Retirement Strategies, LTD is dedicated to providing our clients with a wide array of investment advisory
services. We specialize in comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning and consulting, employer
savings plan monitoring, employee benefit plan consulting, newsletters and educational seminars, and referrals
to third party money managers. Our firm is a limited liability company formed in the State of Ohio. Our firm has
been in business as an investment adviser beginning 2012 and is owned as follows:
• James Lindner – 80% owner
• Jeffrey Foster – 20% owner
Types of Advisory Services Offered.
Comprehensive Portfolio Management
Our Comprehensive Portfolio Management service encompasses asset management as well as providing
financial planning/financial consulting to clients. It is designed to assist clients in meeting their financial goals
through the use of financial investments. We conduct at least one, but sometimes more than one meeting (in
person if possible, otherwise via telephone conference) with clients in order to understand their current
financial situation, existing resources, financial goals, and tolerance for risk. Based on what we learn, we
propose an investment approach to the client. We may propose an investment portfolio, consisting of exchange
traded funds, mutual funds, individual stocks or bonds, or other securities. Upon the client’s agreement to the
proposed investment plan, we work with the client to establish or transfer investment accounts so that we can
manage the client’s portfolio. Once the relevant accounts are under our management, we review such accounts
on a regular basis and at least quarterly. We may periodically rebalance or adjust client accounts under our
management. If the client experiences any significant changes to his/her financial or personal circumstances,
the client must notify us so that we can consider such information in managing the client’s investments.
We may utilize Independent Money Managers, where we may design an investment portfolio and provide
ongoing corresponding comprehensive Portfolio Management services on a fee- only basis for a percentage of
assets in conjunction with another investment advisory firm. Before selecting other advisers, we make sure
that the other advisers are properly licensed or registered.
Financial Planning & Consulting
We provide a variety of financial planning and consulting services to individuals, families and other clients
regarding the management of their financial resources based upon an analysis of the client’s current situation,
goals, and objectives. Generally, such financial planning services will involve preparing a financial plan or
rendering a financial consultation for clients based on the client’s financial goals and objectives. Our written
financial plans or financial consultations rendered to clients usually include general recommendations for a
course of activity or specific actions to be taken by the clients. For example, recommendations may be made
that the clients begin or revise investment programs, create, or revise wills or trusts, obtain or revise insurance
coverage, commence or alter retirement savings, or establish education or charitable giving programs. For
written financial planning engagements, we provide our clients with a written summary of their financial
situation, observations, and recommendations. Our firm may utilize eMoney Advisor or MoneyGuide Pro
software packages when providing our financial planning services. eMoney Advisor and MoneyGuide Pro
provide our clients with access to an online platform that allows them to access investment-related information
and assists them in reaching their financial goals and objectives. Online access to eMoney Advisor or
MoneyGuide Pro will typically be available to the client once we have received all data from the client. For
financial consulting engagements, we usually do not provide our clients with a written summary of our
observations and recommendations as the process is less formal than our planning service.
Plans or consultations are typically completed within six (6) months of the client signing a contract with us,
assuming that all the information and documents we request from the client are provided to us promptly.
Implementation of the recommendations will be at the discretion of the client.
Our financial planning services are described below. We will determine which type of service best suits a client’s
individual circumstances and needs based on the information provided by the client.
Comprehensive Financial Planning:
We provide clients with a detailed and personalized financial plan as well as customized recommendations
based on our assessments of their financial goals and objectives. This comprehensive planning service is
appropriate for clients who wish to cover broad categories of securities, insurance, annuities and other products.
In general, comprehensive financial planning services will include one or more of the services listed below:
• Cash Flow & Debt Management – This service involves advice with respect to cash accounts, financial
obligations, and cash management.
• Risk Management & Insurance Planning – This service includes risk management associated with
advisory recommendations based on the combination of insurance types that best meet a client’s specific
needs, e.g., life, health, disability, and long-term care, and others as appropriate.
• Investment Planning – This service involves advice with respect to asset selection and allocation, as well
as investment income accumulation techniques. Evaluations are made of existing and, when applicable,
potential investments in terms of their economic and tax characteristics as well as their suitability for
meeting the client’s objectives. Tax consequences and their implications are identified and evaluated in
general terms.
• Retirement Planning – This service involves advice with respect to alternatives and techniques for
accumulating wealth for retirement income or advice relative to appropriate distributions of assets
following retirement. Tax consequences and their implications are identified and evaluated in general
terms.
• College Planning – This service includes alternatives and strategies with respect to the complete or partial
funding of college or other post-secondary education experience. Tax consequences and their implications
are identified and evaluated in general terms.
• Estate Planning – This service generally involves advice with respect to property ownership, distribution
strategies, estate tax reduction, and tax payment techniques. It involves a discussion of gifts, trusts, etc. and
the disposition of business interests. Tax consequences and their implications are identified and evaluated.
At the request of the Client, we will engage the client’s chosen personal estate attorney or planner, with
regard to advising the wealth management of the estate planning.
• Tax Planning – Tax planning refers to the client’s chosen personal tax advisor. We may offer advice as to
how tax laws may affect various
financial decisions, e.g., acquisitions, pension strategy, investing in new
opportunities or consolidation of existing investments, and individual taxation issues, among others.
• Business Succession Planning – This service includes alternatives and strategies with respect to continuity
or disposition of the business upon the business owners’ retirement, death, disability, or decision to sell.
Tax consequences and their implications are identified and evaluated.
• Consolidation of Financial Situation – As a result of performing some or all of the services listed in points
1 through 9 above, we may be able to recommend strategies or methods for consolidating the client’s
financial situation in order for the client to manage their financial situation more easily and to obtain
efficiency, cost savings, and diversification.
Wealth Builder Plan:
Our Wealth Builder Plan is appropriate for clients who do not have complicated financial planning issues or
significant investable assets. This service provides a basic level of planning and generic recommendations based
on the client’s financial goals and objectives. The plan includes initial projections to assist the client in
determining what they need to do to accomplish their goals and objectives.
Employer Savings Plan Monitoring:
Our Employer Savings Plan Monitoring service provides for developing appropriate investment objectives and
reviewing asset allocations for qualified retirement plan (the “Plan”) participants. We will assist participants in
assessing their future retirement income needs and the impact of different asset allocations on retirement
income. Our services will be limited to making general recommendations to participants based on the
investment options available within their Plan, helping them choose the most suitable asset allocations for their
investment needs and educating them on the various risk levels found in their Plan portfolios.
In performing the foregoing Services, we acknowledge that we will be acting as a fiduciary to the plan pursuant
to Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940. However, Client acknowledges that we do not provide ongoing monitoring or management services or
have discretionary authority with respect to the Plan assets. The client is solely responsible for determining
whether to implement any of the recommendations made and for placing and executing transactions in their
Plan.
Services are typically completed within six (6) months of the client signing a contract with us, assuming that all
the information and documents we request from the client are provided to us promptly.
Employee Benefit Plan Consulting:
Employee Benefit Plan Consulting consists of assisting Plan Sponsors with monitoring and reviewing their
company’s qualified retirement plans. As the needs of the clients’ dictate, areas of advising could include:
• On an as requested basis, we will conduct in-person group sessions to educate Plan participants on
investment options under the Plan as well as provide and discuss Plan enrollment materials.
• Our firm will provide an initial evaluation and recommendation of appropriate
investments options to include within the Plan’s investment lineup.
• On an at least annual basis, our firm will meet with the Client/TPA to review the Plan’s investment
lineup and discuss in detail the appropriate reports used to monitor and evaluate the Plan’s
investment options.
In performing the preceding services, we acknowledge that we will be acting as a fiduciary to the plan pursuant
to Section 3(21) of ERISA (but only with respect to the provision of services described above). However, Client
acknowledges that we do not maintain discretionary authority over the administration of the Plan, the
establishment of the Plan’s investment policy or the selection of the Plan’s investment platform. We do not have
the authority to interpret the Plan or determine eligibility of participants and are not the Plan Administrator as
defined in ERISA. Additionally, we will not have any trading authority and do not assume any responsibility
with respect to company stock.
3rd Party Education Platforms
We offer our clients 3rd Party Education Platforms focusing on employee financial education, goal setting
strategies, budgeting support, account aggregation, ability to connect directly with advisors and more. Any
employee communication with advisors requesting additional guidance beyond generic information will require
additional agreements in place. Fees will be commensurate with the services requested.
Newsletters and Educational Seminars
We offer our clients a complimentary monthly and quarterly newsletter that includes information regarding
updates on the markets, planning, retirement, and other relevant topics relating to the financial industry. From
time to time, our principals may also participate in educational seminars to interact with prospective as well as
current clients to discuss current market-related issues.
Written Acknowledgement of Fiduciary Status
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement
account, we are 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
creates some conflicts with your 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);
• 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 is reasonable for our services; and
• Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
Tailoring of Advisory Services
We offer individualized investment advice to clients utilizing our firm’s Comprehensive Portfolio Management
service. Additionally, we offer general investment advice to clients utilizing our firm’s Financial Planning and
Consulting, Employer Savings Plan Monitoring, Employee Benefit Plan Consulting and Referrals to Third Party
Money Managers services.
Each client has the opportunity to place reasonable restrictions on the types of investments to be held in the
portfolio. Restrictions on investments in certain securities or types of securities may not be possible due to the
level of difficulty this would entail in managing the account. Restrictions would be limited to our Comprehensive
Portfolio Management service.
Participation in Wrap Fee Programs.
We do not offer wrap fee programs.
Regulatory Assets Under Management.
We manage $171,488,467 on a discretionary basis and $2,278,597on a non-discretionary basis. Total Assets
Under Management are $173,767,064, all figures are as of December 31, 2022.
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