Final Order — Investment Adviser/Associated Person

Index: 2026- 380
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION
In Re:
JOSEPH FRANK DARPEL, III,
Respondent.
Case Number: 138517-SR
FINAL ORDER
The State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation ("Office"), and Joseph Frank Darpel, III ("Darpel"), having entered into the attached Stipulation and Consent Agreement ("Agreement"), resolving and concluding this matter, it is therefore ORDERED:

1. The Agreement entered into by the Office and Darpel is adopted and incorporated
   by reference herein as if set forth at length.
2. The parties shall comply with all provisions of the incorporated Agreement.
   DONE and ORDERED this 3r-d day of August, 2026, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. Commissioner

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Final Order has been furnished via electronic mail to Joseph Frank Darpel, Ill, at jdarpel@smartstepswealth.com on this ~ day of August, 2026. egulation 50 2314-8050 .Clerk@flofr. gov

STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION
In Re:
JOSEPH FRANK DARPEL, ID,
Respondent.
Case Number: 138517-SR
STIPULATION AND CONSENT AGREEMENT
The State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation ("Office"), and Respondent Joseph Frank Darpel, III ("Darpel"), in consideration of the mutual promises herei~ recite, stipulate, and agree, on the last date executed below, as follows:

1. Background: On December 5, 2025, the Office received an application, via Form
   U4, Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration, through the Central Registration Depository ("CRD"), for Darpel's registration with the Office as an associated person of Smart Steps Wealth Management, LLC ("SSWM"), an investment adviser. Darpel's CRD number is 2271298. Upon receipt of Darpel 's application for registration, the Office sent a deficiency letter to Darpel and requested documentation regarding, among other things, possible unregistered investment advisory business activity. On February 6, 2026, the Office received Darpel's written statement that indicated that Darpel had been rendering investment advice in Florida since February 2025, without being registered with the Office as an associated person of SSWM.
2. Jurisdiction: The Office is the state agency charged with the administration and
   enforcement of chapter 517, Florida Statutes, and the rules promulgated thereunder. The Office has jurisdiction to initiate an Administrative Complaint against Darpel pursuant to chapter 517,

In Re: Joseph Frank Darpel, 111
Florida Statutes, as stipulated by Darpel.
3. Findings: Darpel neither admits nor denies the allegations but consents to the entry
of findings by the Office. The Office finds that Darpel violated section 517 .12(3 ), Florida Statutes (2025), by rendering investment advice, from a location within Florida, without being registered with the Office as an associated person of SSWM.
4. Consideration: The parties agree that the issues raised in this proceeding can be
expeditiously resolved prior to the filing of an Administrative Complaint by their execution of this Stipulation and Consent Agreement. The parties acknowledge that they have read this Stipulation and Consent Agreement and fully understand the rights, obligations, terms, duties, and responsibilities with respect to its contents. Therefore, in compromise and settlement of this matter and in consideration of the Office's forbearance from further litigation, the parties agree as follows:
a. Darpel agrees to Cease and Desist from violations of chapter 517, Florida Statutes, and the Administrative Rules adopted thereto. b. Darpel agrees to an imposition of an administrative fine against Darpel amount of $6,000. The administrative fine shall be submitted in the form of a certified check or money order made payable to the "Offlce of Financial Regulation" and sent to Agency Clerk, c/o Kaydia Stewart, Esq., Office of Financial Regulation, P.O. Box 8050, Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050, or paid by wire transfer. Darpel agrees that the administrative fine shall be collected and deposited in accordance with section 215.31, Florida Statutes. Darpel agrees, regarding the deposit of monies, that (1) the tendered fine or settlement check proceeds may be deposited in advance of full execution or acceptance of the proposed settlement agreement and (2) such deposit shall not be construed as a final

In Re: Joseph Frank Darpel, Ill acceptance of the Stipulation and Consent Agreement absent full execution thereof and entry of the Final Order adopting same.
c. The Office agrees to approve Darpel's pending application for registration
as an associated person of SSWM. Approval shall be granted upon receipt of the required administrative fine payment and entry of the Final Order adopting this Stipulation and Consent Agreement. In the event the Office discovers any additional adverse information concerning the pending application prior to entry of the Final Order, the Office reserves all legal rights and authority to take any action on the pending application as may be appropriate. Such action may include, but is not limited to, issuing an Administrative Complaint based on the violations cited above.
5. Final Order: Darpel consents to the issuance by the Office of a Final Order, which
incorporates the terms of this Stipulation and Consent Agreement. Darpel understands and agrees that this Stipulation and Consent Agreement is subject to the final approval of the Commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation and the entry of the Final Order adopting this Stipulation and Consent Agreement. In the event the Final Order is not entered, this Stipulation and Consent Agreement shall be null and void. The Final Order incorporating this Stipulation and Consent Agreement constitutes final agency action by the Office for which the Office may seek enforcement pursuant to the provisions of chapters 120 and 517, Florida Statutes.
6. Consent and Waiver: By Darpel's consent to the entry of the Final Order with
respect to this proceeding, Darpel knowingly and voluntarily waives:
a. any right to receive further notice of this administrative action and notice of rights pursuant to chapter 120, Florida Statutes; b. any right to an administrative hearing provided by chapter 120, Florida

In Re: Joseph Frank Darpel, Ill
Statutes;
c. any requirement that the Office's Final Order contain separately stated
findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law or a Notice of Rights; d. any right to issuance of a recommended order by an Administrative Law Judge from the Division of Administrative Hearings or a Hearing Officer from the Office; and e. any right to object to or challenge in any judicial proceeding including, but not limited to, an appeal pursuant to section 120.68, Florida Statutes, any term, condition, obligation, or duty expressly created by the Final Order.
7. Releases: Upon full execution of this Stipulation and Consent Agreement, Darpel
waives and releases the Office and its agents, representatives, and employees from any and all causes of action that Darpel may have arising from or relating to the subject matter hereof. The Office agrees to accept this release on behalf of itself and its agents, representatives, and employees without acknowledging and expressly denying that any such cause or causes of action may exist.
8. Future Actions: This Stipulation and Consent Agreement is being executed solely
for the purpose of resolving and settling the instant proceeding. Nothing herein shall be construed to waive or restrict the Office's right in a future proceeding to undertake any administrative action under the provisions of chapter 517, Florida Statutes, or any civil or criminal prosecution, arising out of any facts or circumstances undisclosed or undiscovered at the time of the entry of the Final Order; or facts unrelated to this settlement should further information warrant such action.
9. Failure to Comply: Darpel acknowledges, concurs, and stipulates that Darpel's
failure to comply with any of the terms, obligations and conditions of this Stipulation and Consent Agreement, and the Final Order adopting it, violates this written agreement and the Final Order

In Re: Joseph Frank Darpel, Ill
Page S of6
entered pursuant to chapters 120 and 517, Florida Statutes. Such non-compliance may result in the issuance of an emergency Cease and Desist Order.
10. Attorneys' Fees: Each party herein shall be solely responsible for its attorneys'
fees and costs incurred up to and including entry of the Final Order in this matter.
11. Severability: Darpel agrees that if any provision of this Stipulation and Consent
Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Stipulation and Consent Agreement or the Final Order adopting it, which shall be given effect without the invalid provision(s), and to this end, the provisions of this Stipulation and Consent Agreement are severable.
12. Entire Agreement: This Stipulation and Consent Agreement represents the entire
,- agreement by and between the Office and Darpel. Any alterations, variations, changes, modifications, or waivers of the provisions hereof shall be valid only when they have been reduced to writiµg, duly signed by the Office and Darpel, and attached to the original of this Stipulation and Consent Agreement. WHEREFORE, the undersigned parties hereby acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions of the foregoing Stipulation and Consent Agreement, subject to final approval by the Commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation, by written consent on the last date executed below:
[this space intentionally blank with signatures appearing on the following page]

In Re: Joseph Frank Darpel, Ill
ST A TE OF MISSOURI)
COUNTY OF SA1NT LOUIS)
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, appeared Joseph Frank Darpel, III, by means of E1 physical presence or D online notarization, who, upon being duly sworn, states that he has read and understands the foregoing agreement and voluntarily signed the same. SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this ~t"'day of ........,,___. __ My Commission expires:oh\1 O'; Personally known ___ or produced identification / Type of identification pro~uced: 0f(Vtf\ l (ttfntf OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION A~ ~#-1;/~ r ~ Kerry Finegan 7/23/26 Date Director Division of Securities