ACM is a fee-only investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). Our principal place of business is located in Ithaca, New York. Our firm has been in
business since 1983 (operating as Anne C. Chernish, CFP sole proprietorship until 2007). Anne
Christine Chernish, Managing Member and President, is the firm’s principal owner.
Discretionary assets under our firm’s management were $37,502,581 as of December 31, 2022.
Portfolio Management Services
Our firm is in the business of managing individually tailored investment portfolios. We provide
continuous advice to a client regarding the investment of client 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 or individual
investment plan and create and manage a portfolio based on that policy or plan. During our data-
gathering process, we determine the client’s individual objectives, time horizons, risk tolerance, and
liquidity needs. We may also review and discuss a client’s prior investment history, as well as family
composition and background.
We will manage advisory accounts on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis. For discretionary
accounts, we will implement transactions without seeking prior client consent.
Account supervision is guided by the stated objectives of the client (i.e., maximum capital
appreciation, growth, income, or growth and income), as well as tax considerations. Clients may
impose reasonable restrictions on investing in certain securities, types of securities, or industry sectors.
Financial Planning/Consulting Services
Financial planning is a comprehensive evaluation of a client’s current and future financial state by
using currently known variables to predict future
cash flows, asset values and withdrawal plans. The
key defining aspect of financial planning is that through the financial planning process, all questions,
information and analysis will be considered as they impact and are impacted by the entire financial and
life situation of the client. Clients purchasing this service will receive a written or an electronic report,
providing the client with a detailed financial plan designed to achieve his or her stated financial goals
and objectives.
In general, the financial plan will address any or all of the following areas of concern:
Personal: Family records, budgeting, personal liability, estate information and financial goals;
Tax & Cash Flow: Income tax and spending analysis and planning for past, current and future
years. We will illustrate the impact of various investments on a client's current income tax and
future tax liability;
Death & Disability: Cash needs at death, income needs of surviving dependents, estate planning
and disability income analysis;
Retirement: Analysis of current strategies and investment plans to help the client achieve his or
her retirement goals;
• Investments: Analysis of investment alternatives and their effect on a client's portfolio;
•
Estate: Analysis of financial issues with respect to living trusts, wills, estate tax, powers
of
attorney, asset protection plans, nursing homes, Medicaid and elder law; and
We gather required information through in-depth personal interviews. Information gathered includes a
client's current financial status, tax status, future goals, returns objectives and attitudes towards risk.
We carefully review documents supplied by the client, including a questionnaire completed by the
client, and prepare a written report. Should a client choose to implement the recommendations
contained in the plan, we suggest the client work closely with his/her investment adviser, attorney,
accountant, insurance agent, and/or stockbroker. A client may retain the services of our firm to
manage assets and implement his/her financial plan recommendations. However, implementation of
financial plan recommendations is entirely at the client's discretion.
Typically the financial plan will be presented to the client within 90 days of the contract date, provided
that all information needed to prepare the financial plan has been promptly provided by the client.
Clients can also receive investment advice on a more limited basis. This may include advice on asset
allocation to participants in self-directed retirement plans or an isolated area(s) of concern such as
investment strategy consultations, estate planning, retirement planning, or any other specific topic.
We also offer advice on non-securities matters such as estate planning,
Services in General
Our investment, financial planning and consulting recommendations are not limited to any specific
product or service offered by a broker dealer and will primarily include advice regarding the following
instruments:
•
Exchange-listed securities
• Exchange traded funds (ETFs)
• Mutual funds
• Corporate debt securities
Interests in pooled investment vehicles
Securities of foreign issuers
Occasionally, we may address investments in the following instruments:
• Warrants
Commercial paper
Certificates of deposit
Municipal securities
United States government securities
We tailor all of our portfolio management, financial planning and consulting recommendations to the
individual needs of each client. All such recommendations are tailored based on information gathered
through client questionnaires, electronic communications, telephone and in-person discussions.
As part of the succession planning Anchor recommends that clients sign a Limited Power Of Attorney
naming GoalVest Advisory, LLC (“GoalVest’) as a subadvisor. In the event that Anchors’ Managing
Member becomes unavailable temporarily or for a longer term, GoalVest will manage Anchors’ clients
accounts in accordance with the information provided to Anchor by its clients and according to the
clients’ individual needs and goals.
GoalVest will receive a portion of the fees charged by Anchor as compensation for this service.
Anchor will pay GoalVest an ongoing fee equal to 0.10% of the managed assets of clients who sign the
GoalVest Limited Power Of Attorney. The fee you paid to GoalVest will not be increased to pay for
GoalVest’s services.
In the event that Anchor or its Managing Member become permanently unavailable Anchor
recommends that clients assign their advisory agreement to GoalVest.
GoalVest and Anchor are unaffiliated entities.