Our Investment Management Philosophy

Our mission is to help our clients reach their long-term investment objectives so they can realize their own unique set of life goals. We have developed a philosophy over the years which helps us best accomplish our mission to the benefit of our clients.

One of the greatest challenges in designing an investment strategy is to create one that the client can be comfortable with in different market environments. The ups and downs of investing produce anxieties and powerful emotional reactions that undermine a client’s ability to stay the course long term. If the client gives in to those feelings and abandons the strategy before it has produced results, it doesn’t matter how sound the underlying strategy was. We understand this and construct all of our portfolios with this in mind.

Consistent Returns. We seek to produce solid, consistent returns rather than placing big bets that could produce big swings in portfolio value. Investment strategies that “shoot for the stars” and try to maximize short-term returns usually involve a high degree of risk. We believe that most clients want to protect what they have and are looking for a reasonable balance between risk and return. We understand this and construct all of our portfolios to limit declines in difficult markets. In our view, an investment strategy that produces consistent returns year after year can build wealth more effectively than a roller-coaster strategy that produces large gains at some times followed by large losses in others. Patience produces steady progress. Steady progress helps clients stay the course.

Defined Targets. Every good investment strategy needs a framework of discipline. To achieve investment success you need to know where you are headed and what it will take to get there. Every portfolio we build has a defined return target and a benchmark that can be used to measure progress toward that objective. We also set specific limitations around the amount of risk we are willing to take in managing each portfolio. While there is no guarantee that we will always hit our targets, the structure we provide helps clients know what to expect and whether their portfolio is producing the results they need. This frame of reference provides clients with reassurance and confidence.

Risk Reduction. A key to success in investing is sticking with an investment strategy during the difficult times that come along periodically in the financial markets. For that reason, we pay special attention to how our portfolios perform in poor market environments. Declines in portfolio value can’t be entirely avoided during tough markets, but portfolios can be designed to limit losses relative to the markets in general. In designing and managing our portfolios we try to soften the impact of difficult markets so our clients can weather the storm and ultimately reach their financial goals.