A. Firm Information
Pelkonen and Associates LLC (“Pelkonen” or the “Advisor”) is a registered investment advisor with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Advisor is organized as a Limited Liability Company (“LLC”)
under the laws of the State of New York. Pelkonen was founded in February 2020 and became a registered
investment advisor in March 2020. Pelkonen is owned and operated by Allan Pelkonen, President and Chief
Compliance officer. This Disclosure Brochure provides information regarding the qualifications, business
practices, and the advisory services provided by Pelkonen.
B. Advisory Services Offered
Pelkonen offers advisory services to individuals, high net worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable
organizations, and businesses (each referred to as a “Client”).
The Advisor serves as a fiduciary to Clients, as defined under the applicable laws and regulations. As a fiduciary,
the Advisor upholds a duty of loyalty, fairness, and good faith towards each Client and seeks to mitigate conflicts
of interest. Pelkonen’s fiduciary commitment is further described in the Advisor’s Code of Ethics. For more
information regarding the Code of Ethics, please see Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading.
Investment Management Services
Pelkonen provides customized investment management solutions for its Clients. This is achieved through
continuous personal Client contact and interaction while providing discretionary investment management and
related advisory services. Pelkonen works closely with each Client to identify their investment goals and
objectives as well as risk tolerance and financial situation in order to design a portfolio strategy. Pelkonen will
then construct an investment portfolio, consisting of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and/or mutual funds to
achieve the Client’s investment goals. The Advisor may also utilize individual stocks, individual bonds, and other
types of investments, as appropriate, to meet the needs of the Client. The Advisor may retain certain legacy
investments based on portfolio fit and/or tax considerations.
Pelkonen will select, recommend and/or retain mutual funds on a fund by fund basis. Due to specific custodial
and/or mutual fund company constraints, material tax consideration, and/or systematic investment plans,
Pelkonen will select, recommend and/or retain a mutual fund share classes that do not have trading costs when
possible. These will in most cases be institutional share classes but in some cases may be share classes with
higher internal expense ratios than institutional share classes. Pelkonen will seek to select the lowest cost share
class available that is in the best interest of each Client weighing the expected investment pattern, expense
ratios and potential ticket charges, and will ensure the selection aligns with the Client’s financial objectives and
stated investment guidelines.
Pelkonen’s investment approach is primarily long-term focused, but the Advisor may buy, sell or re-allocate
positions that have been held for less than one year to meet the objectives of the Client or due to market
conditions. Pelkonen will construct, implement, and monitor the portfolio to ensure it meets the goals, objectives,
circumstances, and risk tolerance agreed to by the Client. Each Client will have the opportunity to place
reasonable restrictions on the types of investments to be held in their respective portfolio, subject to acceptance
by the Advisor.
Pelkonen evaluates and selects investments for inclusion in Client portfolios only after applying its internal due
diligence process. Pelkonen may recommend, on occasion, redistributing investment allocations to diversify the
portfolio. Pelkonen may recommend specific positions to increase sector or asset class weightings. The Advisor
may recommend employing cash positions as a possible hedge against the market movement. Pelkonen may
recommend selling positions for reasons that include, but are not limited to, harvesting capital gains or losses,
business or sector risk exposure to a specific security or class of securities, overvaluation or overweighting of the
position[s] in the portfolio, change in risk tolerance of the Client, generating cash to meet Client needs, or any
risk deemed unacceptable for the Client’s risk tolerance.
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At no time will Pelkonen accept or maintain custody of a Client’s funds or securities, except for the limited
authority as outlined in Item 15 – Custody. All Client assets will be managed within the designated account[s] at
the Custodian, pursuant to the terms of the advisory agreement. Please see Item 12 – Brokerage Practices.
Retirement Plan Accounts – When deemed to be in the Client’s best interest, the Advisor will recommend that a
Client rollover its retirement plan account into an account managed by the Advisor. In such instances, the
Advisor will serve as an investment fiduciary as that term is defined under The Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).
Such a recommendation creates a conflict of interest if the Advisor will earn a
new (or increase its current) advisory fee as a result of the rollover. No client is under any obligation to roll over
retirement plan assets to an account managed by the Advisor.
Use of Independent Managers – Pelkonen may recommend that Clients utilize one or more unaffiliated
investment managers or investment platforms (collectively “Independent Managers”) for all or a portion of a
Client’s investment portfolio, based on the Client’s needs and objectives. In certain instances, the Client may be
required to authorize and enter into an investment management agreement with the Independent Manager[s] that
defines the terms in which the Independent Manager[s] will provide its services. The Advisor will perform initial
and ongoing oversight and due diligence over each Independent Manager to ensure the strategy remains aligned
with Clients investment objectives and overall best interests. The Advisor will also assist the Client in the
development of the initial policy recommendations and managing the ongoing Client relationship. The Client,
prior to entering into an agreement with an Independent Manager, will be provided with the Independent
Manager's Form ADV Part 2A - Disclosure Brochure (or a brochure that makes the appropriate disclosures).
Financial Planning Services
Pelkonen will typically provide a variety of financial planning and consulting services to Clients. Services are
offered in several areas of a Client’s financial situation, depending on their goals and objectives. Generally, such
financial planning services involve preparing a formal financial plan or rendering a specific financial consultation
based on the Client’s financial goals and objectives. This planning or consulting may encompass one or more
areas of need, including but not limited to, investment planning, retirement planning, personal savings, education
savings, insurance needs, and other areas of a Client’s financial situation.
A financial plan developed for or financial consultation rendered to the Client will usually include general
recommendations for a course of activity or specific actions to be taken by the Client. For example,
recommendations may be made that the Client start or revise their investment programs, commence or alter
retirement savings, establish education savings and/or charitable giving programs. Pelkonen may also refer
Clients to an accountant, attorney, or other specialists, as appropriate for their unique situation. For certain
financial planning engagements, the Advisor will provide a written summary of the Client’s financial situation,
observations, and recommendations. For project-based or ad-hoc engagements, the Advisor may not provide a
written summary. Project-based financial plans or consultations are typically completed within six (6) months of
contract date, assuming all information and documents requested are provided promptly.
Financial planning and consulting recommendations pose a conflict between the interests of the Advisor and the
interests of the Client. For example, the Advisor has an incentive to recommend that Clients engage the Advisor
for investment management services or to increase the level of investment assets with the Advisor, as it would
increase the amount of advisory fees paid to the Advisor. Clients are not obligated to implement any
recommendations made by the Advisor or maintain an ongoing relationship with the Advisor. If the Client elects
to act on any of the recommendations made by the Advisor, the Client is under no obligation to implement the
transaction through the Advisor.
C. Client Account Management
Prior to engaging Pelkonen to provide advisory services, each Client is required to enter into one or more
agreements with the Advisor that define the terms, conditions, authority, and responsibilities of the Advisor and
the Client. These services may include:
• Establishing an Investment Strategy – Pelkonen, in connection with the Client, will develop a strategy
that seeks to achieve the Client’s goals and objectives.
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• Asset Allocation – Pelkonen will develop a strategic asset allocation that is targeted to meet the
investment objectives, time horizon, financial situation, and tolerance for risk for each Client or unique
client goal.
• Portfolio Construction – Pelkonen will develop a portfolio for the Client that is intended to meet the stated
goals and objectives of the Client.
• Investment Management and Supervision – Pelkonen will provide investment management and ongoing
oversight of the Client’s investment portfolio.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
Pelkonen does not manage or place Client assets into a wrap fee program.
E. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, Pelkonen manages $212,796,495 in Client assets, $194,790,295 of which are
managed on a discretionary basis and $18,006,200 on a non-discretionary basis. Clients may request more
current information at any time by contacting the Advisor.