Legal & Compliance
Form CRS Relationship Summary Placeholder
Date: [Insert Form CRS date] · Firm CRD/IARD: [Insert number]
This page is a structured placeholder for a Form CRS relationship summary and must not be published as the firm’s official Form CRS until reviewed, finalized, filed, and delivered as required.
Do not publish as final: SEC Form CRS has strict content, format, filing, delivery, page-length, and plain-English requirements. This placeholder should be replaced with the official filed Form CRS or counsel-approved text.
Introduction
[Insert legal advisory entity name] is registered with [the Securities and Exchange Commission / state securities authorities] as an investment adviser. Brokerage and investment advisory services and fees differ, and it is important for you to understand the differences. Free and simple tools are available to research firms and financial professionals at Investor.gov/CRS, which also provides educational materials about broker-dealers, investment advisers, and investing.
What investment services and advice can you provide me?
We offer investment advisory services to retail investors, which may include financial planning, portfolio strategy, investment policy guidance, asset allocation, manager evaluation, risk review, and coordination with tax, estate, retirement, insurance, and other advisors. Services are provided according to a written advisory agreement and may be offered on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis as specified in the agreement.
Monitoring: [Insert monitoring frequency and scope.] Investment authority: [Insert whether discretionary, non-discretionary, or both.] Limited investment offerings: [Insert whether advice is limited to certain products, custodians, managers, or strategies.] Account minimums: [Insert minimum account size or fee minimum, if any.]
Conversation starter
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 licenses, education, and other qualifications?
What fees will I pay?
Fees may include [asset-based fees / fixed fees / hourly fees / project fees / subscription or retainer fees / performance-based fees, if applicable] as described in the advisory agreement and Form ADV Part 2A. Clients may also pay separate fees charged by custodians, funds, managers, attorneys, CPAs, trustees, retirement plan providers, insurance providers, and other third parties.
You will pay fees and costs whether you make or lose money on your investments. Fees and costs will reduce any amount of money you make on investments over time. Please make sure you understand what fees and costs you are paying.
Conversation starter
Help me understand how these fees and costs might affect my investments. If I give you $10,000 to invest, how much will go to fees and costs, and how much will be invested for me?
What are your legal obligations to me when acting as my investment adviser?
When we act as your investment adviser, we must act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. At the same time, our compensation arrangements, business relationships, outside activities, and service structure may create conflicts of interest. You should understand and ask us about these conflicts because they can affect the advice we provide.
Examples of potential conflicts include [insert referral arrangements, affiliated entities, insurance licensing, outside business activities, manager relationships, fee arrangements, or other conflicts].
Conversation starter
How might your conflicts of interest affect me, and how will you address them?
How do your financial professionals make money?
Financial professionals may be compensated through [salary / profit distributions / advisory fees / planning fees / referral fees / insurance commissions / other compensation]. Compensation arrangements should be described in Form ADV, client agreements, and other disclosures.
Do you or your financial professionals have legal or disciplinary history?
[Insert “Yes” or “No” after review.] Visit Investor.gov/CRS for a free and simple search tool to research the firm and its financial professionals.
Conversation starter
As a financial professional, do you have any disciplinary history? For what type of conduct?
Additional information
For additional information about our services or to request a copy of the official relationship summary when available, contact guym@echelonheritage.group or call [Insert phone number].
Conversation starter
Who is my primary contact person? Is that person a representative of an investment adviser or broker-dealer? Who can I talk to if I have concerns about how this person is treating me?