Information about the Firm
Abbot Financial Management, Inc. (“AFM,” the “Firm,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is an investment
advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
The Firm is a corporation formed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1983. Our Firm’s
principal owner is Andrew J. Novelline, President and Chief Compliance Officer.
We are committed to providing individuals, including high net worth individuals, families,
retirement plans, and charitable organizations with a consistent, dependable investment return
from a high-quality portfolio of stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds, and mutual funds. While
being sensitive to each individual client’s risk parameters, it is our goal to protect and grow
principal.
As explained more fully in this Brochure, we provide asset management and financial planning
services. We provide our services through investment advisor representatives, or “IARs.” More
information about each IAR providing advisory services may be obtained in the Brochure
Supplement (Form ADV Part 2B) for the IAR, which is provided by the IAR before or at the time
the IAR is engaged. IARs are required to obtain training and licenses to sell certain investments
and services. Clients should carefully review the Brochure Supplement for the IAR that is
engaged and determine the investments and services the IAR is licensed or qualified to sell.
Advisory Services
We provide asset management services, financial planning and consulting and retirement plan
consulting. Our services are provided on a discretionary basis, meaning that we possess the
discretion to buy and sell individual stocks, bonds, and other investments. Each of our asset
management services is briefly described below.
Asset Management
As part of our asset management service, we create individual investment portfolios, which
may consist of individual stocks or bonds, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), options, mutual
funds and other public and private securities or investments. Each client’s portfolio is tailored
to an individual investment strategy and to specific goals and objectives and may include some
or all of the previously mentioned securities. Once the appropriate portfolio has been
determined, we review the portfolio at least annually and, as necessary, we rebalance the
portfolio based upon the client’s needs and stated goals and objectives. An IAR selected by our
client may exercise discretion over the investment of the portfolio.
Financial Planning and Consulting
AFM may provide financial and estate planning advice to its investment management clients.
We do not receive additional compensation for such services.
Retirement Plan Consulting
We offer various levels of advisory and consulting services to employee benefit plans and these
services are designed to assist plan sponsors (“Plan Sponsors”) in meeting their management
and fiduciary obligations to the participants of such plans (“Participants”) under the Employee
Retirement Income Securities Act (“ERISA”) and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (“PPA”).
Generally, investment advice provided to Plan Sponsors is regulated under ERISA and the PPA.
Plan Sponsors must make the ultimate decision to retain us for retirement plan consulting and
other advisory services including, but not limited to, services at the participant level. The Plan
Sponsor is free to seek independent advice about the appropriateness of any recommended
services for the plan.
For each plan, our services may include some or all of the following areas: overview, investor
circumstances, tax policy, reviews, diversification and investment constraints,
selection/retention criteria for investments, investment monitoring and control procedures and
duties and responsibilities.
Services include Management of vendor relationships;
Request for Proposals (“RFPs”);
Assistance on plan design strategies; Fiduciary consulting and oversight; Investment
management; and Employee education and Communication services.
Advisory services provided to retirement plans may be solely provided by IARs, or in
combination with third parties and their retirement plan services.
Tailored Advice; Restrictions
We work with clients to structure an investment portfolio based on the needs of each
individual. At the onset of each relationship, AFM uses client questionnaires and profiles, a
review of existing investments and financial status, in order to assess the client’s risk tolerance,
time frame and goals when a portfolio allocation is recommended. Each client portfolio is
tailored to the individual needs of that client. We review each client’s individual investments
and investment profile at least annually. When a client’s investment profile or needs change
and we have notice or receive additional information, we modify our advice, as appropriate.
Clients may impose reasonable restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of
securities, so long as the restrictions are practicable and permit us to manage the account
without undue difficulty. This may include certain sectors that must be avoided in that specific
client’s portfolios. However, in circumstances where we do not directly manage a client’s
portfolio, individually imposed restrictions are generally not permitted.
Fiduciary Statement
We are fiduciaries under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and when we provide investment
advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, we are
also fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act,
(“ERISA”) and/or the Internal Revenue Code, (“IRC”), as applicable, which are laws governing
retirement accounts.
We have to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. At the same time,
the way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests. We must take into
consideration each client’s objectives and act in the best interests of the client. We are
prohibited from engaging in any activity that is in conflict with the interests of the client. We
have the following responsibilities when working with a client:
• To render impartial advice;
• To make appropriate recommendations based on the client’s needs, financial
circumstances, and investment objectives;
• To exercise a high degree of care and diligence to ensure that information is presented
in an accurate manner and not in a way to mislead;
• To have a reasonable basis, information, and understanding of the facts in order to
provide appropriate recommendations and representations;
• Disclose any material conflict of interest in writing; and
• Treat clients fairly and equitably.
Regulations prohibit us from:
• Employing any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud a client;
• Making any untrue statement of a material fact to a client or omitting to state a material
fact when communicating with a client;
• Engaging in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as
fraud or deceit upon a client; or
• Engaging in any manipulative act or practice with a client.
We will act with competence, dignity, integrity, and in an ethical manner, when working with
clients. We will use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgement when
conducting investment analysis, making investment recommendations, trading, promoting our
services, and engaging in other professional activities.
Wrap Fee Program
We do not participate in any Wrap fee programs.
Assets Under Management
As of June 30, 2023, we manage approximately $240,197,809; all assets are managed on a
discretionary basis.