A. Description of the Advisory Firm
Argus Equity Partners, LLC (hereinafter “AEPL”) is a Limited Liability Company
organized in the State of New York. The firm was formed in July 2012, and the principal
owner is Stephen F Tripodi.
B. Types of Advisory Services
Portfolio Management Services
AEPL offers ongoing portfolio management services based on the individual goals,
objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance of each client. AEPL 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
AEPL evaluates the current investments of each client with respect to their risk tolerance
levels and time horizon. AEPL 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.
AEPL seeks to provide that investment decisions are made in accordance with the
fiduciary duties owed to its accounts and without consideration of AEPL’s economic,
investment or other financial interests. To meet its fiduciary obligations, AEPL attempts
to avoid, among other things, investment or trading practices that systematically
advantage or disadvantage certain client portfolios, and accordingly, AEPL’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 AEPL’s policy to allocate
investment opportunities and transactions it identifies as being appropriate and prudent,
including initial public offerings ("IPOs") and other investment opportunities that might
have a limited supply, among its clients on a fair and equitable basis over time.
Services Limited to Specific Types of Investments
AEPL generally limits its investment advice to mutual funds, fixed income securities, real
estate funds (including REITs), insurance products including annuities, equities, ETFs
(including ETFs in the gold and precious metal sectors), treasury
inflation
protected/inflation linked bonds and non-U.S. securities. AEPL 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
AEPL 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 AEPL on behalf of the client. AEPL may use model allocations
together with a specific set of recommendations for each client based on their personal
restrictions, needs, and targets. Clients may impose restrictions in investing in certain
securities or types of securities in accordance with their values or beliefs. However, if the
restrictions prevent AEPL from properly servicing the client account, or if the restrictions
would require AEPL to deviate from its standard suite of services, AEPL reserves the right
to end the relationship.
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, and certain other administrative fees. AEPL
does not participate in wrap fee programs.
E. Assets Under Management
AEPL has the following assets under management:
Discretionary Amounts: Non-discretionary Amounts: Date Calculated:
$ 29,425,502 $ 17,040,021 December 2023