Item 5 Additional Compensation ........................................................................... 28
Item 6 Supervision ................................................................................................. 28
Brochure Supplement (Part 2B of Form ADV) .................................................. 31
William Jeffrey Draper (“Jeff”) .............................................................................. 31
Item 2 Educational Background and Business Experience .................................. 31
Item 3 Disciplinary Information ............................................................................ 31
Item 5 Additional Compensation ........................................................................... 32
Item 6 Supervision ................................................................................................. 32
Brochure Supplement (Part 2B of Form ADV) .................................................. 34
Principal Executive Officer - John Michael Park .................................................. 34
Item 2 Educational Background and Business Experience .................................. 34
Item 3 Disciplinary Information ............................................................................ 34
Item 5 Additional Compensation ........................................................................... 34
Item 6 Supervision ................................................................................................. 34
Brochure Supplement (Part 2B of Form ADV) .................................................. 36
Thomas James Craner ........................................................................................... 36
Item 2 Educational Background and Business Experience .................................. 36
Item 3 Disciplinary Information ............................................................................ 36
Item 5 Additional Compensation ........................................................................... 37
vi
Item 6 Supervision ................................................................................................. 37
Brochure Supplement (Part 2B of Form ADV) .................................................. 39
Alexander G. Craner .............................................................................................. 39
Item 2 Educational Background and Business Experience .................................. 39
Item 3 Disciplinary Information ............................................................................ 39
Item 5 Additional Compensation ........................................................................... 40
Item 6 Supervision ................................................................................................. 40
PRIVACY POLICY NOTICE ................................................................................... 41
Firm Description
Strategic Planning Group, LLC doing business as Strategic Planning Group was
formed as a Registered Investment Advisor in August 1999. Ryan Craner is the
principal owner.
Strategic Planning Group is a fee-based financial planning and investment
management firm. Investment Advisor Representatives of Strategic Planning
Group also offer insurance products and services as independent insurance agents.
Strategic Planning Group does not act as a custodian of Client assets.
An evaluation of each Client's initial situation is provided to the Client, often in the
form of a net worth statement, risk analysis, or similar document. Periodic reviews
are also communicated to provide reminders of the specific courses of action that
need to be taken. More frequent reviews occur but are not necessarily
communicated to the Client unless immediate changes are recommended.
Other professionals (e.g., lawyers, accountants, tax preparers, insurance agents,
etc.) are engaged directly by the Client on an as-needed basis and may charge fees
of their own. Conflicts of interest will be disclosed to the Client in the event they
should occur.
Types of Advisory Services
Asset Management Services: Strategic Planning Group offers discretionary
direct asset management services to advisory Clients. Strategic Planning Group will
offer Clients ongoing portfolio management services by determining individual
investment goals, time horizons, objectives, and risk tolerance. Investment
strategies, investment selection, asset allocation, portfolio monitoring, and the
overall investment program will be based on the above factors.
Discretionary: When the Client provides Strategic Planning Group discretionary
authority the Client will sign a limited trading authorization or equivalent.
Strategic Planning Group will have the authority to execute transactions in the
account without seeking Client approval on each transaction.
Strategic Planning Group will customize an investment portfolio for the Client
according to the Client’s risk tolerance, investment objectives, and other factors as
described above or Strategic Planning Group will invest the Client’s assets
according to one or more model portfolios developed by Strategic Planning Group
and/or other registered investment advisers. Once the investment portfolio is
constructed or a model portfolio developed by Strategic Planning Group or a third
party is selected, Strategic Planning Group will monitor the Client’s portfolio
performance on an ongoing basis and will rebalance the portfolio as indicated by
changes in market conditions and the Client’s stated financial circumstances as
communicated to and as updated from time to time by the Client to Strategic
Planning Group. Additionally, from time to time we may also use third-party
managers or separately managed account providers available through the account
custodian’s platform. Clients will provide discretion for those SMA managers to
manage a portion or all of the assets under our supervision for a separate and
additional fee.
In the Asset Management Agreement between the Client and Strategic Planning
Group, the Client will also grant Strategic Planning Group full discretion to hire
Sub-Advisors to manage all or a portion of the assets in the Client account(s).
Strategic Planning Group will be responsible for the overall direct relationship with
the Client. As such, Strategic Planning Group will have full authority to further
delegate such discretionary authority to selected Sub-Advisors to actively manage
the Client’s portfolio and execute trades on behalf of Strategic Planning Group in
Client accounts. Sub-Advisors will maintain the models or investment strategies
agreed upon between Sub-Advisor and Strategic Planning Group. Additionally, at
Strategic Planning Group’s discretion, Strategic Planning Group may grant such
Sub-Advisors full authority to further delegate such discretionary investment
authority to other investment advisers and service providers. Strategic Planning
Group retains the authority to terminate the Sub-Advisor relationship at Strategic
Planning Group’s discretion and/or to reallocate the Client’s assets to other Sub-
Advisors where Strategic Planning Group deems such action to be appropriate and
suitable for the Client.
When Strategic Planning Group engages a Sub-Adviser, the Client will be provided
with a current copy of the Sub-Advisor’s Form ADV Brochure, and associated
disclosure documents prior to or at the time the Sub-Advisor begins providing
services to the Client’s account on behalf of Strategic Planning Group. Such
documents provide important disclosures and other information about the Sub-
Adviser to help the Client understand the scope of the Sub-Advisory services to be
provided.
ERISA Plan Services: Strategic Planning Group provides service to qualified
retirement plans including
401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, pension and profit-sharing
plans, cash balance plans, and deferred compensation plans. Strategic Planning
Group may act as either a 3(21) or 3(38) advisor:
Limited Scope ERISA 3(21) Fiduciary: Strategic Planning Group may serve as a
limited scope ERISA 3(21) fiduciary that can advise, help and assist plan sponsors
with their investment decisions. As an investment advisor Strategic Planning
Group has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the Client. The plan sponsor
is still ultimately responsible for the decisions made in their plan, though using
Strategic Planning Group can help the plan sponsor delegate liability by following a
diligent process.
1. Fiduciary Services are:
• Provide investment advice to the Client about asset classes and investment
alternatives available for the Plan in accordance with the Plan’s investment
policies and objectives. The Client will make the final decision regarding the
initial selection, retention, removal, and addition of investment options.
Strategic Planning Group acknowledges that it is a fiduciary as defined in
ERISA section 3 (21) (A) (ii).
• Assist the Client in the development of an investment policy statement
(“IPS”). The IPS establishes the investment policies and objectives for the
Plan. The Client shall have the ultimate responsibility and authority to
establish such policies and objectives and to adopt and amend the IPS.
• Provide investment advice to the Plan Sponsor with respect to the selection of
a qualified default investment alternative for participants who are
automatically enrolled in the Plan or who have otherwise failed to make
investment elections. The Client retains the sole responsibility to provide all
notices to the Plan participants required under ERISA Section 404(c) (5) and
404(a)-5.
• Assist in monitoring investment options by preparing periodic investment
reports that document investment performance, consistency of fund
management, and conformance to the guidelines set forth in the IPS and
make recommendations to maintain, remove or replace investment options.
• Meet with the Client on a periodic basis to discuss the reports and the
investment recommendations.
2. Non-fiduciary Services are:
• Assist in the education of Plan participants about general investment
information and the investment alternatives available to them under the
Plan. The Client understands Strategic Planning Group’s assistance in
education of the Plan participants shall be consistent with and within the
scope of the Department of Labor’s definition of investment education
(Department of Labor Interpretive Bulletin 96-1). As such, Strategic
Planning Group is not providing fiduciary advice as defined by ERISA
3(21)(A)(ii) to the Plan participants. Strategic Planning Group will not
provide investment advice concerning the prudence of any investment option
or combination of investment options for a particular participant or
beneficiary under the Plan.
• Assist in the group enrollment meetings designed to increase retirement plan
participation among the employees and investment and financial
understanding by the employees.
Strategic Planning Group may provide these services or, alternatively, may arrange
for the Plan’s other providers to offer these services, as agreed upon between
Strategic Planning Group and the Client.
3. Strategic Planning Group has no responsibility to provide services related to the
following types of assets (“Excluded Assets”):
• Employer securities;
• Real estate (except for real estate funds or publicly traded REITs);
• Stock brokerage accounts or mutual fund windows;
• Participant loans;
• Non-publicly traded partnership interests;
• Other non-publicly traded securities or property (other than collective trusts
and similar vehicles); or
• Other hard-to-value or illiquid securities or property.
Excluded Assets will not be included in calculation of Fees paid to Strategic
Planning Group on the ERISA Agreement. Specific services will be outlined in
detail to each plan in the 408(b)2 disclosure.
ERISA 3(38) Investment Manager: Strategic Planning Group can also act as an
ERISA 3(38) Investment Manager in which it has discretionary management and
control of a given retirement plan’s assets. Strategic Planning Group would then
become solely responsible and liable for the selection, monitoring, and replacement
of the plan’s investment options.
1. Fiduciary Services are:
• Strategic Planning Group has discretionary authority and will make the final
decision regarding the initial selection, retention, removal, and addition of
investment options in accordance with the Plan’s investment policies and
objectives.
• Assist the Client with the selection of a broad range of investment options
consistent with ERISA Section 404(c) and the regulations thereunder.
• Assist the Client in the development of an investment policy statement
(“IPS”). The IPS establishes the investment policies and objectives for the
Plan.
• Provide discretionary investment advice to the Plan Sponsor with respect to
the selection of a qualified default investment alternative for participants
who are automatically enrolled in the Plan or who have otherwise failed to
make investment elections. The Client retains the sole responsibility to
provide all notices to the Plan participants required under ERISA Section
404(c) (5).
2. Non-fiduciary Services are:
• Assist in the education of Plan participants about general investment
information and the investment alternatives available to them under the
Plan. The Client understands the Strategic Planning Group’s assistance in
the education of the Plan participants shall be consistent with and within the
scope of the Department of Labor’s definition of investment education
(Department of Labor Interpretive Bulletin 96-1). As such, the Strategic
Planning Group is not providing fiduciary advice as defined by ERISA to the
Plan participants. Strategic Planning Group will not provide investment
advice concerning the prudence of any investment option or combination of
investment options for a particular participant or beneficiary under the Plan.
• Assist in the group enrollment meetings designed to increase retirement plan
participation among the employees and investment and financial
understanding by the employees.
Strategic Planning Group may provide these services or, alternatively, may arrange
for the Plan’s other providers to offer these services, as agreed upon between
Strategic Planning Group and the Client.
3. Strategic Planning Group has no responsibility to provide services related to the
following types of assets (“Excluded Assets”):
• Employer securities;
• Real estate (except for real estate funds or publicly traded REITs);
• Stock brokerage accounts or mutual fund windows;
• Participant loans;
• Non-publicly traded partnership interests;
• Other non-publicly traded securities or property (other than collective trusts
and similar vehicles); or
• Other hard-to-value or illiquid securities or property.
Excluded Assets will not be included in calculation of Fees paid to the Adviser on
the ERISA Agreement. Specific services will be outlined in detail to each plan in the
408(b)2 disclosure
Qualified Plan Consulting Services: Strategic Planning Group offers qualified
plan consulting services to individuals on an ongoing basis to current Clients.
Strategic Planning Group will meet with the Client for information gathering.
Strategic Planning Group will review the investment options available within the
plan and then make investment recommendations to the Client based on the
investment options available and the Client’s financial objectives in a face-to-face
meeting.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services: Strategic Planning Group offers
financial planning and consulting services to individuals. Services include but are
not limited to a thorough review of all applicable topics including Wills, Estate
Plans/Trusts, Investments, Taxes, and Insurance. A conflict of interest exists
between the interests of the investment advisor and the interests of the Client. The
Client is under no obligation to act upon the investment advisor’s recommendation.
If the Client elects to act on any of the recommendations, the Client is under no
obligation to effect the transaction through Strategic Planning Group.
Variable Annuity Management: Strategic Planning Group offers discretionary
direct asset management services to advisory Clients on their variable annuities
and variable life products. Strategic Planning Group will work with individuals to
assemble an appropriate portfolio of investment options as provided through the
insurance company that services variable annuity investment. The accounts will be
monitored on an annual basis.
Seminars and Workshops Services: Strategic Planning Group holds seminars
and workshops to educate Clients on different types of investments and the
different services they offer. The seminars are educational in nature and no specific
investment or tax advice is given. Seminars are conducted at the discretion of
Strategic Planning Group.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
The goals and objectives for each Client are documented in our Client files.
Investment strategies are created that reflect the stated goals and objectives.
Clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of
securities. However, restrictions on specific securities, sectors, types of securities, or
allocations may not be possible in third-party programs or models; therefore, you
may not be able to participate in certain models or Sub-Advisory programs.
Agreements may not be assigned without written Client consent.
Wrap Fee Programs
Strategic Planning Group does not sponsor any wrap fee programs.
Client Assets under Management
As of March 8, 2024, Strategic Planning Group had approximately $513,845,387 in
Client assets under management on a discretionary basis and $0 Client assets
under management on a non-discretionary basis.