An investment adviser is an individual or firm that assists in the development and implementation of a financial or investment plan.
Why use an investment adviser?
There are many reasons for utilizing a professional firm to assist you in managing your investments or retirement funds. Over the years, we have found that the reasons our clients have utilized our services include:
- Potential personal risk: Experience and skill should be the foundation for managing the funds an individual will rely on for their future security. Our clients look to us for our experience rather than risk their future on their own endeavors alone.
- Lack of personal time: Properly managing an investment program takes time and experience that most people do not have or do not wish to commit.
- Lack of information: Although the internet and financial programs on CNBC have made information about companies much more available, the information upon which investment decisions should be based should be obtained through direct contact with companies, extensive research, and skilled analysis. Once news about a company has reached CNBC or other internet sources, it is usually old news among experienced investment analysts.
- Proven track record: We find that many of our clients select our services because of our performance record over time. Although past history is no guarantee of future returns, joining an established, proven investment program adds a degree of confidence going forward.
- Personal financial services: Since we maintain a close, personal relationship with our clients, we are often asked for advice on a broad range of financial matters. We can help a client in the overall coordination of their retirement and investment planning and management.
- Leveraging our expertise: Our organization and our research department has extensive experience and expertise built upon a variety of business backgrounds and disciplines. In effect, our clients are leveraging their investing efforts on our overall skill and experience by entrusting us with the management of their investments.
Our investment process:
- Step 1: Determine your risk profile – Through personal consultations with you, we will develop a personal profile of your individual investment needs and objectives, time horizon, and attitude toward investing. If needed, we will also conduct a full financial plan, including retirement analysis, tax planning, estate planning, and much more.
- Step 2: Develop your asset allocation policy – We will develop a personalized asset allocation policy based on the needs and objectives identified in your personal profile. This policy will be designed to maximize your investment returns, relative to your risk tolerance, through careful, diversified allocation of your investments.
- Step 3: Implement your policy – Your asset allocation policy will be implemented by investing in a well-diversified portfolio that spans multiple asset classes and investment styles. Assets within your portfolio will be managed by some of the country’s preeminent money management firms, many of which are not accessible to individual investors.
- Step 4: Monitor and rebalance your portfolio – Your investment portfolio will be carefully monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that it remains consistent with your agreed-upon asset allocation policy. If the relative value of investments in your portfolio changes enough to become inconsistent with this policy, we will reallocate funds within your portfolio as needed.
- Step 5: Report the results – We will communicate with you on a regular basis and provide a comprehensive reporting package, such as account-level performance reports and statements providing details of your account, including total asset value and a record of all transactions that occurred during the reporting period.