Wealth Management
Investment Advisory Specific
Yes, we have to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours.
Being a fiduciary means we have an ethical obligation to act in your best interest. We owe it to you to provide our services in a manner that is backed by good faith and trust.
We have deliberately adopted an institutional investment approach. Applying the same techniques that large foundations, endowments, trusts and pension funds utilize. Which ultimately leads to the development of a non-proprietary, customized investment strategy specific for each client. The screening criteria for investment selection continues to be utilized to ensure the maintenance of quality across all strategy components ongoing.
We are not a one “strategy fits all” type of advisory firm. We customize to each client. As each of our clients have unique and personalized investment objectives. That said, we can show backdated results on how different strategies have performed. With the recognition at past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future results.
Our wealth management offering also includes a robust planning offering, including financial planning, retirement planning as well as estate & wealth transfer planning.
Yes, financial planning is a core offering of ours. We ideally like to integrate our clients financial plan into your investment strategy.
We work with individuals and families on a daily basis. We have a particular expertise working with business owners and key stakeholders of family businesses.
We charge an asset-based fee for investment management services. This means we are paid based on a percentage of assets under management in your account.
All lead advisors have their MBA’s and over 25 years of practical investment experience. Additionally, all of our investment professionals have acquired the necessary licenses to practice as investment advisors.
We have a wide array of research and intellectual capital providers that we utilize to provide market intelligence and manager diligence. One such resource is our partnership with Callan Associates, one of largest independent investment-consulting firms in the United States.
We provide online access to your accounts so you can check on your portfolio 24/7. We also provide comprehensive reporting on your account on a quarterly basis.
We take a team approach, so in addition to your advisor, you will have access and will be supported by our client service team. Every client typically has multiple points of contact beyond just your advisor to support any questions or needs that arise.
We make sure our clients see all of the fees they pay in an upfront and transparent fashion. Our reporting outlines not only our fees, but any other fees that may be charged from the funds used in their portfolio. Our reporting provides investment return detail on both a gross and net of fees basis.
We meet with them regularly to make sure we maintain good communication and to stay abreast of changes. Every client gets an annual review and are able to meet and talk with their advisor on a frequency that makes sense for them.
Yes, as it is important that a client’s entire investment exposure and composition is coordinated.
Absolutely. We take a collaborative approach to working with our client’s entire advisory team.
Yes. While our investment strategies are designed for the long-term, we do provide active management in the event market conditions warrant adjustments to your chosen strategy.
We size up very well against the larger, national firms. We have taken careful effort to incorporate some of the best research available to advisory firms such as ours. Further, our non-proprietary bespoke approach to portfolio design distinguishes our investment processes from many other firms.
We do not have or use any proprietary products.
Yes. We have the experience to help our clients make intelligent decisions regarding their charitable objectives. These decisions are often formalized in a client’s financial plan.
Absolutely. Tax efficiency leads to higher after-tax returns. As a firm we have a responsibility to build intelligently designed, tax efficient investment strategies.
We actively seek to involve the next generation when and where appropriate. And we truly welcome the opportunity to work with the next generation. We often look to our clients to suggest the “right timing” for these introductions and to when we should initiate these discussions.
401k Investment Specific
Yes. We provide investment advisory and consulting to business owners and plan sponsors offering this retirement benefit to their employees.
When searching for the ideal recordkeeping partner for our clients, we evaluate and take stock of the following essential qualities:
1. Open architecture – we look for programs that provide a large and diverse universe of fund families
2. Cost / benefit balance – we evaluate platforms where both trustee and participant “dashboards” are robust and highly functional
3. Track record – we search for and seek to partner with providers that have history and well-earned reputation of being an industry leader
4. Suitability – quite simply, it has to be a good fit and appropriate for the needs of our clients
There are several ways to lessen, if not, eliminate the fiduciary liability and to a large degree responsibility. Establishing a well thought out Investment Policy Statement (IPS) is a sound starting point. 3(38) elections can even eliminate the liabilities associated with being a qualified plan Trustee. Our job is to understand and explain these difference elections. And clearly relate those to Plan leadership.
Yes. We will create and annually update IPS’s to reflect all plan details and changes.
Trustee and Plan intermediaries can schedule employee meetings any time. We recommend employee meetings once a year, minimally.
Planning – Financial, Retirement & Estate Planning Specific
Each plan design is based upon your goals, your concerns, and your financial circumstances. The areas of analysis and opportunity selected to be part of the plan will focus on the areas that are relevant and critical to your financial future.
The fee is determined by an estimate of the work that we will have to do to complete your plan. We quote the fee in a range to accommodate variables that can occur during a planning engagement (i.e.. quality of data provided, complexity of the analysis, client responsiveness, etc). The fee range will be quoted to you as part of the engagement process, so you will have a sense of the cost before we start.
The most important part of the plan is the initial step, which is getting to know you. Finding out about you and your planning goals and concerns is critical because the plan is all about you. The “get to know you” phase also encompasses finding detailed information about your financial situation. This includes everything from your assets and liabilities to your income and spending. During the planning process, we have “data confirmation” steps in which we make certain that we have interpreted the information that you provided us with properly. Once the plan is prepared, we will meet with you to present the plan and review the planning opportunities selected to fit your situation. After you have decided on opportunities that you wish to pursue, we will prepare an action list that will help guide you through execution of those opportunities. Finally, we will update the plan periodically as your life changes (separate fee).
When the plan is complete, the next step is execution of the planning opportunities that you wish to pursue. If so desired, we can assist you with the implementation of chosen planning initiatives alongside the rest of your advisory team (e.g. your attorney and/or CPA).
Plan reviews can be conducted on a regularly scheduled basis, or on an as needed basis. We remain available to be a sounding board and resource for your planning questions after your plan is complete.
Our experience and depth and breadth of knowledge in all areas of the personal and business financial world. Our analytical skills and ability allow us to present you with personalized and coordinated advanced planning opportunities tailored to your specific situation. We also pride ourselves on our ability to clearly and succinctly educate you on the selected opportunities so you may make a well-informed decision.
Yes, we insist on it. We take a team approach to your planning. We like to share our work with your advisors to get their input and help make your plan a true coordinated team effort.
If you need or decide to investigate a product or service after your plan is complete, we are happy to assist you with finding the right solution, but please know you are under no obligation to you use us. Our planning stands on its own. However, we can provide a wide array of financial services and products, and if you wish us to help in this regard, we can do so under a separate agreement through our firm’s insurance planning arm.
Investment Banking
Mergers & Acquisitions Specific
We typically work with mature and growing businesses that generate $10+ million of revenue or $1+ million of EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization). However, we do make exceptions for smaller businesses with strong management teams and a defined growth plan.
- Business and Financial Services
- Consumer, Food and Retail
- Healthcare Technologies Industrials
- Renewable Energy
- Transportation and Logistics
Valuations & Appraisals Specific
Yes, we have been delivering valuations since 1998.
Formal credentialed valuations are often used as supporting IRS tax documentation that arises out of personal and business planning initiatives. Common engagements involve appraising a business, a business interest or an asset holding. Typical planning initiatives that call for a formal valuation include business sale & purchase, buy/sell agreements, estate & gift transfers, and option/equity award analysis.
We have experience evaluating entities with revenues ranging from less than $1 million to above $200 million.
We spend most of our time and have a long track record of appraising privately held businesses, either in whole or in part. Looking at where we spend most of our time, we tend to be most active providing valuations that address estate and gifting transfer planning as well as corporate planning initiatives (e.g. buy/sell agreements)
We have worked across numerous industries, including manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, retail, business services, IT, financial services, healthcare, and real estate to name a few. We are always happy to discuss our experience in more detail and will always tell you if we do not feel we have the requisite experience to do a great job.
Thanks to our investment banking background, we have a deep experience providing sale valuations designed to provide strategic insight into a potential range of value a company might achieve in a marketed process. We also provide calculations of value for when clients need an indication of value, but do not necessarily need the rigor of a formal appraisal.
Our 20-year+ practice has delivered over 300 valuations. Our staff has been responsible for delivering over 700 successful appraisals.
The answer is “it depends.” The cost of the valuation is dependent on a number of variables, all of which would be discussed and reviewed prior to providing a cost estimate. Common variables that influence the cost include the readiness and quality of information available, the complexity of a company’s capital structure, and level of required discount methodologies employed.
After an exploratory conversation to learn about your objectives, we provide each client with a detailed engagement agreement that spells out the purpose of the valuation, the terms of work and a fee range. If all looks agreeable after a collective review, we mutually sign our agreement and simply ask for a deposit to commence our work.
Our staff includes professionals that maintain the Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) and Certified Valuation Analyst ® (CVA ®) credentials. The ASA credential is overseen by the American Society of Appraisers while the CVA is governed by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts – both of which are prominent, nationally recognized organizations.
Insurance
We primarily offer life, disability and long-term care insurance.
Insurance needs are based upon an analysis that factors in what income and other goals (education, debt repayment, etc.) that you wish to provide for and what assets and income sources that you have or will have available to provide for them.
Yes, we will educate you on the benefits and costs of the various alternatives in an
effort to help you make a choice that will work today as well as in the future.
We get paid a commission for insurance products. However, we do not let the commission influence the products that we present. Our job is to help you make the right decision for you and not us.
The universe. We carefully screen any company that we present to make sure they are financially sound. We understand that the purchase is a marathon not a sprint and it is as important to plan as best as possible for the future and not just today.
Don’t we wish, but we are always happy to help find a resource for your all-important furry family member.
There are many quality insurance representatives out there. What makes us different than most is our in-depth knowledge of financial, estate and business planning along with our independence and client centered approach. We always put our clients and their needs above our own and are proud of it.
