truFP

Think of the Investment Advisory Agreement as the “operating manual” for our relationship. It is a legal contract that puts in writing exactly what TruFP will do for you, how we get paid, and our promise to act in your best interest.

This agreement formally hires us to act as your Fiduciary, meaning we are legally bound to put your interests first while managing your investments or building your financial plan. It grants us the limited authority to place trades in your accounts—which are always held by a separate, third-party custodian for your safety—and outlines our transparent fee structure. Finally, it confirms that you are never locked into a long-term contract; you retain control of your assets and can cancel our services at any time with 30 days’ written notice.

There are a few operational and administrative changes to warrant an updated IAA.

i. Name Change

Investment Planning Advisors can be a mouthful. We have often shortened this to simply ‘IPA’; however, the craft beer industry has caused more confusion than we’d like. While we are embarking on this effort to update Investment Advisory Agreements, it’s a great time to simplify the brand name, while still keeping the great service you have come to expect. As previously announced, the new brand name is truFP. The new brand emphasizes our core service, financial planning.

ii. Change in Ownership

Ken Bellavance is assuming the role of managing director at Investment Planning Advisors (truFP). Ken Bellavance has been with IPA since 2014 and serves as the head of portfolio management alongside serving his own financial planning clients. Additionally, Andrew Castleberry will assume the responsibility of Chief Financial Officer. The subsequent owner, Patrick Paxton, will continue to serve a limited number of clients at truFP. The IAA contains a clause that ownership changes require a new agreement to continue service.

iii. SEC Registration

Prior to 2020, truFP was registered and regulated by the State of Georgia and each respective state we serve clients. After 2020, our firm size warranted registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The new regulatory overlord is an administrative adjustment reflected in the new IAA.

The combination of factors make the new Investment Advisory Agreement necessary. We are proud to have carefully constructed a succession plan at truFP that continues the service and operations as normal. Ken Bellavance and Andrew Castleberry have been assuming responsibilities within truFP to ensure a smooth transition. Patrick will continue to serve clients but we are thrilled to see the beginning of his own retirement plan take form.

From a client perspective, nothing changes. You can expect the same service, investment management, and financial planning guidance. These changes do not require a transfer of accounts.

The deadline for signing the new Investment Advisory Agreement is February 28, 2026. New fees will NOT take place until 3/01/2026, regardless of when the agreement is signed.

For all clients that are signed up for online access through Schwab or Altruist, we will send a DocuSign request to complete the signing.

For all clients that receive paper statements, we will mail a copy of the new Investment Advisory Agreement with a prepaid return envelope. You may also stop by the office to sign in-person.

We will reach out individually to discuss the next steps which include removing truFP as your investment manager and removing access to financial planning through RightCapital.