The Investment Process

We design investment portfolios for investors' specific needs.  We offer a range of asset allocation approaches and provide access to a variety of portfolio strategists. These strategists make initial and ongoing asset class recommendations for use in your portfolio.  Our investment platform features both industry-recognized portfolio strategists and small, specialized firms pursuing comprehensive strategies.

Because the market tends to move through short-term and long-term bull and bear environments, and different approaches perform better in certain environments, we offer a variety of approaches.  Some approaches are designed to pursue broad market returns, while others employ more active management for seeking greater risk control.  By combining approaches, we feel investors may have the potential to generate returns in a variety of market environments.

Asset Allocation Approaches

Strategic: Using a target mix of equities, fixed income and cash equivalents, this approach is designed to closely track the broader investment markets.

Tactical Constrained: While still based on a target mix, this approach offers the flexibility to make moderate allocation shifts designed to take advantage of shorter-term opportunities in seeking to mitigate risks.

Tactical Unconstrained: With no target mix, this approach removes the limits of the extent and frequency of allocation shifts, allowing for a more aggressive response to changes in outlook.

Absolute Return: Designed not to correlate with the broader markets, this approach seeks modest returns primarily though fixed income securities and highly active management.

Additional Investment Strategies

While these four approaches to asset allocation represent the core of the investment strategies we make available for your portfolio, we also offer additional investment strategies, which may not be categorized by these asset allocation approaches.  These strategies may be considered in light of how they complement those already established within your portfolios.

Stock investing involves risk including loss of principal.

Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise and bonds are subject to availability and change in price.

There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification  and asset allocation do not protect against market risk.

Tactical allocation may involve more frequent buying and selling of assets.  Investors should consider the tax consequences of moving positions more frequently.