LFA is owned by Suzanne Lindau, Billy DeFrance, Dan Sonnen, Stephen Rash, Scott Kobren,
Cynthia Lyons, Mark Groover, and Steve Lauterbach. The firm has been providing advisory
services since 1999.
As of December 31, 2023, LFA managed $549,429,131 on a discretionary basis and $439,518 on
a non-discretionary basis, for a total of $549,868,649 in assets under management. In addition,
LFA provides advisory services to an additional $17,627,232.94 in participant-directed defined
contribution plans.
Investment Management Services
LFA manages investment portfolios for individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, not-for-
profits and small businesses. LFA will work with the client to determine the client's investment
objectives and investor risk profile and will design a written investment policy statement. LFA
uses investment and portfolio allocation software to evaluate alternative portfolio designs. LFA
evaluates the client's existing investments with respect to the client's investment policy
statement and works with new clients to develop a plan to transition from the client's existing
portfolio to the portfolio recommended by LFA. LFA will then continuously monitor the client's
portfolio holdings and the overall asset allocation strategy and hold regular review meetings
with the client regarding the account as necessary.
LFA will typically create a portfolio of no-load mutual funds, and may use model portfolios if the
models match the client's investment policy. LFA will allocate the client's assets among various
investments taking into consideration the overall management style selected by the client. LFA
primarily recommends portfolios consisting of passively managed asset class and index mutual
funds, such as Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) mutual funds. DFA sponsored mutual funds
follow a passive asset class investment philosophy with low holdings turnover. Consequently,
the DFA fund fees are generally lower than fees and expenses charged by other types of funds.
DFA-offered funds are only available for investment to clients of registered investment advisors
that are subject to approval by DFA. This means that the termination of a client’s relationship
with the Firm would eliminate the ability to make additional investments in DFA funds unless the
client establishes a relationship with another DFA-approved registered investment advisor.
Client portfolios may also include some individual equity securities in situations where
disposition of these securities would present an overriding tax implication or the client
specifically requests they be retained for a personal reason. Some such assets may be held but
not considered as part of the relationship for billing or in the IPS, due to client preferences.
LFA manages mutual fund and equity portfolios on a discretionary or nondiscretionary basis.
Clients may impose any reasonable restrictions on LFA’s discretionary authority, including
restrictions on the types of securities in which LFA may invest the client’s assets and on specific
securities that the client may believe to be appropriate.
LFA may also recommend fixed income portfolios to advisory clients, which consist of managed
accounts of individual bonds. LFA will
request discretionary authority from advisory clients to
manage fixed income portfolios, including the discretion to retain a third-party fixed income
manager. LFA will prepare a separate Fixed Income Investment Policy Statement for any client
qualifying for separate fixed income portfolio services.
Pursuant to its discretionary authority, LFA may retain a fixed income securities manager. The
fixed income securities manager will be provided with the discretionary authority to invest client
assets in fixed income securities consistent with the client's Fixed Income Investment Policy
Statement. The manager will also monitor the account for changes in credit ratings, security call
provisions, and tax loss harvesting opportunities (to the extent that the manager is provided
with cost basis information). The manager will obtain LFA's consent prior to the sale of any client
securities.
On an ongoing basis, LFA will answer clients' inquiries regarding their accounts and review
periodically with clients the performance of their accounts. Utilizing Drift Reports available daily,
LFA will periodically review client's investment policy, risk profile and discuss the re-balancing of
each client's accounts to the extent appropriate. LFA will provide to the investment manager any
updated client financial information or account restrictions necessary for the investment
manager to provide sub-advisory services.
Employee Benefit Retirement Plan Services:
LFA also provides advisory services to participant-directed employee retirement benefit plans.
LFA will analyze the plan's current investment platform, and assist the plan in creating an
investment policy statement defining the types of investments to be offered and the restrictions
that may be imposed. LFA will recommend investment options to achieve the plan's objectives,
provide participant education meetings, and monitor the performance of the plan's investment
vehicles.
LFA will recommend changes in the plan's investment vehicles as may be appropriate from time
to time. LFA generally will review the plan's investment vehicles and investment policy as
necessary.
For certain retirement plans, LFA also works in coordination and support with Buckingham
Strategic Partners, LLC (“BSP”). Retirement plan clients will engage both LFA and BSP. BSP will
provide to the client additional discretionary investment management services and will exercise
discretionary authority to select the plan investments made available to the plans’ participants
by selecting and maintain the plans’ investments according to the goals and investment
objectives of the plan.
LFA will continue to work with plans to monitor plan investments, provide fiduciary plan advice
including regular considerations of the goals and objectives of the plan, and provide participant
education services to the plan.
Additional Financial Services:
In addition to managing the client’s investment portfolio, LFA may consult with clients on
various financial areas including income and estate tax matters, business sale structures,
education funding, retirement planning, insurance analysis, establishment and design of
retirement plans and trusts, among other things.