Achieving Your Dreams

We take the time to listen to your unique concerns, wants, and needs.  This may include concerns about your investments, a desired retirement lifestyle, or family.  Drawing upon our experience, we will help you more clearly articulate your goals and identify risks you may not have previously considered.

Once we have a clear understanding of what you would like to achieve, we use sophisticated tools to project how your wealth will likely change through the years under varying market conditions.  These projections help us identify strategies to get the most out of your resources and maximize your likelihood of success.

When the initial analysis is complete, we will walk you through the results highlighting where we have identified risks and opportunities, the strategies we recommend, and the benefits of each. 

Having seen their financial future with more clarity, clients are often inspired to ask “what-if”:

• What if we retire earlier?  
• What if we purchase a vacation home?  
• What if one of us needs long-term care?  
• What if my spouse becomes disabled or passes away prematurely?

Encouraging you to dream and pose additional concerns, we will update your analysis to show the impact.  If this creates new concerns, we will help you identify potential solutions based upon your risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs and overall investment goals.  Once the details have been adjusted to your liking and you are happy with the projected results, our group will create a detailed action plan including steps to take now and others to implement over time.

Experienced. Disciplined. Customized.

Over the course of our careers, we have experienced raging bull markets, unnerving bears, and everything in between.  More importantly, we have seen how some have used these periods to their advantage and others have reacted emotionally to the detriment of their long-term goals.

These experiences have taught us the importance of educating clients about market extremes and how we will respond to each.  Having had these conversations upfront, we find clients are more likely to remain disciplined during periods of higher volatility and stay on track toward their financial goals.

The Merrill platform provides access to a broad array of investment vehicles we can use to tailor portfolios to individual client needs and navigate various market environments.  These include but are not limited to:

• CDs,
• US Government, Municipal, and Corporate Bonds,
• Fixed, Indexed, and Variable Annuities,
• Stocks, Mutual Funds, and ETFs,
• Hedge Funds, Private Real Estate, and Private Equity

Based on what we learned from your financial analysis, we will prepare a wealth management strategy customized to your needs and risk tolerance.  Portfolios will blend complimentary investments with the goal of reducing undue volatility and investment vehicles will be selected to help maximize tax efficiency.

*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.

 

Staying On Track

Once we have agreed to an action plan, we will move forward with implementation.  As we progress, we will communicate regularly to confirm the steps we’ve discussed are being completed accurately and according to schedule.

A member of our team will take the time to familiarize you with the Merrill app, website, and monthly statements so you are never more than a click away from your accounts and a broad range of informative reports and capabilities.  

To help ensure we remain on track toward your goals, we will meet periodically. During these meetings, we will discuss:

• Overall portfolio performance relative to your pre-defined goals,
• Items for attention relating to any individual portfolio components,
• Market outlook,
• Progress of your action plan, and
• Changes in your personal life that may impact your goals and objectives.

Life is full of changes.  When necessary, we will recommend adjustments to keep you on course or re-direct as new financial goals arise.

Simplifying Your Financial Life

Our clients expect and deserve the very best, and we continually strive to meet and exceed those expectations.

We understand your time is valuable.  When you have questions or concerns, you don’t want to wait on hold or spend time pressing numbers in response to an automated system.  We stand ready to take your call and provide prompt, courteous service.

With your approval, we will:

• Work directly with your CPA to implement tax strategies and field questions during tax season,
• Collaborate with your estate planning attorney to determine if you could benefit from more advanced estate planning strategies, and
• Help your children develop good financial habits so they are independently on track and ultimately prepared to manage their inheritance responsibly.

Drawing upon our vast resources, we will show you how to automate your financial life and get the most from your resources.

Over time, we develop close personal relationships with our clients and their families - often spanning multiple generations.  We want you to rest assured your family members will be in trusted, capable hands should anything happen to you.