Description of Advisory Firm
Equita Financial Network, Inc. is registered as an Investment Adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. We were founded in June 2015. Kathleen Burke and Bridget V. Grimes are the principal owners
of Equita.
Equita offers services through its network of investment advisor representatives (IARs) IARs may have their
own legal business entities whose trade names and logos are used for marketing purposes. IAR Doing
Business as (DBA) logos may appear on marketing materials or client statements. Clients should understand
that the businesses are legal entities of the IAR, and not of Equita Financial Network. IARs are under the
supervision of Equita and their advisory services are provided through Equita. Equita has the above
described arrangement with the following IARs:
• Kathleen Burke, Method Financial Planning, LLC
• Bridget V Grimes, WealthChoice, LLC
• Melinda McCubbin, Truman Wealth Advisors, LLC
• Stefanie D. Crowe, AegleWealth, LLC
• Kimberlee A. Spencer, Next Step Financial LLC
• Jennifer C. Dazols, Modern Family Finance, LLC
Equita currently manages $282,783,612 on a discretionary basis and $277,569 on a non-discretionary basis.
Types of Advisory Services
Financial Planning
We provide financial planning services on topics such as retirement planning, risk management, college
savings, cash flow, debt management, work benefits, and estate and incapacity 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. The key defining
aspect of financial planning is that through the financial planning process, all questions, information and
analysis will be considered as they impact and are impacted by the entire financial and life situation of the
client. Clients purchasing this service will receive a written or an electronic report, providing the client with
a detailed financial plan designed to achieve his or her stated financial goals and objectives. In general, the
financial plan will address any or all of the following areas of concern. The client and advisor will work
together to select the specific areas to cover. These areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Business Planning: We provide consulting services for clients who currently operate their own
business, are considering starting a business, or are planning for an exit from their current business.
Under this type of engagement, we work with you to assess your current situation, identify your
objectives, and develop a plan aimed at achieving your goals.
• Cash Flow and Debt Management: We will conduct a review of your income and expenses to
determine your current surplus or deficit along with advice on prioritizing how any surplus should be
used or how to reduce expenses if they exceed your income. Advice may also be provided on which
debts to pay off first based on factors such as the interest rate of the debt and any income tax
ramifications. We may also recommend what we believe to be an appropriate cash reserve that
should be considered for emergencies and other financial goals, along with a review of accounts
(such as money market funds) for such reserves, plus strategies to save desired amounts.
• College Savings: Includes projecting the amount that will be needed to achieve college or other post-
secondary education funding goals, along with advice on ways for you to save the desired amount.
Recommendations as to savings strategies are included, and, if needed, we will review your financial
picture as it relates to eligibility for financial aid or the best way to contribute to grandchildren (if
appropriate).
• Employee Benefits Optimization: We will provide review and analysis as to whether you, as an
employee, are taking the maximum advantage possible of your employee benefits. If you are a
business owner, we will consider and/or recommend the various benefit programs that can be
structured to meet both business and personal retirement goals.
• Estate Planning: This usually includes an analysis of your exposure to estate taxes and your current
estate plan, which may include whether you have a will, powers of attorney, trusts and other related
documents. Our advice also typically includes ways for you to minimize or avoid future estate taxes
by implementing appropriate estate planning strategies such as the use of applicable trusts. We
always recommend that you consult with a qualified attorney when you initiate, update, or complete
estate planning activities. We may provide you with contact information for attorneys who specialize
in estate planning when you wish to hire an attorney for such purposes. From time-to-time, we will
participate in meetings or phone calls between you and your attorney with your approval or request.
• Financial Goals: We will help clients identify financial goals and develop a plan to reach them. We
will identify what you plan to accomplish, what resources you will need to make it happen, how much
time you will need to reach the goal, and how much you should budget for your goal.
• Insurance: Review of existing policies to ensure proper coverage for life, health, disability, long-
term care, liability, home, and automobile.
• Investment Analysis: This may involve developing an asset allocation strategy to meet clients’
financial goals and risk tolerance, providing information on investment vehicles and strategies,
reviewing employee stock options, as well as assisting you in establishing your own investment
account at a selected broker/dealer or custodian. The strategies and types of investments we may
recommend are further discussed in Item 8 of this brochure.
• Retirement Planning: Our retirement planning services typically include projections of your
likelihood of achieving your financial goals, typically focusing on financial independence as the
primary objective. For situations where projections show less than the desired results, we may make
recommendations, including those that may impact
the original projections by adjusting certain
variables (i.e., working longer, saving more, spending less, taking more risk with investments). If you
are near retirement or already retired, advice may be given on appropriate distribution strategies to
minimize the likelihood of running out of money or having to adversely alter spending during your
retirement years.
• Risk Management: A risk management review includes an analysis of your exposure to major risks
that could have a significant adverse impact on your financial picture, such as premature death,
disability, property and casualty losses, or the need for long-term care planning. Advice may be
provided on ways to minimize such risks and about weighing the costs of purchasing insurance versus
the benefits of doing so and, likewise, the potential cost of not purchasing insurance (“self-insuring”).
• Tax Planning Strategies: Advice may include ways to minimize current and future income taxes as a
part of your overall financial planning picture. For example, we may make recommendations on
which type of account(s) or specific investments should be owned based in part on their “tax
efficiency,” with consideration that there is always a possibility of future changes to federal, state or
local tax laws and rates that may impact your situation. We recommend that you consult with a
qualified tax professional before initiating any tax planning strategy, and we may provide you with
contact information for accountants or attorneys who specialize in this area if you wish to hire
someone for such purposes. We will participate in meetings or phone calls between you and your
tax professional with your approval.
Financial Consulting
This service involves working, one-on-one, with a planner over an extended period of time. By paying a
monthly or quarterly retainer, clients have access to a planner who will work with them to monitor the plan,
recommend any changes and ensure the plan is up to date on an agreed-upon schedule. The plan and the
client’s financial situation and goal will be monitored throughout the year and follow-up phone calls and
emails will be made to the client to confirm that any agreed upon action steps have been carried out. On
an annual basis there will be a full review of this plan to ensure its accuracy and ongoing appropriateness.
Any needed updates will be made at this time. This service may include Investment Management Services
(described below).
Investment Management Services
We are in the business of managing individually tailored investment portfolios. Our firm provides continuous
advice to a client regarding the investment of client funds based on the individual needs of the client.
Through personal discussions in which goals and objectives based on a client's particular circumstances are
established, we develop a client's personal investment policy or an investment plan with an asset allocation
target and create and manage a portfolio based on that policy and allocation target. As part of our
investment management services, we may employ unaffiliated registered investment advisers, as sub-
advisers, to manage the client’s portfolio. In the service, we retain the ability to hire/fire sub-advisers
without prior client consent. During our data-gathering process, we determine the client’s individual
objectives, time horizons, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs. Prior to introducing clients to another
investment adviser, Equita will be responsible for determining whether the investment advisory firm is
properly licensed, notice filed, or exempt from registration in the appropriate jurisdiction. We may also
review and discuss a client’s prior investment history, as well as family composition and background.
Account supervision is guided by the stated objectives of the client (e.g., maximum capital appreciation,
growth, income, or growth and income), as well as tax considerations. Clients may impose reasonable
restrictions on investing in certain securities, types of securities, or industry sectors. Fees pertaining to this
service are outlined in Item 5 of this brochure.
Managed Account Marketplace (“Marketplace”)
We participate in the Schwab Managed Account Program and offer separately managed accounts from the
Managed Account Marketplace program. This program allows access to independent money management
firms offered by the Schwab Advisor Services division of Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. (“Schwab”). Our firm
performs management searches of various investment managers. Based on the client's individual
circumstances and we determine which selected manager's portfolio management style is appropriate for
that client. Factors considered in making this determination include account size, risk tolerance, the
objectives of each client and the investment philosophy of the selected manager. Clients should refer to the
manager's Firm Brochure or other disclosure document for a full description of the services offered. We will
furnish a copy of the disclosure brochures for each manager selected. We will recommend one or more
managers who will manage the client's account on a discretionary basis. On an ongoing basis, we monitor
the performance of the manager(s). The services provided are “unbundled,” meaning fees for asset
management and fees for trading are charged separately, in addition to the fees charged by Equita. The fees
for asset management with the money management firm are negotiated with the individual manager by our
firm on behalf of the Client and are based on the total assets with that manager included in the program
and the type of management services (equity or fixed income) provided.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
We offer the same suite of services to all of our clients. However, specific client financial plans and their
implementation are dependent upon the client Investment Policy Statement which outlines each client’s
current situation (income, tax levels, and risk tolerance levels) and is used to construct a client specific plan
to aid in the selection of a portfolio that matches restrictions, needs, and targets.
Wrap Fee Programs
We do not participate in wrap fee programs.