Silver Oak Securities, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “SOSI,” “we,” “us,” or “Firm”) is a corporation formed in
the State of Tennessee. Our firm has been in business as a registered investment adviser since 2010 and offers
various advisory services through individuals who are registered with us as Investment Advisor
Representatives (hereinafter referred to as “Financial Professionals). We are principally owned by William E.
Hopkins, II and George Thomas Allen, III.
As of December 31, 2023 we managed $1,463,326,334 on a discretionary basis.
Types of Advisory Services
As described below, SOSI offers various types of advisory services that include:
Compass Financial Professional directed asset management
AdvisorFX Strategist program
Financial planning and consultations
Referrals to third-party managers
Align Wealth Management
Retirement plan services
You should be aware of the differences between the fee-based services outlined in the Brochure and
commission-based services that are separately available for unmanaged brokerage accounts. We encourage
you to review and discuss our From CRS with your Financial Professional.
Compass
In Compass accounts, Financial Professionals direct the asset management, and accounts are managed on an
individualized basis according to the client’s investment objectives, financial goals, risk tolerance, etc. As part
of this asset management service, Financial Professionals generally create a portfolio, consisting of individual
stocks or bonds, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), options, mutual funds, variable annuity sub-accounts, and
other public securities or investments. The client’s individual investment strategy is tailored to their specific
needs and may include some or all of the previously mentioned securities. Each portfolio will be initially
designed to meet a particular investment goal, which we determine to be suitable to the client’s
circumstances and in the client’s best interest. Each client has the opportunity to place reasonable restrictions
on the types of investments to be held in the portfolio.
AdvisorFX
AdvisorFX is a Unified Managed Account (“UMA”) program. AdvisorFX utilizes the services of outside,
Independent Money Managers (“Strategist”) to manage account sleeves of mutual funds, ETFs, individual
stocks or bonds, and cash or cash equivalents (collectively “Securities”). Each Strategist is a registered
investment advisor not otherwise affiliated with SOSI. SOSI will work with each Strategist to design an
investment portfolio and provide ongoing asset management services.
Financial Professionals may also manage one or more sleeves within an AdvisorFX account. Financial
Professional managed sleeves are not eligible to charge a strategist fee.
Strategists are responsible for the construction of the Models, selection of securities for the Models, on-going
monitoring of the Models and communication of Model changes to SOSI. SOSI, acting as discretionary overlay
manager, implements any changes in Model allocations and Securities selections in client accounts. Asset
allocations and/or securities in the Models can be adjusted or replaced at any time. Reallocating assets can
trigger short-term redemption fees and will trigger taxable events except where Individual Retirement
Accounts or other qualified retirement plans or accounts are involved.
Certain Strategists are made available to us through our relationship with Orion (“Orion Strategists”). In
addition to Strategist availability, Orion performs initial due diligence on these Strategists and integrates
Strategist trading signals into Orion’s trading engine to provide additional operational efficiencies to SOSI.
Other Strategists have direct relationships with SOSI (“Direct Strategists”). This means that SOSI is fully
responsible for due diligence and input of Strategist signals into Orion’s trading engine.
Based on investment objectives, financial and tax status, risk tolerance and time horizon information you
provide to us, your Financial Professional will assist you in choosing an appropriate Model(s). Your initial
selection of one or more Models will be set forth in Schedule A of the AdvisorFX Agreement. SOSI has the
discretionary authority to replace any Strategist or Model selected at any time. We usually do not allow clients
to impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of securities due to the level of difficulty this
would entail in managing their account. In the rare instance that we would allow restrictions it is important to
understand that any restrictions on management of an account imposed by you can cause the Model to deviate
from the Model construction decisions made by the Strategist.
We select Orion Strategists for participation in the Program from a list provided by Orion. On an ongoing basis,
Orion reviews Strategists participating in the Program to determine whether they continue to meet Orion’s
guidelines and evaluation criteria. If Orion detects relevant information at any time (including qualification
and/or performance concerns), we will generally follow Orion’s recommendation as to whether to continue to
include the Strategist as an investment suitable for AdvisorFX. We receive research, performance information
and other information from Orion about Strategists but do not independently verify or guarantee the accuracy
or validity of this information received from Orion, or any other source. Further, there is a chance the
performance information that we receive from Orion may not be calculated on a uniform or consistent basis.
For approved Strategists, Orion employs a multi-phase approach in its evaluation (“Due Diligence”). As part of
the Due Diligence, certain types of information are analyzed, succession plan, demonstrated repeatable
investment process, firm investment alongside investors, compensation alignment with investors’ best
interest, assets under management, expense ratio of underlying securities, tracking error vs. benchmarks, and
track record. Also reviewed are the Strategist’s Form ADV Part 2 disclosure events, as well as portfolio
holdings reports that help demonstrate the Strategist’s securities selection process and the prospectuses of
the Funds. Orion also conducts quarterly due diligence calls, conducts an on-site visit annually, and creates an
annual due diligence research report. Certain Strategists may be added as an accommodation in certain
limited circumstances, e.g., clients who wish to join AdvisorFX and want to retain previously hired Strategists
not on our list.
Direct Strategists are evaluated using a variety of data and information from one or more resources, which
include: Form ADV Part I, Part 2A, Form CRS, CRD and IARD to review control persons, public or private
independent databases, responses to periodic due diligence questionnaires, quantitative and qualitative
information, research, performance reports, and other pertinent information concerning the manager.
While all Strategists are subject to a due diligence process, your Financial Professional is responsible for
determining whether any particular Strategist or Model is appropriate and suitable for use by you. An
explanation of how your Financial Professional selects a Strategist can be found in Item 4 of this brochure
under Advisory Services. If your situation changes and your Financial Professional determines that a particular
selected Strategist is not managing your portfolio in a manner consistent with your current goals and
investment objectives, your Financial Professional may recommend a different Strategist to re-align with your
current stated goals and objectives.
Neither we nor your Financial Professional make any representations regarding the future performance of any
investment strategy of, or security recommended by, any Strategist participating in the AdvisorFX. As always,
past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Financial Planning and Consultations
We
provide a variety of financial planning and consultation services to individuals, families and other clients
regarding the management of their financial resources based upon an analysis of client’s current situation,
goals, and objectives. Generally, such financial planning services will involve preparing a financial plan or
rendering a financial consultation for clients based on the client’s financial goals and objectives. This planning
or consulting may encompass one or more of the following areas: Investment Planning, Retirement Planning,
Estate Planning, Charitable Planning, Education Planning, Corporate and Personal Tax Planning, Cost
Segregation Study, Corporate Structure, Real Estate Analysis, Mortgage/Debt Analysis, Insurance Analysis,
Lines of Credit Evaluation, Business Asset Allocation Analysis, Portfolio Risk Analysis and Personal Financial
Planning.
For written financial planning engagements, we provide our clients with a written summary of their financial
situation, observations, and recommendations. For financial consulting engagements, we usually do not
provide our clients with a written summary of our observations and recommendations as the process is less
formal than our planning service. Plans or consultations are typically completed within six (6) months of the
client signing a contract with us, assuming that all the information and documents we request from the client
are provided to us promptly. Implementation of the recommendations will be at the discretion of the client.
Referrals to Third Party Money Managers
We may have arrangements with unrelated third parties to provide certain services regarding Client accounts.
These services may include, but are not limited to the following: research, due diligence, reporting, portfolio
analysis, portfolio management, and back-office administration. The unrelated third parties will not have any
direct contact with our clients, nor will the unrelated third parties enter into any advisory contracts directly
with Advisor clients. The unrelated third parties will provide services to us, who in turn, is ultimately
responsible for Client account.
In order 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.
Align Wealth Management
The Align Wealth Management service provides a custom solution to Clients through integrating financial
planning, discretionary investment management, and consulting services into a single service for an annual
fixed fee.
Financial planning involves the organization and analysis of a Client's current as well as desired financial
state. Through the financial planning process, SOSI strives to engage clients in conversations around personal
goals, objectives, priorities, vision, and legacy – both for the near term as well as for future generations.
With the unique goals and circumstances of each client in mind, SOSI will offer wealth planning ideas and
strategies to address the client’s holistic financial picture related to business planning, cash flow and debt
management, charitable giving, education planning, employee benefits, estate planning, financial goal
setting, insurance needs analysis, investment analysis, retirement planning, and tax planning.
Typically, investment management services are provided on a discretionary basis, however, from time to
time SOSI may provide non-discretionary investment management for certain Clients or accounts. Prior to
providing investment advisory services, SOSI will determine, in conjunction with the Client, the Client’s
financial condition, investment objectives, liquidity requirements, risk tolerance, time horizons, or any
restrictions on investing. This enables SOSI to determine the investment portfolio best suited for your
investment objectives and needs.
As a component of our ongoing Align Wealth Management service, SOSI provides investment management of
individually tailored investment portfolios. SOSI provides continuous advice to Clients regarding the
investment of Client’s funds based on the individual needs of the Client. Through personal discussions in which
goals and objectives based on a Client’s particular circumstances are established, we develop a Client’s
personal investment policy statement, which is used to inform and direct the creation and management of
Clients investment account(s).
The Adviser implements its strategies primarily through the use of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and
mutual funds. Diversification, cost, and tax efficiency are important factors in determining which securities
to use and how they are implemented for a Client’s account(s). The Adviser may utilize individual fixed-
income securities and other types of securities as appropriate for a particular Client. Your Advisor will
construct, implement, and monitor the portfolio that seeks to meet the goals, objectives, circumstances, and
risk tolerance agreed to by the Client. Each Client will have the opportunity to place reasonable restrictions
on the types of investments to be held in their respective portfolio, subject to acceptance by the Adviser.
SOSI tailors advisory services to meet the needs of clients and seeks to ensure your portfolio is managed in a
manner consistent with those needs and objectives. You have the ability to leave standing instructions with
us to refrain from investing in particular industries or invest in limited amounts of securities.
Where appropriate, your Advisor will provide advice about any type of legacy position or other investment
held in client portfolios. Clients will engage SOSI to advise on certain investment products that are not
maintained by SOSI or at the client’s primary custodian, such as variable life insurance, annuity contracts,
assets held in employer sponsored retirement plans and qualified tuition plans (i.e., 529 plans).
You are advised and are expected to understand our past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Certain market and economic risks may exist that adversely affect an account’s performance. This could
result in capital losses in your account.
Advice rendered will typically include general recommendations for a course of activity and any specific
actions to be taken by the Client. In performing our services, SOSI shall not be required to verify any
information received from you or other professionals. SOSI may also refer Clients to an accountant, attorney
or other professional, as appropriate for their unique situation. SOSI does not receive compensation for such
referrals. You have the right to decide whether or not to engage the services of any such recommended
professional.
All engagements typically start with a discovery appointment with the Client to gain an understanding of the
overall planning goals, financial situation of the Client and other pertinent factors. Additional appointments
will be conducted throughout the year to explore certain areas of the Client’s financial situation in greater
depth and to discuss findings, recommendations, and potential action steps based on the Adviser’s analysis.
Financial planning and investment portfolio recommendations may pose a conflict between the interests of
the Adviser and the interests of the Client when recommendations include further analysis or
implementation for which the Client could hire the Adviser. Clients are not obligated to implement any
recommendations made by the Adviser or maintain an ongoing relationship with the Adviser. If the Client
elects to act on any of the recommendations made by the Adviser, the Client is under no obligation to affect
the transaction through the Adviser.