|
|
SagePoint Financial, Inc.’s Disclosure Document for Mutual Fund, Insurance Products, Real Estate Investment Trust, Direct Participation Program, Third Party Money Manager Investors and Expense Reimbursements
If you have invested or will invest in investments such as mutual funds, variable products, direct investments, 529 plans, unit investment trusts (UITs), or asset management programs, this disclosure document will help you understand your investments, the costs associated with investing in each of these products and how your financial advisor and SagePoint Financial are compensated when you invest in these products. If you are an ERISA Plan please review the appropriate investment section(s) below to understand the compensation that SagePoint Financial may be receiving as it relates to ‘Indirect Compensation’ and Section 408(b)(2) fee disclosure.
Key Things to Remember As An Investor
Mutual Fund Investing
A mutual fund pools money from many investors and invests the money in stocks, bonds, short-term money-market instruments or other securities. Mutual funds have a portfolio manager or a team that selects the investments for the fund in accordance with the fund’s general or specific objectives and risk tolerance. There are many types of mutual funds including but not limited to index funds, stock funds, bond funds, international and money market funds, and more. Each fund type may have a different investment objective and strategy and a different investment portfolio. Different mutual funds may also be subject to different levels of risk, volatility, and fees and expenses.
MUTUAL FUNDS ARE TYPICALLY SUBJECT TO MARKET FLUCTUATION AND CAN LOSE MONEY. Accordingly, you should carefully consider the disclosures within each mutual fund’s prospectus before investing. The prospectus provides important information about the fund, including its objectives, its costs, and its levels of investment risk.
While it is common for investors to diversify their mutual fund holdings among several mutual fund families, you should carefully evaluate the benefits and the costs of doing so. For example, investing in mutual funds offered by multiple mutual fund families may preclude you from being able to take advantage of breakpoints that would otherwise be available had you invested through a single mutual fund family. Prior to making any mutual fund investment, you should always carefully review the sales charges associated with that transaction and evaluate how those charges will be affected by mutual fund investments you have previously made or that you intend to make in the future.
Available Multi Class Pricing Options for Mutual Funds
A single mutual fund, with one portfolio, may offer more than one “class” of shares to investors. Each class represents a similar interest in the mutual fund’s portfolio, but has different fees and expenses. Accordingly, you must consider a variety of factors including the projected holding period of your investment and the possibilities of early redemption when considering what class of shares to purchase. Your mutual fund prospectus will specifically detail the different classes of shares that are available for your mutual fund, including costs and fees. While the specific disclosure within your mutual fund’s prospectus must be considered, the following is a general summary of the types of class shares typically available:
A Shares/Front –End Load
Class A shares typically charge a front-end sales charge. When you buy Class A shares with a front-end sales charge, a portion of the dollars you pay is not invested. Class A shares may impose an asset-based operating expense, but it is generally lower than the asset-based operating expense imposed by the other classes.
A mutual fund may offer you a discount on the front-end sales charge if you:
B Shares/Back-End Load
Class B shares typically do not charge a front-end sales charge at the time of purchase. Therefore, unlike Class A purchases, all of your dollars would be immediately invested. However, Class B shares impose ongoing asset-based operating expenses that are typically higher than you would incur if you purchased Class A shares. Class B shares also normally impose a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC), which you pay when you sell your shares. For this reason, these should not be referred to as “no-load” shares. The CDSC normally declines and eventually is eliminated the longer you hold your shares. Once the CDSC is eliminated, Class B shares often then “convert” into Class A shares. When Class B shares convert, they generally will begin to charge the same asset-based operating expense as the Class A shares.
C Shares/Level Load
Class C shares usually do not impose a front-end sales charge on their purchase, so the full dollar amount that you pay is immediately invested. Often Class C shares impose a small contingent deferred sales charge if you sell your shares within a short time of purchase, usually one year. Class C shares typically impose higher ongoing asset-based operating expenses than Class A shares, and since their shares generally do not convert into Class A shares, their ongoing asset-based operating expense will not be reduced. In most cases, your operating expenses would be higher than Class A shares or Class B shares if you hold for a long time.
Other Share Classes
While the previously discussed share classes are the most commonly sold, additional variations of share classes exist, which may utilize a front-end load, back-end load or level load sales charge structure. For particular share class information, please refer to the product prospectus.
To compare expenses by share class, you may wish to review FINRA’s Expense Analyzer at: http://apps.finra.org/Investor_Information/ea/1/mfetf.aspx.
Operating Expenses
Annual fund operating expenses include management fees, so-called “12b-1 fees”, the cost of shareholder mailings and other expenses. 12b-1 fees are payments made by a mutual fund in connection with marketing and distribution expenses, which may include compensating financial advisors. The fund’s prospectus includes the fund’s expense ratio, which helps you compare annual expenses of different funds. You do not pay operating expenses directly; rather, they are deducted from the fund’s total assets, so they reduce investment returns.
Selecting What is Right for You
As with all investments, selecting the appropriate fund family and share class involves a number of factors, including fund strategies, fund performance history, your investment objectives, your risk tolerance, the fund fees and expenses, the amount of funds that you have available for investment and your time horizon. You should review the fund’s prospectus as well as the fund’s share disclosure to determine and evaluate your options. We also encourage you to discuss your options with your financial advisor who can assist you in choosing the fund family and share class most appropriate for you.
SAGEPOINT FINANCIAL’s Revenue Sharing Disclosure for Mutual Funds
SagePoint Financial offers thousands of different mutual funds to investors. We believe it is important that our financial advisors evaluate these funds and assist investors in selecting the funds that best meet their needs. We currently offer mutual funds sponsored by more than 200 companies. We focus on a select group of mutual fund families providing them greater access to our financial advisors to provide training, educational presentations and product information. In return for these increased services, these sponsors compensate the firm in the form of revenue sharing payments and ticket charge subsidies.
The following sponsors currently participate in these revenue sharing arrangements known as the Partner Program: SunAmerica Asset Management, AIM Investments, Al Frank Asset Management, Inc., AllianceBernstein, Allianz Global Investors, American Funds, Columbia Management, Dreyfus, DWS/Scudder Investments, Fidelity Investments, Eaton Vance, Franklin Templeton Investments, RS Funds, Hartford Mutual Funds, Jennison Dryden, John Hancock Funds, ING Funds, Ivy Funds Distributor, Inc., MFS, Pacific Life, Pioneer Funds, Ridgeworth Sound Shore Funds, Putnam Investments, Oppenheimer Funds, Van Kampen Investments. Legg Mason and Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. Participants in revenue sharing arrangements may change from time to time. Consult the firm website for any changes.
In addition to the customary sales commissions paid in connection with sales of mutual funds including money market funds these sponsors make payments to SagePoint Financial to participate in the program. The payments consist of amounts up to 25 basis points on a sponsor’s mutual fund sales and up to 45 basis points on fund assets and up to a $10 ticket charge for mutual fund purchases and exchanges which may offset a charge normally borne by advisors. In connection with sales (but not liquidations) of certain of the sponsors’ mutual funds, SAGEPOINT FINANCIAL may absorb the nominal “ticket charge” of up to $15 per transaction, which is normally borne by your financial advisor. Fund companies make aggregate payments based on the formula set forth above. These payments are not deducted from fund assets or customers accounts. Financial advisors of SagePoint Financial do not receive additional compensation in connection with sales of the certain mutual funds compared to other mutual funds.
How SAGEPOINT FINANCIAL and Your Financial Advisor are Compensated When You Buy Mutual Funds
SagePoint Financial and your financial advisor are paid in different ways for helping you choose mutual funds, depending on the type of fund, amount invested, share class purchased and fund family purchased.
You should understand how your financial advisor is compensated for any mutual fund transaction and how that compensation may compare with another mutual fund selection.
Variable Annuities
A variable annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company in which the insurer agrees to make periodic payments to you in an amount that will be linked to the performance of underlying investments either beginning immediately or at some future date. You can purchase a Variable Annuity by either making a single purchase payment or a series of purchase payments.
A variable annuity offers a range of investment options, typically referred to as “sub-accounts.” These sub-accounts offer a variety of stocks, bonds, and money market based investments. The value of your investment as a variable annuity owner will vary depending on the performance of the sub-accounts you choose. ACCORDINGLY, YOUR INVESTMENT IS SUBJECT TO MARKET FLUCTUATION AND CAN LOSE MONEY. Many variable annuities at an additional cost, offer a variety of so-called riders and guarantees which may include enhanced income or death benefit.
A prospectus is provided prior to an investment in a Variable Annuity. It is important that you thoroughly review the prospectus as it will contain a full explanation of your specific Variable Annuity. Further, the prospectus will detail the risks to which your investment may be subject.
Tax Deferred Variable Annuities Two Distinct Phases
Tax Deferred variable annuities have two distinct phases referred to as the accumulation phase and payout phase.
Tax Deferred Variable Annuity Features
There are several unique features of a tax deferred variable annuity which distinguish it from other investments. You should consider your individual need for each of these features in making your investment decision because variable annuities also carry certain costs and fees for these features. Among the primary features of a variable annuity are the following:
Features specific to your variable annuity investment are set forth in detail in the prospectus.
Sales and Surrender Charges
Variable annuities may charge a front-end sales charge or a back-end sales/surrender charge. They may also impose asset-based sales charges or surrender charges. The surrender charge is usually a percentage of the amount withdrawn or of the account value within a certain period of time after a purchase payment is made to the contract. Some annuities, however, do not have these surrender charges. Make sure that you understand the surrender charges for your specific variable annuity investment. Surrender charges are set forth in the prospectus.
Fees and Expenses
You will pay various fees and charges when you invest in a Variable Annuity. These charges will reduce the value of your contract. They may include the following:
SagePoint Financial’s Revenue Sharing Disclosure for Annuities
We focus on a select group of variable and fixed annuity sponsors which offer a broad array of products and options. These sponsors have greater access to our financial advisors to provide educational and training opportunities. In return for increased exposure, these sponsors compensate the firm in the form of revenue sharing. The sponsors that participate in these revenue sharing arrangements known as the Partner Program include the following companies:
SunAmerica Retirement Markets, Prudential, AXA Distributors, Hancock, ING Annuities, Lincoln Financial Distributors, Nationwide Financial, Pacific Life, PLANCO/The Hartford, Sun Life Financial, Guardian Insurance and Annuity Company, and Allianz. Participating sponsors and arrangements may change from time to time and will be reflected on the firm’s website.
In addition to the customary commissions paid in connection with sales of variable and fixed annuities, the variable and fixed annuity sponsors make payments to SagePoint Financial to participate in the Partner program. Generally, SagePoint Financial receives (i) a Gross Sales Payment of up to 0.25% (25 basis points) and (ii) an additional payment, paid quarterly, of up to 0.15% (15 basis points) per year of the assets under management. These payments are made by the insurance carrier, distributor or other related entity and not made out of customer funds and are not shared with your financial advisor.
Additionally Pacific Life and SunAmerica Retirement Markets may pay so-called Persistency payments of between 5 basis points and 25 basis points based on a formula determined by contracts with a minimum persistency of 95%, assets in excess of $15 million, and contracts in effect more than six years. Persistency payments are fees paid by variable annuity companies, through SagePoint Financial, based upon the amount of assets in a variable annuity contract managed by your financial advisor, and the length of time the assets have been held in the variable annuity. Under certain circumstances, your advisor may receive an additional annual persistency payment based on the same contracts. Persistency payments are not directly charged to your contract.
Life Insurance
A life insurance contract can serve many purposes. It can provide a source of income for your family in the event of your death, facilitate an efficient transfer of wealth from one generation to the next, or make funds available to ensure the continuation of your business. In addition to assessing your individual needs, it is important to determine which type of policy is best suited to meet those needs.
There are two basic types of life insurance: term insurance, which provides a specific amount of death benefit coverage if you die within the period of the contract; and, permanent insurance, which provides death benefit protection, but also gives you the ability to accumulate cash value.
Variable life insurance is a flexible type of permanent insurance. It provides a traditional death benefit, but at the same time allows you to participate in the variety of investment options (“sub-accounts”) such as stock, money market or bond funds to attempt to grow your cash value. It is important to note that the cash value of a variable life insurance policy is not guaranteed. The cash value varies with the investment experience of the underlying sub-accounts. ACCORDINGLY, YOUR INVESTMENT IS SUBJECT TO MARKET FLUCTUATION AND YOU CAN LOSE MONEY.
A prospectus is provided when the variable life insurance product is recommended. It is important that you thoroughly review the prospectus as it will contain a full explanation of your specific policy. Further, the prospectus will detail the risks to which your policy may be subject.
Premium Payments/Potential For Lapse and Forfeiture of Benefit
Premium payments for variable universal life (VUL) insurance are flexible, while premium payments for variable life (VL) insurance are fixed. The amount and timing of the payments are generally determined by the policyholder. With many policies, the insurance costs and the policy fees and charges are deducted directly from the cash value rather than through premium payments. Insurance costs can be significant, and purchasers of variable life insurance must carefully consider the insurance costs over the projected life of their entire contract. For insurance coverage to remain intact, all costs must be paid as they become due. If the cash value under a variable life insurance policy is depleted and the purchaser cannot otherwise satisfy the cost that becomes due, the policy will typically lapse and the purchaser will forfeit all death benefit entitlement.
Variable Life Insurance Features
You will pay various fees and charges when you purchase a variable life insurance policy, which may include front-end sales loads, surrender charges, administrative charges, cost of insurance charges, also known as mortality and expense risk charges (M&E), and various fees associated with the underlying sub-account options. Further, there are costs associated with optional policy features.
Charges for the cost of insurance can vary significantly depending on individual circumstances, such as age, sex, health, smoker/non-smoker, face amount of policy, and so forth.
If a policy is terminated before the end of the surrender period, surrender charges may be significant. These surrender charges are generally highest in the early years of a policy, and decline over a period of time, usually from seven to fifteen years.
Please see your product prospectus and product brochure for detailed information regarding your variable universal life product’s fees and charges.
SagePoint Financial’s Revenue Sharing Disclosure for Life Insurance
Because of the large number of companies offering insurance products, we have chosen to focus on a select group of some of the largest and best known, which offer a broad array of products and options. These sponsors have greater access to our advisors to provide educational and training opportunities. Set forth below is a listing of sponsors from whom we receive revenue sharing payments. This list is subject to change from time to time.
John Hancock, ING, Nationwide, Pacific Life, Penn Mutual, SunLife, American General
In addition to the commissions paid in connection with sales of variable universal life insurance, sponsors generally make payments to SagePoint Financial to participate in the program. Platinum and Gold sponsors pay a marketing allowance of 6% of all first year commission target premium from all sources on permanent plans of life insurance (to include variable universal life, universal life, indexed universal life and whole life products).
How SagePoint Financial and Your Financial Advisor are Compensated When You Buy Life Insurance and Annuity Products
SagePoint Financial and your financial advisor are paid in different ways for helping you choose insurance products, depending on the type of insurance product, amount invested, share class purchased and the age of the client.
You should feel free to ask your financial advisor how he or she will be compensated for any annuity and life insurance transaction and how that compensation may compare with compensation from another annuity or life insurance transactions.
529 Plan Investing
A 529 college savings plan is a tax-advantaged investment program designed to help parents and others pay for qualified higher education costs. The plan offers families the opportunity to obtain growth and distribution of earnings that are free from federal taxes.
State Tax Considerations/State Plan Consideration
Depending on your state of residence, an investment in a particular 529 plan may or may not afford you state tax benefits. State tax treatment can be an important consideration in deciding which plan to select. Some states offer favorable tax treatment to their residents only if they invest in a 529 plan offered by that state. Please note that if you invest in an “out-of-state” plan you may be foregoing potential tax benefits. You should consult with your tax adviser about any state or local tax implications before selecting a specific 529 plan.
Before investing in an out-of-state plan, you should carefully consider and consult your tax adviser concerning:
Available Multi Class Pricing Options for 529 Plans
A single 529 plan, with one portfolio, may offer more than one “class” of shares to investors. Each class represents a similar interest in the 529 plan’s portfolio, but has different fees and expenses. Accordingly, you must consider a variety of factors including the projected holding period of your investment and the possibilities of early redemption when considering what class of shares to purchase. Your 529 plan’s prospectus/program disclosure will specifically detail the different classes of shares that are available for your 529 plan, including costs and fees.
How SAGEPOINT FINANCIAL and Your Financial Advisor are Compensated When you Buy a 529 Plan
SAGEPOINT FINANCIAL and your financial advisor are paid in different ways for helping you select a 529 plan:
SAGEPOINT FINANCIAL’s Revenue Sharing Disclosure for 529 Plans
We have made arrangements with some of the largest and well known of these companies and allow them increased access to our financial advisors to provide them with training and other educational information and product information regarding their 529 plans.
The sponsors that currently participate in these agreements, which include provisions for revenue sharing are SunAmerica Mutual Funds, Allianz Global Investors, American Funds, Columbia Management, John Hancock Funds, MFS Distributors, Pacific Life, Oppenheimer and Putnam Investments.
In addition to the customary sales commissions paid in connection with sales of 529 plans, the sponsors generally make payments to SagePoint Financial, (i) SagePoint Financial receives a Gross Sales Payment of up to .125% (12.5 basis points), and (ii) SagePoint Financial will receive an additional payment, paid quarterly, of up to .10% (10 basis points) per year of the amount held (the “Assets Under Management Payment”).
Note that these additional payments are made by the sponsor and do not come from customer funds or fund assets, and are not shared with your financial advisor.
Direct Participation Program (DPP) Investing
A DPP is a program that generally takes the form of a partnership or other direct “flow through” entity such as a trust or LLC. Unlike a corporation where profits are taxed at the corporate level prior to distribution to investors and then again at the individual level, the investor’s share of profits earned through the direct investments is taxed only at the individual level. Through this structure, DPPs allow investors to participate directly in the cash flow and tax benefits of the partnership. DPPs generally involve ventures, such as real estate, oil and gas drilling, and equipment leasing. SUCH INVESTMENTS ARE LONG TERM, GENERALLY LACK IMMEDIATE LIQUIDITY, ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISK AND CAN LOSE MONEY.
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Investing
A real estate investment trust, or “REIT,” is a company that owns, and in most cases, operates real estate such as apartments, shopping centers, offices, hotels and warehouses. Some REITs also engage in financing real estate. While some REITs are listed and trade on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or NASDAQ, many others are not listed on an exchange and are referred to as non-public REITs. SUCH INVESTMENTS ARE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS, GENERALLY LACK IMMEDIATE LIQUIDITY, ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISK AND CAN LOSE MONEY.
How SagePoint Financial and Your Financial Advisor are Compensated When You Buy DPPs and REITs
SagePoint Financial and your financial advisor are paid in different ways for helping you choose DPPs and REITs, depending on the type of investment and the amount invested:
SagePoint Financial’s Revenue Sharing Disclosure for DPPs and REITs
SagePoint Financial enters into revenue sharing arrangements with certain DPP and REIT sponsors. These sponsors have greater access to our financial advisors to provide educational and training opportunities. Sponsors that participate in these revenue sharing arrangements include the following companies: Behringer Harvard, CNL, KBS, Cole Capital, Hines, Dividend Capital, Inland Investments, Ridgewood, and Wells Family of Real Estate Funds. The sponsors and arrangements may change from time to time.
In addition to the customary sales commissions paid in connection with sales of DPPs and REITs, the sponsors make payments to SagePoint Financial to participate in the program. SagePoint Financial generally receives a Gross Sales Payment of up to 2% of transaction amounts.
A unit investment trust (UIT) consists of Investment Company securities that invest in a fixed portfolio of securities, including corporate, municipal, government bonds, mortgage-backed securities, common or preferred stock, or other Investment Company shares. The securities are purchased and held in a trust, usually until a dissolution date that is established when the trust is created. Investors in the UIT own a fractional, divided interest in all the securities held by the trust and the distribution coming from the trust. UIT securities are monitored, but not actively managed. UITs ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISK AND CAN LOSE MONEY.
Here are some of the traditional and distinguishing characteristics of UITs:
Fees and Expenses
UITs charge an annual fee that is deducted from either the value of the portfolio or the distributions from the portfolio, and pay an initial sales commission to the sales representative. The sales charges, annual expenses and fees for your UIT are detailed in the product’s prospectus.
Volume Discounts
AAs in the case of mutual fund shares, UIT investors may be eligible for discounts based on the amount of a single transaction. You should be aware that some limited rights of accumulation, depending on the terms and conditions set forth in the prospectus, may exist with UITs.
In addition to the revenue sharing arrangements stated above, SagePoint Financial also enters into revenue sharing arrangements with certain third party money managers (“Managers”). Our financial advisors may assist you in engaging such Managers to manage your account, including, but not limited to, asset rebalancing, performance reporting, and billing. A manager is engaged only with your prior consent and subject to a separate agreement between you and the manager. Please note that prior to investing, you should be provided with a Form ADV disclosure for the program, advisor or manager which sets forth the program type, its fees, its investment objectives, the program investment strategy, the manager experience and conflicts.
Managers that participate in revenue sharing arrangements are provided greater access to our financial advisors to provide training and other educational presentations and product information so that they can serve investors better. You are charged ordinary management fees by the manager (as negotiated between you and the manager) in connection with managing your account. NOTE THAT ADVISORY PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISK AND CAN LOSE MONEY. From the Managers SagePoint Financial may receive up to 0.20 percent (20 basis points) per year of the assets under management or up to 20 percent of management fees earned on behalf of financial advisors of SagePoint Financial. For example, if you hold $10,000 in your account that is serviced by a third party money manager, SagePoint Financial would receive up to $20 per year. SagePoint Financial may also receive up to 5 basis points on gross sales placed with a Manager. In addition, SagePoint Financial may receive a flat fee of up to $100,000.
Set forth below is a listing of third party money managers from whom we receive revenue sharing payments:
Bell Capital Management Inc.
Brinker Capital Inc.
BTS Asset Management, Inc.
Clark Capital Management Group Inc.
CLS Investment Firm, LLC
Genworth Financial Wealth Management Inc.
Hanlon Investment Management, Inc.
ICON Advisers, Inc.
Lockwood Advisors Inc.
Loring Ward Advisor Services
Manning & Napier Advisory
Prudential Investments LLC
Rochdale Investment Management LLC
Russell Funds Distributors, Inc.
SEI Investments Management Corp.
WBI Investments, Inc.
Importantly, the compensation formula to determine the payment for your financial advisor is the same regardless of which third party money manager is used. SagePoint Financial advisors do not receive a greater or lesser commission in connection with sales of certain products when a third party money manager is used.
SagePoint Financial and your financial advisor may be reimbursed by sponsors of mutual funds, variable annuities, variable universal life, asset managers, and direct investment sponsors for expenses incurred for various promotional activities including but not limited to sales meetings, conferences and seminars held in the ordinary course of business.
Although product sponsors make an independent determination of what they will spend on such items, some sponsors may allocate their promotional budgets based on prior sales and asset levels.
BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN DISCLOSURE
SagePoint Financial maintains a business continuity plan and generally intends to continue business in the event of a significant business disruption. For more information regarding SagePoint Financial' business continuity plan and the Firm’s emergency contact information, please visit our Web site at www.sagepointfinancial.com or contact your Advisor.
SECURITIES INVESTOR PROTECTION CORPORATION DISCLOSURE
Information regarding the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC®), including a SIPC brochure, may be obtained by contacting SIPC via its web site at www.sipc.org or by telephone at (202) 371-8300.
The information in this disclosure document is as of December 24, 2009.
RECRUITING HOTLINE866-462-4432 |
||||