Item 5 – Additional Compensation ............................................................................. 38
Item 6 – Supervision .................................................................................................. 38
Brochure Supplement (Part 2B of Form ADV) .......................................................... 39
Item 2 – Educational Background and Business Experience ..................................... 40
Item 3 – Disciplinary Information ................................................................................ 40
Item 5 – Additional Compensation ............................................................................. 40
Item 6 – Supervision .................................................................................................. 41
About MFA Wealth Services
MFA Wealth Services, Inc. is a corporation formed in 2002 in the State of California and
does business under the name of MFA Wealth Services. Although the corporation was
initiated in 2002, the firm had not done business as a registered investment adviser prior
to 2013. The major decisions of a strategic and administrative nature for the firm are
undertaken by Christopher D. Mattern and Michael E. Garner.
Services Offered
MFA Wealth Services is a financial advisory firm dedicated to providing personalized
confidential financial planning and investment management to its clients.
Christopher D. Mattern and Michael E. Garner along with other MFA Wealth Services
Advisors are also registered representatives of United Planners Financial Services of
America, a FINRA Member Firm, Member FINRA, SIPC (United Planners). MFA Wealth
Services, Inc. and United Planners are independent companies.
Investment Management (Portfolio Management)
Our firm provides continuous advice to a client regarding the investment of client funds
based on the individual needs of the client. MFA Wealth Services works with clients to
define their financial objectives and to develop strategies for reaching those objectives,
some of which may include: identifying financial problems, cash flow and budget
management, real estate planning, investment management, retirement planning, tax
planning, risk analysis and insurance planning, employee benefit analysis, education
funding and charitable goals.
We manage these advisory accounts on both a discretionary and a non-discretionary
basis. We are currently moving our investment management from non-discretionary
management to discretionary management. During the transition, we will be using both
discretionary and non-discretionary management.
Under discretionary management, we will make specific investment decisions, including
whether or not to buy, sell, hold or liquidate assets under our management, without
obtaining the client’s specific authorization. Our discretionary management will be
consistent with the client's stated investment objectives, tolerance for risk, liquidity and
suitability.
Under non-discretionary management, we will make specific investment
recommendations. We will execute investment action only after the client gives us
specific authorization. Our investment recommendations will be consistent with the
client's stated investment objectives, tolerance for risk, liquidity and suitability. MFA
Wealth Services will recommend implementation of the client's strategy using a variety of
asset allocation programs and other appropriate investments.
MFA Wealth Services will complete the necessary documentation and communicate the
investment allocation. In addition, MFA Wealth Services will monitor results with periodic
reviews and rebalancing.
Account supervision is guided by the client's stated objectives (i.e., maximum capital
appreciation, growth, income, or growth and income), as well as tax considerations.
Because some types of investments involve certain additional degrees of risk, they will
only be implemented/recommended when consistent with the client's stated investment
objectives, tolerance for risk, liquidity and suitability. Clients may impose reasonable
restrictions on investing in certain securities, types of securities, or industry sectors. Our
investment recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered by
a broker-dealer or insurance company.
Financial Planning
Financial planning is a comprehensive evaluation of a client’s current and future financial
state by using currently known variables to predict future cash flows, asset values and
withdrawal plans. Through the financial planning process, all questions, information and
analysis are considered as they impact and are impacted by the entire financial and life
situation of the client. Clients purchasing this service receive a written report which
provides the client with a detailed financial plan designed to assist the client achieve his
or her financial goals and objectives.
We gather required information through in-depth personal interviews. Information
gathered includes the client's current financial status, tax status, future goals, returns
objectives and attitudes towards risk. We carefully review documents supplied by the
client, including a questionnaire completed by the client, and prepare a written report.
We also provide general non-securities advice on topics that may include tax and
budgetary planning, estate planning and business planning. Typically the financial plan is
presented to the client within six months of the contract date, provided that all information
needed to prepare the financial plan has been promptly provided.
Financial Planning recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service
offered by a broker-dealer or insurance company. All recommendations are of a generic
nature.
Selection And Monitoring Of Third-Party Money Managers
We also offer advisory management services to our clients through our Selection and
Monitoring of Third-Party Money Managers.
Our firm provides the client with an asset allocation strategy developed through personal
discussions in which goals and objectives based on the client's particular circumstances
are established. This asset allocation strategy is drafted into the client's investment
guidelines.
Based on the client's individual circumstances
and needs, we will then perform
management searches of various unaffiliated registered investment advisers to identify
which registered investment adviser's portfolio management style is appropriate for that
client. Factors considered in making this determination include account size, risk
tolerance, the opinion of each client and the investment philosophy of the selected
registered investment adviser. Clients should refer to the selected registered investment
adviser's Firm Brochure or other disclosure document for a full description of the services
offered. We are available to meet with clients on a regular basis, or as determined by the
client, to review the account.
Once we determine the most suitable investment adviser(s) for the client, we provide the
selected adviser(s) with the client's investment guidelines. The adviser(s) then creates
and manages the client's portfolio based on the client's individual needs as exhibited in
the investment guidelines. Clients are responsible to pay fees associated with Third-Party
Money Managers.
We monitor the performance of the selected registered investment adviser(s). If we
determine that a particular selected registered investment adviser(s) is not providing
sufficient management services to the client, or is not managing the client's portfolio in a
manner consistent with the client's investment guidelines; for non-discretionary clients we
may suggest that the client contract with a different registered investment adviser and/or
program sponsor. Our firm assists the client in selecting a new registered investment
adviser however, any move to a new registered investment adviser is solely at the
discretion of the client. For discretionary clients we may select a new third-party money
manager consistent with the client's investment guidelines.
Client Obligations
Assets under the direct management of MFA Wealth Services are held at an independent
custodian in the client’s name. For non-discretionary clients MFA Wealth Services does
not have custody of client assets meaning that MFA Wealth Services does not hold client
funds or securities either directly or indirectly and has no authority to obtain possession
of them. Rather, MFA Wealth Services manages the assets under a limited power of
attorney executed by the client. For clients under discretionary authority MFA Wealth
Services maintains custody of client assets through a qualified custodian, which means
that MFA Wealth Services has authority to act upon client assets without specific client
direction.
Prior to engaging MFA Wealth Services to provide services, clients are generally required
to enter into an agreement with MFA Wealth Services setting the terms and conditions of
the engagement (including termination), describing the scope of the services to be
provided, and the portion of the fee that is due from the client prior to MFA Wealth
Services beginning services.
For non-discretionary clients, if requested by the client, MFA Wealth Services may
recommend the services of other professionals for implementation purposes. The client
is under no obligation to engage the services of any such recommended professional.
The client retains absolute discretion over all such implementation decisions and is free
to accept or reject any recommendation from MFA Wealth Services.
The client is under no obligation to act on the investment adviser’s recommendation.
Moreover, if the client elects to act on any of the recommendations, the client is under no
obligation to effect the transaction through MFA Wealth Services.
For discretionary clients MFA Wealth Services may choose to engage the services of
other professionals for implementation purposes.
In performing its services, MFA Wealth Services shall not be required to verify any
information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals. Moreover,
each client is advised that it remains his or her responsibility to promptly notify MFA
Wealth Services if there is ever any change in the client’s financial situation or investment
objectives during the client engagement.
Disclosure Statement
A copy of MFA Wealth Services’ written brochure as set forth on Part 2A of Form ADV
shall be provided to each client prior to, or at the same time as, the execution of the
Advisory Agreement. Any client who has not received a copy of MFA Wealth Services’
written brochure at least 48 hours prior to executing the Advisory Agreement shall have
five business days subsequent to executing the agreement to terminate the MFA Wealth
Services’ services without penalty.
MFA Wealth Services also has an additional disclosure document, known as Form CRS
and/or the Relationship Summary (Form ADV Part 3) which will be provided to the client.
Our Policies on Class Action, Bankruptcies, and Other Legal Proceedings
Clients should note that MFA Wealth Services will not advise nor act on behalf of the
client in legal proceedings involving companies whose securities are held or previously
were held in the client’s account(s), including, but not limited to, the filing of “Proofs of
Claim” in class action settlements. If desired, clients may direct MFA Wealth Services, if
documents have been received by MFA Wealth Services, to transmit copies of class
action notices to the client or a third party. Upon such direction, MFA Wealth Services will
make commercially reasonable efforts to forward such notices in a timely manner.
Non-Participation in Wrap Fee Programs
MFA Wealth Services, as a matter of policy and practice, does not sponsor any wrap fee
program. A wrap fee program is defined as any advisory program under which a specified
fee or fees not based directly upon transactions in a client’s account is charged for
investment advisory services (which may include portfolio management or advice
concerning the selection of other investment advisers) and the execution of client
transactions.
Amount of Assets Under Management
As of April 11, 2023, MFA Wealth Services is a registered investment advisory firm. It
currently has $12,064,990.99 dollars of assets under management on a non-discretionary
basis and $179,393,824.06 dollars of assets under management on a discretionary basis.
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation 10