A. Description of the Advisory Firm
Global Strategic Investment Solutions, LLC (hereinafter “GSIS”) is a Limited Liability
Company organized in the State of Arizona.
The firm was formed in March 2015, and the principal owners are Donald E. Callaghan
and Curt R. Thompson.
B. Types of Advisory Services
Portfolio Management Services
GSIS offers ongoing portfolio management services based on the individual goals,
objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance of each client. GSIS creates an Investment
Policy Statement for each client, which outlines the client’s current situation (income, tax
levels, and risk tolerance levels) and then constructs a plan to aid in the selection of a
portfolio that matches each client's specific situation. Portfolio management services
include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Investment strategy • Personal investment policy
• Asset allocation • Asset selection
• Risk tolerance • Regular portfolio monitoring
GSIS evaluates the current investments of each client with respect to their risk tolerance
levels and time horizon. GSIS will request discretionary authority from clients in order to
select securities and execute transactions without permission from the client prior to each
transaction. Risk tolerance levels are documented in the Investment Policy Statement,
which is given to each client.
GSIS seeks to provide that investment decisions are made in accordance with the fiduciary
duties owed to its accounts and without consideration of GSIS’s economic, investment or
other financial interests. To meet its fiduciary obligations, GSIS attempts to avoid, among
other things, investment or trading practices that systematically advantage or
disadvantage certain client portfolios, and accordingly, GSIS’s policy is to seek fair and
equitable allocation of investment opportunities/transactions among its clients to avoid
favoring one client over another over time. It is GSIS’s policy to allocate investment
opportunities and transactions it identifies as being appropriate and prudent among its
clients on a fair and equitable basis over time.
Selection of Other Advisers
GSIS may direct clients to third-party investment advisers to manage a portion of the
client's assets. Before selecting other advisers for clients, GSIS will always ensure those
other advisers are properly licensed or registered as an investment adviser. GSIS conducts
due diligence on any third-party investment adviser, which may involve one or more of
the following: phone calls, meetings and review of the third-party adviser's performance
and investment strategy. GSIS then makes investments with a third-party investment
adviser by referring the client to the third-party adviser. GSIS may also allocate among
one or more
private equity funds or private equity fund advisers. GSIS will review the
ongoing performance of the third-party adviser as a portion of the client's portfolio.
Services Limited to Specific Types of Investments
GSIS generally limits its investment advice to mutual funds, fixed income securities, real
estate funds (including REITs), equities, private equity funds, ETFs (including ETFs in the
gold and precious metal sectors), treasury inflation protected/inflation linked bonds,
commodities, non-U.S. securities, venture capital funds and other private equity funds.
GSIS may use other securities as well to help diversify a portfolio when applicable.
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.
C. Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
GSIS will tailor a program for each individual client. This will include an interview session
to get to know the client’s specific needs and requirements as well as a plan that will be
executed by GSIS on behalf of the client. GSIS may use “model portfolios” together with
a specific set of recommendations for each client based on their personal finances, needs,
and targets. Clients may impose restrictions in investing in certain securities or types of
securities in accordance with their values or beliefs.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
A wrap fee program is an investment program where the investor pays one stated fee that
includes management fees, transaction costs, fund expenses, and other administrative
fees. GSIS does not participate in any wrap fee programs.
E. Assets Under Management
GSIS has the following assets under management:
Discretionary Amounts: Non-discretionary Amounts: Date Calculated:
$1,341,967,593 $ 17,257,047 December 2023