View Document Text
Thoroughbred Financial Services, LLC
Investment Advisory Brochure
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Thoroughbred Financial
Services, LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at (615) 371-0001 or
(888)-833-0233. The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission or any state securities authority. Additional information about Thoroughbred Financial
Services, LLC, also is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
5110 Maryland Way, Suite 300
Brentwood, TN 37027
(615) 371-0001
(888) 833-0233
www.thoroughbredfinancial.com
March 31, 2025
1
Item 2 - Material Changes
This brochure serves as an update to our brochure dated March 27, 2024. There were no additional material
changes to the business activities of TFS since its most recent amended filing of Part 2A of Form ADV in March
2024.
2
Item 3 – Table of Contents
Item
Topic
Page
4
Advisory Business
5
4A
Description of Advisory Firm
5
4B
Types of Services Offered
5
4C
Meeting the Individual Needs of Clients
5
4D
Wrap Fee Programs
5
4E
Amount of Assets under Management
6
5
Fees and Compensation
6
5A
Fees Charged by TFS
6
5B
Fee Payment
7
5C
Other Fees and Expenses
7
5D
Advisory Fee Refunds
8
5E
Commissions, 12(B)-1 Fees, Revenue Sharing and Conflicts
8
6
Performance-Based Fees
9
7
Types of Clients
9
8
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
9
9
Disciplinary Information
10
10
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
11
10A
Broker-Dealer and Registered Representative Status
11
10B
Insurance Agency
11
10C
Related Persons
11
10D
Other (Unrelated) Investment Advisers
12
11
12
11A
12
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
And Personal Trading
Code of Ethics
11B
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
13
3
11C
Personal Trading
13
11D
Personal Trading at the Same Time as Client Trading
13
12
Brokerage Practices
13
12A
Recommending a Broker-Dealer
13
12B
Aggregation of Client Orders
13
13
Review of Accounts
14
14
Client Referrals and Other Compensation
14
15
Custody
15
16
Investment Discretion
15
17
Voting Client Securities
15
18
Financial Information
15
Appendix 1
Wrap Fee Program Brochure
4
Item 4 Advisory Business
A. Description of Advisory Firm
Thoroughbred Financial Services, LLC (TFS), was formed in 1999 and has its main office in Brentwood, TN.
It has other offices in Jackson, Knoxville and Columbia, TN. The Parker Family Trust is the principal owner
of TFS, holding 50.5% of the membership interests. The Parker Family Trust holds its interests for the
benefit of the children of Thomas Jenkins Parker, the president of TFS. Susan S. Parker, the wife of Thomas
Jenkins Parker, trustees the Parker Family Trust. TFS is registered as both an investment adviser and a
broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please note, however, that being registered
does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
B. Types of Services Offered
TFS provides clients with investment supervisory services on both a discretionary and nondiscretionary
basis. TFS can design an investment management program using mutual funds, exchange traded funds
(ETFs), individual stock and bond issues, money market investments, and certificates of deposit, as well as
specially structured investments. TFS offers the discretionary and nondiscretionary programs through both
the Thoroughbred account and the Cambridge account. TFS can also make advisory recommendations for
a portfolio of mutual funds held directly by an investment company, accounts held at a custodian other
than its clearing broker-dealer (National Financial Services, LLC), and variable annuity investments (the
Identified Portfolio account under Item 5, below). Also, the Bond-Timing account invests in high-yield bond
securities (mutual funds or ETFs), government securities (mutual funds or ETFs) or money markets
according to the timing signals of BTS Asset Management, Inc. Further, TFS will evaluate the performance
of outside money managers selected by the client (The Identified Manager account under Item 5, below).
In such a case, the outside money manager will select on a discretionary basis the assets held in the client’s
account and TFS will only evaluate the performance of the manager. TFS will base its evaluation upon
results achieved and adherence to the investment style for which the client selected the manager. On an
occasional basis, TFS will prepare a comprehensive financial plan for the client for a fee. The plan will
address income tax, estate tax, investment planning and retirement planning considerations. Additionally,
TFS can offer access to money management services through Envestnet Asset Management, Inc., and their
Managed Account Solution Program. Envestnet is a comprehensive program that provides independent
portfolio managers, brokerage and custodial services, and quarterly reporting all through their platform.
Finally, under the TFS Investment Advisory Retirement Option Plan (e.g., Vanguard/Ascensus), TFS provides
retirement plans services regarding plan design selection, plan investment option selection, participant
education, and periodic reviews.
C. Meeting the Individual Needs of Clients
TFS tailors its advisory services to the individual needs of the clients. TFS will use client data forms and
personal meetings with the clients to determine the particular client’s investment objectives and risk
tolerances. TFS then designs an investment portfolio to meet the specific objectives of the client while
assuming a level of risk with which the client is comfortable. The client is always able to impose restrictions
on investing in certain securities or types of securities in the client’s account.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
TFS sponsors certain wrap-fee programs which provide discretionary investment advisory services to clients
through outside money managers. For these wrap accounts, TFS charges an asset-based fee that includes
charges for the services of both TFS and the outside money manager, as well as the cost of executing trades
for the account. TFS manages these accounts in a manner similar to other accounts managed by outside
money managers which are not wrap accounts. For both types of accounts, TFS evaluates the performance
of the outside managers for the client. The only real difference between the wrap-fee program and a non-
wrap account using an outside money manager is the method of charging for trades. Depending upon the
5
frequency of trading by the money manager, a client may or may not be better off by paying a combined
(wrap) fee for management and transactions.
E. Amount of Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, TFS managed $355 million on a nondiscretionary basis and $3.05 billion on a
discretionary basis.
Item 5 Fees and Compensation
A. Fees Charged by TFS
In most instances, the client compensates TFS for its investment supervisory services by paying an advisory
fee. Our representatives have discretion, within guidelines imposed by TFS, to establish their own range of
advisory fees. Generally, the advisory fee is based on account size, but the TFS representative will also
consider the type of securities to be held in the account (e.g., mutual fund versus individual securities), the
complexity and mix of the portfolio, the frequency and extent of reporting, and the number and range of
supplementary advisory and client-related services to be provided to the account. The client may negotiate
the fee, and when doing so, should consider the level and complexity of the advisory services to be provided
by TFS.
While the asset-based fee account accommodates a more active level of investment management than
traditional commissioned-based brokerage accounts, it should be noted the asset-based fee account might
be more expensive than the commission-based brokerage account over time, depending upon actual
experience. The client should also be aware that the client may be able to purchase investment products
available under the TFS programs (as well as products not available through TFS) at a lower cost through
broker-dealers or other investment firms not affiliated with TFS.
In the case of a fee charged for the preparation of a comprehensive financial plan, the representative
preparing the plan will quote in advance a fee based upon the representative’s estimate of the time and
effort involved in the plan preparation.
The following table lists the advisory fees for TFS’s various asset management services. These fees are
negotiable.
Program
Fee Charged
Vanguard/Ascensus
Account Minimum, if
any
N/A
Account
Maximum, if any
N//A
1% on all amounts
N/A
N/A
Thoroughbred Program
(discretionary or
nondiscretionary)
1.75% on the first $1,000,000 of assets
1.25% on amounts in excess of
$1,000,000
Bond-Timing
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Cambridge Account
(discretionary or
nondiscretionary)
1.75% on account sizes up to $500,000
1.50% on accounts between $500,000
and $1 million
1.15% on accounts between $1 million
and $5 million
Fee negotiated for accounts over $5
million
1.75% on the first $1,000,000 of assets
1.25% on amounts in excess of
$1,000,000
6
N/A
N/A
$100,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Identified Portfolio
Identified Manager
Envestnet
Identified Portfolio
(account data not available
in electronic format) *
Never more than 2.00% of the account
Never more than 2.00% of the account
Never more than 2.50% of the account
1.25% on the first $1,500,000 of assets
1.00% on the amounts in excess of
$1,500,000
*See Item 13 for additional information.
For Wrap accounts: See Appendix 1 to this brochure.
For the preparation of a comprehensive financial plan: TFS will quote a fee before the work begins, but it
will not exceed $10,000 except in extraordinary situations. TFS charges a minimum fee of $500 for advisory
clients of this type and the fee is not subject to negotiation. The client must pay the financial planning fee
in full within thirty days of the presentation of a complex financial plan. However, the client may refuse to
pay the financial planning fee or demand a full refund of the financial planning fee already paid, if the client
believes the services rendered were not worthwhile.
B. Fee Payment
In most situations, TFS will deduct advisory fees from the clients’ accounts on a monthly basis. If TFS charges
a fee for advisory services provided for a client’s annuity contract, the client will be billed either monthly or
quarterly, and by TFS or the insurance company, as agreed to in the investment advisory contract with the
client. Further, if TFS charges a fee for advisory services provided in connection with a portfolio of mutual
funds held directly by the investment company or a portfolio of securities held by a custodian other than
National Financial Services, LLC, or if the fee is for the evaluation of an outside money manager, TFS will bill
the client quarterly. Regarding fees paid for the preparation of a comprehensive financial plan, see 5A,
above.
C. Other Fees and Expenses
Clients may pay transaction-based charges such as ticket charges to either TFS or its clearing broker-dealer,
National Financial Services (“NFS”) or any other custodian. These charges are not shared with TFS
representatives. Clients will also pay expenses charged by mutual funds, which include fees for fund
administration and management, and also may include in some situations 12b-1 fees, sub-agent transfer
fees, and similar fees. Clients owning ETFs will incur expenses including operating and management fees of
the ETF. Clients may also pay TFS postage and handling expenses in connection with confirmations and
statements. TFS may charge sales loads or commissions on certain transactions. Please see subsection E in
this Item 5 and Item 12 below for additional information.
For Thoroughbred and Cambridge accounts, TFS will recommend mutual funds which do not pay up front
“sales loads,” commonly referred to as “commissions,” to TFS. Typically, neither TFS nor NFS will charge
the client ticket charges or other transaction charges for the execution of A share mutual fund trades in
these accounts. Accounts with institutional (I) shares may be charged ticket charges on those I share funds,
depending upon the management fee negotiated. “Clean” shares or other share classes that do not pay a
record keeping fee to NFS will be assessed a ticket charge.
Clients with margined accounts will pay interest to their custodian. Additionally, TFS and NFS, or other
custodians will charge clients brokerage and other transaction costs, which may include postage, handling,
exchange fees and other charges imposed by law, for nonmutual fund securities transactions in these
accounts. Further, clients will incur brokerage and other transaction costs in connection with accounts
managed by outside money managers evaluated by TFS, as well as identified portfolios of mutual funds held
directly at the investment companies or identified portfolios of nonmutual fund securities. If a brokerage
account holds American Depository Receipts (ADRs), the custodian might charge the account with “pass
through” ADR fees, or the fees could be withheld from dividend amounts paid by the issuer, all as described
in the ADR prospectuses. For further discussion of brokerage, please see Item 12, below. Also, the client
7
should be aware that mutual funds charge their own internal brokerage and other expenses which they
subtract from the mutual fund itself. Finally, the mutual funds pay investment advisors that manage the
mutual funds. The mutual funds pay these investment advisory fees from the mutual fund. And, in certain
circumstances outlined in the mutual fund prospectus, some investment companies will impose fees on the
redemption or repurchase of mutual fund shares. Generally, these fees are intended to discourage short-
term trading.
D. Advisory Fee Refunds
For most advisory arrangements, TFS deducts management fees from the accounts in advance. For other
arrangements, TFS bills the clients in arrears. TFS will automatically refund the entire prepaid fee if the
client terminates the account within five business days of opening the account. In instances when the client
maintains the account for more than five business days prior to termination, TFS refunds the unearned
portion of the fee based upon the number of days remaining in the billing period after the termination date.
E. Commissions, 12b-1 Fees, Revenue Sharing and Conflicts
Mutual fund expenses are usually quantified using an “expense ratio.” The expense ratio is the sum of all
expenses of the fund (which usually include fund administrative, management, marketing and other
expenses) divided by the total value of the fund. If a fund pays a “sales load,” commonly referred to as a
commission, that load is also an expense of the fund and will be reflected in the expense ratio. The payment
by the fund of the expenses that comprise the expense ratio will adversely impact the performance of the
fund. TFS offers interval and other quarterly gated mutual funds. These funds have limited liquidity and
clients may not be able to redeem all of their shares in any given quarter. TFS also offers private credit and
Business Development Companies (BDC) funds, some of which are quarterly gated and charge additional
performance fees above a predetermined hurdle. TFS does not participate in these performance fees.
Mutual funds generally offer multiple share classes available for investment based upon certain eligibility
and/or purchase requirements. If a fund is offered through multiple share classes, each class of shares has
a different expense ratio. Clients should understand that in some cases the share class offered by TFS for
a particular mutual fund has higher fees and expenses than other share classes that are offered by the same
mutual fund. Share classes are selected by TFS, in some instances, because they reduce the clearing expense
to the firm. Clients should not assume that they will be invested in the share class with the lowest possible
expense ratio. Other financial services firms may offer the same mutual funds that are offered by the firm
at a lower cost to the client than clients would incur by investing through the firm.
Some annuities managed through the BTS Program pay TFS and its advisor representatives ongoing asset
based commissions. This is in addition to the advisory fee paid by the client.
Advisors of the firm do not have an incentive to recommend or select share classes that have higher expense
ratios because their compensation is not affected by the share class selected.
If a mutual fund that pays 12b-1 fees is acquired in a portion of a managed account subject to a fee, the
amount of any 12b-1 fees that would ordinarily be paid to TFS or any of its representatives will be credited
to the client’s account. Client should be aware that 12b-1 fees paid to an account custodian, and not TFS
or its representatives, will not be credited to the client’s account.
If TFS manages a portfolio of individual (non-mutual fund) securities for the client, the client will generally
pay ticket charges on the acquisition of these securities. If the client acquires the securities in such an
arrangement through a TFS account at NFS, TFS will receive a ticket charge and other transaction costs,
exchange fees and other charges imposed by law. TFS will keep the postage and handling charges it collects.
Ticket charges and other transaction costs are passed through to NFS.
As mentioned above, the client may negotiate the level of fee paid to TFS for advisory services. When
negotiating the compensation to be paid to TFS, the client should be aware of all charges that factor into
8
the true cost of the advisory account. Thus, the client should evaluate both the advisory fee, and whether
transaction fees are anticipated. Further, the internal costs of the mutual funds can vary.
From time to time, mutual fund distributors and/or advisors will reimburse TFS for expenses we incur in
connection with certain training and educational meetings, conferences or seminars. Also, in the ordinary
course of business, our representatives may receive promotional items, meals or entertainment, or other
similar “non cash” compensation from distributors with whom we do business.
With regard to the client’s purchase of individual (non-mutual fund) securities, TFS assesses a ticket charge
(unless it is a wrap arrangement) if the client purchases the securities through TFS as broker-dealer (with
NFS as the clearing broker). Again, clients may elect to purchase securities through other brokers or agents
not affiliated with TFS. In some instances, when TFS evaluates the performance of an outside money
manager for the client, the money manager may purchase some of the securities through TFS as broker-
dealer. In those situations, the client would not be able to choose the broker-dealer for those particular
transactions, and TFS has an incentive to recommend an outside manager that maintains account assets at
TFS. TFS discloses in its advisory agreements and this brochure the fact that the outside money managers
might execute transactions through TFS.
NFS pays TFS an annual bonus based upon the net positive asset flows to NFS. There is no guarantee that
the firm will receive a bonus in any given year. In addition, NFS pays TFS an annual business development
credit to help defray costs associated with maintaining client accounts at NFS. These payments are not
shared with any Advisor. These payments give the firm an incentive to select NFS as its clearing partner.
Item 6 Performance Based Fees
Not Applicable
Item 7 Types of Client
TFS generally provides investment advice to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations,
partnerships, limited liability companies, pensions and profit-sharing plans. With regard to the Envestnet
Program, there is a $100,000 minimum account size.
Item 8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
A. Client objectives ultimately drive investment analysis and strategic portfolio management. Asset allocation
is the primary determinant of risk and return. Sector allocation within broad asset classes is the next most
important consideration. Finally, TFS carefully weighs the management of each sector. TFS also gives
consideration to the investment time frame for each portfolio. Short-term portfolios generally have a lower
risk/lower return profile while longer-term portfolios usually have a higher risk/higher potential return
profile.
We think diversification helps with risk management, and TFS balances risk against the potential return of
individual holdings as well as a client’s portfolio as a whole. TFS prepares our clients for the reality that
where there is a return potential over and above a riskless return, there is always corresponding risk.
Investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear at some point during their
investment time horizon. TFS uses asset allocation and outside managers that employ both tactical and
strategic management techniques to try to manage risk in a portfolio while still producing the potential for
9
returns that address a client’s objectives. While we emphasize managers that use fundamental analysis
techniques such as earnings growth, price to book value ratios, cash flow, and balance sheet strength,
statistical analysis and relative performance are important factors that TFS considers. TFS utilizes
Morningstar Analytics, Standard and Poor’s research, information received directly from the managers
themselves, and other news and industry sources for additional input before making a specific portfolio
recommendation.
B. Of course, any investment strategy involves risks. Market-based investments such as stocks have both
trading risks and fundamental risks. Both a company’s own financial condition as well as the overall market
atmosphere can impact the stock price on a day-to-day basis.
International equities and fixed income involve additional uncertainties due to fluctuation in currencies and
country specific risks. However, these investment categories offer the potential for higher returns.
Fixed income securities have their own risk/return profile. Depending upon the quality and type of fixed
income security, their addition to a portfolio generally lessens risk exposure compared to an all-equity
portfolio.
Structured notes are unsecured debt securities which rely on the creditworthiness of the issuer and rely on
complex trading strategies that could adversely affect the value of the underlier. This type of investment
involves risks unique from other investment types.
TFS tries to provide recommendations on a portfolio with a risk/return profile that meets the client’s
objectives. The TFS portfolio typically includes a diversified portfolio of equities, both US and International
and balanced across a broad market capitalization, combined with fixed income, again both U.S. and
International. The balance of these categories is adjusted for the particular client. From time to time, we
will also recommend additional specific sectors that enhance the portfolio’s potential. Throughout the
entire planning process, however, the client should remember that past performance does not guarantee
future results. Thus, while TFS may design investment strategies in order to reduce risk and increase the
chance of gains, TFS relies on historic patterns of investment performance. As a result, TFS investment
strategies might not perform as expected if future performance differs from historical patterns.
C. TFS primarily uses mutual funds and ETF’s as the investment vehicle for client accounts. We employ
individual bonds or stocks to a lesser extent. Because they are no more than a basket of marketable
securities, mutual funds generally trade in concert with the market as a whole. Our strategies generally do
not include rapid trading or other high-risk types of strategies.
Item 9 Disciplinary Information
On December 21st, 2018 TFS entered into a settlement (“Order”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Without admitting or denying the findings, TFS and certain of its representatives consented to the Order which
included the following summary: “These proceedings arose from breaches of fiduciary duty and inadequate
disclosures by TFS, a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, Thomas J. Parker and L. Randall Hartley in
connection with their mutual fund share class selection practices, as well as misleading statements and omissions
they made upon revising TFS’s practices after a Commission examination. Between at least October 2012 and August
2016 (the “Relevant Period”), Respondents invested, recommended or held certain advisory client assets in mutual
fund share classes that paid fees pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“12b-1 fees”)
instead of available, lower-cost share classes of the same funds without 12b-1 fees. TFS (as a broker-dealer) and
Parker and Hartley (as TFS registered representatives) received the 12b-1 fees based on these investments. These
practices created a conflict of interest, were contrary to Respondents’ disclosures regarding TFS’s Code of Ethics,
and were not disclosed adequately to firm clients in TFS’s Forms ADV or otherwise. Respondents also breached their
10
duty to seek best execution for their clients by investing them in mutual fund share classes with 12b-1 fees rather
than lower-cost share classes of the same funds. Moreover, by choosing higher-cost share classes for firm clients,
TFS, in some client transactions, avoided paying certain mutual fund transaction clearance, or “ticket,” charges that
TFS otherwise would have paid. During the Relevant Period, TFS failed to adopt and implement written policies and
procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Advisers Act and the rules thereunder in connection
with its mutual fund share class selection practices. [Without TFS admitting or denying these findings the Order
further states…] Finally, in the process of converting clients to lower-cost share classes after receiving a Commission
examination deficiency letter in April 2016, various firm Investment Advisor Representatives (“IARs”), including
Parker and Hartley, made misleading statements and omissions to clients about the prior costs and availability of
lower-cost share classes, while at the same time asking many of the same clients to agree to higher account
management fees, which nearly all clients accepted. By virtue of this conduct, TFS, Parker, and Hartley willfully
violated Section 206(2) of the Advisers Act, and TFS also willfully violated Sections 206(4) and 207 of the Advisers
Act and Rule 206(4)-7 thereunder.” (Note, a violation of Section 206(2) may rest on a finding of simple negligence.)
The order requires the respondents to pay to affected clients disgorgement, prejudgment interest and civil penalties
totaling $1,679,241.88 as follows: TFS was ordered to pay disgorgement of $740,250.20, prejudgment interest of
$108,368.10, and a civil penalty of $260,000. Parker was ordered to pay disgorgement of $217,883.16, prejudgment
interest of $31,750.80, and a civil penalty of $75,000. Hartley was ordered to pay disgorgement of $158,032.42,
prejudgment interest of $22,957.20, and a civil penalty of $65,000.
Item 10 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Broker-Dealer and Registered Representative Status
In addition to being a registered investment adviser, TFS is registered as a broker-dealer. Further, the
President, Executive Vice-President (Securities) and Vice-President (Operations) are all registered
representatives of TFS.
B.
Insurance Agency
Some representatives and other employees of TFS are agents of various life, health, and disability insurance
companies. These individuals are able to effect insurance recommendations if the client elects to have
insurance recommendations implemented. These individuals receive separate and typical compensation
for insurance and/or annuity implementation. TFS is also a licensed insurance agency and can receive
commissions in connection with the sale of insurance products by TFS employees who are licensed to sell
these products. You are not obligated to use any of these individuals or TFS for insurance product
purchases. You are free to use any insurance agent or agency you choose.
C. Related Persons
1. Employee Benefit Services, Inc. (EBS), is a company that provides employee benefit consulting and
administrative services. Many EBS clients and/or their businesses are also TFS clients. Thomas J.
Parker, the President of TFS, owns EBS indirectly. TFS will often recommend the services of EBS to TFS
clients and/or their businesses. Because Mr. Parker owns EBS, he benefits from the clients’ use of EBS.
TFS recommends the services of EBS because of:
the quality of the services provided by EBS
the competitive pricing of EBS’s services
the efficiencies achieved when the TFS representative servicing the account of the client
assists the client in providing plan data to EBS
EBS discloses the relationship of TFS and EBS to the client and the client is always free to make
arrangements with a different company for pension consulting and plan administrative services. EBS
receives compensation for services provided pursuant to a servicing agreement between the client and
EBS.
11
2. Diversified Partners, Inc. (DPI), is a registered investment adviser. Thomas Jenkins Parker owns 100%
of DPI. DPI serves as the general partner of several investment limited partnerships. TFS recommends
that some of its clients purchase limited partnership interests in the DPI investment partnerships. DPI
pays TFS a continuing sales commission for investments in the DPI partnerships purchased by TFS
clients. The DPI partnerships allocate the funds raised among several money managers selected by
DPI. The money managers then invest the funds in a portfolio of securities. TFS does not serve as an
investment advisor for the DPI partnerships. TFS does not receive any investment advisory fees in
connection with its clients’ investments in the DPI partnerships. DPI, as general partner of the
partnerships, receives an annual Administrative Service Fee from each partnership. Because of his
ownership of DPI, Mr. Parker has a conflict of interest when recommending a buy or hold of DPI to his
clients.
D. Other (Unrelated) Investment Advisers
TFS may recommend an unrelated advisor (money manager) to its clients under a wrap fee arrangement
(please see Appendix 1 to this brochure) or a nonwrap program arrangement. (Under the wrap fee
arrangement, the client will pay TFS a wrap fee to monitor the performance of the money manager,
compensate the money manager, and cover the cost of executing portfolio transactions.) Some of the
money managers may execute portfolio transactions under the wrap or other arrangements through TFS
and its clearing broker, NFS. TFS has a financial incentive to recommend to clients advisers that will manage
the account at NFS. This financial incentive creates a conflict of interest when TFS determines its
recommendations of advisers that meet the needs of the client. TFS discloses in its wrap fee and other
agreements that, depending upon the circumstances, it may have a financial incentive to recommend a
wrap or other portfolio management arrangement to a client over some other arrangement. TFS believes
that the support and services offered to clients executing transactions through TFS outweigh any potential
cost savings available under alternative brokerage arrangements.
In addition, there are situations (both wrap and nonwrap) where TFS hires the outside money manager as
a subadvisor. TFS pays the subadvisor out of the advisory fee paid to TFS. In these circumstances, TFS has
a financial incentive to recommend a money manager that charges TFS a lower fee than another manager
would. This creates a conflict of interest when TFS recommends an unrelated adviser to meet a client’s
needs. TFS discloses the nature of the advisor – subadvisor relationship and the advisory compensation
structure in its wrap and advisory agreements.
Item 11 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions, and Personal Trading
A. Code of Ethics: Rule 204 A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 requires all investment advisers
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to adopt a code of ethics. TFS has adopted such a
code of ethics. The TFS Code of Ethics reflects fiduciary principles that govern the conduct of TFS and its
employees. TFS implemented the Code to protect the interests of TFS clients. The Code consists of an
outline of policies in several important areas:
Standards of conduct and compliance with laws, rules and regulations
Protection of material non-public information
Personal securities trading
In general, no TFS employee may prefer his or her own interest to the interests of TFS clients. TFS
employees may not trade for a personal or family account if the employee bases the trading decision upon
information the employee obtained by reason of his or her employment, unless the information is also
available to the trading public. All employees must identify their personal investment accounts to the TFS
compliance officer. TFS will provide a copy of its Code of Ethics to any client or prospective client upon
request.
12
B. Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Thomas J. Parker is President of TFS. Mr. Parker is the sole owner of Diversified Partners, Inc. (DPI), an
investment adviser registered with the SEC. DPI serves as the general partner of three investment
partnerships. TFS recommends to its clients that they purchase investment limited partnership interests in
the DPI partnerships. Please see Item 10 C.2., above, for additional information.
C. Personal Trading
TFS advisory representatives occasionally invest in the same securities (generally mutual funds) as those
recommended to a client or purchased for a client. The TFS Code of Ethics guides the representative in
these transactions. Please see 11.A., above.
D. Personal Trading at the Same Time as Client Trading
In cases when a TFS employee intends to purchase or sell individual securities for his or her own benefit at
or about the same time as the same securities will be bought or sold for client accounts, TFS requires that
the trades be “blocked” together to ensure that all parties receive the same execution price.
Item 12 Brokerage Practices
A. Recommending a Broker-Dealer
In addition to being an investment adviser, TFS is a registered broker-dealer. TFS clears its trades through
National Financial Services, LLC, its correspondent broker. TFS does not receive soft dollar benefits from
NFS. TFS however, does receive an asset flow bonus and business development credit from NFS. (see Item
5).
For its Thoroughbred, Cambridge and BTS programs, TFS recommends itself as broker-dealer. At times, TFS
will provide services to assist a client in monitoring and evaluating the performance of a subadvisor
recommended by TFS and selected by the client. In some of these situations, TFS will recommend itself as
the broker-dealer to execute trades for the account. If the client uses TFS as the broker-dealer, the client
may pay rates that are not as favorable as those available through other brokerage firms. This could cost
the client more money. In all these situations, TFS recommends itself because of:
its reasonable commission schedule, transaction costs and custodial costs
the ease of execution for its clients
the quality of the services provided to the client
TFS has a financial incentive to recommend itself as broker where possible. Directed brokerage
arrangements are generally not permitted.
In certain limited instances, TFS will manage a qualified retirement plan or charitable giving account
custodied at either Charles Schwab and Company (Schwab) or Fidelity Custody (Fidelity) where the plan
trustee specifically mandates all participant assets are held in custody with those firms. In these cases,
those firms are acting as executing broker-dealer and custodian of client assets. Generally, neither Schwab
nor Fidelity charges the client separately for custody services but is compensated by charging the client
commissions or other fees on trades that it executes or that settle into the client account. [For some accounts
they may charge the client a percentage of the dollar amount of assets in the account in lieu of
commissions.]
B. Aggregation of Client Orders
Generally, client portfolios are made up mostly of mutual funds and ETFs. At times, TFS makes
recommendations on the purchase or sale of individual securities positions.
In cases where a TFS
representative is exercising discretionary authority to purchase or sell individual securities positions for
multiple clients of the representative in the same day, TFS will aggregate the purchase or sale of the
securities for the clients on a best effort basis.
13
When TFS aggregates its orders for client accounts, TFS can assure each client will receive the same pricing.
However, TFS does not normally purchase or sell individual securities in amounts large enough that
aggregate orders would produce lower overall transaction costs.
With regard to wrap accounts (see Appendix 1), outside money managers serve as subadvisor and have
discretionary trading authority. When they make changes to the holdings of our clients’ wrap accounts,
they will normally aggregate or block trade client orders to assure a fair price is obtained for all of the clients.
Item 13 Review of Accounts
TFS conducts a review of a client’s entire financial program with TFS at least annually. In addition, TFS conducts
reviews as necessary based upon changes in the client’s personal objectives, economic conditions or the tax laws.
In cases where TFS monitors the performance of a subadvisor selected by the client, TFS conducts a review at least
quarterly. With respect to Thoroughbred Program accounts, Cambridge accounts, and other investment advisory
programs, TFS also conducts reviews at least quarterly. However, TFS may provide written reports less frequently
than quarterly, and discount the fee accordingly, in situations where:
TFS cannot obtain complete account data in electronic format on a regular basis; or
The client’s account size is less than $200,000
The investment advisory representative assigned to the client’s account directs the review. The representative may
work with one or more supervisors and various members of the technical staff.
To perform client account reviews, TFS reviews information supplied by various industry periodicals and a variety of
money managers, as well as other relevant information. TFS evaluates the account’s performance in comparison to
market indexes and other money managers and mutual funds. TFS provides the reports in written form.
Item 14 Client Referrals and Other Compensation
In connection with the TFS Investment Advisory Retirement Option plan, a client may enter into a servicing
agreement with E.B.S., an affiliated third-party administrator (see item 10.b.). EBS would receive compensation (as
described in the agreement) from the retirement plan custodian.
Item 15 Custody
If a client uses TFS as the broker for any investment advisory arrangement, TFS custodies the assets at National
Financial Services, LLC (NFS). NFS is TFS’s clearing broker and a qualified custodian. Since TFS can deduct advisory
fees from client accounts, the investment advisory rules deem TFS to have custody. With regard to assets in custody
at Schwab or Fidelity Custody, we are deemed to have custody of your assets since you authorize us to instruct the
14
custodian to deduct the advisory fee directly from your account. The client will receive at least quarterly an account
statement directly from the account custodian. Clients should carefully review the statements they receive from
their custodian. In addition, for most client advisory accounts, TFS will also send the client quarterly reports that
include account performance information. Clients should compare the statements received from their custodian to
the reports received from TFS to ensure all fees, charges and transactions are proper. Finally, TFS can be deemed to
have custody for certain transmittal policies. Outside custodians maintain custody of all funds and securities.
Item 16 Investment Discretion
While TFS provides nondiscretionary services on many of its investment advisory accounts, TFS does offer clients
discretionary management services, primarily through the Thoroughbred and Cambridge accounts. Before TFS
assumes discretionary authority from a client, TFS and the client will sign an investment advisory agreement. The
advisory agreement sets forth the range of discretion held by TFS. If the client wants to place any limits on TFS’s
discretion, the client may do so in the investment advisory contract. Further, client account information that
describes investment objectives and risk tolerance guides TFS.
With regard to the Bond Timing account, TFS holds the limited discretion to select a different high-yield bond mutual
fund or ETF for the client’s account in situations where the fund selected by the client is no longer available to the
client. TFS also holds the discretion to allocate to multiple funds, based upon availability.
Item 17 Voting Client Securities
TFS is not obligated to advise or act for its clients in any voting or legal proceeding, including proxy voting, class
action suits, and bankruptcies involving securities held in client accounts managed by TFS. TFS will not accept
authority to vote client securities.
Clients will receive proxies or other solicitations directly from their custodian or a transfer agent, if applicable. Clients
may contact their advisory representatives with questions regarding any proxy or solicitation.
Item 18 Financial Information
In April 2020 Thoroughbred Financial Services, LLC (TFS) received a Paycheck Protection Plan (“PPP”) Loan through
the Small Business Administration (SBA) in conjunction with the relief afforded from the CARES Act during the
COVID-19 Pandemic. The firm determined, at the time of its application for the loan, that the results of COVID-19,
including the many “shelter in place” orders, and the severe volatility in the financial markets, would result in a
marked decrease in revenue. Without the PPP loan of $552,600 and with prospect ongoing market declines TFS
would have considered salary reductions and ultimately staff layoffs.
As described in the program requirements, the loan provided to TFS was to be used to support the firm’s payroll
expenses and other expense items as allowed under the parameters of the program. If the requirements of the
program were met, the loan would be eligible to be forgiven by the SBA. If the PPP loan proceeds were used in any
manner other than as allowed under the program, then the loan will convert to a standard loan which would
require the firm to repay the loan proceeds in accordance with the firm’s agreement with the lending financial
institution. The firm did not suffer an interruption of service.
As a result, on November 30, 2020 the firm repaid their PPP loan in full including interest. The firm did not apply
for forgiveness of the loan.
15