Overview
We provide our clients with a wide array of investment advisory services. Our firm is a corporation
formed in the State of Pennsylvania in 1991 and has been in business as an investment adviser since
2003. Our firm is owned by Jerome J. McHale, Jr., President/Treasurer/Chief Compliance Officer, and
Ms. Maria A. Williamson, Vice President/Corporate Secretary.
The purpose of this Brochure is to disclose the conflicts of interest associated with the investment
transactions, compensation and any other matters related to investment decisions made by our firm
or its representatives. As a fiduciary, it is our duty to always act in the client’s best interest. This is
accomplished in part by knowing our client. Our firm has established a service-oriented advisory
practice with open lines of communication for many different types of clients to help meet their
financial goals while remaining sensitive to risk tolerance and time horizons. Working with clients to
understand their investment objectives while educating them about our process, facilitates the kind
of working relationship we value.
Description of the Types of Advisory Services We Offer
Pension Consulting:
We provide pension consulting services to employer plan sponsors on a one-time or ongoing basis.
Generally, such pension consulting services consist of assisting employer plan sponsors in
establishing, monitoring and reviewing their company's participant-directed retirement plan. As the
needs of the plan sponsor dictate, areas of advising could include investment options, plan structure
and participant education.
All pension consulting services shall comply with the applicable state law(s) regulating pension
consulting services. This applies to client accounts that are pension or other employee benefit plans
(“Plan”) governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
If the client accounts are part of a Plan, and we accept appointments to provide our services to such
accounts, we acknowledge that we are a fiduciary within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA (but
only with respect to the provision of services described in section 1 of the Pension Consulting
Agreement).
Referrals to Third-Party Money Managers:
We provide clients with a list of investment advisory services of third-party
professional portfolio
management firms for the individual management of client accounts. As part of this process, we assist
clients in identifying an appropriate third-party money manager. We provide initial due diligence on
third party money managers and ongoing reviews of their management of your account.
To assist clients in the selection of a third-party money manager, we typically gather information
from the client about their financial situation, investment objectives, and reasonable restrictions they
can impose on the management of the account, which are often very limited. It is important to note
that we do not offer advice on any specific securities or other investments in connection with this
service. Investment advice and trading of securities is only offered by or through the third-party
money managers to clients.
ADV Part 2A – Firm Brochure Page 5 ASCO Financial Group, Inc.
We periodically review third party money managers’ reports provided to the client, but no less often
than on an annual basis. Our associates contact the clients from time to time, as agreed to with the
client, in order to review their financial situation and objectives; communicate information to third
party money managers as warranted; and assist the client in understanding and evaluating the
services provided by the third party money manager. The client will be expected to notify us of any
changes in his/her financial situation, investment objectives, or account restrictions that could affect
their account. The client may also directly contact the third-party money manager managing the
account or sponsoring the program.
Tailoring of Advisory Services
We do not offer individualized investment advice to clients. However, we offer general investment
advice to clients utilizing the following services offered by our firm: Pension Consulting and Referrals
to Third-Party Money Managers.
We do not manage client assets. The client’s ability to impose restrictions on investing in certain
securities or types of securities will be at the discretion of the Third-Party Money Managers.
Participation in Wrap Fee Programs
Our firm does not offer or sponsor a wrap fee program.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, we manage1 $158,485,907 on a non-discretionary basis.