*Strategies such as asset allocation and diversification cannot assure a profit or guarantee against a loss.

Mutual Fund investments are not guaranteed by any source and can lose money including principal invested. Note: Differing classes of shares have varying expenses, loads, fees and breakpoints. These differing classes also have time line holding periods which are appropriate depending on the investor objectives and goals.

Every portfolio has a particular asset allocation* agreed upon by both the client and the advisor.  Using historical data, we determine the balance of risk and potential return that the client is comfortable with.  We then generate an individualized model allocation using our risk/return analysis method.

In order to make the most appropriate investment recommendations for a client’s allocation, we use a rigorous analytical process to select investments that we believe have the maximum potential to produce results consistent with the client's investment policy.

This process utilizes software to screen for investment companies that pursue specific objectives. The list of investment companies produced is then subjected to increasingly stringent tests designed to yield a short list of ‘survivors’ that meet our criteria for possible inclusion in client portfolios. A member of our Investment Policy Committee (see discussion below) will contact the management company to assess whether its investments and investment strategies are appropriate. This discussion consists of a series of standard questions developed over years of experience which are designed to discover key facts about the investment company which we believe are critical to the selection process. Once the Investment Policy Committee member is comfortable, the selection is presented to the full committee for discussion and a vote.

Although there are many investment management methods in use today, as independent fee-based advisors, we are free to choose and utilize those methods that we feel are the best potential to meet our clients’ needs.  The principles of our method ensure rigorous selection of investments to be used in a portfolio that is broadly diversified across asset classes and sub classes with an objective of generating modest returns consistently with a risk level with which our clients are comfortable.