# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001592900
**File Stem:** 0001829126-23-001009
**Filing Date:** 2023-1
**Character Count:** 39351
**Document Hash:** e72eb2b6febb18dfbf3d2b998abfba72
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001829126-23-001009.hdr.sgml**: 20230126

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001829126-23-001009

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 497K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 2

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230126

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230126

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20230126

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** EA Series Trust
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001592900
- **IRS NUMBER:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0930

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 497K
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 333-195493
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23557456

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 19 E EAGLE ROAD
- **CITY:** HAVERTOWN
- **STATE:** PA
- **ZIP:** 19083
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 1.215.882.9983

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 19 E EAGLE ROAD
- **CITY:** HAVERTOWN
- **STATE:** PA
- **ZIP:** 19083

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** Alpha Architect ETF Trust
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20140428

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** Empowered Funds ETF Trust
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20131125

## Series and Classes Contracts Data

### Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF (Series ID: S000069668)

| Class ID   | Class Name                      | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000222207 | Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF | GDMA            |

SUMMARY PROSPECTUS

January 24, 2023

**Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF**

Ticker Symbol: GDMA

*Listed on NYSE Arca, Inc.*

Before you invest, you may want to review the statutory prospectus (the "Prospectus"), which contains more information about the Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF (the "Fund") and its risks. You can find the Fund's Prospectus, reports to shareholders, and other information about the Fund, including the Fund's Statement of Additional Information, online at www.gadsdenfunds.com. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 215-882-9983. The current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information dated January 24, 2023 are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus.

**Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF**

Fund Summary

**Investment Objective**

Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF (the "Fund") seeks total return.

**Fees And Expenses**

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund ("Shares"). **You may also pay brokerage commissions on the purchase and sale of Shares, which are not reflected in the table and example below.**

**Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)** 

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Management Fee | 0.59% |
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.00% |
| Other Expenses | 0.00% |
| Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses<sup>1</sup> | 0.32% |
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.91% |

---

<sup>1</sup> "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses" are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other investment companies. Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets provided in the Financial Highlights section of the Prospectus, which reflects only the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

**Example**

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% a year and that operating expenses remain the same. You may also pay brokerage commissions on the purchase and sale of Shares, which are not reflected in the example. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **One Year:** | **Three Years:** | **Five Years:** | **Ten Years:** |
| $93 | $290 | $504 | $1120 |

---

**Portfolio Turnover**

The Fund may pay transaction costs, including commissions when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the Fund's fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 219% of the average value of its portfolio.

**Principal Investment Strategies**

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund ("<u>ETF</u>") that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in asset classes that the Fund's portfolio managers believe offer the most attractive combined risk/return opportunities. The term "asset classes" generally includes, among others, U.S. equities, foreign securities, currencies, bonds, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Generally, Gadsden (defined below) selects investments for the Fund's portfolio based on its long-term view of macroeconomic factors. That is considered a "strategic" approach. Through that approach, the Fund's portfolio will generally have exposure to a variety of asset classes, geographies, and market capitalizations. Additionally, for a portion of the Fund's portfolio, Gadsden may seek to change the Fund's investment portfolio based on its short-term view of the markets, which is referred to as a "tactical" approach.

The Fund's risk or return is not managed relative to any securities index or securities benchmark. Rather, the portfolio managers make allocation decisions based on their view of the projected investment environment, attractiveness, and future return for a particular asset class or securities. The Fund may invest globally in any asset class or security and may at times have significant exposure to a single asset class. The Fund may focus its investments in particular asset classes, sectors, regions, or countries, and in companies of any market capitalization, which allocations may change over time. Additionally, the Fund may invest in assets classes that are considered lower-risk (e.g., inflation-linked bonds or fixed income securities), higher-risk (e.g., equities or REITs), or a mix of both groups.

The Fund's investment adviser, Empowered Funds, LLC (the "<u>Adviser</u>") has engaged Gadsden, LLC ("<u>Gadsden</u>") as investment sub-adviser to support management of the Fund. Gadsden will perform its services as a non-discretionary sub-adviser, which means that Gadsden will not be responsible for selecting brokers or placing the Fund's trades. Rather, Gadsden will provide trade recommendations to the Adviser and, in turn, the Adviser will be responsible for selecting brokers and placing the Fund's trades. It is anticipated that the Adviser will generally adhere to Gadsden's recommendations.

Regardless of whether the portfolio managers are using a tactical approach or a strategic approach, the portfolio managers evaluate potential investments using both fundamental analyses and quantitative methods. A fundamental analysis is a method of measuring a security's intrinsic value. Through a fundamental analysis, the portfolio managers seek out securities priced below their real worth. Gadsden also uses a proprietary investment model that generates signals based on a quantitative analysis, which together with the results of the Sub-Adviser's fundamental analysis, is then used to determine in which securities to buy, sell, or hold. The Sub-Adviser's model is based on whether the model anticipates a market advance, correction, or decline. The Adviser will generally sell securities or other instruments when, based on Gadsden's recommendations, better opportunities have become available.

The Fund's portfolio construction typically includes investments across a variety of global asset classes, including corporate, government (U.S. or foreign), inflation-linked, and high-yield debt instruments (also known as "junk" bonds); cash and cash equivalents; commodity interests (including foreign currencies, precious metals, and other physical or nonphysical commodities); and REITs. The Fund's investments in fixed income instruments may include those of any maturity or credit quality. The Fund's portfolio may also utilize inverse, leveraged, and inverse leveraged exchange-traded vehicles (such as ETFs) to obtain exposure to one or more asset classes.

For each asset class in which the Fund invests, Gadsden will recommend to the Adviser whether the Fund should invest directly in securities or other instruments of that asset class or indirectly through one or more pooled vehicles that seeks to track the performance of the asset class (including ETFs, exchange-traded notes, and exchange-traded commodities). Consequently, the Fund's investments in other exchange-traded vehicles may range from 0% to 100% of the Fund's portfolio.

The Fund may invest in futures contracts to gain long or short exposure to one or more asset classes. Investments in derivative instruments, like futures, have the economic effect of creating financial leverage in the Fund's portfolio because those investments may give rise to losses that exceed the amount the Fund has invested in those instruments. Financial leverage will magnify, sometimes significantly, the Fund's exposure to any increase or decrease in prices associated with a particular reference asset resulting in increased volatility in the value of the Fund's portfolio. To the extent the Fund invests in derivative instruments, the value of the Fund's portfolio is likely to experience greater volatility over short-term periods. While financial leverage has the potential to produce greater gains, it also may result in greater losses, which in some cases may cause the Fund to liquidate other portfolio investments at a loss to comply with limits on leverage and asset segregation requirements imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "<u>1940 Act</u>") or to meet redemption requests.

**Principal Risks**

An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. *There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective*. An investor may lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. More complete risk descriptions are set forth below under the heading "*Additional Information About the Fund's Risks*".

Each risk summarized below is considered a "principal risk" of investing in the Fund, regardless of the order in which it appears. As with any investment, there is a risk you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund. Some or all of these risks may adversely affect the Fund's NAV, trading price, yield, total return and/or ability to meet its objectives.

**Equity Investing Risk.** An investment in the Fund involves risks similar to those of investing in any fund holding equity securities, such as market fluctuations, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices. The values of equity securities could decline generally or could underperform other investments. In addition, securities may decline in value due to factors affecting a specific issuer, market or securities markets generally.

**Foreign Investment Risk.** Returns on investments in foreign securities could be more volatile than, or trail the returns on, investments in U.S. securities. Investments in or exposures to foreign securities are subject to special risks, including risks associated with foreign securities generally. Those special risks may arise due to differences in information available about issuers of securities and investor protection standards applicable in other jurisdictions; capital controls risks, including the risk of a foreign jurisdiction imposing restrictions on the ability to repatriate or transfer currency or other assets; currency risks; political, diplomatic and economic risks; regulatory risks; and foreign market and trading risks, including the costs of trading and risks of settlement in foreign jurisdictions.

**Fixed Income Securities Risk**. Changes in interest rates generally will cause the value of fixed-income and bond instruments held by the Fund to vary inversely to those changes. Prices of longer-term fixed-income instruments generally fluctuate more than the prices of shorter-term fixed income instruments as interest rates change. Fixed-income instruments that are fixed-rate are generally more susceptible than floating rate loans to price volatility related to changes in prevailing interest rates. The prices of floating rate fixed-income instruments tend to have less fluctuation in response to changes in interest rates, but will have some fluctuation, particularly when the next interest rate adjustment on the security is further away in time or adjustments are limited in amount over time.

The Fund may invest in short-term securities that, when interest rates decline, affect the Fund's value as these securities mature or are sold and the Fund purchases new short-term securities with lower yields. An obligor's willingness and ability to pay interest or to repay principal due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow.

In addition, the Fund may invest in various fixed income and floating rate securities, including high-yield (junk) bond securities, inflation-linked securities, Sovereign debt securities, and U.S. Government obligations) that are subject to additional risks. Those risks may be material and the risks differ for each of the types of underlying investments. An overview of some of the fixed income and floating rate risks is under the heading - *Additional Information about the Fund's Investment Objective and Strategies*.

**Investment Risk.** When you sell your Shares of the Fund, they could be worth less than what you paid for them. The Fund could lose money due to short-term market movements and over longer periods during market downturns. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular asset classes or industries represented in the markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or to factors that affect a particular industry or group of industries. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Therefore, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.

**Sector Risk**. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors.

**Commodities Risk**. If the Fund invests in physical commodities, those investments will subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities, like stocks and bonds. Investing in physical commodities, including through exchange-traded commodities ("<u>ETCs</u>") or indirectly through commodity-linked derivative instruments, such as commodity-linked futures, forwards, and swaps, is speculative and can be extremely volatile. The commodities markets may fluctuate rapidly based on a variety of factors, including overall market movements; economic events and policies; changes in interest rates or inflation rates; changes in monetary and exchange control programs; war; acts of terrorism; natural disasters; and technological developments. Variables like disease, drought, floods, weather, trade, embargoes, tariffs, and other political events may have a larger impact on commodity prices than on traditional securities. The prices of commodities can also fluctuate widely due to supply and demand disruptions in major producing or consuming regions.

Because some commodities may be produced in a limited number of countries and may be controlled by a small number of producers, political, economic, and supply-related events in those countries could have a disproportionate impact on the prices of those commodities. These factors may affect the value of the Fund in varying ways, and different factors may cause the value and the volatility of the Fund to move in inconsistent directions at inconsistent rates. The current or "spot" prices of physical commodities may also affect, in a volatile and inconsistent manner, the prices of futures contracts in respect of the relevant commodity. The Fund's exposure to physical commodities, ETCs, and other commodity-related investments presents tax risks because income and gains from these investments are treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of the Fund's qualification as a regulated investment company, the Fund might fail to qualify as a regulated investment company, and be subject to federal income tax at the Fund level.

**U.S. Government Obligations Risk.** Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities receive varying levels of support and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, which could affect the Fund's ability to recover should they default. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. Additionally, market prices and yields of securities supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government or other countries may decline or be negative for short or long periods of time.

**Cash and Cash Equivalents Risk**. Holding cash or cash equivalents rather than securities or other instruments in which the Fund primarily invests, even for short periods, may cause the Fund to risk losing opportunities to participate in market appreciation, and may cause the Fund to experience potentially lower returns than the Fund's benchmark or other funds that remain fully invested. In rising markets, holding cash or cash equivalents will negatively affect the Fund's performance relative to its benchmark.

**Commodity-Linked Derivatives Tax Risk**. The tax treatment of commodity-linked derivative instruments is currently uncertain and may be adversely affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. As a regulated investment company ("<u>RIC</u>"), the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from certain qualifying sources of income under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "<u>Code</u>").

On May 1, 2017 the Internal Revenue Service (the "<u>IRS</u>") published a series of revocations of private letter rulings that had been issued to RICs. In each of the revocations, at least one of the rulings requested in the original private letter ruling was that the income from a commodity-linked note was qualified income for the purposes of 90% gross income test. Although the original rulings were favorable, the IRS indicated in the revocations that the rulings were not in accord with the current views of the IRS. If, as a result of any adverse future legislation, U.S. Treasury regulations, and/or guidance issued by the IRS, the income of the Fund from certain commodity-linked derivatives were treated as non-qualifying income, the Fund may fail to qualify as RIC and/or be subject to federal income tax at the Fund level. The uncertainty surrounding the treatment of certain derivative instruments under the qualification tests for a RIC may limit the Fund's use of those types of derivative instruments.

**Currency Risk**. Changes in currency exchange rates and the relative value of non-U.S. currencies may affect the value of the Fund's foreign investments and the value of your Shares. Currency exchange rates can be very volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably. As a result, the value of an investment in the Fund may change quickly and without warning and you may lose money.

**Derivatives Risk**. Derivative investments have risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of the instruments and the underlying assets or index; the loss of principal, including the potential loss of amounts greater than the initial amount invested in the derivative instrument; the possible default of the other party to the transaction; and illiquidity of the derivative investments. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The derivatives used by the Fund may give rise to a form of leverage. The use of leverage may exaggerate any increase or decrease in the net asset value, causing the Fund to be more volatile. The use of leverage may also increase expenses and increase the impact of the Fund's other risks. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations or to meet collateral segregation requirements or regulatory requirements when it may not be advantageous to liquidate the positions, resulting in increased volatility of returns. Certain of the Fund's transactions in derivatives could also affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to shareholders, which may result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gain and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in the transactions, which may adversely impact the Fund's after-tax returns.

**Geopolitical/Natural Disaster Risks.** The Fund's investments are subject to geopolitical and natural disaster risks, such as war, terrorism, trade disputes, political or economic dysfunction within some nations, public health crises and related geopolitical events, as well as environmental disasters, epidemics and/or pandemics, which may add to instability in world economies and volatility in markets. The impact may be short-term or may last for extended periods.

**Emerging Markets Risk.** The Fund may invest in companies organized in emerging market nations. Investments in securities and instruments traded in developing or emerging markets, or that provide exposure to those securities or markets, can involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions not associated with investments in U.S. securities and instruments or investments in more developed international markets. Those conditions may impact the ability of the Fund to buy, sell or otherwise transfer securities, adversely affect the trading market and price for Fund shares and cause the Fund to decline in value.

**ETF Risks**

● **Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk.** The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants ("APs"). In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.

● **Premium-Discount Risk.** The Shares may trade above or below their net asset value ("NAV"). The market prices of Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of, and demand for, Shares on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the "Exchange") or other securities exchanges. The trading price of Shares may deviate significantly from NAV during periods of market volatility or limited trading activity in Shares.

● **Cost of Trading Risk.** Investors buying or selling Shares in the secondary market will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers as determined by that broker. Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small amounts of Shares.

● **Trading Risk.** Although the Shares are listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active or liquid trading market for them will be maintained. In addition, trading in Shares on the Exchange may be halted. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of the Fund's Shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of its underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than the Fund's Shares, potentially causing the market price of the Fund's Shares to deviate from its NAV.

**Underlying Fund Risk**. The risks of owning interests of other exchange-traded investment vehicles ("<u>Underlying Funds</u>") generally reflect the same risks as owning the underlying securities or other instruments that each Underlying Fund holds at the particular time. The shares of some Underlying Funds may trade at a premium or discount to their intrinsic value, which means an Underlying Fund's market value may differ from the net asset value of its shares. For example, supply and demand for shares of an Underlying Fund or market disruptions may cause the market price of the Underlying Fund to deviate from the value of its investments, which may be emphasized in less liquid markets.

With respect to an Underlying Fund that is an exchange-traded note, its value may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer's credit rating.

By investing in an Underlying Fund, the Fund indirectly bears the proportionate share of any fees and expenses of the Underlying Fund in addition to Fund's direct fees and expenses. Additionally, trading in an Underlying Fund may be halted by the exchange on which it trades.

**Geographic Investment Risk**. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies of a single country or region, it is more likely to be impacted by events or conditions affecting that country or region.

**High Portfolio Turnover Risk.** The Fund's investment strategy results in higher turnover rates. This may increase the Fund's brokerage commission costs, which could negatively impact the performance of the Fund. Rapid portfolio turnover also exposes shareholders to a higher current realization of short-term capital gains, distributions of which would generally be taxed to you as ordinary income and thus cause you to pay higher taxes.

**High-Yield Securities Risk.** High-yield securities (also known as "junk bonds") carry a greater degree of risk and are considered speculative by the major credit rating agencies. High-yield securities may be issued by companies that are restructuring, are smaller and less creditworthy, or are more highly indebted than other companies. This means that they may have more difficulty making scheduled payments of principal and interest. Changes in the value of high-yield securities are influenced more by changes in the financial and business position of the issuing company than by changes in interest rates when compared to investment grade securities. High-yield securities have greater volatility because there is less certainty that principal and interest payments will be made as scheduled. The Fund's investments in high-yield securities expose it to a substantial degree of credit risk. These investments are considered speculative under traditional investment standards. Prices of high-yield securities will rise and fall primarily in response to actual or perceived changes in the issuer's financial health, although changes in market interest rates also will affect prices. High-yield securities may experience reduced liquidity and sudden and substantial decreases in price.

**Inflation-Linked Securities Risk.** Inflation-linked securities have a tendency to react to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates represent nominal (stated) interest rates lowered by the anticipated effect of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked security decreases when real interest rates increase, and increases when real interest rates decrease. Income from the Fund's investments in these securities is likely to fluctuate more than the income distributions of its investments in more traditional fixed income securities.

**Leveraged, Inverse, and Inverse-Leveraged ETF Risk**. Leveraged, inverse, and inverse-leveraged ETFs expose the Fund to all of the risks that traditional ETFs present (see "ETF Risks" above). Leveraged ETFs seek to provide investment results that match a multiple of the performance of an underlying index (e.g., three times the performance). Inverse ETFs seek to provide investment results that match a negative (i.e., the opposite) of the performance of an underlying index. Leveraged inverse ETFs seek to provide investment results that match a negative multiple of the performance of an underlying index. All those types of ETFs rely to some degree, often extensively, on derivatives to achieve their objectives and, thus, the Fund is indirectly exposed to derivatives risk through its investments in these ETFs. Further, investments in leveraged, inverse, or inverse-leveraged ETFs are subject to the risk that the performance of the ETF will not correlate with the underlying index as intended. Leveraged, inverse, and inverse leveraged ETFs often "reset" daily, meaning that they are designed to achieve their stated objectives on a daily basis. Due to the effect of compounding, their performance over longer periods of time can differ significantly from the performance (or inverse of the performance) of their underlying index or benchmark during the same period of time. This effect can be magnified in volatile markets. Consequently, these investment vehicles may be extremely volatile and can potentially expose the Fund to complete loss of its investment.

**Management Risk**. The Fund is actively-managed and may not meet its investment objective based on the Adviser's or Gadsden's success or failure to implement investment strategies for the Fund. For example, Gadsden's evaluations and assumptions regarding asset classes and direct investments may not successfully achieve the Fund's investment objective given actual market trends.

Absent unusual circumstances (e.g., the Adviser determines a different ETF has a lower cost but offers a similar investment profile as a recommended ETF), the Adviser will generally follow Gadsden's investment recommendations to buy, hold, and sell securities and financial instruments.

**Quantitative Security Selection Risk.** Data for some companies may be less available and/or less current than data for companies in other markets. Gadsden uses quantitative models, and its processes could be adversely affected if erroneous or outdated data is utilized. In addition, securities selected using a quantitative model could perform differently from the financial markets as a whole as a result of the characteristics used in the analysis, the weight placed on each characteristic and changes in the characteristic's historical trends.

**REIT Risk**. A REIT is a company that owns or finances income-producing real estate. Through its investments in REITs, the Fund is subject to the risks of investing in the real estate market, including decreases in property revenues, increases in interest rates, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, legal and regulatory changes, a lack of credit or capital, defaults by borrowers or tenants, environmental problems and natural disasters. REITs are subject to additional risks, including those related to adverse governmental actions; declines in property value and the real estate market; the potential failure to qualify for tax-free pass through of income; and exemption from registration as an investment company. REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills and may invest in relatively few properties, a small geographic area, or a small number of property types. As a result, investments in REITs may be volatile. To the extent the Fund invests in REITs concentrated in specific geographic areas or property types, the Fund may be subject to a greater loss as a result of adverse developments affecting those area or property types. REITs are pooled investment vehicles with their own fees and expenses and the Fund will indirectly bear a proportionate share of those fees and expenses.

**Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk**. Investing in securities of small- and medium- capitalization companies involves greater risk than customarily is associated with investing in larger, more established companies. These companies' securities may be more volatile and less liquid than those of more established companies. Often small- and medium-capitalization companies and the industries in which they focus are still evolving and, as a result, they may be more sensitive to changing market conditions.

**PERFORMANCE**

The following performance information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart and table reflect changes in the Fund's performance from year to year over the periods indicated and show how the Fund's average annual total returns for the periods indicated compare to those of a relevant market index. Updated performance information is also available on the Fund's website at www.gadsdenfunds.com or by calling the Fund at (215) 882-9983.

Prior to the commencement of the Fund's operations on November 2, 2020, the Fund operated as the Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF, a series of ETF Series Solutions (the "<u>Predecessor Fund</u>"), an open-end investment company registered under the1940 Act that had the same investment objective and substantially the same strategies as the Fund since the Predecessor Fund's inception on November 14, 2018. The Fund assumed the NAV and performance history of the Predecessor Fund. **Performance shown in the bar chart and table for periods prior to November 2, 2020 is that of the Predecessor Fund and is not the performance of the Fund.** The Fund's objectives are the same as the Predecessor Fund, and its policies, guidelines, and restrictions are substantially similar to those of the Predecessor Fund, which was created for reasons entirely unrelated to the establishment of a performance record. The Predecessor Fund was reorganized into the Fund at the inception of the Fund.

The Predecessor Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

**Calendar Year Total Return as of December 31**

![](image_001.jpg)

During the period of time shown in the bar chart, the highest quarterly return was 13.88% for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, and the lowest quarterly return was -11.15% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

**Average Annual Total Returns**

**For the Periods Ended December 31, 2022** 

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF** | **1 Year** | **Since <br> Inception<br> (11/14/2018)** |
| Return Before Taxes | -2.06% | 7.17% |
| Return After Taxes on Distributions | -2.48% | 6.48% |
| Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | -1.18% | 5.33% |
| 60% Dow Jones Global Index/40% ICE BofA 0-3 Month US Treasury Bill Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | -10.34% | 5.29% |
| ICE BofA 0-3 Month US Treasury Bill Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | 1.54% | 1.12% |

---

After-tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period covered by the table above and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as an individual retirement account ("IRA") or other tax-advantaged accounts.

The Dow Jones Global Index measures the performance of stocks that trade globally, targeting 95% coverage of markets open to foreign investment (and incorporates the reinvestment of cash distributions, such as dividends and interest). It is float market cap weighted. It is quoted and calculated in U.S. Dollars. The ICE BofA 0-3 Month US Treasury Bill Index tracks the performance of the U.S. dollar denominated U.S. Treasury Bills. Publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market with a remaining term to final maturity of less than 3 months. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

**Investment Adviser**

Investment Adviser: Empowered Funds, LLC dba EA Advisers ("Adviser") <br> Investment Sub-Adviser: Gadsden, LLC ("Gadsden")

**Portfolio Managers**

Kevin R. Harper, MBA, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of Gadsden, has been primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund since its inception. Mr. Harper provides recommendations to Messrs. Wm. Joshua Russell and Richard Shaner, Portfolio Managers of the Adviser. Mr. Shaner has been primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund since 2022. Mr. Russell has been primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund since January 2023.

**Summary Information about Purchases, Sales, Taxes, and Financial Intermediary Compensation**

**Purchase And Sale Of Fund Shares** 

The Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis only in large blocks of Shares, typically 10,000 Shares, called "Creation Units," and only APs (typically, broker-dealers) may purchase or redeem Creation Units. Creation Units generally are issued and redeemed 'in-kind' for securities and partially in cash. Individual Shares may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through brokers. Once created, individual Shares generally trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day. Market prices of Shares may be greater or less than their NAV. **Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the Fund's shares are not redeemable securities.**

**Tax Information**

The Fund's distributions generally are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gain, or some combination of both, unless your investment is in an Individual Retirement Account ("IRA") or other tax-advantaged account. However, subsequent withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged account may be subject to federal income tax. You should consult your tax advisor about your specific tax situation.

**Purchases Through Broker-Dealers And Other Financial Intermediaries**

If you purchase Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend Shares over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.