HMVWA is owned by the accounting firm Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLC and has been
providing advisory services since 2018. As of June 30, 2023, HMVWA managed
$117,921,465 on a discretionary basis. HMV also advised on $28,680,358 of participant-
directed retirement plan assets.
Investment Management Services:
HMVWA manages investment portfolios for individuals, trusts, charitable organizations,
businesses and qualified retirement plans. HMVWA will work with a client to determine
the client's investment objectives and investor risk profile and will design a written
investment policy statement.
HMVWA uses investment and portfolio allocation software to evaluate alternative portfolio
designs. HMVWA evaluates the client's existing investments with respect to the client's
investment policy statement. HMVWA works with new clients to develop a plan to
transition from the client's existing portfolio to the portfolio recommended by HMVWA.
HMVWA will then continuously monitor the client's portfolio holdings and the overall asset
allocation strategy and hold review meetings with the client regarding the account as
necessary.
HMVWA will typically create a portfolio of no-load, passively managed mutual funds and
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), and, where appropriate, individual fixed income securities,
and may use model portfolios if the models match the client's investment policy. HMVWA
will allocate a client's assets among various investments taking into consideration the
client’s unique ability, need and willingness to take risk. Mutual funds that follow a passive
and/or evidence-based investment philosophy generally have low holdings turnover.
Consequently, the fund expenses are generally lower than fees and expenses charged by
other types of funds.
Client portfolios may also include some individual equity securities in situations where
disposition of these securities would present an overriding tax implication, or the client
specifically requests they be retained for a personal reason. These situations will be
specifically identified in the client’s Investment Policy Statement (IPS).
HMVWA manages mutual fund and equity portfolios on a discretionary or non-
discretionary basis according to the investment policy selected by the client. A client may
impose any reasonable restrictions on HMVWA’s discretionary authority, including
restrictions on the types of securities in which HMVWA may invest client’s assets and on
specific securities, which the client may believe to be appropriate.
Use of Third-Party Sub-Advisers:
HMVWA has retained Buckingham Strategic Partners, LLC (“BSP)” to act as a sub-advisor
for certain client accounts. BSP shall provide various model asset allocation portfolios
(each a “Portfolio”, collectively “Portfolios”) for selection by HMVWA. Each Portfolio strives
to achieve long-term risk and return objectives through diversification among multiple
asset classes using investment options available to BSP, which may include, but is not
limited to, mutual funds and/or exchange traded funds from Dimensional Fund Advisors
LP, Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc., AQR Capital Management, LLC, The Vanguard
Group, Inc., Stoneridge Asset Management, LLC or other providers selected by BSP. Each
Portfolio is designed to meet a particular investment goal which HMVWA has determined is
suitable based on the client's circumstances. Once the appropriate Portfolio(s) has been
determined, the Portfolio will continuously be managed based on the portfolio’s goal and
BSP will have the discretionary authority to manage the Portfolio(s), including periodically
rebalancing. However, HMVWA, on behalf of its client, will have the opportunity to place
reasonable restrictions on the types of investments to be held in the portfolio. Should
material life events occur, clients should immediately contact HMVWA to determine if
changes to an account and the allocation of the assets held in the account are necessary.
HMVWA
may also recommend fixed income portfolios to investment management clients,
which consist of managed accounts of individual bonds. HMVWA will request discretionary
authority from investment management clients to manage fixed income portfolios,
including the discretion to retain a third-party fixed income manager. HMVWA will
prepare a Fixed Income Investment Policy Statement for any client qualifying for separate
fixed income portfolio services. Pursuant to its discretionary authority, HMVWA will retain
a fixed income securities manager. For client portfolios managed on a non-discretionary
basis, client should be aware that the authority for HMVWA to retain a fixed income
manager is provided in the signed advisory agreement and is provided on a discretionary
basis.
The fixed income securities manager will be provided with the discretionary authority to
invest client assets in fixed income securities consistent with the client’s Fixed Income
Investment Policy Statement. The fixed income manager will also monitor the account for
changes in credit ratings, security call provisions, and tax loss harvesting opportunities (to
the extent that the manager is provided with cost basis information). The fixed income
manager will obtain HMVWA’s consent prior to the sale of any client securities.
On an ongoing basis, HMVWA will answer clients’ inquiries regarding their accounts and
review periodically with clients the performance of their accounts. HMVWA will
periodically, and at least annually, review clients’ investment policy, risk profile and
discuss the re-balancing of each client's accounts to the extent appropriate. HMVWA will
provide to investment manager any updated client financial information or account
restrictions necessary for investment manager to provide sub-advisory services.
In addition to managing the client’s investment portfolio, HMVWA may consult with clients
on various financial areas including income and estate tax planning, business sale
structures, college financial planning, retirement planning, insurance analysis, personal
cash flow analysis, establishment and design of retirement plans and trust designs, among
other things.
HMVWA does not participate in or sponsor any wrap fee programs.
Employee Benefit Retirement Plan Services:
HMVWA also provides advisory services to participant-directed employee retirement
benefit plans through third party administration services, which are online bundled service
providers offering an opportunity for plan sponsors to provide their participants with daily
account access, valuation, and investment education.
HMVWA will analyze the plan's current investment platform and assist the plan in creating
an investment policy statement defining the types of investments to be offered and the
restrictions that may be imposed. HMVWA will recommend investment options to achieve
the plan's objectives, provide participant education meetings, and monitor the
performance of the plan's investment vehicles.
HMVWA will recommend changes in the plan's investment vehicles as may be appropriate
from time to time. HMVWA generally will review the plan's investment vehicles and
investment policy as necessary.
For certain retirement plans, HMVWA also works in coordination and support with
Buckingham Strategic Partners. Retirement plan clients will engage both HMVWA and
Buckingham Strategic Partners. Buckingham Strategic Partners will provide to the client
additional discretionary investment management services and will exercise discretionary
authority to select the plan investments made available to the plans’ participants by
selecting and maintaining the plans’ investments according to the goals and investment
objectives of the plan.
HMVWA will continue to work with plans to monitor plan investments, provide fiduciary
plan advice including regular considerations of the goals and objectives of the plan, and
provide participant education services to the plan.