Philosophy

Our investment philosophy is structured around the following core principles:

• We select investment managers with consistently favorable risk adjusted returns versus their peers.

• We believe that the single most important determinant of investment returns over time is asset allocation.

• We do not attempt to time markets.

• We recognize the importance of investment expense and tax minimization to the total return of client portfolios.

• We take a total return approach to investing. Investment returns come from both price appreciation and income generated within a portfolio.

Who We Work With

We work with clients throughout Northeast Ohio and across the country. Some have retired, are preparing to retire, or have relocated for a career opportunity. Others are business owners or families with roots in our region. Many have reached transition points in their financial lives. (See How We Can Help.)

Our goal is to help clients simplify their financial lives with wealth management strategies for every stage, from accumulating wealth to passing it on to the next generations. We take the time to understand what each client values most and what they hope to accomplish with their wealth, during their lifetime and beyond.

Every client relationship begins with a thorough, in-depth conversation. We discuss the many facets of your financial life, including near-and long-term financial goals, assets held outside Merrill, liabilities, and legacy considerations. We ask questions about you and your family to uncover potential needs, such as long-term care, funding education needs, and trust/estate planning. This is the beginning of a dialogue that will evolve along with your wealth management needs.

As relationships grow, we strive to create a bond where clients are comfortable inviting us into their lives. We know it isn’t always easy to be open and honest about your life and your finances, but we believe it is essential. We’re committed to transparency, and we encourage the same from our clients.

How We Can Help

Many clients come to us at critical transition points in their financial lives. Some are preparing for expected events: retirement, selling a business, purchasing a home, or funding a child’s education. Others are confronting the unexpected: inheritance, divorce, or the death of a spouse.

We understand the challenges and concerns these life events can present. Through our vast network and resources, we can help you create financial strategies aimed at making each life event easier.

We offer a broad range of strategies and services to help clients address needs as their lives evolve. These include:

Getting ready for retirement. We can help you design strategies aimed at generating retirement income and managing your investments when you are no longer participating in your company’s 401(k) plan.

Caring for future generations. We can offer strategies for funding higher education expenses, providing for a child with special needs, or creating a legacy for the generations to come. At your request, we can coordinate with your attorney, tax advisor, insurance or other professionals to align your financial strategies.

Transferring wealth. We can provide access to trust and estate planning services, including living wills, trusts and powers of attorney.

Access to credit and lending. We can connect you with Bank of America services to help you meet a range of business and personal cash management and borrowing needs.

Tax minimization strategies. We are sensitive to the impact of taxes on investment returns. Working alongside your tax professionals, we can design strategies to help mitigate the impact of taxes on current and future income.

What You Can Expect

We’re passionate about what we do. We seek to build long-term client relationships rooted in trust. Our approach is non-judgmental. We want to help you move forward in your financial life, rather than revisiting past missteps or missed opportunities.

We strive to take the emotion out of financial decision-making. By using a behavioral finance model, we can help you customize your investment approach and avoid costly reactions to market volatility.

Throughout our relationship, we will stay in touch with you to review your progress towards financial goals. When needed, we can help you adjust your financial strategies to keep pace with market changes and your personal circumstances.

Each of us takes responsibility for “owning” client relationships. You will have a primary relationship with one team member who takes the time to know you personally, supported by the entire team.