INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

The Financial markets are complex. Everywhere you look from the talking heads on cable news, Facebook, to the newspaper, to renowned authors are giving advice on what you should and shouldn’t do with your investments.    

Whether you’re a multi-millionaire, just started funding a 401k, or somewhere in between you probably feel overwhelmed with information overload.  We get it.  The first step to getting through all the noise is to remember that the cable news folks, posts on FaceBook, and authors don’t know a single thing about you or what you value.  We tailor our investment advice to your values as a family, your individual situation, and your propensity toward risk.   What’s your Number?

Our investment strategies can be defined very simply as, “What’s the appropriate way to invest this money given all we know about the Client, their values, and their risk tolerance?”

Advisory Accounts

The industry term “Advisory Account” or “Wrap Account” is a way of describing an approach to investing and how you work with us as your trusted Advisor(s).   Rather than collecting commissions on the money we invest/manage we simply charge a flat fee on an annual basis to manage all your accounts.  Whether you’re buying an annuity or a mutual fund, pivoting to ETFs, or grabbing a few shares of your favorite stock—all the commission is stripped away.   Our compensation is aligned with the performance of your investments.  

If you have already accumulated some assets, and are looking to optimize your investment strategy then an Advisory Account may be a great option!  Your family may benefit from access to a professional strategist who understands the nuances of a particular market segment and how to appropriately participate in it.   Our job is to connect you to the strategies that align  with your values and goals.

Brokerage Account(s)

Our clients come to us with money in a lot of different places; we find that people see this as a form of diversification.  We see 401(k)s held at Fidelity, IRAs at credit unions, non-retirement accounts at Schwab, and folks dabbling at E-Trade.  Our open architecture as independent financial advisors and the sophisticated technology we use allow us to put it all on one screen for you!   (via our App or website)   This is no small matter.  Over exposure in one asset class may not be in your best interest or in line with your values.

We want you to see all the layers! This includes Brokerage Accounts. We want to give you clarity into:

  • where your invested dollars are sitting
  • why they are allocated as they are
  • and what their purpose is in the overall investment strategy 

We are not shy about helping Clients open Brokerage Accounts—whether it’s to buy a particular stock or simply give us the ability to manage the existing funds.

There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio.  Diversification does not protect against market risk.

Alternative Investments

The term “alternatives” is a broad term to define investments in a portfolio that fall outside traditional stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Think REITS (real estate investment trusts), BDCs (Business Development Companies), etc.  

Our advice is always holistic and our investment strategies are tailored to each individual.  Do we use alternatives?  Absolutely.   Are they for everyone?  Absolutely not.   

Investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) involves special risks such as potential illiquidity and may not be suitable for all investors. There is no assurance that the investment objectives of this program will be attained.

There is no guarantee that the Business Development Company (BDC) will achieve its investment objectives. Investing in private equity and private debt is subject to significant risks and may not be suitable for all investors. These risks may include limited operating history, uncertain distributions, inconsistent valuation of the portfolio, changing interest rates, leveraging of assets, reliance on the investment advisor, potential conflicts of interest, payment of substantial fees to the investment advisor and the dealer manager, potential illiquidity and liquidation at more or less than the original amount invested.