| 1. Firm Character | Employee-owned and intentionally kept small, adding clients at a measured pace | Varies |
| 2. Portfolio Management | Fiduciary responsibility and discretionary authority | Varies, not all assume fiduciary responsibility |
| 3. Investment Consulting | Yes, with a wide selection of investment managers | May have limited consulting, data product-specific |
| 4. Team Industry Experience | Staff average is over 15 years | Varies, may be less specialized |
| 5. Performance Reports | Compared to client-specific target benchmarks | Varies |
| 6. Compensation | Percentage of assets under management | Varies, can be a percentage of assets under management, or commission-based, and may include other fees and commissions |
| 7. Investment Advice Objectivity | Completely objective as our compensation comes solely from the clients we serve | Potential conflicts of interest due to proprietary products or commissions |
| 8. Client Relationships | Limited number per portfolio manager | May have higher client-to-advisor ratios |
| 9. Client Communication | Ongoing proactive & tailored communication | Varies |
| 10. Custody of Assets | Helps select custodian | May custody assets |
| 11. Product Selection | Select products that best suit the client's needs | May be limited to in-house products |
| 12. Comprehensive Advice | Provides comprehensive advice including financial, retirement and charitable planning | Varies |
