A. The Registrant is a limited liability company that was originally formed on
December 21, 2007 in the State of Delaware. In December 2011, the Registrant
transitioned its corporate filing status and became a Washington State entity. The
Registrant became registered as an Investment Adviser Firm in February 2008. The
Registrant is 90% owned by TCM Bellingham, LLC and 10% owned by TCM
Jackson, LLC. TCM Bellingham, LLC is owned by Bryant Engebretson. TCM
Jackson, LLC is owned by Kyle Jackson. Mr. Engebretson is the Registrant’s sole
Managing Principal.
B. As discussed below, the Registrant offers to its clients (individuals, business
entities, trusts, estates and charitable organizations, etc.) investment advisory
services and, to the extent specifically requested by a client, financial planning and
related consulting services.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
The client can engage the Registrant to provide discretionary and/or non-
discretionary investment advisory services on a fee-only basis. The Registrant’s
annual investment advisory fee is based upon a percentage (%) of the market value
of the assets placed under the Registrant’s management. To commence the
investment advisory process, Registrant will ascertain each client’s investment
objective(s) and then allocate the client’s assets consistent with the client’s
designated investment objective(s). Once allocated, Registrant provides ongoing
supervision of the account(s). Prior to engaging the Registrant to provide
investment advisory services, clients are required to enter into an Investment
Advisory Agreement with Registrant setting forth the terms and conditions of the
engagement (including termination), describing the scope of the services to be
Tradewinds Capital Management – ADV Part 2A – 2024.03.11 Page | 3
provided, and the fee that is due from the client.
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND CONSULTING SERVICES (STAND-ALONE)
To the extent specifically requested by a client, the Registrant may determine to
provide financial planning and/or consulting services (including investment and non-
investment related matters, including estate planning, insurance planning, etc.) on
a stand-alone separate fee basis as discussed at Item 5 below, the fee for which
shall be based upon the individual providing the service and the scope of the
services to be provided. Prior to engaging the Registrant to provide planning or
consulting services, clients are generally required to enter into a Financial Planning
and Consulting Agreement with Registrant setting forth the terms and conditions of
the engagement (including termination), describing the scope of the services to be
provided, and the portion of the fee that is due from the client prior to Registrant
commencing services. Please Note: The Registrant does not serve as an attorney,
accountant, or insurance agent, and no portion of our services should be construed
as legal, accounting or insurance services. Accordingly, The Registrant does not
prepare estate planning or any other legal documents, tax returns, or sell insurance
products. To the extent requested by a client, we may recommend the services of
other professionals for non-investment implementation purpose (i.e. attorneys,
accountants, insurance, etc.). The client is under no obligation to engage the
services of any such recommended professional. The client retains absolute
discretion over all such implementation decisions and is free to accept or reject any
recommendation from the Registrant. Please Note: If the client engages any such
recommended professional, and a dispute arises thereafter relative to such
engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from and against the
engaged professional. At all times, the engaged licensed professional[s] (i.e.
attorney, accountant, insurance agent, etc.), and not Registrant, shall be
responsible for the quality and competency of the services provided.
Please Also Note: It remains the client’s responsibility to promptly notify the
Registrant if there is ever any change in their financial situation or investment
objectives for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating, or revising Registrant’s
previous recommendations and/or services.
RETIREMENT CONSULTING
The Registrant also provides pension consulting services, pursuant to which it
assists sponsors of self-directed retirement plans with the selection and/or
monitoring of investment alternatives (generally open-end mutual funds) from
which plan participants shall choose in self-directing the investments for their
individual plan retirement accounts. In addition, to the extent requested by the plan
sponsor, the Registrant shall also provide participant education designed to assist
participants in identifying the appropriate investment strategy for their retirement
plan accounts. The terms and conditions of the engagement shall generally be set
forth in a Retirement Plan Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and the
plan sponsor. Please Note: to the extent requested by the plan sponsor, the
Registrant may provide managed portfolios as an investment option to plan
participants.
Plan participants who wish to engage the Registrant for individualized financial
planning or consulting services regarding assets outside the scope of the qualified
plan may do so by executing a separate written agreement, including separate fees
and fee payment arrangements. The Registrant manages these portfolios on a
discretionary basis and therefore may be providing services as a 3(38) fiduciary.
MANAGEMENT STYLES
We offer our clients three different investment management styles. These styles
differ in their allocation percentages to numerous asset classes, in their level of
responsiveness to changing market conditions and in their sensitivity to fee and tax
considerations.
Tradewinds Capital Management – ADV Part 2A – 2024.03.11 Page | 4
Tradewinds Investment Management Style
The Tradewinds Investment Management Style has a primary focus on a
quantitative approach to asset allocation/investment management utilizing large
tactical overweight/underweight asset allocation decisions. These quantitative
decisions are based upon a backward-looking momentum view of the financial
markets.
This investment style would be most appropriate for someone who possesses core
investment beliefs that as market conditions change, the portfolio allocation should
also change to match the new market environment.
Waypoint Investment Management Style
The Waypoint Investment Management Style has a primary focus on a more
traditional asset allocation/investment management approach utilizing a
static/passive approach for the core of the allocation and tactical/active investment
management approach for the remainder (non-core) of the allocation for various
asset classes. The tactical overweight/underweight asset allocation decisions for
the non-core portion of the allocation based upon a backward-looking momentum
view of the financial landscape.
This investment style would be most appropriate for someone who possesses core
investment beliefs that tactical/active approach to asset allocation can add value to
the investment decision process but who also believes that low investment
management fees and a broadly diversified portfolio in core asset classes are
important components to investment success.
Bellwether Investment Management Style
The Bellwether Investment Management Style has a primary focus on broad
passive diversification, low investment management fees and low portfolio
turnover (to reduce taxable transactions within the account).
This investment style would be most appropriate for someone who possesses a
core investment belief that low investment management fees and a passive
investment approach are important components to investment success.
MISCELLANEOUS
Limitations of Financial Planning and Non-Investment Consulting/Implementation
Services. As indicated above, to the extent requested by a client, Registrant may
provide financial planning and related consulting services regarding non-investment
related matters, such as estate planning, tax planning, insurance, etc. Registrant
will generally provide such consulting services inclusive of its advisory fee set forth
at Item 5 below (exceptions may occur based upon assets under management,
special projects, etc. for which the Registrant may charge a separate or additional
fee). Registrant believes that it is important for the client to address financial
planning issues on an ongoing basis. Registrant does not serve as an attorney,
accountant, or insurance agency, and no portion of its services should be
construed as legal, accounting, or insurance brokerage services. Accordingly,
Registrant does not prepare estate planning documents, tax returns or sell
insurance products. To the extent requested by a client, Registrant may
recommend the services of other professionals for certain non-investment
implementation purpose (i.e. attorneys, accountants, insurance agents, etc.).
Clients are reminded that they are under no obligation to engage the services of
any such recommended professional. The client retains absolute discretion over all
such implementation decisions and is free to accept or reject any recommendation
made by Registrant or its representatives. Please Note: If the client engages any
professional (i.e. attorney, accountant, insurance agent, etc.), recommended or
otherwise, and a dispute arises thereafter relative to such engagement, the client
agrees to seek recourse exclusively from and against the engaged professional. At
all times, the engaged licensed professional[s] (i.e. attorney, accountant, insurance
Tradewinds Capital Management – ADV Part 2A – 2024.03.11 Page | 5
agent, etc.), and not Registrant, shall be responsible for the quality and
competency of the services provided.
Retirement Rollovers - No Obligation / Potential for Conflict of Interest: A client or
prospective client leaving an employer typically has four options regarding an
existing retirement plan (and may engage in a combination of these options): (i)
leave the money in the former employer’s plan, if permitted, (ii) roll over the assets
to the new employer’s plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) roll
over to an Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”), or (iv) cash out the account value
(which could, depending upon the client’s age, result in adverse tax consequences).
If the Registrant recommends that a client roll over their retirement plan assets into
an account to be managed by Registrant, such a recommendation creates a conflict
of interest if Registrant will earn a new advisory fee or increase its current
compensation because of the rollover. Whether Registrant provides a
recommendation as to whether a client should engage in a rollover or not,
Registrant is acting as a fiduciary within the meaning of Title I of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable,
which are laws governing retirement accounts. No client is under any obligation to
roll over retirement plan assets to an account managed by the Registrant.
Registrant’s Chief Compliance Officer, Donald Bradley Pence, remains available to
address any questions that a client or prospective client may have regarding the
potential for conflict of interest presented by such rollover recommendation.
Custodian Charges-Additional Fees. As discussed below at Item 12 below, when
requested to recommend a broker-dealer/custodian for client accounts, the
Registrant generally recommends that Schwab serve as the broker-dealer/custodian
for client investment management assets. Broker-dealers such as Schwab charge
brokerage commissions, transaction, and/or other type fees for effecting certain
types of securities transactions (i.e., including transaction fees for certain mutual
funds, and mark-ups and mark-downs charged for fixed income transactions, etc.).
The types of securities for which transaction fees, commissions, and/or other type
fees (as well as the amount of those fees) shall differ depending upon the broker-
dealer/custodian (while certain custodians, including Schwab, do not currently
charge fees on individual equity transactions, others do). These fees/charges are in
addition to the Registrant’s investment advisory fee at Item 5 below. The
Registrant does not receive any portion of these fees/charges. ANY QUESTIONS:
Registrant’s Chief Compliance Officer, Donald Bradley Pence, remains available to
address any questions that a client or prospective client may have regarding the
above.
Portfolio Activity. Registrant has a fiduciary duty to provide services consistent
with the client’s best interest. As part of its investment advisory services,
Registrant will review client portfolios on an ongoing basis to determine if any
changes are necessary based upon various factors, including, but not limited to,
investment performance, fund manager tenure, style drift, account
additions/withdrawals, and/or a change in the client’s investment objective. Based
upon these factors, there may be extended periods of time when Registrant
determines that changes to a client’s portfolio are neither necessary nor prudent. Of
course, as indicated below, there can be no assurance that investment decisions
made by Registrant will be profitable or equal any specific performance level(s).
Clients nonetheless remain subject to the fees described in Item 5 below during
periods of account inactivity.
Please Note: Cash Positions. Registrant continues to treat cash as an asset class.
As such, unless determined to the contrary by Registrant, all cash positions (money
markets, etc.) shall continue to be included as part of assets under management for
purposes of calculating Registrant’ advisory fee. At any specific point in time,
depending upon perceived or anticipated market conditions/events (there being no
guarantee that such anticipated market conditions/events will occur), Registrant
may maintain cash positions for defensive purposes. In addition, while assets are
Tradewinds Capital Management – ADV Part 2A – 2024.03.11 Page | 6
maintained in cash, such amounts could miss market advances. Depending upon
current yields, at any point in time, Registrant’ advisory fee could exceed the
interest paid by the client’s money market fund. ANY QUESTIONS: Registrant’
Chief Compliance Officer, Donald Bradley Pence, remains
available to address any
questions that a client or prospective may have regarding the above fee billing
practice.
Cash Sweep Accounts. Account custodians generally
require that cash proceeds
from account transactions or cash deposits be swept into and/or initially maintained
in the custodian’s sweep account. The yield on the sweep account is generally
lower than those available in money market accounts. To help mitigate this issue,
Registrant shall generally purchase a higher yielding money market fund available
on the custodian’s platform with cash proceeds or deposits, unless Registrant
reasonably anticipates that it will utilize the cash proceeds during the subsequent
30-day period to purchase additional investments for the client’s account.
Exceptions and/or modifications can and will occur with respect to all or a portion
of the cash balances for various reasons, including, but not limited to, the amount
of dispersion between the sweep account and a money market fund, an indication
from the client of an imminent need for such cash, or the client has a demonstrated
history of writing checks from the account.
Use of Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds. Registrant utilizes mutual funds
and exchange traded funds for its client portfolios. While the Registrant may
recommend allocating investment assets to mutual funds that are not available
directly to the public, the Registrant may also recommend that clients allocate
investment assets to publicly available mutual funds and exchange traded funds
that the client could obtain without engaging Registrant as an investment advisor.
However, if a client or prospective client determines to allocate investment assets
to publicly available mutual funds and exchange traded funds without engaging
Registrant as an investment adviser, the client or prospective client would not
receive the benefit of Registrant’s initial and ongoing investment advisory services
with respect to management of assets. In addition to Registrant’s investment
advisory fee described below, and transaction and/or custodial fees discussed
below, clients will also incur, relative to all mutual fund and exchange traded fund
purchases, charges imposed at the fund level (e.g. management fees and other
fund expenses).
ESG: We don’t have or recommend a strategy:
Please Note: Socially Responsible (ESG) Investing Limitations.
Socially Responsible
Investing involves the incorporation of Environmental, Social and Governance
(“ESG”) considerations into the investment due diligence process. ESG investing
incorporates a set of criteria/factors used in evaluating
potential investments:
Environmental (i.e., considers how a company safeguards the environment);
Social (i.e., the manner in which a company manages relationships with its
employees, customers, and the communities in which it operates); and Governance
(i.e., company management considerations). The number of companies that meet
an acceptable ESG mandate can be limited when compared to those that do not,
and could underperform broad market indices. Investors must accept these
limitations, including potential for underperformance. As with any type of
investment (including any investment and/or investment strategies recommended
and/or undertaken by Registrant), there can be no assurance that investment in
ESG securities or funds will be profitable, or prove successful. Registrant does not
maintain or advocate an ESG investment strategy, but will seek to employ ESG if
directed by a client to do so. If implemented, Registrant shall rely upon the
assessments undertaken by the unaffiliated mutual fund, exchange traded fund or
separate account manager to determine that the fund’s or portfolio’s underlying
company securities meet a socially responsible mandate.
Tradewinds Capital Management – ADV Part 2A – 2024.03.11 Page | 7
WE DON’T RECOMMEND Cryptocurrency: For clients who want exposure to
cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, the Registrant, will advise the client to consider
a potential investment in corresponding exchange traded securities, or an allocation
to separate account managers and/or private funds that provide cryptocurrency
exposure. Crypto is a digital currency that can be used to buy goods and services,
but uses an online ledger with strong cryptography (i.e., a method of protecting
information and communications through the use of codes) to secure online
transactions. Unlike conventional currencies issued by a monetary authority,
cryptocurrencies are generally not controlled or regulated and their price is
determined by the supply and demand of their market. Because cryptocurrency is
currently considered to be a speculative investment, the Registrant will not
exercise discretionary authority to purchase a cryptocurrency investment for client
accounts. Rather, a client must expressly authorize the purchase of the
cryptocurrency investment. Please Note: The Registrant does not recommend or
advocate the purchase of, or investment in, cryptocurrencies. The Registrant
considers such an investment to be speculative. Please Also Note: Clients who
authorize the purchase of a cryptocurrency investment must be prepared for the
potential for liquidity constraints, extreme price volatility and complete loss of
principal.
Other Assets. A client may:
• hold securities that were purchased at the request of the client or acquired
prior to the client’s engagement of the Registrant. Generally, with potential
exceptions, the Registrant does not/would not recommend nor follow such
securities, and absent mitigating tax consequences or client direction to the
contrary, would prefer to liquidate such securities. Please Note: If/when
liquidated, it should not be assumed that the replacement securities
purchased by the Registrant will outperform the liquidated positions. To the
contrary, different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and
there can be no assurance that future performance of any specific
investment or investment strategy (including the investments and/or
investment strategies recommended or undertaken by the Registrant) will
be profitable or equal any specific performance level(s)In addition, there
may be other securities and/or accounts owned by the client for which the
Registrant does not maintain custodian access and/or trading authority;
and,
• hold other securities and/or own accounts for which the Registrant does
not maintain custodian access and/or trading authority.
Corresponding Services/Fees: When agreed to by the Registrant, the
Registrant shall: (1) remain available to discuss these securities/accounts on an
ongoing basis at the request of the client; (2) monitor these securities/accounts on
a regular basis, including, where applicable, rebalancing with client consent;(3)
shall generally consider these securities as part of the client’s overall asset
allocation; and, (4) report on such securities/accounts as part of regular reports
that may be provided by the Registrant; and, (5) include the market value of all
such securities for purposes of calculating advisory fee.
ERISA PLAN and 401(k) INDIVIDUAL ENGAGEMENTS:
• Trustee Directed Plans. Registrant may be engaged to provide discretionary
investment advisory services to ERISA retirement plans, whereby the Firm shall
manage Plan assets consistent with the investment objective designated by the
Plan trustees. In such engagements, Registrant will serve as an investment
fiduciary as that term is defined under The Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). In such engagements. The Registrant will
generally provide services on an “assets under management” fee basis per the
terms and conditions of an
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Plan
Tradewinds Capital Management – ADV Part 2A – 2024.03.11 Page | 8
and the Firm.
• Client Retirement Plan Assets. If requested to do so, Registrant shall provide
investment advisory services relative to 401(k) plan assets maintained by the
client in conjunction with the retirement plan established by the client’s
employer. In such event, Registrant shall allocate (or recommend that the client
allocate) the retirement account assets among the investment options available
on the 401(k) platform. Registrant’s ability shall be limited to the allocation of
the assets among the investment alternatives available through the plan. The
Registrant will not receive any communications from the plan sponsor or
custodian, and it shall remain the client’s exclusive obligation to notify the
Registrant of any changes in investment alternatives, restrictions, etc.
pertaining to the retirement account. Unless expressly indicated by the
Registrant to the contrary, in writing, the client’s 401(k) plan assets shall be
included as assets under management for purposes of Registrant calculating its
advisory fee.
Investment Consulting. Registrant may determine to provide non-discretionary
portfolio review services relative to those client assets that are not part of the
investment assets subject to the Registrant’s discretionary and non-discretionary
investment advisory services discussed above. These additional client investment
assets (the “Excluded Assets”) are generally investment assets that are managed
directly by the client or by other investment professionals engaged by the client.
The Registrant’s portfolio review service is limited to periodic review of information
pertaining to the Excluded Assets as may be provided to the Registrant by the
client, the other investment professional(s), and/or the account custodian, and does
not include investment advisory services described above. Accordingly, the client
(and/or the investment professionals engaged by the client with respect to such
assets), and not the Registrant, shall be exclusively responsible for the investment
performance of the Excluded Assets, regardless of whether the Registrant includes
the Excluded Assets on any account reports that it may provide to the client. In the
event the client desires that the Registrant provide investment advisory services
with respect to the Excluded Assets, the client may engage the Registrant to do so
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
Investment Advisory Agreement
between the Registrant and the client.
Please Note: Non-Discretionary Service Limitations. Clients that determine to
engage the Registrant on a non-discretionary investment advisory basis must be
willing to accept that the Registrant cannot affect any account transactions
without obtaining prior consent to any such transaction(s) from the client. Thus, in
the event that Adviser would like to make a transaction for a client’s account
(including in the event of an individual holding or general market correction), and
the client is unavailable, the Registrant will be unable to affect any account
transactions (as it would for its discretionary clients) without first obtaining the
client’s consent.
Client Obligations. In performing its services, Registrant shall not be required to
verify any information received from the client or from the client’s other
professionals and is expressly authorized to rely thereon. Moreover, each client is
advised that it remains their responsibility to promptly notify the Registrant if there
is ever any change in their financial situation or investment objectives for the
purpose of reviewing, evaluating or revising Registrant’s previous recommendations
and/or services.
Cybersecurity Risk. The information technology systems and networks that
Registrant and its third-party service providers use to provide services to
Registrant’s clients employ various controls, which are designed to prevent
cybersecurity incidents stemming from intentional or unintentional actions that
could cause significant interruptions in Registrant’s operations and result in the
Tradewinds Capital Management – ADV Part 2A – 2024.03.11 Page | 9
unauthorized acquisition or use of clients’ confidential or non-public personal
information. Clients and Registrant are nonetheless subject to the risk of
cybersecurity incidents that could ultimately cause them to incur losses, including
for example: financial losses, cost and reputational damage to respond to
regulatory obligations, other costs associated with corrective measures, and loss
from damage or interruption to systems. Although Registrant has established its
systems to reduce the risk of cybersecurity incidents from coming to fruition, there
is no guarantee that these efforts will always be successful, especially considering
that Registrant does not directly control the cybersecurity measures and policies
employed by third-party service providers. Clients could incur similar adverse
consequences resulting from cybersecurity incidents that more directly affect
issuers of securities in which those clients invest, broker-dealers, qualified
custodians, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other
financial market operators, or other financial institutions.
Disclosure Statement. A copy of the Adviser’s written Privacy Notice, Disclosure
Brochure as set forth on Parts 2A and 2B of Form ADV and Form CRS (Client
Relationship Summary) shall be provided to each client prior to, or
contemporaneously with, the execution of the applicable form of agreement
between Adviser and the client. Any client who has not received a copy of
Adviser’s written Brochure at least 48 hours prior to executing such agreement
shall have five business days after executing the agreement to terminate the
Adviser’s services without penalty.
B. The Registrant 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, the
Registrant 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 the Registrant’s services.
C. The Registrant does not participate in a wrap fee program.
D. As of December 31,2023, the Registrant had $523,698,592 in assets under
management on a discretionary basis and $0 in assets under management on a
non- discretionary basis.