Seek First Inc. (“the Adviser”) became registered as an investment adviser in 2021. Scott
Pearring is the principal owner.
The Adviser has a fixed fee program called Seek First Consulting. The program bundles
financial planning, tax planning, estate planning, and insurance planning services.
Seek First Consulting
The Adviser provides consulting and planning services to clients and coordinates the
monthly activities and deliverables of a team of other professionals. The team members
are chosen based on their accounting, legal, and insurance backgrounds, services being
offered, compensation, and their firm governance.
The Adviser first obtains and organizes information from clients and then assists clients
with formalizing, setting realistic goals, and tailoring the advisory services based on the
individual needs of the client. The Adviser also creates implementation plans based on the
recommendations of the professional team. The Adviser reviews overall allocations for
suitability and alignment with client objectives, makes adjustments when client
circumstances change, and coordinates the efforts of the professional team.
Financial Planning Strategy
The Adviser assists clients with determining how much to keep in and the adequacy of
their cash reserves. This cash flow assessment involves analyzing income and expenses.
This generates recommendations regarding reducing debt on an optimized schedule, and
modeling the tax consequences of adding to or reducing debt.
The Adviser makes recommendations regarding efficient ways of reaching each goal that
may include but isn’t limited to taxes, giving, investing and spending. The Adviser will
recommend the ideal account type and strategic and tactical use of assets above the cash
reserve amount.
Tax Strategy
Our firm offers a comprehensive range of tax services to help individuals and businesses
navigate taxation efficiently and effectively. We strive to provide tailored solutions that
maximize tax benefits and minimize liabilities. Our areas of focus are the following:
Individual Tax Planning and Preparation
Business Tax Planning and Compliance
Corporate Tax Returns
Tax Consulting
Tax Compliance review
Tax Resolution Representation
Legal Strategy
The Adviser will ensure that clients review their estate plans during every annual meeting
with the Adviser. The Adviser verifies that an estate planning attorney has reviewed the
estate plan (when any underlying information has changed). The estate plan components
typically include but are not limited to trusts, wills, healthcare directives, and Powers of
Attorney.
The Adviser confirms that the attorney has established a regular schedule for conducting
reviews. The Adviser ensures that the various estate planning vehicles were discussed.
Insurance Strategy
The Adviser generally discusses insurance types and coverage needs covering life,
disability, Long Term Care, auto, property, earthquake, renter’s, liability, health, dental,
vision, and identity theft insurance. Related employee benefits packages are reviewed.
Annual Meeting
The Adviser will also update any pertinent information during each annual meeting and
determine if goals are on track or have changed.
Note: The term for any of the noted financial planning services will be completed within
a year or less and that any further reviews may be performed in another contractual
engagement with the client.
Select Services
The fixed fee program isn’t suitable for every client. The Adviser will recommend an
appropriate mix of services that are consistent with the needs, financial and tax status, risk
tolerance, and investment objectives of this type of client under these circumstances.
Planning Conflicts of Interest
Since the compensation that is payable to professionals will vary, the Adviser may have
an incentive to recommend one professional over another. However, clients are under no
obligation to act upon any recommendations of the Adviser or to execute any transactions
through any recommended company if they decide to follow the recommendations. The
Adviser
does not have an arrangement under which it or its associated persons receive
compensation from others for client referrals.
A conflict exists between the interests of the investment adviser and the interests of the
client, the client is under no obligation to act upon the investment adviser's
recommendation, and if the client elects to act on any of the recommendations, the client
is under no obligation to effect the transaction through the investment adviser.
Investment Management Services
The Adviser provides individual investment management services on a discretionary basis
to clients who do not wish to participate in the fixed fee program. When the Adviser
manages client assets on a discretionary basis, the Adviser executes securities
transactions for clients without having to obtain specific client consent prior to each
transaction. Discretionary authority is limited to investments within a client’s managed
accounts. However, clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or
types of securities.
The Adviser provides investment management services that include, among other things,
advice regarding asset allocation and the selection of investments, portfolio design,
investment plan implementation and ongoing investment monitoring. The Adviser relies
on the stated objectives of each client and considers the client’s risk profile and financial
status prior to making any recommendations. The Adviser doesn’t participate in wrap fee
programs by providing portfolio management or any other services.
The Adviser will collect and document information from each client that forms the basis
of and supports all recommendations and tailor the advisory services based on the
individual needs of the client. The Adviser will obtain the following information from
clients:
A. Age (or date of birth);
B. Annual income;
C. Total net worth (excluding primary residence);
D. Liquid net worth;
E. Employment status (if retired, former profession. If self-employed, type of
business);
F. Fair market value of primary residence (and outstanding debt);
G. Tax status, which includes, type of account (natural person, entity, IRA, etc.), tax
bracket, or tax strategy for the account(s);
H. Investment objectives (should be defined to ensure client understanding);
I. Investment experience (time/investment products);
J. Investment time horizon;
K. Liquidity (cash flow) needs;
L. Risk tolerance;
M. Other investments (types of investments held elsewhere);
N. Any other information the client may disclose to the investment adviser in
connection with recommendations or investment advice; and
O. Any other relevant information the investment adviser should ask based on the
investment adviser’s strategy (for example, source of funds for the purpose of
investment).
The Adviser will make reasonable efforts to document and annually update client suitability
information.
As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser manages $135,000,000 in client assets on a
discretionary basis and $0 on a nondiscretionary basis.
Advisory Referral Services
The Adviser may allocate client assets to Expand Financial Group, LLC, CRD# 293160 a
third-party asset manager (independent investment adviser). The Adviser gathers
information about a client's financial and tax status and investment objectives. The
Adviser allocates assets to Expand Financial Group, LLC based on the investment
objectives, consulting and investment management service needs of a client.
Expand Financial Group, LLC creates portfolios consisting of individual stocks, bonds,
exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), options, mutual funds and other public and private
securities or investments.
Conflicts of Interest
All material conflicts of interest under CCR Section 260.238 are disclosed regarding the
investment adviser, its representatives or any of its employees, which could be reasonably
expected to impair the rendering of unbiased and objective advice, are disclosed within
this brochure.