Overview
Investment Management including ownership; services offered; and how the firm manages
clients’ money.
Advantage Investment Management has been helping clients – including individuals, families,
businesses, non-profit organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans and plan sponsors, and
investment clubs – manage their financial assets since our founding in 2004. Currently there are
four financial advisors with over 95 years combined experience guiding thoughtful investing in
securities, mutual funds, alternative investments, and many other options to help clients secure
their financial future.
Additionally, Advantage Investment Management also provides investment supervisory services,
financial planning services, and financial advice to clients not involving securities.
Our services are tailored to fit the present and future financial goals and needs of each client.
Investments are chosen based on a variety of factors, including the risk tolerance, time horizon
and investment objectives of each client. Client assets are managed on either a discretionary or
non-discretionary basis.
For individuals, our investment advisory services include the execution of transactions in a
separately managed account (Service Account), as well as other types of accounts that are chosen
based on the client’s needs. Eligible mutual funds, equities (stocks, rights, warrants), bonds
(corporate, government, agency, municipal), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and options
on indexes and equities can be held in the Service Account. These investment descriptions are
not an exhaustive list of the types or specific securities that might be offered to clients.
Advisory fees typically include the following services:
Portfolio illustration and initial investment selections.
Ongoing rebalancing and repositioning.
Asset allocation analysis and advice related to the proposed allocation.
Financial industry news and relevant information provided by your advisor.
Regular Reports (including quarterly performance reports).
Year-end tax information.
Our investment advisors may also offer clients information and materials upon request of the
client or as needed:
General financial and investment concepts, such as risk/return,
diversification, dollar-cost
averaging, compound return and tax-deferred investment.
Historic difference in rates of return between various assets, asset classes, and indices
based on standard market indices.
Effects of inflation.
Estimating future retirement income needs.
Determining investment time horizons.
Assessing risk tolerance.
Hypothetical portfolios.
Asset allocation analysis.
For pension/profit-sharing plan clients, we have a series of steps that exemplify the work we do
to add value to group retirement plans:
EVALUATE the current aspects of your plan Plan design and administration review
Investment management review
Plan communication and service review
OPTIMIZE plan efficiency and success Evaluation of the plan’s objectives
Analysis and recommendations
Serve as your plan’s fiduciary advisor helping
to PROTECT plan sponsors from penalties
and litigation
Assessment
Investment policy statement
ERISA 401(a) and 404(c) guidance
MANAGE and minimize total plan costs
while maximizing the scope and quality of
plan provider services
RFP provider analysis and benchmarking
Provider pricing re-negotiation
Provider contract review
EDUCATE participants for optimal benefits Employee communications and disclosures
Group meetings
Individual participant reports
MONITOR and measure success at the plan
and participant level on a regular basis
Investment product due diligence
Evaluating fund managers and investment
strategies
Plan reports
Our aim is always to provide exceptional value and guidance for all our clients and help them
realize their financial goals and prepare for future needs. As of December 31, 2023, Advantage
Investment Management had Assets Under Management of $159,751,599.64.
Don Garton is the primary owner of Advantage Investment Management, owning 94% of Garton
& Associates Financial Advisors, LLC d/b/a Advantage Investment Management.
Current clients will receive a copy of this brochure annually. New clients will also receive a copy
of this brochure. If a client has not received this brochure at least 48 hours prior to signing an
agreement, the client has 5 business days to cancel an agreement without penalty.