Legal & Compliance
Regulatory Relationships
Effective date: [Insert effective date]
This page summarizes the regulatory, affiliate, professional, and third-party relationships that may apply to Echelon’s multi-family office platform.
Implementation note: This page should be conformed to Form ADV, client agreements, privacy notices, referral agreements, insurance licenses, tax provider credentials, trust authority, and state-specific requirements.
Firm entity and business model
Echelon Heritage Group operates as a virtual multi-family office platform coordinating tax optimization, advanced retirement services, insurance brokerage, investment advisory, estate and trust development, and management services for families, entrepreneurs, business owners, and multi-generational households.
Legal entity name: [Insert legal entity name]. DBA or trade names: [Insert DBA names]. Principal office: [Insert address]. Contact: guym@echelonheritage.group.
Investment adviser registrations
Investment advisory status: [SEC-registered investment adviser / state-registered investment adviser / exempt reporting adviser / not currently registered as an investment adviser / advisory services provided through affiliated RIA]. CRD/IARD number: [Insert number]. SEC file number, if any: [Insert number]. State registrations, notice filings, or exemptions: [Insert states and status].
Registration does not imply that any regulator has approved the firm, reviewed the merits of its services, or endorsed any level of skill or training. Clients and prospective clients may research investment advisers and financial professionals through SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure and FINRA BrokerCheck, as applicable.
Affiliates and related entities
Echelon may have affiliated or related entities involved in planning, consulting, tax coordination, insurance, investment advisory, trust coordination, retirement plan services, management services, or other activities. Affiliates and related entities: [Insert affiliates, ownership relationships, DBA names, and service roles].
Affiliate relationships can create conflicts of interest, including incentives to recommend affiliated services or providers. Material conflicts should be disclosed in client agreements, Form ADV, referral disclosures, insurance disclosures, and other applicable documents.
Insurance brokerage and licensing
The Advanced Retirement Services Division includes a fully operational insurance brokerage capability. Insurance products may include life insurance, annuities, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, business-succession coverage, premium-financing arrangements, or other products when available, suitable, and consistent with a client’s objectives. Insurance agency legal name: [Insert agency legal name]. Insurance license numbers: [Insert agency and producer license numbers]. Licensed states: [Insert states]. Carrier appointments: [Insert carriers or “available upon request”].
Insurance products are offered only through appropriately licensed insurance professionals and are subject to state availability, carrier appointment, underwriting, suitability review, policy terms, fees, charges, exclusions, limitations, surrender periods, tax rules, and the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer. Guarantees, if any, are made only by the issuing insurance company and not by Echelon Heritage Group, any investment adviser, custodian, bank, or government agency.
Echelon, its affiliates, or associated insurance professionals may receive commissions, trails, marketing allowances, referral fees, or other compensation in connection with insurance products. Such compensation can create conflicts of interest and should be disclosed before or at the time of recommendation or sale, as required by applicable insurance, securities, fiduciary, and adviser regulations.
Third-party providers and custodians
Echelon may coordinate with independent third-party providers, including custodians, broker-dealers, investment managers, private fund sponsors, banks, trust companies, CPAs, attorneys, valuation professionals, retirement plan administrators, insurance professionals, software providers, cybersecurity vendors, and reporting platforms. Third-party providers are not controlled by Echelon unless expressly identified as affiliates.
Custodians, platforms, and primary service providers: [Insert custodians/platforms/providers]. Echelon does not guarantee the performance, accuracy, security, solvency, or availability of third-party providers.
Referral, solicitor, and compensation relationships
Echelon may enter into referral, solicitor, promoter, consultant, vendor, revenue-sharing, insurance, or other compensation arrangements. Any arrangement involving cash or non-cash compensation, client referrals, endorsements, testimonials, or promoter activity should be reviewed for compliance with the SEC Marketing Rule, state adviser rules, insurance regulations, and other applicable laws.
Current referral or compensation relationships: [Insert relationships or “None at this time”]. Insurance licensing or commission status: [Insert status]. Outside business activities: [Insert activities].
Professional role boundaries
Echelon’s multi-family office model is designed to integrate and coordinate professional advice, not to replace every professional discipline. Unless separately authorized and agreed in writing, Echelon does not act as legal counsel, CPA, tax preparer, trustee, custodian, broker-dealer, bank, trust company, valuation firm, plan administrator, third-party administrator, or insurance carrier.
Updates and regulatory changes
Regulatory relationships may change as the firm grows, registers in additional jurisdictions, forms affiliates, engages service providers, or updates its service model. This page should be reviewed periodically and updated whenever registration status, affiliate structure, conflicts, compensation arrangements, or service scope changes.