What is your investment philosophy?
Our view is that it is impossible to “time the market” and end up beating it. On the other hand, due to the fact that we all need to one day retire and need a nest egg from which we can reliably draw income and principal to live, “buy and hold” is inappropriate for those in or approaching retirement. We’ve developed investment strategies where we combine passive and active investing. Regardless of approach, we believe that risk minimization through diversification is a key part of every investment process.
How much will my portfolio grow this year?
We cannot offer any guaranteed return figure. In fact, it is illegal to do so. We can tell you that on average, the market goes up. But it also experiences down periods as well, as you surely know. Our goal is to take advantage of market gains when they happen and help avoid losses in down markets. Regardless of market conditions, we’re always looking for opportunities to help save you money through cheaper investments, efficient tax strategies, and other planning scenarios that present themselves.
My broker did great when the market went up, but lost a great deal of money in the bear market. What do you do differently?
Our approach is based on mitigating and eliminating as many risks as possible. This includes your portfolio holdings as well as your wealth plan. We introduce a mix of active and passive strategies that aim to limit your losses during bad market environments while keeping investing fees low. In conjunction with this, we focus on planning strategies so you can increase after-tax return without increasing your risk.
Will you help advise on my retirement accounts [401(k), 403(b), etc] that are with my employer?
Yes. Even if your accounts are not held with us, they are part of your financial picture and could also be used advantageously for tax planning. We will review the holdings and investment options in those accounts and advise accordingly.
What kind of changes do you make to my investment portfolio?
Before we manage your portfolio or do anything with your accounts, we work with you to develop a document called an Investment Policy Statement. This signed document describes the strategy for your investments, but in broad strokes. This helps you understand what to expect and helps us know what to deliver to you. Changes to this document can be made in future meetings, but we do not make changes without your knowledge or permission. When we have agreed on your IPS, we will make changes to your accounts that fit within its parameters, and we will do this as needed without involving you in the changes. This is part of the service you pay for. That said, you are certainly able to see, on a daily basis, any transactions we have made in your accounts. If you have any questions about what you see, just pick up the phone and ask us. We want you to be comfortable at all times with the activity in your account.
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