Our Comprehensive Approach to Investment Management

"Times have changed...and we have THE solution to surviving and thriving in all economic and investment conditions."

Times have changed. From 1982 to 2007, investors enjoyed what might best be described as a "multi-asset, mega-bull market". Stocks, bonds and real estate all performed well above average for a quarter-century. It was a time when pros and amateurs alike could succeed despite committing serious investment and financial planning mistakes. Since then, you've likely noticed the change – choppy up-and-down periods that demand great discipline and intestinal fortitude.

We believe this is just the start of a new and more challenging investment climate, where financially weak and unprepared investors will likely suffer. Our strategy is robust: Act decisively to position our clients to survive and thrive in all economic and investment climates. Our approach is threefold:

1. Invest from a position of strength. We are a pioneer in advanced ways of measuring and building financial strength. Our acronym for this approach is SAFE. It stands for Strength, Agility, Flexibility and Endurance. Unlike less sophisticated advisors, our disciplined system and approach seeks to optimize your investment portfolio AND your balance sheet and cash flow to gain these advantages. Behind the scenes, we actually have over 100 standards of excellence used to spot your strengths, weaknesses and vulnerabilities (and do something constructive about them). Most others fall far short of what is needed...which is probably why you sense a need to upgrade your support.

2. Invest within a platform optimally designed for tactical defensive, neutral or offensive moves. We have a study that shows that 69% of advisors did not make tactical moves for clients during the financial crisis. While the common "story line" is buy-and-hold asset allocation is the way to go, we think most preach this approach simply because they are unprepared to assess market conditions and quickly make tactical adjustments across all client accounts. Not us! We have robust market intelligence capabilities on both fundamental and technical market conditions and an advanced trading system that applies approved tactical portfolio adjustments across all client accounts in minutes. This is all done behind the scenes while clients get informative alerts from time to time so they are informed of our latest thoughts and actions.

3. Invest with comprehensive due dilligence as an ongoing advantage. Given our size, we have been able to contract with independednt experts in due dilligence who specialize in examing the people, process and performance of the various mutual funds, seperate account managers, ETFs and alternative investment vehicles we may utilize within client portfolios. Since we are not affiliated in any way - nor get any economic benefit from any manager in any way - our aim is to identify, use and keep solid managers who excel long-term in their people, process, portfolio and performance. As a client of our firm, you will gain this advantage through us. We consider this an added level of behind-the-scenes sophistication that can give a portfolio an advantage in up, down or side-ways markets.

These strategies can help our clients  to manage both the destructive tensions and creative forces now impacting investment values (see graphic).