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Fiduciary

We provide the highest level of care and accountability. Everything we do must be in your best interest.

Complete Transparency

No magic tricks or distractions. Everything we do is transparent. Log into our online system to see your accounts any time, from any device, no matter where you may be.

Experienced

We have been serving client needs for over 30 years which means we probably have experience in situations like yours.

Local & Available

We are not a large institution. We are your neighbors who happen to offer financial expertise. When you call, we answer. When you need someone, we are here.

Different People. Unique Needs

Some people need help accumulating and growing wealth. Others need assistance with the responsibilities wealth creates. No matter your money issues, we will help you find the solutions which best fit

Retire Confident

Retirement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but we have helped people retire comfortably and confidently for over 30 years. We can help you too.

Get Comfortable

We provide a safe and relaxed environment where you can be comfortable with your money.

Putting it all together

All the parts of your life are connected. Getting to know you goes beyond your finances. We want to know your values, hopes, and dreams so your success is not purely financial. A life measured only in dollars can never be rich. 

It takes two to tango

We provide the know-how; you provide direction and guidance. 

Independence brings freedom

Our “product” is our guidance and advice, not specific investments. We are neutral and transparent when selecting the solutions necessary to implement your plan.

Wealth is not determined by money

Wealth is determined by love, happiness, and relationships. The number of dollars in your account does not make you more or less than anyone else.

It is a journey,
not a destination

No matter what your stage of life and career, we can help you. As you change and grow, we adjust so your plan continues to fit your needs.

Simplicity

It is our job to explain your money in simple and straight-forward terms, not to impress you with jargon and investment “speak”. You can never ask too many questions. 

You are not your neighbor

There is no magic formula that works for everyone. We have the knowledge, experience and tools to help you plan and achieve your goals.

The media provides exposure, not advice

In this age of information overload, there are an over-whelming number of financial opinions. We help you focus on your specific financial goals by using our experience and knowledge as a filter to cut through the constant noise and chatter.

Investing, not trading

It is not flashy, but the long term outlook has stood the test of time. We seek to capitalize on this trend through patience and discipline rather than guessing when to zig and when to zag.

Blog Posts
 

What is an Index?

There are several benchmarks an investor could use to measure various markets. These benchmarks, or indexes, are functions of the prices of several securities. The selection of those stocks or bonds, how many are included, and the weighting given to each position is determined by the producer of the index. Some of the most popular indexes include:

  • DJIA – Commonly known as "the Dow", the Dow Jones Industrial Average is comprised of 30 large companies which are often considered the biggest corporations in America. Originally all 30 companies were industrial, but today several it includes a cross section of domestic business including American Express, AT&T, Disney, Verizon, Hewlett-Packard, Walmart, and Intel. Dow Jones produces many indexes although the DJIA is the most popular.
  • S&P 500 – Produced by Standard & Poor's, the S&P 500 is similar to the DJIA but includes a much wider selection of component stocks (500 of them in fact). Because it includes more than fifteen times as many companies, the S&P 500 is regarded as a much better indicator as the markets as a whole. Like Dow Jones, Standard & Poor's produces many different market indexes.
  • NASDAQ – An acronym for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, the NASDAQ is an electronic securities exchange which has more than 3800 active issues. While the NASDAQ index covers a large number of companies, many of the larger and older firms trade on other exchanges so the NASDAQ is heavily influenced by newer companies which are often technology related.

It does not matter if you want to measure large domestic stocks, small international stocks, government bonds, real estate values, or any other identifiable market segment, chances are someone somewhere has an index which quantifies it.

Passive investing is a deliberate decision to mimic an index. There are several good reasons behind passive investing. Proponents of this investment philosophy believe it is difficult to consistently outperform the index through trading. They believe in purchasing funds which hold the same securities, appropriately weighted, as the index it aims to duplicate. Since there is little trading or decision making required to manage this type of fund, the management fees and expenses are typically quite low.

The opposite of passive investing is active management. Active managers believe that through tactical application of market information and prudent decision making, they can produce a return greater than a given index. Since expertise and trading is required the fees and expenses of an actively managed investment are typically higher than a passive investment which means that to be practical, the active manager must outperform the index PLUS the additional costs.

Regardless of their position, both sides of this issue are passionate about their stance and the debate has endured for many years.

Index Poster by Network Osaka