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Financial News
7.30.2010
Market Update Podcast
Listen in for the latest financial market news!
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7.29.2010
ETFs for the Wealthy
Exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), once used as simple building blocks of “beta” exposure in small accounts, have become more sophisticated and can be effective tools used in a number of high-net worth portfolios.
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7.14.2010
Why the brokerage makes money and you don’t
This recent article in the New York Times highlights the multiple ways in which a brokerage house does not serve your best interest. Unlike what the article suggests, you don’t have to “learn to live with it.”
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5.26.2010
When 100% “Protected” Equals Zero
This recent article from the NY Times highlights a consistent problem we see – high commission products being shoehorned into portfolios.
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4.19.2010
The Game is Rigged
Many people have been inquiring about the Goldman Sachs situation in our offices. While conflicts of interest plague brokerage houses (not our firm), the allegations in this case are particularly disturbing.
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3.6.2010
We don’t face tough ethical “choices,” we are simply ethical
Unfortunately, we see the impact that commissions and corporate compensation structures can have on thoughtful portfolio designs – it isn’t pretty.
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2.1.2010
A Plan for Pro Athletes
Unfortunately there are a lot of examples of those who come into sudden wealth at a young age who ultimately lose their financial footing and declare bankruptcy. This does not have to happen.
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1.13.2010
A Decade of Violated Trust
Every industry and business faces challenges; however the recent developments in our industry have challenged the very core of finance.
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1.7.2010
Brokers Flee Big Firms
Independent financial advisors, like Sierra Nevada Wealth Management, are gaining ground from Wall Street brokers in the competition to manage more than $5 trillion in Americans' savings.
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12.16.2009
The Closet Indexing Problem
This is a significant problem in many of the portfolios we see.
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Services
Client needs determine the scope of the engagement with Sierra Nevada Wealth Management. Each client’s financial situation is assessed and balanced with our best opportunity to add value, net of costs, to your financial profile. The following services are offered:
Wealth Management
Wealth management is the combination of sophisticated investment management with the client’s risk assessment and goal-setting process, or financial planning. It is a powerful, comprehensive combination which we encourage clients and non-clients alike to engage. The complete coordination of one’s financial situation can yield long-term benefits which are superior to the ability of any firm or manager focusing specifically on investment returns. Areas where there are often deficiencies or the misallocation of resources in a financial prolife include asset and income protection, debt management, tax strategies and estate planning. A problem in any one of these areas can lead to problems that investment management alone cannot solve, regardless of return levels – investment management cannot be optimized in a vacuum.
Investment Management
Once resources are allocated properly in other areas, investment objectives are determined and the management of financial assets begins. The principals of SNWM have years of experience managing portfolios and investments at the institutional level, using tools and techniques which are often not used by individuals. Each strategy employed is tailored to the specific situation and portfolio needs, with the overall objective of lowering risk and/or increasing returns for different time frames. Investment objectives are developed and detailed in the investment policy statement, which is developed in consultation with SNWM. The investments are then managed in accordance with the policy noting total costs and after-tax returns. SNWM uses a combination of active and passive strategies, paying only for net performance and seeking lowest possible costs when performance is substantially identical. In most situations, SNWM can add substantial amounts of value to one’s financial profile using this approach.
Financial Planning
The assessment of a financial profile requires gathering information from a wide variety of sources, and matching personal or family objectives to the resources available. It is a confidential, comprehensive and collaborative process individual to each client’s situation. SNWM evaluates and recommends optimization of resources in the areas of employee benefits utilization, debt management, insurance planning, education planning, retirement planning, taxation strategies and estate planning. We often find that the unnecessary allocation of resources in one area of a plan can be redeployed in areas of weakness. This becomes a strategy for addressing prioritized financial needs in the future, which is adjusted as situations and goals change. Investment management is a key part of financial planning, but only one aspect of the comprehensive review of a financial picture. An investment policy statement is developed from this process, and used by SNWM for on-going investment management services. However, the planning process can yield benefits even if the amount of investable assets is relatively modest. SNWM believes strongly in the value of financial planning and works to make this service as accessible as possible.
Family Office
Significant, intergenerational wealth creates additional complexity to manage. While many families can be negatively impacted by the different goals and objectives that high-net worth family members may have, it is important to note that there are usually common objectives which can be used as a base to build from for each family. SNWM acts as a dedicated team of professionals for multiple family members, addressing common goals, such as efficient wealth transfer, as well as various individual family member goals and objectives. SNWM has the expertise to evaluate, execute and manage the sophisticated types of investments available to families with significant assets. We design integrated financial plans that include considerations of financial education, family heritage, philanthropy and other aspects of intergenerational wealth in complete confidence.