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the ability to leave standing instructions with us to refrain from investing in particular
industries or invest in limited amounts of securities.
In all cases, you have a direct and beneficial interest in your securities, rather than an
undivided interest in a pool of securities. We do have limited authority to direct the
Custodian to deduct our investment advisory fees from your accounts, but only with the
appropriate written authorization from you.
You are advised and are expected to understand that our past performance is not a guarantee
of future results. Certain market and economic risks may exist that adversely affect an
account’s performance. This could result in capital losses in your account.
Financial Planning
Through the Financial Planning process, we strive to engage our clients in conversations
around the family’s goals, objectives, priorities, vision, and legacy – both for the near term as
well as for future generations. With the unique goals and circumstances of each family in mind,
we offer financial planning ideas and strategies to address the client’s holistic financial picture,
including estate, income tax, charitable, cash flow, wealth transfer and family legacy objectives.
We partner with your other advisors (CPA, Estate Attorney, Insurance broker, etc.) to ensure a
coordinated effort of all parties toward your stated goals. Such services include various reports
on specific goals and objectives or general investment and/or planning recommendations,
guidance to outside assets and periodic updates.
Our specific services in preparing your plan may include:
• Review and clarification of your financial goals.
• Assessment of your overall financial position including cash flow, balance sheet,
investment strategy, risk management and estate planning.
• Creation of a unique plan for each goal you have including personal and business
real estate, education, retirement or financial independence, charitable giving,
estate planning, business succession and other personal goals.
• Development of a goal-oriented investment plan, with input from various
advisors to our clients around tax suggestions, asset allocation, expenses, risk and
liquidity factors for each goal. This includes IRA and qualified plans, taxable and
trust accounts that require special attention.
• Design of a risk management plan including risk tolerance, risk avoidance,
mitigation, and transfer, including liquidity as well as various insurance and
possible company benefits.
• Crafting and implementation of, in conjunction with your estate and/or
corporate attorneys as tax advisor, an estate plan to provide for you and/or your
heirs in the event of an incapacity or death.
A written evaluation of your initial situation or Financial Plan is provided to you. More
frequent reviews occur but are not necessarily communicated to you unless immediate changes
are recommended.
Retirement Plan Advisory Services
Retirement Plan Advisory Services consists of helping employer plan sponsors to
establish, monitor and review their company's retirement plan. As the needs of the plan
sponsor dictate, areas of advising could include investment selection and monitoring,
plan structure, and participant education.
Pursuant to Section 402(c)(3) of ERISA, the client may appoint us as the Plan’s “investment
manager” with respect to the Plan’s portfolio of investment options. We acknowledge that we
are registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers
Act”) and act as a “fiduciary” within the meaning of Section 3(21) and 3(38) of ERISA with
respect to the Plan.
As a result of the 3(38) appointment, we are granted full trading authority over the Plan and
have the sole responsibility for the selection and monitoring of all investment options offered
under the Plan in accordance with the investment policy statement and its underlying
investment objectives and strategies for the Plan. As a result of the 3(21) appointment, plan
sponsors are responsible for making the fund changes within the account.
Plan participants can exercise control over the assets in their account, and we have no authority
or discretion to direct the investment of assets of any participant’s account under the Plan
offer management of 401(k), 457,
and 403(b) accounts both on a plan level and on the
individual participant level.
Plan Level
We will establish the plan’s needs and objectives through an initial meeting to collect
data, review plan information, and assist in developing or updating the plan’s provisions.
Ongoing services may include recommendations regarding the selection and review of
unaffiliated mutual funds that, in our judgment, are suitable for plan assets to be invested. We
periodically review the investment options selected and make recommendations to keep or
replace plans investment options as appropriate. We perform a comprehensive review of
Investment options and will assist with converting from incumbent service providers to a new
service provider if appropriate.
We will provide quarterly recommendations for the plan’s investment allocation. Upon receipt we
will review the investment options and provide positions for accounts in accordance with the
management style chosen by the client. Analysis is provided for each fund held by the Plan. A
report shows historical performance, asset allocation, and the performance of each fund,
including its performance in comparison to its appropriate benchmark. The report also
contains information regarding each Fund’s managers, capitalization, investment style,
expenses, portfolio composition and other qualitative factors relevant to the Fund’s
performance and adherence to the Plan’s Investment Policy Statement. Clients are responsible
for making the fund changes within the account.
Participant Level
We can also be engaged to provide financial education to plan participants. The scope of
education provided to participants will not constitute “investment advice” within the meaning
of ERISA and participant education will relate to general principles for investing and
information about the investment options currently in the plan. We may also participate in initial
enrollment meetings and periodic workshops and enrollment meetings for new participants.
Consulting Services
We also provide clients investment advice on a more-limited basis on one-or-more isolated
areas of concern such as estate planning, real estate, retirement planning, or any other specific
topic. Additionally, we provide advice on non-securities matters about the rendering of estate
planning, insurance, real estate, and/or annuity advice or any other business advisory /
consulting services for equity or debt investments in privately held businesses.
Wrap Fee Programs
We also provide services on a wrap fee basis as a wrap program sponsor. Under our wrap
program, you will receive investment advisory services, the execution of securities brokerage
transactions, custody, and reporting services for a single specified fee. Participation in a wrap
program may cost the client more or less than purchasing such services separately. The terms
and conditions of a wrap program engagement are more fully discussed in our Wrap Fee
Program Brochure. Because wrap program transaction fees and/or commissions are being
paid by Paramount Associates to the account custodian, we could have an economic incentive
to minimize the number of trades in the client's account. This creates a conflict of interest. We
recognize the fiduciary responsibility to act in your best interests and have established policies
in this regard to mitigate the conflict of interest a wrap fee arrangement may create.
Assets
As of December 31, 2023, we have a total of $101,659,790 discretionary assets under
management. We manage $0 in non-discretionary management.
Investment Management Fees and Compensation
Paramount Associates charges a fee as compensation for providing Investment Management
services on your account. These services include advisory and consulting services, trade entry,
investment supervision, and other account-maintenance activities. Our recommended
custodian charges transaction costs, custodial fees, redemption fees, retirement plan and
administrative fees or commissions. See Additional Fees and Expenses below for additional
details.
The fees for portfolio management are based on an annual percentage of assets under
management and are applied to the account asset value on a pro-rata basis and billed quarterly
in advance. The initial fee will be based upon the market value of the portfolio on the date the