Advisordirect® Disclosure Brochure FORM ADV, PART 2
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AdvisorDirect® Disclosure Brochure FORM ADV, PART 2 Mailing address: TD Ameritrade Institutional 7801 Mesquite Bend Drive Suite 112 Irving, TX 75063-6043 Main: 800-934-6124 tdameritrade.com December 15, 2017 This brochure provides prospective clients with information about AdvisorDirect, a national referral service for TD Ameritrade, Inc. (“TD Ameritrade”) that should be considered before or at the time of participating in the AdvisorDirect referral program. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at 800-934-6124. 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. Please be advised that TD Ameritrade will not assign its duties to you to any other party without your consent. Additional information about TD Ameritrade, Inc. is also available on the SEC’s website at adviserinfo.sec.gov. The IARD/CRD number for TD Ameritrade is [CRD # 7870]. TD Ameritrade Institutional is a division of TD Ameritrade, Inc. TD Ameritrade is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities authority does not imply a certain level of skill or training. IMPORTANT INFORMATION IS CONTAINED THROUGHOUT THIS DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND BE CERTAIN TO ASK A TD AMERITRADE SENIOR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. YOU MAY NOT HIRE ANY ADVISOR REFERRED TO YOU THROUGH ADVISORDIRECT UNTIL YOU SIGN A FORM THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. TABLE OF CONTENTS Advisory Business ...........................3 Fees and Compensation ......................7 Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management ....................8 Types of Clients .............................8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss ...................9 Disciplinary Information .......................9 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ..............................9 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading ......11 Brokerage Practices ........................11 Review of Accounts .........................12 Client Referrals and Other Compensation .......13 Custody ..................................13 Investment Discretion .......................13 Voting Client Securities ......................13 Financial Information ........................13 criteria that TD Ameritrade may, from time to time, apply). Advisory Business TD Ameritrade may, without notice, change the eligibility criteria TD Ameritrade, Inc. (“TD Ameritrade”) (member FINRA/SIPC) for Advisors participating in AdvisorDirect at any time. In addition, provides custody, brokerage, and other financial services to TD Ameritrade may modify or waive criteria for Advisors on a independent financial advisors and their clients. TD Ameritrade case-by-case basis. TD Ameritrade does not monitor an Advisor’s Institutional is a division of TD Ameritrade. TD Ameritrade is investment performance, nor is an Advisor’s past investment a subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Online Holdings Corp., which performance considered for selection for AdvisorDirect. is a wholly owned subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Participating Advisors generally must meet the following criteria: Corporation (formerly known as Ameritrade Holding Corporation). TD Ameritrade is a registered broker-dealer that principally 1. Fee-Based Compensation. Each Advisor is compensated on provides discount brokerage services. Approximately 100% of a fee basis (“advisory fee”) for the investment advisory services TD Ameritrade’s business is derived from brokerage and related it provides to clients it receives through AdvisorDirect. The services. TD Ameritrade client accounts are carried on a fully advisory fee may be calculated by a percentage of your assets disclosed basis by its affiliate, TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc., and under management, a fixed fee, or billed on an hourly rate for clients are charged discount brokerage commissions. financial planning and/or investment management services. For investment management services, an Advisor may also TD Ameritrade has been registered with the Securities and charge fees based on a share of a referred client’s capital Exchange Commission since August 22, 2001. For additional appreciation if the Advisor determines such fees are permitted information about TD Ameritrade, see response below at under applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. “Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations.” See response below at “Performance-Based Fees and OVERVIEW OF ADVISORDIRECT Side-By-Side Management” of this Disclosure Brochure. AdvisorDirect is a national referral service for TD Ameritrade 2. Education and Investment Experience. All aspects of the retail clients, prospective clients, and other investors who wish to investment management and/or financial planning services the engage the services of an independently-registered investment Advisor provides to you will be rendered by and/or supervised advisory firm. AdvisorDirect refers interested TD Ameritrade and reviewed by representatives of the Advisor who have at retail clients, prospective clients, and other investors to one or least one of the following: more independent investment advisory firms that are unaffiliated • a minimum of 10 years of experience managing money with TD Ameritrade and that offer investment management and/ and investments as a primary occupation, which may or financial planning services (collectively, “investment advisory include work as a registered representative, portfolio services”) to investors served by TD Ameritrade’s branch manager, or financial planner; or offices (“Branch Office”). A Branch Office will refer a client • a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year who is interested in pursuing investment advisory services to institution and a minimum of five years of experience one or more advisors. AdvisorDirect is available to individuals, managing money and investments as a primary institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, occupation, which may include work as a registered charitable organizations, corporations, and other entities. representative, portfolio manager, or financial planner; or All the investment advisors in AdvisorDirect (“Advisors”) have • a minimum of five years of experience managing been screened and have been found to meet or exceed money and investments as a primary occupation, TD Ameritrade’s professional eligibility requirements to participate which experience may include work as a registered in AdvisorDirect. The Advisors work independently and are not representative, portfolio manager, or financial planner, employees of, nor affiliated with, TD Ameritrade. and one or more of the following designations: CFA If you would like to participate in AdvisorDirect, your Branch (Chartered Financial Analyst), CFP (Certified Financial Office will assist you in finding an Advisor whose investment style Planner), CPA-PFS (Personal Financial Specialist), CIC or financial planning services closely match the client information (Chartered Investment Counselor), or CIMA (Certified you provide. TD Ameritrade will consider an Advisor’s minimum Investment Management Analyst). account balance requirement before making a referral. While the Program may offer you an initial choice of one or more 3. Assets Under Management. An Advisor generally must independent Advisors, you together with your Advisor are solely have at least $100 million in assets under management. At its responsible for monitoring your Advisor’s performance and fitness discretion, TD Ameritrade may revise this minimum requirement. for your needs thereafter. 4. Licensing and Registration. Each Advisor must be either TD Ameritrade will provide you with pertinent information about (a) registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission any Advisor it refers you to. Once you have reviewed that (“SEC”) as an investment advisor or be (b) a financial institution information, TD Ameritrade recommends that you interview the not required to register with the SEC that is registered with a state Advisors to discuss their qualifications and the services they offer regulatory authority, if applicable, and/or is subject to oversight to determine which Advisor closely matches your investment by a state regulatory authority. All persons who are employed needs. There is no cost or obligation for an introductory interview by or associated with an Advisor must comply with applicable with any Advisor. federal and state registration, filing, notification, licensing, fee, and qualification requirements. TD Ameritrade makes no If you determine that an Advisor does not meet your investment representation about any Advisor’s compliance with, or exclusion needs, and you would like to pursue the services of another or exemption from, any state’s or other jurisdiction’s investment participating Advisor, TD Ameritrade may provide you with names advisor requirements. and related information for one or more additional Advisors. Other Considerations for Selection for AdvisorDirect CRITERIA FOR ADVISOR PARTICIPATION IN AdvisorDirect is not open to all investment advisors who meet the ADVISORDIRECT minimum eligibility requirements. TD Ameritrade limits the number of investment advisors selected to participate