Business Continuiy

Intro

Stockpile Investments, Inc. (“Stockpile”) is a FINRA registered broker/dealer providing brokerage services to its customers. Accordingly, Stockpile is furnishing this document to all clients to provide information about its efforts to ensure that Stockpile’s securities operations will not be significantly impacted as a result of an emergency or significant business disruption.

Securities industry regulations require each member firm to create and maintain a business continuity plan reasonably designed to meet its obligations to its clients or other counter-parties. In accordance with these requirements, Stockpile has designed a business continuity plan to address possible scenarios in efforts to minimize any service impact to our clients.

In keeping with the regulatory requirements, the business continuity plan for Stockpile is designed to address key areas of concern – including, but not limited to the following:

• Data back-up and recovery;
• mission critical systems;
• Financial and operational assessments;
• Alternate means of communication between Stockpile and its customers;
• Alternate means of communication between Stockpile and its employees;
• Alternate physical locations of employees;
• Critical business constituent, bank and counterparty impact;
• Regulatory reporting;
• Communications with regulators; and 
• How Stockpile will ensure that customers have access to their funds and securities in the event that Stockpile determines it is unable to continue its business.

Since events creating business disruptions may vary in nature and scope, Stockpile has anticipated scenarios in which the following are affected:

• A disruption to Stockpile’s primary or main office location
• A disruption to a single building in which Stockpile’s main office is located
• A disruption to the business district or city where Stockpile’s primary systems are located • A disruption to the region where Stockpile’s primary systems are located

Regardless of the scope of potential disruption, Stockpile intends to continue to provide service to its clients.

A Disruption to Stockpile and/or Single Building

In the event that there is a significant business disruption to Stockpile and/or the building in which Stockpile is located, Stockpile has duplicative systems that will be operated from separate back-up sites. This disruption may be caused by physical damage, technology problems, or an inability to have personnel arrive at the office. In this circumstance, and since Stockpile is primarily an on-line brokerage, Stockpile will transfer its securities operations to one or more designated alternate site(s) located in the same city or in adjoining cities that are sufficiently separated from Stockpile’s main operations. The alternate site(s) will be used to restore internal operations as well as electronic access and communications as soon as key employees are relocated to the designated sites. In this process, Clients may experience a minor delay in reaching Stockpile due to increased telephone calls, technology delays, or other minor difficulties arising from the transfer of operations. Stockpile expects that any delay will be less than twelve (12) hours. Nevertheless, the unlikely failure of the telephone or other ancillary communication systems could result in a delay of up to twenty-four (24) hours.

A Business-District, Citywide, or Regional Disruption

In the event that there is a significant business disruption that affects the business district or city where any of Stockpile’s primary systems are located, Stockpile will transfer operations to its designated back-up (“alternate”) sites located in separate and distinct business districts and cities from its main operations. The alternate sites will be used to restore internal operations, electronic access and communications as soon as key employees are relocated to those sites.

In the event of a significant business disruption to the region where Stockpile’s primary systems are located, Stockpile would intend to take advantage of any available branch or other facilities that may be located in other geographical regions to use in limited capacity to resume operations temporarily. As a secondary back-up, Stockpile will leverage its additional office that currently operates in an adjoining region and district that will effectively leverage the use of technology and infrastructure to continue operations. In this process, clients may experience minor delays in reaching Stockpile due to increased telephone calls, technology delays, or other minor difficulties arising from the transfer of operations. Stockpile expects that any delay will be less than twenty-four (24) hours.

Nevertheless, please be aware that due to the unpredictability of events, there can be no assurance that service will continue without interruption in certain circumstances, such as a regional blackout, a natural disaster or a terrorist attack. However, in the unlikely event that Stockpile has determined that it cannot resume operations within a reasonable amount of time; it will provide as much advance notice as possible regarding its ongoing operations.

Note: this business continuity plan is subject to periodic modification; therefore, updated plans will be promptly posted on Stockpile’s Website for review (if available). Alternatively, customers may obtain a complete copy of Stockpile’s business continuity plan by requesting a written copy in writing. 

Please be advised that Stockpile’s business continuity plan is reviewed and updated on an annual basis and subject to change and modification. Therefore, any changes and updated information will be distributed in writing as required or promptly posted on Stockpile’s Website located at www.stockpile.com. Alternatively, customers may obtain a copy of Stockpile’s business continuity plan by requesting a written copy in writing.If you have any questions regarding Stockpile’s business continuity plan, please contact Stockpile at www.stockpile.com.

APEX Clearing (“Clearing Firm”) is a broker-dealer and member of the NYSE and FINRA and acts as the designated clearing firm for Stockpile. The Clearing Firm has also developed a business continuity plan and conducts periodic testing of their own back-up capabilities to ensure that, in the event of an emergency or significant business disruption, they will be able to provide Stockpile with the critical information and applications needed to continue or promptly resume business. More detailed information can be found at www.apexclearing.com.