Description of Advisory Firm
Cornerstone Financial Management LLC (“CornerstoneFM” or “we/us”) is Massachusetts limited liability
company, formed in 2006, and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts with an additional office location in
North Kingstown, Rhode Island. It is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”). Its three principal owners are Theodore Yoos, Kevin Arruda, and George Newfield.
Types of Advisory Services
Ongoing Comprehensive Financial Planning
This service involves working one-on-one with a personal financial planner over an extended period of time. By
paying a fixed annual fee, billed monthly or quarterly, Clients get to work with a planner who will develop and
implement their personal financial plan. The planner will monitor the plan, recommend any changes and ensure the
plan is up to date.
Upon engaging us for ongoing financial planning, a Client will be taken through establishing their goals and values
around money. They will be required to provide information to help complete the following areas of analysis: net
worth, cash flow, insurance, employee benefit, retirement planning, charitable giving, insurance, investments, tax
planning, college planning, and estate planning. Once the Client's information is reviewed, their plan will be built
and analyzed, and then the findings, analysis and potential changes to their current situation will be reviewed with
the Client. Clients subscribing to 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. If a follow-up meeting
is required, we will meet at the Client's convenience. The plan and the Client's financial situation and goals will be
monitored throughout the year and follow-up phone calls and emails will be made to the Client to confirm that any
agreed upon action steps have been carried out. Any needed updates will be implemented at that time.
Investment Management Services
When providing Investment Management Services, our firm provides continuous advice to a Client regarding the
investment of Client funds based on the individual needs of the Client. Through personal discussions, the Client’s
goals, objectives and particular circumstances are established. Based on these discussion we develop the Client's
personal investment policy with an allocation target, and manage the Client’s portfolio accordingly. We will also
review and discuss a Client’s prior investment history, as well as family composition and background. These
accounts will be managed on a discretionary basis. The specific accounts over which CornerstoneFM has
discretionary authority will be identified in an Investment Policy Statement.
Additionally, we will meet with the Client on a periodic basis to discuss changes in their personal or financial
situation, suitability, and any new or revised restrictions to be applied to the account.
Account supervision is guided by the stated objectives of the Client (e.g., 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.
We also have the capability to provide discretionary management for certain investments not held at the client’s
brokerage account through an Order Management System to implement asset allocation or rebalancing strategies
on behalf of the client. These are primarily 401(k) accounts, 529 plans, variable annuities, and similar accounts.
These accounts may also be advised on a non-discretionary basis, where we regularly review the current holdings
and available investment options in these accounts, monitor the accounts, and provide recommendations to the
Client with regards to rebalancing and implementing our strategies as necessary.
Investment Management Services through the Use of Outside Managers
In appropriate cases, CornerstoneFM will request a Client’s authorization to utilize an independent Sub-Advisor
(“Sub-Advisor”) to invest the account in a “direct index”, i.e., an investment directly in all (or a representative
component) of the securities in a published index (e.g., S&P 500). Cornerstone will select the index or indexes to
be utilized based on the Client’s Investment Policy Statement, including any restrictions or filters which Client
has selected. This arrangement enables the Sub-Adviser to manage the periodic rebalancing of the account in a
tax-efficient manner. The Sub-Advisor’s fee will be in addition to CornerstoneFM’s fee, and will be deducted
directly from the account. Cornerstone will deliver to such Clients the sub-adviser’s Brochure on Form ADV 2A.
CornerstoneFM will actively monitor the performance of the account.
We offer the use of outside unaffiliated managers (“Outside Managers”) for certain portfolio management services.
We assist Clients in selecting an appropriate allocation model, completing the Outside Manager’s investor profile
questionnaire, interacting with the Outside Manager and reviewing its performance. Our review process and
analysis of Outside Managers is further discussed in Item 8 of this Form ADV Part 2A.
Investment Consulting Services
At the discretion of CornerstoneFM, certain clients may receive Investment Consulting Services for investment
accounts not receiving Investment Management Services. Investment Consulting Services include an analysis and
investment recommendations for those accounts. Clients receiving Investment Consulting Services are solely
responsible for the implementation of our investment recommendations, and do not receive any investment
performance reports for these accounts.
Employee Benefit Plan Services
Our firm may provide employee benefit plan services to employer plan sponsors on an ongoing basis. Generally,
such services consist of assisting employer plan sponsors in establishing, monitoring and reviewing their company's
participant-directed retirement plan. As the needs of the plan sponsor dictate, areas of advising could include
investment options, plan structure, and participant education.
In providing employee benefit plan services, our firm does not provide any advisory services with respect to the
following types of assets: employer securities, real estate (excluding real estate funds and publicly traded REITS),
participant loans, non-publicly traded securities or assets, other illiquid investments, or brokerage window
programs.
Educational Seminars and Speaking Engagements
We may provide seminars for groups seeking general advice on investments and other areas of personal finance.
The content of these seminars will vary depending upon the needs of the attendees. These seminars are purely
educational in nature and do not involve the sale of any investment products. Information presented will not be
based on any individual’s person’s need, nor does CornerstoneFM provide individualized investment advice to
attendees during these seminars.
Client Tailored Services
Our services are tailored to the individual needs of our Clients. Clients are able to specify, within reason, any
limitations they would like to place on discretionary authority as it pertains to individual securities and/or sectors
that will be traded in their account. All such requests must be provided to CornerstoneFM in writing.
CornerstoneFM will notify Clients if they are unable to accommodate any requests.
Wrap Fee Programs
We do not participate in wrap fee programs.
Assets Under Management
As of February 29, 2024, the Advisor had a total of $111,475,805 of discretionary assets under management and
$2,401,436 of non-discretionary assets under management.