About Navigoe, LLC
Navigoe, LLC (Navigoe) is a limited liability company formed in 2013 in the state of
Nevada. The principal owner of the firm is Scott Leonard. The major decisions of a
strategic and administrative nature for the firm are undertaken by Mr. Leonard.
This narrative brochure provides clients with information regarding Navigoe and the
qualifications, business practices, and nature of advisory services that should be
considered before becoming an advisory client of Navigoe.
Prior to engaging Navigoe to provide services, clients are required to enter into an
agreement with Navigoe setting 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 Navigoe beginning services. It remains the client’s
responsibility to promptly notify Navigoe if there is ever any change in the client’s
financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of
reviewing/evaluating/revising Navigoe’s previous recommendations and/or services.
Prior to entering into an on-going agreement with Navigoe, prospective clients first have
a complimentary Introductory Meeting. Navigoe learns the planning needs of the
prospective client and details the process to become a client.
The next step, if both parties decide to work together, the client may engage Navigoe to
provide ongoing financial consulting and investment management on a fee-only basis
as part of Navigoe’s Wealth Management Consulting process. Clients are taken through
a discovery and financial overview process that generally entails three separate phases
as follows:
Phase 1: Charting Your Course – This part of the process allows Navigoe to learn
about the client’s values, interests, financial situation and concerns, and most of all their
family goals. Navigoe completes a “draft plan” which helps give the client a better
understanding of the scope and nature of Navigoe services.
Phase 2: Welcome Aboard – Navigoe learns the goals and values of the client and
gathers additional information
Phase 3: “Setting Sail” Meetings – Navigoe and the client begin implementing the
investment plan and planning recommendations. This process can take from 4 weeks to
2 years, depending on the complexity of client situation. This is the implementation
stage of the process.
Concierge Wealth Management
After the Charting Your Course and Setting Sail process Navigoe’s Wealth Management
Process, customizable to the unique needs of the client, begins. For new clients,
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usually in the first 12 to 24 months of working with Navigoe, there will be meetings as
often as necessary to establish the full breadth of planning recommendations and to
implement such recommendations.
Once the client's initial wealth management goals have been established, it is typical to
move to a two meeting per year schedule. The meetings are designed to move toward
and monitor the client's goals. The meetings are as follow:
Spring Stay the Course- Financial Plan and Investment Policy Review: The purpose of
this meeting is to review your goals and spending priorities and assess if your plan is
still suited to achieve them. We will also revisit your investment policy to ensure that
your allocation is targeted to your goals and spending priorities.
Fall Stay the Course- Income Tax Planning and Cash Flow Analysis: In the latter part of
the year, our team communicates with your tax professional to make recommendations
that can be implemented before the end of the year. If appropriate, we review your cash
flow needs to ensure your income is cost-efficient and tax-smart.
In addition to the two regularly scheduled Stay the Course meetings, Navigoe meets
with clients on an “ad hoc” basis to cover any additional topics that might be suitable for
the client.
Subject to any written guidelines, which the client may provide, Navigoe will be granted
discretion and authority to manage the client’s investment account(s). Accordingly,
Navigoe is authorized to perform various functions, at the client’s expense, without
further approval from the client. Such functions include making all investment decisions
on the (a) securities purchased/sold and (b) the amount of securities to be
purchased/sold. Once the portfolio is constructed, Navigoe provides ongoing
supervision and rebalancing of the portfolio as changes in market conditions and client
circumstances may require.
Navigoe primarily allocates investment management assets of its client accounts among
various asset classes using mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs), (and to a
much lesser extent, among various individual debt and equity securities), on a
discretionary basis, in accordance with the investment objectives of the client as set
forth in an Investment Policy Statement prepared by Navigoe for review and acceptance
by the client. Unless the client directs otherwise, Navigoe shall primarily recommend
that all investment management accounts be maintained at Charles Schwab and Co.,
Inc. (Schwab) and/or National Advisors Trust Company FSB (NAT).
After consultation with Navigoe, clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain
securities or types of securities. Other restrictions may be imposed by clients with
respect to the (average or longest) maturity or credit quality of fixed income
investments. In either case, all restrictions must be in writing.
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If requested by the client, Navigoe
may recommend the services of other professionals
for implementation purposes. 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
Navigoe. If a 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.
401(k)andotherQualifiedRetirementPlans
An investment advisory service for business owners and trustees of 401(k) plans who
want the expertise and experience of an investment advisor who can complete sound
due diligence on fund selection, create a menu of options and risk adjusted allocation
models in order to ensure peace of mind and reduce fiduciary liability.
RetirementAccountsandERISA
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or
individual retirement account, we are fiduciaries 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. The way we make money
creates some conflicts with your interests, so we operate under a special rule that
requires us to act in your best interest and not put our interests ahead of yours.
Under this special rule’s provisions, we must:
● Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations
(give prudent advice);
● Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations
(give loyal advice);
● Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments;
● Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in
your best interest;
● Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and
● Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
SelectionofOtherAdvisers
As part of its advisory services, Navigoe utilizes with services of Arcadios Capital.
Arcadios assist with structuring bond ladder portfolios and with the selection and
purchase of bonds in a client’s portfolio.
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Trade Error Policy
Should they occur, losses resulting from Navigoe’s trade errors shall be reimbursed by
Navigoe, but Navigoe shall not credit accounts for such errors resulting in market gains.
The gains and losses are reconciled within Navigoe’s custodian firm account, and while
Navigoe does not receive any net benefit, Navigoe retains the net gains to be used
against any future trade errors that may occur.
Client Obligations
In performing its services, Navigoe is not required to verify any information received
from the client or from the client’s other professionals. Moreover, each client is advised
that it remains his or her responsibility to promptly notify Navigoe if there is ever any
change in the client’s financial situation or investment objectives during the client
engagement.
Disclosure Statement
A copy of Navigoe’s written brochure as set forth on Part 2A of Form ADV shall be
provided to each client prior to, or at the same time as, the execution of the Financial
Planning and Consulting Agreement and/or Investment Advisory Agreement. Any client
who has not received a copy of Navigoe’s written brochure at least 48 hours prior to
executing the Financial Planning and Consulting Agreement and/or Investment Advisory
Agreement shall have five business days subsequent to executing the agreement to
terminate Navigoe’s services without penalty.
Non-Participation in Wrap Fee Programs
Navigoe, as a matter of policy and practice, does not sponsor any wrap fee program. A
wrap fee program is defined as any advisory program under which a specified fee or
fees not based directly upon transactions in a client’s account is charged for investment
supervisory services (which may include portfolio management or advice concerning the
selection of other investment advisers) and the execution of client transactions.
Amount of Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, provides investment management services to approximately
to $ 283 million in client assets. Of those assets, $ 281.8 million are managed on a
discretionary basis and $ 1.5 million are managed on a non-discretionary basis.
Our Policy on Class Action Lawsuits
From time to time, securities held in the accounts of clients will be the subject of class
action lawsuits. Navigoe has no obligation to determine if securities held by the client
are subject to a pending or resolved class action lawsuit. It also has no duty to evaluate
a client’s eligibility or to submit a claim to participate in the proceeds of a securities
class action settlement or verdict. Furthermore, Navigoe has no obligation or
responsibility to initiate litigation to recover damages on behalf of clients who may have
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been injured as a result of actions, misconduct, or negligence by corporate
management of issuers whose securities are held by clients.
Where Navigoe receives written or electronic notice of a class action lawsuit,
settlement, or verdict affecting securities owned by a client, it will forward all notices,
proof of claim forms, and other materials, to the client. Electronic mail is acceptable
where appropriate if the client has authorized contact in this manner.
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