A. Firm Information
Summit Trail Advisors, LLC (“Summit Trail” or the “Advisor”) is a limited liability company formed
on July 6, 2015 in the state of Delaware. Summit Trail is a wholly owned subsidiary of Summit
Trail Holdings, LLC and is operated by Jack Petersen (Managing Partner), David Romhilt, CFA
(Chief Investment Officer) and Thomas Harms (Chief Compliance Officer). The Advisor became a
registered Investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in June
2015.
The Advisor’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), Thomas Harms, remains available to address
any questions that a Client or prospective Client may have regarding this Disclosure Brochure.
B. Advisory Services Offered
The Advisor offers investment advisory services and, to the extent specifically requested by a
Client, financial planning and related consulting services to individuals, business entities, trusts,
estates, charitable organizations, and pension and profit sharing plans (each a “Client”). In the
event that the Client requires extraordinary planning and/or consultation services (to be
determined in the sole discretion of the Advisor), the Advisor may determine to charge for such
additional services, the dollar amount of which shall be set forth in a separate written agreement
with the Client.
The Advisor serves as a fiduciary to Clients, as defined under the applicable laws and regulations.
As a fiduciary, the Advisor upholds a duty of loyalty, fairness and good faith towards each Client
and seeks to mitigate potential conflicts of interest. Our fiduciary commitment is further
described in our Code of Ethics. For more information regarding our Code of Ethics, please see
Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading.
Investment Advisory Services
The Client can determine whether to engage the Advisor for investment advisory services on a
discretionary and/or non-discretionary basis. Clients who choose to engage the Advisor on a non-
discretionary basis must be willing to accept that the Advisor cannot execute any account
transactions without obtaining prior consent to any such transaction(s) from the Client. Therefore,
in the event that the Advisor would like to make a transaction for a Client’s account, and Client is
unavailable, the Advisor will be unable to execute the account transaction (as it would for its
discretionary Clients) without first obtaining the Client’s consent.
As part of its investment advisory services, Summit Trail 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, fund manager tenure, style drift, account
additions/withdrawals, and/or a change in the Client’s investment objective. Based upon these
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factors, Summit Trail can determine that during extended periods of time changes to a Client’s
portfolio are neither necessary nor prudent. Of course, as indicated below, there can be no
assurance that investment decisions made by Summit Trail will be profitable or equal any specific
performance level(s).
Summit Trail continues to treat cash as an asset class. As such, unless determined to the contrary
by Summit Trail, all cash positions (money markets, etc.) shall continue to be included as part of
assets under management for purposes of calculating Summit Trail’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), Summit Trail, depending on
the needs or circumstances, 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, Summit Trail’s advisory fee could exceed the interest paid by the
Client’s money market fund.
Summit Trail selects, recommends and/or retains mutual funds on a fund-by-fund basis and seeks
to use non-retail or institutional classes when possible. Due to specific custodial or mutual fund
company constraints, material tax consideration, and/or systematic investment plans, Summit
Trail may select, recommend or retain a mutual fund share class that has a higher expense ratio
than an equivalent share class, as described in Item 5. Summit Trail will seek to select the
lowest cost share class available that are in the best interest of each Client and will ensure the
selection aligns with the Client’s financial objectives and stated investment guideline.
Use of Independent Managers – For those Clients that require an enhanced and/or specialized
level of investment management services, the Advisor may also recommend that certain Clients
authorize the active discretionary management of a portion of their assets by and/or among
certain independent investment manager(s) (“Independent Managers”). To the extent applicable,
the Advisor shall recommend Independent Managers consistent with the Client’s investment
objectives. Factors which the Advisor shall consider in recommending Independent Managers
include the Client’s stated investment objective(s), management style, performance, reputation,
financial strength, reporting, pricing, and research.
The Advisor shall continue to render advisory services to the Client relative to the ongoing
monitoring and reviewing of account performance, for which the Advisor shall receive an annual
advisory fee per Item 5 below which is based upon a percentage of the market value of the assets
being managed by the designated Independent Managers.
Clients who choose to engage the Advisor and elect to utilize Independent Managers will incur
costs in addition to the Advisor’s advisory fee. Management fees charged by Independent
Managers, together with the fees charged by the broker-dealer/custodian of the Client’s assets,
and any independent manager platform provider fee are exclusive of, and in addition to, Advisor’s
investment advisory fee.
Additionally, the Advisor may provide investment advisory services to executives and/or principals
of certain unaffiliated Independent Managers, thereby creating a conflict of interest. To the extent
that the Advisor believes that the utilization of these investment managers is appropriate for a
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Client, the Advisor shall disclose the conflict to the Client and give the Client the right to restrict,
in writing, the Advisor’s use of an Independent Manager.
Private Fund Investments - The Advisor provides investment advice or investment relation services
regarding affiliated and unaffiliated private investment funds.
Unaffiliated Funds – The Advisor’s role relative to any unaffiliated private investment fund
shall be limited to its initial and ongoing due diligence and investment monitoring services.
If a Client determines to become an investor in an unaffiliated private fund, the amount
of assets invested in the fund(s) shall be included as part of “assets under management”
for purposes of the Advisor calculating its investment advisory fee per Item 5 below
(unless the Client purchases the fund from the Advisor’s affiliated broker- dealer, where a
separate placement fee is assessed - see disclosure under Item 10 below). The Advisor’s
Clients are under no obligation to consider or make an investment in an unaffiliated
private investment fund(s).
Affiliated Funds - The Adviser is the General Partner and/or Investment Advisor to various
private funds issued by Ascent Private Capital Management (the Affiliated Fund[s]). If a
Client determines to invest in an Affiliated Fund, the amount of assets invested in the
Affiliated Fund shall be included as part of “assets under management” for purposes of
the Advisor calculating its investment advisory fee per Item 5 below. The Advisor’s Clients
are under no obligation to consider or make an investment in an Affiliated Fund.
The Advisor does not receive a separate advisory fee or other forms of compensation for its
investment advisory services to any Affiliated Funds. Rather, the Advisor’s only compensation is
the advisory fee that it receives from any value included as a part of assets under management.
Outsourced Chief Investment Officer Services
Institutional Clients may engage the Advisor for Outsourced Chief Investment Officer services
(“OCIO Services”). The OCIO Services assist institutional fiduciaries in defining investment policies
and objectives, selecting investment managers, and monitoring and evaluating investment
performance of the End Retail Clients of the Institutional Clients. The OCIO Services is expressly
limited to investment consulting services and does not include financial planning or any other
related or unrelated services. It shall remain solely up to the Institutional Client to determine
whether the Advisor’s recommendations are suitable given the End Retail Client’s total investment
holdings. In the event that the Advisor is requested to provide consulting services with respect
to investments in a retirement plan for an End Retail Client, the Advisor’s recommendations shall
be limited to the investment options provided by the retirement plan. The Advisor does not
provide the implementation of any of its OCIO services unless otherwise explicitly agreed to
between the Advisor and the Institutional Client in writing. Institutional Clients enrolled in the
OCIO Services maintain the exclusive responsibility to accept/reject or implement any of the
Advisor’s recommendations or advice under the OCIO Services.
Under the OCIO Services, Institutional Clients may also engage the Advisor for access to certain
advisory products offered by the Advisor such as private fund investments, model portfolios and
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other Advisor-managed investment vehicles. Additionally, the End Retail Client may also engage
the Advisor individually for their investment advisory services.
Each of the services and engagements described in this section are at the Client’s discretion.
Financial Planning and Consulting Services
As a part of its investment management services, the Advisor may provide Clients financial
planning and/or consulting services. Clients can also engage the Advisor for stand-alone financial
planning services and related consulting services regarding non-investment related matters,
including, but not limited to, estate planning, tax planning and insurance needs. Prior to engaging
the Advisor to provide stand-alone financial planning or consulting services, Clients are generally
required to enter into a Financial Planning and Consulting Agreement with Advisor setting forth
the terms and
conditions of the engagement (including termination), describing the scope of the
services to be provided, and the portion of the fee that is due from the Client prior to Advisor
commencing services.
If requested by the Client, the Advisor may recommend the services of other professionals for
implementation purposes (i.e., attorneys, accountants, brokers, insurance agents, 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 the Advisor or its Advisory Persons.
If the Client engages any such unaffiliated 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 licensed professional[s] (i.e., attorney,
accountant, insurance agent, etc.), and not the Advisor, shall be responsible for the quality and
competency of the services provided.
Additionally, it remains the Client’s responsibility to promptly notify the Advisor if there is ever
any change in their financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing,
evaluating or revising Advisor’s previous recommendations and/or services.
If the Advisor has been engaged to provide non-discretionary consulting services relative to Client
investment assets for which the Advisor does not maintain any trading authority, including assets
managed by the Client’s other unaffiliated investment professionals, (the “Excluded Assets”), the
Client and/or the Client’s other investment professionals/advisors that maintain trading authority,
and not the Advisor, shall be, and remain, exclusively responsible for the investment performance
of the Excluded Assets. The Advisor shall not be responsible for the actions and/or omissions of
the Client’s other investment professionals/advisors. The Client is under absolutely no obligation
to accept any of Advisor’s advice or recommendations relative to the Excluded Assets. In the event
the Client desires that the Advisor provide investment management services for the Excluded
Assets, the Client may engage the Advisor to do so pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Advisor and the Client.
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The Advisor, in conjunction with the services provided by third-party services, may also provide
periodic reporting services which can incorporate all of the Client’s investment assets, including
Excluded Assets. Unless otherwise specifically agreed to, in writing, Advisor’s service relative to
the Excluded Assets is limited to reporting only. The sole exception to the above shall be if the
Advisor is specifically engaged to monitor and/or allocate the assets within the Client’s 401(k)
account maintained away at the custodian directed by the Client’s employer. As such, except with
respect to the Client’s 401(k) account (if applicable), Advisor does not maintain any trading
authority for the Excluded Assets. Rather, the Client and/or the Client’s designated other
investment professional(s) maintain supervision, monitoring and trading authority for the
Excluded Assets. In the event the Client desires that Advisor provide investment management
services for the Excluded Assets, the Client must engage the Advisor to do so pursuant to the terms
and conditions of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Advisor and the Client.
The Advisor also offers a full suite of family office services to Clients. These services are offered in
combination of investment management services or can be delivered as a separate service,
pursuant to a written agreement. Clients have the option to select from menu of services, which
include but are not limited to:
Active Estate Management – Aggregates family and financial information to develop plans
and investment solutions for address overall needs and objectives.
Advisor Coordination – Support services including coordination of advisory teams (banks,
legal, insurance, tax accountants, family services, benefit organization), due diligence
support, and accounting support.
Reporting – Dashboard created to help navigate financial and legal landscape, consolidated
balance sheets, estate plan analysis, and maintaining relevant documentation.
Philanthropy – Assist with philanthropic goals through account structure and funding, grant
review and administration and investment opportunities.
Cash Management – Assist with cash and lending needs.
Tax Management – Coordination and oversight of personal tax planning and tax preparation
services, which includes; estate planning, trusts and foundations, residential and lifestyle
management and insurance.
Benefits – Assess and help implement cost effective and efficient corporate benefits plans.
Summit Trail does not serve as an attorney or accountant, and no portion of our services
should be construed as same. Accordingly, Summit Trail does not prepare legal documents or
tax returns.
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Retirement Plan Advisory Services
Summit Trail provides 3(21) retirement plan advisory services on behalf of the retirement plans
(each a “Plan”) and the company (the “Plan Sponsor”). The Advisor’s retirement plan advisory
services are designed to assist the Plan Sponsor in meeting its fiduciary obligations by providing
education services to the Plan and its Plan Participants.
These services are provided by Summit Trail serving in the capacity as a fiduciary under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). In accordance with
ERISA Section 408(b)(2), the Plan Sponsor is provided with a written description of Summit Trail’s
fiduciary status, the specific services to be rendered and all direct and indirect compensation the
Advisor reasonably expects under the engagement.
Miscellaneous
Retirement Plan Rollovers – No Obligation / Conflict of Interest: A Client or prospective
Client leaving an employer typically has four options regarding an existing retirement plan (and
has the ability to engage in a combination of these options): (i) leave the assets in the
former employer’s retirement plan, if permitted, (ii) rollover the assets to the new employer’s
retirement plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) rollover 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). If the Advisor recommends that a Client roll over
their retirement plan assets into an account to be managed by the Advisor, such a
recommendation presents a conflict of interest if the Advisor will earn new (or increase its
current) compensation as a result of the rollover. The Advisor does not generally provide
recommendations to Clients on rollovers. However, If Advisor provides a recommendation as to
whether a Client should engage in a rollover or not, Advisor is acting as a fiduciary 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. No Client is under any
obligation to rollover retirement plan assets to an account managed by the Advisor.
C. Client Account Management
The Advisor shall provide investment advisory services specific to the needs of each Client. Prior
to providing investment advisory services, an Advisory Person will ascertain each Client’s
investment objective(s). Thereafter, the Advisor shall allocate and/or recommend that the Client
allocate investment assets consistent with the designated investment objective(s). The Client
may, at any time, impose reasonable restrictions, in writing, on the Advisor’s services.
Cash Sweep Accounts: Certain account custodians can require that cash proceeds from account
transactions or new deposits, be swept to and/or initially maintained in a specific custodian
designated sweep account. The yield on the sweep account will generally be lower than
those available for other money market accounts. When this occurs, to help mitigate the
corresponding yield dispersion, Advisor shall (usually within 30 days thereafter) generally (with
exceptions) purchase a higher yielding money market fund (or other type security) available on
the custodian’s platform, unless the Advisor 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
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Client of an imminent need for such cash, or the Client has a demonstrated history of writing
checks from the account.
The above does not apply to the cash component maintained within an 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.
The Client shall remain exclusively responsible for yield dispersion/cash balance decisions and
corresponding transactions for cash balances maintained in any unmanaged accounts.
D. Wrap Fee Program
The Advisor no longer offers a Wrap Fee Program to new Clients, however, the Advisor has
a legacy Client where securities transaction fees are combined with investment advisory fee
into a single asset-based fee. Including these fees into a single asset-based fee is considered a
“Wrap Fee Program”.
E. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, the Advisor had assets under management of $17,651,630,433. This
includes $7,351,611,599 of which is managed on a discretionary basis and $10,300,018,834 on a
non-discretionary basis.
$20,847,700,144 is the combined assets under management and approximate total assets under
advisement. The approximate assets under advisements include, but are not limited to, personal
property, outside investments and other real assets. These are non-GAAP accounting assets and
values are derived from information provided by the families we represent and are not verified by
STA. Clients may request more current information at any time by contacting the Advisor.