For Clients / How We Work

Working with us, one step at a time.

From a first conversation to a written policy, a portfolio built to it and reviews over time. Here is the order it happens in, and what you receive at each step.

  1. A first conversation

    It starts with a conversation: where you are today, what you want your money to do and what you would like help with. There is no charge for an initial consultation.

    Before you open an account, you receive our Form ADV Part 2A brochure. It sets out our services, our fees and our conflicts of interest. Our Form CRS covers the same ground in a few pages.

  2. Your Investment Policy Statement

    Next we write an Investment Policy Statement for you. It records your current situation: your income, your tax levels and your tolerance for risk. The portfolio management that follows is based on your goals, your objectives, your time horizon and that tolerance for risk.

    Your risk tolerance is documented in the statement, and the statement is given to you.

    You can also tell us what you would rather not own, for your values or your beliefs. Those restrictions are part of the program we tailor to you.

  3. Your advisory agreement

    The agreement sets the terms between us, and your fee schedule is written into it. Fees are generally negotiable. How each one works is on our fees page.

    It also records how much say you keep. If you grant us discretionary authority in your advisory agreement, we can trade for you without asking before each trade. If you do not, we ask for your approval before each trade is made.

    You can end the agreement without penalty, for a full refund of our fees, within five business days of signing it. After that, it can generally be ended with 30 days' written notice.

  4. A portfolio built to your policy

    We then build a portfolio to match your statement: an investment strategy, an asset allocation, the selection of each holding and an assessment of your risk tolerance.

    We may use model allocations, together with recommendations specific to you, set to your restrictions, needs and targets. We primarily recommend ETFs, and may use other securities to help diversify a portfolio.

    Where it fits, part or all of your money may be managed by a third-party investment adviser. We check that it is properly licensed or registered, select it and then monitor it. Our selection cannot ensure that a manager performs as desired, and you generally pay that manager's fee as well as ours.

    Investing in securities involves a risk of loss that you should be prepared to bear.

  5. Held at a custodian, not by us

    Acrylic does not take physical custody of your money or your securities. Your account is held at a custodian the firm has approved: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Interactive Brokers LLC or Mid Atlantic Clearing & Settlement Corporation. Form ADV Part 2A, Item 12, explains how directing accounts to these custodians limits your choice, and the conflict that creates.

    Each month the custodian sends you a statement of what you hold, what it is worth and how our fee was calculated. We send you invoices, and a performance report each quarter. Compare our invoices with the custodian's statement, and tell us promptly if anything does not match.

    Our fee is taken from your account only with your written authorization. Proxies for the securities you own come to you directly. We do not vote them for you.

  6. Watched, and reviewed with you

    Accounts are reviewed on an ongoing basis and at least quarterly, and more often when markets or your circumstances call for it. Our Form CRS adds that, as part of our standard services, we typically monitor client accounts monthly.

    Once a year we engage with you to review the portfolio and decide whether anything needs to change.

    A review can also be triggered by a material market, economic or political event, or by a change in your life: a retirement, a job ending, a move or an inheritance.

You stay in the driver's seat

Acrylic means transparent and flexible, and that is how we want to work with you. We want to take away the mystery surrounding financial matters, in a way that is simple to understand and easy to reach.

Most of all, we want you to understand clearly what is going on with your money. You should be in the driver's seat, with your advisor beside you.

So your Investment Policy Statement is written down and given to you. You choose how much say you keep over each trade. Your statements come to you directly from the custodian, and you can sign in to see your accounts through Client Login.

Every Acrylic advisor goes through background checks, training and coaching.

Questions worth asking us

Our Form CRS lists questions to ask an adviser before you decide. Ask us these in your first conversation:

  • Given my financial situation, should I choose an investment advisory service? Why or why not?
  • How will you choose investments to recommend to me?
  • What is your relevant experience, including your licenses, education and other qualifications?
  • Who is my primary contact person?
  • Who can I talk to if I have concerns about how this person is treating me?

The standard we are held to

Our Form CRS puts it this way: when we act as your investment adviser, we have to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. At the same time, the way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests.

When acting in an advisory capacity through Acrylic, our people are held to a fiduciary standard. Some are also registered representatives of Brooklight Place Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer affiliated with us through common ownership, or licensed insurance agents. Work in those roles is not done through Acrylic, follows the rules for those roles and can pay them a commission. Insurance sales by our people are not made as a fiduciary.

If you choose a financial plan

  1. An interview about your needs and your goals.
  2. A written plan, reviewed by Charles Truhlar, our Chief Compliance Officer.
  3. Your plan, delivered. Acting on it is your choice.

A financial plan generally concludes when it is delivered. More plans or reports are available for a fee. The detail is in our Form ADV Part 2A brochure and our Form CRS.

Start with a conversation.

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Illustration. Services, fees and conflicts of interest are described in Acrylic Financial's Form ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Investing in securities involves a risk of loss.