ADVISORY BUSINESS
A. General Description of Advisory Firm
Tilson Financial Group, Inc. (“TFG”) is incorporated in the state of New Jersey. TFG
became registered as an Investment Adviser Firm on January 7, 2000. TFG is solely owned by
Robert Tilson who is also TFG’s CCO.
As discussed below, TFG offers to its clients (individuals, pension and profit sharing plans,
trusts, and business entities) discretionary and non-discretionary investment management services,
financial planning and consulting.
B. Description of Advisory Services
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT/FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES
TFG provides both initial and ongoing financial planning and investment management
services.
Financial Planning services include, but are not limited to, Retirement Planning, Tax
Planning, Education Funding, Estate Planning and Death and Disability Planning.
TFG may allocate investment management assets of its client accounts among various
investments on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, in accordance with the investment
objective of the client. The terms and conditions under which the client shall engage TFG shall be
set forth in separate written agreements between the client and TFG. TFG maintains ongoing
responsibility to select or make recommendations, based upon the needs of the client, as to the
specific securities or other investments the account may purchase or sell.
Please Note: It remains the client’s responsibility to promptly notify TFG if there is ever
any change in his/her/its financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of
reviewing/evaluating/revising TFG’s previous recommendations and/or services.
Prior to engaging TFG for services, the client will be required to enter into a formal
Financial Planning Agreement or Investment Advisory Agreement with TFG setting forth the terms
and conditions under which TFG shall manage the client's assets.
SUB-ADVISORY/CUSTODIAL ARRANGEMENTS.
All investment management accounts shall be maintained at Schwab Advisor Services
(“Schwab”), SEI Investments, AXOS Advisor Services or other qualified custodians.
Currently, TFG recommends that certain clients allocate investment assets among: (1) the
various products and investment programs offered through SEI and/or (2) among various mutual
funds, exchange traded funds and/or general securities offered by and/or obtained through Schwab
and AXOS Advisor Services.
SEI provides each client with reporting services, including consolidated monthly statements
and year-end tax reports. SEI enables investment advisers such as TFG to offer its clients access to
specialized asset managers, mutual fund asset allocation models, underlying individual mutual
funds, and investment management programs (i.e., tax managed investment programs) that are not
otherwise available to the general public.
As part of its overall investment management program, SEI offers quarterly rebalancing of
each client’s investment assets for the purpose of maintaining the assets in accordance with the
client’s previously designated percentage (%) asset allocations for the SEI account. If a client desires
automatic account rebalancing such authorization must first be provided directly to TFG, who will
then advise SEI accordingly.
The Investment Advisory Agreement between TFG and the client will continue in effect until
terminated by either party by written notice to the other. Termination will not affect (I) the validity
of any action previously taken by TFG under the Agreement; (II) liabilities or obligations of the
parties from transactions initiated before termination of this Agreement; or (III) Client’s obligation
to pay advisory fees (prorated through the date of termination). Upon termination of this
Agreement, TFG will have no obligation to recommend or take any action with regard to the
securities, cash or other investments in the Account.
TFG’s Chief Compliance Officer, Robert Tilson, remains available to address any questions
concerning TFG’s sub-advisory arrangements.
INDEPENDENT MANAGERS
While not a separate service, TFG may select certain Independent Managers to actively
manage a portion of its clients’ assets. The specific terms and conditions under which a client
engages an Independent Manager may be set forth in a separate written agreement with the
designated Independent Manager. In addition to this brochure, clients may also receive the written
disclosure documents of the respective Independent Managers engaged to manage their assets. TFG
evaluates a variety of information about Independent Managers, which may include the Independent
Managers’ public disclosure documents, materials supplied by the Independent Managers
themselves and other third-party analyses it believes are reputable. To the extent possible, TFG
seeks to assess the Independent Managers’ investment strategies, past performance and risk results
in relation to its clients’ individual portfolio allocations and risk exposure. TFG also takes into
consideration each Independent Manager’s management style, returns, reputation, financial
strength, reporting, pricing and research capabilities, among other factors. TFG continues to
provide services relative to the discretionary selection of the Independent Managers. On an ongoing
basis, TFG monitors the performance of those accounts being managed by Independent Managers.
TFG seeks to ensure the Independent Managers’ strategies and target allocations remain aligned
with its clients’ investment objectives and overall best interests.
RETIREMENT PLAN CONSULTING
TFG provides retirement sponsor clients with assistance in choosing and monitoring the
plan participant options. This can help ensure participants are receiving the most they can from this
important benefit.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
A copy of TFG’s written Brochure as set forth in this Part 2A of Form ADV shall be
provided to each client prior to, or contemporaneously with, the execution of the Investment
Advisory Agreement or Financial Planning Agreement. Any client who has not received a copy of
TFG’s written Brochure at least 48 hours prior to executing the Investment Management Agreement
or Financial Planning Agreement shall have five (5) business days subsequent to executing the
agreement to terminate TFG’s services without penalty.
Neither TFG nor the client may assign the Financial Planning Agreement or Investment
Advisory Agreement without the prior consent of the other party. Transactions that do not result in
a change of actual control or management of TFG shall not be considered an assignment.
C. Availability of Customized Services for Individual Clients
TFG shall provide investment advisory services specific to the needs of each client. Prior
to providing investment advisory services, an investment adviser representative will ascertain each
client’s investment objective(s). Thereafter, TFG shall allocate and/or recommend that the client
allocate investment assets consistent with the designated investment objective(s). The client may,
at any time, impose reasonable restrictions, in writing, on TFG’s services.
D. Wrap Fee Programs
We do not participate in a wrap fee program.
E. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, TFG had $ 362,601,583 in assets under management on a
discretionary basis and $ 217,303,497 in assets under management on a non-discretionary basis for
a total of $579,905,080 in assets under management.