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Who We Are
Butensky & Cohen Financial Security, Inc. also doing business under the name B&C Financial Advisors
(hereinafter referred to as “the Company”, “we”, “us” and “our”) is a fee-only registered investment
advisor
1 incorporated in October of 1994 as a Florida corporation. We offer a wide range of financial
management services designed to assist you, our client
2, in achieving your financial goals and to
protect what you have worked hard to create.
Owners
The following persons are owners of the Company:
Name Title CRD#
Allan Abraham Cohen, 22% President & CEO 720627
Jacqueline Ann Bos, 30% Chief Compliance Officer & Vice President 2493047
Thomas Leonard Ellis, 30% Vice President 4448624
Sean Guldi, 12% Chief Investment Officer 5671586
Adam Oerther, 6% Vice President 6129731
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, our assets under management totaled:
Client Discretionary Managed Accounts.................................................. $ 494,203,781
Client Non-Discretionary Managed Accounts ....................................... $ 8,500,451
Total: $ 502,704,232
Mission and Objective
Our mission is to develop a personal relationship with you in order to gain trust and confidence
through actions of uncompromising service and unbiased asset management and financial and estate
planning.
“Our objective is to give you a good night’s sleep.”
1 The term “registered investment advisor” is not intended to imply that Butensky & Cohen Financial Security, Inc has attained a certain level of skill or
training. It is used strictly to reference the fact that we are “Registered” as an “Investment Advisor” with the United States Securities & Exchange Commission
– and “Notice Filed” with such other State Regulatory Agencies that may have limited regulatory jurisdiction over our business practices.
2 A client could be an individual, a corporation and/or small business, a trust, an estate, a charitable organization and/or another type of entity structure to
give investment advice.
What We Do
We provide investment management and financial planning services, which stress fiscal responsibility
and disciplined economic decision-making, ultimately designed to protect your monetary needs for
today, tomorrow, and in the future. We consider ourselves to specialize in wealth management and
even hold ourselves out as wealth management specialists. Wealth management can best be described
as a combination of investment management and financial planning services. It is important to note
there is not one, commonly accepted definition for wealth management and there is no such thing as a
Wealth Management Specialist designation or certification. Therefore use of the term should not be
construed that we have attained a certain level of skill or expertise.
Our central duty is to assist you in achieving success and fulfillment in both your personal and financial
life and to guide you in making intelligent, informed decisions on the complex financial options
available in today’s economic environment. We provide this service through:
Advice on how to best navigate the current economic and investment environment.
The construction of a financial plan, when necessary, to evaluate the investing and financial
options available to you based upon your defined goals.
The design of an asset allocation guideline unique to your predefined goals and objectives.
Implementation of the investment and risk management strategies necessary to attain your
financial goals.
Monitoring the investment performance of such management strategies.
Earning your trust and confidence is a great compliment. We understand that when this is
accomplished, you are at peace knowing your financial affairs are being managed with your best
interest always in mind.
How We Get to Know You
We get to know you through one-on-one consultations to discuss issues such as your current income
and expenses, career, personal goals, investment return expectations and prior investment experience.
In addition, you complete a profile questionnaire
3 that provides a picture of your financial needs.
With the complexity of today’s marketplace, it is critical for us to understand who you are and what
you want to accomplish financially. We must have a clear picture of your unique financial composition
and risk tolerance so that we can develop a successful investment plan and tailored asset allocation
guideline. If you have difficulty expressing your monetary needs or do not truly have a grasp of your
overall personal finances, a financial plan may be suggested before proceeding with any investment
services.
Our meetings with you to discuss your finances, and, if necessary, develop a financial plan, will help to
eliminate much of the guesswork in achieving the security and independence you desire and simplify
your financial alternatives. In return, we will have:
Defined and narrowed objectives and investment options;
Identified areas of greatest distress;
Developed a strategy for addressing concerns about the future;
Cultivated peace of mind; and,
3 The profile questionnaire we use is an important tool in gathering information about your investment methodology, risk tolerance, income/tax bracket,
liquidity, time horizons, etc. If you elect not to answer the questionnaire or choose to respond with limited input, it is possible that we could operate in a
handicapped capacity contrary to your investment needs. Therefore, if you desire the most effective and accurate recommendations regarding your managed
account(s), you should make every effort to provide us with your detailed personal needs and objectives, along with detailed financial and tax information.
Created a unique picture of your overall economic personality.
Once your financial parameters have been identified, we will prepare an Investment Policy Statement
that outlines what asset mix is most suitable for your unique investment expectations and risk
tolerance. This Investment Policy Statement will guide us in the management of your account(s), and
as a standard against which to measure future results and to make modifications when and where
necessary.
FEES & COMPENSATION
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Portfolio Management
Portfolio management is provided on an asset-based fee arrangement. Our management fee is
calculated based on the aggregate market value of your account on the last business day of the previous
calendar quarter multiplied by one-fourth of the corresponding annual percentage rate (i.e., 1.50% ÷
4 = 0.375%).
We retain discretion to negotiate the management fee under 1.50% on a client-to-client basis.
Generally, fee breaks occur as assets in your portfolio increase past the following tiers:
Account Balance
Annual Fee
Rate
Not to Exceed
Up to $500,000 ............................................................................................................... 1.50%
$500,001 to $1,000,000 .............................................................................................. 1.25%
$1,000,001 to $5,000,000 .......................................................................................... 1.00%
$5,000,001 and up......................................................................................................... 0.75%
We generally require a minimum initial investment of $100,000.00 to open a managed account;
however, we retain the right to waive this minimum if we feel circumstances are warranted.
The portfolio management fee will be fully disclosed to you in an Investment Advisory Agreement prior
to conducting any investment management services.
Protocols for Investment Services
The following protocols establish how we handle our portfolio management accounts and what you
should expect when it comes to: (i) managing your account; (ii) deposits and withdrawals in/from
your account(s); (iii) your bill for investment services; (iv) other fees charged to your account(s);
and (iv) termination.
Discretion
We will establish discretionary trading authority on all management accounts to execute securities
transactions at anytime without your prior consent or advice.
At anytime however, you can impose restrictions, in writing, on our discretionary authority (i.e.,
limit the types/amounts of particular securities purchased for your account, exclude the ability to
purchase securities with an inverse relationship to the market, limit our use of leverage, etc.)
Billing
Your account will be billed quarterly in advance based on the above fee arrangements.
Contributions to your account greater than $25,000 made during the calendar quarter may be
prorated (See “Deposits & Withdrawals” below for more information.). For new managed
accounts opened in mid-quarter, our fee will be based on a pro-rated calculation of your assets to
be managed for remainder of the existing quarter.
Advisory fees will be deducted first from any money market funds or cash balances. If such assets
are insufficient to satisfy payment of such fees, a portion of the account assets will be liquidated to
cover the fees.
Deposits and Withdrawals
Assets deposited by you into your managed portfolio between billing cycles will not result in
additional management fees being billed to you unless such deposits exceed $25,000. Such
deposits of this amount or greater, in most cases, will require modifications and adjustments to
your
investment allocation. Therefore, we reserve the right to bill your account a pro-rated fee
based upon the number of days remaining in the current quarterly period for deposits exceeding
the above amount.
Withdrawals made from your managed portfolio less than $25,000, will not receive a partial
refund of our management fees. Just as with deposits, withdrawals from your account may
require modifications and adjustments to be made in the account to correct the allocation of assets
in your portfolio.
Fee Exclusions
The above fees for all of our management services are exclusive of any charges imposed by the
custodial firm including, but not limited to: (i) any Exchange/SEC fees; (ii) certain transfer taxes;
(iii) service or account charges, including, postage/handling fees, electronic fund and wire transfer
fees, auction fees, debit balances, margin interest, certain odd-lot differentials and mutual fund
short-term redemption fees; and (iv) brokerage and execution costs associated with securities
held in your managed account. There can also be other fees charged to your account that are
unaffiliated with our management services.
In addition, all fees paid to us for management services are separate from any fees and expenses
charged on mutual fund shares by the investment company or by the investment advisor managing
the mutual fund portfolios. These expenses generally include management fees and various fund
expense, such as: 12b-1 fees, redemption fees, account fees, and purchase fees can occur but are
the exception within managed accounts at institutional custodians. A complete explanation of
these expenses charged by the mutual funds is contained in each mutual fund’s prospectus. You
are encouraged to carefully read the fund prospectus.
Termination of Investment Services
To terminate investment advisory services, either party (you or us) by written notification to the
other party, can terminate the Investment Advisory Agreement at any time. Such notification should
include the date the termination will go into effect along with any final instructions on the account
(i.e., liquidate the account, finalize all transactions and/or cease all investment activity).
In the event termination does not fall on the last/first day of a calendar quarter, you will receive a
pro-rated refund of the prepaid quarterly management fee based upon the number of days
remaining in the quarter after the termination notice goes into effect. Once the termination of
investment advisory services has been implemented, neither party has any obligation to the other –
we no longer earn management fees or give investment advice and you become responsible for
making your own investment decisions.
Financial Planning
Financial planning is one of the most important services that successful people use to create an
extraordinary personal life and business career. However it requires a lifetime commitment, not only
from us, the Financial Planner, but from you as well. The financial planning process helps to identify
and/or clarify purpose, values, needs, and priorities and align your financial decisions with your goals
in all areas of your life.
What is a Financial Plan?
Financial planning is an evaluation of the investment and financial options available to you based
upon your defined lifestyle choices. Planning includes: (i) attempting to make optimal decisions; (ii)
projecting the consequences of these decisions for you in the form of a financial plan – a working
blueprint; and (iii) implementing the protocol to achieve the objectives of the plan. Once complete,
the plan is then used to compare future performance against the working blueprint.
Financial Planning Composition
A financial plan can be comprehensive – a mutually defined review of your personal financial needs;
or, targeted – a review, analysis and evaluation of a core area of financial need. In general, our
financial planning encompasses one or more of the following areas of financial need as presented by
you:
Identify and clarify personal and family core values, mission, vision, and goals.
Preparation of the financial plan/roadmap, which encompasses your:
Current financial situation.
Liquidity and asset preservation needs.
Wealth accumulation and growth.
Wealth distribution and transfer.
More specifically the financial plan/roadmap can include, but is not limited to the
following modules:
Financial Statements – Cash Flow and Balance Sheet.
Savings and Emergency Reserves.
Asset Allocation and Investment Portfolio Analysis.
Potential Income Tax consequences in collaboration with your tax advisor.
Risk Management and Insurance Analysis.
Retirement and Income Analysis.
Long-Term Healthcare.
Estate and Family Legacy Planning.
Business Succession Planning.
Outline of recommendations, strategies, solutions and resources.
Prioritizing and implementing the written action plan.
Investment consultations that allow us to create and implement a customized investment
strategy tailored to your long-term investment goals.
Prepare a professional investment proposal that will include a written Investment
Policy Statement.
Access to our open-architecture platform with a variety of investment management
solutions.
Informative periodicals, market commentaries and research via e-mail and website.
Facilitate meetings with you and/or advisors or specialists within our professional
network.
Coordinate and facilitate meetings with family members, business associates, partners or
other key individuals to assist with implementing your action plan.
Financial Planning Development
We gather the necessary information to complete our analysis through personal interviews, review
of various documents supplied by you, and completion of one or more profile questionnaires.
Information gathered can include statements regarding your current financial status, a list of assets,
insurance, wills and/or trust documents, income and expenses, Social Security eligibility, and other
information
4 based on your financial status and future goals.
Financial Planning Fees & Termination
How we charge to develop a financial plan depends on the size, complexity, and nature of your
personal and financial situation and the amount of time it will take to analyze and summarize the
plan and perform the services you desire.
Comprehensive Financial Planning
Comprehensive financial planning is a coordinated effort between you and us, the financial
planner, to identify purpose, personal, and family core values, financial needs and life goals then
integrate these ideals into various strategies – budgeting, tax planning, insurance, retirement and
estate planning, investment management, and more depending on your desired needs.
The cost to prepare a comprehensive financial plan will not exceed $2,500.00, for a 12 consecutive
month period to complete the planning process. The fee will be fully disclosed up-front in a
Financial Planning Agreement (“Agreement”), which will include the cost
5 to review your financial
information and prepare the financial plan. We require one-half the fee be paid at the time the
Agreement is signed, with the remaining balance due upon completion of the financial plan
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Targeted Planning Fee
Targeted financial planning focuses on review, analysis and evaluation of a core area of financial
need as may be requested by you. The targeted planning fee will be billed at a rate not to exceed
$250.00 per hour and any clerical fees will not exceed $50.00 per hour. All fees will be completely
itemized in a billing statement to you, or as otherwise predetermined in a proposal, engagement
letter and/or by retainer.
Termination
You can terminate the Agreement at any time prior to the presentation of the any financial
planning documents. We will be compensated through the date of termination for time spent in
design of such financial documents at the hourly rate agreed upon in the Agreement. If you have
prepaid any fees, such fees will be returned on a pro-rata basis. After the financial plan has been
completed and presented to you, termination of the Agreement is no longer an option.
Targeted financial planning can be terminated at any time. We will bill you for any services
rendered from the date of the last bill up to the date of termination at the agreed upon hourly rate.
4 All information provided by and to you will be kept entirely confidential. Such information will be disclosed to third parties only with mutual written consent
or as may be permitted by law.
5 Rarely will a fee exceed those costs outlined in the Agreement. However, there can be instances where we did not contract with you to perform a particular
task and therefore merit notifying you of the additional cost prior to beginning such services.
6 The recommendations made in a financial plan are generally completed within 90 to 180 days from you signing the Agreement. However, implementing the
plan using outside professionals (i.e., attorneys, CPAs, etc...) may require additional time that is out of our control. Therefore when we refer to the
completion of the financial plan, we are referring to us (you and Butensky & Cohen Financial Security, Inc) finalizing your financial benchmarks/objectives
before approaching any outside professional.
PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES & SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT
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We do not charge fees based on a share of capital gains or the capital appreciation of the assets held in
your accounts.