Private Wealth Management Services

No two clients are the same, and so, while the process we use in working with most clients is similar, the outcomes are always carefully tailored to each client's individual needs and circumstances.  Wealth management and financial well-being is not a "one-size fits all" endeavor. Moreover, wealth is not an end upon itself, but means to an end; a tool to make things possible. It is therefore important that wealth is managed and used in a way that serves our clients priorities rather than encumbers them.

The goal of our advisory and planning services is to work with clients to fully assess and understand their current financial situation, their unique goals, aspirations, return objectives, tolerance for risk and other relevant issues. Based on this work, we then create and implement an investment plan and coordinate the investment management of client portfolios consistent with this plan.

There are five steps in this process:

• Assessment & Evaluation
• Recommendation
• Implementation
• Continuous Monitoring and Adjustment
• Ongoing Communication

Assessment and Evaluation

We start by getting to know you and building an understanding of your total financial picture. This includes an assessment of all of your assets and liabilities; sources of income; expenses; estate, trust and other legal issues; tax status; relevant family and business issues; and your expectations and requirements for return and tolerance for risk and volatility.

If outside expert help is warranted, we will recommend tax, legal and other professionals. 

Recommendation

Based upon this assessment, we will recommend a plan of action that includes a plan for investment of your assets, as well as other required steps. The investment plan will include an investment policy statement with clearly specified objectives for risk and return, as well as guidelines for asset allocation, tax sensitivity, and other considerations.

Implementation

We then implement this plan by constructing an investment portfolio that combines our investment outlook and strategy, with your policy statement and unique objectives.

We will assist with the transfer in of accounts and securities and will be sensitive to tax considerations in any sales of existing assets. Because of our expertise in securities analysis and portfolio management, we have the ability to maintain, track, and hedge legacy holdings for clients.

We will typically build a portfolio that gives exposure to the global capital markets including domestic and international fixed income and equities, as well as real assets and other inflation hedging strategies. We can also build or maintain special purpose portfolios focused on income generation and other objectives, and provide access to alternative strategies for qualified clients.

The majority of your portfolio will be comprised of no-load mutual funds, index funds, closed-end funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs).

We combine passive and actively managed approaches. In our view, there are areas where active approaches are superior to passive alternatives and worth using, and other areas where passive approaches are very effective. Our goal is always to find the best investment vehicles to reflect our strategy at the lowest cost to our clients. 

Continuous Monitoring and Adjustment

We continuously monitor your portfolio and its holdings relative to changes to our overall investment outlook and strategy, changes to specific holdings, and any significant changes in your life and objectives.

Ongoing Communication

We believe in clear, candid and regular communications with our clients, especially during times of extreme market volatility or significant change.

You will receive a quarterly letter about your portfolio and its progress, as well as our quarterly investment commentary “Counterpoint” which details our current strategy and outlook. We will also send you updates as conditions in the markets merit. All commentaries and updates are posted to our website as well.

We would like to meet with you at least once a year in person and also encourage you to pick up the phone and call us whenever you have a question or a concern.

Learn about the background of our investment team.