Client Relationship Summary

Updated March 31, 2023

Sowa Financial Group, Inc. ("SFG"), is a federally registered investment adviser. Our registration with the SEC neither implies a certain level of skill or training nor any endorsement by a state or federal regulatory authority. This information is being provided as investment advisory services and fees differ and it is important for you to understand the difference in order to determine what services are best for you. Free and simple tools are available for you to research firms and financial professionals at www.investor.gov/CRS, which provides educational materials about broker-dealers, investment advisers, and investing.


 

What Investment Services and Advice Can Your Firm Provide Me?

Our Investment Advisory Services include continuous investment management based upon your identified objectives and constraints and material changes in market conditions we deem relevant. Accounts are actively monitored and reviewed on a periodic basis by your SFG Adviser. By selecting investment advisory services, you: (a) grant SFG discretionary authority over the account, which means that we will not need to contact you to make trades; (b) may be subject to certain stated minimum portfolio amounts (generally $250,000); and (c) may be charged different fees based on whether you are a new or existing client, and/or as may be agreed upon with you, and/or based on the relative complexity of the services (but in no event higher than those outlined in our Investment Advisory Agreement and ADV Part 2A). We may offer enrollment in a wrap fee program sponsored by Commonwealth Financial Network (“Commonwealth”), namely the Preferred Portfolio Services Select program, which generally offers model portfolio allocations for investments in mutual funds and exchange traded funds.

Our Financial Planning Services include the stand-alone preparation of a written financial plan, which may be updated on a continuous basis if you so choose, and which are designed according to your input to identify your needs and goals for the short and long term, based upon your objectives, identified risk tolerance, assets and liabilities, and other information you may believe to be helpful or pertinent. You may, but are not required to, implement any investment recommendations offered within the financial plan through our Investment Advisory Services.

For More: Please see our ADV Part 2A, Items 4 and 7, and our Investment Advisory Agreement.

QUESTIONS TO ASK US:

  • 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 your licenses, education and other qualifications? What do those qualifications mean?

 

What Fees Will I Pay?

Investment Advisory Services Fees. We charge Investment Advisory Services fees on a quarterly basis based upon a percentage of assets under management, or at a flat percentage fee as agreed upon by you. SFG’s advisory fee shall be charged to client accounts by Commonwealth as described in the Program Client Agreement between clients and Commonwealth. 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 your investments over time. Please make sure you understand what fees and costs you are paying.

Financial Planning Services Fees. Generally, we charge Financial Planning Services fees at a flat fee based on the complexity of the analysis, or on an hourly basis.

Other Charges and Expenses. You may be responsible for third party charges and expenses, in addition to, and separate from, fees paid to us, including ticket and transaction charges, commissions, consulting services from financial, tax and legal professionals; fees and expenses payable to mutual funds or similar managed assets or accounts; and miscellaneous expenses. Client should review all costs and expenses directly with third party providers.

For More: Please see our ADV Part 2A, Item 5 and our Investment Advisory Agreement.

QUESTIONS TO ASK US:

  • Help me understand how these fees and costs will 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?

How Does Your Firm Make Money, and

What Conflicts of Interest Do You Have?

When we act as your investment adviser, we have to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. At the same time, the way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests. You should understand and ask us about these conflicts because they can affect the investment advice we provide you. The section below (How Do Your Financial Professionals Make Money?) discusses some examples to help you understand what this means. We further disclose potential conflicts of interest in our ADV Part 2A, but we do not expect these conflicts to have any material impact on our duties to you. We make efforts to mitigate any conflicts by adopting our Code of Ethics, fully disclosing our fees to clients and monitoring all the investment options in your plan regularly.

For More: Please see our ADV Part 2A, Item 10, and our Investment Advisory Agreement.

QUESTIONS TO ASK US:

  • How might your conflicts of interest affect me, and how will you address them?

 

How Do Your Financial Professionals Make Money?

Highest Potential Conflict of Interest:  SFG pays its Advisers based on the advisory fees paid by clients that they manage. The compensation that SFG Advisers, in their capacities as registered representatives of Commonwealth, may receive from Commonwealth may be a potential conflict of interest in that it provides a financial incentive for SFG Advisers to select Commonwealth as broker/dealer for client accounts over others from which they may not receive similar financial benefits. SFG attempts to mitigate this conflict of interest by disclosing the conflict in its ADV Part 2A and engaging in a regular on-going review of our relationship with Commonwealth to ensure that we continue to achieve best execution for our clients. Lower Potential Conflict of Interest: SFG Advisers may receive compensation for their activities as licensed insurance professionals.

For Additional Information: Please see SFG’s ADV Part 2A Brochure, Item 10, and our Investment Advisory Agreement.


 

Do You or Your Financial Professionals Have Legal or Disciplinary History?

Yes, a disclosure has been made regarding a civil arbitration claim over ten years ago relating to Donald J. Sowa. You may review the disclosures made in our ADV Part 2A, and in the Part 2B for our Advisers. Visit www.investor.gov/CRS for a free and simple search tool to research our firm and our financial professionals.

QUESTIONS TO ASK US:

  • As a financial professional, do you have any disciplinary history? For what type of conduct?

 

Additional Information

You should have received a copy of the SFG brochure. If you did not receive a copy of SFG’s brochure or if you have any questions about the contents of this supplement or wish to request a copy, please call us at 401-434-8090 or visit www.sowafinancial.com. You can find additional information about our firm’s investment advisory services on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

QUESTIONS TO ASK US:

  • Who is my primary contact person?
  • Is he or she a representative of an investment adviser or a broker-dealer?
  • Who can I talk to if I have concerns about how this person is treating me?