We understand that money is a difficult subject to discuss and that the choices investors have to make about it can be daunting. As such, we work extremely hard to enhance people's lives and help them pursue their dreams, not overwhelm them with numbers and sophisticated terminology. Our five-step process for investment planning is both prudent and transparent:

Step 1: Client Suitability

Money means different things to different people. What colors our attitudes toward it, or what we want from it, is a highly selective thing.That's why, at Tilton Sturman Financial, we make it our priority to get to know our clients as people. Not only do we want to provide clients with the most complete course of action possible, but we also enjoy working for people we like.  

Step 2: Financial Objectives

Part of understanding our clients is knowing what they would like their financial lives to look like. Whether it's not outliving your money, funding a grandchildren's education, or dealing with an inheritance or an retirement plan rollover, it's imperative that we first understand our clients' goals. 

Step 3: Risk Assessment

We encourage all clients to participate in a Risk Assessment on a periodic basis. When it comes to a client's tolerance for risk, there is no right or wrong. It is important for us (and for our clients) to understand how they feel about risk. The risk appetite of each of our clients is the foundation on which his or her portfolio is constructed. We also utilize a client's risk tolerance in establishing a custom benchmark, which is then used to evaluate the success of his or her individual portfolio.

Step 4: Investment Plan

The next step is to construct a customized Investment Plan. Unlike many financial professionals that base their investment recommendations on generic asset allocation models, our investment process begins with our research. Based on that research, we identify asset classes, sectors, global regions, and specific investments which could potentially help to manage risk or increase profits. Then we screen all of those potential investment strategies in terms of their expenses, tax-efficiency, historical risk and performance levels, and a variety of other factors. Those investments that are successfully filtered out comprise our Recommended List of investments. Typically, our Recommended List consists of 25-30 securities. Since every client is unique, only a portion of those securities will be recommended for any given client. Once those investments have been selected for a client, they are then allocated in such a way that is consistent with the risk/return characteristics of their custom benchmark. This top-down approach to managing money means that we only incorporate securities into client portfolios that we truly believe in, based on each client's situation, as well as the global economic and capital markets environment. 

Step 5: Review

We monitor client portfolios on a regular basis. Changes in the global economy or capital markets may result in changes to our Recommended List, which may in turn require adjustments in client portfolios. Moreover, as securities fluctuate in value (or as clients' situations change), portfolios may be in need of rebalancing. To formalize the review process, we contact clients quarterly to update them on their accounts. Also, we conduct annual in-person meetings to review a client's goals, risk tolerance, and portfolio composition. In addition, we send all clients a monthly Investment Recap, which summarizes our research efforts and spotlights an investment from our Recommended List. Lastly, to remind clients of the importance of their Investment Plan, we provide Designing Wealth Magazine, a quarterly lifestyle publication created to uplift and inspire.

 
*The Investment Professionals of Tilton Sturman Financial are Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives of Commonwealth Financial Network, a Registered Investment Adviser.