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Disclosures

Gradient Securities / Disclosures

Gradient Securities, LLC has developed a Business Continuity Plan for how we will respond to events that significantly disrupt our business. Since the timing and impact of disasters and disruptions is unpredictable, we will be flexible in responding to actual events as they occur. With that in mind, we are providing you with information about our business continuity plan so that you are aware of the impact on our services. If you have questions about our business continuity planning, you can contact us at compliance@gradientsecurities.com for more information.

01

Contacting Us

If after a significant business disruption you cannot contact us as you usually do at 1-866-991-1539, you should call our alternative number 1-800-407-4137 or your representative/advisor directly. Our firm does not maintain custody of clients' funds or securities, make markets in any securities, execute trades directly, or participate in underwritings. Each of these tasks is conducted by GS' product sponsors or the firm's clearing firm. Each of GS' product sponsors and clearing firm are responsible for the development of contingency procedures to provide the above noted services in the event of a business disruption. You can contact the product sponsor or vendor, listed on your statement, directly to provide prompt access to funds and securities, enter orders and process other trade-related, cash and security transfer transactions.

02

Our Business Continuity Plan

We plan to quickly recover and resume business operations after a significant business disruption. We will respond by safeguarding our employees and property, making a financial and operational assessment, protecting the firm’s books and records and allowing our customers to transact business. In short, our business continuity plan is designed to permit our firm to resume operations as quickly as possible, given the scope and severity of the significant business disruption.

Our business continuity plan addresses: data backup and recovery; all mission critical systems; financial and operational assessments; alternative communications with customers, employees and regulators; alternate physical location of employees; critical supplier, contractor and counter-party impact; regulatory reporting; and assuring our customers prompt access to their funds and securities if we are unable to continue our business.

03

Varying Disruptions

Significant business disruptions can vary in their scope, such as only our firm, a single building housing our firm, the business district where our firm is located, the city where we are located or the whole region. Within each of these areas, the severity of the disruption can also vary from minimal to severe. In a disruption to only our firm or a building housing our firm, we will transfer our operations to an alternative site when needed and expect to recover and resume business within 12 hours. In a disruption affecting our business district, city or region, we will transfer our operations to a site outside of the affected area and recover and resume business within 48 hours. In either situation, we plan to continue business, and notify you through our web site, www.gradientsecurities.com, or our customer emergency number 1-800-407-4137 , for more information on how to contact us. If the significant business disruption is so severe that it prevents us from remaining in business, we will assure our customer's prompt access to their funds and securities directly through the vendor, product sponsor, or clearing firm.

04

Order Routing Disclosure

Pursuant to SEC Rule 606, Gradient Securities, LLC (GS) is required to make publicly available, quarterly reports on the firm’s order routing practices. The information provided in these reports is related to the routing of “non-directed orders” which is defined as any order that the client has not specifically instructed to be routed to a particular venue for execution. GS is an Introducing Broker Dealer that utilizes the clearing and custody services of RBC Correspondent Services (RBC CS). Since GS utilizes RBC CS for clearing services, quarterly reports can be viewed via the following Order Handling Disclosure Report, provided by RBC CS. When this link is selected, you will be re-directed from the GS website.

05

Privacy Statement

Gradient Securities, LLC is committed to safeguarding the confidential information of its clients. This information includes all personal data that we collect from you in connection with any of the services provided by Gradient Securities, LLC.

We collect personal information about you for business purposes, such as evaluating your financial needs, processing your requests and transactions, informing you about products and services that may be of interest to you and providing customer service. We collect non-public information about you from the following sources:

  • Information we receive from you on applications and other forms (including, but not limited to, your name, date of birth, address, telephone number, e-mail address, social security number, employment information, assets, income, investment experience and health information);
  • Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates and others;
  • Information we receive from consumer reporting agencies and other entities not affiliated with Gradient Securities.

We limit access to non-public personal information to those employees, representatives and agents who need to know in order to conduct our business, service your account, keep you informed, and help you accomplish your financial objectives, such as providing you with a broad range of services and products. Our employees, representatives and agents are required to maintain and protect the confidentiality of your personal information and must follow established privacy procedures that comply with federal law. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect your personal information.

In the regular course of our business, we may disclose some or all of the non-public personal information described above with our affiliates and with non-affiliated third parties as necessary to effect, administer or enforce transactions that you request or authorize, or in connection with processing or servicing a financial product or service that you request or authorize.

Gradient Securities is a fully disclosed introducing broker-dealer, and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ('FINRA') and an SEC registered investment advisor offering advisory services under the d.b.a. Gradient Wealth Management. Our affiliates are companies controlled by us, or companies controlling or under common control with us, including registered investment advisors and insurance agencies, their representatives, and agents. Our affiliates currently are Gradient Financial Group, LLC, Gradient Investments, LLC, Gradient Financial Direct, LLC, Registered Investment Advisor firms, Gradient Insurance Brokerage, LLC, Inc., Gradient Assurance Solutions, LLC, KonnexMe, LLC, Nextek, LLC, Case Central, LLC, and Gradient Advisors, LLC. Due to the complementary services offered by these affiliates based on the types of investment of the client, non-public client information may be necessarily shared between these affiliates to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction, or to process or service a financial product or service that you request or authorize.

The non-affiliated third parties with which we may share non-public client information include financial service providers such as clearing firms, mutual fund companies, investment money managers, insurance companies, and non-traded REIT companies with whom we have contracted, and in many cases, with whom the client has contracted. Their involvement is essential to the provision of overall service provided by Gradient Services to its clients. The information shared with these non-affiliated companies is not sold or rented to them, nor is it shared with them for marketing or solicitation purposes. We will share non-public information with non-affiliated companies only when they agree to uphold and maintain our privacy standards when handling a customer's personal information.

In addition, we may disclose non-public information with non-affiliated companies and regulatory authorities as permitted or required by applicable law. For example, we may disclose personal information to cooperate with regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies, or with attorneys, accountants, or auditors as necessary to protect our rights and property. Except as described in this privacy policy, we will not use your personal information for any other purpose unless we describe how such information will be used at the time you disclose it to us, or we obtain your permission to do so.

Personally identifiable information about you will be maintained during the time you are a client, and for the required time thereafter that such records are required to be maintained by federal and state securities and insurance laws. After this required period of record retention, all such information will be archived or destroyed. In all other respects, the information about former clients is treated in the same manner as information about current clients.

We strive to keep our customer records complete and accurate. We will give you reasonable access to information we have about you. Most of this information is contained in account applications that you submit to us to obtain products and services. We encourage you to review this information and notify us if you believe any information should be corrected or updated. If you have any questions or concern about your personal information or this privacy notice, please contact our Compliance Department at 1-866-991-1539, 1-866-991-1539 or by mail at 4105 Lexington Avenue, Ste 380, Arden Hills, MN 55126, or by e-mail at compliance@gradientsecurities.com.

"Opting-Out" of Third Party Disclosure: If you do not want us to share your information (other than as prescribed by law) with any nonaffiliated third parties, including the registered representative servicing your account when he or she leaves us to join another firm, you may contact our Compliance Department by calling our toll-free number: 1-866-991-1539 or by mail at 4105 Lexington Avenue, Ste 380, Arden Hills, MN 55126, or by e-mail at compliance@gradientsecurities.com.

Securities are not FDIC insured, are not guaranteed against market risk, and may lose value. All illustrations used on this website are hypothetical and assume certain facts, figures, or rates of return. Some illustrations may show how a market index has performed. An investor cannot invest in an index, although there are some investments designed to mirror index performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Any guarantees for insurance products are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Annuities are long-term contracts intended for retirement purposes, and should not be purchased with funds for which there will be an immediate or short-term need, as early withdrawals can result in tax penalties and/or surrender charges.

Neither Gradient Securities, LLC nor any of its registered representatives or investment advisor representatives are permitted to give legal or tax advice on behalf of Gradient Securities, LLC, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.

06

Text Message (SMS) Communication Disclaimer

Securities offered through Gradient Securities, LLC., Member FINRA / SIPC. Gradient Securities, LLC (a SEC Registered Investment Advisor) offers investment advisory services under the d.b.a. of Gradient Wealth Management (GWM). Gradient Securities LLC and its representatives do not render tax, legal, or accounting advice.

Representatives may only offer investment advisory services through GWM if registered and hold proper licensure. Representatives may offer investment advisory services through an independent Registered Investment Advisor. Independent Registered Investment Advisors are not associated with Gradient Securities, LLC d.b.a. GWM. Registrations and affiliations can vary between individual representatives. Representatives must be properly licensed and registered. Registration requirements vary by state.

Client Terms of Service

Clients may correspond with their Representative via text message using a pre-approved phone number for the Representative. Messages should only be of an administrative and generic nature, which may include, but is not limited to confirming and scheduling appointments, reminders, and general questions or information only. Clients should never send personal information via text message. Representatives are prohibited from sending any personally identifiable information (PII) or client specific information or account information via text message.

Please be advised that you may conduct transactions or place trading instructions only by speaking directly with your representative. Emojis may not be accepted as confirmation or agreement. Communications regarding accounts are for informational purposes only. Clients should continue to rely on confirmations and statements received from the custodian(s) of your assets.

Text messages are intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the named addressee, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy, or disseminate this text message or any part of it. If you have received a text message in error, please notify the sender immediately, and destroy all copies of this communication.

The frequency of text messages will vary based on contact with a client's representative. Text messages will be sent and/or received by the Representative or an approved member of the Representative's staff on their behalf. No purchase is required by the client to receive text messages from a Representative with Gradient Securities, LLC. However, standard text messaging rates from the client's wireless carrier may still apply. Any costs related to receiving or sending a text message or data used are the responsibility of the individual receiving or sending it. Check with your cellphone provider for details on receiving text messages (SMS).

Clients or prospects may text "STOP" in response to stop receiving messages. A confirmation text will be sent to the client. Clients may also contact the Representative or the Gradient Securities Compliance department (compliance@gradientsecurities.com) to no longer receive text messages. Clients must opt-in again to text with a Gradient Securities Representative if they previously have opted-out.

Gradient Securities utilizes two unrelated third-party vendors to assist in maintaining books and records as required under SEC Rule 17a-4(b)(4). MyRepChat (Ionlake) is the text messaging application Gradient Securities' representatives must use with a pre-approved phone number for texting purposes. MyRepChat (Ionlake) directly journals messages into Global Relay. Global Relay allows the Firm to archive and review electronic communications, including email, text messaging, and approved social media platforms as required by our regulators. All Text messages and electronic communications are subject to review and archiving.