Firm Description
GIG was founded in 2004.
GIG provides personalized confidential financial planning and investment
management to individuals and high net worth individuals and a charitable
organization. Advice is provided through consultation with the client and may
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.
As part of its active management strategy to manage client’s portfolios, GIG
and its related personnel will select from the following types of investments:
stocks, bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, annuities and life
insurance.
GIG does not act as a custodian of client assets. The client always maintains
asset control. GIG places trades for clients under a limited power of attorney.
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, etc.) are engaged directly by
the client on an as-needed basis. Conflicts of interest will be disclosed to the
client in the 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 Owner
Thomas J. Stephen is a 100 % owner and Managing Member.
Types of Advisory Services
GIG provides investment supervisory services, defined as giving continuous
advice to a client or making investments for a client based on the individual
needs of a client. Through personal discussions in which goals and
objectives based on a client’s particular circumstances are established, GIG
develops a client’s personal investment policy, creates and manages a
portfolio based on that policy. GIG reviews the underlying securities in each
portfolio on a continuous basis. GIG performs quarterly reviews of each client
account. GIG will manage advisory accounts on a discretionary and non-
discretionary basis.
On more than an occasional basis, GIG 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 February 29th 2024.GIG manages approximately $141,504,017 of
which, $135,715,368 is managed on a discretionary basis and $5,788,469 is
managed on a non-discretionary basis.
Tailored Relationships
The goals and objectives for each client are documented in our client
relationship management system. Investment policy statements are created
that reflect the stated goals and objective. Clients may impose restrictions on
investing in certain securities or types of securities.
Agreements may not be assigned without client consent.
Types of Agreements
The following agreements define the typical client relationships.
Financial Planning Agreement
Clients can also receive investment advice through consultations. This may
include advice on only an isolated area(s) of concern such as estate planning,
retirement planning, or any other specific topic. GIG also provides specific
consultation and administrative services regarding investment and financial
concerns of the client.
Additionally, GIG provides advice on non-securities matters. Generally, this is
in connection with the rendering of estate planning, insurance, and/or annuity
advice.
Financial planning and consulting recommendations are not limited to any
specific product or service offered by a broker dealer or insurance company.
All recommendations are of a generic nature.
Financial planning and consulting clients will be charged a fixed fee, typically
ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on each client's individual
circumstances and needs. However, under certain rare circumstances, these
rates may be negotiable. GIG will quote the fixed fee to the client at the time
the advisory agreement is executed. GIG may require financial planning
clients to pay a retainer in an amount to be determined on a case-by-case
basis. GIG will not require consulting clients to pay a retainer. Fees are due
and payable upon completion of the plan/consulting service. GIG will never
charge more
than $500 more than six months in advance of the financial plan
or consulting service being completed.
If a financial planning client becomes a GIG portfolio management client, GIG
may waive or discount the financial planning fee in lieu of the portfolio
management fee.
Advisory Service Agreement
Most clients choose to have GIG manage their assets in order to obtain
ongoing in-depth advice and life planning. All aspects of the client’s financial
affairs are reviewed, including those of their children. 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.
An Advisory Service Agreement includes cash flow management; insurance
review; investment management (including performance reporting); education
planning; retirement planning; estate planning; and tax preparation, as well as
the implementation of recommendations within each area.
The Adviser shall review the client’s present financial situation to the extent
disclosed by the client and issue a report of analysis of current financial status
and recommendations in accordance with the objectives, needs and goals of
the client referred to in section two (2) of the advisory service agreement and
communicated to the adviser. The adviser will continuously monitor the
client’s account and when needed will direct the investment and reinvestment
of the assets in client’s account (the “account”) in securities and cash or cash
equivalents.
The annual Advisory Service Agreement fee is based on a percentage of the
investable assets according to the following schedule:
$0 -$500,000 = 1.25%
$500,001 -$1,000,000 = 1.00%
$1,000,001 -$2,000,000 = 0.75%
Greater than $2,000,000 = .5%
A minimum of $100,000 of assets under management and a $1250 minimum
annual fee is required for this service, although under certain circumstances
these may be negotiable. The annual fee will never exceed 3% of the
managed assets.
At the client's request, fees may be charged as a fixed fee. These fees and
the account minimum may be negotiable under rare circumstances.
Negotiated fees for such clients may be in the form of fixed fees; such fees
will never exceed 3% of a client's managed assets.
Consultant Agreement
In some circumstances, a Consultant Agreement is executed in lieu of an
Advisory Service Agreement when it is more appropriate to work on a fixed-
fee basis. The annual fee for a Consultant Agreement is negotiable, and it is
determined at the time the client signs the Agreement.
Asset Management
Assets are invested primarily in no-load or load-waived mutual funds and
exchange-traded funds, usually through discount brokers or fund companies.
Fund companies charge each fund shareholder an investment management
fee that is disclosed in the fund prospectus. Discount brokerages may charge
a transaction fee for the purchase of some funds.
Stocks and bonds may be purchased or sold through a brokerage account
when appropriate. The brokerage firm charges a fee for stock and bond
trades. GIG does not receive any compensation, in any form, from fund
companies.
Investments may also include equities (stocks), 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 GIG.
Termination of Agreement
The Financial Planning Agreement and the Investment Advisory Service
Agreement will continue in effect until terminated by either party by 30 day
written notice to the other. Termination of either of these Agreements, will not
affect (a) the validity of any action taken by Adviser prior to the receipt of the
notice of termination; (b) liabilities or obligations of the parties from
transactions initiated before termination of this Agreement; or (c) client’s
obligation to pay advisory fees (pro-rated through the date of termination). On
the termination of either of these Agreements, the adviser will have no
obligation to recommend or take any action with regard to the securities, cash
or other investments in the account. Upon termination of either Agreement,
any prepaid, unearned fees will be due and payable.