Description of Advisory Firm
BFSG, LLC, doing business as Benefits Financial Services Group (“BFSG”), is a limited liability
company formed in the State of Delaware. BFSG, LLC has been in business as an investment
adviser, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission since 2007.
BFSG is part of the Focus Financial Partners, LLC (“Focus LLC”) partnership. Specifically, BFSG is a
wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Focus LLC. Ferdinand FFP Acquisition, LLC is the sole
managing member of Focus LLC. Ultimate governance of Focus LLC is conducted through the
board of directors at Ferdinand FFP Ultimate Holdings, LP. Focus LLC is majority-owned, indirectly
and collectively, by investment vehicles affiliated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (“CD&R”).
Investment vehicles affiliated with Stone Point Capital LLC (“Stone Point”) are indirect owners of
Focus LLC. Because BFSG is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Focus LLC, CD&R and Stone
Point investment vehicles are indirect owners of BFSG.
Focus LLC also owns other registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, pension consultants,
insurance firms, business managers and other firms (the “Focus Partners”), most of which
provide wealth management, benefit consulting and investment consulting services to
individuals, families, employers, and institutions. Some Focus Partners also manage or advise
limited partnerships, private funds, or investment companies as disclosed on their respective
Form ADVs.
BFSG has two divisions that offer separate advisory services: BFS Wealth Management and BFS
Institutional Services.
BFSG is managed by John Campbell, Darren Stewart, Christopher Rowey, Tina Schackman, Grace
Lau, Patrick Powers, Steven Yamshon, and Michael Allbee (“BFSG Principals”), pursuant to a
management agreement between Retirement Plan Consultant Group (“RPCG, LLC”) and BFSG.
The BFSG Principals serve as officers and leaders of BFSG and are responsible for the
management, supervision and oversight of BFSG.
As of December 31, 2023, our assets under management are $1,148,705,835 managed on a
discretionary basis and $381,356 managed on a non-discretionary basis and our assets under
consultation are $16,003,674,151. Assets under consultation are assets for which we provide
ongoing recommendations based upon the needs of the retirement plan sponsor client, as to
which specific securities or other investments to make available to its plan participants, as well
as other services set forth in the Consulting Agreement.
Our Advisory Services
BFS Wealth Management
At BFS Wealth Management, we believe that through hard work, decades of experience, and
precise attention to detail we can help our clients achieve their financial goals. Wealth
management is a more holistic service than just offering investment management and may
include financial planning, pension consulting, and advising on estate planning and insurance
needs. Our commitment is to create fundamentally sound, well-constructed, diversified
portfolios tailored to each client’s needs and goals. We monitor the investments to evaluate
performance against appropriate market-based benchmarks and modify each portfolio strategy
as needed to support a measurable outcome.
Individual investors, employer-directed retirement plans, corporations, trust estates, and
charitable trusts have all benefitted from our expertise. Through our client focused approach, we
offer our clients the following advisory services:
Financial Planning
To the extent requested by the client, BFSG will generally provide financial planning and related
consulting services regarding non-investment related matters, such as tax and estate planning,
insurance, etc. BFSG will generally provide such consulting services inclusive of its advisory fee
set forth at Item 5 below, as specified in our contract with you (exceptions do occur based upon
assets under management, certain investment offerings such as our Automated Investment
Program services, special projects, stand-alone planning engagements, etc., for which BFSG may
charge a separate or additional fee).
Financial planning is a comprehensive evaluation of your current and future financial state by
using currently known variables based on information you disclose 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 your entire financial and life situation. You will receive a written or
an electronic report, providing a detailed financial plan designed to achieve your stated financial
goals and objectives. Please remember to contact us, in writing, if there are any changes in your
personal/financial situation so that we can review whether the changes impact our previous
recommendations.
Please Note: BFSG does not serve as an attorney, accountant, or insurance agent, and no portion
of our services should be construed as same. Accordingly, BFSG does not prepare legal
documents, prepare tax returns, or sell insurance products. To the extent requested by a client,
we may recommend the services of other professionals for non-investment implementation
purpose (i.e., attorneys, accountants, insurance, etc.). 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 BFSG
and/or its representatives. If the client engages any recommended professional, and a dispute
arises thereafter relative to such engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from
and against the engaged professional. At all times, the engaged unaffiliated licensed
professional[s] (i.e., attorney, accountant, insurance agent, etc.), and not BFSG, shall be
responsible for the quality and competency of the services provided.
Please Note: Planning Limitations. BFSG believes that it is important for the client to address
financial planning issues on an ongoing basis. BFSG’s advisory fee, as set forth at Item 5 below,
will remain the same regardless of whether or not the client determines to address financial
planning issues with BFSG. It remains each client’s responsibility to promptly notify BFSG if there
is ever any change in his/her/its financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of
reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services.
Investment Portfolio Management
We offer discretionary and nondiscretionary investment management services in accordance
with your individual needs. Through personal discussions about your investment history, financial
circumstances, and goals, we determine your investment objectives and develop an asset
allocation plan which will guide the management of your portfolio. Target asset allocations range
from 100% equities to 100% fixed income and may include private investments.
Our investment recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered by a
broker-dealer or insurance company and will generally include advice regarding the following
securities:
• Exchange-listed securities
• Securities traded over-the-counter
• Foreign issuers
• Warrants
• Corporate debt securities (other than commercial paper)
• Certificates of deposit
• Municipal securities
• Mutual fund shares
• United States governmental securities
• Interests in partnerships investing in real estate
• Interests in partnerships investing in private equity
• Non-public real estate investment trusts
• Private investments
• Annuities
• Stock options
Our investment strategies typically focus on multi-capitalization publicly listed stocks (ranging
from small- to large-sized companies), as well as exchange traded funds and/or mutual funds.
When appropriate (i.e., depending on advisory account size or selected investment offering) or
when preferred by you, our investment strategies will utilize only exchange traded funds and/or
mutual funds. We offer Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) investment portfolios
investing in securities of environmentally responsible and sustainable global companies that
make an environmental contribution.
Most mutual funds and exchange traded funds are available directly to the public. Thus, a
prospective client can obtain many of the funds that may be utilized by BFSG independent of
engaging BFSG as an investment advisor. However, if a prospective client determines to do so,
he/she will not receive BFSG’s initial and ongoing investment advisory services. In addition to
BFSG’s investment advisory fee described below, and transaction and/or custodial fees discussed
below, clients will also incur, relative to all mutual fund and exchange traded fund purchases,
charges imposed at the fund level (i.e., management fees and other fund expenses).
Please Note: BFSG utilizes the mutual funds issued by Dimensional Fund Advisors (“DFA”). DFA
funds are generally only available through registered investment advisers approved by DFA. Thus,
if the client was to terminate BFSG’s services, and transition to another adviser who has not been
approved by DFA to utilize DFA funds, restrictions regarding additional purchases of, or
reallocation among other DFA funds, will generally apply.
BFSG may recommend that the client allocate a portion of the client’s investment assets among
unaffiliated independent investment managers in accordance with the client’s designated
investment objective(s). In such situations, the Independent Manager[s] shall have day-to- day
responsibility for the active discretionary management of the allocated assets. BFSG shall
continue to render investment supervisory services to the client relative to the ongoing
monitoring and review of account performance, asset allocation and client investment
objectives. Factors that BFSG shall consider in recommending Independent Manager[s] include
the client’s designated investment objective(s), advisory account size, management style,
performance, reputation, financial strength, reporting, pricing, and research. The client is under
no obligation to engage an Independent Manager[s]. You should refer to the selected
independent third-party money manager’s Form ADV Part 2A or other disclosure document for
a full description of the services offered. Please Note: The investment management fee charged
by the Independent Manager([s)] is separate from, and in addition to, BFSG’s investment advisory
fee disclosed at Item 5 below.
Cryptocurrency: For clients who want exposure to cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, BFSG will
advise the client to consider a potential investment in corresponding exchange traded securities,
or an allocation to separate account managers and/or private funds that provide cryptocurrency
exposure. Crypto is a digital currency that can be used to buy goods and services and uses an
online ledger with strong cryptography (i.e., a method of protecting information and
communications through the use of codes) to secure online transactions. Unlike conventional
currencies issued by a monetary authority, cryptocurrencies are generally not controlled or
regulated, and their price is determined by the supply and demand of their market. Because
cryptocurrency is currently considered to be a speculative investment, BFSG will not exercise
discretionary authority to purchase a cryptocurrency investment for client accounts. Rather, a
client must expressly authorize the purchase of the cryptocurrency investment. Please Note:
BFSG does not recommend or advocate the purchase of, or investment in, cryptocurrencies. BFSG
considers such an investment to be speculative. Please Also Note: Clients who authorize the
purchase of a cryptocurrency investment must be prepared for the potential for liquidity
constraints, extreme price volatility and complete loss of principal.
Interval Funds/Risks and Limitations: Where appropriate, BFSG may utilize interval funds (and
other types of securities that could pose additional risks, including lack of liquidity and
restrictions on withdrawals). An interval fund is a non-traditional type of closed-end mutual fund
that periodically offers to buy back a percentage of outstanding shares from shareholders.
Investments in an interval fund involve additional risk, including lack of liquidity and restrictions
on withdrawals. During any time periods outside of the specified repurchase offer window(s),
investors will be unable to sell their shares of the interval fund. There is no assurance that an
investor will be able to tender shares when or in the amount desired. There can also be situations
where an interval fund has a limited amount of capacity to repurchase shares and may not be
able to fulfill all purchase orders. In addition, the eventual sale price for the interval fund could
be less than the interval fund value on the date that the sale was requested. While an internal
fund periodically offers to repurchase a portion of its securities, there is no guarantee that
investors may sell their shares at any given time or in the desired amount. As interval funds can
expose investors to liquidity risk, investors should consider interval fund shares to be an illiquid
investment. Typically, the interval funds are not listed on any securities exchange and are not
publicly traded. Thus, there is no secondary market for the fund’s shares. Because these types of
investments involve certain additional risk, these funds will only be utilized when consistent with
a client’s investment objectives, individual situation, suitability, tolerance for risk and liquidity
needs. Investment should be avoided where an investor has a short-term investing horizon
and/or cannot bear the loss of some, or all, of the investment. There can be no assurance that an
interval fund investment will prove profitable or successful. In light of these enhanced risks, a
client may direct BFSG, in writing, not to purchase interval funds for the client’s account.
Unaffiliated Private Investment Funds: BFSG also provides investment advice regarding
unaffiliated private investment funds. BFSG, on a non-discretionary basis, may recommend that
certain qualified clients consider an investment in unaffiliated private investment funds, the
description of which (the terms, conditions, risks, conflicts and fees, including incentive
compensation) is set forth in the fund’s offering documents. BFSG will only recommend private
funds to those clients for whom it reasonably believes such an investment to be suitable, given
the client’s total portfolio, risk parameters and liquidity needs. BFSG’s role relative to unaffiliated
private investment funds shall be limited to its initial and ongoing due diligence and investment
monitoring services. If a client determines to become an unaffiliated private fund investor, the
amount of assets invested in the fund(s) shall be included as part of “assets under management”
for purposes of BFSG calculating its investment advisory fee. BFSG’s fee shall be in addition to
the fund’s fees. BFSG shall not exercise any discretion as to whether or not a client shall invest in
any private fund. Rather, the ultimate investment decision shall remain with the client. BFSG’s
clients are under absolutely no obligation to consider or make an investment in any private
investment fund(s).
Please Note: Private investment funds generally involve various risk factors, including,
but not limited to, potential for complete loss of principal, liquidity constraints and lack
of transparency, a complete discussion of which is set forth in each fund’s offering
documents, which will be provided to each client for review and consideration. Unlike
liquid investments that a client may own, private investment funds do not provide daily
liquidity or pricing. Each prospective client investor will be required to complete a
Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which the client shall establish that he/she is
qualified for investment in the fund and acknowledges and accepts the various risk factors
that are associated with such an investment.
Please Also Note: Valuation. In the event that BFSG references private investment funds
owned by the client on any supplemental account reports prepared by BFSG, the value(s)
for all private investment funds owned by the client shall reflect the most recent valuation
provided by the fund sponsor. However, if subsequent to purchase, the fund has not
provided an updated valuation, the valuation shall reflect the initial purchase price. If
subsequent to purchase, the fund provides an updated valuation, then the statement will
reflect that updated value. The updated value will continue to be reflected on the report
until the fund provides a further updated value. Please Also Note: As result of the
valuation process, if the valuation reflects initial purchase price or an updated value
subsequent to purchase price, the current value(s) of an investor’s fund holding(s) could
be significantly more or less than the value reflected on the report. Unless otherwise
indicated, BFSG shall calculate its fee based upon the latest value provided by the fund
sponsor.
Please Note: Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be
assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy (including
the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by BFSG) will be
profitable or equal any specific performance level(s).
Automated Investment Program
We offer an automated investment program (“Wealth Accumulator”) to individuals which gives
clients access to our investment strategies, with limited personalized service and no financial
planning services, for a discounted fee. Through Wealth Accumulator, account(s) are invested in
a range of investment strategies constructed and managed, each consisting of a portfolio of
exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and a cash allocation. We also offer Environmental, Social, and
Governance (“ESG”) Wealth Accumulator portfolios that focus on ETFs with ESG attributes.
Clients utilizing Wealth Accumulator may instruct us to exclude up to three ETFs from the
portfolio.
Portfolios in Wealth Accumulator are held in a brokerage account opened by the client at Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). We use the Institutional Intelligent Portfolios® platform
(“Platform”), offered by Schwab Performance Technologies (“SPT”), a software provider to
independent investment advisors and an affiliate of Schwab, to operate Wealth Accumulator. We
are independent of and not owned by, affiliated with, or sponsored or supervised by SPT, Schwab,
or their affiliates (together, “Schwab”).
We, and not Schwab, are the investment advisor and primary point of contact with respect to the
automated investment program. We are solely responsible, and Schwab is not responsible, for
determining the appropriateness of Wealth Accumulator for our clients, choosing a suitable
investment strategy and portfolio for each client’s investment needs and goals, and managing
that portfolio on an ongoing basis.
We have contracted with SPT to provide us with the Platform, which consists of technology and
related trading and account management services for Wealth Accumulator. The Platform enables
us to make Wealth Accumulator available to clients online and includes a system that automates
certain key parts of our investment process (the “System”). The System includes an online
questionnaire that helps us determine each client’s investment objectives and risk tolerance and
select an appropriate investment strategy and portfolio. We will recommend a portfolio via the
System in response to client answers to the online questionnaire. The client may then indicate
an interest in a portfolio that is one level less or more conservative or aggressive than the
recommended portfolio, but we then make the final decision and select a portfolio based on all
the information we have about the client. The System also includes an automated investment
engine through which we manage client portfolios on an ongoing basis through automatic
rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting (if the client is eligible and elects).
We charge clients a fee for our services as described under Item 5 Fees and Compensation. Our
fees are not set or supervised by Schwab. Clients do not pay brokerage commissions or any other
fees to Schwab as part of Wealth Accumulator. Schwab does receive other revenues, including
(i) the profit earned by Charles Schwab Bank, a Schwab affiliate, on the allocation to the Schwab
Intelligent Portfolios Sweep Program described in the Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Sweep
Program Disclosure Statement; (ii) investment advisory and/or administrative service fees (or
unitary fees) received by Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., a Schwab affiliate, from
Schwab ETFs™, Schwab Funds® and Laudus Funds® that we select to buy and hold in the client’s
brokerage account; (iii) fees received by Schwab from third-party ETFs that participate in the
Schwab ETF OneSource™ program and mutual funds in the Schwab Mutual Fund Marketplace®
(including certain Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds) in the client’s brokerage account for services
Schwab provides; and (iv) remuneration Schwab may receive from the market centers where it
routes ETF trade orders for execution.
Credit and Cash Management Solutions
We offer clients the option of obtaining certain financial solutions from unaffiliated third-party
financial institutions through UPTIQ Treasury & Credit Solutions, LLC (together with UPTIQ, Inc.
and its affiliates, “UPTIQ”) and Flourish Financial LLC (“Flourish”). Please see Items 5 and 10 for a
fuller discussion of these services and other important information.
Focus Risk Solutions
We help our clients obtain certain insurance solutions from unaffiliated, third-party insurance
brokers by introducing clients to our affiliate, Focus Risk Solutions, LLC (“FRS”), a wholly owned
subsidiary of our parent company, Focus Financial Partners, LLC. Please see Items 5 and 10 for a
fuller discussion of this service and other important information.
Services to Retirement Plans
BFS Wealth Management advises certain retirement plan sponsors on the selection and
monitoring of mutual funds offered to participant-directed retirement plans. Most of our Firm’s
services
to retirement plans are offered through BFS Institutional Services. The range of services
we provide to retirement plans and our fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA are summarized in
the BFS Institutional Services section below.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
We offer the same suite of services to all of our clients. However, specific client services and their
implementation are dependent upon your Investment Policy Statement, or suitability
questionnaire, which outlines your current situation (income, tax levels, and risk tolerance levels)
and is used to construct a specific plan to aid in the selection of a portfolio that matches your
restrictions, needs, and targets. You can also receive investment advice on a more focused basis.
This may include advice on only an isolated area(s) of concern such as estate planning, specific
consultation regarding investment and financial concerns, or any other specific topic.
Furthermore, the independent third-party money managers may have asset minimums imposed.
You may impose reasonable restrictions on investing in a particular security, a type of security,
or industry sectors. You must notify us in writing of specific restrictions.
In performing our services, BFSG shall not be required to verify any information received from
the client or from the client’s other professionals and is expressly authorized to rely thereon.
Moreover, it remains each client’s responsibility to promptly notify BFSG if there is ever any
change in his/her/its financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of
reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services.
Miscellaneous
Retirement Rollovers (Potential for Conflict of Interest): A client or prospective client leaving an
employer typically has four options regarding an existing retirement plan (and may engage in a
combination of these options): (i) leave the money in the former employer’s plan, if permitted,
(ii) roll over the assets to the new employer’s plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted,
(iii) roll over to an Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”), or (iv) cash out the account value (which
could, depending upon the client’s age, result in adverse tax consequences and penalties). If BFSG
recommends that you roll over your retirement plan assets into an account to be managed by
BFSG, such a recommendation creates a conflict of interest if BFSG will earn new (or increase its
current) compensation as a result of the rollover. When acting in such capacity, BFSG serves as a
fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), or the Internal Revenue
Code (the “Code”), or both, which are laws governing retirement accounts. BFSG’s investment
professionals will document and disclose the reasons that a recommendation to roll over assets
is in your best interest. No client is under any obligation to roll over retirement plan assets to an
account managed by BFSG. BFSG maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure
adherence with the provisions under ERISA or the Code, or both. BFSG’s Chief Compliance
Officer, remains available to address any questions that a client or prospective client may have
regarding the potential for conflict of interest presented by such rollover recommendation.
Portfolio Activity: BFSG has a fiduciary duty to provide services consistent with the client’s best
interest. As part of its investment advisory services, BFSG will review client portfolios on an
ongoing basis to determine if any changes are necessary based upon various factors, including,
but not limited to, investment performance, market conditions, fund manager tenure, style drift,
account additions/withdrawals, and/or a change in the client’s investment objective. Based upon
these factors, there may be extended periods of time when BFSG determines that changes to a
client’s portfolio are neither necessary nor prudent. Clients remain subject to the fees described
in Item 5 below during periods of account inactivity. Of course, as indicated below, there can be
no assurance that investment decisions made by BFSG will be profitable or equal any specific
performance level(s).
Held-Away Accounts: We implement investment advice on behalf of certain clients in held-away
accounts that are maintained at independent third-party custodians. These held-away accounts
are often 401(k) accounts, 529 plans and other assets that are not held at our primary
custodian(s). The data aggregation platform that we use for held-away accounts is provided by
ByAllAccounts, a product of Morningstar, Inc. Once the client’s account(s) is connected to the
ByAllAccounts platform, we will review the client’s current account allocations. We will
rebalance the connected outside accounts consistent with the client’s investment goals and risk
tolerance. Client account(s) will be reviewed at least quarterly. We review, monitor, and manage
these held-away accounts in an integrated way with client accounts held at our clients’ primary
custodian(s). Further information about this service is available in Item 5.
Custodian Charges/Additional Fees: As discussed below in Item 12 below, when requested to
recommend a broker-dealer/custodian for client accounts, BFSG generally recommends that
Fidelity or Schwab serve as the broker-dealer/custodian for client investment management
assets. Broker-dealers such as Fidelity and Schwab charge transaction fees for effecting certain
securities transactions (i.e., including transaction fees for certain mutual funds, and mark-ups
and mark-downs charged for fixed income transactions, etc.). The types of securities for which
transaction fees, commissions, and/or other type fees (as well as the amount of those fees) shall
differ depending upon the broker-dealer/custodian. While certain custodians, including Schwab
and Fidelity, generally (with potential exception) do not currently charge fees on individual
equity transactions (including ETFs), others do. Please Note: there can be no assurance that
Schwab and/or Fidelity will not change their transaction fee pricing in the future. Please Also
Note: Fidelity and Schwab may also assess fees to clients who elect to receive trade confirmations
and account statements by regular mail rather than electronically. In addition to BFSG’s
investment advisory fee referenced in Item 5 below, the client will also incur transaction fees to
purchase securities for the client’s account (i.e. primarily certain mutual funds). BFSG’s Chief
Compliance Officer, remains available to address any questions that a client or prospective
client may have regarding the above.
BFS Institutional Services
Using the standards set forth in governing law, such as the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act (ERISA), California Constitution, Government Code, and the Uniform Prudent Management
of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA), BFS Institutional Services advises plan sponsors, committees,
and fiduciaries in understanding and addressing responsibilities to their plan, participants, and
beneficiaries.
We emphasize the development and implementation of proactive prudent processes which help
fiduciaries provide participants an effective retirement tool, while lowering or limiting their
liability. Our team-based approach helps each of our clients have access to the knowledge and
expertise of our experienced retirement and investment professionals. We realize that the
retirement plan and institutional marketplace is constantly changing, and therefore keeping
clients informed is of critical importance.
Pension Consulting Services
We offer the following services to retirement plan sponsors:
Investment & Compliance Consulting
We offer ongoing investment and compliance consulting services, which include, but are not
limited to, formalizing committee processes, reviewing and recommending investment
managers, quarterly investment reviews, annual review of plan costs/revenues and fiduciary
education. Unless our discretionary service is used, the retirement plan sponsor retains and
exercises, the final decision-making authority for implementing or rejecting our
recommendations with respect to investment selection and de-selection. We acknowledge that
we are a fiduciary within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA (but only with respect to the
provision of services described in the Consulting Agreement with you).
Vendor Search & Selection/Benchmarking
We assist retirement plan sponsors with vendor search and selection processes, including:
▪ Customize Request for Proposal (RFP) based upon client’s needs and objectives
▪ Develop list of vendor candidates to send RFP
▪ Prepare provider analysis with proprietary scoring methodology
Fiduciary Structure & Cost Assessment
We review service provider arrangements, fiduciary procedural prudence and benchmark plan
costs and revenues.
▪ Outline all plan-related costs and revenues back to service providers
▪ Provide comparison on Plan costs and revenues for benchmarking purposes
▪ Review plan design and features
▪ Provide options for potential revenue recapture options, if applicable
Discretionary Fiduciary Services
We accept discretionary fiduciary responsibility within the meaning of Section 3(38) of ERISA for
the investment selection and monitoring process of investment options in a retirement plan (with
the exception of company stock) consistent with the investment objective designated by the Plan
trustees. In such engagements, BFSG will serve as an investment fiduciary as that term is defined
under The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and make the investment
decisions in its sole discretion without the retirement plan sponsor’s prior approval. BFSG will
generally provide services on an “assets under management” fee basis per the terms and
conditions of a written agreement between the Plan and the Firm.
Participant Education/Communication
We can also provide investment advisory and consulting services to participant directed
retirement plans per the terms and conditions of a Retirement Plan Services Agreement with the
plan. For such engagements, we shall assist the Plan sponsor with the selection of an investment
platform from which Plan participants shall make their respective investment choices (which may
include investment strategies devised and managed by us), and, to the extent engaged to do so,
may also provide corresponding education to assist the participants with their decision-making
process.
Specifically, we create and deliver educational workshops and enrollment meetings for plan
participants under the terms of the Consulting Agreement.
• Create and deliver educational workshops for plan participants
• Prepare customized participant communications
• Conduct enrollment meetings
• One-on-one participant consultations and financial planning (the range of financial
planning services we provide to plan participants are summarized in the BFS Wealth
Management Services section above and as specified under the terms of the Consulting
Agreement with you)
Fiduciary Services
BFSG is a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”) with respect to investment management services and investment advice provided to
ERISA plans and ERISA plan participants. BFSG is also a fiduciary under section 4975 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”) with respect to investment management services
and investment advice provided to ERISA plans, ERISA plan participants, and individual
retirement accounts (“IRAs”). As such, BFSG is subject to specific duties and obligations under
ERISA and the IRC, as applicable, that include, among other things, prohibited transaction rules
which are intended to prohibit fiduciaries from acting on conflicts of interest. When a fiduciary
gives advice, the fiduciary must either avoid certain conflicts of interest or rely upon an applicable
prohibited transaction exemption (a “PTE”).
As a fiduciary, we have duties of care and of loyalty to you and are subject to obligations imposed
on us by the federal and state securities laws. As a result, you have certain rights that you cannot
waive or limit by contract. Nothing in our agreement with you should be interpreted as a
limitation of our obligations under the federal and state securities laws or as a waiver of any
unwaivable rights you possess.
Participant Directed Retirement Plans
BFSG can also provide investment advisory and consulting services to participant directed
retirement plans per the terms and conditions of a written agreement between BFSG and the
plan. For such engagements, BFSG shall assist the Plan sponsor with the selection of an
investment platform from which Plan participants shall make their respective investment choices
(which may include investment strategies devised and managed by BFSG), and, to the extent
engaged to do so, may also provide corresponding education to assist the participants with their
decision-making process.
Managed Account Service
Under our Managed Account Service, we are responsible for managing retirement plan
participant accounts until the individual elects to discontinue the Managed Account Service.
Eligible participants are enrolled in the Managed Account Service in accordance with rules
established by the retirement plan sponsor. Based on personal criteria and financial information
provided by the plan sponsor or by each participant, we select investment allocations on a
discretionary basis using the investment options that are available within the retirement plan, as
defined by the retirement plan sponsor. Company stock, brokerage account holdings, and certain
specific other investments may be excluded from our recommendations. Excluded investments
are taken into account when making allocation recommendations. Transaction instructions are
then sent to the plan provider to implement our recommended retirement strategy in the
participant’s plan account. A participant can elect to discontinue participating in the Managed
Account Service at any time.
Socially Responsible (ESG) Investing Limitations. As noted above, we offer ESG portfolios.
Socially Responsible Investing involves the incorporation of Environmental, Social and
Governance (“ESG”) considerations into the investment due diligence process. ESG investing
incorporates a set of criteria/factors used in evaluating potential investments: potential
investments: Environmental (i.e., considers how a company safeguards the environment); Social
(i.e., the manner in which a company manages relationships with its employees, customers, and
the communities in which it operates); and Governance (i.e., company management
considerations). The number of companies that meet an acceptable ESG mandate can be limited
when compared to those that do not and could underperform broad market indices. Investors
must accept these limitations, including potential for underperformance. Correspondingly, the
number of ESG mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are limited when compared to those
that do not maintain such a mandate. As with any type of investment (including any investment
and/or investment strategies recommended and/or undertaken by BFSG), there can be no
assurance that investment in ESG securities or funds will be profitable or prove successful. BFSG
generally relies on the assessments undertaken by the unaffiliated mutual fund, exchange traded
fund or separate account portfolio manager to determine that the funds or portfolio’s underlying
company securities meet a socially responsible mandate.
Non-Discretionary Service Limitations. Clients that determine to engage BFSG on a non-
discretionary investment advisory basis must be willing to accept that BFSG cannot effect any
account transactions without obtaining prior consent to any such transaction(s) from the client.
Thus, in the event of a market correction during which the client is unavailable, BFSG will be
unable to effect any account transactions (as it would for its discretionary clients) without first
obtaining the client’s consent.
Portfolio Activity. BFSG has a fiduciary duty to provide services consistent with the client’s best
interest. BFSG will review client portfolios on an ongoing basis to determine if any changes are
necessary based upon various factors, including, but not limited to, investment performance,
market conditions, fund manager tenure, style drift, account additions or /withdrawals, and/or a
change in the client’s investment objective. Based upon these factors, there may be extended
periods of time when BFSG determines that changes to a client’s portfolio are unnecessary.
Clients remain subject to the fees described in Item 5 below during periods of portfolio inactivity.
Of course, as indicated below, there can be no assurance that investment decisions made by
BFSG will be profitable or equal any specific performance level(s).
Cash Sweep Accounts. Account custodians generally require that cash proceeds from account
transactions or cash deposits be swept into and/or initially maintained in the custodian’s sweep
account. The yield on the sweep account is generally lower than those available in money market
accounts. To help mitigate this issue, BFSG shall generally purchase a higher yielding money
market fund available on the custodian’s platform with cash proceeds or deposits, unless BFSG
reasonably anticipates that it will utilize the cash proceeds during the subsequent 30-day period
to purchase additional investments for the client’s account. Exceptions and/or modifications can
and will occur with respect to all or a portion of the cash balances for various reasons, including,
but not limited to, the amount of dispersion between the sweep account and a money market
fund, the size of the cash balance, an indication from the client of an imminent need for such
cash, or the client has a demonstrated history of writing checks from the account.
Please Note: The above does not apply to the cash component maintained within the BFSG’s
actively managed investment strategy (the cash balances for which shall generally remain in the
custodian designated cash sweep account), an indication from the client of a need for access to
such cash, assets allocated to an unaffiliated investment manager, and cash balances maintained
for fee billing purposes. Please Also Note: The client shall remain exclusively responsible for yield
dispersion/cash balance decisions and corresponding transactions for cash balances maintained
in any of BFSG’s unmanaged accounts.
Please Note: Cash Positions. BFSG continues to treat cash as an asset class. As such, unless
determined to the contrary by BFSG, all cash positions (money markets, etc.) shall continue to be
included as part of assets under management for purposes of calculating BFSG’s advisory fee. At
any specific point in time, depending upon perceived or anticipated market conditions/events
(there being no guarantee that such anticipated market conditions/events will occur), BFSG may
maintain cash positions for defensive purposes. In addition, while assets are maintained in cash,
such amounts could miss market advances. Depending upon current yields, at any point in time,
BFSG’s advisory fee could exceed the interest paid by the client’s money market fund.
eMoney and MoneyGuidePro Financial Planning Platforms. BFSG may provide its clients with
access to an online platform hosted by third party vendors. These platforms allow a client to view
their complete asset allocation, including those assets that BFSG does not manage (the “Excluded
Assets”). BFSG does not provide investment management, monitoring, or implementation
services for the Excluded Assets. Unless otherwise specifically agreed to, in writing, BFSG’s service
relative to the Excluded Assets is limited to reporting only. Therefore, BFSG shall not be
responsible for the investment performance of the Excluded Assets. Rather, the client and/or
their advisor(s) that maintain management authority for the Excluded Assets, and not BFSG, shall
be exclusively responsible for such investment performance.
Without limiting the above, BFSG shall not be responsible for any implementation error (timing,
trading, etc.) relative to the Excluded Assets. The client may choose to engage BFSG to manage
some or all of the Excluded Assets pursuant to the terms and conditions of an advisory agreement
between BFSG and the client.
These platforms also provides access to other types of information and applications including
financial planning concepts and functionality, which should not, in any manner whatsoever, be
construed as services, advice, or recommendations provided by BFSG. Finally, BFSG shall not be
held responsible for any adverse results a client may experience if the client engages in financial
planning or other functions available on the platforms without BFSG’s assistance or oversight.
Client Obligations. In performing our services, BFSG shall not be required to verify any
information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals and is expressly
authorized to rely thereon. Moreover, it remains each client’s responsibility to promptly notify
BFSG if there is ever any change in his/her/its financial situation or investment objectives for the
purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services.
Please Note: Investment Risk. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and
it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment
strategy (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken
by BFSG) will be profitable or equal any specific performance level(s).
Disclosure Brochure. A copy of the BFSG’s written Brochure as set forth on Part 2A of Form ADV
and Form CRS (Client Relationship Summary) shall be provided to each client prior to, or
contemporaneously with, the execution of an agreement between the client and the BFSG.
Client Tailored Services and Client Imposed Restrictions
For clients in our Managed Accounts Service, specific participant services and their
implementation are dependent upon the participant’s current situation (years until retirement
and risk tolerance levels) and is used to construct a participant-specific portfolio that matches
restrictions, needs, and targets. For clients in our Pension Consulting, we offer general
investment advice. For clients using our Discretionary Fiduciary Services, we usually allow clients
to impose restrictions on investing in certain asset classes.