Potential Conflicts of Interest
Saturna manages accounts under three basic fee structures: fee based solely on assets, fee based both on assets and performance, and fee based solely on performance. The fee rates vary as well. Generally, you will qualify for only one structure, which may not be the most advantageous in all circumstances.
To avoid any single managed account gaining a trading advantage, portfolio transactions are done as a "bunched" order, then allocated pro rata to managed accounts as may be appropriate to their objectives and client instructions.
Saturna's management of accounts with performance fees while at the same time managing accounts (perhaps with similar objectives) without performance fees may constitute a conflict of interest in that a performance fee might provide incentive to Saturna to favor that account to the disadvantage of other non-performance fee accounts. However, Saturna's policies, such as bunching client trades and certain practical considerations mitigate the possible conflict. In Saturna’s opinion no such conflict exists in actual practice.
Including brokerage in the fee structure ("wrap fee") may not always be in your best interests, as you might pay less if Saturna lowered its advisory fee and charged commissions on trades. You have the option of using other advisers and brokers at anytime. You may be able to purchase these services separately elsewhere and obtain a lower cost than in a Saturna account the fee for which includes these services.
Saturna has adopted a Code of Ethics which governs trading by its employees to avoid conflicts of interest.
Saturna owns and operates Saturna Trust Company, licensed in Nevada. Saturna Trust offers general trust services to a wide range of trusts. Clients of Saturna Trust may, but are not required to, engage the services of Saturna Capital. Saturna Trust does not offer financial or estate planning services, but does work with advisers of clients to develop appropriate trust arrangements. Clients are not required, nor expected, to engage the services of Saturna Trust. Use of Saturna Trust may not be in the best interest of every client.
Portfolio Manager Compensation
All Saturna Capital employees, including Nicholas Kaiser and other portfolio managers, are paid an annual salary, as set by the board of Saturna Capital. The board also pays annual bonuses to employees, that are dependent on the profits of Saturna Capital and not the results of any specific managed account or specific business of Saturna Capital. All employees are eligible for a 401k retirement plan, health and other benefits, and a stock option plan. Stock options are annually awarded on the basis of years of service, and not individual performance.
To align the mutual fund managers' interests with shareowners, mutual fund portfolio managers, such as Mr. Kaiser, are also paid a monthly bonus when a fund achieves an overall rating of 4 or 5 stars from Morningstar™. The bonus is 1% of the adviser's net monthly fee for a 4-star rating, and 2% of the monthly fee for a 5-star rating. Morningstar ratings are determined within categories, and primarily reflect total returns for the last 3, 5 and 10 years. The adviser’s net monthly fee from Amana's funds is solely dependent on Fund assets, but the net monthly fee from the Sextant Funds is partly based on Sextant fund performance results. The Sextant equity funds which Mr. Kaiser manages, and the Sextant Core Fund which Mr. Nielsen manages, pay a base fee of 0.60% of average daily net assets, adjusted up or down by up to 0.30% depending upon a fund's performance over the previous 12 months compared to the average fund in its Morningstar category. The Sextant bond funds which Mr. McIlvaine manages pay a base fee of 0.60% of average daily net assets, adjusted up or down by up to 0.20% depending upon a fund's performance over the previous 12 months compared to the average fund in its Morningstar category.
Since all fund assets vary over time with performance, as investors favor mutual funds with superior investment records, the portfolio manager's bonus is a function of both performance and assets. The two private pooled investment portfolios managed by Mr. Kaiser pay Saturna Capital as adviser a performance fee of 10% of the year's increase achieved from the previous highest year-end net asset value. There is no base fee, and no performance fee in years when the net asset value is below the highest previous value. As portfolio manager, Mr. Kaiser normally receives a significant portion of any fee earned as a bonus.
Saturna Capital has a 401k retirement plan for all its employees. It contributes to participant accounts on a matching basis to encourage voluntary salary deductions by employees, and may contribute a portion of its annual profits.
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