General Information
Investors Research Corporation (“IRC”) dba IRC Wealth is an investment adviser registered with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, that provides financial planning and investment advisory services.
Formed in November 1981, IRC is owned by David M. Ragland, who serves as President and Chief
Compliance Officer. Mr. Ragland also hosts speaking engagements and publishes a blog for public viewing.
Please see Brochure Supplement(s), Exhibit A, for more information on Mr. Ragland and other individuals
who formulate investment advice and have direct contact with clients or have discretionary authority over
client accounts.
As of December 31, 2023, IRC held $494,577,097 in discretionary assets under management and
$24,194,839 in non- discretionary assets under management.
SERVICES PROVIDED
At the outset of each client relationship, IRC spends time with the client, asking questions, discussing the
client’s investment experience and financial circumstances, and reviewing options for the client. Based on
its reviews, IRC generally develops with each client:
• a financial outline for the client based on the client’s financial circumstances and goals and the
client’s risk tolerance level (the “Financial Profile” or “Profile”); and
• the client’s investment objectives and guidelines (the “Investment Plan” or “Plan”).
The Financial Profile is a reflection of the client’s current financial picture and a look to the future goals of
the client. The Investment Plan outlines the types of investments IRC will make on behalf of the client to
meet those goals. The Profile and the Plan are discussed regularly with each client but are not necessarily
written documents.
Financial Planning
One of the services offered by IRC is financial planning, described below. This service may be provided as
a stand-alone service or may be coupled with ongoing portfolio management.
Financial planning generally includes advice that addresses one or more areas of a client's financial
situation, such as estate planning, risk management, budgeting and cash flow controls, retirement planning,
education funding, and investment portfolio design. Depending on a client’s particular situation, financial
planning may include some or all of the following:
• Gathering factual information concerning the client's personal and financial situation;
• Assisting the client in establishing financial goals and objectives;
• Analyzing the client's present situation and anticipated future activities in light of the client's
financial goals and objectives;
• Identifying problems foreseen in the accomplishment of these financial goals and objectives and
offering alternative solutions to the problems;
• Making recommendations to help achieve retirement plan goals and objectives;
• Designing an investment portfolio to help meet the goals and objectives of the client;
• Providing estate planning;
• Assessing risk and reviewing basic health, life and disability insurance needs; and/or
• Reviewing goals and objectives and measuring progress toward those goals.
Once financial planning advice is given, the client may choose to have IRC implement the client’s financial
plan and manage the investment portfolio on an ongoing basis. However, the client is under no obligation
to act upon any of the recommendations made by IRC under a financial planning engagement. It is
recommended that the client review this plan with tax accountants, attorneys and other professional service
providers.
Investment Advisory Services
IRC is an investment adviser specializing in meeting the personalized asset management needs of its clients.
IRC focuses on each client’s personal success and long-term goals when recommending its value, income,
or ETF-based model portfolios. IRC applies its disciplined approach to money management, which it feels
attracts discerning clients, many of whom are unable to find solutions they are seeking in traditional
managed accounts.
The process begins with having conversations and meetings with a client to ascertain their objectives,
needs, risk tolerance, and financial status. A client may reserve the right to impose restrictions or guidelines
on the management of the client's assets, including any limitations on the purchase
or sale of particular
securities or types of securities. Each client should note, however, that restrictions imposed by a client may
adversely affect the composition and performance of the client’s investment portfolio. Each client’s
investment portfolio is treated individually by giving consideration to each purchase or sale for the client’s
account. However, IRC may also implement a model portfolio strategy that is regularly analyzed and
updated. For these and other reasons, performance of client investment portfolios within the same
investment objectives, goals and/or risk tolerance may differ and clients should not expect that the
composition or performance of their investment portfolios would necessarily be consistent with other
clients of IRC.
Retirement Plan Advisory Services
Establishing a sound fiduciary governance process is vital to good decision-making and to ensuring that
prudent procedural steps are followed in making investment decisions. IRC will provide Retirement Plan
consulting services to Plans and Plan Fiduciaries as described below. The appropriate Plan Fiduciary(ies)
designated in the Plan documents (e.g., the Plan sponsor or named fiduciary) will (i) make the decision to
retain IRC; (ii) agree to the scope of the services that IRC will provide; and (iii) make the ultimate decision
as to accepting any of the recommendations that IRC may provide. The Plan Fiduciaries are free to seek
independent advice about the appropriateness of any recommended services for the Plan. Retirement Plan
consulting services may be offered individually or as part of a comprehensive suite of services.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) sets forth rules under which Plan
Fiduciaries may retain investment advisers for various types of services with respect to Plan assets. IRC
acts as a fiduciary under ERISA Section 3(21). As such, IRC works with clients to recommend the investment
choices for a plan among which the plan participants may select. IRC does not have discretion over plan
investments, and Retirement Plan clients will retain control of the plan’s investments and will approve the
fund lineup. IRC does not offer investment management services, as defined under ERISA section 3(38).
With respect to any account for which IRC meets the definition of a fiduciary under Department of Labor
rules, IRC acknowledges that both IRC and its Related Persons are acting as fiduciaries. Additional
disclosure may be found elsewhere in this Brochure or in the written agreement between IRC and the client.
IRC, acting in a non-fiduciary capacity, will provide employee investment education, and guidance to Plan
participants, separate and apart from any actual investment advice, and assistance with the management
of service providers.
ERISA and Individual Retirement Accounts Disclosure
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.
Speaking Engagements
IRC’s President and CCO David Ragland is available to present as a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator,
or course instructor. Topics include Wealth Made Simple and Retirement Planning Made Simple, among
others. Amy Getz, an advisor with IRC also speaks on podcasts, zoom meetings and in person. One of her
topics is called: “Wealth from Within: Simple Steps To Creating Financial Freedom”