Form ADV Part 1 Instructions

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Federal Information Law and Requirements

Sections 203(c) and 204 of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-3(c) and 80b-4] authorize the SEC to collect the information required by Form ADV. The SEC collects the information for regulatory purposes, such as deciding whether to grant registration. Filing Form ADV is mandatory for advisers who are required to register with the SEC. The SEC maintains the information submitted on this form and makes it publicly available. The SEC may return forms that do not include required information. Intentional misstatements or omissions constitute federal criminal violations under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 and 15 U.S.C. § 80b-17.

SEC's Collection of Information

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. The Advisers Act authorizes the SEC to collect the information on Form ADV from applicants. See 15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-3(c)(1) and 80b-4. Filing the form is mandatory.

The main purpose of this form is to enable the SEC to register investment advisers. Every applicant for registration with the SEC as an adviser must file the form. See 17 C.F.R. § 275.203-1. By accepting a form, however, the SEC does not make a finding that it has been completed or submitted correctly. The form is filed annually by every adviser, no later than 90 days after the end of its fiscal year, to amend its registration. It is also filed promptly during the year to reflect material changes. See 17 C.F.R. § 275.204-1. The SEC maintains the information on the form and makes it publicly available through the IARD.

Anyone may send the SEC comments on the accuracy of the burden estimate on page 1 of the form, as well as suggestions for reducing the burden. The Office of Management and Budget has reviewed this collection of information under 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

The information contained in the form is part of a system of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The SEC has published in the Federal Register the Privacy Act System of Records Notice for these records.




Form ADV: General Instructions

Read these instructions carefully before filing Form ADV. Failure to follow these instructions, properly complete the form, and pay all required fees may result in your filing being returned to you. Electronic filers should follow the instructions available on-line, which are different.

In these instructions and in the form, "you" means the investment adviser (i.e., the advisory firm) applying for registration or amending its registration. If you are a "separately identifiable department or division" (SID) of a bank, "you" means the SID, rather than your bank, unless the instructions or the form provide otherwise. Terms that appear in italics are defined in the Glossary of Terms to Form ADV.

1. Where can I get more information on Form ADV, electronic filing, and the IARD?

The SEC provides information about its rules and the Advisers Act on its website: http://www.sec.gov/iard.

NASAA provides information about state investment adviser laws and state rules, and how to contact a state securities authority, on its website: http://www.nasaa.org.

FINRA provides information about the IARD and electronic filing on the IARD website: http://www.iard.com.

2. What is Form ADV used for?

Investment advisers use Form ADV to:

  • Register with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Register with one or more state securities authorities
  • Amend those registrations

3. How is Form ADV organized?

Form ADV contains three parts:

  • Part 1A asks a number of questions about you, your business practices, the persons who own and control you, and the persons who provide investment advice on your behalf. All advisers registering with the SEC or any of the state securities authorities must complete Part 1A. Part 1A also contains several schedules that supplement Part 1A. The items of Part 1A let you know which schedules you must complete.
    • Schedule A asks for information about your direct owners and executive officers.
    • Schedule B asks for information about your indirect owners.
    • Schedule C is used by paper filers to update the information required by Schedules A and B (see Instruction 14).
    • Schedule D asks for additional information for certain items in Part 1A.
    • Disclosure Reporting Pages (or "DRPs") ask for details about disciplinary events involving you or persons affiliated with you. (These are considered schedules too.)
  • Part 1B asks additional questions required by state securities authorities. Part 1B contains three DRPs. If you are applying for registration or are registered only with the SEC, you do not have to complete Part 1B. (If you are filing electronically and you do not have to complete Part 1B, you will not see Part 1B.)
  • Part II is your current brochure. You must continue to amend your brochure, deliver it to prospective clients, and annually offer it to current clients. See rule 204-3. You are not required to file amendments to Part II with the SEC.

Note: The SEC has proposed to amend Part II of Form ADV. These changes, proposed as Part 2, have not been adopted at this time. Until the Commission adopts Part 2, the current brochure requirements are in effect, except that you are no longer required to file amendments to Part II with the Commission. See rule 204-3.

4. When am I required to update my Form ADV?

You must amend your Form ADV each year by filing an annual updating amendment within 90 days after the end of your fiscal year. When you submit your annual updating amendment, you must update your responses to all items.

In addition to your annual updating amendment, you must amend your Form ADV by filing additional amendments (other-than-annual amendments) promptly if:

  • information you provided in response to Items 1, 3, 9, or 11 of Part 1A or Items 1, 2.A. through 2.F., or 2.I. of Part 1B become inaccurate in any way;
  • information you provided in response to Items 4, 8, or 10 of Part 1A or Item 2.G. of Part 1B become materially inaccurate; or
  • information you provided in your brochure becomes materially inaccurate.

If you are submitting an other-than-annual amendment, you are not required to update your responses to Items 2, 5, 6, 7, or 12 of Part 1A or Items 2.H. or 2.J. of Part 1B even if your responses to those items have become inaccurate. If you are amending Part II, do not file the amendment with the SEC.

Failure to update your Form ADV, as required by this instruction, is a violation of SEC rule 204-1 and similar state rules and could lead to your registration being revoked.

5. Are there changes to the Part II requirements?

The rules for preparing, delivering and offering Part II have not changed. You can still satisfy these requirements by delivering Part II or a brochure containing at least the information contained in Part II. If you are using Part II, you can continue to use Schedule F as a continuation sheet. If you check "yes" to Item 14 of Part II, prepare and file a balance sheet following instructions in Schedule G. The balance sheet information must be distributed to clients as part of your written disclosure statement (regardless of whether you use Part II or a brochure).

If you are an SEC-registered adviser, however, you no longer have to file Part II with the SEC. Instead, you must keep a copy in your files, and provide it to SEC staff upon request. You must update the information in your Part II whenever it becomes materially inaccurate. You can do this by substituting pages, or by affixing a "sticker" replacing the stale information.

If you are a state-registered adviser, you must continue to file Part II with the appropriate state securities authority on paper, regardless of whether you are filing Part 1 on paper or electronically through the IARD.

Note: The SEC has proposed, but not adopted, substantial changes to Part II.

6. Where do I sign my Form ADV application or amendment?

You must sign the appropriate Execution Page. There are three Execution Pages at the end of the form. Your initial application and all amendments to Form ADV must include at least one Execution Page.

  • If you are applying for or amending your SEC registration, you must sign and submit either a:
    • Domestic Investment Adviser Execution Page, if you (the advisory firm) are a resident of the United States; or
    • Non-Resident Investment Adviser Execution Page, if you (the advisory firm) are not a resident of the United States.
  • If you are applying for or amending your registration with a state securities authority, you must sign and submit the State-Registered Investment Adviser Execution Page.

7. Who must sign my Form ADV or amendment?

The individual who signs the form depends upon your form of organization:

  • For a sole proprietorship, the sole proprietor.
  • For a partnership, a general partner.
  • For a corporation, an authorized principal officer.
  • For a "separately identifiable department or division" (SID) of a bank, a principal officer of your bank who is directly engaged in the management, direction or supervision of your investment advisory activities.
  • For all others, an authorized individual who participates in managing or directing your affairs.

The signature does not have to be notarized, and in the case of an electronic filing, should be a typed name.

8. How do I file my Form ADV?

Note: Until May 1, 2001, you must also consult the Form ADV Supplemental Instructions for Transition to Electronic Filing.

Complete Form ADV electronically using the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD) if:

  • You are filing with the SEC (and submitting notice filings to any of the state securities authorities), or
  • You are filing with a state securities authority that requires or permits advisers to submit Form ADV through the IARD.

To file electronically, go the IARD website (www.iard.com), which contains detailed instructions for advisers to follow when filing through the IARD.

Complete Form ADV (Paper Version) on paper if:

  • You are filing with the SEC or a state securities authority that requires electronic filing, but you have been granted a continuing hardship exemption. Hardship exemptions are described in Instruction 13.
  • You are filing with a state securities authority that permits (but does not require) electronic filing and you do not file electronically.

9. How do I get started filing electronically?

  • First, get a copy of the IARD Entitlement Package from the following web site: http://www.iard.com. Second, request access to the IARD system for your firm by completing and submitting the IARD Entitlement Package. The IARD Entitlement Package must be submitted on paper. Mail the forms to: IARD Entitlement Requests, FINRA, P.O. Box 9495, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-9495.
  • When FINRA receives your Entitlement Package, they will assign a CRD number (identification number for your firm) and a user I.D. code and password (identification number and system password for the individual(s) who will submit Form ADV filings for your firm). Your firm may request an I.D. code and password for more than one individual. The FINRA also will create a financial account for you from which the IARD will deduct filing fees and any state fees you are required to pay. If you already have a CRD account with FINRA, it will also serve as your IARD account; a separate account will not be established.
  • Once you receive your CRD number, user I.D. code and password, and you have funded your account, you are ready to file electronically.
  • Questions regarding the Entitlement Process should be addressed to FINRA at 240.386.4848.

10. If I am applying for registration with the SEC, or amending my SEC registration, how do I make notice filings with the state securities authorities?

If you are applying for registration with the SEC or amending your SEC registration, one or more state securities authorities may require you to provide them with copies of your SEC filings. We call these filings "notice filings." Your notice filings will be sent electronically to the states that you check on Item 2.B. of Part 1A. The state securities authorities to which you send notice filings may charge fees, which will be deducted from the account you establish with FINRA. To determine which state securities authorities require SEC-registered advisers to submit notice filings and to pay fees, consult the relevant state investment adviser law or state securities authority. See General Instruction 1.

If you are granted a continuing hardship exemption to file Form ADV on paper, FINRA will enter your filing into the IARD and your notice filings will be sent electronically to the state securities authorities that you check on Item 2.B. of Part 1A.

11. I am registered with a state. When must I switch to SEC registration?

If you report on your annual updating amendment that your assets under management have increased to $30 million or more, you must register with the SEC within 90 days after you file that annual updating amendment. If your assets under management increase to $25 million or more but not $30 million, you may, but are not required to, register with the SEC (assuming you are not otherwise required to register with the SEC). Once you register with the SEC, you are subject to SEC regulation, regardless of whether you remain registered with one or more states. Each of your investment adviser representatives, however, may be subject to registration in those states in which the representative has a place of business. See SEC rule 203A-1(b). For additional information, consult the investment adviser laws or the state securities authority for the particular state in which you are "doing business." See General Instruction 1.

12. I am registered with the SEC. When must I switch to registration with a state securities authority?

If you report on your annual updating amendment that you have assets under management of less than $25 million and you are not otherwise eligible to register with the SEC, you must withdraw from SEC registration within 180 days after the end of your fiscal year by filing Form ADV-W. You should consult state law in the states that you are doing business to determine if you are required to register in these states. See General Instruction 1. Until you file your Form ADV-W with the SEC, you will remain subject to SEC regulation, and you also will be subject to regulation in any states where you register. See SEC rule 203A-1(b).

13. Are there filing fees?

Yes. These fees go to support and maintain the IARD. The IARD filing fees are in addition to any registration or other fee that may be required by state law. You must pay an IARD filing fee for your initial application and each annual updating amendment. There is no filing fee for an other-than-annual amendment or Form ADV-W. The IARD filing fee schedule is published at http://www.sec.gov/iard; http://www.nasaa.org; and http://www.iard.com.

If you are submitting a paper filing under a continuing hardship exemption (see Instruction 14), you are required to pay an additional fee. The amount of the additional fee depends on whether you are filing Form ADV or Form ADV-W. (There is no additional fee for filings made on Form ADV-W.) The hardship filing fee schedule is available at 240.386.4848.

14. What if I am not able to file electronically?

If you are required to file electronically but cannot do so, you may be eligible for one of two types of hardship exemptions from the electronic filing requirements.

  • A temporary hardship exemption is available if you file electronically, but you encounter unexpected difficulties that prevent you from making a timely filing with the IARD, such as a computer malfunction or electrical outage. This exemption does not permit you to file on paper; instead, it extends the deadline for an electronic filing for seven business days. See SEC rule 203-3(a).
  • A continuing hardship exemption may be granted if you are a small business and you can demonstrate that filing electronically would impose an undue hardship. You are a small business, and may be eligible for a continuing hardship exemption, if you are required to answer Item 12 of Part 1A (because you have assets under management of less than $25 million) and you are able to respond "no" to each question in Item 12. See SEC rule 0-7.

If you have been granted a continuing hardship exemption, you must complete and submit the paper version of Form ADV to FINRA. FINRA will enter your responses into the IARD. As discussed in General Instruction 13, FINRA will charge you a fee to reimburse it for the expense of data entry.

Before applying for a continuing hardship exemption, consider engaging a firm that assists investment advisers in making filings with the IARD. Check the SEC's web site http://www.sec.gov/iard) to obtain a list of firms that provide these services.

15. I am eligible to file on paper. How do I make a paper filing?

When filing on paper, you must:

  • Type all of your responses.
  • Include your name (the same name you provide in response to Item 1.A. of Part 1A) and the date on every page.
  • If you are amending your Form ADV:
    • complete page 1 and circle the number of any item for which you are changing your response.
    • include your SEC 801-number (if you have one) and your CRD number (if you have one) on every page.
    • complete the amended item in full and circle the number of the item for which you are changing your response.
    • to amend Schedule A or Schedule B, complete and submit Schedule C.

Where you submit your paper filing depends on why you are eligible to file on paper:

  • If you are filing on paper because you have been granted a continuing hardship exemption, submit one manually signed Form ADV and one copy to: IARD Document Processing, FINRA, P.O. Box 9495, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-9495.

    If you complete Form ADV on paper and submit it to FINRA but you do not have a continuing hardship exemption, the submission will be returned to you.


  • If you are filing on paper because a state in which you are registered or applying for registration allows you to submit paper instead of electronic filings, submit one manually signed Form ADV and one copy to the appropriate state securities authorities.

16. Who is required to file Form ADV-NR?

Every non-resident general partner and managing agent of all SEC-registered advisers, whether or not the adviser is resident in the United States, must file Form ADV-NR in connection with the adviser's initial application. A general partner or managing agent of an SEC-registered adviser who becomes a non-resident after the adviser's initial application has been submitted must file Form ADV-NR within 30 days. Form ADV-NR must be filed on paper (it cannot be filed electronically).

Submit Form ADV-NR to the SEC at the following address:

Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Mail Stop 0-25, Washington, DC 20549; Attn: Branch of Registrations & Examinations

Failure to file Form ADV-NR promptly may delay SEC consideration of your initial application.

Federal Information Law and Requirements

Sections 203(c) and 204 of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-3(c) and 80b-4] authorize the SEC to collect the information required by Form ADV. The SEC collects the information for regulatory purposes, such as deciding whether to grant registration. Filing Form ADV is mandatory for advisers who are required to register with the SEC. The SEC maintains the information submitted on this form and makes it publicly available. The SEC may return forms that do not include required information. Intentional misstatements or omissions constitute federal criminal violations under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 and 15 U.S.C. § 80b-17.

SEC's Collection of Information

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. The Advisers Act authorizes the SEC to collect the information on Form ADV from applicants. See 15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-3(c)(1) and 80b-4. Filing the form is mandatory.

The main purpose of this form is to enable the SEC to register investment advisers. Every applicant for registration with the SEC as an adviser must file the form. See 17 C.F.R. § 275.203-1. By accepting a form, however, the SEC does not make a finding that it has been completed or submitted correctly. The form is filed annually by every adviser, no later than 90 days after the end of its fiscal year, to amend its registration. It is also filed promptly during the year to reflect material changes. See 17 C.F.R. § 275.204-1. The SEC maintains the information on the form and makes it publicly available through the IARD.

Anyone may send the SEC comments on the accuracy of the burden estimate on page 1 of the form, as well as suggestions for reducing the burden. The Office of Management and Budget has reviewed this collection of information under 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

The information contained in the form is part of a system of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The SEC has published in the Federal Register the Privacy Act System of Records Notice for these records.

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Form ADV: Supplemental Instructions for Electronic Filing

SEC Requirements
SEC rules require advisers that are registered or applying for registration with the SEC to file electronically. All applications for registration filed after December 31, 2000 must be filed electronically through the IARD system. See SEC rule 203-1.

State Requirements
Check with the state securities authorities of the states in which you have a filing obligation to determine whether you can or must file Form ADV electronically through the IARD. NASAA provides information about state investment adviser laws and state rules, and how to contact a state securities authority, on its website: http://www.nasaa.org.

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Form ADV: Instructions for Part 1A

These instructions explain how to complete certain items in Part 1A of Form ADV.

1. Item 1: Identifying Information

If you are a "separately identifiable department or division" (SID) of a bank, answer Item 1.A. with the full legal name of your bank, and answer Item 1.B. with your own name (the name of the department or division) and all names under which you conduct your advisory business. In addition, your principal office and place of business in Item 1.F. should be the principal office at which you conduct your advisory business. In response to Item 1.I., the World Wide Web site addresses you list on Schedule D should be sites that provide information about your own activities, rather than general information about your bank.

2. Item 2: SEC Registration

If you are registered or applying for registration with the SEC, you must indicate in Item 2.A. why you are eligible to register with the SEC by checking one or more boxes.

a. Item 2.A(1): Adviser with Assets Under Management of $25 Million or More. You may check box 1 only if your response to Item 5.F(2)(c) is $25 million or more. While you may register with the SEC if your assets under management are at least $25 million but less than $30 million, you must register with the SEC if your assets under management are $30 million or more. Part 1A Instruction 5.b. explains how to calculate your assets under management. If you are a state-registered adviser and you report on your annual updating amendment that your assets under management increased to $25 million or more, you may register with the SEC. If your assets under management increased to $30 million or more, you must register with the SEC within 90 days after you file that annual updating amendment. See SEC rule 203A-1(b) and Form ADV General Instruction 10.

b. Item 2.A(4): Adviser to an Investment Company. You may check box 4 only if you currently provide advisory services under an investment advisory contract to an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the investment company is operational (i.e., has assets and shareholders, other than just the organizing shareholders). See section 203A(a)(1)(B) of the Advisers Act. Advising investors about the merits of investing in mutual funds or recommending particular mutual funds does not make you eligible to check this box.

c. Item 2.A(5): Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization. You may check box 5 only if you are designated as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization pursuant to an application filed under paragraph (c)(13)(i) of SEC rule 15c3-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. See SEC rule 203A-2(a). This designation generally is limited to rating agencies, such as Moody's and Standard & Poor's.

d. Item 2.A(6): Pension Consultant. You may check box 6 only if you are eligible for the pension consultant exemption from the prohibition on SEC registration.

  • You are eligible for this exemption if you provided investment advice to employee benefit plans, governmental plans, or church plans with respect to assets having an aggregate value of $50 million or more during the 12-month period that ended within 90 days of filing this Form ADV. You are not eligible for this exemption if you only advise plan participants on allocating their investments within their pension plans. See SEC rule 203A-2(b).


  • To calculate the value of assets for purposes of this exemption, aggregate the assets of the plans for which you provided advisory services at the end of the 12-month period. If you provided advisory services to other plans during the 12-month period, but your employment or contract terminated before the end of the 12-month period, you also may include the value of those assets.

e. Item 2.A(7): Affiliated Adviser. You may check box 7 only if you are eligible for the affiliated adviser exemption from the prohibition on SEC registration. See SEC rule 203A-2(c). You are eligible for this exemption if you control, are controlled by, or are under common control with an investment adviser that is registered with the SEC, and you have the same principal office and place of business as that other investment adviser. Note that you may not rely on the SEC registration of an Internet investment adviser under rule 203A-2(f) in establishing eligibility for this exemption. See SEC rule 203A-2(f)(iii). If you check box 7, you also must complete Section 2.A(7) of Schedule D.

f. Item 2.A(8): Newly-Formed Adviser. You may check box 8 only if you are eligible for the newly-formed-adviser exemption from the prohibition on SEC registration. See SEC rule 203A-2(d). You are eligible for this exemption if:

  • immediately before you file your application for registration with the SEC, you were not registered or required to be registered with the SEC or a state securities authority; and


  • at the time of your formation, you have a reasonable expectation that within 120 days of registration you will be eligible for SEC registration.

If you check box 8, you also must complete Section 2.A(8) of Schedule D.

You must file an amendment to Part 1A of your Form ADV that updates your response to Item 2.A. within 120 days after the SEC declares your registration effective. You may not check box 8 on your amendment; since this exemption is available only if you are not registered, you may not "re-rely" on this exemption. If you indicate on that amendment (by checking box 12) that you are not eligible to register with the SEC, you also must at that same time file a Form ADV-W to withdraw your SEC registration.

g. Item 2.A(9): Multi-State Adviser. You may check box 9 only if you are eligible for the multi-state adviser exemption from the prohibition on SEC registration. See SEC rule 203A-2(e). You are eligible for this exemption if you are required to register as an investment adviser with the securities authorities of 30 or more states. If you check box 9, you must complete Section 2.A(9) of Schedule D. You must complete Section 2.A(9) of Schedule D in each annual updating amendment you submit.

If you check box 9, you also must:

  • create and maintain a list of the states in which, but for this exemption, you would be required to register;
  • update this list each time you submit an annual updating amendment in which you continue to represent that you are eligible for this exemption; and
  • maintain the list in an easily accessible place for a period of not less than five years from each date on which you indicate that you are eligible for the exemption.

If, at the time you file your annual updating amendment, you are required to register in less than 25 states and you are not otherwise eligible to register with the SEC, you must check box 12 in Item 2.A. You also must file a Form ADV-W to withdraw your SEC registration. See Part 1A Instruction 2.i.

h. Item 2.A (10): Internet Investment Adviser. You may check box 10 only if you are eligible for the Internet adviser exemption from the prohibition on SEC registration. See SEC rule 203A-2(f). You are eligible for this exemption if:

  • you provide investment advice to your clients through an interactive website. An interactive website means a website in which computer software-based models or applications provide investment advice based on personal information each client submits through the website. Other forms of online or Internet investment advice do not qualify for this exemption;


  • you provide investment advice to all of your clients exclusively through the interactive website, except that you may provide investment advice to fewer than 15 clients through other means during the previous 12 months; and


  • you maintain a record demonstrating that you provide investment advice to your clients exclusively through an interactive website in accordance with these limits.

i. Item 2.A(12): Adviser No Longer Eligible to Remain Registered with the SEC. You must check box 12 if:

  • you are registered with the SEC;
  • you are filing an annual updating amendment to Form ADV in which you indicate in response to Item 5.F(2)(c) that you have assets under management of less than $25 million; and
  • you are not eligible to check any other box (other than box 12) in Item 2.A. (and are therefore no longer eligible to remain registered with the SEC).

You must withdraw from SEC registration within 180 days after the end of your fiscal year by filing Form ADV-W. Until you file your Form ADV-W, you will remain subject to SEC regulation, and you also will be subject to regulation in the states in which you register. See SEC rule 203A-1(b).

3. Item 3: Form of Organization

If you are a "separately identifiable department or division" (SID) of a bank, answer Item 3.A. by checking "other." In the space provided, specify that you are a "SID of" and indicate the form of organization of your bank. Answer Items 3.B. and 3.C. with information about your bank.

4. Item 4: Successions

a. Succession of an SEC-Registered Adviser. If you (1) have taken over the business of an investment adviser or (2) have changed your structure or legal status (e.g., form of organization or state of incorporation), a new organization has been created, which has registration obligations under the Advisers Act. There are different ways to fulfill these obligations. You may rely on the registration provisions discussed in the General Instructions, or you may be able to rely on special registration provisions for "successors" to SEC-registered advisers, which may ease the transition to the successor adviser's registration.

To determine if you may rely on these provisions, review "Registration of Successors to Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers," Investment Advisers Act Release No. 1357 (Dec. 28, 1992). If you have taken over an adviser, follow Part 1A Instruction 4.a(1), Succession by Application. If you have changed your structure or legal status, follow Part 1A Instruction 4.a(2), Succession by Amendment. If either (1) you are a "separately identifiable department or division" (SID) of a bank that is currently registered as an investment adviser, and you are taking over your bank's advisory business; or (2) you are a SID currently registered as an investment adviser, and your bank is taking over your advisory business, then follow Part 1A Instruction 4.a(1), Succession by Application.

(1) Succession by Application. If you are not registered with the SEC as an adviser, and you are acquiring or assuming substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the advisory business of an SEC-registered adviser, file a new application for registration on Form ADV. You will receive new registration numbers. You must file the new application within 30 days after the succession. On the application, make sure you check "yes" to Item 4.A., enter the date of the succession in Item 4.B., and complete Section 4 of Schedule D.

Until the SEC declares your new registration effective, you may rely on the registration of the adviser you are acquiring, but only if the adviser you are acquiring is no longer conducting advisory activities. Once your new registration is effective, a Form ADV-W must be filed with the SEC to withdraw the registration of the acquired adviser.

(2) Succession by Amendment. If you are a new investment adviser formed solely as a result of a change in form of organization, a reorganization, or a change in the composition of a partnership, and there has been no practical change in control or management, you may amend the registration of the registered investment adviser to reflect these changes rather than file a new application. You will keep the same registration numbers, and you should not file a Form ADV-W. On the amendment, make sure you check "yes" to Item 4.A., enter the date of the succession in Item 4.B., and complete Section 4 of Schedule D. You must submit the amendment within 30 days after the change or reorganization.

b. Succession of a State-Registered Adviser. If you (1) have taken over the business of an investment adviser or (2) have changed your structure or legal status (e.g., form of organization or state of incorporation), a new organization has been created, which has registration obligations under state investment adviser laws. There may be different ways to fulfill these obligations. You should contact each state in which you are registered to determine that state's requirements for successor registration. See Form ADV General Instruction 1.

5. Item 5: Information About Your Advisory Business

a. Newly-Formed Advisers: Several questions in Item 5 that ask about your advisory business assume that you have been operating your advisory business for some time. Your response to these questions should reflect your current advisory business (i.e., at the time you file your Form ADV), with the following exceptions:

  • base your response to Item 5.E. on the types of compensation you expect to accept;
  • base your response to Item 5.G. on the types of advisory services you expect to provide during the next year; and
  • skip Item 5.H.

b. Item 5.F: Calculating Your Assets Under Management. In determining the amount of your assets under management, include the securities portfolios for which you provide continuous and regular supervisory or management services as of the date of filing this Form ADV.

(1) Securities Portfolios. An account is a securities portfolio if at least 50% of the total value of the account consists of securities. For purposes of this 50% test, you may treat cash and cash equivalents (i.e., bank deposits, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances, and similar bank instruments) as securities. You may include securities portfolios that are:

(a) your family or proprietary accounts (unless you are a sole proprietor, in which case your personal assets must be excluded);

(b) accounts for which you receive no compensation for your services; and

(c) accounts of clients who are not U.S. residents.

(2) Value of Portfolio. Include the entire value of each securities portfolio for which you provide continuous and regular supervisory or management services. If you provide continuous and regular supervisory or management services for only a portion of a securities portfolio, include as assets under management only that portion of the securities portfolio for which you provide such services. Exclude, for example, the portion of an account:

(a) under management by another person; or

(b) that consists of real estate or businesses whose operations you "manage" on behalf of a client but not as an investment.

Do not deduct securities purchased on margin.

(3) Continuous and Regular Supervisory or Management Services.

General Criteria. You provide continuous and regular supervisory or management services with respect to an account if:

(a) you have discretionary authority over and provide ongoing supervisory or management services with respect to the account; or

(b) you do not have discretionary authority over the account, but you have ongoing responsibility to select or make recommendations, based upon the needs of the client, as to specific securities or other investments the account may purchase or sell and, if such recommendations are accepted by the client, you are responsible for arranging or effecting the purchase or sale.

Factors. You should consider the following factors in evaluating whether you provide continuous and regular supervisory or management services to an account.

(a) Terms of the advisory contract. If you agree in an advisory contract to provide ongoing management services, this suggests that you provide these services for the account. Other provisions in the contract, or your actual management practices, however, may suggest otherwise.

(b) Form of compensation. If you are compensated based on the average value of the client's assets you manage over a specified period of time, that suggests that you provide continuous and regular supervisory or management services for the account. If you receive compensation in a manner similar to either of the following, that suggests you do not provide continuous and regular supervisory or management services for the account --

(i) you are compensated based upon the time spent with a client during a client visit; or

(ii) you are paid a retainer based on a percentage of assets covered by a financial plan.

(c) Management practices. The extent to which you actively manage assets or provide advice bears on whether the services you provide are continuous and regular supervisory or management services. The fact that you make infrequent trades (e.g., based on a "buy and hold" strategy) does not mean your services are not "continuous and regular."

Examples. You may provide continuous and regular supervisory or management services for an account if you:

(a) have discretionary authority to allocate client assets among various mutual funds;

(b) do not have discretionary authority, but provide the same allocation services, and satisfy the criteria set forth in Instruction 5.b(3);

(c) allocate assets among other managers (a "manager of managers"), but only if you have discretionary authority to hire and fire managers and reallocate assets among them; or

(d) you are a broker-dealer and treat the account as a brokerage account, but only if you have discretionary authority over the account.

You do not provide continuous and regular supervisory or management services for an account if you:

(a) provide market timing recommendations (i.e., to buy or sell), but have no ongoing management responsibilities;

(b) provide only impersonal investment advice (e.g., market newsletters);

(c) make an initial asset allocation, without continuous and regular monitoring and reallocation; or

(d) provide advice on an intermittent or periodic basis (such as upon client request, in response to a market event, or on a specific date (e.g., the account is reviewed and adjusted quarterly)).

(4) Value of Assets Under Management. Determine your assets under management based on the current market value of the assets as determined within 90 days prior to the date of filing this Form ADV. Determine market value using the same method you used to report account values to clients or to calculate fees for investment advisory services.

(5) Example. This is an example of the method of determining whether a client account may be included as assets under management.

A client's portfolio consists of the following:
$ 6,000,000 stocks and bonds
$ 1,000,000 cash and cash equivalents
$ 3,000,000 non-securities (collectibles, commodities, real estate, etc.)
$10,000,000 Total Assets

First, is the account a securities portfolio? The account is a securities portfolio because securities as well as cash and cash equivalents (which you have chosen to include as securities) ($6,000,000 + $1,000,000 = $7,000,000) comprise at least 50% of the value of the account (here, 70%). (See Instruction 5.b(1)).

Second, does the account receive continuous and regular supervisory or management services? The entire account is managed on a discretionary basis and is provided ongoing supervisory and management services, and therefore receives continuous and regular supervisory or management services. (See Instruction 5.b(3)).

Third, what is the entire value of the account? The entire value of the account ($10,000,000) is included in the calculation of the adviser's total assets under management.

6. Item 10: Control Persons

If you are a "separately identifiable department or division" (SID) of a bank, identify on Schedule A your bank's executive officers who are directly engaged in managing, directing, or supervising your investment advisory activities, and list any other persons designated by your bank's board of directors as responsible for the day-to-day conduct of your investment advisory activities, including supervising employees performing investment advisory activities.

7. Additional Information.

If you believe your response to an item in Form ADV Part 1A requires further explanation, or if you wish to provide additional information, you may do so on Schedule D, in the Miscellaneous section. Completion of this section is optional.

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