Disclosures
JMG Financial Group, Ltd. (“JMG”) is an SEC registered investment adviser located in Downers Grove, Illinois.
JMG may only transact business in those states in which it is registered, or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. JMG’s web site is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to its advisory services, together with access to additional investment-related information, publications, and links. Accordingly, the publication of JMG’s web site on the Internet should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as JMG’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the Internet. Any subsequent, direct communication by JMG with a prospective client shall be conducted by a representative that is either registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides. A copy of JMG’s current written disclosure Brochure and Form CRS discussing JMG’s business operations, services, and fees is available on this web site and/or from JMG upon written request. JMG does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to JMG’s web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.
Please remember that different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy (including those undertaken or recommended by JMG), will be profitable or equal any historical performance level(s).
Certain portions of JMG’s web site (i.e., newsletters, articles, commentaries, etc.) may contain a discussion of, and/or provide access to, JMG (and those of other investment and non-investment professionals) positions and/or recommendations as of a specific prior date. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions, such discussion may no longer be reflective of current position(s) and/or recommendation(s). Moreover, no client or prospective client should assume that any such discussion serves as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized advice from JMG, or from any other investment professional. JMG is neither an attorney nor an accountant, and no portion of the web site content should be interpreted as legal, accounting or tax advice.
Please Note: Limitations: Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, membership in any professional organization, or any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if JMG is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Rankings published by magazines, and others, generally base their selections exclusively on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized adviser. Rankings are generally limited to participating advisers. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, JMG did not pay a fee to be included on any such ranking. No ranking or recognition should be construed as a current or past endorsement of JMG by any of its clients.
No illustration or content on this website should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if JMG is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement of JMG by any of its clients.
Each client and prospective client agrees, as a condition precedent to his/her/its access to JMG’s web site, to release and hold harmless the JMG, its officers, directors, owners, employees and agents from any and all adverse consequences resulting from any of his/her/its actions and/or omissions which are independent of his/her/its receipt of personalized individual advice from JMG.
The purpose of this website is to provide general information on the subjects discussed. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual's situation.
This website is based on the views of JMG. Other organizations or persons may analyze investments and the approach to investing from a different perspective than that reflected on this website. Nothing included herein is intended to infer that the approach to investing discussed on this website will ensure any particular investment results.
Social Media Disclosure
JMG’s published content on any social media platform, including but not limited to LinkedIn, is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any products offered by JMG. All content we publish is for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only. We don’t provide any sort of investment advice or recommendations to invest in any investment product on social media, or anywhere else. JMG is not affiliated with any social media platform, nor are we responsible for the privacy policies of the social media platforms used. Please do not publish or send us any personal or confidential information via our social media accounts including account information, security questions or personally identifying information.
Comments on social media are reviewed for regulatory reasons. We reserve the right to remove or delete any comments, for any reason, including but not limited to: spam; harsh language; promotions for any type of business; messages that are not relevant to JMG; testimonials; recommendations about specific securities or products; or investment advice. Comments posted on our social media pages are not adopted or endorsed by JMG and don’t reflect the views of JMG or its employees. We reserve the right to change our terms of social media use and comment moderation policies at any time.
Links
The Site may contain links and pointers to other websites and resources (the “Linked Sites”). These links are provided for your convenience and for your reference only. These links do not constitute an endorsement by or association with JMG or any third-party resources or their contents. Hyperlinks do not imply that JMG is affiliated or associated with or is legally authorized to use any trademark, trade name, logo, or copyright symbol displayed in or accessible through the hyperlinks, or that any Linked Sites are authorized to use any trademark, trade name, logo, or copyright symbol of JMG. If you access any Linked Site through the Site or otherwise, you do so at your own risk. JMG is not responsible for information on any Linked Site that is referred to, or accessible or connected by hyperlink to, the Site.
Professional Designations and Certifications:
Working with an advisor with any of the professional designations or certifications list below cannot guarantee investment success or that your personal financial goals will be achieved. None of the professional designations or certification programs listed below are affiliated with JMG, nor are they sponsored or endorsed by JMG.
Accredited Investment Fiduciary®
The AIF® designation, awarded by the Center for Fiduciary Studies, demonstrates a focus on all the components of a comprehensive investment process, related fiduciary standards of care, and commitment to excellence. Those who earn the AIF® mark successfully complete a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards of care and subsequently passed a comprehensive examination. In order to qualify for the AIF® designation, candidates must earn a minimum of three points based on a valuation framework which assigns weightings to a candidate’s education, professional development, and relevant industry experience. Finally, candidates have annual continuing education requirements and must pledge to abide by the designation’s code of ethics.
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (“CDFA®”)
CDFA® professionals must develop their theoretical and practical understanding and knowledge of the financial aspects of divorce by completing a comprehensive course of study approved by the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts. CDFA® professionals must have two years minimum experience in a financial or legal capacity prior to earning the right to use the CDFA® certification mark.
Certified Financial Analyst (“CFA®”)
The CFA® designation is globally recognized and attests to a charterholders success in a rigorous and comprehensive study program in the field of investment management and research analysis. Candidates that pursue the designation have in-depth knowledge of securities types and investment vehicles. In order to qualify for a CFA® designation, candidates must meet standards for examination, education, experience, and ethics. First, candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school, or its equivalent. Second, candidates must have completed 48 months of qualified professional work experience, generally related to evaluating or applying financial, economic, and/or statistical data as part of the investment decision-making process involving securities or similar investment. Third, candidates must pass a series of three six-hour exams that covers ethics, quantitative methods, economics, corporate finance, financial reporting and analysis, security analysis, and portfolio management. Finally, candidates must meet and continue to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards governing their professional conduct, as reviewed by the CFA Institute.
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
The CFP® designation identifies individuals who have completed the mandatory examination, education, experience, and ethics requirements mandated by the CFP Board. Candidates must have at least three years of qualifying work experience that relates to financial planning. Candidates are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. CFP® candidates must pass an examination that covers over 100 financial planning topics, which broadly include: general principles of financial planning, insurance planning and risk management, employee benefits planning, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning. Finally, candidates have ongoing ethics requirements and oversight by the CFP Board.
Certified Private Wealth Advisor (“CPWA®”)
The CPWA® designation is issued and administered by the Investments & Wealth Institute® and signifies that an individual has met initial and on-going experience, ethical, education, and examination requirements for the professional designation. The CPWA® designation is intended for advisers who serve high-net-worth clients and who seek the latest, most advanced knowledge and techniques to address the sophisticated needs of clients with a minimum net worth of $5 million. Prerequisites for the CPWA® designation are: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or one of the following designations or licenses: CIMA®, RMA®, CFA®, CFP®, ChFC® or a CPA license; five years of professional experience in the financial services industry; and successful completion of a background check. CPWA® candidates must complete a six month online or in-person educational component through a registered education program and must achieve a passing score on the CPWA® Certification Exam. Upon successfully completing the examination, CPWA® designees are required to adhere to the applicable Code of Professional Responsibility and Rules and Guidelines for Use of the Marks. CPWA® designees must also complete 40 hours of continuing education credits, including two ethics hours, every two years to maintain the certification.
Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”)
CPAs are licensed and/or registered and are generally regulated by their state boards of accountancy or departments of financial and professional regulation. While state laws and regulations vary, the education, experience and testing requirements for licensure as a CPA generally include minimum college education (typically 150 credit hours with at least a baccalaureate degree and a concentration in accounting), minimum experience levels (most states require at least one year of experience providing services that involve the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or consulting skills, all of which must be achieved under the supervision of or verification by a CPA), and successful passage of the Uniform CPA Examination. In order to maintain a CPA license, states generally require the completion of 40 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) each year (or 80 hours over a two-year period or 120 hours over a three-year period). Additionally, all American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) members are required to follow a rigorous Code of Professional Conduct which requires that they act with integrity, objectivity, due care, competence, fully disclose any conflicts of interest (and obtain client consent if a conflict exists), maintain client confidentiality, disclose to the client any commission or referral fees, and serve the public interest when providing financial services. The vast majority of state boards of accountancy have adopted the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct within their state accountancy laws or have created their own.
Enrolled Agent (“EA”)
An Enrolled Agent is a tax professional who has passed an IRS examination covering all aspects of taxation, plus passed an IRS background check. The examination (called the Special Enrollment Examination) covers all aspects of federal tax law, including the taxation of individuals, corporations, partnerships, and various regulations governing IRS collections and audit procedures. Like CPAs and tax attorneys, Enrolled Agents can handle any type of tax matter and represent their client's interests before the IRS. Unlike CPAs and tax attorneys, Enrolled Agents are tested directly by the IRS, and Enrolled Agents focus exclusively on tax accounting. The Enrolled Agent designation may be revoked by the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility for malpractice.
Master Planner Advanced Studies® (“MPAS”)
Individuals who hold the MPAS® designation have completed a Master of Science degree with a major in personal financial planning or financial analysis. The program consists of 36-43 semester credits and delves deeply into personal financial planning or investment-related content using research-based coursework and real-world case studies. Graduates of the program are required to demonstrate critical thinking skills and complex problem-solving techniques. Additionally, individuals must complete assignments, projects, research, and papers and meet all graduation requirements for the Master of Science degree.
Personal Financial Specialist
The PFS credential demonstrates that an individual has met the minimum education, experience and testing required of a CPA in addition to a minimum level of expertise in personal financial planning. To attain the PFS credential, a candidate must hold an unrevoked CPA license, fulfill 3,000 hours of personal financial planning business experience, complete 80 hours of personal financial planning CPE credits, pass a comprehensive financial planning exam and be an active member of the AICPA. A PFS credential holder is required to adhere to AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct and is encouraged to follow AICPA’s Statement on Responsibilities in Financial Planning Practice. To maintain their PFS credential, the recipient must complete 60 hours of financial planning CPE credits every three years. The PFS credential is administered through the AICPA.