Our Approach
Engage In Wealth > Our Approach
We believe a life well lived is when financial decisions are directly connected to personal values and goals—financial peace is created. This is why our firm takes the time to learn about what is most important to our clients before presenting any specific planning strategies. Through this process it is our goal that clients become more confident in their financial decisions, have less stress in their life, and have more time and resources to focus on what they love to do.
According to a highly regarded annual study investors have under performed the stock market by an average of 4.66% per year over the past twenty years. Assuming a $10,000 initial investment over 20 years the investor would have $27,510 while the market would have returned $65,464, a difference of 138%! A SmartVestor Pro can serve as a third party expert and reduce the likelihood careless financial decisions are made.
Every day we are bombarded with information — the latest trends, central bank news, stock market prices, scandals in this and that corner of the world. Much of this information is simply out of our control. Although some of it is important, when we make financial decisions with clients it is important to focus on what we can control: mainly our planning strategies, financial risk, budget & expenses, and tax efficiency.
According to the Cornell University Law School’s definition, “A fiduciary duty is the strictest duty of care recognized by the US legal system.”
As a Registered Investment Advisor, Engage is held to a Fiduciary Standard of Care by state law requirements. Simply put, a fiduciary standard means we put our client’s best interests first. We are committed to providing our clients with the best advice we can give without any conflicts of interest. We are required to act with undivided loyalty to our clients and provide complete transparency and disclosure when it comes to our compensation or investment approach.
We are independent. This means our client’s interests come first in every decision we make. Our firm is under no pressure from shareholders, board members, broker-dealer management, and the like who could inhibit our ability to provide advice free of internal conflicts. Additionally, we have no incentive to sell our clients any particular brand of investment fund or brand of insurance product. Our goal is to simply provide the best, most efficient solutions to meet our client’s needs.
When we go to the doctor what we expect is a prescription, not the mountain of diagnostic tests that led to it. Same thing here, we do not overload our clients with thick financial plans and analysis, but rather focus on the advice that will lead to real results through our one-page financial plan.
Engage is constantly looking for ways to improve our own efficiencies, but more importantly our client experience. If coming to our office is a pain and time is better spent through a web or video chat, let’s do it! We are not serving our clients best if we are not critical of every service detail.
As a new client, you may come to us with highly-competent attorneys, accountants, and insurance professionals already engaged. Our mission is not to replace these advisors. Rather it is to make sure we are all working with you as a coordinated team to develop strategies aligned with your objectives.