compensation to disclose.
Overall investment decisions are made as a team by the Investment Committee, and portfolio
activity based on these decisions will be carried out by individuals on the Investment Committee, as
assisted by other staff members of the firm.
As Chief Compliance Officer, John N. Laughlin is responsible for providing compliance oversight to
the staff; he may be contacted at 901.729.8100.
Exhibit A-8
Brochure Supplement
Form ADV Part 2B
Item 1 - Cover Page
Leslie Hill Drummond, CFP®
CRD# 5429078
of
Summit Asset Management, LLC
5100 Wheelis Drive
Suite 107
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
901.729.8100
www.SummitAssetManagement.com
March 6, 2025
This Brochure Supplement provides information about Leslie Drummond, and supplements the
Summit Asset Management, LLC (“Summit”) Brochure. You should have received a copy of that
Brochure. Please contact us at 901.729.8100 if you did not receive our Brochure, or if you have any
questions about the contents of this Supplement.
www.AdviserInfo.sec.gov.
Additional information about Leslie is available on the SEC’s website at
Item 2 - Educational Background and Business Experience
Leslie Hill Drummond (year of birth 1984) joined Summit in 2010 as a Client Services Associate and
now works as a Financial Advisor. Leslie’s focus is on client service, portfolio management, financial
planning and operations. Leslie also serves on Summit’s Investment Committee.
Prior to joining Summit, Leslie worked in Wealth Management Services at Regions Morgan Keegan
in Atlanta and Memphis and as a tax intern at The Marston Group accounting firm.
Leslie graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts in Business
Administration. Leslie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional* as granted by Certified
Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
*
®
The CFP
certification is granted by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP
Board”). To attain the certification, the candidate must complete the required educational,
examination, experience and ethics requirements set forth by CFP Board. Certain designations,
Exhibit A-9
®
®
such as the CPA, CFA and others may satisfy the education component, and allow a candidate to sit
Certification Examination. A comprehensive examination tests the candidate’s ability
for the CFP
to apply financial planning knowledge to client situations. Qualifying work experience is also
required for certification. Qualifying experience includes work in the area of the delivery of the
personal financial planning process to clients, the direct support or supervision of others in the
personal financial planning process, or teaching all, or any portion, of the personal financial
professionals must complete 30 hours of continuing education accepted by
planning process. CFP
CFP Board every two years.
Item 3 - Disciplinary Information
Advisers are required to disclose any material facts regarding certain legal or disciplinary events
that would be material to your evaluation of an adviser; however, Leslie has no such disciplinary
information to report.
Item 4 - Other Business Activities
Item 5 - Additional Compensation
Leslie is not engaged in any other business activities.
Item 6 - Supervision
Leslie has no other income or compensation to disclose.
Overall investment decisions are made as a team by the Investment Committee, and portfolio
activity based on these decisions will be carried out by individuals on the Investment Committee, as
assisted by other staff members of the firm.
As Chief Compliance Officer, John N. Laughlin is responsible for providing compliance oversight to
the staff; he may be contacted at 901.729.8100.
Exhibit A-10
Brochure Supplement
Form ADV Part 2B
Item 1 - Cover Page
Soleil K. Lum, CFP®
CRD# 6227870
of
Summit Asset Management, LLC
5100 Wheelis Drive
Suite 107
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
901.729.8100
www.SummitAssetManagement.com
March 6, 2025
This Brochure Supplement provides information about Soleil K. Lum, and supplements the Summit
Asset Management, LLC (“Summit”) Brochure. You should have received a copy of that Brochure.
Please contact us at 901.729.8100 if you did not receive our Brochure, or if you have any questions
about the contents of this Supplement.
www.AdviserInfo.sec.gov.
Additional information about Soleil is available on the SEC’s website at
Item 2 - Educational Background and Business Experience
Soleil K. Lum (year of birth 1990) joined Summit in 2016 as an Executive Administrator. Soleil
focuses on client services, financial planning and Summit’s operations.
Prior to joining Summit, Soleil worked as Director of Operations at Northwestern Mutual in
Shreveport, Louisiana, as well as a Community Educator for HealthCARE Express.
Soleil graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies in
2012. Soleil is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional*.
*
®
The CFP
®
certification is granted by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP
Board”). To attain the certification, the candidate must complete the required educational,
examination, experience and ethics requirements set forth by CFP Board. Certain designations,
such as the CPA, CFA and others may satisfy the education component, and allow a candidate to sit
for the CFP
Certification Examination. A comprehensive examination tests the candidate’s ability
Exhibit A-11
®
to apply financial planning knowledge to client situations. Qualifying work experience is also
required for certification. Qualifying experience includes work in the area of the delivery of the
personal financial planning process to clients, the direct support or supervision of others in the
personal financial planning process, or teaching all, or any portion, of the personal financial
professionals must complete 30 hours of continuing education accepted by
planning process. CFP
CFP Board every two years.
Item 3 - Disciplinary Information
Advisers are required to disclose any material facts regarding certain legal or disciplinary events
that would be material to your evaluation of an adviser; however, Soleil has no such disciplinary
Item 4 - Other Business Activities
information to report.
Item 5 - Additional Compensation
Soleil is not engaged in any other business activities.
Soleil has no other income or compensation to disclose.
Item 6 - Supervision
Overall investment decisions are made as a team by the Investment Committee, and portfolio
activity based on these decisions will be carried out by individuals on the Investment Committee, as
assisted by other staff members of the firm.
As Chief Compliance Officer, John N. Laughlin is responsible for providing compliance oversight to
the staff; he may be contacted at 901.729.8100.
Exhibit A-12