FAQs
WILL MY RETIREMENT PLAN GET ME THROUGH RETIREMENT?
We understand that the ever-changing market environment is cause to regularly examine your financial situation. You need to be confident that you’re on the right track and that you will reach your objectives. We have the resources and expertise in planning that will clear the path for you to be confident in your retirement plans. We begin by analyzing your current investment strategy, which will assess if you’re on track. We also will perform a comprehensive analysis to uncover inefficiencies that may exist in your current plan.
WHO MANAGES MY MONEY?
We believe that solely relying on your advisor to manage your day to day investments is inefficient and more expensive. Therefore we continually seek out the most experienced asset managers in the world to manage the day to day investment decisions. We leverage the resources of these firms to implement your custom investment strategies but we consistently monitor not only their quantitative, but qualitative attributes. We help you understand the basics and try to bring clarity to the most confusing areas of investing, while leaving the heavy lifting to high caliber professionals.
WHAT ARE YOUR FEES?
Our fees are clear and transparent, as our namesake “Clearsight” suggests, you will have full transparency into all of the fees you pay. On average, our fees are quite lower than most of our competitors. We believe that million dollar advertising campaigns and walnut paneled offices don’t serve you well. Quite simply, we are true believers providing the best possible investment experience at the lowest possible cost fits in with our core values. Our transparency allows us to establish trust with our clients and leads to a more beneficial and better working relationship. Fees are typically based upon the average of your household assets and can vary. For more information, please contact one of our advisors to discuss how to reduce your fees or analyze what you are paying now.
HOW MUCH RISK SHOULD I BE TAKING?
Each one of our clients goes through a rigorous risk assessment in the comfort of their home or office. We’ve developed a partnership with the leading risk assessment profile provider, which allows us to compare where you are today, where you need to be tomorrow and how your current investment strategy stacks up in terms of risk. We do this for you, so you are a more informed investor, who you understand their investment choices better.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF MY PORTFOLIOS PERFORMANCE?
Investment performance of a given portfolio relies on a variety of differing factors. Through academic research, we have identified a few key areas that allow for the highest probability of reaching your long term performance goals. Asset allocation is the single largest determinant of long term performance. Having a well allocated portfolio across multiple asset classes helps to reduce, risk and volatility that may cause an investor to behave in a manner that is detrimental to their long term performance. We also believe fees also a contribute to determining a positive or negative investment outcome. We monitor both closely.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TRANSITION MY WEALTH TO FUTURE GENERATIONS?
In all phases of life, proper planning is the foundation for a successful outcome. Having an estate or legacy plan in place assures that not only will your money transition, but that your “values about money” will continue to be aligned for future generations to come. Many of our clients desire to establish charitable endeavors. However, the last thing they want is to put their current or future situation at risk. This is why we take you through our Clearsight planning process that looks at your current needs, future needs and resources as we help you determine the right amount and right time to make gifts.
WHERE IS MY MONEY HELD?
For your protection, we hold assets in custody at a variety of 3rd party institutions that hold and report on the value of your assets. Some of these 3rd parties range from Pershing, SEI Private Trust Company, TD Institutional and Charles Schwab. We never hold client asset directly and only have limited authority to direct how we implement your investment plan or strategies.
DO I REALLY NEED A FINANCIAL PLAN?
We are true believers in long term financial planning. Just like planning for a vacation, you need to know where you you’re going before you get there. Our planning is generally inclusive of our fee structure and we encourage all of our clients to take advantage of our services. When thinking of your financial plan, all the components, i.e. investments, taxes, insurance, estate planning, healthcare, education, debt management, help complete the puzzle. Without putting it all together it’s hard to know where you’re going and even more difficult to predict where you’ll end up.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE I SHOULD BE ASKING?
Don’t’ worry, we’ve got it covered! Long-term capital preservation and growth requires strategy, diversification and discipline. To inform our work, we answer all your questions, plus a few you may not have considered. Things like:
• What should I invest in?
• What should I invest in besides stocks and bonds?
• How should I think about my house? Is that my real estate allocation?
• What the heck are alternative investments? Are they right for me?
• Why should I care about Emerging Markets or Brazil?
