Investment Process

The likelihood of achieving success in your investment strategy is greatly improved by adhering to a disciplined investment process.  Achieving all your life goals requires dedication, skill, and discipline. This is particularly true when it comes to attaining your financial objectives. Our six-step investment process is a well-developed framework for identifying, analyzing, and implementing investment opportunities. By following a disciplined investment process, we are able to make rational investment decisions, focused on long-range goals, which are designed to maximize long-term results.

Step 1: Financial Analysis

Before providing you with an investment strategy, we first need to understand what your financial position is today. We need to determine whether or not we are preparing you to accumulate and grow your portfolio, or if you are ready to start taking distributions from the assets that you have already accumulated. Together, we complete our comprehensive Discovery Workbook that gives us a clear picture of your financial circumstances, challenges, and objectives. We work with you to explore fundamental issues such as investment goals, time horizon, liquidity needs, risk tolerance, investable resources and income needs

Step 2: Asset Allocation

More than timing or the specific securities you invest in, the way in which your assets are allocated and how they are rebalanced ultimately drives your returns.  Many investors focus on individual security selection and often overlook the importance asset allocation may have to their portfolios. Yet, according to several academic studies, 90% of portfolio variance is determined by how your assets are allocated. Although this does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss, it could be one of the most important decisions any investor can make. It also underscores the importance of relying on a disciplined investment process possibly with asset allocation strategy at its core.  Based on your investment objectives and risk tolerance, we will determine the appropriate asset allocation profile to match your specific goals.

Step 3: Portfolio Strategist Selection

Because your asset allocation decision is one of the primary determinant of portfolio performance, the expertise of your Portfolio Strategist(s) is critical. We adhere to rigorous criteria in selecting our Portfolio Strategists, who are charged with selecting the asset classes and deciding on the appropriate mix of fixed and equity-based investments for your portfolio. To be considered for selection, firms must have considerable expertise in asset allocation and portfolio strategy, conduct substantial research across global capital markets, have an investment policy committee comprised of senior investment professionals, and adhere to a defined and disciplined investment process.

As your Investment Advisor, we’ll work with you to find, based on your investment objectives and risk tolerance, exactly the right Portfolio Strategist(s) for you.  After years of research, we’ve developed relationships with many institutional strategists, rarely available to individual investors.  Some of those Strategists include Goldman Sachs Asset Management, JP Morgan, State Street Global Advisors and Wilshire Associates.

Step 4: Investment Management Selection

Working with us, you have a wide possible choice of investment solutions, according to your objectives, investable assets, and risk/return profile.

Investment Managers are responsible for selecting the individual securities that comprise your portfolio. They are carefully selected by your Portfolio Strategist(s) to implement their specific investment style, based on their performance relative to their peers and to asset class benchmarks.

Regardless of the investment approach we ultimately recommend for you – and it may include no-load mutual funds, exchange traded funds or privately managed accounts – you have the assurance that your Investment Managers are dedicated to helping you achieve your financial goals.

Step 5: Monitoring and Rebalancing

Managing your investments takes proven capability, time, and focus. Market forces and economic conditions are constantly changing, which can directly affect your asset mix and prompt the need for reallocation and rebalancing.

It’s our job always to be on watch for you. As your Investment Advisor, we continually monitor your investment portfolio, oversee the Portfolio Strategist’s decisions to rebalance and realign your portfolio, and then clearly communicate changes to you.

Step 6: Reporting

Our goal is to engage you in the investment process by reporting – clearly, concisely and in a timely manner – everything you need to know about your accounts. An important part of our job is to keep you well informed about your investment strategy and performance. Each quarter, we show you exactly where you stand in relation to your goals and objectives. We send you print and online portfolio information, via monthly custodial statements, quarterly Performance Reviews and year-end tax reports.

While some clients prefer quarterly written reports, others want around-the-clock online access to their financial information. When you work with us, we deliver both. Our secure, online client resource center provides daily updated account information, market commentary and investment research.

Are You Ready to Invest in Your Future?

If you want to identify clear financial goals and make knowledgeable investment decisions, you have an important choice to make. You can face the possible challenges and pitfalls by going it alone. Or, you can choose to manage your portfolio by working with a team of experts who follow a disciplined and rigorous decision-making process. If you are ready to commit to having one of the industry’s most experienced investment professional teams back you up, we are ready to work with you. The next move is yours. Simply schedule an appointment to work with us to complete your Discovery Workbook. It’s the first step to investing in your future.