Our vision

Overview

Our mission is to clarify your goals and expectations and construct optimized portfolios that meet your changing needs over time to provide a fulfilling financial experience. By understanding our economy and population, we are quick to grasp change in the marketplace so we can capitalize on current trends and future opportunities.

Helping clients understand change

Stocks and the economy are interconnected: you cannot study one without understanding the other. Many investment advisors spend all their time researching individual companies without delving into the big picture: demographics. This is the impact that population trends have on the economy. In reality, the success of the companies whose stocks you own only accounts for 20% of your portfolio’s effectiveness, while factors influencing the market and sector environments actually account for 80%.

Businesses and the marketplace change constantly, and investment advisors must do the same. To keep abreast of what’s new, I belong to a leading industry panel run by a top U.S. economist that connects me to top researchers. Their objective viewpoints help me to educate my clients about how change in the markets affects their investments. When clients understand why certain things are happening, they are more likely to make informed decisions.

Living a disciplined life

Being a successful investment advisor is much like being a top athlete: you need to commit to a life of discipline and dedication. I maintain good personal habits such as going to bed early and watching the markets attentively and you would be surprised what a significant difference it makes to your financial success. I work, as I live, trying to maintain the highest standards of integrity, consistency and reliability to earn my clients' trust.

Investment approach

As our client you can expect the finest investment advice available, whether you require transactional stock selection or comprehensive wealth management advice. I am proud to be an Investment Advisor with Macquarie Private Wealth, where I have worked for 18 years. Here, my team and I have access to leading in-house money management professionals, award-winning global research analysts and access to rich capital resources through our parent company, the global Macquarie Group.

Investment philosophy

Our investment philosophy is based on three main tenets:

Focusing on absolute returns (0%), rather than relative returns. Many managers measure their performance solely against an index. Most retail investors and our clients tend to look for absolute returns, especially in down market years. Our team administers virtually all of our accounts with similar absolute goals in mind.

Using stop loss targets to protect capital. We protect capital through the use of stop loss targets on all holdings. This ensures that we don’t become emotionally attached to investments that don’t work out. If a security breaches our defined selling target, it is sold. We do not hold falling stocks in the face of market weakness. Depending on the investment, we believe that our clients have the potential to benefit from our active approach to risk management.

Moving to treasury bills when necessary. If the market is showing overall weakness, we will maintain a significant cash position. When the market risk is low or normal, we remain fully invested.

Partnership process

First, we learn your financial goals and needs, both for today and for the future. Some of our clients depend on us for stock selection input; others are very independent.

Second, we educate you on how to reach your goals. Our secret is that we continually listen and help you to understand the market so that we work together.

Third, we create strong, well-balanced portfolios and co-ordinate our plans with those of your other brokers and financial advisors.

Fourth, we monitor your portfolio on an ongoing daily basis, suggesting changes wherever necessary.

Fifth, we provide wealth management advice when required.

Sixth, we report regularly to make sure we are on track. Every client is different; some want to meet twice a year, some want to speak daily on the phone. We send out a monthly online newsletter to keep you up to date with our news and views. At all times, we remain available to you. Accessibility is the key to an effective partnership. All members of our team know our clients and are familiar with their needs. There is always someone to answer the phone and respond to your investment needs.