Description of Advisory Firm
Fairhaven Financial Advisory Corporation (“Fairhaven Financial”) is a Michigan corporation that is registered
as an Investment Adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Joseph R. Brooks (CRD Number
712568) is President and owner of Fairhaven Financial. Rachel C. Anderson (CRD No. 5427633) is an
Investment Adviser Representative and Chief Compliance Officer of Fairhaven Financial. Fairhaven Financial
is not publicly owned or traded. There are no indirect owners of the firm or intermediaries who have any
ownership interest in the firm. The firm manages clients’ portfolios on a periodic basis, offering both
discretionary and non-discretionary services. As of December 31, 2023, Fairhaven Financial manages
$260,399,970 on a discretionary basis and $12,767,094 on a non-discretionary basis.
Joseph R. Brooks, ChFC, is a Charter Member of Ed Slott’s Master Elite IRA Advisor Group
and was featured as the Guest IRA Expert in Ed Slott’s IRA Advisor, November 2010 edition.
This newsletter is distributed to thousands of financial advisors, CPA’s and attorneys
around the country. It is also distributed to well-known publications such as The Wall Street
Journal, Kiplinger Letter, Money Magazine, and many others. Joe was featured in The Wall
Street Journal with an article entitled “Check the IRA Math” which dealt with custodial and
required minimum distribution mistakes, both of which may occur in the distribution of
IRA assets. He was also featured in a March 15, 2016, USA Today article titled “If you inherit an IRA, make a
plan before doing a thing” which dealt with tax issues associated with inheriting an IRA.
Rachel C. Anderson has worked with Joseph R. Brooks at Fairhaven Financial since 1997. She has been the
Chief Compliance Officer since 2011 and passed the exam required to become an Investment Adviser
Representative in October 2016. Jonathan R. Brooks has worked with Joseph R. Brooks at Fairhaven Financial
since 2016. He passed the exam required to become an Investment Adviser Representative in February 2018.
Joshua S. Roberds has worked with Joseph R. Brooks at Fairhaven since 2017. He passed the exam required
to become an investment adviser representative in January 2019. Fairhaven Financial is an independent
Registered Investment Adviser and comprehensive service provider, specializing in IRAs and qualified
retirement plans for retirees and those nearing retirement. Through a systematic financial review process,
Fairhaven Financial helps investors avoid costly gaps and oversights in investments, taxes, estate planning,
insurance, Social Security and IRA distributions. With the philosophy “better data leads to better decisions,”
the team has a unique capability to collect, store and compile investment data—exceeding government and
industry standards—to assist clients in making the most informed investment decisions possible. With more
than 30 years of experience advising on retirement assets for both individual and corporate accounts, Joseph
R. Brooks, ChFC®, and his staff bring extensive knowledge of distributions, rollovers and critical tax and legal
considerations to clients. Fairhaven Financial is dedicated to transparency, independent advice and integrity.
Joe holds a B.A. from Michigan State University and is a member of the Society of Financial Service
Professionals. Previously he was the Vice President of the Central Michigan Chapter of the International
Association of Financial Planning.
Types of Advisory Services
Gold Medal Services
At Fairhaven Financial, we constantly aspire to exceed expectations for client service and quality retirement,
estate and financial planning. As such, we offer our clients Gold Medal Services to help realize their goals for
retirement and beyond. These Gold Medal services can include, but are not limited, to investment advisory
services, investment tax basis reporting, retirement distribution planning, client services and
communications, estate planning & trustee/executor services, social security, retirement plan services,
general consultation and financial planning services. To this aim, Fairhaven Financial provides Gold Medal
Services, Limited Investment Advisory Services, Retirement Plan Services, General Consultation Services and
Financial Planning Services, which are described below.
Investment Advisory Services are offered on both a discretionary and a non-discretionary basis and involve
the creation of an investment portfolio based on the client’s specific needs and situation; portfolio assets will
be monitored and reviewed during the client’s investment review. We have investment strategies that are
based on account size and risk tolerance. These strategies are conservative, moderately conservative,
moderate, moderately aggressive, and aggressive. Clients receiving this service are encouraged to stay in
contact with Fairhaven Financial. Fairhaven Financial offers quarterly or semiannual investment reviews to
Clients. However, it is up to the Client to contact Fairhaven Financial to arrange for an investment review if it
has not occurred at least semiannually. Clients should contact Fairhaven Financial promptly if there has been
any change in their current financial status to determine if there needs to be a change in investment
objectives
or risk tolerance. Clients may call the office at any time during normal business hours to request
an investment review as needed or to discuss directly with Joseph R. Brooks, Jonathan R. Brooks, Joshua
Roberds or Rachel C. Anderson issues regarding their account, financial situation or investment needs. Clients
receive standard account statements from their custodian on either a monthly or quarterly basis, or as
transactions occur. Additionally, Fairhaven Financial will provide on a quarterly basis a report of the assets
and securities held in the Client’s account along with the market value.
Fairhaven Financial may utilize no-load mutual funds, ETF’s, cash, stocks, bonds and load mutual funds
purchased at net asset value (NAV) in a Client portfolio.
Limited Investment Advisory Services
Fairhaven Financial also offers a limited investment advisory service for clients that do not have a need for
our Gold Medal Services. This service is offered on both a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. This
service involves the creation of an investment portfolio based on the client’s specific needs and situation.
Clients should contact Fairhaven Financial promptly if there has been any change in their current financial
status information to determine if there needs to be a change in investment objectives or risk tolerance.
Clients receive standard account statements from their custodian on either a monthly or quarterly basis, or
as transactions occur.
Fairhaven Financial may utilize no-load mutual funds, ETF’s, cash, stocks, bonds and load mutual funds
purchased at net asset value (NAV) in a Client portfolio.
Retirement Plan Services
Investment Advisory Service - Fairhaven Financial also offers investment advisory services for certain
qualified retirement plans. This covers the services described in “Investment Advisory Services” above, as
well as the recommendation of a Third Party Administrator for the plan client, but does not include the
services offered under Gold Medal Services.
Employer Sponsored Plan Advisor Services (“ESPAS”)- We offer non-discretionary consulting to 401(k) plans
and their trustees with respect to such matters as:
(1) Enrollment of employees into the plan;
(2) Recommendation of 3(38) ERISA fiduciary for management of plan assets;
(3) Recommendation of third party administrator for the plan;
(4) Offer to meet with participants on an annual basis to address questions regarding their plan, not
to provide investment advisory services.
All plans to which we provide ESPAS are regulated under the Employee Retirement Income Securities
Act ("ERISA"). The plan fiduciary is free to seek independent advice about the appropriateness of any
recommended services for the plan.
General Consultation and Financial Planning Services
Fairhaven Financial offers General Consultation and Financial Planning Services on an hourly or flat fee basis.
Consultations can be general or focused in nature, depending upon the needs of the Client. General
Consultation and Financial Planning Services to be provided to the Client will be outlined on the “Financial
Services Agreement” signed by the Client. After completion/delivery of the General Consultation and/or
Financial Planning Services there is no further obligation for implementation or monitoring.
Fairhaven Financial offers Financial Planning Services on issues such as life insurance planning, disability
insurance planning, retirement planning, retirement distribution planning, estate planning, asset allocation
planning, and other financial services issues on an as needed basis identified by the Client.
Financial Planning Services may include preparation of the Client’s Financial Statement reflecting their overall
financial situation. The Financial Statement may or may not include one or more of the above referenced
services; they may cover only desired components or may be comprehensive in nature, depending upon the
specific needs and desires of the Client. As the Financial Statement is established, recommendations may be
offered in relation to the Client’s needs.
The Financial Planning process may include the following:
1. Initial Client Meeting to review and determine which financial planning services are applicable.
2. Obtain financial data and discuss applicable issues for preparation of the report from the selected
financial planning service(s).
3. Analyze financial data and provide written report based upon that information.
4. Deliver the plan and recommendations to Client.
5. Assist in implementation of the plan and recommendations, when requested.
Educational Seminars
Fairhaven Financial may conduct seminars and/or classes on various financial topics such as risk tolerance,
time horizon, financial planning, beneficiary designation issues, IRAs, other qualified retirement plan issues,
titling of assets and so forth.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
We offer the same suite of services to all of our clients. However, specific client services and their
implementation are dependent upon a client’s current situation (income, tax levels, investment objectives,
and risk tolerance). This is used to construct a client specific portfolio that matches restrictions and needs.
Wrap Fee Programs
We do not participate in wrap fee programs.