FIRM DESCRIPTION
Sand Hill Global Advisors, LLC (“SHGA,” “Firm,” or “Advisor”), is registered as an investment advisor with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Founded in 1982, SHGA provides investment
management and wealth management services to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, not-for-
profit organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, limited liability companies, partnerships,
corporations, and business entities. The Firm’s mission is to help clients make the most of their wealth
through managing major milestones, navigating unexpected situations, overcoming challenges, and
making optimal plans for our clients’ families and futures. The Firm acts as a fiduciary for its clients and
takes that role very seriously, putting clients’ interests ahead of its own and ahead of the interests of its
employees. SHGA’s goal is to address each client’s unique and individual needs and restrictions. In its
business operations, the Firm strives to provide its services on a conflict-free basis – and takes steps to
mitigate conflicts wherever possible. For example, no compensation is paid to or by SHGA for referrals
made or received, or for the investments incorporated in our clients’ portfolios. Our objective is to
provide transparency with respect to all the work done for and with our clients. To the greatest extent
possible, the Firm attempts to align its interests directly with our clients’ interests.
SHGA is owned by fourteen internal shareholders as follows:
Jeffrey Abadie, CFP®, Senior Wealth Manager
Megan Breslin, Senior Wealth Manager
Elizabeth Cody, CFP®, Senior Wealth Manager
Anthony Craun, CFA, Chief Operating Officer
Sara Craven, CFP®, Chief Wealth Manager
Caroline Curts, CFP®, Chief Compliance Officer
Meghan Degroot, Senior Portfolio Manager
Brian Dombkowski, CFA, Chief Executive Officer
Janet Hoffmann, CFA, CFP®, Senior Wealth Manager
Stephen Peterson, CFP®, Senior Wealth Manager
Mark Strahs, Co-Chief Investment Officer
Kristin Sun, CFP®, CDFA®, Senior Wealth Manager, Director of Financial Planning
Brenda Vingiello, CFA, Chief Investment Officer
Kimberleigh Williams, CFP®, Senior Wealth Manager
TYPES OF ADVISORY SERVICES
SHGA provides (1) investment management services (2) financial planning and wealth management
services, and (3) financial advisory services provided on an hourly fee basis to individuals and couples, and
their advisors, navigating significant life transitions.
1. Investment Management Services: SHGA provides discretionary investment management services to
its clients. Fees are charged based upon an annual percentage of assets under management, as
described below in Item 5.
On occasion, the Firm is asked to supervise specific assets for clients on a non-discretionary basis. In
these cases, though SHGA may be asked to provide advice to Client relative to these assets, Client is
responsible for making the final decision to buy, sell or hold these particular investments and for
requesting that SHGA take action, or not, on their behalf. These clients generally pay a lower fee on
non-discretionary account assets in an amount that is memorialized in the Client’s Agreement or
alternatively, no fee on unmanaged assets. SHGA can at any time and in its sole discretion waive
these fees.
SHGA will from time to time utilize sub-advisers to manage all or a portion of a Client’s assets on a
discretionary basis. Once a sub-adviser is selected, the Firm continues to monitor the chosen
manager to ensure that they adhere to the philosophy and investment style for which they were
selected. The Firm retains discretionary authority to hire and fire a sub-adviser and reallocate Client
assets where such action is deemed to be in the best interest of the Client. Clients will be
responsible for payment of sub-advisory fees, which are separate and distinct and in addition to the
fees assessed by the Firm. Please see Item 5 below for additional information regarding fees
assessed by sub-advisers. Additionally, clients will receive Form ADV Part 2A for each sub-adviser
and are strongly encouraged to read it.
2. Financial Planning and Wealth Management Services: From the inception of a Client relationship and
going forward from that point, SHGA acts as a resource to its clients in articulating and managing their
financial journey. Whether for individual, family, ERISA, or not-for-profit clients, the firm provides a
variety of analytical and administrative services to produce financial statements, illuminate financial
risks and challenges, evaluate risk tolerance, establish investment strategy, and initiate actions with
estate and/or tax professionals also serving our clients. The goals of these services are focused on
assuring that clients have a clear and attainable path to follow in pursuing their financial objectives,
and that they carefully manage that path.
On more than an occasional basis, SHGA furnishes advice to clients on a broad variety of financial
topics, including but not limited to, taxation, estate planning, and insurance. SHGA is not a law firm
and does not render legal advice. SHGA is not an accounting firm or tax preparer and does not render
tax counsel. SHGA is not an insurance specialist and offers no insurance products. At the
authorization of its clients SHGA will work with the client’s legal, and tax professionals as well as
insurance agents to facilitate information flow and coordinate work on these matters on behalf of its
clients.
These financial planning and
wealth management services are provided in conjunction with the
investment management services described under paragraph number one above and are covered by
those fees unless the client is a legacy investment management client as described in Item 5.
3. Hourly Financial Planning and Wealth Advisory Services: In addition to its ongoing investment
management and wealth management services, SHGA provides planning and guidance to individuals
navigating major life transitions. Such services include, but are not limited to, guidance to individuals
and couples going through divorce, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and include guidance
on property settlement, spousal and family support, and related matters. Clients are not required to
enact investment recommendations through SHGA. These services are offered at an hourly rate.
Please refer to Item 5 below.
TAILORED RELATIONSHIPS
Generally, an investment policy statement (IPS) or similar document is used to capture the investment
objectives, risk tolerances, investment restrictions, and the strategy to be employed for the Client.
Guidelines and restrictions imposed by the Client relative to investing in or allocating certain securities or
types of securities also are articulated in that document. Thereafter, the Client’s strategy, guidelines and
restrictions are documented in SHGA's trading system to assure the firm implements and manages each
Client’s investment plan in accordance with the IPS and/or client’s investment objectives.
In certain instances, SHGA will utilize margin accounts with Clients. Clients should be aware that the use
of margin creates a conflict of interest between us and our clients since our fees are based on the full
value of the assets under management including any assets purchased using margin. In order to mitigate
that conflict, when possible SHGA opens separate accounts to maintain the margin debit and such
accounts are not assessed a management fee.
Buying securities on margin subjects Client to additional costs and risks that should be carefully
considered before opening a margin account. For more information regarding margin account fees and
the risks of loss in general, please refer to Items 5 and 8, below.
TYPES OF AGREEMENTS
The following agreements define the typical client relationships:
WEALTH MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
SHGA and its Clients mutually enter into a contract which is titled the Wealth Management
Agreement. That agreement describes the terms on which SHGA provides services to its clients.
It states that it is the Client’s responsibility to keep the firm informed of their initial and changing
circumstances in order to assure the firm is able to effectively and appropriately manage their
investments. Though the firm generally offers its investment management services on a
discretionary basis, SHGA also supervises specific assets for clients on a non-discretionary basis.
Terms relating to SHGA’s wealth management services, fees and steps to terminating the SHGA’s
services are outlined in the Firm’s Wealth Management Agreement.
HOURLY PLANNING ENGAGEMENTS
At times, SHGA provides specialized financial planning and advisory services to clients who are
navigating significant life transitions, primarily divorce, and expert witness services. SHGA
provides these clients with an engagement letter which describes the arrangement. These
services often include planning and analysis delivered to the Clients’ legal advisors. These services
are generally provided on an hourly basis, subject to a prepaid retainer to which hourly charges
are applied on a monthly basis during the engagement.
Clients are under no obligation to implement their financial plan through us or anyone
recommended by us. Investment management services are not offered as part of these
engagements. If such services are required, a Wealth Management Agreement is put into place
between the Client and SHGA.
WRAP-FEE PROGRAMS
SHGA does not provide its services to any wrap fee program, as that term is defined in the instructions to
Form ADV Part 2.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SHGA’S ADVISORY SERVICES
As indicated above, advisory services provided by SHGA are customizable based upon the individual
needs, objectives, and other financial goals of the client. This information, together with any other
information relating to the client’s overall financial circumstances, will be used by the Firm to determine
the most appropriate asset allocation and investment strategy to best meet the client’s financial goals.
SHGA will not assume any responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided by the client. SHGA
is not obligated to verify any information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals
(e.g., attorney, accountant, etc.) and is expressly authorized to rely on such information. Under all
circumstances, clients are responsible for promptly notifying the Firm in writing of any material changes
to the client’s financial situation, investment objectives, time horizon, tax status, risk tolerance or other
material information that the Firm may have relied upon in rendering its services. If a client notifies the
Firm of such changes, SHGA will review the changes and may recommend revisions to the client’s financial
plan and/or portfolio.
As of December 31, 2023, SHGA managed $3,443,771,282 of client assets; $3,425,248,087 on a
discretionary basis and $18,523,195 on a non-discretionary basis.