Description of Services and Fees
U.S. Institutional Corp. was founded in April 2005 as an independent institutional investment consulting
firm. Our firm is 100% owned by John G. Russon. USI is registered with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission as a pension consultant under Rule 203A-2(b) of the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940.
USI is an institutional investment consultant that provides consulting services to Insurance Reserves,
Endowments and Foundations, Retirement and Employee Benefit Plans and other institutional clients.
Our services to retirement and employee benefit plan sponsors or trustees assist them in meeting their
management and fiduciary obligations under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. We also
provide financial/business consulting services to corporations and other business entities designed to
assist clients in all aspects of financial management. Our general consulting services include:
We assess the risk tolerance of each client and then develop an investment strategy using broad asset
classes to meet their income and total return targets. The client and our firm decide whether an asset
class exposure should be attained using passive or active strategies.
CLIENT EDUCATION
We consider investment education for plan participants and boards as an integral part of the services
we provide where the goal is to supply clients with information to allow them to make sound investment
and business decisions.
INVESTMENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW
We consider the Investment Policy Statement to be a key component of a client's investment program
which we utilize as a "road map" to govern the program. The Investment Policy Statement generally
includes a purpose statement, investment goals and objectives, responsibilities of key personnel,
identification of key constraints, eligible investments, asset allocation and liability process, portfolio
rebalancing process, risk management process, performance benchmarks and performance reporting
process.
ASSET ALLOCATION ANALYSIS/REVIEW
We perform an asset allocation analysis/review utilizing proprietary asset allocation models and
assumptions designed to analyze risk and return and correlations between asset classes with the
purpose of achieving the goals and objectives of the client's Investment Policy. Some of the models
are built internally and are fully customized to each client's specific situations. The customized models
produce a detailed asset allocation analysis incorporating client specific parameters.
INVESTMENT MANAGER SEARCHES
We regularly meet with and interview existing and prospective managers to determine philosophy,
process, discipline, and the current positioning of a client's portfolio. Our firm, to the extent possible,
interviews portfolio managers directly to gain insight into management style, philosophy, competence,
day-to-day risk controls, and the actual daily hands-on management of the portfolio. We assist clients
in defining the mandate and identifying candidate managers. Searches can be done for investment
providers as well including custodians and recordkeepers.
INVESTMENT MANAGER MONITORING
We monitor investment managers to ensure that the manager is performing in a manner which we
believe is satisfactory. We evaluate many factors including: performance relative to benchmarks and
peers, adherence to guidelines, adherence to mandate/style, employee turnover, firm qualifications,
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consistency of process and volatility and risk characteristics. In the event we conclude that a particular
manager is deficient in any area, we will advise the client and may recommend terminating, however,
the client shall have sole discretion to take any action as deemed necessary.
PERFORMANCE REPORTING
We provide clients with monthly and/or quarterly performance reports that are customized
to the needs
and preferences of each client. Reports incorporate information we receive directly from the client's
custodial bank, investment manager, and USI's analysis.
Our typical monthly reports provide a snapshot summary of the client's portfolio including performance
compared to benchmarks for each manager, asset class composite and total fund composite for
trailing periods through the previous month-end.
Our typical quarterly reports provide more detail on individual portfolios and on composites. The
quarterly reports begin with a market environment section that details key events which impact the
market during the quarter and a performance summary for the major domestic and international
indices. In addition, the report may also include various holdings-based metrics and comparisons of
the manager's historical performance versus appropriate benchmarks and peers. Fixed income
analytics that include interest rate sensitivity, sector breakdown and quality breakdown may be
included as well, if relevant.
FINANCIAL/BUSINESS CONSULTING RELATED TO THE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
We provide financial/business consulting services which are customized to meet the needs of clients
on a case by case basis and which may include the following:
1. Peer group/best practices studies designed to assist clients in gaining a better understanding of
their investment portfolio and financial ratios relative to peers.
2. Capital expenditure/debt financing analysis to enable clients to assess their capital structure
and optimal sources of funding for capital expenditures.
3. Review of investments in subsidiaries to determine rates of return on investment.
4. Capital Structure Review designed to assist clients in analyzing optimal deployment of financial
assets including lines of credit, long-term debt, fixed for floating swaps and the use of
permanent capital versus surplus notes.
Types of Investments
We provide non discretionary investment advice under the business name US Institutional
Corporation. For clients who contract us for non discretionary management services, USI does not
maintain discretionary authority or control with respect to client's accounts and we do not provide
investment advice or recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of specific securities. We
provide clients with alternatives and various courses of action; however, decisions regarding the
investment of client's assets, the establishment of an investment policy, and the selection of
investment managers remains with the client.
If you receive invoices from our firm, we encourage you to reconcile our invoices with the statement(s)
you receive from the qualified custodian. If you find any inconsistent information between our invoice
and the statement(s) you receive from the qualified custodian, please call our main office number
located on the cover page of this brochure.
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Accuracy of Client Information
In providing the contracted services, we are not required to verify any information we receive from you
or from your other professionals (e.g. attorney, accountant, etc.) and we are expressly authorized to
rely on the information you provide. You must promptly notify our firm if your financial situation, goals,
objectives, or needs change for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating, and/or revising our previous
recommendations and/or services.
Types of Investments
We do not primarily offer advice on one type of security over another and offer advice on a broad
range of investments. You may request that we refrain from investing in particular securities or certain
types of securities. You must provide these restrictions to our firm in writing.
Assets Under Management
We do not manage assets on a continuous basis; therefore, we do not have any discretionary or non-
discretionary assets under management.