Description of Firm
Gardey Financial Advisors, Inc. is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) as a Registered Investment Adviser with its principal place of business
located in Saginaw, Michigan. As the President and CEO Jonathan M. Gardey, is the Principal
Owner, and sole shareholder of Gardey Financial Advisors. Gardey Financial Advisors began
conducting business in 1985. There are currently 11 employees including three Certified
Financial Planner™ (CFP®) professionals, a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charter
holder, an Investment Advisor Certified Compliance Professional® (IACCP®) and additional
highly trained administrative staff.
Description of Services
Gardey Financial Advisors provides investment management and financial planning on a
continuous basis. The service is customized for each client taking into consideration the client’s
current and future financial situation. Client goals and objectives are clarified in meetings and via
correspondence and are used to determine the course of action for each individual client.
Wealth Management Service
This service provides customized management of the client’s investments in addition to
addressing their financial planning needs. It is designed for investors with investment assets of
$500,000 or more including retirement plan assets.
Investment Management
Through personal discussions, in which goals and objectives based on the client’s particular
circumstances are established, Gardey Financial Advisors develop the client’s personal
investment policy. They create and manage a portfolio based on that policy. During the
data-gathering process, Gardey Financial Advisors facilitates the discussion to assist the client in
determining their individual objectives, time horizons, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs. Gardey
also reviews and discusses the client’s prior investment history, as well as family composition and
background.
Gardey Financial Advisors manage these advisory accounts on a discretionary basis. Account
supervision is guided by the client’s stated objectives as well as tax considerations.
Clients may impose reasonable restrictions on investing in certain securities, types of securities,
or industry sectors.
Once a client’s portfolio has been established, Gardey Financial Advisors will review the portfolio
no less than annually, and rebalance the portfolio as needed on an annual basis. In the event of a
significant movement in the markets or a change in the client’s situation, the portfolio may be
rebalanced more frequently than annually.
The firm’s investment recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered
by a broker-dealer or insurance company and may include advice regarding the following types of
securities:
●Exchange listed securities (Common Stocks, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Closed-end
funds)
●Certificates of deposit
●Municipal securities
●Mutual fund shares (Commission-Free shares)
●United States governmental securities
●Interests in partnerships investing in real estate or oil and gas interest
●Corporate Bonds
Because some types of investments involve certain additional degrees of risk, they will only be
recommended when consistent with the client’s stated investment objectives, tolerance for risk,
liquidity, and suitability.
Financial Planning
Gardey Financial Advisors provides financial planning as part of the Wealth Management Service.
Through one-on-one discussions, they assist clients in determining their financial goals and in
creating a plan to help them achieve these goals. Gardey Financial Advisors utilizes in depth risk
tolerance analysis and client questionnaires to facilitate discussions about life goals and to assist
the
client in determining the proper asset allocation for their portfolio.
The firm believes it is valuable to the client to have the benefit of both Investment Management
and Financial Planning when being assisted in the development of a financial plan. Financial
planning is an evaluation of a client’s current and future financial state by using currently known
variables to predict future cash flows, asset values and withdrawal plans. Through the financial
planning process, all questions, information, and analysis are considered as they impact and are
impacted by the entire financial and life situation of the client.
Gardey Financial Advisors gathers the required information through in-depth personal interviews
and client questionnaires. Information gathered includes the client’s current financial status, tax
status, future goals, return objectives and attitudes towards risk. The firm carefully reviews
documents supplied by the client, including other recommendations, and strongly suggests the
client work closely with his/her attorney, accountant, and insurance agent. If the client does not
have a professional relationship established with any of these professionals, Gardey Financial
Advisors will refer the client to a professional in the area. Implementation of the financial plan
recommendations is entirely at the client’s discretion.
Client Obligation
In performing their services, Gardey Financial Advisors shall not be required to verify any
information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals and is expressly
authorized to rely thereon. Moreover, it remains each client’s responsibility to promptly notify
Gardey Financial Advisors if there is ever any change in his/her/its financial situation or
investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising previous recommendations
and/or services.
Limitations of Financial Planning and Non-Investment Consulting/Implementation Services
Gardey Financial Advisors does not serve as an attorney, accountant or insurance agent, and no
portion of our services should be construed as legal, accounting or insurance services.
Accordingly, Gardey Financial Advisors does not prepare estate planning documents or tax
returns, nor does it sell insurance products. To the extent requested by a client, we may
recommend the services of other professionals for certain non-investment implementation
purposes (i.e. attorneys, accountants, insurance, etc.). The client is under no obligation to engage
the services of any such recommended professional. The client retains absolute discretion over
all such implementation decisions and is free to accept or reject any recommendation from
Gardey Financial Advisors and/or its representatives.
Gardey Financial Advisors may recommend other professionals (e.g., lawyers, accountants,
appraisal services, etc.) at the request of the client. Other professionals are engaged directly by
the client on an as-needed basis even when recommended by the Advisor. Conflicts of interest, if
any, will be disclosed to the client and always managed in the best interest of the client.
Please Note: If the client engages any recommended unaffiliated professional, and a dispute
arises thereafter relative to such engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from
and against the engaged professional.
Wrap Fee Programs
Gardey Financial Advisors does not participate in Wrap Fee programs.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023 Gardey Financial Advisors managed over $228,441,648in assets for
about 185 client households. Of the assets under management, approximately $203,048,635is
managed on a discretionary basis and $25,393,013is managed on a non-discretionary basis.