Laurie A. Thompson

Services and Approach Overview

What primary services are offered? - Brokerage services: your advisor can help you buy and sell specific products such as mutual funds, 529 college-savings plans, variable life insurance and annuities, and provide retirement-plan consulting. These transactions are executed on a trade-by-trade basis and you make the final decisions. - Advisory/planning services: an affiliated registered investment adviser provides ongoing advisory and financial-planning work (asset allocation, manager selection) if you choose that relationship. Some advisors work in both roles; which fee model applies depends on the service you use. - Important limitations: the firm does not take custody of client accounts, does not manage accounts on a discretionary basis for the brokerage relationship, and does not continuously monitor brokerage accounts. How is the advisor/firm paid? - Commissions: a charge each time you buy or sell a product; the firm and the advisor share this payment. - Product-level charges: some investments include sales loads or ongoing distribution fees (often called 12b‑1 fees); these reduce your investment returns over time. - Advisory fees: if you use the affiliated adviser, you typically pay a percentage of assets under management based on an agreed fee schedule. - Other compensation: advisors may also receive base pay, bonuses, or other rewards from the firm. What conflicts of interest are disclosed? - The firm and its affiliates receive payments from product providers (commissions, distribution fees, revenue-sharing, marketing support). That creates an incentive to recommend products that pay more to the firm. - Affiliates that provide insurance or advisory services may benefit when certain products are sold, which can influence recommendations. - Because some pay is transaction-based, there can be an incentive to trade more often.