Sorrento Pacific Financial, LLC (“SPF,” “we,” or “us”) was formed in 2003 and is a California limited liability
company. SPF is wholly owned by AWS 3, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is wholly owned by Atria Wealth
Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is in turn wholly owned by Atria Wealth Solutions Holdings LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company, which is privately owned.
SPF is registered as a broker-dealer and investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and Securities Investor
Protection Corporation (“SIPC”). SPF is also licensed as an insurance agency in 50 states.
Our principal business is providing a full line of services as a registered securities broker-dealer and
investment adviser. In our capacity as a broker-dealer, we are involved in the sale of securities of various
types including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, alternative investments, unit investment trusts (“UITs”), and
variable annuities. We do not sell proprietary products.
As of December 31, 2023, SPF had regulatory assets under management of $192,507,423. Of that amount,
$64,463,892 was managed on a non-discretionary basis and $128,043,531 was managed on a discretionary
basis.
Our investment advisory services (“Advisory Services”) are made available to clients through individuals
associated with SPF as Investment Adviser Representatives ("IARs"). Many IARs are dually licensed (i.e., they
are licensed both as IARs and as registered representatives and offer both investment advisory and brokerage
services), which, in addition to Advisory Services, allows them to offer commission-based products. Your IAR
will disclose to you whether he or she is dually licensed and if there are any limitations on services offered
due to registrations and qualifications.
Our Advisory Services consist of programs sponsored by us, as well as advisory programs available through
unaffiliated third-party investment advisers (“TPIA”). Our Advisory Services are designed to accommodate a
wide range of investment philosophies and objectives. This allows our IARs to select the programs that they
believe are best suited to meet each client’s individual needs and circumstances. We do not hold ourselves
out as specializing in a particular type of advisory service. However, some IARs focus on certain types of
advisory services over others.
IARs, subject to SPF's supervision, can develop their own investment philosophies and strategies. Investment
philosophies and strategies can differ considerably between and among IARs even with investment
philosophies and strategies that carry the same or a substantially similar name. There is no guarantee, stated
or implied, that a strategy or client’s investment goals or objectives will be achieved.
Clients have access to a wide range of securities products, including common and preferred stocks; municipal,
corporate, and government fixed income securities; limited partnerships; mutual funds; exchange traded
funds (“ETFs”), options, unit investment trusts (“UITs”), direct investment programs; and indexed, registered
index-linked, and variable annuity products, as well as a wide range of other products and services including
asset allocation services. IARs offer advice on these and other types of investments based on the individual
circumstances of each client. SPF is not a custodian of any accounts.
We offer the following advisory programs and services to our clients (“you” or “your”):
• Contour Platform
• Third party investment adviser (“TPIA”) programs
• Consulting and financial planning services
• Retirement services
The Contour Platform
SPF sponsors the Contour Platform (“Contour”) a wrap fee investment advisory program that provides IARs
access to tools to provide individualized investment management services. Contour is administered through
Envestnet Asset Management, Inc. (“Envestnet”), an investment adviser registered with the SEC. SPF has
engaged Envestnet to provide various administrative services to Contour clients as described below.
Custody of a client’s Contour account assets is maintained by an unaffiliated custodian designated by the
client after consultation with an IAR. Custodial options include Pershing LLC (“Pershing”) and any other
custodian we choose to make available (hereinafter referred to as “Custodian”). Each Custodian is responsible
for execution and clearing of transactions, custody of assets, and delivery of statements and confirmations
for Contour accounts. Neither Envestnet nor Pershing is affiliated with SPF.
Contour is comprised of four program options: (1) Advisor as Portfolio Manager (“APM”), (2) Fund Strategist
Portfolios (“FSP”), (3) Separately Managed Accounts (“SMA”), and (4) Unified Managed Accounts (“UMA”).
Your IAR will confer with you to determine your financial needs and objectives and gather your client profile
and risk tolerance information to complete a Statement of Investment Selection (“SIS”). The information
gathered from the risk tolerance questionnaire (“RTQ”) or approved financial planning tool assists in
determining the allocation of your assets into an asset allocation model fitting into one of seven investment
profiles: Capital Preservation, Conservative, Conservative Growth, Moderate, Moderate Growth, Growth, or
Aggressive.
Your IAR will obtain your written consent to change your investment profile risk tolerance. Your IAR will assist
you in selecting one of the four program options listed above.
Your IAR will create a proposal (“Proposal”) including your investment profile questionnaire responses,
selected program option(s), and applicable fees. You, your IAR, and SPF will enter into a Contour Platform
Account Agreement (“Contour Agreement”) outlining your participation in the Platform.
A client opening a Contour account will receive a copy of the Contour Wrap Fee Program Brochure or Form
ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, which contains additional information concerning the Contour Platform, wrap fee
programs in general, and a disclosure of fees payable by the client.
Third Party Investment Adviser (TPIA) Programs
SPF provides its IARs and clients with access to a number of TPIA programs and platforms for use by IARs that
provide clients the opportunity to receive the investment management expertise of a diverse set of advisers
that specialize in different asset classes and investment styles and use different portfolio management
techniques including asset allocation strategies, mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed account
(SMA) programs, unified managed account (UMA) programs, wrap fee services, and other types of managed
portfolios such as tax harvesting and tax efficiency strategies, risk management strategies, and dynamic and
tactical portfolios. Some programs are more or less aggressive as compared to other programs. Some
programs also have higher or lower fees and expenses than other programs. These programs are sponsored
by the TPIAs and are offered through co-adviser agreements, solicitor/referral arrangements, and other types
of agreements between SPF and a TPIA. Many TPIAs sponsor a broad range of investment programs.
When acting in a co-advisory capacity, SPF and a TPIA are jointly responsible for the ongoing management of
your account. Depending on the agreement between SPF and a TPIA and based on the information provided
by a client, an IAR will refer a client to or assist the client in selecting a TPIA who offers products and services
that demonstrate an investment philosophy and style that appear to align with the needs of the client. A
client is asked to provide detailed financial and other pertinent data to the IAR. An IAR helps a client
determine the client’s risk tolerance, investment goals, and other relevant guidelines. Factors we consider in
the selection of a particular TPIA include (a) our assessment of a TPIA, (b) your investment experience, risk
tolerance, goals, objectives, and restrictions, and (c) the assets you have available to invest. There is no
guarantee that a client’s goals or investment objectives will be achieved by any specific program, please see
Item 8 below for additional information on risks of loss.
After an IAR assists a client in selecting a suitable TPIA program, client assets are then either invested in the
strategy or model or the TPIA begins to allocate the client’s assets in the investment portfolio. The IAR
provides initial and continuing education and information regarding the program selected. The IAR will also
explain rebalancing guidelines utilized within the program and meet with a client periodically to discuss
changes to the client’s financial circumstances.
In certain circumstances an IAR acts purely in a solicitor or referral capacity when referring you to a TPIA.
Under these arrangements, an IAR assists a client in identifying the client’s objectives and refers the client to
a TPIA according to the client’s stated objectives. The client typically enters into an agreement directly with
the TPIA and the client’s funds are invested by the TPIA. The IAR monitors the performance of the TPIA and
coordinates communication between the client and TPIA. An IAR does not actively participate in the execution
of any securities transactions for a client’s TPIA account and does not have authority to determine, without
obtaining specific client consent, the securities to be bought or sold, the amount of the securities to be bought
or sold, or the broker-dealer to be used for the purchase or sale of securities in the client’s TPIA account. SPF
and your IAR are compensated for referring you to the TPIA program. This compensation generally takes the
form of the TPIA sharing a portion of the advisory fee you pay to the TPIA. When SPF acts as a solicitor for a
TPIA program, you will receive a written solicitor disclosure statement describing the nature of our
relationship with the TPIA program, if any; and the terms of our compensation arrangement with the TPIA
program, including a description of the compensation that your IAR and SPF will receive for referring you to
the TPIA program. For more information, please see Item 14 below.
Please consult the applicable TPIA’s agreement for further information, including information on the capacity
in which SPF acts for a particular program. Clients should refer to a TPIA’s Form ADV Part 2, or equivalent
brochure, for a full description of the terms and conditions of their services and fees.
TPIAs are subject to our due diligence process for inclusion as a TPIA and are subject to future change from
time to time. Please consult your IAR for information
regarding available TPIAs.
The services of a number of SMA Managers, Sub-Managers, and Model Providers we make available can be
accessed through different platforms and programs including programs sponsored by us such as Contour, as
well as through TPIAs programs. Your advisory fee will vary depending on the platform or program selected
to access the SMA Manager, Sub-Manager, or Model Provider. We have a financial incentive to recommend
programs that generate more fees to us. Most TPIA programs, as well as our sponsored program, Contour,
are considered “wrap fee” programs. A wrap fee program is a type of investment program that provides
clients with asset management and brokerage services for one all-inclusive fee. If you participate in our wrap
fee programs, you will pay our firm a single fee, which includes money management fees, certain transaction
costs, and certain custodial and administrative costs. Clients should refer to the client agreement, fee
schedule, and TPIA brochure for their program for details on what the wrap fee covers.
The total fees you pay to access a particular SMA Manager, Sub-Manager, or Model Provider through the
Contour platform can be more or less than the combined fees charged by the TPIA, SPF, and your IAR for a
TPIA program that offers the same SMA Manager, Sub- Manager, or Model Provider through a co-advisory
relationship. You should consider the aggregate fees charged on a particular platform and the services
available when choosing a platform and investment manager and discuss with your IAR the platform and
program pricing relative to a specific TPIA, SMA Manager, Sub-Manager, or Model Provider for additional
details.
TPIAs have differing minimum account requirements and a variety of fee ranges. All securities are selected,
and transactions are executed by the third-party money manager. Your IAR will contact you periodically to
review your financial situation, objectives, and restrictions and communicate information to the TPIA; and
assist you in understanding and evaluating the services provided by the money manager. Each TPIA maintains
its own separate execution, clearing, and custodial relationships. SPF and the IAR share in a portion of the fee
paid to the TPIA for its services.
Since the TPIA services provided by each sponsor are unique, clients should request and carefully review the
applicable disclosure brochure, client agreement, and other account paperwork for each TPIA for more
detailed information about the services provided by a TPIA, including without limitation, a description of the
TPIA’s background, investment strategies, fees, custody arrangements, conflicts of interest, and other
relevant information regarding the TPIA’s services and business practices. Clients may obtain a copy of a
TPIA’s disclosure brochure from their IAR or by visiting www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
A complete list of TPIAs available through SPF is available upon request.
Consulting / Financial Planning Services
SPF’s Consulting / Financial Planning Services (“Consulting Services”) allows an IAR to offer clients financial
planning and/or consulting services for a fee. The nature of these services varies based upon an analysis of
individual client needs. Areas addressed can include but are not limited to investment portfolio advice;
business or estate planning; financial counseling and/or planning; and complex planning services. Complex
planning services are either complex in nature and/or will require a significant amount of time to complete.
Complex planning services must be outlined in a plan proposal providing a description of agreed upon
services.
Consulting services does not include ongoing investment or asset management, asset rebalancing, asset
allocation, or the execution of securities transactions. A consulting agreement is not an investment
management agreement and does not convey discretion to an IAR or SPF. The agreement terminates upon
delivery of the services outlined in the agreement or within one year from the date the agreement is
executed, whichever comes first.
Retirement Services
Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan Services
SPF, through its IARs may provide investment advisory services to business owners, tax-exempt nonprofit
organizations, and their employees with regard to their employer-sponsored retirement plans. These
retirement plans may include but are not limited to the following: SEP & SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b),
457(f), Profit Sharing, Cash Balance, Defined Benefit and Deferred Compensation plans. Investment advisory
services are generally provided in tandem with bundled or unbundled third-party retirement plan providers
who are unrelated to SPF and under separate contract with the employer.
The IAR accepts their responsibility as a Fiduciary with regard to the services and actions they perform that
fall within the definition of “Retirement Investment Advice” as defined by the Department of Labor.
Services provided to business owners and tax-exempt nonprofit organization may include:
• Assist with securing administrative/ record-keeping services with the retirement plan provider of their
choice.
• Assist with securing the services of a third-party 3(21) or 3(38) Investment Fiduciary for the selection
and ongoing monitoring of Plan investments.
• Assist with the business owner’s or tax-exempt nonprofit organization’s periodic review of the Plan’s
investments (performance and objectives). This may include assistance with interpreting and reviewing
plan related reports and disclosures provided by third-party investment fiduciaries and/or retirement
plan providers.
• Assist with employer-scheduled group employee plan enrollment, periodic re-enrollment (if applicable)
and related activities when new employees are hired and/or become eligible to participant in the Plan.
Services provided to the business owner’s or tax-exempt nonprofit organization’s employees may include the
following:
• Provide guidance and support regarding increasing their level of retirement readiness with the goal of
achieving a successful retirement outcome by participating in their employer-sponsored retirement plan.
• Conduct periodic group educational meetings to acquaint and reinforce the ideals and prudent practices
of saving for retirement.
• Act as a resource. Be available on an ongoing basis to address investment and Plan related questions
and concerns.
• Provide assistance with personal risk tolerance assessments and corresponding evaluation of available
investment options for the purpose establishing an appropriate asset allocation.
Please note that Plan participants will self-direct their own investment accounts. Neither SPF nor the IAR will
have any discretionary trading authority and may not be involved in directing or placing any transactions on
behalf of Plan participants.
Additionally, neither SPF nor the IAR, in the performance of the above noted services, will assume any
responsibilities related to duties of the plan trustee, responsible plan fiduciary, plan sponsor, plan
administrator or have any discretion over the operation of the plan or any responsibilities to interpret its
provisions or definitions.
Participant-Directed Retirement Accounts
IARs may also provide investment advice to clients with respect to assets held within a participant- directed
retirement account held on a third-party platform. The services are provided by the IAR on a non-
discretionary basis and include initial fund selection and asset allocation recommendations. In addition, the
IAR will meet periodically with the client to discuss whether the funds continue to meet the client’s objectives
and to recommend rebalancing transactions if necessary.
SPF Advisor Directed Non-Discretionary Advisory Accounts-(N6Y- is no longer available for new business.)
The Advisory Account is a non-discretionary advisory program. Therefore, the Client must review and approve
each trade before it is placed. The IAR assists the Client in completing an Investment Policy Guideline based
on the Client's stated financial information, investment goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. With this
information, the IAR creates an asset allocation plan. Once the proper allocation is determined the IAR can
present the Client with a wide range of eligible investment vehicles designed to achieve their risk and
allocation parameters. These investment vehicles may include no-load and load- waived mutual funds,
exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), individual stocks, bonds and UITs.
Various mutual fund share classes are available for purchase in the SPF Asset Management Account. The
mutual fund share classes include load-waived A shares, institutional class shares and adviser class shares. In
some cases, a mutual fund may only offer load-waived A shares. However, another similar mutual fund may
be available that offers institutional class shares or adviser class shares. In general, institutional class shares
and adviser class shares are not subject to 12b-1 fees. As a result of the different expenses associated with
the various mutual fund share classes, the fees may be higher in load-waived A shares versus institutional
class shares or adviser class shares. To off-set these potentially higher fees, for any mutual fund position in
your account that pays a 12b-1 fee, it will be credited to your account.
IRA Rollover Considerations
If you decided to roll assets out of a retirement plan into a SPF advisory individual retirement account (“IRA”),
SPF and your IAR will have a financial incentive to recommend that you invest those assets in one of our
programs, because SPF and your IAR will be paid on those assets, for example, through advisory fees. You
should be aware that such fees likely will be higher than those you pay through your plan, and there can be
custodial and other maintenance fees.
The following fiduciary acknowledgement applies only when our IAR (i) provides investment advice to
participants in or the fiduciaries of ERISA-covered retirement plans and to owners of IRAs, and (ii)
recommends to participants in ERISA-covered retirement plans or owners of IRAs to make a rollover to an IRA.
When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or IRA, we are fiduciaries
within the meaning of Title I of ERISA and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, which are laws
governing retirement accounts. Fiduciary status for this purpose does not necessarily mean we are acting as
fiduciaries for purposes of other applicable laws. This acknowledgement of fiduciary status does not confer
contractual rights or obligations on you, SPF, or the IAR.