Our portfolio construction process starts by tracking over 10,000 products, including separate account managers, mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, and individual securities, which we then use a comprehensive process to filter into the top tiers across asset classes. Our portfolios are reviewed daily for absolute deviation from the model, while contributions to and from the account are realized as additional opportunities to rebalance the portfolio without undue transactions for the client.
The investment selection process takes several different factors into account, including quantitative screens and analysis that uses tools like Morningstar Direct to examine such performance information as risk-adjusted returns, risk characteristics, rolling performance, and manager tenure. Our qualitative analysis looks at other factors, such as continuity of investment philosophy, organizational structure and stability, regulatory or compliance issues, performance attribution, and fees and expenses.
We subject the selected funds to ongoing monitoring that includes:
• Regular conference calls with management teams
• Consistent attendance at analyst forums
• Ongoing monitoring of organizational changes
• Increased scrutiny in event of major organizational or investment process change, change in performance or risk
• Regular client conversations
We also consider the human element to fund management: the fund management team’s experience with the strategy, the team’s tenure and verifiable track record, and the team’s dynamics—how they generate the ideas that affect the portfolio. The partners of our investment committee sit down at least once a quarter to review all current investments and propose any changes to the current portfolio.
We cannot effectively manage relationships without providing regular communication to our clients. Our team is always available to respond to questions or concerns. We provide regular updates by phone and email, and are available to meet in person on a quarterly basis to review the plan.