Overview
UNF provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management services. Prior to engaging
UNF to provide any of the foregoing investment advisory services, the client is required to enter into one
or more written agreements with UNF setting forth the terms and conditions under which UNF renders its
services (collectively the “Agreement”).
UNF has been in business as a registered investment adviser since July 31, 2009. Mark D. Herman is
the principal owner of UNF.
As of December 31, 2023, UNF had $165,227,714 assets under management, all of which are assets
managed on a discretionary basis.
This Disclosure Brochure describes the business of UNF. Certain sections will also describe the activities
of Supervised Persons. Supervised Persons are any of UNF’s officers, partners, directors (or other
persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), employees, or any other person who
provides investment advice on UNF’s behalf and is subject to UNF’s supervision or control.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
UNF provides its clients with a broad range of comprehensive financial planning and consulting services.
These services include retirement, education planning, and tax and cash flow needs of the client.
In performing its services, UNF is not required to verify any information received from the client or from
the client’s other professionals (e.g., attorney, accountant, etc.) and is expressly authorized to rely on
such information. UNF may recommend the services of itself and/or other professionals to implement its
recommendations. Clients are advised that a conflict of interest exists if UNF recommends its own
services. The client is under no obligation to act upon any of the recommendations made by UNF under
a financial planning or consulting engagement or to engage the services of any such recommended
professional, including UNF itself. The client retains absolute discretion over all such implementation
decisions and is free to accept or reject any of UNF’s recommendations. Clients are advised that it
remains their responsibility to promptly notify UNF if there is ever any change in their financial situation or
investment
objectives for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating, or revising UNF’s previous
recommendations and/or services.
Investment Management Services
Clients can engage UNF to manage all or a portion of their assets on a discretionary or non-discretionary
basis.
UNF primarily allocates clients’ investment management assets among mutual funds, exchange-traded
funds (“ETFs”), individual debt and equity securities, and certificates of deposits, in accordance with the
investment objectives of the client. UNF also provides advice about any type of investment already held
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in clients' portfolios, but clients should not assume that these assets are being continuously monitored or
otherwise advised on by the Firm unless specifically agreed upon.
Clients may also engage UNF to advise on certain investment products that are not maintained at their
primary custodian, such as variable life insurance and annuity contracts and assets held in employer
sponsored retirement plans and qualified tuition plans (i.e., 529 plans). In these situations, UNF directs or
recommends the allocation of client assets among the various investment options available with the
product. These assets are maintained at the underwriting insurance company or the custodian
designated by the product’s provider.
UNF tailors its advisory services to the individual needs of clients. UNF consults with clients initially and
on an ongoing basis to determine risk tolerance, time horizon, and other factors that may impact the
clients’ investment needs. UNF ensures that clients’ investments are suitable for their investment needs,
goals, objectives, and risk tolerance.
Clients are advised to promptly notify UNF if there are changes in their financial situation or investment
objectives or if they wish to impose any reasonable restrictions upon UNF’s management services.
Clients may impose reasonable restrictions or mandates on the management of their account (e.g.,
require that a portion of their assets be invested in socially responsible funds) if, in UNF’s sole discretion,
the conditions will not materially impact the performance of a portfolio strategy or prove overly
burdensome to its management efforts.