Firm Description
Cincinnati Asset Management, Inc. (“CAM”) was founded in 1989.
CAM provides investment management service to individuals, pension and
profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, small
businesses, insurance companies, and mutual funds. This service generally
involves the management of separate, diversified portfolios of fixed income
securities, preferred stocks, ETFs and other securities based on one or more
of the investment strategies developed and offered by us (i.e. Investment
Grade, High Yield, Enhanced High Yield, Short Duration, Broad Market,
Combined, Short Duration Investment Grade and Short Duration High Yield
Only).
Portfolios generally, but not exclusively, consist of investment grade bonds,
below investment grade bonds, or a mixture of both depending on the
strategy selected by clients and their financial advisors. The service will
include the execution of the strategy by selecting appropriate investments and
placing orders for the purchase and sale of such securities. Most fixed income
securities are traded in the over-the-counter markets and market conditions
dictate the availability and prices of such securities on any trading day
including the ability to buy or sell a particular security. CAM’s process of
investing portfolios is deliberate and may take up to six months to obtain
suitable securities at appropriate prices; likewise, portfolio liquidations may
take ten business days or longer in order to obtain sales prices and achieve
optimum value for clients.
CAM is strictly a fee-only investment management firm. The firm does not
sell annuities, insurance, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, limited partnerships, or
other commissioned products. The firm is not affiliated with entities that sell
financial products or securities. No commissions in any form are accepted.
No finder’s fees are accepted.
We do not act as a custodian of client assets. The client always maintains
asset control. CAM places trades for clients under a limited power of attorney
which restricts us to trading securities solely on a cash basis for all clients.
Principal Owners
William S. Sloneker, Chairman and Managing Director, is a Principal Owner
of the firm. He owns 30.0% of CAM, and he and two family members
collectively own 57.9%.
Types of Advisory Services
We provide investment supervisory services, also known as asset
management services and manage investment advisory accounts not
involving investment supervisory services. All accounts are comprised
primarily, but not exclusively, of fixed income securities.
The majority of CAM’s assets under management are generated from our
participation in Wrap Fee Programs at broker-dealers. All accounts, whether
Wrap accounts or accounts managed outside Wrap Programs, are managed
similarly depending on the Strategy selected by the client (investment grade,
non-investment grade, or mixture of the two).
We receive a portion of the Wrap fee for our services from the Wrap Program
Sponsor and we bill non-Wrap accounts directly. CAM does not accept
accounts with directed brokerage instructions. CAM executes trades on a
“trade away” basis pursuant to our duty to achieve best execution, as further
described below. See “Selecting Brokerage Firms” (pg 13) and “Asset
Management” (pg 3).
As of February 29, 2024, CAM managed approximately $2,392,100,000 in
assets for approximately 6,300 clients. All assets are managed
on a
discretionary basis.
Tailored Relationships
The fixed income strategies (investment grade corporate bonds, corporate
bonds rated below investment grade, and a mixture of the two) are
documented in our client relationship management system. Clients may
impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of securities.
Agreements may not be assigned without client consent.
Types of Agreements
The following agreements define the types of typical client relationships.
Financial Planning Agreement
CAM does not provide financial planning services.
Advisory Service Agreement
CAM advisory services are limited to the management of securities portfolios,
primarily, but not exclusively, comprised of fixed income securities.
Although the Advisory Service Agreement, called an Investment Management
Agreement, is an ongoing agreement and constant adjustments are required,
the length of service to the client is at the client’s discretion. The client or
CAM may terminate an Agreement by written notice to the other party. At
termination of an Advisory Agreement, we bill for unpaid fees on a pro rata
basis through the date of termination. The portfolio market value at the
completion of the prior full billing period is used as the basis for the fee
computation, adjusted for the number of days prior to termination.
Retainer Agreement
CAM does not enter into Retainer Agreements for its investment management
business.
Investment Management Agreement
Our Investment Management Agreements and the fees associated with those
Agreements are described in the Fees and Compensation section below.
Tax Preparation Agreement
We do not provide tax preparation services.
Hourly Planning Engagements
This item is not applicable.
Asset Management
Assets are invested primarily in investment grade corporate bonds, non-
investment grade corporate bonds, and a mixture of the two based on the
investment strategy selected by the client. Purchases and sales of securities
are made through a number of broker-dealers with which CAM attempts to
negotiate the most favorable execution price. CAM does not receive any
cash compensation from these broker-dealers; however, CAM may receive
research and other services from these broker-dealers in order to broaden its
own research activities. CAM does not have any directed trade arrangements
or “soft dollar” arrangements.
Investments may also include: common and preferred stocks, commercial
paper, convertible and other “hybrid” securities, certificates of deposit, ETFs,
REIT shares, MLP units, and U. S. government securities. Initial public
offerings (IPOs) of equities are not purchased; however, new issues of bonds
are purchased for client accounts.
Termination of Agreement
Clients, either directly or through their financial advisors, may terminate any of
our investment management agreements at any time by notifying us in
writing. We expect payment of the pro rata fees for the period of the
investment advisory engagement prior to notification of termination. If the
client made an advance payment of fees, we will refund any unearned portion
of the advance payment.
We may terminate upon thirty days advance notice any of the investment
management agreements by notifying the client in writing. If the client made
an advance payment, we will refund any unearned portion of the advance
payment.