Firm Description
BARTLEY FINANCIAL ADVISORS, LLC (BFA), (“FIRM NAME”) was founded
in September of 2000.
BFA provides personalized confidential financial planning and investment
management to individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates,
charitable organizations and small businesses. Advice is provided through
consultation with the client and can include: determination of financial
objectives, identification of financial problems, cash flow management, tax
planning, insurance review, investment management, education funding,
retirement planning, and estate planning.
BFA is strictly a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm.
The firm does not sell annuities, insurance, stocks, bonds, mutual funds,
limited partnerships, or other commissioned products. The firm is not
affiliated with entities that sell financial products or securities. No
commissions in any form are accepted. No finder’s fees are accepted.
Investment and security selection advice is provided and discussed with the
client. BFA does not act as a custodian of client assets. The client always
maintains asset control. BFA places trades for clients under a limited power
of attorney.
A written evaluation of each client's initial situation is provided to the client,
often in the form of a net worth statement. Periodic reviews are also
communicated to provide reminders of the specific courses of action that
need to be taken. More frequent reviews occur but are not necessarily
communicated to the client unless immediate changes are recommended.
Other professionals (e.g., lawyers, accountants, insurance agents, etc.) are
engaged directly by the client on an as-needed basis. Conflicts of interest will
be disclosed to the client in the unlikely event they should occur.
The initial meeting, which may be by telephone, is free of charge and is
considered an exploratory interview to determine the extent to which financial
planning and investment management may be beneficial to the client.
Principal Owners
Robert C. Bartley Trust is the primary owner. Robert C. Bartley is the trustee
of the Robert C. Bartley Trust.
Types of Advisory Services
BFA provides investment supervisory services, also known as asset
management services and furnishes investment advice through consultations.
On more than an occasional basis, BFA furnishes advice to clients on matters
not involving securities, such as financial planning matters, taxation issues,
and trust services that often include estate planning.
As of December 31, 2023 BFA manages approximately $105,694,217 of
client assets on a discretionary basis, and $22,793,729 on a non-
discretionary basis.
Asset Management Services
Assets are invested primarily in no-load or low-load mutual funds, exchange-
traded funds, stocks and bonds through a discount brokerage firm. Mutual
funds and exchange-traded funds charge each fund shareholder an
investment management fee that is disclosed in the fund’s prospectus.
Discount brokerage firms charge a transaction fee for the purchase of mutual
funds.
Exchange-traded funds, stocks and bonds are purchased or sold through a
brokerage account. The brokerage firm charges a fee for these trades. BFA
does not receive any compensation, in any form, from fund companies or
brokerage firms.
Investments can also include; warrants, corporate debt securities, commercial
paper, certificates of deposit, municipal securities, investment company
securities (variable life insurance, variable annuities, and mutual funds
shares), U. S. government securities, options contracts, futures contracts, and
interests in partnerships.
Initial public offerings (IPOs) are not available through BFA.
Tailored Relationships
The specific goals and objectives for each client are discussed and
documented. Clients
may impose restrictions on investing in certain
securities or types of securities.
Types of Agreements
The following agreements define the typical client relationships. Agreements
may not be assigned without client consent.
Advisory Agreement
Most clients choose to have BFA manage their assets in order to obtain
ongoing in-depth advice and planning. All aspects of the client’s financial
affairs are reviewed. Realistic and measurable goals are set and objectives to
reach those goals are defined. As goals and objectives change over time,
suggestions are made and implemented on an ongoing basis.
The scope of work and fee for an Advisory Agreement is provided to the client
in writing prior to the start of the relationship. An Advisory Agreement
includes: cash flow management; insurance review; investment management
(including performance reporting); education funding planning; retirement
planning; estate planning; and tax planning , as well as the implementation of
recommendations within each area.
The annual Advisory Agreement fee includes both financial planning and
investment management fees. The total financial planning and investment
management fee is based on the amount of planning work required and the
complexity of the issues involved. It is based on a client’s income and net
worth. The total fee is broken down to one simple fee based on a percentage
of the investable assets according to the following schedule:
First $1,000,000 1.00% per year
$1,000,000 but less than $2,000,000 .90% per year
$2,000,000 but less than $3,000,000 .80% per year
$3,000,000 but less than $4,000,000 .70% per year
$4,000,000 but less than $5,000,000 .60% per year
More than $5,000,000 Quote
The minimum annual fee is based on the complexity of a client’s situation and
is included in the Advisory Agreement. The minimum fee is negotiable. The
minimum annual fee, when applicable, is increased annually, in January,
based on the Cost-of-Living adjustment issued by the U.S. Government for
the year. In the event of deflation, fees will remain the same.
Current client relationships exist where the fees are higher or lower than the
fee schedule above. In addition, due to the size or complexity of a new client’s
situation, the investment management fees charged can be higher than the
schedule noted above. The fees charged would not exceed 2% per year.
The Advisory Service Agreement is an ongoing agreement. The length of
service to the client is at the client’s discretion. The client or BFA can
terminate an Agreement at any time by written notice to the other party. At
termination, fees will be billed on a pro rata basis for the portion of the quarter
completed. The portfolio value at the completion of the prior full billing quarter
plus a quarter of the annual financial planning fee (or minimum quarterly fee)
is used as the basis for the fee computation, adjusted for the number of days
during the billing quarter prior to termination.
Hourly Planning Engagements
BFA provides hourly planning services for clients who need advice on a
limited scope of work. The hourly rate for limited scope engagements is
$450 for Robert Bartley and from $125 - $275 for other team members,
which is disclosed in an engagement letter.
Termination of Agreement or Engagements
A Client can terminate any of the aforementioned agreements or
engagements at any time by notifying BFA in writing and paying the unpaid
fees prior to notification of termination. If the client made an advance
payment, BFA will refund any unearned portion of the advance payment.
BFA can terminate any of the aforementioned agreements at any time by
notifying the client in writing. If the client made an advance payment, BFA will
refund any unearned portion of the advance payment.