Fortis Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”), a Pennsylvania limited liability company, is a
registered investment adviser with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended. The Advisor is wholly owned by Fortis Family Office, LLC (formerly Fortis
Wealth, LP), a Delaware limited partnership. The President and Chief Investment Officer of
the Advisor is Derek Boles. The Advisor has been offering investment advisory services since
August 2013.
Investment Advisory Services. Pursuant to investment advisory agreements (each an
“Advisory Agreement”), the Advisor provides investment advisory services that relate to asset
allocation, portfolio diversification, portfolio risk management, and other general economic
and financial topics. Client portfolios are managed in accordance with each client’s
investment objectives, taking into consideration risk tolerance, time horizon, tax issues,
liquidity and cash flow needs, restrictions/constraints, and other relevant guidelines.
The Advisor’s investment management services involve the allocation of client assets among
different asset classes with varying levels of risk and return. The Advisor may recommend
changes to this allocation, in an attempt to take advantage of conditions in the current
economic environment, while being sensitive to transaction costs and taxes, as appropriate.
These changes may result in short-term underweights or overweights to various assets classes
and are designed to capitalize on current economic conditions over a shorter time period.
Clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of securities. The
Advisor’s investment program consists of four primary components:
▪ Investment Objectives Review – The client and the Advisor will discuss and review
the client's investment objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs. The Advisor will
assist in developing investment objectives based on the results of the review, which
will serve as a guide for measuring volatility and performance. The Advisor will then
design an account or portfolio of accounts based on the client's investment objectives
as agreed upon during the review phase of the investment process.
▪ Asset Allocation – Based on the result of the investment policy review, the Advisor
will allocate investment dollars in a variety of asset classes including equities, fixed
income and alternative investments. This allocation is adjusted from time to time,
depending on changes in a client’s personal circumstances, financial considerations,
and/or investment performance.
▪ Investment Manager Selection – Once the investment policy review and asset
allocation are complete, the Advisor will recommend an initial investment plan.
Typically, this will include a list of pooled investment vehicles, including but not
limited to private funds, mutual funds, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), individual
securities, and separately managed accounts. The initial allocation of assets may
include the use of individual bonds or stocks or the retention of assets currently owned
by the client.
▪ Management – Once the client’s portfolio is in place, the Advisor will monitor
performance of the overall account as well as the performance of each security. From
time to time, the Advisor will implement changes to the portfolio as it deems
appropriate and in the best interests of the client.
The Advisor’s specialization is not in one given instrument or asset class, but rather in the
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ongoing process of (i) assessing client objectives; and (ii) developing an appropriate asset
allocation to best achieve those objectives and modifying that allocation when
risks/opportunities are present in the markets.
For its discretionary asset management services, the Advisor receives a limited power of
attorney to effect securities transactions on behalf of its clients that may include securities and
strategies described in Item 8 of this Brochure.
In addition to providing the Advisor with information regarding their personal financial
circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance for risk, clients are required to provide the
Advisor with any reasonable investment restrictions that should be imposed on the
management of their portfolio, and to promptly notify the Advisor of any changes in such
restrictions or in the client's personal financial circumstances, investment objectives, goals,
and tolerance for risk. On an as-needed basis, the Advisor’s reports to clients will remind
clients of their obligation to inform the Advisor of any such changes or any restrictions that
should be imposed on the management of the client’s account. The Advisor will also contact
clients at least annually to determine whether there have been any changes in a client's
personal financial circumstances, investment objectives and tolerance for risk.
The Advisor does not participate in any wrap fee programs.
ERISA Fiduciary Services
Certain services are provided as a fiduciary to specifically designated ERISA plans based on
applicable definitions (contained in ERISA Section 404(a), IRC §4972, Investment Company Act
of 1940 and state laws). In performing the following services, Fortis will act as a fiduciary as
defined by ERISA Section 3(21) or ERISA Section 3(38).
When Fortis provides investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account, individual
retirement account, or other qualified asset under ERISA, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of
Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security 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 Fortis operates under a special rule that requires us to act in your
best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. Clients can engage Fortis to provide either
education or recommendations with respect to qualified ERISA assets including:
▪ from a qualified plan to an IRA with Fortis;
▪ from an existing third-party IRA to an IRA with Fortis:
▪ changing the account type of an existing IRA with Fortis;
▪ from a qualified plan to another qualified plan; and
▪ from an IRA to qualified plan rollover.
Such provisions also extend to other qualified assets such as Education Savings Accounts and
retirement annuities. Clients should fully understand all of the conflicts, risks, costs & expenses, as
well as potential benefits associated with moving qualified retirement assets. Clients are under no
obligation to accept or follow Fortis’s recommendations.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services. The Advisor also provides a variety of
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financial planning and investment consulting services to high-net-worth individuals and their
related entities, such as trusts, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, foundations,
and other non-profit organizations. Such services are made pursuant to a separate agreement
between the client and the Advisor and the fees for such services are separate from the fees
and services under the Advisory Agreement.
The Advisor’s financial planning fees are negotiable, but generally range from $1,500 to
$50,000 on a fixed fee basis, depending upon the level and scope of the services required and
the professionals rendering the services. A fee on the high end of the foregoing range (e.g.,
$50,000) may be necessary where the financial planning and investment-related consulting
services include in-depth work such as:
▪ Review, analysis, and/or restructuring of private equity or private real estate
investments
▪ Creation and implementation of a family cash flow plan
▪ Review, analysis, and recommendations with respect to investment portfolios and
implementation of recommendations
▪ Review, analysis, and recommendations with respect to real estate holdings and
implementation of recommendations
If requested by the client, the Advisor may recommend non-investment related services of
other professionals for implementation purposes, who are associated with the firm through
common ownership (see disclosure at Item 10). The client is under no obligation to engage
the services of any such recommended individual or firm. The client retains absolute
discretion over all such implementation decisions and is free to accept or reject any
recommendation from the Advisor.
Clients will receive a written or oral report (depending on the client’s preference) providing a
basic financial plan designed to help achieve their stated financial goals and objectives. Based
on the client’s needs, financial planning services may include (but are not limited to) the
following:
▪ Preparation of a recommended asset allocation that serves to diversify the client's
portfolio among different categories of investments, such as domestic and international
small, medium, and large capitalization securities; corporate and government fixed
income (short-, intermediate-, and long-term maturities); emerging market securities
(i.e., foreign issuers); real estate investment trusts; and such other alternative asset
categories that are suitable in light of the client's investment goals, objectives, and risk
tolerance.
▪ Preparation of an investment policy statement setting forth the client’s investment plan,
with specific direction in terms of diversification requirements, tax issues, estate
planning issues, risk tolerance, retirement, and other identified objectives of the
client, including a targeted rate-of-return objective.
▪ Preparation of a retirement plan that serves to identify whether the client is saving
enough and investing in a way that meets retirement objectives considering the client's
financial circumstances and risk tolerance.
▪ Preparation of cash flow projections to ensure that the client can meet daily living
expenses and obligations.
▪ Insurance planning to meet the needs of the client, considering family, business, and
other financial objectives of the client. This may be offered through an affiliate of the
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Advisor as described in Item 10.
▪ General family office and business consulting:
▪ Retirement objectives
▪ Philanthropy
▪ Estate planning
▪ Wealth transition
▪ Business succession and related issues
▪ Recommendation of third-party managers for use by the client
The Advisor gathers required information through in-depth personal interviews and
questionnaires. Information gathered typically includes a client's current financial status,
investment objectives, future goals, and attitudes toward risk. Related documents supplied by
the client are carefully reviewed, and a report is prepared covering one or more of the above-
mentioned topics as directed by the client.
Bill Payment Services. The Fortis Family Office Services, LLC will provide bill payment,
reconciliation, and related bookkeeping services for certain clients of the Advisor. Such
services require written mutual consent by both the client and the Advisor. The Advisor has
developed reasonable policies and procedures to address identity theft and misappropriation
of funds issues.
As of December 31, 2022, the Advisor had assets under management of $470,765,398
($373,380,582 on a discretionary basis and $ 97,384,816 on a non-discretionary basis). In
addition, Advisor had assets under advisement of $ $56,704,559.