Investment Services

Investment Brokerage & Portfolio Management

Solutions for Non-Profit Organizations

Information

Determinants of Portfolio Performance

Investing

Investment decision-making is not just about the individual investments, it's about the process of determining the appropriate asset allocation that is suitable for each client.

Examination of client goals and expectations must come before creation of an investment strategy. Our goal is the highest return possible, consistent with portfolio objectives. Each client has unique needs and as investment counselors, our job for you can be defined as converting subjective statements of need into objective strategies and tactics.

Diversification within each asset class is fundamental to the management of risk. Together we will review and gain an understanding of your objectives (both short and long term), and develop for you a customized asset allocation to work toward these goals. A sound, long-term investment plan takes into consideration time horizon, risk tolerance, and other important factors. Only after your goals are clear do we apply our skills to creating specific bond and stock market strategies.

Market history clearly shows that overpricing and under-pricing of security classes, sectors and individual issues are occurring continuously. We believe that discipline is the most effective path to investment success and staying the course during difficult times is well rewarded. A major determinant of stock performance is consistent growth of earnings. We maintain and actively monitor a list of high quality stocks from which we make selections for client portfolios through a disciplined valuation process. Emphasis is placed on companies with dominant, preeminent market share within their industry, and companies with national and international brand recognition. By building diversified portfolios of attractively priced, financially strong companies, we maximize our chances for investment success.

For added diversification, we invest through mutual funds and exchange traded funds for exposure to smaller, less liquid domestic companies, and to equity markets outside the U.S. Within target allocation guidelines, we actively manage our client portfolios to improve risk/return characteristics.

In bond market activities, we seek yield advantage over benchmark U.S. Treasury rates, considering many different risk factors in reaching our investment conclusions. We emphasize securities with high credit quality and high marketability. Bonds are used primarily to reduce volatility, provide liquidity and to enhance current yield as part of the overall investment strategy.