A. Description of our advisory firm, including how long we have been in business and our principal
owner(s).
We are dedicated to providing individuals and other types of clients with a wide array of
investment advisory services. Our firm is a limited liability company formed in the State of West
Virginia and has been in business as an investment adviser since 2008. Timothy J. Taylor owns
100% of the firm.
B. Description of the types of advisory services we offer.
Our firm only sponsors and offers a wrap fee program. Our firm does not offer a non-wrap option.
Our firm manages assets for many different types of clients to help meet their financial goals while
remaining sensitive to risk tolerance and time horizons. As a fiduciary it is our duty to always act in
the client’s best interest. This is accomplished in part by knowing the client. Our firm has
established a service-oriented advisory practice with open lines of communication. Working with
clients to understand their investment objectives while educating them about our process,
facilitates the kind of working relationship we value.
(i) Asset Management:
We emphasize continuous and regular account supervision. As part of our asset management
service, we generally create a portfolio, consisting of individual stocks or bonds, exchange
traded funds (“ETFs”), options, mutual funds and other public and private securities or
investments. The client’s individual investment strategy is tailored to their specific needs and
may include some or all of the previously mentioned securities. Each portfolio will be initially
designed to meet a particular investment goal, which we determine to be suitable to the client’s
circumstances. Once the appropriate portfolio has been determined, we review the portfolio at
least quarterly and if necessary, rebalance the portfolio based upon the client’s individual
needs, stated goals and objectives.
To assist us with this, we utilize the services of Raymond James Financial Services (“RJFS”) to
keep custody of our client’s assets and execute trades for our Ambassador Platform
(“Ambassador Platform”) and Independent Clearing Account Platform (“ICAP”) (collectively
known as “Platform”). Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (“RJA”), an affiliate of RJFS, acts as
the clearing agent when we execute securities transactions placed through RJFS.
Our firm will present a prospective client with the Platform. The Ambassador Platform
requires an account minimum of $1,000 while ICAP has no account minimum. ICAP
primarily focuses on a model portfolio comprised of mutual funds while the Ambassador
Platform is focused on individual securities such as stocks, bonds, and options trading. If the
client exceeds the threshold amount of $1,000, they will be placed in The Ambassador
Platform. Through client conversations, our firm will help them determine the most suitable
option for their circumstances based on the client’s age, risk tolerance, investment
objectives, etc. Once the client is entered in a platform, we will inform them that instead of
charging their account for custodial services per transaction, the asset-based fee (“admin
fee”) will be charged to our firm as a percentage of assets in the account. In other words, our
firm will cover all transaction costs for both Platforms.
Independent Clearing Account Platform (ICAP):
There are no account minimums for a client to be established with ICAP. This account will
consist primarily of model mutual fund portfolios managed by our firm’s principal. For
clients that do not have the minimum of $1,000, we place them in ICAP to give them the
opportunity to eventually transition into the Ambassador Platform once the account
reaches the threshold.
Ambassador Platform:
In order to be on the Ambassador Platform, you must meet the account minimum of $1,000.
Certain assets are exempt from the advisory fees and will not count as part of the account
minimum. This account will primarily consist of various securities
such as stocks, ETFs, and
options trading.
However, certain securities are not permitted in the Ambassador Platform, including
private placements, load variable annuities and life insurance, limited partnerships (except
for exchange-traded master limited partnerships), and jumbo certificates of deposit.
Additional B, C, and D shares of mutual funds cannot be purchased. Certain assets, including
prospectus offerings purchased in the last twelve months and brokered CDs, will not be
included in the value of the account for billing purposes, or for purposes of the $1,000
account minimum on accounts in the Ambassador Platform.
We have determined (according to our best execution policy) that utilizing RJFS and RJA
helps us to manage our client accounts effectively and efficiently. Both RJFS and RJA provide
various administrative services which include: determines the fair market value of assets
held in a client’s account at least quarterly, produces brokerage statements and
performance reporting for client’s account assets, account transactions, receipt and
disbursement of funds, interest and dividends received, and account gain or loss by security
as well as for the total account. We receive research, trade execution, custody and
performance reporting benefits from RJFS in connection with our Platform that we would
otherwise have to purchase separately. Because of the benefits that we receive from RJFS
and RJA, we may have a financial incentive to recommend a fee-based program rather than
the client pay for brokerage, custody, performance reporting, and other services separately.
Please note, though, that Platform restricts the purchase of funds with a sales load. Thus,
clients should carefully consider whether a particular fund’s purchase would result in a
lower aggregate cost if utilizing an alternative share class in a commission-based account if
available.
RJFS has a limited responsibility to our firm. As such, RJFS merely executes transactions
pursuant to our direction, and provides us with administrative services as described above. If
you engage in an Account, you agree that we are solely responsible for the management of your
portfolio. It is required that you have authorized us as your agent and attorney-in-fact to buy
and sell securities or other investments for the account. Any engagement is solely at the
direction of our firm, provided that the action is deemed to be appropriate. Please note that we
are not authorized to withdraw any money, securities or other property either in the name of a
client or otherwise.
C. Explanation of whether (and, if so, how) we tailor our advisory services to the individual needs
of clients, whether clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of
securities.
(i) Individual Tailoring of Advice to Clients:
We offer individualized investment advice to clients utilizing the Asset Management service.
(ii) Ability of Clients to Impose Restrictions on Investing in Certain Securities or Types of
Securities:
We usually do not allow clients to impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or
types of securities due to the level of difficulty this would entail in managing their account.
Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
D. Participation in wrap fee programs.
Our firm offers and sponsors a wrap fee program. Asset Management services are only offered
through the Account Platforms which are for wrapped accounts, which are managed on an
individualized basis according to the client’s investment objectives, financial goals, risk
tolerance, etc.
E. Disclosure of the amount of client assets we manage on a discretionary basis and the amount
of client assets we manage on a non-discretionary basis.
We manag
e1 $119,463,722 on a discretionary basis and $0 on a non-discretionary basis as of
December 31, 2023.