# TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. X-17A-5 (2026-02-26) — Broker-dealer annual report - Company: TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. - Form: X-17A-5 - Filed: 2026-02-26 - Period: 2025-12-31 - Accession: 0001717676-26-000002 - CIK: 1717676 - File #: 8-70016 - Type: Broker-dealer - Material weakness: No - Auditor: Rubio CPA, PC - Auditor location: Atlanta, GA - Contact: Theodore J Bender, III - Phone: 404-861-1030 - Email: ted@tjbco.com - Website: tjbco.com - Signed by: Theodore J Bender, III (Managing Director) Original filing: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1717676/000171767626000002/tjbco2025.pdf --- {0}------------------------------------------------ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0123 Expires: Nov. 30, 2026 Estimated average burden hours per re ## ANNUAL REPORTS FORM X-17A-5 PART III | Caroline Research 1 September 1 1 September 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 | | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--| | SEC FILE NUMBER | | | 8-70016 | | FACING PAGE Information Required Pursuant to Rules 17a-5, 17a-12, and 18a-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | FILING FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING 01/01/25 | | AND ENDING 12/31/25 | | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|---------------| | | MM/DD/YY | | MM/DD/YY | | | A. REGISTRANT IDENTIFICATION | | | | NAME OF FIRM: TJ Bender & Company, Inc. | | | | | TYPE OF REGISTRANT (check all applicable boxes):
Broker-dealer Security-based swap dealer Major security-based swap participant
Check here if respondent is also an OTC derivatives dealer | | | | | ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS: (Do not use a P.O. box no.) | | | | | 3541 Ridgewood Road NW | | | | | | (No. and Street) | | | | Atlanta | GA | | 30327 | | (City) | (State) | | (Zip Code) | | PERSON TO CONTACT WITH REGARD TO THIS FILING | | | | | Theodore J. Bender, III 404-861-1030 | | | ted@tjbco.com | | (Name) | (Area Code - Telephone Number) | (Email Address) | | | | B. ACCOUNTANT IDENTIFICATION | | | | INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT whose reports are contained in this filing*
Rubio CPA. PC | | | | | | (Name - if individual, state last, first, and middle name) | | | | 3500 Lenox Road NE, Ste 1500 Atlanta | | GA | 30326 | | (Address)
5/5/2009 | (City) | (State)
3514 | (Zip Code) | | (Date of Registration with PCAOB)(if applicable) | | (PCAOB Registration Number, if applicable) | | | | FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | | | ant must be supported by a statement of facts and circumstances relied on as the basis of the exemption. See 17 CFR 240.17a-5(e)(1)(ii), if applicable. Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. {1}------------------------------------------------ #### OATH OR AFFIRMATION I, Theodore J Bender, III swear (on affirm) that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the financial report pertaining to the firm of TJ Bender & Company, Inc. 12/31 2 025 \_\_ is true and correct. If further swear (or affirm) that neither the company nor any partner, officer, director, or equivalent person, as the case may be, has any proprietary interest in any account clasified solly as that of a customer. Signature: Title: Managing Director S 1 ### This filing \*\* contains (check all applicable boxes): - (a) Statement of financial condition. - [ (b) Notes to consolidated statement of financial condition. - [c] Statement of income (loss) or, if there is other comprehensive income in the period(s) presented, a statement of comprehensive income (as defined in § 210.1-02 of Regulation S-X). - (d) Statement of cash flows. - = (e) Statement of changes in stockholders' or partners' or sole proprietor's equity. - [ (f) Statement of changes in liabilities subordinated to claims of creditors. - (g) Notes to consolidated financial statements. - (h) Computation of net capital under 17 CFR 240.15c3-1 or 17 CFR 240.18a-1, as applicable. - [i) Computation of tangible net worth under 17 CFR 240.18a-2. - | |} Computation for determination of customer reserve requirements pursuant to Exhibit A to 17 CFR 240.15c3-3. - □ (k) Computation for determination of security-based swap reserve requirements pursuant to Exhibit B to 17 CFR 240.15c3-3 or Exhibit A to 17 CFR 240.18a-4, as applicable. - [1) Computation for Determination of PAB Requirements under Exhibit A to § 240.15c3-3. - [ (m) Information relating to possession or control requirements for customers under 17 CFR 240.15c3-3. - □ (n) Information relating to possession or control requirements for security-based swap customers under 17 CFR 240.15c3-3(p)(2) or 17 CFR 240.18a-4, as applicable. - (o) Reconciliations, including appropriate explanations, of the FOCUS Report with computation of net capital or tangible net worth under 17 CFR 240.15c3-1, 17 CFR 240.18a-1, or 17 CFR 240.18a-2, as applicable, and the reserve requirements under 17 CFR 240.15c3-3 or 17 CFR 240.18a-4, as applicable, if material differences exist, or a statement that no material differences exist. - Q (p) Summary of financial data for subsidiaries not consolidated in the statement of financial condition. - (q) Oath or affirmation in accordance with 17 CFR 240.17a-5, 17 CFR 240.17a-12, or 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicable. - [ (r) Compliance report in accordance with 17 CFR 240.17a-5 or 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicable. - (s) Exemption report in accordance with 17 CFR 240.17a-5 or 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicable. - O (t) Independent public accountant's report based on an examination of the statement of financial condition. - (u) Independent public accountant's report based on an examination of the financial report or financial statements under 17 CFR 240.17a-5, 17 CFR 240.18a-7, or 17 CFR 240.17a-12, as applicable. - [v] Independent public accountant's report based on an examination of certain statements in the compliance report under 17 CFR 240.17a-5 or 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicable. - @ (w) Independent public accountant's report based on a review of the exemption report under 17 CFR 240.17a-5 or 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicable. - [x] Supplemental reports on applying agreed-upon procedures, in accordance with 17 CFR 240.15c3-1e or 17 CFR 240.17a-12, as applicable. - O (y) Report describing any material inadequacies found to exist or found to have existed since the date of the previous audit, or a statement that no material inadequacies exist, under 17 CFR 240.17a-12(k). - [z) Other: - \*\* To request confidential treatment of certain portions of this filing, see 17 CFR 240.17a-5(e)(3) or 17 CFR 240.18c-7(d)(2), as applicable. {2}------------------------------------------------ # TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. Financial Statements with Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm > For the Year Ended December 31, 2025 {3}------------------------------------------------ ### TABLE OF CONTENTS | TABLE OF CONTENTS | | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------| | | Page | | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 1-2 | | | Financial Statements: | | | Statement of Financial Condition | 3 | | Statement of Operations | 4 | | Statement of Changes in Stockholder's Equity | 5 | | Statement of Cash Flows | 6 | | Notes to Financial Statements 7-9 | | | Supplementary Information: | | | Schedule I - Computation of Net Capital Pursuant to Rule 15c3-1 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission as of December 31, 2025 | 10 | | Schedule II – Computation for Determination of Reserve Requirements Under
Rule 15c3-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission as of December 31, 2025 | 11 | | Schedule IlI – Information Relating to the Possession or Control Requirements Under
Rule 15c3-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission as of December 31, 2025 11 | | | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Exemption Report | 12 | | TJ Bender & Company, Inc.'s Exemption Report | 13 | {4}------------------------------------------------ RUBIO CPA, PC CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 3500 Lenox Road NE Suite 1500 Atlanta, GA 30326 770-690-8995 ### REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Stockholder of TJ Bender & Company, Inc. #### Opinion on the Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying statement of financial condition of TJ Bender & Company') as of December 31, 2025, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholder's equity, and cash flows for the year then ended and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2025, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. #### Basis for Opinion These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Comtrol over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement to the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. #### Supplemental Information The information contained in Schedules I, II and III has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Company's financial statements. The supplemental information is the Company's management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the information in Schedules to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the accompanying schedules. In forming our opinion on the accompanying schedules, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented {5}------------------------------------------------ in conformity with 17 C.F.R. §240.17a-5. In our opinion, the aforementioned supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole. We have served as the Company's auditor since 2019. February 23, 2026 Atlanta, Georgia {6}------------------------------------------------ ### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025 | | TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC.
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025 | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | | | | | Cash | Assets | \$
26,063 | | Accounts Receivable (net of allowance for credit losses of \$2,902)
Prepaid Expenses and Deposits
Property and Equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of \$3,814) | | -
1,540
- | | | Total Assets | \$
27,603 | | | Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity | | | Liabilities | Accounts Payable and accrued expenses | \$
2,988 | | | Total Liabilities | 2,988 | | Stockholder's Equity | | 24,615 | | | Total Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity | \$
27,603 | {7}------------------------------------------------ ### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025 | | TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025 | | |-------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Revenues
Investment Banking
Reimbursed Expenses | | \$
22,500
1,426 | | | Total Revenues | \$
23,926 | | Expenses
Professional Fees
Other | Technology and Communications | \$
11,073
13,688
15,141 | | | Total Expenses | \$
39,902 | | Net Loss | | \$
(15,976) | {8}------------------------------------------------ ### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025 | TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025 | | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Balance, January 1, 2025 | \$
40,930 | | Distributions | (339) | | Net Loss | (15,976) | | Balance, December 31, 2025 | \$
24,615 | {9}------------------------------------------------ ### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025 | TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. | | | | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----|-----------------|--| | STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS | | | | | FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025 | | | | | Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | | | | | Net Loss | \$ | (15,976) | | | Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by operating activities:
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | Prepaid Expenses and Deposits | | (143) | | | Accounts Receivable, net
Accounts Payable and accrued expenses | | 12,500
(303) | | | | | | | | Net cash used by operating activities: | | (3,922) | | | Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | | | | | Distributions | | (339) | | | Net cash used by financing activities: | | (339) | | | NET DECREASE IN CASH | | (4,261) | | | Cash as of January 1, 2025 | | 30,324 | | | Cash as of December 31, 2025 | \$ | 26,063 | | {10}------------------------------------------------ #### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2025 #### 1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies #### Description of Business and Organization TJ Bender & Company, Inc. (the "Company") was organized in the state of Georgia on August 4, 2017. The Company was approved for membership as a broker-dealer with FINRA and registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission on April 10, 2018. The Company was organized to provide mergers and acquisitions advisory services and raise capital as a private placement agent. The Company is 100% owned by Theodore J. Bender, lll (the "Member"). #### Basis of Accounting The Company follows Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), as established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the FASB), to ensure consistent reporting of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. #### Use of Estimates Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing these financial statements in accordance with GAAP in the United States of America. Those estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results could vary from the estimates that were assumed in preparing the financial statements. #### Cash The Company maintains its bank account at a high credit quality financial institution. The balance at times may exceed federally insured limits. #### Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided by use of the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, which ranges from five to seven years. #### Revenue from Contracts with Customers Revenue from contracts with customers includes investment banking revenue from placement and advisory services related to capital raising activities and mergers and acquisitions transactions. The recognition and measurement of revenue is based on the assessment of individual contract terms. The agreements often contain nonrefundable retainer fees and/or success fees, which may be fixed or represent a percentage of the value that the customer receives, if and when the transaction is completed ("success fees"). The Company has evaluated its nonrefundable retainer fees, to ensure they relate to the transfer of goods or services, as a distinct performance obligation, in exchange for the retainer. Significant judgment is required to determine whether performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time or over time; how to allocate transaction prices where multiple performance obligations are identified; when to recognize revenue based on appropriate measure of the Company's progress under the contract; whether revenue should be presented gross or net of certain costs; and whether constraints on variable consideration should be applied due to uncertain future events. In some circumstances, significant judgment is needed to determine the timing and measure of progress appropriate for revenue recognition under a specific contract. If a promised good or service is not distinct, the Company combines that good or service with other promised goods or services until it identifies a bundle of goods or services that is distinct. In some cases, this would result in the Company accounting for all the services promised in a contract as a single performance obligation and, if unfulfilled, amounts received from such contracts would be reflected as deferred revenues on the Statement of Financial Condition. {11}------------------------------------------------ #### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2025 #### 1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) #### Revenue from Contracts with Customers (continued) The Company recognizes certain retainer revenue from contracts with customers upon delivery of a list of possible participants to the transaction and delivery of specified marketing materials as these are the performance obligations identified by the Company. All retainers recognized as revenue by the Company during 2025 were from engagements that were formally terminated prior to December 31, 2025. Investment banking revenue within the accompanying statement of operations includes \$5,000 from an engagement that was terminated in a previous year where collectability was not reasonably assured. Success fee revenue for advisory agreements is generally recognized at the point in time that performance under the agreement is completed (the closing date of the transaction). #### Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses Accounts receivable are non-interest bearing, uncollateralized obligations receivable in accordance with the terms agreed upon with each customer. The Company regularly reviews its accounts receivable for any uncollectible amounts. The review for uncollectible amounts is based on an analysis of the Company's collection experience, customer credit worthiness, and current economic trends. Based on the Company's review, an allowance for credit losses of \$2,902 is considered necessary. #### Income Taxes The Company has elected S Corporation status for income tax reporting purposes. As a result, income or losses of the Company flow through to the stockholder and no income taxes are recorded in the accompanying financial statements. Under the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 740-10, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes ("ASC 740-10"), the Company is required to evaluate each of its tax positions to determine if they are more likely than not to be sustained if the taxing authority examines the respective position. A tax position includes an entity's status, including its status as a pass-through entity, and the decision not to file a return. The Company has evaluated each of its tax positions and has determined that no provision or liability for income taxes is necessary. #### 2. Concentration During 2025, the Company earned all of its revenues from two customers. #### 3. Subsequent Events Subsequent events were evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued. #### 4. Net Capital The Company is subject to the SEC's Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 ("Net Capital Rule"). Under the Net Capital Rule, the Company is required to maintain minimum net capital equal to the greater of 6 2/3% of aggregate indebtedness, as defined, or \$5,000. In addition, the ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital, both as defined, shall not exceed 15 to 1. At December 31, 2025, the Company had net capital of \$23,075 which was \$18,075 in excess of its required minimum net capital of \$5,000. The Company's ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital was 0.13 to 1.00. #### 5. Contingencies The Company is subject to litigation in the normal course of business. The Company has no litigation in process at December 31, 2025. {12}------------------------------------------------ #### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2025 #### 6. Related Party Transactions The Company at times pays for operating expenses for the benefit of its stockholder and the stockholder at times pays for operating expenses for the benefit of the Company for which reimbursement is subsequently requested or the amount due is forgiven. There was no balance due to or from the stockholder within the accompanying statement of financial condition as of December 31, 2025 as a result of such payments. During 2025, the Company operated from office space provided by its stockholder at no cost to the Company. Financial position and results of operations could differ from the amounts in the accompanying financial statements if these related party transactions did not exist. #### 7. Segment Reporting The Company's chief operating decision maker is its chief financial officer. The Company has one reportable segment: investment banking. The accounting policies of the investment banking segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The chief operating decision maker assesses performance for the investment banking segment and decides how to allocate resources based on the Company's net income or loss as is reported within the accompanying statement of operations. Additionally, the chief operating decision maker uses excess net capital (see Note 4), which is not a measure of profit and loss, to make operational decisions while maintaining capital adequacy, such as whether to reinvest profits or pay distributions. The Company's operations constitutes a single operating segment and therefore, a single reportable segment, because the chief operating decision maker manages the business activities using information of the Company as a whole. {13}------------------------------------------------ ### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. SCHEDULE l COMPUTATION OF NET CAPITAL PURSUANT TO RULE 15c3-1 OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025 | TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC.
SCHEDULE l
COMPUTATION OF NET CAPITAL PURSUANT TO RULE 15c3-1
OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025 | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Total Stockholder's Equity | \$
24,615 | | Deduction for Non-Allowable Assets
Prepaid Expenses and Deposits | 1,540 | | Net Capital | 23,075 | | Minimum Required Net Capital
(Greater of \$5,000 or 6 2/3% of Total Aggregate Indebtedness) | 5,000 | | Excess Net Capital | \$
18,075 | | Aggregate Indebtedness
Liabilities | 2,988 | | Percentage of Aggregate Indebtedness to Net Capital | 12.95% | #### RECONCILIATION WITH THE COMPANY'S COMPUTATION OF NET CAPITAL INCLUDED IN PART llA OF FORM X-17A-5 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025. There is no material difference between the above computation and the Company's net capital reported in Part llA of Form X-17A-5, as amended, as of December 31, 2025. {14}------------------------------------------------ ### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC. SCHEDULE ll COMPUTATION FOR DETERMINATION OF RESERVE REQUIREMENTS UNDER RULE 15c3-3 OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025 The Company does not claim an exemption from SEA Rule 15c3-3 in reliance upon Footnote 74 of the 2013 Release. The Company does not hold customer funds or securities. ### SCHEDULE lll INFORMATION RELATING TO THE POSSESSION OR CONTROL REQUIREMENTS UNDER RULE 15c3-3 OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025 The Company does not claim an exemption from SEA Rule 15c3-3 in reliance upon Footnote 74 of the 2013 Release. The Company does not hold customer funds or securities. {15}------------------------------------------------ RUBIO CPA. PC CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 3500 Lenox Road NE Suite 1500 Atlanta. GA 30326 770-690-8995 ### REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Stockholder of TJ Bender & Company, Inc. We have reviewed management's statements included in the accompanying Brokers Annual Exemption Report in which (1) TJ Bender & Company, Inc. did not claim an exemption from Rule 15c3-3 in reliance upon Footnote 74 of the 2013 Release, (2) TJ Bender & Company, Inc. stated that it conducted business activities involving placement and advisory services to customers consisting of capital raising activity throughout the year ended December 31, 2025, without exception, and (3) TJ Bender & Company, Inc. stated that TJ Bender & Company, Inc. met the identified conditions for such reliance throughout the most recent fiscal year without exception. TJ Bender & Company, Inc.'s management is responsible for compliance with the exemption provisions and its statements. Our review was conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and, accordingly, included inquiries and other required procedures to obtain evidence about TI Bender & Company, Inc.'s compliance with the exemptions. A review is substantially less in scope than an examination, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion on management's statements. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to management's statements referred to above for them to be fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the provisions set forth in Footnote 74 of the 2013 Release. February 23, 2026 Atlanta, GA {16}------------------------------------------------ #### TJ BENDER & COMPANY, INC.'S EXEMPTION REPORT We, as members of management of TJ Bender & Company, Inc. (the "Company"), are responsible for complying with Rule 17a-5, "Reports to be made by certain brokers and dealers". We have performed an evaluation of the Company's compliance with the requirements of Rule 17a-5 and the exemption provisions in Rule 15c3-3(k) (the "exemption provisions") and of the 2013 Release adopting amendments to Rule 17a-5, including Footnote 74 of the 2013 Release. We have determined that the Company does not meet any of the exemption conditions of paragraph (k) of Rule 15c3-3 (i.e., paragraph (k)(1), (k)(2)(i)) or (k)(2)(ii)) but also (1) does not directly or indirectly receive, hold, or otherwise owe funds or securities for or to customers, other than money or other consideration received and promptly transmitted in compliance with paragraph (a) or (b)(2) of Exchange Act Rule 15c2-4 ("Rule 15c2-4"); (2) does not carry accounts of or for customers; and (3) does not carry PAB accounts (as defined in Rule 15c3-3) and therefore is covered by Footnote 74 of the 2013 Release. Accordingly, based on our evaluation we make the following statements to the best knowledge and belief of the Company: - 1. We reviewed the provisions of Rule §15c3-3 and related guidance stated in the SEC Staff's FAQ and confirmed that the Company relied on Footnote 74 of the 2013 Release. - 2. The Company conducted business activities involving placement and advisory services to customers consisting of capital raising activity throughout the year ended December 31, 2025, without exception. - 3. The Company met the identified conditions for such reliance throughout the period January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, without exception. Theodore J. Bender III, CFO January 6, 2026 Source: SEC EDGAR via Adviser Search (https://search.stillhousedata.com). Agents: see https://search.stillhousedata.com/llms.txt.