Investment Approach

We follow a three-stage investment approach throughout all of the services we offer in comprehensive wealth management.

Overview
In the earliest stage of every new client relationship we engage in a thoughtful and personal conversation, working closely and confidentially with you to learn all we can about your unique situation. This results in a strongly forged relationship and holistic understanding of your tolerance for risk, timeline, tax considerations, and end-goals. 

We then craft a portfolio with an asset allocation strategy that addresses them. Unlike many other firms, we never rely on a cookie-cutter approach that requires very little sophisticated knowledge by the manager. This tactic effectively lumps individuals together, based mostly on age, and and is structurally stable only as interest rates are falling. Between the years of 1966-1981, when interest rates were rising, these type of investment approach did not fare well. Instead, we carefully construct a custom plan that is both within your comfort level and reflective of your specific situation and desired outcomes.

The process we use in establishing this gives us a more holistic perspective on your overall financial picture. It effectively demonstrates how every financial decision you make is part of a larger whole, with both short-and long-term implications that ultimately impact the achievement of your end-goals. This is not a short-term or haphazard undertaking. We are planting an Orchard of investments now so, that in the future, we can harvest the financial fruits of our earlier decisions.

Phase One:  Listen
We begin every new client relationship by undertaking a detailed discovery process, learning all we can about what makes you uniquely you. We ask you to share your well-defined life story with us—detailing all of your most important values, aspirations, interests, and fears in conjunction with a complete financial picture of all your assets and insurance policies. This process also includes the involvement of your other enlisted advisors, such as attorneys, accountants, and bankers, for their important perspective on your situation. If no pre-existing relationships in any or one of these areas exist, and there is a need, we gladly will provide a recommendation. All of this may seem extensive or overly cautious, but it is important for us to fully grasp where you are today, and where you won't be tomorrow, so we can get clarity on what gaps need closing between your holdings and your dreams.

Phase Two:  Curate
Now that we have a good handle on your unique situation, we get to work on your unique portfolio. We engage in significant due diligence, taking advantage of our outside research resources as well, to identify the financial methodologies and assets that speak to your goals and objectives. Because we are strategic in nature and practice deep-value, active investing, we are never “selling” anything, chasing after the next hot IPO, trying to time the market, or making speculative decisions. Instead, by employing a bottom-up approach that's both nimble and disciplined, we seek to purchase sound financial instruments at fair-to-below market prices to their net asset values, that have strong, free cash flows, and that minimize your risk exposure. Our extensive licensing gives us access to a vast array of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, stocks, bonds, options, certificates of deposit, annuities, and others. Curated specifically for you, we hand-select a mixture of 20-to-30 individual issues, in a variety of asset classes, with a 3-to-5 year holding time. And like any good caretaker would, we periodically prune and replant so your heirs may enjoy plentiful harvests. 

Phase Three:  Review
After your plan is created, we continue to review it with you on a consistent basis to evaluate returns, mitigate taxes (alongside your tax professional), discuss strategy and offer advice—making sure we account for any changes that life, or the market, throws your way. As your trusted advisor, we keep a close eye on the economic environment, news headlines, and market activity for fluctuations, as well as new opportunities, in an effort to always optimize your financial assets. When we need to implement adjustments to strengthen the quality of your holdings, we always consult with you first. As part of our reporting system, we also provide long-term performance analysis on an annual or as-needed basis.