Electronic Filing by Investment Advisers; Proposed Amendments to Form ADV

AGENCY:

Securities and Exchange Commission.

ACTION:

Proposed rules.

SUMMARY:

The Commission and the state securities authorities are creating an electronic filing system for investment advisers. The system will permit investment advisers to satisfy their filing obligations with federal and state regulators with a single electronic filing made over the Internet. The system also will provide public access to information about investment advisers and persons who work for investment advisers. In connection with the development of the electronic filing system, we are proposing new rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and proposing to amend others. The new rules would require advisers to submit their filings electronically. Form ADV would be substantially updated and revised to accommodate electronic filing. Finally, we are proposing amendments that would require advisers to deliver to clients a narrative brochure written in plain English.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before June 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be submitted in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. Comments also may be submitted electronically at the following e-mail address: rule-comments@sec.gov. All comment letters should refer to File No. S7-10-00; this file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. Comment letters will be available for public inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Electronically submitted comment letters also will be posted on the Commission's Internet web site (http://www.sec.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lori H. Price, <pricel@sec.gov> or Jeffrey O. Himstreet, <himstreetj@sec.gov>, at (202) 942-0716, Task Force on Investment Adviser Regulation, Division of Investment Management, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0506.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Commission today is requesting public comment on proposed amendments to rules 30-5 and 30-11 of the SEC's Organization and Program Management rules (17 CFR 200.30-5 and 200.30-11), new rule 203-3 and Form ADV-H; proposed amendments to rules 0-2, 0-7, 203-1, 203-2, 203A-1, 203A-2, 204-1, 204-2, and 204-3 (17 CFR 275.0-2, 275.0-7, 275.203-1, 275.203-2, 275.203A-1, 275.203A-2, 275.204-1, 275.204-2, and 275.204-3); and Form ADV, Form ADV-W, and Form 4-R (17 CFR 279.1, 279.2, and 279.4) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-1) (the Advisers Act or the Act). The Commission also is proposing to withdraw rules 204-5 and 206(4)-4 (17 CFR 275.204-5 and 275.206(4)-4) and Forms 5-R, 6-R, 7-R, and ADV-Y2K (17 CFR 279.5, 279.6, 279.7, and 279.9) under the Advisers Act.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

I. Introduction

II. Discussion

A. The Investment Adviser Registration Depository

1. The Investment Adviser Filing System

2. The Public Disclosure System

3. System Implementation

4. Filing Fees

B. Proposed Amendments to SEC Rules

1. Applications for Registration on Form ADV

2. Amendments to Form ADV

3. Withdrawal from Registration

4. Hardship Exemptions

C. Proposed Transition to Electronic Filing

D. Proposed Revisions to Form ADV

1. Part 1

a. Part 1A

b. Part 1B

2. Part 2

a. Part 2A: The Firm Brochure

b. Part 2B: The Brochure Supplement

3. Execution Pages

E. Proposed Revisions to Form ADV-W

F. General Request for Comment

III. Cost/Benefit Analysis

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

V. Summary of Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

VI. Statutory Authority

Text of Proposed Rule and Form Amendments

Proposed Form ADV—Appendix A

Proposed form ADV-W—Appendix B

Proposed Form ADV-H—Appendix C

Proposed Form ADV-NR—Appendix D

Executive Summary

The Commission and the state securities authorities are creating an Internet-based system of electronic filing for investment advisers. The system, which we call the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD), will permit investment advisers to satisfy filing obligations under state and federal laws by making a single electronic filing. Information contained in filings made through the IARD will be stored in a database that members of the public will be able to access free of charge through the Internet. The IARD, which is being built and will be operated for us by NASD Regulation, Inc. (NASDR), will give investors easy access to information about investment advisers.

Today we are proposing to amend our rules to require advisers to make filings with us through the IARD after the system begins to operate. In addition, we are proposing substantial amendments to our application, reporting, and disclosure requirements for investment advisers. Some of the amendments are designed to take advantage of electronic filing. Others reflect recent regulatory changes. And others are designed to improve the quality of information advisers must provide to their clients and prospective clients in their information statements (brochures).

I. Introduction

Since we implemented our EDGAR system in 1993, we have sought additional ways to take advantage of developments in information technology to provide investors with better access to market information. More and more types of filings are made with us electronically each year. As a result, investors have timely access to the latest reports and filings made by public issuers. Last year, we required broker-dealers to begin to register with us electronically. Today we are proposing a number of rules and rule amendments designed to bring electronic filing to investment advisers.

Approximately 8,000 investment advisers are registered with the Commission under the Advisers Act. We estimate that another 12,000 are registered with state securities authorities. These advisers currently make filings with us and the states on paper, much as they have since 1940, when the Advisers Act was enacted. Investment adviser filings do not appear on our EDGAR system and are not easily accessible or widely available from other sources. In 1996, Congress passed legislation giving us authority to modernize our registration system and requiring us to provide investors with easy access to information about advisers.

NASDR currently is building the IARD for us and the state securities authorities. The IARD will permit advisers to make filings with the Commission and the states through the Internet. The information advisers submit will be stored in a database, and investors will have access to it by visiting a web site. The IARD will not only improve public access to information about advisers, it will also ease regulatory burdens on advisers by permitting a single electronic filing to satisfy SEC and state filing requirements. It also will help us better monitor advisers and administer the federal securities laws. The IARD is described in Section II.A. of this Release.

Most of the filings made with the IARD will be on Form ADV, the Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration. Advisers use Form ADV to apply for registration with us and with the state securities authorities, and must keep it current by filing periodic amendments as long as they are registered. We are proposing to require that new advisers apply for registration electronically, and that advisers currently registered with us re-submit their Form ADV to us through the IARD. The proposed new filing rules are described in Section II.B. and the proposed transition rules are described in Section II.C. of this Release.

Form ADV currently has two parts. Part I asks for information about an adviser's business, the persons who own or control the adviser, and whether the adviser or certain of its personnel have been sanctioned for violating the securities or other laws. It provides us with information we need to decide whether to grant an application for registration or to revoke a registration, and to manage our regulatory and examination programs. Our proposed changes to Part I are discussed in Section II.D.1. of this Release.

Part II, or a written brochure containing the same information, must be delivered to clients before they engage the adviser and then offered to them each year. Part II provides clients with information about business practices, fees and conflicts of interest the adviser may have with its clients. We are proposing that all advisers provide clients with a narrative brochure containing disclosure about the advisory firm written in plain English, and update the brochure at least once a year to reflect changes. We also are proposing to require that the firm brochure be accompanied by a supplement containing important information about the advisory personnel with whom the client will be dealing. Proposed Part 2A sets forth the information about the advisory firm that an adviser must include in its brochure. Proposed Part 2B sets forth the information about advisory personnel that an adviser must include in brochure supplements. These proposed changes are described in Section II.D.2. of this Release.

II. Discussion

A. The Investment Adviser Registration Depository

The IARD is being built and will be operated by NASDR under contracts with the Commission and the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (NASAA). The IARD will be modeled on NASDR's Web Central Registration Depository (CRD), which is used by broker-dealers to make filings with us, state securities authorities, and NASDR. NASDR will perform certain administrative tasks related to the filing and public disclosure systems described below. It will not, however, act as a self-regulatory organization for advisers.

1. The Investment Adviser Filing System

The IARD will be an Internet-based system that advisers will access through computers in their offices, without the need for specialized hardware or software. An adviser will be able to use the system to apply for registration, amend its registration, and withdraw from registration. An SEC-registered adviser will also be able to electronically send “notice filings” to the states and pay state fees through the IARD.

The IARD will contain a number of features designed to make it easy for persons to complete Form ADV, even if they are unfamiliar with the form. To use the system, an adviser will visit a designated web site, which it will be able to enter through our web site. Persons visiting the web site to make a filing will indicate whether they wish to apply for registration, amend an existing registration, or withdraw from registration as an investment adviser. Persons wishing to register as an investment adviser will be presented with a blank Form ADV, which they would complete on-line. A partially completed form could be saved in draft form. A “help” function will be available to answer questions, and an on-line glossary will allow persons completing the form to review the definition of key terms used in the form.

The IARD will present an adviser completing Part 1 of Form ADV with only those items relevant to its application. An adviser indicating that it is registering with us, for example, will not see items that apply only to advisers registering with the states. The system also will prevent an adviser from submitting an incomplete form or from entering inconsistent information at different places on the form. These features should help prevent the most common errors we see in applications for registration under the Advisers Act and speed the registration process.

We also have designed the system to provide efficiencies for firms registered with us as both an investment adviser on Form ADV through the IARD and a broker-dealer on Form BD through the CRD. These advisers will be able to link their responses to common items to avoid entering the data twice.

Unlike the check-the-box and multiple-choice format of proposed Part 1, proposed Part 2 of Form ADV would require the adviser to prepare a narrative brochure containing disclosure about the advisory firm. NASDR will design the part of the system that will accept Part 2. Once this part of the system is built, an adviser will be able to prepare its brochure on its own computer using its word processing software and transmit the file to the IARD. We do not anticipate, however, that brochure supplements will be submitted to the IARD.

2. The Public Disclosure System

All current information submitted to the IARD by advisers will be available to members of the public through our web site without charge. Interested persons will be able to search the database to retrieve information about advisory firms and persons associated with them. Anyone with access to the Internet will be able to look up an adviser and review its Form ADV—including the disciplinary records of the adviser and persons associated with the adviser.

3. System Implementation

We expect that the IARD will begin to receive filings later this year. We anticipate that the entire system will be “rolled out” in four separate releases:

• First, SEC-registered advisers and applicants for SEC registration will begin using the system to file Part 1 with us and submit notice filings to state securities authorities. We expect that most (if not all) state securities authorities will accept “notice filings” from SEC-registered advisers through the IARD at that time, and that many state securities authorities also will begin to require advisers registered with them to use the system. We understand, however, that some state securities authorities lack statutory authority to require advisers registered with them to file through the IARD and will postpone full participation in the system until necessary legislation is enacted.

• Second, NASDR will release the public disclosure system, which should begin operating a few months after the first filings are made on the system.

• Third, NASDR will release the state investment adviser representative licensing system. We expect that it will begin operating a few months after the public disclosure system is released. It is likely that some states will not participate until their laws have been changed.
• Fourth, the IARD will begin to accept Part 2A of Form ADV.

4. Filing Fees

The Advisers Act permits the operator of the IARD to charge reasonable fees to cover system costs. We will pay NASDR to build the system; filing fees will be used to pay for its operation and maintenance. NASDR will charge fees for initial applications and annual updating amendments. These fees will be based on the amount of assets an adviser has under management and the number of states to which the adviser submits notice filings. We expect IARD annual filing fees to range from $200 for smaller advisers to $400 for the largest advisers. We must approve any fee or fee change, and we will do so only if the proposed fees are reasonable and necessary to support proper operation of the IARD. The IARD also will collect registration, licensing and notice fees on behalf of state securities authorities. All fee revenues will be segregated from NASDR's other assets and retained for the exclusive benefit of the IARD. The system will be audited annually by an independent public accountant, the results of which will be reported to us and NASAA. We will provide a copy of the report to interested persons.

Advisers using the system will be required to establish an account with NASDR and maintain funds in the account necessary to pay state fees as well as IARD filing fees. The IARD will automatically calculate the amount of the fees due based on information provided by the adviser on its Form ADV, debit the adviser's account, and remit amounts due to the appropriate state securities authorities. The IARD will not accept a filing if insufficient funds are on account to pay fees due.

The one-stop filing and fee collection functions of the IARD should substantially reduce regulatory burdens on advisers. Larger advisers, which typically will impose more costs on the system by submitting notice filings and paying fees in multiple states, will benefit the most. We believe, therefore, that it is appropriate that larger advisers pay higher fees to support the system.

B. Proposed Amendments to SEC Rules

To implement the IARD, we are proposing new rules and amendments to rules that govern the process by which advisers apply for registration with us, amend their registrations, and withdraw from registration. This section discusses the proposed rules and rule amendments.

1. Applications for Registration on Form ADV

We propose to amend our rules under the Advisers Act to require all advisers applying for registration with us to file Form ADV through the IARD. Each adviser currently registered with us would be required to re-submit its Form ADV to us using the IARD and the revised form. We will publish a schedule of dates by which each adviser registered with us must re-submit its Form ADV through the IARD. Paper filings would be accepted only if the adviser has obtained a continuing hardship exemption, as described below.

2. Amendments to Form ADV

After an adviser has submitted an application for registration on Form ADV or re-submitted its Form ADV through the IARD, the adviser will have to make all amendments through the system. Our rules would continue to require each adviser to update its Form ADV at least once a year, or more frequently depending upon the information in the form that becomes stale. To amend its Form ADV, an adviser would access its Form ADV through the IARD and simply type over the stale information. The adviser would then electronically “sign” the form and submit it to the IARD. The IARD would replace the stale information with the new information submitted and record the date of the change.

3. Withdrawal From Registration

Investment advisers generally withdraw from SEC registration as a result of ceasing operations or switching to state registration. In either case, an adviser would file Form ADV-W with the IARD. The IARD will pre-populate the Form ADV-W with information from the adviser's most recent Form ADV filing; the adviser would then complete Form ADV-W, electronically sign it, and submit it to the IARD. We propose to make investment adviser withdrawals effective upon filing, eliminating the current 60-day waiting period. Eliminating the 60-day waiting period for investment adviser withdrawals would smooth the transition process for advisers switching to state registration.

An adviser withdrawing from SEC registration and switching to state registration currently has a grace period to allow time for the adviser to register with the states. The preemptive provisions of the Advisers Act, however, preclude the states from regulating the adviser until it has withdrawn from SEC registration. We propose to adopt a rule amendment that would suspend preemption of a state's laws when the adviser registers with that state. Once registered with a state, an adviser would become subject to that state's adviser statute while also remaining subject to SEC regulation until it files Form ADV-W to withdraw from SEC registration. Once the adviser has filed Form ADV-W with us, the adviser generally would be subject only to state regulation.

4. Hardship Exemptions

In proposing to require advisers to file electronically, we are assuming that advisers have computers and access to the Internet, and will be able to submit filings through the IARD. We recognize, however, that there may be circumstances under which an adviser cannot make an electronic filing, and thus we are proposing two hardship exemptions that advisers could request by filing a short form with NASDR.

An adviser that files electronically could request a temporary hardship exemption if unexpected difficulties prevent it from filing, such as a computer malfunction or electrical outage. The exemption would be available upon filing and allow an adviser to delay the deadline for an electronic filing for seven business days. A continuing hardship exemption would be available only to an adviser that is a “small business” and can demonstrate that the electronic filing requirements would create an undue hardship (e.g., the adviser does not have a computer and is unable to afford a filing service). If we grant a continuing hardship exemption, the adviser would file on paper with NASDR, which would then convert the filing to electronic format and charge the adviser an additional fee to cover conversion costs. Since primarily larger advisers are registered with us, we expect that few would qualify for a continuing hardship exemption. We request comment on whether a continuing hardship exemption is necessary for SEC-registered advisers.

C. Proposed Transition to Electronic Filing

When we adopt these amendments, we will provide an effective date that will correspond to the commencement of operations of the IARD. After that date, all applicants for registration must file their Form ADV and any amendments electronically through the IARD. We expect to publish a schedule by which advisers registered with us on the effective date will re-submit their registration forms to us through the IARD. We are asking for volunteers to be among the first group of advisers to submit their registration to the IARD. We encourage advisers that have used the CRD to volunteer. The experiences of this first group will alert us to any problems with the system and allow NASDR to make adjustments. We request comment on our proposed transition process. How soon after the adoption of the new rules and revised form can advisers be ready to submit their Form ADVs through the IARD?

As discussed above, a later release of the IARD will ultimately accept Part 2A of Form ADV. We propose to require each adviser to file its brochure with us when it makes its first annual update after the IARD begins to accept Part 2A. During the interim period, advisers will not be required to submit their brochures to us (either in electronic or paper form), but will, instead, be required to keep them and make them available to our staff. At the request of NASAA, we have included a provision in our proposed rules that a brochure retained by the adviser would be considered “filed” with us. As a result, until advisers submit Part 2A to the IARD, the state securities authorities could require SEC-registered advisers to file a copy of Part 2A (on paper) with them.

D. Proposed Revisions to Form ADV

We are proposing substantial revisions to Form ADV. We have redrafted many items in simpler, more direct language, and have included brief explanations (in the form) of why we need the requested information. We believe that these changes will make it easier for persons to complete the form. The items continue to be drafted broadly to apply to the different types of advisory organizations registered with us and the state securities authorities. We request comment generally on the organization of the form and the clarity of the language we have used.

1. Part 1

Part 1 of Form ADV asks for information about the adviser and persons associated with the adviser. We need this information to decide whether to grant an application for registration or revoke a registration, and to manage our regulatory and examination programs. Some of the changes we are proposing in Part 1 are necessary to accommodate electronic filing. Many are in response to developments since Uniform Form ADV was adopted in 1985. The most significant regulatory development affecting investment advisers since 1985 occurred in 1996 when Congress passed NSMIA, dividing regulatory jurisdiction over investment advisers between the Commission and the states. As a result, advisers are no longer required to register with both. Larger advisory firms (generally, those with at least $25 million of assets under management) register only with us, but often must send notice filings to the states and pay state fees. Smaller advisers register with one or more states, not with us, and most of our regulatory requirements do not apply to them.

The changes made by NSMIA have allowed us to substantially reorganize Part 1, which we propose to divide into two parts. All advisers would complete Part 1A, while only state-registered advisers would complete Part 1B. This new organization would allow SEC-registered advisers (and persons applying for SEC registration) to avoid responding to items requiring information we do not need.

a. Part 1A

Part 1A would require an adviser to provide information describing itself and its business through a series of fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, and check-the-box questions. As proposed, Part 1A consists of 12 items that request information similar to that requested by current Form ADV. We are proposing a number of changes, the most significant of which are discussed below.

i. Identifying Information. We propose to revise the identifying information we require about the adviser to reflect new information we need. For example, we would ask for the CRD number of the adviser (if it has one), any web site addresses of the adviser, an e-mail address of a person we can contact about the form, and the fax number of the adviser. The identifying information would be included in Item 1 of Part 1A of the form, and multiple or additional narrative responses to certain sub-items would be included on Schedule D. Schedule I, which currently requires information relevant to whether the adviser should be registered with us or the state securities authorities, would be incorporated into the body of Form ADV in a new Item 2A.

ii. Educational and Business Background. We propose to delete the requirements that an adviser report the educational and business background of its personnel. Instead, advisers would be required to provide this information to clients in the adviser's brochure or brochure supplements.

iii. Disciplinary Disclosure. We propose several amendments to the item requiring disclosure of disciplinary information about the adviser and certain of its advisory personnel. Many of these amendments update the form, and reflect changes that we have made to Form BD over the years. These changes will also permit advisers that are registered as broker-dealers to electronically copy and link disciplinary disclosure made in response to Form BD on NASDR's CRD system without re-typing the data into the IARD. As proposed, each adviser—

• Would complete a Disciplinary Reporting Page (DRP) if it responds affirmatively to any of the disciplinary questions. We are proposing three DRPs, one each for criminal, civil, and regulatory actions. The DRPs would elicit details regarding each disciplinary event in a structured format and replace current Schedules D and E. The structured format, which we currently use in Form BD, is designed to yield better information than the free-text format of the current schedules.

• Would only report disciplinary events occurring in the past ten years. Currently, some questions limit reporting to events that occurred no more than ten years ago, but others have an unlimited reporting period. Our authority to deny or revoke an adviser's registration for the most serious events—those involving criminal convictions—is limited to ten years following conviction, a limitation recently reaffirmed by Congress. Although we have authority to deny or revoke registration based upon lesser (civil or administrative) sanctions occurring more than ten years ago, we typically do not use that authority. Over the years, however, we have received many complaints from advisers that are required to report minor disciplinary events occurring decades ago, but that have no other disciplinary events.

• Would not report an unsatisfied judgment or lien; bankruptcy; or bond denial, payout, or revocation. These disclosures generally are not relevant to our authority to grant or deny registration. An adviser also would not report a finding by a self-regulatory organization that the adviser violated a rule designated as “minor” under a plan approved by the Commission if the sanction imposed consists of a fine of $2,500 or less and the sanctioned person does not contest the fine.

• Would be required to report actions of foreign courts and regulatory authorities, and cease-and-desist orders issued by the Commission. Advisers also would be required to report felony criminal indictments and informations, and misdemeanor informations involving certain offenses, as well as report military court convictions, misdemeanor perjury convictions, and conspiracy to commit certain offenses.

• Could omit disciplinary information for advisory affiliates no longer associated with the adviser.

iv. Control Person Disclosure. We are proposing revisions to the requirements for identifying persons who own or control the investment adviser. These changes, which are reflected in proposed Schedules A, B, and C, conform to the corresponding schedules of Form BD. They should clarify and simplify the reporting of indirect interests in the adviser when, for example, the adviser is part of a large corporate structure. An adviser generally would no longer be required to report an indirect owner unless the indirect owner owned twenty-five percent of a direct owner. Similarly, the instructions to these schedules clarify the requirements for imputing beneficial ownership of an adviser for reporting purposes.

v. Small Businesses. We are proposing to add a new Item 12 that would request information we need to determine whether the adviser is a small business. We are required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act to consider the effects of our regulations on small businesses and need to know how many advisers registered with us are small businesses. Generally, only those SEC-registered advisers with assets under management of less than $25 million would be required to respond to this item.

b. Part 1B

Part 1B of Form ADV has been prepared by NASAA on behalf of the state securities authorities. It would require state-registered advisers to provide information about bonding, arbitration actions, other civil and regulatory actions, and whether sole proprietors have taken certain qualifying exams or attained various professional designations. Most of this information is currently required by the state securities authorities.

Only state-registered advisers will be required to complete Part 1B. Completion of this part of the form, therefore, is not an SEC requirement, and Part 1B is not included in this Release as a proposed SEC rule. We will accept any comments and forward them to NASAA for consideration by the state securities authorities.

2. Part 2

Currently, Part II of Form ADV contains the requirements for the disclosure statement that advisers must provide to prospective clients and offer to clients annually. The disclosure statement contains information about the adviser's fees, business practices, and conflicts of interest. Advisers are required to provide clients either a copy of Part II or a narrative brochure that contains at least the information required in Part II. Most advisers provide clients with Part II, which asks a series of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions supplemented in some cases by narrative schedules.

Our experience over the 15 years since Uniform Form ADV was adopted has convinced us that we need a better approach to client disclosure. First, the format of Part II does not lend itself to meaningful, clear disclosure. In some cases, an adviser's response to a question may be accurate but paint an inaccurate picture of its practices. For example, an adviser may truthfully respond to current Item 4.C. by indicating it uses all of the strategies listed by the item, but a client may not appreciate that the adviser's principal strategy involves, for example, risky options trading. In other cases, clients must draw inferences from an adviser having checked a box. For example, if an adviser is paid through commissions on securities that it advises clients to purchase or sell, a checked box in current Item 1.C. will disclose this practice, but not the conflict of interest the adviser has as a result. Advisers can use Part II's narrative schedules to expand on a check-the-box answer, but the schedules are physically separate from the checked box and are often written in legalese or technical jargon.

Second, because the information in Part II concerns the advisory firm, clients may not receive information they want and need about the firm's employees with whom they have contact and on whom they rely for investment advice. In the case of smaller firms, the current disclosure requirements, which focus on the senior executives of the advisory firm, may be adequate. But in a growing number of large advisory firms, clients may never meet the firm's senior executives, who may be located in a different city and may have only an indirect effect on the advice given to the client. We believe clients of these firms may be more interested in the background and qualifications of the individuals with whom they are dealing than in the background and qualifications of executive officers.

We propose to address these concerns (and others, described below) by extensively revising the format of advisers' disclosure requirements. Under the proposed rules, each adviser would be required to give clients a narrative brochure written in plain English. Items in Part 2 would specify the disclosure required in the brochure, but advisers would be generally free to structure the disclosure and order the topics in a manner that best conveys the required information. Our model is Schedule H to Form ADV, which currently requires wrap fee program sponsors to give clients a narrative brochure describing the wrap program. Our experience with the wrap fee brochure suggests that narrative firm brochures will provide advisers' clients with better, more understandable disclosure.

The new adviser brochures would be organized in two parts, a firm brochure and a brochure supplement for each individual who provides advisory services to clients on the adviser's behalf. As described in more detail below, advisers would be required to deliver a brochure to each client, and would be required to deliver an individual's supplement only to those clients to whom that individual will provide advisory services. Part 2A would contain the requirements for the firm brochure, and Part 2B for the brochure supplements.

a. Part 2A: The Firm Brochure

Each adviser registered with us would be required to deliver its brochure at the start of the advisory relationship, and to offer to deliver the brochure annually. Advisers would be required to use their new brochures and brochure supplements to meet these delivery requirements by the end of the first “roll out” phase of the IARD. To allow advisers to make a smooth transition, we are proposing a further 30-day transition period to allow advisers to provide the new brochures and supplements to existing advisory clients.

The proposed delivery requirements would be very similar to the current ones, with two differences of note. First, we propose to clarify that an adviser acting as the general partner for a limited partnership must provide a brochure to each limited partner. Second, we propose to require that updates to the brochure be delivered to clients whenever information in the brochure becomes materially inaccurate. Currently, our rules require initial delivery of the brochure, but require no further brochure delivery unless the client accepts the adviser's annual offer. The anti-fraud provisions of the Act require, however, an adviser to fully disclose information about all material conflicts, which require the adviser to correct previous disclosure about conflicts to clients.

We believe it is incumbent upon an adviser, as a fiduciary, to keep its clients apprised of material changes in its operations, its fees, key advisory personnel, and other information provided in the advisory brochure. Mutual fund shareholders are not required to rely on information in stale prospectuses; we see no reason why advisory clients should rely on stale brochures. Therefore, we are proposing to require that an adviser provide clients with written brochure updates whenever information in the brochure becomes materially incorrect, and include these updates with brochures delivered to prospective clients. These updates can take the form of either a reprinted brochure or a “sticker,” a piece of paper identifying the stale information and providing the current information. Advisers that deliver their brochure to clients electronically could also deliver stickers electronically.

As proposed, advisers could use stickers to update a firm brochure in the same way that sponsors of wrap fee programs currently use stickers to update their narrative wrap fee program brochures. Generally, an adviser could use a sticker for any amendment(s) so long as the brochure remains readable and clear. We would, however, require the adviser to revise (and reprint) its brochure each year as part of its annual updating amendment. Thus, the current brochure that the adviser offers clients annually would be a “clean” document that incorporates the text from all existing stickers. We request comment on this proposal. How many stickers would advisers expect to accumulate over one year? How many changes would those stickers effect, and how complex would they be? Would clients be confused if advisers were required to reprint their brochures only every two or three years, rather than every year?

The information required in a firm brochure would be specified by Part 2A of Form ADV. Part 2A would consist of 19 separate items, each of which elicits required disclosure on a distinct topic. We have drawn the items in Part 2A largely from current Part II, redrafting them as necessary to reflect the narrative format of the new brochure. Some Part 2A items are new, or have been revised to reflect new concerns or developments in the investment adviser industry. Much of the information required in the proposed narrative brochure concerns an adviser's conflicts of interest with its clients, and is disclosure the adviser already must make to clients, as a fiduciary, under the anti-fraud provisions of the Advisers Act. Thus, many of the proposed disclosure items will serve to give advisers guidance on fulfilling their statutory disclosure obligations to clients.

The items in proposed Part 2A will not, of course, cover every possible conflict. As a result, delivering a brochure (and supplements) prepared in accordance with Part 2 may not fully satisfy an adviser's disclosure obligations. We make this point clear in both the proposed Form and brochure rule. We request comment whether there are other common disclosures advisers make to clients that we should also include in the items of Part 2.

Item 1. Cover Page. The brochure cover page would be required to identify the advisory firm, its business address, and telephone number; the date of the brochure; and the name of a person who can be contacted for further information. The cover page would also include a statement that the brochure has not been approved by the Commission or any state securities authority. If the adviser holds itself out as being “registered,” the cover page must also explain that registration does not imply that the adviser possesses a certain level of skill or training. The cover page would also provide the address of a web site so that a client or prospective client can obtain additional information about the adviser through the IARD.

Item 2. Material Changes. The brochure would include a summary of material changes since its last annual update, to help clients identify new or revised information. The summary would appear on the cover page of the brochure or immediately thereafter, or could be included in a separate letter sent to clients accompanying the brochure.

Item 3. Table of Contents. The new brochures would include a table of contents detailed enough to permit clients to locate topics easily.

Item 4. Advisory Business. Advisers would be required to include background information about the advisory firm, including how long it has been in business and the names of its principal owners. The brochure would also describe the firm's advisory business—the types of advisory services offered, whether the adviser tailors services to clients' individual needs, and whether clients may impose individual investment restrictions.

We are not proposing to require all advisers to disclose the details of how they manage client assets. For many advisers, descriptions of how they formulate advice or manage client portfolios are likely to be either too generalized or too client-specific to be helpful. However, we propose to require an adviser that holds itself out as specializing in a particular service to explain its specialty in detail, and to require an adviser that provides advice about only limited types of securities to explain its services and their limitations. In addition, advisers that manage assets would disclose the amount they manage with investment discretion, and the amount without. Wrap fee portfolio managers would explain any differences in their portfolio management for wrap fee and non-wrap clients, as well as identifying the wrap programs they participate in and disclosing that they receive part of the wrap fee.

Item 5. Fees and Compensation. The brochure would describe how the adviser is paid for providing advisory services. The adviser would be required to disclose its fee schedule, disclose whether fees are negotiable, discuss whether the firm bills clients or deducts fees directly from the clients' accounts, and explain how often the firm assesses fees. Advisers charging fees in advance would also be required to explain how they calculate and refund prepaid fees when a client contract terminates.

Advisory clients may not appreciate that they will bear other costs in addition to advisory fees. Thus, in addition to information about advisory fees, we propose to require the brochure to describe the types and amounts (or ranges) of other costs, such as brokerage, custody fees, and fund expenses, that clients may pay in connection with advisory services.

In some cases, the type of compensation an adviser receives will involve a conflict of interest. An adviser that receives commissions or other payments for sales of securities to clients (transaction-based compensation) has a serious conflict of interest with its clients. This practice gives the adviser and its personnel an incentive to base investment recommendations on the amount of compensation they will receive rather than on the client's best interests. We propose to require advisers who receive transaction-based compensation (or whose personnel receive transaction-based compensation) to disclose this practice and the conflict of interest, and to describe the firm's control procedures for addressing the conflict. Item 5 would also require these advisers to disclose that clients may purchase the same securities or investment products from other brokers. Should proposed Item 5 also require an adviser to discuss its conflict of interest in charging performance or incentive fees, or should we continue to rely on anti-fraud provisions to require disclosure when this type of fee structure presents a material conflict?

Item 6. Types of Clients. The brochure would describe the types of advisory clients the firm generally has. The adviser would also disclose its requirements, such as minimum account size, for opening or maintaining an account.

Item 7. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss. Item 7 would require the brochure to describe the adviser's methods of analysis and investment strategies. As noted earlier, Item 4 of Part II currently asks for the adviser's methods of analysis, sources of information, and investment strategies through a series of check boxes. The current format necessarily covers a limited number of analytical methods and strategies. Moreover, clients may not appreciate the meaning of the methods listed, or may not understand the implications for how client accounts are actually managed using a particular method. We believe that an adviser's narrative description will provide clients with more useful information.

We are also proposing that the brochure discuss the risks clients face in following the adviser's advice or permitting the adviser to manage assets. Advisers that offer a wide variety of advisory services could simply explain that investing in securities involves a risk of loss; we would not require these advisers to list the risks involved in each type of security or trading strategy. Advisers that use primarily a particular method of analysis, strategy, or type of security would be required to explain the specific risks involved, with more detail if those risks are significant or unusual.

Item 8. Disciplinary Information. We propose to require an adviser's brochure to disclose information about the firm's disciplinary history. This disclosure would include descriptions of, among other events, any convictions for theft, fraud, bribery, perjury, forgery and violations of securities laws by the adviser or one of its executives. Disciplinary events such as these reflect on the integrity of the adviser and its management persons. Thus, disclosure of this information is material to clients.

Although we have long viewed the anti-fraud provisions of the Advisers Act as requiring advisers to disclose disciplinary information, we have not required this disclosure to be included in Part II of Form ADV or the client brochure. One of our anti-fraud rules, rule 206(4)-4, requires advisers to inform clients and prospective clients promptly about any “legal or disciplinary event that is material to an evaluation of the adviser's integrity or ability to meet contractual commitments to clients.” The rule provides a list of events that are presumed to be material if they occurred in the previous ten years. The adviser may (but is not required to) make this disclosure in its brochure, and may make it orally.

Information about an adviser's illegal or unethical conduct is very important to a client who is deciding whether to engage or continue to engage the adviser. When assessing whether an adviser will fulfill its obligations to clients, an investor would likely give great weight to whether the adviser has met its fiduciary and other legal obligations in the past. Because of the importance of this information to clients, we are proposing to require it be in writing and included in the brochure along with other material information about the adviser. A writing requirement will also permit us to better monitor compliance with this disclosure requirement. We request comment on this proposal, specifically whether disciplinary information should appear in a separate written document accompanying the brochure, rather than the brochure itself, in order to highlight its importance to advisory clients. We also request comment whether there are other approaches to achieve these same disclosure and compliance objectives.

We have modeled proposed Item 8 on rule 206(4)-4, which we propose to rescind. Item 8 would require an adviser's brochure to disclose all material facts about any legal or disciplinary event material to evaluating the adviser's business or the integrity of its management. An adviser must presume that certain disciplinary events described in Item 8 are material if the event involved the adviser or a management person and occurred in the previous ten years. The adviser may overcome (rebut) this presumption, in which case no disclosure is required. A note in Item 8 would explain four factors the adviser should consider when assessing whether the presumption can be rebutted. We propose to require advisers registered with us to keep a file memorandum if the adviser does not disclose an event described in Item 8. The memorandum will memorialize the adviser's determination, avoid later disagreements as to the basis for the determination, and better permit our staff to monitor compliance with this important disclosure requirement.

We are proposing several revisions to the provisions in the list of disciplinary events that would move from rule 206(4)-4 into new Item 8. First, we would update some of the provisions to reflect changes in the law. Second, we would make certain clarifying revisions to the listed events. Finally, we would require an adviser subject to one of our administrative orders to provide clients and prospective clients with a copy of that order for a period of one year following the date of the order.

Rule 206(4)-4 requires an adviser to disclose a civil action in which the adviser is found to have violated an investment-related statute. Today, however, many disputes between securities firms and their customers are resolved through arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution, rather than civil lawsuits. As a result, there may now be more violations of investment-related statutes that are not presumed to be material under rule 206(4)-4 and therefore are not typically disclosed to clients. In Item 20 of Part 2A, state securities authorities have included a requirement that state-registered advisers disclose certain arbitration liability if the claim was in excess of $2,500. Should we include a similar requirement in Item 8? If so, should our requirement be limited to arbitration awards for $2,500 rather than claims for $2,500? Should the amount be higher? Since some arbitrators may not issue reports of their findings, how should we draft Item 8 to distinguish arbitrations involving matters that do not reflect upon the integrity of the adviser (such as some contract disputes), from those that do? Should we limit the requirement to arbitrations in which the arbitrator finds a violation of an investment-related statute? If we do, will advisers and their affiliates decline to agree to use arbitrators who make findings?

Item 9. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations. We propose to require advisers to disclose information about their other financial industry activities and affiliations. These other activities and affiliations may create conflicts of interest between the advisory firm and its clients, and may impair the objectivity of the investment advice given.

Proposed Item 9 would require an adviser to disclose whether it (or any of its management persons) is registered or has applied to register as a broker or commodities professional. The brochure would also describe material arrangements the adviser (or any of its management persons) has with related financial industry participants. Advisers must currently provide similar disclosure under Item 8 of Part II. The brochure would also describe any material conflict of interest with advisory clients that the relationship or arrangement creates with clients, and the restrictions or other control procedures the adviser uses to address the conflict. In addition, if the adviser selects or recommends other advisers for clients, proposed Item 9 would require disclosure of any compensation arrangements and other business relationships between the two advisory firms, as well as of the conflicts created.

Item 10. Participation or Interest in Client Transactions; Personal Trading. Item 10 would require the brochure to discuss the conflicts of interest the adviser faces when the advisory firm or a “related person” has a financial interest in, or trades in, securities they recommend to clients. Advisers would be required to disclose any practices giving rise to these conflicts, the nature of the conflicts presented, and any procedures and controls the adviser uses to address the conflicts.

Proposed Item 10 is designed to shed sunlight on two types of practices that can harm advisory clients. The first is when an advisory firm (or a related person) has a material financial interest in an issuer of securities it recommends to clients. For example, the adviser may recommend that clients invest in an investment company that the firm advises, or a partnership for which the firm is the general partner. Similarly, the adviser may recommend that a client buy securities in a public offering underwritten by the adviser's affiliate. Or, an adviser with a material financial interest in a company may recommend that a client buy shares in that company's public offering, when the success of the offering could increase the value of the adviser's investment. An adviser engaging in these practices has an incentive to base its advice on its own financial interests rather than the interests of clients, and the proposed item is designed to help a client understand the conflict. Item 10.A. would require full disclosure of these conflicts and provide guidance on the types of conflicts covered. We request comment whether additional guidance would be useful to advisers.

The second practice involves personal trading abuses. Because of the information they have, advisers and their personnel can “front run” client trades or otherwise abuse their positions. For example, an adviser may be able to sell (or sell short) its own position in a security in advance of large client sell orders that could be expected to drive down the price of that security. Similarly, an adviser may acquire a position in a stock, advise clients to buy the same stock, and profit by the resulting increase in price. These practices not only may affect the adviser's recommendations, but also can harm clients by affecting adversely the prices at which clients buy or sell securities.

Under proposed Item 10.B., an adviser would disclose whether it or a related person (e.g., advisory personnel) invest—or are permitted to invest—in the same securities as their clients, or in related securities such as options or other derivatives. Firms engaging in or permitting this practice would discuss the conflicts presented, and describe the firm's restrictions and/or internal procedures to address the conflicts. Item 10.C. would require a similar discussion, but focus on the specific conflicts an adviser has when it (or a related person) trades in the same securities at or about the same time as a client. In response to this item, an adviser might explain how its internal controls prevent the firm and its staff from buying or selling securities in advance of client transactions.

Item 11. Brokerage Practices. Item 11 would require the brochure to describe the adviser's policies and practices in selecting brokers for client transactions, and in determining the reasonableness of brokers' compensation. As we explain in more detail below, the item would require the adviser to disclose its policies and practices with respect to “soft dollars,” i.e., the receipt of benefits such as research for the allocation of client brokerage.

Soft Dollar Practices. Advisers often receive “soft dollar” benefits from using particular brokers for client trades. Client brokerage, however, is an asset of the client—not of the adviser. When, in connection with client brokerage, an adviser receives products or services that it would otherwise have to produce itself (or pay for), the adviser's interest may conflict with those of its clients. For example, soft dollar arrangements may cause an adviser to violate its best execution obligation by directing client transactions to brokers who are not able to adequately execute the transactions, or may give the adviser incentive to trade client securities more often than it would absent the benefits the adviser receives. Because of these conflicts, we have required advisers to disclose their policies and practices on use of client brokerage to obtain soft dollar benefits.

During 1997-98, our staff conducted a wide-ranging examination of advisers' soft dollar practices and disclosure. Our Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations found widespread use of soft dollars by investment advisers that manage client portfolios. The Office concluded that advisers' disclosure often failed to provide sufficient information for clients or potential clients to understand the adviser's soft dollar practices and the conflicts those practices present. In its report, the Office noted that most advisers' descriptions were simply boilerplate, and urged that we consider amending Form ADV to require better disclosure. Today we are acting on those recommendations.

Item 11 would require an adviser that receives research or other products or services in connection with client securities transactions (soft dollar benefits) to disclose the adviser's practices and discuss the conflicts of interest that result. The brochure's description of soft dollar practices must be specific enough for clients to understand the types of products or services the adviser is acquiring and permit them to evaluate conflicts. Disclosure must be more detailed for products or services not used in the adviser's investment decision-making process.

Item 11 would describe the types of conflicts the adviser must disclose when it accepts soft dollar benefits, and require the adviser to disclose its procedures for directing client transactions to brokers in return for soft dollar benefits. The item would require the adviser to explain whether it uses soft dollars to benefit all clients or just those accounts whose brokerage “pays” for the benefits, and whether the adviser seeks to allocate the benefits to client accounts proportionately to the brokerage credits those accounts generate. The item would also require the adviser to explain whether it “pays up” for soft dollar benefits.

Client Referrals. The brochure would also be required to discuss the adviser's practice in using client brokerage to reward brokers that refer clients. This practice also presents advisers with serious conflicts of interest since they may have a bias towards referring brokers. The brochure would have to disclose this practice, the conflict it creates, and any procedures the adviser used to direct client brokerage to referring brokers during the last fiscal year, i.e., the system of controls used by the adviser when allocating brokerage.

Transaction Costs. Clients engaging an adviser can benefit when the adviser negotiates lower commissions or “bunches” trades to obtain volume discounts on execution costs. Item 11 would require the adviser to describe these practices. If the adviser does not bunch trades when it has the opportunity, the brochure would be required to explain that clients may pay higher brokerage costs. Similarly, if the adviser does not negotiate commissions, or limits the extent to which it negotiates them, the brochure would be required to explain that clients may pay higher brokerage costs as a result.

Directed Brokerage. Clients sometimes instruct their adviser to send transactions through a specific broker. Clients may initiate this type of arrangement for a variety of reasons: the client may wish to favor a family member or friend, or the client may be using its own brokerage to pay for services the broker provides to the client. But the arrangement may also be initiated by the adviser, who may benefit, for example, when brokerage is directed to its affiliated broker-dealer. In either case, clients directing (or agreeing to direct) brokerage need to understand the consequences of directing brokerage, including the possibility that their accounts will pay higher commissions and receive less favorable execution.

If an adviser permits clients to direct brokerage, we would require the brochure to explain that the adviser may be unable to get best execution, and that directing brokerage may cost clients more money. If, however, the adviser routinely requests or requires clients to direct brokerage, the brochure would also be required to describe the adviser's policy or practice, to disclose that not all advisers require directed brokerage, and to discuss any broker-dealer relationship that creates a material conflict of interest.

Commission Recapture. An adviser that sends brokerage to a firm providing commission recapture would describe how recapture works, explain the benefits of recapture, and explain how a client could participate in recapture. We request comment on this disclosure requirement: which types of clients can generally participate in commission recapture programs, and how do clients currently learn that such programs are available?

Item 12. Review of Accounts. The brochure would disclose whether, and how often, the adviser reviews clients' accounts or financial plans, and would identify who conducts the review. Advisers that review accounts, but not regularly, would explain what circumstances would trigger an account review.

Item 13. Payment for Client Referrals. The brochure would describe any payment, whether in cash or otherwise, that the adviser or a related person makes for client referrals. The brochure would also disclose whether the adviser receives any benefit, including sales awards or prizes, from a non-client for providing advisory services to clients.

Item 14. Custody. Advisers that accept custody of client funds or securities would say so in their brochure and would describe any special reports they give to those clients. Advisers that require custody of client assets would also explain that most advisers do not impose this requirement. The brochure would also disclose that clients face greater risk than if an independent custodian held their assets.

Item 15. Investment Discretion. Advisers with discretionary authority over client accounts would be required to disclose that fact in their brochure, and any limitations clients may (or customarily do) place on this authority.

Item 16. Proxy Voting Policies. Item 16 would require advisers to disclose their proxy voting practices. This would be a new disclosure requirement, which we propose to add so that clients will be fully informed about who is responsible for voting their proxies and how their interests in proxy voting decisions are protected.

We propose to require advisers to state whether they vote proxies for clients. Advisers that vote client proxies would disclose their voting policies, practices, and procedures. These advisers would also explain whether a client can direct the vote in a proxy solicitation, and whether clients can find out how the adviser voted their securities on a given issue. Advisers that do not vote client proxies would explain how clients will receive proxies (for example, directly from a transfer agent or custodian or through the adviser), and whether the client can discuss particular proxy solicitations with the adviser.

Item 17. Investment Performance. Advisers that advertise or report their investment performance would be required to describe any standards they use to calculate (or present) performance. “Standards” may include industry standards, but would also include any proprietary standards used solely by the adviser. The brochure would also discuss whether a third party reviews the adviser's performance information for accuracy or for compliance with presentation standards.

Item 18. Financial Information. We are proposing to require the brochure to include certain financial information about the adviser when material to clients. An adviser that has custody of client assets or requires prepayment of fees exposes clients to the risk that the firm may become insolvent and unable to return the assets or refund unearned fees. We propose to continue requiring advisers to give clients an audited balance sheet showing the adviser's assets and liabilities at the end of its most recent fiscal year. We propose to exclude from the balance sheet requirement advisers that have custody, but are banks, insurance companies, or broker-dealers registered with us. These firms have capital and regulatory requirements that provide protections against these types of losses.

We are also proposing to require advisers with discretionary authority over client assets to disclose, in their brochures, any financial condition reasonably likely to impair the adviser's ability to meet contractual commitments to clients. These clients are exposed to the risk that their assets may not be properly managed for a period of time if the adviser becomes insolvent and ceases to do business. This disclosure is currently required by rule 206(4)-4, which, as discussed above, we propose to rescind.

Finally, we would require an adviser that has been the subject of a bankruptcy petition during the past ten years to disclose that fact to clients. Clients would likely find this information material to their decision whether to hire the adviser. We request comment on other disclosures concerning bankruptcies. Should Item 18 require disclosure if the subject of a bankruptcy petition was a predecessor adviser? A management person? Another firm under common control with the adviser?

Item 19. Index. The brochure filed with us would be required to include an index of the items required by Part 2A. This index is intended to facilitate review by our staff for compliance with the requirements of Part 2A; the adviser would not need to provide it to clients.

Part 2A Appendix 1: The Wrap Fee Program Brochure. Advisers that sponsor wrap fee programs would be required to prepare a separate, specialized firm brochure referred to as a “wrap fee program brochure” or “wrap brochure,” and would be required to give the wrap brochure to clients of the wrap fee program, in lieu of the sponsor's standard advisory firm brochure. The ten items in Part 2A Appendix 1 contain the proposed requirements for a wrap fee program brochure, which are substantially similar to those currently in Schedule H, with changes to incorporate many of the proposed revised requirements for other firm brochures.

b. Part 2B: The Brochure Supplement

As discussed above, we are proposing that adviser brochures be accompanied by brochure supplements providing information about the adviser's advisory personnel. We believe that clients want and need information about the individuals on whom they will rely for investment advice.

The current brochure requirements of Form ADV consist of a series of compromises on disclosure about advisory personnel that we believe can be improved on. We currently require brochures to include background information only on firm executives and members of the firm's “investment committee,” which does not include most advisory personnel of the growing number of larger advisory firms registered with us. It is unclear to us whether the information provided about executives and investment committee members is useful to most clients of these firms. Moreover, brochures contain no information about the disciplinary backgrounds of advisory personnel—information that may be of key importance to a client who may be entrusting his investments to the care of the individual. When we considered Uniform Form ADV in 1985, we recognized these shortcomings of the brochure, and proposed expanding the required background information on advisory personnel. We decided not to do so after commenters objected that many advisers' brochures would become lengthy and less readable.

Today we are proposing a different approach to resolving the same concerns that led to the 1985 proposals. We propose to require advisers to prepare separate supplements for advisory personnel—called “supervised persons.” Each supplement would contain background information about an individual or group. Advisers would be required to give a client a supplement only for a supervised person who will provide advisory services to that client. Thus, a client would receive information about supervised persons who are specifically relevant to that client. The supplements should only be a page or so in length, and each supervised person could provide clients with his own supplement along with the firm's brochure as he would a resume. Supplements would not have to be filed with us, but would be kept by advisers for review by our examiners. We are not proposing to require that advisers file supplements with us, in part because of the additional cost of building the IARD to accept supplements. The additional cost would have to be reflected in higher filing fees. The most important information in the supplements—the supervised person's disciplinary history—would be reported on the DRP Schedules in Part 1 of Form ADV and available through the IARD. Moreover, prospective clients could obtain supplements from advisers. On balance, we concluded that the additional costs of requiring advisers to file supplements with us exceeded the benefits. We request comment on this conclusion.

Under our proposed amendments to rule 204-3, an adviser must deliver a supplement for a supervised person to a client before or at the same time the supervised person begins to provide advisory services for the client. The proposed rule would require delivery to a client only if it is expected that the supervised person will either (i) regularly communicate investment advice to that client, or (ii) formulate investment advice for that client, including exercising investment discretion over that client's assets. Advisers would not have to deliver a supplement for a supervised person who has no client contact and formulates advice only as part of a team. This provision is designed to require information about persons who have substantial responsibility for the investment advice clients receive. The requirements for updating a brochure supplement and delivering the corrected information to clients would be essentially the same as for the firm's brochure. We request comment on the scope of the delivery requirement. Are there better ways to provide clients with information about a firm's advisory personnel?

The contents of brochure supplements would be specified by Part 2B, which would consist of seven items. Where Part 2A would require disclosure about the advisory firm, Part 2B would require disclosure about certain supervised persons of the advisory firm. We request comment on the scope of proposed Part 2B. Will clients find this to be useful information? Is there other information about supervised persons that clients need and that we should require in brochure supplements?

Item 1. Cover Page. The supplement's cover page would include information identifying the supervised person and the advisory firm.

Item 2. Educational Background and Business Experience. The supplement would be required to describe the supervised person's formal education and business background for the past five years. Professional designations have also become important to a client's understanding of the supervised person's qualifications in the investment adviser industry. We are therefore proposing that the supplement identify the supervised person's professional designations or attainments.

Item 3. Disciplinary Information. The supplement would be required to disclose the disciplinary history of the supervised person. We are proposing substantially the same disclosure requirements for the supervised person's disciplinary history as we are proposing for the firm's disciplinary history. Item 3 would also require, again because of the importance of professional designations, that the supplement disclose any proceeding revoking or suspending a professional attainment, designation, or license of the supervised person.

In the case of a supplement for a single individual, a client receiving an updated supplement should be able to identify any new disciplinary disclosure easily. We request comment, however, on whether this information might be obscured in supplements prepared for groups of supervised persons. Should a supplement for a group be required to highlight any changes to disciplinary disclosure, or otherwise alert clients to the change? If so, should the alert appear on the cover page of the supplement, or should it accompany the disciplinary disclosure itself?

Item 4. Other Business Activities. We would require the supplement to describe any other business activities of the supervised person, particularly other capacities in which the supervised person participates in the financial markets. A relationship between the business of the advisory firm and other business of the supervised person may create a material conflict of interest with the adviser's clients. If this occurs, the supplement would be required to describe the nature of the conflict and any procedures the adviser uses to address the conflict.

The supplement would also disclose whether the supervised person receives transaction-based compensation, including bonuses and non-cash compensation. As discussed earlier, this practice creates an incentive for the individual to base investment recommendations on his own compensation rather than on clients' best interests. If the supervised person receives transaction-based compensation, we would require the supplement to explain this incentive.

Item 5. Additional Compensation. A supplement would be required to describe arrangements in which someone other than a client gives the supervised person an economic benefit (such as a sales award or other prize) for providing advisory services.

Item 6. Investment Advice and Supervision. Not all supervised persons formulate the investment advice they give to their clients, so we propose to require the supplement to discuss who formulates that advice. If the supervised person does formulate advice for clients, the supplement would also explain how the firm monitors the advice provided.

We would also require the supplement to provide the client with the name, title and telephone number of the person responsible for supervising the advisory activities of the supervised person. This information would permit the client to contact other advisory personnel when necessary to address any problems in the advisory relationship.

Item 7. Financial Information. The supplement would be required to disclose whether the supervised person was the subject of a bankruptcy petition during the past ten years.

3. Execution Pages

Form ADV would be electronically “signed” by an authorized person of the adviser before the form could be submitted to the IARD. The authorized person would sign the form by typing his or her name and submitting the filing on behalf of the adviser. Under the proposed amendments, an authorized person would sign one of three different execution pages, depending on whether the adviser is resident in the United States or another country and whether it is registered or registering with the Commission or the states. As under current Form ADV, by signing the form, the authorized person would affirm that the information in the form is true and complete, and would appoint certain officials as agents for service of process in states where the adviser conducts business. These appointments allow state securities authorities, private parties, and us to bring actions against the adviser by delivering necessary papers to any or all of the appointed agents.

Non-resident advisers, in addition to executing Form ADV, currently must submit a separate form appointing the Commission as their agent for service of process. Non-resident advisers also submit a separate undertaking to provide required books and records to our staff. We propose to incorporate both of these requirements into a Form ADV execution page that would be used by non-resident advisers, and thereby eliminate the additional filings non-resident advisers currently make. In addition, non-resident general partners or managing agents of all SEC-registered advisers must appoint the Commission as their agent for service of process on Form 7-R. We propose to revise Form 7-R and rename it Form ADV-NR. The form would be filed with us in paper format.

A separate execution page for state-registered advisers has been prepared by NASAA. It is similar to the one for SEC-registered advisers, but includes affirmations that would be required for state registration.

E. Proposed Revisions to Form ADV-W

Form ADV-W was designed for an adviser to use to withdraw its registration after ceasing operations. Today, SEC-registered advisers also use the form to switch to state registration, and state-registered advisers use it to withdraw their registration with one or more states while remaining registered with others. We propose to amend Form ADV-W to reflect this expanded use. As proposed, an adviser could file Form ADV-W to withdraw from some (partial withdrawal) or all (full withdrawal) jurisdictions in which it is registered. An adviser ceasing operations would complete the entire form to file for full withdrawal. An adviser filing for partial withdrawal would omit certain items, such as the location of its books and records, that we do not need from an adviser continuing in business as a state-registered adviser. We request comment on these proposed revisions.

F. General Request for Comment

Any interested persons wishing to submit written comments on the proposed rule and forms, and the proposed rule and form amendments that are the subject of this Release, or to suggest additional changes or submit comments on other matters that might have an effect on the proposals described above, are requested to do so. Commenters suggesting alternative approaches are encouraged to submit proposed rule text.

For purposes of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, we also are requesting information regarding the potential impact of the proposed rule on the economy on an annual basis. Commenters should provide empirical data to support their views.

III. Cost/Benefit Analysis

The Commission is sensitive to the costs and benefits of its rules and has, in preparing this proposal, carefully balanced the two. As described in more detail below, electronic filing will impose some costs on advisers, particularly the filing fees that advisers will pay to the operator of the system. We believe that electronic filing will yield substantially greater benefits to advisers and investors. The new, improved disclosure requirements will also impose additional costs. These costs are chiefly transitional costs, as advisers prepare new brochures and brochure supplements for the first time. We believe that, over time, these costs will be more than justified by the ongoing benefits to clients who receive better, more useful disclosure.

A. Electronic Filing Requirements

The rules we are proposing will require advisers to make filings with us through the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD). Although advisers will pay fees to submit certain filings through the system, the IARD will also provide substantial benefits to advisers, including eliminating many of the costs advisers currently incur in filing their Form ADV. Today, advisers must prepare registration materials on paper, copy them, and submit the paper copies to both the SEC and states. Many of these copies must be manually signed and notarized. Correcting a mistake requires the adviser to repeat this entire process. The IARD, in contrast, would permit an adviser to satisfy all of these filing obligations by submitting a single electronic filing prepared using a personal computer in its office. Electronic signatures could be used, and mistakes could be corrected by simply typing over incorrect information and re-sending the electronic submission. Today, advisers must determine the amount of filing fees due each state, prepare checks and mail them so that they are delivered in a timely manner. Errors can result in penalties or cause disruptions in business. The IARD, in contrast, would eliminate these costs by automatically determining the amount of filing fees owed and debiting the adviser's account when those fees are due. These benefits should more than justify the filing fees and other expenses for the typical adviser registered with the Commission.

In drafting the new form, we have sought additional ways to reduce costs. An adviser may save a partially completed form as a “draft” that the adviser can access and complete at a later time. Our proposed on-line glossary would allow an advisers' personnel to refer to explanations of key terms while completing Form ADV, and we would also provide an on-line “help” function, to answer frequently-asked questions and provide guidance on completing the form. When an adviser prepares an amendment to its Form ADV, the IARD will pre-populate most of the items from the adviser's previous filings, reducing the adviser's time (and therefore expense) in completing the amendment. Further, we have designed the IARD so that advisers that also are registered as broker-dealers will complete Schedules to their Form ADV by “linking” to parallel responses in their Form BD already on file. Thus, these firms will recognize additional cost savings by avoiding entering certain data twice.

We have taken into consideration that not all advisers may have access to the Internet. A continuing hardship exemption would be available to certain “small advisers” that are unable to file through the IARD without undue burden and expense (if, for example, the adviser does not have Internet access and is unable to afford a filing service). The continuing hardship exemption is intended to minimize any burden imposed by the electronic filing requirements.

The IARD also has the potential to speed the registration process for investment adviser representatives of SEC-registered advisers. Registration of investment adviser representatives on the IARD will be a matter for state securities authorities; we do not register or license investment adviser representatives. Our experience with the CRD system, however, provides an analogy. Our understanding of how broker-dealer agent filings on the CRD system are processed suggests that electronic filings on the IARD for investment adviser representatives are likely to be more efficient and cost effective than the current system of paper filings.

Electronic filing also will produce substantial benefits for investors. First, and most important, the information on these filings will be available for investors to view, without cost, on a web site. Investors will be able to determine, for example, whether a prospective adviser has reported disciplinary events, what types of fees it charges, and whether the types of advisory services it offers are designed to meet their needs. As a result, investors—potential clients—will be in a better position to make informed decisions.

The added “sunlight” the web disclosure will shine on advisers may have additional, secondary benefits. Information from advisers' filings will be available through a web site, and easy availability of information about advisers and advisory affiliates may, for example, discourage advisers from engaging in certain practices or hiring certain persons (such as those with disciplinary history or limited qualifications). Investors' access to information may also facilitate greater competition among advisers, which may in turn lower prices or encourage the development of different fee structures or different kinds of services that may benefit clients. These types of benefits are difficult to isolate or to quantify, but our experience is that they are real and are often the result of better disclosure.

Electronic filing will also give us better access to information about advisers to administer our regulatory programs. We expect this information will permit us to increase both the efficiency and effectiveness of our programs and thus increase investor protection. The IARD will permit us to better monitor advisers' failure to make required filings, identify advisers whose activities suggest a need for closer scrutiny, and manage our regulatory programs. The IARD will generate reports on the industry, its characteristics and trends. These reports will help us anticipate regulatory problems, allocate and reallocate our resources, and more fully evaluate and anticipate the implications of various regulatory actions we may consider taking.

B. Proposed Form ADV

We have divided proposed Form ADV into two parts, Part 1 and Part 2. For purposes of assessing costs and benefits, each part is discussed separately below.

1. Part 1

SEC-registered advisers would experience few additional costs in completing revised Part 1. We have re-drafted Part 1A in plain English, improved its organization, and added instructions to clarify some items. Proposed Part 1A would require no additional information that should not be readily available to an adviser. The revised Schedules would make it much simpler, in comparison to current Schedules A, B, and C, to provide information about control persons. While smaller advisers may find these benefits limited, larger advisers (particularly advisers that are part of a larger, more intricate corporate structure) should see cost savings from the proposed changes to the Schedules. The proposed new Disciplinary Reporting Pages (DRPs) would require substantially more detailed information about disciplinary events than is specified in the current form, but the new DRPs should serve mainly to clarify existing disclosure obligations, which are worded more generally. Moreover, we would only require an adviser to report disciplinary events occurring in the past ten years, and would remove information about the educational and business background of employees. We expect that these changes will justify any additional costs associated with amendments to Part 1A.

2. Part 2

An analysis of the costs and benefits of Part 2 is more complex. Most advisers would be required to replace their current Part II with a narrative brochure in plain English, and to re-file this new brochure with us. In addition, the disclosure in the new brochure may be more complete, and in some cases more detailed, than Form ADV currently requires. Thus, drafting the new narrative brochure will likely entail additional expenses.

Most of the cost associated with preparing a brochure would be incurred in the initial preparation, specifically in drafting the narrative brochure. Advisers are already required to provide us and/or their clients with much of the information required in the new brochure, so we do not expect advisers to have substantial expenses in gathering this information. In addition, since most of the costs of redrafting the new brochure will be incurred in the first year, we do not expect proposed Part 2A to result in any significant cost increase over time. The cost of preparing a narrative firm brochure is likely to vary substantially among advisers, in part because proposed Part 2A would give an adviser considerable flexibility in structuring its disclosure. Drafting a brochure to describe the adviser's business practices and disclose conflicts of interest need not be a long or an expensive process. Some advisory firms, however, may elect to use their brochure to market their services, as well as to make required disclosure. These firms will likely face significantly higher expenses, particularly if they bring in legal, design and marketing professionals. Other firms may choose to prepare multiple brochures, which would also require higher drafting costs.

Under the proposed rules, the brochure would have to be reprinted annually to incorporate all interim amendments. The cost of printing a narrative brochure, however, should not be substantially different from the current cost of printing Part II; the narrative brochure is not required to be professionally printed. Further, we have sought to make interim amendments inexpensive by permitting advisers to use “stickers” to correct a brochure. We also do not anticipate that the costs of distributing the proposed brochures (and stickers) would be significantly higher than the costs of distributing Part II or a brochure under existing delivery requirements. These costs currently vary among advisers, depending on how the adviser delivers the brochure and the number of advisory clients who receive it. Because of this large number of variables—initial drafting costs, number and extent of corrections, mode of distribution, number of clients, and others—quantifying the overall costs to advisers of the proposed narrative brochure is not practicable.

Advisers also would incur some costs to prepare brochure supplements for supervised persons, but the supplements would provide important disclosure to advisory clients about relevant advisory personnel. Many supervised persons are already subject to state regulation as investment adviser representatives, and much of the information needed for the brochure supplement can be obtained from the adviser's current Form ADV and the representative's registration application. The costs of preparing brochure supplements would also vary widely from one adviser to the next, depending on the number of supervised persons of the adviser, the extent of a supervised person's professional and educational background, and the amount of disciplinary information required to be disclosed. The aggregate cost to the investment adviser industry in preparing the proposed brochure supplements therefore is not readily quantifiable. The proposed amendments would, however, include several options to minimize advisers' costs in preparing and distributing the brochure supplements.

C. Form ADV-W

Advisers would incur less cost in completing proposed Form ADV-W than in completing the current form. Under proposed amended Form ADV-W, the adviser would complete only those items needed to process the withdrawal. Form ADV-W would also become effective immediately, rather than after a sixty-day “waiting period,” thereby smoothing the transition period for advisers switching to state registration.

D. Request for Comment

We request comment on the effects of the proposed rule and form amendments on individual investment advisers and on the advisory profession as a whole, and request data to quantify the costs and value of the benefits associated with these proposed amendments. Specifically, we request comment on the cost savings for advisers (and their representatives) filing through the IARD. We also request data on advisers' current costs of complying with state notice filing and investment adviser representative registration requirements. We also request comment on the costs of completing and re-filing Part 1A of proposed Form ADV, and of preparing and delivering the firm brochure, wrap brochure, and brochure supplement(s). Commenters should provide analysis and empirical data to support their views on the costs and benefits associated with this proposal.

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

The proposed rule and form amendments contain several “collection of information” requirements within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and the Commission has submitted the amendments to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for review in accordance with 44 U.S.C. 3507(d) and 5 CFR 1320.11. The title for the collections of information are “Form ADV,” “Schedule I to Form ADV,” “Rule 206(4)-4,” “Form ADV-W and Rule 203-2,” “Rule 0-2 and Forms 4-R through 7-R,” “Rule 204-2,” and “Rule 204-3,” all under the Advisers Act. We are proposing to amend Form ADV, Schedule I to Form ADV, Rule 206(4)-4, Form ADV-W and Rule 203-2, Rule 0-2 and Forms 4-R through 7-R, Rule 204-2, and Rule 204-3. These rules and forms contain currently approved collection of information numbers under OMB control numbers 3235-0049, 3235-0490, 3235-0345, 3235-0313, 3235-0240, 3235-0278, and 3235-0047, respectively. We also are proposing new rule 203-3 and new Form ADV-H, which both would contain a collection of information requirements. An agency may not sponsor, conduct, or require response to an information collection unless a currently valid OMB number is displayed.

Form ADV

Form ADV contains collection of information requirements. Rule 203-1 requires every person applying for investment adviser registration with the Commission to file Form ADV. Rule 204-1 requires each registered adviser to file amendments to Form ADV at least annually, and also would require advisers to begin submitting electronic filings through the IARD. This collection of information is found at 17 CFR 275.203-1, 275.204-1, and 279.1 and is mandatory. Responses are not kept confidential. The likely respondents to this information collection would be all advisers registered with us or applying for registration after advisers begin making filings through the IARD.

An increase in the number of respondents to the collection of information for Form ADV will increase the currently approved burden of the collection of information. The current burden for new registrants is approximately 6,848 hours, and assumes approximately 760 new applicants per year and a weighted average of 9.01 hours per adviser. The current burden also applies to current registrants amending their Form ADV, is approximately 1.07 hours per amendment, and is based on approximately 7,300 advisers registered with us and filing 11,810 amendments annually. The current total burden for all advisers filing Form ADV is 19,448 hours.

Based, however, on the Commission's recent experience in processing investment adviser registration applications, the Commission now estimates that approximately 1,000 advisers each year are new applicants for SEC registration, increasing the total burden by 2,162 hours. Also, approximately 8,100 advisers are registered with us, increasing the current burden of filing amendments to Form ADV by 1,541 hours. The total increase in the collection of information for Form ADV resulting from an increase in the number of respondents is 3,703 hours.

The collection of information for Form ADV would incorporate the burdens of rule 206(4)-4 and Schedule I into Form ADV. The collections of information for rule 206(4)-4 and Schedule I to Form ADV are discussed below.

The proposed amendments to Form ADV at first would increase the paperwork burden, as most advisers would have to redraft and disseminate a narrative brochure and brochure supplements. The paperwork burdens of preparing a narrative firm brochure is likely to vary substantially among advisers, in part because proposed Part 2A would give an adviser considerable flexibility in structuring its disclosure, and also because the amount of disclosure required would vary among advisers. Most of the new paperwork burden would be incurred in this initial preparation, specifically in drafting the narrative text. Once the adviser has redrafted its narrative brochure, proposed Parts 2A and 2B are not expected to result in any significant burden increase over time (except for changes to the brochure that are necessitated by changes in the adviser's business). Part 1A is expected to impose a minimal paperwork burden, as none of the new items requests information that should not be readily available to the adviser. The efficiencies of filing through the IARD, over time, are expected to reduce the initial burdens associated with completing the revised Form ADV.

The burdens associated with using the revised form would be amortized over the estimated period that advisers would use their revised brochure. We adopted significant changes to Form ADV in 1985, and required advisers to re-file their amended Form ADV, and to prepare and begin using a new brochure. At that time, advisers incurred paperwork burdens in the “start-up” costs of the revised Form ADV. Once advisers re-filed their Form ADV, advisers' paperwork burdens generally were limited to amending the form as needed. Advisers thus have used current Form ADV (and thus the current brochure) for approximately the past fifteen years (depending on exactly when they re-filed their Form ADV with us). The paperwork burdens of the revised form would be amortized over a similar fifteen-year period.

The additional burdens that would be imposed by the revised form also would be reflected in the revised collection of information. During the first year that an adviser uses new Form ADV, the burden of completing the revised form for the first time would result in a new total collection of information burden of an estimated 22 hours per adviser, including preparation of brochure supplements. This total collection of information would total 22,000 hours for new registrants and 178,200 hours for currently registered advisers that re-file Form ADV through the IARD system, for a total of 200,200 hours. Amortizing this total burden imposed by Form ADV over a fifteen-year period would result in an average burden increase of an estimated 13,346.67 hours per year, or 1.47 hours per year for each new applicant and for each adviser currently registered with the Commission that would re-file through the IARD.

In addition, during the first year the IARD is operational, advisers filing through the system would likely amend their Form ADV at least once. Electronic filing, however, should yield significant benefits to advisers filing amendments, and is estimated to reduce the information collection burden of filing an amendment to Form ADV by approximately thirty percent. The collection of information burden for amendments therefore would be 0.75 hours per amendment. Based on the Commission's experience in processing investment adviser amendments, new registrants are estimated to amend their Form ADV once in the first year they are registered, currently-registered newly-formed advisers relying on the exemption found at rule 203A-2(d) are estimated to amend their Form ADV twice per year, currently-registered advisers relying on the multi-state exemption found at rule 203A-2(e) are estimated to amend their Form ADV once per year, and other currently-registered advisers are estimated to amend their Form ADV, on average, 1.5 times per year. Advisers thus file an estimated total of 13,250 amendments per year for an estimated total paperwork burden of 9,938 hours per year.

The total collection of information burden for advisers to file and complete the revised Form ADV therefore would be approximately 23,315 hours per year. The total collection of information burden therefore would be 27,018 hours.

Rule 206(4)-4; Schedule I to Form ADV

The collection of information requirements for both rule 206(4)-4 and Schedule I to Form ADV would be incorporated in the collection of information requirements for Form ADV, discussed above. The new burden estimate for Form ADV includes these collection of information burdens. Rule 206(4)-4 and Schedule I to Form ADV currently contain collection of information requirements. Rule 206(4)-4 requires advisers to disclose certain disciplinary and financial information to clients. Advisers file Schedule I to Form ADV to claim eligibility for SEC registration (if applying for SEC registration) or to reaffirm their eligibility for SEC registration (if currently registered). These collections of information are found at 17 CFR 275.206(4)-4 and 17 CFR 279.1, are mandatory, and responses are not kept confidential.

We are proposing to rescind rule 206(4)-4 and incorporate its substantive provisions into Part 2A of Form ADV. We also are proposing to incorporate the substantive requirements of Schedule I into Part 1A of Form ADV. The collection of information requirements for rule 206(4)-4 and Schedule I to Form ADV would be eliminated.

Form ADV-W and Rule 203-2

Form ADV-W and Rule 203-2 contain collection of information requirements. Rule 203-2 requires every person withdrawing from investment adviser registration with the Commission to file Form ADV-W. This collection of information is found at 17 CFR 275.203-2 and 17 CFR 279.2 and is mandatory. Responses are not kept confidential. The likely respondents to this information collection would be all advisers registered with the Commission once the transition period to electronic filing is complete.

A decrease in the number of advisers filing to withdraw from SEC registration will decrease the current burden. The currently approved collection of information is one hour. The Commission in the past received approximately 616 notices of withdrawal on Form ADV-W per year. The weighted average burden hours for completing Form ADV-W is one hour, and the total annual burden hours currently approved by OMB for this form are 616 hours. Based on the Commission's recent experience in processing investment adviser withdrawals, the Commission estimates that approximately 1,300 withdraw from SEC registration each year, decreasing the total burden by 684 hours.

The Commission is proposing to amend rule 203-2 to (a) require advisers to file Form ADV-W through the IARD and (b) make investment adviser withdrawals effective upon filing (rather than after a sixty-day period, as provided in the current rule). The Commission also is proposing to amend Form ADV-W. The proposed form amendments would tailor the required items to the reason for the adviser's withdrawal. An adviser ceasing operations would complete the entire form to withdraw from all jurisdictions in which it is registered (full withdrawal), while an adviser withdrawing from some, but not all, of the jurisdictions in which it is registered would omit certain items that we do not need from an adviser continuing in business as a state-registered adviser.

The proposed amendments to Form ADV-W are expected to reduce the collection of information burden for advisers filing for withdrawal. An adviser filing for partial withdrawal (e.g., the adviser is switching to state registration) would omit certain items, such as the location of its books and records that we do not need from an adviser continuing in business as a state-registered adviser; an adviser filing for full withdrawal (i.e., the adviser is ceasing operations) would complete the entire form. For purposes of this Paperwork Reduction Act analysis, the Commission staff estimates that approximately 50 percent of the advisers filing for withdrawal would file for full withdrawal and the remaining 50 percent would file for partial withdrawal. Compliance with the requirement to complete Form ADV-W would impose a total burden of approximately 0.75 hours (45 minutes) for an adviser filing for full withdrawal and approximately 0.25 hours (15 minutes) for an adviser filing for partial withdrawal. The weighted average total time for each applicant to complete revised Form ADV-W therefore is estimated to be 0.5 hours (30 minutes), for a total collection of information burden of 650 hours.

Rule 0-2 and Forms 4-R Through 7-R

Rule 0-2 and Forms 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, and 7-R contain collection of information requirements. Rule 0-2 requires non-resident advisers to furnish us with a written irrevocable consent and power of attorney that designates the Commission as an agent for service of process, and that stipulates and agrees that any civil suit or action against such person may be commenced by service of process on the Commission. Rules 279.4, 279.5, 279.6 and 279.7 (17 CFR 279.4, 279.5, 279.6 and 279.7) designate Forms 4-R through 7-R as the irrevocable appointments of agent for service of process, pleadings and other papers to be filed. It is necessary for us to obtain appropriate consent to permit the Commission and other parties to bring actions against non-resident advisers and non-resident partners or agents of investment advisers for violations of the federal securities laws. The likely respondents to this information collection would be each non-resident adviser, and each non-resident partner or agent of an SEC-registered adviser.

An increase in the number of non-resident advisers registered with the SEC will increase the current collection of information burden. Forms 4-R through 6-R are required by rule 0-2 to be filed by non-resident advisers, and Form 7-R is required by rule 0-2 to be filed by a non-resident general partner or managing agent of an SEC-registered adviser. The Commission in the past received approximately 300 filings pursuant to rule 0-2. The weighted average burden for Forms 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, and 7-R is one hour per form, and the total annual burden hours currently approved by OMB for these forms is 300 hours. Our records indicate that we receive approximately 475 filings per year from non-resident advisers, partners and agents, increasing the current burden to 475 hours.

The paperwork burdens of Forms 4-R through 6-R are incorporated into the collection of information requirements for Form ADV, discussed above. We are proposing to amend rule 0-2 and delete Forms 4-R, 5-R, 6-R and 7-R. The substance of Forms 4-R through 6-R would be contained in the execution page to Form ADV. The substance of Form 7-R would be contained in new Form AVD-NR. The Commission staff estimates that approximately 380 respondents would be subject to rule 0-2, with approximately 285 respondents being non-resident advisers that would execute Form ADV to comply with rule 0-2.

The remaining approximately 95 respondents are non-resident general partners or managing agents of SEC-registered investment advisers, and would be required to file Form AVD-NR with the Commission. A non-resident general partner or managing agent would be required to file Form AVD-NR only once. SEC staff estimates that the preparation and filing of Form AVD-NR would require approximately one hour of the non-resident general partner's or managing agent's time. The total estimated burden therefore would be 95 hours.

Rule 204-2

Section 204 of the Advisers Act provides that investment advisers required to register with the Commission must make and keep certain records for prescribed periods, and make and disseminate certain reports. Rule 204-2 sets forth the requirements for maintaining and preserving specified books and records. This collection of information is mandatory. The Commission staff uses this collection of information in its examination and oversight program, and the information generally is kept confidential. The likely respondents to this collection of information requirement are all advisers registered with the Commission.

A reduction in the number of advisers registered with us will reduce the current burden. Currently, compliance with rule 204-2 requires approximately 195.29 hours each year per Commission-registered adviser, for a total of 1,601,378 burden hours. The current total burden is based on 8,200 potential respondents. Commission records indicate that there currently are approximately 8,100 potential respondents to the collection of information imposed by rule 204-2. As a result of a decrease in the number of advisers registered with the Commission, the total burden is decreased by 19,529.

The proposed amendments to rule 204-2 would require registered investment advisers to prepare and preserve a memorandum describing any legal or disciplinary event listed in Item 8 of Part 2A or Item 3 of Part 2B of proposed Form ADV (and presumed to be material), if the event involved the adviser or any of its supervised persons and is not disclosed in the adviser's brochure or a brochure supplement. These books and records will be required to be maintained in the manner, and for the period of time, as other books and records are required to be maintained under rule 204-2(a). This collection of information would be found at 17 CFR 275.204-2.

Based on disciplinary items reported on Form ADV, approximately 1,120 advisers currently report disciplinary information. It is anticipated that most of these advisers would include all disciplinary information in their brochure, and approximately ten percent of these advisers, or 110 advisers, would conclude that the materiality presumption is overcome with respect to a legal or disciplinary event, would determine not to disclose that event, and therefore would be required to prepare and preserve a memorandum describing the event. Under the proposed amendments, each respondent would be required to retain the records on an ongoing basis. The proposed amendments to rule 204-2 are estimated to increase the burden by four hours, to 199.29, per Commission-registered adviser that would be required to prepare and preserve these additional records. The annual aggregate burden for all respondents to the recordkeeping requirements under rule 204-2 thus is estimated to be 1,582,293 total hours. The weighted average burden per Commission-registered adviser would be 195.34 hours.

Rule 204-3

Rule 204-3 contains a collection of information requirement. Rule 204-3, the “brochure rule,” currently requires an investment adviser to deliver, or offer, to prospective clients a disclosure statement containing specified information as to the business practices and background of the adviser. The brochure assists the client in determining whether to retain, or continue employing, the adviser. Rule 204-3 also currently requires that an investment adviser deliver, or offer, its brochure on an annual basis to existing clients in order to provide them with current information about the adviser. Under Rule 204-3, the investment adviser must furnish the required information to clients and prospective clients by providing either a copy of Part II of Form ADV, the investment adviser registration form, or a written document containing at least the information required by Part II of Form ADV. This collection of information is found at 17 CFR 204-3 and is mandatory. Responses are not kept confidential. The likely respondents to this information collection are every investment adviser registered with the Commission.

A reduction in the number of respondents will reduce the current collection of information burden. The total annual burden currently approved by OMB for rule 204-3 is approximately 203,350 hours for the approximately 8,300 advisers registered with us when the collection of information was last extended. Our records indicate that approximately 8,100 advisers currently are registered with the Commission. The currently approved collection of information estimates that each adviser requires, on average, approximately 24.5 hours to provide its clients with the required information. As a result of a decrease in the number of advisers registered with the Commission, the total burden is decreased by 4,900 hours.

The proposed amendments to rule 204-3 would require SEC-registered advisers to deliver their brochure and appropriate brochure supplements at the start of the advisory relationship, and to offer to deliver the brochure and brochure supplements annually. The proposed rule amendments also would require that advisers deliver updates to the brochure and brochure supplements to clients whenever information in the brochure becomes materially inaccurate. The updates could take the form of a reprinted brochure or a “sticker” containing the updated information. Currently, our rules require initial delivery of the brochure, but require no further brochure delivery unless the client accepts the adviser's annual offer. The rule proposal is necessary for an adviser to keep its clients apprised of material changes in its operations, its fees, key advisory personnel, and other information provided in the advisory brochure.

The proposed rule amendments include transition rules that would require each adviser to deliver their revised brochure and any brochure supplements to its current clients. We expect that advisers would send the new brochures and brochure supplements in a “bulk mailing.” It is estimated that each adviser has, on average 49 clients and that an adviser requires no more than 0.25 hours to send a package consisting of the adviser's revised brochure and any required brochure supplements to each existing client. The total burden hours for advisers to distribute the revised brochure and any brochure supplements is therefore estimated to be 99,225 hours. The Commission staff estimates that an advisory client engages an adviser for an average of seven years. Amortizing the burden of the initial distribution of the brochure and any brochure supplements over this seven-year period results in an annual collection of information burden of 14,175 hours.

After the initial distribution, an adviser would be required to distribute an update (either a “sticker” or a revised brochure or brochure supplement) approximately 2 times per year. This estimate is based on our experience under rule 204-1 and 206(4)-4. It again is estimated that each adviser has an average of 49 clients, and after the adviser distributes a revised brochure and any brochure supplements to their clients, the adviser would require no more than one half hour each time it is required to provide each client with a brochure, a brochure supplement, or an update. This represents about 49 hours per year for each adviser registered with the Commission. Thus, the annual hour burden to meet the requirements of rule 204-3, as proposed to be amended, would be approximately 396,900 hours, not including the initial distribution of the revised brochure and any brochure supplements.

The total estimated collection of information burden imposed by rule 204-3, as proposed to be amended, is 411,075 hours per year.

Rule 203-3 and Form ADV-H

We are proposing one new rule (proposed rule 203-3) and one new form (proposed Form ADV-H) that would contain a collection of information requirement. Rule 203-3 requires that advisers requesting either a temporary or continuing hardship exemption submit the request on Form ADV-H. An adviser requesting a temporary hardship would be required to file Form ADV-H, providing a brief explanation of the nature and extent of the temporary technical difficulties. Form ADV-H would require an adviser requesting a continuing hardship exemption to indicate the reasons the adviser is unable to submit electronic filings without undue burden and expense. A continuing hardship exemption would be available only to an adviser that is a small entity.

Commission records indicate that approximately 1,500 advisers are small entities and therefore 1,500 potential respondents that could apply for a continuing hardship exemption, and approximately 8,100 potential respondents that could apply for a temporary hardship exemption. Based on our experience with hardship filings made by investment companies through our EDGAR system, approximately 50 advisers would request a temporary hardship exemption and approximately 20 would apply for a continuing hardship exemption each year. Proposed Form ADV-H and rule 203-3 are estimated to create a collection of information burden of approximately 60 minutes per respondent, for a total of 70 hours.

Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(B), the Commission solicits comments to (i) evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the collections of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Persons desiring to submit comments on the collection of information requirements should direct them to the Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, D.C. 20503, and also should send a copy of their comments to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549-0609 with reference to File No. S7-10-00. OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collections of information between 30 and 60 days after publication. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

V. Summary of Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

We have prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) in accordance with section 3(a) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) regarding the proposed amendments to Form ADV and other rules and forms under the Advisers Act.

A. Reasons for the Proposed Action

As discussed in more detail in the IRFA, and above, we are proposing the rule and form amendments: (i) to facilitate the development of a system of electronic filing by investment advisers; (ii) to develop a database of information about advisers that is easily accessible to investors; and (iii) to improve the quality of disclosure advisers provide to their clients.

B. Objectives

The IRFA explains that the rule proposal has three distinct, but related objectives. The first is to begin the process of creating a more efficient system of regulatory filing for investment advisers. The IARD will reduce regulatory costs for advisers by permitting them to satisfy both state and SEC filing requirements by making a single, electronic filing through the Internet. The IARD will also give us a more effective tool to administer the federal securities laws as they apply to advisers.

The second objective is to improve public access to information about advisers. Currently, adviser filings are generally not available from commercial sources, and not otherwise easily available to investors. In 1996, Congress directed us to pursue this objective by requiring that we establish “a readily accessible * * * electronic process to receive inquiries * * * involving investment advisers * * *.” The IARD will satisfy this directive by providing investors with direct access to information about advisers, at no cost, through the Internet. The third objective is to improve the quality of information investors receive from advisers about their fees, business practices and conflicts of interest. Advisers would be required to provide a narrative brochure that is written in plain English, and would be required to keep the brochure current.

To further these objectives, the proposals are designed to make full use of information technologies that are readily available to both large and small advisers. The IRFA explains that the proposed amendments also are designed to further our mandate under the federal securities laws to prevent fraud and require full disclosure of material information by participants in the securities markets.

C. Small Entities Subject to the Rules

In developing these proposals, we have considered their potential effect on small entities that may be affected, which is discussed in the IRFA. The proposals would not affect most advisers that are small entities (small advisers) because they are registered with one or more state securities authorities and not with us. Congress amended the Advisers Act in 1996 so that small advisers are generally regulated by states regulators and not the Commission. Those small advisers that remain registered with us are located in Wyoming (which does not have an advisers statute), or are eligible for an exemption that permits SEC registration. Of the approximately 20,000 advisers in the United States, 8,000 (40%) are registered with us. Of those 8,000, the IRFA estimates that only 1,500 (19%) qualify as small advisers. We have based this estimate on registration information advisers file with the Commission.

D. Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements

The IRFA states that the proposal would impose certain reporting and compliance requirements on small advisers, requiring them: (i) to file electronically through the IARD; (ii) to use amended Form ADV when applying for registration (or amending an existing registration); and (iii) to update and deliver certain information to clients (the “brochure” rule). These requirements are discussed more fully in the IRFA and Section II of this Release, and the burdens on small advisers are discussed below.

1. Electronic Filing Requirements

The IRFA explains that electronic filing is likely to impose two types of burdens on small advisers—filing fees and the time and expense of familiarizing themselves with the system.

Filing Fees. The operator of the IARD will charge filing fees to all advisers, including small advisers. Small advisers will pay substantially smaller fees than larger advisers. Use of this sliding scale is designed to minimize the burdens of electronic filing on small advisers while maintaining the economic viability of the IARD. It also recognized that larger advisers, which are more likely to have filing requirements in multiple states, will benefit more from the IARD than small advisers.

Other Burdens. The IRFA explains that use of the IARD will impose other burdens on small advisers that must establish an account with NASDR, devote time to familiarizing themselves with the IARD's filing rules, and perhaps obtain Internet access. We believe that these burdens are small and that advisers would incur most of the costs when they begin to use the IARD. Thereafter, use of the IARD should actually reduce regulatory burdens for all advisers, including small advisers.

Our information suggests that almost all investment advisers, including small advisers, currently have Internet access, and use the Internet for various purposes. Nonetheless, our proposals would provide for a hardship exemption, available only to small advisers, which would permit them to continue to file on paper if using the IARD would impose an “unreasonable burden or expense.” The operator of the IARD would convert the paper filing to electronic format and charge the adviser an additional fee to cover conversion costs. In addition, the IARD will accommodate the use of commercial filing services, which we understand many small advisers currently use to make regulatory filings. We have included these alternative means of making filings to minimize the burdens the proposed electronic filing rules will have on small advisers.

Many small advisers today use filing services because they cannot hire professional compliance staff, and do not themselves have the knowledge, time, or expertise to understand the details of the various federal and state forms, deadlines, and fees. The IARD will have a number of features designed to make it easy for persons to complete Form ADV, even if they are unfamiliar with the form. We have written the new instructions in plain English and re-organized the form in a simpler manner. We have re-drafted questions that have presented interpretive difficulties for small advisers, and have added an on-line “help” function that will provide advisers with easy access to answers to questions frequently asked about the form. Advisers using the system will also have easy on-line access to the text of the Advisers Act and our rules. Together, these features should substantially benefit small advisers that do not have lawyers or other professional compliance personnel or staff.

The IRFA concludes that, although small advisers will experience some modest start-up costs and burdens in using the IARD, over time the system will actually reduce overall burdens. As advisers become more familiar with it, use of the system should substantially reduce administrative costs associated with making regulatory filings, and improve advisers' compliance with regulatory requirements, allowing them to reduce their dependence, in more routine matters, on lawyers, compliance firms and others who assist them in meeting their regulatory obligations.

2. Proposed Amendments to Form ADV

Part 1. The IRFA explains that the proposed amendments to Part 1A of Form ADV would have a minimal effect on small advisers. None of the new items requests information that should not be readily available to the advisers. For example, advisers would be asked for the e-mail address of a contact person (if she has one) and the address of any web site the adviser sponsors. Further, because small advisers tend to have simpler business arrangements, fewer control persons, and fewer employees, the burdens of completing Part 1A should be significantly less for small advisers than for larger advisers.

The IRFA acknowledges that small advisers whose control persons have disciplinary history would likely spend more resources in completing the necessary DRPs for reporting of disciplinary events. Based on information filed on current Form ADV, we estimate that only approximately fourteen percent of advisers would be required to report disciplinary information, and thus most small advisers would be unaffected by this proposed requirement. Even fewer advisers would be required to report disciplinary events on the revised form—we have proposed to eliminate certain items and limit advisers' reporting obligations to those disciplinary events occurring in the past ten years.

Part 2. The IRFA explains that the proposed amendments to Part 2, because they require advisers to begin preparing and disseminating narrative brochures, will impose additional costs on advisers, including small advisers. The IRFA assumes that all small advisers currently distribute Part II of Form ADV and will have to completely redraft their brochures, although some information in Part II may be transferable to the new brochures.

The costs associated with preparing the new brochures will depend on the size of the adviser, the complexity of its operations, and the extent to which its operations present conflicts of interest with clients. Many of the new items imposing the most rigorous disclosure requirements may not apply to a small adviser because, for example, the adviser does not have soft dollar or directed brokerage arrangements, or does not have custody of client assets. To the extent that some of the new disclosure burdens do apply to small advisers, these advisers are already obligated to make the disclosures to clients under the Act's anti-fraud provisions (although not required to be in the brochure).

The IRFA explains that advisers would, for the first time, be required to prepare and disseminate brochure supplements for their supervised persons. To reduce the burdens on small advisers, we drafted the new supplement rules so that firms with few employees can include the information in their firm brochures and avoid preparing separate brochure supplements.

3. Updating and Delivery Requirements

The IRFA explains that, in addition to proposing revisions to the brochure, we also propose to require advisers to update their brochure, deliver the updates to clients whenever the information becomes materially inaccurate, and offer a revised brochure annually. These proposed requirements would impose some burdens on small advisers. To minimize these burdens, we would permit an adviser to deliver a “sticker” containing the updated information instead of requiring the adviser to reprint the entire brochure. In addition, advisers that deliver their brochures in electronic format also may deliver stickers and revised brochures in the same manner. The IRFA states that small advisers are more likely to have fewer advisory clients than larger advisers, and thus the proposed updating and delivery requirements should impose lower variable costs on small advisers.

E. Significant Alternatives

The IRFA discusses the various alternatives that the Commission considered in connection with the proposed rule and form amendments that might minimize the effect on small advisers, including (a) establishing different compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into account the resources available to small advisers; (b) clarifying, consolidating, or simplifying compliance and reporting requirements under the proposed rule and rule amendments for small advisers; (c) using performance rather than design standards; and (d) exempting small advisers from coverage of all or part of the proposed rule and rule amendments.

Regarding the first alternative, the Commission considered establishing different compliance or reporting requirements for small advisers. As explained more fully in the IRFA, establishing different compliance or reporting requirements would be inconsistent with our mandate to provide a system of public disclosure of investment adviser information. The IRFA states that a small-entity adviser, by the nature of its business, would likely spend fewer resources in completing the new Form ADV, and will pay lower filing fees than those paid by a larger adviser.

Regarding the second alternative, it does not appear that the proposed rule and form amendments can be formatted differently for small advisers and still achieve the stated objectives of the proposal. Nonetheless, the proposed amendments would clarify and simplify the form for all advisers, including small advisers. As discussed more fully in the IRFA, we are also proposing to add a new item to Form ADV to capture specific information about small advisers so we can better assess the number of small advisers registered with us and the burdens imposed by our rules.

Regarding the third alternative, the IRFA explains that the proposed rule and form amendments would permit advisers to use performance rather than design standards in some instances. For example, we do not specify the means by which an adviser would deliver its brochure to clients. In other contexts, however, the use of performance rather than design standards would be inconsistent with our statutory mandate to protect investors, as advisers must provide certain registration information in a uniform and quantifiable manner so that it is useful to our regulatory and examination programs. Design standards, therefore, are necessary to achieve many objectives of the proposal.

Regarding the fourth alternative, the IRFA states that it would be inconsistent with the purposes of the Advisers Act to exempt small advisers from the proposed rule and form amendments. The information in the adviser's brochure is necessary for the client to evaluate the adviser's background, qualifications and services, and to apprise the client of potential conflicts of interest and of the adviser's financial condition. Clients of small advisers are entitled to the same disclosure required of larger advisers, and exempting small advisers from any of the proposed rule and form amendments would be inconsistent with a central purpose of the Advisers Act. We have incorporated several features intended to minimize the burden on small-entity investment advisers, such as the fact that any adviser with Internet access can file through the IARD, and that the system will have a “help” function to assist advisers. Smaller advisers can also apply for a continuing hardship exemption from the electronic filing requirements, as discussed above.

The IRFA states that, having considered the above alternatives in the context of the proposed rule and form amendments, and after taking into account the resources available to small advisers and the potential burden the proposal could place on investment advisers, the alternatives, except as noted above, would not accomplish the stated objectives of the proposal.

The Commission encourages the submission of comments on matters discussed in the IRFA. Comment specifically is requested on the number of small advisers that would be affected by the proposals and the burdens the proposals would impose on small advisers. Commenters are asked to describe the nature of any burden and provide empirical data supporting the extent of the impact. These comments will be placed in the same public comment file as comments on the proposals. A copy of the IFRA may be obtained by contacting Jeffrey O. Himstreet, Attorney, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549-0506.

VI. Statutory Authority

We are proposing new rule 203-3 under sections 203(c)(1) and 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(c)(1) and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing amendments to rules 30-5 and 30-11 of our Organization and Program Management rules under sections 4A and 4B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78d-1 and 78d-2).

We are proposing amendments to rule 0-2 under section 19(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(a)), section 23(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78w(a)), section 319(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. 77sss(a)), section 38(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 78a-37(a)), and sections 203(c)(1), 204, and 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(c)(1), 80b-4, and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing amendments to rule 0-7 under chapter 6 of title 5 of the United States Code (particularly section 601 of that chapter (5 U.S.C. 601)) and section 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing amendments to rules 203-1 and 203-2 under sections 203(c)(1), 204, and 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(c)(1), 80b-4, and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing amendments to rule 203A-1 under sections 203A(a)(1)(A), 203A(c), and section 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3a(a)(1)(A), 80b-3a(c), and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing amendments to rule 203A-2 under section 203A(c) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3a(c)).

We are proposing amendments to rules 204-1 under sections 203(c)(1) and 204 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(c)(1) and 80b-4).

We are proposing amendments to rule 204-2 under sections 204 and 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-4 and 80b-6(4)).

We are proposing amendments to rule 204-3 under sections 204, 206(4), and 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-4, 80b-6(4), and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing new Form ADV-H under sections 203(c)(1), 204, and 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(c)(1), 80b-4, and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing amendments to rule 279.1, Form ADV, under section 19(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(a)), sections 23(a) and 28(e)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78w(a) and 78bb(e)(2)), section 319(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. 77sss(a)), section 38(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 78a-37(a)), and sections 203(c)(1), 204, and 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(c)(1), 80b-4, and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing amendments to rule 279.2, Form ADV-W, under sections 203(c)(1), 204, and 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(c)(1), 80b-4, and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing to amend rule 279.4, Form 4-R, by replacing it with proposed Form ADV-NR under section 19(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(a)), section 23(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78w(a)), section 319(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. 77sss(a)), section 38(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 78a-37(a)), and sections 203(c)(1), 204, and 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(c)(1), 80b-4, and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing to withdraw rule 204-5 under section 211(a) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing to withdraw rule 206(4)-4 under section 206(4) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-6(4)).

We are proposing to remove and reserve rules 279.5, 279.6 and 279.7 and proposing to remove Forms 5-R, 6-R, and 7-R under section 19(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(a)), section 23(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78w(a)), section 319(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. 77sss(a)), section 38(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 78a-37(a)), and sections 203(c)(1), 204, and 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(c)(1), 80b-4, and 80b-11(a)).

We are proposing to remove and reserve rule 279.9 and proposing to remove Form ADV-Y2K under section 211(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-11(a)).

List of Subjects

17 CFR Part 200

• Administrative practice and procedure; Authority delegations (Government agencies)

17 CFR Parts 275 and 279

• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Securities

Text of Proposed Rule and Form Amendments

For the reasons set out in the preamble, Title 17, Chapter II of the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 200—ORGANIZATION; CONDUCT AND ETHICS; AND INFORMATION AND REQUESTS

1. The authority section for Part 200 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77s, 78d-1, 78d-2, 78w, 78 ll (d), 78mm, 79t, 77sss, 80a-37, 80b-11, unless otherwise noted.

2. In § 200.30-5, the introductory text of paragraph (e) is revised and paragraph (e)(7) is added to read as follows:

PART 275—RULES AND REGULATIONS, INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940

4. The general authority citation for Part 275 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 80b-2(a)(11)(F), 80b-2(a)(17), 80b-3, 80b-4, 80b-6(4), 80b-6a, 80b-11, unless otherwise noted.

5. Section 275.0-2 is revised to read as follows:

PART 279—FORMS PRESCRIBED UNDER THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940

17. The authority citation for Part 279 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 80b-1 to 80b-22. 18. Form ADV (referenced in § 279.1) is revised.

Note:

The text of Form ADV does not and the amendments will not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations. Form ADV is attached as Appendix A.

19. Form ADV-W (referenced in § 279.2) is revised.

Note:

The text of Form ADV-W does not and the amendments will not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations. Form ADV-W is attached as Appendix B.

20. Section 279.3 and Form ADV-H are added as follows.

Note:

The text of Form ADV-H will not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations. Form ADV-H is attached as Appendix C.

(Note: Appendixes A, B, C, and D will not appear in the Code of Federal Registration)

Appendix A—Form ADV (Paper Version): Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration

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. 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.

Form ADV also contains the requirements for the brochure you must deliver to clients under SEC rule 204-3 and similar state rules.

2. How is Form ADV organized?

Form ADV contains four 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 13).
• 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 2A contains the requirements for preparing the brochure that SEC rule 204-3 and similar state rules require you to deliver to your clients. The brochure provides information about your business practices, fees and any conflicts of interest you may have with your clients. If you sponsor wrap fee programs, you must create a separate brochure that discloses information about these programs. Appendix 1 to Part 2 contains the requirements for preparing a wrap fee program brochure. Instructions to Part 2A explain when a brochure must be delivered.
• Part 2B contains the requirements for preparing brochure supplements about your supervised persons. Instructions to Part 2B explain for which supervised persons you must prepare a supplement and to which clients you must deliver the supplement.

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

You must amend your Form ADV annually 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.-2.F., or 2.I. of Part 1B become inaccurate in any way;
• information you provided in response to Items 4, 7, 8, or 10 of Part 1A or Item 2.G. of Part 1B become materially inaccurate; or
• any information in Part 2 (your brochure or a brochure supplement) 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, 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. You must update your responses to all other items in Part 1 whenever you amend your Form ADV.

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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. How do I file my Form ADV?

Until [completion date of transition to electronic filing in rule 204-1(b)(i)(D)], you must follow the instructions in [transition instructions that will be included with the adopting release for Form ADV] to determine how you should file. After [date in rule 204-1(b)(i)(D)], follow this Instruction 6.

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.

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 12.
• You are filing with a state securities authority that permits (but does not require) electronic filing and you do not file electronically.

7. How do I get started filing electronically?

There are two things you must do to get started filing electronically:

• You must request a user I.D. code and password by completing and submitting Form ADV-ID to NASDR. You can get a copy of Form ADV-ID from any of the following web sites: <www.sec.gov>,;, <www.nasaa.org>,;, and <www.nasdr.com>. Form ADV-ID must be submitted on paper. Mail the form to [address] or fax it to [fax number].
• You must establish an IARD account with NASDR, from which the IARD will deduct filing fees and any state fees you are required to pay. If you have a CRD account with NASDR, you do not need to establish a separate IARD account. To establish an IARD account, [to be determined].

Once you receive your user I.D. and password and you have an account, you are ready to file electronically.

8. 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, the state securities authorities of states in which you are “doing business” 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 NASDR. To determine which state securities authorities require SEC-registered advisers to submit notice filings and to pay fees, consult the investment adviser law or the state securities authority for the particular state in which you are “doing business.” See General Instruction 15.

If you are granted a continuing hardship exemption to file Form ADV on paper, NASDR 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.

9. 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 15.

10. 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 15. 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).

11. 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 as follows:

[to be determined]

If you are submitting a paper filing under a continuing hardship exemption (see Instruction 12), you are required to pay an additional fee. The amount of the additional fee depends on the type of filing you are submitting. The hardship filing fee schedule is as follows:

[to be determined]

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

If you cannot file electronically, 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 file the paper version of Form ADV with NASDR. NASDR will enter your responses into the IARD. As discussed in General Instruction 11, NASDR 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 to obtain a list of firms that provide these services.

13. 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: NASD Regulation, Inc., [address to be determined].

If you complete Form ADV on paper and submit it to NASDR 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.

14. 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, [address to be determined].

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

15. Where can I get additional information?

The SEC provides additional information about its rules and the Advisers Act on its website: <www.sec.gov>.

NASAA provides additional information about state investment adviser laws and state rules, and how to contact a state securities authority, on its website: <www.nassa.org>.

Federal Information Law and Requirements

Advisers Act Sections 203(c), 204, 206 and 211(a) authorize the SEC to collect the information required by Form ADV. The SEC uses the information for regulatory purposes, including deciding whether to grant registration. The SEC keeps files of the information submitted on this form and makes the information publicly available. The SEC may reject forms that do not include required information. By accepting a form, however, the SEC does not make a finding that it has been completed or submitted correctly. 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. 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 also is 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 (Paper Version); Unifrom Application for Investment Adviser Registration

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 advisory business, 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 9.

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 clients 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. 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 11) 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 11 in Item 2.A. You also must file a Form ADV-W to withdraw your SEC registration. See Part 1A Instruction 2.h.

h. Item 2.A(11): Adviser No Longer Eligible to Remain Registered with the SEC. You must check box 11 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 11) 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 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 your amendment, make sure you check “yes” to Item 4 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 15.

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”), and 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:

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.

Form ADV (Paper Version): Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration

Form ADV: Instructions for Part 1B

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

1. Item 2.B: Bond Information

Your home state may require you to maintain a bond. For example, a bond may be required if you have custody of or discretionary authority over your client's funds or securities. A bond also may be required if your home state requires you to maintain a minimum net worth and you do not have that net worth. For additional information concerning bond requirements, you should consult your home state's investment adviser laws or contact your home state's securities authority. See Form ADV General Instruction 15.

2. Item 2.H: Financial Planning Services

Item 2.H. asks about financial planning services you have provided to your clients. This question assumes that you have been providing financial planning services for some time. Your response to this question should reflect your current advisory business (i.e., at the time you file your Form ADV). If you are a newly-formed adviser, skip Item 2.H.

3. Item 2.I: Custody

Item 2.I. asks about practices that you engage in that may indicate whether you have custody of client's funds or securities. This question assumes that you have been operating your advisory business for some time. Your response to this question should reflect you current advisory business (i.e., at the time you file your Form ADV). If you are a newly-formed adviser, base your response to Item 2.I. on the way you expect to conduct your business during the next year.

Glossary of Terms

1. Advisory Affiliate: Your advisory affiliates are (1) all of your officers, partners, or directors (or any person performing similar functions); (2) all persons directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by you; (3) all of your current employees (other than clerical or administrative employees); and (4) any person who solicits on your behalf.

If you are a “separately identifiable department or division” (SID) of a bank, your advisory affiliates are: (1) all of your bank's employees who perform your investment advisory activities (other than clerical or administrative employees); (2) all persons designated by your bank's board of directors as responsible for the day-to-day conduct of your investment advisory activities (including supervising the employees who perform investment advisory activities); (3) all persons who directly or indirectly control your bank, and all persons whom you control in connection with your investment advisory activities; and (4) all other persons who directly manage any of your investment advisory activities (including directing, supervising or performing your advisory activities), all persons who directly or indirectly control those management functions, and all persons whom you control in connection with those management functions. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11] [Substantively the same as Part I, Item 11 of current Form ADV]

2. Annual Updating Amendment: Within 90 days after your firm's fiscal year end, your firm must file an “annual updating amendment,” which is an amendment to your firm's Form ADV that reaffirms the eligibility information contained in Item 2 of Part 1A and updates the responses to any other item for which the information is no longer accurate. [Used in: General Instructions, Part 1A Instructions, Part 2A Instructions, Part 2B Instructions, Part 1A (introductory text)] [Derived from current rule 204-1, Schedule I to Form ADV]

3. Brochure: A written disclosure statement that your firm is required to provide to clients and prospective clients. See Advisers Act rule 204-3; Form ADV, Part 2A. [Used in: General Instructions, Part 1A Instructions, Part 2A Instructions, Part 2B Instructions; Used throughout Parts 2A, 2A Appendix 1, Part 2B] [Derived from rule 204-3(a)]

4. Charged: Being accused of a crime in a formal complaint, information, or indictment (or equivalent formal charge). [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11; DRPs] [Same as the Instructions for Form BD, Item 4(3)]

5. Client: Any of your firm's investment advisory clients. This term includes clients from which your firm receives no compensation, such as members of your family. If your firm also provides other services (e.g., accounting services), this term does not include clients that are not investment advisory clients. [Used throughout Form ADV and Form ADV-W] [Derived from Item 5 of the Instructions to current Form ADV]

6. Control: Control means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the management or policies of a person, whether through ownership of securities, by contract, or otherwise.

• Each of your firm's officers, partners, or directors exercising executive responsibility (or persons having similar status or functions) are presumed to control your firm.
• A person is presumed to control a corporation if the person: (i) directly or indirectly has the right to vote 25 percent or more of a class of the corporation's voting securities; or (ii) has the power to sell or direct the sale of 25 percent or more of a class of the corporation's voting securities.
• A person is presumed to control a partnership if the person has the right to receive upon dissolution, or has contributed, 25 percent or more of the capital of the partnership.
• A person is presumed to control a limited liability company (“LLC”) if the person: (i) directly or indirectly has the right to vote 25 percent or more of a class of the interests of the LLC; (ii) has the right to receive upon dissolution, or has contributed, 25 percent or more of the capital of the LLC; or (iii) is an elected manager of the LLC.
• A person is presumed to control a trust if the person is a trustee or managing agent of the trust.

[Used in: General Instructions, Part 1A Instructions; Part 1A, Items 2A, 7, 10, 11, 12; Schedules A, B, C, D; Regulatory DRP] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 0-7(b)(1), Item 5 of the Instructions to current Form ADV]

7. Custody: Your firm has custody if it directly or indirectly holds client funds or securities, has any authority to obtain possession of them, or has the ability to appropriate them. Your firm has custody, for example, if it has a general power of attorney over a client's account or signatory power over a client's checking account. See Advisers Act rule 206(4)-2. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 9; Part 1B Instructions; Part 2A, Items 14, 18] [Substantively the same as Item 5 of the Instructions to current Form ADV]

8. Discretionary Authority: Your firm has discretionary authority if it has the authority to decide which securities to purchase and sell for the client. Your firm also has discretionary authority if it has the authority to decide which investment advisers to retain on behalf of the client. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 8; Part 2A, Items 15, 18; Part 2B Instructions] [Derived from section 3(a)(35) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) (definition of “investment discretion”)]

9. Enjoined: This term includes being subject to a mandatory injunction, prohibitory injunction, preliminary injunction, or a temporary restraining order. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11; DRPs] [Same as Item 4(3) of the Instructions to Form BD]

10. Felony: For jurisdictions that do not differentiate between a felony and a misdemeanor, a felony is an offense punishable by a sentence of at least one year imprisonment and/or a fine of at least $1,000. The term also includes a general court martial. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11; Part 2A, Item 8; Part 2B, Item 3; DRPs] [Same as Item 4(3) of the Instructions to Form BD]

11. Foreign Financial Regulatory Authority: This term includes (1) a foreign securities authority; (2) another governmental body or foreign equivalent of a self-regulatory organization empowered by a foreign government to administer or enforce its laws relating to the regulation of investment-related activities; and (3) a foreign membership organization, a function of which is to regulate the participation of its members in the activities listed above. [Used in: Part 1A, Items 1, 11; Part 2A, Item 8; Part 2B, Items 3 and 8; DRPs] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act section 202(a)(24)]

12. Found: This term includes adverse final actions, including consent decrees in which the respondent has neither admitted nor denied the findings, but does not include agreements, deficiency letters, examination reports, memoranda of understanding, letters of caution, admonishments, and similar informal resolutions of matters. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11; Part 1B, Item 2; Part 2A, Items 8 and 20; Part 2B, Item 3] [Same as Item 4(3) of the Instructions to Form BD; Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 206(4)-4(d)(2)]

13. Government Entity: Any state or political subdivision of a state, including (i) any agency, authority, or instrumentality of the state or political subdivision; (ii) a plan or pool of assets controlled by the state or political subdivision or any agency, authority or instrumentality thereof; and (iii) any officer, agent, or employee of the state or political subdivision or any agency, authority or instrumentality thereof, acting in their official capacity. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 5D] [Same as proposed Advisers Act rule 206(4)-5(e)(3)]

14. High Net Worth Individual: An individual with at least $750,000 managed by you, or whose net worth your firm reasonably believes exceeds $1,500,000, or who is a “qualified purchaser” as defined in section 2(a)(51)(A) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The net worth of an individual may include assets held jointly with his or her spouse. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 5D] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 205-3(d)(1) (definition of “qualified client”)]

15. Home State: If your firm is registered with a state securities authority, your firm's “home state” is the state where it maintains its principal office and place of business. [Used in: Part 1B] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 203A-3(c) (definition of “principal office and place of business”)]

16. Impersonal Investment Advice: Investment advisory services that do not purport to meet the objectives or needs of specific individuals or accounts. [Used in: Part 2A, Instructions; Part 2B, Instructions] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 203A-3(a)(3)(ii)]

17. Investment Adviser Representative: Investment adviser representatives of SEC-registered advisers are subject to state registration in each state in which they have a place of business. Any of your firm's supervised persons (except those that provide only impersonal investment advice) is an investment adviser representative, if—

• the supervised person regularly solicits, meets with, or otherwise communicates with your firm's clients,
• the supervised person has more than five clients who are natural persons and not high net worth individuals, and
• more than ten percent of the supervised person's clients are natural persons and not high net worth individuals.

Note:

If your firm is registered with the state securities authorities and not the SEC, your firm may be subject to a different state definition of “investment adviser representative.”

[Used in: Part 2, General Instructions; Part 2A, Item 13] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 203A-3(a); the IARD “help” function will include examples from Advisers Act Release No. 1733]

18. Investment-Related: Activities that pertain to securities, commodities, banking, insurance, or real estate (including, but not limited to, acting as or being associated with an investment adviser, broker-dealer, municipal securities dealer, government securities broker or dealer, issuer, investment company, futures sponsor, bank, or savings association). [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11; Part 2A, Items 8 and 20; Part 2B, Items 3 and 8; DRPs] [Same as Item 4(3) of the Instructions to Form BD; Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 206(4)-4(d)(3) and Part I, Item 11 of current Form ADV]

19. Involved: Engaging in any act or omission, aiding, abetting, counseling, commanding, inducing, conspiring with or failing reasonably to supervise another in doing an act. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11; Part 2A, Items 8 and 20; Part 2B, Items 3 and 8] [Same as Item 4(3) of the Instructions to Form BD; Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 206(4)-4(d)(4) and Part I, Item 11 of current Form ADV]

20. Management Persons: Anyone with the power to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over your firm's management or policies, or to determine the general investment advice given to the clients of your firm.

Generally, all of the following are management persons:

• Your firm's principal executive officers, such as your chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operations officer, chief legal officer, and chief compliance officer; your directors, general partners, or trustees; and other individuals with similar status or performing similar functions;
• The members of your firm's investment committee or group that determines general investment advice to be given to clients; and
• If your firm does not have an investment committee or group, the individuals who determine general investment advice provided to clients (if there are more than five people, you may limit your firm's response to their supervisors).

[Used in: Part 1B, Item 2; Part 2A, Items 8, 9, 20] [Derived from Advisers Act rule 206(4)-4(d)(1)]

21. Managing Agent: A managing agent of an investment adviser is any person, including a trustee, who directs or manages (or who participates in directing or managing) the affairs of any unincorporated organization or association that is not a partnership. [Used in: Form ADV-NR] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 0-2(d)(2)]

22. Minor Rule Violation: A violation of a self-regulatory organization rule that has been designated as “minor” pursuant to a plan approved by the SEC. A rule violation may be designated as “minor” under a plan if the sanction imposed consists of a fine of $2,500 or less, and if the sanctioned person does not contest the fine. (Check with the appropriate self-regulatory organization to determine if a particular rule violation has been designated as “minor” for these purposes.) [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11] [Same as Item 4(3) of the Instructions to Form BD]

23. Misdemeanor: For jurisdictions that do not differentiate between a felony and a misdemeanor, a misdemeanor is an offense punishable by a sentence of less than one year imprisonment and/or a fine of less than $1,000. The term also includes a special court martial. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11; DRPs; Part 2A, Item 8; Part 2B, Item 3] [Same as Item 4(3) of the Instructions to Form BD]

24. NASDR CRD or CRD: The Web Central Registration Depository (“CRD”) system operated by the National Association of Securities Dealers Regulation, Inc. (“NASDR”) for the registration of broker-dealers and broker-dealer representatives. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 1; Part 2A, Item 1; Part 2A Appendix 1, Item 1; Part 2B, Item 1; Form ADV-W, Item 1] [Derived from Exchange Act rule 15b1-1 (broker-dealer registration requirements) and rule 1140 of the Membership and Registration Rules of the NASD (electronic filing rules)]

25. Non-Resident: (a) an individual who resides in any place not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; (b) a corporation incorporated in and having its principal office and place of business in any place not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; and (c) a partnership or other unincorporated organization or association that has its principal office and place of business in any place not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. [Used in: Execution Page(s); Form ADV-NR] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 0-2(d)(3)]

26. Notice Filing: SEC-registered advisers may have to provide state securities authorities with copies of documents that are filed with the SEC. These filings are referred to as “notice filings.” [Used in: Part 1A, Item 2; Part 2, General Instructions; Part 2A Appendix 1, Instructions; Execution Page(s); Form ADV-W] [Derived from Coordination Act section 307(a)]

27. Order: A written directive issued pursuant to statutory authority and procedures, including an order of denial, exemption, suspension, or revocation. Unless included in an order, this term does not include special stipulations, undertakings, or agreements relating to payments, limitations on activity or other restrictions. [Used in: Part 1A, Items 2 and 11; Part 2A, Item 8; Part 2B, Item 3; Schedule D; DRPs] [Same as Item 4(3) of the Instructions to Form BD]

28. Performance-Based Fee: An investment advisory fee based on a share of capital gains on, or capital appreciation of, client assets. A fee that is based upon a percentage of assets that you manage is not a performance-based fee. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 5; Part 2A, Item 20] [Derived from Advisers Act rule 205-3(a)]

29. Person: A natural person (an individual) or a company. A company includes any partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company (“LLC”), limited liability partnership (“LLP”), or other organization. [Used throughout Form ADV and Form ADV-W] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act section 202(a)(16) (definition of “person”), section 202(a)(5) (definition of “company”) and Item 5 of the Instructions to current Form ADV]

30. Principal Place of Business or Principal Office and Place of Business: Your firm's executive office from which your firm's officers, partners, or managers direct, control, and coordinate the activities of your firm. [Used in: Part 1A, Items 1 and 2; Schedule D; Form ADV-W, Item 1] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rules 203A-3(c) and 222-1(b)]

31. Proceeding: This term includes a formal administrative or civil action initiated by a governmental agency, self-regulatory organization or foreign financial regulatory authority; a felony criminal indictment or information (or equivalent formal charge); or a misdemeanor criminal information (or equivalent formal charge). This term does not include other civil litigation, investigations, or arrests or similar charges effected in the absence of a formal criminal indictment or information (or equivalent formal charge). [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11; DRPs; Part 2A, Items 8 and 20; Part 2B, Items 3 and 8] [Same as Item 4(3) of the Instructions to Form BD]

32. Related Person: Any advisory affiliate and any person that is under common control with your firm. [Used in: Part 1A, Items 7, 8, 9; Schedule D; Part 2A, Items 9, 10, 11, 13, 14; Form ADV-W, Item 3] [Substantively the same as Item 5 of the Instructions to current Form ADV]

33. Self-Regulatory Organization or SRO: Any national securities or commodities exchange, registered securities association, or registered clearing agency. For example, the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”), National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) and New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) are self-regulatory organizations. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 11; DRPs; Part 1B, Item 2; Part 2A, Items 8 and 20; Part 2B, Items 3 and 8] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 206(4)-4(d)(5) and Item 4(1) of the Instructions to Form BD]

34. Sponsor: A sponsor of a wrap fee program sponsors, organizes, or administers the program or selects, or provides advice to clients regarding the selection of, other investment advisers in the program. [Used in: Part 1A, Item 5; Schedule D; Part 2, General Instructions; Part 2A, Item 4; Part 2A Appendix 1, Instructions] [Derived from Advisers Act rule 204-3(f)(1)]

35. State Securities Authority: The securities commission (or any agency or office performing like functions) of any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or any other possession of the United States. [Used throughout Form ADV]; [Derived from Advisers Act section 202(a)(19) (definition of “State”) and NSMIA section 307(a)]

36. Supervised Person: Any of your officers, partners, directors (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), or employees, or any other person who provides investment advice on your behalf and is subject to your supervision and control. [Used in: Part 2A, Item 5; Part 2B] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act section 202(a)(25)]

37. Wrap Brochure: The written disclosure statement that sponsors of wrap fee programs are required to provide to each of their wrap fee program clients. [Used in: Part 2, Instructions; Part 2A, Appendix 1] [Derived from Advisers Act rule 204-3(f)]

38. Wrap Fee Program: Any advisory program under which a specified fee or fees not based directly upon transactions in a client's account is charged for investment advisory services (which may include portfolio management or advice concerning the selection of other investment advisers) and the execution of client transactions. [Used in: Part 1, Item 5; Schedule D; Part 2, Instructions; Part 2A, Item 4; Part 2A Appendix 1; Part 2B, Instructions] [Substantively the same as Advisers Act rule 204-3(g)(4)]

Form ADV (Paper Version): Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration

Part 2: Uniform Requirements for Investment Adviser Brochure and Supplements

General Instructions for Part 2 of Form ADV

Under SEC and similar state rules, you are required to deliver to clients and prospective clients a brochure disclosing material information about your firm and its business practices. You also may be required to deliver a brochure supplement disclosing material information about one or more of your supervised persons. Part 2 of Form ADV sets out the minimum required disclosures that your brochure (Part 2A for a firm brochure, or Appendix 1 for a wrap fee program brochure) and brochure supplements (Part 2B) must contain.

1. Narrative Format. Part 2 of Form ADV consists of a series of items that contain disclosure requirements for preparing your firm's brochure and any required supplements. The items require narrative responses. You do not have to provide the responses in the same order that the items appear, and you should not repeat the items themselves in the brochure or the supplements.

2. Plain English. The items in Part 2 of Form ADV are designed to promote effective communication between you and your clients. Write your brochure and supplements in plain English, taking into consideration your clients' level of financial sophistication. Your brochure should be concise and direct. In drafting your brochure and brochure supplements, you should: (a) use short sentences; (b) use definite, concrete, everyday words; (c) use active voice; (d) use tables or bullet lists for complex material, whenever possible; (e) avoid legal jargon or highly technical business terms unless you explain them or you believe your clients will understand them; and (f) avoid multiple negatives. Consider providing examples to illustrate a description of your practices or policies.

Note:

The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Assistance has published A Plain English Handbook. You may find this handbook helpful in writing your brochure and supplements. You can get a copy of this handbook from the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov/news/handbook.htm,, or by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

3. Full Disclosure of All Conflicts of Interest. Under federal and state law, you are a fiduciary required to make full disclosure to your clients of all material facts regarding conflicts of interest between you and your client. You therefore may have to disclose to clients information not specifically required by Part 2 of Form ADV.

4. Full and Truthful Disclosure. All information in your brochure and brochure supplements must be true and complete. It is unlawful under federal and state law to make false statements or omit any material facts.

5. Filing. You must file your brochure with your regulators as part of your Form ADV. You will file your brochure with your Form ADV on the IARD system, starting when the IARD system is capable of accepting these filings. Until then:

• If you are registered or registering with the SEC, you will preserve a copy of your brochure and make it available, upon request, to SEC staff—your brochure will be deemed filed with the SEC. See SEC rules 203-1, 204-1, and 204-2(a)(14). If you submit notice filings to states, the state securities authorities require you to send them paper copies of your brochure until the IARD system is capable of accepting these filings. You are not required to file your brochure supplements, but record-keeping rules require you to preserve a copy of the supplements and make them available to SEC staff. See SEC rule 204-2(a)(14).
• If you are registered or registering with one or more of the state securities authorities, you will file with the securities authority for each state in which you are registered or registering a paper copy of your brochure and a paper copy of the brochure supplement for each supervised person and each investment adviser representative doing business in that state.

Instructions for Part 2A of Form ADV: Preparing Your Firm Brochure

1. To whom must we offer or deliver a firm brochure, and when? You must give a firm brochure to each client before or at the time you enter into an advisory agreement with that client. You must deliver the brochure even if your advisory agreement with the client is oral. See SEC rule 204-3(b)(1) and similar state rules.

You must deliver or offer each client a free update of the brochure each year. If a client accepts your offer, you must send the brochure to the client within seven days after you are notified. See SEC rule 204-3(b)(2) and similar state rules.

For SEC-registered advisers: You are not required to deliver, or offer, your brochure to either (1) clients who receive only impersonal investment advice from you and will pay you less than $500 per year or (2) clients that are SEC-registered investment companies (the client must be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the advisory contract must meet requirements of section 15(c) of that Act). See SEC rule 204-3(c).

Note:

Even if you are not required to give a brochure to a client, you still have an affirmative obligation under the anti-fraud provisions of federal and state law to disclose to your clients all material facts regarding conflicts of interest between you and your clients, including all material disciplinary information.

2. How should we offer and deliver our brochure and updates? Can we offer them orally? Electronically? Your annual offer to your clients of an updated brochure must be in writing. You may offer and deliver your brochure using electronic media. The SEC has published interpretive guidelines on delivering documents electronically—you can find these at www.sec.gov/rules/concept/33-7288.txt.

3. We advise limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and trusts. To whom must we offer or deliver our brochure? It depends. If you are an SEC-registered adviser, you should determine whether the “registered investment company exception” in instruction 1 applies. If it does not apply, and you are the general partner of a limited partnership, the manager of a limited liability company, or the trustee of a trust, then you must treat each limited partner, member, or beneficial owner as a client for purposes of delivering your brochure and brochure supplements. You should treat a limited liability partnership or limited liability limited partnership as a limited partnership. See SEC rule 204-3(d).

4. We are an SEC-registered adviser and we have determined that we have no clients to whom we must offer or deliver a brochure. Must we prepare one? No.

5. We offer several advisory services. May we prepare multiple firm brochures? Yes. If you offer substantially different types of advisory services, you may opt to prepare separate brochures so long as each client receives all applicable information about services and fees. Each brochure may omit information that does not apply to the advisory services and fees it describes. For example, your firm brochure that describes one advisory service can omit the fee schedule for a different advisory service that is not discussed in the brochure.

6. We sponsor a wrap fee program. Is there a different brochure we need to offer and deliver to our wrap fee clients? Yes. If you sponsor a wrap fee program, you must offer and deliver a wrap fee program brochure to your wrap fee clients. The disclosure requirements for preparing a wrap fee program brochure (also called a wrap brochure) appear in Part 2A Appendix 1 of Form ADV. If your entire advisory business is sponsoring wrap fee programs, you do not need to prepare a firm brochure separate from your wrap brochure(s). See SEC rule 204-3(e).

7. May we include information not required by an item in our brochure? Yes. If you include information not required by an item, however, you may not include so much additional information that the required information is obscured.

8. What if information in our brochure changes? If any information in your brochure becomes materially inaccurate, you must promptly amend your brochure by either revising and re-distributing your brochure or preparing a sticker to accompany the old brochure, as described below.

(a) Filing the brochure amendment with regulators.

• If you are registered with the SEC, you must preserve a copy of the revised brochure or the sticker, and make the revised brochure (and all stickers) available to SEC staff—your brochure and stickers will be deemed filed with the SEC. State laws require you to file paper copies of all brochure amendments with the state securities authorities to which you make notice filings.
• If you are registered with the state securities authorities, you must file all brochure amendments with the state securities authorities with which you are registered.

(b) Delivering the amendment to clients. You must deliver the new information to your clients promptly after the date of the amendment. To deliver the new information, you can either revise and reprint your brochure or prepare a sticker. Each sticker must explain which information became inaccurate and provide the updated information and the date of the sticker.

Use only your revised brochure (or accompany your brochure with the stickers) to satisfy your brochure delivery requirements (rule 204-3). In addition, you must promptly deliver the sticker (or revised brochure) to all existing clients. You may use a sticker for any brochure amendment (except an annual updating amendment), so long as the brochure remains readable and clear.

Note:

We will notify you when the IARD begins to accept Part 2A, and you will have a grace period before you are required to file your firm brochure with the IARD.

9. Must we revise our brochure every year? Yes. When you file the annual updating amendment to your Form ADV, you must include a revised brochure. You must also reprint this revised brochure, incorporating all current stickers into the brochure text.

10. We are a new firm. Do we need a brochure? Yes. Respond to items in Part 2A of Form ADV based on the advisory services you propose to provide and the policies and practices you propose to adopt.

11. We are a “separately identifiable department or division” (SID) of a bank. Must our brochure discuss our bank's general business practices? No. Information you include in your firm brochure (or in brochure supplements) should be information about you, the SID, and your business practices, rather than general information about your bank.

Part 2A of Form ADV: Firm Brochure

Item 1 Cover Page

A. The cover page of your brochure must state your name, business address, telephone number, and the date of the brochure.

Note:

If you primarily conduct advisory business under a name different from your full legal name, and you have disclosed your business name in Item 1.B. of Part 1A of Form ADV, then you may use your business name throughout your brochure.

B. Display the following statements prominently on your cover page:

This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of [your name]. Please contact [name and/or title of contact person] if you have any questions about the contents of this brochure. The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any State securities authority.

Additional information about [your name] is available on the Internet at [site name to be determined]. You can search this site by a unique identifying number, known as a CRD number. The CRD number for [your name] is [your CRD number].

C. If you refer to yourself as a “registered investment adviser” or describe yourself as being “registered,” include a statement that registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

Item 2 Material Changes

If your brochure contains material changes from its last annual update, summarize those changes. Include the summary on, or immediately following, the cover page of the brochure or in a separate letter accompanying the brochure. The summary must state clearly that it discusses only material changes since the last annual update of your brochure, and it must provide the date of the last annual update of your brochure.

Note:

You do not have to provide the summary to a client or prospective client who has not received a previous version of your brochure.

Item 3 Table of Contents

Provide a table of contents to your brochure.

Note:

Your table of contents must be detailed enough so that your clients can locate topics easily.

Item 4 Advisory Business

A. Describe your advisory firm, including how long you have been in business. Identify your principal owner(s).

Note:

(1) For purposes of this item, your principal owners include the persons you list as owning 25% or more of your firm on Schedule A of Form ADV (Ownership Codes C, D or E). (2) If you are a publicly held company without a 25% shareholder, simply disclose that you are publicly held. (3) If an individual or company owns 25% or more of your firm through subsidiaries, you must identify the individual or parent company and intermediate subsidiaries. If you are a state-registered adviser, you must identify all intermediate subsidiaries. If you are an SEC-registered adviser, you must identify intermediate subsidiaries that are publicly held, but not other intermediate subsidiaries.

B. Describe the types of advisory services you offer. If you hold yourself out as specializing in a particular type of advisory service, such as financial planning or market timing, explain in detail the nature of that service. Similarly, if you provide investment advice only with respect to limited types of securities, explain the type of investment advice you offer, and disclose that your advice is limited to those types of investments.

C. Explain whether and how you tailor your advisory services to the individual needs of clients. Explain whether clients may impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types of securities.

D. If you manage client assets, disclose the amount of assets you manage on a discretionary basis and the amount of assets you manage on a non-discretionary basis. Disclose the date “as of” which you calculated the amounts.

Note:

In calculating the amount of client assets you manage in response to this Item, you do not have to use the method for computing assets under management that you used to respond to Item 5.F. in Part 1A. The amount you disclose may be rounded to the nearest $100,000. Your “as of” date must not be more than three months before the date of your brochure. You do not need to amend your brochure between annual updates solely to update the amounts of client assets you manage.

E. If you issue periodicals or periodic reports about securities, list the names of the periodicals and briefly describe their subject matter.

Note:

You do not need to list or describe a report on an individually named security.

F. If you participate in wrap fee programs by providing portfolio management services, (1) disclose the programs offered and the names of the sponsors, (2) describe any differences between how you manage wrap fee accounts and how you manage other accounts, and (3) explain that you receive a portion of the wrap fee.

Item 5 Fees and Compensation

A. Describe how you are compensated for your advisory services. Provide your fee schedule. Disclose whether the fees are negotiable.

B. Describe whether you deduct fees from clients' assets or bill clients for fees incurred. If clients may select either method, disclose this fact. Explain how often you bill clients or deduct your fees.

C. Describe any other types of fees or expenses clients may pay in connection with your advisory services, such as custodian fees or mutual fund expenses. Disclose the amount or range of these fees. Disclose that clients will incur brokerage and other transaction costs, and direct the reader to the section of your brochure discussing brokerage.

D. If your clients either may or must pay your fees in advance, disclose this fact. Explain how a client may obtain a refund of any pre-paid fee if the advisory contract is terminated before the end of the billing period. Explain how you will determine the amount of the refund.

E. If you or a supervised person accepts compensation for the sale of securities or other investment products, including distribution or service (“trail”) fees from the sale of mutual funds, disclose this fact and respond to Items 5.E.1, 5.E.2., 5.E.3. and 5.E.4.

1. Explain that this practice presents a conflict of interest and gives you or the supervised person an incentive to recommend investment products based on the compensation received, rather than on the client's needs. Describe your internal procedures or controls for addressing conflicts that arise, including your procedures for disclosing conflicts to clients. If you recommend primarily mutual funds, disclose whether you will recommend “no-load” funds.

2. Explain that clients have the option to purchase investment products that you recommend through other brokers or agents that are not affiliated with you.

3. If more than 50% of your revenue from advisory clients results from commissions and other compensation for the sale of investment products you recommend to your clients, including trail fees from the sale of mutual funds, disclose that commissions provide your primary or, if applicable, your exclusive compensation.

4. If you charge advisory fees in addition to commissions, disclose whether you reduce your advisory fees to offset the commissions you accept.

Note:

If you receive commissions in connection with the purchase or sale of securities, you should carefully consider the applicability of the broker-dealer registration requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Item 6 Types of Clients

Describe the types of clients to whom you generally provide investment advice, such as individuals, trusts, investment companies, or pension plans. If you have any requirements to open or maintain an account, such as a minimum account size, disclose the requirements.

Item 7 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss

A. Describe the methods of analysis and investment strategies you use in formulating investment advice or managing assets. Explain that investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear.

B. If you primarily use a particular method of analysis or strategy, explain the specific risks involved. If the method of analysis or strategy involves significant or unusual risks, discuss these risks in detail. If your primary strategy involves frequent trading of securities, explain how frequent trading can affect investment performance, particularly through increased brokerage and other transaction costs and taxes.

C. If you recommend primarily a particular type of security, explain the specific risks involved. If the type of security involves significant or unusual risks, discuss these risks in detail.

D. Discuss your practices regarding cash balances in client accounts, including whether you invest cash balances for temporary purposes and, if so, how.

Item 8 Disciplinary Information

If there are legal or disciplinary events that are material to a client's or prospective client's evaluation of your advisory business and the integrity of your management, disclose all material facts regarding those events. This disclosure is required under anti-fraud provisions such as section 206 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

If your advisory firm or a management person has been involved in an administrative proceeding before the SEC described in Item 8.B.2. below, then you must also deliver a copy of the SEC's order to your clients if the date of the order is on or after [effective date of new Form ADV]. You must deliver copies of the order as if it were a sticker to your brochure (that is, the order must accompany your brochure to prospective clients, and you must also deliver the order to existing clients), for one year following the date of the order.

Items 8.A., 8.B., and 8.C. list specific legal and disciplinary events that you must presume are material for this Item. If your advisory firm or a management person has been involved in one of these events, you must disclose it under this Item for ten years following the date of the event, unless (1) the event was resolved in your or the management person's favor, or was reversed, suspended or vacated, or (2) the event is not material (see Note below). For purposes of calculating this ten-year period, the “date” of an event is the date the final order, judgment, or decree was entered, or the date any rights of appeal from preliminary orders, judgments or decrees lapsed.

Items 8.A., 8.B., and 8.C. are not an exclusive list. If your advisory firm or a management person has been involved in a legal or disciplinary event that is not listed in Items 8.A., 8.B., or 8.C. but is material to a client's or prospective client's evaluation of your advisory business or the integrity of its management, you must disclose the event. Similarly, even if more than ten years have passed since the date of the event, you must disclose the event if it is so serious that it remains currently material to the client's or prospective client's evaluation.

A. A criminal or civil action in a domestic, foreign or military court of competent jurisdiction in which your firm or a management person.

1. was convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere (“no contest”) to (a) any felony; (b) a misdemeanor that involved investments or an investment-related business, fraud, false statements or omissions, wrongful taking of property, bribery, perjury, forgery, counterfeiting, or extortion; or (c) a conspiracy to commit any of these offenses;

2. is the named subject of a pending criminal proceeding that involves an investment-related business, fraud, false statements or omissions, wrongful taking of property, bribery, forgery, counterfeiting, extortion, or a conspiracy to commit any of these offenses;

3. was found to have been involved in a violation of an investment-related statute or regulation; or

4. was the subject of any order, judgment, or decree permanently or temporarily enjoining, or otherwise limiting, your firm or a management person from engaging in any investment-related activity, or from violating any investment-related statute, rule, or order.

B. An administrative proceeding before the SEC, any other federal regulatory agency, any state regulatory agency, or any foreign financial regulatory authority in which your firm or a management person.

1. was found to have caused an investment-related business to lose its authorization to do business; or

2. was found to have been involved in a violation of an investment-related statute or regulation and was the subject of an order by the agency or authority

(a) denying, suspending, or revoking the authorization of your firm or a management person to act in an investment-related business;

(b) barring or suspending your firm's or a management person's association with an investment-related business;

(c) otherwise significantly limiting your firm's or a management person's investment-related activities; or

(d) imposing a civil money penalty of more than $2,500 on your firm or a management person.

C. A self-regulatory organization (SRO) proceeding in which your firm or a management person.

1. was found to have caused an investment-related business to lose its authorization to do business; or

2. was found to have been involved in a violation of the SRO's rules and was the subject of an order by the SRO barring or suspending your firm or a management person from membership or from association with other members, or expelling your firm or a management person from membership; otherwise significantly limiting your firm's or a management person's investment-related activities; or fining your firm or a management person more than $2,500.

Note:

Special circumstances may make an event immaterial (overcoming the materiality presumption). If an event is immaterial, you are not required to disclose it. Your determination, however, is not binding on any other person, including any regulator or court. When you review a legal or disciplinary event involving your firm or a management person for materiality, you should consider all of the following factors: (1) the proximity of the person involved in the disciplinary event to the advisory function; (2) the nature of the infraction that led to the disciplinary event; (3) the severity of the disciplinary sanction; and (4) the time elapsed since the date of the disciplinary event. If you determine that the materiality presumption is overcome, you may be required to keep a file memorandum of your determination. See SEC rule 204-2(a)(14)(ii).

Item 9 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations

A. If you or any of your management persons are registered, or have an application pending to register, as a broker-dealer or a registered representative of a broker-dealer, disclose this fact.

B. If you or any of your management persons are registered, or have an application pending to register, as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, or a commodity trading advisor, disclose this fact.

C. Describe any material relationship or arrangement that you or any of your management persons have with any related person listed below. Identify the related person and, if the relationship or arrangement creates a material conflict of interest with clients, describe the nature of the conflict and the restrictions or internal procedures you use when there is a conflict of interest, including any procedures for disclosing these conflicts to clients.

1. broker-dealer, municipal securities dealer, or government securities dealer or broker.

2. investment company (including a mutual fund, closed-end investment company, unit investment trust, private investment company or “hedge fund,” and offshore fund).

3. other investment adviser or financial planner.

4. futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, or commodity trading advisor.

5. banking or thrift institution.

6. accountant or accounting firm.

7. lawyer or law firm.

8. insurance company or agency.

9. pension consultant.

10. real estate broker or dealer.

11. sponsor or syndicator of limited partnerships.

12. securities exchange, securities association, or alternative trading system.

D. If you recommend or select other investment advisers for your clients and you receive compensation directly or indirectly from those advisers, or you have other business relationships with those advisers, describe these practices and discuss the conflicts of interest these practices create.

Item 10 Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading

A. If you or a related person recommends to clients, or buys or sells for client accounts, securities in which you or a related person has a material financial interest (excluding an interest as a shareholder of an SEC-registered, open-end investment company), describe your practice and discuss the conflicts of interest it presents. Describe your internal procedures or controls for addressing conflicts that arise, including your procedures for disclosing conflicts to clients. You do not need to repeat any information you provided in response to Item 5 of Part 2A.

Examples: (1) You or a related person, as principal, buys securities from (or sells securities to) your clients; (2) you or a related person acts as general partner in a partnership in which you solicit client investments; or (3) you or a related person acts as investment adviser to an investment company that you recommend to clients.

B. If you or a related person invests in the same securities (or related securities, e.g., warrants, options or futures) that you or a related person recommends to clients, discuss the conflicts of interest this presents and the restrictions or internal procedures you use when there is a conflict of interest in connection with personal trading, including your procedures for disclosing conflicts to clients.

C. If you or a related person recommends securities to clients, or buys or sells securities for client accounts, at or about the same time that you or a related person buys or sells the same securities for your own (or the related person's own) account, describe your practice and discuss the conflicts of interest it presents. Describe your internal procedures or controls for addressing conflicts that arise, including your procedures for disclosing conflicts to clients.

Note:

If your firm has a code of ethics, some of the procedures you should discuss in response to Item 10 may be part of your code of ethics.

Item 11 Brokerage Practices

A. Describe your policies and practices in selecting or recommending broker-dealers for client transactions and determining the reasonableness of their compensation (e.g., commissions or spreads).

1. Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits. If you receive research or other products or services other than execution (known as soft dollar benefits) from a broker-dealer or a third party in connection with client securities transactions, disclose your practices and discuss the conflicts of interest they create.

Note:

Your disclosure and discussion must include all soft dollar benefits you receive, both proprietary (created or developed by the broker-dealer) and created or developed by a third party.

a. Explain that when you use client brokerage commissions to obtain research, products or services, you receive a benefit because you do not have to produce or pay for the research, products or services.

b. Disclose that you may have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on your interest in receiving the research, products or services, rather than on your clients' interest in paying the lowest commission rate available.

c. If you may cause clients to pay commissions higher than those charged by other broker-dealers in return for soft dollar benefits (known as paying-up), disclose this fact.

d. Disclose whether you use soft dollar benefits to service all of your clients' accounts or only those that paid for the benefits. Disclose whether you seek to allocate soft dollar benefits to client accounts proportionately to the soft dollar credits the accounts generate.

e. Explain the procedures you used during your last fiscal year to direct client transactions to a particular broker-dealer in return for soft dollar benefits.

f. Describe the types of products and services you or any of your related persons acquired with client brokerage commissions within your last fiscal year.

Note:

This description must be specific enough for your clients to understand the types of products or services you are acquiring and permit them to evaluate possible conflicts of interest. Your description must be more detailed for products or services that are not used in your investment decision-making process. Merely disclosing that you obtain various research reports and products is not specific enough.

2. Brokerage for Client Referrals. If you consider, in selecting or recommending broker-dealers, whether you or a related person receives client referrals from a broker-dealer or third party, disclose this practice and discuss the conflicts of interest it creates.

a. Disclose that you may have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on your interest in receiving client referrals, rather than on your clients' interest in receiving the best execution services at the lowest rates available.

b. Explain any procedures you used during your last fiscal year to direct client transactions to a particular broker-dealer in return for client referrals.

3. Directed Brokerage.

a. If you routinely request or require that a client direct you to execute transactions through a specified broker-dealer, describe your practice or policy. Explain that not all advisers require their clients to direct brokerage. If you and the broker-dealer are affiliates or have another economic relationship that creates a material conflict of interest, describe the relationship and discuss the conflicts of interest it presents. If you must respond to this Item, you must also respond to Item 11.A.3.b. of Part 2A.

b. If you permit a client to direct brokerage, describe your practices. Explain that you may be unable to achieve best execution of client transactions. Explain that directing brokerage may cost clients more money. For example, in a directed brokerage account, the client may pay higher brokerage commissions because you may not be able to negotiate lower commissions or aggregate orders to reduce transaction costs.

4. Commission Recapture. If you direct any client transactions to a broker-dealer that provides commission recapture benefits to your client based on the trades you place, explain how commission recapture works, describe the benefits of commission recapture and explain how a client can elect to participate in commission recapture.

Note:

“Commission recapture” means a program that permits a client, rather than the adviser, to receive benefits (including cash rebates, products, services, and expense payments or reimbursements) from broker-dealers in connection with that client's securities transactions.

B. Discuss whether and under what conditions you negotiate brokerage commissions on behalf of clients. If you do not negotiate commissions, or if you limit the extent to which you negotiate commissions, explain that this may result in clients paying higher brokerage costs than they might otherwise pay.

C. Discuss whether and under what conditions you aggregate the purchase or sale of securities for various client accounts in quantities sufficient to obtain reduced transaction costs (known as bunching). If you do not bunch orders when you have the opportunity to do so, explain your practice and describe the costs to clients of not bunching.

Item 12 Review of Accounts

A. Indicate whether you periodically review client accounts or financial plans. If you do, describe the frequency and nature of the review, and the titles of the employees who conduct the review.

B. If you review client accounts on other than a periodic basis, describe the factors that trigger a review.

C. Describe the content and indicate the frequency of regular reports you provide to clients regarding their accounts. State whether these reports are written.

Item 13 Payment for Client Referrals

A. If someone who is not a client provides an economic benefit to you for providing investment advice or other advisory services to your clients, describe the arrangement. For purposes of this Item, economic benefits include any sales awards or other prizes. You do not need to repeat any information you provided in response to Item 5 of Part 2A.

B. If you or a related person directly or indirectly compensates any person who is not your employee for client referrals, describe the arrangement and the compensation.

Note:

If you compensate any person for client referrals, you should consider whether rules regarding solicitation arrangements and/or state rules requiring registration of investment adviser representatives apply.

Item 14 Custody

A. If you have custody of client funds or securities, disclose this fact. If you are not a bank, an insurance company, or a broker-dealer excepted from the requirements of rule 206(4)-2, disclose the additional risks that clients will face by having their assets in your custody instead of held by an independent custodian.

Note:

You may be deemed to have custody of client funds or securities if a related person has custody. If so, your response to Item 14.A. should also identify the related person who has custody.

B. If you require clients to give you custody of their funds or securities, disclose that most advisers do not require this.

Note:

You are not required to respond to Item 14.B. if you have custody solely because you (1) act as general partner for limited partnerships that you advise, (2) serve as trustee for your client accounts, or (3) deduct your advisory fees directly from your clients' accounts.

C. If you have custody over any clients' funds or securities, disclose what special reports, if any, you provide to those clients.

Item 15 Investment Discretion

If you accept discretionary authority to manage securities accounts on behalf of clients, disclose this fact and describe any limitations clients may (or customarily do) place on this authority. Describe the procedures you follow before you assume this authority (e.g., execution of a power of attorney).

Item 16 Proxy Voting Policies

A. If you have, or will accept, authority to exercise voting power with respect to client securities, disclose the policies, practices, and procedures you use to determine how to vote proxies. Describe whether (and if so, how) your clients can direct your vote in a particular proxy solicitation, and what procedures you use when there is a conflict between your interest and those of your clients. Explain whether (and, if so, how) clients can find out how you voted with respect to their securities in a particular proxy solicitation.

B. If you do not vote proxies with respect to client securities, disclose this fact. Explain whether clients will receive their proxies directly from their custodian or a transfer agent or from you, and discuss whether (and if so, how) clients can contact you with questions about a particular proxy solicitation.

Item 17 Investment Performance

If you advertise or report the investment performance (such as the rate of return) of your managed accounts, securities recommendations, or model portfolios, describe any standards you use to calculate (or present) this performance, such as industry standards or standards used solely by you. Disclose whether any third party reviews this performance information to determine or verify its accuracy or its compliance with presentation standards; if so, name the person conducting the review and briefly describe the nature of the review.

Item 18 Financial Information

A. If you have custody of client funds or securities, or you require or solicit prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per client, six months or more in advance, include a balance sheet for your most recent fiscal year.

1. The balance sheet must be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, audited by an independent public accountant, and accompanied by a note stating the principles used to prepare it, the basis of securities included, and any other explanations required for clarity.

2. Show parenthetically the market or fair value of securities included at cost.

3. Qualifications and any accompanying independent accountant's report must conform to Article 2 of SEC Regulation S-X.

Note:

If you are a sole proprietor, show investment advisory business assets and liabilities separate from other business and personal assets and liabilities. You may aggregate other business and personal assets unless advisory business liabilities exceed advisory business assets.

Note:

If you are an SEC-registered adviser and you are a bank, an insurance company or a broker-dealer excepted from the requirements of SEC rule 206(4)-2, you do not need to provide a balance sheet.

Note:

If you have not completed your first fiscal year, include a balance sheet dated not more than 90 days prior to the date of your brochure.

B. If you are an SEC-registered adviser and you have discretionary authority or custody of client funds or securities, or you require or solicit prepayment of more than $1,200 in fees per client, six months or more in advance, disclose all of your financial conditions that are reasonably likely to impair your ability to meet contractual commitments to clients. This disclosure is required under anti-fraud provisions such as section 206 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

C. If you have been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at any time during the past ten years, disclose that fact.

Item 19 Index

The brochure you file with the SEC or state securities authorities must contain (or be accompanied by) an index of the items required by this Part 2A, indicating where in the brochure you address each item (e.g., Item 18, page 3). The brochure you provide to your clients does not need to include this index.

If you are registering or registered with one or more state securities authorities, you must respond to the following additional Item.

Item 20 Requirements for State-Registered Advisers

A. Identify each of your principal executive officers and management persons, and describe their formal education and business background. If you have supplied this information elsewhere in your Form ADV, you do not need to repeat it in response to this Item.

B. Describe any business in which you are actively engaged (other than giving investment advice) and the approximate amount of time spent on that business. If you have supplied this information elsewhere in your Form ADV, you do not need to repeat it in response to this Item.

C. In addition to the description of your fees in response to Item 5 of Part 2A, if you or a supervised person are compensated for advisory services with performance-based fees, disclose this fact, and explain how this fee will be calculated. Disclose specifically that performance-based compensation may create an incentive for the adviser to recommend an investment that may carry a higher degree of risk to the client.

D. In addition to the events listed in Item 8 of Part 2A, if your advisory firm or a management person has been involved in one of the events listed below, disclose all material facts regarding the event.

1. an award or otherwise being found liable in an arbitration claim alleging damages in excess of $2,500, involving any of the following:

(a) an investment or an investment-related business or activity;

(b) fraud, false statement(s), or omissions;

(c) theft, embezzlement, or other wrongful taking of property;

(d) bribery, forgery, counterfeiting, or extortion; or

(e) dishonest, unfair, or unethical practices.

2. an award or otherwise being found liable in a civil, self-regulatory organization, or administrative proceeding involving any of the following:

(a) an investment or an investment-related business or activity;

(b) fraud, false statement(s), or omissions;

(c) theft, embezzlement, or other wrongful taking of property;

(d) bribery, forgery, counterfeiting, or extortion; or

(e) dishonest, unfair, or unethical practices.

E. In addition to any relationship or arrangement described in response to Item 9.C. of Part 2A, describe any relationship or arrangement that you or any of your management persons have with any issuer of securities that is not listed in Item 9.C. of Part 2A.

F. Include a sample copy of each of your advisory contracts that you are currently using or that you have used during your most recently completed fiscal year.

G. If you have discretionary authority or custody of client funds or securities, or you require or solicit prepayment of more than $500 in fees per client, six months or more in advance, disclose all of your financial conditions that are reasonably likely to impair your ability to meet contractual commitments to clients.

Instructions for Part 2A Appendix 1 of Form ADV: Preparing Your Wrap Fee Program Brochure

1. Who must deliver a wrap fee program brochure, and when? If you sponsor a wrap fee program, you must give a wrap brochure to each client of the wrap fee program before or at the time the client enters into a wrap fee program contract. A wrap brochure takes the place of your advisory firm brochure required by Part 2A of Form ADV, but only for clients of wrap fee programs that you sponsor. You must deliver or offer each wrap fee program client a free update of the wrap brochure each year. If a client accepts this offer, you must send the wrap brochure to the client within seven days after you are notified. See SEC rule 204-3(b) and (e).

2. How should we offer and deliver our wrap fee program brochure and annual updates? Can we offer them orally? Electronically? Your annual offer to your clients of an updated wrap fee program brochure must be in writing. You may deliver and offer your wrap fee program brochure using electronic media. The SEC has published interpretive guidelines on delivering documents electronically—you can find these at www.sec.gov/rules/concept/33-7288.txt.

3. Must we also deliver brochure supplements to wrap fee program clients? Yes. A wrap brochure does not take the place of any supplements required by Part 2B of Form ADV.

4. What if we sponsor more than one wrap fee program? You may prepare a single wrap brochure describing all the wrap fee programs you sponsor, or you may prepare separate wrap brochures that describe one or more of your wrap fee programs. If you prepare separate brochures, each brochure must state that you sponsor other wrap fee programs and must explain how the client can obtain brochures for the other programs.

5. Our wrap fee program has multiple sponsors. Must each sponsor create and deliver or offer a separate wrap brochure? No. If another sponsor creates, and delivers to your wrap fee program clients, a wrap brochure that includes all information required in your wrap brochure, you do not have to create and deliver or offer a separate wrap brochure. See SEC rule 204-3(e)(2).

6. We provide portfolio management services under a wrap fee program that we sponsor. Must we deliver both our wrap brochure and our firm brochure to our wrap fee program clients? No, just the wrap brochure. If you or your employees provide portfolio management services under a wrap fee program that you also sponsor, your wrap brochure must describe the investments and investment strategies you (or your employees) will use as portfolio managers. This requirement appears in Item 6.B. of this Appendix.

7. We provide other advisory services outside of our wrap fee programs. May we combine our wrap brochure into our firm brochure for clients receiving these other services? No. Your wrap brochure must address only the wrap fee programs you sponsor. See SEC rule 204-3(e)(1).

8. What if information in a wrap brochure changes? If any information in your brochure becomes materially inaccurate, you must promptly amend the wrap brochure by either revising and re-distributing the wrap brochure or preparing a sticker to accompany the old wrap brochure, as described below.

(a) Filing the wrap brochure amendment with regulators.

• If you are registered with the SEC, you must preserve a copy of the revised wrap brochure or the sticker, and make the revised wrap brochure (and all stickers) available to SEC staff—your wrap brochure and stickers will be deemed filed with the SEC. State laws require you to file paper copies of all wrap brochure amendments with the state securities authorities to which you make notice filings.
• If you are registered with the state securities authorities, you must file all wrap brochure amendments with the state securities authorities with which you are registered.

(b) Delivering the amendment to clients. You must deliver the new information to your clients, promptly after the date of the amendment. To deliver the new information, you can either revise and reprint your wrap brochure or prepare a sticker. Each sticker must explain which information became inaccurate and provide the updated information and the date of the sticker.

Use only your revised wrap brochure (or accompany your wrap brochure with the stickers) to satisfy your wrap brochure delivery requirements (rule 204-3). In addition, you must promptly deliver the sticker (or revised wrap brochure) to all existing clients. You may use a sticker for any wrap brochure amendment (except an annual updating amendment), so long as the wrap brochure remains readable and clear.

Note:

We will notify you when the IARD begins to accept Part 2A (including Appendix 1), and you will have a grace period before you are required to file wrap fee program brochures with the IARD.

9. Must we revise our wrap brochure every year? Yes. When you file the annual updating amendment to your Form ADV, you must include a revised wrap brochure. You must also reprint this revised wrap brochure, incorporating all current stickers into the wrap brochure text.

Part 2A Appendix 1 of Form ADV: Wrap Fee Program Brochure

Item 1 Cover Page

A. The cover page of your wrap fee program brochure must state your name, business address, telephone number, and the date of the wrap brochure.

Note:

If you primarily conduct advisory business under a name different from your full legal name, and you have disclosed your business name in Item 1.B. of Part 1A of Form ADV, then you may use your business name throughout your wrap brochure.

B. Display the following statements prominently on your cover page:

This brochure provides information that you should consider before becoming a client of the [name of program or programs]. Please contact [name and/or title of contact person] if you have any questions about the contents of this brochure. The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any State securities authority.

Additional information about [your name] is available on the Internet at [site name to be determined]. You can search this site by a unique identifying number, known as a CRD number. The CRD for [your name] is [your CRD number].

Item 2 Material Changes

If your wrap brochure contains material changes from its last annual update, summarize those changes. Include the summary on, or immediately following, the cover page of the brochure or in a separate letter accompanying the brochure. The summary must clearly state that it discusses only material changes since the last annual update of the wrap brochure, and must provide the date of the last annual update to the wrap brochure.

Note:

You are not required to give the summary to a client or prospective client who has not received a previous version of your wrap brochure.

Item 3 Table of Contents

Provide a table of contents to your wrap brochure.

Note:

Your table of contents must be detailed enough so that your clients can locate topics easily.

Item 4 Services, Fees and Compensation

A. Describe the services, including the types of portfolio management services, provided under each program. Indicate the wrap fee charged for each program or, if fees vary according to a schedule, provide your fee schedule. Indicate whether fees are negotiable and identify the portion of the total fee, or the range of fees, paid to portfolio managers.

B. Explain that the program may cost the client more or less than purchasing such services separately and describe the factors that bear upon the relative cost of the program, such as the cost of the services if provided separately and the trading activity in the client's account.

C. Describe any fees that the client may pay in addition to the wrap fee, and describe the circumstances under which clients may pay these fees, including, if applicable, mutual fund expenses and mark-ups, mark-downs, or spreads paid to market makers.

D. If the person recommending the wrap fee program to the client receives compensation as a result of the client's participation in the program, disclose this fact. Explain that the amount of this compensation may be more than what the person would receive if the client participated in your other programs or paid separately for investment advice, brokerage, and other services. Explain that the person, therefore, may have a financial incentive to recommend the wrap fee program over other programs or services.

Item 5 Account Requirements and Types of Clients

If a wrap fee program imposes any requirements to open or maintain an account, such as a minimum account size, disclose these requirements. If there is a minimum amount for assets placed with each portfolio manager as well as a minimum account size for participation in the wrap fee program, disclose and explain these requirements. To the extent applicable to your wrap fee program clients, describe the types of clients to whom you generally provide investment advice, such as individuals, trusts, investment companies, or pension plans.

Item 6 Portfolio Manager Selection and Evaluation

A. Describe how you select and review portfolio managers, your basis for recommending or selecting portfolio managers for particular clients, and your criteria for replacing or recommending the replacement of portfolio managers for the program and for particular clients.

1. Describe any standards you use to calculate portfolio manager performance, such as industry standards or standards used solely by you.

2. Indicate whether you review, or whether any third party reviews, performance information to determine or verify its accuracy or its compliance with presentation standards. If so, briefly describe the nature of the review and the name of any third party conducting the review.

3. If applicable, explain that neither you nor a third party reviews portfolio manager performance information, and/or that performance information may not be calculated on a uniform and consistent basis.

B. If you, or any of your employees covered under your investment adviser registration, acts as portfolio manager for a wrap fee program described in the wrap brochure, respond to Items 7.A. (Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss) and 16 (Proxy Voting Policies) of Part 2A of Form ADV.

Item 7 Client Information Provided to Portfolio Managers

Describe the information about clients that you communicate to the clients' portfolio managers, and how often or under what circumstances you provide updated information.

Item 8 Client Contact with Portfolio Managers

Explain any restrictions placed on clients' ability to contact and consult with their portfolio managers.

Item 9 Additional Information

A. Respond to Item 8 (Disciplinary Information) and Item 9 (Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations) of Part 2A of Form ADV.

B. Respond to Items 10 (Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading), 12 (Review of Accounts), 13 (Payment for Client Referrals), and 18 (Financial Information) of Part 2A of Form ADV, as applicable to your wrap fee clients.

Item 10 Index

The wrap brochure you file with the SEC or state securities authorities must contain (or be accompanied by) an index of the items required by this Appendix, indicating where in the wrap brochure you address each item. The wrap brochure you provide to your clients does not need to include this index.

If you are registering or registered with one or more state securities authorities, you must respond to the following additional Item.

Item 11 Requirements for State-Registered Advisers

Respond to Items 20.D. and 20.F. of Part 2A of Form ADV.

Part 2B of Form ADV: Instructions for Preparing a Brochure Supplement

1. For which supervised persons must we prepare a brochure supplement? Generally, you must prepare a brochure supplement for each supervised person who will provide advisory services to clients. You should begin, however, by determining whether you are required to deliver or offer the brochure supplement for a particular supervised person to any client. If you have no client to whom you must deliver or offer the brochure supplement for a particular supervised person, then that supervised person does not need a supplement.

As a general rule:

• You must prepare a supplement for each supervised person who on a regular basis communicates investment advice to a client.
• You must also prepare a supplement for each supervised person who formulates advice for a client even if the supervised person has no client contact. However, you do not have to prepare a supplement for a supervised person who has no client contact and determines investment advice only as part of a committee.
• If your firm has discretionary authority over client assets, you must also prepare a supplement for each supervised person who makes discretionary investment decisions for client assets even if the supervised person has no client contact.

2. To whom must we offer or deliver supplements, and when? First, determine whether you are required to deliver a firm brochure (or wrap fee program brochure) to your client; if not, then you are not required to deliver any brochure supplements to that client, either. See SEC rule 204-3(c).

If you are required to deliver a firm brochure (or wrap brochure) to a client, however, then you must also give that client the brochure supplement for a supervised person before or at the time the supervised person begins to provide advisory services to that client. You must deliver or offer a free update of the supplement each year. If a client accepts this offer, you must send the supplement to the client within seven days after you are notified. See SEC rule 204-3(b).

A supervised person will provide advisory services to a client if he or she (a) will regularly communicate investment advice to that client, (b) will formulate investment advice for assets of that client, or (c) will make discretionary investment decisions for assets of that client. See SEC rule 204-3(b)(1)(B). You may have a supervised person deliver his or her own supplement on your behalf, but your firm remains responsible for seeing that the delivery is made.

3. How should we offer and deliver supplements and updates? Can we offer them orally? Electronically? Your annual offer to your clients of updated supplements must be in writing. You may deliver and offer supplements using electronic media. The SEC has published interpretive guidelines on delivering documents electronically—you can find these at www.sec.gov/rules/concept/33-7288.txt.

4. Some of our clients receive only impersonal investment advice from us. Must we deliver or offer supplements to them? No. You are not required to deliver a brochure supplement to clients who receive only impersonal investment advice from you. See SEC rule 204-3(c)(2).

5. Must brochure supplements be separate documents? No. If your firm brochure includes all the information required in a brochure supplement, you do not need a separate supplement. Smaller firms with just a few supervised persons may find it easier to include all supplement information in their firm brochure, while larger firms may prefer to use a firm brochure and separate supplements.

If your firm brochure includes some (but not all) supplement information about a supervised person, the supplement can refer the reader to the appropriate section(s) of your firm brochure instead of repeating the information.

You may prepare supplements for groups of supervised persons. A group supplement, or a firm brochure presenting supplement information about supervised persons, must present information in a separate section for each supervised person.

6. May we include information not required by an item in our brochure? Yes. If you include information not required by an item, however, you may not include so much additional information that the required information is obscured.

7. What if information in a brochure supplement changes? If any information in a brochure supplement becomes materially inaccurate, you must promptly amend the supplement by either revising and re-distributing the supplement or preparing a sticker to accompany the old supplement, as described below.

(a) Filing the supplement amendment with regulators.

• If you are registered with the SEC, you are not required to file the revised supplement or sticker. However, record-keeping rules require you to preserve a copy of the revised supplement or the sticker, and make the revised supplement (and all stickers) available to SEC staff.
• If you are registered with the state securities authorities, you must file all supplement amendments with the state securities authorities with which you are registered.

(b) Delivering the amendment to clients. You must deliver the new information to all clients for whom the supervised person provides advisory services, promptly after the date of the amendment. To deliver the new information, you can either revise and reprint the supplement or prepare a sticker. Each sticker must explain which information became inaccurate and provide the updated information and the date of the sticker.

Use only the revised supplement (or accompany the old supplement with the stickers) to satisfy your brochure and supplement delivery requirements (rule 204-3). In addition, you must promptly deliver the sticker (or revised supplement) to all existing clients for whom the supervised person provides advisory services. You may use a sticker for any brochure amendment (except an annual updating amendment), so long as the brochure remains readable and clear.

8. Must we revise a supplement every year? Yes. When you make your annual updating amendment to your Form ADV, you must revise your brochure supplements and reprint them, incorporating all current stickers into the text.

Part 2B of Form ADV: Brochure Supplement

Item 1 Cover Page

A. Include the following on the cover page of the supplement.

1. The supervised person's name, business address and telephone number (if different from yours).

2. Your firm's name, business address and telephone number. If your firm brochure uses a business name for your firm, use the same business name for the firm in the supplement.

3. The date of the supplement.

B. Display the following statements prominently on the cover page of the supplement:

This supplement provides information about [name of supervised person ] that supplements the [name of advisory firm] brochure. You should have received a copy of that brochure. Please contact [name and/or title of your contact person ] if you did not receive [name of advisory firm]'s brochure or if you have any questions about the contents of this supplement.

Additional information about [name of supervised person ] is available on the Internet at [site name to be determined]. You can search this site by a unique identifying number, known as a CRD number. The CRD number for [name of supervised person ] is [supervised person's CRD number].

Item 2 Educational Background and Business Experience

Disclose the supervised person's name, age (or year of birth), formal education after high school, professional designations or attainments, and business background for the preceding five years. If the supervised person either has no formal education after high school or has no business background, disclose this fact.

Item 3 Disciplinary Information

If there are legal or disciplinary events material to a client's or prospective client's evaluation of the supervised person's integrity, disclose all material facts regarding those events. This disclosure is required under anti-fraud provisions such as section 206 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Items 3.A., 3.B., 3.C., and 3.D. below list specific legal and disciplinary events that you must presume are material for this Item. If the supervised person has been involved in one of these events, you must disclose it under this Item for ten years following the date of the event, unless (1) the event was resolved in the supervised person's favor, or was reversed, suspended or vacated, or (2) the event is not material (see Note below). For purposes of calculating this ten-year period, the “date” of an event is the date the final order, judgment, or decree was entered, or the date any rights of appeal from preliminary orders, judgments or decrees lapsed.

Items 3.A., 3.B., 3.C., and 3.D. are not an exclusive list. If the supervised person has been involved in a legal or disciplinary event that is not listed in Items 3.A., 3.B., 3.C., or 3.D. but is material to a client's or prospective client's evaluation of the supervised person's integrity, you must disclose the event.

A. A criminal or civil action in a domestic, foreign or military court of competent jurisdiction in which the supervised person.

1. was convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere (“no contest”) to (a) any felony; (b) a misdemeanor that involved investments or an investment-related business, fraud, false statements or omissions, wrongful taking of property, bribery, perjury, forgery, counterfeiting, or extortion; or (c) a conspiracy to commit any of these offenses;

2. is the named subject of a pending criminal proceeding that involves an investment-related business, fraud, false statements or omissions, wrongful taking of property, bribery, forgery, counterfeiting, extortion, or a conspiracy to commit any of these offenses;

3. was found to have been involved in a violation of an investment-related statute or regulation; or

4. was the subject of any order, judgment, or decree permanently or temporarily enjoining, or otherwise limiting, the supervised person from engaging in any investment-related activity, or from violating any investment-related statute, rule, or order.

B. An administrative proceeding before the SEC, any other federal regulatory agency, any state regulatory agency, or any foreign financial regulatory authority in which the supervised person.

1. was found to have caused an investment-related business to lose its authorization to do business; or

2. was found to have been involved in a violation of an investment-related statute or regulation and was the subject of an order by the agency or authority

(a) denying, suspending, or revoking the authorization of the supervised person to act in an investment-related business;

(b) barring or suspending the supervised person's association with an investment-related business;

(c) otherwise significantly limiting the supervised person's investment-related activities; or

(d) imposing a civil money penalty of more than $2,500 on the supervised person.

C. A self-regulatory organization (SRO) proceeding in which the supervised person

1. was found to have caused an investment-related business to lose its authorization to do business; or

2. was found to have been involved in a violation of the SRO's rules and was the subject of an order by the SRO barring or suspending the supervised person from membership or from association with other members, or expelling the supervised person from membership; otherwise significantly limiting the supervised person's investment-related activities; or fining the supervised person more than $2,500.

D. Any other proceeding revoking or suspending a professional attainment, designation, or license of the supervised person.

Note:

Special circumstances may make an event immaterial (overcoming the materiality presumption). If an event is immaterial, you are not required to disclose it. Your determination, however, is not binding on any other person, including any regulator or court. When you review a legal or disciplinary event involving the supervised person for materiality, you should consider all of the following factors: (1) the proximity of the supervised person to the advisory function; (2) the nature of the infraction that led to the disciplinary event; (3) the severity of the disciplinary sanction; and (4) the time elapsed since the date of the disciplinary event. If you determine that the materiality presumption is overcome, you may be required to keep a file memorandum of your determination. See SEC rule 204-2(a)(14)(ii).

Item 4 Other Business Activities

A. If the supervised person is registered, or has an application pending to register, as a broker-dealer, registered representative of a broker-dealer, futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, or commodity trading advisor, disclose this fact and describe the business relationship, if any, between the advisory business and the other business.

1. If a relationship between the advisory business and the supervised person's other financial industry activities creates a material conflict of interest with clients, describe the nature of the conflict and any restrictions or internal procedures that you use when there is a conflict of interest, including your procedures for disclosing conflicts to clients.

2. If the supervised person receives commissions, bonuses or other compensation based on the sale of securities or other investment products, including as a broker-dealer or registered representative, and including distribution or service (“trail”) fees from the sale of mutual funds, disclose this fact. If this compensation is not cash, explain what type of compensation the supervised person receives. Explain that this practice gives the supervised person an incentive to recommend investment products based on the compensation received, rather than on the client's needs.

B. If the supervised person is actively engaged in any business or occupation for compensation not discussed in response to Item 4.A, above, disclose this fact and describe the nature of that business. If the other business activity or activities provide the primary source of the supervised person's income, also disclose this fact.

Item 5 Additional Compensation

If someone who is not a client provides an economic benefit to the supervised person for providing advisory services, describe the arrangement. For purposes of this Item, economic benefits include sales awards and other prizes, but do not include the supervised person's regular salary. Any bonus that is based, at least in part, on the number or amount of sales, client referrals, or new accounts should be considered an economic benefit, but other regular bonuses should not.

Item 6 Investment Advice and Supervision

Disclose the extent to which the supervised person or other persons or groups in your firm formulate the investment advice the supervised person gives to clients. If the supervised person formulates this investment advice, explain how you supervise the supervised person, including how you monitor the advice the supervised person provides.

Provide the name, title and telephone number of the person responsible for supervising the supervised person's advisory activities on behalf of your firm.

Item 7 Financial Information

If the supervised person has been the subject of a bankruptcy petition at any time during the past ten years, disclose that fact.

If you are registering or registered with one or more state securities authorities, you must respond to the following additional Item.

Item 8 Requirements for State-Registered Advisers

A. In addition to the events listed in Item 3 of Part 2B, if the supervised person has been involved in one of the events listed below, disclose all material facts regarding the event.

1. An award or otherwise being found liable in an arbitration claim alleging damages in excess of $2,500, involving any of the following:

(a) an investment or an investment-related business or activity;

(b) fraud, false statement(s), or omissions;

(c) theft, embezzlement, or other wrongful taking of property;

(d) bribery, forgery, counterfeiting, or extortion; or

(e) dishonest, unfair, or unethical practices.

2. An award or otherwise being found liable in a civil, self-regulatory organization, or administrative proceeding involving any of the following:

(a) an investment or an investment-related business or activity;

(b) fraud, false statement(s), or omissions;

(c) theft, embezzlement, or other wrongful taking of property;

(d) bribery, forgery, counterfeiting, or extortion; or

(e) dishonest, unfair, or unethical practices.

Form ADV (Paper Version): Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration

Domestic Investment Adviser Execution Page

You must complete the following Execution Page to Form ADV. This execution page must be signed and attached to your initial application for SEC registration and all amendments to registration.

Appointment of Agent for Service of Process

By signing this Form ADV Execution Page, you, the undersigned adviser, irrevocably appoint the Secretary of State or other legally designated officer, of the state in which you maintain your principal office and place of business and any other state in which you are submitting a notice filing, as your agents to receive service, and agree that such persons may accept service on your behalf, of any notice, subpoena, summons, order instituting proceedings, demand for arbitration, or other process or papers, and you further agree that such service may be made by registered or certified mail, in any federal or state action, administrative proceeding or arbitration brought against you in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, if the action, proceeding or arbitration (a) arises out of any activity in connection with your investment advisory business that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and (b) is founded, directly or indirectly, upon the provisions of: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any rule or regulation under any of these acts, or (ii) the laws of the state in which you maintain your principal office and place of business or of any state in which you are submitting a notice filing.

Signature

I, the undersigned, sign this Form ADV on behalf of, and with the authority of, the investment adviser. The investment adviser and I both certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America, that the information and statements made in this ADV, including exhibits and any other information submitted, are true and correct, and that I am signing this Form ADV Execution Page as a free and voluntary act.

I certify that the adviser's books and records will be preserved and available for inspection as required by law. Finally, I authorize any person having custody or possession of these books and records to make them available to federal and state regulatory representatives.

Signature:

Printed Name:

Adviser CRD Number:

Date:

Title:

Form ADV (Paper Version): Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration

State-Registered Investment Adviser Execution Page

You must complete the following Execution Page to Form ADV. This execution page must be signed and attached to your initial application for state registration and all amendments to registration.

1. Appointment of Agent for Service of Process

By signing this Form ADV Execution Page, you, the undersigned adviser, irrevocably appoint the legally designated officers and their successors, of the state in which you maintain your principal office and place of business and any other state in which you are applying for registration or amending your registration, as your agents to receive service, and agree that such persons may accept service on your behalf, of any notice, subpoena, summons, order instituting proceedings, demand for arbitration, or other process or papers, and you further agree that such service may be made by registered or certified mail, in any federal or state action, administrative proceeding or arbitration brought against you in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, if the action, proceeding or arbitration (a) arises out of any activity in connection with your investment advisory business that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and (b) is founded, directly or indirectly, upon the provisions of: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any rule or regulation under any of these acts, or (ii) the laws of the state in which you maintain your principal office and place of business or of any state in which you are applying for registration, or amending your registration.

2. State-Registered Investment Adviser Affidavit

If you are subject to state regulation, by signing this Form ADV, you represent that, you are in compliance with the registration requirements of the state in which you maintain your principal place of business and are in compliance with the bonding, capital, and recordkeeping requirements of that state.

Signature

I, the undersigned, sign this Form ADV on behalf of, and with the authority of, the non-resident investment adviser. The investment adviser and I both certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America, that the information and statements made in this ADV, including exhibits and any other information submitted, are true and correct, and that I am signing this Form ADV Execution Page as a free and voluntary act.

I certify that the adviser's books and records will be preserved and available for inspection as required by law. Finally, I authorize any person having custody or possession of these books and records to make them available to federal and state regulatory representatives.

Signature:

Printed Name: Title:

Adviser CRD Number:

Date:

Title:

Form ADV (Paper Version): Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration

Non-Resident Investment Adviser Execution

You must complete the following Execution Page to Form ADV. This execution page must be signed and attached to your initial application for SEC registration and all amendments to registration.

1. Appointment of Agent for Service of Process

By signing this Form ADV Execution Page, you, the undersigned adviser, irrevocably appoint each of the Secretary of the SEC, and the Secretary of State or other legally designated officer, of any other state in which you are submitting a notice filing, as your agents to receive service, and agree that such persons may accept service on your behalf, of any notice, subpoena, summons, order instituting proceedings, demand for arbitration, or other process or papers, and you further agree that such service may be made by registered or certified mail, in any federal or state action, administrative proceeding or arbitration brought against you in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, if the action, proceeding or arbitration (a) arises out of any activity in connection with your investment advisory business that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and (b) is founded, directly or indirectly, upon the provisions of: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any rule or regulation under any of these acts, or (ii) the laws of any state in which you are submitting a notice filing.

2. Appointment and Consent: Effect on Partnerships

If you are organized as a partnership, this irrevocable power of attorney and consent to service of process will continue in effect if any partner withdraws from or is admitted to the partnership, provided that the admission or withdrawal does not create a new partnership. If the partnership dissolves, this irrevocable power of attorney and consent shall be in effect for any action brought against you or any of your former partners.

3. Non-Resident Investment Adviser Undertaking Regarding Books and Records

By signing this Form ADV, you also agree to provide, at your own expense, to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at its principal office in Washington D.C., at any Regional or District Office of the Commission, or at any one of its offices in the United States, as specified by the Commission, correct, current, and complete copies of any or all records that you are required to maintain under Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. This undertaking shall be binding upon you, your heirs, successors and assigns, and any person subject to your written irrevocable consents or powers of attorney or any of your general partners and managing agents.

Signature

I, the undersigned, sign this Form ADV on behalf of, and with the authority of, the non-resident investment adviser. The investment adviser and I both certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America, that the information and statements made in this ADV, including exhibits and any other information submitted, are true and correct, and that I am signing this Form ADV Execution Page as a free and voluntary act.

I certify that the adviser's books and records will be preserved and available for inspection as required by law. Finally, I authorize any person having custody or possession of these books and records to make them available to federal and state regulatory representatives.

Signature:

Printed Name:

Adviser CRD Number:

Date:

Title:

Appendix B—Form ADV-W (Paper Version): Notice of Withdrawal From Registration as an Investment Adviser

Instructions for Form ADV-W

Note:

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, all terms used in the Form have the same meaning as in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and in the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder (17 Code of Federal Regulations 275).

1. We would like to withdraw from registration as an investment adviser. What do we need to do?

You must determine whether you are filing for partial withdrawal or full withdrawal.

A partial withdrawal is when you are withdrawing from investment adviser registration with some, but not all, of the jurisdictions where you are registered (or have an application for registration pending). For example, you would file for partial withdrawal if you are switching from state registration to SEC registration (or vice versa). Similarly, you would file for partial withdrawal if you are a state-registered adviser and are withdrawing from some, but not all, of the states with which you are registered (or have an application for registration pending).

A full withdrawal is when you are withdrawing from all of the regulators with which you are registered (or have an application pending).

If you are filing for partial withdrawal and switching from SEC to state registration, you must complete the Status Section, Items 1A through 1D, and the Execution Section. You do not need to complete Items 1E through 8 of Form ADV-W.

If you are filing for partial withdrawal and switching from state to SEC registration, you must complete the entire Form ADV-W.

If you are registered only with the state securities authorities and withdrawing from some, but not all, of the states where you are registered, you must complete the entire Form ADV-W.

If you are filing for full withdrawal, you must complete the entire Form ADV-W.

2. We are going out of business. Does this change how we would answer particular questions on the Form ADV-W?

Yes. The purpose of Item 1D is so that we can contact you if the Form ADV-W is deficient or if we have questions. If you are going out of business, make sure you list in Item 1D an address and phone number at which we can reach the contact employee.

3. I am filing for partial withdrawal. How do I complete Item 2?

If you are ceasing advisory business in any of the jurisdictions from which you are withdrawing, check “yes.” On the next line, provide the date on which you are ceasing advisory business in these jurisdictions (however, if you cease conducting advisory business on different dates in different jurisdictions, you must complete a separate Form ADV-W for each different date). The date you provide in this blank must be on or before the date you file Form ADV-W. Then, provide the reasons you are filing for withdrawal (regardless of whether you are filing for partial or complete withdrawal).

You are permitted to “post-date” the Form ADV-W to December 31 anytime between November 1 and December 31. You are permitted to enter a cease date of December 31 to avoid being charged state renewal fees in jurisdictions from which you are withdrawing (the IARD does not operate during the last week of each year and you are unable to make any filings during that time). However, you cannot enter any date other than December 31, and you can only enter a December 31 cease date after November 1.

4. I have completed Form ADV-W and filed it with the SEC. When will it become effective?

Your Form ADV-W will become effective when it is filed with the SEC. However, your Form ADV-W will not be deemed “filed” until the SEC receives it and determines that it is not deficient. The effective date of a Form ADV-W filed with the state securities authorities may be different.

5. How should I file my Form ADV-W?

You are required to file Form ADV-W electronically on the IARD.

In the event you are unable to submit an electronic filing, you must apply for a temporary or continuing hardship exemption pursuant to rule 203-3. If you can rely on a temporary or continuing hardship exemption, you must mail or fax two executed copies of the Form ADV-W to NASDR, at ______.

Whether you file on the IARD or are permitted to submit paper filings, you must preserve in your records a copy of the Form ADV-W that you file with the SEC.

6. What are the Schedules to Form ADV-W?

Form ADV-W contains two Schedules, Schedule W1 and W2. Your answers to Form ADV-W will determine whether you are required to complete either or both Schedules.

Schedule W1 is a “continuation page.” If you have to list additional persons whom you have assigned advisory contracts (Item 5), or multiple persons or locations with respect to your books and records (Item 8), you must complete Schedule W1.

The names of individuals listed on Schedule W1 must be given in full.

Schedule W2 requires basic financial information relating to your investment advisory business. If you check “yes” to Items 3, 4, or 6, you are required to complete Schedule W2.

7. Questions about Item 8. The following examples are intended to assist you in completing Item 8 to Form ADV-W and Sections 8B and 8C of Schedule W1 in the event that multiple persons have or will have custody of your books and records, or in the event that your books and records are or will be kept at multiple locations.

a. After I withdraw from registration, two persons (Persons A and B) will have custody of my books and records, but my books and records will be kept at a single location. How should I complete the Form ADV-W and Schedule W1?

On Form ADV-W, you should check “yes” to Item 8.A.1., and “no” to Item 8.A.2. Leave Items 8B and 8C on Form ADV-W blank. You would complete two Schedules W1. The first would list Person A, and the location at which your books and records will be kept. You would complete a second Schedule W1 that would list Person B, and would list (again) the location at which your books and records will be kept.

b. After I withdraw from registration, only one person will have custody of my books and records, but they will be kept at three locations (Locations X, Y and Z). How should I complete Form ADV-W and Schedule W1?

On Form ADV-W, you should check “no” to Item 8.A.1., and “yes” to Item 8.A.2. Leave Items 8B and 8C on Form ADV-W blank. You would complete three Schedules W1. The first would list the person that will have custody of your books and records, and Location X. The second Schedule W1 would list (again) the person that has or will have custody of your books and records, and Location Y. The third Schedule W1 would list (again) the person that has or will have custody of your books and records, and Location Z.

c. After I withdraw from registration, two people (Persons A and B) will have custody of my books and records, and my books and records will be kept at two locations (Locations Y and Z). Each person would have custody of the books and records that are kept at both locations. How should I complete Form ADV-W and Schedule W1?

On Form ADV-W, you should check “yes” to Item 8.A.1., and “yes” to Item 8.A.2. Leave Items 8B and 8C on Form ADV-W blank. You would complete four Schedules W1. The first would list Person A and Location Y. The second Schedule W1 would list (again) Person A, and would list Location Z. The third Schedule W1 would list Person B and Location Y, and the fourth Schedule W1 would list Person B and Location Z. On each Schedule W1, you should briefly describe the records that are kept at each location (e.g. business and trading records from 1996 through 1999).

8. Who should sign the Form ADV-W?

Copies of the Form ADV-W you file with the SEC must be executed by a person you have authorized to file the Form. If you are a sole proprietor, you must sign the Form; if you are a partnership, a general partner must sign the Form in the name of the partnership; if you are an unincorporated organization or association that is not a partnership, the managing agent (an authorized person who directs or manages or who participates in the directing or managing of its affairs) must sign the Form in the name of the organization or association; if you are a corporation, a principal officer duly authorized must sign the Form in the name of the corporation. If an officer of any entity is signing the Form, the officer's title must be given.

9. What if I need more space to provide additional information?

If you are filing electronically, add any additional information in the text box asking you to “describe the books and records kept at this location.” If you are filing on paper, use the reverse side of Schedule W1 to provide any additional information.

10. What if I do not follow these instructions when completing the Form ADV-W?

If you do not prepare and execute the Form ADV-W as required by these instructions, SEC staff may return the form to you for correction. The SEC's acceptance of the Form, however, is not a finding that you have filed the Form ADV-W as required or that the information submitted is true, correct or complete.

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. Section 203(h) of the Advisers Act authorizes the Commission to collect the information on this Form from applicants. See 15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-3(h). Filing of this Form is mandatory for an investment adviser to withdraw from registration. The principal purpose of this collection of information is to enable the Commission to verify that the activities of an investment adviser seeking to withdraw from registration do not require the investment adviser to be registered and to determine whether terms and conditions should be imposed upon a registrant's withdrawal. The Commission will maintain files of the information on Form ADV-W and will make the information publicly available. Any member of the public may direct to the Commission any comments concerning the accuracy of the burden estimate on page one of Form ADV-W, and any suggestions for reducing this burden. This collection of information has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507. The applicable Privacy Act system of records is SEC-2, and the routine uses of the records are set forth at 40 Federal Register 39255 (Aug. 27, 1975) and 41 FR 5318 (Feb. 5, 1976).

Appendix D—Form ADV-NR—(Paper Version); Appointment of Agent For Service of Process by Non-Resident General Partner and Non-Resident Managing Agent of an Investment Adviser

You must submit this Form ADV-NR if you are a non-resident general partner or a non-resident managing agent of any investment adviser (domestic or non-resident). Form ADV-NR must be signed and submitted in connection with the adviser's initial application. If the mailing address you list below changes, you must file an amended Form ADV-NR to provide the current address. If you become a non-resident general partner or a non-resident managing agent after the date the adviser files its initial application, you must file Form ADV-NR with the Commission within 30 days. If you serve as a general partner or managing agent for multiple advisers, you must submit a separate Form ADV-NR for each adviser.

1. Appointment of Agent for Service of Process

By signing this Form ADV-NR, you, the undersigned non-resident general partner or non-resident managing agent, irrevocably appoint each of the Secretary of the SEC, and the Secretary of State, or equivalent officer, of the state in which the adviser referred to in this form maintains its principal office and place of business, if applicable, and any other state in which the adviser is applying for registration, amending its registration, or submitting a notice filing, as your agents to receive service, and agree that such persons may accept service on your behalf, of any notice, subpoena, summons, order instituting proceedings, demand for arbitration, or other process or papers, and you further agree that such service may be made by registered or certified mail, in any federal or state action, administrative proceeding or arbitration brought against you in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, if the action, proceeding or arbitration: (a) arises out of any activity in connection with the investment adviser's business that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and (b) is founded, directly or indirectly, upon the provisions of: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any rule or regulation under any of these acts, or (ii) the laws of the state in which the adviser referred to in this Form maintains its principal office and place of business, if applicable, or of any state in which the adviser is applying for registration, amending its registration, or submitting a notice filing.

2. Appointment and Consent: Effect on Partnerships

If you are organized as a partnership, this irrevocable power of attorney and consent to service of process will continue in effect if any partner withdraws from or is admitted to the partnership, provided that the admission or withdrawal does not create a new partnership. If the partnership dissolves, this irrevocable power of attorney and consent shall be in effect for any action brought against you or any of your former partners.