Firm Description
SYM Financial Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “SYM”) is a registered investment adviser with its
principal place of business located in Indiana. SYM began conducting business as a registered investment
adviser in 1985.
Listed below are the firm's principal shareholders
• Jerald W. Yeager, CEO
• Rodney S. Coleman, President
Types of Advisory Services Offered
SYM offers one or more of the following advisory services, where appropriate, to individuals, high net worth
individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates or charitable organizations, corporations or other
business entities:
• Wealth Management
• Financial Planning
• Financial Planning Projects
• Portfolio Management
• Qualified Plan Consulting
Wealth Management
Our firm provides Wealth Management services which is the integration of discretionary Portfolio Management
and Financial Planning. Please note: SYM believes that it is important for the client to address financial planning
issues on an ongoing basis. SYM’s advisory fee, as set forth at Item 5 below, will remain the same regardless of
whether or not the client determines to address financial planning issues with SYM.
Financial Planning
Our firm provides Financial Planning services based on the individual needs of the client. Through detailed
discussions, we help our clients develop goals and objectives based on the client's particular circumstances.
Financial planning can include a comprehensive or issue specific 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, questions, information and analysis are considered as they
impact, and are impacted by, the entire financial and life situation of the client. If needed, clients purchasing this
service can receive a report which provides the client with a detailed financial plan designed to assist the client
in achieving his or her financial goals and objectives. Depending on the client needs, these services may include
cash flow analysis, tax planning, social security planning, risk exposure review, education funding, retirement
planning, charitable planning, special needs planning, estate planning, business planning, and life insurance and
disability planning. These services may include other areas that are specific to the client.
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We gather required information which may include the client's current financial status, tax status, future goals,
returns objectives and attitudes towards risk. We carefully review documents supplied by the client. Should the
client choose to implement the recommendations contained in the plan, we suggest the client work closely with
an attorney, accountant, and insurance agent. Implementation of financial plan recommendations is entirely at
the client's discretion.
Financial Planning Projects
Our firm also provides Financial Planning services on a project basis.
Portfolio Management
Our firm provides advice to a client regarding the investment of client funds based on the individual needs of
the client. Through personal discussions in which goals and objectives based on a client's particular
circumstances are established, we develop a client's personal investment policy and create and manage a
portfolio based on that policy. During our data-gathering process, we determine the client’s individual
objectives, time horizons, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs.
We manage these advisory accounts on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis. Account supervision is
guided by the client's stated objectives (i.e., maximum capital appreciation, growth, income, or growth and
income), as well as tax considerations.
Our investment recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered by a broker-dealer
or insurance company. Because some types of investments involve certain additional degrees of risk, they will
only be implemented/recommended when consistent with the client's stated investment objectives, tolerance
for risk, liquidity and suitability. Clients may impose reasonable restrictions on investing in certain securities,
types of securities, or industry sectors.
Once the client's portfolio has been established, we review the portfolio on a regular basis, and if necessary,
rebalance the portfolio as needed, based on the client's individual needs.
In certain situations, SYM offers an automated investment program (the “Program”) through which clients are
invested in a range of investment strategies SYM has constructed and manages, each consisting of a portfolio of
exchange-traded funds and mutual funds (“Funds”) and a cash allocation. The client’s portfolio is held in a
brokerage account opened by the client at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). SYM uses the Institutional
Intelligent Portfolios® platform (“Platform”), offered by Schwab Performance Technologies (“SPT”), a software
provider to independent investment advisors and an affiliate of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. to operate the
Program. SYM is independent of, and not owned by, affiliated with, or sponsored or supervised by SPT, Charles
Schwab &Co. Inc., or their affiliates (together, “Schwab”). SYM, and not Schwab, is the client’s investment
advisor and primary point of contact with respect to the Program. SYM is solely responsible, and Schwab is not
responsible, for determining the appropriateness of the Program for the client, choosing a suitable investment
strategy and portfolio for the client’s investment needs and goals, and managing that portfolio on an ongoing
basis. SYM has an agreement with SPT to provide the Platform, which consists of technology and related
trading and account management services for the Program. The Platform enables SYM to make the Program
available to clients online and includes a system that automates certain key parts of our investment process (the
“System”). Based on information the client provides to us, we will recommend a portfolio via the System. The
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client may then indicate an interest in a portfolio that is one level less or more conservative or aggressive than
the recommended portfolio, but we then make the final decision in helping the client select a portfolio based on
all the information we have about the client. The System also includes an automated investment engine through
which we manage the client’s portfolio on an ongoing basis through automatic rebalancing and tax-loss
harvesting (if SYM elects and determines it is appropriate for the client and he/she is eligible).
We charge clients a fee for our services as described below under Item 5 Fees and Compensation. Our fees are
not set or supervised by Schwab. Clients do not pay brokerage commissions or any other fees to Schwab as part
of the Program. Schwab does receive other revenues, including (i) the profit earned by Charles Schwab Bank, a
Schwab affiliate, on the allocation to the Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Sweep Program described in the Schwab
Intelligent Portfolios Sweep Program Disclosure Statement; (ii) investment advisory and/or administrative
service fees (or unitary fees) received by Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., a Schwab affiliate, from
Schwab ETFs™, Schwab Funds®, and Laudus Funds® that we select to buy and hold in the client’s brokerage
account; (iii) fees received by Schwab from third-party ETFs that participate in the Schwab ETF OneSource™
program and mutual funds in the Schwab Mutual Fund Marketplace® (including certain Schwab Funds and
Laudus Funds) in the client’s brokerage account for services Schwab provides; and (iv) remuneration Schwab
may receive from the market centers where it routes ETF trade orders for execution.
Clients must agree to accept electronic delivery of the Portfolio Management Agreement, disclosure
documents, prospectuses, statements, and other materials. SYM makes portfolio managers available to discuss
servicing matters with clients.
Qualified Plan Consulting
Our firm provides Qualified Plan Consulting services primarily to 401(k), 403(b), profit sharing and pension
plans. Qualified Plan Consulting services are comprised of four distinct services, and we provide several
advisory services separately or in combination. Clients may choose to use any or all of these services.
Investment Policy Statement
Preparation (hereinafter referred to as ''IPS''): We will meet with the client (in
person or over the telephone) to determine an appropriate investment strategy that reflects the plan sponsor's
stated investment objectives for management of the overall plan. Our firm then prepares a written IPS detailing
those needs and goals, including an encompassing policy under which these goals are to be achieved. The IPS
also lists the criteria for selection of investment vehicles as well as the procedures and timing intervals for
monitoring of investment performance.
Selection of Investment Vehicles: We review and consider various mutual funds (both index and managed) to
determine which investments are appropriate in order to implement the client's IPS. We then assist plan
sponsors in constructing an investment lineup that includes asset allocation models, target date funds and
individual mutual funds.
Monitoring of Investment Performance: We monitor client investments based on the procedures and timing
intervals delineated in the IPS. Our firm creates and monitors the investment lineup for our plan sponsors. We
also supervise the client's portfolio and will make recommendations to the client as market factors and the
client's needs dictate.
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Employee Communications: For qualified plan clients with individual plan participants exercising control over
assets in their own account (''self-directed plans''), we may also provide educational support and investment
workshops designed for the plan participants. The nature of the topics to be covered will be determined by us
and the client under the guidelines established in ERISA Section 404(c). SYM may provide educational support
and investment workshops that aid plan participants in the selection of appropriate investment options.
Client Obligations
In performing our services, SYM 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 SYM if there is ever any change in his/her/its financial situation or investment
objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services.
Various services offered by SYM rely on the client providing requested information. The quality of these
planning services may be adversely affected should the client not provide requested information, and SYM may
not be able to complete some services should the client fail to provide requested information. In such cases,
SYM will complete planning services to which we have contractually agreed to the extent possible; SYM will not
be obligated to refund any portion of planning fees should we not be able to complete all the agreed upon
services due to a client’s failure to provide requested information.
Client acknowledges SYM does not provide legal advice, nor does it serve as an accountant or insurance
agency, and no portion of our services should be construed as such. Therefore, SYM does not prepare estate
planning documents, tax returns or sell insurance products. To the extent requested by a client, we may
recommend the services of other professionals for these types of services. The client is under no obligation to
engage the services of any such recommended professional. The client retains absolute discretion to determine
which professional to engage with respect to these matters. Please note: At all times, the engaged unaffiliated
licensed professional[s] (i.e., attorney, accountant, insurance agent, etc.), and not SYM, shall be responsible for
the quality and competency of the services provided by such professional.
Miscellaneous
Retirement Rollovers-Potential for Conflict of Interest: A client or prospective client leaving an employer
typically has four options regarding an existing retirement plan (and may engage in a combination of these
options): (i) leave the money in the former employer’s plan, if permitted, (ii) roll over the assets to the new
employer’s plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) roll over to an Individual Retirement Account
(“IRA”), or (iv) cash out the account value (which could, depending upon the client’s age, result in adverse tax
consequences). If SYM recommends that a client roll over their retirement plan assets into an account to be
managed by SYM, such a recommendation creates a conflict of interest if SYM will earn new (or increase its
current) compensation as a result of the rollover. When acting in such capacity, SYM serves as a fiduciary under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), or the Internal Revenue Code, or both. No client is
under any obligation to roll over retirement plan assets to an account managed by SYM. Any questions: SYM’s
Chief Compliance Officer, Crystal Allen, remains available to address any questions that a client or prospective
client may have regarding the potential for conflict of interest presented by such rollover recommendation.
Use of Mutual and Exchange Traded Funds: Some mutual funds and exchange traded funds are available
directly to the public. Thus, a prospective client can obtain some of the funds that may be utilized by SYM
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independent of engaging SYM as an investment advisor. However, if a prospective client determines to do so,
he/she will not receive SYM’s initial and ongoing Portfolio Management services. Please note: In addition to
SYM’s Portfolio Management fee described below, and transaction and/or custodial fees charged by the
account custodian, clients will also incur, relative to all mutual fund and exchange traded fund purchases,
charges imposed at the fund level (e.g., management fees and other fund expenses).
Use of DFA Mutual Funds: SYM utilizes the mutual funds issued by Dimensional Fund Advisors (“DFA”). DFA
funds are generally only available through registered investment advisers approved by DFA. Thus, if the client
were to terminate SYM’s services, and transition to another adviser who has not been approved by DFA to
utilize DFA funds, restrictions regarding additional purchases of, or reallocation among other DFA funds, will
generally apply. Any questions: SYM’s Chief Compliance Officer, Crystal Allen, remains available to address any
questions that a client or prospective client may have regarding mutual and exchange traded funds, including
DFA funds.
Portfolio Activity: SYM has a fiduciary duty to provide services consistent with the client’s best interest. As part
of its Portfolio Management services, SYM will review client portfolios on an ongoing basis to determine if any
changes are necessary based upon various factors, including, but not limited to, investment performance,
market conditions, fund manager tenure, style drift, account additions/withdrawals, and/or a change in the
client’s investment objective. Based upon these factors, there may be extended periods of time when SYM
determines that changes to a client’s portfolio are neither necessary, nor prudent. Clients remain subject to the
fees described in Item 5 below during periods of account inactivity. As indicated below, there can be no
assurance that investment decisions made by SYM will be profitable or equal any specific performance level(s).
Non-Discretionary Service Limitations: Clients that determine to engage SYM on a non-discretionary
investment advisory basis must be willing to accept that SYM cannot effect any account transactions without
obtaining prior consent to any such transaction(s) from the client. Thus, in the event that SYM would like to
make a transaction for a client’s account, and the client is unavailable, SYM will be unable to effect the account
transaction (as it would for its discretionary clients) without first obtaining the client’s consent.
Investment Risk: Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed
that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy (including the investments and/or
investment strategies recommended or undertaken by SYM) will be profitable or equal any specific
performance level(s).
Assets under Management
As of 12/31/2023, we were actively managing $4,055,387,303 of which $3,443,160,320 of clients' assets were
managed on a discretionary basis and $612,226,983 of clients' assets were managed on a non-discretionary
basis.