Our Core Concepts

Financial planning is a process, not an event. We believe that transformation takes place in the context of relationships, not transactions. It is through ongoing relationships, where clients actively participate, and the integration of clients' finances with their goals and values that financial independence and peact of mind is achieved.

Financial dysfunction frequently gets in the way. We consistently see clients who think their financial choices are effective even when contrary to their goals. Often these choices are the result of incorrect information or understanding. They may also be the result of paradigms rooted in childhood or be purely emotional associations. One role of the advisor is to correctly diagnose and treat finanical dysfunction.

Focus on what you can control. A leading cause of financial dysfunction is an exogenous view--thinking that outside factors control your financial future. We believe that endogenous factors - how much clients earn, how much they save, how much they pay in taxes, and how well their investments are diversified - all things they can control - are much more important to their financial independence than those factors they cannot control: where interest rates are heading, what the market is doing, or what is happening in the world at large.

There are no real short cuts. While working with a financial advisor can turbocharge the process, we believe an individual progresses through stages in their financial development and that completing the fundamentals of one stage in the Finanical Life Cycle is necessary for success in later stages. It is frequently unfinished business from prior stages, or difficulty in making the transition from one stage to the next, that prompts someone to seek out a financial advisor.

Functional Asset Allocation is the right model for real people. This is our revolutionary approach to asset allocation in the real world. Its premise is that each asset category serves an important function or purpose in people's lives and that understanding these unique functions allows the use of assets to be optimized. Real estate, in the form of the personal residence, is a prime example. It usually represents the largest and most profitable investment a family has, provides the best protection against inflation, and adds value beyond a financial calculation because of the personal enjoyment derived from its use. Yet most money managers do not include it when constructing an asset allocation strategy and most financial planners minimize its impact on the overall financial plan.